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"Why is there a balloon tied to your parent’s gate?” Greg asked Mycroft as they exited the car.
“Senility?” came the languid response.
Greg grinned and, looking down at himself, brushed off his jacket with a nervous hand.
“Do I look alright? I've never met a bloke’s parents before.”
Mycroft considered Greg as they walked up the path to the front door.
“You look astonishingly dashing, Gregory, as always.”
Before Greg could reply and before they had even knocked on the door, it was thrown open by Mrs Holmes, arms wide.
“Myc, darling, lovely of you to come, and bringing a guest too, how wonderful.”
Greg stepped forward and gave Mrs Holmes' cheek a polite peck.
“Nice to meet you, Mrs Holmes.”
“Oh Violet dear, please.” Greg smiled and Violet visibly melted.
“Come in, come in, kettle’s on.”
As Mycroft passed his mother in the doorway, she put her hand on his arm.
“We're so pleased that you’d bring someone home Myc, today of all days.”
“Be quiet, Mother” came the hushed, clipped response.
Mrs Holmes winked at Greg and then bustled off into the kitchen to make tea. Mycroft studiously didn’t look at Greg as he removed his jacket and placed it on the hatstand.
“Today of all days?”
“Ignore her.”
“What did she mean?”
“Nothing.”
Mycroft turned to walk but Greg stopped his progress down the hall with a hand clasped at the waistband of his trousers.
“What ARE you doing?” Mycroft tried to wriggle free, but Greg caught Mycroft’s nervous eye, smiled gently and whispered
“What's today, My?”
“Sunday” came the curt reply as Mycroft did a complicated move, half jiu-jitsu, half ballet, removing himself from Greg’s grasp.
The balloon!
“Its... it’s your birthday!”
Mycroft stiffened.
“Is it? I have no idea.”
Greg raised a playful eyebrow and Mycroft sighed.
“Possibly.”
Greg waited.
“Yes, now you mention it, I believe it might be.”
Greg turned to face Mycroft, his smile shining full beam at his ridiculous boyfriend, and Mycroft’s tense, uncertain expression evaporated.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart” he whispered.
“Thank you” came the bashful reply.
“An’ you can unwrap me - I mean - ‘your present’, later” said Greg, mischievously.