Chapter 16
Molly blinked a couple of times in confusion, "Molly…Molly I'm sorry" Sherlock looked at her with an expression of childish concern, "I wanted to surprise you" he kept on saying but a flurry of thoughts and emotions erupted in Molly that her head was spinning as if she were drunk.
Her legs seemed to give so much that Sherlock had to support her by her elbow, "I realize only now that all this…" he pointed to Marylebone room's door, "We should have organized it together". Molly followed what he was saying in stops and starts, focused as she was on her feelings and above all on the decision to make.
Part of her told her it was her right to decide if and how to get married. Another part, however, reminded her that Sherlock was a man out of the ordinary struggling to admit he had feelings for anyone, let alone show that he did. And undoubtedly wanting to marry her, planning a ceremony in a few days was a huge proof of Sherlock's love for her. And after all Molly had said yes that afternoon, five days earlier.
Really, Molly told herself, covering her eyes with one hand, did she want to get out of that place without being his wife? How long had she been in love with him? How much suffering and hardship had they both gone through, very often together, to get to where they were now?
The decision was one, and only one. But that didn't mean she wouldn't keep him on edge for a while. Surely someone had helped him set it all up because Sherlock, although had the experience of helping Mary organize her wedding with John, alone and with two cases on his hands, would never have it done.
"To clarify, John knew and Irene too, I guess" Sherlock nodded and mumbled something incomprehensible, Molly made a huge effort to pretend she was annoyed "What? I can't grasp what you said", he took a deep breath "Mycroft and Mrs Hudson too" he grumbled, "But Molly…" she raised her hand to silence him, "I understand your purpose, Sherlock…but I need to think" at her words he lowered his worried and childlike gaze, "Go ahead. Give me ten minutes".
Sherlock opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out of it, and with hunched shoulders he walked to the door of the venue, "Is Irene in there?" Molly asked when she saw him put his hand on the doorknob, he looked up at her nodding "Tell her to come to me, please".
Irene came out a few minutes after Sherlock's entrance. She wore a moss green lace dress that made her figure even more slender. The Woman approached Molly cautiously fearing her friend was enraged judging by the look on Sherlock's face when he told her to join Molly in the hallway.
Irene held both arms behind her back "You didn't say no to him, did you?" she told her as soon as she was in front of her, "I actually asked him for a few minutes. I just want let him stew for a while" she answered giving her a reproachful look, "I understand making a striking gesture to impress me, but organizing 'our' wedding without consulting me on anything? It's something that concerns both of us!".
Irene let out a whistle of relief putting a hand on her chest "From Sherlock's face, I thought you had messed everything up!", the live wire brunette chuckled giving Molly a wink, "I worked very hard to make sure everything was perfect, and exactly how you wanted it, my friend. Sherlock didn't need to consult you for details with me as organizer".
She stared into Irene's blue eyes with a puzzled expression on her face, "Do you think I forgot what you told me the day Sean had his first chemo?" she gently stroked her arm, "We were sitting in front of the fireplace in the Baltimore's safe house. I told you about my wedding's ceremony with Kim" her eyes watered with tears, "And I asked you how you imagined yours".
Molly was moved and squeezed her hand, "No, no…no tears! I don't want you to ruin that little make-up you allowed me to pun on you!" The Woman whispered in a broken voice and dabbed at Molly's tears with the tip of her thumb. Molly giggled a sobbing laugh, "Okay…come on, get a grip!" her friend urged revealing what she was hiding behind her back.
She looked at Irene then at the small bouquet of roses in three shades, ivory, peach and rose and embellished with rhinestones brooches and sparkles, "Oh, God! It's wonderful!" she managed to say as she took deep breaths to calm herself, "Are you ready? You can scold Sherlock later for doing of his own mind on such an important event for both of you" said Irene unbuttoning her coat, "I'm sure you'll find a way to…take revenge and keep him on pins and needles". Molly rolled her eyes and blushed.
"You look absolutely stunning!" she exclaimed folding the heavy black garment over her arm as Molly blew out a couple of breaths, "Do you want someone…accompany you?" the bride-to-be arranged her hair on her left shoulder, "Well, I guess I'll have to go alone since my father is gone and I have no other relatives" she replied in an obvious tone. "Actually there would be a person willing to take your father's place" confided Irene, a little amused smile on her mouth "Mr Iceman himself" she motioned for her to wait and walked quickly back into the room.
When Molly entered the Marylebone room on Mycroft's arm, her eyes were immediately caught in those of Sherlock who was standing in front of Registrar Reed's desk and his colleague, with John beside him as his best man, and Irene not far away from them, as her maid of honour.
