Author's Note: Hello, my friends! Thank you for the lovely reviews for last chapter! As I said to many of you, I thought we were due for a cute chapter… As you can see by the review count we're creeping close to 300 (ALREADY!) and I'm going to talk about what I have planned for that at the end of the chapter. So please let me know what you think of this chapter, I think it turned out pretty decently and I love hearing from you all! Read, review, and most importantly; 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 in the Diogenes Club Office

"Good morning, my dear." Mycroft hummed into his file as Anthea placed the habitual morning cup of tea on his desk, in the usual spot. Walter dropping Anthea off in the morning changed nothing – she still arrived an hour after Mr. Holmes and brought him in a cup of tea even though he never asked for one.

"Good morning, sir." She responded in a chipper tone. She picked up the files left on the far left corner of the desk for her to file away safely. Clutching them to her chest and thumbing through them to read the labels, she made her way to the door.

"If you have a moment, Miss James." Anthea turned on her heels to look at her boss and nodded.

"Certainly, sir." He smiled his fake work smile and gestured to the chair opposite his desk. Anthea placed the files back in their previous location and sat down, crossing her legs. Mycroft close the file he was currently working on and folded his hands on the desk.

"One of the lower floors of the Diogenes Club is currently out of use." He began. "I have taken this opportunity to commission an office on the premises." Anthea tilted her head slightly as she leaned forward in her chair. "There are many positive advantages in this arrangement. The first being that I prefer to work on," A pause as he smiled "contracts that do not need to be seen by other politicians in the safety of the club. If we were to have an office within their grounds it would give you access to the building and reason to be there rather than having to stay here, don't you agree?" Anthea tucked her hair behind her ear and nodded.

"Absolutely sir." She rolled her eyes and smiled. Anthea's presence at this silent club was forgiven – anyone who worked so closely with Mycroft Holmes had to have some access – however if she stayed too long the other members seemed to get hissy about it. If she had an office there then they couldn't say anything. Then again, it would be in one of the lower levels, shielded away from them and their strange traditions. Mycroft's own smile turned to something a little more natural and equally amused before he continued.

"Furthermore, we can move any files that do not belong here away from prying eyes. It is closer to my home and now your new flat, we will have access to their services and amenities including the kitchen, and we'll have a much bigger space." He finished explaining. He tilted his head as he looked Anthea up and down. "Does this sound agreeable to you, my dear?" What did it matter if it was or not? He'd do it regardless. Anthea smiled to herself, sniffing at her own thoughts. She shook her head.

"It makes perfect sense, sir."

"Good." Mycroft nodded, his attention back to work as he opened the file and began writing in it once again. "If you could make a list of any amenities or technology you would like in the office I'd very much appreciate it." Anthea picked up the files, taking a moment to watch her boss writing in his file for no reason apparent to herself.

"I'd love to." She hummed. "I'll have it on your desk by the end of the day."

The club and whoever was hired to renovate the space worked fast. It was only a matter of a few weeks before Anthea and Mycroft were scheduled to head down and check up on the work. Really all they were to do was have a quick look over and see if they disagreed with the layout or had issues with where the lighting was, if they liked how the kitchenette and bathrooms were structured, and other such details. It was almost like a house inspection before you commit to buying it.

The new offices were… Well, if she was being honest and fair, Anthea would say that the new offices were nice for many reasons. They were far more spacious. The main room, similarly to the usual office, was to be used as Anthea's space and the general greeting area. It was a large dark room with no natural light. Anthea's desk was a dark wood near the back wall in the centre. A lovely new computer was set up where she'd have access to all of the Diogenes' Clubs security and comings and goings but there was also space on the rather large desk for a laptop. There was a phone connected to the Diogenes lines and their own personal line, as well as their usual intercom system. There was a really wonder amount of power outlets located around Anthea's desk for various chargers and other equipment she might need which was a nice change to having to use power boards and double adapters galore at the normal office. Rather than a coat rack near the door there was a complete built in wardrobe to the side. There was a dark black leather couch with a dark – shiny – wooden frame with matching arm chairs and a coffee table to the side. The table had a black statuette on it. The kitchen space was still small – slightly larger than the one that had at their other location – but far more sleek. Also a dumb waiter in place though she was under the understanding that if they ordered any food the staff would leave it out the door.

