A/N: Here's the first chapter of my sequel to 'Invisible'! Please review!
"What's this?" John asked when he found a metallic silver envelope amongst a stack of bills.
"Post." Sherlock replied without looking up from his laptop.
John opened the envelope and pulled out a formal invitation. "You are cordially invited to the wedding of Miss Anthea Elizabeth Holmes and Mr Mycroft William George Holmes." he read.
Sherlock shot to his feet, a look of horror on his face, "They've invited us to their wedding? We don't have to go do we, John? Imagine how tedious it'll be." he complained.
"Your brother is getting married and you don't want to go? I doubt they've invited many people, Sherlock." John said with a frown, "I'm going to invite them to dinner."
"What? No! Are you mad? That will only encourage them to come here more often!" Sherlock protested.
"Sherlock. Mycroft is your brother." John said with a sigh.
"Yes, a brother that is insufferable. I dragged him away from his drug habit and he's repaying me by making me go to a wedding? That is definitely not a good repayment." Sherlock muttered.
"Hi John." Anthea said with a smile, leaning in to kiss John's cheek.
"Hi Anthea." John replied, giving her a one-armed hug.
"John." Mycroft said with a nod, handing over a bottle of wine.
"Good evening, Mycroft. This looks expensive." John said, accepting the bottle with a raised eyebrow.
"It's nothing. The wine cellar is crowded. We need to get rid of the stuff." Anthea laughed.
"Are you going to come inside or just stand there?" Sherlock asked without bothering to get up to greet them.
"Congratulations are in order, don't you think, Sherlock?" John prompted with a smile to their guests.
"Congratulations on planning to sign a legal piece of paper." Sherlock said sarcastically.
"Ignore him. We didn't realize you'd proposed, Mycroft. Not until we saw the invitation." John continued, doing his best to make conversation. Sherlock was going though a slow few weeks with cases and was especially irritable.
"I did tell him to tell you both before we sent out the invitations." Anthea said, looking up at Mycroft.
"I would have told them, dearest. Had I not been to five different countries this week." Mycroft replied.
"Excuses, excuses..." Anthea teased with a smile.
They were a happy couple, but Anthea was clearly the more bubbly of the pair. Mycroft was usually equally as socially graceful, but after a busy week of meetings and paperwork, he wasn't keen to spend time with his brother.
"I hope you don't mind but we've ordered takeaway." John said as he sat down in his chair.
"On the contrary, John, we'd rather eat takeaway than anything prepared near Sherlock's experiments." Mycroft replied with a glance to his brother.
"They are perfectly safe experiments, Mycroft." Sherlock snapped.
"Talking of experiments, I'd like you to be on your best behaviour for the wedding." Mycroft said, fiddling with his cuff-links as he spoke, "I'd appreciate it if you would be my Best Man, Sherlock."
Sherlock laughed, "Out of two people you could have asked, you chose me? Why?"
"You are my brother, Sherlock. You would be the most traditional choice." Mycroft replied defensively.
"I think it's a great idea." John spoke up, "We'll be going, won't we Sherlock?"
"Yes, I believe that day is free in our diary." Sherlock replied.
"Right, time to open the wine, I think!" Anthea said, getting to her feet. She walked to the kitchen and opened the bottle, pouring out four glasses. She handed one to John and Sherlock each before she sat down beside Mycroft and handed him a glass.
"Thank you, dear." he murmured, placing a kiss on her cheek and making her smile.
Sherlock made a vomiting noise from the other side of the room, "You two are disgusting. Do you have to be so lovey-dovey?" he muttered.
"Yes, actually." Anthea laughed.
John had chance to observe Mycroft and Anthea while they were distracted by Sherlock's antics. Mycroft was incredibly careful with Anthea. He was gentle and formal, being respectful but also offering small glimpses of affection. His hard poker face seemed to disappear when she was nearby. He sat quite casually beside his wife-to-be, his arm draped over the sofa behind her and his eyes regularly scanned her to check that all was well. John found it all incredibly sweet, despite Sherlock's teasing.
Mycroft's phone rang and he got to his feet, leaving the living room quickly to take the confidential call.
"How is he? With the cravings?" John asked quietly.
"Better." Anthea replied with a smile, "He still gets them and some days are worse than others, but he's not relapsed."
"And the PTSD?" Sherlock asked.
"He's dealing with it. He refuses therapy, of course, but he's making an effort to put away the negative memories." Anthea explained.
"How do you put up with him?" Sherlock asked with a frown.
"I don't put up with him. He's fun to be around and you know it." Anthea replied, "Don't pretend that you're cold towards him. You enjoyed helping him get clean, just as much as he enjoyed you being there."