He too was no longer wearing his Belstaff and was absolutely handsome in his dark suit, white shirt and bow-tie. She noticed that he had dishevelled hair, probably he had ruffled it with anxiety waiting to find out if she was going to enter that door or not.
Molly took a quick look at the three rows of three silver grey chairs. In the first three sat Sherlock's parents and Lady Smallwood. Then there were Anthea with Rosie in her arms, Mr Chatterjee and Mrs Hudson who as soon as she saw Molly had brought a handkerchief to her eyes to wipe some tears. And finally Greg and the Stamfords. Not far from the Registrar's desk there was a small sofa in pale and dark green where Sean was sitting and where Mycroft sat as soon as Molly was next to Sherlock.
Sherlock smiled at her hesitantly, wondering if she would slap him for his once again patronizing behaviour, although this time his intentions was to make Molly understand that he loved her so much that he completely turned his life upside down. When his eyes met hers and he could see how much she loved him too, then Sherlock put his hands on her elbows and lowered his head to whisper in her left ear "I'm sorry, it wasn't my intention to…I love you, Molly".
She moved her head slightly and gave him a kiss as light as a flap of wings and her smile was embellished with two small dimples "We'll talk about it later, Sherlock. I love you too", he closed his eyes briefly placing his forehead against hers, then they both turned to face the two Registrars.
The ceremony was touching and intense especially in the pronouncement of Sherlock and Molly's vows. They were unable to stop smiling at each other or take their eyes off each other. When Sean and Rosie were called to deliver the rings, Irene clearly saw that her friend's little finger was intertwined with that of Sherlock.
In the flurry of congratulations, hugs and photos, Sherlock did not take a step away from Molly. If he was not holding her hand then he had an arm around her waist, if his hand was not on the back of her neck then he held her close by wrapping her shoulders with his arm.
"Mrs Holmes" Molly turned to Sherlock only when his mother whispered "I think he's calling you, my dear", "It's time to go" he announced handing her the coat, "Go where?" she asked curiously. Sherlock's face lit up with a beautiful and sincere smile "Second part of the surprise" he told her in a mysterious tone.
They said goodbye to everyone and exited the Marylebone Hall to reach a side street where a dark blue Bentley was parked. Sherlock held the door open for her and waited for her to get in, to drive. "Any clue where we're going?" asked Molly fastening her seat belt, Sherlock pulled the car into the lane as he said "Outside London. It will take an hour".
Molly, fidgeting with her wedding ring, said "You've been so busy…", "I'll never stop apologizing, Molly" Sherlock cut her off, "For marrying me?" she asked with the aim of teasing him, "No, of course not!" he objected taking her hand and giving a gentle kiss on the gold band he had just slipped on her finger, sealing their union.
"For thinking a surprise wedding was a brilliant idea!", Molly snorted "Okay, listen to me Sherlock. I love you and to say I'm happy to be your wife would be an understatement but…promise me you will never transform again an important event for both of us in a surprise". She placed the palm of her hand on his cheek and as he leaned into her touch, Sherlock said "I swear to you".
It was Sherlock's lips on hers and the sound of the safety belt being released that made Molly open her eyes. She stretched her arms "Did I fall asleep, didn't I?", she said yawning and blinking a couple of times, "Yep" was his answer popping the p. Sherlock's eyes were a few inches from hers and were so blue to take her breath away.
"Should I worry? We've been married for just over two hours and I already bored you to make you sleep?", Molly chuckled and cupped his cheeks "I know you'll find a way to make the rest of the night unforgettable" she murmured pulling him for a searing kiss.
"Come on, let's go inside. It's freezing out here!" Sherlock urged her with a lustful look on his face. Molly got out of the car and hand in hand with him, walked towards the entrance of the pretty red brick cottage. "Where are we?" she asked noticing the house was surrounded by trees and plants and, apart from a long driveway, the main road was not visible.
"About a mile from my parent's house" Sherlock replied, chivalrously giving her the way to let her in, "Close enough to attend tomorrow's lunch to which they invited us, as I'm sure you remember. But also far enough away not to be disturbed during our honeymoon's activities".
She grinned "Our sex vacation, you mean. Isn't that what you called John and Mary's honeymoon?", Sherlock grinned back at her and helped her take off her coat "Who does it belong to?" asked Molly recognizing, in the semi darkness, one of the two travel bags next to the sofa as her own, "Mrs Ferguson, my first school's teacher. She always visits her daughter in Portugal these days and I asked her to rent it to me for a couple of days" he explained adding some wood to the fireplace.
"It's very nice. There's an intimate atmosphere" Molly said looking around first and then staring at her gold wedding band which sparkled with red hues in the firelight. Sherlock looked down at her and asked if she was hungry. Molly shook her head and looked up, gluing her eyes to his, "I remember wrong or do you owe me a dance, Mr Holmes?".
