*Hello everyone! Sorry this has taken me so long. Next chapter is the honeymoon, so it is going to be filled with smut. If you don't want to read about that, then I suggest you skip it. After that, things are going to pick up for our lovely couple. After all, Moriarty and Olivia are still out there and still waiting to give the couple their wedding present. I hope everyone is enjoying this. Questions, comments, and concerns are always welcome and I will see you all in the next piece!*

Chapter 10: Mr. and Mrs. Holmes

"How are you feeling this morning?" I asked Mary as I walked into the home, wedding dress and gym bag over my shoulder. Molly and Irene staggered in behind me, looking like hell.

"How much did I drink last night?" Mary moaned, clutching her head, the baby sitting on the floor on a small play mat.

I laughed. "Enough that I had to call a cab to take you all home. Come on, let's get everyone ready. It's a big day."

The women all groaned and I laughed once more. "I can get myself dressed. You all get some tea and toast in you."

"How are you not hungover?" Irene grumbled, stumbling to the cabinet, pawing through the spices and boxes to find the tea. "You drank as much as we did."

"Mmmm, not quite. I only had three drinks and the one glass of wine at dinner." I disappeared into the bathroom, hanging the gown on the curtain rod and setting the bag on the toilet. "You all on the other hand had about five to seven drinks, plus a glass of wine or two at dinner.

I opened the bag, going through it, finding the smaller make-up bag, as well as the veil and the styling cream for my hair. I'd bought it from the salon at Carissa's recommendation. She and I had talked a lot since our first meeting and I was very happy that she had already spoken to the law firm and they were willing to give her some time shadowing the barristers while she was in school. She'd even come over a couple of times and met Sherlock. He too had astounded her with his abilities of deduction and had actually delighted in it, which had made him like her in return.

I styled my hair quickly before grabbing the make-up bag. The women were all shuffling around, Irene still moaning about her head. I was nearly finished with doing my make-up when Mary came in, already in her gown, hair lightly curled. She'd brought the baby with her and I took Sheryl, pressing a kiss to her cheek. The baby cooed, reaching for my face.

"You look stunning as always," Mary complimented and I moved out of the way so that she could do her own make-up. "I don't understand how you manage it."

"I had help from a friend one time on how to put make-up on." I caught Mary's gaze in the mirror and we both smiled. "She was quite helpful and it definitely carried over."

"Thank you for letting us bring Sheryl with us."

"Of course!" I pressed another kiss to the top of her head as I bounced her up and down gently on my hip. "I wouldn't have it any other way. You all are family."

"How do you think the boys are doing this morning?" Mary asked as she put on eyeliner.

"Well, Sherlock was awake when we left. John looked a bit hungover when I saw him cycling towards the flat. Mycroft and Greg weren't even up yet." My phone began to buzz on the back of the commode. "That's probably them right now."

Why did you let us drink so much last night…? -MH

Hahaha oh Mycroft, I didn't. Besides, I believe your words were, and I quote, "I can handle myself. I'm an adult and more than capable of keeping track of my alcohol consumption." -DM

Why? None of us can function this morning except for Sherlock. This is awful. -MH

I tried to get you to stop. But you seemed to be enjoying yourself, especially once the lampshade was put on your head. -DM

...what…? -MH

I have pictures if you don't believe me. You looked quite lovely actually. Never seen you look better in fact. It really slimmed you. -DM

Delilah, you had better delete those pictures. -MH

I'm not joking. Delete them. -MH

Delilah Claire McKinley, so help me God if I have to steal your phone at your wedding, I will! -MH

I showed all of the text messages to Mary and we both laughed. "Always wanting to be proper and maintain his image."

"Much like Sherlock. I actually have photos of the two of them behaving like human beings. I don't think that their parents even have something like that." I scrolled through, showing Mary the photo of Mycroft and then the photo of Sherlock with his makeover. "See?"

"Oh, you wicked woman," Mary teased. "You realize how much you hold over them with those pictures?"

I laughed. "Oh believe me I do. Irene? Molly? How are you two doing this morning?"

Irene appeared in the doorway in her gown, putting in a pair of pearl earrings. "Now that I've had some tea, I'm feeling fantastic. Molly on the other hand is getting a bit ill. She's not used to drinking so much."

"Poor thing," I said with a frown. "Has she taken anything for it?"

