Author's Note: Oh guys! The reviews were so cute last chapter! Basically they can be summed up as "Yay baby!" I got such a thrill out of them. Thank you! This chapter was the natural follow up to that one. I'm decently pleased with it but I really hope you guys enjoy it. 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 Mycroft Met Hope

"You need to come see her." Anthea sat on the edge of the bed already fully dressed, makeup and hair done, slipping on her shoes. She spoke to Mycroft as he stood in the mirror tying up his tie meticulously. Mycroft's attention didn't flicker away from what he was doing, even for a split second.

"Who?" He asked. Anthea rolled her eyes. The genius knew exactly who Anthea was talking about. The girl of the hour! The brand new member of the group he had yet to even acknowledge. He had probably sent a message to James and James had been sending everyone photos in the last few days since Hope was born but there was no way Mycroft would have spent longer than half a second looking at the photo.

"The Queen." Anthea answered flatly. Mycroft pursed his lips to stop from smirking. "Hope." Anthea answered seriously. "Our niece." She stressed 'our'. Maybe if Mycroft got that into his head he'd be more willing to come. Probably not, considering his unwillingness with his own family despite the deep love there. Mycroft pulled a face, upper lip pulling up.

"Babies." He shook his head. "Particularly when they're new. All the family visiting and gawking at them." He turned around to face Anthea. "Too much sentiment being created. It suffocated me even as a child." Anthea rolled her eyes again. She had a feeling that was going to be a common occurrence this morning.

"There won't be anyone else there." She argued. Mycroft sniffed a laugh out through his nose.

"Jamie's mother and stepfather just received their first grandchild. If you don't think they'd take the opportunity to come stay with their eldest child for at least a week then you really have lost contact with what it's like to have parents." He said with all the pomposity he used to speak to his brother. Anthea pulled back and blinked at the parent statement. The flash of something in Mycroft's eyes as he saw her reaction was enough for Anthea to know he hadn't prepared for her to have that reaction and he certainly didn't intend to hurt her. Anthea waved her had lazily, dismissing any apology before it came – she was okay.

"You promised to protect her." Anthea tried a new angle. "How can you do that if you don't know her?" Mycroft picked up his suit jacket and put it on one sleeve at a time.

"My love," He began as he tugged the jacket into place and smoothed it out. "I never need to know what she looks like. Only my staff need to know that." Anthea laughed despite herself. She rubbed at her bare neck. Holmes stubbornness was the worst – especially first thing in the morning.

"It's important to Jamie, it's important to James, and it's really important to me." Anthea spoke from the heart, beseeching Mycroft, looking deep into his grey blue eyes. As his expression softened Anthea knew she had chipped through the ice and reached that big heart of Mycroft's. For a moment the man looked terribly conflicted, fighting between two parts of himself. Then he rolled his eyes – the theme for that morning. He folded his arms across his chest.

"I have some rules." He said. Of course, Anthea expected no less. "If there are other people in that house other than that little family and us I am leaving." Anthea's mouth pulled into a sly smile and she nodded. "If anyone asks me to hold it I am leaving." It? That would need to be worked on. "And so help me God, if you or James talk in baby talk I reserve the right to fire you both." Anthea's soul light up with a deep warmth at how so very Mycroftian that was. She stood up, walked over to Mycroft, and pulled the bitter genius into a hug. She needed to. He was just so… him, and she loved it. She let go of the hug and stroked Mycroft's arm.

"I'll send your terms of agreement to Jamie." Anthea said. "And then we'll go see Hope tomorrow." Mycroft rolled his eyes. What did that make it? Two eye rolls each?

No other visitors, no holding, and no baby talk from James and I. – A.

That's all? I can do that with my eyes shut! – Jamie x.

I know, but let him think he told us and we didn't already know those would be rules. – A.

We'll try to keep it as normal as possible for him. – Jamie x.

It's like we're trying to make a change as easy as possible for a child. – A.

I thought that's what we WERE doing ;). – Jamie x.

The most powerful child in England. – A.

If he's naughty we'll take the CCTV cameras away until he can prove he can play nicely. – Jamie x.

You're such a good mum. – A.

;). – Jamie x.

There was a car outside of Jamie's house when they pulled up. It was parked right in the driveway. Anthea knew immediately what would come out of Mycroft's mouth as the pulled up the hand break.

"That's rule number one broken, Miss Clarke." He hummed, an air of victory wafting off him from the driver's seat. As Anthea undid the clasp on her seatbelt Mycroft made no move to remove his. He was already preparing to leave.

