Chapter 4- The 12 Year Deception
I couldn't believe it, I didn't want to believe it. The couple at the back of the church were my dead parents. Or not dead parents as it turned out. I stopped walking.
"Abi?" asked Daniel concerned, "What is it?"
I didn't reply.
"Abi?" It was Lestrade this time, "Abi, I think you had better come with me." And he pulled me into the vestry.
"What's going on Greg?" asked Daniel, who had followed us into the side room.
"Abi, 12 years ago, the 7/7 attacks in London happened. You of course know this as it was the event that would shape and change your life forever."
"What's this got to do with anything?" asked Daniel, angrily. "Greg, you're upsetting Abi. It's supposed to be the happiest day of our lives."
"Inspector, my parents never got on that train, did they?" I whispered. "That was them, out there in the church."
Lestrade nodded solemnly.
I began to cry and Daniel held me in his arms. "They were supposed to get on that train. I was to believe they had died." I said into his church.
"The morning they dropped you off at school, they came and found me and told me what you had told them the night before. I didn't believe it at first but then the calls started coming in saying that there had been bombs on the train. So against my better judgement, I told you that they had died and I helped them hide."
"If they are hiding, how are they here?" I asked, looking at him.
He didn't answer.
"Answer my question, Lestrade, why are they here?"
Lestrade didn't look at me as he answered, "I invited them."
"You did what?"
"I knew where they were living and I knew that if they were alive they would have wanted to see you married, I knew they would have been there. I couldn't deny them that joy, not as you were their only daughter."
"They lost that right the minute they decided that they were going to change everything." I spat. "I didn't want them to die, never, but that's what happened and I came to terms with it. I lived my life. And now you are telling me they are alive?"
"Abi, we understand that you are mad…" said my father. I would recognise his voice anywhere, the voice that had read me to sleep and told me wild tales from when he was a boy.
"You know this was what we had to do, you knew that it would create a paradox if we had found you." Said my mum, crying.
"Yes, but you were supposed to stay away." I said, "You shouldn't be here today. I should never have seen you. In fact, I should never had gone back in time to see you and none of this would be happening."
"Abi, please…."
"No. And if you'll excuse me, my parents and my family and friends are waiting for us out there. You are more than welcome to come to the party, just don't talk to me or Daniel." And I left the room, pulling Daniel as I went.
We went back into the church to join everyone. No one had really noticed we had gone besides Sherlock and Mycroft (obviously) and Sally. But no one mentioned anything, they were too busy congratulating us and then we had the photos. Now, I have never been a photo person and these seemed to take forever but I smiled and laughed with everyone else- if nothing then to put the memory of what just happened from my mind.
Then there was a gap between leaving the church and going to the reception. Daniel and I went for a walk in the grounds. We were walking arm in arm for a while before anyone spoke.
"Daniel I-"
"Shh. Abigail. You don't need to explain to me."
I stopped and turned to face him. "I just told my parents to leave me. On my wedding day. In the house of God no less. That doesn't warrant an explanation?"
Daniel held me at my shoulders and looked into my eyes. "Mrs Holmes," I smiled a little, "I learnt a long time ago not to question your judgement on anything because usually you were right. So no, I do not require an explanation because I trust you and I stand by you. Always."
I smiled and he wiped the tears from my eyes. "I love you, Daniel Holmes."
He smiled back. "I love you too, Abi Holmes."
We continued our walk around the grounds, laughing and smiling, planning for baby and Daniel was even suggesting names.
"I like Thomas or James for a boy." He said as we looped back near the church.
I shook my head, "I'm sorry but I've had a name for a baby boy ever since I was 12. Anthony. After my father."
Daniel stopped to look at me. "Even now?"
I nodded, "Even now."
Daniel hugged me. "Of course. Anthony if it's a boy. What about if it's a girl?"
"You can choose that one." I said and began walking again.
"My mother was called Felicity so I think Felicity if it's a girl."
I rested my head on his shoulder. "Felicity. Hmm. I like that." I laughed.
Daniel looked at me
"Look at us, talking about baby names. I'm only eighteen weeks gone!"
"Well, we can hardly talk about when we are going to have a baby."
I laughed again. "True."
Sally was running up the path towards us. "Abi! Daniel!"
"What is it Sal?" I asked, going to meet her.
"Your car is here! You can go to the reception."
I smiled widely and Daniel and I ran down to meet everyone. They cheered as we arrived and threw confetti over us. Everyone was laughing. I looked over my shoulder and I saw Anthony and Karen throwing confetti like everyone else but I ignored them. We climbed into the car and were waved off by everyone. I settled into Daniel. "Well now Mr Holmes. We're man and wife. We did it."
Daniel smiled and kissed my head. "That we did Mrs Holmes that we did."