Author's Note: Well! I certainly think the length of this chapter alone makes up for the weak updates I had to do for exams! It was so easy to write in comparison to any chapter I've had to write lately. Writing without uni and exams looming, it's a breath of fresh air! You'll see what I mean when I said last chapter was a set up for this one, too. I really, really hope you guys like/enjoy this 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 Set A Timeframe

The back pain faded away but Anthea's thoughts and worries did not disappear. They kept roaming around her head reminding her that her future was uncertain. As the back pain dissipated so returned Anthea's confidence, not in Mycroft, but in herself. The thoughts stopped being such panic riddled thoughts and became bothersome and annoying.

This is ridiculous! She'd think to herself. I have a baby on the way, I can't be expected to live in limbo.

There was only so much preparing she could do. Jamie wanted to throw her a baby shower! What if she needed things! What if Mycroft ran off before they finished getting everything for the baby but by then Jamie's shower had been planned to not include the stuff they needed? What if he ran off and left Anthea without a ride home from the hospital? Or any support? That was stupid. Anthea would not allow herself to be a damsel in distress. She would not allow herself to be lost because of the absence of a man.

It was getting harder and harder to keep this building annoyance out of her everyday life. Even when Mycroft did something nice it would irritate her. So he could buy her flowers but he couldn't tell her if he'd come home in a month's time? He could buy her a completely new office chair but didn't know if he could see his child be born? He could talk about what Anthea was doing with Jamie tomorrow but he got uncomfortable when Anthea asked him if he wanted to choose middle names? Anthea didn't know if the pregnancy hormones were settling down or the current balance just put her in a mood similar to her usual mood but right now she could see the flaw in their little plan. Mycroft star as long as he wanted? No. That might have been fine once upon a time but the baby wasn't a figment of the imagination anymore, it was becoming very real. Anthea wasn't the most maternal and even those women needed support sometimes. Anthea needed to know where she was going to get that support from. She could just assume he wouldn't be there but that was just as ridiculous as presuming he would be.

They were at home when Anthea couldn't hold it anymore. It was a normal afternoon of normal discussions. You could call the day in general pleasant. Work was finished early for the day and they were just relaxing at home.

"I have the strangest whim to cook us dinner tonight." Mycroft hummed from his desk. Anthea was sitting at the couch reading. She had a hot water bottle at her back as a kind of prevention to back pain.

"That's nice." Anthea laughed into her book. "Except the fridge is empty."

"I know." Mycroft replied in his singsong voice. His fingers were folded together, elbows resting on the desk. A quick look over at him showed his eyebrows were raised and he had hints of a playful smile on his mouth. Anthea usually loved these good moods… but how long would he be around for? How many more great days would there be? "So you better tell me what you feel like quick before I lose the whim and can't be bothered sending someone to get the groceries anymore." Anthea took a deep breath. Normally she'd pull a face or at least crinkle her nose.

"How about your mum's aubergine lasagne?" She asked. No doubt Mycroft knew the recipe just because he had eaten it throughout his life. Mycroft pursed his lips and frowned.

"There's cheese in that, my dear." He warned her. Anthea deflated. Of course! All the good food had cheese! "Although if I leave in the grated cheese and perhaps swap the cheese sauce for something else then maybe there won't be much of a cheese smell." Look at him, being considerate for her. It was sweet and wonderful, and people would be shocked to see this side of Mycroft. Anthea was lucky to see it but all she could think is whether or not the baby would ever get to see it. It wasn't right, and it certainly wasn't fair that he acted so nice and sweet and still held all the intentions of running whenever he wanted to. It was selfish and immature. Anthea dropped the book and ran her hand through her hair.

"I can't do this anymore." She exhaled hard. Mycroft's expression fell into something unreadable.

"Excuse me?" He asked. Anthea shook her head at him.

"I can't do this, Mycroft, not anymore." She said again. "I can't keep pretending everything is okay." The genius squinted in confusion.

"Pretending about what?" He asked her.

"This." She gestured frantically between her and him. "Us. Our lives. Our… arrangement." Mycroft slowly lowered his hands down onto the desk.

"It's not okay? I thought it was better than okay." His voice was controlled and calm. He was trying to hide his confusion. To some extent that annoyed Anthea even more. He couldn't even see the problem, could he?

