Sherlock woke to the soft touch of Molly's lips on his cheek. He turned his head and captured her lips with his for a much more satisfying kiss.

"Time to get up for church," she said as she got out of bed.

The detective watched as his fiancée selected a cream silk blouse and softly flowing peasant skirt which was also cream coloured and had light pink flowers throughout. She took her clothes into the bathroom to change.

Sherlock decided it would be nice to wear colors that complemented the pathologist's ensemble. He got out of bed and found a cream colored shirt to wear with his usual dark suit. He contemplated wearing a tie, but decided it was not necessary. He had just finished dressing when the pathologist returned to the bedroom.

He let out a low whistle and Molly blushed. She looked feminine and beautiful as she always did. As her lips curved in that familiar smile, he wondered again why she had hung in there for so many years, until he came to his senses.

He watched as she found a pair of dangly pearl clip-on earrings in her jewellery box, which she put on to complete her ensemble. With her hair down, you couldn't even tell the pathologist was wearing them, but the detective decided not to say anything. Some day he would buy his Molly a pair of real pearl earrings that weren't just cheap clip-ons.

They ate breakfast at the table that had been Molly's until yesterday. It was strange to eat at a table. Before the explosion, his table had always been littered with a various assortment of scientific instruments, such as test tubes and beakers, and his microscope. Sherlock resolved to keep the table clean enough in future so there would always be room for them to sit at it.

After breakfast, he asked a little nervously, "So, what should I expect at this church service? Except for John's wedding and Rosie's christening, I haven't set foot in a church since I was a child."

"Our church service is quite non-traditional," replied Molly. "We start with some contemporary praise songs, listen to a couple Bible readings. Pastor Briggs will give a sermon. There's some prayer of course. We finish the service with a traditional hymn. Just follow my lead for standing and sitting. You'll be fine."

Sherlock wasn't sure if he would be fine. He felt like a child going to a new school. He would know nobody, and he was sure everyone would be looking at him. He wondered if people would recognize him and embarrass him. However, he kept those worries to himself.

The pair left for church at around nine-thirty and arrived twenty minutes later.

The first person to see them arrive was someone Sherlock thankfully had met. It was Molly's friend, Kayla.

"Hi, Sherlock," she greeted him warmly after giving her friend a hug hello. "It's great to see you here. I hope you will enjoy our service!"

Then the detective found himself being surrounded by a number of friendly people who all knew Molly very well, and who were anxious to meet her fiancé. Surprisingly, only one or two made mention of the fact that he was a well known figure in London. Most of the people seemed to genuinely be interested in him because he was with Molly, and therefore must be welcomed. Sherlock felt more relaxed after that.

Molly led Sherlock to a pew about halfway down the aisle. Sherlock looked around him with interest. This was the place where he would be making his vows in a few short weeks. He took a brief journey into his mind palace and thought back to his foolish words at John and Mary's wedding.

"I've never made a vow in my life, and after tonight, I never will again," he had said as he swore to always be there for John and Mary.

How sure of himself he had been. He had been certain he would remain a bachelor. After all, the woman who mattered the most to him was engaged to someone else.

He felt a little shiver of anticipation run through him at the thought of his sweet Molly walking down the aisle to him. That day could not come soon enough.

As if she could read his mind, Molly said, "I'm looking forward to it too, Sherlock." She squeezed his hand.

Whatever Sherlock had expected from a church service was nothing like what he experienced.

At the front of the church stood a man and woman with microphones who were leading the praise songs. Molly told him the man was Caleb and the woman was Abigail. Their voices were very good, at least as far as Sherlock could tell. They led the songs with confidence. There was a pianist, a drummer and a guitarist as well. Sherlock listened as Molly sang along. He had never heard her sing before. Her voice was just like he would have expected, sweet and melodic, clear with vibrato when she held a note. She could carry a tune with no problem, and it pleased the detective to hear it. He wondered if she had had singing lessons at some point. He observed that she exhibited diaphragmatic breath control and decided that was a pretty good indicator that Molly had indeed had some sort of vocal training at some point. He had never really tried his hand at singing, but he assumed he would be able to match pitch, due to his good ear for playing the violin, and for composing his own music. He'd have to try singing sometime. Maybe they could even do a duet together.

