Author's Note: Hey guys! How's it going? Thanks for the kind reviews last chapter! It was just a whole lot of fun to write and read your reviews. So I almost entirely forgot that this was a thing I had to do until I was planning an idea for another chapter with my friend ovejalucifer and I mentioned Eurus's name. I was like 'Oh s#*t!'. I'm really happy with how it turned out and I hope you like it too. 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 Visiting Eurus

Sherrinford Island was cold. It was always cold. If Mycroft was correct and this place was indeed Hell than the saying "when Hell freezes over" held no meaning anymore. Hell was not stifling hot, it was uncomfortably cold and made worse by the eerie atmosphere. The cement walls with the waves crashing against them did not help either. It was the true Island of Lost Souls, except no genetic experiments took place here, the people were being studied without further experimentation being needed. These thoughts alone are enough to express how much Anthea did not want to be back on that island. She really did not want to be there.

No, that wasn't entirely true. She would happily come back here if she didn't have to see Eurus. Anthea would never want to go to the happiest place on Earth if she knew she'd find Eurus there. Anthea had never liked Emily and after everything Eurus had done Anthea had never had such a gut reaction to someone. It wasn't hatred. Anthea knew hatred. She hated Charlotte Cunningham and that was a fiery passion that burned within her. It wasn't fear. Magnussen sent the room cold – that was fear. It wasn't hurt, that's how Anthea felt whenever she thought of her Uncle. A pang in the heart and a sadness. What Anthea felt towards Eurus was unnameable. It was all these things and none of them. She did not feel any of these physical expressions so intensely around Eurus like she did around other people. She felt them all but softly, like they were all slowly chipping away at different parts of her body. And then there was that little bit of empathy. Not for Eurus, both for her family. That look in Mycroft's eyes, or Sherlock's attempts to make things right, or any time a childhood memory was brought up by anyone in the family. The empathy only added to the strange concoction of emotions and made it taste worse.

Anthea did not want to be here. She was not prepared to forgive Eurus. She was not willing to let decades of pain for the family and horrible experiences for her and her friends be pushed aside. She was here, however. Because what Anthea was prepared to do was support Mycroft. She would do anything to help him and his brother work through their pain. She wanted Mycroft to forgive himself for something that wasn't out of his control.

As Anthea stood next to Mycroft on the exterior of the location, the helicopter flying away, she knew she had made the right choice. Mycroft was afraid. His chest was tight and his teeth were clenched as he listened to the new governor greet them. His eyes were that deep blue of melancholy. He was in no mood to walk around like he owned the place today and while to others they might see this as a good thing, Anthea knew it was because he was too focused on preparing himself. He wanted his sister to love him the way she loved Sherlock. He wanted to be forgiven by the ill woman. Anthea didn't care they were in public. She slipped her hand into Mycroft's silently. Seconds later his fingers entwined hers and locked her hand into place. That's how she really knew she had made the right decision.

Two chairs were set up in Eurus' cell at what was considered a safe distance from the glass. The woman's cell had improved since Anthea had last seen it. She had drawings hung up on the wall with tape and some bolted down amenities put in there for her. Her violin sat on her bed, now with more pillows, the bow leaning against it. Eurus herself sat on the floor in her white hospital clothes. Her hair hung in her face as she drew. Coloured pencils in a plethora of colours were sprawled around her, a new edition since the black and white drawings Mycroft last received. No sharpener in sight, of course. Anthea was surprised she was allowed pencils. Good behaviour, maybe…

Anthea and Mycroft had been standing just past the entrance for a minute and thirty five seconds and Eurus hadn't even moved to acknowledge them yet. Though Anthea didn't expect any acknowledgement. The eldest Holmes looked at Anthea like a frightened little child asking if it was safe to approach the strange animal. Anthea nodded. She wasn't moving forward in a hurry but Mycroft was the reason she was there. Mycroft walked past the chairs, standing closer to the glass.

"Hello Eurus." The genius' melodic voice echoed off the walls, sounding hollow on the second time around. Eurus did not move she continued drawing. Mycroft looked over his shoulder at Anthea. She raised her eyebrows and pouted her lips she had no idea what to say to him. Mycroft turned back.

"It's been a while, sister. At least since it's been only the two of us." Anthea could only imagine the melancholy smile that played on his lips. "Although your only visitor of worth for many years was me so it would be of no surprise should you wish for anyone other than me." Was he joking or serious? If Anthea had to guess she'd say both. Eurus moved her current paper aside and began a new drawing. Mycroft watched her for a few minutes.

Anthea looked down at her shoes. She wore flats today and she was glad she did. She didn't want to sit down, she wanted to stay here by the exit. The silence was annoying her. If this wasn't for Mycroft, Anthea would walk out right now.

