Chapter Text
Greg wakes up at what he can feel is way too early o’clock and takes a moment to figure out where he is. The steady breathing of Mycroft next to him helps, as does the smell of Mycroft’s laundry powder. The bed he is lying in is supremely comfortable and he is reluctant to move even as he realizes he needs to use the bathroom. Just when he debates falling asleep again just to avoid leaving the bed, Mycroft wakes up.
“How could you possibly be sleeping better next to me, when I wake you up so easily?” Greg huffs.
“Insomnia, and I’ve always been a light sleeper” Mycroft mumbles groggily. “Now go use the bathroom your wriggling is driving me insane.”
Laughing outright Greg swings his legs over to pad to the bathroom. When he joins Mycroft in the warm nest again, he realizes he is going to have a very hard time falling asleep again.
“Will I be keeping you up if I start talking now?”
“Probably, but I am too curious now as to what you would like to talk about, so you’ve no choice but to go ahead.”
“Alright,” Greg sighs, “time to do this then.” He feels Mycroft tense next to him as he realizes they’re about to stop dancing around the issue.
“You start or I start?” Greg asks into the dark bedroom.
“I have no idea where to start” Mycroft whispers. The air in the room grows heavy, the unspoken tension having grown stifling over the past days.
“Mycroft,” Greg starts, “there are a million things I can say right now to try and convince you of all sorts of things, but it comes down to something very simple. I want you, I want to be with you. Pretending to be in a relationship with you for the past few days, as well as learning so much about you has made me see that there isn't anything in this world I want more.”
Mycroft doesn’t speak and doesn’t move, except to grab Greg’s hand and pour all that he’s feeling into the single point of contact.
“I know this isn’t easy for you but I would like nothing better than a chance to be everything we can be. We can talk about all the specifics in as much detail as you want and I promise I don’t want anything you can’t or don’t want to give.” Greg is grabbing Mycroft’s hand as firmly as he can in return, biting down on his lip to keep from rambling.
The silence stretches out between them and just as he thinks Mycroft might never respond, he hears a sniffle, and then a muffled sob.
“Oh love, come here” he lets go of Mycroft’s hand to pull him into a hug. As he’s holding Mycroft close to his chest, he starts stroking his hair to calm him down. It works almost immediately, and Mycroft relaxes into his arms, then starts talking.
“Gregory, I’ve never felt this way before.” He sighs, “I’ve never let myself. I have no idea where to start. I don’t know how to tell you what I want because I don’t know what I want. I’m trying to trust you but I’m feeling rather out of my debt.”
“Ok stop” Greg interrupts. “If what you’re feeling is a knot in your stomach, worry, fondness, wonder, and a whole bunch of other things,” Mycroft nods against his chest so he goes on, “that is how I feel too. You have exactly as much power over me as I do over you.”
“I don’t believe that at all” Mycroft huffs.
“I’m finding it hard to believe that the man who is somehow both the sexiest and the smartest person I have ever met and then became my best friend, might want to actually be in a relationship with me,” Greg smiles, overwhelmed by the moment, and grateful for the darkness.
“That is how you feel?” Mycroft sound immensely relieved.
“Absolutely. Now please tell me if you don’t want that because I swear I can go back to how we were before but a few more minutes like this and I fear I won’t be able to,” Greg rambles, his tone betraying how nervous he is.
“Oh god yes, Gregory. Yes, absolutely. I want nothing more.”
Greg heaves a deep sigh which ends up in a sob, and when he curls into himself, Mycroft wraps his arms around him and presses soft kisses on the top of his head.
“I feel like I just skydived” he admits, muffled against Mycroft’s chest. They both laugh a little, the tension developing into a sense of relief.
“Do you want to make lists of what ifs so we can talk about them?” He suggests, inhaling the warm, clean sent of Mycroft that envelopes him.
“Yes, that sounds like a very good idea. Can we lie here and bask in the adrenaline and oxytocin for a moment longer first?”
Greg laughs and muffles a fond “big words” against Mycroft’s shoulder, before nestling himself deeper into the hug.
“I wanted to do this every night we shared a bed” he confesses after a moment.
“I don’t mind it at all when you touch me” Mycroft admits, surprised at his own words.
“I can’t believe I genuinely don’t care if I never find out what you actually do” Greg says, equally surprised.
“What if your children hate me?” Mycroft asks.
“Excuse you?” Greg frowns, “I thought we were going to make a list.”
“You’re right,” Mycroft laughs, and Greg pulls him closer.
“They will love you, and if they don’t we’ll figure it out.”
“I’m worried that,” Mycroft starts, and he swallows, “I will consume you.”
Greg laughs, “that is exactly what I want. I know you don't share and you don't let go and that is exactly what I want.”
They look at each other, eyes darks, Mycroft’s arms around Greg, Greg’s arm around Mycroft’s waist. Greg shifts his other arm so his fingers are touching Mycroft’s cheek. They move their faces closer to each other, until their noses are touching at the tips, and Greg’s smile could light up the whole room. His eyes are sparkling and he knows. Tilting his face to the left slightly, Mycroft leans forward, letting his eyes fall close exactly as their lips touch. They kiss slowly and timidly before all that falls away and they are just eager.
