Author's Note: Thanks for the feedback last chapter guys! I'm glad that Robbie wasn't hated… I was worried he'd go down the same street as Tim. The Myc chapter I posted was extremely well received and I'm very thankful for that. As for this chapter… I bet the title has already caught your attention… Hmmm… I'll keep this short and let you read ahead. I cannot wait for the feedback to start coming in for this one, you have no idea. Read, review, and of course; 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 She Kissed Him

Anthea wasn't entirely sure what had happened. One minute, she, Mycroft, James, and Carol were sitting in a very boring meeting in the middle of the night, the next minute James was yelling for everyone to get down and run as he stood up, brandishing his gun. This had not meant to turn out this way – it was just a meeting with some loyal agents-for-hire type people. Clearly half the group had found a more generous benefactor to give their loyalty to. Good thing they had brought James and Carol. Carol had automatically covered Mycroft, being the most important person in the room – dragging him and Anthea to the door out of the room. With the door shut behind them, the three of them began running for the stairwell. Poor Mycroft in his boot had to run through the pain.

They reached the door to the stairwell. Anthea yanked hard on the doorknob.

"Damn it!" Anthea cried, tugging on the door with all her strength. "It's locked." Gunshots were heard.

"It's premeditated. I could smell something off with that group from the very beginning." Mycroft mumbled, silvery blue eyes scanning the surroundings.

"I could try and break down the door." Carol mused out loud as she glanced back in the direction they'd come from. "But I'd like to be in fighting shape to help James once you're out." Anthea thought of the blonde agent. His goofiness and smiles, his flirtatious and slightly cocky personality, and his budding romance with Anthea's best friend. She shook her head.

"No. We need you to help James." She looked up at Carol, face serious. "We'll find another way around."

"Like out a window for instance." Mycroft added so nonchalantly that Anthea whipped her head around fast, trying to process the words in a way that made sense.

"It is only a second story level…" Carol nodded.

"But your leg." Anthea added in concern for her boss' still broken leg. A loud crash caused everyone to duck instantaneously. Heads shot around to look back. Nothing could be seen. Hopefully it was James and the still loyal men causing the noise and not being on the receiving end of whatever it was. Mycroft turned back to look at his assistant.

"What choice do we have, Anthea?" He raised his eyebrows. Anthea took a deep breath and swallowed. She nodded, steeling herself.

"Okay." She whispered and he nodded back to her. Carol's eyes darted about until they landed on the nearest door. She checked the doorknob. Finding it unlocked, she shoved it open, standing in the centre of the frame with her gun aimed. Finding the room clear, safe, and with a window, she got out of the way.

"Good luck, sir, A." She spoke stoically. Strong Carol, always so stoic. Anthea's lips pulled into a tight and very forced smile as she nodded.

"Get in contact A.S.A.P." Mycroft ordered. He and Anthea walked to the room while Carol ran back to the action to help her partner.

Anthea sprinted for the window in the room. Mycroft took the chance to slowly catch up, limping, as he gave his pained leg a change of pace. Anthea opened the latch on the window and tried with all the power in her being to push it up. The frame barely moved a centimetre before it stiffen and got stuck. The wood must have swollen. Either that, or she was a jinx today. Anthea stopped pushing on it with a loud groan.

"We need to break the window." She puffed, catching her breath. Her dark eyes were searching the room for something, anything to break the window with but the room was almost barren. There had to be something to smash it with, surely. There wasn't even a cabinet to open and search. She supposed she could always cover her hand in material and try to break it that way.

"Move out of the way." Anthea turned around to see that Mycroft had removed his walking boot. Knowing his plan and trusting him completely, she stepped out of the way. With his full effort Mycroft hit the window with the opening of the boot. The window cracked on impact and required a few more hard shoves to break it out. Mycroft turned to boot upside down and gave it a few taps to remove any glass that may have gotten inside before strapping it back on his leg. Standing back up straight, he nodded towards the window that was now letting in a steady breeze.

