Chapter 5- The Speeches.

The journey to the reception venue didn't take too long. I spent the whole trip in Daniel's arms. There seemed to be something different about being man and wife than just dating. Some people would say we got married to young or we rushed into it, but Daniel understood that we had to get married and he was prepared to stay with me and stand by me in something that a lot of men would run away and hide from. I believe I have found my Prince Charming (if such a thing exists).

The reception was a country hotel a few miles outside of London. Trust Daniel to go to the extreme, I thought. But it was nice. We met up with Sally, Molly, Mary and the others. None of the guests had arrived yet. So we spent time chatting and laughing. Mycroft even welcomed me into the family. I thanked him and saw Lestrade playing with Phoebe. I went over to them.

"Hey Phoebe." I said, crouching down.

"Abi!" she said, hugging me.

"Have you been a good girl?" The little girl nodded enthusiastically.

"Are you glad that I'm your sister now?"

Phoebe looked at me puzzled. So I explained. "I'm married to your brother, Daniel, so that makes me your sister now."

She became very excited by this and Lestrade laughed.

"I'm sorry I snapped at you, Dad." He looked up stunned. "What?" I asked, "You might as well get used to it." Lestrade hugged me, tears forming in his eyes. I hugged him back, glad that we had made peace. "I haven't attempted to call Mycroft Dad yet." He laughed, wiping tears from is eyes.

Then everyone started to arrive. This was the most tedious part of the day. We had to greet everyone that had come. We were stood in a line. Molly and Sherlock (mother and father of the bride), Sally (maid of honour), Daniel and myself, Johnny (Best man) Lestrade and Mycroft (Fathers of the groom). We said help to everyone, thanking them for their congratulations, laughing at various jokes that were made. After a while, we were able to go in and take our places at the main table. The waiters came round and filled up wine glasses and champagne flutes. (I only had a little bit of champagne for toasts. Other than that I had orange juice). We ate and drank and laughed and chatted. It was very nice to see everyone sat around tables laughing and talking with each other.

Then it was time for the speeches.

Daniel went first. "Ladies and gentlemen, I would like a few moment of your time. Firstly, I would like to thank you all for being here today. I know that some of you have had to travel far to be with us and that's so kind of you. I'll be honest. I never thought I would be here today. For those of you who don't know, I very nearly lost Abigail when she was pushed off a bridge into the Thames. For a while it was touch and go but she woke up and is here now. I can honestly say, that meeting Abigail has changed my life, for the better. She is a joy to be around, beautiful to wake up to and always up for a debate- which is lucky for me as I work in the government!"

Everyone laughed. Daniel looked at me. "Abigail Holmes, I promise to devote every waking moment to your every need. I will love our children and be a doting father. I will love you for the rest of my life and always be here for you."

There was applause and I stood up to kiss him.
Daniel raised his champagne flute and everyone copied, "Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses to my new wife, Abigail Holmes!"

"Abigail!" chorused everyone. I smiled at them

Then Sherlock stood up to perform his speech. I had doubts about this one, seeing as his best man's speech took an hour at John's wedding. "Ladies and gentleman, as father of the bride, I am required to make a speech. I feel like a fraud doing this as many of you know that I am not Abi's father. Her father died when she was 7 and I know he would want to be doing this. I hope I can do him proud." He paused. I looked down at my hands and Daniel covered them with his. "When Abigail came into my life, she was a shy, timid, heartbroken twelve year old. We had many an adventure together and I must say she made me a different man. She was the one who encouraged me to get with Molly and I am grateful that she did. When she went over that bridge, I honestly believed that my life was over. I live a dangerous life, Abi knew that, yet I never imagined that my life, my business would put her in danger. But she came through and has gone from strength to strength." He looked at me, "Abi, I believe you will make an excellent midwife and will bring light and joy to every mother you look after. I believe you will be an excellent mother one day and you will uphold your vows to Daniel and you will make each other very happy. I wish you all the best, both of you." He picked up his champagne flute and everybody else did, "Ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom!"

"The bride and groom!" everyone answered, toasting us.

Then everyone applauded and cheered.

Then it was my turn. "I don't know how I can follow those fantastic speeches. Dad, well done on keeping your one under an hour!" everyone laughed. I continued, looking at Sherlock, "In my need you have always been there for me and have always supported me. You may not have made me or be biologically related to me, but I can honestly believe that you are my father. I have never known any different. So we got you something to say thank you." Daniel stood up with a gift bag and gave it to Sherlock and people applauded.

"Molly, yes I am going to talk about you but not for long because I know you will start crying." She laughed, "Molly, I know I call you by your first name, but you have been a mother to me for such a long time. We laugh and chat for hours on end. You even taught me how to sew. I wouldn't be the woman I am now if it weren't for your guidance and support. So we got you a gift as well." I took the present to Molly and we hugged. I gave Sherlock a quick hug on the way back.

