Epilogue

Uncle John was, in fact, right where we had left him, save for the fact that he'd moved to lean against the building a bit. He and I returned to Mycroft's rooms, though Holmes declined to enter at that time. He sent word to his brother via us that they should meet an other time to "discuss what we had come to discuss." It's funny to think about at times how casually he treated the loss of his sixty-years ofbachelor hood.

I did not stay long, but I did take a moment to apologize for our abrupt exit some hour and a half earlier and thank all of them for their understanding and their congratulations. Adeline leaned forward and embraced me quickly, kissing my cheek. I let her, for some reason, but to this day I do not know why.

While we solved no case that night and saved no life from a murderous fiend, I found just as heavy of a let down after it was over. Siger and Adeline did not attend the wedding and I only saw Adeline once more: Siger Holmes' funeral perhaps a year later, in which Holmes, to my knowledge,did not attend. Though it was an emotionally stainingnight – heaven knows neither of us would show it outwardly – I would not have given it up for the world ten times over. To know a bit more about the Holmes family is to draw just a bit closer to the man I now call husband.

A/N: Sorry the epilogue wasn't any longer, but I just wanted to wrap it up

Ophelia Russell: Sorry to kill you with suspence. I'm glad that I've gotten Holmes and Russell so in character. That makes me happy :) I always strive to keep everyone in character

Neoholmesz: I'm glad you loved the first two chapters and hopefully you liked the epilogue too! Yes! Read Russell/Holmes stories! They are like a wonderful drug! (no need for a seven-percent solution here, people, go all the way with one hundred-percent Holmes and Russell!) :P Yes, I love that movie too. I bought it some years ago (before it came out on DVD, I believe... wow, that seems like so long ago, but I'm not even sure DVDs were popular when I bought it, much less something I could have bought.... Makes me feel old :( Oh well lol :)

Black Moon 13: Ah yay! I made someone's day! That makes me happy! Yes, poor Holmes... I do adore him and you know there has to be SOMETHING in his past to cause him to distrust women, and so this is just an idea of what that might have been. (not that we're all together trustworthy 24/7) Hehe :)

Hermione Holmes: That someone thinks I followed King's style is really cool, because to me her style in the Mary Russell series is one of the best I've ever read. So thanks very much! Yes, about the parallel, I thought that might make a nice twist. :)

Thanks all.

TS