Author's note: This is a two-part story. I usually attend Good Friday service (and sing a solo) but unfortunately I have an opera rehearsal this year which conflicts with that :( For those of you who are having an Easter break, remember the reason why it's there, and I encourage my readers, if they do not really understand the meaning of Good Friday, to read the Biblical account of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Update 5/6/19: Once again, I am pleased to add another wonderful title cover by the very talented Elizabeth Robello. She created a landscape image which includes John and Rosie, but unfortunately I was unable to include them in the picture due to the portrait style nature of these title covers. For the full picture, please go to my Tumblr account under my same name.

Molly stood in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing her teeth. Her stomach kept churning, it had been feeling queasy for a couple hours now, even though she had finished dinner an hour earlier. At the Good Friday service this evening, she would be singing a solo for the first time since the previous Easter. That probably explained the butterflies in her stomach.

Sherlock's voice came drifting towards her from the sitting room. "Sweetheart, we have to leave in half an hour for church if you want to get there in time to check your sound levels. If you want me to braid your hair for you, you'll have to hurry."

Molly quickly rinsed out her mouth and took several deep breaths, trying to quell that nausea. She hoped she could remember the words of the song properly. "I'll be right out, Sherlock," she called back, returning her toothbrush to its holder.

She loved it when Sherlock braided her hair, he had become quite adept at it since he had learned how to do it via YouTube during their engagement.

She walked into the sitting room to find Sherlock already seated in his chair with his elbows on his knees, waiting for her to sit on the floor in front of him as she always did when he braided her hair. Victoria was in her playpen, doing a block puzzle which had animals on it. At 11 months old, it was obvious she was going to take after Sherlock. She inspected the blocks carefully, tracing her little finger over the shapes they made, before inserting them into the puzzle. This process usually kept her quite happily occupied for at least ten minutes.

"I'm ready," announced Molly, sitting herself cross-legged in front of Sherlock.

He began to brush through her hair to make sure it was free of knots and asked, "French or Dutch braid, love?"

Molly thought a moment. She normally opted for the French braid, but decided to choose the opposite this time. "Dutch, I think," she responded.

She sat patiently as Sherlock skillfully wove her hair into a braid, going from one side of the top of her head and angling it so it fell over her left shoulder. In the beginning, he had required her help as a third hand to hold the extra pieces of hair, but he now did it without assistance. After he had placed a headband around the end of her hair, Molly fingered it. Perfect, as always.

She stood and turned to Sherlock then sat on his lap, put her arms around his neck and kissed him.

"Thank you, sweetheart," she said, once their lips parted.

Sherlock smiled at her. "Best part of braiding your hair is always my reward," he quipped, and Molly grinned back at him.

Soon afterwards, they were ready to set off for church. Molly had tucked her accompaniment disc into her handbag. She still felt that nervous anticipation about singing a solo again. She had been asked to sing on several occasions since Victoria's birth, but had declined. Now though, as Victoria was no longer a tiny infant requiring so much attention, she felt ready to do so again. Sherlock was also doing one of the readings for the church service, but he seemed completely unconcerned, of course. He probably had the Bible verses already memorised, she thought with an inward smile.

Molly couldn't help making a little face as her stomach continued to churn during the taxi ride.

Sherlock peered over at her in concern. "You look a little pale, love. Is something wrong?"

Molly gave him a wry smile. "Not really, just nervous, I think. It's been quite a while since I've sung a solo. What if I forget my words?"

"You'll do fine," he assured her. "I've heard you practicing, and you sing through it perfectly every time."

She gave him a grateful smile. She thought about her favourite part of the song, At the Cross. "Actually, I really feel honoured that Pastor Briggs wanted me to introduce this song. The words are so powerful."

Sherlock nodded, absently running his thumb along the back of Victoria's hand. She was sitting between them, as usual, and now that she had outgrown her car carrier, he liked to always be holding her in some way, just in case the taxi had to make a sudden stop. Molly always appreciated his concern for their daughter that way. "I'm guessing your favourite part of the song is the same as mine," he commented. "When your love ran red and my skin washed white, I owe all to you," he quoted.

