Author's Note: This is a continuation of the John and Alex Wedding Dance series of chapters. The bunnies are running nearing the end of their rampage... one chapter left!

Mrs. Hudson's Boys

Genre: Family, Friendship, Romance

Pairings: Greg and Molly, Sherlock and Sally, John and Alex

Main characters: Mrs. Hudson, Greg, Sherlock, John

Mrs. Hudson took a deep breath, letting out happily. Greg, guiding her around the dance floor with surprising grace, laughed softly.

"You look like the cat that's stolen the canary, Mrs. H," he grinned. "What's got you so happy besides this obviously joyous occasion?"

"Oh, I suppose it's just… seeing my three boys all so happy. And now I've finally gotten a dance in edgewise with one of them!"

Greg nodded his head sheepishly. Between musical duties with Sherlock, Sally, and occasionally John, interspersed with dances with Greer, Ciana, and Molly, he hadn't had much chance to mingle. Mrs. Hudson, patient to a fault with her boys, had simply sat back, rising to the occasion to dance with the Lestrade twins, or Julian Bailey now and then, when John had decided to claim Rosie for a dance with his little girl.

But until now, with the exception of the mother and groom dance at the start with John, she hadn't actually had a chance to dance with a grown gentleman. She was pleased with herself that she'd finally managed to corner Greg.

"It's so wonderful to finally see everyone so happy. Sherlock and Sally, who could have imagined that, and he's finally so, I don't know… so SETTLED. And oh, Greg, you and Molly, you know you really had me worried after your divorce. Seeing you with Molly is so wonderful, you SO deserved happiness after that farce of a marriage you were in. And now to see John so happy at last as well," she remarked wistfully, as Greg carefully twirled her around. "There was a time after Mary… I didn't think I'd ever see him smile again."

"Time can be a great healer, Mrs. H," Greg said with a slight shrug. "I think Mary would have wanted this for him. She loved fiercely, but I really think she would have wanted him to just get the hell on with it. Mary Watson never did suffer fools gladly."

Mrs. Hudson tightened her grip on his shoulder and squeezed his hand a little more firmly. "I've no doubt about that whatsoever, Gregory," she said. "Our Mary was most definitely one of a kind."

"Indeed, she was," a familiar baritone said from behind. Greg looked over as Sherlock approached with Molly, dancing his way towards them. "Mary would have been happy, and relieved to see this day." He grinned at Greg and Mrs. Hudson as the four of them came to a brief stop. "Trade?" Sherlock asked, gesturing towards both Molly and Mrs. Hudson.

"Don't mind if I do," Greg said. He turned to smile at Mrs. Hudson, placing a kiss on her cheek. "I believe it's Sherlock's turn to cut a rug with you. No more complaining about your boys not dancing with you, now," he winked, as he and Sherlock traded dance partners. Mrs. Hudson smiled softly as she watched Greg and Molly move away gracefully, already losing themselves in each other's eyes.

"Well, it's about time you found your way over here, Sherlock Holmes," she scolded teasingly. "I was beginning to wonder if you'd forgotten all about your poor old landlady."

"You're not our landlady, Hudders," Sherlock said with a laugh. "You're family. Look, you even gave the groom away. That's something, if done, that a mother would do. John was thrilled that you said yes when he asked."

"He did seem rather pleased with himself," Mrs. Hudson admitted, as Sherlock gave a subtle signal that he was about to guide her into a gentle dip. When he'd carefully pulled her upright again, she laughed with delight.

"Of course he was," Sherlock said thoughtfully. "John has found renewal and healing with Alex. As we said before, Mary would be thrilled as well about all of this. She was always willing to give up the people she loved if it meant they were happy, and safe. I believe if she could have hand chosen a partner for John and a mother for Rosie, she might just have chosen Alexandra."

"I believe she might have as well," John said from behind. Mrs. Hudson peered around her tall dance partner, laughing with delight to see John with his bride.

"Mrs. Watson, would you mind if Sherlock and I were to trade ladies?" John asked Alex with a charming smile. "I believe I promised Mrs. Hudson a second dance apart from mother and groom."

Alex's eyes shone as she wordlessly consented, watching as Sherlock gave Mrs. Hudson a quick hug, and a kiss on the cheek. "I myself have been patiently waiting to dance with this beautiful bride,' Sherlock remarked lightly. Bowing farewell to Mrs. Hudson, he took Alex's hand and they departed to the other side of the floor, as John took Mrs. Hudson's hand, twirling her around, and settled into what remained of their dance.

"Oh, it's so wonderful to see you like this John," Mrs. Hudson said, her eyes beginning to mist over. "I hope this doesn't mean you might forget Mary though. Oh, she loved you so, in spite of everything that happened."

"Never, Mrs. Hudson. Mary is a part of me and always will be. I see her every time I look at Rosie. Mary is in her smile, in her frown, in nearly every way she does things. Rosie has no idea but I can see it so clearly."

Mrs. Hudson stopped to wrap her arms around John, sighing against his shoulder. "Oh, I can see it as well, John," she sighed. "Alexandra is a very lucky woman to have the two of you."

"I think we're the lucky ones, really," John said, returning the hug. "I never imagined I'd be doing this a second time when I lost Mary. The idea was unthinkable back then. Now, the idea of NOT doing this is unthinkable."

"Well, you've made an old lady very, very proud, John Hamish Watson," Mrs. Hudson said, as she pulled back to finish their dance. "And I can't wait to meet the new little one. I believe 221A is just the right size for the five of us, so no more babies, do you hear me, young man?"

John laughed heartily at this. "I hear you, yes. I can't make any promises of course, but two children is a nice round number."

"Oh, thank God, you're sure it's just ONE baby? Twins seem to be an odd phenomenon at Baker Street, I have to wonder if there's something in the air that's catching."

John chuckled softly. "Well, perhaps, but you mustn't forget that Johnnie and Scott were born well before Greg and Molly moved to Baker Street, so really it's only Sherlock and Sally's twins. No worries though Mrs. H. We've had a look and there is definitely only one in there."

"Oh?" Mrs. Hudson perked up. "I don't suppose you've found out if it's a girl or a boy you're to have?"

John grinned at this. "Yes, and we've decided to keep it on the mum. Or IN the Mum, as it were."

"Oh, you scamp," she laughed. "WHAT am I to DO with you lot?"

"You can start with less talking and more dancing," John said, as he twirled her around, watching her with contented delight.