For the Secret Santa gift exchange, Mycroft draws Hannah's name. He's very glad that he can just ask Sam about the things he likes, because the girls would go into lengthy conversations about very specific things. Sam just tells Mycroft, "She likes pink things and jewelry. Especially pink jewelry." Mycroft takes the information and gets her different pink things for every day of the week.

On Monday, Mycroft opens up Hannah's locker to see literally everything pink. It has pink wrapping paper lining the walls, and a little pink mirror hanging on the inside of the door. It's got many pictures inside, including Sam's football picture and a group picture of the friends at a dance. Mycroft and Greg aren't in it, so he assumes it's from last year. They all look happy.

Mycroft places the little gift bag in her locker and quickly closes it.

"What'd you get her?" Mycroft hears next to him. He jumps and lets the locker slam closed.

He looks next to him and sees Harper. "You scared me," he says, catching his breath. "Uhm, I got her every shade of pink nail polish Tesco had."

Harper laughs at that. "And how many was that?"

"Thirteen," Mycroft says. "There were a few missing from the rack, so there could have been more."

Harper laughs and turns to walk down the hall. Mycroft follows and Harper slides her arm into his.

"Who did you get?" Mycroft curiously asks.

"Your boyfriend," Harper says.

"Really?"

"Yes," Harper says. "Today I got him thirteen bottles of pink nail polish."

Mycroft laughs very loud at that. "I'm sure he'll love it."

Harper smiles. "I actually got him a little plush football with the Chelsea logo on it."

"Oh, he'll love that!"

Harper triumphantly smiles. "What have you gotten?"

"I don't know," Mycroft says as he approaches his locker. "I guess we'll find out."

He opens his locker and sure enough, there is a little gift bag sitting there. "Hmm," he mutters, picking up the bag. It's full of dozens of Hershey's Kisses.

Harper smiles. "I think you have an admirer."

Mycroft's eyes widen. "What do you mean?"

"A secret admirer! Someone likes you!"

"Or, they can know I like chocolate."

"Nobody likes chocolate that much except hormonal teenage girls," Harper takes one from the bag and unwraps it.

"Maybe it's Greg."

Harper shakes her head. "Greg got Lee."

"Oh, that's right," Mycroft says, unwrapping a chocolate. "I wonder who it could be then."

Harper grins and they both unwrap another candy.

Their first final starts that morning, too. Mycroft gives Greg five of his Hershey's Kisses as an incentive to do well.

"When you finish ten questions, eat one. Every ten you get a kiss."

Greg takes a deep breath. "I'm really nervous. This one's just science, but I still don't think I know it all."

"Well, just do well. Tomorrow you won't have science and you won't have to worry about it."

"Thanks," Greg says. "You're amazing."

Mycroft taps his nose. "You are amazing."

"I love you."

Mycroft smiles. "I love you, too."

Greg tells Mycroft later that he thinks he did well, and he ends up sighing relief knowing that science is over for the semester.

On Tuesday, Mycroft leaves a plush, pink puppy in Hannah's locker. He smiled earlier that day when he saw that she was wearing ten different colors of pink on her nails. It made him happy to know she enjoyed her gift.

Greg's math final is scheduled that morning and right before, he stands at his locker taking deep breaths.

"Are you ok?" Mycroft asks.

Greg shakes his head. "I think I'm going to throw up."

Mycroft rubs his arm. "You're ok, Greg. Relax."

Greg sticks his head into his locker and groans.

Mycroft rubs his back.

Greg pulls his head out of the locker and runs his hand through his hair.

"Did you get a gift this morning?"

Greg nods. "I got a package of Chelsea stickers and a little action figure of Fernando Torres."

"That's cool."

"Have you gotten anything?"

Mycroft shakes his head. "Not yet."

The bell rings to warn students to get to class. They have a minute before the tardy bell rings.

Greg takes a deep breath. "Wish me luck."

Mycroft grabs a handful of Hershey's Kisses. "Good luck."

Greg nods and turns to walk down the hall.

At lunch they talk about the things they got and express their gratitude, even though nobody knows who got them a gift.

They all ask Mycroft what he got yesterday, and he says he got a bag of Hershey's Kisses.

"That's where you got them?" Greg asks. "You didn't tell me that."

"I guess I forgot."

