Here's my next chapter, folks. Tell me what you think! All review are welcome, even negative ones! Smut in either the next chapter or the one after that. Then the story really takes off. More awkward/nervous Mycroft to come :P

And thanks to everyone who had reviewed my story so far! I absolutely loved hearing from all of you 3 You guys are the best! Cheers! ~ roxxie ;)

All the other meetings from then on were very similar. They discussed cases and Sherlock, ate a meal, and tried to think of things to talk about. Mostly it settled on how annoying Sherlock was, with Greg telling stories about what he said on cases and Mycroft telling stories about their childhood. Mycroft even got Greg to open up about his childhood, and they weren't surprised to find they had almost nothing in common there, either. Mycroft and Sherlock grew up in a mansion, with a distant mother and a father who had drunk himself to death when Mycroft was fifteen. Greg grew up as the oldest of four boys, and lived in a small suburban house. The one thing they did have in common on that front was that both their fathers had been alcoholics. The difference was that Mr. Lestrade had been able to get clean, and was now a very respectable man. Mycroft tried not to feel little pangs of jealousy at hearing that.

Greg was still shocked at the feelings he was suddenly having over Mycroft. When they accidentally brushed past each other or made eye contact he would feel the strangest of sensations in his stomach. It wasn't that he was unfamiliar with these feelings, he just didn't want to face them yet. But he was nothing if not brave, so one quiet day at the office he let his mind wander. There was really no way around it. Greg had found himself attracted to Mycroft Holmes. How had this happened? He had had a brief period in high school where he experimented with guys, but it didn't last. He just hadn't felt the attraction towards the male species he felt with women. Their soft skin, their big eyes, their curves. What he had originally found himself in love with he barely noticed anymore.

When had this happened? Right under his own nose, Greg had turned… gay? That couldn't be it, could it? He had no prejudice against homosexuality, but he hadn't though he would go down that road again. After what he had felt in high school, or rather what he hadn't felt, he never thought he would try again with men. But now here he was, getting excited thinking about Mycroft's soft ginger hair and perfectly fitted suits and amazingly posh behavior. Oh, and that voice! He could fall asleep to Mycroft's soft murmurs. The sounds he made when he ate something he enjoyed, like his most recent order of half a chicken sandwich, were absolutely heavenly. Snap yourself out of it, Greg! The last thing you need is to get turned on at the office, especially since he's not even here! Greg realized with a start that he really did fancy Mycroft, so much so that he was anxiously looking forward to their next increasingly casual meeting.

Well, there was only one thing for Greg to do. He wanted desperately to move this relationship along, he noted, so he would have to ask Mycroft on a proper date. The thought scared Greg more than a little. It was, after all, Mycroft bloody Holmes. The man could probably have him killed with a snap of the fingers. That really shouldn't turn him on, but it did a bit.

Greg had no clue whether or not Mycroft liked him. He didn't even know if Mycroft was gay! But if there was one thing he hated, that was to over think things. He hadn't had sex since he left his wife six months ago, and it had been a while before that, too. After a lot of experience before getting married, he knew over thinking things could never get anyone anywhere good.

That and his sexual frustration were two of the many things that pushed him to finally ask Mycroft out after one of their meetings. Mycroft had finally begun to feel comfortable around Gregory, enough so that instead of his usual salad or half-sandwich (of which he never ate the bread) he ordered a plate of greasy scrambled eggs and bacon. He rarely broke his diet rules, but when he was around Gregory he felt like it didn't matter.

"Mycroft… I've been thinking…" Greg started uneasily. It's easy to not over think things until you are about to do them, he thought He took a steadying breath and spoke. "Would you like to have dinner with me tomorrow night?"

Mycroft was stunned to silence, something that never happened to the normally composed man. He had been watching Gregory, as always, and had been almost content with just that. He didn't have the courage or audacity to ask Gregory out, and he hadn't noticed that Gregory himself did. He hadn't even noticed the other man had feelings for him. A small part of his mind chastised him for looking and not seeing, while the rest of it was busy freaking out.

"Mycroft? ...Are you okay?" Greg's question brought Mycroft out of his silent trance.

"Yes! I mean, yes. I would love to go on a date with you. That would be very… um… that is to say, it would be very nice." Poor Mycroft tripped over his words before finally regaining his composure. He was used to being threatened, disrespected, and occasionally assaulted. He was not, however, used to being asked on dates by very attractive men.

At the sight of Mycroft so obviously flustered, Greg broke in to a wide grin that stretched ear to ear. At the sound of a hitch in the other man's breath, the grin only got wider.

"Great! Where should we go? I haven't been out to eat in a while; are there any new restaurants I should know about?"

Mycroft, desperate to hide how much he was affected by the DI's proposition, answered calmly. "There is a new Japanese restaurant I've heard is doing very well."

"Wonderful! Should we meet there at eight?"

Mycroft smiled. "I can have a car pick you up."

"That's perfect. Thank you. For saying yes, too. I'm glad you did," Greg hammered out a bit hastily.

"I'm glad I did as well."