"Mummy plans to visit with Sherlock once again next time she and father are in London." Mycroft continued talking to the silence. He scratched his eyebrow with his ring finger. "Sherlock and I are debating whether it would be nice to send them without one of us as accompaniment but we rather think that they need one of us as a sort guide into your psyche." Mycroft winced. "Sherlock is clearly far better suited for the job. I hear you've begun speaking your musical directions to him out loud."

Mycroft stopped. Eurus still continued to draw like she couldn't even hear Mycroft. Maybe she couldn't. Maybe she'd blocked him out today, or this week, or this month, or for the next year. Mycroft looked over at Anthea again. He looked tired. Anthea shrugged her shoulders but then nodded towards the glass. He should at least try to continue while they're there. Mycroft cleared his throat.

"I was discussing with Sherlock the possibility of buying you a viola or a cello to further your skills and duets." Mycroft said. Anthea did not know this. "Dear brother of ours then questioned why I've never bought him a viola or a cello. I reminded him that firstly, I've bought him three violins over the years and you only one. Secondly, I've spent thousands of dollars getting him out of trouble. And finally, he's not as good as you are." Mycroft smirked at the end. Even pouted her lips and looked down again as to not laugh.

Eurus moved her page to the side and started on another drawing. Mycroft pinched at the bridge of his nose.

"Of course, I do understand that I'm compensating for a lack of expression of love." Mycroft let go of his nose but was still wincing. "You've told me plenty of times over the years of course but since Sherlock and I have started this self-analysis process I can see that guilt causes me to me highly generous. If you were more present I have no doubt that you would mock me and tell me I've been doing this since I was ten years old."

A pause.

"I'd quite like that, actually." Mycroft tilted his head to the side as he watched his sister. "I'd have plenty of retorts. I could say at least I can process emotions at all, or say that those who are the beneficiaries of such behaviour shouldn't complain. Or I could say that at least I don't deal with loneliness by trying to kill people." Still Eurus said nothing. She kept drawing.

Mycroft sighed and hung his head. He turned around and faced Anthea.

"This is nonsense." He huffed sombrely, shaking his head.

"Maybe she's not there today." Anthea finally spoke. Only for Mycroft's sake. "Maybe she can't respond."

"Oh no, she's present today." Mycroft sung. "She wouldn't be drawing and her violin wouldn't be out if she weren't. She doesn't want to respond." Anthea looked at the violin and the pile of drawings on the floor. She didn't know what absent Eurus looked like so who was she to argue? She just didn't want to come all this way only for Mycroft to feel worse. Anthea took a step forward.

"Are you sure?" She asked. Mycroft pursed his lips and nodded. He began walking towards Anthea.

"I should call the helicopter."

"No."

The word froze the room for as long as it took for the heart to beat once. Mycroft and Anthea held each other's gazes in surprise. Mycroft turned around as both of them looked at Eurus. She had stopped drawing. No pencil in her hand, hands on her knees, looking at Mycroft with those piercing silver eyes.

"No?" Mycroft repeated. Eurus' eyes fluttered around the room. She looked down at her pile of drawings. Out of the three she picked up two. Then she got to her feet, walked over to the glass, and put the drawings in the receptacle that allowed items to be transferred from one side to the other. Mycroft walked over and carefully took the paper out. He brought them over for Anthea and him to view together.

The one on top was of a violin. At least it looked like a violin to Anthea. Next to it was a strange clef that looked a bit like a B.

"That's an alto clef." Mycroft muttered quietly to her, pointing at the clef with his long index finger. "It's almost exclusively for violas."

The second drawing was like the other ones from the kitchen. It was so real it was like a photo. It was of Mycroft and Eurus' parents. Them sitting in two of these chairs in this room. The rest of the drawing hadn't been finished but them.

Anthea looked at Mycroft eagerly. She smiled at him. This meant Eurus was listening. Mycroft looked over Anthea's features carefully. He turned his head to glance at Eurus who was still standing close to the glass.

"You don't want me to leave yet?" He asked. She said nothing. She didn't even move. Mycroft handed Anthea the drawings and walked forwards. "I'm very much prepared to stay for some time yet." Without even a change of expression Eurus turned on her feet and went back to her pile of pencils and paper. Mycroft sat down at one of the chairs. Putting his briefcase on his lap he opened it up and pulled out one of the journals that gets sent to the house. Eurus picked up a pencil and continued drawing.

"I brought some reading with me." Mycroft explained. "I thought it might make it easier for us if I were to perhaps read an interesting article. One that won't put ideas into your head of course." He hummed playfully. Anthea tried not to smile again. "Let's see... I brought The British Medical Journal, and Publications Mathématiques de l'IHÉS. One of Mummy's university friends has something published in this issue and I promised I'd read it so maybe we'll start there." Mycroft said as he thumbed through the journal. Eurus' hand stopped still on the paper. Mycroft froze and eyed her hand carefully.

