Revelation
"He married during the time you were apart."
"Married?"
"You've been apart for a long time. He had no idea whether you would ever be reunited; he missed you, he was lonely. It was inevitable that he would seek friendship elsewhere, and Mary understood him, was patient with him, and eventually they fell in love. Well, I say 'they fell in love' - she fell in love with him. He likes her a great deal, he enjoys her company and he missed her when she was away from him. She knows he doesn't love her in the same way, but she also knows he needs her, and she wants to be there for him. So when he asked her to marry him, she accepted. It was a quiet ceremony; I was surprised that he invited me but I was pleased to attend."
"Why are you telling me this, Mycroft?"
"Because it's time. It has taken a long while, but both of you are safe from any threat from Moriarty's network, and you can return to two hundred and twenty-one B Baker Street if you wish. Whether you want to live there or simply use it as a base from which to work, it is available."
"And she'll be coming too?"
"Yes, of course. Come, John. Come and meet Sherlock's new bride."
Author's Note: I know. I know you're going to kill me. You're going to kill me to death with sticks, aren't you? But what did you expect? After my last story I was annoyed that I hadn't been able to use 'bride' as a 'b' word in a 221B, and it kept nagging at me, and then this happened.
Anyway, sorry.