"It's not. Not for me, anyway." She said. Mycroft's eyes flashed with what could have been hurt. "I can't pretend like its okay that you might leave any day. It's stupid." She was tapping her leg so her knee bounced up and down. When had she started doing that? Mycroft looked offended for the briefest moment before the mask of neutrality fell over his face.

"I thought we agreed that it was for the best for both of us." He hummed.

"We did, and I thought it was then." Anthea rolled her eyes at herself. "But now," she put a hand on her bump. "I can see how stupid it is. Your obsession with not labelling anything and how I go along with it, it's not right when there's a baby on the way. For once I need stability."

"Stability?" Mycroft scoffed. "Alice, our life right now is as stable as it has ever been."

"Yeah I know," She sighed heavily. "But it's not stable enough for a mother and a newborn." She rubbed at her head. "Not knowing if you're going to be here or not, it's making it so hard to plan anything and it's already hard. You're making it worse, not easier."

A beat.

Mycroft said nothing so Anthea continued.

"What am I supposed to do, Myc?" He flinched at the nickname used in this context. "Jamie wants to throw me a shower but we don't know what I need. What happens if you leave one night and suddenly there's a complication with the pregnancy and there's no one here to help me?"

"I'm not leaving during you pregnancy!" Mycroft snapped. "Don't be ridiculous. I told you, I want to make as many memories as possible. I won't lose a single minute with you." Was that supposed to make her feel better? It had a few months ago… How stupid was she? Anthea rolled her eyes again.

"Yeah, that's great for you," Anthea shrugged her shoulders. "But what happens when contractions start? Or my child and I need to go home from the hospital? Do I need to get Jamie to be my support?"

"Oh for heaven's sake." Mycroft clicked his tongue. "I wouldn't leave you stranded at the hospital? Don't act like you'd have to call a taxi. You're being ridiculous, Alice."

"So, what's the plan then, Myc?" Anthea smiled sarcastically at him and hummed the question mark. "You drop me off at this big house say 'see you later, I'll send someone for my stuff'?" He rolled his eyes. "You act like I'm being stupid but that is basically what you're planning to do."

"Alice." Mycroft growled.

"Mycroft." She replied. The genius stopped to take a breath. He ran his hand down his face and rubbed his forehead. The genius leaned back in his chair holding his palms open to the roof.

"I don't know what you expected, Alice." He huffed. "You promised me time and now you're telling me I can't have it?"

"You've had time." Anthea replied coldly. "And this isn't about us," she gestured between her and him, "this is about us." She placed her hand on her bump.

"I didn't want this, Alice." He said, leaning forward. "I didn't want this, I would be horrible at this, and I'm scared of this." She could hear his honesty and she could hear his fear but she was done placating him.

"I'm scared too!" She exclaimed. "But sometimes you just have to grow up and be responsible."

"Growing up is a process, it's not an immediate change." He replied softly.

"Really?" Anthea asked. "Because when Tim found out, Tim, that I was pregnant with your child he stepped up. He grew up and said he'd be there for us." Mycroft scoffed and looked away.

"Oh yes, of course." He hummed. "Tim, yes. An adulterer would absolutely make a wonderful father. Mmm, offering your support to ex-girlfriend while currently dating another woman is absolutely the grown up thing to do. You're right, Alice, you should pass those fantastic morals onto that child. You might just create another Moriarty."

"Oh, shut up!" Anthea sneered. "At least it's more than you've ever offered your child."

"Excuse me?"

"You think the room counts? Or the house? Not to the kid, it doesn't. They want support, help, comfort, love. They don't need stuff." Mycroft quirked an eyebrow. "What?" She spat.

"Your inner orphan is showing." He said. "You're not thinking about what your child needs, you're thinking about what you needed as a teenager." Anthea's eyes narrowed dangerously on the genius.

"It's what every teenager needs. It's what every kid needs. Do you think you would have ended up so successful without support from Mummy and Father?" She asked him. "Or would Sherlock even be alive anymore without the love and support of his friends and family when he was on drugs?"

"What do you want me to do, Alice?" Mycroft hissed. "What are you trying to accomplish by ruining a perfectly normal conversation?"

"I want you to make some sort of choice." She said. "I want you to say you'll give being a father a shot or just leave now."