"Yes, I have. I'll be fine," Molly said from behind Irene. Her face was pale and I could tell that she wasn't feeling very well. "It takes a bit for the medicine to kick in."

"I'm sorry Molly. I should have stopped you from drinking so much."

"It's fine Del. You didn't know what my limit was."

Mary took the baby from me. "Well, the car will be here in an hour and a half. Why don't we get you into your gown?"

"I suppose. If we must." My phone began to ring and I went to answer it. "Good morning, this is Delilah McKinley."

"Good morning Lila. How are things going over at Mary's?"

I smiled, stepping out of the bathroom. "Oh, fairly well. We're already dressed and ready. How are things over at our flat?"

"Oh, you know, the usual." There was a pause. "Do you really have a picture of Mycroft in the lampshade?"

"Mhmmm."

"Might I have it?"

I laughed. "What for Sherlock?"

"Oh, a bit of blackmail if he acts up at the wedding." I could hear someone talking in the background. "Mycroft is telling me that you have to get rid of those photos. Send them to me please."

"One second." I pulled the phone away from my ear, quickly texting the photo to him. "It's sent. Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?"

"Nope. Nothing that I can think of."

"Not a single thing?"

"Well...maybe that I love you."

"Is that all?"

"And that I can't wait to see you at the wedding. Only an hour and a half left. Are you excited?"

"Of course I am," I said softly, glancing over my shoulder to see Mary and Irene inspecting the gown, Molly doing her hair in the mirror. "I mean, I get to marry you. Why wouldn't I be excited?"

"Because you're marrying me."

"You make that sound like a bad thing."

"Maybe it is."

I frowned. "Are you getting cold feet Sherlock?"

"No. I'm making sure that you aren't."

"If I was going to leave you, I would have left the night the flat was broken into." I looked out the window to see the sunshine peeking from behind the clouds. "That seems like a lifetime ago."

"That's because it was."

"What do you mean?" I asked, going to look out at the people moving around outside. "It was only two years ago."

"I'll explain it later. Go and put your gown on. Delilah?"

"Yes Sherlock?"

"I love you."

"I love you too. I'll see you soon."

I hung up the phone and went back into the now crowded bathroom. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"

Two hours later, I stood outside the doors to the ceremony, my heart racing in my chest. I could hear the murmurs of people talking outside and I glanced at Mary. "Were you this nervous for your wedding?"

"Oh yes. One of the most terrifying things I've ever done," she replied, fixing the veil over my face. "That's a lovely brooch."

"Thank you. Sherlock's father gave it to me last night. Family heirloom he said," I replied, fighting the urge to vomit. "So...this is it."

"Yes, it is. Are you feeling alright? You're looking a little pale."

"I'm fine. Nervous. Very nervous. God, is it hot in here?"

Mary grabbed a pamphlet for the museum off a table, fanning me with it. "Take a few deep breaths for me. It'll be over before you know it. You know the way this is going to go, correct?"

"Aye. Sherlock and the groomsmen will be up front already, my mother will walk down the aisle, then Molly, then Irene, and finally you. Scarlett and Maddie will walk down the aisle together, Maddie throwing flowers and Scarlett carrying the rings on her collar. Then...then I walk down the aisle with dozens of pairs of eyes staring at me." My heart skipped a beat. "Oh God, why did I agree to this?"

"Del...listen to me," Mary's voice was calm and reassuring. "You are marrying one of the best men that John and I have ever known. You love him and he loves you. Everyone in that room loves at least one of you, if not both. Relax. You're going to be fine. An hour at most and then you will be Mrs. Sherlock Holmes." The music for my mother and the bridesmaids started up and Mary looked at me before lowering the veil. "Are you ready beautiful?"

"I'm ready. Mary?"

"Hmmm?"

"Thank you for the pep talk. I really needed it."

She laughed. "It's not a problem. See you at the altar."

We stood, waiting patiently. My mother was the first one down. I had been very surprised that she'd agreed to it, but something had changed since our meeting in the coffee shop and Sherlock's private discussion with her. Our relationship had actually gotten better. Next followed Molly, who was still a bit pale, but hadn't gotten sick since before we'd left. Then Irene. Mary gave me a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek before she left. This left me with Scarlett and Maddie. Maddie looked up at me with a smile.

"Are you nervous Delly?"

I knelt down in front of her. "A little bit. Are you?"

