Author's Note: Hello, hello! I'm very happy last chapter went down well. It was whimsical on Anthea's part and I'm glad you had fun with it. Now this chapter. I bet the name mentioned in the title has got some of you worked up. Like when I told Lauren she was like "Are they going to be mad at you? They hate Tim". My best friend who doesn't read it is aware of how much Tim is disliked. Poor Tim :P. Anyway, this chapter was meant to be smaller, but all the sections ended up being twice the length I predicted – which isn't a bad thing. I hope you like it. 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 Tim Found Out

Anthea had known from the beginning that this was a gamble, it was a far bigger gamble than the picnic had been, but she had to do it. Funny, how she couldn't bring herself to do it in person, though. There were too many elements that suggested she would get turned down, and it was hard to face defeat when it was pretty much destined to happen. She hoped maybe because things were different now, what they were would outweigh all the negatives and she'd get the yes. It would be nice to get the yes. Sure, this was no big deal. It was kind of silly, actually, but it felt important to her.

So she decided to ask over the phone. Phones were good, Anthea conducted business over the phone all the time. Both she and Mycroft had stopped disasters over the phone. She could get her yes in a phone call.

Anthea, laptop open in front of her on her bed, leant over to her bedside table to pick up her mobile. She held it on her lap and stared at the screen. Okay, she could do this. It would be easy. Maybe, because of how things were now, even if he said no he'd take a day or two to consider it. I mean, this was all about compromise, right? Sure. This would be fine. Anthea opened her contacts, selected the right one, and hovered over the call but.

Then again she'd hear all the dismissive tones and sighs over the phone. This was really important to her, this was like telling the family big to her. She'd hate to hear that no…

Anthea opened her text messages.

I've got a proposition for you. Jamie, James, and I are looking to book theatre tickets for next weekend. You want to come with me so I'm not the third wheel? – A x.

As Anthea pressed send she released a breath she hadn't even realised she'd been holding. The brunette pushed the hair out of her face and waited for her phone to chime.

We both know that James would be the third wheel. – M.H.

Anthea frowned, pouting her mouth slightly. Avoiding the question, apparently. See, this is why she didn't want to deal with this over the phone.

Fine. Rewording. Do you want to come and make sure no one is left out? – A x.

It took a whole minute for the reply to come.

Anthea, you know what I'm like at these events. You'll have far more fun without me. – M.H.

Anthea looked up at her roof and sighed. Alright, don't give up. It's time to negotiate, that's what you're trained to do. Get his empathy. Tell him why you want him to come. Tell him that this is the equivalence of telling his parents.

Yeah, but I haven't told them the latest development. I thought it would be easier just to show them. – A.

She scratched at her nail polish nervously. Anthea briefly wondered if it would always be this hard to get Mycroft Holmes to go to something he didn't want to go to if they were to stay together. She understands that things between him and Jamie have been rough since the NDA, and she understands that he hates the theatre. But Anthea loved the theatre, and she loved Jamie.

Not this time, dear, but do tell them if you wish – M.H.

Anthea sighed and rolled her eyes, flopping back into her pillows. She'd expected the no, prepared for it. That's why she didn't want to do this in person. Whatever, not like it was a big deal.

I understand. – A.

See you tomorrow. – M.H. x.

Bye. – A.

Anthea closed the lid of her laptop. She wasn't in the mood for booking tickets for anything right now. She'd call Jamie in a day or two and see what they wanted to go see.

It's a good thing she hadn't told Jamie about the couple of dates yet, or told her that she wanted to invite Mycroft in the first place. If she had, and Mycroft had said no, well that would have driven a wedge further between Anthea's best friend and her… Mycroft. She'd hold off on telling them, she had rather hoped to do it in person. Maybe forge a better friendship between them with Anthea and James as the buffers.

Oh well.

Mycroft had one of those so-called meetings with not so well respected people. The type that took place in one of the empty warehouses, or sitting across from each other on a park bench. The type he refused to bring Anthea to as it was better for these type of people not to know what she looks like. She was needed, however, right after this business deal to make a few appearances here and there with Mycroft. So, like she'd done many times before, Anthea waited for Mycroft in the nearby street.

She found a coffee shop, one of the chain ones that you see on every block. She'd prefer a place that didn't have ridiculous prices, but it was here and she wanted coffee. It would be the easiest place to find her, too. Unfortunately, there was a line. Of course there was, it was early. Everyone wanted coffee or tea, or something with a crazy amount of sugar. Anthea sighed, getting in line. She pulled out her phone and began on emails as she waited. Might as well get something done while she was forced to stand here.

