(A/N: I'm SO EXCITED about getting this chapter out since it's been in my head for quite a while now! I really do hope those of you who read will take a moment to review and let me know how you think it turned out because this chapter is so important to me, and I want to know that you aren't disappointed in it. Thanks for reading, reviewing, following, and favoriting this story. I appreciate everyone who is spending a bit of time invested in Sherlock and Victoria's story! Please take a minute to leave a review! Thanks!)

Chapter 22 – The Greatest Mystery

"Getting cold feet, are we?"

"No, most definitely not, brother mine," I replied, twisting the boutonniere gently between my fingers, not wanting to damage it but unable to stop from fidgeting with something. "There are simply too many people in the house, and no one will let me near Victoria before the ceremony. I just want to see her, speak to her, to be sure she hasn't changed her mind." Turning to Mycroft, I found he wore an unusual expression of concern. "What if I stand there waiting and she doesn't come? What do I do if she leaves me?"

I looked away, wiping a tear from my eye, quite uncomfortable showing such emotion in front of him, as it had previously been something we'd mutually detested.

"Oh, dear brother, you truly do love her. This isn't some pretense of conformity, mimicking John…" As confused as I was, Mycroft appeared utterly shocked. "All this time, I've played along and done my best to protect you for so long as I saw this latest endeavor held your interest, expecting eventually I'd have to clean up the mess when you tired of it; monotony and placid normalcy would grow tiresome, and I would ensure Victoria and the children were comfortable, cared for, and well away from you."

"But I don't understand. Why on Earth would you think I'd want that?"

"Because sentiment is a chemical defect found on the losing side, Sherlock. We've always said so," he stated flatly.

"No, you said so, and I looked up to you as my older brother and believed it. Thankfully, for both our sakes, there came a time when my belief in your words wavered, and I let sentiment slip in, because without it, I would be dead. James Moriarty would have beaten me at the great game he set in motion, I would have died, and there would have been nothing you could have done to bring me back."

We stared at one another for quite some time without a word. He still looked at me like I was a child in need of his care, his protection. He'd always done so.

"Then you're right. You're right, and I'm wrong. Is that what you wanted to hear?" Brow raised, he cocked his head arrogantly, and I grinned. "If so, I hope you heard it the first time. I most certainly will not repeat it."

Smirking, I nodded. "That will suffice, but I would like to hear you say how much you're looking forward to being an uncle."

Mycroft tutted and shook his head. "Oh, Sherlock, you should have asked for something difficult. I'll readily admit to that. If there's any reason I'm pleased to learn this isn't a farce, that you're actually in love and happily marrying and procreating, it's because I won't have to send away the children out of your sheer boredom, forcing me to spoil them in secret from afar, never being known as their uncle."

I should have known. Between Mycroft, Aaron, and Lucas, my children would inevitably be spoiled beyond my worst nightmares.

Handing him the boutonniere, it only took a moment before he understood my silent request and began affixing it to my lapel. "Then you aren't disappointed in me?" The question was out before I could stop it, though his answer wouldn't change the outcome. I supposed a part of me still wanted my big brother's approval, even if I could and would live without it.

"No, brother mine, not at all." He finished pinning the boutonniere and straightened my collar and tie then brushed lint off my jacket. "In this particular endeavor, you have more courage than I, and I never find myself disappointed in your courage, little brother. Never."

And then it was time.

At two o'clock on that unusually cloudless Sunday, my brother stood in front of the oak tree where we'd played as children, prepared to officiate my wedding ceremony. Just as I bore witness to John's wedding as his best man, he was at my side to do the same for me, not two months later. Opposite me, Aaron stood as Victoria's 'Man of Honor' since we threw tradition to the wind and cared only about who we wanted with us for the momentous occasion of our wedding vows.

We'd completely forgone any measure of formality for our guests during the ceremony, no chairs arranged in the garden for anyone. Instead, those we wished to join us lined along either side of the aisle Victoria would walk down then would close in around us, in a more inclusive and intimate fashion, symbolic of their importance in our lives. All Victoria's idea, of course, but I quite liked that our wedding would be unique.

At the sound of the back door opening and falling closed, Lucas started the music via the small sound system Aaron had set up with his laptop and two rented speakers. We'd had far more difficulty agreeing upon a song for the ceremony than anything else. Flowers were a given— lavender roses and violet tulips, same as I'd given her on our first date. However, music was not so simple, and after disagreeing on thirty-seven songs, we'd almost decided simply not to have any when Aaron suggested "Nowhere to Now Here" by The Kin. We both fell in love with the lyrics the first time we heard it, she enjoyed its contemporary nature, and I felt satisfied with the symphonic tones within it.

That song was the final element of the ceremony needed to have everything prepared, and the time had finally come that it played. At any moment, Victoria would come into view on her father's arm, walking toward me for the last time as my girlfriend or fiancée. Every time she would come to me in the future, she would do so as my wife.

My wife.

