"John."
"Yes?"
"John."
"Mm?"
"John!"
John jerkily awoke from his sleep and he sat up in his bed, "You were thrashing around, another nightmare." the voice in the darkness says, she was used to it, she'd have to be used to it, they were getting married in a week's time.
"Sorry, Mary, I'm not really tired anymore, I'm going to go read," he slid out of bed and checked the clock. 3o'clock, Jesus, He thought to himself, it's getting harder to stay asleep at nights, "Sleep well." He whispers to Mary before stepping out of the room and making himself a coffee, he closed the door, her breathing was already slow and even, how could she sleep?
He walked to the kitchen, this is getting ridiculous, I need to take something for this. He made himself a cup of tea and sat down on the big couch. The room had been redecorated from the days with Sherlock; everything had a feminine touch now. He pulled out the book he was reading and continued from where he'd left off.
The words danced around in his mind, entrancing him in the story and urging him to read even more, after what seemed like mere minutes of reading he looked at the clock, 7o'clock, he sighed. He wanted to read more but he had to put the book down.
Today was it, Mary would go to her parents and the next day they would be married. John thought of himself standing at the altar, his dark suit crinkled at the knees from where he'd been sitting. He could see Mary walking down the aisle, he hadn't seen her dress yet but he was sure that it would be spectacular; it would define her rich figure, and probably bring out a sparkle in her eyes.
He walked back through to the bedroom, "Mary," He softly rubbed her shoulder, "Time to wake up. Greg will be here soon and then you have to go to your parents," he kissed her lightly and watched as her eyelids fluttered open.
"I'm up," she whispered, she sat up slowly and looked at John, "You didn't get any sleep, did you?" she asked, "I'm worried about you." Genuine care filled her eyes as she stood up and stretched.
"I'm fine, I read my book, it's good." He smiled at her and enveloped her in a hug. "I'll make eggs." John whispered in her ears.
She pulled away and got dressed, her gaze followed John as he crossed the bedroom but was pulled back to her wardrobe. She walked out in a light pink top with butterflies flying around the arms and some casual jeans with pink dolly shoes.
"You look beautiful." John looked up from the stove and grinned at her before staring back at the eggs. "I've just been texting Greg, he says that he'll be a little bit late so we have time to ourselves." He grinned and put some bacon on the plates, the eggs were still cooking. The smell filled the room, he enjoyed cooking, that was something he never got to do with Sherlock, eating only slowed Sherlock down. STOP IT JOHN. Stop comparing your life with Mary to your life with him. He pushed the plate to Mary, "Egg's will be done soon." And he walked back over to flip his own bacon.
"What was it about this time? Your nightmare." She tried to sound nonchalant as she buttered some bread but she failed, that's another thing about her, you can always tell what she's thinking, not like Sherlock. Stop.
"The usual, I keep seeing that day, Mary." He sighed and watched the bacon sizzle in the pan, "The one with Sher- him." He still couldn't bring himself to say his name.
"It's been three years, I'm not asking you to forget him, I'm just asking you to be happy, happy with what you have now." She said, she dumped the bread on her plate, next to the bacon, and walked over to hug John from behind. "I love you." She whispers.
"I love you too," he says, sighing, "I just wish he was here, to wish me all the best."
"I'm sure he would be, but he'd want you to be happy," she leaned up and kissed the back of his ear before sitting back down in her usual place and placing the bacon neatly in the bread.
"I know." He stood in silence until the food was done cooking, he then sat opposite Mary and placed some eggs on her plate. "It's tomorrow, Mary. This time tomorrow I'll be getting ready to marry the most beautiful woman alive."
"I thought it was our wedding, who are you marrying?" She giggled as she finished off the bacon sandwich.
"You are beautiful, and amazing, and perfect. How did I ever manage to catch you?" he said, placing a piece of egg in his mouth and staring softly at Mary.
"I honestly don't know, I just know that I love you." She stood up and put her plate in the sink before going to get her bag, "I'd better leave before Greg gets here, best man duties will start right away." She carried the suitcase behind her to the door, followed by John.
"I'll see you tomorrow," He sighed happily as he pulled her in for a hug,
"Don't be late." She laughed, he was the one to pull away this time and as she stepped out of the flat and turned the corner he wondered how he had been lucky enough to get someone who he loved so much.
He stepped back into the flat and sat down to his bacon and eggs, he did the dishes slowly and after that felt so drained that he just wanted to climb into bed. When Greg arrived he finally perked up a bit.
"John!" Greg said at the door as he walked in. "Very big day tomorrow, need you to be prepped!" He shouts as he walks into the living room to where John was sat reading his book.
"Yes, big day, prepped." He mumbled, his eyes not moving from the page.
"John, book now." Greg stuck his hand out but when he got no response went forward and pulled the book away. "We have a stag do to get ready for!" He said, he had a night planned, a big, boisterous night where John, whether he liked it or not, would have fun. God knows he needed it.
"Okay, okay." He stood up and stretched. "Mary's already gone to her parents, she's getting ready for tomorrow." The thought of his fiancée made John smile and he looked to Greg, "So, what's on the agenda of tonight?"
"Just wait until you see her." Greg said, he took his place next to John at the altar and was speaking about Mary, the organ had just started to play and the wide doors were opening.
Johns breathing slowed, he looked at Mary as she walked down the aisle, it was so precise it was like she was floating. He dress clung to the upper part of her body and had a train flouncing out behind her. The veil was thin enough so John could see her smiling face, light pink lipstick, the exact same colour as the roses, An unconscious decision or one that she's put there purposely. Sherlock's voice played from a Christmas party ages ago. Stop. John thought. He stared at Mary as she made her way towards him, a wide grin spread across his face.
She stopped opposite him. "You look amazing." He whispered as he lifted her veil.
The ceremony was a blur until the time came for them to both say the two important words.
"Do you, Mary Morstan, take John Watson to be your beloved husband?" The pastor said, his voice the only sound in the church.
"I do." She said, smiling at John, she slid the ring on Johns ring finger and looked at him.
"And do you, John Watson, take Mary Morstan to be your beloved wife?" You could hear a pin drop in the silence that followed.
"I do..." He was cut off by the wide doors being pushed open, he pulled Mary close to his side as he turned to face the doors.
"Stop!" A voice shouted, a voice that made everyone gasp and turn to face where it was coming from, his hands were raised and he had on a dark, blue scarf. "I don't want to miss the best bits." He said. He stood by the doors, his dark curls a mess on his head.
"Sher—Sherlock?" John chokes out, he dropped the wedding ring that he was about to put on Marys finger and it clattered to the floor, the room was silent except for the sound of the ring hitting the floor.