An idea struck him. He would look up on YouTube the wedding hymns that Molly had chosen and practice them so he could join in on their wedding day.

For now though, Sherlock let the music wash over him. He could tell that the people singing around him were not just paying lip service to the music. They sang sincerely and with reverence.

The first piece of music was "Shine, Jesus, Shine." The second one made the detective really think on its words. Some of the lyrics especially struck a chord within him.

It was "The Power of Your Love," written by Geoff Bullock.

"Let my heart be changed, renewed."

And then,

"The weaknesses I see in me

Will be stripped away

By the power of Your love."

The final verse included the words,

"Lord unveil my eyes, let me see you face to face."

The lyrics tugged at Sherlock's heart. He could see people around him, singing with their eyes closed, some with their arms raised. Molly was one of those who participated fully in that way and suddenly, he felt something. He felt a Presence. This was more than a church of people gathering to worship. He could feel that God was here. It was an extraordinary feeling and it terrified as well as intrigued him. This was something bigger than him. The detective felt he was on the cusp of a great revelation.

When the songs were finished and everyone sat down, Sherlock continued to think about the song, even as he dutifully followed Molly's lead when she stood or sat for various prayers.

When Pastor Briggs began his sermon, Sherlock resolved to pay attention.

"Today we are looking at the passage in Acts 17:22-27," he began.

"(22) Then Paul stood before the meeting of the Areopagus and said, 'People of Athens, I can see you are very religious in all things. (23) As I was going through your city, I saw the objects you worship. I found an altar that had these words written on it: TO A GOD WHO IS NOT KNOWN. You worship a god that you don't know, and this is the God I am telling you about! (24) The God who made the whole world and everything in it is the Lord of the land and the sky. He does not live in temples built by human hands. (25) This God is the One who gives life, breath, and everything else to people. He does not need any help from them; he has everything he needs. (26) God began by making one person, and from him came all the different people who live everywhere in the world. God decided exactly when and where they must live. (27) God wanted them to look for him and perhaps search all around for him and find him, though he is not far from any of us.'"

Then the pastor said, "There is a God-shaped hole in our hearts. Many of us attempt to fill it with other things, idols or addictions. Some people use drugs or alcohol to fill that void. Others fill it with mindless television or seek excitement in other ways, like sex or pornography." Sherlock sat up straight. It felt like the pastor was speaking directly to him when he had mentioned addiction.

"But no matter how hard we try to fill that hole with material things, it won't work. It's like fitting the wrong puzzle piece into an intricately shaped gap. You can twist and turn it, but unless you have the correct piece, you will never get it to fit. Only God can fit that hole correctly in the person of His son Jesus Christ. Jesus, who died on the cross for you and me can truly fill that hole, which many people consider an emptiness."

Sherlock thought about his own life. He had used drugs to get an artificial high. He had traded cigarettes for nicotine patches to use as a stimulant for his thought processes. He thrived on danger and excitement. Suddenly, the detective realized how things were changing in his life. Part of it was definitely Molly's influence and her selfless love, but his new belief in God's existence had led him away from other pursuits, into a desire to learn more about Christianity. The sleuth still didn't feel quite ready to make a heart and soul commitment, because he still wanted to know more, understand more, but each day seemed to be bringing him new revelations and discernment.

Pastor Briggs concluded his sermon. Soon afterward, the church sevice ended with a hymn and benediction.

"So, how was your first church experience?" Molly asked, as they left the pew to head out of church.

"Most illuminating," responded Sherlock. "Your pastor is a good speaker. He has given me a lot to think about."

Molly took his hand, as she gave him a pleased smile.

