A Broken Engagement, Epilogue.

This chapter will contain very little actual plot. Knowing that, if you choose to read on don't be surprised to find John and Sherlock being indecently happy together. And I do mean indecent!

Three months later...

Captain John Watson made his future in-laws a very handsome present on the announcement of his engagement to Sherlock Holmes. The exact amount was never disclosed, but it was enough to clear the debt on Sherrinford Hall and for the family to move back there.

Sherlock Holmes would therefore be able to be married from his own home and for once Sherlock and Mycroft were in agreement, though it was quite likely that the worth of John Watson would be one of the few things they would ever agree on. Mycroft was also starting to see value in another friend of John's, a certain Commodore Musgrove who also had some independent property of his own. Lady Holmes did not perfectly like the idea of both her sons marrying into the navy but Sir Siger spoke to her so reasonably of prize money and some new furniture for the parlour that she soon came around. Weddings were such contagious things, it seemed.

Admiral Harry Watson and Clara took another house in the neighbourhood only three miles off, so John was able to ride over to visit Sherlock every day. After the banns were read, if sometimes John's horse was stabled at Sherrinford Hall overnight, well, horses need a good rest sometimes and no-one in the family was inclined to pass unfavourable comment on a man who took such good care of his mount.

Mrs Hudson was the next to benefit from the engagement, both in happiness and in more practical terms. John had connections in the West Indies which allowed her to reclaim a small amount of property there which her husband had invested in, but which she had previously been unable to access. His contacts and exertion on her account were insignificant compared with the joy of the removal of Irene Adler from their lives. Her health also improved to such an extent that she was able to resume taking boarders, which she did in Bath so as not to lose her connection with the invaluable Nurse Rooke.

Captain Murray and Mary Morstan were married with Captain John Watson as the best man and Miss Elizabeth Morstan as the bridesmaid. They were a very happy couple, although it was noted by more than Mycroft that the best man only had eyes for his own fiancé and the thought crossed more than one mind that the sooner those two were wed the better.

..oOo..

The wedding was held in the chapel behind Sherrinford Hall and the wedding breakfast was attended by the usual suspects; the Holmses, Watsons, Lestrades and Mrs Hudson. Irene Adler was not present, neither were Captain and Mary Murray, as they were still on their wedding tour.

Finally, all the ceremonies and social niceties had been performed and John and Sherlock were waved off in their new carriage. Sherlock was spitefully glad to be rid of the Holmes livery which had dogged most of his life to this point, along with discarding the Holmes name itself. He was planning to be known as 'Mr Sherlock Watson' from now on, much to his parents' dismay. Mycroft as the heir was obliged to keep the Holmes name, of course, but Sherlock was slyly content with the implication that he regarded Captain Watson's name as being more worthy of keeping than his own birth title.

In the back of their carriage John was also interested in discarding things, starting with his new husband's cravat. He was tugging it out of his waistcoat collar and untying it, and it landed on the floor of the carriage before Sherlock could protest that it was a new silk one.

"I love you in that blue velvet coat, and I can't wait to tear it off you." John was murmuring against Sherlock's neck.

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather wait until we arrive at our lodgings in Ironbridge? It will only be an hour, and then you can undress me at your leisure."

"Oh, I will," replied John. "I'll do that as well, but first I want to play a bit. What is the point of a new carriage if isn't christened properly, eh?" John's quick fingers had already worked the buttons of Sherlock's waistcoat loose and were swiftly moving down to give the same treatment to his trouser buttons. "If a man can't be eager on his wedding day, when can he?"

Sherlock decided to go directly for the point of interest, slipping open the buttons of John's waistband and sliding his long fingers directly into the fall of John's breeches. "Well, if eagerness is the theme of the day, then by all means let us embrace it." He grasped John's hardness and started stroking, sliding cool fingers over hot flesh.

John groaned but refused to be distracted from his project of peeling away enough of Sherlock's clothing to touch bare skin. Once he had Sherlock's waistcoat fully open he pushed up the fine linen shirt underneath and the breeches and smallclothes down. "You are wearing far too many pieces of cloth!" he exclaimed. "A special wedding license should include a special provision for not wearing underwear!"

Sherlock chuckled low in his throat, which set John scrambling even more desperately to touch skin. "Whatever would Mummy say?"

"I'm rather more interested in the noises you are about to make," said John, as he slid to his knees. "Do you remember how I made you feel once in the greenhouse, with just my mouth?"

"How could I forget?" Sherlock looked down at John, his heart in his eyes. "I should never have given you up. I should have had more faith in us."

"Hush, never mind the past. We are together now and I find I very much want to celebrate the present moment." John placed a hand on Sherlock's chest to encourage him to sit back, giving John better access. John had Sherlock's pants fully open, folding the fall back to allow him a moment to just gaze at his new husband. "Let me show you how happy I plan to make you, every single day."

