Author's Note: Hi guys! First it's ANZAC Day and since most of you aren't from Australia and New Zealand I wanted to point out the day we specifically recognise those who died in the wars – particularly the world wars. I'm not a very patriotic person but since my grandfather was in WW2 this day has always meant something to me. It's a day where I like to remember him. Secondly thanks for the awesome reviews last chapter. I love the reactions, I really do. It made me so happy. I hope I get just as strong reactions to this chapter. 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 Time He Chose

The first day wasn't too bad, not really. The first hour or so sucked as the weight of the emotions of it all hit. As soon as Mycroft left it felt like the weight of it all crashed on Anthea and she had to lie down just to cope with it all. She laid on the bed in the cream and white room, not the bed upstairs. For one it was all the way upstairs and for another she doubted she could handle all that Mycroft scent that clung in that room right now.

But other than that the first day was okay. Margot was content which made it easier. Anthea got a lot of much needed napping in while Margot slept. She didn't have the energy to do any house work – or focus on anything in particular really – so a lot of her time was spent cuddling Margot and watching telly. Which in a way was nice. She rarely watched trashy television anymore. It was mind numbing and warming to watch sitcoms. Like a familiar blanket.

The second day was less nice. Well afternoon and early evening more than day, that was. Turns out when your baby is fussy and you, when you already worry about your lack of maternal instincts, have to deal with it by yourself you begin to miss your life partner. Just a little bit. But actually it was once Margot settled down that it really hit Anthea. Usually when she quieted and they could go back to sleep she naturally rested her head on Mycroft's chest like rewarding herself for being a decent mother, or he wrapped his arms around her to try to get himself to go to sleep. He slept better next to her. It made Anthea feel lonely and wonder how he was doing trying to sleep right now. That just made her feel worse. The bed was far too cold that night.

How were they going to survive without the other, the pair of them? If Mycroft decided that leaving forever was for the best, what would they do? Could Anthea be a single mother? She wasn't sure she was good at this anyway, how could she do this alone? How could she raise a fussy Holmes baby by herself? And how would Mycroft fair? How long until he could sleep for a solid few hours again? How could his heart cope knowing his daughter was out there somewhere?

Anthea began to blame the bedroom for all these thoughts racing around her head. She couldn't sleep in a room that was so very Mycroft. She took the baby monitor and went and slept in the cream and white room. That room just smelt of her.

The third night she was supposed to have dinner with James and Jamie just to distract her. Dinner turned into an overnight stay when Jamie decided that Anthea was too sad to go. She wasn't. That was ridiculous. Anthea had been through much worse on her own – like a kidnapping. But one does not turn down a best friend and being with those you consider your family was better than being alone. Plus, Jamie had baby stuff and maybe the three of them could tag team the two babies. Apparently Hope was quite a good night time sleeper at this point… It still didn't mean James and Jamie couldn't help out with Margot.

Anthea was laying on the floor of Jamie's living room staring up at the ceiling – you'll have to trust her that it felt a lot better than laying on her own bed and staring up at that ceiling. Jamie was sitting cross legged on the couch wearing oversized pyjamas. James was sitting on the arm of an armchair despite it being open for sitting on. No one was sitting normally – distress ruined civilized behaviour.

"We've all seen him around you, Ali." Jamie sighed patiently. "He's not going anywhere. Forget Margot exists; he's not losing you again."

"But what if he decides it's for the best?" Anthea shrugged at the roof. "What if his stupid brain takes over and tells him we're better off without him?" Because it wasn't about love anymore. Actually, it was still about love but both results were about love. It was whether or not he'd let himself be selfish about family for once. Or whether he'd see how having her father who understands her in her life was better for Margot than any possible extra safety. Quite frankly Anthea didn't completely trust Mycroft to come to the correct conclusion. She was his sounding board… and she'd sent him away trusting John with him. John better be up to the challenge of saving a Holmes yet again.

"It'll be alright!" Jamie… whined? Cooed?

"But what if it's not!?" Anthea whined back.

A pause.

Jamie's breath caught in her throat.

"James!" She called out for support.

"Well." Anthea heard from behind her head. "If it's not fine you know Carol and I would love someone with some diplomacy training to work for us."

"James!" Jamie was scolding this time.

"What? She was asking about not fine." He answered defensively but still with a light tone.

"That's not what we do." Anthea could just see the face Jamie was giving her husband.