"After you." He was so calm, so collected, as if he were opening a door for Anthea to enter first, not a window to jump out of first. Steeling herself for the second time in mere minutes, Anthea stepped to the window and looked down. Really, the ground wasn't that far away. She should be able to do this no problem. One leg at a time through the gap, Anthea sat on the now empty window frame like sitting at the top of a slide, about to slide down. With one swift push, she slid down, feeling the air rush past her. She landed on her feet and hands, crouched. It felt like a movie moment. Her hands were stinging but that's it. Good. She stood up and smoothed down her pleated skirt. She sidestepped out of the way and waited for Mycroft to join her on solid ground. Mycroft landed just as smoothly but hissed in pain as the foot of his broken leg hit the floor. Anthea rushed over to take hold of his arm and help him into standing position.

"Are you okay, sir?" She asked, not moving her hand from his arm.

"Mmm, no." Mycroft answered, examining his leg quickly. "But we have to keep moving." As if to prove his point another loud crash was heard from within the building.

"How far is the club?" Anthea asked, an idea sparking in her brain. They had a key card each that let them into the Diogenes Club at all hours for the sake of their office. Mycroft did a quick calculation of a route in his head.

"Two blocks, a turn right, end of that street turn left and we're on the street."

"Can we run that?"

A beat.

More gunshots.

"Absolutely." Anthea's hand moved from Mycroft's arm down to his hand. The two began bolting at full speed across the street. It was an experience. It was exciting and exhilaration, and very reminiscent of one of John and Sherlock's adventures.

As they reached the club, Anthea almost ran right into the door. Mycroft fished out the key card from his pocket with swift, quick hands and placed it into the slot. The door opened with a beep and in their haste the pair almost fell through it. Mycroft shut it hard behind them. Anthea and Mycroft leaned against the door and the wall, hearts beating hard and fast, trying to catch their breaths. That was amazing. Anthea had been on missions before but nothing was quite like running for your life. Mycroft's mask broke into a natural smile, eyes sparkling. Anthea turned her head to the side and watched him. It might be her adrenaline but he looked so amazing with such a smile on his face. Those beautiful steel eyes sparkling with life and light. He began chuckling softly, causing Anthea to break out into a large grin – still enamoured by the life in his face. The light chuckled moved onto full blown joyous laughter. His stoic features looked so much softer like this. His eyebrows not so stern, turned up, sides of his eyes creased with smile lines. To see him so beautiful… so happy. Mycroft turned around to face Anthea, looking like he was about to say something.

Anthea placed both her hands on either side of Mycroft's face and pulled him into a deep kiss, shutting her eyes. At first his whole body was stiff and ridged under her touch but only a second later he relaxed and began to return her kiss, opening up to the brunette woman. She could feel both their hearts beating hard against her chest, Mycroft took hold of Anthea gently by the shoulders and pushed her into the wall, essentially trapping her between it and him. Just like him to take control. Anthea's hands interlocked together behind Mycroft's neck just as one of his got lost in her chocolate curls, the other against the wall. Even now, even like this, they were completely in time with each other, so attuned to the other person. As if they completed the working parts of one machine. It was astounding, this whole thing was astonishing. The kiss, it all. It was breath shortening, heart rackingly incredible. It was –

Ring Ring.

Ring Ring.

The entangled form of Mycroft and Anthea froze as Mycroft's mobile began ringing in his trouser pocket. Mycroft closed his eyes as he removed his hand from Anthea's hair and rested his forehead against hers.

Ring Ring.

Anthea's hands dropped from Mycroft's neck and she felt the heat of her body stripped down to a cold feeling once more. Mycroft took out his phone and stepped out of Anthea's space. He cleared his throat and walked further into the club as he pressed answer.

"Yes, James?"

Anthea rested her head against the wall and shut her eyes. She took multiple calming breathes in and out, trying to regain control and zone out her boss' voice.

Her boss.

The Ice Man.