Then there was the door on the back wall that lead to Mycroft's office. The same dark stone that covered the other walls extended into his office, continuing the black and dark wood motif with his desk, the bookshelf, and the single filing cabinet. His office actually had some natural light coming into it, a few singular square panels making the place feel almost like light coming through prison bars. Behind his chair was a portrait of a younger Queen Elizabeth. Beyond his office, behind a door no one could see unless they knew where to look and where to see the cracks in the wall, lay more filing cabinets, security footage of the city, and interrogation rooms. It was certainly exactly what they needed in terms of use, space, and discretion, but…

"What do you think, my dear?" Mycroft asked, standing next to her looking into his section of the office, twirling his umbrella in his grasp.

"Well," Anthea's voice hitched. "It's certainly state of the art and exactly what we need, sir." She echoed her thoughts out loud. Mycroft smirked as he looked down at the floor, practically reading Anthea's thoughts.

"And what is it you're not saying?" He sounded amused which wasn't necessarily a good thing, as Anthea had learnt long ago. Anthea turned around looking around, trying to fight of the look of dissatisfaction threatening her soft features.

"It's all very cold and harsh, sir." He regarded her with a long look up and down.

"Oh, and it's supposed to be warm and cosy now, is it, my dear?" Anthea sniffed, stifling a laugh, and smiled. She shook her head.

"No, of course not, sir. We're intimidating – great." She widened her eyes sarcastically. "It's just," A pause as she bit her lip. "It's all very Mycroft, isn't it?" He quirked and eyebrow and tilted his head.

"Well, yes, it is my office." The sarcasm dripping off his tongue was thick. Anthea rolled her eyes – both at him and herself.

"No, I know, sir. The other office feels like Mr Holmes' office. But this is Mycroft's office." She shrugged and gestured to the dark and gloomy space. Mr. Holmes wore his neutral mask as his steel eyes flickered around the room briefly.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to elaborate." He said.

"Well," Anthea hummed. "We all know what you do sir, but you're very understated about it and don't go flaunting it about. But this," She gestured to the space with a huff. "This feels like it was built not for Mr. Holmes, but for Mycroft, the teenager who used to go digging for government secrets and scare his mother half to death. This is the dream office of someone who dreams of working for a secret agency and having very secret power. It's the Diogenes Dungeon." She rolled her eyes. "I feel like I've fallen into a movie, sir." Mycroft scoffed and rolled his eyes in return. Anthea could tell by the way he fiddled with his umbrella in his grip that she had overstepped her boundaries slight, but sometimes she was allowed to push up on the barriers and considering this was just as much her office as it was his, she should be allowed to.

"What is your point, exactly, Anthea?" Cold eyes landing on her chocolate ones. She smiled quietly to herself and looked around again, eyes falling on the portrait of the Queen.

"The club is still your space sir, I'm allowed entry by association. It could have been our office." She should have caught the emotion in her tone before it came out – it takes away the validity of her point as far as her boss was concerned. Mycroft chuckled at this, causing Anthea to frown at him.

"If that is what your major problem is, my dear, it's easily rectified. Perhaps I'll find some shocking painting of flowers to put in the entrance, would you like that?" Anthea rolled her eyes but her smile grew.

"Whatever, everything else looks amazing, sir. I can't wait for the computer systems to be up and running."

"Good, good. It shouldn't be too long now."

Anthea was busy watching the computer screen at her desk in the more comfortable wooden office – besides the lack of electrical outlets – when the intercom buzzed.

"Anthea, would you be a dear and take the pile of files on my desk to the Diogenes office?" She looked down at the little black box that a tinny version of her boss' voice rang through. He must be sorting through the filing cabinets in his office preparing to move everything. She always relished seeing him hard at work; jacket off, sleeves rolled up, it was a sight she found herself enjoying. Mycroft Holmes setting his mind to anything and focusing on it was always lovely, but these particular opportunities were rare. She pressed the red button.

"Yes, sir. I'll just finish reviewing this footage and I'll come collect them."

"Thank you, my dear."

When Anthea walked into Mycroft's office she'd made it just in time to see him rolling back down his sleeves. What a shame, she should have just stopped what she was doing and come in straight away. Anthea fought the urge to frown at her own thoughts – not entirely understanding where they were coming from. Mycroft's steel eyes lifted to greet Anthea. He gave her a small smile and nodded to a rather large stack of many coloured files on the left hand corner of his desk.

