Author's Note: I put a note on the first chapter about the new cover image,but for those of you who are reading as I publish, I want to mention again the hard work of Elizabeth Robello who made the image of Sherlock offering the ring to Molly - check it out!

A special thank you to all who have enjoyed this story enough to follow/favourite and review it. Those little email alerts that let me know there are people out there who enjoy my work really make my day. Unless you are a writer yourself, you have no idea what it means to those of us who spend so many hours doing this for no compensation other than those responses, how much your comments are valued. It is very affirming. A little kindness goes a long way. And now, for the conclusion...

Mycroft, I have a job for you.

Sherlock smiled after he sent the text. He knew it was a ridiculous idea, but after discovering that both John and Greg thought Molly to be someone worth going out with, Sherlock wasn't taking any chances that Mycroft might have entertained any such notions himself.

Mycroft's response came a short time later.

This is rather a surprise. I am usually the one giving you jobs to do. What job could you possibly have for me?

Sherlock tapped out a response.

Molly has no family to speak of, so I would like you to be the one to walk her down the aisle and give her to me. She has already given her consent for this.

Sherlock smiled again as he sent off the text. It was perfect. Mycroft would effectively be giving Molly away in a public fashion. He knew he was being silly and irrational, but if Mycroft had, for some reason, felt his own attraction to Molly, this would ensure that he closed the door on that idea forever.

You are affording me the opportunity of a front row seat to give your care over to somebody else permanently? I should be most delighted, was Mycroft's reply.

Sherlock was pleased by his brother's response. Thankfully, it appeared that Mycroft had not harboured any feelings of sentiment towards Molly. But what if there were other men out there who secretly lusted after his fiancée? After all, Molly was attractive, intelligent and had a wonderful personality. What else could he do to make sure everyone knew she was taken? He thought for a few moments and then texted Mycroft once more.

There's something else you can do for me as well, big brother.

He could almost hear the exasperated note in his brother's voice by the response he received.

What now, Sherlock? I'm a very busy man and your constant texting me is keeping me from my work.

I would like you to place an announcement in the paper about the upcoming nuptials between Molly and myself.

He rolled his eyes when he saw Mycroft's next words.

Are you trying to let your fans know you are off the market? You could always do that through Doctor Watson's blog.

Hell, no. I don't give a damn who might be interested in me because I know I would have no interest in them. My aim is to let potential suitors for Molly know that she is no longer available, he texted back.

His brother's response was a little terse, but Sherlock was satisfied anyway. Of course, it was typical of Mycroft to think the country would be in complete disarray without him pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Very well. If you insist. Now if you don't mind, the British Government requires my assistance in keeping things running smoothly.

John, who had not returned the previous evening, but had apparently stayed over at Mary's, entered the flat as Sherlock sent back one more text of thanks with a grin on his face.

"What's with that smug look on your face?" questioned John.

"Mycroft is going to stand in as a father figure and walk Molly down the aisle to me, and I have asked him to place an announcement in the paper about the upcoming wedding," explained Sherlock.

"And he actually agreed?" questioned John doubtfully. "Your brother doesn't seem the type to take orders from you."

Sherlock huffed in annoyance. "Of course he agreed, he's my brother. We may have our differences, but I am aware that he cares for me in his own way, even if he likes to point out the fact that he is the smart one."

"I'm afraid my perceptions are still somewhat coloured by the way in which he tried to have me spy on you when we first met," responded John with a wry smile, before changing the subject. "So did you get any more planning done last night or did you find yourselves otherwise occupied?" He waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Oh, for God's sake John, I hope you're not implying that Molly and I might have had sex instead. I can wait another month for that."

John gave him a look of surprise. "Hold on a minute, mate. I was sure you would've done it at least a couple times by now. Hell, I even let you have the flat to yourself on Valentine's Day."

Sherlock folded his arms and pursed his lips. "Not that it's any of your business, but Molly's beliefs extend to waiting for marriage, and I respect that. I intend for our wedding night to be very special."

John clasped him on the shoulder. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I admire you for that. I don't think a lot of men out there would be so willing to wait."

Sherlock's lips curved upwards. "I must confess, I'm not sure I'd be so willing to wait if we were planning a long engagement."

John made an exclamation. "So that's why you're getting married so quickly. When you told me the date last night, I must admit I was wondering if Molly was pregnant, but I was too polite to ask."

Sherlock couldn't help chuckling at that. "As a matter of fact, Mrs. Hudson was not quite so polite as to restrain herself from asking that when I informed her yesterday that Molly and I wish to be married as soon as possible, so I suppose it is conceivable that some people may question our reason for such haste."

"I guess that means your honeymoon is going to be an especially lovely sex holiday then," said John in a teasing voice and Sherlock rolled his eyes. His friend could tease him as much as he wanted. He knew it was going to be perfect.