"No, this is good." Anthea said, actually intrigued. She rolled over onto her stomach so she could see James. He gave a bit of a proud smile to his wife.

"Yeah, we hate that kind of stuff and this way you'd still have a good payed job that is totally flexible and this time with a really hot boss." He winked. Anthea rolled her eyes and she was thankful for it.

"Like you don't have dreaming feelings about Mr. Charming talk." Jamie teased him. James shrugged.

"I don't talk prettily but I look just as good in a suit, thanks." He said with a laugh.

"Actually," Jamie sung. "You look better." Anthea rolled her eyes again. She disagreed whole heartedly with that one. James turned his attention back to Anthea.

"And like you and Jamie could totally work it out so that someone was always home with the girls." He said. Anthea sat up.

"Home?" She asked. James and Jamie shared a look. James nodded at Jamie.

"Well," She scratched her earring. "James and I were talking about what if it doesn't work out last night." The blonde admitted sheepishly. James refused to look at Anthea. "And we kind of figured the best thing for you would either be to move back in here or we could come stay at Sleepy Hollow mansion for a few months."

A lot of things ran through Anthea's mind at those words and it would be impossible to catalogue all of them so let's focus on the important once. A rather large part of her wanted to pretend it didn't hear that. The idea of being left the house without Mycroft was not entirely pleasant. She could do it if she had to but she'd rather not think of it. One part was terrified that Jamie had considered what if because it made it real. Another part resented it because it made it real. Mostly she was touched that James and Jamie had thought of this. That once again they'd accommodate the lonely orphan into their lives, this time with her child. What was family worth when you had friends like this?

Anthea sniffed. She smiled and peered down into her lap.

"Really, guys." She spoke in an airy voice as she tucked a curl behind her ear. She looked up and between the blonde pair. "That's lovely but I'd be fine." She smiled kindly. Jamie's sweet hazel eyes didn't look convinced. James looked like he did when considering the least deadly route to take on a mission – blank except for that little spark of focus. Anthea laughed. "You'd have to at least let me try for a week before anyone moved anywhere." She said. Jamie began nodding but it soon turned into a shake.

"It's not like we seriously have to think about it anyway." She said. That was how she felt best comforting her friend and it's probably what she believed, too. "He's not going to leave you to raise a half ice baby on your own."

Anthea closed her eyes, cringing, and laughed silently. James rubbed his face, sighed, and then laughed.

"That's our niece, babe." He said with love oozing from his every pore.

"Yeah, which is why I'm allowed to say that." Jamie folded her arms across her chest. "Anyone else says it and I kill them."

The fourth day was okay actually. After spending an evening with four of her favourite people Anthea was feeling better. She went home and although she hated the emptiness of it all she was okay.

Anthea got to play some music for Margot which was nice. Actually it was for her. For the first time in a long time somewhere else other than her car she got to put her music on. She made a playlist of some of Radiohead's calmer and less disturbing songs and played it at what she assumed would be a comfortable volume for herself and for Margot. It made her feel good in a way that only your favourite band can. It refreshes the soul on a creative level and doesn't so much warm the heart as it increases its capability to withstand things.

She forgot how much the band meant to her.

She considered making No Surprises Margot's lullaby because it was soothing and then decided against it based on the words. Maybe she could get away with it until she was a little older. True Love Waits might be more appropriate.

Wouldn't it be nice if Margot could pick up both of her parent's music sensibilities? She could have all the classical training from Mycroft and Sherlock while having a more alternative knowledge from Anthea and Robbie. Jamie would have all the popular music that is fun to dance to but somehow Anthea doubted Margot would be much of a partier. But how great would that be? A love of all sorts of music. She could be brilliant. More brilliant than she already was. If she chose one way or the other that would be cool too but it was fun to imagine a best case scenario. She really could be the best of Mycroft and Anthea.

If Mycroft was around to instil his good values.

Feeling a bit of a sad wave Anthea put Margot to bed.

High and Dry was playing when she came back down and Anthea scoffed. She kept it on though, it was a good song.

To be honest Anthea should really be impressed that her and Mycroft got this far. The man he presented himself to be would have never let this happen. Even the man he was when they first met would have never let this happen. They became friends from sheer proximity and fell in love by accident – both hating it. Then all this happened too.

