Chapter 30

A/N: The end is nigh! I'm so sorry for those who just flipped out in the previous chapter...but I'll flip the table as I write this last and painful chapter...Aaaaargh why is it ending?! *flips table* *stubs toe on table leg* Agh fuck. Did I mention that I cried writing this? I cried, a lot while writing this. Right now I'm crying as I try to write a note for you all. Oh almost forgot, THERE IS AN EPILOGUE COMING IN SO PLEASE STAY AND BE PATIENT AS I WRITE THE EPILOGUE AS WELL.

I jumped in front of Sherrinford, with only one thought in my mind. I must save Sherrinford, even if I would die. And so I did. I jumped in front of him, knocking him to the side. I was surprised at how I actually managed to tackle him to the ground. Maybe it was the shock that made him vulnerable enough for me to push him.

I landed on top of him, him clutching my arms. I sighed in relief. Then I realized. I was shot. Right in the stomach. Then I saw the blood. I hated blood. Blood and the smell of it makes me want to hurl. It made me feel like I was watching poison seep out of a person's body. But I know blood isn't poison. And then I heard another bang and more screams. It made me think of You Give Love a Bad Name by Bon Jovi. Not sure why...

"Sherry!" Sherrinford exclaimed, his eyes wide with terror as he took in what happened. He lay me down and yelled for a doctor. "Hang in there, love." He whispered, crying. Why is he crying? Sherrinford...It hurts. My stomach felt like someone stabbed it a thousand times. It hurts, Sherrinford. Take this pain away! Sherrinford you helped me forget Jim for a month, you helped build me up again and again. Please, one last time, help me. Help me get rid of this pain. Am I going to die?

I couldn't speak. My throat felt like a bird laid eggs and died there. Not fun. I couldn't speak except for a bit of croaking. "Aa...uhh..." I was trying to say I love you! Please, let me speak! Sherrinford! I want to see the sunset. I want to see the rainbow. I want to see the beautiful ocean and hear it one last time.

"Shhh...shh Sherry, don't speak." Sherrinford said, gathering me in his arms and rocking me back and forth. For some reason, my eyes were threatening to flutter shut. "Stay with me, Sherry. Help is on the way." Sherrinford said, his crying increasing by the second. "Please don't go, Sherry. I love you, sis." He cried. Sherlock was there, holding my hand. Sherlock was crying. Sherlock never cries. But he's crying now. Sherlock, no. Please don't cry.

Then Jim arrived at his side, kneeling next to Sherrinford and Sherlock. Jim. My beautiful Jim. The love of my life. The one that held my heart in his hands. The one man I loved so deeply that it hurts. He was saying something, but I couldn't hear him. I feel like I'm going to sleep. I feel so tired. I...I love you, Jim...And the last thing I saw was the three most important people in my life, the three I loved.

And all was blank.

I felt a body crash into me as a loud bang was heard. I was staring into the eyes of Sherry, who exhaled a sigh of relief as she saw that I wasn't hurt. I gave her a small smile like, 'not dead'. She saved my life. My sister saved my life. My little sister saved my life at my wedding. Oh, Sherry.

I heard another bang and even more screaming from the guests. They have to stop screaming! My hand was about to gently push her away when I touched her stomach and it came away with blood. "Sherry!" I exclaimed, terrified. My sister, hurt because she saved my life? The thought of her wounded made me sick with worry and distraught. Surely not! No no no!

I lay her down on the floor and yelled for a doctor, my voice hoarse. "Hang in there, love." I whispered, tears streaming down my face. She said something like 'aaah' and 'uhh'. I told her not to speak. I knew she would tire herself out, and we need as many precious moments left until she goes. I couldn't bring myself to imagine her dying. The thought of her, cold as stone, not breathing...

I took her in my arms and started rocking her back and forth, like a baby. "Stay with me, Sherry. Help is on the way." I said, crying even harder. Sherlock came to my side, holding her hand, quietly crying. "Please don't go, Sherry. I love you, sis." Please don't die on me, I mentally added. I need you, Sherry. I need you. You're my rock. You're my sister, and I wouldn't have gone to Molly's if I didn't go to Jim's and hurt him! Please, please Sherry, hang on. Don't leave us.

Jim had arrived next to me, kneeling. Then Sherry's eyes fluttered shut, with a small smile on her lips.

The wedding crasher had shot at Sherrinford, and Sherry jumped in front of him. The guests started to panic and rush out of the door. I heard another shot fired. Must've been Moriarty. I hurried to the man, who's name is Tom. I checked for a pulse and found none. He was dead. Moriarty's bullet hit its mark. As expected of that snake. He must have done this a million times, murdering, shooting. I remembered that day on the rooftop when he 'committed suicide'. That deceiving, manipulative snake.

