Chapter 6-

Life went on as usual, Mycroft and Greg hung out everyday, Greg went to work, Mycroft looked after Sherlock, both men's parents were more often absent than not. Life was good, except for the fact that both Mycroft and Greg both wanted more than friendship.

Ever since the meteor shower a few weeks ago, kissing Mycroft was all Greg could think about. Would Mycroft like Greg kissing him though? Greg thought as he wiped down another table Speedy's café. Greg had taken an extra shift at the café because Mycroft was away looking at universities with his parents and Sherlock. There was no reason for Greg to not take the extra shift because he had no plans.

Mycroft had been gone a week and Greg felt lost. It was odd not spending time with Mycroft, they texted of course but that was a poor substitute for talking face to face. Greg couldn't see Mycroft's smile, or hear his huffs of annoyance, he couldn't hear his laugh or 'accidentally' brush up against his warm flesh.

He missed not being able to laugh along with Mycroft, not just chuckle at a phone screen for a few seconds before replying. Shit, thought Greg, I've become some love obsessed girl.

Thank goodness it was almost the end of his shift, Greg was ready to just curl up under his covers and go to sleep. Mycroft would be home tomorrow and everything would be fine.

Wiping down the last of his tables, Greg ditched his apron in the back and clocked out. His motorbike was parked out front, so Greg exited the shop and pulled on his helmet. Fishing his keys out of his pocket, Greg put the correct key in the bikes ignition and it roared to life. Pulling out into traffic, Greg drove the short trip home.

When he was running up stairs to his room, he didn't see his mother walking down them.

Greg bumped into her and let out a curse, "shit."

Greg's mother caught herself from tumbling down the stairs by clasping two steady hands on the banister.

"Mum!" Greg yelled out in shock, "I'm so sorry, I didn't even know you were home! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine Gregory, you just gave me a fright." Releasing the banister, she eyed her son up and down, "where are you going in such a rush?"

Greg just shrugged.

"Are you going to go see your boyfriend tonight?"

Greg's eyebrows furrowed, "what?"

"Or is he coming here? He could stay for dinner if he likes," she continued, not noticing Greg's confusion.

"Who are you talking about mum?" Greg shifted his weight from one foot to the other, careful not to fall down the stairs.

"Mycroft of course, who did you think?"

"Mum, we aren't-"

"Come to think of it," she cut Greg off, "I haven't seen him in a day or two. Oh, are you two fighting?"

"No, we aren't fighting, he's away looking at universities with his parents and younger brother, and Mum," Greg said firmly, "we aren't dating. Mycroft's-" Greg licked his lips, "-Mycroft's just a friend."

Greg's mum looked shocked, "oh, I always thought" she waved a hand in the air. "Are you sure? You don't have to lie to me you know?"

Greg smiled, "I know mum, but seriously, me and Mycroft are just-" Greg trailed off.

"Friends," Greg's mum finished his sentence for him. "You two do make a cute couple."

"Mum," Greg said with a blush.

"What? I'm just saying," she swatted Greg's shoulder playfully.

"I'm not even sure if he likes me like, that." Muttered Greg, studying his shoes.

Greg's mum smiled, "so, you aren't dating, but you would like to?"

Blushing, Greg rubbed the back of his neck, "yeah."

"So why don't you ask him out then, you've never had a problem with it before."

"This is different mum, he's my best friend. I don't want to ruin our-" Greg was cut of by the shrill of a phone.

Reaching down into her pockets, Greg's mum withdrew her cell phone and smiled apologetically to her son, "sorry Greg, it's work. Talk to your red haired friend, she knows how to deal with these kinds of situations doesn't she?" She patted Greg on the shoulder before she answered her phone and began talking to who ever was on the opposite end.

Watching his mother descend the stairs Greg sighed and continued his way up them to his room.

Talk to his red haired friend. His mother was right, Greg drew his phone from his pocket and sat down on the edge of his unmade bed. Scrolling through his contacts, he found 'Molly' and sent her a text. Molly was Greg's wing-man when picking up girls and guys, technically wing-girl.

'Hey Molly, I was wondering if you would like to meet up, I need advice on something. -GL'

It wasn't until later that evening, Greg got a reply.