"Just those files there, my dear." He hummed, picking up one of his cufflinks and looping it back through the buttonhole of his sleeve. The pile was huge, she was going to struggle to carry it. She raised an eyebrow.

"Would you like me to sort through them and file them correctly, sir?" She asked, a hint of amusement in her tone. It was a slow day as far as they were concerned – she had time to do it.

"Ah, not entirely." He answered as he began on the second sleeve. "They're still in alphabetical order, if you file them away just so we can create a more organised system once the office is completed." Anthea quirked an eyebrow.

"And by 'we', you mean me?" He looked up to meet Anthea's gaze and gave her a sly smile.

"Oh absolutely, Miss James. That would be a waste of my time." Anthea half scoffed and half laughed as she made her way to pick up the large collection of files to take them to what she referred to as the Diogenes Dungeon.

When Anthea got to the Dungeon she did notice an obvious change besides all the lights working and they had created a small amount of natural lighting in her space also. Above her desk was a framed reproduction of a painting, much like the one of Queen Elizabeth in Mycroft's Office. This one, "Vase of Flowers with Watch" by Willem van Aelst, went surprisingly well with the dark feeling of the office. The flowers were a muted colour, the vase on a marbled top, the background black, and a pocket watch. Anthea's nose crinkled as she admired the painting. As she stated, it still added to the creepiness of the whole dungeon, but was at least something different and a moment of Mycroft's secret sassy humour seeking through.

Hang on…

Anthea's eyes we're drawn to her desk where a dark statuette now sat on the left hand corner.

"Oh, you bloody bastard." She muttered as she walked over to the coffee to slam down the files. That better not be watch she thought it was. Her heels echoed in the spacious room as she approached her desk quickly. She crouched down to look at the ornament. Sure enough, it was exactly what she thought it was. A bronzed statuette of a little girl with a ribbon in her long hair sitting delicately in her dress on a mushroom opposite an anthropomorphic caterpillar on his own mushroom, a hookah in hand, looking positively bored. An Alice in Wonderland reference. The man had the gall to put an Alice in Wonderland decoration on her desk. Where in the world did he find this stupid thing? He was pressing her buttons on purpose. "I'm going to kill him." Anthea sneered, picking up the statue and shoving it harshly into her handbag.

As soon as she put that pile of files away she was going to kill him.

Anthea stormed right into Mycroft's office and slammed the statue onto the middle of his desk, folding her arms tight across her chest, cocking her hip, and staring down at him. Her face was deadly serious. Mycroft looked away from his computer, steel eyes landing on the statuette leading to a quirked eyebrow and a very amused smirk. His eyes were practically sparkling when they looked up to meet her molten chocolate ones. Mr Holmes finds his assistant's annoying amusing, now, does he?

"Oh good," He hummed. "You found it." Anthea sneered.

"Alice in Wonderland," She spat. "Really?" Mycroft's smile grew ever so wider as he watched Anthea radiating steam.

"Oh but Miss Clarke," He feigned confusion. He was also using her real name as part of the game, and she was not going to let it get to her. "You expressed your wish that the office reflect you in some way." He gestured to the little girl and the caterpillar. "Can you not think of a finer way to reflect you, my dear?" Oh, the smug amusement radiating off of him was almost unbearable. Anthea unfolded her arms and rubbed her eyes with her palms in exasperation. The git was enjoying himself too much.

"You did this on purpose." She said.

"Well of course I did it on purpose." He scoffed. "I didn't place it on the desk by accident."

"What are you punishing me for?" She pleaded. Mycroft quirked an eyebrow and tilted his head.

"Whatever do you mean?" Anthea sat down in the chair opposite him with an exasperated huff, meanwhile he remained absolutely amused.

"Is this punishment for the Van Gogh poster in your house?" She sighed. "Or for saying the Diogenes Dungeon is like what teenaged you would have dreamed up?" Anthea was all but pouting as Mycroft leaned back in his office chair. "Because I can say I'm terribly sorry, sir, and then we can just throw this thing out." Mycroft clicked his tongue and waved her off.

"I do not see your problem, Miss Clarke." He continued his ruse. "Your name is Alice, is it not? You wished for some reflection of you and I found it. Perfectly sound and fits in perfectly with the décor of the dungeon." He raised his eyebrows at the last word, speaking slowly and letting that poisonous sarcasm drip from his tongue. Anthea sat back in the chair and folded her arms across her chest.

