Good day lovely readers! And if you're not having a good day, I hope this chapter cheers you up somewhat. Sorry for the late update! I've had quite a lot on my hands as of late. Interview preparation, calculus and biology tests, birthday party, science fair, and all that good stuff. Most of which I regret doing. Well, anyway, here's the chapter!
From this day forward, you shall not walk alone. My heart will be your shelter, and my arms will be your home.
"Here we are!" Sherlock announced as he opened up the doors with a bang and a grand flourish. Sherlock and Molly eagerly watched the John and Mary's faces, which were both filled with astonishment and awe.
"W-wow," John breathed. This was better than anything he could have hoped for, anything he could have possibly planned on his own.
Mary stared at the room in front of her with her mouth agape, totally transfixed. So this was how Molly –the fashionably questionable woman who bought most of her clothes from thrift stores– and Sherlock –the man who didn't care about who slept with who, the recent news, much less the latest trends in decoration– would plan a wedding.
"Close your mouth, Mary, you'll catch flies," Sherlock said with a grin.
A tear welled up in Mary's eye. "This is...perfect. Thank you," she whispered.
Molly giggled at their reaction. She knew they would be happy, but she wasn't expecting them to be completely awestruck and speechless.
Mary was the first one to take further steps into the elegant room. Rich, golden sunlight was streaming in every one of the numerous windows and perfectly complemented the yellow painted walls to create a joyous atmosphere. She clasped her hands over her mouth, walking across the expanse of the room and gazing at the bouquets of flowers on the pristine white tablecloths. She glanced around, wondering if there was anything Sherlock and Molly had missed in their planning.
There wasn't. Trust Sherlock to be the studious in planning, not forgetting a single detail of the wedding. All the name-cards were in their place, every seat had an Opera House serviette, folded by Sherlock no doubt. Dust had been cleared, chairs arranged neatly, exactly 90 degrees to the tables.
Mary turned to the others who were still standing by the doorway and grinned widely. Today was her wedding day. And she never felt more euphoric in her life.
Zip. Molly hurriedly squeezed into her bridesmaid gown after she just helped Mary put on her wedding dress. She stepped into her shoes and then ran to the ceremony, hoping that her hair and makeup wouldn't be ruined in the process.
She slowed down as she approached the side door and then poked her head through. The guests were still chatting, but it seemed that she was the last bridesmaid to show up. Molly straightened her dress and then stepped through the doors, proceeding to the alter.
Sherlock chuckled as he caught sight of Molly walking through the side doors. Judging by the fairly rapid rising and falling of her chest and the warm rosy color spreading across her cheeks, Molly had probably ran all the way here. Sherlock glanced at his watch. Just in time too, the ceremony was about to start in two minutes. She stepped in her rightful spot next to where Mary would stand. John briefly nodded to her and then resumed his task of staring at the door, waiting for the moment the love of his life would walk through. Sherlock caught Molly's eye and gave her a smile as the wedding march started playing.
All eyes turned toward the doors at the end of the chapel. The ebony doors opened to reveal an elegantly dressed Mary with a bouquet in hand.
Molly internally squealed as Mary marched down the aisle in time with the music. She looked even more perfect and beautiful than Molly remembered her being in the dressing room. The sunlight delicately spread itself across Mary's figure, and her glowing smile was her best accessory.
Mary stepped up on the alter next to John, and the pair had eyes for no one else but each other.
The preacher began his sermon, and then began the process of entwining Mary and John's lives together in holy matrimony.
"You may now kiss the bride."
Upon hearing these words, John's arm curled around Mary's waist and he dipped her, much to her delight. When their lips met, the audience cheered and hollered quite vigorously for far much more time than Sherlock thought was necessary.
The crowd then proceeded to a grand room and all sat down where their names were labelled. They ate through three courses and drank lots of champagne as Mary and John threaded their way around the room occasionally to check up on everyone.
A scarred, man in a uniform caught Mary's eye. She motioned John over. "Oh, is that...?"
John grinned widely at the close friend he had spent quite a bit of time with recently. "Major Sholto!" John gently tugged Mary's wrist and led her over to the table where he was seated. The major promptly stood up and the two men gave a hearty salute to one another.
Major Sholto raised his eyebrows at Mary. "And John, I presume this is..."
