Hello readers! Back again with another chapter. Sorry it took so long again, school has been really busy. Test after test, prep for the SAT, science fair, and more...This year is a nightmare, but it's been fun so far! Kinda. I found this new game and it's been slightly addicting.
Molly jerked awake from a nightmare. She stiffened and looked around in the pitch darkness, trying to assess where she was. She felt wetness on her face, she must have been crying from the dream. Molly remembered that she was in the Sherlock's flat, and she had fallen asleep earlier in his arms on the couch after finishing the last touches on the wedding.
"Bad dream?" Sherlock felt Molly nod on his chest. "Want to talk about it?"
Molly shook her head. In the dream, she and Sherlock were in the living room, dancing to music they couldn't hear. She was laughing, and she was happy. Darkness then descended and the sunlight that was streaming through the windows disappeared as police officers broke through the door and approached. Sherlock screamed as Molly was dragged away for her crimes, and as she sobbed and cried an apology to Sherlock, she jerked awake.
Sherlock could feel Molly's warm tears through his shirt. He was slightly frustrated ever since Molly and him got back together after he was shot. There was still something she wasn't telling him, and it made Sherlock's heart ache to think that Molly would ever keep anything from him. He once tried confronting her about the vase of red peonies she threw away in the dumpster, but she started crying hysterically and slammed the door in his face. Sherlock didn't try and prod her for any further information and he decided to be patient, thinking that Molly would eventually open up.
She never did, at least not completely. Molly told him that Toby died, but Sherlock sensed that something was bothering her even more than the death of her beloved cat. Months passed as they blissfully spent their time planning the wedding for John and Mary, which was more fun than Sherlock initially thought thanks to the fact that Molly was around to assist him, but the feeling that something was not quite right always nagged at him.
Sherlock sighed. "Molly, please. I know something's wrong."
"I'll tell you another time, Sherlock. Just let me be." It broke Molly's heart to see Sherlock being so concerned and upset over her well-being. She tried her best to hide her fear and anxiety, but Sherlock could see through anything. She just wanted to spend what time she had left with Sherlock, and maybe Cam was being generous and letting her do so before he or she revealed her secret and hauled her off to prison.
Sherlock reluctantly complied and said nothing more as he stroked her hair, waiting until she fell asleep. What frustrated him the most was not the fact that Molly was keeping something from him, but the fact that he could do nothing to ease her.
Mary bid her coworkers good night and headed off onto the street with her hands in her beige coat pocket. She slipped a knitted cap over her head due to the light drizzle that was falling. Her ears pricked up as she heard running footsteps coming from behind her.
"Mary!" the man called. "Wait up!"
Mary frowned as she recognized the voice. It was Lenard, the man who worked next door who had started flirting with her the moment he noticed that John was absent in her life. She didn't slow her pace, and Lenard eventually caught up to her, panting and out of breath.
"You shouldn't be walking the streets alone! Let me walk you home," Lenard offered. He stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
"I'll be fine," Mary replied. She moved around him and tried to continue her journey home, but was stopped when he reached out and grabbed her wrist.
"Mary," he said softly. He looked deep into her eyes, and Mary looked back at him with repulsion. Unfortunately, Lenard mistook the repulsion in her eyes for sentiment, and he cupped his hands around her face, pulling her towards him.
"What the-!" Mary stiffened and became defensive. She pushed against his chest, trying to slow the oncoming kiss. "Let go of me!" Their lips were about to meet when Lenard was abruptly shoved away from her by an outside force. He fell to the ground, surprised.
"I believe the lady told you to let go," spoke a calm yet angry voice. Mary's eyes brightened as she recognized the owner of the voice. John.
Lenard slowly got up, taking in the small stature of the man who had knocked him down. "Hey," he said as he intimidatingly cracked his knuckles. "I really think you should be minding your own business now." He lunged for John, whose quick reaction time enabled him to dodge out of the way just in time.
John jumped on Lenard, who was laying with his stomach to the ground on the street. He pinned Lenard's arm behind his back and added pressure until Lenard grunted in pain. "Mary is my business. I suggest you run along now, I don't want to see you near her again," John warned. Mary's heart rate quickened when she heard John being protective of her. John got off of Lenard, who tried to regain some dignity by brushing himself off and walking the opposite direction from them, cradling his bruised, possibly sprained, wrist in his other arm.
John and Mary turned toward each other. Mary couldn't read his face. John took a deep breath and said, "We should get home. We need to talk."
We need to talk. The words every person hopes never to hear from their significant other. Mary and John walked home in silence, which was uncomfortable for Mary but relaxing for John. They stepped through the threshold of their home and proceeded to the living room. John got the fireplace going and Mary stepped into the kitchen to make some tea. Once she returned, she found John sitting in his usual chair. She handed a cup to him and then sat down as well.
"So, are you okay?"
"Fine," Mary replied in a rather tight voice. She sipped her tea, her hands slightly shaking.
John reached into his pocket and took out a small silver flash-drive with the faded letters "A.G.R.A." imprinted on it. He showed it to her and then lowered his hand.
Mary sighed. "We're going to do this now?"
John simply stayed silent, looking at her.
"So have you read it?"
John looked down at the pen drive as he repeatedly turned it around in his fingers. "W-would you come here a moment?"
Mary shook her head. "No. Tell me. Have you?"
John repeatedly more calmly, "Come here."
Mary grimaced and got up. She walked across the room to him and John stood up as well. They met in front of the fireplace. Mary stopped in front of him and lowered her eyelashes.
