The first thing Lora felt when she entered the flat in 221B Baker Street was relief. Sweet, tremendous relief. The flat was cluttered, old and dusty, but also warm and comfortable. It was perfect – the very opposite of the rich and sterile Holmes residence. This felt like a home, not like a museum.

"Uhm, hello, someone home?", she said as she entered the flat.

"Yes, do come in", she heard Sherlock's voice and quickly located him sprawled on the sofa, "John's about to come home soon."

"I hope I don't..uh what's the word..when someone comes and you want to do other things?", she smiled.

"Disturb. You hope you don't disturb me. Which you do. But you're here, so..let's have some tea", he said and made absolutely no move.

"Sherlock, I'm sorry that I..disturb", Lora blushed, "but it's boring to me to be alone in the house of your parents. And I'm here just for a short time, so you will live."

"Survive."

"Yes, what you said", she nodded and noticed that tea apparently won't make itself, "I go to kitchen and make tea for you and coffee for me. And then we talk and you tell me about Mycroft."

"If I must", Sherlock rolled his eyes, but his tone was clearly amused.

Lora hoped that the amused tone had something to do with the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Sherlock was glad that his brother's intended bride or girlfriend or whatever she was supposed to be, showed this kind of initiative.

Sherlock, on the other hand, party was glad because of just these reasons, but right in this moment, he was very excited and did a mental countdown…20, 19…she searches for mugs…16, 15…she found the kettle..9, 8…the water's already in and the stove is on…7, 6…she noticed the sugar and now she remembers milk…4, 3..she's about to open the fridge…2, 1…

He turned towards her just in the right moment to see her deer-like jump away from the opened door of the fridge. She let out a scream that was so shrill, he was sure glasses would break.

"What, are we out of milk?", he asked with a huge grin.

She was in such shock that she couldn't find her words, so she just flattered with her hands, and then she finally gasped, "It's..it's fingers! In fridge! Fingers in fridge! Sherlock!"

"Thumbs", he corrected with a nod.

"Why are fingers..dumbs..in fridge?!", she yelled.

"It's for an experiment", he waved it off and then had the audacity to ask, "so, how's the tea coming along?"

"No tea. No coffee. Nothing. Dumbs in fridge, I don't want anything anymore", she marched to the first available armchair and slumped into it.

"Come on, it was a joke, don't fret about it", Sherlock said a bit more nicely; since he realized that this prank was maybe a bit too much for her.

"No, really, Sherlock, tell me", she was still excited from the earlier scare, "is this normal? Is all of this normal? People here behave like this?"

Sherlock realized that she probably was thinking not just about the thumbs, but of how she was treated by his family in general, so he gently probed, "What do you mean, exactly?"

"I mean, Sherlock, I don't want be rude, but, fingers in fridge, Mycroft runs away from me, mother looks at me like I stink, everybody laugh about me", she looked at Sherlock with honest confusion and some small resentfulness, "Listen, I know I talk wrong, I mean when I talk it sounds funny, but I'm not stupid. I am not from rich family and I am not like supermodel and not Einstein. But also am not stupid or ugly or, what's the word for it..desperate! So please, why no respect?"

"I don't think you're stupid, ugly, or desperate", Sherlock said with an honest smile, "I know you're a nice person and that you're trying your best. What you need to understand that, according to Mycroft's standards, your best will hardly be enough."

"I'm not enough good for him?", Lora asked, but not in an outrage, but with fear and premature acceptance of the idea.

"That's not what I said", Sherlock rolled his eyes, "let me be really simple about it. Don't even bother with impressing him. You are what you are, and Mycroft is what he is. I think you could bring him some joy in life. He's such a sad and lonely old git. Don't give up so easily. You just do your thing, and be open with him, just as you were open with me now, that could break his shell a bit."

"What does it mean, shell?", Lora cursed herself for not having a dictionary with her at all times, but nevertheless, Sherlock's kind words made her fell so much better.

"It's like what you have on a walnut.."

"..walnut?", she briefly looked at the wall.

"Ok, maybe you are a bit stupid", he laughed.

"You are so rude!", Lora laughed, too, "Go make me coffee, no dumbs, very much sugar!"

