Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for the feedback last chapter – a couple of them made me laugh. This chapter is back to being long, but I expected this one to reach about this length. This chapter would not exist without you guys because you guys created a ship that I made AFTFE canon. Keep that in mind, this is all you guys. So thank you guys for that! 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 Day She Was An Aunt

It took Jamie a long time to reach the door after Anthea rang the doorbell. Anthea smirked naughtily and waited patiently. She could imagine the poor woman struggling to get up from wherever she was or what she was doing or slowly coming down the stairs. It would be very frustrating for her so it was best to be the patience for her.

When she opened the door Jamie looked half like she was going out somewhere and half like she never wanted to leave the house. She had light make up on and looked as fresh and lovely as she always tried to be – being a makeup artist – and her hair had obviously been washed and blow-dried in the last few hours. Her clothes, on the other hand, were as comfortable as she could find. She wore a large loose fitting t-shirt that looked like it had come out of a men's big and tall store, and what looked like yoga pants under her belly. Quite the contrast to Anthea in her all black dress on suit jacket coming from the office. Jamie looked exhausted and strained around her hazel eyes.

"Anyone but you and I would have ignored the door." She muttered breathlessly.

"Hey." Anthea spoke with laughter at Jamie's words. "Myc's away and I only had work to do for a bit this morning so I brought lunch!" Anthea held up the salads she bought from the café near work when she was leaving. She'd made sure that everything in it was okay for a pregnant woman to eat and no doubt annoyed the staff. They were used to it and her though, she was usually there with Mycroft anyway. Jamie's face relaxed and some of the strain in her eyes disappeared.

"You're amazing, Ali." She said.

"I know." Anthea quirked her eyebrows up and down. Jamie laughed but it was very quietly, like softly and rapid exhaling air. She let Anthea into the house and then closed the door behind her.

"Do you want to eat in the kitchen or on the couch?" Jamie asked, her hands rubbing her lower back.

"No, no, no." Anthea shook her head, chocolate curls dancing. "You sit down on the couch and I'll put these on plates and bring them in." Jamie blinked, mouth pulling up.

"You're in work mode." She joked. Anthea nodded curtly. She had just come from the office it would make sense that Anthea had come along with Alice.

"What would you like to drink, ma'am?" Anthea asked, playing along. Jamie lowered onto the couch slowly and pulled a face as she did. Anthea noted that look and filed it away. Jamie took a breath before replying.

"Water will be fine, Anthea." She used Anthea's work name as part of the game. Anthea nodded subtly the way she would in a meeting or in a room full of spies and agents.

"Yes, ma'am." She said disappearing into the kitchen.

Anthea took out two plates. She distributed the packaged salads onto the plates, not caring about presentation. She the dug out forks and after a quick glance back at the plates grabbed knives too. She opened Jamie's fridge only to be reminded that her and James used their fridge to store food and ingredients, not milk and bottled water. So she took the plates out and placed them on the coffee table and without waiting for a word from Jamie she went back into the kitchen and filled two glasses up with water and brought them in.

Anthea sat down in one of the arm chairs and let Jamie have the couch to herself. The two ate, and talked, and laughed. By the time Anthea had finished her food, however, Jamie had barely touched hers. She'd been picking at it but she kept getting herself distracted. She had that look on her face that she'd answered the door with for about half the time.

"Okay, Jay." Anthea huffed as she placed the plate down on the coffee table with a thud. "What is up with you?" Jamie bit her bottom lip and furrowed her dark eyebrows.

"Nothing, Ali." She said. Anthea didn't believe her for a second and communicated as much with a blank stare. This was Jamie – a lively soul. Only a few times had she ever been so introspective and lost.

"I live with the Ice Man. Pretending things are fine don't work on me." Anthea said. Jamie closed her eyes and rubbed on her lower back with her right hand.

"It's just contractions." She tried to dismiss Anthea. That was not something to say if you wanted to dismiss someone's concerns. Anthea's postured straightened as straight as a ruler, her eyebrows raising to the top of her head.

"Contractions?" She repeated. Jamie relaxed again and the introspective pained looked passed. Anthea finally got it, Jamie was handling pain with grace that even many agents lacked. "Are you sure?" She asked. Jamie gave her a look. "How long."

