Hey guys, I am SOOOO sorry that this took so long. I had massive writer's block then a massive dose of reality and I just didn't have time to write. Sadness. But I am back and I have a new chapter for you! Enjoy, and I hope it was worth the wait. More to come very soon. (Promise)

Over the next couple of months, Sherlock spent time with his children everywhere except in Molly's presence. He would "play" with them at Baker street on Mrs. Hudson's days, teaching them science and deductive reasoning. He was quite impressed with their learning capacity, given their age. Granted, he and his brother were the same, and Molly was quite clever in her own respect. The children continued to surprise him.

Sherlock pointedly avoided any and all contact with Molly. She had Tom and he was trying to respect that, no matter how hard it was for him to wrap his mind around. He had seen the man for two minutes tops and was thoroughly unimpressed. But Molly was smitten so Sherlock decided instead of being rude and obnoxious, he would keep his mouth shut, which meant staying far, far away from Molly.

After a time, Sherlock began busying himself with John and Mary's wedding. Not only did it get his mind off Molly, but it made John happy, and after his stunt at St. Bart's, he owed John. Mary was a lovely lady and Sherlock whole heartedly approved of the match. Added to this, his own children were head over heels for her.

Sherlock had learned in his four months of being a father that children knew things. They were the best detectives - able to look at a person and know whether or not that person was worthy of them. He still was trying to figure out how children of the age of two were able to do in moments what he had spent his life learning. And his children trusted Mary, and that was good enough for him.

His children also trusted him, which gave him flutters of happiness - not that he'd admit that to anyone.

Violet was forever coming to him to kiss this hurt better and hug that pain away. He knew that his affection in no way relieved any physical pain she might be feeling, but it made him feel important anyhow. Benjamin, on the other hand, was always watching him silently. He hardly ever spoke to Sherlock, and when he did, it was memorable.

"You love Mummy?" he had asked Sherlock one day. Sherlock had stared at him blankly and said nothing. Ben had held his stare and finally answered himself. "Make Tom go. You are Daddy. Love Mummy and make Tom go."

Sherlock had been speechless, not so easily accomplished.

On the day of John's bachelor party Sherlock was thoroughly excited. He and John went to four different pubs and were home by ten. In his drunken state, Sherlock confessed his feelings for Molly to John, who replied, "Umm, Sherlock, everyone knows this except you and Molly."

Finally it was the day of John and Mary's wedding and Sherlock was a bundle of nerves. His best friend was getting married and he was the best man. Him. Sherlock Holmes. He had been utterly confused when John had asked him, spouting off on how any other man would be better suited for the job, but John had had faith in him, and so had Mary.

Ben and Violet had sat on his lap while he had tried to write his speech but had only succeeded in distracting him from what he was supposed to be doing. Finally he had given the children to Mrs. Hudson and had phoned Lestrade. Surely he would know what to do. How to make this speech-writing thing work.

Molly showed up with Tom and the children were playing with Archie, the ring bearer. The wedding had gone smoothly and the reception was about to begin, when Molly sought Sherlock out for a brief moment.

"What are you going to do now that John will always be with Mary?" Molly asked him.

Sherlock glanced at her briefly, any longer than a moment hurt him too much, though he'd never admit it. She was wearing a bright yellow dress with a matching bow holding up her hair. It fit her personality, if not her complexion. He saw how happy she was and knew that a lot of that was caused by Tom. It made his insides squirm.

"Nothing will change," was all he replied before walking away and not looking back at her.

The dancing had begun and Sherlock was not feeling up to staying at the party. He looked around at all of his friends, all of whom were having a great time, without him. No one would notice if he left. He grabbed his coat at the front door and started to leave. He made it halfway down the sidewalk to the main road and remembered Violet and Ben. He turned back around to go say goodnight to his children.

They had been playing with Archie for a good portion of the day but they were sleepy after the long day and Molly had put them in one of the rooms upstairs to calm down and try to sleep. When Sherlock got to the proper room, it was locked. He didn't want to bother Molly so he just picked the lock and went inside.

"Daddy!" Violet shrieked and jumped on him almost immediately. Ben was hot on her heels and hugged Sherlock's leg tightly.

"Daddy, go home now?" Ben asked looking up at his father.

"Er, your mother is still at the party and I am just going back to my place,"

"Go Baker Street, Daddy," Ben said. "Please?"

Sherlock hesitated. He had only come up to hug and kiss them before going back home to work on the cases that had been piling up while he had helped with the wedding. But looking from Ben to Violet and back and seeing the hope and anxiety in their faces, he nodded. Today had been trying for everyone and he wanted them to feel safe and happy. He helped them don their coats and shoes and ushered them out of the room, after scribbling a note to Molly telling her that the twins were with him at Baker Street and she could pick them up in the morning.

He took hold of their hands, one hand in each of his, and together they walked out of the church hall and walked to the road and hailed a cab that took them back to Baker Street. When they got to his flat, Sherlock unlocked the door and took them up to John's old room and made it up for them, as best he could. They took off their coats and shoes and Sherlock went to his room and grabbed two of his shirts for them to wear to bed.

The twins convinced Sherlock to snuggle with them in John's old bed and tell them stories until they fell asleep. They laid there for almost an hour with Sherlock telling them stories of a young boy and his dog, Redbeard, and the adventures they had together. The twins fell asleep cuddled into Sherlock's sides so when they were finally asleep, he was stuck between his two little bundles of joy. He laid there for a while just thinking of how differently his life would be had he and Molly not had their night together. It surprised him how much he resented the idea of never having Molly or the twins. He fell asleep imagining his twins and John's children playing together.