And Mycroft was cold. Boy was Mycroft cold! If he didn't care about you he really did not care if you lived or died. As long as you stayed out of his way and didn't bother him he was alright with your continued existence but didn't care should anything happen. But when he cared for someone he cared with his whole being. Anthea first saw how he physically ached with caring the first time she saw Sherlock in the hospital after overdosing. He loved and it frightened him. Sherlock came out of a big mess in their childhood with repressed memories. Mycroft came out with a fear of attachment to anyone. He wasn't someone you could rely on. Plenty of times he'd tried to break free from himself before his illogical levels of responsibility took over. But Anthea wasn't perfect either and they kind of completed each other. They always had whether they knew it or not. That's why she made the perfect assistant for him.

And yet despite all these thoughts running through her head that day was okay. Because Mycroft might be in many ways a horrible person but he was also a good person. Shades of grey, as she'd once told him. And while last night Anthea had focused on the bad possibilities tonight she was focused on his deep love and how hard it would be for him to pull away from his daughter. He'd never even managed to pull away from his sister.

The next day Anthea received a phone call from Mycroft. Seeing his name prop up on the phone wrought her with fear. They had said they'd only call each other in an emergency. All the bad things that could have happened to him or to Sherlock flashed through her mind. She was nervous but she controlled herself and stayed as calm as possible when answering the phone.

"Hello?" She said.

"Hello, my dear." Mycroft hummed warmly. Anthea's brow furrowed. The calm tone was more disconcerting than the phone call itself.

"Did… something happen?" She asked.

"No." Mycroft replied. "I just wanted to hear your voice." Anthea hung her head. She didn't know if she felt more relieved or annoyed and both for so many complicated reasons.

"Mycroft," She sighed. "We aren't supposed to talk during this week. It was the rule."

"My dear, I do not follow rules." He said in that smug iceman voice. "I make them."

"We did make this one." She argued.

"Yes, but I decided it was stupid." He said. That confident and stubborn Holmes attitude. God, he was infuriating and infatuating. Anthea rested her chin on her hand and gave herself a minute to let all the feelings wash over her.

"This was supposed to be a trial run. You won't be allowed to call all the time if you leave for good. That wouldn't be fair on anyone." She felt like his mother right now, spelling out human behaviour to him. She sounded like a more patient version of Violet.

"I know." He replied. "But why should that matter for right now?" She just explained why it mattered. The hand moved from her chin to her forehead.

"Myc." She whined. Mycroft chuckled. He had the audacity to laugh at his behaviour and she had the stupidity to smile at it. "I'm going to go." She said despite wanting to stay on the phone with all her being. She wanted to tell him of all the perfectly Jamie and James things Jamie and James had said. She wanted to ask if he'd spoken to John or his uncle. She wanted to ask about work and she wanted to tell him about everything. "You can't call again until you've made up your mind."

"But I have made up my mind." He said. Anthea couldn't decide whether this was true or a carefully chosen line. Her eyes narrowed and she took a deep breath.

"Really?" She asked flatly.

"Mmhhmm." He hummed.

"Have you spoken to John? Your uncle?" She asked.

"Yes, and unfortunately yes."

"Have you spent enough time thinking?"

"Oh yes." Anthea chewed on her lip.

"Have you been drinking?" She asked suspiciously.

"Tonight? No, dear." Well then he was at least smoking to sound so calm.

"So you really, really know what you're going to do?" She asked. Mycroft hummed.

"I wouldn't put it so casually, my dear. I know what I am compelled to do."

"Are you sure?" She asked. Now she was just being nervous.

"One hundred percent? No, I doubt I ever will be." He said. Yeah, that sounded about right. "But perhaps seventy-five percent and that's enough to feel comfortable." She missed him so much. She missed his convoluted way of talking.

"So that's why you called?" Anthea said.

"I called so I may come home to tell you. I would never do so over a phone call, Alice, dear." Anthea rolled her eyes but smiled.

"Tomorrow?" She asked.

"Tomorrow morning, yes." He agreed. The nervousness inside Anthea bubbled over but was met with excitement to create a strange sensation.

"I'll see you then." She said, smirking to herself awkwardly. "For now I'm going to go because you shouldn't really have done this." Mycroft ignored that part.

"I'll see you tomorrow." He said.

"Bye."

Click.

Anthea buried her face in her hands but she wasn't exactly sure which of the dichotomous emotions caused that.

Anthea was really mad at herself for how excited she was when Mycroft got home. She was always determined to not be one of those girls whose life revolved around her boyfriend. Except her wasn't just her boyfriend was he? He was her boss, her (second) best friend, and the father of her child so maybe she had a right to be a little excited. And how long were hormones supposed to be out of whack after birth? Could she blame that too?