Over the weeks leading up to the wedding, Sherlock and Molly were so busy with wedding preparations they hardly had time to think of anything else. Mrs. Hudson offered to help with things as well, and she and Molly took care of some of the more, what Sherlock considered "boring" details, like flower arrangements and seating arrangements for the reception.

During that time also, Mycroft informed Sherlock that there had indeed been very useful information on the cameraphone, including some evidence that could have subverted a careful endeavour to thwart a terrorist plot in which Moriarty was involved. Irene Adler had been found and sent into witness protection in America, which was more than she deserved, as Mycroft had said rather dryly. Moriarty himself had been apprehended and was awaiting trial on several counts of treason. Mycroft was confident that his criminal network would fall apart without their leader.

Sherlock was relieved that Moriarty would not pose a danger to Molly and himself in the future.

John had vacated Baker Street in that time too and was now happily ensconced with his girlfriend. During the same period, Molly's household items were slowly moved to Baker Street.

On the night before the wedding, Sherlock and Molly looked around her flat, which was now almost bare. Only a few things remained that would be taken care of after they returned from their honeymoon. It was just as well they had been so busy, Sherlock reflected. Their time together had been limited to mostly organising things for Molly's move to Baker Street and the wedding, which left little time for more pleasurable pursuits. In light of that, although they still desired one another when they were alone, they were able to maintain the commitment to wait for the wedding night to be intimate, restraining themselves to kissing, with the occasional wandering hand to squeeze a breast through Molly's jumper, or even more occasionally beneath, but that was the absolute limit.

Molly laid her head against Sherlock's shoulder. "I can't believe this is my last night here, and that tomorrow is our wedding day."

"Tomorrow is also our wedding night, my love," he reminded her, as his mind drifted towards thoughts of what it would be like to finally see what he had been feeling beneath Molly's jumper. The idea of seeing her naked at last was an intoxicating thought. "I must admit, that is the part of the day to which I am most looking forward."

"Oh, Sherlock, you know I'm looking forward to that too," she responded, tilting her head upwards and giving him a decidedly coquettish glance that made his heartbeat accelerate as usual.

Sherlock slid a hand around her waist and turned his head properly to kiss her tenderly. "Just think, Molly. If you hadn't confronted me about my jealousy, we wouldn't be here now. But I do believe somehow, some way we would have found a way to one another."

Molly smiled and continued to look up at him as she quoted, "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"

Sherlock looked down at the face of the woman he loved. He was used to Molly quoting Bible verses by now. By this time, he had acknowledged God's existence and was open to learning more. "Another Bible verse, I presume?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow at her.

She smiled at him. "It's from somewhere in the book of Jeremiah. I thought it was appropriate."

"Indeed," he agreed, bending down to kiss her sweet lips.

Soon afterward, as Sherlock prepared to leave, he made his own quote from Shakespeare. "Ah, parting is such sweet sorrow," he said, kissing Molly's hand.

She giggled at that, then said seriously, "That is certainly appropriate, Sherlock. It's hard to see you leave, but the next time I see you, it will be at the front of the church." Then she looked at him from beneath her lashes. "I would, however, prefer more than a kiss on the hand before you leave."

And Sherlock was very happy to comply with her wishes, giving her one last, lingering kiss which would have to suffice until they next kissed as husband and wife.

The following day, as Sherlock stood in front of the altar and waited for his bride to arrive, he couldn't help the feeling of excitement that coursed through him. Molly had been very vague about the details of her wedding dress. She had informed him merely that it was a "princess" style. He knew her bridesmaids were wearing peach, and John wore a peach tie, as did Mycroft who had agreed to do double duty as an usher as well, despite his disgust at wearing such a feminine colour. Sherlock himself wore a light grey tie and a charcoal tailcoat and trousers with a cream waistcoat.

When Molly appeared at the end of the aisle, Sherlock drew in his breath. She was exquisite, even with the veil over her face. Swarovski crystals glittered on her veil and the bodice of her strapless gown. The skirt was full, in the princess style she had mentioned and her hair was down, the way he preferred.

She walked slowly towards him and his heart thumped painfully in his chest with anticipation. As Molly reached him, Sherlock drew her veil away from her face and saw her shining eyes and smile upon her lips. He was barely aware of what was going on around them, repeating his vows as instructed, after which Molly repeated her own.

When they were pronounced husband and wife, Sherlock cradled Molly's face with his hands and kissed her tenderly, feeling the blessing of God on their union as he did so. He reluctantly pulled away when the sound of applause and loud sobbing came from the gathered witnesses. He recognised the sobbing as coming from his mother and Mrs. Hudson.

Sherlock took Molly's hand and held it tightly as they proceeded back up the aisle, smiling at the faces of friends and family who were turned towards them.