I rushed to Sherrinford, where Sherry was. She was lying down on the floor in Sherrinford's arms. I held her hand, crying. I did not want to cry, but this is my beloved sister who's dying. And so I let the tears stream freely down my cheeks. I cannot let my sister go. She's the only one worth caring about. She's the only one that has ever had a special place in my heart, with John. They are my special people, and I cannot let her go too. John is gone with Mary and the baby. I cannot lose the first person I have ever cared about. I cannot lose my sister.

Moriarty was next to us, kneeling beside me. But he was too late. Sherry died not knowing what her husband had to say. Sherry died not knowing that her so-called 'machine' of a brother loved her and cared for her. Sherry died protecting her favourite brother, at his wedding. Sherry died and I was powerless to stop it.

I heard a loud bang and saw Sherry jumping in front of Sherrinford, obviously trying to save his life. I started to panic. Then I shot that Tom asshole, and my bullet hit its home. The guests were screaming and trying to get out, pushing and shoving at each other. Ordinary people. Screaming and shouting when there's a gunshot. Such idiots, really. And troubling, too.

I wove in and out of the sea of people, with only one thought in my mind. Sherry. She can't be hurt. Not now. Not when I wanted to make it up to her. Not when I gave her long enough time. I cannot lose another person I cared about. First Annie. And then Sebastian. Not Sherry. Please, don't die, my beloved wife. Some of them pushed me, and I shoved them back. Assholes. I need to get to my wife! Is there anything more important than a man being by his wife's side as she leaves him forever?! I hurried to Sherrinford and Sherlock. Sherry was laid down on the hard floor. She looked so beautiful, even when she-

She let out her last breath and her eyes fluttered shut. I didn't get to say goodbye. I didn't get to see her smile. I didn't get to hear her laugh one last time. I didn't get to taste her again. I didn't get to make love to her. I didn't get to find out that she was bearing my child. I didn't get to see her face when our baby would be born. Why? Because I had said one wrong thing, and now she's dead in her brother's arms.

Sherrinford was sobbing, clutching her body close. Sherlock was crying silently, his posture tired. And I? I was breaking. I was being ripped apart and put back together only to be ripped apart again. I choked and sobbed as I held her other hand. I put my hand by my mouth as I tried to stop sobbing. I couldn't. Not my Sherry. Why?! Why is it that you take away the people I love?! God, if there is a God, why did you take away the people worth living and loving and caring for?! Is it for all the deaths I caused?! I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry.

Why did everyone I love die?! Why is it that everyone I love dies on me? Why? Oh god why! You said everything happens for a reason! Then why did you take the woman I loved away from me?! Is this just a test, to see how long I could stand before I break down?! Well it's working! Are you happy now?! Are you happy that the snake, the spider, finally broke?! I finally showed that I do have a heart!

My beautiful Sherry. My beautiful wife. The woman I loved. The woman that changed my life. The girl I fucked up and the woman I changed. The only one left to love. My Sherrelyn Holmes. And it took me her death to realize that she was the only one I ever wanted. The only one I have ever needed. And she's gone.

She's gone somewhere that I couldn't follow. I wanted to be with her so much. Every single day she was gone, was every bit of me breaking and tearing apart as I struggled to get through the days without her. I was going to tell her that I was sorry, to tell her that I was wrong, to tell her that I had stopped doing evil things just for her. I would change every fibre of my being for her, and because of me, I couldn't have her seeing me at it. And now I don't even have her. My Sherry, is gone. The love of my life. Annie and Sebastian were just me, having my heart broken, until it led me to her, my Sherry.

She couldn't see the present I had for her. I want to change myself. I don't want to be the criminal mastermind, a psychopathic arse, the only consulting criminal in the world. I would change everything I am, for the woman I love. The only one worth fighting for. The only one worth caring for.

I had a plan. I was going to make The Sherry Foundation for Ex Criminals that Want a Change for Loved Ones. And I still would. I am a man of my word, and I would definitely never go against my word that I would do whatever it takes to keep Sherry in memory forever. I love her, and I would do anything to make sure she's happy. I would do good for her, because she has done good for me. I would help out others, because she's helped me. I had changed her, and she had changed me. We have changed each other, and the perspective of life as we see it. If there was a better reason for me to change, it would be because she was the one that was worth every diamond in the Earth and more. She was worth more than any celebrity, more than all the diamonds in this planet.

She was worth everything.