Author's Note: Okay, so you were all wonderfully kind about whatever that was that I put together during my travels. It means more to me than you know. This one is a little more… of a proper chapter, I guess. It's based on a couple of the suggestions people had for things they wanted to see. I'm pretty satisfied with at least the end third of it and I think you guys will be 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 Jamie Tried on Her Wedding Dress Since…

Hope had begun walking. Well, walking as in she'd take a few steps and tumble forward head over heels. Luckily she wasn't as moody as Margot was already turning out to be and much like her father probably would she laughed half the time and got right back at it. Determined, as sunny as the sun itself, and just a little bit clumsy. That girl was James with some Jamie mixed in alright.

Why this is relevant at all is that Jamie invited Anthea to go shopping because she needed shoes for Hope. Up until now she had been happy letting her little girl live in socks and stockings. Now she might try to walk around on the garden or floors that one could not know how clean they were James and Jamie thought, well, time to get shoes. All the shoes they had for her were from when she was born.

Anthea agreed to go with Jamie. It was a day out of both home and the office – the two places Anthea only ever occupied – and some good time with her best friend and her niece. Margot was there too, of course, but that was a given.

Jamie got all sorts of shoes. She got little Maryjane's in black and white, she got sneakers, and she got Velcro sandals and sandals with buckles. She got little rain boots and little warm booties. She got them in Hope's size and the size up. The little ball of sunshine was set for all occasions for quite some time. Anthea had been less enthusiastic. She'd picked up a pair of maroon boots for the cold weather. Margot wasn't tottering along any time soon.

Once Hope was all bought for the girls couldn't help but look for themselves just a little bit. Both picked up a pair of heels each. Jamie's were a smaller heel – good for the days she went and did make up at weddings. Practical and pretty. Anthea's looked like so many other pairs she owned for work but she knew how they differed. She could tell you how the thickness of the heel was different, and the lining was different. It didn't matter that Jamie couldn't see it, Mycroft would notice things like that.

Walking past the window of a designer dress shop demotivated both mothers immediately. A window full of beautiful new and well overpriced dresses filled the window. Jamie gasped first and when Anthea turned she clicked her tongue and stopped herself from sighing.

They were all stunning. And all on very small mannequins.

"I like the pink one." Jamie hummed wistfully. "And the red one."

"Me too." As Anthea spoke that sigh came out. Normally she'd shy away from it only because of the price. Or maybe she'd buy it for herself as a reward for seamlessly going back to work. She didn't feel like she'd look good in anything in that store right now.

"I would spend my life savings on the pink one." Jamie said, going back to the first one she mentioned. Anthea bit her lip to stop from smirking. She elbowed Jamie.

"You could try it on for fun." Anthea urged. Jamie's face scrunched up and she scoffed.

"Are you kidding me?" She said as she stepped back. "Like I could wear anything in there, thanks to this thing." She gestured to Hope. That was something Anthea wasn't used to – Jamie being self-conscious like that. And totally wrong. She'd put on a little weight while pregnant, sure, but as far as Anthea could tell, a year on and Jamie was back to normal.

"Jamie." Anthea rolled her eyes. "You're the same as always." Jamie barked a laugh, looking up at the sky.

"Yeah?" She looked at Anthea with fiercely questioning hazel eyes. "I tried on my wedding dress last week and it would totally disagree with you."

Ooh.

Anthea swallowed her breath.

"How did it go?" Anthea asked in a low voice. Jamie rolled her eyes and turned back to the window, looking at that pink dress.

"How do you think?" She growled.

"Yeah but big disaster or a small disaster?" Anthea asked. Jamie sighed. She closed her eyes and shook her head.

"I mean I got it on. The zip just wouldn't go all the way." She murmured. Anthea raised her eyebrows.

"That's not bad!" She tried to encourage her best friend. Jamie folded her arms across her chest.

"I know." She was speaking softly. "Just a whole year and I still have work to do."

"Not much more."

"It's still work. I hate eating healthy and I feel my soul deteriorating every time I join James for a stupid hour long walk. It's insane." Poor Jamie. Anthea stepped closer to her and nudged her again.

"So close Jay," She said. "I knew you looked great." Jamie tried to hide her smile in her chest. "I haven't even got the courage to try on some of my best clothes." Jamie looked up with fire in her eyes again.

