*Hey all! Sorry for not writing lately, my computer crashed a few days ago. It's a bummer but it's somewhat fixed. Updates will probably be slower from now on, sorry! Hope you all keep reading though!
On Monday, when the boys go back to school, Greg is in a much better mood. Not that anybody but Mycroft noticed or even knew about his family things, they all do notice that he is more happy.
In first period English, Mrs. Jacobs announces that they are going to begin a unit, essentially, on controversial topics. The goal of the unit is to allow the students to understand how to write educated opinions that are also based upon facts in real life. At the end of the unit, which will be over next Friday, the students, along with a partner, are to write a research report showing both sides of a controversial topic, and each student will stand in front of the class and give a five minute speech about why they have the opinion they wrote about. The students all nod in understanding as Mrs. Jacobs hands out the instructions for the report.
"Also," Mrs. Jacobs announces, "I am allowing all of you to choose your own partners."
The students, Mycroft and Greg including, look around for their preferred partner. Greg smiles at Mycroft.
"As long as I approve of your partner and I don't hear or see anybody messing around when they're supposed to be working. Keep in mind that you're supposed to write about a topic you may both agree or disagree with, so it would be ideal to find someone who disagrees with you."
Mycroft smiles, knowing he can write an argument to any side of any topic.
"This period will be for choosing partners and topics. You may go."
The students all move around to their partner, Greg moving back a seat to sit next to Mycroft.
Mrs. Jacobs appears next to them. "You two are going to be…partners?"
Greg nods. "Yes, ma'am."
"I think not. It will get distracting. Find new partners."
Greg moves to argue, but after a few fights with teachers he's already had, he knows he can't get away with it anymore. He just frowns and leaves to find a new partner.
Another kid takes Greg's seat, and him and his partner begin talking.
"Let's do same-sex marriage," the kid in front of Mycroft says. His name is Logan. "I don't agree with that."
Logan's partner, Riley, frowns. "Why not?"
"I think it's gross!" Logan says.
Greg, who only stood and stepped two feet away from Mycroft, glances at Mycroft, then back at Logan. "Sorry mate," he gets Logan's attention and takes a step towards him. "Why don't you agree with same-sex marriage?"
"I think it's gross," Logan says again.
Greg huffs out a chuckle and rolls his eyes. "Of course."
"What, Lestrade? Just because you wanna fuck this little princess here doesn't mean anyone has to agree with you doing it."
Mycroft's cheeks redden deeply. Greg's face reddens, only in anger.
"It's not anybody's business what I want to do with who, Logan," Greg says. He tries not to sound as angry as he is, but it doesn't come out that way. "And when people say same-sex marriage or couples is 'gross', that's not a valid reason. People get married because they love each other, not to fuck."
"Whatever, Lestrade," Logan says. "You disgust me, I just never said anything before because it never came up-"
"Yeah. It never came up, therefore I'm not doing anything to bother you."
"You just sitting here next to Holmes and thinking about what you two is enough to bother me."
"You're thinking about what we do?" Greg mocks. "You're a pervert, Logan."
"That's not what I meant you little-"
Suddenly, someone next to Mycroft snaps. "Hey!"
Mycroft looks up and sees Hilary.
"Shut up, Logan. Thinking about your disgusting body trying to get off with half of London is enough to make me vomit. Shut your mouth and choose another topic."
Logan's nostrils flair as he takes a deep breath and motions for Riley to follow him to a new seat.
Mycroft looks at Hilary as she steps in front of her and Greg.
"Wow," Greg says, "Thanks."
Hilary smiles at him. "No problem."
Greg smiles at her, then at Mycroft, then steps away to talk to someone else.
Mycroft looks around the room to find a partner, but everyone looks taken.
"So," Hilary says, still next to Mycroft. "Wanna be my partner?"
Mycroft looks confused. "Uh…"
"Honestly, Mycroft," Hilary says, "Besides Greg, I'm the only other person in this room who you've actually talked to. And I'm sure we disagree on a whole lot."
Mycroft lets out a chuckle at that. "I guess you're right," he says.
She smiles and holds her hand out. "Partner?"
He tentatively takes her hand and shakes it. "Partner."
At lunch, everyone asks Lee how it was with Arthur on Saturday.
Lee bashfully smiles as they ask questions, then he glances at Mycroft once and says, "It was…nice."
"Nice?!" Harper questions. "Just nice?! Did you kiss again?"
Lee nods. "He kissed me goodnight, then left."
"Are you meeting again?" Hannah asks.
Lee shrugs. "I don't know."
"Didn't you like him?" Hailey asks.
"Yeah, I did, but-"
"But what?!" Jaimee asks.
Everyone looks at Jaimee, stunned.
"What? I can be interested in my friend's love life."
Everyone laughs.
"Answer the question, Lee!" Harper demands.
