Come what may

Chapter 3

Greg was so nervous he didn't even try to cook; if push comes he can always order in. Either way he was not even going to attempt to open a beer or get out of a bottle of wine. His gut instinct is telling him that he should keep a clear head.

In the end he just put on the kettle for tea. The big, emotional, supported and trusted friend of all the English civilization.

The kettle just finished boiling when the front door opened. He could hear Mycroft putting down his umbrella and hanging his coat on the rack.

"Tea?" He asked before Mycroft entered the room.

"Yes please." Mycroft answered as he stepped in to the kitchen, Greg just poured and turned to the fridge to retrieve the milk, trying to buy some time before facing Mycroft. As he handed Mycroft his cup he finally looked at him, it was with great effort he was able to have a straight face. Mycroft was wearing his business face, revealing nothing. He hated it, and it did nothing to calm the unrest and turmoil inside of him.

"Good day?" He asked trying to keep his social decorum as they moved to the living room.

"The usual."

Greg nodded, the usual, the 'usual' normally entails that Mycroft would elaborate and tell him a bit more than just one word answers.

"Hungry?" He tried again to get some level of communication going.

"No thank you."

'Bloody hell Mycroft is not making it easier.' Greg thought as he took another sip of his tea. What he really would like to do is shake Mycroft until he drops the mask and tell him everything is okay. Mycroft placed his tea on the table and folded his hands.

"Are you going to ask what is really on your mind or shall we continue with this social necessities?" Greg mouth fell open in shock.

"Excuse me?"

"Greg we both know that there's something on your mind."

"Well you can at least come in here, trying to explain."

"I thought that's why I'm here."

This was going downhill fast. Mycroft for some reason was showing a complete lack of understanding and Greg was trying to remember that most likely Mycroft didn't understand how this is affecting him.

"Mycroft, I know that this is uncomfortable, I'm trying to take an easy route..." Seeing Mycroft's face and lack of empathy he just decided to get to the point.

"Who was the man I saw you with?"

Here was the first time Mycroft showed emotion and what he saw made Greg's abdominal muscles flex as though he just did a hundred crunches. Mycroft eyes lost the hard look, and the tightness around his mouth became loosened up.

"His name is Richard. Richard Wightman. We we're roommates at university."

Greg tried to remember if Mycroft have mentioned him before but couldn't, however he didn't miss the nostalgic wisp of Mycroft's explanation. They had a past, but he needed to be sure.

"Roommates or lovers?"

"Roommates first, lovers after our second year and I began my exercise regime that things developed."

"He was your first love."

"Yes."

"Why didn't you ever tell me about him, you know all about my exes and past lovers. You never even mentioned him."

"I didn't want to think about my past and my past failures. As I've told you before my past wasn't particularly and still aren't a happy memory for me." Greg stood up and walked towards Mycroft sitting down on his coffee table in front of him.

"I understand that My, but we are in a relationship and I deserve to know about Richard, and that your paths crossed all of these years later. He played an important role in your life, besides it's not as though my past was filled with just happiness. Why did you two broke up?"

"His parents didn't approve of their son being a gay, and since he was the only child he was required to marry well and produce a heir."

"Was? It's not a problem anymore?" Greg wanted to know, the little voice in his head working overtime. Why is it okay all of a sudden, unless there is a very good reason?

"They're dead." Yeah that's a good reason. What does that mean for him, for Mycroft?

"And he wanted to what; pick up where you left off? I mean he looked very cosy and available in the restaurant."

"You're imagining things, it was a normal lunch." Greg straightens his back to get some distance from where he was leaning into Mycroft's space. You don't need to be a genius to pick up the defensive tone.

"No it wasn't, you were all happy and affectionate and holding hands for someone who was in a relationship. To be honest you were a lot more affectionate to him, than you ever were with me in public." Mycroft looked away but it was more than enough for Greg. He stood up, his face angry.