"No?" He asked. "The British Medical Journal?" He asked. She kept drawing. Mycroft sighed and swapped one large publication for the other. "Fine, fine. Have it your way. I'll find something suitable."

Eventually Anthea had to sit down. They were in there for some time and those articles, to Anthea, were boring. So she sat next to Mycroft, rested her feet and entertained herself as he read to his sister. Mycroft had given her a small smile from the heart when she sat down. He appreciated this, it was obvious, and it was doing him well. He was so much lighter now than when they had arrived at this forgotten section of the Earth. Anthea wasn't, but they weren't here for her. Now maybe the genius would sleep slightly easier at night.

As soon as Mycroft had even suggested that it might be time to leave Anthea had looked up at the roof and sighed quietly in relief. She got to her feet and walked over to the exit. Mycroft looked moderately entertained by this. He'd begun explaining to the mute Eurus that he'll try to come by again soon when she stood up once more. Another drawing went into the reciprocal as she stared at Mycroft expectantly.

Mycroft stepped forward. He took out the drawing and looked at it. He frowned.

"I don't quite understand what this was in response to." He said to his sister, voice peaking up in confusion.

"Not for you." Eurus huffed, rolling her eyes about as dramatically as Anthea had ever seen her brothers do. At first Mycroft looked at her with uncertainty, then the lightbulb clicked and he looked over at Anthea.

"Ah." He hummed. Anthea felt a cold wind run down her spine. Mycroft looked back at the drawing. He took a slow, deep breath in and cocked his head to this side. "I understand what you are trying to do, however I don't think you'll get the response you'd dream of."

"Not for you." Eurus repeated. Mycroft clicked his tongue.

"You have no respect for the concept of the silent observer, do you?" He asked. Anthea wanted to walk out right now and not even give Eurus the chance to ruin the silent observation she had been doing. Anthea did not trust the woman. Eurus stared at Mycroft. They held each other's gaze for a minute, neither one moving. Mycroft gave in. "Fine." He said. Sure enough he brought the drawing over to Anthea.

It was simple. Some may be forgiven for thinking it was innocent. The drawing was of Anthea and Mycroft sitting on the chairs as Mycroft read. It was as plain and simple as that. One person might see nothing wrong with it, another might think it was a kind gesture from a girl lost in her head. It made a fire ignite in Anthea and her skin grew hot.

"What's this supposed to mean?" Anthea asked. She strode over to the glass and stood in front of Eurus, looking right in her blue eyes. "That you saw me? Good. I wasn't hiding." Anthea sniffed. "Or is it about the baby? Because we already knew you knew because of your weird comments about me when you were tormenting me and your own family." Eurus was just standing there, unmoving as Anthea spoke. "So I don't know what you're trying to do giving this to me, because you are doing something." Anthea scowled. She didn't care how lost Eurus was, she was capable of horrible things. "I'm not here to forgive you and you forget your deranged notion of ever being friends. I'm here for Mycroft." She pointed over at the silent brother standing where Anthea had left him. "I'm here to support him, and I'll support our family in any way they want to deal with you because they love you and I get that, but never expect me to forgive you the way they can."

A pause.

Eurus smiled oddly. Like it was vacant and sombre at the same time.

Anthea rolled her eyes.

"Don't give me that smile like you understand me or agree with what I'm saying." Anthea growled at her. "Why should I believe you have any consideration to anyone who doesn't share your blood? And even then you were pretty okay with hurting them."

"Anthea…" Mycroft called out gently.

"No, Mycroft, give me a minute." Anthea hissed without turning around. Eurus did not take her eyes off Anthea. "Do you even care what you did to John? You almost left his daughter without family but you don't care. You almost left me without the family I've made for myself too, but you don't care. Do you think Sherlock and Mycroft walked out of here all happy and okay? No one did and I won't forgive you for that. If it was up to me I'd never hear your name again. I'm here for the boys and for your parents. Don't ever think otherwise. Okay?"

Silence.

"Okay?" Anthea repeated. Eurus nodded once in a smooth precise movement. Anthea looked down. She took a few steady breaths and calmed down. She felt better now. Maybe now she too could leave here a little lighter. She walked back over to Mycroft and handed him the picture.

"See?" Mycroft sung to Eurus. "There's sparking a process to begin and then there's opening the flood gates." Eurus looked at him, said nothing, and turned back to her drawings. Mycroft clicked his tongue. "Don't expect any love letters when I next return." Mycroft said. Eurus picked up a pencil.

…

"I'll call, Eurus. Goodbye." He said. This time she did not protest, she just kept drawing.

As soon as they entered the front door to their big empty house Mycroft pulled Anthea into his body. He kissed her deeply and passionately. It sent the good kind of fire through Anthea's body, the kind that made you feel bouncy and excited, not angry. It was one of those kisses that reminded you that life was exciting and vibrant and amazing.