"Give us a break." Anthea breathed. "If that's her step-dad's car maybe they left it and went for a walk." The glare from Mycroft indicated that he wasn't prepared to believe her attempts at finding an excuse for a car. The brunette woman's chest caved in. She cocked her head to the side. "Mycroft." She implored. It didn't work. His barriers were already in place in preparation for the baby. "Let's at least go in before you decide to leave." Mycroft raised his eyebrows and pulled the keys out of the ignition.

"I will, but only because I love to be proven right." He said, finally undoing his seatbelt. Anthea didn't care as long as it got him out of the car.

James opened the front door to greet them. The tall agent was dressed in preparation for the visit. He looked clean and tidy with his hair neatened the best he could. His eyes already showed of troubled night's sleep. The newborn must already be proving to be a night owl. She'll fit in well around here then.

"Hey beautiful." He winked at Anthea. "Sir." Mycroft nodded in response. They heard Jamie's voice somewhere in the distance. Mycroft's ears practically perked. James ruffled his own hair. "Yeah, we're running a little behind. You-"

"No!" Jamie's voice sounded closer. "You have to go now." From behind James' large build Anthea could see Jamie hurrying her mother and her step-father down the stairs. Her parents were dressed nicely and prepared for a day out. Jamie was in pyjama bottoms and comfortable shirt with her blonde hair tied back in a messy bun. No one was going to blame a brand new mother for not looking as put together as she always did. Mycroft looked down his nose at Anthea.

"Oh, surely we can't deny grandparents the right to their grandchild. Particularly when we live here and they do not." Anthea glared and Mycroft smirked. His face changed to a fake look of sympathy as he looked at James. James didn't believe it for a moment. If anything the agent's lip threatened to pull up into a smile.

"Jamie's been trying to kick them out all morning, Holmes." James said. "We're tired. Please don't make this hard work be for nothing."

"We're her grandparents. Why should we have to leave?" Jamie's mother asked loudly as she was shoved closer.

"Because you've met her. He hasn't." Jamie said. All three people came right into view as James sidestepped out of the way and Jamie continue to try and usher them through the door. Jamie's mum's frown disappeared as she was Anthea, smiling.

"Ali. How are you-"

"No! Don't talk to them. He doesn't want to talk to people." Jamie cut her mother off. Her mother looked over her shoulder at her daughter.

"I was talking to Alice."

"Alice is his shadow. It counts." Jamie huffed. She flicked her wrist a couple of times towards the door. "Leave." The stepdad just looked highly amused.

"No, Jamie, perhaps we're in the wrong." Mycroft argued. Immediately Anthea and Jamie's flat expressions looked at him. "Your parents are only here for a short while. I can come back in a week or two." Jamie blinked at Mycroft. She looked up at James, her hazel eyes alight. James shrugged. She looked at Anthea. Anthea pursed her lips and breathed.

"You know there's a really nice antique store down the road." She said to Jamie's stepdad. "Why don't you go there?"

"See?" Jamie said before her mum had a chance to speak. "Bye guys, see you later, love you." With a final shove she sent them walking down the driveway. Jamie put her hands on her hips and took a few deep breaths dramatically – like she had just ran a marathon. "So!" She peeped, looking between the three taller people. "Coffee?" Her tone was so casual and so light. It was as if none of that had happened.

The plan Jamie and Anthea had concocted was beautiful in its simplicity. It was to be treated as a normal visit between friends – despite someone's feelings on that word. They'd all sit in the kitchen with tea and coffee and have a nice normal conversation. This would continue this way with hardly any baby talk until Hope woke up and needed attention. That way Hope wasn't forced onto Mycroft when neither he nor she were ready for it. One irritable baby was enough. Then it would be a matter of downplaying the whole thing and not treating it like some grand introduction worthy of the Lion King.

A sad – but ear-piercing – cry came wailing out of the baby monitor and as soon as it did Mycroft's body turned to stone in his seat. Thatch, still not used to the noise, growled. Jamie's left hand rubbed her eyes wearily before she pushed her chair back in preparations to stand up.

"Want me to go?" James asked as he watched Jamie stand up.

"Nah. Stay here with these two weirdos." Jamie patted James on his shoulder. "You won't be helpful if she's hungry, will you big guy?" Her hand slid off his shoulder as she walked towards the door and out of the kitchen. James smiled after her like he was smitten all over again. It was adorable and so good to see. He turned back, smirking into his coffee.