"I dunno. A couple of hours." The blonde shrugged. "I figured it was false labour again and ignored it. Didn't go away though, did it?" She smiled, seeing the amusement in the situation. Anthea didn't find it quite as funny. "They're getting closer and they're like… really starting to hurt." A laugh spluttered uncontrollably from Anthea's mouth.

"You think?" She teased. Jamie poked her tongue out at her. Anthea leaned forward in her seat and looked carefully at her best friend. "If it's getting closer and painful then you should go to the hospital." The suggestion alone made Jamie look tired.

"But what if this part takes like… fooorreevver?" She rolled her eyes as she spoke. "I don't want to sit in the hospital reading magazines and on my phone for like a million years." She huffed and crossed her arms. "And even if I called James to meet me at the hospital he's off somewhere strange doing secret work with Carol. It would take him a few hours to call up a replacement and get to the hospital. And-" She cut herself off. She shut her eyes again, brow creasing. Anthea waited silently for Jamie's contraction to pass.

"That's it, hospital." Anthea stood up.

"Ali." Jamie moaned.

"You're not going to be bored." Anthea predicted the repetition. "You'll be in pain and I'll be there and I'm the life of any event."

"I'd say don't waste your Frosty-free-day on me but I'm selfish and I just want you there." It seemed Anthea had one. A sparkle crossed Jamie's expression. "Like even when James is there I want you stick around." Really, where else would Anthea be?

At the hospital once Jamie was put into one of the maternity rooms. Jamie was forced to get in the bed by a nurse while Anthea took up residence in one of the chairs. Jamie immediately got back out of the bed and stretched out her lower back. She tried to call James but to no avail. He was a busy man, it made sense that maybe he couldn't get to his phone right now. While Jamie walked slowly around the room trying to find places to sit or stand that would be comfortable to her Anthea tried Carol. As soon the phone stopped ringing indicating that it had been answered Anthea spoke before Carol could even have a chance to say hello.

"Carol! We need James back in London ASAP." She said. Anthea heard the imposing woman sigh.

"A, no offence, but we've talked before how we don't work for you and Mycroft directly." Apparently her patience had already been used up today. Anthea ran her tongue over her teeth as she listened to the agent. "We have very important work to do. You can't just summon the boss whenever you want him."

"Mr Holmes isn't here." Anthea hummed, enjoying proving her wrong a little too much. "I'm at the hospital with Jamie." She waited for Carol to say something. She spoke not a word. "She's been having contractions for hours now. Thought he might want to be here." It was a little sarcastic. She heard a small sharp breath.

"I'm sorry A, I-." Carol began.

"It's alright, I understand." Anthea hated the divide that existed between them and the agents sometimes but she did understand it. She wasn't going to hold it against one of the constant companions in her life. "Do you think you can find James Bond and tell him?"

"I'll organise transport first and then I'll go find him." Efficient, not wasting any time. She was a good agent and a good partner to James.

"Thanks Carol." Anthea said warmly.

"I'd say tell me when she's born but James will send me more photos then necessary." Carol's dry tone made Anthea laugh. Jamie, who had found herself leaning against a windowsill watched, a little bit of light humour sparkling in her eyes. Funny how another person laughing brought Jamie to life. It would be nice if this kid got that too.

"Bye." Anthea laughed.

Click.

Carol hung up. Anthea put her phone away in her suit jacket pocket. She didn't question where Jamie had perched herself.

"Carol's going to send him." Anthea said. Jamie closed her eyes, leaned her head back against the window and took a deep breath in.

"You guys are weird and incredible." She spoke softly. "My daughter is going to have the coolest people around her." Anthea had to blink her eyes as she felt them swell.

"We are pretty incredible…" She said, pulling out her phone again and composing a text. She heard Jamie laugh breathlessly.

At the hospital with Jamie. Baby. – A.

Her phone dinged.

"Are you messaging Frosty?" Jamie asked. Anthea hummed in confirmation. Was she that predictable?

I'm busy. Why are you telling me this? – M.H.

We had to pull James from a mission. – A.

"You know he doesn't want to know about baby things." Jamie said. Anthea smirked as she waited for the reply.

Her phone dinged.

Naturally. No one can possibly argue with that. If they do I'll have a word. Or rather I'll send them a message. – M.H.

