She stared at her reflection for what seemed like hours. This was a new reflection. It was a reflection that showed such a new side of her. Of course it would be like any other ordinary day, however, her reflection in that mirror made it very clear that today would be completely extraordinary.
She felt a tap on her shoulder from behind to see Mary grinning at her. The world around her came back into focus within seconds. The sun-lit room filled with giggling women. Mrs. Holmes was sharing stories with the complete freedom from the annoyed glances and grumbles from her sons. Little Sophie was running about in an excited manner and occasionally twirling herself around to make her blue gown flare.
"One more piece," Mary told her as she maneuvered herself to fit the veil upon her head. "There! Now… Turn around."
Molly did so and the room became silent. Her dress was elegant: the skirt long and silky with volume. The top corset-back and the entire front embroidered in sweeping patterns with a deep blue. That had been an addition when Sophie had spotted a deep blue dress in the bridal shop. "Uncle Sherlock likes this color!" she had stated after pulling her mother and godmother toward the dress. "Like on his necklace!"
The women had smiled at the innocent yet very observant comment. "That is very similar to the color on Uncle Sherlock's scarf, isn't it sweetheart?" Mary had replied. The blue had become a central part to the event.
Molly clasped her hands together. "So? How do I look?"
The silence was lifted when Mrs. Holmes let out an excited yelp. "Never would I have thought I'd get to see this day!" She nearly knocked down anybody who stood in her way as she moved to stand before her daughter-in-law to-be. "You are lovely, dear. You are always lovely."
"Thank you!" she said, hugging the woman. "I-"
"Hey! Auntie Molly! Somebody knocked!" Sophie pointed out as she reached to turn the door knob. Mary caught her in time before peeking through the door herself. About 20 seconds later, Mary hurried to Molly.
"It's Mycroft."
"Mycroft?" Molly repeated.
"Yeah! He wanted to talk to you really quick. That okay?"
"Why has Mycroft abandoned his brother? My poor Sherlock is probably a nervous wreck. Mycroft has always been the one to talk sense into that boy…" Mrs. Holmes fussed.
"No. It is fine!" Molly assured her. "He has John and Greg. They will hold him down for the time being…" Mrs. Holmes sighed before stepping aside to allow Molly to gather he skirt and move to the door.
She pushed herself through the door. "Mycroft? Can I help you?"
"Molly," he greeted as he gave her a friendly nod. "You look lovely."
Molly looked bashfully at the floor in response. She still couldn't quite get use to this somewhat sentimental Mycroft Holmes. "Thank you… So, um… Is there something you needed to talk to me about? Is it Sherlock? I'm sure he's driven you mad by now."
"Oh, you've no idea. It seems my little brother is experiencing the condition of 'pre-wedding jitters' that most would on their wedding day," he informed her. "However, he is handling it in his own way. Not to worry though. I would believe that this behavior is expected." He took a long breathe. "But I have disturbed your preparations for a different reason."
Molly quirked an eye brow. "Oh. I hope all is well. Is it-?"
"No. All is in order. I've come to bring you something." Molly was intrigued now. Mycroft was never one to really bring something. It was usually through somebody else. Molly could tell that it was a different situation for him as well. He seemed unsure whether to clasp his hands behind him in his usual professional manner or to keep them at his sides. One hand finally reached in his pocket and pulled out a small drawstring bag.
He opened up the bag and pulled out a silver chain followed by a round pendant pictured with an intricate tree. It shimmered with small pieces of emerald along the silver, giving the illusion of green leaves at different angles. "Growing up, my grandmother would sit in our sitting room and tell these series of stories. Sherlock was just shy of his teenage years, about 10 at the time I believe, when she told us the story about this piece. You see, my grandfather had given it to my grandmother on their fiftieth anniversary. She told us that their love had was strong and was always growing."
"It is very beautiful, Mycroft," Molly said softly."
"Well, being a young boy, Sherlock was still very innocent in the way he foresaw his future. He was still unaware of his abilities and I will say that I have had quite an influence on him all these years. My brother told my grandmother that he was going to give this pendant to the woman that he would fall in love with." He froze for some time to take in another breath, still quite uncomfortable with his "sentimental" side. "Well, times changed and so did Sherlock. The pendant was left in my mother's care over the years and I thought… Well…"
Molly was dumbfounded. "You're saying that you are giving this to me?"
"Yes. I believe that you may be able to spark something in the back of his mind. He may have it filed away," he said. "Though I may show no sign of sentiment towards objects, I do understand that others do. And since Sherlock had shown such a fondness for the symbolic meaning of this pedant, I feel that now is a good time to give it to you."
"I really don't know what to say, Mycroft…" she whispered.
"No words are required, I assure you. Shall I help you put it on?" Molly nodded before turning herself around. Mycroft carefully placed the pendant against her skin as he clasped the chain closed. He tapped her shoulder to signal that it was secure. She turned around.
Mycroft went to turn himself, to return back to his nervous brother before Molly grabbed his arm. "Mycroft?"
"Yes, Molly?"
Before he could resist, she wrapped her arms around him in a hug. He hesitantly hugged her back. "Thank you for remembering. Something like this must seem quite small in importance to other things that you deal with on a daily basis."
Once free, he had resumed his usual demeanor. "Nothing is every insignificant when it comes to my little brother, now is it? Not to mention that I have dealt with him on a daily basis since the day he was born to this world. Yet I digress… You are a very important and significant person to Sherlock, thus, you are to me," he made a quizzical expression in response which Molly decided resulted from a conscious question to himself in regards to if he said the right words. That was short lived and he regained composure. "I shan't keep you. You must finish your preparations and I do believe that John has become suspicious of my whereabouts."
"Of course!" she grinned. "I will see you later."
"Indeed. 'Till then…" he concluded before turning on his heel one more time and leaving her where she was. She glance down at the pendant to confirm that what had transpired was not fiction. She reentered the room, all eyes on her.
"Why did Mikey need you?" Mrs. Holmes inquired immediately upon her return. "He wasn't feeding you any of his nonsense, no was he?"
"I'm sure he was just escaping from his brother. John just texted me saying that Greg looks as though he is going to strangle him with his bow tie," Mary sighed.
"No. He came to give me this." She held out the new piece of jewelry for the party to see. They appreciated the beauty of it and Mrs. Holmes's eyes became wide.
"Oh my God! He remembered!" she enthused as she embraced Molly in a bone-crushing embrace. "I thought that when it wasn't in the jewelry box, we had just left it about the house. We're becoming quite forgetful these days. He must have smuggled it out after his last visit! My sons have never really understood the different between asking mummy before taking something… Oh! I'm so excited!"
Molly never quite understood her soon-to-be mother-in-law but she knew that this must have been a relief to the woman.
Mycroft could retain and remember many things. He could remember details that pieced together a government. Perhaps he remembered each and every dark secret that came with his job. However, Mycroft Holmes could remember a moment in his life where sentiment was important to his baby brother. Both brothers had spent a childhood and on, destroying each other. Yet, it was without a doubt that they had their own ways of repairing the damage.