Music

Mycroft Holmes has always loved music. Ever since he was a little boy and his mother handed him a piano guide on sheet music. It was his favourite present and he kept it with him through to adulthood.

Now at the age of 46, Mycroft picks up the book; The Well Tempered Clavier and runs his fingers across it softly; the memories of playing piano for his family flowing back.

"Are you going to play for me, baby?" The voice interrupts Mycroft's thoughts.

"Yes, I thought I might." Mycroft smiles softly to himself, sitting down at his piano and opening the book at his favourite page.

He doesn't really need the sheet music anymore as he has Bach's Prelude in C major compiled to memory but it's all part of the show; a grand piano, music sheet and the pianist as one.

"Mm, what's this? It's beautiful."

"Johann Sebastian Bach or more commonly known as Bach. And this is his Prelude in C major." Mycroft smiles softly as the older man sits next to him on the stool.

"Definitely beautiful." Greg smiles, watching Mycroft play.

"Indeed." Mycroft replies in agreement.

"I wasn't talking about the music that time." Greg grins, trying to catch the younger man's eye.

"Oh. Well, thank you, Gregory. I think it's time we arranged an eye test for you." Mycroft replies gently, blushing slightly.

"There's nothing wrong with my eyesight, Myc. I can just appreciate real beauty."

Mycroft ceases playing for a moment to look at his partner, "If your eyesight isn't bad then you must be crazy. There's nothing beautiful or remotely appealing about me, Gregory."

"Beauty in the eye of the beholder, Myc. And the beholder sees that you are beautiful. Simple as." Greg smiles, cupping his partner's cheek and kissing him softly.

"Thank you, Gregory. But I have to disagree that you are the most attractive between us." Mycroft smiles back, resting his hand on Greg's thigh.

"I love you, you know that?" Greg asks softly, smiling a little.

"Indeed I do. And I love you too, Gregory."

"Come dance with me. I know you probably have this on tape or something." Greg replies, standing up and holding a hand out for his partner.

"I have a tape of me playing, if that counts." Mycroft replies shyly, looking down at the piano.

"That sounds perfect." Greg smiles, pulling Mycroft up off the stool and directing him to the stereo.

Mycroft puts the tape in and walks back to Greg, resting a hand on his waist and bringing his hand up to meet his partner's.

"Oh, so you get to lead do you?" Greg grins but doesn't attempt to rectify the situation.

"You can't dance, as proved at our ceremony." Mycroft grins back, the memory of his partner stumbling over his feet causing him to chuckle.

"As you wish then, baby." Greg replies with a smile.

They move around the floor gracefully; well Mycroft moves gracefully while Greg just tries not to stumble over, and as the song reaches it's end, they slow to a gentle sway. They continue to sway long after the piece is finished, just lost in each other's embrace and the moment of calm and quiet; which they rarely have due to their schedules.

"I love this." Greg whispers in his partner's shoulder. "Dancing with you, I mean. Well, spending time with you at all. Just me and you with the rest of the world locked out, it's nice."

"I love this too. I wish we could do it more, Gregory." Mycroft sighs softly, resting his head against Greg's.

"It's okay, it's not your fault."

"And it's not yours either."

Greg hums in agreement, too tired to say anything.

"Tired?" Mycroft asks softly, kissing his partner's head.

"Yeah."

"Go lie down and I'll play some more Bach." Mycroft replies, gently pulling back from Greg and looking him in the eyes.

"Thanks, baby." Greg smiles, kissing his partner softly before going to lie down on the little couch.

Mycroft goes back to his piano and continues to play Prelude in C major as a lullaby for his partner.

The melody fills the small study and before the older Holmes has finished playing, he hears the soft snores of his partner and decides to stop.

"Goodnight, sweetheart." He says softly, kissing his partner on the forehead and going back to his desk to do some work.