Epilogue

Sherlock looked out over the beautiful, white villas towards the tranquil waves. It was still pretty early, so everything was quite. For the first time in three months he had awoken without John beside him.

Panicked, he called his fiancée who assured him that he's just gone out to clear his mind. John had been becoming increasingly nervous over the last few days, though he assured Sherlock it was nothing to do with him, John was just worried about speaking in front of people, especially as they'd written their own vows.

Not many people were invited, there was Mrs Hudson, Lestarde and Mycroft (who'd very recently gotten together),Harry (who was celebrating the 3 month anniversary of her sobriety), Molly and her new boyfriend Tom –John's closest friend from the war, John's parents and Sherlock's mother. Of course, there was also Angelo- who was the one that had suggested his home town as the venue for the wedding, they would have the reception at Angelo's family's restaurant there.

The ceremony was to start at 3pm, and they were to be married on the shore so there wasn't much to prepare. John was back at 9.30am, and the couple spent the spare few hours laughing and talking. By 1.30pm, when John had insisted that they started to get ready, Sherlock had managed to calm him down.

John went to Lestrade's room to run over his look over the vows again and check that the speech he and Mycroft had prepared would be appropriate. Though Sherlock knew that this would be a fruitless endeavour as Mycroft would never let anyone see that speech.

Sherlock changed into his suit, John had coerced him into wearing a tux, so they'd match. Sherlock had on a white shirt (which was to his usual tightness) and they each had small white flowers for buttonholes. John had told him earlier that they'd meet at the beach and walk to the makeshift altar, a white wire archway, together. Sherlock decided to go over his own vows in his head, though of course he had memorised them straight away, then while he waited he let his mind wonder back to his proposal.

It had been just after Moriarty's trial, wherein which he had gotten a life sentence- this time the jury were all under protection (which, Sherlock knew he had already gotten down to 15 years). He and John had been sat on the sofa, John's legs draped over Sherlock's lap as they kissed. Sherlock had pulled away slightly, his lips still only an inch from John's. "John we should get married." Then he resumed planting small kisses along John's collarbone.

"What?" John spluttered, sitting up straight and turning towards his boyfriend.

"Married, John" he shuffled over and began to nuzzle John's neck.

John pulled away again, putting his hands on either side of Sherlock's face to look at him intently while holding him in place.

"But isn't it a little early? We've only been together properly for two months" John exclaimed.

"7 weeks 5, days 15 hours" he took his phone from his pocket and looked at the time " and 37 minutes, actually." Sherlock looked down at John, confused and upset "I thought you loved me"

"Of course I do Sherlock, more than anything. I just didn't expect this so soon, if at all"

"Isn't it normally what couples do when they love each other to 'cement their bond in front of family and friends'?" he queried innocently, knowing John would find it endearing (or, in other words, more persuasive), quoting a magazine he had read while waiting for John to finish at the surgery. He put his hands on top of John's on either side of his face, attempting to pull them away.

John didn't budge. "I just didn't think you were the type of person….When I was younger and I imagined being married I never thought it would be like this."

"I never thought I'd be married at all, but John, I want you. I want to make sure you're mine forever, now we're both safe, doesn't it seem like the perfect time?"

John's face cleared, and his eyes filled with tears "Yes Sherlock, yes of course" and they engaged in the most passionate kiss they had ever shared, though it had a lot of competition, this had been Sherlock's favourite.

Sherlock had lingered in the memory a lot longer than he had expected. It was now 2.25pm, and the walk to the beach would take at least 30 minutes (John had told him he wasn't allowed to run as he's wrinkle his suit). And John would kill him if he was late.

When he arrived at the long, stunning beach he saw John was already there, pacing by a small alcove. Sherlock strode over to him and took his hand, giving it a small kiss "Don't worry love. When we get there just look at me, pretend they aren't there." John's heart rate seemed to calm a little. Sherlock was getting good at this. "You look wonderful" he announced, whenever he complimented John he stated it as a fact, which always made John blush a little.

