The Science of Starting Again//Book Five

Chapter 7~ The Day I Tried To Live

Teddy's P.O.V

"If you don't buy that dress someone else will and let me tell you, Molly Hooper, it would be a crying shame if that happened because they'd never be able to pull it off like you."

Molly giggled happily, twirling one last time before looking at herself in the mirror.

"It does look quite lovely, doesn't it?" She beamed. "What do you think, Tom?"

"Stunning," the woman's fiancee replied with a grin. From beside me Lestrade nodded in agreement, two thumbs up.

"Buy it, Moll. You look beautiful," I told her, and with a happy smile on her blushing face she ducked back into the changing room.

The four of us- Molly, Lestrade, Tom, and I- had been shopping for the past hour now. The wedding was in two weeks and so far we were all unprepared (apart from Molly who had just found a lovely yellow dress). It was strange, going shopping with everyone. I mean, Molly and Lestrade were fine, and although I had only met Tom a few times since I had first arrived he seemed like a decent fellow. And he made Molly happy, so in turn that made me happy. But the fact that I was shopping- doing normal people stuff- was strange. I kept looking over my shoulder wondering when we were going to be attacked, always mindful that even the most innocent looking person could be one of Jim's henchmen, despite the fact that was all taken care of.

Mycroft called it paranoia and anxiety.  He said that if I would just go to a therapist then it would go away. I called it nothing, just stupid memories that I'll get over soon enough. I didn't need help. He disagreed. Ever since that nightmare a few weeks ago he had been hounding me non-stop, shoving therapist cards under my nose whenever he could. He had even tried to kidnap me just to get me to go. That hadn't gone very well- in fact it seemed to make everything worse- and I had moved out that evening, returning to my flat on Baker Street with Dmitri in tow.

Mrs Hudson had been glad that I had decided to move back in, informing me that she had tidied up but everything was basically the same. Well, not quite the same seeing as last time I had been there I had destroyed everything in an emotional fit. However my bed was still there, along with a few draws and plates I hadn't broken. Everything else had been replaced over the years. Dmitri hadn't been fussed by our latest uprooting. He seemed to enjoy living on Baker Street more than he did living with Mycroft. He had full access to the whole building, wandering through Mrs Hudson's flat and sleeping on Sherlock's sofa upstairs. Although Sherlock complained about him I think he secretly enjoyed the company.

"Have you found anything you like, Teddy?" Lestrade asked, bringing me out of my thoughts. I shook my head, glancing around the shop.

"Not here. I don't even have anything in mind," I admitted as Molly came out of the changing room, yellow dress slung over one arm which Tom took for her with a smile. "Although I've got Molly with me and she knows just what looks good on me."

"We help each other out, it's a good relationship," Molly replied with a grin as she paid for the dress. The two of us left the store together with linked arms, the boys right behind us.

"I think you should wear blue for the wedding, Teddy. A baby blue colour will go quite nice with your eyes," Molly told me as we walked.

"A long dress, yes? One that covers up the scars?" I asked, pushing the memory of how I had gotten those scars out of my head. Molly sensed my tension because she squeezed my arm softly.

"Of course. Though not a heavy long dress, it will be hot. It'll have to be light and flowy."

"Agreed."

We were walking through the mall heading towards another shop when it happened. The others didn't notice- I didn't expect them to, they didn't realize what it meant- I did though. I slowed down, pulling away from Molly to watch the young adult walk by. I hadn't noticed what her face looked like even though she had been walking towards us. It was her hair I spotted; long, blonde waves that fell around her shoulders and down her back. She continued to walk, oblivious to the impact she had on me.