AN: Okay, this story is officially a run-away train, no stopping it once it gets in motion, no matter how hard I try. No idea how many chapters it'll end up as, but this probably won't be the last. Thanks to Di The Creator for pushing me into writing this one ;)


"Well she's finally asleep." Mary sighed coming back into the living room, giving a weary sigh to her husband on the sofa.

"Mm, but for how long?" He grimaced, putting his arm around her as she dropped down beside him.

"Probably a couple of hours… I wonder what we could do in that time?" She replied with a cheeky grin, turning her face to him and leaning in. John gave a throaty chuckle and leaned in the rest of the way to kiss her, pulling her deeper into his arms.

They broke apart at the sound of both their text tones chiming at once. John sighed, knowing exactly who it would be, as they both dug their phones out of their pockets and held them side by side to read. Sure enough, the message was identical.

The Diogenes Club, come at once if convenient. If inconvenient, come anyway. – SH

John sighed again, heaving himself up off the sofa.

"You stay here, I'll deal with this, whatever it is."

"What? No!" Mary jumped to her feet too, staring him down "He sent the text to both of us, he needs both of us. And I'm not pregnant anymore, so you have no excuse to keep side-lining me to protect me- "

"No, no, I'm not… I know you can look after yourself Mary, but someone has to stay behind to keep an eye on Charlotte. I mean, where are we going to find a babysitter at this short notice? I know Mrs Hudson said we could drop her off any time, but she's probably had her evening soother by now and-" He was cut off by another chime from both of their phones.

Bring the infant if you have to, it won't be dangerous. – SH

"Well that settles it." Mary sad with a triumphant grin "You get the car started, I'll see if I can get her into the carry cot without waking her."

"Sherlock and I have very different definitions of the word dangerous, you know!" John called after her as she skipped away, but it was no use. With a final eye roll at his phone, he grabbed his coat and went out to wait in the car for the girls.


All the lights save one were off as they pulled up to the Diogenes club. 'Anthea' was waiting for them by the door, and showed them through to the lit room. Mycroft was behind a large desk facing them, filling out a form of some kind, and on a plush sofa facing away from them were Sherlock and Molly, sitting unusually close. John was sure Sherlock would have heard their approach, but he didn't look round. Instead Mycroft looked up from his paperwork.

"Good evening, Mr and Mrs Watson. Now your witnesses are here, Sherlock, let's get this over with."
"Witnesses? What are we witnessing?" John asked in confusion.
Molly spun round on the sofa to face them, her smile brighter than John had ever seen it before.
"We're getting married!" She said enthusiastically, climbing to her feet and pulling Sherlock up with her, a sparkling engagement ring on the hand that held his to attest to her words.
Mary's jaw dropped, while John's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. Mary was first to regain her senses, rushing over to Molly with a big smile to offer her congratulations and putting Charlottes cot down by the sofa so she could take a closer look at the ring. John struggled to rearrange his features into a still rather fake looking smile, his eyes sharpening on Sherlock.
"Sherlock, a word please?" He gestured to the hall with his head.
Sherlock rolled his eyes but followed him anyway, out into the darkened hall, but close enough that their faces were illuminated by the light spilling out of the room. John's face was clearly unimpressed, while Sherlock maintained a bored look.
"Okay, what's going on?" John demanded.
"As Molly just announced, we're getting married. Legally we needed to have two witnesses so -"
"No, I got that bit. But why? You've never shown any interest in pursuing a proper romantic relationship, certainly not with Molly, therefore I can only assume you have some ulterior motive. What is it, a case? An experiment?"
"No, John, this time there is no ulterior motive." Sherlock explained in his most condescending tone. "Although it will help me keep an eye on her so Moriarty can't try to get revenge for helping me fake my death, but that's not my sole reason for marrying her."
John considered this for a second, his eyes searching the detective, but finding nothing in his perfect poker face.
"Okay then, what is your motive? Why are you marrying Molly?"
Sherlock's brows pulled together, trying to decipher John's meaning.
"Because she's moderately intelligent, she understands the importance of my work, she - "
"Hmm, not bad, but that's not what I'm asking. It's three simple words, Sherlock, but if I don't hear you say them - and mean them – then I am not signing anything to help you make this legal."
Sherlock knew what he was asking. He wanted to hear Sherlock say the 'L' word. He straightened his back and met John's eye steadily.
"No."
John shook his head, disappointment written all over his face. "Sherlock..."
"I haven't even said those words to her yet. She should be the first to hear them, and I am not ready for that yet. But she knows it's true, and that's good enough for her. WHY can't it be good enough for you?" The volume rose through the explanation and ended in a shout, causing John's eyebrows to rise and a small smile to creep onto his face.
"Actually, that'll about do it." He conceded. "Come on, let's go get you hitched." He started to walk back into the room, expecting Sherlock to follow, but stopped when he noticed him hanging back in the shadows, taking a few big breaths while he could.
"Getting cold feet?" John gently teased.
"Absolutely not." Sherlock asserted, marching past John into the room, where the girls had been having a similar conversation.


"Wow, I can't believe it. You and Sherlock getting married! I didn't even realise you were dating. What, were you keeping it secret?" Mary asked.

Molly, bit her lip, blushing slightly. "Uh, no actually, we never really… he didn't see the point in dating, since we've already been friends so long. He only just told me today that he was even interested in me and … here we are."

"Wow that was… quick." Mary replied, looking slightly alarmed. "Listen, not wanting to sound like I'm not happy for you, because I am, and I've seen the way you look at each other, and the way he talks about you, and believe me it's been a long time coming… but don't you think you're taking things a bit fast? I mean married life is…" She glanced towards the door to make sure her husband wasn't on his way back in "…it's hard work, and it's going to be twice as difficult with someone like Sherlock. Are you sure you don't want to take some more time to think about this?"

Molly shook her head, her smile not even slightly dampened by Mary's doubts. "I have thought about it. I've been thinking about it a long time. I've known Sherlock a long time, I know what he's like. There will be days where he'll make me want to scream, and days where he'll make me cry, and days where he'll give me a heart attack by coming home dripping with blood. But I wouldn't miss any of it, because he's worth it." She paused at the sound of him shouting at John just outside the room, the side of her mouth pulling up in an affectionate smile as she looked back at the door. "And I don't think there's many other women out there who can understand and tolerate him like I do, and I know there's no other man out there who can make me feel alive as he does. I don't need any more time to think about it."

"Well then I'm very happy for you." Mary grinned, now even more certain that Sherlock would never find anyone more perfect. "And if John doesn't bring him back in here soon so you two can make this official I'm going to go out there and get them myself!"

"No need, Mary." Sherlock's voice rang out behind them as he strode back into the room, quickly taking his place beside Molly.

"Now you're all satisfied this is a real wedding, can we get this over with please?" Mycroft drawled, setting his pen down.

"Aww, Mycroft is getting all emotional, his little brother is getting married!" Mary teased, earning Mycroft's most unamused glare, as he got to his feet.

"We are gathered here today…"