John got out of the sleek black car and looked up at the mansion Anthea brought him to. He sighed and walked in, not even bothering to knock. Mycroft was there waiting for him. Without saying a word, he turned around and led John down an elaborate hall and into a room at the end. Motioning for John to take a seat in one of the comfortable plush chairs, Mycroft sat across from him.

"Would you like some tea, Dr. Watson?" Mycroft gave him a thin lipped smile.

"Uhm, sure. Thanks.." The smaller man replied caught off guard. He was expecting a straight to the point favor involving spying on Sherlock.

Mycroft waited until the tea was served and John was comfortable before saying, "I brought you here for a very specific reason."

"Right. I could've guessed as much. So what is it?"

"Do you know why my brother is so cold, Dr. Watson?" Mycroft asked staring at the small man.

"No... I always thought he was just born like that..." John trailed off.

"Not at all. It has to do with a woman."

"Woman? Sherlock said that women weren't his area." Confusion swept over John's face.

"I'm sure he did, but that is now. He's been trying to delete her from his mind for 4 years now."

"Why would he do that?"

"She was the first and only person to ever penetrate all his walls. She was everything he needed, even if she was a bit… Broken when they met. She was like him in many ways. Observant, musical and straight forward."

"She was?"

"Oh yes, however, where Sherlock was usually antisocial, uncaring, and a bit rude... She was outgoing, loving, and empathetic. She made up for what he lacked in some ways," Mycroft sighed, "She was also the only one who could put up with Sherlock's attitude, she could be more stubborn than him."

"Who was she?" John asked.

"Addiana Tyler."

John looked confused as he said slowly, "Why does that name sound familiar?"

"It should Dr. Watson. Four years ago, there was a huge public service announcement declaring her missing. No one in all of Great Britain could have missed it."

John suddenly remembered the emergency broadcast. They had interrupted the telly and radio to describe the girl. There were posters and ads everywhere all showing a slim blonde girl with unusual violet eyes. "Right, did they ever find her?"

Mycroft shook his head saying, "Even with the best detective in England and every official looking for her, they couldn't find this one girl."

"You mean Sherlock?"

"Yes, she was his best friend and later his girlfriend."

"Wait, how?" John asked coughing as he choked on his tea.

"They met in fifth grade. At that point he was actually very close with me, believe it or not. He was already incredibly deductive and everyone was uncomfortable around him, even going as far as to hate him."

John nodded, knowing how cruel children can be, having witnessed it himself.

"Addiana transferred in the middle of the year because her mother and father died, leaving her and her insane, abusive brother. They moved in with their drunk aunt. Her first day of school, the rest of the kids warned her to stay away from Sherlock, but she ignored them. She went straight up to him and chatted merrily away, earning her the same treatment from the kids that they gave to Sherlock. He, however, was excited that someone actually wanted to be his friend."

*Flashback twenty-four years ago*

"Myc! Myc!" Mycroft winced at the nickname his ten year old brother gave him.

"Yes?" He asked turning around to see an excited Sherlock barreling toward him.

As Sherlock reached his brother he pulled on his sleeve, causing Mycroft to wonder what happened to make his little brother actually take a break from his usual stoic attitude.

"You'll never believe what happened at school! There's this new girl and she came up to me and didn't say mean things to me even after I observed her and told her what she did recently! She said she wants to be my friend!" Sherlock babbled excitedly.

Mycroft's heart broke a little to hear how just one girl being nice to his brother was a cause for joy. "That's good Sherlock, you should invite her over."

"But Myc... What if she's trying to trick me?" The shadow that crossed over his face was heart wrenching.

"I think it's worth a shot," Mycroft smiled at him and ruffled his curly black hair.

Sherlock's smile could have lit up the entire room and he announced he would invite her over tomorrow before he bounded away.

The next day, Sherlock came home with his new friend. Mycroft came downstairs at the sound of their chattering and couldn't help but stare. Sherlock was sharing cookies with a small blonde girl and laughing, actually laughing.

"Whose your friend Sherlock?" Mycroft asked.

"This is Addiana Tyler." Sherlock beamed.

"I see, I'm Sherlock's brother, Mycroft."

"Yes, I could tell, you look alike and the way you watch him is the protective look an older brother usually wears." She smiled at him. "Its nice to meet you."

Sherlock grinned, "Isn't she amazing?"

"Sherly, I wouldn't count myself as amazing with you here." She giggled.

Mycroft chuckled as Sherlock blushed, feeling what it was like to have an embarrassing nickname.

"So what do you want to be when you grow up Addia? I want to be a pirate!" Sherlock asked suddenly, desperate to change he subject.

"A pirate would be pretty cool… But, I don't know yet… I guess I just want to be happy." Addia said slowly.

Mycroft looked at her curiously, "Why do you say that?"

"My mum once said that the greatest accomplishment in life is to be happy…. It's what she wanted most for me… To be happy." Addia looked away.

Sherlock stood up, crossing the distance between them and wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he said in a quiet voice, "It'll be okay, I promise."

Addia looked up at him and he gave her a small smile, which she returned.

Mycroft watched the scene fascinated. He had never seen his brother like this before and it startled him. The way Sherlock had immediately gone to comfort Addia was slightly unsettling, seeing as he had never been one to be affectionate. Maybe, he thought, this girl really could help his brother out of the lonely shadows he usually stayed in.