"I've thought long and hard about what I want to say to you," he said in a whisper. "These are prepared words, Mary." She raised her eyes to him. John pulled in another shaky breath before continuing. "I've chosen these words with care."
"Okay," Mary said nervously.
John cleared his throat and then met her eyes. "The problems of your past are your business. The problems of your future...are my privilege."
Mary's face crumpled as tears formed in her eyes.
"It's all I have to say. It's all I need to know." John looked down at the pen drive as Mary tearfully gazed at him. After a beat, he dropped the flash-drive into the fireplace. Mary started crying as she looked at the pen drive on the burning logs. "No, I didn't read it," John added quietly.
"You don't even know my name," Mary whispered.
"Is Mary Watson good enough for you?"
"Yes!" Mary sobbed out the word. "Oh my God, yes."
"Then it's good enough for me too." John stepped toward her and hugged her tightly.
They pulled back far enough to look into each other's eyes.
"All this does not mean that I'm not still basically pissed off with you."
"I know, I know."
"I am very pissed off, and it will come out now and then."
"I know, I know, I know."
John said softly, "You can mow the sodding lawn from now on."
"I do mow the lawn."
"No, I do it loads."
"You really don't."
"I choose our first child's name?"
Mary laughed. "Not a chance."
"Okay," John said before pulling her in for another hug.
Mary smiled. "Mary Watson? Does that mean the wedding is back on?"
"Yeah. We should go tell Sherlock and Molly."
The pair released their embrace on each other. John and Mary got their coats and set off to flat 221b.
Mary and John walked along the sidewalk to Sherlock's flat.
"So who was that guy from earlier?" John asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Oh, the guy you sprained? That was Lenard. He works next door. He's been flirting with me ever since he noticed you were gone."
"Hm."
The corners of Mary's lips turned up in a smile. "Why? Jealous? Didn't know you were that type."
John refused to answer in embarrassment and hurried to knock on the building's door as Mary laughed.
Mrs. Hudson opened the door to find Mary and John, arm-in-arm, much to her delight. "Oh! Mary, John! So glad to see you two have made up." She was about to continue, but sensing she was about to go on a rant, John kindly thanked her and informed her that it was urgent they see Sherlock and Molly. "They're right upstairs," she stated as she smiled at the couple.
"Thank you Mrs. Hudson," Mary thanked as she and John walked up the stairs.
Sherlock stopped in the middle of what he was doing, which was an experiment in the kitchen. His fine ears heard familiar steps on the staircase. Molly, who was curled on the couch, comfortably wrapped in a blanket, dropped her book on her lap when she noticed him not hustling and bustling.
"Something wrong?" Molly asked.
Sherlock grinned. "They're coming."
"Who?" Molly asked just as John and Mary walked into the flat. "Oh!"
Sherlock pulled off his rubber gloves and set his bubbling beaker down on the counter. He stepped into the living room. "John, Mary. I take it you two are-"
"Back together!" John finished.
Molly gave a genuinely happy smile to Mary, who gave her a quick thumbs up in return. Mary laughed. "Guess this means we have to plan the wedding all over again."
John groaned. "Sherlock, Molly, how much did you guys manage to get back from all the refunds?"
Molly and Sherlock exchanged a knowing look and smirk with each other. "Actually," Sherlock said, glancing at the calendar, "Your wedding is next week."
"What?" Mary exclaimed.
"Yeah," Molly added sheepishly. "We just continued planning it for you guys."
"See Molly, I told you next week would be good date." Sherlock faced Mary and John. "She thought it would take longer for you to make up," he scoffed.
"So you just continued planning our wedding, without the bride or groom's knowledge?" John asked incredulously. Everyone chuckled.
"So," Mary began. "Do we get to see what you've planned so far?"
"Oh no," Sherlock replied. "It's going to be a surprise. You'll see the wedding decorations when you get there."
John gave Mary's hand a squeeze, sensing her worry. Sherlock didn't seem to be too in touch with things like decorating and designing. Molly was a female, so she should have had some good instinct when it came to wedding planning, but Mary's thoughts jumped to her questionable sweaters and jumpers that Molly was so fond of wearing. Mary immediately set her expectations low; she and John were finally getting married, that was what was important. It didn't matter how bad or tacky the wedding looked like, right?
The rest of the evening was spent in celebration. Laughter, good food, violin playing, filled the warm flat of 221b. Sherlock and John went for a quick errand to go buy some ties for the wedding, and Mary and Molly were left alone in the living room. Molly was finally comfortable and fully trusting of Mary after John's and Sherlock's forgiveness, and Mary seemed to feel the same with Molly. The two sat in comfortable silence, sipping tea and staring at the roaring fireplace, engrossed within their own thoughts. Night had already fallen and the light of the moonlight and fire cast a nice glow and atmosphere into the flat.
Mary spoke up. "Molly, can I ask you something?"
"Uh, yeah, sure. Anything," Molly replied in surprise.
"I think you would be the first female friend I've ever trusted. No one else knows who I really am."
Molly smiled. "Thank you. So what's the question?"
"Will you be my maid-of-honor?" Mary asked hopefully.
A wide smile appeared on Molly's face. "Of course!" She suddenly moved from her position and hugged Mary tightly. The surprised Mary nearly spilled her tea before returning the embrace.
Mary smiled. So this was what it felt like to have a true friend. "Guess we have to dress shopping soon!"
So there's that! This chapter was more light-hearted, the next few ones will probably be too. But after that, it's all going to blow down. Hope you look forward to it, and please leave a review!