The line slowly inched forward as orders were taken, names were called, and coffees were received. Almost on automatic, zoning out the people in the shop, Anthea stepped forward with the motion of the line. When Anthea felt a touch on her shoulder she was alarmed, but she did not let that show. Slowly she raised her head and carefully turned around, prepared for it to be an enemy of some sort.

It wasn't.

Well, not an enemy of hers at any rate.

Dressed in a suit jacket and a loose tie, there he was. Staring down at her with his forest green eyes – no glasses today apparently, dorky grin, and messy brown hair that stood up by itself was the lawyer himself. Anthea couldn't help but let her heart warm at the site of a happy Tim smiling at her, after the whole Mycroft mess with Tim's job, it was a relief to see her ex looking so well.

"Tim." Anthea sung, her mouth pulling into a smile, her eyebrows raising.

"Hello, Ali." He responded softly. She could tell he wanted to pull her into a hug but restrained himself. For that she was thankful. She loved to see him happy and healthy, but there was that nagging in the back of her mind of painful memories that wouldn't like to be forced to hug him. Still, she should show him there were no hard feelings, so she patted him lightly on the arm, touching his elbow.

"You look good! I like you better with glasses though."

"No, you liked to steal my glasses and wear them." He rolled his eyes, and Anthea laughed lightly. Ah yes, even the picture she'd chosen for her memory board was one where she'd stolen his glasses. It was his fault for letting her. The line moved, and Anthea stepped backwards to move with it.

"I still love that selfie you took where-"

"You've got them on and you're pulling your Mycroft Holmes face?" Tim finished her sentence. Anthea crinkled her nose and nodded. The line moved again. Tim looked up and scanned the amount of people in front of them. "Ali, I'll get your coffee, okay?" Anthea mouth pouted in thought as she looked up into Tim's eyes.

"Yeah, okay." She nodded. She gestured with the hand holding her phone over to the tables. "I'll find us a seat and then maybe you can tell me about what's going on with you." She paused. "Only if you have a minute because I do."

"Of course I do." Tim spoke earnestly. "Still black with no sugar?" Anthea winced and shook her head. She held up her index finger.

"Half a sugar." She watched as Tim pulled a face.

"I accidentally put Myc's sugar into my cup a few months ago and I've got a bit of a taste for it once in a while now." Tim's face contorted further before he shook a head.

"Right." He shrugged. "Half a sugar for the PA, one for the lawyer."

Anthea found a seat near the entrance, by a window. She felt like she needed the sunlight to come through and hit her skin. Tim found her easily, bringing over the large coffees. Anthea thanked him, sighing at the feeling of the heat radiating through the cup alone. Anthea took a light sip to test the temperature. Finding it still warm, she placed the cup down on the crooked table.

"How are you, Tim?" She crossed her arms on the table and leaned in. "I haven't seen you since you stormed into my office." Tim had the decency to look both annoyed and embarrassed. Anthea tilted her head to the side. "Are you okay?" She asked. "Did you find some work?" Tim sighed, turning his cup around.

"None of the good places would hire me." He huffed. "And I didn't want to work for some small fry." Anthea frowned and shook her head. He was too good for that. "So I've actually started my own practice." Anthea's face light up.

"That's great!" She exclaimed. "It's perfect for you. We always said we could take over the world just you and me." Tim smiled, but it was forced. Maybe that wasn't the right thing again. Anthea tried to take another sip of her coffee.

"How's work for you?" He asked quietly. Anthea nodded as she tried to swallow her coffee.

"Good. Great." She continued to nod as she tucked a curl behind her ear. Tim's eyes watched as she did. "Still working for Mr. Holmes."

"I didn't expect anything else. You love that job." Tim quirked his eyebrows up and down, eyes falling to the table briefly. "When his brother came back from the dead recently, I could smell you two all over that." Anthea held her index finger up to her mouth and shushed Tim. He chuckled lightly and openly, it was nice to see.

"What about personal life?" Anthea bit her bottom lip.

"Umm." She began chipping away at her nail polish. "Jamie lives in London now." Tim mimed an 'oh'. "And she's engaged to James."

"Your tall agent friend? The one who kicked me out of the building?" He asked, Anthea nodded. Tim leaned back in his chair. "Wow. That's perfect. How weird."

"What about you?" Anthea turned her head to the side and quirked an eyebrow playfully. "Is this 'no glasses' thing for your current girlfriend?" Tim rolled his green eyes again.

"I'm between girlfriends right now, actually." He picked up his coffee and took a sip.