"Don't you dare try to start your own pity party!" Jamie growled. If Anthea wasn't used to truly dangerous people she might have been scared. Instead it was amusing. "You had an early baby and you put on like nothing that wasn't baby."

"Not nothing, Jay." Anthea muttered.

"What, like a pound?"

"Jay!"

"I'm just saying!" Jamie shrugged dramatically. "If you had a wedding dress I bet you could still fit into it. No wonder Mycroft hates talking about his diet with you." She rolled her eyes again.

Anthea didn't have a wedding dress but she highly doubted she'd fit into it…

Hmm…

Hmm…

This was a bad idea.

This was a terrible idea.

Sure it could be a confidence booster.

But it could also break any self-esteem that Anthea still had after giving birth.

Hmm…

Anthea had taken the dress bag out of the closet and laid it in her bed. That's where it stayed for ten minutes as she stared at it in apprehension, her thoughts circling.

This was a horrible idea.

She loved this dress.

This dress always made her look stunning.

But she'd bought it a long time ago now. The last time she had worn it predated Margot by a fair amount.

This dress used to make her look stunning. Would it still? Would it even come close to fitting?

This was a bad idea.

But Jamie had been brave – or stupid – enough to try on her wedding dress. It was a motivator. A goal. If it didn't prove that you were still just as good then it gave you something to aim for. If it were realistic of course. If she hadn't had fitted into this dress before pregnancy than she wouldn't have been bothering… but Anthea just knew that even a few months into pregnancy and this dress would have made her look like a queen.

The red dress with the black lace.

The one that made Mycroft feel things he rarely ever felt.

A cornerstone of their relationship.

Okay, Anthea was going to try it on.

She was just curious. As curious as the original Alice before she fell into the rabbit hole perhaps.

Anthea held her breath and unzipped the bag. The dress was just as beautiful as ever. With a quiet bravery Anthea slipped off her clothes. She stepped into the dress one leg at the time then pulled it up.

So it slid up her body fine enough. That was a good sign. Manoeuvring her arms around her back, Anthea pulled on the zip. It moved easily at first, giving Anthea confidence, and then suddenly stuck. Anthea's weak grip at this twisted angle could pull it up any further. Had she been more confidant in her body right now she'd have twisted it around and zipped it from the front but the part of her afraid that it was her stopping the zip coming up didn't want to see that right in front of her.

Anthea grunted a sad noise as she tried to manoeuvre the zip again. It didn't work.

Feeling emotions welling that she'd rather not break down over, Anthea admitted she needed help. She picked up her phone and texted Mycroft who was downstairs somewhere.

Come to the bedroom. I need some help. – A.

She was torn between waiting and trying to angle herself to get that zip.

Mycroft opened the bedroom door. His head peaked in before the rest of him followed through.

"Oh." He sounded in surprise as he looked at Anthea half in the red and black dress. Something was hidden in those deep blue eyes of his and Anthea wasn't sure she wanted to know what it was just yet. Positive or negative, she'd deal with it after the dress. Judging by the way Mycroft looked her over in great detail it was probably about the dress anyway. "Hello." His voice was all velvet. Anthea turned her back to Mycroft and pointed over her shoulder at the zip.

"I can't do the zip up." She said, trying to fight that sob in the back of her throat.

A beat.

Mycroft slowly made his way from the doorway to behind Anthea. He didn't touch the zip but she could feel his breath on her neck.

"What's the occasion?" He asked, still all velvet in contrast to her lace.

"Nothing." Anthea admitted with a breath. "I just wanted to see if it still fit."

"Ah." His breath was warm and thick. "I tend to stay away from my favourite articles of clothing when I'm feeling self-conscious, myself. Then again, I have an actual issue where you do not." His nose was touching her hair. Anthea pulled forward.

"Stop it." It was a soft beg. "Just help." She said. "Please."

Long slender fingers took the zip in between them. A small tug and those artistic and nimble hands got the zip up. Anthea felt the sudden tightness at her back and it dissipate as the material settled around her body.

So it went on.

Good.

But it wasn't as comfortable as usual.

A couple of pounds that's all.

It still technically fit.

But it was supposed to be a glove.