Greg gets an absent look on his face and turns away to talk to Conner.

Later that night, as the boys are talking on the phone before bed, Greg says he thinks he did well on his test, then asks about Mycroft's gift.

"Did you ever get a second gift?" Greg asks.

"Uhm, yup," Mycroft says.

"What is it?"

"Uhm…I got a single red rose."

Greg doesn't reply for many long seconds. "Really?"

"Yeah."

"Oh."

"Maybe it's from Harper," Mycroft says. He knows Harper got Greg, but he senses Greg is getting angry at his gifts, so he lies.

"Yeah, maybe. You guys are, like, best friends."

"You're my best friend," Mycroft says.

Greg uncomfortably chuckles.

Greg doesn't resume conversation about Mycroft's gift. He doesn't really like that someone got Mycroft that.

On Wednesday, Mycroft is happy to see Hannah carrying the puppy around. She obviously loved it, and Mycroft hears that she named it Sam. He laughs at that, and he's very excited to leave a giant, pink lollipop in her locker. Harper meets him again and they walk to his locker to find out what he got.

"What did you get yesterday?" Harper asks.

"Uhm, I got a single red rose."

Harper gasps. "No way?"

Mycroft nods. "Let's see what it is today," he says, opening his locker. "It's a tin box," he says, taking it and opening it up.

"What's inside?"

Mycroft holds it out for Harper to see.

"Mmmm," Harper mutters, "Chocolate covered strawberries."

Mycroft sighs, takes one out, and bites it. "Damn," he mutters.

Harper takes one and bites into it. "Oh, it's delicious!"

Mycroft closes the tin and tosses it back into his locker.

"How romantic," Harper mutters.

Mycroft sighs again.

"Are you going to tell Greg?"

Mycroft shakes his head. "I don't think he's happy about it."

"I'm not sure I would be, either."

"Kelly's really beautiful," Mycroft says, "I imagine boys ask her out a lot."

Harper nods and sticks her arm into Mycroft's. "Yeah. She gets asked out a lot. Like Greg, I guess."

"How do you deal with it?"

Harper shrugs. "I'm just happy she chose me, you know? There are plenty of fish in the sea, but she loves me. So that makes me happy."

Mycroft nods. "That's how I feel. But I'm afraid Greg really gets jealous."

"Well, he shouldn't worry about it. Tell him not to."

"I try, but I don't know. I can't control the way he feels."

Harper nods. "At least you won't go cheating on him."

"Of course not."

They arrive at the cafeteria, so their talk of this dies down as they approach their friends.

The rest of Greg's finals are for his easier classes, so he confidently takes his government class that afternoon without any issue. Mycroft doesn't tell him what gift he got that day, either, but Greg is very happy with the guitar picks he gets.

"Someone really knows me," he says as he and Mycroft walk to dinner that evening.

"I know," Mycroft says. He told Harper things Greg likes.

"Is it you?" Greg questions.

"No!" Mycroft cries. "Though, what do you want for Christmas?"

Greg nuzzles his nose into Mycroft's cheek. "You."

Mycroft smiles. "No, no. Really! I've never given Christmas gifts before."

"You don't have to get me anything at all," Greg says. "What should I get you?"

"Nothing. I don't need anything."

"Of course you don't need anything, but I'm sure you want something."

Mycroft shrugs. "I'm content."

Greg smiles at him. "Well, so am I."

Mycroft nods and they walk a few more feet down the street before Mycroft says, "You know I'm going to get you something anyway, right?"

"Yep. And I'm going to get you something."

They boys smile at each other and Greg quickly kisses his cheek.

Mycroft is actually dreading getting a gift on Thursday. He's excited to give Hannah hers (a sparkly pink iPhone case), but he doesn't want what he gets to be anything romantic. He doesn't really like the feeling of having a secret admirer, even if whoever it is means well.

"What if it's a girl?" Harper asks as they walk away from Hannah's locker.

"Oh geez," Mycroft replies, "I hadn't even thought of that."

"What if it's Hilary and it's you who she is in love with!"

"God," Mycroft sighs, "Don't say that!"

Harper laughs. "I don't know. Maybe it's Conner. Or Jason. Or Jaimee. Or Lee. Or Lars, though now he's dating Hailey so I don't know."

"It could literally be in anyone in our group except you and Greg."