"Do you ever wander what bad people like us to deserve good things like that?" He peaked up, looking between Anthea and Mycroft. Mycroft twisted his cup so the handle was facing outwards from the table.

"Constantly, James." He said.

"It's because you do all those bad things for a good cause that you deserve good things, James." Anthea said to the blonde man. She tapped Mycroft on the leg with her foot. "And you," She said as she did it. "Since when do you believe in karma?"

"I know I'm being weird." James laughed as he leaned back in his seat. "But…" He blew air from his lips and shook his head. "I really thought I got what love was when I got married. Turns out I didn't have a clue." He said. Anthea cocked her head to the side lovingly while Mycroft just scoffed.

"You're so soft." Anthea said.

"Perhaps too soft…" Mycroft muttered. He was ignored. Thatch made a noise under the table. A quick glance underneath showed that he was asleep with his head on Mycroft's shoe.

Jamie came back into the room, bouncing the new baby in her arms, her hazel eyes tender as she looked upon her daughter. Despite the plan, despite her own personality. Anthea awed as soon as she saw Jamie enter with Hope. Similarly James immediately bustled with pride. Mycroft moved his cup and coaster to a different spot on the table.

"Hey Hope." Anthea cooed. Jamie giggled quietly. The blonde woman looked around the table.

"I think everyone needs a new drink." She said. "Does Hope want to go to Auntie Ali while Mama and Dada make teas and coffee?" Jamie asked Hope though it was really directed at Anthea. Anthea clicked her tongue.

"Aunt Ali will take any excuse to hold her god daughter." Anthea was surprised by how much warmth and adoration came out of her. It didn't seem like who she was.

"Here you go, then." Jamie came closer to Anthea. "James can you gather up the mugs and stuff?" The agent jumped out of his seat like it was a direct order. With all the care and gentleness they could muster between them the best friends handled the trade-off of baby Hope. Mycroft watched with apprehension as this happened. Jamie stroked Hope's cheek once the swap was complete. Thatch followed her as she walked over to the kettle.

Anthea muttered a few greetings and words to her little niece as she rocked and bounced her in her arms. She caught Mycroft, lips pursed, watching her and the baby uneasily. Anthea crinkled her nose playfully at him. She scooted her chair closer to him.

"This is her." Anthea said.

"Clearly." Mycroft retorted but no malice or superiority was in his tone.

"Would you like to look at her?" Anthea flicked her head indicating for him to come closer. The genius clenched his jaw. He looked away and searched for Thatch. The dog was with his parents. Mycroft, with a great deal of inner turmoil and fuss, came closer to peer down at the baby.

"Oh." He sounded surprised. "That…" He raised his eyebrows and cleared his throat. "She's…" He looked her over. "Is definitely the combination of her mother and father." It was better than what he had said about other babies. Anthea looked down at Hope and shook her head. Like expecting the baby to know this as typical behaviour already. "Though I see more James than Jamie." Mycroft shifted in his seat.

"You're doing well, sir." Anthea whispered. "Keep it up." Steel eyes searched hers silently. He cleared his throat once more and looked at the baby. He brought his hand to hover above her stomach like he was considering touching the baby but couldn't quite bring himself to do it.

"Hello." He said. "It's nice to meet you." Hope gurgled in what felt like response. Like babies do, her little hand took hold of Mycroft's index finger. Mycroft rose his eyebrows. "Good grip for a very young infant." Mycroft hummed. Anthea rose her eyebrows in response. Mycroft nodded. "We might have a young agent here."

"You here that?" James said proudly.

"Like hell that's gonna happen." Jamie answered sharply.

"If you continue to show potential, Miss Hope, then your mother won't get a say in the matter." Mycroft spoke to Hope like she could understand him. Anthea barked a laugh.

"What Mycroft Holmes wants he gets." She said sarcastically.

"Yeah, well your Mummy's boy of a boyfriend should know better than to go against a mother." Jamie muttered.

"I don't know, Jay." James said. "I'd love a little protégé."

"Look, I thought we weren't allowed to overdo talking about the baby, yeah?" Jamie said, turning around and pointing a teaspoon at Anthea and Mycroft. "Because if you all keep talking about recruiting her I'm going to ban you all from seeing her for like a month."

"Ah, excellent." Mycroft hummed. As he did his finger was released. Immediately he pulled out his handkerchief and wiped his finger on it. "I now know how I can get Miss Monroe and her offspring out of my life for a few weeks." Jamie shot him daggers from the kettle. Mycroft held up a hand in apology. "My apologies, Miss Thompson. The baby can stay, I only need a way to remove you." Jamie squinted at him and shook her head. She looked up at James and continued shaking her head.