"Nope."

"Oh? Why's that?"

The little girl leaned in, motioning for me to come closer. She cupped her hand around my ear, whispering, "I'm not nervous because Lock is a superhero and so are you. Two heros getting married can't be a bad thing, right?"

I felt the tears touch my eyes and I smiled. "No. It can't be. You're such a smart little girl." I looked up to watch the doors open a bit, signaling that it was time for her to go. "I'll see you in a minute, alright?"

"Alright. Love you Delly. Good luck!"

She and Scarlett went down the aisle together and I straightened up, glancing at myself in the mirror. The ivory gown fit absolutely perfectly. The delicate lace covered my shoulders, back, and arms in intricate swirls. It clung to every curve I had before flaring out just below my hips in a cascade of tulle. My shoes were hidden beneath the gown, but Mycroft and I had chosen a pair of ivory colored flats. He and I had both agreed that the last thing we wanted was for me to fall trying to walk down the aisle.

I heard the wedding march begin and I quickly grabbed my father's urn in one hand and the bouquet in the other. Sherlock had chosen the bouquet. It was a mixture of rhododendron ponticum, stargazer lilies, and baby's breath tied together with a brilliant cobalt blue ribbon to match the bridesmaid gowns. The doors opened and I watched as every eye in the room turned to look at me.

As I walked, my eyes never left Sherlock's. The look on his face was one that I would always remember. His face was relaxed, his eyes wide, lips parted in wonder. His eyes sparkled and I watched a single tear slip down his cheek. My heart fluttered at the sight of it. I walked slowly down the aisle, doing my best to keep calm despite everyone staring. I stopped at the seat beside my mother that had been reserved for my father. I lifted the veil so that my lips could press against his urn before I set it down in his seat.

I straightened up, finishing my walk up to Sherlock. He looked extraordinarily handsome. He and Mycroft had chosen a dark grey suit with an ivory colored waistcoat and a tie the same color as the ribbon on my bouquet. He was also wearing the cufflinks I'd chosen for him, a personalized set that said, 'I'm marrying my thief' on one and then our names and the date on the other. While he hadn't said that he liked them, I'd caught him staring at them more than once with a smile on his face.

I handed my bouquet to Mary before I reached up to straighten his tie. He smiled and leaned down to murmur in my ear, "You look absolutely breathtaking my darling."

"And you look unforgivably handsome," I replied. "So...here we are."

"Here we are."

The officiant cleared his throat and we both turned to look at him. I giggled softly, Sherlock shooting me a look of mischief.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union of William Sherlock Scott Holmes to Delilah Claire McKinley." I had to stifle another giggle at the sound of Sherlock's full name. "Through their time together, they have faced many trials and tribulations. They have walked through fire for one another and proven that by working together, they become the balance that the other needs. They have created a love that burns brighter than any sun and that runs deeper and truer than any river. It is with this love that they have decided to create a life together and live together as husband and wife."

"Sherlock and Delilah, remember to treat yourself and each other with respect, and remind yourselves often of what brought you together." I smiled, looking to Sherlock, seeing that he was remembering the same thing that I was. "Take responsibility for making the other feel safe, and give the highest priority to tenderness, gentleness, and patience that your connection deserves. When frustration, difficulty, and fear assail your relationship, as they threaten all relationships from time to time, remember to focus on what is right between you, not just the parts that seem wrong. It is with this that you will survive any storm that may brew on the horizon, any east wind that tries to blow you off course. Remember that after the bitter cold there is always spring on the horizon and, if each of you takes responsibility for the quality of your life together, it will bring about a bountiful spring of love and an unending summer of happiness."

"It is after these words that I now ask the couple to recite their vows to one another. From what I understand, the couple has decided to write their own. We will begin with the groom." The officiant turned to look at Sherlock as did I.

A sweat broke out on his brow and I could see that his hand was shaking. I gave him a small smile, taking his hand. "Don't be scared Sherlock. I'm right here."

"Right." He gave my hand a small squeeze and a tight smile before clearing his throat. "Delilah Claire McKinley. The thief who stole my heart. I have agonized over these vows for months, trying to figure out exactly what to say. I asked my most loyal friends, my family, and none could give me the answers that I sought. I looked over dozens upon dozens of websites to try to find the perfect format, the right words. But there is nothing right about making these promises to you."