Mycroft hummed, or rather purred, as she stepped back.

"See." He said. Anthea turned to face him. "No issue for you." His eyes travelled from her hips to her thighs, down the dress. "Just as wonderful as always." He said. Anthea made a noise of protest. It wasn't a scoff and it wasn't a sob. It was closer to a groan.

"It's not right." She said. Her hand landed on the line that showed off her cleavage. "It's too tight on my chest." She complained sadly. Mycroft licked his lips and pursed them.

"You're not wearing the correct bra, and you're breast feeding." Mycroft argued to settle her. He cocked his head to the side and looked at her chest closer than he ever had before. "I'm not particularly interested in those but from what I understand no man or women who were would be complaining right now." That was a Mycroftian compliment. Ridiculous and not straightforward, but a compliment. Like the coffee table thing but a little better.

Anthea placed one hand on her abdomen and one on her lower back.

"And it's tight here." She pouted.

"It's a structured dress."

"Mycroft."

Mycroft's thumb found the seam of the dress around Anthea's ribcage. He trailed it down from her ribs to her hip, his eyes following just behind his thumb. Anthea could feel the pressure of his thumb as he did so. It sent a tingle down her spine.

"I see no buckling or pressure at the seams." Mycroft purred. Anthea swatted his hand away lightly.

"I know what it's supposed to feel like, Myc." She said. "I know it fits but it's supposed to be better than this." She turned so they were face to face again. Mycroft's head was tilted as he looked carefully into her eyes. Then to her lips. Then back at the dress. Anthea lifted his head up gently with both hands to meet her eyes again. "Myc." She whispered pleadingly.

"You know your body, my love." He said right into her eyes. "If you wish to lose a few pounds then that is your prerogative." His gaze drifted to her hair, then her nose, then her lips, then her eyes again. "Your body and your face are not why I am here." Anthea rolled her eyes but it was nice to hear nonetheless. With him it wasn't fake. He really wasn't there for that. She didn't want to do it for him anyway, it was for herself. She realised what a hypocrite she sounded like for telling Jamie she looked amazing and then doing this about herself but… The dress was so close to being perfect. A little bit of effort and… Well, it was different when you were talking about yourself and making yourself feel good compared to how you view others. It was all about yourself.

"Thank you." Anthea smiled sweetly at Mycroft. She rubbed his arm affectionately. Mycroft inhaled sharply.

"However," He said. Ah, here we go. "If you wish for assistance removing the dress, I can do that." He purred, stepping closer to Anthea. His hands landed firmly on her waist. "And if you wish for someone to examine your skin to further prove that the dress fitted fine by looking for marks to confirm otherwise, I'd offer up my keep eyes and sensitive touch for that role also." That shiver ran through Anthea's spine again but stronger this time. She giggled. Her own hand found itself on the nape of Mycroft's neck.

"Mycroft." She practically squealed in delight. "What has gotten into you?" She asked.

"It's that ridiculous dress." He said as he lowered his head to her neck. "I told you it still fits." Well he couldn't be faking this. She'd like to see Mycroft trying to fake this. She could only imagine how horribly bad that would be.

"I get your point." She admitted. Her response was a kiss on her neck. Her hand on his neck tightened. "You're not kidding." She inhaled. Mycroft pushed her over to the bed.

"I'm deadly serious." He said, a smirk on his lips. Anthea matched that smirk.

"Great." Anthea said. Mycroft rolled his eyes before kissing her again. Anthea laughed in surprise and desire.

Okay. So maybe she still looked great in that dress. Great enough to get Mycroft to act like a mammal, anyway.

Author's Note: Was it okay? Was it back up to standard? Man I hope so. It was easier to write than I thought it would be when planning it. I think people will be pleased. Oh and a semi-important soapbox moment now. People come in all different shapes and sizes and that's one of the beauties of the human race. I hope you don't take this as any type of shaming. I based Robbie's current appearance off of Meat Loaf's Eddie in Rocky Horror and that boy be CUTE. You know who else I really like in that movie? Riff Raff. I know hearing that from an ace spectrum person might mean nothing but I'm just saying – you can be cute at all shapes and sizes. It's all about how the individual feels at the time. Anyway thanks to our single guest reviewer last chapter. I shall see you all in five days!