Then he pulled away and Anthea practically fell into the genius' chest. She blew air through her lips and widened her eyes. He only thought being whoa. She cleared her throat.

"Okay." Anthea said. Her voice was light and airy. "What was that?"

"A thank you." Mycroft purred. "For being wonderfully patient and magnificently supportive." Anthea laughed breathlessly at the words of flattery. She patted Mycroft on the chest.

"Well, thank you for that, and I love you." She smirked at him. "But I am very hormonal and if you kiss me like that again don't expect me to be able to stop at kissing." She laughed and stroked Mycroft's face. His eyes were full of warmth and love as he watched her do so without a flinch. Anthea then got out of the genius' space before his smell and body heat could consume her. She was hungry, anyway. There should be some crisps in the kitchen, those could distract her.

"Ali." Mycroft called her name making Anthea stop. She turned around. Mycroft was still standing at the front door. His warmth had been replaced with something gloomy but his love was still there. Anthea waited for him to continue, he obviously had something to say. He stopped and started a few times, unable to express himself. Suddenly Anthea felt like it was that night all over again when he had stopped her on her way to bed.

"Is this about the other night?" She asked. Mycroft licked his bottom lip, pursed his lips together, and nodded. Anthea took a step back in his direction. "Are you worried about how much you're like your sister?" Anthea asked, taking a stab at something. The genius scoffed and pulled a face.

"No, no, no." He dismissed that thought. "I made peace with my similarities to my sister two weeks after she burnt our house down. I made it twelve years without killing anyone or burning a house down, I must have something she doesn't." He was half joking but those words clearly soothed him once upon a time. Okay, so if not him, then…

Anthea put her hand on her swelling abdomen.

"You think about the chances of another Eurus." Anthea said as her brain put the pieces together. Mycroft soberly held her gaze. Anthea tucked a curl behind her ear. "Do you worry about that?" She asked.

"Do you?" He turned it around. Anthea inhaled and shook her head.

"I've thought about it once or twice, but not really." She said honestly, knowing Mycroft needed to hear the truth. "The chances of that happening are like one in a million. I worry more about my kid thinking I'm an idiot." She crinkled her nose playfully. Mycroft didn't find it funny apparently.

"Not just Eurus." He said. "You know my family and you know our history." He said like not all families had bad traits.

"A cross dresser here, a drug addict there, some mental illnesses. That's every family." Anthea shrugged.

"No." Mycroft again did not find the humour. "I'm not talking individuals here Anthea. I am talking genotypes that are continuously reoccurring." Okay, the light heartedness wasn't going to work. Anthea took a moment to give this some deep thought. She didn't need to come up with an answer – she always had that – she just needed the right way to word it.

"My child isn't going to be Eurus." She began with that. "They're not going to be Sherlock, or your parents, or my parents, or even a copy of you or me." Anthea stroked her stomach with her thumb. "I think up dozens of possibilities of what they're like each week. Maybe they'll love horror movies like me, or maybe they'll love music like you. Maybe they'll get really into maths like your mum or really imaginative like my mum. Maybe they'll want to help people like Sherlock or maybe they'll surprise us all by doing something completely unlike the rest of us and want to be a mechanic!" Mycroft pulled a face and Anthea laughed. "Or maybe they'll want to be an agent because Uncle James is just so cool. But no matter what they'll have to be into reading because I'm pretty sure no one genetically related to this child hates reading." Anthea paused as she smiled at the idea, even Mycroft seemed calmed. "They're going to be uniquely them, created out of the best and worst of us. And yeah, there is a really really good chance that they'll be a little cold or a little unfeeling but you know what I've learnt from being around people like Sherlock, you, Mary, and even Carol? Sometimes it's the cold calculating people that know how to love the most." As Anthea finished Mycroft looked down to the ground. "So no, I don't worry. Not really. Not seriously."

"I see your point." Mycroft said. "Thank you."

"Good." Anthea nodded. She turned back in the direction she was heading.

Anthea was proud of herself, she thought she handled that well. Why would she ever be worried about her child inheriting Holmes genetics? There was nothing to be worried about, not to her anyway. Now not only did she deserve those crisps but maybe some of that left over slice of cake in the fridge, too.

Anthea was stopped by Mycroft pulling on her arm. She was about to question him when he kissed her again. Exactly the same as minutes before.

Author's Note: So? Did you like it? What did you think? I really can't wait to hear your feedback! Thanks to our guest reviewers Christie and Madalina! Thanks to all my reviewers – you make me so happy! And I just can't wait to hear about this one. Oh…. And as a heads up, according to my schedule the next chapter is due on the day of my first exam… SOO… Maybe expect it a day or two late? Because I love this story to pieces but I can delay a chapter, I can only sit the exam once. See you in between five and seven days!