"You look beautiful and dashing. As always "John replied. Sherlock beamed, they were now approaching the small group of guests seated on white wicker chairs in front of the makeshift altar. Sherlock felt John's pulse rate again, and whispered in his ear "Calm down. They're not here. It's only us, don't look at them if that helps" John raised his gaze from the now muttering guests, all commenting on the way they looked, and looked into Sherlock's blue-green-grey eyes.

Mycroft had arranged the ceremony, and all of the legal stuff, he had also paid for everything including everyone's flights, which John had tried to refuse. But Mycroft had become very insistent, telling them it was a wedding present but also to apologise for not telling either of them about how the other felt- Mycroft had since admitted form the moment he saw them together he knew Sherlock had been suppressing lover for John. Likewise John was hiding his love of Sherlock. So he had been elated when he had finally heard the 'happy announcement'.

John's breathing rate increased as soon as they began walking past everyone and Sherlock squeezed his hand, again reminding him to forget about everything other than themselves. At the altar, they turned to face each other and clasped both hands together. The registrar (actually an old friend of John's) began the ceremony, but Sherlock blocked her out, only looking at John. Judging by the slightly glazed look in John's eyes, he was doing the same.

Then it was time for the vows, Sherlock was to go first. "John, you're the first person that truly accepted me for who I am, you weren't jealous or scared of my intellect, like most. You're the one person that can surprise me, you're kind, brave and loyal. You changed me from a cold hearted, selfish, scheming man into someone who can love. Before you, I never even looked at anyone in that way, I didn't think I was capable of that emotion-or any other, for that matter. I love you with so much power that sometimes I can't even think, it fills me up and overwhelms me. I know how much you hate it, but I will always protect you, I will take any measures necessary to make sure you're safe. I don't think I could survive even a day without you. I don't deserve someone as good, trusting and loving as you."

Sherlock had not been prepared for John's reaction when he said this, though he should have known (again John was surprising him. How did he always do that?)or his own in response to John's expression when he spoke. Tears were streaming down John's face now, and he looked straight into Sherlock's eyes, his own full of wonder. At this look, Sherlock's own eyes had filled with tears. John was just so happy to be here, to finally have Sherlock, Sherlock couldn't comprehend (despite the hours he'd spent trying to it figure out, to the point of infuriation) how John could love him back. How this wonderful man could love someone so manipulative, rude and cold? He didn't deserve John.

From what Sherlock could hear- he refused to look away from John, everyone watching was crying, even Lestrade though he, Angelo and Tom were trying to hide it.

"John, now your vows to Sherlock" prompted the registrar as John still seemed completely dazed.

John swallowed and attempted to stop crying, pulled a crumpled sheet out of his pocket and checked it. He knew it off by heart, he'd edited it that many times, but he wanted this to be perfect. "Sherlock, before I met you I was broken, my life was bland and hollow. Then when we met, well solving crimes has been the most fun I've had in years" he chuckled lightly. "It took me a long time to realise how I felt, why I could never keep a girlfriend, it's because I needed you. You were the one that fixed me, helped me to get rid of the nightmares. When I thought you were gone-" his voice broke and he took a deep breath, he had forgiven Sherlock for the pain he had caused him, but he would never forget. "I couldn't cope. You're the only one I'll ever need, the only one I'll ever want. I feel like the luckiest man in the world to have you" John had added on the last sentence on the spur of the moment, so filled with love and elation and finally being married to this brilliant man.

Sherlock's eyes were brimming with tears, a solitary tear ran down his well- defined cheekbones. He had only ever seen Sherlock cry once before and that moment evoked feelings in John that were too painful to remember. John didn't know what he had done to deserve someone like Sherlock, someone who knew how his mind worked so well, who was so completely fantastic.

"I now pronounce you partners" proclaimed the registrar and everyone clapped as Sherlock and John fell into a long-awaited and salty kiss.

AN: This killed me to write, sorry it took longer than usual! Special thank you to Harjyot, who gave me the idea for the epilogue, and told me to write this up in the first place. Thanks to TruffleHead, Nurse Kate, Cartlin, shygirl9683, who reviewed, as well as anyone who added this to their alerts or favourites.