It was the day of the wedding and after the actual ceremony everyone gathered in a large, festively decorated room with a beautiful adjoining garden. Molly was there with Tom. Not that she had taken her friend's last advice. She just hadn't been able to decide yet. She had spent the last few days brooding and thinking. But she still could not make a final decision.
They were seated together with Mrs. Hudson and Greg at one of the tables in front. Mrs. Hudson brought her boyfriend from the café and Greg was there alone as usual. Accordingly, he let it rip with the drinks. Molly sat next to him and kept giving him an encouraging smile. Her fiancé sat to her other side.
Molly let a glance wander around the room and couldn't help but notice that Sherlock was talking to one of the bridesmaids the whole time. She was pretty and they both seemed to be getting on well.
A feeling of jealousy flared up inside her and it didn't help that Tom was next to her.
Eventually the hall quietened down and everyone was now listening to the best man's speech. Sherlock seemed slightly nervous at first and couldn't find the right words. Eventually, however, he thawed out and involved the guests in one of his cases. Molly was hanging on his lips the whole time and the thought that her fiancé was sitting next to her completely ignored her.
At some point during his presentation of a case, Sherlock asked the guests for some guesses for one of the possible murder weapons.
Molly knew Sherlock too well and knew exactly what he was getting at. It was all the more humiliating for her when Tom spoke up. With his assumption he was the laughing stock of the detective and she wished that a hole would open up in the ground and she could crawl into it. Tom, however, was completely intrigued by his idea and blithely prattled on. At some point she couldn't stand it any longer and poked him rudely in the hand with her fork to stop him.
She felt a slight pang of guilt. But there was something else. It was satisfaction. She was slightly amused by it, especially when she thought back to that evening with Tom in her flat.
She had to stifle a grin, especially after Sherlock observed the situation as well and smirked.
And that very moment gave her the rest of her decision. She had to talk to Tom. And as soon as possible. Without thinking about it, she grabbed his hand and dragged him out of the room.
She couldn't wait any longer and just wanted to get this over with.
Once outside in the foyer, she then turned to him and looked into two questioning eyes. She took another deep breath before slowly slipping the ring off her finger and handing it to him. He refused at first and became upset. Molly explained to him that it wasn't him, it was her. She just wasn't ready for it and that everything was happening too fast for her. Tom, however, reacted differently than expected. He was strangely understanding and Molly was irritated when he took her in his arms.
"I understand that it went too fast for you. And honestly, I felt the same way. I just couldn't say anything."
Molly broke free of his embrace and looked at him in wonder.
"Oh Molly, now don't look like that. We'll just take it slow and wait a little longer, okay?" he said, smiling hopefully at her.
Molly didn't really know what was happening. She didn't understand the world anymore. She had just told Tom that she couldn't marry him, gave him back the ring and he wanted to continue being with her?
"Um Tom, I actually meant -"
"Can we talk about this later? Come on, let's go back. I want to know what happened next" he then said and pulled her back into the room by her arm.
Molly placed herself back in her chair, completely confused, and looked at her ex-fiancé. Tom noticed her stare and turned to her, smiling briefly before turning his eyes forward again.
It was getting to be evening and the mood was gradually easing. After Sherlock was able to solve his case and arrest the culprit, the wedding guests visibly relaxed.
It was the time when the wedding dance was to be held. Sherlock was playing his violin and John and Mary were standing in the middle of the large hall. Molly stood at the very front next to this bridesmaid who kept making eyes at Sherlock the whole time. Tom remained seated at the table, chatting happily with Mrs Hudson. Molly was glad, she could finally take a breath and think the situation through again in her head. She didn't get to it, however, as Sherlock's beautiful playing completely distracted her.
He was playing a waltz he had composed himself for the newlyweds and Molly was completely blown away by it and couldn't even take her eyes off him.
The waltz ended, music played and Sherlock walked off stage. Molly could tell he was talking to John and Mary and briefly all eyes fell in her direction.
Embarrassed, she turned away and focused her attention on the glass in front of her.
