Author's Note: Hey guys! How are you? Thanks for the nice reviews last chapter. Hope is a sure fire way to get a good chapter, apparently :P. I'm glad I had told you guys I needed an extra day for the chapter. Some chapters I can bang out in one day. This was not one of those chapters. It's a long one and an involved one. 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 Asked For Extended Time Off

Jamie liked to say that things happen in threes. A common superstitious belief in Western culture. Losing things, celebrity deaths, bad luck, and almost all negative things appeared to happen in threes. Most people couldn't relax until the third and final thing happened. Mycroft laughed at the concept. He said that people grouped these unrelated events together in a way to make themselves feel better and more in control of their lives in a chaotic universe. He said people often waited patiently for the separate third thing even if it happened months after the first two they'd claim they could relax after it. He said that some people even willingly brought the third thing unto themselves psychologically and subconsciously. After a look from Jamie he informed her that she was the former and not the latter. Bad things do not happen in threes.

"I don't know," Jamie had muttered bitterly. "There's three of you." She spoke of the Holmes siblings. "That's proof right there."

Anthea chose not to get involved in this conversation. Her logical brain knew that there was absolutely no way things happened in threes. She had seen too much from the world to think that. Sometimes there was absolutely no rhyme or reason for something happening. However, the unconscious part of her brain sometimes also experienced the relief that Mycroft said people experience when a third thing happens.

The first thing that happened was the call from the team monitoring the CCTV footage. The call from these people in the middle of the night was never good. It's worse when it's news that Sherlock was seen arriving at a hospital minutes ago. Sometimes these reports could be ignored and put down to a ridiculous case. However, when Mycroft and Anthea are told that the ex-drug addict is going to the hospital in the middle of the night it can't be ignored. Despite changes in Sherlock recently a relapse or overdose was always possible.

After further reconnaissance it was discovered that Sherlock hadn't gone alone or for himself. He and John had taken Rosie. As it happens even a doctor isn't quite sure what to do when his infant daughter has a fever. Maybe months ago Mycroft would have heard this news, relaxed, and gone back to bed. Sherlock was not the only Holmes to have changed over time. Knowing his brother would be distressed over his Goddaughter's health and no doubt finding a way to blame himself or wanting something to bury himself into, Mycroft got changed and headed to the hospital to check on Sherlock and John. Anthea's role was simpler. She called the hospital and made sure they were rushed through the ER and the best available doctor was assigned to Mary's daughter. Then she went to bed.

Mycroft came home somewhere between late at night and early in the morning. Anthea wasn't asleep so much as lying in bed. Mycroft begrudgingly announced that it was just a cold. He claimed it was a waste of time. After asking if his presence was comforting to Sherlock and/or John and being told yes, Anthea knew it wasn't a waste of time. Mycroft didn't think so either, Anthea knew it. He was just going through the act of being Mycroft Holmes.

The next thing happened over early morning coffee (tea for Anthea) a few days later. A mobile ringing at such an early time lead to Anthea and Mycroft rolling their eyes in unison. Anthea smirked into her tea at their identical reaction as Mycroft checked the number. Mycroft's brow furrowed and he hummed in thought. Anthea put the cup down and watched him in concern.

"I have to take this." Mycroft said to Anthea. She nodded and Mycroft hit answer. "Holmes." He said as he stood up and walked away from the kitchen. "What issue?" Was the last coherent thing Anthea heard. The rest of the conversation was muffled by the distance.

Anthea sipped on her tea lightly as she tried to hear anything. She knew Mycroft would tell her who was on the phone at the very least as well as any detail she was allowed to know. It wasn't that that worried her. She was just concerned in general with the word issue. Like they needed another work issue or even Sherlock issue.

When Mycroft returned to the kitchen counter he had that haunted, distant look that Anthea had only become familiar with since she'd learnt all about Sherrinford and Eurus Holmes. One look at that expression and Anthea didn't even need to be told who was on the phone.

"Sherrinford?" Her tone was almost a whisper. Mycroft sat down in the stool next to Anthea. That's not where he had been sitting previously, he had been one over. He sighed and nodded a single time. The confirmation sent the little hairs on the back of Anthea's neck to stand up.