A minute passed.

"Alice, I can't make that choice. You know I can't." He said. He sounded afraid again.

"Why?" She said.

"Alice."

"Why?" She repeated. "Are you confused about the responsibility part? The having a child around part? The love part? Or the being a good father part? Because I know they're the things you're struggling with." She looked him dead in the silver eyes. "I also know your brain well enough that if you wanted to you could have your answer in no time. So what is it? You don't want to be responsible for a child? You don't want one in your space? You don't think you could love your own kid? Or you think you'll be a horrible father?" He looked down. Anthea still kept watching him. "Because I know those are your things with this. So which one is it? Or what combination?"

"Does it matter?" Mycroft scowled. "If the answer to any one of those first three is yes than the last one is obviously also yes and if that is so then I should leave now. That is not even considering all the ways I could be a horrible influence on a child regardless of how I feel towards it." Anthea could hear and feel her heart beating in her chest.

"If that's how you feel." She said.

"What?" He hissed. "If that's how I feel that's it?" He stood up. "Well then, would it make you happy if I just left now, then?"

"It wouldn't make me happy, but if that's how you feel." Anthea shrugged her shoulder. Mycroft scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"If that's how I feel? Now who's immature?" He put his hands on the desk and leaned forward towards Anthea. "Is this really how you want to end this story? This complicated romance? With 'if that's how you feel'?" Anthea pursed her lips and shook her head slowly once.

"If-"

"Don't," Mycroft held his index finger up. "Even say it." He stormed out of the office. Only moments later Anthea heard the front door slam.

Anthea went to bed that night alone and angry. She was angry at Mycroft for not being able to make a decision on his own. He made tougher decisions than this on a day to day basis. Maybe they weren't tougher to him but they were still enough practice that the time given should be enough. She was mad at herself for not listening to Mycroft when he was trying to speak of his fears. She knew better than anyone that when the Ice Man opened up to you, you didn't shut him down. If you did that there was a good chance of sending the venerable person within back to the shadows and into hiding forever. She was mad at both of them for never being able to handle personal problems the way they handled work problems. It's like all their calm and practice disappeared the moment their hearts were involved. She was mad at Jamie and her stupid baby shower idea for bringing these thoughts up that prompted Anthea to finally question the whole thing. But she wasn't mad that it had finally come up. They needed to talk about it. She was just mad that it ended the way it did.

It wasn't the end for them though, Anthea knew that. Mycroft had asked if she really wanted it to end with a 'if that's how you feel' but it wasn't going to. Their feelings and their world was too complicated for it to end on a snap just like that. This might be the beginning of the end, but they hadn't had their kiss goodbye yet and it would not end without one, or at least without a handshake. Anthea would feel horrible if she didn't give Mycroft a chance to talk, even if it changed nothing. She wouldn't let it end with both of them feeling powerless. She owed him a chance to talk just as much as he owed her a decision.

She recalled what they had said to each other after their first fight. The one where he'd had to spend time with that dignitary, the wife, and the newborn baby and he returned in a horrible state.

"You're proving yourself to be quite the valuable asset – I wouldn't want the reason for your departure to be due to one of my own actions."

"Like I said, sir." Anthea stood up. "I don't plan to go anywhere."

Funny, wasn't it? That a baby once again put them in this place… With Mycroft behaving stupidly and Anthea breaking her promise to be around as long as needed. Of course they were talking about work back then but work and their home lives were so connected these days that it could easily be applied here.

Maybe it would have been easier if she had quit a long, long time ago. Maybe, but then she wouldn't have her little one, and she wouldn't have such brilliant memories and so many strong friendships – including the one at the base of her and Mycroft's relationship.

Anthea got to work a little later than normal, but that didn't matter. Having a rough night followed by not falling asleep until the wee hours of the morning and forgetting to set your alarm will do that. She wasn't trying to make a statement to Mycroft, quite the opposite really, but it just happened. So she dumped her stuff at her desk and went to the kitchen right away to make tea for herself and for Mycroft. She placed hers on a free place on her desk then knocked on the office door, waited three seconds, and let herself in.

It seemed that Mycroft did not sleep well either. All outward appearances would look completely normal to a stranger. To Anthea she could see the difference in how he held himself and by his eyes alone. He looked up at her and clicked his tongue.

