Author's Note: Hey! How are we? Thank you for the great feedback last chapter, I like to hear that Magnussen was creepy enough :P. I'm really like these 5 day intervals, they're doing me well in my current situation so I think I'll be sticking to every 5 days for a little while. Now this chapter. This has been an idea I've had for this point in the story for months. I talked to Lauren about it last year, and I talked to Camilla about it a few weeks ago… and Lauren again this weekend. Lauren liked it and Camilla gave me the impression that she probably liked it :P. I'm still unsure but I enjoy it, and generally if I like it you guys tend to like it… So let's test that theory out. Please read, review, and enjoy!

Disclaimer: Clearly I don't own Sherlock. The show is the baby of Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, while Sherlock Holmes itself is the creation of Arthur Conan Doyle.

The First Time He Couldn't Solve The Problem
Alternatively:
The First Time She Wanted To Wait

Anthea was beginning suspect that being the every understanding, ever patient girlfriend was not in her best interest. It was absolutely in the best interest of the relationship, absolutely, to let Mycroft know that there was no pressure and that he could take his time in all aspects of the relationship. It might not be the best idea for a woman who had no way to meet her own needs and desires.

Anthea had spoken to Mary about it. She'd asked Mary to imagine when she was a kid. Had she ever wanted a toy so badly but not getting it so she tricked herself into thinking she hated that toy and everyone that had it? That's where Anthea was now with this. She rolled her eyes at couple making out. She scoffed when James made comments about Jamie's clothes. She'd even groaned in displeasure when she'd heard a young agent talk about a one night stand.

It was easy enough to ignore at first, besides suddenly hating every touchy-feely couple that crossed her path, it didn't effect anything. Then the tension rose, and Anthea found herself getting stressed far more easily. She found herself tapping her leg almost constantly when sitting behind her desk, and it was absolutely impossible to look at Mycroft some times. When he had his shirt sleeves rolled up, when he played his piano, when he smiled naturally and beautifully. She almost jumped him one morning when he prepared tea and coffee before shaving.

Carol must have noticed, by one of these or maybe when Anthea had groaned at the agent. Ever with the advice, Carol had rubbed Anthea's back with a very small smirk on her thin lips. She'd told the younger woman to spend time taking a relaxing bath and reading a nice book. Anthea had taken that Sunday night to herself, ran a bath, and dug out the least personable book she could – an old copy of Animal Farm from her school days – and relaxed. It did help calm her down for work but not enough. And if Carol noticed the tension there was absolutely no way that Mycroft didn't notice it. The last thing Anthea wanted was to have Mycroft pull away and distance himself due to this. That was without a doubt the last thing she needed too. She didn't want him to feel responsible for someone's discomfort either but there would be no way to hide this from someone who was so perceptive. He probably knew even before Anthea herself knew.

It wasn't working, of course. Mycroft had almost completely stopped touching her since she jumped when he stroked her arm to get her attention. It had taken a good couple of days of grabbing his hand when in the town car to prove to him that it was okay.

Dating someone so individual was such hard work.

Sometimes Anthea wondered if it was worth all the effort.

And then he'd laugh or smile in a way that he'd never done before they started an understanding and she knew it was definitely worth it.

Anthea glanced around the café as Mycroft answered an email. As she looked to her right her gaze was caught by another. A man was staring at her. He couldn't be much older that Anthea herself. She was struck by how much he was, as Mycroft used to say, her type. Her old type, anyway, her type before she was sucked into the world of power and politics. His shirt was a little too tight showing the wiry muscles of his arm. Short black hair and a mischievous smile on his face that looked like he could have stolen it straight from Robbie. He seemed to be quite confidant in himself, the way he was watching her without a bit of embarrassment.

And then he winked.

Anthea's mind wanted to roll her eyes but she felt the wave of heat raise up her neck and she could. So she pursed her lips to stop herself from smiling and looked back to her black tea. She felt the steam from the still hot liquid hit her face and she felt her equilibrium return. Daring not to look up at the man with the faint smile lines again, Anthea shook her hair back behind her shoulders and looked back up at Mycroft with a soft smile.

Anthea's smile almost faulted as she cocked her head at Mycroft's expression. Phone still in hand, his lips were tight together as he watched her, an eyebrow raised, his expression bleak and analytical at the same time. Anthea tucked a curl behind her ear as she scooted forward in her chair.

"You know I hate it when you look at me like a science experiment." Anthea spoke as warmly as she could. She wasn't chiding him, she was simply pointing out his expression. Mycroft's eyes flickered away from Anthea's face as he pocketed his phone.

"Was I?" He answered rhetorically, folding his hands together on the wrought iron table. "My apologies, dear." Anthea crinkled up her nose and resisted the urge to laugh in faint exasperation. She looked her boyfriend up and down again. His barriers were up. He had steeled himself. But why?

"So, what is it?" She verbalised her question. Mycroft met her gaze again, steel eyes cold.

"I beg your pardon?" He wasn't listening. Good things didn't often happen when Mycroft Holmes was lost in thought.