"No, but he does want to know about family." Anthea said as she put her phone away once again.

"Like I said;" Jamie said. "Weird and incredible."

When James arrived to Jamie's room, with one of his sister's in tow, he was somewhere between agent mode and day to day James. Stern expression, dressed for work, giving off a powerful aura, but practically bouncing on the balls of his feet with kinetic energy. Anthea knew under that suit James was armed to the teeth. There was a holster around his shoulder, Anthea knew that for sure. She knew he liked to keep a knife on his leg during meetings with powerful people as a just-in-case. Of course he was very dangerous with his hands. It was strangely fitting to Anthea that James should be armoured and ready to kill on the day his daughter is born. She couldn't put her finger on why but it just felt perfect.

He walked right up to Jamie who now stood, leaning forward so her hands were planted on the hospital mattress. He leaned down, hand on her lower back, and kissed her.

"You alright gorgeous?" He asked, looking in her eyes. He stood up and glanced at the door. "Do you need anything? When was the last time someone checked on you?" Agent mode indeed. Anthea sniffed from her seat. James finally noticed her and gave her a bit of a bashful smile and nodded. Anthea nodded back.

"Did you stop and pick up Poppy on the way here?" Jamie asked, confused. None the less she waved at Poppy. The girl, she was older than everyone in this room by at least a year but she was epitome of a girl, smiled. James nodded, his hand landed on Jamie's lower back again.

"Yeah I got her so Anthea wouldn't be waiting by herself outside during the whole labour." He said. Jamie's brow furrowed deeply. She crooked her head to look up at James. She scrunched up her face.

"Again," The blonde looked at Anthea. "You're all weird and incredible." She finished speaking just as another contraction hit. She shut her eyes and hung her head. James rubbed her back. Anthea answered emails while Poppy took that spot on the windowsill.

The real labour started two finally two hours later. Anthea and Poppy were kicked out into the waiting room. Anthea and Poppy played games on their phones together until Poppy's phone died.

Anthea had called Rosie beautiful when she saw her – and the little girl was – but nothing compares to the rose tinted glasses you look at a family member's child with. There were probably some things not so perfect, and Mycroft would probably point them out when he met the baby, but this tiny baby that was bright and brand new. This little creature made between Anthea's best friend and, well, her other best friend. It was the most adorable thing in the entire world. It was so little. It was half Jamie, half James, and all love. Anthea's eyes welled up with tears the moment she laid eyes on the little thing in Jamie's arms.

"Oh my God, I love her." Anthea breathed. Jamie sobbed and laughed at the same time.

"Not as much as I do." She said with so much love in his voice. The blonde looked exhausted. Her hair was wet and sticking to her head and she looked like she wanted nothing more than to sleep but at the same time she never seemed more alive. James was beside himself. He didn't know how to react. He wasn't grinning like a doofus like they expected, he was parading around. He stood next to Jamie and looked down at the little girl with a serious expression of care. It was clear that these two were going to be amazing parents. They better be, given that perfect creatures they created.

"I'm taking her home." Anthea stated like a fact. Jamie snorted.

"Get lost. I made her." She teased. James made a noise in his throat. It could have been a laugh but Anthea wasn't sure. Anthea stepped closer and peered closely at the baby. It was hard to tell who she'd look like yet – she was way too new. It would be so exciting to see who she'd become. Who her parents would become.

"You guys better have had a name ready." Anthea whispered as she watched the little baby wriggle.

"She's Hope." James said, his voice wavered. Jamie looked up at him and her expression softened. They love in her eyes only increased.

"Hope Elizabeth Baker. Introduce her like a lady." Jamie said. James chuckled and Jamie grinned again. Anthea's heart broke into tiny pieces. She hid a sob that was escaping her by clearing her throat. It was perfect. That's what she was – a ray of Hope in a time full of sadness. Naturally an optimistic spirit like James and a bubbly creative like Jamie would create hope together.

"You're just what we need right now, Hope." Anthea spoke to her niece directly for the first time ever. "Welcome to the world, sweetheart." James made that noise again.

"James," Jamie sighed. "Do you want to hold her again?"