"There was… a setback." The genius hummed.

"What did she do?" Anthea asked in a low tone. Images of what Eurus was capable of flashed through Anthea's mind. Mycroft raised his eyebrows. He was staring across the room but not really seeing anything.

"She didn't hurt anyone else, which is always good news." Mycroft said. Anthea said nothing. The genius took deep breath. "Apparently she dropped something on her foot a few days ago. Last night she got curious and the staff were idiotic enough to give her anything sharp." Anthea swallowed nothing in apprehension as she listened. "Eurus wanted to see for herself what a break in a small bone looked like and cut deeply into her own foot. She dug around a little, too." Anthea hissed at just the thought of the pain and winced. Mycroft hummed, agreeing with her sentiment. Understanding the inner pain and sorrow Mycroft would feel at his sister doing this to herself, Anthea felt compelled to give Mycroft some sort of affection. She leaned over and rested the side of her head on his arm. The genius accepted it gratefully.

"Do they want you to go there now?" Anthea asked. She could imagine that Eurus would not be cooperating without another genius there to talk her into it. Mycroft made a noise and pulled a face.

"Eurus would much rather Sherlock there." Anthea could hear what could be a tinge of hurt in his tone. "But Sherlock missed his regular visit to the prison due to Rosamund's health scare. If he were to find out now he'd blame himself. I'd rather go smooth it over, hear the words from Eurus and convince her to let them fix her damage before telling Sherlock. That way I'll have all the facts and good news to stop him from going on a downward spiral." Anthea hummed and chewed on her lip. Mycroft, as usual, was right. She nuzzled his arm.

"Best choice of action." She agreed with him. Silence fell for a few minutes, both hesitant to move.

"However," Mycroft spoke once more. "We have meetings this morning." Anthea closed her eyes and grimaced. They, rather Mycroft, had two rather important meetings that morning. The first were with a few political figures and government workers at the Diogenes Club. The monthly check up on a few projects that Anthea could handle by herself no problem. The meeting immediately after that was the members of P-A-L-L. That one would be harder to have Anthea stand in for. But Mycroft's sister had a set back and was hurt all while Sherlock was helping John with Rosie. What was more important right now? His work or his family? Anthea gritted her teeth, took a breath, and relaxed.

"I'll deal with the meetings." Anthea said. "Go deal with your sister." Mycroft stroked Anthea's hair as her head continued to rest against his arm.

"Such an extraordinary assistant." He said as his special way of saying thank you. Anthea smiled at the warm touch. It was only fair.

The gentlemen at the Diogenes Club were absolutely fine with Anthea stepping in and taking on Mycroft's role in the meeting. As Mr. Warwick had said, Anthea knew Mycroft better than anyone and ninety-nine percent of the time she could be counted on to make the decision he would make. All Anthea had to say was family emergency and they immediately understood what came first.

The meeting with P-A-L-L could have gone either way. Anthe was prepared for at least some resistance.

"Sorry I'm late." Anthea announced as she walked into the boardroom just shy of ten minutes late. "My previous meeting ran over time and I doubt I'd be hear now if Walter didn't know some magic shortcuts from the Club." She confidently took Mycroft's seat at the table, her briefcase in front of her.

The three members of P-A-L-L eyed Anthea with looks of varying levels of suspicion and annoyance. Lady Smallwood, Anthea suspected, was simply annoyed at Anthea being late. The other two were no doubt unpleased to see anyone other than Mycroft. Anthea tucked a curl behind her ear and took those looks on as if they meant nothing to her.

"I know you all got my email about me attending to Mr. Holmes' business today." She said looking at them with a bemused smile she had master over the years.

"We did indeed." Porlock nodded, his tone was like a snooty pretentious old man. "What you failed to give us is an explanation."

"There was a problem with his sister." Anthea answered on a dime as soon as Porlock had finished talking. Immediately he and Lady Smallwood changed their expressions to that of understanding. Langdale did not seem satisfied.

"Is that it?" He asked. "A problem with the criminal sister and he snubs us?" Anthea glared daggers at him. Her fingernails dug into the wood of the table.