Harper shrugs. "Do you think whoever it is will tell you?"

"I don't know. I suppose we'll just wait and see. What have you gotten, by the way?"

"Let's see…" Harper thinks about it and adds, "On Monday I got the book The Great Gatsby. It's my favorite book and this copy is, like, an old copy. It's cool. On Tuesday I got a vinyl album of The Beatle's song In My Life, and that's my favorite song, so that was really neat. Yesterday, I got these blue sun glasses," she takes them out of her bag and hands them to Mycroft. "And today, I got this blue bracelet," she holds her arm up to show a bracelet beaded with different shades of blue beads.

"That's all really neat," Mycroft says, putting the sunglasses on.

"You look so cool! You should definitely get a pair of sunglasses like that."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. You look hot, Mycroft."

Mycroft laughs. "Thanks. I'm not sure they're for me, though."

They get to Mycroft's locker and he hesitates before opening it, still dreading it being something romantic, and sure enough, it is. Mycroft takes out the stack of three books in his locker and looks at each.

"Great Expectations, The Princess Bride, Cyrano de Bergerac." Mycroft reads the titles. Of course he's read them all.

"What's so special about these books?" Harper asks.

"They're all books featuring unrequited love," Mycroft explains.

"Oh dear," Harper says. "This person is head over heels."

Mycroft sighs.

"Are you going to show them to Greg?"

Mycroft shrugs. "I doubt he'll know the hidden message."

Harper sympathetically rubs his shoulder, then takes his hand and leads him to the cafeteria.

Thursday afternoon, Mr. Hunter asks Mycroft to be in his classroom with another music class so that he can play piano while they rehearse. Their Winter recital is on Friday night, and Mr. Hunter is a huge mess. Mycroft agrees and tries very hard to reassure Mr. Hunter that it's fine.

The students do well during the seventh period rehearsal, and they all leave before Mycroft has his music organized, so he's alone with Mr. Hunter after the bell.

"Oh!" Mr. Hunter cries as he throws himself into the chair next to the piano. "I'm so nervous, Mycroft. I fear none of you students are prepared."

"I think we're ready, sir."

Mr. Hunter dramatically stands from the chair and begins pacing. "Don't call me 'sir', Mycroft. It makes me feel old."

Mycroft chuckles. "Sorry."

Mr. Hunter lets out a deep sigh and runs his hands through his perfect hair, making it stand up in many different directions.

"I'm certainly more nervous because Pat will be here."

"Oh, really?"

"Yes. I fear the singers will do something wrong, and I'll look bad. Pat wants me to move to France again anyway. I don't want any more reason to go."

Mycroft is finished packing his bag, but he feels as though Mr. Hunter needs to rant, so he stays in his seat on the piano bench. "I'm sure it'll be fine," he offers.

Mr. Hunter throws himself into the chair again. "The only person I have confidence in is you, Mycroft. You're the only student that actually does as he's supposed to. The singers are fantastic when they want to be, but who knows? Hilary may be a diva tomorrow evening and completely fuck it all up."

Mycroft chuckles, not only because Mr. Hunter is practically insulting Hilary, but because he just said 'fuck'.

"Oh dear," Mr. Hunter mutters, burying his face in his hand. "I just said fuck, didn't I?"

Mycroft chuckles again.

"Damnit! I just did it again!"

Mycroft fully laughs this time. "It's alright. I won't tell anyone."

Mr. Hunter cracks a smile and uncovers his face. "Thanks," he says, checking his watch. "Oh, I've seemed to have kept you late. I'll get you a note."

"It's ok," Mycroft stops him, "I took that final on Monday, I don't really need to be in there anymore. It's boring in there when we aren't learning anything."

Mr. Hunter nods and doesn't move from his seat. "I don't really think you need to go practice the songs anymore. You're really fantastic at them."

"Thank you. I practice a lot at home, too. My brother and I managed to turn nearly every song into a duet."

"Yeah?" Mr. Hunter smiles. "That's impressive. How old is your brother?"

"He'll be nine next month."

Mr. Hunter's eyes widen and his jaw nearly drops. "He's only nine?"

Mycroft nods. "Yeah, we were brought up to be musical. I started violin when I was a lot younger, too."

"Wow. I didn't pick up any instrument until I started guitar when I was ten."