"What has you studying my every move?" Something changed in Mycroft briefly. It was a twitch and then it was gone. Mycroft closed his eyes and stretched his neck. Anthea sat still. As he opened his eyes he cleared his throat.

"I've been giving our relationship a lot of thought lately." Anthea felt herself deflate as she sighed. Her eyes flickered to the side of the room. This was absolutely not good news. She turned back to listen to more. "And I have come to what I feel is an acceptable solution to a particular issue." He stopped to scratch the very end of his left eyebrow with his ring finger. Anthea began picking at her nail polish with her thumb. "If we wish to continue our relationship then perhaps it would for the best if you sought out gratification… elsewhere."

What?

Anthea turned her head, her eyes narrowing on the genius' face.

It had sounded like a business deal.

Anthea tapped on her chair with her nails.

Had he meant what he just said?

"Are you –" Anthea choked on her own words. She sat up in her seat and crossed her legs. "Are you telling me to cheat on you?" She would have laughed if it didn't offend her in every way possible. If it didn't remind her of that time she cried in a parking lot. Mycroft's brow knotted together.

"Well, no." He scoffed as he mirrored Anthea's body language. "It's not cheating my dear if you have permission." Anthea closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead.

"Mycroft." She heaved heavily. "I-" She dropped her hands to her lap. "What?"

"Anthea, my dear, if we wish to continue our relationship this is an issue we need to resolve. I see no issue." Anthea ran a hand through her hair. He was so serious. She took a deep breath and counted to five before trying to argue.

"And you think either of us would be happy with that?" She did laugh this time. Mycroft looked slighted as he leaned back. He held his palms open to the sky.

"I don't care." He spoke so effortlessly. "It makes no difference to me."

A pause.

Anthea's mouth pulled into a smile of disbelief.

"You're not made for an open relationship." She hummed and shook her head. "You'd hate it so much." Mycroft sniffed a sort of scoff.

"It's just sex, Miss James."

Silence.

Anthea and Mycroft watched each other through analytical and challenging eyes. Both thought they were correct.

Anthea took a deep breath. She glanced over to the man in the tight shirt. He was taking his time with his iced coffee, clearly not going anywhere. Anthea raised her eyebrows as an idea came to her.

"Alright." She hummed, nodding in Mycroft's direction. "Let's test this out then." She waited for the man to glance in her direction again. She smiled at him and he smiled back. She bit her lip and flicked her hair. He nodded in Mycroft's direction. Anthea shook her head, no. Not my boyfriend. The man's smile grew larger and far too cocky for Anthea's particular taste these days. She gestured for the man to come over with her index finger. He left his iced coffee and walked up to the table.

"Hey there." He answered in a surprisingly raspy voice. Anthea flicked her hair behind her back.

"Hey." She answered, crinkling her nose. "You've been looking my way a lot…"

"You too." He leaned closer. She could smell sweat. Disgusting. She leaned in.

"Here's the thing." She took a deep breath. "I'm not looking for anything serious. Just some fun." She bit her lip and shrugged. "You up for that?" The man seemed relieved as he rolled his eyes.

"What a breath of fresh air compared to the rest of the girls." He laughed. Across from the table there was a scoff. Anthea fought the urge to smirk.

"Well, then." Anthea pulled out a pen from her bag and handed it to the man with the napkin that came with her tea. "Give me your number and I'll call you." The man took the pen and wrote his mobile number and a first name down on the napkin. He also signed it with a winking face. As he handed to Anthea he practically embraced her hand in his two paws.

"I look forward to your call." He winked, and Anthea pretended to giggle. He sauntered back to his table. Once his attention was off her, Anthea placed the napkin back onto the table and turned to Mycroft. He had that analytical look back on his face except this time he didn't look slightly offended, he looked like he'd been practically attacked. Anthea grinned at him as she turned her head.

"Well?" She hummed. "How was that?"

A pause.

Mycroft stared down at his cup of tea.

"I didn't like it." He grumbled down to the cup. Anthea's expression softened.

"I didn't think so." She sighed lovingly as she picked up the napkin and ripped it up. "I didn't either." Mycroft scoffed.

"You loved it."

"I loved the flirting." Anthea argued. "That made me feel better. I didn't love the idea of anyone other than you." A kindness flowed through Mycroft's eyes as he held Anthea's gaze. He sighed as he turned back to his cup of tea.

"Another solution then."

"Myc. It's not your problem. It's okay."

"Mmm."

Days passed and the subject was gone and forgotten. Well, as forgotten as it could be. Work was fine. It was one of those boring weeks where nothing crazy happened and everything went smoothly. Or at least it would have been one of those forgettable and faultless weeks until after work on Thursday.

Walter dropped Anthea and Mycroft off at Mycroft's big empty house. Instead of discussing whether to order dinner or to make do with what was in the fridge, Mycroft sat Anthea down at the kitchen bench. Finding it odd but being used to Mycroft and his brother doing very odd things, Anthea sat down without a word in opposition. Mycroft sat down in the seat next to her. Anthea watched as he placed his fingers firmly against their matching partner on the other hand. As he brought them up to his lips Anthea and to look down and rub her forehead. Mycroft must have been reading her as he immediately folded his fingers together and dropped his clasped hands down to the table.

