Disclaimer: I still own nothing
To all my lovely readers and reviewers... THANK YOU! It is amazing to know that you are enjoying this. To Rwoqfime Wifgor... You get bonus points for using a Sherlock reference in your review. Also, Lais89 suggested Other Side of the World by KT Tunstall as a song to listen to with this story, and I just had to share it. It is beautiful and really amps up the angst for any Sherlolly shipper. I HIGHLY recommend it.
Chapter 8
"Tighter!" Molly sucked her stomach in as far as she could, cursing the muffins she'd had for breakfast, and the zipper finally glided up her back. Mary stepped back and looked over at her maid of honor approvingly. "Oh, Molly. You look ravishing."
"Really?" the pathologist squeaked, and her best friend sighed.
"Yes really. Is that so hard for you to believe? I can honestly say you are probably going to be the prettiest woman at my wedding, including me. What I would give for your hair…"
Molly smiled and looked in the mirror. The deep purple dress did look fantastic on her, hugging and accentuating the best parts of her. It was a great color for her skin tone as well, which of course Mary had taken into account. The lengths her best friend went to in order to make her happy constantly amazed her.
They were standing in John's (and now Mary's) room of the flat on Baker Street. The boys had left hours ago on a case, and as it was Molly's day off, she was planning to enjoy it. "Are you sure that it isn't too tight? I don't want to look like I am going to burst through it."
Mary bristled at the comment. "Stop that right now, Molly Hooper. Just because something actually touches your skin and isn't covered by that awful lab coat does not mean that it is too tight. Besides, there is only two more weeks. Like it or not you are stuck with that dress."
The stress of the wedding was getting to Mary. She was tired, and having to battle Molly's insecurities wasn't helping. She decided to change the subject. "So how are your own wedding plans coming along, Molls? You haven't really been forthcoming about that lately."
Molly blushed and waited a while before answering. "There's nothing to tell, really. We talked about it, and decided that we are going to take this engagement very slow. We haven't even picked a date yet, or anything. I've been a bit distracted with work lately." There was nothing inherently wrong with this answer, but Mary knew her best friend well enough to know when something was up.
She squared herself in front of the woman who was now avoiding eye contact with her. "Molly? What's wrong? Are you having second thoughts about the whole Thomas thing? You know you can tell me." The pathologist squirmed under her gaze for a moment, but Mary was determined to find the truth.
"It's nothing Mary, really. Everything is great between Thomas and I. He's sweet, and gentle, and I really do love him." Mary raised her eyebrows, sensing a contradiction. She waited until Molly sighed. "But I am just not sure that it's enough." The sadness in her voice was obvious. "I want it to be enough. But he has given me all of his heart, and although I am trying as hard as I can, I just can't seem to do the same."
Mary processed this. Sad as it was, it wasn't something that surprised her. "Sherlock".
Molly smiled sadly. "There is a part of my heart that has always been his, and I think it always will be. I don't want anything from him. He has caused me enough pain already. And I know eventually, I will love Thomas enough that it won't matter. But I can't commit my life to him right now. The wounds aren't quite healed."
It was hard for Molly to say this, but Mary knew that it was necessary. She thought about the sociopathic consulting detective that lived downstairs. She thought about nights when she had woken up to the sound of a violin or the gunshot wounds that had been inflicted on the poor yellow face painted on the wall. She thought about Sherlock, who was flawed in more ways than she could count, and looked at the pathologist who had always loved him despite all that. More than once she had been impressed by the size of Molly's heart, but for the first time it struck her what a burden it could be.
Mary hugged her friend tightly, trying to put all the love and support Molly needed into the embrace. "It takes a strong woman to love the men of Baker Street. And you, my mousy little Molly, have got to be the strongest woman of us all." She smiled as she heard the door to the flat open and the two men arrive. "Now brighten up and let's go down and have some tea. I have a feeling we are both going to need it."