A/Note: Thanks AlexSeason for favoriting this story.

My (former) beta just told me my portrayal of Sherlock's parents is not British enough. "Too American". Oh well, too late now... :(

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19. Sherlock's parents

As the front door opened, they heard Mrs. Holmes voice.

'...but Love, you know they're just immature and insecure about their sexuality and you shouldn't let them get to you. All you're doing is getting yourself worked up for nothing really. You- John! You're here!'

'John, how nice to see you!' Mr. Holmes said. Then, looking at the tea set, he paused. 'Sherlock, did you-? Ah, I see. Mycroft is home.'

'Yes, unfortunately. As you can tell, there are only cucumber sandwiches left.'

'Sherlock!' said Mrs. Holmes. 'John, I'm glad you came to visit. I take you've met Mycroft?'

'Em yes, he served tea. He just went upstairs, he said he had to get ready for an event tonight.'

'Ah yes, he told us about it. How are you? I hope you can stay for dinner?'

John was still thinking about the phrase "insecure about their sexuality" and trying to figure out if it had any bearing on what he was about to do. 'Em, I'm fine, Mrs. Holmes. Maybe some other time - stay for dinner, I mean. I just stopped by for a short visit.'

'Let me make some fresh tea then, so we can join you. I'm glad I just bought some digestives-'

'-That Mycroft probably already ate-'

'Not these, Sherlock. Now shush. Love, could you come and help me?'

'Yes, dear.'

John waited until they were in the kitchen, then whispered, 'How do you think they will react when I tell them about us? What did your mum mean with what she was just telling your father when they came in?'

'Probably that his students are immature and insecure about their sexuality.'

'Not helping, Sherlock.'

'Do you want me to tell them?'

'No!'

...

'You're in luck, John. Mycroft doesn't like coconut biscuits but Sherlock does. Occasionally he even deigns himself to eat them. I hope you like coconut.'

'Em, yes, that's fine, absolutely fine, Mrs. Holmes. I like coconut. I- I- I- ahem.'

'John, are you all right?' said Mr. Holmes.

'I- em-'

'Spit it out lad, go on.'

'Well... Sherlock and I are dating and I just wanted to let you know because I, I mean, we didn't want to make it a lie by omission so we thought we would be honest and come out, I mean, not come out as in "gay coming out", but it just happened because we get along well and through our training we got to know each other very well and that it wasn't until the New Year's holiday that we figured out we liked each other though, so I just couldn't bear not to be able to express what I feel for him in fear of you not approving, but I would like to let you know that we really like each other and we are together and of course I do hope you approve of us together so we can continue to be together. That's... about it,' he gave a brief nod.

Sherlock's parents were both staring at him, astonishment clear in their faces. Mrs. Holmes held her teacup and saucer in front of her chest, as she sat up very straight on the edge of her armchair. Mr. Holmes had his fingers crossed on top of his stomach, right ankle perched over the left knee as he sank into his. John swallowed and looked up from one to the other, waiting, forehead moving non-stop.

Then Mr. Holmes turned to Sherlock. 'And you, Sherlock?'

'He likes him very much, Father,' said Mycroft at the door, in a three piece suit. Both John and Mrs. Holmes stood up. 'Sherlock has even started watching John's rugby games. Hello Mummy, Father.' He kissed his mother's cheek and nodded to Mr. Holmes. 'As you know, I'm afraid I cannot stay for dinner tonight. I am deeply sorry to miss it,' he said smiling at John. 'John, I'm very pleased to meet you. Have a good evening.'

'Stop staring at him and leave already, Mycroft.'

'Sherlock!' said Mrs. Holmes. 'I know you will do well at the party, Mycroft.'

'Thank you mummy.' He nodded to the room with a slight bow and left.

They waited until the front door closed, then Mr. Holmes repeated his earlier question. 'And you, Sherlock? How do you feel about it?'

Sherlock was momentarily taken aback. Talking to his parents about his feelings was something he had never done before. Several responses came to his mind but none seemed to be the best way to describe what he felt for John. After discarding several possible but mediocre answers, he felt John's foot leaning a little insistently against his.

'He's not boring.'

John wasn't sure whether he'd rather dig himself a hole and sink into it, run away or strangle Sherlock. Both stared at Sherlock a little longer, then Mr. Holmes turned to his wife and both smiled at each other. She looked back and beamed at John.

'We're just happy you found each other,' Mrs. Holmes said.

'I'm touched you thought of telling us, John. Thank you,' added Mr. Holmes.

...

They were surprised and slightly concerned about having to transfer Sherlock due to safety issues, but agreed to look into it over the coming Summer.

...

Sherlock walked John out and they stood outside, hands in their pockets.

'Phew! I've never sweated this much in my whole life! That was nerve wrecking. They took it surprisingly well, considering. They didn't seem surprised at all.'

'They had already deduced it, so there were no surprises. They were just better than I had anticipated in keeping me from realising it.' Sherlock smiled, 'I guess the fact that I had a friend, and now a boyfriend made me more "normal", so "normalcy" is still preferable, even if it is in a gay form.'

'I still don't like that label. Haven't gotten used to it. I've always seen myself as straight, you know?'

'Then why bother with labels? Just say you're bisexual if it makes you feel better. I don't consider myself gay either.'

John frowned, 'How come?'

'There is only you. No one else has ever affected me. There is no common desire for one gender or another.'

'Seriously?'

'Yes.'

'Huh. Well, I'm glad I made the cut then.'

Sherlock curled up his lips.

John smiled, 'You know, I'm glad you didn't tell me that your brother could also do what you do. I would've been a nerve wreck. I'm still amazed at how much he could tell about me when we had barely met. He looked so different in a suit!'

Sherlock turned his head sharply. 'How so?'

'I don't know... more grown up, responsible, serious. That looked like an expensive suit.'

'He's very picky about his suits. Why, do you like suits?'

'Never wore them, so I don't know.'

'I mean, do you like men wearing suits?'

'Sherlock, you're not seriously jealous of you brother, are you?'

'Didn't like the way he looked at you.'

'Because you have nothing to be worried about, if you must know.'

Sherlock's lips curled up. But made a mental note to buy himself some suits in the near future, just in case.

'What kind of answer was that anyway? "He's not boring",' John mimicked Sherlock's haughty tone.

'My parents know me. They understand what that means.'

'Then would you care to explain that to me?'

'Just exactly that, John. With you, I'm never bored. Well, almost never anyway.'

'And that is supposed to be a good thing? To be enough for them?'

'No one has ever achieved that, John.'

'Ah, that's what made me fall for you, Sherlock. You are such a romantic!'

Sherlock smiled, then became serious again. 'Do you still want to do this, to tell your family?'

'I'm a bit trepidatious, to be honest. But yes.'

'How do you think they'll react?'

'I expect mum will be shocked, but will still accept it. Dad, well, I worry about how he'll handle it. Harry will probably just say nasty things.'

'Do you want me to be there with you?'

'No. I think having you with me would give me more courage to do it, but since I just don't know how they will react, maybe I should do this alone. I'll talk to them tonight and get this over with.'