"I'm sorry." She seethed. "Eurus dug into her knife with an only slightly sharp object because she wanted to see the broken bone. She wouldn't let doctors help her without talking to her brothers. Sherlock couldn't go because he has his handful with his grieving best friend's infant daughter and fear of another issue causing him to relapse Mycroft went. He regretfully asked me to stand in. Is that better?" She smiled. Porlock looked Langdale up and down. Lady Smallwood looked for one second like she empathised with Mycroft and the next second like she was impressed with Anthea's spunk. Langdale looked like an old dog with his tail between his legs.

"When you explain it, Miss James, it makes more sense." Yet he still found a way to turn it on Anthea.

"Don't mind him." Porlock spoke to Anthea. "Despite current issues we do know Antarctica would not miss a meeting without a legitimate reason. Not much comes before his career." Anthea nodded polite.

"I trust you accept me as a fill in, then?" She asked.

"For today, absolutely, dear." Love, or Lady Smallwood, agreed. "When we meet with the head of the agency and with Mr. Vernet at the end of the week we will require Mycroft's presence."

"I assure you, he will be here." Anthea lowered her head respectfully. "Even if I have to tie his siblings to chairs to make sure they behave." She earned herself one of those posh people chortles from around the table at that. She had managed to even be accepted for P-A-L-L.

Mycroft was not impressed with Anthea's work. He had proudly told her he had expected nothing less and would have been disappointed if his colleagues had got to her. That made Anthea feel prouder than if Mycroft had just been pleasantly surprised. She earnt herself some well needed physical affection passed hand holding, light touches, or soft kisses.

The third thing, to Anthea, was the worst.

It was half an hour before the end of work for the day and Anthea was exhausted. With all the issues lately Anthea had stepped up for Mycroft's sake. They were so close to the end of the week. One more day until the end of the week. All they had to do was get through tomorrow's meetings and then they get a few days off to rest and recuperate.

Anthea leaned back in her chair and rubbed her face with her hands. She just needed to go to the bathroom and freshen up a little then she might have the energy to begin closing up for the day. She'd drag Mycroft out of the office with her even if it killed him.

She went to the bathroom and tried to clear her mind as she sat. She was hungry and tired and wishing that it was already the end of the week. Then she looked down and saw the bleeding.

Blood.

Just a little bit of blood but there was blood.

Drops of red in the water.

Anthea's heart froze and stopped working. It climbed up and got stuck in her constricting throat. Her stomach jumped and twisted into knots. She didn't know what that blood meant but she knew, absolutely knew that it couldn't be good. The panic hadn't just settled in, it had ripped Anthea into pieces. The cool, calm, and shadowy assistant of Mycroft Holmes, who never sweated saw a little bit of blood in the toilet water, put her hand on her abdomen and had forgotten how to breathe. She didn't panic but this was the most terrifying sight in her whole life.

"Mycroft." Anthea choked as the name came out of her tight throat, past her heart. She stood up and pulled her underwear up. "Mycroft!" She yelled as she pushed the bathroom door open with all her force. "Mycroft!" She yelled, walking with frantic speed towards his office door. Her heart had begun working again, beating hard and fast and probably the thing willing her forward.

Mycroft pulled open the door to the inner sanctum. He looked alerted and ready to pounce at all of Anthea's yelling. He looked around the room and saw no danger, only his panicked looking assistant and girlfriend. So his body language relaxed to appear less deadly. He approached Anthea with hands outstretched. As she reached him he put one hand on each arm.

"What is it?" He asked in his calming voice.

"Mycroft!" Anthea wheezed. She put her hands on his chest as a grounding action.

"What is it?" He repeated, looking deeply into her eyes.

"I'm bleeding." She took a breath. Mycroft's brow furrowed deeply. Anthea pointed at the bathroom door. "I'm bleeding. There's blood." She looked back at Mycroft. He was looking at the bathroom door, connecting all the words she wasn't saying. "There's blood, Mycroft." He opened his mouth and closed his. He tilted his head and then looked back down at Anthea.

"How much?" He asked. "How many millilitres would you say?" Anthea looked at him like he was speaking a foreign language.

"I don't know!" She yelled, running her hands desperately through her hair. "Why are you asking that?" His hands tightened on her arms.