John took Sherlock's erection firmly in his left hand and applied the rough side of his tongue to the crown, swirling slowly around the tip as he drew Sherlock fully into his mouth, never letting his eyes drop from Sherlock's face.

Sherlock shuddered at the sensation and whispered, "I like seeing my ring shine on your finger as you do that." Without replying in words, John reached up with his right hand and laced his fingers with Sherlock's left, turning his wrist so that he could admire the two rings sitting snugly together on Sherlock's hand. The old ring with the blue stone was now accompanied by a gold band that matched the one on John's left hand. Long-standing affection was now joined by a new and determined commitment.

"It's too much," gasped Sherlock, "I've waited so long… Just seeing you like this…"

"This is only the beginning, love," said John. "Relax. Let me give you this now, and we will take it slower tonight." John bent his head again to Sherlock's lap, sliding him into his mouth, working his tongue along the length, using strokes that were light and quick, creating delicious slick sensations. The tension built quickly in Sherlock's thighs, then he was giving helpless shallow thrusts with his hips and spilling into John's mouth in urgent, rhythmic pulses. He groaned and slumped against the padded back wall of the carriage.

John slid up onto the seat and leaned back next to Sherlock. "That was just to make tonight better," he whispered into his husband's ear. Sherlock groaned again, wordlessly. How could it possibly be better?

..oOo..

When they arrived at their lodgings in Ironbridge their boxes were taken to their room, and John and Sherlock had time for a walk before dinner. They strolled around the garden walks holding hands and exchanging lazy kisses. Neither of them could have said afterwards what they were given for dinner. They cleared their plates while staring into each other's eyes, finally abandoning their desserts in favour of the privacy of their wedding chamber.

John locked the door behind them as they entered their bedchamber. He loosened his neckcloth and shrugged off his jacket. Sherlock started to pull at his own cravat but John stopped him. "Let me. I want to take off everything you are wearing, slowly, and kiss every part of you as it is revealed."

Sherlock shivered, and stood still awaiting John's attention. John shucked off his own clothes until he was just in his shirtsleeves. The hem of his shirt fell to mid-thigh, giving him the appearance of decency, for now.

John pulled Sherlock's jacket down off his shoulders and away, tossing it over a nearby chair. He tugged at the cravat, exposing Sherlock's neck and kissing across the collarbones as he unbuttoned the waistcoat. "Haven't I done this already today?" he murmured, as if to himself. "And yet you are just as tantalizing the second time around."

John pushed the brocade waistcoat off Sherlock, tossing it after the coat, then loosened the laces at wrist and throat before lifting the hem of the shirt over Sherlock's head. He spread his hands flat, stroking gently over Sherlock's hairless chest and dipping his head to kiss each nipple in turn. He rested his head for a moment over Sherlock's heart, feeling the warmth and life of his husband against his cheek. "I can't believe you are really here, that we are really married."

"Oh yes, we are really married," Sherlock whispered, "and I plan to exercise my marital rights over you very, very soon." Sherlock drew John with him towards their bed, sitting on the edge for a moment and placing his hands on John's stomach, under his shirt. Sherlock slipped his hands upwards, excruciatingly slowly, revealing John's eager erection and flat stomach and chest. He pulled the shirt off over John's head and tossed it away to land somewhere out of sight. Sherlock then slid backwards onto the bed, lying down as John crawled over him and once again laid his head on Sherlock's chest.

Sherlock raised one eyebrow and used a finger to lift John's chin to face him. "Are you too tired? You keep trying to rest on me. Shall we wait until tomorrow?"

"Oh no," John smiled happily, "I'm just listening to your heart speeding up every time I touch you. You respond so beautifully under my hands, I'm appreciating every part of you – both inside and out."

"Inside?" Sherlock licked his full lips. "Now that's a thought." With a wriggle of his hips Sherlock kicked off his tangled breeches, drawers and stockings and was suddenly naked beneath John. "I want you… I want you to take me and make me entirely yours," he whispered.

John pressed full length against him as he slowly possessed his mouth. The kisses were slow and all-consuming. "You are mine. Always. Only mine. No-one else will ever touch you, please you like this." John was peppering light kisses all over his lips, his cheeks and down his neck. Sherlock groaned and lifted his hips in both suggestion and invitation.

John laughed low in his chest. "There's no rush, love. I want to make this very good for you, and that means taking it slowly. We've both been saving this moment for tonight," John kissed his way down Sherlock's long, lean torso, "and I plan to make it worth the wait." John was kissing Sherlock's nipples as he finally reached down to wrap his hand around Sherlock's fully erect cock. He gave it several long, slow strokes then paused again until Sherlock made a noise of protest and thrust into his hand to create the sensation he was lusting after.