Lee shrugs again. "I don't know. It's scary. I've never dated anyone."
"Did Arthur say anything to you, Mycroft?" Hannah curiously asks.
Mycroft, who was hardly in the conversation, is so stunned when everyone's gazes dart to him that he nearly spits out his water. "Uhm," he chokes, "He said…" Mycroft tries to remember exactly what Arthur said. "Oh, right. He said you're really quiet, but sweet. And cute. And that he hopes to see you again."
Lee smiles and blushes.
Hannah playfully nudges him. "You need to call him!"
Lee nods. "Alright, I might."
"You need to!" Hailey squeals. "We want you to be happy!"
Lee smiles. "Thanks."
The kids resume lunch talking about the rest of their weekend.
On Tuesday, Arthur calls Mycroft to ask about Lee.
"Did he say anything?" Arthur asks.
Mycroft sighs, already tired of being in the middle. "He said he might call you."
"Might?"
"Yeah, might! Maybe he will, maybe he won't."
"How'd you get him to like you?"
Mycroft chuckles. "I didn't do it on purpose."
"He has to like me," Arthur mutters, "I've got to have some Holmes charm."
Mycroft laughs. "If you say so."
Arthur laughs. "So my mother wants to see you again. Maybe you could make it a habit of showing up at our Sunday breakfasts."
"Maybe," Mycroft says. "Some Sunday's I'm at Greg's anyway. But if my mother's not home, I have to stay with Sherlock."
"Just when you can. She still hasn't shut up about you. She was wondering if you'd like to, you know, see your grandparents again."
"Oh…" Mycroft breathes out, "I don't know. That's…that's…"
"I know," Arthur supplies, "Scary. You don't have to. Whenever you're ready."
"Alright," Mycroft says.
They say goodbye minutes later, Arthur repeating how he'd wish Lee would call. Mycroft offers encouragement, but other than that he doesn't know what to say.
The rest of the week passes slowly, especially in their first period class. Mycroft and Harper agree to disagree on a topic, and both begin doing their research needed. By Friday their ten-page rough draft is finished and perfect, in their eyes, and they're actually both very happy. They even hug after they turn it in.
Friday night, Mycroft invites Greg over for family dinner, and Greg happily accepts. They go to Mycroft's together and play with Sherlock until Mycroft's grandparents arrive, then they go downstairs to greet them.
Over dinner, Greg tells James that he was unable to use the Chelsea tickets they'd gotten him for Christmas due to unforeseen family circumstances. James expresses how he hopes everything is ok with Greg's family, then says not to worry and he'll get Greg new tickets. Greg says it's alright, that it's all too much, but James and Martha both say it's nonsense and Greg just sits back and smiles.
"I love your family," Greg says once they're gone and he's up in Mycroft's bedroom. "I wish my grandparents were as cool as yours."
"Your dad's parents are nice, aren't they?"
"Yeah, I guess. Not as nice as yours, though."
"Arthur asked if I wanted to see my dad's parents."
"Oh?" Greg asks. "What did you say?"
Mycroft shrugs. "I didn't agree, not yet anyway. Still a bit scary."
"I know," Greg says, rubbing Mycroft's arm. "In time."
"Have you, uhm, talked to your mother?"
Greg shakes his head. "She's called, but my dad takes my phone away when she does. I think he talked to her, but he won't tell me. Neither will Jan."
Mycroft nods in understanding. "I'm sorry you're in such a terrible situation."
Greg smiles and takes him in a hug. "You make it better."
Mycroft smiles into his neck. "I'm glad."
Greg pulls back and kisses him. "I love you," he says.
"I love you, too.'
Greg Sr. texts Greg just then to remind him they've got to go Jan's parents in the morning. He tells Greg that he can stay at Mycroft's as late as he wants, just to keep in mind that they're leaving at eight in the morning.
Greg sighs. "I should be home by midnight, that way I can sleep a bit."
Mycroft nods. "That gives us…" he looks at his watch, "Two hours."
Greg smiles. "What do you think we should do until I need to leave?"
Mycroft grins and kisses Greg deeply. He simultaneously walks Greg over to his bed, then pushes him down.
Greg lands on his back and smiles up at Mycroft. "God, I love you."
Mycroft gives him a wicked smile and climbs on top of him.
They finish and fall asleep for a while, then Greg drags himself out of bed and goes downstairs.
"Do you have to go?" Mycroft asks.
Greg nods and yawns. "I'm afraid so."
Mycroft frowns and wraps his arms around Greg's neck. "I'll see you Monday."
Greg nods again. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
They kiss again, and Greg leaves.
They next day, Mycroft and Sherlock spend nearly the whole day outside in the snow. They pause in their snowball fights and snowmen making to have lunch, and a nap, then they go back outside after a while to play some more. Sherlock takes Mycroft down to the pond to show him the way the water freezes, though Mycroft obviously knows, but Mycroft lets Sherlock educate him nonetheless.