…

Anthea smirked at her boss. Other people couldn't see behind his icy facade, but she knew him well enough. To her, it was painfully obvious that he was trying to avoid the subject of the time she spent with Lora. On the other hand, it was also painfully obvious that he was about to ask her for the same favor of spending some more time with Lora.

"That would be all, Anthea", he concluded their days' work. He frowned for a moment, then sighed gently and added, "I trust you had no trouble spending some time today with Miss Kostov."

"None at all, Sir", Anthea smiled politely, "Miss Kostov proved to be the most pleasant company."

"Is that so?", he searched her eyes to see if she was possibly mocking him.

"Indeed, Sir, it is. We had a really nice time together.", she nodded, and suppressed a smile because she knew his next request.

"Well, if that is so, than it shouldn't be a great nuisance for you if i asked you to spend some more time with Miss Kostov in the following days?", Mycroft suggested smoothly.

"I would be delighted, Sir. I have Thursday afternoon free."

Mycroft frowned lightly – today was Monday. Thursday's too far away.

"I was thinking tomorrow, if possible. I actually checked you schedule...", he started.

"Sir, please", Anthea interrupted her boss, which happened rarely, "Miss Kostov expects to spend some time tomorrow with you." She looked at him accusingly.

"Really, Anthea. You know very well that tomorrow, I have.."

"..two meetings that are not that important and that I can handle without you. And paperwork that can wait.", she interrupted him again and openly challenged him.

"Anthea. I am surprised by your rude behavior", Mycroft dealt a low blow as he used his boss-tone with his favorite employee.

"And I, Sir, am equally surprised by your rude behavior", Anthea stood her ground, wondering if the entire affair is worth getting herself fired. She calmed a bit and continued in a softer tone, "Please do spend some time with her tomorrow. She is a harmless girl. It is relaxing to be around her."

He raised an eyebrow in answer, highly doubting that listening to nervous stammering in the most awful accent imaginable can be described as "relaxing".

"Sir, you know me. You know the kind of person I am. You know my level of tolerance towards obnoxious people. I'm telling you she's all right. You can risk one afternoon with her.", she urged him gently.

"I am not happy about this", he protested in defeat.

"Duly noted, Sir", Anthea smiled.

A/N

Guys! I know I said that I wished for more reviews, but you guys really delivered! Thank you so much! And what is especially great, the reviews very not only very positive, but also extremely useful. For example, I didn't really think Anthea's arrival would be so very welcomed. But I see you love her, and I do too, so I'll make sure to add her in here and there.

Also, as Dizzybunny correctly assumed, English is not my first language (actually, it's my third, right after Croatian and German). Dizzybunny, I took your advice and I tried using speech marks like I see other authors do – did I do it right? In Croatian, we use them as I did before, but I can do it like in this chapter if it's easier to read. Btw, when it comes to my native language, I'm a well-known grammar nazi, but sadly my knowledge of English is simply not enough for that level or correctness when it comes to English.

Redrickard – thank you for your feedback, such little remarks are what helps me greatly. For instance, I remember that I stopped typing just when I came to the part where he stood her up, as I wasn't sure if she should break down or not. My first idea was for her to get all teary and miserable, but then I decided against it, I'm so glad you confirmed that I made the better choice!

cooooookie – some more Anthea in the new chapter again, she fits in perfectly and she is such a great lady!

guest – oh yeah, I hear ya, there will be some serious jealousy in the future and it will be a smaller turning point for Mycroft

VermillionDreams – keep the long reviews coming, I don't mind them at all I'm glad you like Lora, I do my best to balance her, as I'm always afraid I'll make a Mary Sue out of her. It's an ongoing battle…and about the tea..the truth is that I don't like tea that much, either…whaaaat don't kill me!

Canadian lamp – ok, you know how to give a compliment. Thank you so much. Especially because I know exactly what you mean, I also rarely risk the incomplete section. On the other hand, I do update regularly and quite quickly, and I love writing this story, so there is no fear that I'll abandon it or leave it with an update for months.

OK, this is it, I gotta stop before this A/N becomes longer than the actual chapter Thank you all for reading this story, thanks for all new favs and follows, and reviews are obviously welcomed!