Author's Note: Thanks for the awesome feedback last chapter! I really appreciate it. I know there's a few errors to fix so I'll do that as soon as I get a spare day. So here is part 2 of last chapter – hence the title sounding like it's a follow up. Just like last chapter I finished this only seconds ago so there will probably be a few errors in this one too. I am really proud of this chapter so I'm hoping so much that you like it. I really, really like 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 She Got In Trouble For Following Her Instincts

TO: PALL

CC: A

RE: Early Return

Attention;

I managed to secure all deals in record time. Therefore I shall be returning early. If you need to reach me I'll be contactable via the normal lines of communication as of tomorrow afternoon.

Regards,

M.H.

TO: Walter; House Security; A

RE: Arrival.

Good evening,

I will be returning earlier than expected. The estimated time of arrival is 1.30pm tomorrow.

This is a courtesy email so you may all alter your procedures accordingly.

Thank you,

Mycroft Holmes.

TO: Sherlock

CC: A

RE: Unusual activity at Baker Street.

For God's sake, Sherlock. Every time Dr. Watson and I think we're past all this something happens. I'll talk to you tomorrow as soon as I get back.

A series of emails that made it painfully clear to Anthea that Mycroft knew what had happened. None of the emails were directly to her, except the generic staff one, which could be a good thing. It could indicate that the anger was only at Sherlock for finding himself in trouble thanks to his drug debt once more. That theory disappeared, however. When Anthea didn't receive her nightly phone call from Mycroft she knew he was at least a little annoyed at her. Those phone calls were typical couple phone calls, they just missed each other. He'd call and let Anthea tell him about her day just so he could hear her voice, sometimes he barely said more than a few sentences. Sometimes they only said goodnight to each other. Not that night. Apparently he didn't want to hear her that night.

But what right had he to be angry at her? She got in this type of trouble all the time. He paid her to get into this type of trouble. The last time she did something like this with him he was so enamoured by her that for once he initiated sex and they accidentally created the child Anthea now carried. If anything he should be grateful that she was there to help Sherlock out. He might have handled them in a fight but that wouldn't have stopped them. With Anthea there they taught them a thing or two, got them off Sherlock's back with some money, and they'd catch them. It was the best way for it to work out. He shouldn't be mad at that. Unless he was scared about her ever more limited mobility thanks to her pregnancy but she was nowhere near the point of being unable to protect herself. So maybe in a month or two she'd agree that she wouldn't be able to break a wrist or a kneecap like she could now but right now it wasn't a problem.

It didn't matter how much Anthea rationalised it to herself or ensured that Mycroft had no reason to be angry. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had some damage control to do. Now would be a good time to remind Mycroft of his uncontrollable feelings of affection towards her. She knew he wouldn't answer a phone call but he would always check a message. Anthea typed up a small message.

I'm glad you're coming home early. I miss you. – A x.

An hour later she got something close to a response.

X – M.H.

That could be read multiple ways. Anthea tended to not believe any of the positive interpretations.

Mycroft shut the door of the town car hard behind him. It was like a teenager slamming doors. He also got in and didn't even spare a look in Anthea's direction – a stony expression on his long features. So maybe he was mad.

"Good afternoon, sir." Walter greeted from the front seat.

"Walter." Mycroft nodded politely.

"Hi Myc." Anthea smiled a smile sweet enough to match her tone. She might have been laying it on too thick. It didn't matter, Mycroft didn't look at her. His index finger twitched on the handle of his umbrella.

"Anthea." He answered with that fake politeness of his.

"How was it?" She asked. Mycroft quirked an eyebrow.

"I sent you the debriefing email this morning." He retorted. Anthea pulled a face to herself. Yeah she knew that and she knew it was successful but she was asking if it was fun, boring, or anything new. She looked down at her phone and began answering a text from Jamie. Mycroft took a deep breath like clearing his mind. "Baker Street please, Walter." He said. The car kicked into gear and began leaving the airport.

As they drove Anthea hazarded a glance or two in Mycroft's direction. The whole time he was looking out the window with an exhausted expression on his face. He was doing his best to ignore Anthea's entire presence. She felt bad for Sherlock if all this energy was going to be directed at him.

Anthea sighed. She put her phone down beside her.

"Take it easy on Sherlock." She uttered quietly. In response she heard a small scoff come from the other end of the car. "It's not a new relapse, it's from after Mary… died." Her voice cracked a little. She spoke of death all the time yet when it was a friend or her family it was still so hard to talk about them being gone. Mycroft's gaze fell from the window. It looked like he might be looking at his umbrella but Anthea could tell he was in his mind. When he came through from his thoughts he turned back to the window.