I heard a few gasps and groans from the guests and the wedding party, but I continued to stare into Sherlock's eyes, unperturbed by his words. I knew how hard it was for him to be open about his feelings, especially in front of so many people. He took both of my hands now, smiling at me.

"At the wedding of my nearest and dearest friends, I said that I would never make another vow in my life. Yet here I stand at the altar with the most beautiful woman I have ever met. Delilah, you have been by my side through good and bad, triumph and trauma. You have saved my life in more ways than one and stolen my heart, a feat that no other woman has managed to accomplish. You asked me once why I loved you and today, as part of my vows to love and honor you for the rest of my days, I will tell you about why I love you."

"I love you because you see me. You understand when I need silence, when I need to be calmed down, when I need someone to bounce ideas off of. I love you because you saw past my prickly exterior to the man underneath, a man that I did not even know I was capable of being. I love you at two in the morning, slumped over your computer screen, trying to help me research, eyes drooping with fatigue. I love you at five-thirty in the evening when you come home from the school after teaching children how to protect themselves, drenched in sweat because all seventeen of them wanted to spar with you long after the lesson was done. I love you early in the morning when you're making tea for the both of us, the sunlight streaming through the window above the sink, turning your hair to fire."

"But most of all, I love you because you are the piece of my soul that I didn't even know that I was missing. It is with this love that I promise to be there for you, no matter the time of day or the cost to myself. I promise to be by your side when you are ill and to celebrate with you when you are healthy. I promise to protect you until my last breath and to honor who you are as a person. I promise to help you grow and become a better person every day. I will love you unconditionally, listen to your fears and ease them in every way that I am capable of. I will love you, for better or worse, until death parts us. That is my promise and that is the last vow that I will make in my life."

I reached up under the veil, wiping away the tears from my eyes. I could see John and Greg crying, looks of pride on their faces. Judging by the sniffling and shuffling going on behind me, I had no doubt Mary, Molly, and Irene were crying. Sherlock took my hand, a frown on his face.

"Why are you crying?"

"Because that was the most beautiful thing I've ever heard you say," I replied, trying to stop the tears from flowing.

"If the bride is now ready to recite her vows?" The officiant asked and I let out a watery laugh.

"There's no way that I can top that, are you kidding?" There was a laugh from the crowd and Sherlock smiled. "Leave it to me to choose to marry a secret poet. Well...let's see how I do then, shall we?"

"William Sherlock Scott Holmes. Or, as I more affectionately know you, Sherlock Holmes, my dark-haired angel." I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. I was re-writing my vows in my head as I spoke. "I don't know how we got here. I will be blunt. I don't know how I came to stand in front of the world's greatest consulting detective or how I came to love him when, as nearly everyone in this room knows, he can be an impossible ass. But, here I stand in front of the man that I never wanted to become my husband."

"I never meant to fall in love with you Sherlock. It was never my intention. But, for some reason, the universe decided to make us soulmates. In the words of Richard Bach...a soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for who we're pretending to be." I smiled up at him. "You were the one lock in my life that I didn't need to pick and I was the one mysterious key that you had in your pocket and were unknowingly searching for the lock that it belonged to. You were my mysterious stranger who became the love that I never expected to have."

"Honestly, I never expected to make it this long. I thought that I would die on those streets, cold, hungry, alone and without a family to care about me. But since I have met you, I have been provided with a safe pair of arms to fall asleep in, a lasagna in the oven, a love that is overflowing, and a family that is bigger than the one that I had before. With you, Sherlock, I have found life once more. I have found peace and I have found myself, all thanks to you. On this day, in front of all of these people, family and friends, both old and new, I make my promise to you. I promise that I will love you until the end of the universe and whatever may be beyond that. I promise that I will allow you to be the man that I can see, the good man who will never admit that he is on the side of the angels. I promise that I will encourage you in all of your endeavors and that I will protect you from any danger that those endeavors may bring."

"I will be by your side every step of the way. I will love you during your wildest cases and during your quietest ponderings. I will stand by you, support you, and love you until the end of all of our days, through sickness and in health, until death do us part. This I promise you and this will be my vow to you, William Sherlock Scott Holmes, my dark-haired angel."

I again could hear the sounds of crying in the room and, to my surprise, tears were streaming down Sherlock's face. We both smiled at each other and he took my hands, resting his forehead against mine. I closed my eyes, letting out a shaky breath and he touched my cheek tenderly.

