Author's note: It would seem the bunnies are hopping into a mini-series of chapters of sorts centering on John and Alex's wedding dance. Not sure how many there will be but I'm sure I'll find out soon enough

Dibs

Genre:Family, Friendship

Pairings: John and Alex, Sherlock and Sally, REALLY REALLY pre-Rosie and Julian

Main characters: Rosie and Julian

"I can't believe you convinced them to play another one," Julian Bailey said, as he nervously held Rosie's hand. "And you got Mr. John in on it too. At his own wedding!"

Rosie grinned her silliest satisfied grin and glanced over towards The Baker Street Trio… featuring Auntie Sally.

For Rosie, it just didn't get any better than that.

"It isn't REALLY cold outside*, is it?" Julian asked, as he led Rosie around. "Mr. John and Mrs. Sally seem sure it is."

"I don't know Jules, but they sure sound nice," Rosie said, as she gripped his shoulder and followed his lead.

Rosie loved how Uncle Sherlock played his violin and Uncle Greg his guitar. She loved it when Uncle Greg sang too, though he didn't do it often enough for her liking. Her Daddy, however, sang the most and when Auntie Sally sang too, it made her feel warm and gooey inside. Her dad had been singing to her for as long as she remembered, and it felt like home to her when she heard his voice. She also loved Auntie Sally's voice, and she hoped that one day she could sing like that too.

"Do you think… well… Rosa, will you marry me?"

Rosie giggled. "Of COURSE I will, but we're only eight," she pointed out, blue eyes shining. "We've plenty of time. You'll always have dibs, Jules," she said, as Julian smiled in relief, as was his custom. "One day we'll dance like this and it will be OUR wedding, no worries," she said, winking.

"Being grown up seems so far away, doesn't it?" Julian sighed. "We've SO long to wait yet."

"Well yes, but being a kid is still SO much fun, isn't it? We get to dance like this, we can play together, and go to school together too. And we've nothing to worry about. We should enjoy being this young, Jules," Rosie said lightly. "We've so much to learn yet. I can't wait to learn it all with you." She moved her arms suddenly, wrapping them around him and giving him a solid hug.

"I suppose," he finally said, blushing happily as Rosie pulled back and resumed their prior dancing stance. "Daddy says Mummy is right a lot and I should get used to it. Maybe he means I should get used to YOU being right a lot too," he said, giggling.

Rosie smiled at him as she stopped their dance. "My daddy says that he and Mummy Alex are equally right. Maybe you DO need to get used to me being right" she said teasingly, "but you'll be right too sometimes."

"Well maybe," he conceded, "but I think this time you're definitely right."

"Maybe," Rosie said with a soft giggle, as she started to move again to the music. "I wonder if my new brother or sister will think so?"

"Really?" Julian asked excitedly, as he twirled Rosie around. "A baby brother or sister? Oh they're SUCH fun! Gareth is so little but I love being a big brother all the same!"

"They don't know I know yet, but Uncle Sherlock said so. He called it the signs of three, and he said the first time he saw them, it was ME on the way, with Mummy Mary and Daddy when they got married," she said softly.

Julian sensed a bit of sadness in Rosie, something that even she couldn't quite explain, so he led them around in silence for a few moments, holding her hand a little more tightly, a little more comforting, something that wasn't lost on the young girl.

"I guess we'll have to wait to see then," Julian finally said, as he danced Rosie towards the table with the snacks.

"How did you know I was getting hungry?" Rosie suddenly asked, as she realized where they were heading.

"Sometimes a bloke just knows what his best friend needs," he said, shrugging with a small smile. "This time I'm the one who's right, I guess," he remarked casually, as he broke his embrace to collect plates. As he handed one to her, he bowed like a little gentleman, saying, "Ladies first, my Rosa."

*"Baby It's Cold Outside" written by Dean Martin, pick your favourite version here ;)