Tara stared out of the tinted window, as they drove back to London. Mycroft sat beside her, looking at her intently. It had been one hell of a weekend. So much had happened. Tara had found out about Eurus. He had opened up to her. Not entirely but he had shared a great deal. There were still a lot of things they hadn't said to each other. His parents had taken a liking to Tara. The highlight of the weekend though; His mother had given him an engagement ring.

'Are you thinking about going back to school?' He picked the least dangerous development of the weekend. He knew, though she liked baking, it didn't fulfill her. She wasn't satisfied.

'It was just a random thought. Besides I'm supposed to be laying low' She tried to dodge the conversation rather lousily.

'While that is true, you should be able to find fulfillment in whichever way you see fit' Mycroft reasoned.

Tara turned to Mycroft and looked at him in surprise. It was rather uncharacteristic for someone like Mycroft to care about fulfillment. 'Did you replace my boyfriend with a cyborg?' she asked, trying to control the smile that threatened to grace her lips.

'Don't call me that' Mycroft looked away.

Tara knitted her brows 'What? A cyborg? Come on, I was just kidding. I mean you are very lifelike' she teased.

He sighed and said 'Actually, the other one'

'My boyfriend?' she asked.

'And here I thought you were above such juvenile terms' Mycroft rolled his eyes.

'You are my boyfriend. What else would I call you? My partner?' she chortled.

'That works much better for me' he told her.

She sighed and caressed his face 'So lifelike, it's unbelievable'. Mycroft chuckled.

...

Mycroft sat in his study, contemplating everything that had happened in the last few months. His life had changed drastically. For good? The jury was still out on that.

He was brought out of his trance by his phone's vibrations. He picked it up and read the message.

Allesandro's, Friday night?- TM

It's a date -MH

I'll pay -TM

Yes, Ma'am -MH

He put his phone down on the table and looked at the tiny box lying open next to it. Over the last four decades, the ring inside the box had lost its shine. He hadn't given his relationship with Tara much thought. Not beyond sex. Every time those thoughts crept into his brain, he would push them away, but he could no longer avoid them. Did his mother actually think he loved her? Or that Tara loved him? Did she think that he would marry Tara? Spend the rest of his life with her? Is that something he wanted? Did he actually want to share his life with her? Let her in?

He shook the dreadful thoughts away and got up from his chair. He walked up to the bookshelves and moved some of the books, setting them on the table. He slid open the secret panel, revealing a safe. He entered the password and retrieved the two files Harry had entrusted to him.

He poured himself a drink and sat down to study the files. He flipped the pages over and over again, absorbing every piece of information. But nothing seemed to seep in. Words floating aimlessly in his brain. Cluelessness wrought havoc in his mind.

Two agents. A career of endless successful missions. Bravery. Valor. Strength. Pride. One night. One break-in ends it all. Seemed impossible. Incomprehensible. The best and brightest brought down by one fateful night. So farfetched a mystery. One granted asylum. So much potential, greatness. All gone.

He rubbed his hands over his face and ran his hands through his hair, as he thought about the lives lost; The life unlived; Years lost; Dreams deferred; The complete love of an Incomplete life. He wondered what that kind of love felt like. The kind that built the foundation of great literature. A legend. The story of two souls. No two souls ever more meant for each other. His mind went back to Romeo and Juliet. Titanic. Powerful love. Great love lost in Tragedy. He wondered if he could ever love Tara like that if she would love him like that. If he even wanted that kind of love.

...

'Ms. Matthews, it's nice to see you again' Stephan greets Tara and guides her to the usual table.

'Thank you, Stephan. It's nice to see you too' She smiles.

'Will Mr. Holmes be joining you this evening?' He asked.

'Yes'

'Are you ready to order? I can start you off with some drinks and appetizers until Mr. Holmes arrives.' Stephan asked.

'No, I think I'll wait for him. Can you just get me a glass of water until then?' she asked.

'Of course, Ma'am' Stephan said and walked away.