"That was the bravest thing I've ever seen you do," he murmured.

"Thanks. I could say the same thing for you."

The officiant cleared his throat. "If we could have the rings?"

Sherlock whistled for Scarlett and the dog trotted up from her spot beside John. He reached down, detaching the rings from her collar, handing them to the man.

"Sherlock, as you place the ring on Delilah's finger, please repeat after me. With this ring, I marry you. With my loving heart. With my willing body. And with my eternal soul."

Sherlock took my left hand, his eyes never leaving mine. "With this ring, I marry you. With my loving heart. With my willing body. And with my eternal soul."

He slid the ring onto my finger, a Celtic wedding band studded with rubies. His hand shook, as did mine, but I knew that everything would be alright.

"Delilah, as you place the ring on Sherlock's finger, please repeat after me. With this ring, I marry you. With my loving heart. With my willing body. And with my eternal soul."

I smiled, taking the ring before taking Sherlock's left hand. My father's wedding band winked at me in the sunlight streaming through the windows and I looked to Sherlock to see him smiling down at me. "With this ring, I marry you. With my loving heart. With my willing body. And with my eternal soul."

His ring was also a Celtic wedding band, but it was studded with garnets instead of rubies. As I slid it on, I felt the tears slipping down my cheeks once more. We'd done it. We'd actually done it. I didn't know how we'd managed to make it to our wedding, but we had, and it was the happiest I had felt in my entire life.

"It is with these rings that I now pronounce you husband and wife," the officiant declared. "You may kiss your bride."

"Finally. I've been waiting ages for you to say that." He lifted my veil and I watched as his smile grew wider. "Hello my beautiful Mrs. Holmes."

"Hello my handsome Mr. Holmes."

He pulled me close to him, cupping my face in both of his hands before kissing me passionately. His thumbs wiped away my tears as he kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and he was dipping me backwards, his lips never leaving mine. I could barely hear the applause and the cheers. All that mattered in that moment was that Sherlock and I were together and that we were happy.

He straightened me up and once again, we stood there, foreheads pressed together, fingers intertwined. Sherlock pressed a kiss to the top of my head before pulling away, whistling again for Scarlett. She trotted up and I took her leash this time. We walked down the aisle together, going outside to take photos.

Before we knew it, we were in the limo together, just the two of us, Scarlett riding with Mary, John, and the rest of the wedding party. I sighed, leaning back in the seat as we pulled away. "So...where are we going?"

"Mary and John's. Mycroft selected a gown for you to wear at the reception."

"What?" I felt my face pale. "But I thought we had decided that I was just going to wear this one."

"Well, he thought that we might like to preserve it for one of our daughters to wear at their wedding. I've already seen the dress and I believe you'll approve of it." Sherlock pulled me into his arms, pressing another kiss to the top of my head. "You looked so beautiful up there."

"Mmmm, I did, did I?" I purred, nuzzling my face against his chest. "I was worried you wouldn't approve."

Sherlock chuckled. "Of course I approve. So...how does it feel?"

"How does what feel?" I asked, looking up at him curiously.

"How does it feel to be Mrs. Delilah Claire Holmes?"

"Oh! Erm...am I supposed to feel any different? Because I feel like we're pretty much going to be doing the same thing once our honeymoon is finished." I paused. "Where are we going Sherlock?"

"Do you really want to know?" He asked, running his fingers through my hair. "Are you dying of curiosity?"

"Sherlock. Tell me."

"If you must know, we're going to Ireland. Adare to be precise. We're staying in your grandparents' old home."

I covered my hand with my mouth and the tears touched my eyes. "We're...we're going...home?"

"Your home, yes. From what I understand, the cottage has been abandoned for quite a few years. None of your family attended to it after your father died and it was in your name once he passed." I nodded slowly. "Well, as a wedding present, your family fixed up the cottage for us to stay in. I thought that perhaps we could use it as a summer home and as our retreat for our honeymoon." I began to cry and Sherlock's brow furrowed. "Why are you crying? I thought that this would make you happy."

"It does. It does...oh my God...Sherlock, I haven't been home in years. Not since I was twenty for my grandfather's funeral. This...thank you. Thank you so much."