Immediately Anthea knew this had been a mistake – she'd acted on impulse and adrenaline. She knew better than to do something so stupid. No doubt, how unfortunate it may be, she'd have to act as if nothing had happened. But it was so incredible. So amazing. Everything they did together was perfect.

And that's why it has to be this way. You can't lose your job, your friend, and your life over impulse.

Anthea switched on the lights and walked to the rather large mirror she knew was in here. She, while still trying to shake out the dizziness in her head caused by lust and adrenaline, focused on fixing up her appearance. She smoothed out her hair and fixed her part. Her styling had been utterly ruined so she had to restyle it in a more natural look. She fixed her lipstick and… When did the first button on her blouse come undone? Huh. She fixed that too. Anthea walked behind the reception desk to fetch a tissue and as she did she caught the very tail end of Mycroft's phone call.

"I'll be right there. Thank you, James." As Mycroft shut off his phone, Anthea walked over and handed him the tissue she'd gotten for him. Their work masks were firmly back in place – the Ice Man and the shadowy assistant.

"Wipe your mouth." Anthea advised, having seen faint lipstick marks on Mycroft's lips. Mycroft nodded, took the tissue, and did so. Glancing down at it with a bored tone as he examined the colour of the lipstick before tossing the tissue in the nearest waste basket. Anthea pulled out her blackberry – whether it was to check the time, out of habit, or for something to look at, she wasn't entirely sure. "I'm going to organise an X-ray for your leg tomorrow. I'll try to get it before work one day soon." She mumbled as she looked down at her screen.

"Excellent idea." Mycroft answered in such a painfully neutral tone. He smoothed down his suit and fixed his tie. "James and Carol say the threat has been eliminated. I'm going to meet them at the sight now." He sighed. Anthea nodded once.

"Do you require my presence, sir?" He shut his eyes and lightly shook his head.

"No, you're free to go home. Perhaps write out a statement first thing in the morning."

"Yes, sir." She nodded again, feeling a little bit like a robot. Mycroft faked that half smile of his and began walking to the exit. He froze and turned around slowly to face Anthea once more.

"Miss James…" He began. A lump began to form in Anthea's throat. She had to swallow it to find her voice.

"Yes, sir?"

"What happened… It was-"

"Adrenaline and human instinct working together." Anthea forced a smile of her own. "No one was thinking straight, I know." Her voice was coming out a lot quieter than she intended. Mycroft tilted her head, eyes focused on Anthea's.

"So you understand, then, that this changes absolutely nothing between us?" She was painfully aware of it, actually. She kept that fake smile firmly in place.

"I wouldn't expect it any other way, sir. Hence saying 'sir'." She tried to make a joke. Tried.

Mycroft nodded.

Back to normal.

Well, for a few days, anyway.

Anthea picked up the new, unlabelled, manila file on her desk. She bit the inside of her lip absentmindedly as she quickly scanned it to see what it was and what she needed to do with it.

Hang on… this contract was for her to sign.

An NDA for her to sign.

Anthea's brow furrowed as she started to read the document more carefully from the very beginning. Anthea felt her blood beginning to boil as she head, shaking her head whenever she turned the page, clicking her tongue at some points. She was just about finished when she decided she couldn't stand it anymore. Who did Mycroft think he was? This was a stab in the back. Everything had fallen back to normally so easily and then he goes and stirs things up with giving her this?

Anthea slammed the file shut. Still with it in grasp, she got up and stormed into Mycroft's office without a single knock on the door. Mycroft looked up from whatever he was writing in.

"Hello, my dear." He hummed as if nothing was wrong, as if he hadn't placed this heinous document on her desk. Anthea dropped the file in the middle of her boss' desk.

"What the hell is this?" Anthea demanded. Mycroft's steely eyes feel on the file curiously.

"Ah yes." He sung. "It's a document I need you to sign." Anthea folded her arms across her chest.

"No, I saw that. I need you to tell me what it was doing on my desk?" Mycroft closed the file he was working on and folded his hands together on the desk. Apparently this was worthy of his attention. When he spoke next he spoke slowly as if speaking to a child.