"Oh, that's too bad."

"Not really." He placed his cup down. "The last one called me like three times a day and got upset if I was meeting with a client and missed it." Anthea winced and made a hissing noise. "Yeah, exactly." That was the thing about her and Tim. Both being career people, they spoke to each other at night and hung out on Sundays. Neither of them had time for people who needed constant TLC. Tim scratched at his ear where his glasses would normally be resting. "How about you? Got a boy?" Anthea looked down into her cup and smiled to herself.

"Yeah, kind of." She nodded, feeling her chest warm up again. "We've only been on a few dates but it's nice and I like him." She looked up to see Tim watching her very intensely. Anthea rolled her eyes and pulled a dramatically exhausted expression. "He's stubborn and bossy, though."

"So, he's like you?" Tim nodded. Anthea leaned back in her chair and scoffed, pretending to be hurt, holding a hand to her heart. She earned herself another roll of green eyes in amusement. Tim sighed and looked off to the other tables. "That's good, though." He shrugged. "If you're happy, I'm happy." She didn't really know what to say to that, not when coupled with the look on Tim's face. So Anthea simply smiled and tested her coffee's temperature again.

The door chimed as it opened. Anthea glanced over her shoulder to see Mycroft Holmes entering. She watch the cool and collected man as his eyes scanned the popular coffee shop. His steel eyes fell onto Anthea off to his right. Anthea's mouth fell into a small, warm smile, and she gave him a light wave with two fingers. Mycroft, face blank, looked from Anthea, to Tim – stayed momentarily – and went back to Anthea. She gave him a light shrug to demonstrate that it she was surprised to run into him. Mycroft, mouth drawn down, raised a single eyebrow in disdain before turning forward and making his way to the counter. Anthea shook her head as she watched him. With a deep breath the brunette woman turned back to her ex-boyfriend. Tim had a look of recognition in his forest like eyes, his mouth pulled into a straight line.

"Ahh…" He vocalised. "I should have known." Anthea felt a wave of something akin to guilt hit her stomach, though she knew she had no reason to. He'd been the one to hurt her. She leaned over and patted Tim quickly on the hand.

"You know there was absolutely nothing going on when we were-"

"Nah, I know." He cut her off. "I never thought there was. You just hear about it a lot with people who work as closely as you two do." Anthea tried to stop herself frowning as she pulled back into her chair. To suggest that her and Mycroft were a statistic of a common occurrence. No, that's the opposite of what they were. Tim looked over to Mycroft who was currently paying for a coffee. Anthea's eyes followed. She could tell that Mycroft was making a point not to look back at them. She could just tell by the harshness of his movement that the genius was not pleased with Tim's appearance. "But Ali," Tim heaved out in a heavy breath, causing Anthea to turn back around. "He's not going to make you happy, and you deserve to be happy." Anthea's posture straightened as she looked Tim up and down.

"I'm happier testing the waters with him than I ever was with you." She conceded honestly. Tim's eyes fell. "Sorry, but-"

"I know." He looked up. "I think you deserve someone who knows how special you are. I took it for granted, and he thinks he's the only special person out there." Anthea scratched at the bridge of her nose, not knowing what to say. That wasn't true. He appreciated her. He did at work, at the very least…

"Tim." Anthea huffed, not looking up. "It's been a nice catch up to store in my memories. Don't ruin, please." Tim ran a hand through his scruffy hair.

"You're right. I'm sorry." He nodded. Anthea fidgeted in her seat. "I don't want to hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you." Anthea shifted again. She rubbed at her neck and turned to look for Mycroft. Take away coffee mug in one hand, phone in the other, the man in the bespoke suit walked to stand to the side of the door. He quickly glanced up to Anthea, meeting her gaze with cold eyes, before looking back at his phone. This is where he was waiting for her apparently. She heard Tim scoff behind her. Anthea turned back to her ex.

"Look, Tim. I need to get back to work. Stuff to do, little brothers to clean up after." She threw him a very forced lopsided grin. The pair awkwardly stood up from the table. Tim shrugged.

"I know I don't deserve it, but a hug for the road?" Anthe hesitated. She wanted to glance behind her to Mycroft but she stopped herself. Physical contact since seeing Mycroft – during and after the 'understand' – had become so special and intimate. It had to be earned, and only by those who matter. Did Tim deserve it? Anthea forced herself to nod.

"Of course." She said lightly, opening her arms. She let the lawyer pull her into a hug, gently squeezing. After a count to three Anthea patted him on the back, indicating that she wanted to be let go. As he did pull away from the PA, Tim gently placed a kiss on Anthea's cheek. Anthea froze, eyes searching Tim's frantically. She could feel Mycroft's eyes drilling daggers into the back of her head.

