In the shadows at the back of the church stood a woman, watching the man she loved marry another. That woman. The one with the bright eyes that, from the start, Sherlock had been interested in. Not that he would show it; no, he was far too reserved for that. None of that reservation was evident now. As he raised her veil and leant down to kiss her, he appeared neither reserved nor awkward. His lips touched hers, and both smiled broadly, before he moved to whisper something in her ear. Moving back, he looked into her eyes. A radiant smile crossed his face as he took his new brides arm and lead her down the aisle, his usually brisk gait slowed to accommodate her smaller steps.
As they passed, the woman at the back of the Church retreated further into the shadows, unable to fathom the embarrassment she would feel at being seen at the wedding of Sherlock Holmes and… that woman. The woman at the back of the church stifled a small sob. She had loved him first. She had waited for him the longest. And now her man was married to another.
She looked up into Sherlock's eyes, tears of joy brimming in her own.
"Yes, you fool, of course I'll marry you!"
He let out a visible sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging slightly, and moved to hold her in his arms. She knew him quite well now. For a long time, they had been kept apart by circumstance and misunderstanding, but as they were able to spend more time together, she slowly wore down the tightly drawn barriers he kept up and made him realise how much happier he could be.
As they kissed at their wedding, she thought of all they had been through, and all that was to come. He kissed her softly, sweetly, and moved his lips to her ear.
"I like your lipstick, my love. My favourite colour yet."
She blushed.
Watching from the shadows, the woman realised that her time had passed. She may have fallen in love with Sherlock first, but the other woman had won his heart.
Irene watched the procession of Molly Hooper's family as they followed the happy couple, before stealing into the approaching dusk.