"Mary!" John smiled. "Yeah, this is the woman I told you about."
Mary took a nervous gulp of her wine glass and then pulled a disgusted face. Eugh. The wine did not taste good. She smiled timidly at Major Sholto, wondering what John could have said to the man while they were on break.
"Nice to meet you Major," Mary said sweetly.
The man stood up and shook Mary's hand. "And to you."
John grinned, glad that his former captain and wife finally got to meet. He glanced at the clock. "Oh! We should get over to the head table now, it's time for the best man speech!" He took Mary's hand and led her to their seats as Mary cast one last smile at the Major.
Molly and Sherlock were already seated beside the bride and groom seats, and the head waiter tapped a spoon against a champagne glass to get everyone's attention. "Pray silence for the best man," he stated.
A hush swooped across the room as all eyes turned expectantly to Sherlock. John grinned at the man to his left and gave him a clap on the shoulder before Sherlock rose to stand up.
Molly hid her giggles behind her hand as everyone clapped. Sherlock looked so uncomfortable. She was sitting to his left.
Sherlock began, "Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, and, erm...others." He stopped and blinked as an awkward silence ensued. "Er...a-a-also..."
Molly looked at him, concerned, then whispered, "Telegrams," expecting beforehand that this situation would probably occur.
Sherlock seemed to jolt out of his blankness. "Right, um." He patted his pockets, then realized that the pile of telegrams were in front of him. "First things first. Telegrams." He picked up the cards and showed them to the guests.
Sherlock proceeded to read the telegrams out loud. "To Mr. and Mrs. Watson. So sorry I'm unable to be with you on your special day. Good luck and best wishes, Mike Stamford."
"To John and Mary. All good wishes for your special day. With love and many big...big squishy cuddles, from Stella and Ted." Sherlock frowned, while Greg sniggered and Molly smiled.
Sherlock continued and picked up the next card. "Oodles and love and heaps of good wishes from Cam." Molly's smile quickly faded and she stiffened up when she heard the name.
"Special day..." Sherlock dropped that card and looked at the next one. "Very special day..." He dropped that one too and continued to work rapidly through the rest of the cards, saying only one or two words from each.
Satisfied with finishing, he looked up at the audience and gestured to John. "John Watson. My friend, John Watson. When John first broached the subject of being best man, I was confused. I confess at first I didn't realize he was asking me. When I finally understood, I expressed to him that I was both flattered and...surprised."
John smiled as he remembered the time when he had asked Sherlock the big question.
"I explained to him that I had never expected this request and I was a little daunted in the face of it. I nonetheless promised that I would do my very best to accomplish a task which was, for me, as demanding and difficult as any I had ever contemplated. Additionally, I thanked him for the trust he had placed in me..."
John frowned, not remembering these words ever coming out of Sherlock's mouth at that time.
"...And indicated that I was, in some ways, very close to being...moved by it. It later transpired that I had said none of this out loud."
John laughed, and several guests joined in.
Sherlock glanced at his cue cards, and saw that he had done most of them. He looked up at the guests again, and then to John.
"Let's talk about John. If I burden myself with a little help-mate during my adventures, it is not out of sentiment or caprice, it is that he has many fine qualities of his own that he has overlooked in his obsession with me. Indeed, any reputation I have for mental acuity and sharpness comes, in truth, from the extraordinary contrast John so selflessly provides."
John sighed heavily, while Mary and Molly frowned.
"...and contrast is, after all, God's own plan to enhance the beauty of his creation, or it would be if God were not a ludicrous fantasy designed to provide a career opportunity for the family idiot."
Molly faced-palmed and John half-hid behind his clasped hands.
"The point I'm trying to make is that I am the most unpleasant, rude, ignorant and all-round obnoxious arsehole that anyone could possibly have the misfortune to meet. I am dismissive of the virtuous..."
He turned to Molly. "...unaware of the beautiful..."
Sherlock turned to Mary and John. "...and uncomprehending in the face of the happy. So if I didn't understand I was being asked to be best man, it is because I never expected to be anybody's best friend."
The guests fell silent as they listened to Sherlock.
"Certainly not the best friend of the bravest and kindest and wisest human being I have ever had the good fortune of knowing."
Mary smiled proudly at her new husband and several of the guests exclaimed coos of "Awww!"
