5 years later…

John stood off stage, his palms sweating and his heart racing. His first performance as a professional musician. He was fresh from The Juilliard School of Music, and he was about to have his first performance as the soloist. How had he gotten here? It was all a blur. It was all thanks to that smarmy prick of his. His fiancé. Sherlock Holmes. The ethereal violinist that had set his heart ablaze.

John shook his head, his performance anxiety interrupted by brief interludes of I can't believe that Sherlock Holmes actually proposed to me and I can't believe that Sherlock Holmes is my fiancé and I can't believe I'm going to marry Sherlock Holmes.

He looked out to the stage and saw the orchestra warming up. The New York Philharmonic orchestra. Warming up. For his concerto. Where he was the soloist. He was so giddy with nerves and excitement, he wasn't sure how he was going to live through this.

But at the same time, he knew exactly how. Somewhere out in the audience, the amazing Sherlock Holmes is sitting there, ready to cheer him on louder than anyone else in that audience. Well, maybe not as loud as Mike and Molly. Not in volume anyways. But in spirit, Sherlock's cheers would always be the loudest. Because it was all thanks to him that he was sitting up on this stage in the first place.

Sherlock Holmes was one of the biggest mysteries. Each day with him was full of so many unknowns, and John had fallen so deeply in love with that. Each day brought new adventures for them to share and couldn't wait for the day that he could start introducing him to the world as his husband.

The lights in the hall dimmed and the sounds of the orchestra diminished along with them. The programmed announcement came on asking the audience members to silence their cell phones, to refrain from flash photography, the works.

"Thank you, and we hope you enjoy the performance."

The concert mistress stood next to him back stage. She turned to him, a soft smile.

"Break a leg! You're going to play beautifully."

John thanked her with a nod and a smile before she turned to walk on stage. She was met with thunderous applause as she bowed before turning to tune the orchestra. The conductor soon followed, more applause filling the theatre to the brim.

"And now I'd like to welcome our soloist to the stage. Now, I don't want you all to worry if the amazing quality of his performance leads you to faint; our soloist is a doctor, after all."

The audience and orchestra alike erupted with laughter. The conductor shot John a bright smile from on stage.

"And now, ladies, without further ado… John Watson."

Time slowed to a near stop as John walked onto the stage. He approached the beautiful piano sitting on the stage; it was there for him. He stopped by his bench and took a bow, his entire being enveloped in the sound of applause coming from the audience.

He stood up straight from his bow and took his seat. He adjusted his bench and hovered his hands over the piano keys, taking a deep breath. With one last look at the conductor, who held his baton at the ready, John smirked and gave a small nod. With that, it was off to the races.

The entire performance was nothing but adrenaline and sweat and flying fingers for its entirety. John stood up once again and bowed, the thunderous applause faint under the pounding of his heart. He walked off the stage and stood for a moment, the applause not dying down for a moment. He turned around and walked back on stage, bouncing in his step as he motioned for the orchestra to stand behind him as took several more bows.

Eventually the applause died down and the lights in the house came back up. Audience members trickled into the lobby and orchestra members filed backstage to pack up their instruments and get ready to go home. John waltzed into the nearest restroom and threw some cold water into his face, attempting to settle the fierce flush in his face.

He looked up in the mirror and couldn't help but beam at his reflection. His first performance as a professional musician… and he absolutely killed it.

His pride was nothing but encouraged when he was bombarded by his friends and his fiancé in the lobby. Molly thrusted flowers into his arms and Mike wrapped an arm over his shoulders and told him about all of his favorite parts. He made absolutely no sense in musical terms, but John couldn't help the brightness of his smile as he listened to his friend talk on.

He turned and locked eyes with the tall brunet that stood a few feet away from them. He held a more modest bouquet in one hand, and a small box of chocolates in the other. John felt his heart soar at the gesture. Molly finally released him so he could move to embrace Sherlock.

"You played wonderfully, my dear. Absolutely beautiful."

John blushed as he squeezed Sherlock just a little bit tighter. "None of this would even be happening if it wasn't for you."

Sherlock shook his head. "Nonsense. You were born to be a musician, and nothing was going to keep you from that path forever. Not even that fancy doctor job you were so determined to have."

Sherlock gave him a playful wink before linking arms with the shorter man. "Well, my love, shall we get going?"

April 23rd, 20XX

"Do you, Sherlock Holmes, take John Watson to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Sniffling rose up from the audience as they watched the two men standing in front of them, holding hands and staring deeply into the other's eyes while they recited their wedding vows.

"I do."

"And do you, John Watson, take Sherlock Holmes to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

More sniffling. Some outright crying.

"Of course I do."

The priest closed the book he held in his hands and smiled at the two men in front of him. "Ladies and gentlemen! For the first time I present to you Doctor and Doctor Holmes-Watson!"

The crowd erupted into cheers and tears and congratulations. The two men looked at the priest expectantly.

"Oh, yes. And you may now kiss the groom."

Without taking so much as a breath, Sherlock pulled John into his arms and locked him in a breath-taking kiss. John immediately melted into it, his whole being aglow with happiness. He looked up at his husband. His snobby, smart-arse of a husband.

"I'm… captivated."

Sherlock's face visibly brightened with his blush. "Captivated by what, Dr. Holmes-Watson?"

John pulled Sherlock into another kiss.

"You. It's always been you."

D