I was getting married. I would be a husband. Victoria's husband.

Then I saw her. And never have my eyes bore witness to more lovely a sight. She appeared as a radiant beauty, ginger hair shining in the sun and falling in gentle waves over her bare shoulders, white dress of modest embellishment along the sweetheart neckline and fitting her body to just above her waist, flowing so softly to her feet that it fluttered in the light breeze.

She appeared almost ethereal, mythical, and until she reached me, Andrew placing Victoria's hand in mine, I could have easily believed I'd dreamt every bit of it.

"Well, hi there, handsome. Fancy meeting you here," Victoria whispered, loudly enough to cause most of our family and friends to snicker.

"I wouldn't be anywhere else right now," I replied, garnering a few 'awwws' from most female guests and a small snort of laughter from Sally.

Mycroft cleared his throat and began. "This place in which we are now gathered is sanctioned according to English law for the celebration of matrimony. We have come together today to witness one such union of particular importance to those of us here, the marriage of William Sherlock Scott Holmes and Victoria Rose Taylor, sharing in the blessing of their joy and celebrating in their love. If any person present knows of any lawful impediment to this marriage, they should declare it now… No? I thought not. I would already be aware."

With a tight smile, he nodded to each of us. "Now as neither of them care for a great deal of pomp and circumstance, we shall get to the point. Are you, William Sherlock Scott Holmes, free lawfully to marry Victoria Rose Taylor?"

"I am." I was also grinning like an idiot, my heart racing, thrilled to say the words and anxious to hear them from her.

"And are you, Victoria Rose Taylor, free lawfully to marry William Sherlock Scott Holmes?"

"I am."

"Very well," Mycroft sighed. "On we go. Do we have the rings?" John and Aaron each retrieved the rings from their pockets, John handing Victoria's to me, whilst Aaron held onto mine for a few more minutes and took Victoria's bouquet. "Sherlock and Victoria wrote their own vows, so do begin, brother."

Holding the delicate ring between the fingers of my left hand, I took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and kept my eyes on Victoria's as I spoke. "For a very long time, many people have accused me of not having a heart, not caring, not having feelings, but those days are past, and I am no longer that same man because I finally solved the greatest mystery of my life. I found my heart, my center, my home. I found it in you; on this day and forever, I, William Sherlock Scott Holmes, take you, Victoria Rose Taylor, to be my best friend, my lover, my confidante, my partner, my one constant in this ever-changing world."

I held her right hand a bit tighter as I began slipping the simple white gold band onto her left ring finger, all attempts to withhold tears quite failed. "In short, I take you to be my wedded wife and present you with this ring as a symbol of my love, respect, and faithfulness, as endless as this circle."

I took a moment to run my thumb over the ring she finally wore, admiring it before allowing her take mine from Aaron, a band identical to hers in every way but size, each engraved with a small infinity symbol inside. It was my turn to rest my left hand over our clasped right hands, waiting to hear her speak the vows that would bind us in marriage for a lifetime.

"At John and Mary's wedding, she asked me to go after you when you left, and though I don't remember every word of what she said, I remember she told me, "He shouldn't be alone. He deserves more." I fell in very deep like with you that night, but on our first date, when you showed up with lavender roses and violet tulips, talking about feeling enchanted and offering faithfulness, I knew you were far more than what I'd heard of you. Sherlock, you are undoubtedly an eccentric and complicated man, but you are passionate, loyal, and loving. I love you for many reasons, but I first fell in love with you because of your honesty. You are the most raw, uncut, unedited, blunt person I've ever met. You often either don't know or don't care what's appropriate or socially acceptable. Therefore, you mean what you say, and I can trust you. For without trust, there cannot be love, and I have more love for you than the universe has stars."

We were both in tears as she placed the ring on my finger, and I heard sniffling from our guests as well. "I, Victoria Rose Taylor, take you, William Sherlock Scott Holmes, to be my best friends, my lover, my confidante, my partner, my one constant in this ever-changing world. I take you as my wedded husband and present you with this ring as a symbol of my love, respect, and faithfulness, as endless as this circle."

Grasping each other's left hands over our already clasped right hands, we looked one another in the eyes and spoke in unison. "Now and forevermore, my every infinite possibility is within you."

"Having made the declaration prescribed by law and made a solemn and binding contract with each other in the presence of your witnesses, friends, and family, I am pleased to pronounce you husband and wife. If you wish, brother, you may kiss your bride."

And I wished to very much, so I did. I kissed Victoria for the first time as my wife, a loving and silent reiteration of every word we'd spoken, sealing vows I would never break.

Finally, Victoria and I turned to our guests, and she took my arm as Mycroft said the words that marked a milestone it had taken me entirely too long to realize I even wanted to reach in my life, yet I'd made it. "Ladies and gentlemen, I now present to you, Mr. and Dr. Sherlock Holmes."

(A/N: If you want to see pictures of the wedding dress and rings, they're on my Pinterest page for this story.)