HAART

That night, Greg snuck down from the guest room to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water, sitting down at the table. He ground the heels of his hands into his eyes. He was exhausted, but his heart was still racing from the adrenaline of the evening. He was deep in his own head. 

“She’s a sweet girl,” Michelle said softly, sitting down across from Greg. He didn’t have the energy to be surprised by her sudden appearance in the room. 

“Thanks, we did our best.”  

“It shows.” She pushed a cup of tea towards him, her gentle smile perking Greg up a bit. “I hope you know, we--Dad and I--we’re really happy you’re here. He didn’t bring you here because he felt some kind of obligation given what happened tonight.” Michelle took a sip of her own tea. “He’s changed since you two got together. He’s so much happier. It’s been so long since he’s been happy. Probably not since Peter.” 

“You know about what happened between them?” 

“Dad told me once I was old enough. I don’t remember much of it, I was five when he died. I don’t consider Peter to be my father. Even when he was around he wasn’t terribly interested in me. Dad adopting me is the best thing that’s happened in my life. I mean, can you imagine if he hadn’t stepped up? Not a lot of people looking to adopt a five year old with AIDS.” Michelle rubbed her finger over the handle of her tea cup. There was a distinct groove in the handle where she had clearly done the same thing in the past. “My dad is everything to me, Greg. He’s my best friend, and he loves you.”

“I told him I loved him. He didn’t say it back.” Greg sat back in his chair, scrubbing a hand over his face. “I need him to love me, I can’t feel it so strongly and not have him feel it.” He shook his head slightly, trying to banish the depressing thoughts swirling around in there. “I just need him to say it.”   

“Oh, Greg. He doesn't even say it to me. As far as I know, he hasn’t said those words out loud since before Dad got sick. He doesn’t say it. He shows it. ” Michelle reached out and put her hand over Greg’s. “Do you want to know how I know he loves you?” 

“Desperately.” 

“When you started trying to convince him to date you, he would detail every attempt and he would laugh the whole time. He came home from your first date smiling, and not just the polite smile. The real smile, with teeth and everything. The way he looks at you, he’s never looked at anyone like that. He talks about you like you are the morning and the evening star. Not to mention, of course, the fact that you and your daughter--who he met tonight--are now living in his house. A house that he has hardly allowed anyone to set foot in. And I’m not just saying that. He bought this house just after Peter died, and in that time, only three people other than he and I have set foot in it. Anthea, Sherlock, and John Watson, but he wasn’t invited.” She beamed at the man across the table. “You’re so important to him, Greg. No one has ever made him as happy as you do. He loves you.”

~~~

The next morning was a Friday, and given the events of the week Greg felt like a long weekend was warranted. Katie was more than happy to have the day off from school, and even Mycroft agreed to allow the country to fend for itself for the day. 

“Michelle!” Katie exclaimed as the young woman dragged herself down the stairs and to the coffee pot, her hair wrapped in a towel. “Dad says I don’t have to go to school today!” 

“Lucky you, kiddo!”

“Do you think you could take the day off too? Dad and Mycroft are going to!” Michelle turned around with her newly full mug of coffee, smirking playfully at her dad. 

“Mycroft Holmes, taking a day off? What has the world come to?” 

“Stranger things have happened,” Mycroft replied coolly, sipping his tea. 

“Such as?”

“Are you able to take the day off or not, Michelle?” Mycroft shot a halfhearted glare over at his daughter, who grinned back at him. 

“I have to stop into the lab first thing this morning,” she mused aloud, “but I have nothing else pressing.” She made a production of sitting down and considering the possibilities for a day off. “Oh! I have a great idea!” 

“What?” Katie asked, her legs bouncing with excitement. 

“What if you come with me to the lab? I could show you all the cool work I’m doing!” Greg and Mycroft smiled into their mugs as they realised what Michelle was setting up. 

“I would love that!” Katie gasped, “Dad, can I?” Greg pretended to consider the offer for a moment. 

“I’m just over at the Imperial College, the walk is only about 10 minutes,” Michelle managed to keep a straight face as she made her pitch despite knowing full well that Greg’s deliberations were just for show. 

“Well, if it’s that close, I think that should be fine.” Katie jumped up from her chair, throwing her arms around Greg and then running to put on her shoes. 

“Alright kid, give me five minutes, not everyone wakes up at dawn,” Michelle drained the last of her coffee and stood up. “We’ll be back in time for lunch.” With that, she gave her dad a side hug and popped upstairs to finish getting ready.  

“She’s quite the wingman,” Greg laughed once the girls were out the door.  

“Who would have thought?” Mycroft chuckled, taking hold of Greg’s hand and leading him into the sitting room. 

~~~

When they arrived at the lab Michelle tapped her access card and led Katie into a locker room. The girls shoved their jackets into the locker and Michelle donned her lab coat. She pulled out an extra lab coat and held it up in front of Katie, chuckling as it dragged on the floor.  

“Alright then, probably not that then.” She scanned the lockers for a moment before selecting an unlocked one towards the end of the row. “Sammy is shorter than me, she’s probably got a coat that will fit you.” 

Katie donned the coat, pushing down her self consciousness and urge to point out that she wouldn’t have fit in Michelle’s lab coat even if she was taller. Michelle was so skinny. She swallowed the shame that arose when she compared Michelle’s body to her own and followed the older girl into the lab.  

~~~

Back at Mycroft’s home, Greg’s hand was resting on his partner’s thigh, the other arm wrapped around his shoulder. The conversation had meandered comfortably from the kids, to their jobs, to the weather, before finally settling at Greg’s conversation with Michelle the night before. 

“She has no censor,” Mycroft sighed. “She will always say exactly what she thinks.”  

“I really don’t mind it, Myc.” Greg replied softly, nose buried in Mycroft’s thinning hair as the younger man rested his head against Greg’s chest. Mycroft noticeably flinched at the nickname.  “No good?” 

“I would prefer if you would refer to me by my full name.” Mycroft’s voice was hardly audible. 

“Hey, Mycroft, darling,” Greg shifted so he could see his boyfriend’s face. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to make you uncomfortable with anything I do. Thank you for telling me.”  

“I wish I had met you before someone else had the chance to make me like this,” Mycroft whispered, his eyes downcast and devastated. 

“Mycroft Holmes, I would not change one thing about you. This is new to us. We’ll get more comfortable, we’ll figure out what works and what doesn’t. You make me so happy, I would do anything to be with you. We’ll figure this out together.” There was a long moment of silence before Mycroft took a stuttering breath and smiled. 

“In the interest of finding out what works, I would like to try something,” he took another breath, this one more confident. One hand reached out and cupped Greg’s cheek. “I love you, Greg Lestrade.” 

With that, he leaned forward, pressing his lips firmly against Greg’s. It wasn’t a technically perfect kiss, but it was sweet and it was passionate and it was theirs.