But after a few seconds she turned her head again to look back in the direction of the three. But Sherlock had disappeared. Her eyes searched the room but could not find him anywhere. Disappointed, she dropped her head. Her chest constricted and she felt the tears slowly gathering in her eyes. Tom then put his hand on hers and asked what was wrong. She shook her head, stood up and excused herself briefly. Quickly she moved outside. She just needed some fresh air now.
Molly stood leaning against the wall a little apart, looking up at the sky. Her thoughts kept flitting to Sherlock. And then to her conversation with Tom. She couldn't explain what had gone wrong. Why did Tom want to keep being with her? Had he gone mad?
She sighed deeply as she suddenly noticed a dark shadow in the corner of her eye. Slowly he moved in her direction, but he couldn't see her because Molly herself was standing in the dark. As he came closer, she could see that it was Sherlock. He passed her unnoticed.
"Are you leaving already?" she then asked.
Startled, Sherlock turned and searched for the voice he had heard. Molly stepped out of the shadows and Sherlock couldn't help but smile slightly.
She took another step closer and his eyes began to roam over her body.
"Hmm. Weddings. I think I've fulfilled my quota" he only replied. His hands clasped behind his back.
"Besides, no one would notice my disappearance anyway".
"I would notice and I would be happy if you stayed" she said. Her voice was low.
Sherlock heard what she had said. A comforting feeling spread through him. He moved slowly towards her. On his lips was a smile. He gently stroked her cheek with his thumb, reaching for her wrist with his other hand. His eyes fixed firmly on hers.
"Oh, Molly," he breathed softly and then lowered his head to place a kiss on her cheek.
Molly's breath quickened and she took in his masculine scent of his cologne, cedar and a hint of tobacco. Heat spread through her centre.
Sherlock released his lips from her cheek. Then he turned his face slightly to hers so they could look into each other's eyes. Molly's pupils were dilated and he felt her racing pulse against his thumb. She turned her face further towards Sherlock so that her lips brushed lightly over his. Sherlock released her wrist from his grip and grasped her neck instead. Then, without thinking about the consequences, he pulled her to him. Unlike before, this time the kiss was hungry and demanding. He pined for her and Molly immediately deepened the kiss as well. Gently, she placed her hands on his neck and pulled him further towards her. His teeth playfully scratched Molly's lower lip, whereupon she willingly opened her mouth and Sherlock was able to slide his tongue into her mouth. He kissed her wildly and greedily and pushed her further against the wall. He broke away from her lips and moved on with his mouth. He moved over her chin, to her neck. He kissed and sucked and bit into it lightly, making Molly moan again. His path continued to her collarbone as his hands moved lightly under her breast. Gently he circled the underside of her breasts with his thumb. Molly slowly stroked her hands down his strong arms to his hips, sending electrical pulses through Sherlock's body. She put her hands on his hips and pulled him closer. She felt his growing erection and it sent a comforting heat to her centre. Sherlock captured her lips in another kiss. They only released when the air ran out. He looked deep into her eyes and then rested his forehead against hers.
"Molly," he said softly. It was no more than a whisper, his breathing quick and heavy.
"Sherlock," Molly breathed, equally breathless. As she did so, she lifted her left hand and gently caressed his cheek.
Sherlock unceremoniously took her hand in his and brought it to his lips to place a few soft kisses on her knuckles. He couldn't help but notice that the engagement ring was missing and smiled. Once more he breathed a soft kiss on her lips before slowly turning away from her.
"Come to Baker Street tomorrow. I want to talk to you about something" he then said as he turned to her once more.
Molly, still in a trance and with soft knees, just nodded slightly and gave him a smile that melted his heart.
"I'll be there, Sherlock. I promise," she called after him as a farewell.
... But it was never to be...
So, as I mentioned earlier, I'm going to take a break here for the time being. Thank you to everyone who has followed my story up to this point 😉 Of course, I would also appreciate a few thoughts on this from you 😊
Wishing you all a happy festive season and some reflective time with your loved ones. Make the best of it and maybe we'll hear from you again soon 😉