"I have a new solution." Mycroft's melodic voice broke through the silence, echoing off of the walls of the empty estate. Anthea wanted to roll her eyes but she didn't. She took a tired breath and looked back up to her weird little genius trying to help. He watched her carefully, he took in all the details of her face. Who knew what he was seeing. "Since neither of us were particularly pleased with the previous option." Anthea's lips pulled into a smirk and Mycroft allowed the hint of a crack of a wry smile cross his lips in response before it quickly disappeared. "I realise that I may have to be of assistance here." Anthea lowered her head into her hands.

"Oh, Mycroft." Her voice was muffled through her hands.

"No, no." He interrupted her. Anthea sat up again, preparing herself for the rest. "If this is important to you," Anthea contorted her face. Mycroft ignored her. "Then I must be equalling will to compromise as you are." He pulled out his phone and Anthea watched as he opened his calendar app. "Perhaps once in a while on a Saturday night-"

"No!" Anthea laughed loudly in shock as she waved her hands across her chest. "No, no, no! You are not going to schedule this like a meeting!" She ran both of her hands through her long chocolate curls in utter frustration. Mycroft seemed confused as he watched Anthea's reaction.

"I'm trying to help."

"Exactly." Anthea cut him off again before he could continue. "I don't want this to be a duty or something you feel like you have to do." She rubbed her face hard with her palms as she tried to comprehend the absurdity of the situation. Couldn't he see how stupid that was? Couldn't he see that something like that wouldn't make either of them happy? Bless him for trying… But she'd waited this long and she wasn't going to throw it all away and accept the consolation prize. Thanks for playing. Anthea sat up and heaved a heavy breath. "I'd rather be frustrated then have neither of us enjoy it." For a second it looked like Mycroft was going to argue. It was in his eyes and Anthea knew it was his instinct to fight for his own opinion. But he didn't. Mycroft licked his lips and glanced down at his hands.

"You wish to continue down the current path, then?" He asked, steel eyes meeting her face once again. Anthea let a soft smile onto her lips as she nodded.

"Mycroft," Her voice was as soft as that smile. "I want to wait until you want to." She shrugged. "It's happened before, right? I know you've had one night stands, I've met Charlotte." Mycroft's lip pulled into a scowl and Anthea sniffed a laugh. "I'll wait until you're ready. For the first time at least." She threw him her famous lopsided smile with the crinkled nose. She reached forward and placed her hand on top of his. "I know you won't understand this, I know you'll put it down to silly emotions, but for you and I. For something that has been as weird and amazing as us I want that first time to be special." She searched his eyes as he took in hers. "Spontaneous, out of the blue, and special. Okay?"

A pause.

Mycroft pursed his lips.

"What if it never happens?" Mycroft asked. "What if no such moment occurs. It's not impossible." Anthea pouted as she thought. What then? What if it didn't?

She shrugged.

"I'll… keep waiting." Mycroft raised an eyebrow at her and smirked. She shrugged again. "Your my companion, your my confidant, and you're almost my best friend, I will not have such a big step go down like the first time you tried to take me on a date, or like the first time we kissed. We're so good at everything, we've got to make some of these memories something I can be really sentimental over." Mycroft chuckled as he shook his head.

"Alice Clarke…" It sounded like he was testing her name out. As if he was hearing how it sounded for the first time in a long time. Warm blue eyes glittered as they looked over her. "You are without a doubt the most stubborn individual I have ever met." He smirked at her. "Worse than Sherlock, worse than myself, worse than Mummy." Anthea giggled. She leaned forward, coming so close to Mycroft that their noses were almost touching.

"You need to be stubborn to date a Holmes." She whispered teasingly. She leaned forward, placing a hand on Mycroft's neck, and kiss him. He deepened the kiss, placing his elegant hand against her face and stroked her cheek. Eventually she had to break away. She needed to. Anthea rested her forehead on Mycroft's shoulder and took three steadying breaths. She stood up, neatened her clothes, and cleared her throat.

"What are you doing?" Mycroft asked in amusement as he watched her.

"Excuse me, sir." Anthea was as quiet as a mouse as she turned on her heels. "I need to go have a cold shower." Mycroft's honest and warm chuckle that followed did nothing to help Anthea.

Author's Note: So? What did you think? I tend to lead more to the Mycroft point of view on this one which is why I went to Lauren about it – she's more… well more normal than me on these topics so we kind of collaborated based on how each of the characters would be feeling. The fact that we could both empathise with both of them left us feeling like it was good. That was my creative process anyway… I look forward to hearing your opinions on it. Thanks to our guest reviewers; Tadaa, Guesswho, and Guest. Not ovejalucifer, though, and I was so looking forward to her review :P. Thanks to all my lovely reviewers – I got them all via email even if the site isn't showing them right now. And, since this 5 days thing is working for me, I'll see you again Saturday!