"Mary, when I say you deserve this man, it is the highest compliment of which I am capable. John, you have endured war, and injury, betrayal, and tragic loss. So know this: today you sit between the woman you have made your wife and the man you have saved. In short, the two people who love you most in all this world. And I know I speak for Mary as well when I say we will never let you down, and we have a lifetime ahead to prove that."
Mrs. Hudson blinked rapidly and held a tissue to her eye as she heard Sherlock's words. Molly wiped the tears from her eyes with her serviette, and the several guests, even some of the men, sniffled.
Sherlock looked up and was alarmed to see so many of the guests crying. "What's wrong?" he asked quickly. "What happened? Why are you all doing that? John?"
Sherlock looked down at John. "Did I do it wrong?"
John laughed and stood up. "No, you didn't. Come here." John pulled Sherlock into a tight hug and the guests broke into applause.
In the foyer of the wedding venue, Sherlock and Molly were waltzing alone.
"One, two, three. Ahh, pretty good," Sherlock encouraged. "Just...hold your nerve on your turning."
"Why do we have to rehearse?" Molly asked.
Sherlock leaned into her. "Because we are about to dance together in public, and your skills are appalling!" He said it in a playful tone and Molly laughed.
"Well, you're a good teacher."
"Mmm."
"And you're a brilliant dancer."
Sherlock spoke quietly, leaning into her again. "I'll let you in on something, Molly."
Molly whispered, "Go on, then."
"I love dancing. I've always loved it."
"Seriously?" Molly laughed. "How did I not know this about you?"
Sherlock cleared his throat. "Never really comes up in crime work but, um, you know, I live in hope of the right case."
Molly smiled. "Well then, shall we go over it one more time?"
In the reception room, John and Mary were deeply looking into each other's eyes while dancing a slow waltz in the middle of the room to the sound of Sherlock's lone violin filling the air. John dipped her backwards and kissed her as the tune came to an end.
Sherlock stepped to the nearby microphone and the audience cheered for the couple's first dance and Sherlock's performance. "Ladies and gentlemen, just, one last thing before the evening begins. Mary and John: whatever it takes, whatever happens, from now on I swear I will always be there, always, for all three of you." Sherlock hesitated and then stuttered, "Er, I'm sorry. I mean two of you. All two of you. Both of you, in fact, I've just miscounted."
Sherlock withdrew in a sharp breath as John and Mary exchanged confused looks. Sherlock turned to the DJ. "Anyway, it's time for dancing. Play the music again please, thank you."
Sherlock stepped off the stage and walked over to John, Mary, and Molly, who were all looking quizzically at him.
"Sorry, that was one more deduction than I was really expecting."
"Deduction?" Molly asked.
Sherlock looked intensely at Mary. "Increased appetite, change of taste perception, and you were sick this morning. You assumed it was just wedding nerves. You got angry with me when I mentioned it to you. All the signs are there."
John raised his eyebrows. "The signs?"
"The signs of three." Sherlock dropped his gaze to Mary's abdomen.
"What?!" Mary exclaimed.
"Mary, I think you should do a pregnancy test."
Molly clasped her hand over her mouth and gave Mary a congratulatory hug. John sighed. "How did he notice before me? I'm a bloody doctor."
"It's your day off."
"It's your day off!" John retorted.
Sherlock simply smiled happily at him. John finally laughed and reached to give Sherlock a hug as well.
"Dance," Sherlock commanded abruptly.
"Mm?"
"Both of you, now, go dance. We can't just stand here. People will wonder what we're talking about."
"Right," John said as he led Mary away to the dance floor.
Molly stepped closer to Sherlock's side and watched with him as the couple walked away.
Sherlock didn't seem that he was going to do anything anytime soon, so Molly held her hand out to him and spoke up.
"May I have this dance?" she asked.
Sherlock smiled to her and took her hand.
Oodles of love and many big, squishy hugs to the readers ;) Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I cut some stuff out of the original Sign of Three plot, and added more Sherlolly. Next chapter...is the reveal of Molly's dark secret! I think, I still haven't decided yet. But hopefully yes. I know you've been waiting awhile for its unveiling, but most of you guys might have figured it out. Until next time!
My love for you is a journey, starting at forever and ending at never.