A/N: We have finally reached the final chapter. I wanted to give this story as many chapters as I gave "A Different Kind of Fall," so they would be balanced out, but since chapter 22 was mainly an epilogue, and my way of bridging from that story to this one, I have decided that this should be the end, because it fits (wonderfully, I think). If you like my work though, and there was something you wanted to see that I haven't written yet, feel free to tell me about it and if it's something I think I can do, I'll write you a story. Thank you for reading, and I hope very much that you have enjoyed going through this with me. Enjoy the final chapter, and have a lovely day. :)

~Wings

John and Sherlock helped one another dress, instead of asking for the assistance of their Best Man, Greg and Mycroft respectively. The doctor wore a pristine white suit with a blue tie that matched the band around his top hat, and the consulting detective dressed in a black suit with a silver tie, forgoing a hat entirely.

"Are you ready for this, Sher? After this, everything changes a little. You won't often be able to get away with flirting with our suspects or witnesses, now." John was mostly teasing his fiancée, but there was a vein of seriousness in his voice, and Sherlock knew him well enough to understand it. He wanted to make sure there wasn't a shadow of a doubt in either of their minds that they were doing the right thing, and that it wouldn't compromise the Work.

That, Sherlock knew, was just as important to John as it was to Sherlock. Not only did he need the adrenaline, but he also liked feeling useful. It gave him a double fix to that particular need, because not only was he helping Sherlock, he was also helping future victims and the families of those who had fallen prey to criminals. The last thing either of them wanted was for Sherlock to come to resent John for making it impossible to conduct himself in his usual manner, but what the tall man knew that the shorter didn't was that it was impossible.

"John," he said, taking the other gently by the shoulders, "there is nowhere in this world I would rather be than by your side. Even if it means I have to come up with a different way to get information or coax a criminal into a confession, I would rather pledge myself to you now than spend the rest of my life wishing I had. This is just our way of telling the rest of the world what we already know—we're meant to be together. I haven't needed to flirt with anyone for the Work since I returned home, and that's not because it couldn't have worked, but because I've found ways around it. I always will, if it means getting to claim you as mine in every way. It actually adds to the challenge of it all, if you think about it."

Because Sherlock was so earnest, John couldn't help reaching up to tangle his fingers in that dark, curly hair to pull him down for a kiss. Things were actually starting to get a little heated when a discreet knock at the door signaled the arrival of Mycroft and Greg, who both had slightly devious smiles on their faces when they walked in. They definitely knew what the soon-to-be-married couple had been up to.

"I do hate to interrupt, but it would be a shame if you were to miss your own wedding, don't you think?" Mycroft's voice was gently teasing, and Sherlock laughed instead of snapping at him. The brothers had come a long way and John and Greg shared a glance. Somehow, through all of what the four of them had been through, the Holmes brothers had once again found a way to truly be family. It was a beautiful thing to witness, and even more so when they considered everything that had happened to lead them here.

"Let's go, then." John said, taking the opportunity to glance in the mirror one last time. He looked, he decided, as good as he was ever going to look. He wasn't a Greek god carved in marble like his fiancée, but he wouldn't be put to shame, either.

The four of them exited the room and headed downstairs, then out to the grounds where the wedding was being held since it was summer. It was there, under a trellis of flowering vines, that John and Sherlock took their vows.

Both a little teary-eyed when it came their time to say "I do," they didn't break eye contact the entire ceremony. When they were told by Anthea, who'd once again officiated as a favor to Mycroft, that they could kiss, no one was sure who went for who first, only that their entire audience found it adorable that they were both so eager.

They managed to keep it PG13 for John's younger relatives, many of whom had driven out to see him marry despite the fact that he wasn't close with more than a couple, and ran down the aisle together in a hail of rice thrown by enthusiastic guests.

John wasn't at all surprised that Sherlock hadn't invited many people for himself, but he was a little shocked to see a woman who bore a strong resemblance to his new husband approaching them just before the reception started.

"Sherlock, it's good to see you. And it's lovely to meet you as well, John." The woman extended a long, slim hand toward him and he took it, quickly glancing over at the man he'd married. Sherlock's expression wasn't angry, but a little confused, so he decided it was safe.

"Aunt Lily. It's been a number of years." His tone was reserved, but he didn't seem to dislike the woman. When Mycroft and Greg walked up, she shook hands with Greg as well, keeping one eye fixed on the Holmes boys, who shared a glance that seemed to convey an entire conversation.

"It is lovely to see you, Aunt Lily, but I must ask what you are doing here." It was Mycroft who'd been elected to speak, as the most polite and best in social settings, while Sherlock took a step back and reached for John's hand. Understanding that he needed a little bit of silent support, the doctor twined their fingers together, squeezing gently.

"Well, as the two of you are unlikely to remember, your mother had me tossed out of the house for daring to question her mothering practices. Our own family wasn't so cold or unaffectionate to us, and I thought she was making a mistake in the way she raised you. I was not invited back after that, which is why you saw me only occasionally in your youth. I was a little cautious to approach you, since I knew you were both still in contact with your parents, but at a recent family gathering it came to my attention that you had both put your parents in their places, and rightfully so. I came to tell you both that I'm proud of you."

Beaming, the woman kissed each brother on the cheek before stepping back.

"I didn't want to crash your wedding, but I wasn't sure how to get in touch with the two of you otherwise. It is my hope that at some point, you might like to get to know me a little better. I'm quite the opposite of Violet, you see. We never got along as children, and it occurred to me that you two might like having a little bit of family as much as I would. Either way, I've left my number with your assistant, Mycroft, so do give me a ring if either of you are interested in getting to know me. I'll leave you to your festivities, now."