"Quantity matters. How much?" His voice was calm. Okay he was making sense.

"Um, not much just a few drops." She answered looking forward and back between the bathroom and Mycroft. He took in a breath.

"A few drops are fine. That can be quite common." His voice was only slightly convincing. Anthea blinked at him.

"Fine?" She asked. She placed her hand on her abdomen. Her baby. Her baby could be in trouble. "Myc… I?"

"No, no," He patted her arm. "No. Just because I say it's most likely fine doesn't mean we're not going to do anything about it. Did you want a safe house or the emergency room?" He asked. Anthea thought about it. At a safe house it would be Anthea's baby and she'd have to keep her face on. At a hospital it would be Alice Clarke's baby and she could be as worried and freak out as she was. It was her baby, and she loved the little thing already, she wanted to express that.

"The emergency room." She answered. Mycroft nodded. He gestured to the door and began guiding Anthea out. They forgot to even turn the lights off.

"Things happen in threes." Anthea muttered to herself in the ER waiting room. Her arms were wrapped protectively around her stomach. Mycroft next to her scoffed. "Don't laugh." She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. Mycroft's expression fell. "This is it." Her arms pulled tighter. "This is the third bad thing to happen this week." Mycroft sighed. He moved closer in the plastic chair.

"Firstly," He pointed his middle finger. "They do not happen in threes. These are separate and uncorrelated events that just happened." Mycroft put his hand down on his knee tensely. He had forgotten his umbrella. "Secondly, if they were at all connected then you wouldn't have anything to worry about." Anthea looked at him properly. "Rosamund is fine. Eurus is fine. You will be fine." Anthea took a deep shaky breath as she looked at Mycroft with fear in her eyes.

"It's not me I'm worried about." It was her little one. Her tiny little baby who'd she'd only recently gotten to see and had so long until she got to meet them. She couldn't lose them now, it wouldn't be fair. Mycroft's face was stony but his eyes looked lost. His hand lifted off his knee only to return there and ball into a fist.

"Your baby will be fine." He said firmly and reassuringly. Anthea leaned over and rested her head on Mycroft's arm and forced a sob to stay down. She then felt Mycroft rest his head against the top of her head and his hand stroke her hair. Apparently this action went both ways.

Anthea sighed with relief as she sat on the edge of the hospital bed. Mycroft was standing by the plastic chair in the sectioned off room.

"Are you sure?" She asked the doctor. He nodded.

"The edge of your placenta is covering the cervix." He explained. "As your uterus grows the placenta should move away and cause no more issues." Anthea looked over at Mycroft as she caressed her still small abdomen with her thumb. Mycroft nodded with some smugness. He was right.

"So my baby is okay?" She just needed to hear the words.

"Your baby is developing well." The doctor smiled. Anthea laughed a little. Even Mycroft's lips pulled up a bit.

"Thank you." She beamed up at the doctor.

"You're welcome." He smiled back. Mycroft shook his hand and muttered his own words of appreciation. As the doctor left them Mycroft looked right at Anthea with a quirked eyebrow.

"Are you going to say it?" Anthea asked him, tilting her head. He hummed and shook his head.

"I want to hear you say it." He teased. Anthea rolled her eyes.

"You were right." She crinkled her nose. "About this and about the threes. You are so smart." Mycroft closed his eyes, smirked, and took a deep breath.

"Such music to my ears…"

When they got home the pair went straight upstairs. Anthea dropped her high heels she was carrying in her hands and collapsed onto the bed. Mycroft chuckled. He entered the room and began getting changed. Anthea couldn't even appreciate the sight of the slender genius getting changed. She was too tired and too relieved that her little one was okay. She waved at Mycroft from her spot on the bed.

"Could you set my alarm for tomorrow?" She asked lazily. "You can probably break into my phone." She yawned. Mycroft looked over his shoulder at her. He looked down at his feet and clicked his tongue. Then he walked forward to the base of the bed and stood there.

"Given your stress level this evening I think perhaps you should stay home tomorrow." He said. Anthea couldn't tell if it was his employer voice or his boyfriend voice. Maybe it was both. Anthea sat up on her elbows.