"If you read it you'd see it's a confidentiality agreement protecting me if –"

"If I blab to the press or some bigwig about that kiss, I know. I did read it!" Anthea cut Mycroft off, her voice raising. It was her turn to talk to him as if he were a child. "What I want to know is why. It's. On. My. Desk." Mycroft pursed his lips, keeping a frown that threatened to cover his brow.

"Anthea, you of all people must understand how I can't let information such as this leak out." Anthea looked Mycroft over, completely stunned by his lack of perception. She shook her head.

"I get that. What I can't understand is after all this time, how can you not trust me?" The only person she'd ever tell about this would be Jamie in confidence, and she hadn't even done that yet. Mycroft scoffed, looking to the side of the room.

"I wouldn't trust anyone after something like that." He sneered. Astounded, Anthea looked around the room for a camera or something. Surely this was some kind of prank at her expense.

"Oh, okay." She laughed bitterly. "So you trust be to be your emergency contact, and you trust me to keep your brother's secrets but you don't trust me not to go to someone maliciously about an accidental kiss that we've already agreed didn't happen?"

A pause.

A long pause.

"Yes." Anthea looked up to the roof and laughed in disbelief.

"You are such an idiot." Mycroft cocked his head to the side, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Excuse me?" His voice was low.

"Only you would be cold enough to put something so small, so petty, above something as important as your treasured little brother's life." She bit her lip and shook her head again, still not believing a word that had been said. "Do you really love him as much as you pretend to or is this all a really elaborate act?" Mycroft got out of his seat and walked over to his door. He pulled it fully open and stood, doorknob still in hand, facing Anthea.

"It is far more complicated than that, Miss James, and I suggest you take that contract, sign it, and get back to work before you do something you will regret." His tone was controlled and as smooth as the Ice he was often accused of being made of. Anthea was beginning to suspect he was. How can someone so cold be capable of such heat?

"It's complicated, is it?" Anthea raised her eyebrows once. "Is it too big for my inferior brain?" Anthea shrugged, crunching up her features to pull a face at Mycroft. Mycroft rolled his metallic eyes. Anthea jutted out her bottom lip and shrugged her shoulders again. "I'm not signing anything."

An icy silence. Mycroft scrutinized Anthea, his face made of stone.

"You have to sign it or you're fired." Their gazes locked on to one another.

"No."

"It is not an option, Miss Clarke." He switched to her actual surname, establishing this as a serious issue, Anthea placed her hands on her hips, digging her heels into the ground.

"It's not an option for me to sign it until you tell me what this big complicated reason is." Silence. "Don't worry, if it's so big my little mind can't comprehend it I won't lash out and tell the press that we've held hands before."

Silence, deafening silence. Mycroft scowled, his whole persona turning cold.

"You don't want to do this, Alice." He warned. "Go back to your desk. Now." He was seething but he was so past seething there was no turning back.

"Thanks to you I've been kidnapped and tortured. I was in a drug bust. I've had to kill people. I helped bring down the greatest criminal mastermind of our time. I've even been cheated on and found out about it in the worst possible way." Anthea cocked her head and smirked. "Try me." Mycroft gained that eerie intimidating grin but Anthea stood firm. He chuckled and stepped closer to her.

"You want to know the truth Alice, my dear?" He asked, standing right in front of her. Malice was dripping from his tongue. All instincts said run from the viper. "The trust is; being orphaned during puberty has left you needy and desperate to find a sense of belonging. The moment someone shows you any love or appreciation you cling on and never let go. It's the reason you were never going to dump Tim even though you found him boring. I was afraid that you'll now place me in a vice grip and if I try to pry myself free you'll feel betrayed and abandoned. In search of affection, you'll get your revenge."

…

Anthea felt her heart shatter in her chest. She slapped Mycroft hard against his check, sending his head ricocheting to the side. He turned back to face her with a look that was a mix of shock and anger, his cheek burning red already.

