You don't realize how much you know about your parents from growing up with them. That is, until you get new parents and you have to learn the facts about them that everyone else seems to come pre-programmed with, and they, in return, have to learn you. It's silly, really.
"Favorite color?"
"Green. 'S peaceful." Camped out at the kitchen table, John and Astrid were playing twenty questions.
"Mine's blue. It always has been, even when I was little. Used to get made fun of because I was a girl who liked blue. How do you feel about chocolate cake?"
"Can't stand it."
"Vanilla?"
"Slightly better."
"Favorite doctor?"
"Seven."
"What? Christopher Eccleston is the best doctor, ever."
"Well that's only your opinion because you're a baby, isn't it?" He joked.
"A baby?" She was mock-insulted.
"You weren't even alive when seven was on!"
"Hmph."
"Sherlock, who's your favorite doctor?"
"You." He clearly hadn't been listening to the conversation.
"I'm touched, but we're discussing Doctor Who."
"What do you mean?"
"The television show. With the time traveling alien known as The Doctor?" Astrid supplied.
Sherlock paused. "The first Doctor." Of course.
"How about your favorite color?" Astrid probed.
"Purple."
"Somehow, I expected that," she replied. Wanting to take advantage of his good mood, she continued her line of questioning. "Favorite…language."
That was one John was pretty sure had never been asked in all of the 'getting to know you' games he'd ever played. But he was playing with Holmeses now, so he should've expected it.
"French."
"I like Farsi."
John looked at her in surprise. "You speak Farsi?"
"Um…not so much. A few phrases, really basic. I just love the way it sounds."
"I learned a lot of it in Afghanistan. I could teach you what I know, if you like?"
Astrid smiled, the same smile that John loved to see on Sherlock, a genuine, happy smile. It was much less rare on Astrid than on her father. On both of them, it could light up a room. "I'd like that."
Sherlock, competitive man that he was, interrupted with, "Do you speak any languages, other than English?"
"Spanish. Though I've always wanted to learn French. And just about any other language I can get someone to teach me," she continued with a chuckle.
"I could help you learn French," he mumbled.
Astrid pretended not to hear. "Beg pardon?"
"I. Could. Teach. You," Sherlock gritted his teeth as though every word was physically painful.
"That sounds positively lovely," Astrid replied, getting up to clear off her dishes. "I'd really enjoy that."
A/N: I realize that it is more likely John would have learned an Afghan dialect, but I feel like he also learned Farsi, just because it is a commonly spoken language in a lot of areas. So I'm sure he knows some Pashto and God only knows whatever else, but he also speaks Farsi. :P