'Why are we lying down in a park, and looking up at the sky?' John asked Tara. He was used to all kinds of weird habits and encounters after being friends with Sherlock for about 10 years but that did not cure his curiosity.

'I needed some girl talk' Tara shrugged.

'And you came to me, how flattering' John said sarcastically.

'Hey, Mrs. Hudson and Molly are of no help with relationship stuff, they are full of sunshine. It's like they live in a land of candy, and Grace... She is rooting for the other guy. It's like she is waiting for me to fail. So, I don't need this crap from you.' she told John

'Yeah, Grace can be a bully sometimes.' John knew how brutally honest Grace could be, in those aspects she was just like Sherlock. Both of them didn't think twice before saying anything, having no regard for the other person's feelings.

'She is really mean' Tara cried.

'What do you need to talk about?' John asked. Over the past years, Tara had become one of his closest friends. Sherlock was still his best friend but there were times he just needed an agony aunt, and in those times, Tara had been more than a sympathetic ear to him.

Tara took a deep breath before saying 'Mycroft asked me to move in with him'

'Wow, that's a big step' John mused. It was still weird for John to see a woman he considered his best friend have a relationship with one of the most unpleasant men he had the ill fortune of knowing.

'I know. I said yes and now I am kind of nervous about it.' Tara said, turning on her side to face John

'Why?' he asked and turned to face her.

'Grace thinks we're moving too fast' she said in disappointment.

'Who cares what Grace thinks. How do you feel about it?' he asked her.

'John,... he makes me so happy. It was like I was lost and he found me' she smiles fondly.

'You really do love him, don't you?' John huffed a laugh.

'Yes, I do' Tara blushed.

'Look, if you really love him, it'll all work out for the best. Mycroft asked you to move in with him. That's a big deal for him. I never thought I'd see the day when a woman would talk so affectionately about Mycroft Holmes... You two have been lonely for a long time, it's good that you found each other.' As much as it puzzled him to see these two polar opposites fall in love, it never stopped him from giving good advice and rooting for his best friend's happiness.

'You really think so?' Tara asked in surprise.

'I have known Mycroft Holmes for about 10 years now and I am not saying you've changed him but, you do make him a better person. And you... I didn't see your true smile until you met Mycroft. Sure, you smiled but there was always this sadness in your eyes... It's gone. You're actually happy. He makes you feel happy and complete. You make him loosen up a little. Well, as much as Mycroft can... You two are good for each other.'

'Wow, that was really sweet' Tara smiled.

'Yeah, that is the nicest thing I've ever said about that jackass.' John chuckled.

Tara laughed at the insult. 'So, you don't think we're going too fast' she asked.

'Take it from a man who had it and lost it. Relationships like this, they come once in a lifetime. If you're lucky you get a second chance. This is your chance. He is taking a leap of faith. After knowing Mycroft Holmes for 10 years, I can tell you that doesn't happen often. Jump with him.' He encouraged her.

'Thanks, John' Tara hugged him.

'Anytime, kiddo' John kissed the top of her head

'Hey, you want to go out for drinks?' Tara asked as she got up.

'Just, you and me. I don't know. We'd just get drunk, pour out our hearts and be sad. That sounds very depressing' John winced at the thought.

'Don't worry, Grace is coming' Tara added.

'You're taking me to girls' night, aren't you?' John asked knowingly.

'Yes' Tara reluctantly nodded with a mischievous smile.

'First girl talk, now girls' night. What's become of my life?' John whined, making Tara laugh.

Tara was grateful to have a friend like John. When she was around him, he made her feel like she was with her brothers again. Everything he had said was true.

...

'You brought your boy bestie to girls' night. What's wrong with you?' Grace asked her boss.

'Good evening to you too, Grace' John drawled and took a seat at the table.

'It's not girl's night. I brought John so, he could have a nice time' Tara told her.

'It's Thursday night. Thursday night is girls' night. You know, so you can go screw your cyborg on weekends' Grace countered.

'She is so mean' Tara whined to John.

'I am right here' Grace said.

'She never acts like this in front of Mycroft. Have you ever noticed that?' Tara tells John, both of them enjoying how much Grace was getting irritated.

'Yeah, I think she is just scared of him' John mused.

'No, I am not scared of Mycroft, and stop talking about me like I'm not here' she said sternly. Tara and John stare at her, squinting their eyes and raising their brows 'Maybe a little' she admits hesitantly making her friends snigger. 'What can I say, the dude creeps me out' she cried.

'Seems fair' John said.

'Mycroft can be very intimidating' Tara agreed.

'Do you ever find him intimidating?' John asked in curiosity.

'Is that why you're attracted to him?' Grace asked her.

'NO and NO. I am done for today. Let's talk about someone else. Grace how's your boyfriend?' Tara shrieked and diverted the topic.

'Yeah, I am not drunk enough for that yet. Let's do John. John, how have you been?' Grace dodged.

'I am great'

'Are you sure about that? It's Thursday night and you were sitting with us in a sad old bar' For someone who was named Grace she really wasn't living up to her name.