The woman swept away with all the grace John had come to associate with the Holmes family, and Sherlock blinked, looking a little flummoxed.

"I think that was her way of trying to say congratulations for being your own person and not letting your parents ruin you." John commented, and Sherlock nodded, his eyes unfocused for a second before snapping to John's face, clearly deciding to deal with that puzzle later.

"It's about time for our speeches, I think." Leading them through the crowd, Sherlock took his seat at the bridal table and waited for everyone to settle. Once they had, he stood and clinked a fork against his wine glass, calling them all to order. The he nodded to Mycroft to begin and took his seat once more.

"Well, as anyone who knows Sherlock at all well knows, we didn't always have the best relationship. As children, we were inseparable, but there were a great many years when our difficult childhoods made us… mistrusting of others. I believe we only started to overcome our issues, and grow close once again, when John came into Sherlock's life. He truly changed things for my little brother, in a thousand little ways and one significant one—no matter how many times Sherlock insisted he was unlovable, John was always there in his quiet, no-nonsense way declaring otherwise in both words and actions.

"Their relationship was not always romantic, but always had the potential to be, and I have never seen two people more lost as when they were separated because of Moriarty. I had always hoped that they would find happiness with one another, and when Sherlock returned, they both had so many things to work through that I despaired of them ever finding their way to one another. Now, they have, and I'm pleased to welcome John into the family, as well as thank him from the bottom of my heart for helping my brother come to the conclusion that I am not his arch-enemy, but simply his brother. Congratulations, both of you."

Mycroft's speech made Mrs. Hudson burst into tears of happiness, and everyone else applauded, some with more vigor than others. It was then Greg's turn, and he looked around at the audience and tugged at his collar a little, smiling at the fact that so many of the people Sherlock and John had helped were part of the crowd.

"I'm going to keep this short and sweet, because I imagine most of you are ready to just start eating already." Laughter met with this comment, and then he began. "Sherlock was not always the easiest little brother in the world to look out for. He was always brilliant, but I always felt that he lacked a reason. Not a reason to solve crimes: No, he did that for a number of reasons, both personal and not so, but a reason to go home at night. He was always driven, but I always felt that if he could find someone who would be his equal on every front, and stand by him through everything, he would become a good man, as well as a great one.

"I never imagined it would be the unassuming army doctor he met through a mutual acquaintance who would become the axis on which his world spins. When I first met John, I instantly thought that he was a good man, the kind from whom Sherlock could learn a lot. I never would have pictured them together, however, at least not until I figured out the lengths to which John was willing to go to keep Sherlock safe, even from the first days, because of the instant connection between the two of them.

"Over time, I was privileged to watch them only grow closer, until we came to this moment today, which was probably inevitable from the night of that incident I don't know anything about. I wish the two of you all the happiness in the world, and know that you will always be there for each other. I'm glad to call the two of you family, and glad that after everything you've faced, you finally get to be together."

The music began to play quietly then, and some people grabbed food while others danced. Sherlock pulled John out onto the dance floor, and they waltzed together, John not minding at all that Sherlock, who was definitely the better dancer, led.

"You know, Mycroft was right, when he said about how totally lost I was without you. I wasn't in a good place while you were gone. I was pretty much everywhere but a good place, truth be told. When you came home, I know I was pretty terrible about it, but I guess I just couldn't believe in the miracle I'd been given. You know me better than I know myself, and after everything, I couldn't truly believe that I could get to keep that happiness."

Sherlock smiled, leaning down a little to brush his lips over John's temple.

"After everything we went through together, John, and everything you got me through, I owed you that miracle. You are my home, and I would have fought my way through anything to be back by your side. I know how you felt when I left you here alone, because I felt the same way. I didn't honestly think you would take me back after everything, but I just always heard you in my head, asking me for one more miracle, and I knew I had to offer it to you, even if you threw it right back in my face.

"I thought all my hopes for a better future had died long ago, but after I started my mission, I realized you were my hope, and that as long as you were around, I could feel complete. That's what all of it was for, all those cold, lonely nights in places I never want you to see or think about. It was to prove to myself that I had the right to say I loved you, and to prove to you that I cared for you just as much as you cared for me, possibly even more, as I thought then."

John shook his head, smiling up at his husband.

"Well, you never have to think that way again, my love. Even when the whole world is going up in flames, and literally everything is wrong, the only place I ever want to be is right here by your side. I love you."

At a loss for words, all Sherlock could do was reciprocate and keep dancing with John, long into the night. Occasionally someone requested a dance with one or the other of them: John's Aunt Bunny, Molly, and a handful of other people all wanted their turn congratulating one or both of them, but by the end of the night, when the last guests had gone home, John and Sherlock found their way up to the roof, joining Greg and Mycroft. The four of them looked up at the sky, and just as they had all settled in, Sherlock let out a cry and pointed upward.

There, hurtling through the sky, was a shooting star, like the ones he and Mycroft had occasionally watched for in their youth.

"Hurry, John, make a wish!" Even though it was superstitious nonsense, Sherlock was caught by the romance of the night, and wasn't at all surprised when his husband leaned his head against his shoulder, smiling.

"I already have everything I want, Sherlock. Right here in this moment, I have everything I've ever dreamed of."

The foursome stayed up and talked for a while, but eventually Sherlock and John headed down to their bedroom to finish out their wedding night in style. It had been the perfect night, and the perfect start to their life together, and neither of them could wait for it to begin, as long as they had each other.