Oh my god I'm so so sorry it took me this long, but really, this was much more difficult than I thought it would be...anyway, welcome to my final chapter! I can't believe I'm finished *screeeeech*

Epilogue: Two men

Sherlock was the first one to open his eyes on the next morning. It was raining, which wasn't something unusual if you lived in London, but today the detective took his time to observe the little drops running down the window, the water reflecting the colours of the city he had learned to love in his own, special way. He lay unmoving and simply watched. He knew he wouldn't go somewhere anytime soon.

His pale hand played with the blond hair of the other, smaller figure which was currently curled around the scientist and held onto him like his life depended on it. In a strange way, it did. Sherlock let his eyes wander over the well-built back of his companion and a rare smile flickered over his face as he remembered the things which had happened after the lift incident the other day. John had managed to pull them into a cab where they continued their activity of snogging each other's mind senseless, much to the amusement of their driver. The doctors many attempts to start a conversation were successfully shut down with the help of Sherlock's seemingly rather talented tongue. Of course the detective knew that he wouldn't be able to avoid 'the talk' forever but yesterday, really, he had other things on his mind.

After half an hour full of observing his… in lack of any better term, John, the man in question began to mumble senseless things in his sleep. The brunet raised an eyebrow and tried to understand the slurred words, but was only partly successful.

"Hat..bad hat, drinking my tea. Sheeerlock, say hat he is bad"

Grey-blue eyes twinkled with amusement and their owner supressed a grin which threatened to break through his face. It was of no use.

"Sherlommmlovyou"

Sherlock blinked. Once. Twice.

"What?", he asked quietly, his voice a bit more horse than usual. John, who tossed a bit around until his whole upper body lay over the other's with his head directly over Sherlock's heart, smiled in his sleep.

"Iloveyou, Shlock", he mumbled before he sighed contently and his face got slack again. The detective swallowed. He knew what John felt for him, at least since yesterday, but to hear the words was still a bit…shocking, to say the least. The scientist's heart quickened in its rhythm, beating this hard the man was a bit concerned because of the possibility to have a heart attack. It would be unbelievingly anoying.

"Sherlock?"

John's confused voice broke through the haze of panic, calming him down a bit but the deep baritone voice just wouldn't come out of his mouth. As he didn't get an answer the doctor tried to sit up to see what the matter was, but two pale arms pressed him back down onto his friend's chest. Sherlock closed his eyes, inhaled the others scent, just like he had done in the elevator, opened his mouth and…

"I love you"

The man in his arms stilled completely, just staring with wide eyes. And then there were lips pressed against the detective's, who slowly opened his eyes again, to see the unbelievingly happy and loving sparkle in John's deep blue one's and he just couldn't control himself. Sherlock Homes, the World's only Consulting Detective flushed a deep red and grinned the biggest grin of his life. And many more of these would follow.

…

3 years later

"Alright, the first thing I will say is this: honestly, who isn't surprised that these two end like this?"

The little crowd of carefully selected people cheered and clapped, making the beautiful decorated room buzz with happiness.

"See? John, you owe me 20 pounds"

"Shut up Lestrade continue with your damn speech", the man in question laughed while Sherlock whispered in his ear

"Could you be so kind and explain me once again, why exactly we chose Gary as our best man?"

"Greg" John chuckled and just then came aware of all the eyes that lingered on them.

"Stop whispering you morons and listen because I'll only say all this soppy crap once", Lestrade said and rolled his eyes.

"So, how should I possibly explain this crazy relationship of the two best and completely mad men who are, yes Sherlock you too, my best friends, even if they can be an incredibly pain in the ass. Oh, don't look at me like that you both know it's true. Anyway, all of you know that they solve cases and share a flat, but everyone who thinks that this is how they fell in love is completely and utterly wrong. Let me explain why. Yes they share their living area, but it's not just that. Between these two there is an understanding like I've never seen it before. They look at each other and the world stops. They speak to each other and everything goes quiet. They laugh together…and nothing else matters. Nothing can tear them apart, not even death because if one of them would die, the other would follow without a second thought. There will never be just Sherlock, and never be just John again. I was and will always be Sherlock and John. John and Sherlock. I mean look what they have done to me, I'm feeling like the best man in one of these horribly soppy love movies. If they manage to bring me, Detective Inspector Lestrade to humiliate myself like that, there's nothing they can't do. They both love each other, even a blind could see that, but only we, the few people who really know these men realise the changes which came with that. Just last week there was a triple murder, without weapon, no suspects, no witnesses…I mean, that was definitely a 10! Of course I realised instantly that I needed help and drove to Baker Street, aware that Sherlock would be completely delighted because of the lack of cases the weeks before. And guess what? John had a headache. Well, every one of us knows what that would have meant about 4 years before…absolutely nothing. I mean, he would have probably asked me to explain the case quietly because it's John and Sherlock cared for him since the very first day, YES Sherlock, don't even try to deny it. But last week? I wasn't even finished with my first sentence, he just grabbed me on my forearm, pulled me outside, told me he wouldn't come and went in again. That was it...I mean, what the hell? And John? The one who loves his Job, loves it to save lifes, to do something useful? I know this will be a bit of a shock for everyone, especially for you Sherlock because it was meant to be a present and he would have told you after your honeymoon but I'm very bad at keeping things to myself so here it is: John Hamish Holmes-Watson cancelled his work yesterday evening because of the fact that they both get paid for their work with the police since the last year and he told me personally that he wanted to spent every minute with his detective, life saving be damned. So Sherlock, surprise!"

Then there was the cheering again and many had started to laugh and giggle apart from one figure which was completely frozen in place. Sherlock stared at his new husband with open mouth, not knowing what to say. The doctor bit his lip.