"I'll take that into consideration." Mycroft said. The Ice Man's heart was showing. That was good, because Sherlock's heart was showing too. This was not a time for them not to be considering feelings.

"And it wasn't that bad." Anthea shrugged her left shoulder. Mycroft looked away from the window again. "It probably looks worse on the security footage than it really was."

"Oh really?" Mycroft's tone was full of venom. His gaze was shooting daggers into the headrest of the seat in front of him as his hand clenched his umbrella. "So you didn't take action instead of letting the boxer take action. So you didn't disarm a deranged drug addict and end up with a gun pointed to your head, hmm?" He smiled and it was frightening. "My, those cameras must be extremely faulty if none of that happened. I suppose the information I received from the bank is also incorrect?" Anthea didn't know what to say. She clenched her jaw and looked down at her knees. She'd walked right into that one.

"I was looking out for Sherlock." Anthea answered, defending her actions. She looked at Mycroft to see him laugh bitterly and turn back to the window. "Seriously." She said. "You weren't there and they weren't going to give him a break without getting some money. He doesn't need more of this, neither does John, and neither do you." She was speaking to the back of his head but she was doing so with conviction. "I can save that money again. I won't regret doing that."

"I'll deal with you later." Mycroft barked, turning to face her.

"Deal with me?" She leaned back, a little offended. Mycroft kept talking like she said nothing.

"Right now I am prepared to deal with Sherlock. You, I still need time to even look at you." He widened his eyes, shook his head, and blinked a few times.

"I don't even know why you're angry." Anthea folded her arms across her chest as she spoke. Mycroft closed his eyes and tilted his head to the side.

"Do not go there right now, Alice." He hissed quietly. "I mean it. Let me check on my brother's safety, yell at him for a little while, and then we'll return to this minefield." Anthea leaned back against the seat.

"Okay, but-"

"Keep the context of the drug taking into consideration, I know." Mycroft held up his hand to silence Anthea. "I will."

"And," Anthea continued with the point she was actually going to make. "He tried to get me out of the flat as soon as those men got there. He was looking out for me as much as I was looking out for him." As she finished she noticed Mycroft's body language relax faintly. The tension in his shoulders lessened and he was able to breathe easier.

"Very well." Mycroft nodded. "Note taken."

The rest of the ride was silent.

Mycroft silently entered the office. Anthea watched as he shed his coat and put it and his umbrella away like a ghost in the night. Then, with a simple gesture of curling his finger, he ordered Anthea to follow him into his inner sanctum. Equally quiet, Anthea got up and followed behind him through the door. He held it open and shut it behind them.

He then walked up to his desk but did not go behind it. Instead he stood in front of it. His long fingers swept across the desk, following the grain of the wood. Anthea did not sit either. She stood by her usual chair and watched the back of him as he focused on the desk. After moments passed his hands balled into fists. The genius turned around fiercely.

"What were you thinking?" He yelled at Anthea. "Clearly nothing." He shrugged dramatically up at the roof. "Otherwise you would have acted in any way other than that!"

"I'm sorry." Anthea said gently.

"Sorry?" Mycroft scoffed. "You're not sorry." He took a step forward and looked her up and down. "This is not the body language of an apologetic person. That behaviour in the car is not the behaviour of an apologetic person. If you're sorry for anything than you're sorry you were caught." Anthea hated his eyes when Mycroft was this furious. They were like security cameras seeing everything but with the reflection of grey storms.

"Okay, I'm not sorry." Anthea shook her head defensively. "I paid a lot of money to protect your brother and I'd do it again." Mycroft laughed at her again. She hated that. She really hated that, even if she did do something wrong being laughed at made her own defences ramp up.

"You're smart enough to know that is not what I'm talking about." Mycroft spoke down to her. "Had that been all you'd done I'd be praising your thought process and thanking you for keeping my brother safe." He was speaking faster than usual – it was like listening to Sherlock speak. Usually Mycroft spoke calmly and at a normal speed unless playing deductions. Did he simply slow down his brain to make it easier to communicate and was this the normal speed? Eurus spoke like that sometimes too. "What I'm talking about is getting into an armed fight despite Sherlock's attempts to protect you from such an event." Anthea sighed and looked up to the roof.

"He was pulling out that knife." She explained, trying to reason. "I'm trained to disarm, not hide behind a man."

A pause.

Mycroft stared at her.

"While pregnant?" He asked in a deadly low tone. Anthea tried to stifle her own scoff. "You don't think your limited mobility is an issue?" He titled his head after she scoffed. "You get tired standing up for too long." He spat. "And you think you can do that?"

"I forgot." Anthea muttered. She shrugged bashfully. Mycroft blinked. His whole body leaned backwards quizzically.

