A Very Good Start

Genre: Family, Friendship

Pairings: Greg and Molly, Kieran and Emma, background

Main characters: Greg, Julian, Rosie

"OH, it was SO much fun, Jules. I wish you could have been there, but of course…" Rosie trailed off, her excitement suddenly waning in a hurry.

"It's alright Rosa. I've never much liked horses anyway," Julian giggled softly and carefully. "Anyway if you had fun with Mr. Greg so you didn't worry too much about me, I'm glad for it." He gave a weak smile to his best friend.

"You MIGHT have liked Mugs," Rosie said. "She's so small compared to Goldie and Pepper. Oh they're ENORMOUS," she breathed out excitedly. "Maybe not for Uncle, because he's a grown-up, and a rather tall one at that, but for me they are," she said, laughing. "When he took me back to the stables yesterday he taught me how to ride a big horse. Goldie is SO pretty, and he's so gentle too, I wasn't frightened at ALL to ride him. Mugs was busy with another rider but I didn't mind. I wanted to see things the way Uncle Greg saw them and since Goldie and Pepper were both available it was a chance for me to learn. I got to sit up NEARLY as high as he does!"

Rosie cut herself off suddenly, a bit embarrassed at her rambling.

"I'm sorry, Jules. I didn't mean to babble…" she said quietly.

Julian just smiled at her. "Oh, don't feel bad Rosa, please," he said soothingly. "I'm sure there are things I like doing that you don't enjoy either. But most things we enjoy together, that's what counts, isn't it?"

Greg, who had been standing in the doorway for just under a minute, strolled in, smiling.

"That's the best way to love someone you know. Enjoying things on your own but enjoying most things together."

Rosie and Julian gazed at him together, smiling, before Greg, reaching down to smile at Rosie and tousel her blonde locks, said, "Rosamund, you mum wanted your help with Daniel, soon as you're free."

Rosie smiled up at him before looking down at Julian and reaching down to give his hand a squeeze. "I'll be back when I can," she promised, solemnly.

When she had left, Julian looked to Greg with an odd expression.

"Mr. Greg, I know I don't USUALLY ask, but would you mind… I mean would it be okay… well I rather need a hug and was wondering if you'd mind…"

Greg's look turned to one of concern. Julian sounded worried about something. His brow furrowed, before he finally reached down to carefully scoop the young boy up into his arms and onto his lap.

"Just like that," Julian said, contentedly, as he gingerly maneuvered himself against Greg's shoulder, to recline against his arm. Julian, still easily tired from his only slightly complicated appendectomy and the resulting recovery time, sighed softly before speaking again. "The thing is, Mr. Greg, I wanted to talk to you without Rosa here."

Greg cleared his throat softly, bringing his free hand around to interlock his fingers together, forming a cradle for the young boy to lean back into.

"You know I want to be a policeman someday, just like you, and daddy, and Uncle Ben," Julian started, as he wiggled himself back into the comfort of Greg's arms.

Greg wasn't sure he'd gotten that memo, but knew that if he hadn't before, it had just landed on his desk with a big thud.

"I know that takes a lot of time away from home, and well, Rosa doesn't know this yet but I know she wants to be a nurse, like her mum. I'm going to marry her someday, you know," he said quite seriously, even though none of that was news to Greg, or any of the other grownups, including Kieran and Emma. "I know there will be a lot of times when we can't be together, so I want her to find things to have fun doing without me," he said solemnly.

"I also want to have things I like to do without her, because I know there will be times she isn't around either. I don't want either of us to be too sad when we have to be apart."

Greg smiled lightly at this. He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, before speaking.

"You're a very clever and wise little lad, you know. Might I tell you a secret, Julian?"

Julian's eyes lit up with curiosity, as he turned his bright green eyes up towards Greg.

"I know you're going to marry Rosie," Greg whispered. "It's plain as day you're meant to," he said, winking.

Julian's green eyes grew large. "Really?" he asked, shocked.

"Mmm hmm," Greg hummed, nodding. "Really. Sometimes grown-ups just know these things," he said.

"Will I know those sorts of things when I'm a grown-up, Mr. Greg?" the young boy asked with cautious optimism.

"Oh, I think you already know some of those things, Little Lad," Greg said, bringing a hand up to tousle Julian's light ginger curls. "So what do you enjoy that Rosie isn't particularly fond of?"

"Oh, I just LOVE a good game of football," Julian said, with as much enthusiasm as his waning energy could muster. "Rosa isn't very fond of it. She'll watch it but I don't think she cares for it much. She definitely doesn't like to play it."

"Well, football isn't for everyone, Little Lad. Personally, I like to have a nice footy match now and then myself. Keeps my old joints flexible," Greg laughed.

"Daddy does too," Julian said, carefully shifting himself to turn more towards Greg to face him. "Mummy loves it, she says Daddy is dishy in his footy uniform. What does dishy mean, Mr. Greg?"

Greg blinked several times before clearing his throat lightly. "Well, it just means that your mum thinks your dad is handsome, and she likes the way your he looks sometimes is all, especially when he's in his football gear."

"I see," Julian said, thoughtfully. "Well I think she doesn't like the game so much as watching daddy play it."

Greg felt inclined to agree with that, but kept his assessment to himself. Sometimes, he suspected Molly felt the same way as Emma Bailey did on that particular topic, when he himself was outfitted for a nice Sunday afternoon match with the Met's intramural squad, which included, of course, Kieran Bailey.

"So Rosa loves horseback riding with you, and I love football. Do you think that's enough for us to be happy having fun without each other now and then?"

Greg turned his face down to look at the young boy.

"I think it's a very good start," Greg said, solemnly.