'Hi Greg, what do you need advice on? :) -MOLLY'

'I'll tell you tomorrow? -GL'

'Ok :) Where do you want to meet up? -MOLLY'

'Speedy's? -GL'

'Sure :) What time? -MOLLY'

'Lunch? I'll buy you a sandwich? -GL'

'Sounds good, see you tomorrow :) -MOLLY'

Rolling over in his bed, Greg smiled as he pressed his face against his pillow, Mycroft would be home later in the afternoon tomorrow, so lunch was perfect. He would be able to get Molly's advice on the situation and hopefully waste no more time not kissing Mycroft.

God that sounded stupid thought Greg as he rolled over in his bed once again and tried to go to sleep.

The next morning Greg was up early, he brushed his teeth in the shower and made his way downstairs fully dressed a few minuets later. Pouring himself a bowl of cereal, Greg sat alone at the table while he ate. Deciding he would clean the house before he went out to meet Molly, Greg did the dishes and vacuumed the floors.

By the time it was lunch, Greg had done the washing, the vacuuming, the dishes and cleaned his bike. Smiling at his accomplishments Greg grabbed his wallet and his phone before he pulled on his helmet and drove to Speedy's.

Molly was already inside waiting for him, she had her hair pulled up in a pony tail and a white coat was thrown over the back of her chair. Greg walked up to her table and sat down opposite her with a big smile on his face.

"Hey Molly."

"Greg!" Molly smiled shyly, "how are you?" She asked.

Greg ran a hand through his hair, "good, I'm good. How about you?"

"My cat gave birth to kittens last week," Molly replied in her quite voice.

"Congratulations."

Molly smiled, "thanks, it's awful though, my parents say I can't keep them all."

Laughing quietly, Greg threw his own jacket over the back of his chair and pushed up his long sleeved shirt to his elbows.

"Have you been waiting for me long?" Asked Greg.

Molly shook her head.

"Are you hungry?"

This time Molly nodded.

"I'll order then."

Moments later, Greg came back with a couple of coffees and some sandwiches'.

"That was quick, thank you" Molly smiled as she bit into a sandwich.

Greg smiled back at her and took a drink of his coffee, Molly's smile was quite beautiful he thought. "The perks of working here."

"So, Greg?" Molly hide her mouth behind her cup of coffee, "why have you come to me for advice?"

"You sound so formal," Greg shifted in his seat.

Shrugging, Molly put her coffee down on the table slowly, "I tend to treat formal situations seriously."

Greg blinked at her for a few seconds before they both burst out laughing.

Composing himself a minuet later Greg cleared his throat, "so my 'situation' is serious?"

Molly picked at the pink nail polish on her thumb, "people don't usually ask for my advice unless it is serious."

Greg nodded, "that is true." Molly smiled.

"So, what is it? Is it your dad again, Greg?"

Shaking his head quickly, Greg told her no, "no, it's not my dad. He's actually been pretty cool lately."

"Good," Molly smiled again and ate another sandwich. "So?"

Greg rubbed the back of his neck, "you know Mycroft?"

Molly nodded and waited for Greg to continue, but he didn't, instead he blushed and drew patterns on the table.

Molly sat with her hands wrapped around her coffee, studying Greg. As the gears turned in her mind, the realisation made her exhale an 'oh'. "You and Mycroft huh?"

Greg's blush got deeper, "well, no. Not exactly."

A delicate eyebrow raised on Molly's face, "not exactly?"

"I don't- I don't know how to-" Greg cleared his throat "-ask him out?"

"Oh, and you need my advice on this because? You haven't seemed to have a problem before with dating."

"Mycroft's-" Greg raised his hands and gestured widely, struggling to find the correct word to describe him, "-different."

"Different." Molly nodded, "huh-uh."

"I just. I don't. What if." Greg rambled.

Molly held up her hand and Greg stopped talking. "Does he like you back?"

Greg opened and closed his mouth a few times like a fish before breathing out a quiet, unsure "yeah?"

"Then what is the problem?" Replied Molly, pronouncing every individual word with emphasis.

Running his finger through his hair, Greg shrugged, "I just don't want to ruin our friendship. What if he doesn't actually like me? What if I'm just imagining things?"

Molly rolled her eyes, "ruin your friendship? That didn't stop you before, do you even remember what happened with Sally?"

Greg grimaced, "that was a long time ago Molly."

"That was the beginning of this year Greg, you're lucky she had Phillip because after that you avoided her like the black plaque and then went out with Jim." Molly huffed out her last little it of anger and took another drink of her coffee.