They walked out into the late spring sunshine. People were outside, chatting. Molly introduced Sherlock to other members of her church family, including the secretary, Nancy Schmidt.

"It's so lovely to meet you," said the secretary. I've read about your cases from your colleague's blog. I can see that you and Molly make a fine couple. You have helped so many people with your detective work. I do hope we will see you again here at church."

"I'm sure you will," responded the detective with a polite smile.

They headed back to Baker Street, getting out of the cab a couple blocks from the flat in order to get some take-away.

After lunch, Sherlock decided to borrow Molly's Bible again to do some reading. He figured it was as good a time as any, being Sunday. He was only being picked up at four o'clock after all.

As Molly started unpacking some more of the cartons, Sherlock offered to help, but she insisted he continue reading.

The detective decided to read through Exodus. After watching "The Prince of Egypt," he was even more curious about the whole story of Moses. It was very absorbing. Chapter twenty was where God revealed the Ten Commandments to Moses. The detective half expected that would be the extent of the teaching Moses received, but he was astonished at everything that came afterwards, all the instructions. God gave Moses meticulous instructions for many things.

Sherlock glanced at his watch. He wasn't finished with Exodus but it was past three o'clock, and he wanted to spend a little time with his fiancée before he had to leave. He set down the Bible on Molly's, well, their table now, he supposed. He went in search of the pathologist, and found her in the bedroom, putting clothes into her chest of drawers that had been added to Sherlock's- their bedroom. The room looked a little more cluttered with the extra furniture, but he liked seeing their furniture combined. It just called attention to the fact that their lives were being combined also.

Creeping up behind Molly, he wrapped his arms around her from behind and whispered, "Hi, love."

Molly jumped a little, then twisted around to face him. "Finished reading then?"

"For now," he replied. "I need some quality time with you before I leave at four."

"Oh, I completely forgot you were going to see Eurus. How long will you be gone, do you think?"

"A few hours I guess. I need to talk to Lestrade when I get back, about our little stalker problem."

Molly's arms went about Sherlock's waist as she pressed her face into his chest. "I certainly hope you find him soon, I'm afraid he will hurt you."

Sherlock's arns tightened around his fiancée as he said, "He's not going to hurt me. We're going to catch him. But you must be alert to any unusual situation. Be careful. If anything were to happen to you, I don't know what I'd do."

With those words, Sherlock moved his hands to cup either side of Molly's face. He kissed her gently at first, then more forcefully, as if to show her how much she meant to him, how much he needed her.

Molly yielded to his kiss, and he felt her hold around his waist tighten as she responded to his caress.

He could have kept kissing his pathologist all day, but he knew he had to be alert for the sound of the doorbell, and he had to get his violin into its case. Reluctantly, he released his hold on Molly.

She dropped her hands from his waist immediately and sighed. "I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too. I'll text you when I am on my way home."

"Okay," she nodded. "I might go and visit with Mrs. Hudson for awhile after you're gone."

"I'm sure she'd like that," responded the detective. "You can talk about her hip and how badly it's doing."

They both laughed. Sherlock went out into the sitting room and gently placed his violin into its case, ready for the trip to Sherrinfird.

When the doorbell rang a short while later, Sherlock walked downstairs, violin case in hand.

Molly followed him to the door to say goodbye. "I'll see you later, sweetheart," he said, pressing a lingering kiss to her soft lips. If anyone had a problem with him kissing his fiancée in public, well, that was their problem, not his.

He got into the waiting car and settled back in the seat, thinking about the evening ahead.

Author's note: This is quite an important chapter in regards to Sherlock's personal journey towards faith. I hope I portray it in a believable manner.

I do believe there are some churches where you can feel God's presence more, because of the people within.

What did you think of the "God-shaped hole" sermon? A dear friend at my church once used that analogy, and it really is a beautiful one. I did not copy the sermon from elsewhere. That came directly from me, from what I believe to be true.