One Day
Part 1:
Age 6 years
By the time Sherlock was six, his older brother had already begun to bring girls home. This perplexed Sherlock, why on Earth would Mycroft want a girlfriend when he could have a boyfriend? In Sherlock's mind, all girls were repelling. Except for Mummy, of course. Mummy was special.
So, to clear this state of confusion, ho better to ask than Mummy herself?
"Mummy, why does Myc keep bringing girls home?"
"They're his girlfriends, 'Lock. You already knew that, silly."
"Yes, Mummy, obviously I know that." Sherlock rolls his eyes and continues, "But why girls? They're so delicate and their hair is too long and they smell really flowery. Wouldn't he prefer a boyfriend, instead?"
"Well, Sherlock," She crouches down on one knee in order to be eye-level with the small boy, "if Mycroft wants a girlfriend, he can have a girlfriend. If he wants a boyfriend, that's okay, too. If you get older and decide you'd prefer a boyfriend over a girlfriend, that's f-"
"Of course I'd prefer a boyfriend, girls are so-"
"Then that would be fine, too. As long as you love them and they love you, it's all fine."
Young Sherlock ponders this for a moment, letting the information sink in. His mummy's answer makes perfect sense, but he has one more question he'd like to ask, just to be sure.
"What if a girl wants to have a girlfriend? Would that be okay, too? As long as they were in love?"
Catherine turned around to face her son once more, "Yes, 'Lock, of course. As long as they're both happy with each other, that's all that really matters. Now," She pulls a juicebox from the refrigerator and places it in Sherlock's teeny hands, "why don't you go and play in the backyard for a bit? I'll call you back inside for dinner time."
Sherlock smiles gleefully and examines the box. It's apple, his favourite.
"Thank you, Mummy!" He shouts as he hurries out the back door and toward his treehouse.
Catherine smiles at her youngest son's childhood innocence before turning back to the oven to finish the night's supper.