-:- Sherlock -:-

We walked in to Angelo's together, completely smitten with each other. I really hoped that this newfound sense of wellbeing was real, because I didn't know how to live without John. The waiter indicated my usual table by the window, where I loved to people watch. John slid into the booth after me, and wrapped his ankle around mine under the table. I laughed, kissing his cheek. Angelo chose to appear at that moment, and I saw he had a candle for our table. I grinned at John, as this was now officially a date.

"Sherlock..." Angelo said with a broad smile, "So glad to see that you took my advice." He set the lit candle down and pulled out a menu for John. "You look, dare I say, more than half alive now."

"Angelo, this is John, my mate." I took John's hand, smiling at my lover. "I think he's curing my wolf." John smiled in amazement, hearing that. I knew he would be thrilled to hear that I have hope.

"This is the best man I know, John. He saved me from prison." My friend couldn't stop himself from trying to convince John that I was pretty much perfect. To which I scoffed, giving him a look. "Alright, he got me off a murder charge. Still went to prison for house breaking, but at least I didn't get the rope." He laughed at that, as did I.

"You never would have gotten the rope, Angelo." I rolled my eyes at him as he left. I knew that I was giddy from the high of a freshly solved case, but I felt that a part of it was John. He was like a ... God, I don't know how to describe it. He warmed me, made me feel life and joy for the first time in years, actually for the first time in almost a decade. My throat constricted, as I gazed at his face. He was the perfect one in this relationship. I gave him a kiss, and murmured, "I love you," as a tear formed in the pit of my eye.

He took my face in his hands, stroking my cheekbones with his thumbs. I knew that I was being an absolute idiot, but I simply couldn't get over how well and whole I felt with John. I blinked, letting the tear fall, and John's gentle thumb rubbed it away. We stayed like that for a long while, just gazing into each other's eyes, conveying all that we needed to say in this tender moment of reassurance.

I smiled softly, exhaling shakily and pulling back as the waiter came to take our order. John smiled, and picked up his menu. "The Alfredo is good, John. Billy, I'll have my usual."

"Well, if my mate says it's good, I'll trust him. I'll have the chicken fettuccine Alfredo, and a coffee." John handed him his menu, and looked back at me. My wolf hadn't been this calm in... well, ever. She actually seemed happy in his presence, which intensified the feeling that her and I had finally come to an agreement. I prayed to whomever was listening that we had, because I would really like to have all of those quaint relationship tropes with John.

Our first Christmas, and snogging him under the mistletoe. Staying up past midnight on New year's Eve and having our first kiss in 2020. Dyeing eggs on Easter... Even marriage and kids. "John... There's something I need to tell you..." I debated the best way to broach the subject with myself, completely unsure of how to begin.

I'd learned from tests I'd undergone after my first full moon, at Myc's insisting, that because I have a female wolf, I also bore a secondary reproductive system, I indeed could bear children. My mutation was very rare, but I knew... Well, I hoped John wouldn't be disgusted by it. Wouldn't be revolted that I was neither completely male nor female. "John..." I hesitated, as Billy brought our orders to the table, and I accepted my grilled chicken Greek salad and coffee. It looked and smelled delicious.

"Sherlock, what are you trying to say?" John asked, and then took a bite of his pasta. I hoped he would take it well.

"Do you... Do you ever want kids, John?" I asked. Stupid, stupid, stupid, Sherlock! Just tell him!

John paused for a long while, his face turning sad, and thoughtful. I wanted to take away the sadness in his eyes, but I was just a little bit afraid of him rejecting me. So I simply took a bite of my salad, though it tasted less delicious than it had a minute before. Mainly because my wolf was howling in my ears at my foolishness. "I'd like to have kids, Sherlock." John said, "But it's hard enough for two men to adopt a child together, let alone two men who are Weres." I closed my eyes, sighing with relief. He wants kids.

"Well, we don't necessarily need to adopt," I said quietly, and even quieter added, "I can get pregnant for you."

He gaped, literally gaped, his fork nearly falling from his hand in his shock. Please let it just be shock, I thought, let him just be surprised, and not revolted. I had a few negative experiences with telling people about my unique condition, but John wasn't like those people, not like the bastards who made me afraid of my own body. I looked at John worriedly, but slowly a beautiful smile spread across his face, and an answering one graced mine. He was happy, happy that I can give him a tiny little Watson. God, how I wanted to. A child of our own, with John's beautiful eyes, and incredible ability to love.

"Sherlock... You mean..." He smiled so largely that I could guess his face was hurting.