Greg chewed his lip, and then took a deep breath in. "Mycroft is my best friend, Molly. He's amazing ok? He's everything I ever dreamed of, my dad likes him. Do you realize how big of deal that is? He's smart, and funny, he has this little brother- Sherlock. He's also crazy smart, the way he looks after him makes me want to have children with him. He's uneducated in the genre of today's society, did you know he had never even seen Star Wars before we had a marathon? He's nuts about politics and the government, he's studying to become the next president or something. Guess where he is right now? Looking at university's a year in advance because he's serious about going away to uni and living in a dorm- Going to lectures and having a bunch of those legal pads to scribble his notes on. He likes earl grey tea and he stays up till ridiculous hours of the night, sometimes I wonder if he's insomniac but then most of the time I'm getting him out of bed. I got him drunk a while ago and to repay me he showed me a meteor shower. How cool is that? That's when I realized I wanted to be in a relationship with him. Mycroft is handsome, and worthy of everyone, he's polite and capable of handling anything that gets thrown his way. Molly, he's special, and different. I don't want to screw everything up because I don't want to lose such an amazing person." Greg exhaled.

Molly sat back in her chair and also took in a deep breath before she also exhaled. "Greg, I didn't realize you were so serious."

Greg licked his lips, "I am serious."

"Shoot, well, I'm lost for words. What you said about him? That was beautiful. Irene never says those things about me, I'm jealous." Molly giggled.

Greg blushed and laughed along with her.

"You should just go for it Greg, ask him out."

"It's not that simple, Molly."

"Yes it is, it sounds like you love him Greg."

Greg rubbed the back of his neck, "I wouldn't say that."

Mean while, back at home, Mycroft threw his suitcase onto his bed, thankful that Sherlock got sick and they had to return home earlier than expected. Two universities were exciting, but more than that, Mycroft just got irritated and all he wanted to do was go home.

Withdrawing his clothes from his suitcase, he threw the dirty ones in his hamper and then he pulled out a bran new t-shirt and held it up. Printed on the front was the Death Star from Star Wars, it was in one of the university's stores and Mycroft had instantly thought of Greg. Mycroft folded up the shirt and hid it under his pillow, planning to give it to him tonight.

Opening his window, Mycroft stared across the way into Greg's bedroom. The window was open but their was no music coming from his speakers and it didn't really seem like anyone was home.

Probably at work though Mycroft as he ran down the stairs, yelling to his parents that he was going to go see Greg and he'd be back later.

Mycroft swung his umbrella as he walked down the street, as he came into view of the coffee shop he smiled as he saw Greg's bike parked outside. Picking up the pace a little, Mycroft neared the coffee shop door and glanced in through the window.

Mycroft frowned as he spotted Greg at one of the tables, sitting with a pretty red-haired girl.

He watched as Greg and the girl laughed, a pang of something stirred in Mycroft's gut and his smile disappeared. A customer pushed their way out of the coffee shop and Mycroft slid in through the closing door.

"I wouldn't say that." Wouldn't say what? Thought Mycroft as he drowned out all other noise in the coffee shop and listened to Greg and the girl.

Molly smiled, "yes you would, Greg seriously. Just admit it, you're so far gone." Mycroft frowned.

"Shut up and eat your sandwich," Greg grinned as he shoved a sandwich in the girls face.

Molly squealed and Greg laughed, clearly comfortable with this girl. Was he on a date? Mycroft swallowed a lump that had formed in his throat.

Greg's laughed echoed in his ears as he watched the girl flick bread at Greg, Greg just smiled and ate the bread straight from her fingers. Molly just made a face and whipped her hands on a napkin.

"Sorry," Greg smiled sheepishly.

"No you're not."

Greg laughed, "you're right, I'm not."

"Anyway," said Molly. "My advice to you is just do it. Everything will work out, ok? You have nothing to worry about, if I were you I'd just take their hands. Hold out your hands." Molly stretched out her arms and turned up her palms.

Greg took a hold of her hands, grinning.

"Ok, and then, I'd look into their eyes." Molly tilted her head and battered her eyelashes, "looking at their lips is always good to, and wetting your own with your tongue is good."

Following Molly's instructions, Greg tilted his head, battered his eyelashes, flicked his eyes from Molly's and stared at her lips before flicking his tongue out and trailing it across his lips before sliding it back into his mouth and flicking his eyes back up to Molly's.