"Why did I want him in my daughter's life again?"

Mycroft parked the car safely in the garage back to sit there and not be used for further untold weeks. Shutting the garage, Anthea and Mycroft walked side by side back up to the house. Anthea slipped her hand into Mycroft's and locked fingers with his. Mycroft looked down at their hands curiously but kept walking, accepting this new reality.

"Thank you for today." Anthea purred. Her heart felt on the verge of bursting since Hope had grabbed Mycroft's finger. She'd not felt so whole and complete in a long time. In fact she hadn't realised the hole in her chest could get so small. One of Mycroft's eyebrows raised, questioning what he was being thanked for. Anthea squeezed his hand. "For putting all your sharp edges and weaponry away for long enough to meet our niece." She was going to say my niece as a way to protect Mycroft from all those goldfish feelings but she didn't want to. Our niece sounded better to her and made her feel lighter than air. And it was the truth – so declared Hope's parents. Mycroft's expression softened.

"Yes, well…" He sighed with over the top exhaustion. "I had to meet her eventually, didn't I? It made sense to make it as quick and painless as possible." Anthea stopped Mycroft by taking his free hand in her other hand. She looked up at him adoringly.

"You're surprisingly patient with babies." Anthea's tone was full of both pride and enjoyment at this strange turn of events. Mycroft widened his eyes.

"If you haven't noticed, my love, I am an elder sibling with a rather large age gap." He said sarcastically. "I wasn't allowed to just drop a baby simply because I didn't like it." Anthea laughed.

"Oh, what a good big brother you were." She matched his sarcastic tone.

"You have no idea." He growled playfully, sending a delightful shiver down Anthea's spine. She freed one of Mycroft's hands so that she could gently cup Mycroft's cheek. Not only did he not flinch but he seemed to lean into the warm loving touch. He really had been learning and trying to improve this time around.

"Come on." Anthea tugged on his hand. "Let's get you back into your fortress of solitude." Mycroft chuckled and allowed himself to be pulled by his partner in crime.

The owner of the salon informed me that Jamie gave birth. I sent her my congratulations but I believe this is a rather exciting time for you as well. – E.

Yeah, thanks. – A.

An attractive couple like that should certainly have attractive offspring. – E.

Have you met James? – A.

Twice. Both a long time ago. – E.

Anthea stared at her phone. That statement caught her extremely off guard and sent her inner alarms ringing louder and brighter than they ever had. Jamie and Anthea barely knew Emily. How could she have met James a long time ago? It didn't make sense to her in the slightest. James barely existed. If Emily hadn't seen a photo of him, and Anthea knew there was no way she knew his last name, how did she know who James was? How did she even know that she had met him? You didn't just coincidentally know an agent like that.

"Miss James, you are staring at your phone like it insulted you personally." Mycroft's voice pulled Anthea out of her thoughts. She looked across the town car at Mycroft. He was twiddling his umbrella as per usual and was watching her like she was a boring television show. Anthea bit inside her cheek as she looked back at the text on her phone. She reread it twice.

"That woman who works with Jamie is…" She winced as she tried to think of the best way to word it. "I don't trust her."

"The simple solution to your unease, my dear, is to have Sherlock's friends at Scotland Yard run a police clearance on her." Mycroft answered flatly, turning back to the window. "If anything should arise in those results have one of my staff members look into it." Anthea's inner alarms quieted down. She took a deep calming breath as the lights in her brain stopped flashing.

"Good idea." She said. She composed a text to Lestrade and sent it to him. "Great idea, thank you sir."

"That's why I'm here." Mycroft smirked at her. His boyish spark of naughtiness turned the alarms off completely. Anthea crinkled her nose at him.

"You're also nice to look at." Anthea said. She watched Mycroft's feathers get ruffled and him not know how to react. She found it sweet how he didn't know what to do with physical compliments. She enjoyed this for a good thirty seconds before deciding to send a text back to Emily. The woman can't know she set Anthea's alarms off.

You're right. The baby is beautiful. – A.

It's hard to tell at that age but I'll take your word for it. – E.

Author's Note: There we have it! I hope you all liked it. Do let me know. I would love to know what you liked about it or what you picked up. Thanks to our guest reviewers last chapter; Christie, and Madalina. The rest had accounts. Thanks to all of you readers, I adore you all dearly. I shall see you all for the next update!