And I'm back with another chapter! This one wasn't quite as long as I intended it to be, but I didn't want to go a month without updating, so here you go! My life's been a bit busy, and I'm also a bit lazy. Not really a good combination. Apologies! I've been trying to look at colleges, study for SAT, keep up with my AP work, and so on and so on. And I have a homecoming dance on Saturday! Woo! That should be fun. No matter how busy or lazy I am, I won't stop updating the story until it's completely finished! You can count on that. Enjoy the chapter.

"Sherlock! The doctor said to get your rest!" Molly chided.

"I'm fine. The doctor is incompetent," Sherlock replied as he quickly moved about the room, shifting documents and papers around.

"I say to get your rest," Molly challenged.

Sherlock smiled and moved closer to her. He kissed the top of her head. "I'm fine," he repeated, more gently this time.

Molly sighed and curled up on the couch in Sherlock's flat. She changed the subject, her tone becoming more somber. "Why are we still planning the wedding? It's been months. Are you sure John and-"

"Yes, I'm sure." Sherlock sat himself next to her and tilted her chin so that she was looking in his eyes. "Yes, I know it's taken a while, but I know John. I know they'll be alright."

Molly looked at Sherlock with doubt in her eyes. He smiled and scooted her over so that he could lie next to her. She obligingly moved over as Sherlock placed a arm around her.

"You know, when you and I were on break-"

"Break?" Molly scoffed.

Sherlock chuckled. "Well, we both knew it wasn't going to be permanent."

"Right."

"Anyway. Mary was the one who most avidly supported us being together again someday, despite...how bleak the future seemed."

"Hm." Molly liked Mary before, sure. But after Mary shot the love of her life, she wasn't quite so forgiving. Molly was trying of course to sympathize with Mary because Molly knew what it was like to want a dark secret stay buried in the past.

Sherlock huddled closer to Molly and whispered in her ear, "Molly, you can trust her. And if the fact that she saved my life isn't good enough-"

Molly snorted.

"Then trust her because I do."

Molly sighed and buried her face in Sherlock's arm, exhausted by the day's work. "Hm. Fine." Molly pondered her encounter with Mary from months earlier more deeply, and then drifted off to sleep, entwined in the arms of Sherlock.

2 months earlier

Molly stepped onto the porch of Mary's house and knocked on the door. She was only here because Sherlock asked her to go talk to Mary, that she needed someone right now. Molly didn't quite see why she had to be that someone, but Sherlock's constant insisting got to her and she finally have in. Molly was quite annoyed at the women who shot Sherlock, but she did her best to hide her annoyance as the front door opened, revealing Mary, who wasn't as disheveled looking as Molly expected her to be.

"Molly. Hello," Mary greeted with a small smile and slightly monotone voice.

"Hey, Mary. Can I come in?" Molly didn't quite pay attention to Mary's response and went ahead and stepped in. Her eyes carefully assessed the inside of the home; it looked as normal as it usually did. It had been a week since they found out that Mary was an ex-assassin, and Molly was surprised to see all of John's things where they should have been. His week old shirts were strewn about the couch and living room, and his shoes were still neatly placed near the door. Everything in the house was how it should have been, except that John was no where to be seen.

Mary gestured the kitchen. "Sit, I'll make some tea."

Molly strode across the length of the living room and into the kitchen where Mary pointed to. She patiently waited for her tea without saying a word, but really Molly was just putting off saying what she had to, well, what Sherlock insisted her to say.

Mary set down a large mug of tea in front of Molly and then sat across from her with her own mug of tea in her hands. "So what brings you to visit?"

"Well, I wasn't quite keen on visiting," Molly began. And she stopped. Molly stared deep into Mary's eyes and saw her pain and apology. She continued, "I wasn't keen on visiting. Not now, not ever. I'm only here because Sherlock trusts you, something that I can't really fathom." Molly took a deep, shaking breath, trying to contain her anger. "But because Sherlock trusts you, I'm trying."

"Thank you," Mary whispered, almost inaudibly.

"What?" Molly asked, not hearing her.

"Thank you, for trying. I can tell you really are."

"Yeah, um," Molly stuttered, caught off guard. "Maybe someday, I can put as much faith in you as Sherlock does." Molly saw a hint of relief and hope appear in Mary's eyes. "But don't hold your breath," Molly said quickly, still annoyed at Mary. Mary gave a small half smile. "Anyway, I came to tell you, well really Sherlock sent me to tell you, that you don't have to worry about the wedding planning that was in process and all the money involved. Sherlock and I will take care of it. Just...relax and take your mind off things."

"Thank you Molly." Mary gave her a genuine smile, something she had not done in a long while. Molly instinctively flashed a mile back, but it was so quick that if Mary had blinked, she would have missed it.

"Right, I'll be going now." Molly got up to leave when Mary grabbed her hand.

"Wait," Mary pleaded with a hint of desperation in her eyes, "How's John?"

"I don't know."

Mary let go of Molly's hand in surprise. "What? Isn't he at 221b?"

"No. I haven't seen him. Sherlock knows where he is, but he refuses to tell me."

"Oh."

"Don't worry, he just needs some space." Molly reprimanded herself inwardly. Wasn't she supposed to be mad at her, not comforting her? Molly frowned and quickly left.

When Molly got back to 221b, Sherlock informed her that "taking care of the wedding" didn't mean that they were going to disassemble it and try to get as much money back as possible; it meant that they were going to continue planning it without the knowledge of either the bride or the groom.

So yes, this chapter was a bit short. I was going to write more, but I didn't know how long it would take so I just decided to update because I didn't want you guys to wait so long. As soon as I write a chapter, I edit it and then publish it. It's the first time I've written so spontaneously, and it seems to be going well.

Please leave a review! Constructive criticism is ALWAYS welcome! (As long as it's polite).