I still can not believe that the big day is finally upon us, the day when Sherlock and I will pledge to spend the rest of our lives together. I pause for a moment and look into the mirror, marvelling at how today I must be the luckiest man alive. Excitement floods through me and for a heartbeat I loose control of my form and find a dragon staring back at me from the mirror. Whoops, I'll have to try not to do that during the ceromony or I'll alarm the few non shape-shifters who are coming. Breathing steadily a few times to calm myself I shift back into human form and finish knotting my tie about my neck. There, I'm ready and there is still half an hour to go... I don't know if I'll be able to wait that long.

I begin to pace, a dreamy smile spreading across my face as my thoughts settle on Sherlock. Right at this moment he is probably doing the same things I am; getting ready and eagerly anticipating what is to come. Despite my previous feeling of calm nerves flutter in my stomach and not even breathing exercises are enough to get rid of them this time. I'm not surprised that the nerves are kicking in now considering the sheer amount of people who will be attending the wedding. At first Sherlock and I had intended to have a small, intimate wedding with only our closest friends in attendance but then Mycroft had gotten involved and suddenly our plans had escalated from a registary office into a woodland clearing with over four hundred shape-shifters on the guest list. Apparently, according to Mycroft anyway, shape-shifters loved a good party and would be highly offended if they weren't invited. Originally we had tried to protest but eventually had realised that it was best to just leave him to it. I was beginning to regret not even having a little say in mine and Sherlock's wedding day when I looked out of the window and saw the constant stream of creatures pouring into the wood with Lestrade, Mrs Hudson and Molly following a few steps behind them. Swallowing I turn away from the window and gaze into the mirror again. True to wedding tradition (amongst the shape-shifter community) I was wearing a suit which reflected the creature I was able to shift into and the red scales sewn into the material glitter every time they catch the light. I don't know what Sherlock's suit is like because I haven't seen him since yesterday morning, another shape-shifter wedding tradition which I didn't agree to, and I won't lay eyes on him again until I walk down the aisle. A thrill of excitement runs through me and I am unable to stop a wide grin from spreading across my face. I glance at my watch and groan under my breath when I see there is still fifteen minutes to go. I begin to pace again.

After what feels like hours but is probably only minutes I hear a gentle knock on the door followed by it swinging open to reveal Lestrade standing outside the cabin. "It's time." He says with a smile. "Are you ready?"

In answer I simply nod, not trusting myself to speak through the lump in my throat, and follow him into the woods where we follow the laid out path into silence. To give Mycroft credit he has done a great job with the decorations. Certaintly the path Lestrade and I are walking along is suitably festive with its garlands of meadow flowers and the strings of multicoloured lights which have been threaded through the branches of the trees. The deeper we head into the wood the more I become aware of the merrily chatting voices of the congregation and the discordent buzz of the band tuning their instruments. Nerves hit me again and my hands shake as I continue to walk forward beside Lestrade. As though sensing how I am feeling he glances over at me and gives me a small smile. I shake my head, why was being like this this was the happiest day of my life. When the clearing comes into sight a tawny owl dives down from a nearby branch, hovers before me in mid-air and dips its head in greeting, its bright yellow eyes gleaming.

"Good you're here, everyone is just finishing getting into position. If you would just wait here a moment." The owl says before angling its brown and black flecked wings and flying back into the clearing. I hear its voice drift back towards us. "Attention ladies and gentlemen, would you please all rise for John Hamish Watson."

"I think thats your cue." Lestrade says, leaning over to mutter in my ear. Briefly he lays a hand on my shoulder and smiles at me. "Good luck."

I quietly thank him and then take a deep breath and step into the clearing, hardly able to believe that the moment was finally upon me. Despite telling myself not to be nervous I have to force myself to walk forward down the aisle between the assembled creatures, trying not to meet anyones eyes. Instead I turn my attention to my surroundings. Despite the elaborateness of Mycroft's plans he has still managed to incorperate some of the simplicity Sherlock and I had originally wanted. At the very centre of the clearing is a raised podium decorated with garlands of golden roses which almost exactly match the colour of Sherlock's wings. Sherlock... The moment my eyes meet his everything else, the clearing and the assembled shape-shifters, fades away into the background until he is the only thing I am able to see. Sherlock's eyes shine with happiness when he sees me walking towards him and I am sure I am probably wearing a similiar expression. He is dressed in an elegant suit covered with golden red feathers which burn with a orange light. I know right then that the sight will stay with me until the day I die. Reaching into the pocket of my trousers I grip the ring I'll soon be slipping onto Sherlock's fingers before stepping up onto the podium beside Sherlock. His smile becomes wider and he reaches forward to stroke my cheek.

"You look rather dashing in a suit John, maybe you should wear one more often." Sherlock says softly so only I am able to hear him.

A shiver runs through me at his touch and I let out a quiet sigh. Before I am able to reply to him though the official overseeing the ceromony, an elderly chinese dragon with irresdescent green scales, clears his throat and asks for everyone to be seated. Then he turns us, smiles and begins. "Ladies, Gentlemen and assorted shape-shifters we are gathered here today to witness the joining of the dragon shape-shifter John Watson to the phoenix shape-shifter Sherlock Holmes."

From behind us within the congregation I hear a loud sniff followed by a quiet, hastily stifled sob. Curious I glance behind me to see Mrs Hudson pressing a tissue to her face in order to hide her tears. I smile to myself before turning back to the official who is now asking if anyone knows a reason why I and Sherlock should not be married. Of course no one speaks up and the official nods towards Sherlock. He takes a deep breath, his eyes fixed on mine, and takes my hands in his.

"I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, William Sherlock Scott Holmes may not be joined in matrimony to John Hamish Watson." Sherlock says, briefly letting go of one of my hands to pull a ring from his pocket. "I give you this ring as a symbol of our marriage and as a token of my love." He continues as he gently slides the ring onto my finger. My heart flutters in my chest. "I call upon these persons here present to witness that, William Sherlock Scott Holmes, do take thee, John Hamish Watson, to be my lawful wedded husband." Sherlock finishes in a voice which is barely above a murmur, his eyes gleaming with love.

Now it is my turn. "I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, John Hamish Watson may not be joined in matrimony to William Sherlock Scott Holmes." I pause to take the ring out of my pocket and take a deep breath before I feel able to continue. After all it would embaressing if anyone heard the shake I am desperatly trying to keep out of my voice. "I give you this ring as a symbol of our marriage and as a token of my love. I call upon the persons present to witness that i, John Hamish Watson, do take you, Sherlock Holmes, to be my lawful wedded husband."

Quite a few of the congregation sound as though they are crying now but I don't really pay them any attention. My entire being is fixed on Sherlock who is smiling down at me with an awestruck expression. Evidently I am not the only hardly able to believe that today is actually happening. The official clears his throat and announces grandly,"I now pronounce you partners for life."

Behind us the congregation burst into applause but Sherlock and I hardly notice them. Instead we are gazing into each others eyes, hardly able to believe that after everything we have gone through we finally have one another for the rest of our lives. Sherlock leans down and I rise up on tiptoe to eagerly press my lips to his. I feel his arms move to cradle my head and pull me closer to him, deepening the kiss as he does so. I smile at how right it feels, my body neatly fitting against his. Right now I am the happiest and luckiest shape-shifter alive and I look forward to spending the rest of my life with Sherlock.

The End