John was just finishing bandaging up a private-in-training who had forgot to tape up his hands before he started using the punching bag when Mary walked in, followed by Irene and Sherlock. The private pushed off the seat and left the room. John raised a eyebrow at the others.
"My mother is in town. And wants to meet you and Mary."Irene was smirking.
"He's is hoping you'll say no so he can avoid it. Again."John shared a glance with his sister and smirked back.
"As it happens, I am clear for the day. How 'bout you, Mary?"
"So am I."By now, all three of them had smirks as they turned to Sherlock. He groaned in defeat.
"Screwed?"
"Totally."
"Utterly."
"Perfectly."Mary and Irene hooked onto Sherlock's arms, and John watched his back as they left the building and walked the two short blocks to the restaurant. It was a small Italian eatery, which was distinctly a place you knew your girlfriend was going to suggest for a date.
Irene took point, and smiled at the maitre d'.
"Party of Holmes? They should be here by now."
"Yes, miss. This way."They followed him to the almost emty back room, where they could see Mycroft and-
"Cecily?"Irene's face was one of complete disbelief and happiness. Cecily Holmes's mirrored it.
"Irene! What a pleasant surprise!"They hugged, while Mycroft and Sherlock shared confused and freaked looks, and Mary and John grinned.
"Irene? How do you know my mother?"She looked up, not at Sherlock, but at Mycroft, a evil grin on her face.
"She helped me steal some of the crown jewels."
"Ha! Nice try. You're lying of course. Right, mother?"The vaguely apologetic look of his mother's face caused Mycroft's grin to waiver. "Mother?"
"Sorry, dear." Irene snorted and slapped a hand on Mycroft's shoulder.
"Just remember, dude; you're the one who wiped my record."She walked to the seat between Cecily and Sherlock. "This explains a lot, though."
Sherlock and his mom raised a eyebrow, almost identically.
"Do tell."
"The reason I can do what you guys do is because I'm smart and I'm a thief and a grifter. The reason you can do it is because you're smart and you were raised by a thief and a grifter. I don't know what happened with you, Mycroft."
"Huh."
"So, what about us?" She scoffed at her brother and her best friend.
"Y'all are goody-two shoes. You would have made awesome partners."Sh raised a eyebrow."Though there's probably hope for you yet."
And that was just the beginning of the 3 hour long lunch/dinner, which was very enjoyable for all concerned (unless your name was Mycroft, of course, because then you felt like crap because your plan backfired).