"Surprise?" he asked nervously, waiting for his friends response. The detective stared, blinked, smiled, smiled even wider, started to laugh, shook his head and finally grabbed the blond and smashed their lips together.

"I'll take it that Sherlock rather likes this turn of events. Oh really guys, you're not alone you know? Damn it I created two snogging monsters. I think I should finish as fast as possibly with this ridiculous speech, these two are soul mates bla bla, I'm unbelievingly happy for them bla bla and now…raise your glasses for the currently snogging and completely oblivious couple!"

A few moments later after Lestrade had hopped down the stage and everyone started chatting happily, Alex who sat next to his new family rolled his eyes.

"Dad, Father, stop it and try the cake"

The two men slowly parted and grinned ruefully at their adopted son. Alex Holmes-Watson had joined the two idiot's life since about one year after he had lost both his parents thanks to a crazy murderer. After Sherlock had solved the case successfully, the three of them had become very close and John suggested raising the 10 year old boy as their own. Sherlock didn't argue and Alex was completely delighted.

"Alright, alright", laughed John and ruffled the boys brown hair. His victim just rolled his eyes again and hid his smile with a mouthful cake.

"Alexander, it's a perfect place to practise, don't you think?", Sherlock asked with gleaming eyes and John stifled a moan. The kid grinned, turned around and tried to make deductions of their guests.

"You let him practise with our friends on our wedding day?"

"Why not? It's not like their dumb minds would notice that…"

"You're bloody unbelievably", the blond muttered and shook his head.

"I love you too" Sherlock whisered and pecked his husband on the cheek.

"Hey, I almost forgot! Your present", Lestrade's voice interrupted them and the inspector put a little wrapped box on their table.

"I hope you'll like it" the older man winked and disappeared in the crowd. Curiously John got rid of the paper and opened the wooden box. In there was a beautiful, dark blue frame but it was the photograph that took his breath away and which made him grin like a fool.

"John?"

Sherlock looked at him questioningly. The doctor carefully took the picture out of the box and gave it to him. The brunet's eyes widened. Behind the polished glass he looked at the photograph of two men snogging ruthlessly in an elevator. On the left side of the frame there was an engraving: The beginning of something beautiful… Sherlock swallowed and a tiny smile formed on his lips.

"Can I see?" asked Alex who had watched his parents with raised eyebrows.

"Ahmmmmm…I'll show it to you when you're older. Much older" John stuttered and quickly put the picture back into the box, flushing deeply. The boy shrugged and went back to observing.

Meanwhile, Mycroft Holmes stood a few feet away and watched his baby brother's new family. After a couple of seconds he walked over to them and to the surprise of everyone, placed a hand on the thin shoulder.

"I'm proud of you, little brother. Very proud indeed"

With that he turned around and left without another word. Sherlock stared after him with a thoughtful expression.

"Thank you…brother" he said quietly, turned back around and watched his John and Alex discussing the lates series of Doctor Who.

7 years later

Alex was bored. Extremely, utterly bored. It was raining, none of his friends had time and his parents were on a case. And he? He lay on the sofa, stared at the wall and was. Just. Bored. Sighting he sat up again and stretched himself. Maybe he could take a bath. Yes, that was a brilliant idea. And then he would call uncle Lestrade and ask if he had time for a pint in the pub. He liked Greg, he was funny and very good company if his parents were driving him mad again. His parents. Alex smiled as he thought of them. Even if these two could be damn annoying, he loved both men to no end. Since he was their officially adopted son, they had been wonderful parents and sometimes he was even allowed to help them with their cases. Nothing dangerous of course, but it was better than nothing.

Suddenly Alex realised that he stood in his parent's bedroom instead of the bathroom but he didn't left like he should have done, but took his time to look around. The bed was not made and there were papers and pictures related to the latest crime lying on the floor. The cupboard was open and in there he could see neatly folded clothes, the window was open, John most probably forgot to close it after Sherlock had woken him at 3 o'clock in the morning because of the double murder the rain pattered onto the floor and the picture frame which hung beside the b…a picture? Slowly Alex made his way to the window, closed it and then took the blue wooden frame from the wall to observe it more closely. It was a photograph of an open elevator and in there were…his parents, snogging the living day lights out of each other. After he saw the engraving he slowly understood. That had to be the moment the two men had become a couple. But why the hell were they lying on the floor of an elevator? And he knew this lift, it was the one at Scotland Yard. By the love of god, why would they…?

"Alex?" the teen winced and turned around to his parents who stood in the doorway, soaking wet and definitely confused.

"What are you doing in h…oh" John said and flushed a bit as he saw what his son held in his hands. Sherlock raised an eyebrow as he watched the boy closely.

"Ask" he sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed, indicating Alex to take place next to him.

"Hm?" he mumbled distracted as he lowered himself onto the blanket, still looking at the picture.

"You clearly have questions. Ask them"

"Uhm…why for god's sake are you snogging in an elevator? It wasn't really the most romantic first kiss, was it?"

"No it really wasn't", chuckled John and joined his family on their bed. Alex looked between his two father's and realised something. Something he hadn't even thought of before.

"How did it come to this? I mean, I don't even know how you two get together…Would you tell me?"

The doctor and the detective smirked.

"Of course, but at first I'll make us a cup of tea" the blond announced and the three of them moved into the living room. After everyone had a streaming mug in their hands, Sherlock looked at his husband and smiled.

"You begin" John nodded, took a sip and took his detectives hand in his own. "It all began as I talked to the skull…"

The end

Alright, this is it...Tadaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ;D

Please, please I'd love to have some last reviews! Pleaseee? :)

Thank you all so so much for reading this, it makes me unbelievingly happy that some of you really seem to enjoy my work...I love you all :)

I hope I manage another few storys and until then..by by :*