"I wasn't expecting to see you, I thought you were going to be in Dorset for Christmas?" Molly asked brightly, showing she'd remembered the conversation they'd had last week when the DI had to drop by the morgue about that Porter case.

Lestrade gave her a small smile, happy to be able to say what he was about to. "That's first thing in the morning, me and the wife we're back together, it's all sorted"

"No, she's sleeping with a PE teacher" Sherlock called out instantly from the other side of the room.

Greg felt his face pulling into a grimace, that's what you do when that idiotic genius says something- no wait. Sherlock doesn't joke about things like this. Actually does he joke ever? Focus, she doesn't know any PE teachers, she-

Suddenly it clicked into place. They'd made up four days ago but tonight she wasn't available to come to this Christmas party, she was going to her own with a group made up of some of the staff from the primary school she taught at. The one with that county level rugby player who would have played for the country if he hadn't have had that gammy hamstring. The very same man he'd shook hands with six months earlier as they sat there and spoke about the ladder and his own time playing the game at that fundraiser while his wife had sat there intrigued by their conversation. He'd let it go thinking that she'd found some new fascination in sports, one she'd never had when he wanted to watch it on his days off and they'd argue about that 'boring shite you like more than me'. They'd gone home that night and done things with each other that they hadn't done in months and hadn't done since come to think of it.

He found his feet taking him to the kitchen. He knew he should be angry, knew that he should ask Sherlock for the details but he didn't need them. He was a high level policeman, for Christ's sake. This was coming from the man who had told him that wife was cheating on him three months after they first met. A year after that he'd told him that he knew he was casually seeing that new sergeant from the other division, it was only a quick fling but the revenge was sweet. But Sherlock had known all the details by just looking at him. Christ, he'd known about his wife's activities without meeting her. At least he hoped he hadn't met her.

Back at the party he funnily enough just felt strangely resolved to the fact that this was it, they needed to get a divorce. Four days ago they'd agreed to give it one last try, she'd promised him that she wasn't seeing anyone and he'd said he would do his best to spend more time with her and not give so much to work.

It wasn't really something he should thank him for but Greg got his consultant a tipple. "Come on, Sherlock, have a drink". It wasn't really a sign of gratitude but it was an acknowledgement. It was also an action to say stop making deductions as it could only get worse from here. He'd heard him say something about John's alcoholic sister being back on the booze, maybe this would shut him up? Instead the tall brunet was already on his feet talking about Molly's red wrapped present. This wasn't going to end well.

A few minutes later when the young woman had been thoroughly embarrassed and John had gone in to see what was up with Sherlock who had disappeared to his bedroom, Greg decided he needed space to clear his head. "Well I'm going to call it an early one" he called out, sounding a little more demoralised than he hoped to. "Night all"

Molly was the first to respond, giving him her full attention. "Night, Greg. Listen, what Sherlock said-"

"-yeah it was pretty awful, don't let him open it" he joked, pointing at the offending gift.

"I don't think he's interested in what I've got him actually" she seemed a little sad about that but she was strong. "That wasn't what I was talking about". The kindness in her eyes made his heart swell a little, it was nice to have someone on his side.

"Oh, right. Yeah. Well, I'll see what happens when the misses gets back to our place. Think we'll have a little chat". He left it at that, no one wants to listen to a tragic whining, especially at Christmas. She reached over and gave his arm a quick squeeze. Her look of compassion said it all. "Thanks, Molly". He then turned to the other two there as he heard Sherlock's door slam, it then sounded like John went into the bathroom after they heard him sigh. "Night, Mrs. Hudson. Love the decorations. Nice touch" he added, pointing at the red and white hat on the skull.

"You're too kind. Hope you have a good Christmas, you know, considering"

He nodded. "And goodnight, Sarah". At this John's new girlfriend, he could have sworn Sherlock had called her Sarah, just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms more tightly. You just can't please some people.

Greg slipped from the room, bracing himself for another screaming match at home but this time he felt resolved to the fact that a final break up needed to happen. God he needed a holiday once this was all said and done.

A/N: The next chapter will be a request. Hope you enjoyed this!