Author's notes: ALKASJDLAKJDALSKDJSAF GUYS IT'S HERE AND I'M GONNA GO SEE IT

"Is the tie really necessary?" John questioned. The hobbit frowned as he held the tuxedo up to his chest.

"This is a formal occasion, John," Sarah replied. She was already wearing her dress, a gorgeous, floor-length piece the same red as Sherlock's scales. Molly was going to do her hair. "The answer is yes."

"Hmph." John frowned again as he carefully set the tuxedo on his bed. "They didn't bother inviting us last time; why bother now?"

"Because it's gotten bigger. Though more likely, it's because Benedict and Martin insisted."

John gave his girlfriend a befuddled look. "I thought they were out of the loop."

"It's been more than two years, John. Honestly, I'm surprised they didn't find out sooner." Sarah leaned over and tugged on one of John's curls, provoking an indignant squawk from her boyfriend. They giggled at each other. "Now get dressed. I'm going to see how Mrs. Hudson is doing."

.

John spent the next couple of hours puttering around the kitchen while he waited for the ladies to finish getting ready. When they stepped out, he had to applaud. "Molly, well done!" he exclaimed, eyes glowing as he looked up at Sarah. "They're both… you're both… stunning."

Mrs. Hudson and Sarah both blushed a little. Sarah hugged Molly, kissing her on the cheek. "Thank you so much for doing this," Sarah said gratefully. "I only wish you could be coming with us."

"Yeah," Molly answered quietly. "That's not gonna happen."

Sarah squeezed her shoulders encouragingly. "Give him time," she advised. "He may be a genius, but he's a real idiot. Be patient."

"Oh, I know he's an idiot." Molly giggled, glancing quickly over at the window as though to make sure the idiot she and Sarah were speaking of didn't appear. "Anyhow, it's time for me to go. I'm working the late shift down at the morgue."

"Oh, I'll see you out, then." Sarah and Molly both left, and Mrs. Hudson and John were left behind.

John's landlady slid a look his way, her eyes twinkling. "Thank you, John," she said lightly. "I've never seen such an accurate demonstration of the word agog."

John laughed sheepishly, fiddling with his bowtie. "It's just… I've never seen Sarah so…"

"Resplendent?"

John laughed again. "I was going to say 'made up,' but 'resplendent' seems to do a better job of describing it." He turned to Mrs. Hudson and smiled. "And you look resplendent yourself, Mrs. Hudson."

Mrs. Hudson seemed surprised at the compliment. She usually was. The woman was clad in an elegant purple dress, also floor-length, and it had a lovely black coat to go with it. It lacked the slit in the side that Sarah's dress had, but instead had small crystals across the neck. John had assumed at first that they were rhinestones, but Molly had told him that it was actually jewelry.

Sarah came back into the flat, putting her hand up to the hair Molly had pulled up and curled. She was still getting used to the feel of it. "Right, I think that's it," she said, and procured her phone from her purse to check the time. "We're even ahead of schedule! Shall we go?"

John started to nod, but then realized that someone was missing. "Where's Sherlock?"

Mrs. Hudson and Sarah looked at each other, then at John. "Oh dear."

"He's usually so prompt," Mrs. Hudson continued. "Maybe he slipped back into hibernation again. He does that during winter sometimes."

John sighed. "I'll go get him, then. You two wait for the taxi, I'll join you there with Sherlock. This shouldn't take long." The hobbit pulled on his overcoat and went downstairs out the back. He carefully made his way to the giant, snow-covered mound that couldn't be anyone other than Sherlock Holmes.

"Hey, Sherlock!" John called. "You've overslept again." The snowy lump gave no response. John sighed in irritation, climbing on top of the mound and stamping his feet. "Come on, lazywings, it's time to go! Do you want Mycroft to find out about this? He'll never let you hear the end of it. We don't want another bus incident, do we?"

Bus incident were the magic words. Sherlock burst into alertness, his head shooting up as snow went flying in every direction. John clung to one of the dragon's spines to keep from being flung along with it.

"I'm awake!" Sherlock roared.

"Great," John muttered sourly. "Now dry out all the snow you've gotten me soaked with and grab your bowtie. We can't be late to our own event."