A/N: Thanks to those of you who have expressed interest in this story. I should mention that this story will make a lot more sense if you have at least read my previous story "I Am Hated For Loving" in order to understand the context of the events of this story.

Esurientes Implevit Bonis - 2

Mycroft met his lawyer and they went inside the building together. Mycroft's lawyer was absolutely trustworthy, and had all the needed information at his fingertips, so Mycroft planned on letting him do most of the talking while he observed Margaret Hyde-White and her lawyer carefully.

He had researched both of them ahead of time, of course, but the plain facts of a person's life don't always tell you what kind of person they really are. One of Mycroft Holmes' many gifts was the ability to deduce your entire personality within three minutes of meeting you.

Therefore, within five minutes of sitting down in the lawyer's office, Mycroft found himself quite pleased and happy with the mother of his child. She was certainly intelligent, with a D. Litt. in Medieval History, but more importantly she was an open, honest person, anxious to be friendly and pleasing. She clearly didn't have a single devious bone in her body.

This was putting her lawyer, Mr. Stone, at a distinct disadvantage, as she was continually volunteering information and offering accommodations which her lawyer kept trying to discourage, "What Ms. Hyde-White means to say is..." was used repeatedly.

Mycroft could see that she had a very sheltered upbringing, and had been extremely close and emotionally dependant on her father as her mother had died in a car accident when Margaret was quite young. Since her father's death of approximately one month ago she had been feeling alone and insecure in the world. She was clearly delighted at the prospect of having a willing partner to help her raise her child.

"She's entirely too trusting," Mycroft thought to himself, "she's fortunate that I have come into her life with only good intentions. I'll have to work on that with her."

But, he couldn't help feeling kind-hearted toward her. Much to her lawyer's chagrin she told the story of how Taliesin came to be born. After her father received his terminal cancer diagnosis, he expressed his wish to hold a grandchild before he died. Margaret was just barely twenty, and still in uni, but couldn't deny her father his dying wish. So, she had agreed to an in vitro fertilization. She said her father arranged everything, but told her the sperm was from an anonymous donor.

Agreements and arrangements were made for an independent genetic test to be done to confirm the parentage of Taliesin. Mycroft, through his own means, had already had one, so he knew the result was a foregone conclusion. But, it was important to let Margaret and her lawyer see the proof through channels they knew they could trust.

Even though she didn't have the proof yet, Margaret was quite happy to tell Mycroft about her son.

"He can already read Old, Middle, and Modern English, so I'm starting him on Latin and Greek," she informed him proudly.

Heavens! Thought Mycroft behind his polite smile, a child of the 21st century would be much better served by learning Chinese or Arabic. Medievalists don't have a practical bone in their bodies!

But, try as he might, he couldn't feel any sort of anger toward Margaret, with her charming, eager smile, and obvious love and care for their son.

All-in-all, it was a remarkably successful meeting from Mycroft's perspective. Margaret was both lovely and of good character, Taliesin was healthy and flourishing, and all that remained was getting the test results back so that he could finally meet his son in person.

As Mycroft made his way back to his car, he pleasantly tumbled the possibilities over in his mind. He could see that he would now have plenty to occupy his mind and heart, and that his restless loneliness was likely to become a thing of the past. He would now have a son to raise and teach, as well as what promised to be a close and pleasant relationship with Taliesin's mother.

By the time he was settled in the backseat and rolling toward his office, Mycroft had determined that both Margaret and Taliesin would be living under his roof by Christmas. After all, he had to ensure their safety, they were now his family and his responsibility.

He was confident that Sherlock would approve. Sherlock had long complained that Mycroft was entirely too parental in his attitude toward him. Now that he actually had a son to parent, and Sherlock had a caring companion better suited to looking after him, maybe they could finally be brothers again.

Mycroft was already imagining Christmas dinner with himself, Margaret, Taliesin, Sherlock and John all gathered around the family table. He knew he was being romantic and fanciful, but for the first time in a very long time, he felt that it was also a vision within his grasp. To have a happy family again, after so many years of sorrows and resentments, it seemed almost too good to be true.

Once given a goal, Mycroft was a difficult man to thwart. He knew he could make this happen, and he was going to start building his plans today.

First item on his agenda, start creating a bedroom for Taliesin to stay in for visits. Mycroft had plenty of rooms that could be converted. Which one would be best? How could he best decorate it for a child of Taliesin's age and interests?

Mycroft had a sudden change of plans for his day. For a project like this, he would need some help and input.

He leaned forward and informed the driver, "Change of destination, 221B Baker Street."

End

A/N: So...please let me know what you think. I'm not planning on making Mycroft and his son a focus of my ongoing narrative, but they will pop in from time to time.

Next story will be a new Adventure for Sherlock & John...