"Yes," growled John, "I want you needing me, desperate for what only I can give you." John gripped and stroked Sherlock's erection more firmly. When Sherlock was groaning and clutching at the sheets with his hands, John quickly licked his finger to make it suitably wet and slid one fingertip into Sherlock's entrance. He pushed in slowly, twisting his wrist a little and pausing between thrusts to let Sherlock's body adjust. He kept working his left hand up and down Sherlock's cock, keeping him focused on the pleasurable sensations to override any discomfort.

When Sherlock had relaxed into the new feeling, John pulled back and moved off the bed for a moment. He rummaged in his box, finally producing out a small jar. Sherlock raised one eyebrow questioningly.

"Olive oil," explained John. "Works better and lasts longer than just making everything wet with my mouth. It will be more comfortable for both of us." John gave a rather sceptical grin. "They say the Spanish stuff is the best, but we'll just have to experiment and come to our own conclusions."

"By all means, let us experiment," Sherlock replied.

John returned to lie next to Sherlock, pulling Sherlock's leg up and over his hip to give him access to the most interesting parts of Sherlock's body. "Let me kiss you," he whispered. "I want you to feel how much I love you. Feel it all over your body." John kissed Sherlock deeply, moving his lips and tongue slowly until Sherlock relaxed and opened his mouth. Then he pressed forward with his tongue while with his fingers he gently invaded Sherlock's body, taking him in two different ways.

Once his fingers were fully inside, John curved his hand slightly and pressed forward. Sherlock's mouth fell open and he screwed his eyes shut, a series of harsh panting noises issuing from his lips. "Oh, John! The things you do to me… the way you make me feel… I never even imagined…"

"Yes, love, I want to give you all this and more." John stroked Sherlock's sweet spot until he was whimpering and pushing his hips forward. Then John urged Sherlock to roll towards him, so that he was lying on his belly. John tucked a pillow under Sherlock's hips, then moved around behind him and lay down against his back.

"What are you…? Why…? I want to see you." Sherlock tossed his head to each side, trying to strain around to see John.

"Sssh, love. There will be plenty of time for that. For the first time I want it to be as easy for you as possible. I want you to enjoy it all." John positioned himself at the opening to Sherlock's body and slowly and smoothly entered him. He paused for a moment, rubbing one hand in small circles over Sherlock's lower back until he felt the muscles there relax. Then with a smooth roll of his hips he pulled back and plunged in again, hearing Sherlock gasp at the sensation.

"Oh God, John, that's amazing!" Sherlock whimpered, "We are joined now. You are inside me."

"Yes, love," panted John, "You are amazing and I love you so much."

As John moved his hips a bit faster, thrusting eagerly into Sherlock's warm body, Sherlock's soft cries suddenly leapt up in pitch and volume. "Oh, John! Right there! Oh yes, like that…"

John smiled and reached around to touch Sherlock's straining erection, stroking him in rhythm with his hip movements. They were both so excited, it wouldn't take much… Then Sherlock was crying out and his whole body gave several long spasmodic shudders as his seed spilled over John's hand in hot, quick pulses. With his climax his body clamped down on John where they were joined, making John gasp and lose control. John's orgasm blasted through him all the more intensely for being unexpected, he had been so focused on Sherlock's pleasure.

They lay quietly together, with John plastered to Sherlock's back, listening to their heartbeats and breathing slow down. Finally John lifted himself up leaned off the edge of the bed to find a soft piece of linen on the floor. He wiped over the damp and sticky parts of both of them, then pitched the cloth off the bed again. He lay down on his side facing Sherlock, who appeared to be asleep.

"John?" he murmured without opening his eyes. "I can feel my every heartbeat all through my body including in my feet. Is that normal?"

John laughed a little and nuzzled his face into his husband's shoulder. "Good, isn't it? And you know the best part?"

Sherlock opened one eye and looked at John. "Mmm?"

John kissed him lightly and settled down to sleep, dragging one of Sherlock's arms over his shoulder. "I plan to keep doing this with you for the rest of our lives."

"Mmm." Sherlock smiled and sighed in contentment, and they both drifted into sleep.

John and Sherlock rested together, nestled against each other, bodies curled together, hands entwined over John's heart, his back pressed against Sherlock's chest. In that moment their long denied wishes and hopes were finally answered in the perfect happiness of their union.

THE END

Thanks everyone for reading, I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have! Special thanks to labellecreation of livejournal for creating the cover picture of the boys together. Obviously, this has been based on Jane Austen's novel Persuasion - if you haven't read it, run off now and do so! Her prose is so much more elegant than mine I can only admire and imitate. If you haven't reviewed yet, this is your last chance - that little white box at the bottom of the page is for leaving tips in to make writers happy!

Cheers, Candy.