Molly smiled. He was indeed on the same page, and in fact, probably knew the whole song himself just from listening to her practicing. "You're right. I just love the imagery of that. The fact that Christ's love was so strong for us that he was willing to let his blood flow, and the way his blood cleansed us to make us white as snow in front of God is so powerful. It really brings home to me his sacrifice for us. In fact, sometimes it brings tears to my eyes thinking about it."

Sherlock stopped stroking Victoria's hand to reach over further and take Molly's. "One of the things I love most about you is your soft-hearted nature. You've always been so in touch with your emotions," here he quirked his lips, "unlike me."

Molly smirked. That might have been the old Sherlock, definitely not the one who sat with her now. Once those emotions had been unlocked at Sherrinford he had embraced them and never looked back.

Victoria made a sound of protest at her daddy no longer holding onto her, and he quickly released Molly's hand to resume stroking Victoria's soothingly, "Demanding child," he murmured fondly.

In response to Sherlock's comment about her soft-hearted nature, Molly said, "I can't help it. Good Friday is always one of the most difficult days of the year for me, because it reminds me of the pain that Jesus suffered for us in order to redeem us. I just wish that more people would know about his redeeming love, and the hope it gives us that we will spend eternity with him after we have left this earth."

"I know, love. But all we can do as Christians is to plant seeds. It's up to the Holy Spirit to water them. We can just pray that by setting an example and living lives that give glory to God will help others understand there is value and merit to living as ambassadors for the truth of the Bible."

Molly stared at Sherlock in awe. Less than two years before he had been a self-proclaimed atheist, and here he was showing his heart change in a very obvious way. She felt even more blessed than ever before. His wisdom and knowledge of the Bible had grown exponentially since he had become a Christian as they read the Bible together. This year they had even begun the challenge of "reading through the Bible in one year" as set forth in their Our Daily Breadd devotional book. They didn't always manage to read the daily devotion, but if they missed a day or two, they would catch up with it, as well as the Bible readings.

Becoming a Christian had not at all negatively impacted Sherlock as a detective. He was still brilliant and focussed on his observational skills during a case. The difference now was that he also had empathy and could understand motivations better. Before, everything had been looked at through the filter of clinical logic, while now he could see things as they were in more than just the outward appearance.

His relationship with John as they worked together had also improved significantly since they had become partners again. Yes, on occasion, Sherlock would gripe to Molly that John had missed something obvious or found it difficult to follow his train of thought, but he never made fun of his friend, or made rude comments to his face. That was fine with Molly, everyone needed an outlet to vent their frustrations sometimes. Far better for Sherlock to complain a little to her about John, than for him to risk offending his friend.

As soon as they arrived at church and had reached the nave, Molly said to Sherlock, who was holding Victoria, "Can you just go and let the person at the sound desk know I'll be right there? I want to duck to the loo first." Service was due to start at seven-thirty and they were a half hour early so there was plenty of time before people started arriving.

"Can do," he responded, taking the changing bag from her and slinging it over his free shoulder.

Molly left him and headed for the ladies toilets.

Once there, she contemplated whether she needed to be sick, but felt it wasn't too bad, so she just splashed some water on her face and felt a little better, then returned to the nave and handed the sound technician her accompaniment track.

After a quick sound check to make sure the mike volume was set correctly and the music so she could hear both in the monitor, Molly went to sit beside Sherlock, who was already in their usual pew. "Sound okay?" she queried of her husband.

"You'll do great, love," responded Sherlock.

Victoria added an enthusiastic "Mama!"

The church began to slowly fill as people entered. Five minutes before the service was due to start, John and Kayla entered with Rosie and their one-month-old son, Adam, in his car carrier. As usual, they came over to sit beside the Holmes family. Molly could see that Kayla and John were definitely sleep deprived, there were lines of fatigue around both their eyes, and she could definitely sympathise. Victoria was sleeping better now than she had in the beginning, but she still often woke in the middle of the night for a feeding. The time was coming when she would have to wean the baby. Molly had decided that one year was enough, and after that, Victoria would have to get used to no longer having the comfort of breast milk at night.

The two couples chatted quietly, while Rosie played peekaboo with Victoria, who giggled. Adam fortunately was sound asleep in his car carrier.

The church service began with the hymn, When I survey the wondrous Cross.