She was at the kitchen bench when she heard the tell-tale sounds of the lock on the front door clicking open. It was a noise her and Mycroft had become sensitive too. Holding her breath she walked -rather fast - to the entrance hall.

Mycroft entered the house dressed to the nines as per usual. He put his suitcase through the door and without closing it brought his steely eyes upon Anthea. They were both trying to hide their facial expressions for better or for worse. Anthea's hands balled up into fists and she bounced on her feet.

"Am I allowed to kiss you hello?" She asked. Mycroft clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes. The corner of his lips turned up.

"It's not romantic if you ask." He said. As if he wasn't the reason Anthea had to ask in the first place. Still, it was exactly the permission she needed. Anthea quickly closed the gap between them. She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss. Expecting it, there was no hesitation from Mycroft. He fell into the kiss immediately, pulling Anthea closer to him.

Mycroft broke off the kiss. He looked deeply into Anthea's eyes and caressed her cheek with his thumb.

"I missed you." She said. She smoothed his jacket the way she tended to do after crinkling it with a hug or a kiss. "You better tell me if I need to get ready to miss you again." She patted his chest.

"Let me plug in my phone and then we'll talk." He hummed. Anthea pushed him playfully away.

They were sitting at the dining room table again. Why did they do this? Why were they so programmed to discuss things like they were in a meeting? It must comfort them on some level. It now doubt comforted Mycroft on some level.

"So?" Anthea whispered. Her hands were clasped together tight and resting on the table. Her knuckles were white. Mycroft ran his tongue over his teeth.

"As I told you I don't think I'll ever know for sure if I've made the right decision. I will always have doubt." Mycroft said in solemn seriousness. Anthea's nodded respectfully. "This is the most difficult choice in my life."

"I know." Anthea tried to reassure him. Mycroft's face shifted. He tilted his head to the side ever so faintly.

"If I may digress for just a moment since talking to Dr. Watson I've spent some time thinking about Mary." Mycroft's nose twitched. "Rather the Rosamund I knew before John met Mary." Anthea mimed an 'oh' and nodded to urge him to continue. "I never expected her to end up with the life she had. However I learnt not too long ago that she really wanted it. That, like you - a fellow orphan, she craved connection." And he took a moment to look over Anthea. Like that statement meant a lot to him when it came to understanding Anthea - Alice as a person. "I on the other hand have done everything to avoid the same happening to me."

"And then you fell in love with me." Anthea laughed just a little sadly. Mycroft smiled.

"No. I hired you." He said. Anthea smiled back. "The point is," Mycroft continued. "There are infinite reasons why I would be a horrible father. Even the simple inconsequential reasons are damaging to a child. Look how you react when I am caught off guard by your affection. Why should I child deal with that?" Anthea cocked her head and sighed.

"Myc…" She cooed. He held up a palm to silence her.

"I stand by this, my dear, and you won't change my mind." He said.

A pause.

Anthea swallowed.

"... But?" She willed there to be a 'but'. Mycroft closed his eyes and cringed.

"But," Mycroft repeated. Anthea's heart felt like it stopped entirely and time froze. "There are two things I am far too weak to give up." He opened his eyes and looked at Anthea with nothing but adoration. "Speaking to you whenever I wish and watching that beautiful daughter of yours grow into her potential."

It took a while. It took a long while but time began flowing again and Anthea's heart started beating once more. She stood up hard and fast, accidentally knocking her chair over. Lightning fast Anthea was over to Mycroft's side of the table and pushing him hard into a kiss. She put all her love and all her relief into it. She ended up sitting on Mycroft's lap with her hands in his hair and he was holding her steady and close to stop her falling off.

Anthea rested her forehead against Mycroft's. She placed both her hands against Mycroft's face. His hot breath was hitting her chin.

"Our daughter." She whispered fiercely. "She's our daughter, you idiot." Mycroft shook his head. His thumb stroked Anthea's bottom lip.

"No, no, she's all you." He whispered black. "That's why I can't leave."

Anthea kissed Mycroft again.

Author's Note: Ahhh. I get so nervous at chapters like these. I hope it was good enough. Please tell me it was good enough! Ah! *Clears throat*… Thanks to last chapter's guest reviewer; Guests x2, AAAAAAA, and Observant Potato. Next chapter will take a week again because assignments still. Sorry guys, it'll clear up very soon. It's just THAT time of semester. Please, please, tell me what you thought!