"Did you and Greg have a fight?" Sherlock asks when they go back into the house for the last time.
Mycroft looks confused. "No."
Sherlock follows Mycroft up to Mycroft's bedroom. "Where is he? Why didn't you have a sleepover last night?"
"He had to be with his own family today," Mycroft says. Sherlock makes a face. "What's that face for?"
"Why does he have to be with his own family?"
Mycroft laughs. "Because he's theirs! Not ours."
"He is ours," Sherlock pouts.
Mycroft shakes his head. "I'm going to take a shower, ok? To warm up. After, I'll make dinner. Think about what you want."
Sherlock nods.
Mycroft excuses himself to the restroom, leaving his phone laying on his bed next to Sherlock. Sherlock picks it up and unlocks it, going straight to his file of games like he always does. He hears Mycroft's shower start, then he chooses Angry Birds to play.
Sherlock continues playing while Mycroft showers, and minutes later his game is interrupted by Mycroft receiving a text. He clicks it open and reads it.
From: Arthur Bennett Call me ASAP, I really need you!
Sherlock scowls. He ignores the message and goes back to his game.
Five minutes later, Sherlock's game is interrupted again, this time from a call. He accidentally accepts the call while trying to play the game, and he doesn't bother checking who it is.
"Hello?" Sherlock answers.
"Uhm...Hello?"
"Who is this?"
"Arthur...who is this?"
"Sherlock."
"Oh, hi Sherlock. Is Mycroft around?"
"No. What do you want?"
"Oh, uhm...I just need to talk to him. Can you tell him to call me as soon as he can?"
"Maybe," Sherlock says, "Bye."
Sherlock hangs up without anything more. Right then, Mycroft exits the bathroom.
"Who is Arthur?" Sherlock demands.
Mycroft looks confused. "Uhm..."
Sherlock's face sparks with realization. He gasps. "THAT BOY FROM THE MUSEUM?!"
Mycroft's jaw drops. "You can't remember what we did yesterday, but-"
"WHY IS THAT BOY CALLING YOU?!"
"Sherlock, relax, he-"
Sherlock stands on the bed and jumps on Mycroft. He latches on to his brother and tries to hit him, but Mycroft blocks his fist.
"Stop it!" Mycroft shouts. "Get off!"
Sherlock shouts at him, yelling things like, "Cheating!" and "Greg!" and "You arse!"
Mycroft finally grabs him and pulls him off, tossing him back onto the bed. Sherlock scrambles to his feet and grunts in frustration, but as he's about to pounce, Mycroft shouts, "I'm not cheating on Greg!"
Sherlock slightly pauses. "Then who is that guy?!"
Mycroft drops his arms and sighs, so Sherlock drops his arms too. Mycroft looks at him, sees the look of hurt in the little boy's face, and sits on the bed. "Alright, I'll tell you. But you have to promise not to tell Mother."
Sherlock drops to his knees next to Mycroft and slowly nods. He grows the same look of concern on his face that Mycroft has on his. "What is it, Myc?"
Mycroft takes a deep breath. "Arthur, the boy from the museum, is Father's step-son."
Sherlock looks confused. "What does that mean?"
"It means that after Father was married to Mum, he married Arthur's mother, and he was Arthur's dad."
"Instead of ours?"
Mycroft doesn't know what to say to that. He can't disagree, Tom was Arthur's father, and not theirs.
"Did he decide to be Arthur's daddy and not ours?"
"No, buddy," Mycroft says, "He didn't choose Arthur over us, I promise. A lot happened that...that I don't even understand. Alright? I'm not cheating on Greg, I promise you."
Sherlock slowly nods, as if he's trying to understand, though he doesn't. "So you...you talk to Arthur a lot?"
Mycroft nods. "Yeah, I do. He's really cool, he's a lot like us. He plays the piano like us."
"Is he cooler than Greg?"
Mycroft laughs. "No, he's not."
"Greg is the coolest."
"Yes, I agree."
Sherlock nods again. "Does Arthur like Xbox?"
"Uhm, I'm not sure. Why?"
"I was going to say he can come play, but if he doesn't like it then he doesn't have to."
Mycroft laughs. "Do you want to meet him?"
Sherlock shrugs. "I already did."
"I mean, like hang out with him."
Sherlock shrugs again. "Who is his mum?"
"Uhm...her name is Eva. She's really nice. She's like a regular mother."
"She isn't mean?"
"Why would she be?"
"Because...because, like, she took our dad."
Mycroft shakes his head. "She didn't take our dad, buddy. I promise, nobody took anyone, nobody replaced anyone, it wasn't anyone's fault. Understand?"
Sherlock nods.
Mycroft pulls Sherlock close to him and hugs him tight. "Remember what I told you? Don't tell mother, ok?"