During the reception, Sherlock played the piece he had written for Molly in his limited spare time when not occupied with preparing for the wedding. John's best man speech was surprisingly sentimental and almost free of comedy. Thank God he didn't tell everybody the real reason for the hasty wedding, only assuring the guests it was not a shotgun wedding, thought Sherlock rather gratefully. He had been a little embarrassed, but glad that people would not get the wrong idea. He didn't care about his own reputation, but he did care about mollies and the way her church friends might perceive her if they thought she was pregnant.

Nevertheless, Sherlock was very glad when all the formalities were over and it was time to leave as the happy couple said farewell to their guests and prepared to leave in the limo that had been provided by Mycroft.

Finally, on a day that had seemed to last forever, and yet paradoxically had passed in no time at all, Sherlock and Molly were at the door of a suite at the Ritz hotel, and Sherlock's heart thudded with anticipation at the thought of what lay ahead.

Sherlock looked doubtfully at the voluminous expanse of Molly's skirt, wishing to carry her over the threshold of the room, but he was a little concerned that the slippery nature of her satin skirt might hamper his efforts. Nevertheless, he unlocked the door, swung it open, then slid his hands under Molly to carry her over the threshold. He set her down immediately inside the door, feeling the satin slip beneath his fingers and Molly giggled.

Then he closed the door behind them and put his arms around Molly's waist, pulling her against him, even as the voluminous fabric of her skirt swirled around them. "Have I told you today how much I love you?" he asked in a deep voice, looking down into her face.

A dimple appeared in Molly's cheek as she responded. "Several times, but I don't think there is a limit on that particular phrase." She reached her own arms up towards him, threading her fingers through his curls and pulling his head down towards hers so their lips could meet in a fiery kiss.

This time as they kissed, there was no need to restrain themselves, and Sherlock's hands roamed freely along Molly's skin, feeling the bare skin of her shoulders. They stopped kissing briefly so he could remove her veil and place it over a chair.

They kissed again, slowly removing one another's garments until Molly stood shyly before him in only her corset and knickers, while he wore his favourite Union Jack boxers. Molly giggled at that and he frowned at her. "Don't laugh at me, Molly, I'm a patriotic man, after all," he informed her, feeling offended.

"I'm sorry, Sherlock," she responded, although a smile still played about her lips. Then she blushed as his eyes raked her figure and he smiled in satisfaction. "What are you smiling about now?" she questioned.

"Oh, it was just a deduction about your measurements, which I can see I was accurate about," he answered trailing his hands along the curve of her waist and hips. He added, "At least I was right about your waist and hips, I still have to see whether I was correct about your chest measurements."

She looked up at him and blushed. "Then I suppose you had best unfasten my corset." She turned her back on him and Sherlock began working at the many hooks and eyes.

He groaned in frustration as he fumbled with the unfamiliar hooks. "Couldn't you have just worn a strapless bra?" he complained, as he frowned in concentration at his task.

Molly laughed. "I suppose I could have, but a corset gives extra support."

Task finally accomplished, he drew the offensive garment away and finally was able to feel the sweet curves of Molly's breasts before he turned her towards him and pulled her against his body, feeling their skin touching for the first time. She was so perfect in every way, he thought, as he began to kiss other parts of her body, her shoulders, her throat and that throbbing pulse point, then dipped his head lower to kiss the swell of her breasts, enjoying the moans of pleasure that escaped from Molly's mouth.

He remembered his research and began to touch the parts of her body which were classified as erogenous zones, thrilling at her response, and feeling a deep ache well within himself, even as Molly began her own exploration.

The remainder of their clothes dispensed with, Sherlock picked Molly up and carried her over to the bed, setting her down gently upon it and laying beside her. He was delighting in the sensations she was evoking in him as she explored his own erogenous zones when he suddenly realised something and pulled away slightly. "Molly, I didn't think to bring protection with me."

She smiled at him lovingly. "If you wish to go out to a chemist and look for something, that's fine, but I wouldn't be opposed to conceiving a child with you."

Sherlock stroked her face with his thumb. "I guess we shall just let things play out as they may, in that case." He had no particular desire to head out in the middle of the night to look for contraceptives, and he was ready to accept whatever God had in store for them.

Molly batted her eyelashes at him. "Well I guess we had best get on with things then, hadn't we?"

Sherlock needed no further invitation and proceeded to kiss his wife thoroughly, continuing his exploration of her body with his hands and mouth until they were both panting with need and at last two became one. They exulted in the sweet intimacy they had denied themselves over the past several weeks.

Sherlock knew they had made the right decision in waiting, because it was all the sweeter for having the blessing of God upon them as they consummated their love for the first time, sharing their bodies in the love and commitment they shared.

Afterwords, as he held his wife in his arms, Sherlock linked his fingers with hers. "Well, that was definitely worth waiting for," he commented with a smile.

