Prologue- Does your Mother know?

Well I can dance with you honey, if you think it's funny. Does your mother know that you're out?

Keira Holmes paced her bedroom floor, nervously. She was a beautiful young lady, her golden hair falling in cascades around her round face, green eyes shining like sapphires. She didn't know why, but she was nervous. It was like someone had unleased a pit of snakes in her stomach. She had no reason to be nervous. In little over a year, she would be marrying her best friend and the love of her life and yet, she couldn't help having this overwhelming sense that something was wrong. Deep down, she knew what it was, but her consciousness wouldn't admit it to herself.

You see, Keira and her twin sister, along with their elder brother, had been all but raised by their mother. Their father, Mycroft, was absent a lot, having not wanted children himself. Tragedy had struck the family, not long after Daniel left school when their mother became ill and lost her battle with lung cancer. It had always been Keira's dream to have her mother at her wedding, to hold her hand, to help her make the choices she needed to make. But now, she was having to face all of this alone, well not really alone, she had a huge extended family and plenty of friends, but she felt alone.

Keira stopped pacing. She knew what to do. She rushed to her bedside table and picked up her phone and she called the one person who would help her.

I was sat in my living room in Kingston-Upon-Thames. My husband was at work, my eldest child in school and my daughter was playing quietly on the floor. Life had eventually been kind to me. An orphan at the age of 11, I had found a family, albeit odd and dysfunctional, in Sherlock and Molly Holmes which led me to meet Daniel. We had been married since 19 and we were blessed with two beautiful children. Soon after our daughter, Felicity, had been born, I gave up her work and stayed at home, something I found oddly satisfying. I loved my life and my family and all the gifts that I had been given.

I finished my tea and put down my mug. I looked at her daughter on the floor and smiled. I could see myself in Fliss, more than I could my son, who was the image of his father, but Fliss was more like her mother. I slid off my chair and shuffled to where Fliss was sat. She was a beautiful and caring three-year-old, with vibrant red hair and mellow chocolate brown eyes. She had been playing with her brother's action figures but now had Captain America, Thor and the Hulk having a tea party with her Ariel and Moana dolls. My children's imaginations will never cease to amaze me. Smiling, I just sat quietly and watch Fliss play. I had no idea how much time had lapsed or that time was passing at all until my phone rang. I reached up to check the caller ID and seeing that it was my sister-in-law, I answered it.

"Hey Keira, how are you?"

I'm good, Abi, how are you doing? How's my niece?

"She's good. We're actually having a tea party."

Ah cool. I'm jealous!

"I'm sure you can come next time, hey Fliss. Can Aunty Keira come to our next tea party?"

Fliss nodded. "Aunty Kee can come anytime she wants to."

"You hear that K, you are welcome anytime."

That's great, Fliss. I'll definitely come next time, sweetie.

"What can I do for you Keira?" I asked, walking into the kitchen.

I don't know if you can do anything Abi. I honestly don't know what to do myself. I can't talk to Mol about this, Dad wouldn't understand, Greg would try but he wouldn't get it either, and you are the only other person that I know of who has been through something like this so…

"You're worried about getting married without your mum aren't you? I asked, knowing instantly what her rambles were about.

Keira breathed audiably on the end of the phone. Yes. Yes I am.

I sighed, "Keira, you don't need to be worried, you have a huge network of people around you. I'm here, so is Dan. I wouldn't worry about your dad as you know that he is supporting you in his own way. And I know that Jessica is looking down on you and she would be so proud of the woman that you have become. She would K, because I am so proud of the woman that you have become. You are a talented actress, look at all that you have achieved in the last few years. You've been to Broadway and tackled the West End, you've even had your first lead role. And now you are marrying the love of your life. You can do this K!"

It's just I never imagined I would be getting married without my mum, you know?

"You never do. I never imagined I would get married without mine. But you have two amazing fathers, a doting brother and a loving twin sister. We're all behind you, K! You can do this. Matthew loves you, you love him. That's all you need. The rest of us are secondary. Jessica will be looking down on all of us. I know that. I believe that. Now all you need to do is believe it!"

Thanks Abi. You always know what to say!

"Anytime, Keira, you know that."

Enjoy your tea party.

"I'm sure we will!"

Talking to Abi had helped to calm Keira down. She grabbed her bag and her bag and headed out of her flat. She paced the familiar route to her nearest tube station and headed into the city.

When she got there, she made her way to the cemetery where her mother was buried, having bought a bouquet of flowers from a Marks and Spencer's on the way. She didn't like going to the cemetery, but she felt that she owed it to her mother to go and tell her that she was getting married and that she was ok.

She made it to the right grave and smiled, "Hey Mum." She says, placing the flowers down at the foot of the grave. "How have you been?" She laughs, "Sorry old habits! I just wanted to come down to tell you that I'm getting married in a few months. You'd like him, mum. Matthew. He's who you would have chosen for your little girl. He's kind and funny and caring. He always puts me first. Matthew works in the theatre too! That's how we met, working in the theatre. We started dating just before we got cast in Romeo and Juliet. He asked me to marry him on the stage in Glasgow after sneaking into the company while I was on tour in Jesus Christ Superstar. He loves me, mum and I love him. I know you would have wanted to be here to see this, but I know that you are watching me and I know that you are always with me. I love you, mum and I miss you. Lots."

And with that, she turned her back on the grave and headed towards the Novello Theatre, ready for tonight's performance.

Coincidently, it was also about a young woman, who was getting ready to marry the man of her dreams…

And I can chat with you baby. Flirt a little maybe. Does your mother know that you're out?