"Happy anniversary."

"I don't do anniversaries. And what, if I may I inquire, are celebrating?" Mycroft asked. He sat in Molly Hooper's office, waiting as she poured out tea.

"It's been a year to the day since you first abducted me to press me for information regarding your brother, silly."

"Abducted is rather a harsh word," he began. One look silence him. "Yes...well...my methods were...unorthodox, but not ineffective."

"Still are, yours and Sherlock's, come to that." She smiled, handing him a cup. "Well, go on, since you forgot our special anniversary," she winked at him, smiling a little at his discomfort at the term. Mycroft Holmes, in Molly's opinion, could stand a bit more discomfort. "What are you here for?"

"My dear, have thousands of appointments in a single month, I cannot be expected to remember each time I meet a new person."

"Not everyone, just the special ones. I know you too well." Molly smiled over the rim of her cup. "Go on then, what's this all about?"

"I can't come for tea and see how you are?"

"Certainly you can, seems odd though."

"Why?"

"Because we never speak of anything but Sherlock's goings on and his progress, and we never have tea."

"We ought to," Mycroft answered. "Speak of other things more often that is...that is to say it isn't for a particular friendship that I am after with you, you understand, I am not the romantic sort-"

"Woah, hey, okay, you don't want to get in my knickers, got it," Molly laughed, clearly enjoying the elder Holmes' flustered state. "So...why tea? Why all of a sudden?"

Mycroft, having had time to take a drink and compose himself, sat back in his chair. "Because you are important to my brother."

"Am I?" Molly looked at her cup, attempting a natural smile, instead managing to look quite somber. "That's nice. You'll excuse me if I don't believe you."

"You are," he insisted. "You matter a good deal to him, and not merely because you procure cadavers for his experiments." Mycroft leaned forwards. "You've made an impression on his character, Doctor Hooper. Quite an impressive one, if I may be frank."

"Well..." she shrugged.

"I had wanted to thank you," Mycroft went on. "With a present or gift of some sort, for all you've done for him. It occurred to me that the sorts of things you appreciate do not necessarily come gift-wrapped."

Molly stared at the elder Holmes, quite touched. "How very astute of you," she smiled warmly at him.

"Yes well...it seemed to me that the most valuable thing I have to give is my time."

"How did I come to deserve such a precious gift?" Molly asked.

"Well...as I said, you mean a good deal to my brother, rubbish as he is at saying so and I wished for you to know how much I appreciate your friendship in him."

"He didn't put you up to this, did he?" Molly asked with a frown.

"Certainly not!" Mycroft bristled. "I wished...I am trying to do something nice." he shrugged. "Forgive me if I am not very good at it."

Molly thought on how busy Mycroft Holmes really was, how much he worried for his brother, all the goings on his life. Yet he still took time to sit and share a pot of tea with her. She patted his hand comfortingly. "I think you've made a fine start."

"Yes well...one will improve with practice." his eyes twinkled over the rim of his cup. "Shall we make a little tradition of it? Having tea once a year?"

"I hope you'll take me somewhere nicer than my office," Molly teased.

"Certainly. How does high tea at the Ritz suit?"

"Oh very well," she nodded, her smile bright. "It doesn't have to be the Ritz, you know. Sandwiches in a cafe would be just as nice."

"How dare you suggest we celebrate such an important occasion in a dingy little cafe." Mycroft looked quite affronted.

"I thought you don't do anniversaries?"

"Only for family," Mycroft acquiesced, smiling gently.

"Well..." Molly smiled, looking at her lap. Mycroft knew very well she had no family to speak of. Her father died, her mother long-ago passed away. Mycroft, in his own way, was trying to tell her she could rely on him in this respect. She met his gaze over her desk. "Families meet more than once a year, don't they?"

"Holmes' don't," his mouth quirked slightly. "I don't suppose I can hold you to those standards, can I?"

"Nope. I've obviously made some impression on your brother, I'll have to do the same with you."

"My dear, you already have, that is why I am here."

"Hm, so you are," Molly grinned. She paused. "Happy anniversary, Mycroft."

"Happy anniversary, my dear."