"The sofa is closer," Watson agreed. Once he'd pulled his dressing gown on, he ignored Holmes's outstretched hand in favour of wrapping himself around Holmes's waist. There was something perfect in the way they fit together, side by side.

Sighing a little, he bent his head close as they made their way out to the sofa. "I wasn't sure how I could bear to let you back into my life again," he said, hardly more than a whisper. "Now... I'm not sure how I could have done anything else and continued to live with myself. Forgive me."