"My mutation, my female wolf, the virus that made her gave me a female reproductive system," I said, as I took his hand in mine. "Mycroft, my older brother, took me to a specialist in the Werewolf virus and had me examined, when I had complications after my first full moon. Myc knew that what was happening to me was very far out of the ordinary. A few hormonal tests and an ultrasound later we learned of the side effects of a man having a female wolf." I rubbed his knuckles with my thumb, and murmured, "Is it okay? Do you still want me as a mate?"

"Sherlock." I glanced up at him, but the only emotions that I saw on his face were love and joy. No fear, no revulsion. He picked up my hands, and kissed them softly. "This is probably the best news I could get, aside from you not having to die. I-" he stopped, tears forming in his eyes. No John, don't be sad. This is good, I can have your babies. "I've never been happier," he finished, smiling through the tears. "I thought becoming a Were meant that I would be alone, or at the most, I would find a husband or wife, but that it would just be us... But this..."

I kissed him. I took his face in my hands and snogged the hell out of him. My wolf stretched, eager to take this home and to the bedroom, which was understandable, giving that I was a few hours away from this month's heat, but I controlled her. I didn't need to be rushing to get pregnant. I pulled away after a bit, needing air, even though I'd been breathing through my nose the entire time. I said, still gasping for air, "I love you, John. And I want to have your cubs." I meant every word, especially the 'cubs'. We're Weres after all, any children we have will carry our virus.

He grinned at me, dazed. Suddenly I caught the scent of my brother, and looked behind me. "Perfect timing, Brother Mine." I said, shifting away from John, and turning to face Mycroft.

He was wearing one of his expensive suits, and still had his briefcase and umbrella from a day at the office. I turned back to John, and began the introduction. "John this is my older brother, Mycroft Holmes-Lestrade. Myc, this is my John." I moved closer to my mate, making room for Myc on the seat. My poor older brother looked like he was going to faint from exhaustion. "Are you alright, Myc? You look worse than I do, for a change." I grinned, as Mycroft rolled his eyes at me.

"I've had my hands full, worrying about you, Sherl." He feigned indifference as I mock gasped.

"Oh, Myc. How many times I have told you; mild concern, or slight anxiety about me are fine, but I draw the line at actual worry." That got me a tired chuckle, and I began to give him the 'well, out with it' look. I knew he had something to say about this, and Myc was always honest with me. Always.

"Sherlock, for someone with your... particular condition, it may be... a trifle inadvisable to advertise your and John's relationship. Especially amongst other Weres."

-:- John -:-

"What the hell do you mean?" I asked, angry at this tosser's condescending tone. What bloody right did he have to say we can't be- Sherlock's hand gripped my wrist tightly, and I saw him give me a tight smile, and shake his head infinitesimally.

The meaning was clear - he means well.

"I'm sorry?" Mycroft hadn't caught our little exchange, apparently. "Unless you intend to fully Claim my brother, I suggest you keep your relationship quiet. Other Weres have shown a desire for Sherlock, and they could become fiercely territorial over someone they believe is 'theirs'." He raised an eyebrow as I struggled for words. What did he mean, 'fully claim'? I was completely new to being a Were, and I'd only been through a single full moon!

"John, don't panic. I promise I'll explain." Sherlock soothingly rubbed my arm, but I only became more confused. My wolf calmed at his touch, but I think it only made me worried. "I'm in a pack, John. I-I don't go to all of the meetings, but an Alpha has desired me, well, her, to be the mother of his cubs. I make sure to stay at home when I'm in heat, but still... He wants to mate with me. I told him no, he's not my mate. I need you, as my true life-mate to give me your Mark, so we can be together. I need you to stake your Claim." Sherlock hesitantly smiled at me, clearly begging for my acceptance, but I didn't even know what it was I was supposed to do!

Mycroft apparently saw my confusion. "You never had someone to show you the ropes of being a Were, did you?" His voice seemed kinder now, as he opened his briefcase. I looked at my mate, but Sherlock seemed to be saddened by this. Saddened by the fact that I'd never had a Wolf mentor. Mycroft fished out a thick stack of papers, bound together, and handed the government issued copy paper to me. "This is a compilation of everything we know about Weres. Sherlock should be the one to walk you through it, but this could be a supplement to his knowledge." Mycroft closed his case, and stood. "Sherlock. I'll see you soon, and I'll be bringing along the paperwork needed by our PM. I'm sorry for upsetting your mate, but you have to be careful."

"Sherlock," I said seriously, "I know that you wanted us to know each other without the Werewolf thing coming into play, but... We need to have that discussion. I don't know the first thing about being a Were, apparently. I need you to teach me." I held the stack of papers tightly, and swallowed nervously. "Please love, teach me about our species. I need you to."

"I know. I will."