Sherlock nods. "Ok, Myc."
Mycroft kisses his head and Sherlock pulls away.
"Arthur needs you to call him."
"Oh, right." Mycroft takes his phone and calls Arthur back.
Mycroft goes downstairs while waiting for Arthur to answer, and Arthur does by the time he and Sherlock get to the kitchen.
"Arthur?" Mycroft asks instead of a greeting. "Is everything alright?"
Arthur clears his throat. "Look mate, this is really embarrassing, but…I need some help."
"What is it?"
"I'm at a party, and I'm really drunk, and my mum said that next time I came home drunk I'd be pulled out of my school, and…I can't let that happen. Do you think you could help me out?"
Mycroft sighs relief, knowing Arthur isn't in any real danger. "Where is the party?"
Arthur tells him the address, his diction and memory oddly proper while so intoxicated. Mycroft writes it down and tells Arthur he'll be there in a little less than an hour, then hangs up.
"You up for Chinese?" Mycroft asks Sherlock.
Sherlock vigorously nods, knowing anything is better than spaghetti.
Mycroft calls for a car, then he and Sherlock leave.
Fifty minutes later, they're at the address and Mycroft calls Arthur.
"'Lo?" Arthur answers.
"I'm outside," Mycroft says.
Arthur appears at the car seconds later, and he drunkenly falls in. "Thank you so much," he slurs, "Thank you."
"No problem," Mycroft says.
"No really," Arthur says, "You're a life saver."
Sherlock stares at him.
Arthur catches him and begins to stare back.
"I told him who you are," Mycroft says.
Arthur smiles. "Guess we're brothers, then."
Sherlock doesn't say anything, just looks away out the window.
They stop for dinner and get back to Mycroft's house a while later. He sets Sherlock up to eat, and takes Arthur upstairs to the guest room.
"This is the guest room," Mycroft says. "There's the bathroom, and it's got, like, clean sheets and stuff."
Arthur nods and flops down onto the bed. "If you don't mind, I'm a bit tired."
"Oh, sure," Mycroft says. He heads for the door. "I'll just-"
"Why doesn't he like me, Mycroft?" Arthur starts.
Mycroft pauses. "Uhm…Lee?"
"Yes! Nobody ever likes me, Mycroft? Why? You didn't-"
"Arthur, you're my father's son-"
"Lee doesn't! No boys at my school! Maybe…maybe I should just date girls. Girls like me."
This makes Mycroft chuckle. "That's not how it works, Arthur."
"It could. I could date a girl. They're pretty. They're soft."
Mycroft laughs again. "I'm sure Lee will call."
"It's been a week! What is wrong with me?! Am I not…" Arthur takes a deep breath, "Am I not attractive enough?"
Mycroft looks at him. Arthur is an attractive boy, a very attractive boy. "Uhm…"
"You can tell me if I'm not! I trust you!"
Mycroft laughs. "You're attractive, Arthur-"
"Then why doesn't Lee like me?!"
"I guess…you're a bit intimidating. Very proper, I suppose."
"How do I be less proper?"
Mycroft laughs again. "I don't know, mate."
Arthur nods and sits up to drunkenly get his shoes off, which he does with far more finesse than Mycroft expects. "I'll see you later," Arthur says as he lays back again. "Thanks, Mycroft."
"You're welcome," Mycroft says as he leaves the room.
He gets back down to Sherlock and sits next to him at the kitchen island.
"Is he ok?" Sherlock asks.
Mycroft nods.
Arthur wakes an hour later and finds Mycroft and Sherlock in Sherlock's room. Sherlock invites Arthur to play games, and Arthur happily agrees. Sherlock thinks he's cool because he likes Xbox.
Arthur's phone rings a while later, and he looks at it confused.
"I don't know this number," he says.
Mycroft looks at it. "That's Lee."
Arthur smiles and looks at Mycroft. "Really?!"
"Yes! Answer it!"
"Oh!" Arthur hops up and steps out of the room.
He comes back ten minutes later and happily sits on the floor again.
"So?" Mycroft questions.
Arthur smiles wider. "We have a date for Tuesday night."
Mycroft smiles and pats his back, congratulating him.
Before bed, Mycroft calls Greg to tell him about the day.
"So, Arthur and Lee, huh?" Greg asks.
"Yep, I guess so."
"That doesn't bother you?"
"No, why would it?"
"I don't know."
"Sherlock thought I was cheating on you. I had to tell him who Arthur is."
Greg laughs. "This kid defends our relationship more than you or I do."
"I know. He was hurt that you didn't stay over the other night."
"I will…next weekend?"
Mycroft smiles into the phone. "I'd like that."
"Me too, love."
They talk for a while longer, then exchange goodbyes and I love you's.
Mycroft falls asleep happy that night, thinking about Greg and nothing else.