"Miss James," He sighed. "Haven't I told you to stop bringing tea in in the morning for the rest of your pregnancy?" He chided her. He had, but it was a sort of peace offering for the day.

"Force of habit." She smiled instead of saying the real reason why. Anthea placed the tea on his desk, facing the handle right in the direction he usually moved it into.

"Well thank you, I suppose." He hummed reluctantly. "But do try to remember I am fully capable of doing things for myself, even in the office." Anthea pulled a face as if to say 'really?' teasingly. He rolled his eyes but offered a fake small smile. This interaction it felt strange and very much from many years ago before a real personal relationship had formed between the two.

Anthea watched as Mycroft picked up the tea and took a sip. She watched as he turned back to his computer.

"You didn't sleep well either?" She asked, breaking their façade. Mycroft's hands froze over the computer.

"My brothers couch is not the most comfortable." He muttered, pulling his own face.

"Sherlock's?" Anthea asked, eyebrows lifting high. Mycroft nodded. "Oh." Anthea would have expected the club to be where he went, or some expensive hotel. She'd expect him to sleep in a car before going to his brother's. That explained the clean clothes at least. He and Sherlock kept a change of clothes at each other's houses that they were allowed to ask for with no questions asked. For most people it seemed ridiculous, for these brothers it was very practical. But if it was an overnight stay Anthea wondered if it really was no questions asked this time. Never mind, it all pointed to further development for the brothers. "Mrs Hudson wasn't too mean to you?"

"No." Mycroft waved off the question. He tried to get back to work but ended up dropping his hands onto the desk. "How are you?" He asked. Anthea tucked a curl behind her ear and shrugged. Mycroft nodded, as if that was enough of an answer for him to get all the information he needed. Anthea looked down to the floor. She took a breath and placed her fingertips against the wood of Mycroft's desk like grounding herself.

"Did you want to talk about it?" Anthea asked. "Now I'm willing to listen and you're not calling me ridiculous?" Mycroft pursed his lips. "I still might insist we end it but I will let you say what you want to say."

"Of course." Mycroft answered and you could hear the sincerity in his tone. "Not now, however. We have an important day." Anthea nodded. It was meeting after meeting and then some errands. "Perhaps after you let me cook you that lasagne tonight?" Anthea covered her eyes with her hand and laughed a little bit. She'd forgotten completely about the vegetarian lasagne. She didn't even end up having a decent meal for dinner last night. The poor little one. What was this supposed to be though? His peace offering like her tea? Or a farewell dinner? Anthea dropped her hand and nodded.

"Sounds nice, sir." She said.

"Good." He said and he meant it.

Mycroft prepared the dinner in silence while Anthea unwound from work. She needed a shower and to rub some moisturiser into her skin. While she chose to put on clothes that fit comfortable Anthea certainly remember to make herself look lovely. If this was the last meal shared as a couple she wanted to make a lasting impression. She didn't overdo it but enough make up and styling of her hair to remind anyone that she was an attractive woman. There was no real telling if Mycroft took notice of this. He looked up at her with a pensive expression when she came back downstairs but continued to cook in silence. He had also apparently poured himself a glass of red wine. She couldn't blame him, it was either for liquid courage or to loosen his lips and make it easier to speak his feelings without his mind getting too much in the way, or both. It was only the one, though. He wouldn't drink at dinner if she couldn't.

They ate at the dining room table which they hardly ever did unless it was a specially prepared meal or guests were over. So almost never. The meal was wonderful. Somehow Mycroft had toned down the ratio of cheese related products so that it still felt like a lasagne but there was no smell to turn Anthea off. The vegetables prepared alongside the aubergine lasagne were crisp and a delight. It was easy to forget that Mycroft knew how to cook when they never did cook. Apparently she wasn't the only one trying to make herself unforgettable. So then what was the problem? As if on cue the baby kicked.

They, or he, waited until dinner was complete before the talk began. The plates were still on the table but they were empty. Mycroft clasped his hands together and took in a very nervous sounding preparatory breath. Anthea focused on him intently.

"I love you." He said shakily and nervously like a teenager saying it to his first love interest. How rarely he said it. One part of Anthea wanted to take it as emotional blackmail, the other part of her saw it for what it probably was – the easiest truth to begin with.

