AN: OK, folks, this is the end. It took me a ridiculously long time, considering how short the story us, but I have finished it, so...here you go.

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Shirley's first birthday is celebrated at 221B.

The atmosphere is pleasant and friendly, or as pleasant and friendly as it ever gets in such company. Sherlock takes a sip from his glass of champagne and smirks, which has Mycroft getting ready for an insult automatically. "So," his brother says, "we now have one couple safely married and with a child, settled down. So when are you going to tie the knot, Mycroft?"

The elder Holmes only rolls his eyes. "You know I could ask the same of you."

"The mere idea of Irene and a registry office is so contradictory that I don't think they could physically exist in the same place, let alone her and church – not that I'd ever have a church wedding in the first place. Besides, she keeps dashing about the world at intervals, something I'm sure would hurt my domestic bliss. You, however, such pillars of respectability, you are just made for marriage, aren't you?"

Mycroft rolls his eyes again, and Mae laughs. "You know he is right."

"He is," Mycroft admits freely, "but he also knows that we can't really ever be married. It would be too much of a scandal. The price we pay for staying in our positions."

Sherlock's eyes gleam, then he gets up, clasps his hands and says: "Well, what else is family for than to help out in times of difficulties? Just gives me a moment."

He disappears into his bedroom and comes back a minute later, wearing a clerical collar. He winks at Irene, who smiles back suggestively, and Mycroft thinks that he really doesn't want to know what kind of roleplay that was. The fact that John Watson seems to be smiling knowingly too only makes him more disturbed.

But then Sherlock says: "I ask the wedding guest to please rise," and everyone humours him. He then motions for Mycroft and Mae to come forward, and after they do, he asks: "Do you, The British Government, take Le Gouvernement Français to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death you do part?"

Amused in spite of himself, Mycroft replied: „I do."

„And you, Le Gouvernement Français, do you take The British Goverment to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death you do part?"

Mae, barely holding back laughed, repeated „I do."

„Then I pronounce you...the European Union! You may kiss the bride."

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AN: I'm aware that the EU without Germany is like a Sherlock without brains or something, but I wasn't going to turn it into a threesome (or a group sex session, really) just to make the metaphor more accurate. Even though I am now trying to assign different EU countries to other people who were present in that room. I think Mary would be Germany, Irene would be Italy (well, North Italy), John could maybe be Poland and Sherlock...hm, perhaps Sweden? Nah, Sweden's too friendly for him.