Meanwhile at Mary's
Mary opened the door to reveal that she was wearing a black figure hugging dress, her short hair done in chic waves that framed her face.
"Hello my love," she smiled.
It took John a moment to find the words. "Holy Mary… Mary you look stunning." And you're a complete idiot John Watson.
She smiled. "Well thank you sir, I should dare say you're a handsome fellow yourself." They kissed tenderly. "Maybe I should invite you in for a quickie before my fiancé shows up."
John chuckled as Mary smiled. "Well, my fiancé is very, very beautiful and I love her very much; you see we're going to this birthday dinner and the birthday boy will not be in attendance." He pretended to study her for a moment. "You see, I plan to take her out to dinner and then later…" He pulled her close and leaned in to whisper suggestively, "I could have you for dessert."
"Promises, promises Mr. Watson."
"Oh, it's a promise I intend to keep, soon-to-be- Mrs. Watson." John smiled and pressed a kiss to that sweet spot on her neck that made her weak. He felt her slight shudder against him.
"We'll have none of that now sir. Why don't you come in and let me finish getting ready. It'll only take a moment."
John stood in the entryway waiting for Mary to gather her things. She walked around the corner with her coat, which he helped her put on and they were in the taxi within a minute.
They sat in silence, holding hands as John rubbed gentle circles along the pad of her palm. "Mary?"
"Hmmm?"
"Would you care to tell me about why you're so keen about Sherlock getting his present?"
"I told you John, I just wanted to know about his reaction to his gift." There was that little frown that let him know she wasn't being entirely honest.
"I gave it to him before I left," John admitted.
"Why did you do what?"
"Because to him, well maybe to just about everyone on the planet, this is a private thing. I doubt he'd be very happy about opening something like that in front of everyone. Remember Mary, this is the man who sees sentiment as a weakness and the body as transport."
She sighed. "I suppose you're right."
John stared at her for a moment. "Alright Mary, tell me the secret."
"There is no secret!" There was that little frown again.
"Yes there is. I can tell because you get this little frown line right here when you're not telling the whole truth." He pointed to the place just to the left of her right eyebrow. "So tell me what the problem is."
"Damn." She sighed and stared out the window for a moment, gathering her thoughts. John waited patiently for her to begin.
"Okay, but you have to promise me that you will not tell another living soul for as long as you live."
"Yes of course."
"Promise me John!"
"Jesus, yes I promise. Do you want me to pinky swear on it as well?"
She glared at him a bit before taking a deep breath and casting the cabby a quick glance. "You know those magazines we looked though in your office?"
"Yeah?" he prodded.
"Well I might have seen someone we know in one of them."
"Jesus, are you sure?" John looked a bit stunned.
"I'm very sure love."
"Was it Sally? Sarah?"
She shook her head. "Molly."
He giggled a bit hysterically before responding with disbelief. "No… you're joking… no way."
"I was just as surprised as you are right now."
John ran his hand over his face. "Oh Jesus, the box-"
"-I'm sure he knows by now."
"Oh bloody hell Mary why didn't you tell me?!"
"Because I thought it was time that Sherlock realized that... he fancies her."
"Sherlock Holmes?"
Mary nodded.
"We are talking about The Sherlock Holmes? Consulting detective?"
"Yes, John. I am."
"Really?! Are you sure?"
"Haven't you noticed the way he looks at her when he thinks nobody else is looking? How he has stopped insulting her and started treating her like she's… I don't know, special?"
John thought back to the first time Sherlock came back from the dead. He tried to remember the last time the consulting detective had commented on the size of her lips and breasts in a scathing manner. His eyes widened in shock. "Oh God, you're right. Do you think he could have liked her this whole time?"
She shrugged. "It's possible. He seems to be a man-child in many ways still. Kind of like a boy pulling plaits to show a girl he likes her."
"Oh gods help us."
She smiled at him as the cab pulled up to the curb.
John's sigh was deep and heavy. "What am I going to tell Molly?"
"You're not going to say anything about it."