"Excuse me?" He asked. Anthea bit her lip as she looked over at his bookshelf. There was scotch over there. She'd murder someone for scotch right now.

"In the adrenaline I kind of forgot I was pregnant." She said. And there was that laugh again from Mycroft. It made all the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and her skin grow cold.

"You must be kidding." He said again in that quiet low tone. Anthea stared at him coldly. His hands came up to his face and he rubbed his face like trying to rub the frustration away. "I'm sorry I could have died, I forgot I was growing a human." He ran a hand through the remains of his hair.

"Don't make fun of me." Anthea bit.

"I'm not making fun of you, my dear, I just can't comprehend what you said." He exhaled. "You do understand how perplexing that is to me, yes? That the risks are higher because there is another life relying on yours and that your own abilities are lessened due to this also?" He was speaking to her like a child. Anthea glared at him.

"I know, Mycroft." She spoke through gritted teeth.

"But you still put your child's life in danger like that? Well done mother-to-be."

"Hey!" Anthea stepped forward, holding an index finger up to Mycroft. "I forgot. I will never do it again. I would never willingly put my child's life at risk. I didn't know it was going to escalate like that. I already feel bad for the little one, I don't need you to do that."

"Alice." Mycroft eyed her. "You're so vain you're putting off buying maternity clothes and you're aware of how every item of clothing fits. You must understand why it's impossible for me to believe you forgot."

"Don't start picking on other things!" Anthea folded her arms across her chest. "And don't call me vain. I can't even jokingly say I'm getting fat because I'm worried about hurting your fragile body image." Mycroft's lip twitched into something close to a scowl. "And maybe if I wasn't afraid to talk about my baby around you I wouldn't forget. It's like walking on eggshells all the time."

"Stop defending your behaviour, Alice." Mycroft glared at her. "Admit that you could have been killed or hurt and your child could have been killed. Admit that you made a rash and stupid choice. Agree to never do something like that again."

"I already told you I won't do it again." Anthea shrugged. "And Margot or Will is fine, and I'm fine. No harm done."

"But there could have been! So many of the possible outcomes are negative." Mycroft hissed. "Are being stubborn or are you really this stupid?" She hated it when Mycroft insulted her intelligence, she despised it. Her lip twitched into her own half snarl.

"Why do you even care?" She yelled back at him. "About me, I get, but the baby? Wouldn't it make your life easier if they did die?" Mycroft's face fell immediately and his chest deflated. His stormy eyes crackled with lightning as they searched her eyes. He swallowed nothing and his breath became shallow.

"How dare you." He whispered. "If you think there isn't even an inch of me that cares about that child then you don't know a thing about me." His voice was louder now. "I would care about any child of yours. Even if it was the lawyer's I would do anything to make sure that child was safe." He was yelling again now. "Even if I didn't care about the child I love you so much that even if we end up never seeing each other again after the birth I am determined to get you that stupid blood relative that is going to fix so many of your issues. You can stand there and say I don't love them because sure, I don't, but the next time you say I don't care I'll show you what that would really look like."

He stopped.

Anthea took a deep breath.

She looked deeply into Mycroft's eyes.

He turned around to face the desk.

She placed a hand on her growing bump.

She took another breath.

She stroked her bump.

She looked back up.

"Myc, I'm sorry." She whispered.

"Get out." He said.

"I thought you were just mad at me for getting myself in danger. I was defensive. I didn't mean to-"

"Get out!" He yelled.

Anthea swallowed her breath.

She left the inner sanctum, making sure to shut the door behind her. She sat down at her desk intending to continue with her work. She made no progress for the rest of the day.

He didn't go home with her, instead he went to the club.

When he did come home he certainly didn't have dinner with her. He went straight to his home office without even glancing at her.

She was left wondering if he was this furious or just couldn't comprehend the complex emotions floating around his head. It was probably a bit of both.

She felt guilty. Not for what she did, to be honest she didn't regret that considering how smoothly it worked out, she was too well trained for another outcome with lowlife thugs. What she felt guilty for was flinging words that she didn't even expect to hurt him. For doubting what his love for her meant when she'd first hand witnessed what love for people could make him do. And maybe she should stop doubting out loud his feelings for the baby. Maybe all that would do would push him away. Or maybe it would lead to a decision.

It didn't matter right now. What mattered was that she went to bed alone because, much like him, apologies weren't easy to give when you had such strong convictions.

Anthea was sleeping on her side when she was woken up by Mycroft's entrance into the bedroom. She felt the bed shift as he climbed into it. She felt one arm slide under her and the other drape itself on her abdomen. Then there was the familiar weight as he buried his nose into the back of her neck to breathe her scent in. The reasons for this were unclear. He had been away for a few days and it could only be that he needed her scent to fall asleep. Then again if he was really that mad he'd rather stay awake brooding all night. Anthea took her chances. She placed her hands on top of his.

