All Part of the Cover (A Sherlolly Fanfic)

The Start

tardisaddiction

"Molly, I want you to marry me."

Sherlock looked at her, his eyes sincere, and held the simple golden band in front of her eyes.

"B-But, Sherlock. You're... you. You want to marry me?" She stammered, blushing furiously and looking at him worriedly.

"To protect you, yes. You know I'm faking my death, people may come after you. I need to protect you," He replied, making it sound as if it was obvious, which it really wasn't. Molly stared at the consulting detective in disbelief. Should she say yes? Marrying Sherlock Holmes would be a dream come true for her, but he was just doing it to protect her, which was brilliant in a whole 'nother field, but he didn't love her... at least she didn't think so. "Molly, this is kind of important, so would you please say yes so we can get on with this?" He interrupted her thoughts. She opened and closed her mouth a few times in surprise at his bluntness.

"I- uh. Y-Yes. I'll marry you," She stammered, her cheeks blushing furiously still. He smiled contentedly, handed her the ring, and then went to work preparing his lie. She eyed the band and rubbed it in contemplation. He was doing it to protect her, not because he loved her, even though she loved him. He was marrying her to protect her from his Lie. This was going to be built upon a lie. Several lies. She slowly slid it on the proper finger without trouble. It was the perfect size. She didn't bother questioning how... He was Sherlock. She then went and helped Sherlock with his Lie that would be the foundation of a relationship relating to or consisting of Lies.

~3 Months Later~

"It's tradition, Sherlock!" Molly argued over the phone, sitting on her couch cross-legged and looking at her book.

"We aren't going according to tradition! We are having a very quick ceremony, then going out to the country. No fancy dresses, no fancy vows, no reception, no nothing," Sherlock replied, somewhat snappily.

"No presents?" Molly asked,  turning the page.

"No," Sherlock sighed.

"Guests?"

"Minister, you, me."

"Sherlock," Molly almost-begged.

"I told you: It's to protect you while I take down Moriarty's web. The wedding isn't important!" He said through gritted teeth, trying to not sound angry. Molly frowned and waited for Sherlock to calm down. "I'm sorry, Molly, but those things are not necessary. We are just having a short little exchange so we can legally be married so I can protect you. Do you understand?" He said after sighing heavily. Molly sighed as well.

"Okay, Sherlock," She submitted.

"Thank you. I'll see you tonight," He replied.

"See you. Bye," She said, but he had hung up already. She sighed again and looked to her book.

~1 Month Later~

"...till death do you part," The minister finished, looking at Molly expectantly. She sighed and looked up to Sherlock, who was trying to not yawn.

"I do," She said happily.

"You may kiss the bride," The minister said, slamming the Bible shut and looking at the two happily. Sherlock stood there for a moment absently before suddenly snapping out of it.

"Oh, sorry. Of course," He apologized flatly. Molly blushed in anticipation as Sherlock leaned down closer to her, but all her happy feelings died as he softly and briefly kissed her cheek. He shoved some money in the ministers hand then walked away casually, hands in pockets. Molly sighed sadly and stepped off the podium in her not-wedding-dress-clad legs.

"Thank you," She said quietly to the minister, who was staring in amazement at her, the money, and Sherlock over and over. She sighed again and walked after Sherlock.

~1 Month Later~

Sherlock opened the door to the little cottage for Molly after he unlocked the door. Molly stepped in, carrying her box of her essentials and looked around the cozy den in amazement.

"Sherlock, this is amazing," She said gratefully, setting her box down on the floor in front of her.

"I don't think 'amazing' is the right word. More like 'shabby'," He answered distastefully, looking around in the complete opposite manner of Molly.

"It's cozy," She said happily, nodding and picking her box up again. Sherlock shrugged and went out to the car to beging getting the rest of the boxes as Molly found the bedroom. She put the box on one side of the bed and sat on the other, her hands folded in her lap as she looked around the room.

"Welcome to your new life, Molly Holmes."