"Greg plays the guitar," Mycroft says.

"Greg?" Mr. Hunter thinks and asks, "Lestrade?"

Mycroft nods.

"He wanted to be in the fourth period music class, but he had to take whatever core class he's in now. And this one was full by the time he got here."

"Yeah, he plays the ukulele, too. He learned a song for me the other day in only four hours. He didn't play it very well, but it was nice."

"Is Lestrade your…boyfriend?" Mr. Hunter hesitantly asks.

Mycroft nods.

"That's nice," Mr. Hunter says. "How long have you two been together?"

"Nearly two months," Mycroft says, chuckling. "That seems like a really short amount of time."

Mr. Hunter chuckles, too. "I remember when I was young that I was always very excited about month anniversaries. I think my longest was about three months when I was your age. Lestrade seems like a good kid."

"He is. He's really great."

"That's good," Mr. Hunter says with a smile. "You deserve someone who can treat you well."

Mycroft looks at Mr. Hunter, really unsure of how to respond to that, and just for a second they lock eyes, then Mr. Hunter awkwardly looks away. "Thanks," Mycroft mutters.

"So," Mr. Hunter suddenly says, quickly standing from his chair again and stepping over to the violin players' stands. "How about you show me some of you violin skills?"

"Oh, uhm, I haven't really played in a really long time."

"Come on," Mr. Hunter says, handing Mycroft his personal violin. "It's like riding a bike."

Mycroft takes a deep breath and takes it. He's nervous because he hasn't played in a very long time, but he's also feeling many forgotten memories returning to him. He thinks the last time he actually played the violin was for his father right before his father left. He remembers that his father told him that he did well, except that he missed a few of the notes, and Mycroft was so upset that he locked himself in his room; he thought he played perfectly. He didn't even answer the door when his father knocked, saying that he was leaving, and then his father never returned.

Mycroft pushes down the anxiety boiling in his system and tucks the violin under his chin. The only thing stopping his from having a nervous break down is Mr. Hunter's bright, warm smile.

"I haven't played in a really long time," Mycroft repeats.

"I'm sure you'll do great," Mr. Hunter reassures him.

Mycroft slowly begins the same tune he'd played for his father that day. He remembers it perfectly and plays it nearly perfectly. Playing it is strange to him, but about halfway through he begins to play it more confidently. Mr. Hunter smiles even happier than ever.

When Mycroft finishes, Mr. Hunter breaks into applause. "That was perfect!" he cries, taking the violin from Mycroft.

"Really? You think so?"

Mr. Hunter quickly hugs Mycroft. "Really, really perfect," he mutters as his arms are still around Mycroft.

Mycroft doesn't really hug back, he's just shocked and very proud. Mr. Hunter pulls away and Mycroft looks down at his shoes. "That was the very last song I ever played."

"Why did you stop?" Mr. Hunter curiously asks, laying the violin in its case.

"Uhm," Mycroft takes a deep breath and decides he doesn't mind talking about it. "I had played it for my father. He told me it wasn't very good, and I was upset by that."

"He's a fool," Mr. Hunter says, still packing the violin away. "That was amazing."

"Thanks. After that, I wanted to stop because, uhm, after that he left."

Mr. Hunter pauses and looks at Mycroft. "He left?"

"Yeah, like left my mum."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Mycroft," Mr. Hunter turns back to the violin and clasps the case closed. "Do you get to see him?" he curiously asks.

"No, he died about a month ago."

Mr. Hunter nearly drops the violin as he's moving to put it back on his desk. He turns back at Mycroft with a look of horror on his face. "Mycroft, I am so, so sorry. I didn't—"

"You didn't know, it's ok. I'm ok."

Mr. Hunter sets the violin back down and hugs Mycroft again. This time, Mycroft hugs back and it's far less strange than the one before.

Mycroft lets go first and Mr. Hunter puts the violin back on his desk.

"For what it's worth," Mr. Hunter says, "You're as an amazing violinist as you are pianist."

Mycroft smiles. "Thank you."

Friday is their last day before break and everyone is eager to receive their final gifts. On Saturday, they're supposed to take all of their gifts to the party so they can discuss and figure out who got who, and Mycroft still has no idea who got him.