I kissed him, tears still falling. I didn't care though. I was going home. I was going home for two weeks and I was going to get to spend the entire time with my husband.

An hour later, we were arriving back at the museum. We stood outside the doors of the reception. They'd done a fantastic job at transforming the room from the ceremony into the reception hall in such a short amount of time. Sherlock and I greeted all of our guests. Lucas came running up to me, holding Maddie's hand.

"Ms. McKinley! Ms. McKinley!"

"It's not Ms. McKinley!" Maddie corrected by shouting. "It's Mrs. Holmes now!"

I squatted down in front of the two of them. "Yes Lucas? Maddie? What is it?"

"Well, we wanted to tell you that we're going to become superheroes too!" Maddie said excitedly, bouncing up and down on her toes. "Will you and Lock teach us?!"

I laughed, pressing a kiss to her forehead before giving Lucas a hug. "Of course we'll teach you. But you'll have to wait until Lock and I return. Do you think you can do that for me?"

"Of course! Can I say hi to Lock now?" I looked up to see him finishing a conversation with two of my cousins. "I don't think he'd mind at all. Go on, both of you. And I get a dance after dinner, alright?"

"Alright!" They said in unison, Lucas taking Maddie's hand before skipping over to Sherlock.

I straightened up in time to see Max approaching me, grinning from ear to ear. He held his arms open to me and I gave him a warm embrace, kissing the top of his head. "Max! I swear, you get bigger and bigger every time I see you. Won't be able to kiss the top of your head in a couple of months if you keep growing at this rate!"

The boy laughed. "Delly, you are always so silly. Do you think that we can go shooting sometime soon? I want to practice. I'm going to be in the army in a few years. I talked to John about it."

"Did you now? How very noble of you," I answered. "You'll be a great soldier Max."

"Thanks." We stood there for a moment, the sunlight streaming down onto us. "You know…I'm really happy you married him."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. He's a nice guy. And I can tell he makes you happy. He never told you, I'm sure, but he's the one who encouraged me to talk to John when I told him I wanted to make a difference. He also told me that Mum wouldn't support my decision, but that you would, so I should listen to your words and not hers." I looked between Sherlock and Maximus in shock. Sherlock was spinning Maddie around the small patio, making her giggle. "He said I shouldn't tell you, but I don't think you're supposed to keep secrets from your siblings. Especially not your older siblings."

I laughed, pulling Max in for another hug, holding him tight. "I am so glad to have you in my life Maximus. You're such a good boy."

"And you're such a good big sister. Thank you for being you Delly."

We let go of one another and he ran off to go and speak with his father and Greg. I felt someone tug my arm and I turned to see John standing behind me. "Do you mind if we go and talk for a quick second?"

"No, not at all." I looped my arm through his and we meandered off away from the crowds of people. "Does Sherlock know that we're going somewhere?"

"If he doesn't, he'll notice as we're leaving that his bride isn't by his side." We were a good ways away by the time we stopped. "Delilah, I never got a chance to speak with you in private before the wedding. I was going to last night, but I wasn't expecting Janine to show up."

"I don't think any of us were," I said, feeling my mood grow dark. I shook myself. "What did you wish to speak to me about?"

"Well, you and I have grown close over the past couple of years. But Sherlock and I are closer. I-"

I held up my hand, cutting John off. "If you're here to give me a lecture about not hurting him or issue me a warning, I promise you that I won't. I would never do anything to hurt him."

"Not at all. I wouldn't try to issue you a warning. I wanted to congratulate you and give you my blessing." I stared at John in shock. "I meant every word of my speech last night. You are the greatest thing that could have happened to him. I'm not good at the emotional talks or anything like that. I struggled with my best man speech as much as Sherlock struggled with his. But…I mean it when I say that I am glad that he found you and that you are perfect for him. I wanted to thank you. For everything."

I began to cry again. God, when did I become such a tearful person? But I supposed that it was my wedding day and there would be quite a few more tear-filled moments down the line. John pulled me into a hug, patting my back comfortingly.

"Thank you, John. That…that means alot coming from you."

"I know. I know. Don't cry, alright? I didn't mean to make you cry."

"It's fine," I replied, wiping away the tears with the handkerchief Sherlock had given me earlier. "It's really fine. I don't know why I'm so weepy all of a sudden."

"It's alright. Quite alright. Well then…shall we get back?" He began to walk away when I grabbed his arm. "Del? What is it?"