'Grace!' Tara reprimanded

'Aren't you seeing anyone?' Grace ignored Tara and continued on her quest.

'In case you didn't notice, this is why I don't come to girls' night.' John told Tara and turned to Grace 'And no, I am not seeing anyone right now.'

'And why is that?'

'Grace!' Tara was not sure if John would be comfortable with Grace's line of inquiry.

'Shush. Let the man talk' Grace told her boss.

'I have been busy taking care of Rosie and then there is work too' John dodged her question.

'You know there are a lot of single working parents out there who date, right?' Grace was striking a raw nerve here.

'John?...' Tara asked softly. Grace's way of approaching the subject might have been insensitive but she was not wrong to approach it. John was their friend and they wanted to help him.

'It's just been difficult since Mary died. Meeting new people is hard. It's just easier to keep myself busy with Rosie and work' John confessed.

'John, Mary's been gone for a long time now, you're going to have to get out there sometime. It's what she'd want. And it would be good for Rosie to see her father happy again' Tara told him. She wanted to give him her own example. She knew how it felt to be the one who was left behind. To lose the love of ones' life. It was painful. At first being with Mycroft had felt like cheating on her husband, it was why she had pushed Mycroft away. But she knew she couldn't go on living the rest of her life in loneliness. She wished she could tell John that but it was wiser not to.

'I cheated on her... when she was alive. It was just texting but I wished it was more. I loved her then and I love her now but it's just hard to trust myself again' John said shamefully.

Tara looked at him in sympathy. To live with that kind of guilt for so many years must've been hard, she thought. 'John, she was your wife, you'll always love her. You don't have to stop loving her just because she is dead.' She remembered Mycroft telling her the same thing 'You dreamt a life with her. So many dreams unlived, that's a lot to let go of. And the guilt. Not being able to trust yourself. You can't carry all that for the rest of your life.' she told him 'You don't have to dive in deep, just dip your feet in the water, test it out, see how it feels. And you'll have your second chance.' She said and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

'I might not deserve one' John whispered.

'Everybody deserves a second chance, John' Tara told him.

'Seriously, dude, fire your therapist. She's ripping you off. You're just wasting precious time and money' Grace told him.

John gaped at her in shock and then turned to Tara.

'What?!' she asked

'Aren't you going to say something?'

'Yeah, no, I'm with her on this one' Tara told him.

John shook his head and smiled 'You know what, this was actually helpful. So, drinks are on me girls' he told them

'Wow, you should come to girls' night more often' Grace cheered

'Still calling it that, huh?' John sighed.

'Hey, let's help John meet a girl tonight' Tara said.

'No, I am fine, thank you'

'So, are we talking one-night stand or a relationship?' Tara ignored his refusal and asked John

'Either way, the dude needs to get laid' Grace exclaimed.

'I am right here' John told them.

'John, look around, you're in a bar full of sad lonely women. Let us help you' Grace told him.

'Yeah, look around, find a girl you like and I'll be your wing-woman' Tara urged him.

'No, thank you'

'You know what, I'm doing this myself' Tara said and looked around the bar 'Wow, she seems nice' she said, looking at a beautiful woman at the end of the bar. She immediately started walking towards her.

'Where the hell are you going?' John asked Tara.

'I'm going to get you a date' Tara yelled as she disappeared into the crowd.

John and Grace could see her talking to the woman and pointing towards their table. A few minutes later she waved at John and gestured for him to come over to the woman's table.

'Wow, I did not think that would work' Grace said.

'Me neither' John said 'Oh, she is calling me. What do I do?' he asked

'Go get some, grandpa!' Grace cheered and pushed John towards the woman.

John hesitantly walked towards the woman. Tara introduced the two and left them to figure out the rest for themselves.

'Great going, genius. You sent the guy who was going to pay our check away' Grace told Tara when she returned. John looked like he was having a nice time. The chances of him coming back to their table were slim.

'I thought you were with me on this one' Tara said.

'In my defense, I didn't think it would actually work'

'Oh, come on. John was having a difficult night, he needed it'

'Well, now you're paying' Grace told Tara

'You're grown woman, shouldn't you pay for yourself?' Tara asked

'Give me a raise and then we can talk'

'Just drink your Syrah'

'Hey, Tara! You wanna...?' Grace winked at Tara.

'You bet your sweet arse I wanna...' Tara winked back.

Both women laughed and ran to the karaoke machine, pushing the women who were singing off the stage, they snatched the mic and sang...

John cringed at the sight of his friends singing or rather screaming Wannabe by the Spice Girls.

'You don't have to take them home, do you?' John's date asked him.

'Oh, No!' John chuckled 'They are never quite as drunk as people think they are, they'll manage just fine' he assured her.

'Well, that's good for us, isn't it?' she smiled and reached for his hand.

'It is I suppose. Do you want to go somewhere else, perhaps someplace where my two drunk friends aren't screaming Spice Girls?' John asked

'I can think of a place. Come on, get your coat' She smirked.

...