He's not surprised at their reactions when he arrives. Mrs. Hudson is there and she thinks the whole situation is 'just darling', Sherlock won't shut up about the science behind it all and John is speechless though holding Greg in his arms. Mycroft sighs into his cup of tea, rolling his eyes as Sherlock gestures madly.
"I thought you were joking!" He says, Mycroft shrugs. The words 'I told you so' itching to be said, but he holds them back.
"T-this is unheard of," John mumbles, Greg shrieks in his arms, he bounces the child a few times, earning squealing giggles. "Isn't it?"
"Apparently not." Mycroft replies evenly, setting his tea down. He gives a pointed look at Greg before unfolding the newspaper.
"But how?" John asks and Mycroft wishes he'd do what every other human being on the planet does these days with a question: google it.
"Slovakian curse," he says, skimming through the articles. "I thought it was ridiculous at first myself." He sets the paper down, leans back in his chair and crosses his arms. "The Detective Inspector did just put away a Slovakian man for drug trafficking, did he not?"
"Yes," John replies. Mycroft notices Sherlock has gone quiet, sitting on the couch, fingers pressed together, his eyes fixed on Greg.
"Well," Mycroft says simply, "there's your man."
John seems uneasy, as they all should be. Somehow Mycroft has managed to wrap the idea around his head and that's helping him not go insane from how odd and improbable the whole situation is.
"He won't stay like this forever," John murmurs and looks at Mycroft, "will he?"
He shakes his head. "Preferably not," Mycroft says with just a little distaste poisoning his words. He's not a baby sitter, or a father, or anything to do with children. Government and children don't go together. But maybe those natural instincts are kicking in because Greg has nuzzled into John's jumper and he feels a tinge of jealousy.
Mycroft stands and instantly Greg's head whips around. A large smile breaking out over his face, he reaches out.
"Park now?" He asks insistently and John has to adjust his arms so that Greg doesn't fall. Sherlock is still silently watching them but Mycroft doesn't really care right now. In a few strides he's taking Greg from John, putting on a poker face as those impossibly small hands bury themselves into his attire. He clears his throat and as Sherlock stands up he heads for the stairs.
"Going to the park?" Sherlock almost scoffs and Mycroft glares at him, what he sees in Sherlock's face isn't what he expected. A sort of strange longing, jealousy maybe, but when John steps to his side it all melts away. Mycroft can't help but snort.
"Maybe you two should adopt." He says and leaves John confused and Sherlock glowering at his back as he steps outside.
As usual the car is waiting and he enters without a second thought.
"Any park near by," he instructs and the car eases away from 221B.
The park is full, absolutely packed with mothers and their children. Mycroft feels extremely out of place but Greg is squealing and squirming in his arms and that little happy face is apparently all he needs to get out of the car and step out of his comfort zone. The slide looks exciting, even though Greg is pointing at the swings, which are full. He smiles and tries to ignore the lady's staring at him. There area few husbands and boyfriends lingering around but they are at the outskirts of the premises, gathered in groups, talking with each other. Pushing his discomfort away, because literally all the mothers are ogling him, he brings Greg to the slide and sets him at the top.
"How's this?" He asks and Greg's eyes are huge as he stares down the rather short length of the slide. Mycroft lets him go and Greg screams as he practically flies down it. It's over long before Mycroft realizes Greg is probably too small and too young for the slide and now he's crying, shrill voice lifting over the laughing, playing kids. Mycroft gathers Greg up out of the landing sand below and cradles him close to his chest, bouncing him gently.
"I'm sorry," he murmurs, trying to calm Greg. "I'm sorry, don't cry, don't cry baby, shhh."
As if the women at the park weren't already staring at him before, now they were murmuring to each other. What a horrible father he is. He can't do anything right. Doesn't he know that boy is too young for the slide? Where's the mother?
He wanted to scowl but didn't, instead he concentrated on getting back to the safety of his waiting car. Entering it and shutting the door he continued to bounce Greg, trying to stop the large tears rolling down his face. After he had instructed the driver to head 'home' he pulled out his phone and quickly typed out a short text. The phone in Greg's hands suddenly vibrated and his crying abruptly stopped. Mycroft watched with baited breath as Greg tapped at the phones touch screen. There was no way that he knew what he was doing but it didn't stop the child from giggling once then twice as the phone made beeping noises when he mashed his fingers against it.
"Careful," Mycroft cautioned, knowing well that Greg always took very good care of his things and a few scratches, even from himself, could disappoint the man. Then again, that didn't seem to really matter now because Mycroft didn't know when Greg would change back to his regular self, he didn't know how long he'd have to take care of the child.
The condo was just as he had left it, except there was another note that informed him food had been made and was ready to eat. When he glanced at the time he almost gasped. Some how he had wasted away his whole day parading around with Greg. Sighing at his lost time he set the boy down on a chair and asked him: "Are you hungry?"
"Hungry!" Greg mimicked but it was good enough for Mycroft. He fed Greg, ate something himself then retired to his room with the boy in his arms.
He was becoming increasingly good at this, taking care of Greg, feeding him, dressing him, the works. It was almost disturbing how well he had adapted in such little time to the bizarre change. Pushing his thoughts away he settled down on the bed, laying Greg down beside him. Greg cuddled close to him and Mycroft nearly stopped himself from wrapping an arm around the small form.
"You were so small," he murmured to the dark, Greg yawned. "So small, Sherlock wasn't even this small."
Greg snaps to attention because he knows that name, he giggles.
"Sherock," he says.
"Yes, Sherlock," Mycroft says and once again he feels hands gripping at his night clothing. "He was bigger than you but you are far more adorable."
It's something he'd never admit, but it's true. Greg is freakishly cute at this age, so attached to the cellphone, same looks on his face, a tad more cheerful but still adorable. Mycroft feels bad because of the slide incident, but Greg doesn't seem to remember it now. Bless is too-young mind. The phone buzzes between them but Mycroft doesn't move. He's too tired to care, besides it's Greg's phone. Closing his eyes Mycroft doesn't feel himself slip into a deep sleep but he does.
The night drags on and he's warm, a little too warm, he can still feel the phone pressed between him and Greg but there's something different. As he pulls himself from sleep he almost shouts in shock. Replacing small hands are much larger ones, buried in his nightshirt and a rather heavy leg is draped over his own legs. Greg's face is in the crook of his neck and Mycroft can see that regular greying-brown hair that tells him it is definitely Greg nuzzled to him. The baby clothes, Mycroft assumes are ripped to shreds from Greg's transformation, but it doesn't matter. The sheets separate them.
He sighs into Greg's hair and isn't surprised when two familiar eyes open to look at him.
"Don't ever do that again." Greg says out of the blue, he tightens his hold on Mycroft. "I've always hated slides, you idiot."
Mycroft smiles.
end.
a/n: Wow! I received loads of story alerts, favourites and even a few author alerts. I didn't receive any feedback though. Which is fine but reviews always feed the writer! Anyway. Well. I don't know what I just wrote. This whole thing is just... I can't even describe it. Anyway, thanks for reading guys!