"Yes please." He said. Anthea breathlessly laughed and used the palm of her hands to wipe her eyes dry. Anthea stepped out of the way. James can to sit on the edge of Jamie's bed. Carefully Jamie handed over the brand new baby. It looked even smaller in James' big protective arms. It was hard to remember that James had killed people at this point, that he was extremely deadly. You only saw a man who'd do a great job at protecting his daughter.

Anthea was brought out of her musings when Jamie sighed. The blonde ran both her hands through her wet hair.

"You should go home, Ali." She said. "You've been here for hours." Anthea crinkled her nose.

"And you want to sleep?" The brunette asked.

"So badly." Jamie sobbed dramatically. She was still the same despite everything. Jamie Thompson – the great constant in Anthea's life.

"Five more minutes." Anthea said. "I need a little more Hope." To Jamie that was reasonable.

It was the early hours of the morning when Anthea got home to the big empty house. Those few hours where it was reasonable to assume that there were people in London both only going to bed now and also waking up for work. The sun itself had yet to wake up and the moon not quite in bed.

The light on in the entrance hall indicated that Mycroft had gotten home from his business trip already. Anthea found him lying in bed, glasses on the tip of his nose, reading a book in another language. She wondered if he was one of the ones yet to sleep or if this was the result of giving up on sleep. The genius didn't even look up at Anthea but he knew she was there. He would have heard her footsteps down the hall.

"Hello." He hummed like he could hear Anthea's thoughts. Still he did not look up. Anthea fell onto the bed and let a contented sigh escape her lips. She rolled over to lay on her back and stare up at the ceiling like it was the night sky. The top of her head just touched Mycroft's leg. Some of her hair curled and rested on his thigh. Now he watched her.

"Her name is Hope." Anthea spoke dreamily. Mycroft did not seem anywhere near as enthusiastic as he quirked an eyebrow.

"Trust personalities like those two to pick such an impractical name" says the man named Mycroft "and expect it to instil some kind of meaning into the child." Anthea said nothing, just enjoyed a very typical Mycroft reaction. She was elated right now and that type of reaction only made her adore Mycroft in this current state of mind. "Well go on then." Mycroft said. Anthea moved her head so she could look at Mycroft. He was looking at her from just above his glasses. "Her name obviously isn't just Hope, is it? What is or are the middle names?"

"It's Hope Elizabeth." Anthea said. Mycroft relaxed into the headboard and let the name summer in his mind for a moment.

"You see," She could hear his voice rumble in his chest from her current spot. "That sounds better." There was that gentleness he kept hidden behind walls of steel and ice. Anthea scooted up on the bed so her head rested on Mycroft's leg. She closed her eyes and let the scents that were their bedroom fill her. She could smell the sheets, she could smell hints of her perfume, and mostly she could smell Mycroft's cologne and the smell of books.

"You'll have to come see her." Anthea spoke with her eyes shut.

"Why?" Mycroft questioned. There were so many answers to that question, ones that were valid and might work. Anthea didn't choose any of those answers.

"Because she's perfect." That was the answer Anthea chose.

"I highly doubt that." Mycroft said. "With that set of genetics there is bound to be some attention span deficit. Not to mention that any being that relies on another being to feed and clean it is far from perfect." Anthea, eyes still closed, grinning, hit Mycroft lightly on what felt like his knee. Not only did he not understand it, but he was teasing her at the same time and she loved him for it.

"You have to fire me now." Anthea said, her tired mind drifting a little off topic but still focused on Hope. "You hired me because I was unattached. I have a family now." She stopped to cover her mouth and yawn. "Adoptive brother-in-law, a niece... maybe some other people." She felt as long slender fingers began stroking her hair. It was the most incredible feeling on her tired body. A loved one gently stroking you with the benefits of massaging the tension away.

"A minor issue, my dear. We'll work around it." Mycroft's voice was gentle. Anthea loved it when he was gentle. She smiled at his words and slowly drifted off to sleep.

Author's Note: You guys are the reason James Squared exists. I wasn't even considering it until you guys started point out how good they'd be together. It's your fault they're as big in this story as they are :P. With that said, I really hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was fun and cute to write. Next chapter will probably be focused on little Hope too. Thanks to our guest reviewers; Guests x2, Christie, and B. Thanks to all my reviewers! Let me know what you thought. See you all in five days!