"How dare you suggest that I'd ever betray you." Anthea yelled, point her finger at Mycroft. "After everything I've done for you, everything I have sacrificed, you think I'd be so petty?" No answer. "I know you, I know what you're like. I know how important your job is to you. What would ever cause me to betray you so atrociously? But maybe I don't know you. Maybe you're so cold and icy inside that you presume everyone is as hurtful and as calculating as you are. I'd warn you that in the end you'll only have your job and no one else but I think that's what you want."

"Alice." The anger had faded from those steel orbs slightly.

"No!" She spat. "Don't you dare use my name like that! That's for the people I love. I don't need your fake pity." She ran her hands through her hair. "I put up with so much from you and you don't even trust me." She sighed and shook her head. "And I deluded myself into thinking that we were friends. Did you know you are one of the most important people in my life? Maybe I was just something to distract you from your boredom. I'm just another goldfish to you. A pet goldfish for you to watch as it swims into to walls of the bowl, feeding it occasionally." She exhaled, blinking up to the roof, trying desperately to keep her eyes dry. She began heading to the door.

"Alice you have to sign the forms if you want to consider yourself employed." She heard his voice from behind her. Anthea looked to the ground and shook her head. She turned around and gave her current boss a small smile.

"Well," She sighed. "It's a good thing I have a whole bunch of sick days and paid vacation days built up. I might use it all for a nice break." She shrugged. "I'll let you know if I'm going to come back or I'll let you know when I'm handing in my two weeks resignation notice." She turned back to the door.

"How long?" He was quiet now.

"At least a month." She breathed. "I might go to Hawaii. Some place warm, get this chill out of my bones." Anthea slammed the door of the inner sanctum behind her. She didn't even pause to breathe or regret her decision. Anthea grabbed all her stuff and pilled as much personal belongings into her purse and briefcase as possible, leaving only gifts from him. She undid the clasp on her sapphire necklace and left it on the desk.

Anthea took out her phone and made her way to the exit. She needed to call a taxi out of here. There was no way she could go home with Walter – she was already close to tears. One look at the gentle man with the big smile and she might break at the thought of never seeing him again.

As Anthea got into her flat she collapsed on the floor of her living room. She began sobbing. Soon her sobs turned into a flood of tears. She hadn't felt this betrayed, this hurt, since the gala with Tim. Tim. Even her relationship with Tim had been a sacrifice. Mycroft had stabbed Anthea in the back and twisted the knife. She'd already forgotten about the most incredible kiss she'd ever had in her entire life because it was him and he'd shut down on her and she didn't want to lose him over it. He'd pushed her away despite her efforts. How could he not trust her at all?

As the tears seemed to dry up, Anthea wiped her face dry with the bottom of her blouse. She took out her phone and dialled.

"Hey, Alice!" Jamie cheerily sung. "What's shakin', bacon?" Anthea sniffed a laughed as she wiped her nose. Trust Jamie to make her laugh at a time like this, without even knowing that she needed to. Jamie, the one constant in her life. Surely she hadn't clung to Jamie and never let go? They were lifelong best friends because they both wanted it right? Of course they were. How dare Mycroft make Anthea doubt her sister like relationship? Anthea's eyes began to well up again.

"Jamie, can I come stay with you for a couple of weeks?" Anthea sniffed.

"Oh, of course sweetie." Jamie soothed like a concerned mother soothing her sad little child. "What's the matter?" With her free hand Anthea rubbed her eyes to try and stop the tears.

"If I talk about it, any of it, I'm just going to end up in hysterics. Can it wait until I get there?"

"Yeah, yeah, definitely, Ali. Come for as long as you like."

"Thank you, Jay."

"Anytime."

Author's Note: Well? What do we think? I really wonder if you guys love me or hate me after this. I have been so excited to post this. Also, yes this will be only the second time that a chapter will be a two parter. Before you kill me in the reviews I'd like to thank my guest reviews from last time. Thanks to; Guests x3, Corrine, Anon, Wink, Another Guest, and ovejalucifer. Thanks to everyone who reads and reviews this. I love you all so very, very much. Also, don't kill me.