"You did tell him you're in a relationship?" Mycroft looked down at his hands in his lap, avoiding Greg's eyes.

"It didn't come up."

"It didn't come up?" Greg asked with incredulously, his voice rising with his anger. That's should be the first thing you tell someone who you haven't seen for years, when they ask 'how you've been?' the little paranoid voice in his mind became louder as his suspicion grows.

"Why didn't you tell him about me?" Greg stood up and started pacing the room. Mycroft also got up.

"Because you know I don't mix my personal life with my professional life."

"But he isn't a business partner."

"Actually he is. He is the newly appointed lawyer for the French Ambassador and we'll be working in rather close circles, the lunch was just to catch up."

"Catch up on work or private life?" Greg's hands were itching for a cigarette; he's throat and taste buds aching for a beer or whisky and his stomach for a drop in adrenalin. He took a breath as he looked away. Mycroft and his ex are working closely and on top of that he as Mycroft's partner wasn't important enough to know. Plus he didn't see the importance in telling him they are in a relationship. His eyes followed the cars outside in the street. He listened as Mycroft stepped closer and took his hand.

"Gregory. I'm sorry if I went about this all wrong, I should've told you about him."

"You should've told him about me My. Or are you ashamed of me?" Greg softly asked finally turning around to face him. He didn't look at Mycroft, glancing over his shoulder, not wanting to see the truth in his eyes. Mycroft wrapped one arm around Greg's waist, the other underneath Greg's chin. He added a little pressure so that Greg lifted his head to look at him.

"No. I'm not. Gregory you know that I'm not used to relationships and the right way of doing things, but I do know you are an amazing man and I'm very happy and privileged to have you in my life."

Greg looked at Mycroft, his eyes searching for a hint of truth, finding sincerity and compassion.

"I'm sorry if it I overreacted, it's just after the ex and everything that have had happed I'm just being a little paranoid. I'm sorry."

"I apologise as well." Mycroft said as he leaned forward to kiss him, Greg responded with as much feeling and love as he could. He hand an unsettling feeling inside his mind, but pushed it aside so all of his attentions were on Mycroft and this moment.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x

Greg stirred to the land of the living when he felt soft kisses on his back. A smile broke out on his lips, his mood instantly happy.

"See, who wouldn't want to be woken up like this?" Mycroft didn't answer as he continued with his affection. The kissing continued up his back into his scalp.

"I don't usually do this; did you slip something into my coffee?" Greg snickered as he replied. Slowly moving so he was facing Mycroft and locked their lips together.

"No. Must be me."

"Must be." Mycroft conceded as he deepened the kiss.

When they parted Mycroft got up, and Greg saw he was already halfway dressed, just the waistcoat, jacket and umbrella. He shifted so that he was on his side, his head resting on his arm.

"You know my favourite past time is unbuttoning all those layers?"

Mycroft blushed slightly.

"So I've discovered."

"Can you blame me when you look like that?"

Mycroft turned to Greg.

"The way I look?"

Greg climbed out of the bed and stepped towards Mycroft, placing his hands on his chest.

"Magnificent and beautiful. You are the most amazing man I've ever met and you do know that I love you right?"

Mycroft froze momentarily before nodding, intertwining their hands.

"I could see it, but this is the first time you've said it."

"I know you could see, but sometimes you just need to say it, to hear it. Just to be clear as well, I love all of you okay, not some parts, but all off you, definitely your freckles, I most certainly adore this little curl on the side of your face." Greg wrapped his finger around the curl on the side of Mycroft's face. Mycroft tried to look affronted but couldn't hide the amusement in his eyes. He turned to Greg his eyes soft. Greg smiled back and pushed his lips against his. The moment was broken by Greg phone ringing. Greg gave an audible groan and picked it up.

"Lestrade."

While he was on the phone Mycroft fixed his hair, and finish getting dressed. He picked up his umbrella, gave a nod to Greg and left. Greg watched as Mycroft left and allowed himself to smile as he got ready for work.