Molly's solo was the only contemporary song scheduled and Sherlock was doing the reading that preceded her song.

The service progressed and soon it was time for Sherlock to do his reading. Victoria had been sitting on his lap, and when he tried to pass her to Molly, she refused to leave him, putting her arms around his neck and clinging to him like a limpet. Without batting an eye, he stood with his daughter and walked to the front of the church, with her still hanging off of him. There were several titters of amusement despite the sombre tone of the service.

Sherlock balanced Victoria on his hip and read aloud, using the prepared sheet of readings that were sitting at the lectern.

"This reading is from Romans Five, verses six to ten," he said, looking out at the congregation.

Molly noticed Sherlock only needed to glance twice at the sheet before him for reference while reading. She was not surprised that he had pretty well memorised what he was to say, and his rich timbred voice rang through the church.

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!"

As soon as Sherlock had finished speaking, Molly began to walk to the front of the church, even as Sherlock made his way back to their pew. Victoria made as if she would reach for Molly, but Sherlock held onto her firmly. Molly could feel her knees trembling slightly and her stomach had butterflies again, which she had forgotten about while listening to her husband speak.

The music started and she began to sing, growing more confident as she went through this song, especially when she reached the chorus.

"At the cross, at the cross, I surrender my life. I'm in awe of you.." she sang, continuing on to the words she had talked about with Sherlock in the taxi.

Her heart was full as she began the second verse.

"There's a place where sin and shame are powerless; where my heart has peace with God and forgiveness."

She continued to sing, feeling the Holy Spirit within herself as the powerful words rang out in the same way Sherlock's own voice had done during his reading. At the conclusion of the song, Molly's legs were still trembling, as they often did when she felt the presence of God so strongly.

She walked back quietly to the pew as the next reader came up.

"Great job," whispered Kayla, bending towards her, and John added his own words of admiration. It was only the third time he had heard her sing a solo. The first time had been during her wedding reception, when she had sung a Shania Twain song for Sherlock called From this moment on, and the second had been at the previous Easter service.

"Wow, I forgot you are a woman of many talents," he said quietly, even as Sherlock kissed her cheek.

"I knew you could do it, sweetheart," he whispered into her ear.

Even Rosie said, "Pretty, Auntie Molly," a little more loudly than she should have, and John shushed her.

Molly felt herself relax as the service continued and at last drew to its conclusion. Fortunately, now that her solo was over, she no longer had that queasy sensation in her stomach.

A final hymn was sung, The old rugged Cross, after which the single Christ candle burning on the altar was snuffed out, to signify Jesus' death, and the service was over.

People stood and filed out quietly in the darkness, while Rosie wondered aloud, looking around, "It's night night?"

Kayla answered her softly, lifting her step-daughter into her arms, as John was holding the car carrier with baby Adam who had slept through the whole service. "No, darling, not yet."

Of course, Rosie was still too young to understand what the service was about, but Molly was very glad that she would get the opportunity to learn about Jesus as she grew up, now that John was a regular attender at their church as well, since becoming a Christian himself the previous year. She glanced over at Victoria, who had continued to sit with Sherlock throughout the remainder of the service, and was now being carried by him. Victoria was so obviously a daddy's girl, and sometimes Molly felt that she was nothing more than a milk machine for their daughter, who seemed to gravitate towards Sherlock most of the time. Molly wasn't really jealous though, she knew Sherlock had felt, at times, a little under-appreciated in the past, and the extra attention from his daughter had definitely served to improve his mood in general on that score.

As the two couples stood outside the church, Molly peeked in to look at Adam. He was such a sweet little baby, she thought. It was hard to believe that Victoria had been that small only ten months earlier herself. Actually, she had not been much smaller than Adam was at a month old, because she was nine pounds at birth. Of course, she had made her appearance nine days late. Molly laid a delicate finger against the sleeping baby's cheek. "Bye-bye, sweetie." Then she gave her goddaughter a kiss goodbye as well, after which Kayla walked over to Sherlock to giveVictoria a farewell kiss.

"See you on Sunday then?" Sherlock was asking John as the women were saying their goodbyes.

"I expect so," said his friend with a tired smile. "As long as Adam doesn't mix up his days and nights again and keep us up all night as he did last night. That's the only reason he stayed asleep for the whole service."

