A/N: Finally here - the big day! Enjoy!
The Wedding: Part One
"Mary, calm down, everything is going perfectly," Molly placated her maid of honour. It was the day of her wedding, yet she was the most composed person in the room, apart from perhaps Anthea.
Mrs Hudson was sat in a chair, sniffling into a tissue, overcome with emotion at the thought of "Sherlock all grown up", whilst Mrs Holmes was currently elsewhere, looking for something which she had misplaced earlier.
Anthea looked on serenely, already dressed in her soft pink bridesmaids gown, hair pinned in place and make up done.
The other person in the room was of course Mary. On reflection, Molly realised that choosing a trained assassin as the chief bridesmaid was probably a bad decision, as the organised perfectionist had taken her duties rather seriously, almost as seriously as Sherlock had taken his best man's duties at John's wedding.
Molly and Sherlock had agreed that a small, simple, family wedding would suffice for them, as the important thing was each other and their close friends, but through Mary's less-than-gentle persuasion, they had ended up with a wedding that although small, was meticulously planned and came with all the trimmings.
Although she herself had been ready for the past hour, Mary was a whirlwind of activity, flitting from adjusting Molly's already perfect hair, to checking over the phone with the catering staff that a vegetarian option had been provided for Lestrade's new girlfriend.
As Mary finally settled, apparently finally assured that everything was done, Violet returned to the room, holding a small box.
Holding it out to Molly, she spoke. "This is for you dear. They were my great-grandmother's. Welcome to the family." Opening the box, Molly found a beautiful pair of delicate diamond earrings, set in white gold.
"Oh Violet, they're beautiful!" Molly replied, holding back the tears that threatened to flow and giving her soon to be mother-in-law a gentle hug. "Thank you so much."
"No, thank you, for saving my son," Violet replied, returning the embrace.
The touching moment was only spoilt by Mary shrieking, "No tears! You'll ruin your make-up, and the cars will be here any time now!"
Meanwhile, Sherlock was taking his place at the altar, John by his side. "Ready?" John asked, grinning at his best friend.
"Of course John. I love Molly," Sherlock replied, rolling his eyes, as though anyone who thought otherwise was an idiot.
"Decided on a song for the first dance yet? Or is it one of your own compositions?" John joked. Sherlock had requested that he were the one to decide on the first dance, and had refused to confide his choice in anyone else.
"Really John, you should know better than anyone how stubborn I can be. If I haven't told you already, what makes you think I will now?"
"Fine, fine, I'll wait," John grumbled good-naturedly, looking around the gradually filling room.
The front row of the small chapel was half-empty, as Violet and Mrs Hudson had been with Molly all morning as they helped her get ready, and would be arriving only shortly before Molly herself. When they arrived, they would join Siger and Mycroft, who were already in their places, Mycroft having declined a larger role in the ceremony, followed by the mutter of "too much legwork" from Sherlock. Emma was sat on Mycroft's lap, much to Sherlock's amusement and his brother's horror, as her parents were both involved in the ceremony.
Greg was waiting by the door to the chapel, as he would be taking the place of Molly's late father, a role he was taking very seriously. His newest girlfriend ("finally one who isn't a serial cheater" according to Sherlock) was sat in the pews, next to Henry Knight, who was one of a few clients who had been invited.
The rest of the chapel was filled with a mixture of people, from police officers to hospital workers. Wiggins was sat chatting to Meena, whilst Archie begged case details from Anderson.
The sound of gravel being crunched beneath tyres indicating the arrival of the bridal party, and John heard Sherlock take a deep breath, straightening his bow tie.
Outside, the two cars pulled up, and Mrs Hudson and Violet got out of the first one, making their way into the chapel before Molly and the bridesmaids. As they hurried inside, Greg opened the door for Molly, helping her out, catching her as she almost tripped over.
"Wow. You look beautiful Molly," he said, offering her his arm. "Your father would be so proud of you." She had gone for a simple sleeveless tea dress with a boat neckline, and a birdcage veil, not wanting anything too elaborate.
"Thank you Greg," Molly replied with a stunning smile. Just then, the sound of a beautiful piece of violin music floated out of the chapel doors, signalling that it was time for them to make their way down the aisle. Anthea went first, gracefully leading the way, followed by Mary, who had finally stopped worrying about everything.
As Molly stepped inside, she let out a small gasp, as she realised that the violin music was not a recording, but instead Sherlock playing his own composition for her.
Looking up whilst he played, Sherlock saw Molly entering the chapel, and his cupid's bow lips curved into a smile that summed up everything he felt about Molly. He didn't notice the bridesmaids, and barely registered her dress, as his eyes were only for her, as she returned his smile with a dazzling one of her own.
As she reached him, he finished the piece, handing his violin over to John without taking his eyes away from her. "You're beautiful, Molly Hooper," he whispered, knowing that it would be the last time that he called her that.
Then everyone fell silent as the priest began the ceremony; although Sherlock wasn't religious, Molly had insisted on a church wedding, having been brought up Christian herself.
As they said their vows, Mrs Hudson's muffled sobs could be heard in the background, and Molly could have sworn she saw the glint of a tear in Sherlock's eye.
Then, John stepped forward with the rings. "Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?" the priest said.
"I do," Molly replied, slipping the gold band onto Sherlock's finger.
"Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do," Sherlock said, grinning as he placed the ring on her finger.
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride."
A/N: To be continued...
