Hey, hey. So I've been dithering about which story to post next, this one or the long one but as the long one isn't quite ready I'm going to go with this one.

I started it so long ago I'm not sure where the inspiration came from but I'm just glad I finally got it finished and that it's ready to post. I think we all need a little fluff and smut to take our minds of global pandemics. Stay safe and well my friends.

Chapter 1

Sherlock Holmes sat down heavily on the front pew of the empty church and he put his head in his hands. He was too late. All the adrenaline of the last few hours seemed to vanish as a wave of agony and exhaustion washed over him.

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

It had been three months earlier when Molly had reconnected with Tom. They had announced to the world that they were reengaged and had quickly set a date for the wedding. It was two months after that hideous phone call with Sherlock and Molly had known for a while that their friendship was not ever going to recover from it. She had barely seen Sherlock and when she had their interactions had been stilted and awkward, just centred around whatever case Greg had brought into the morgue and nothing else.

She kind of understood why. In fact given John's explanation of Sherlock's sister and all the upheaval the Holmes family had gone through she was amazed he was still standing and hadn't yet sunk back into drug use or worse. He was busy trying to secure his sister's ongoing incarceration, supporting his parents and brother, and overseeing the renovations of his home. There wasn't much time for anything else Molly included...she knew she was very low down on his list of priorities.

So, when she'd bumped into Tom and he'd made it clear that his feelings for her were unchanged she seemed to hang onto him like a drowning man holding onto a life raft. Here was someone who could love her as she needed to be loved, someone prepared to put her first. This time there was no hesitation and if she had any moments of doubt she pushed them down and masked it with urgency over the wedding planning.

It was made easier when she heard that Sherlock was out of the country; sent somewhere by Mycroft on some secret mission. John thought that he knew about the engagement, not that he'd told Sherlock himself mind but he was sure that Greg or maybe Mycroft had told him before he'd left. Anyway, just as it had been when Sherlock had been 'dead' Molly could focus on Tom without distractions.

And so the church had been booked, the dress chosen and the invites sent out.

One week before the wedding Sherlock returned to London and Molly had a dilemma. Should she invite him to the celebrations or not. Unsurprisingly it wasn't something she discussed with Tom but rather she battled with the decision internally.

She wrote out an invite and had it safe in her bag and each day she wrestled with whether she should go to Baker St and deliver it. In the end he made her decision for her by appearing in the lab the day before she was finishing work to take time for the celebrations and honeymoon.

She walked in, her arms full of files, to find him sat at his favourite microscope intently studying something. She ignored the way her stomach swooped at the sight of him.

'Oh, hi, I didn't know you were back.' She cringed at the lie knowing he'd probably pick up on it somehow.

She dumped the files on her desk and looked at the edge of the envelope peeking out of her handbag.

'So, what are you doing? Anything exciting?'

He glanced up quickly and then turned his attention back to the scopes. 'Nothing too interesting. Lestrade just needed some more evidence for the case we're working on. I'm just tying in the chemical analysis of the residue found on the culprit's clothing.'

His matter of fact tone made her decision for her and she plucked the invite out of her bag and made her way over. She was surprised at how nervous she felt as she started to speak.

'So, you probably know about the wedding...my wedding, sorry I didn't get this to you earlier but John said you were abroad.'

She held the cream, embossed envelope out to him but he just sat back and looked at it without saying a word.

In the end the silence became awkward and Molly just put the envelope down on the desk and pushed it towards him.

'Anyway, it would be good to have you there.'

He frowned. 'Would it? Why would it?'

'Well...you're my friend, we're friends and I want my friends there to celebrate with me.'

His eyes narrowed but he didn't say anything or make a move to open the envelope and in the end Molly made an excuse and left the room. She found herself on the verge of tears and didn't quite know why. What had she expected? A declaration from him?

By the time she returned to the room Sherlock was gone and so was the invite.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock knew his timing would be tight. He'd ended up getting drawn into a murder investigation and he'd known as it was unfolding that he should be making his excuses and leaving. And the only reason he could find for not doing so was the one reason he was most ashamed of. He'd been scared. Scared to turn up at the church, scared to declare his feelings in front of everyone and scared that Molly would publicly reject him.

Yes, he could have gone to her at her flat and had a private conversation but it had seemed like the cowards way out. After all that she had done for him she deserved nothing less than a public declaration. Plus for some reason he couldn't quite comprehend or forgive he had only found out about Molly's engagement at the moment that she had given him the invite. When he'd quizzed John about it his best friend had said that it was better for Molly for him not to know; that Mycroft had decided to send Sherlock away to give his pathologist a chance to move on.