"But you lot have that meeting with your uncle and James tomorrow." She argued. "Then there are all those documents to deliver and deals to check up on." Mycroft pursed his lips and shook his head a single time.

"I will be fine on my own, my love." He said. "I can handle them on my own."

Anthea was on the couch reading a book in the early afternoon. She had needed this time to relax and recuperate. It's a shame that Mycroft wasn't here too. He had needed time off for a long time now. Anthea hadn't given up trying to convince him to tell work to shove it, at least for a little while.

The front door shut. Anthea looked up. Mycroft entered into the living room. He put his umbrella and briefcase against the wall and offered Anthea a polite smile as if he hadn't just gotten home so early. Anthea's eyes narrowed and she cocked her head to the side.

"What are you doing home?" She asked. Mycroft shrugged and removed his coat.

"Oh, the meeting is over." He answered casually. Okay, sure. But Anthea knew there was more to do at work that day. She sat quietly and watched Mycroft, waiting for further details. "Yes Rudy was annoying but he was handled." He said. Anthea chewed on her lip.

"And?" She prompted.

"I requested a month off." He said like it was nothing! Mycroft Holmes didn't request, he had told them he was having a month off.

"What?" Anthea asked. She was glad Mycroft was going to have some time off but this had worked out weirdly. Why had he done it now?

"I simply informed them that my personal life, as they have pointed out, isn't in the best shape and I require some time to repair it. Mummy, the destroyed Baker Street, you, it all requires time." He said. Anthea smiled.

"Are you sure you can last a month?" She asked. Mycroft's eyes glittered.

"If we get bored we'll start that theatre group we've been talking about." He teased. Anthea laughed. He was changing the subject but she was going to let him.

"You play the women and I play the men." She added to the joke. Mycroft chuckled.

"Certainly. After I finally get Mummy on my side again." He straightened his tie. "I'll go hang my coat up. I'll be back, my dear." Anthea smiled fondly and nodded.

As soon as Mycroft was out of the room Anthea scooped up her phone. She wanted to get more than the vague Mycroftian way of speaking.

James, did Mycroft tell PALL he wanted time off? – A.

Oh man! You should have seen it! Rudy said something annoying and Holmes was just like 'nope'. – James.

What happened? How did he get a month off? – A.

He was all "We gave you all the time you needed when your husband died" "We said nothing when your brother-in-law was in rehab and you missed meetings" "You up and ran away with a man without officially quitting your job" "If for the first time ever I want some time off you can all just deal." – James.

The difference in Mycroft and James' version was drastic. She tended to believe James a little more but he could easily be being dramatic.

Anything else? – A.

Well he said they wanted him to focus on family so that's what he was going to do. – James.

Do you think any of that has to do with me?

Anthea frowned. She deleted that before she could send it.

Do you think any of that has to do with the baby?

Nope, that wasn't her either. It didn't matter. She didn't need James' opinion when he probably had less idea than her.

He's not going to last a month. – A.

I think he's determined. He also told them to see how they deal without him 'cause he's not going to answer their calls even if they call the DC. – James.

I love dramatic Holmes. I don't think he'll last a month, but I love it. – A.

I don't, A. Family first and all that. – James.

Speaking of family…

Give Hope my love. – A.

You know I will. – James.

Was it really cool or are you just saying that because you're his left hand? – A.

Anthea was the right hand.

No I'm not. Classic scary Holmes. You would have been all over it. – James.

And this is the meeting I miss? Typical! – A.

When Mycroft came back into the room Anthea must have been looking at him oddly. He pulled a face at her as he walked past. She knew he was silently questioning her.

"I love you, that's all." She said with a laugh.

"That's no excuse." He replied from the kitchen. "I love you too, but I don't give you strange looks."

"That's what you think."

That was four strange events in a small period of times. Maybe Jamie was wrong and things didn't happen in threes.

Author's Note: What did you think? I ran it past a friend and she liked it and my own intuitions are usually good but I don't know… So please give me your thoughts on this one. Thanks to our guest reviewers; Christie, and Tadaa. The rest of you had accounts. Thanks to all of you. I'll see you in five days.