"Well I just can't keep this quiet! Sherlock will surely-"
"-be too embarrassed about the whole thing and won't say a word. You don't want to embarrass Molly, do you?"
"God, no."
"Ergo, we keep this to ourselves. I may bring it up in conversation when the time is right, but it will be after Sherlock makes a move."
"How can you be sure he will?"
She smiled. "I just am."
They entered Angelo's and sitting there, chatting with Lestrade, was one half of the subject in question. It was hard for John to wrap his head around the fact that sweet Molly had once posed naked in a magazine… It just goes to show you that it's always the quiet ones who surprise you, he thought.
A few minutes earlier
Molly and Greg sat at the table inside Angelo's, waiting for the rest of their party arrive.
"So how have you been?" Molly began as she took a sip of water.
"Oh fine, great really; how about you?"
"I'm good, busy as usual but then again as long as people die, I'll never be out of a job." She smiled.
"Yeah, I know what you mean."
They talked a bit more, Molly asking about his wife and kids. Greg positively beamed with joy. They had gotten marriage counseling and were working things out. His daughter was preparing to take her GCE's, while his son was captain of his football team.
"Well, enough about me. What about you? Is there a special someone in your life right now?"
"No, not really; I've dated a bit but they didn't really work out."
"Oh. Sorry."
"No, it's fine." There was an awkward moment of silence. "So do you know if Sherlock is going to show?"
He shrugged. "You never can tell with Sherlock, can you?"
"Right." Molly gazed down at her hands for a moment before looking out the window.
Greg couldn't help but notice a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"Oh look, there's John and Mary." Molly pointed towards the window where she could see them exiting the cab.
Greg raised his hand and waved at the pair who weaved their way through the tables.
Greetings were exchanged before Greg asked the question: "Is Sherlock not coming then?"
"No, he said he had some uh, experiments that he was working on."
"What about Mrs. Hudson?"
"Visiting her sister in the country but, she sends her love."
Angelo headed over with a bottle of wine. "Here we are Inspector, our house wine. Anything you want is on the house. I'll be back when you're ready to order."
"Thanks Angelo." He took the bottle from him, tilting it a bit in the air. "Hope you don't mind that I ordered a bottle?"
"Oh no, it's fine, I need a drink after today," John sighed.
"Yeah, well being friends with Sherlock isn't always easy." Greg chuckled as he poured wine in glasses and handed them out.
"No it is not." John accepted his with a nod and a slight toast.
"Was it a case?" Molly asked before taking a sip of her wine.
"No um…" He could feel his palms begin to sweat.
"It was absolutely mad today," Mary covered as she gently rubbed his shoulder. "He's just a bit tired."
"Yeah, just a bit." John took a big gulp of wine. He turned towards Mary and smiled. He was grateful for not only her quick cover story, but about not showing him Molly's picture. Not to mention that Sherlock no doubt knew by now. Hell, he was just grateful that she was going to be his wife. She was right, he was lucky to have her.
Oh God, Sherlock now knows what Molly looks like naked. NO, he wasn't going to think about that right now because he planned to get pissed… and fast. No thinking about Sherlock and his stash of porn or naked Molly… none. He was going to need lots more wine.
By the time midnight came around, Molly was pleasantly buzzed while Greg was completely sloshed. John and Mary were no better off than Greg; not to mention they were mere millimeters away from snogging on the table in front of the entire restaurant. Well, at least the few remaining patrons that were there.
Molly sighed and pushed away from the table "Well I do believe that I am going to call it a night." She looked at the drunken trio. "Do you need me to call you a cab?"
The trio nodded and murmured their thanks.
"Oh bollocks…" John sighed. "I forgot need to take Sherlock his gifts."
"I could do it," Molly volunteered.
John stared at her a bit bleary before shaking his head. "No, no; I've got it."
"It's no trouble at all; happy to do it." She smiled.
John was about to protest when Mary squeezed his thigh in warning and replied on his behalf. "Thank you so much Molly. That would be wonderful."