"Does this mean you're not angry anymore?" Anthea asked in a soft voice. Mycroft hesitated. Anthea felt his warm breath on her neck.

"Angry isn't the word for it." He answered. He didn't sound mad. He didn't even sound agitated. He sounded sad.

"Furious?" Anthea joked nervously, squeezing his hands.

"That's not it either." He muttered into her hair.

"What is it then?"

A pause.

The breathing stopped momentarily.

"I don't know." He said. Anthea closed her eyes and bit her lip. She was going to have to say what she'd been thinking even before today.

"You know that can't be your answer forever." She said as she stroked the top of his hand with her thumb, cherishing it.

"I know." He answered. She could tell by the following seconds of silence that he was focusing on the sensation on his hand. Did he think it was good or bad? "I have all available mental resources working on translating it into a comprehendible form." Anthea wanted to laugh but she couldn't. She could only smile as she continued to stroke his hand.

"We're going to need an answer eventually." She said.

"I know."

They laid there in silence for ten minutes. It was nice and comfortable. It was where they belonged or at least that's how it felt to Anthea. But there was still so much to say.

"I'm sorry." She said, looking at their hands together. "For today. I didn't mean to hurt you. You call me stupid and it makes me feel like a goldfish all over again."

"You scared me." Mycroft said. He moved and she felt his forehead against the back of her head. "I don't respond well to fear. I feel out of control and…" He trailed off. She knew exactly what he was going to say. He felt like the teenager who heard that his baby sister's mental hospital had burnt down and he wasn't there to save her. He felt like the young adult watching his little brother deal with overdoses and withdrawals and standing there not being able to help. Helplessness and Mycroft didn't react well. Anthea could only image how helpless he felt when it came to all this accidental baby stuff. He needed to separate that fear from his head and his heart if he was ever going to work out what his 'I don't know' meant.

"I scared Sherlock, too." Anthea squeezed his hand. "And John gave me a lecture as soon as he finished lecturing Sherlock. James wanted to call you."

"He did call." Mycroft admitted. "I already knew by the time he called. He tried to keep your secret for a few hours so our team had already contacted me." Anthea actually laughed. She shook her head.

"Bless that dolt. He loves you." She said.

"He loves you." Mycroft corrected. "This was about you and…" He tapped on her abdomen. "I suspect his interest was his daughter's cousin and not me." Anthea chuckled silently. Mycroft might be right but she'd never doubt James' loyalty to him. Anthea squeezed Mycroft's hands again.

"I promise I won't put myself in a situation like that again." She said, meaning it. "I'm getting used to not just looking out for myself and I'm getting used to the limitations. I'll be good. I promise."

"You better." Mycroft forcefully whispered by her ear. "Another display like that and I'll put you under house arrest."

"And have nothing to do?" Anthea craned her neck to try and get a glimpse of Mycroft. She scoffed, laying back down. "I'd rather bunk with your sister in Sherrinford." Mycroft took his hands back. His weight shifted. He was leaning over her now to speak directly into her eat.

"That can be arranged." He said wickedly. Anthea rolled her eyes, smiling. She hit him lightly on the chest with her freed hand.

"Stop joking." She laughed. "I mean it. I'm sorry." She said. It was dark so she couldn't make out Mycroft's expression.

"I know." He answered. He settled back into the bed and placed his hands right back where they were. "And I'm sorry I don't know how to handle fear very well."

"You'll learn." Anthea assured him. Mycroft nuzzled his nose into Anthea's neck and took a deep breath.

"Turn your alarm off." His voice was muffled by her skin and hair. "I want to sleep in tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" Anthea asked. Mycroft hummed in response. Anthea wasn't going to argue with a sleep in and possibly a day off work. She tried to reach her phone on the bedside table but couldn't reach it. "I'm going to need some space if I'm going to turn my alarm off." She said, laughter in her words. Mycroft grunted. His hands released her.

"Hurry back." He said. Anthea sat up. She picked up her phone and switched off the alarms. She placed it face down on her bedside table and settled back into her spot on the bed. Mycroft's arms around her and her hands on his.

"I missed you." Mycroft muttered into her hair. Anthea giggled.

"I missed you too."

Author's Note: So so so? What did you think? PLEASE tell me what you though! I was really proud of this one. Like I think there's some strong moments in it. Tell me everything you thought! Thanks to our guest reviewers last chapter; Guests x2, Chloe, Christie, Im Hooked, Hazel, and MinaCarlyle. Thanks to all the lovely reviewers! I have a lot of work this week as well as assignments to do so I'll probably be six days for the next chapter. See you then!