Molly giggled. "You're right, it certainly was. Thank you for respecting my values and for being the strong one in insisting we wait. I didn't realise before how wonderful it would be to know that we had the blessing of God when we made love for the first time. It made everything beautiful, holy even."

Molly's heartfelt words made Sherlock feel slightly guilty about what he had originally been hoping for that night he had been planning to propose. "Molly, I have a confession to make," he said tentatively.

She shifted her head which had been resting on his chest to raise her face towards him. "A confession?"

"Yes. I didn't want to say anything earlier, because I had made my decision about it, but I have to tell you about the night you proposed to me, what my original hopes were for it."

Molly looked slightly confused but merely said, "Go on."

Sherlock swallowed. He didn't want Molly to be cross with him, but he felt the need to unburden himself, to be completely honest with her. "Before you proposed to me and I understood the significance of that purity ring, I had actually been hoping that once I proposed to you, we would make love that night. So my intentions were not quite as honourable as you may have thought."

He was surprised when Molly bit her lip and colour rose in her cheeks. "I can hardly blame you for that, Sherlock. It isn't as if I had been really clear about what I believed. I hadn't expressed the fact that I wanted to wait until the wedding night." She paused a moment and he could see she was gathering her thoughts. "I guess the reason is that I wasn't sure if you would ever want to be married, and I think if that were the case, I would eventually have accepted the fact and been willing for us to share that intimacy without the legalities if I knew you were truly committed to a lifetime with me."

His hand tightened on hers. "Oh, sweetheart, if I had not been willing to marry you, I would not have been the right man for you. I know that many people live together quite happily these days without the benefit of marriage, as John and Mary are currently doing, but as a Christian, that covenant is something that is so important." He kissed the top of her head. "You should never have to compromise your values for someone else."

Molly sighed contentedly. "Thank you for that. I know you're right and I'm very glad things turned out the way they did. I love you, husband."

Sherlock smiled. "And I love you, wife."

He loved the sound of that word. His wife. More than a best friend even, his counterpart, his soulmate.

A few weeks after the wedding, there was a double celebration to be had as John announced that Mary had accepted his proposal of marriage, even as Sherlock and Molly shared the news that they were going to be parents. Their baby had been conceived during their honeymoon.

Mrs. Hudson had given them a few suspicious glances after she had been informed of the fact, and Sherlock was sure she still suspected Molly had been pregnant before they got married, despite John's words to the contrary at the reception. Oh well, when the baby arrived nine months after the wedding, hopefully it would prove she was incorrect on that assumption, Sherlock thought, rather amused. Unless of course, the baby makes an early appearance, which might make things a little more complicated, he mused immediately after that first thought. Oh well, there was no point in unduly worrying about it.

That evening, Sherlock held Molly in his arms as usual after they had made love, and he kissed her forehead as he placed a reverent hand on her belly. "Thank you for showing me your unconditional love, sweetheart, even when I was not deserving of it."

Molly looked up at him, reaching a hand to tousle his curls. "True love is always unconditional, and it was God who showed that to us first when he sent his only Son to die on the cross for us, to redeem us."

"And thanks to that love, I know now that death is not the end. My life has purpose in a way it didn't have before," agreed Sherlock.

"God has a purpose for all of us, we just need to be willing to listen and believe it, then follow it," Molly said, and Sherlock knew without a doubt it was true.

Author's note: For reference - Molly's quote to Sherlock is from Jeremiah 29:11.

Thanks to those of you who joined in the fun by venturing a guess as to the job Sherlock had for Mycroft. Interactive readers are the best! Congratulations, SammyKatz for venturing the correct opinion on what the job was that Sherlock had for Mycroft. Thank you also to theonewithwheelsASh for her guess, which I liked so much I decided to add to Mycroft's tasks as a result.

I hope you enjoyed the conclusion to this dream story. I find great joy in sharing my faith with others through Sherlock and Molly. Did you like my little alternate scenario for dealing with Moriarty/Irene? I didn't want the threat of Moriarty hanging over Sherlock's head!

For those of you who are fellow Christians, I hope my stories inspire and encourage you in your walk of faith. If you are someone who is still trying to figure out the meaning of life, I encourage you to pick up a Bible and read it for yourself. The Bible is full of stories, real ones, not fiction, of people who make mistakes and fail to uphold the teachings of the Bible, yet they receive God's Grace, forgiveness and redemption when they place their trust in Jesus Christ as Saviour. If you have questions about what I write and believe, feel free to PM me.

Please remember, I do not want people to think I am better than anyone else or think I have all the answers to life's hardest questions. I just share what I believe. Being a non-perfect human, I too need the encouragement of others and the review box is your chance to pass some along to me.

Until next time...

GoodShipSherlollipop