"I wanted to thank you."

"For what?"

"For saving my life. If it weren't for you talking to me and convincing me to change my behavior or if you hadn't sent Mary in to talk to me…I'd no doubt be stuck in a hospital in a padded cell or dead from starvation. I owe you."

John smiled, blushing. "You don't owe me anything. You've already given me the best thing that I could ask for."

"Aye? What's that?"

"The man that I always knew Sherlock could be."

We walked back to the reception arm in arm and John handed me off to Sherlock, who gave me a quizzical look. I shook my head, taking his hand. We walked into the room, going to the head table. Mary sat next to me, then it was Irene, and then Molly. I looked out over the sea of people, watching as they all talked and gossiped. I could catch more than a few glances thrown in our directions, smiles on everyone's faces.

The meal went quite well and as everyone's dessert plates were whisked away, Mycroft rose to his feet, tapping his fork against the crystal goblet. "Pray silence for the best man."

The crowd of people fell silent in the room, except for little Sheryl cooing in Mary's lap. I gave the baby my finger, letting her play with it as her father stood up at the table. John cleared his throat, reaching into his coat, searching for the note cards.

"You know, Sherlock, now would be the perfect time for revenge, given how you presented your best man's speech at my wedding." Knowing chuckles rippled through the crowd and I smiled, taking Sherlock's hand with my free one. "But I absolutely adore Delilah and won't embarrass her at her wedding. Because, let's face it, while you may have planned this wedding down to every minute detail, this is her big day, not yours." More laughter. "I've never been one to give very large and poignant speeches and I'll admit thatmy wife helped me on a good portion of it. But, here we are, the one event that I never thought that Sherlock would attend. His own wedding."

"Sherlock and I, we have an unspoken rule between us. He's an ass, I'm the voice of reason, and neither one of us admits that we care for the other like a brother." John gave Sherlock a smile. "Today though, I feel the need to tell Sherlock exactly what I think of him. Sherlock…my dearest friend, closest companion, and brother by bond. When I met you all those many years ago I was awestruck by your brilliance. You of course knew that, as you know everything that goes on. Even today, I'm still surprised by some of the deductions you make."

"But you are more than just the deductions you make. You are a man that I have grown to call my friend, the greatest friend that I've ever had. You've done things for me that no other man would do, all for the sake of keeping me and my family safe. I'm breaking our one rule, Sherlock, by telling all of these people how much I care for you and how happy I am that you found the woman sitting beside you." Sherlock draped his arm over my shoulder, pulling me close to his side. "She has done things for you that I don't even think that I would be capable of doing. I have seen how much she truly loves you. The night you were shot, I watched her grieve like I've never seen anyone grieve before. She sent up a prayer for one more miracle for her and I believe she got it."

"You two are the most imperfectly perfect couple I have ever seen and I congratulate you on your wedding. Welcome to the family Delilah."

The entire room broke out into applause and I leaned in to Sherlock, whispering, "Stand up and give John a hug."

Sherlock did as I asked him to and I could see that there was many a wet eye in the crowd. Mary took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, dabbing at the tears in her eyes. "I didn't help him write all of it you know."

"Oh, I know," I replied, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I could tell which parts he'd done himself."

Sheryl began to cry, reaching out for me and I took her, bouncing her in my lap as John told stories of adventures that I'd never heard about before. I smiled at every one of them, laughing and picturing Sherlock in each situation. John turned to me at the end of his stories.

"I've spoken about every single one of these cases, but there is one that Sherlock never solved."

"Oh?" I asked, cuddling with the baby. "Which case was that?"

"The case of how he got lucky enough to find a woman as patient and loving as you." I smiled, pressing a soft kiss to the side of Sheryl's head. "Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and raise your glasses to congratulate the bride and groom!"

The room rose to their feet and they all raised their glasses. I reached for mine around the baby and Sherlock reached for his. We raised ours in return, taking sips before setting it down. There were a few more speeches and then it was time to cut the cake. I still had little Sheryl, the baby wrapped up tight in my arms as she was fast asleep. I carefully handed her over to Mary, taking my place by Sherlock. We watched as the cakes were brought in and I felt my jaw drop at the sight of our wedding cake.