He leaves Hannah's final gift in her locker (a necklace with the letters of her name as charms on the chain) and Harper is nowhere to be found. He sighs as he closes Hannah's locker, dreading going to his locker alone. He doesn't want to find out what his last gift is.

He gets to his locker and finds it empty. He thinks that's strange because usually there would be something there right before lunch, but he figures the person is just a bit late, so he shrugs and just begins exchanging the books in his bag.

"Mycroft," he suddenly hears next to him.

He jumps and looks to his left. It's Lee. "Jesus, Lee, you scared me."

"Sorry," Lee says, looking down at his shoes.

"What's up?" Mycroft awkwardly asks. He and Lee don't have much one-on-one time.

"Uhm…I'm delivering your final gift."

"Oh?" Mycroft asks, turning his body entirely to Lee. "What is it?"

Lee holds up a red envelope and Mycroft takes it. He slowly opens it and sees it's a Christmas card. He's confused at first, that it's just a card, but when he opens it, he sees there's writing in it.

Dear Mycroft, I regret to inform you that I am in love with you. And I have been for a very long time. I know you are with Greg, and that is fine, but this is something I just needed to get off my chest. This was just the perfect time to do so. Love always—

Mycroft looks confused. He glances up at Lee and says, "It doesn't say who it's from."

Lee looks up at him, and before Mycroft knows anything, Lee is kissing him. Mycroft's so shocked that he doesn't close his eyes, but Lee's are shut tight, his eyebrows knitted together and he seems to be in agony.

Lee backs away seconds later and looks like he's about to cry.

"I'm sorry," he says, turning away and taking off down the hall.

Mycroft just stands there staring at the Christmas card for far too long.

Mycroft goes to the cafeteria, needing to talk about this with someone. Lee isn't in there when he gets there, thankfully, so he grabs Harper and pulls her out to the hallway outside the cafeteria.

"What, what?!" Harper questions as they get outside.

Mycroft just hands her the Christmas card.

"Dear Mycroft," she reads, "I regret to inform you that I am in love with you. And I have been for a very long time. I know you are with Greg, and that is fine, but this is something I just needed to get off my chest. This was just the perfect time to do so. Love always…it's blank."

Mycroft vigorously nods.

"Do you know who wrote it?"

Mycroft nods even harder.

"Who?!"

"Think about who else isn't at that table right now," Mycroft says.

Harper thinks about it for a second, then her eyes grow wide and her jaw drops. "Lee?!" she demands.

Mycroft nods so hard his neck could break.

"Oh my god! Did he hand deliver it?"

"Yes! And that's not all!"

"What?!"

"He…" Mycroft looks around to make sure nobody is listening, then he adds, "He kissed me!"

Harper gasps and covers her mouth. "No way!"

Mycroft just nods, this time slower.

"What did you do?"

"I just stood there! God," Mycroft runs his hand through his hair and begins pacing, "Greg is going to kill him!"

"You're going to tell Greg?"

"I have to! He's my boyfriend!"

"Maybe this is something you should take to the grave, Mycroft…"

"No, I can't! Greg wouldn't keep a secret like this from me. Would you tell Kelly?"

"Well…I guess…"

"See? Oh my gosh!" Mycroft throws his hands in the air. "Nothing happens to me for sixteen years, and now Lee is confessing his love to me and I'm afraid to tell my boyfriend. Why can't I just be boring again?"

Harper chuckles at that and grabs his arms. "It's ok, Mycroft. Greg will understand. Just…play it cool."

"I feel bad for Lee," Mycroft admits.

"I'm sure he'll get over it," Harper says.

Mycroft takes a deep breath. "Man, I don't like this secret admirer stuff."

Harper rubs his arms, then takes him in for a hug. "Don't worry, hun."

Mycroft hugs her back. "Thanks."

Harper takes a deep breath against him and pulls back quickly. "Why do you smell like Mr. Hunter?"

Mycroft throws his arms in the air again and steps towards the door to the cafeteria. "Oh, don't get me started!" he calls, pushing the door open and stepping through.

"Mycroft?" Harper calls after him, following him in. "Mycroft! Tell me!"

*Poor Lee. Greg is going to kill him. Just kidding. Not kill. Maybe just…no probably kill. : ) Everyone loves Greg, so I just thought Mycroft needed an admirer. Thanks for reading! Please review!