Thank you for all being so patient with this story. We're well past New Year's Day but we haven't got much to go now.

Chapter 15

The next week had been a whirl of activity for Molly. She had stayed on at Sherlock's parents house at the insistence of his mother and she had to admit she was grateful...there was so much planning still to do if they were to get married in just a couple of days.

Sherlock had arranged for a special licence but they still had to meet with the vicar on Boxing Day to run through their reasons for marrying and what they wanted from the service. After that Sherlock had left with John and Mycroft to head back to London and Baker St. They promised to return on New Year's Eve and to bring Mrs Hudson with them.

Molly ended up phoning and e-mailing her friends to invite them and her closest ones had booked in to the local pub over new year so they could be with her for her wedding.

Her wedding...it still didn't seem real somehow. In all her fantasies about Sherlock she had never really thought that it would ever happen...and even though they had had a sexual relationship in recent days she had never expected him to actually have feelings for her.

She'd had to sit through many unbelieving phone calls from her friends but the most stressful one had been with her mother. She was only able to get through to her on the 30th December as she'd been out of the country and uncontactable. She'd holed herself up in Sherlock's bedroom to make the call.

'Hey mum, it's me.'

'Hello Mollsey, how was your Christmas? I've had a wonderful time with my friend Helen. It was so nice to feel the sun on my face...'

'Listen Mum, I've got something to tell you and it's going to be a bit of a shock.'

'You're pregnant! Oh Molly I knew you'd end up doing something like this. Why couldn't you just find a good man? You had Tom and you threw him away for no reason and now your going to be a single mum...'

Molly felt herself getting angry as her mum went off on one of her usual judgmental arguments. 'I'm not pregnant.'

'Oh...well that's good I suppose but you know you can't leave it too long. You're not getting any younger.'

'Mum, please...just let me tell you.'

'Fine...I'm sorry I spoke. Go on then.'

She took a deep breath and decided to just spit it out. 'I'm getting married...to Sherlock...on Wednesday.'

There was silence on the line for a moment and Molly bit her lip and winced wondering what part of that her mum was going to explode over.

'Wednesday...this Wednesday?'

'Yes, this Wednesday.'

'To Sherlock Holmes...the celebrity?'

Molly rolled her eyes at her mum's description. She knew perfectly well who Molly meant, she regularly asked about him so she had titbits to share with her friends down at her local bridge club. Her daughter and the famous detective.

'Yes Mum, to Sherlock. We got together a...umm...short while ago and he proposed at Christmas. He didn't want us to wait.'

'Because you're pregnant?'

'No mum, I already said I'm not pregnant.'

'But why else would he want to marry you?'

'Mum!'

'Oh don't give me that, you've been mooning over him for years...what's changed?'

Molly bit her lip and frowned. In some ways her mum was only voicing concerns she still had herself. It had been even harder the last few days since he'd returned to London as without the evidence of his feelings right in front of her it seemed more and more unrealistic as the time went by. Why was he with her?

'He...he loves me.'

'Well that's as maybe. The good thing is you've caught him and you're quite right to get married before he changes his mind. Oh my word, there's so much to do. I need to get an outfit, a hat...where is it taking place? London?'

'No, near his parents. I've booked you in to a local hotel...'

She gave her mother the details and then had to stay on the line for another three quarters of an hour whilst her mother gave her the third degree about all the details...the service, the guests, the dinner after. Molly was only rescued in the end by Violet tapping on the door and telling her that her lunch was ready. Molly had never been more grateful.

She'd bonded really well with Sherlock's parents over the last couple of days. Both were just overjoyed that their son had found someone and fallen in love.

'Oh my dear, we were starting to think it would never happen. It would have been such a shame...Sherlock was such a loving, emotional child. He had friends, he was settled...he needed people around him. Then after Eurus killed his best friend he changed, withdrew. He spent more time with Mycroft, following him around, emulating him...but Mycroft's different. He's always been more introverted, happy to be alone..but not Sherlock, not Sherlock.'

Violet had helped her try on her dress and made a couple of alterations for her. They'd chosen the simple meal that had been booked at the hotel near to the church. It wasn't going to be a big affair, only about 20 people in total but that was fine for Molly, just how she would have wanted it even if she'd had months to plan it. And at the end of the day she was marrying Sherlock and that was all that was important.

True to his word he returned along with John, Rosie and Mrs Hudson on the afternoon of New Year's Eve. Molly couldn't help the way her heart flipped over in her chest when she saw her fiancé. His eyes sought her out as he got out of the car and he was with her in a few strides and kissing her in such a way that his mother told him off.

'God Molly I've missed you more than I thought i would. I can't wait to get you in my bed tonight.'

Molly pulled away and shook her head. 'Uh uh no way. We aren't sleeping together tonight. You're in with John.'

Sherlock scowled. 'John? Why?'

'Because I want to wait until we're married. It's only an extra 24 hours.'

'I don't want to wait an extra 24 hours though...why should I wait?'

John chuckled as he walked passed the pair of them into the house. 'Good luck with that one Molly, he's got no concept of patience.'