His reaction to this had been fury. They had all conspired against him...to manipulate him and now he was almost out of time. He had 24 hours and when he had finally gone to Molly's flat just to see if she was there it was empty.

It was then that DCI Jones had contacted him about the double murder at Pondicherry Lodge and he had thrown himself into it telling himself he still had plenty of time...that he would get to the church and stop the wedding.

But when he'd arrived, apart from a couple of parked cars, the place was empty. He'd sat down heavily on the pew and he'd realised that this wasn't a game, it wasn't one of his mysteries to work out. He was in love with Molly Hooper and he'd left telling her until it was too late and it was the single most worst decision of his life. He leant over and put his head in his hands and gave into his feelings for the first time in months.

It was a minute or so later that he heard someone quietly walking into the church and he sighed heavily trying to pull himself back together enough to leave; but his whole world changed with one word.

'Sherlock?'

MHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMH

Molly had had to escape her mother if only for just a few seconds. She walked back into the main body of the church seeing the flowers she'd chosen for her wedding day decorating the sides of the pews and in larger displays either side of the alter. But it wasn't the flowers which caught her attention the most it was the sight of the one man she'd thought she wouldn't see today. He was hunched over on the front pew almost looking as if he was praying.

'Sherlock?'

His head swung around at the sound of her voice and she was confused by his expression. He looked like he'd been either crying or on the verge of it; before she could say anything more though her mother followed her in.

'Here you are...I'm not sure what you're doing in here. If you'd been so interested in your wedding you would have gone through with it instead of devastating that poor man. Come on, we have things you need to do.'

Sherlock had stood up by now and was making his way up the aisle. 'Molly? Is she right? You didn't go through with it?'

She could see his eyes already dropping to her hand and she knew he was checking for a wedding ring. She was so used to Sherlock deducing her that it didn't bother her any more. It was just his way.

'No, she did not go through with it. And I have no doubt that once again Mister Holmes you are the reason why.'

'Mum!'

'Don't you Mum me young lady. This has been a disaster...a very expensive disaster. I hope you aren't expecting Tom to foot any of the bill because why should he. Have you any idea what you've done to him...what you both have?'

Molly could see Sherlock's confused expression and she was mortified. 'Please Mum, it isn't Sherlock's fault. None of this is his fault.'

'You say it and yet I don't believe a word of it. Anyway, come on, we need to get to the reception, there'll be more people arriving who won't know the mess you've caused. As for you Mister Holmes, you've done enough...go home.'

She caught hold of her daughter's wrist and started to lead her out of the church and Sherlock couldn't bear the distraught look on Molly's face.

'Wait, Molly, don't go. Come back with me...to Baker St. You look like you need somewhere to hide and let's face it, no one will look for you there.' He gave her a crooked smile and held his hand out and he saw her eyes drift down to look at it. She bit her bottom lip and looked back at his face and he could see that she was tempted.

'Molly Louise Hooper don't you dare run away...'

Molly looked back at her mother and he knew she was torn between duty and want and so he turned his attention and all his charm onto the mother.

'Mrs Hooper, I know you want what's best for your daughter...you always have. I also know I'm not your favourite person but Molly needs our help today. Let me look after her, I'll keep her safe...I promise. And as for the costs of the wedding I'll cover it all.'

Molly turned back to him shocked. 'No, Sherlock you can't...'

Meanwhile Mrs Hooper looked a little happier. 'Oh well that's very generous. That would be such a relief...but I'm not sure...'

Sherlock took another step forward. 'Tom's probably already at the reception and fielding guests. He'll have plenty of sympathy and people who'll just want to rip into Molly...and you wouldn't want that for your daughter surely.'

Mrs Hooper's eyes widened as she imagined the picture and her face set in a determined way. 'Maybe it would be better Molly if you weren't there...you'll only upset Tom's family. I've decided... I'll sort out the reception and you go with Mister Holmes.'

'Please, call me Sherlock.' He gave Mrs Hooper his best fake smile and as she let go of Molly's wrist he caught her hand and started to make his way to the door of the church. 'Molly can ring you later to see how it all went.'

He was glad he'd paid the cab driver to wait because it meant he could just usher Molly into the back and instruct the driver to take them both to Baker St before Mrs Hooper could change her mind.

He saw the cabby's eyes in the rear view mirror and he knew they were about to get some grief from the way the man was chuckling.

'By eck am I in the middle of an elopement or somat? Looks like you caught yourself a bride.'

Sherlock glanced at Molly who still just looked shell-shocked by everything that had happened and he couldn't help but feel a wave of happiness wash over him. 'Yes, looks like I have!'

I hope you like the start. I'll be back soon with the second chapter xxx