the richenbach hero // johnlock

Chapter One

January 15th
2015
1 year after the fall
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John awoke to an empty bed. He sighed heavily. Mary was gone again. Where she was, John had no clue. He stood slowly, body aching from yet another restless sleep. Long nights of tossing and turning provided little sleep. He walked downstairs, half hoping to find Mary on the couch watching the telly.
Of course she's not John. Why would she be. She doesn't love you John, no one does.
He walked to the fridge and pulled out some jam. His life had become so mundane. So boring. So....dull. John could almost hear Sherlock say those words. He winced, remembering his old friend. He glanced at the calender. A wave of dread and sadness washed over him. Today was the day. The day he would go to Sherlocks grave with the rest of the mourners. It was exactly 1 year since Sherlock had jumped. 1 year since Johns world lost all colour, all meaning. The front door suddenly opened, causing John to jump.

"Good morning sleepy head! I was going to wait until you woke up, but we are simply out of everything!"
Mary smiled at him as she began to put away all the groceries. He made a mental list of some of the items
Milk
Chamomile tea
Honey
He sighed at himself. He was making a list of all the things Sherlock liked. Mary looked up at him, and a look of concern fell on her face.
"What's wrong love?"

"It....it's today....."
His voice cracked, almost completely broke.

"What? What's today?"

"One year since....since...."
John was on the verge of crying. He couldn't bring himself to say those words.

"Oh, John. I'm so sorry"
Mary rushed to his side and wrapped her arms tenderly around him.
"You don't have to go you know"

"Yes, I do. I can't abandon him, even if he is....."

"Hey, it's okay, John. I'll go with if you like"

"No. It'd be easier to do this alone"

She looked into his eyes as her hands rested firmly on his shoulders. There was so much love in her eyes. So much care. He leaned in and kissed her softly.
"I love you, Mary"

She smiled so brightly. It had been too long since he had said that to her.
"Oh, John. I love you too. Be safe today okay?"

He nodded. John turned and went upstairs. The clock read noon. Lestrade, Molly, Mycroft,Mrs. Hudson, and himself were planning to meet at 1:00. He sighed and put on his best clothes for the occasion. Mary gave him an encouraging smile before he left the house.

John arrived to the cemetery early, only to find them all gathered. He had stopped and bought flowers for Sherlock. One yellow, for friendship, and one red, for love. Lestrade looked at John in dismay.
"Oh my god. John, is that you?"
Everyone turned to look, and grew looks of utter shock on their faces. John had aged, or at least, he appeared to have. His face looked older, as if he had jumped ten years into the future. His once bright eyes held no light, and his expression was as emotionless as Sherlock's. He sighed heavily.
"Well, I know it's been a while, but not that long"
He said, a lame attempt at a joke. It got a chuckle out of Lestrade and a smile from Molly. Lestrade gave him a hug, a much needed one at that. Molly hugged him too, gingerly, but lovingly. Mrs. Hudson smiled at him, and Mycroft did something very unexpected. He hugged John. For quite sometime. John could feel the sympathy pouring from him. Mycroft pulled back and looked and John with a mix of sadness, and pity. The quartet began the trek through the gates and down the winding pathway to the black marble headstone. The words were carved in shimmering gold and the light streaming through the trees gave it a soft glow. Lestrade spoke first, going on about how much he was missed and things like that. Mrs. Hudson was next. Her speech was more thoughtful, often making remarks about 'not your housekeeper' causing everyone to smile fondly at the memory. Mycroft was next, he said nothing, just left a note in the grass. Next was Molly, who poured her heart out. She confessed her intense love for Sherlock, and cursed him for being dead. Next. Next was John. He stepped forward and placed the roses neatly near the headstone. Mycroft looked around the group and motioned that John wanted this moment alone.
'Thank god for the bloody Holmeses'
He sighed heavily before opening his mouth.

"Hi Sherlock. It's been a while. A year in fact. Exactly a year. I've got a girlfriend now. Names Mary. You remember her, right? She was a client one time. I love her. Not as much as I loved you though. God, Sherlock. Why...why did you bloody leave me here. You know I can't do this. Not without you. You were everything to me Sherlock. How did you never see that.....but it's too late now..."
John sucked in a breath before standing and turning away. He went down the winding path towards the cemetery gates.

"Oh but John....I did notice...."