Sherlock looked at his friend. 'That's because patience is boring. If I want something why can't I have it straight away...what's the point in waiting?'

'The point is you'll enjoy it more when you get it. Now come inside, it's freezing out here in the snow.'

He grabbed his own bag and Mrs Hudson's and followed her in still grumbling in a way that was making her laugh.

Inside she received a hug from Martha. 'Oh I'm so glad you and Sherlock have finally got together. It's going to be nice having another woman in the house.'

'Yes, I suppose so. Wow, I hadn't really thought about it but I suppose it makes sense to move into Baker St.'

Sherlock dumped the bags in the hallway and started to remove his coat and gloves. 'Of course it makes sense. My place is bigger than yours and closer to Barts. Plus we've got a spare room for any children we have.'

As the others moved through into the front room Molly caught Sherlock's hand holding him back.

She looked up at him shyly. 'Do you mean that? About us having children? Is it something you actually want for yourself or are you just saying it because you think I want them.'

He smiled and wrapped his hands around her waist. 'I do know you want them and I'll be honest that up until John had Rosie I hadn't ever entertained the idea of having kids but...honestly, yes, yes I want a child of my own...a child with you. I'll be rubbish as a dad but hopefully you'll tell me when I've gone wrong and make up for my short comings.'

This time it was Molly kissing Sherlock, her hands sliding under his jacket and up his back.

After a minute he pulled away and wagged his finger at her. 'Come now Molly, patience is a virtue remember.'

He laughed as she swatted his backside before she followed him in to join the others.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

The following day was crisp and white. There had been another fall of snow overnight. Molly woke early having barely slept with the excitement; she was running on adrenaline. Was it really possible that today was the day she married Sherlock Holmes? A month ago this hadn't even been a possibility. She turned and looked at the long column of ivory silk and lace hanging on the wardrobe and she hugged herself. She knew she was mad for agreeing to this so soon but she didn't care. Whatever the future held Molly was determined to embrace it one hundred per cent.

Nothing though prepared her for the sight of Sherlock waiting for her, with John by his side, as she walked down the aisle on Mike Stamford's arm. She saw his back first as he resolutely stood, facing forwards; the expensive suit fitting him to perfection, the sudden crease in the material down his spine as he flexed his shoulders. Then he turned his head quickly to check she was there and their eyes met and couldn't look away from each other.

He was so devastatingly handsome and Molly couldn't believe he was hers. She knew what she saw in him but she had no idea what he saw in her...she was just glad that he did.

The service passed in something of a blur but one moment stood out. It was the moment that Sherlock spoke his vows. He held her hand and looked in her eyes and the sincerity in his voice had her biting back tears of happiness.

'I, William Sherlock Scott Holmes, take thee, Molly Elizabeth Hooper, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part, according to God's holy ordinance; and thereto I pledge myself to you.'

The language was old fashioned but it was how she had wanted it. She was very relieved that she made it through her responding vow without error. Just being with him, seeing his face, took away any nerves that she might have had.

As she walked down the aisle seeing her friends: Meena, Sally stood with Lestrade, Mrs Hudson, and her mum all smiling back at her she thought her heart would burst. She couldn't stop smiling and it seemed, for once, that neither could Sherlock. As they made it to the church doors he couldn't wait any longer and he took her in his arms and kissed her and it was a kiss that held all the promise of their wedding night to come. They just had to get through the celebration meal first.

They'd married at 2pm and so it was dark by the time they all arrived at the local hotel. Molly had never had so many photos taken of her and she was glad when the photographer finally left, shoo'ed away by Sherlock even though he'd complained that he hadn't taken pictures of the speeches or their first dance. Molly didn't care though, they wanted to just relax with their friends now not put on a show for photos that would barely be looked at in the future.

She hadn't really given much thought to the speeches until Sherlock stood up and tapped on his glass. If she was honest they hadn't discussed them and she'd assumed they wouldn't be having any.

'Given what happened at John's wedding I'm not planning on talking for long...'

There was a cheer from Lestrade and Mrs Hudson at that which made Molly laugh.

'I'm not a good man. I can be thoughtless, purposefully cruel, heartless, ignorant to other people's feelings and crass. So, how is it that Molly loves me? For all my intelligence I'm not sure that it is something that I will ever understand or comprehend fully. The only thing I do know is why I love her.'

He turned slightly and looked down at her and the softness of his expression as he looked at her made her feel quite emotional.

'Molly, I love you because you are the most beautiful person I know, inside and out. You are steadfast and loyal and you show me daily how to be a better human being. Bit by bit you've taken over a heart that I hadn't even known existed and now I can't imagine it beating for anyone but you. Molly Holmes, my wife, I will endeavour to be the man you deserve but even when I fail I know you will love me anyway just as I will always, always love you.'

Molly couldn't help it, she stood and cupped his face pulling him to her for a kiss as their friends and family cheered and wolf whistled.

I do hope you liked this, I'm not sure how good I am at writing sentimental stuff. Anyway, one more chapter to go and I'll be back on ground I know...shall we bring on the smut?