She smoothens her dress as she waits for Mycroft. Tapping nervously on the table. Mycroft was never late. She browses through her phone out of boredom.

...

Thomas pulls up on the street, opposite Allesandro's. Far enough so no one could see them. Through tinted windows, Mycroft looks at Tara. She was sitting at their usual table. She nervously tapped her finger on the table as she waited for Mycroft to join her. She picked up her phone and brought it to her ear.

Mycroft looked down at his phone, as Tara's caller ID flashed on the screen. Five text messages. Three missed calls.

'Do you want me to pull up now, sir?' Thomas asked his boss.

'No' Mycroft replied flatly.

Thomas knew very well where this was going 'Sir,...'

Mycroft cut him off 'Turn the car to the house, Thomas' he ordered.

'Yes, Sir' Thomas said in defeat and turned the car, driving it to the mansion.

...

Forty-five minutes, five text messages and three missed calls later, Stephan comes back.

'Ms. Matthews, will Mr. Holmes be joining you anytime soon?' He asked.

'No, it doesn't look like it' she sighed in frustration.

'Are you ready to order?' he asked sympathetically.

'Yes, I'll have a mushroom risotto and a glass of the 2001 St. Emilion. Actually, no, scratch that, get me a bourbon on the rocks.' She said and forced a smile.

'Yes, ma'am' he nodded and took down her order.

'And keep them coming' she added. She really needed to drink off this night. Being stood up was not something she was used to. She had never been stood up by anyone before. She was annoyed beyond measure.

'How about I throw in a chocolate souffle on the house?' Stephan asked sympathetically

Calling it the worst night of her life was a bit of a stretch. But it was a tough night. 'Thank you, Stephan' She forced another smile.

Pity Chocolate Souffle. Just what she needed after being stood up. Mycroft better have a very good explanation this time or he had hell to pay for.

...

'MYCROFT HOLMES, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?' Tara's voice roared as she stormed into Mycroft's study.

'Stop screaming. I can hear you very well' Mycroft said, his voice laced with annoyance.

It only made Tara angrier 'Is this how you treat the women you sleep with? I don't know what you did before me but this is no way to treat a woman. You stood me up on a date without a call. Not so much as a message. It's been three days, 10 messages, 6 missed calls. You didn't even have the time to pick up the phone and answer? Not even an apology? And you have the audacity to sit there and tell me to stop screaming' she yelled and strode forward, and banged her hand on his table.

Mycroft sighed and rolled his eyes 'I was busy with work' he said, unapologetically. He closed the files in front of him before she could peek. He put them away.

Tara looked at him. His desk was covered in files and papers. Mycroft was a wreck. His eyes were puffy from sleep deprivation. His hair was a mess. His suit was wrinkled. He looked exhausted, overworked. This wasn't like him. The Mycroft Holmes she knew wasn't like this. Now she felt bad for yelling at him. But that didn't mean she had forgiven him. He had promised to at least text. 'I get it. I understand if you had work...'

Mycroft stood up from his chair and cut her off. 'No, no, no. You don't get to stand there and tell me you understand. Because you don't. You wouldn't understand. When I read your file, I saw a woman who was strong, fierce, passionate, and fearless. When I look at you, I don't see that woman. Your parents raised you with so much potential to do extraordinary things. The woman in front of me is nothing but ordinary. You had everything and you gave it all up to be a baker and play Mary fucking Poppins to the Watson brat. You've gone soft, Major. You know what you are, you are a liar. You pretend to be happy, but you are just a sad pathetic woman who is dwelling on her past. So, I am sorry I don't have time to play 'How to make Tara feel good about her life?' today.' he finished and exhaled.

Tara hadn't moved, she didn't even flinch. She seemed unphased by his outburst. She hoped Mycroft felt good after getting all that off his chest. She was angry but her face was blank, cold, expressionless. Like Mycroft's face on most days. She turned around and left.

'Good Lord, what have I done?' Mycroft sighed.

...