"I love you too." She answered with a firmer voice than him.

"You have involved yourself in every single aspect of my life that I don't know what life would look like without you anymore." He paused and frowned at his hands. "But we both knew that years ago." Anthea smirked a little. "But children?" He cocked his head to the side and pursed his lips. Anthea leaned back in her chair.

The unanswered question hung in the air for a time while Mycroft was lost in his brain and Anthea had nothing to say.

Mycroft stirred. He moved his knife and fork to a different position on the plate and the turned his glass of water around.

"It's not purely that I don't have an affinity with children and never wished to be a father," He was speaking to the glass and not to Anthea. "But more importantly, and as I've mentioned before, I believe that any child of yours deserves the best and that is not a man begrudgingly there just to be with its mother." Mycroft looked up. "And that is why I can't give you the answer you want right now." Anthea exhaled and her whole body felt like it deflated inwards. She shrugged, throwing her arms in the air in a sign of dejection.

"Then what are we doing here, Myc?" She asked. He was looking at her now and his deep blue eyes were so open and full of love and it was painful.

"I want to offer an alternative." He said. Anthea rolled her eyes. Mycroft held up his index finger. "No, no. I assure you it's better than our last compromise." Anthea looked at him flatly and waited for him to continue. "Two weeks." He stated. "After the baby is born I will stay here and help you for two whole weeks. If by the end of the two weeks I do not feel any sort of bond or connection to the child or feel I am doing it a great disservice then I will leave without either of us wondering if it was the right or wrong thing."

He was trying. He didn't want to lose her and he didn't want to dismiss the baby without giving himself a chance to love it. It was better than all his 'I don't know's but…

"It's still stupid." She said.

"I don't think so." Mycroft tilted his head to the side earnestly. "There is no one else I would even consider doing this for. It's like a probation period for an employee." He smiled a little and Anthea smiled a little. God, he was trying so hard. Anthea scoffed and rolled her eyes. She looked up at the ceiling and then to the side of the room wondering what she should say. Her brain told her to listen to her heart but her brain was also very aware of how hard she was going to find a newborn baby.

"A month." She said, looking back at Mycroft. "Make it a month and you've got a deal."

"A month?" Mycroft questioned, leaning back in his chair. "That is-"

"Enough time for me to get used to being a mother and enough time for you to either get past the novelty of a baby or get used to a baby." She cut him off to further explain herself. "If you make it a month then I'll know you tried your best for me." She finished speaking and held Mycroft's gaze. The two sat in silence watching each other for minutes as Mycroft's brain ticked over this new compromise.

"Okay," The genius nodded a single time. "You have my word that I will be here for a month after the baby is born but the final decision is not about us, it's about the child."

"Well, yeah." Anthea frowned as she nodded. That's why she asked for the decision. The baby had to come first. Mycroft quirked an eyebrow at her admittedly a little sassy response.

"Do we have a deal?" He asked.

"We do." Anthea agreed. Mycroft stood up and walked over to his assistant and girlfriend. He held out a hand to her. Knowing what he wanted, Anthea slowly got out of the chair to be on an even power level before shaking his hand. Just like a deal they made a long time ago that was supposed to be sealed in a handshake Mycroft tugged on their joined hands pulling Anthea closer. He brought her into a hug, putting a hand on her back and one on the back of her head as he buried his nose into the top of her head. Anthea wrapped her arms around him and squeezed. They let go and Anthea laughed.

"You know our most successful deal was sealed with a hug." She said.

"Was it?" Mycroft hummed playfully, raising his eyebrows. "Perhaps we should make it an office policy then." He whispered. Anthea crinkled her nose.

"People would talk." She answered playfully, helping to smooth down his suit.

"More than they are now? I doubt that." Anthea laughed at the response but her smirk quickly faded.

"You've promised me a month, remember?" She said. "You can't leave a day before a month."

"I've already promised you." Mycroft answered. "Our most successful deals are sealed with a hug."

Author's Note: Huh? Huh? What did you think? I've been thinking about this one for a while and I just had to wait for exams to be over to (hopefully) do it justice. Ah, I can't wait to hear what you think! Thanks to our two anonymous guest reviewers last chapter. Thanks to all of you who reviewed last chapter. I hope to see you all again in five days and I look forward to the feedback!