"Well, we had best get going before Adam wakes up or he will be screaming to be fed on the way home," commented Kayla.

Molly watched the other couple head down the street towards their car, as Sherlock raised his hand to a passing taxi.

Once they were inside the taxi, Molly said to Sherlock, "I suppose when we get a house of our own we will need a car as well. It would certainly be more convenient than taking taxis everywhere."

Sherlock nodded. "Indeed, that is certainly something we will have to consider."

Upon arrival at home, Molly tackled the dishes from earlier which she had not had a chance to do, while Sherlock entertained their daughter. He had purchased some soft books for babies, and had her on his lap as he pointed at the pictures and said what they were. There were six of these books, and this time he had decided to educate Victoria about numbers.

"It's never too early for her to learn," he had explained, when the parcel had arrived in the post unexpectedly and Molly had opened it. She was not surprised. Sherlock was fully expecting their offspring to be a genius, as he was.

After she had finished the dishes, she watched her husband and daughter fondly for a few moments, then said, "I don't suppose you changed Victoria's nappy while I was doing the dishes?"

Sherlock gave her a sly glance. "Er, no, but I think she may have just dirtied it."

Molly rolled her eyes. As usual, he did everything possible to get out of changing dirty nappies.

She grabbed a nappy and wipes as well as the changing mat. "Alright, bring her over," Molly told him, when everything was ready, and Sherlock readily complied. A wave of nausea hit Molly as she changed Victoria which was a little unusual, seeing as she was used to the smell, but she swallowed and continued at her task. She hoped she wasn't coming down with something.

Once Victoria was freshly changed, Molly returned her to her father, and Sherlock spent a little more time "educating" his daughter, after which Molly got her into her sleep suit, then climbed onto the bed with her to breast-feed. Her milk supply was definitely dwindling now that she only breast-fed Victoria at night, but it was still the easiest way to get Victoria settled and ready for bed. It was their nightly routine.

Sherlock joined her in the bedroom, sat next to Molly on the bed, picked up his Bible as well as the Our Daily Bread devotional, then settled his extra pair of reading glasses onto his nose. This was The way they usually found the time to do the daily reading, and Molly especially enjoyed listening to Sherlock as he read aloud. His deep voice seemed to have an almost hypnotic effect on Victoria as well.

First, he read the Old Testament and New Testament readings for the day that were part of the schedule to read through the Bible in a year. Then he read that day's reading in the devotional.

This day's title was The Torn Veil. Sherlock read about the way the curtain that separated the outer temple from the holy of holies was torn from the top to the bottom after Jesus died.

He read, "That torn curtain symbolised the reality of the cross: a new way was now open to God! Jesus, the man on the cross, had shed his blood as the last sacrifice – the one true and sufficient sacrifice which allows all who believe in him to enjoy forgiveness and enter into a relationship with God."

Molly switched Victoria to the other breast as he continued to read. The baby's eyes were already drooping, and, as often happened, she fell asleep while suckling. Molly moved Victoria's head away just enough so she could re-fasten her maternity bra and then slid off the bed carefully, laying the baby down in her cot.

For a couple minutes, Sherlock and Molly discussed the day's devotion, then he went to the bathroom while Molly got ready for bed. Once he exited the bathroom, Molly went in to complete her own nightly ritual, brushing her teeth and removing her makeup.

She returned to the bedroom and joined her husband in bed, where he took her hair out of her braid so it fell in waves across her shoulders.

"I love your hair, Molly," he murmured, sweeping it aside to kiss her neck. "Don't ever cut it short."

Molly smirked. "You know our deal. As long as you always keep yours long enough so I can run my fingers through your curls, I'll keep my hair long for you."

"Anything to make you happy, my love." Sherlock reached to pull her close, then kissed her sweetly on the lips. They spent some time sharing their love for one another and finally joined Victoria in contented slumber.

Author's note: I hope you enjoyed this continuing glimpse into the lives of our favourite characters and their best friends. I always like the idea of Sherlock braiding Molly's hair.

If you would like to hear the song At the Cross, you can look it up on YouTube. It is by Chris Tomlin.

The Our Daily Bread reading is the actual one for this day too. Share your thoughts on this chapter and what Good Friday means to you.