"I can honestly say with confidence that I never imagined I would have 3 fathers but then I never imagined I would be here today. Greg Lestrade, you have always been in my life, you knew me when I was a babe and you were the one who told me that my parents were dead. You have given me a best friend and now a sister in Sally and Johnny. You make me laugh and influenced my life. I think you're a pretty darn good copper, no matter what Sherlock says." He laughed at this. "I want to thank you today, in front of everyone, for always being there for me." Daniel gave him his gift bag and everyone clapped.
"Mycroft Holmes, ladies and gentlemen, the most annoying man any of you will ever meet." There was laughter. "No but seriously, when we first met, all those years ago, we actually hated each other. We're not much better now as it happens. We have a mutual agreement to agree to disagree on everything. But he has accepted me into his family and made me feel like a Holmes. Whether our relationship will improve, I don't know but I have hopes that it will. Whether he likes it or not, I am going to be in his life forever now. So Daniel and I have got you a gift to say thank-you for well… being you." Daniel gave him his gift bag and everyone clapped again.
"Now, I move on to the best man. We have yet to hear Johnny's speech but I have no doubt that it will be awesome. Johnny, I have known you since I was 5. Even though we were separated as children, we still had a friendship that would last a lifetime. Daniel's brought you a gift to say thanks for being a great friend and for being his best man." Daniel gave Johnny his gift as people clapped.
"Now, when I imagined my wedding, I always thought I would have a few bridesmaids and they would be friends. I never imagined I would have 5! To all of my bridesmaids, you have been amazing all day, you helped me get ready, kept everything in order at the church and provided a brilliant hen night of cheesy chick-flicks and food! So for Emily, Mary, Molly and Amber, a little something from me to you to say thanks." Emily, Mary and Amber came up to get their presents as people clapped and I passed Molly hers down the table. "And for Phoebe, even though you weren't a bridesmaid, we got you something so that you weren't left out." There were a few 'aww's' and sighs as Phoebe walked up to get her little gift. "Sally, you were my maid of honour. You are and will always be my best friend. You are amazing and I couldn't get through today without you."
Daniel stood up just then, "And I think we can all agree that Sally has done an amazing job with Abigail's hair." There were murmured agreements and clapping.

I continued, "So I want to thank you for being awesome and lovely and wonderful each and every day. So this is for you and Sam from Daniel and I." I handed her an envelope and a gift bag as everyone clapped.
"I think that's all the thank yous done, apart from the most important one. Daniel. I want to thank you for standing by me and staying with me even in the most challenging of times. You are the most amazing man I have ever been with and the one I was always going to marry. I love you Daniel, to the end of time and back." Everyone cheered and clapped as I kissed him and sat back down again.

Then Johnny stood up, "Thank you Abi for that wonderful thank you speech. We are indebted to you both for having us here today to celebrate your marriage and now I get to embarrass my brother. Our fathers got together about three years now and got married last year after mine and Sally's mother died. At first, I wasn't completely sure about it but once I saw the help and support that Mycroft was offering Dad, my opinion changed. And now you are both part of our family and Abigail too." He paused. "But I am not here to talk about that. Having Daniel is a brother. I have two sisters so some male company is much appreciated." He quickly looked at Sally who pulled a face. "Not that I don't love my sisters. But having a brother was a welcome change. When Daniel told me he was going to ask Abigail to marry him, he was on a plane on the way home from a conference in Berlin. I was so happy for him and even more thrilled when he asked me to be his best man. We didn't really have a stag do, we went out to a few pubs and had a laugh. Notably, Daniel is a good drinking partner, he knows were the best pubs are and how to get good deals!" There was laughter. "Daniel was a stuck up brat when I met him. That was at John and Mary's wedding. But I saw him dancing with Abigail and my perceptions about him changed. I saw a man that was tender and loving. When my poor mother, God rest her soul, went into labour with Phoebe, Daniel came rushing over, but I believe that was because he was heading out on a date with Abi and nothing to do with what was happening!" More laughter, "Daniel is a rock and I wish I could have known him longer before he got married. To Abi I say, you are truly lucky in your choice of spouse. There aren't many people who are as caring and dedicated and devoted as Daniel. To Daniel, I say you have picked an amazing woman as a wife. I know she will make you happy and bring you joy always and forever. Ladies and gentlemen, please be upstanding and raise your glasses to the bride and groom!"

"The bride and groom!" everyone cheered raising their glasses to us. Then they applauded and whistled as I kissed Daniel again. Behind the privacy of the table, he placed a hand on my little bump where our son or daughter was growing.