I'm talking to other dads when suddenly Theo runs up. I don't like the fact that my first thought is regret that I don't have an illegal gun in my pocket. If someone hurt my child they are going to have to pay for it.

I stand up wondering if I should comfort whoever hurt him first, or take him home and comfort him.

"James asked if I can go to his house tomorrow," Theo says.

It takes a second for me to turn the glare that have fixed on him into a smile.

"Yes, of course," I say.

"You seam surprised your boy made a friend," the dad next to me says as I sit down.

"Only because he was pretty sure that he wouldn't. I had to bribe him to come here in fact," I admit.

The man chuckles, "I have to bribe mine to do algebra. The socializing comes pretty easy to him.

I stare beyond to where Theo is laughing with the other boy as they play hackey sack badly. I wonder if the boy knows. I really hope it is not just going to result in a slower rejection of my son.

"I can understand how in some places they might not accept Theo," the man beside me says, "I hope you aren't worried that it will happen here."

Look up in surprise at that. It turns out that Sherlock is not the only person capable of reading minds. "I just don't think he could take much more rejection."

"No one batted an eye at two fathers brining an adopted son in. None of these kids will bat an eye at his sexuality either," the man says softly.

"For that I am more grateful than you'll ever know," I admit.

"Oh, a homeschool group is little more than the island of misfit toys," the man says laughing.

"That is the perfect description of my family!" I exclaim with a smile.

I look back to where Theo is staring at James for a second too long, and my stomach sinks. Okay, so he's not going to be rejected for friendship that's true, but…well, he did already tell me he had a crush on a straight boy didn't he? So at least it's not unfamiliar territory.

-0-

I stare at the intercom. Mary used to be on the other side of that. I would just press the button, and I would hear her voice. I know it hasn't been her on the other end of the intercom for two years now, but it is still hard to press that button sometimes.

The sound of two footsteps and an umbrella tapping on the floor.

Well, at least I won't have to press that damned button, "Mycroft come in."

"Sorry to disturb you at work," he says pushing the door open.

"Sherlock okay?" I ask standing quickly. Generally Mycroft only shows up unexpected when there is something horribly wrong with his brother, or at least when he thinks there is something terribly wrong with his brother.

"Yes, quite well. I was pleased to hear about your reservation at Dartmore," he continues.

I blink at him, resisting the urge to ask how he knew that. He enjoys telling about his spying action just as much as Sherlock loves explaining how he solved a crime. "I'd appreciate it if you'd keep that secret from Sherlock. It's a surprise."

"Are you sure that's for the best?" Mycroft says in shock and surprise.

"I know he said he didn't want it before, but he's hinted that he did. Anyway, he could always say no."

"He might John," Mycroft says, and his eyes are as soft when he looks at me as they are when he looks at his brother. I'm touched by the softness of his eyes.

"If he does I'll survive it. I was okay when I thought the answer was no."

"I should have thought to go to you first, after all you are the medical man."

"Medical? What does that have to do with anything?" I ask confused.

He blinks at me. "Mitochondrial replacement theory involves a medical procedure."

"I don't have any idea what you're talking about. I'm taking Sherlock to Dartmore to propose."

His face is covered in disappointment, "Well, in that case I'm going to give you the same offer that I gave Sherlock. In the very least you can decide whether or not you want to bring it up with him. He clearly chose not to bring it up with you. Have you heard of three parent children?" he asks leaning on his umbrella. That always has the effect of unsettling me now that I know the umbrella contains not only a gun, but also a sword.

"Yes, it's a way of allowing people with genetic disorders to have healthy children using donor eggs emptied of the nucleus."

"This technique can also be used to help same sex couples have children that are genetically connected to them."

"Bull shit," I say.

He chuckles, "I know John, it's a bit hard to believe. You've been inside of Basketville. You know that not everything that goes on there is public knowledge. There have only been a few children born this way. That's why my brother rejected the idea. He thought there was too much risk to the child."

"Why are you tempting me with this then? You think that I'm so selfish I would bring a sick kid into the world?"

"I said Sherlock believes that it was too risky. I didn't say it was. There have been no negative health effects so far."

"Of course, the children born this way could not be very old. Dolly the sheep didn't have any health problems until she reached middle aged."

"This isn't cloning John."

"No, but it is messing with genetics."

"I suggest you do your own research. You are after all far more familiar with medical matters than my brother is. I would not suggest something that would harm a future nephew or niece of mine," he says stoically.

You can't be around Sherlock Holmes for years without absorbing at least a bit of his methods. "It's important to you that Sherlock has genetic offspring."

"He's the most likely of the Holmes children to do it, yes? I'd rather not my family line go extinct, is there anything particularly unique in that?"

"You could have children yourself, you know," I point out.

He chuckles, "Alicia is a bit beyond that now, she's has a grandchild, you know."

"Alicia?" I say confused, and then suddenly realizing, "Alicia Smallwood?" he nods, "You are dating Lady Alicia Smallwood?" I try to keep he shock out of my voice, but I know that I have utterly failed at that feat.

Mycroft chuckles again, "He didn't tell you that either? I'll keep that in mind in the future. I'll make sure to give all of my information directly to you since he can't be trusted to pass anything on."

"You could still have genetic offspring, even if they weren't hers," I point out again.

"I suppose I could, of course," he says deliberately, "But you know that genetics are less than half a child. What good would it be to bring a child of mine into the world, and then mar it's genes by being raised by someone so inadequate as me? No, it would be much better off if it was Sherlock's child raised by the two of you. To be sure, it would be less genetically related to me that way, but it would be a better person."

I was so touched by his words it took me a few tries before I was able to form a sentence, "That's possibly very, very sweet." Another deduction floats into my mind, "You campaigned for siblings didn't you?"

He smiles at me like I do to Rosie when she speaks better than you'd expect for her hate, "Quite so."

"Well, I suppose the world owes you something then…for Sherlock Holmes walking the Earth."

"Whatever good I did with that is undone by Euros," he mutters with his eyes going dark in a second.

"No, Sherlock has saved far more people's lives than Euros has taken."

"Thank you for that, even if it is not strictly rational. I could have stopped begging for siblings after Sherlock."

"You know why Sherlock is resistant to the idea having a genetic child, don't you?"

"I know it has to do with Euros. That's why I don't push. But I will appeal."

"I promise to research, and then talk to your brother. That's all that I will promise," I inform him.

"That's good. I'll get you some research that isn't publicly available."

"Thank you Mycroft," I say.

He nods, stands up, swings his umbrella, and tuns to leave the room. He turns back looking at me confused, "Marriage? Really?"

"Is that really stranger than deciding to have a secret science fiction baby together?" I volley back.

"For my brother? I rather think so."

"We'll have to do dinner sometime, Mycroft. With Lady Smallwood," I just can't quite get myself to call her Alicia even though he has several times.

He chuckles again, "You actually believe you can convince my brother to do that, don't you?"