Mycroft possessively hooks a leg over Greg’s and wraps long fingers around the back of Greg’s neck and they both shiver like all their nerves are on fire. After an eternity of kissing and tasting and licking, they both become aware of the glow around the curtains at the same time. Sighing, Greg lets his head fall to Mycroft’s shoulder, kissing him just below his jaw as he mumbles “mornin’ love”. Mycroft wraps his arms around tighter and stiffens a little when he remembers something else they should talk about.
“Am I your boyfriend now?”
“If you want, though I was thinking partner.”
“Partner.”
They make eye contact and giggle, happy butterflies all over. Greg kisses Mycroft all over his face, loud and wet, while Mycroft laughs and tries to push him off. He finally manages to pin Greg down, flipping him on his back and holding his wrists on either side of his head. Still laughing, he leans over and pecks Greg on the nose sweetly.
“I never dreamt it could be like this,” he smiles, eyes bright.
“You are stunning,” Greg answers, honest admiration written all over his face.
Mycroft blushes bright. “Would you care for breakfast? I believe Anthea may have stocked the kitchen.”
“Oh yes, crêpes or English breakfast?”
“Let’s check if there are strawberries.”
“It’s practically winter Mycroft, there really shouldn’t be strawberries.”
“Way harsh, Greg,” Mycroft shoots back, which earns him another kiss.
-----
When they are standing in front of the fridge together, trying to decide what to eat, Greg starts to interrogate Mycroft.
“What will Sherlock say?”
“He will pretend to be disgusted but secretly happy for us.”
“What about your parents?”
“They will be delighted and annoyingly happy for us.”
“Work?”
“Is this your list, Gregory? I thought we were going to write these things down?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to go all DI in a high-stress situation on you,” Greg blushes.
Mycroft hesitates for a moment, then tentatively wraps his arms around Greg. “Is this ok?”
“Better than ok,” Greg sighs, “it’s exactly what I needed.”
“I’m out at work if that’s what you’re asking. I’ll have to fill in some forms but your security clearance is way above what you need for this, so it won’t take long.”
“You don’t want to keep this a secret?”
“I’m still a very private person, I won’t be comfortable with displaying affection in public, but I am certainly not ashamed of being seen with you or the nature of our relationship.”
“It’s chill if people know, but no PDA. I like that.” Greg turns in Mycroft’s arms to kiss him again.
“Can we please get started on breakfast?”
“A hungry Holmes,” Greg laughs, “what have I done to deserve this?” But he kisses Mycroft again and grabs eggs and mushrooms out of the fridge.
“Oh, if you check my bag, my dad got you a bag of his coffee beans.” He says over his shoulder, as he starts cleaning the mushrooms.
Mycroft freezes. “Really? They actually like me?”
“Yes, Mycroft, really,” Greg rolls his eyes, “don’t tell me you couldn’t deduce they’re not the lying kind.”
“I don’t commonly inspire feelings of kindness or affection, Gregory,” Mycroft answers stiffly.
“Yeah well, treat the Lestrades like an exception, will you?”
Mycroft nods and returns swiftly with a Ziploc bag full of coffee beans. “Where does he buy these?”
“He roasts them himself, says it ‘makes all the difference’. His beans are a custom mix that he buys straight from Nicaragua.”
“I thought I was particular,” Mycroft mumbles, as he gets the coffee grinder from the cupboard.
Greg laughs, “he’s never given the beans to anyone but Em before, says no one understands how special they are.”
“Oh,” Mycroft sighs, happy surprise all over his face. “Could I have his phone number so I may thank him?”
“Take it from my phone,” Greg suggests, as he serves up the breakfast he cooked. “How many pieces of bacon do you want?”
“You trust me,” Mycroft states, even more surprised now. “Three.”
“I let you meet my children, obviously I trust you.”
“You let Sherlock meet your children,” Mycroft shoots back over the noise of the coffee machine.
“No, I didn’t. He broke in through kitchen window one day.” They both laugh and sit down to eat, with their cups of coffee.
As they are eating, Greg leans forward to tell Mycroft: “I’m a very curious person and what you’ve seen so far has been me trying my very best not to pry or be nosy.”
“I don’t like talking about myself” Mycroft warns.
“I know.”
“We can take turns and every time I refuse to answer a question, you get to skip one too?”
“That sounds tempting, but I would rather hear the stories from you. I know that if I ask the question the wrong way I won’t get the full answer.”
“You’re right. I’m very curious about you too Greg, I find myself wondering how you grew up, and what sort of traditions you have with your children.”
Greg grabs Mycroft’s hand over the table at that, and kisses his knuckles sweetly.
“I’m very glad we have the whole day to talk. If you’re not sick of me yet, I was thinking we could drive to Surray Hills?”
“Would you consider staying the night if we pick up some work clothes for you to wear tomorrow?”
“Mycroft, if you want me, I’ll stay forever.”
“Then forever it shall be.”