Our wedding cake was ivory colored and on the outside of it, was a series of Celtic knots piped in different shades of green and blue. Sherlock leaned down, whispering, "The knots signify everlasting love. They-"

"I know," I murmured. "They're the same as the ones on our rings. It's beautiful. It must have taken them hours to decorate all of it."

I glanced up at Sherlock, seeing the look of surprise on his face as they carried in the groom's cake. I gasped, covering my mouth with my hand. They had gone above and beyond with his cake. The base was a cake model of his coat. Perched on top of that was the deerstalker cap and propped against the side was a realistic looking magnifying glass. I smiled at the baker, giving them a hug.

"It's perfect," I gushed. "You all...wow...thank you so much."

"It was no problem," the woman said with a laugh. "You two were adorable when you came in and all of us at the shop are huge Sherlock fans. We wanted to do something special for you all."

Sherlock pressed a kiss to my temple before giving the woman a warm smile. "Thank you for making everything perfect."

"Again, it was no problem."

We cut the cake and I playfully shoved the piece of cake into Sherlock's face. He looked at me in shock before grinning from ear to ear, smashing his own piece into my face. We both laughed and kissed each other despite the cake on our faces. People began to grab their own slices of cake and I took the time to go and wash up in the ladies' room.

I was wiping a spot of icing off of my earlobe when I heard the door open and close, locking behind the person. I looked up to see Mycroft standing there in his suit, smiling at me.

"Mycroft. I didn't realize that you were a woman. I should have known."

"Very funny Delilah. I suppose I should be used to your quips and sarcasm at this point." He approached me and I continued to look at him in the mirror. "Are you having a good time?"

"Surprisingly, yes, I am. What about you? Still upset that I'm your sister now?"

"Quite the contrary." I raised an eyebrow. "I am actually delighted to have you as my sister."

"Oh? What brought about this change of heart?" I asked, wiping at another spot of icing I'd missed.

"The fact that my brother loves you. I thought that you were just a phase, but now I can see how much you actually mean to him." I looked up at him in surprise. "I'm not as heartless as everyone seems to think Delilah. I'm merely looking out for my baby brother's best interests. He may hate me for it, but someone has to do it. I suppose that someone is you now. You're...good for him."

I turned, going to give Mycroft a hug. He stiffened for a moment before relaxing, patting me on the back. "Thank you Mycroft. I never expected you to be so kind."

"I never expected to be a big brother to a little sister, but here we are." He gently pushed me away from him. "You're going to be late for your first dance."

"We can't have that," I said, unlocking the door to the bathroom. "Do you know how many hours Sherlock and I put into this first dance?"

Mycroft chuckled. "I have an idea. Come along. We'll talk later."

"Mycroft?"

"Mmm?"

"Thank you for being such a great big brother. To both of us."

I saw the split-second flash of surprise in his eyes before it disappeared again. "It's my job."

I smiled. "Not really. But I'm glad you think so."

I met with Sherlock outside the doors to the reception. I looked up at him nervously and he gave me a quick peck on the lips. "Everything alright?"

"Aye. Had a discussion with your brother."

"And?"

"I believe that we'll be very good siblings from here on out."

Sherlock smiled, taking my hand. "Good. I'm glad that things worked out between you both. Are you ready for our first dance?"

"With how much we practiced? I've been ready for weeks now," I said with a laugh.

"Will you be alright with the lift?"

"I should be. I trust you." I looped my arm through his, watching as the other members of the wedding party appeared in front of us. Mary turned and gave me a thumbs up as the doors swung open. "Hopefully I don't trip over my own two feet."

"I'll catch you if you do darling." We began to walk into the room and I smiled as I heard the song that Sherlock had composed for our first dance. "What did you title this again?"

"Hmmm?"

"The song? What did you title this as again?"

"Oh. I didn't," Sherlock replied as he spun me to face him. "You can't title a song made from love."

I laughed and we performed our first dance. Even the lift went flawlessly and I was surprised. I hadn't realized how strong Sherlock was until I was above his head, his hands planted firmly on my waist, my hands on his shoulders. He spun me around before lowering me to the ground, dipping me backwards and kissing me soundly. The dance ended and there was applause from everyone around us.

We spent the rest of the night dancing and talking with friends and family. I always looked to Sherlock and every time I did, my heart melted a bit more. He was truly happy and it made my heart swell with joy. I'd made the right decision in marrying him.

He was, after all, a good man and the perfect man for me.