Molly smiled shyly, "good. Now, you should be leaning in close. Sharing the breath between you."

Mycroft watched as Greg shifted in his seat and leaned in really close to the girl. Mycroft's stomach lurched and his grip tightened on his umbrella handle. Was he going to kiss the girl?

Molly removed her hands from Greg's and placed a hand on his cheek, Greg followed her movements and placed one of his hands on her cheek.

The girl smiled and whispered something that Mycroft couldn't hear.

"Now you are really close, holding their face, you draw your self in, your lips are like magnets."

Greg smiled and lent forwards quickly, pecking his lips against Molly's.

Molly's eyes went wide and she giggled, pulling herself away from Greg.

Mycroft watched Greg kiss the girl and before he could react properly he turned and exited the coffee shop, Mycroft swiftly made his way home and climbed up the stairs to his room. Locking himself in he shut and locked his window and drew the curtain. Darkness enveloped Mycroft and he blinked against it.

Sitting down in the edge of his bed Mycroft's eyes watered and his breath hitched, "no" he whispered to himself, "I am not going to cry over something so ridiculous." Greg could kiss who ever he wanted, I don't care that it's not me, Mycroft kicked off his shoes and leaned back so he was lying on his back on his bed.

"Greg!" Molly giggled and wiped her mouth, "Irene won't like you now you've done that."

Greg grinned, "she loves me, and I know how to kiss Molly!"

Molly blushed, "well then kiss him! When's he back from university?"

Greg checked the time on his phone, "a few hours yet."

"I don't want to speak to you until you have kissed him ok? Your mission is to grow some balls. You didn't really need my advice did you?" Molly stood and shrugged on her coat.

"Uh, no?" Greg gave a small smile.

"Waste of my time" muttered Molly.

"Hey," Greg protested.

"At least I got a free sandwich. I'm serious Gregory Lestrade, just ask him out ok? Please?"

"Ok."

"Ok?"

"Ok, jeeze, I'll do it." Greg stood and pulled on his own coat. "Thank you for the advice."

Molly rolled her eyes. "Don't ever kiss me again ok?"

Greg chuckled, "sure."

When Greg got home, he saw that Mycroft's house had activity, that meant Mycroft was home. Greg ran up the stairs to his room and leaned out his window. Noticing the drawn curtains Greg frowned. That was really strange.

Greg climbed out his window and made his way across to Mycroft's, Greg tapped his knuckles on Mycroft's window and waited.

Mycroft stiffened on his bed after he heard the knock, obviously not coming from his bedroom door.

Greg waited a few minuets for Mycroft to come to the window, maybe I should have texted first, thought Greg as he knocked on the window again.

"I know you're in there Mycroft," said Greg, and he waited.

Mycroft didn't move a muscle, he just willed Greg away in his mind.

"Myc, open the window. Did something happen at the universities?" Greg knocked on the window again, a little harsher than last time. "You never lock the window and draw the curtains Mycroft, what's happened? Let me in ok?"

Mycroft sighed and sat up in his bed, slowly he got up out of his bed and he pulled open his curtains. Light filtered through the glass and Mycroft squinted against it. Unlatching the window, Mycroft opened it and then crossed his arms across his chest.

"Mycroft, you look-" Greg eyes his friend up and down, "-you look sick, you didn't catch a cold did you?"

Mycroft shook his head and wiped his eyes.

Greg's eyebrows drew together, "are you crying Myc?"

"Don't be ridiculous Greg," replied Mycroft quietly.

"Shit, did something happen to Sherlock?" Greg lifted himself up onto Mycroft's window sill and swung himself inside his room.

When Greg was inside, Mycroft sat down on the edge of his bed, "nothing happened to Sherlock. Everything's fine, Greg."

Greg stood in front of his friend and eyed Mycroft suspiciously, "I don't think so, Mycroft."

Mycroft shook his head, "everything is fine ok? I just-" Mycroft stared at Greg's lips and imagined him kissing that girl "-want to be alone for a bit ok? I'm tired you know?" Mycroft forced a laugh and a smile which Greg was able to see straight through but he nodded anyway.

"Sure, I'll just go. Text me when you feel better yeah?" Greg swung himself back out Mycroft's window.

Mycroft just nodded and shut his window behind Greg and drew the curtains without saying another word.