"Well if I'm Alice, sir that makes you the pompous caterpillar." Mycroft scoffed.

"Oh, how you wound me, Miss James." He rolled his eyes and turned back to his computer. The switch back to her alias meant he was done amusing himself with this. "How will I ever sleep tonight?" Anthea quirked her eyebrow to herself and took a deep breath. A minute of silence passed as Mycroft typed and Anthea stared at the very offensive statuette.

"I really like the painting, though." She mumbled begrudgingly, changing the subject. Mycroft nodded.

"I thought you would." He hummed. Anthea watched his steel eyes flicker from one part of the screen to another.

"I worked through my anger and filed all the documents, sir. They're all currently in the cabinet by your desk." The smirk returned to his face.

"Oh, I'm so pleased you managed to work through such diversity, my dear."

"You have no idea, sir." She rolled her eyes before getting out of the chair with a huff. She exited his office, leaving the statue on the desk.

Thud.

Anthea looked up from her blackberry to see that apparently it was her turn to have the offensive Alice statuette placed roughly onto her desk. She raised her lips in a silent sneer before falling back into neutral position and looking up to her boss. He was walking across the room to the coat rack. He took his black coat and began to put it on, briefly looking over to Anthea.

"I am meeting a colleague at the club." He mused. "And I mean the club not the dungeon." A smile flashed for a brief second as he mocked her choice word for the Diogenes office.

"Unscheduled meeting, sir?" She asked. He took his favoured pair of black gloves from the pockets of his coat and began putting them on his slender hands.

"He claims it would not be on such short notice if it were not an emergency." He gave an exasperated bored expression. "An emergency for him is merely a mild inconvenience for us. I will no doubt be back within half an hour." Anthea nodded and turned back to her phone, opening the planner and slipping this little detour into the day's work, as Mycroft took his umbrella in hand. He walked to the front of her desk. "Which brings me to this." He tapped the top of the bronzed Alice's head with the handle of his umbrella. Anthea sneered at it again and met her boss with an annoyed expression.

"What about that, sir?" She huffed, he smiled.

"What would you like me to do with it, Miss James?" She took a long hard look at the bronze statuette. She hated that Alice in Wonderland nickname – it had haunted Anthea her whole entire life. It started with a teacher saying it as a cute comment, then it caught on with the other kids in her year at school. She knew she was never going to escape it when her new friend Jamie started using it and that new friend turned into her best friend ever. She knew she was doomed when her boss at spat it at her for calling him a childhood nickname. It started haunting her once more when Walter had asked if he was taking her to the Mad Tea Party or to the Red Queen's council. That stupid nickname, she hated it.

"I don't care, sir." She shrugged in a defeatist. "It can go back on my desk at the club." Mycroft picked it up.

"Oh how very brave of you, Miss James. You should be a saint." Anthea bit her lip and shook her head. Mr. Holmes was on point today with his sarcasm.

"Have fun with your friends at the club, Mycie."

"Thank you, Miss Liddell."

Click.

The door closed behind him.

Miss Liddell, that was a Mycroft exclusive Alice taunt. No one else went for the muse of the story reference. Well, Tim – viewing himself as a highly educated person - might use such taunts he knew her name. He was smart after all, not Mycroft and Sherlock smart, but… fine.

Author's Note: We hadn't had a work-centric chapter in a little while so here it is. What do you think? How do you think our favourite duo are developing? I really love writing for these two, I really do. Ok! Guest reviewer thanking time! Thanks to the following people; toolazytologin, ValyrieDefender, Corrine, Wheezzy8, Wink, JohnsStethoscope, ovejalucifer (who I talk to all the time on twitter), and marie. I send my love to you all and can't wait to hear from all of my lovely reviewers this chapter.

300 Review IDEA: As you remember (only a little while ago) the big 200 review idea was a Myc chapter. Now for 300 reviews is what has been lovingly been dubbed "A Second Time For Everything". So the general idea follows the same rules as the Myc chapter, you guys tell me what chapter you would like to see the second time it happened. E.g.; the second injury, a second birthday, etc. I'll post it as a one-shot like before, and as before let me know either on your review, or tell myself or Anthea on Tumblr.

Thanks so much guys! Can't wait to hear from you!