"Tim?" Anthea scoffed. "What are you doing? No."

"I'm sorry." He leaned in to touch her arm, and Anthea pulled away. "You're better than him." Anthea looked down at her feet and laughed despite herself.

"You're not better than him, Tim." Anthea levelled. "And you don't get to do that. This could have been a nice memory."

"Alice –"

"Goodbye, Mr. Burgess."

As Anthea came to stand besides Mycroft, she could tell straight away that he was definitely not pleased. The genius pocketed his phone and made way to the door, Anthea follow behind him. Walter's car was waiting just outside the shop. Anthea considered saying something before they got into the car but she chose not to. At the very least, Mycroft opened the door for her, but after she got in he did slam it a little hard, causing her to jump. She saw Walter look at her through the rear-view mirror and rolled her eyes at him. Mycroft got in the car, and the car started up, and off they went.

Anthea allowed a minute of silence, looking out the window, before she turned to Mycroft. His face was neutral and his body language was stiff. He wasn't even twirling his umbrella. Anthea took a steadying breath.

"Do you want to talk about any of that?" She asked carefully. Mycroft's face or body language didn't change.

"What is there to talk about, Miss James?" He asked, Anthea stopped herself from wincing and showed no outer side of the tinge that gave her.

"A lot, actually." Mycroft's hand tightened on the handle of his umbrella, turning white. Anthea crossed one leg over the other.

"It all seems very straight forward, my dear. Your ex kissed you."

"Yeah, on the cheek." Anthea affirmed. "And I told him off for it."

"My apologies, that you did." Mycroft hummed, but Anthea didn't like the tone he was using. It was too harsh. She moved up in her seat. "However the blame cannot be entirely placed on Mr. Burgess. Your body language was clear enough." Anthea's eyes narrowed and she cocked her head to the side.

"What are you suggesting, Mycroft? That I was leading him on? I was talking about you." Mycroft sniffed a laugh.

"It's very clear that you're still fond of your little lawyer, Miss James." Anthea rubbed her face with a hand.

"First of all, Alice or Anthea when we're talking like this, thanks." She huffed. "And of course I still care about him. He was my only long term relationship. I was with him for years. If he died I'd be sad, I might even cry. That doesn't mean I want him to touch me in any way ever again." Mycroft scoffed. Anthea sighed. "What was that about?"

"I don't understand how you can still be fond of him and hate him at the same time. It's quite stupid." Anthea shook her head.

"Mycroft, are you jealous of Tim?" She asked. "Does he threaten you?" Mycroft stabbed his umbrella into the floor of the car.

"I'm allowed to acknowledge when you have feelings for another man, Anthea." Anthea sighed again, turning to the window and shaking her head.

"I can't just switch off emotions like you. I'm not a robot." She sniped.

"Better to be a robot than to allow conflicting emotions to rule your life." Mycroft snapped back.

"This is ridiculous…" She mumbled to herself. She could feel steel eyes land on her.

"This is ridiculous?" He asked.

"Yeah." She turned back to him. "Because you have nothing to worry about." Mycroft sneered.

"And pray tell, Anthea dear, how is this at all different to how you feel about Miss Cunningham?" Anthea felt her stomach churn and the hairs on her neck raise up. She held her hands up in the air, turning away once again.

"Forget it, I'm not doing this. Conversation over." She snapped. She heard Mycroft scoff to her side.

"You can't do that. You can't end a conversation because you don't want to have it." Anthea whipped back around, hair hitting her in the face.

"But you can?" She beseeched him, pausing for a brief second, waiting for some form of answer. When none came she continued. "I can ask you to come to something important with me and my friends and you can say no? You can decide were dating without telling me and I have no say? So you can make any decision you want without considering me, but I can't end a conversation on my own?"

"Oh, come now! You're twisting this out of proportion."

"No I'm not." Anthea laughed. "It's all about you, and it always has been. Big brother syndrome, too used to being the smartest person in the room. Whatever." She sighed. "I deserve more than you and Tim."

"Like an accountant."

"Oh, another decision you took away from me."

Silence.

Utter silence.

Walter quietly tried to clear his throat.

Anthea was lying on her couch staring up at her white ceiling. She'd hate to admit it, but she was wallowing in self-pity a little bit. It had been two days since their argument about Tim and they'd yet attempted to make up. It hadn't effected work – they were pretty good at keeping all this personal stuff separate from work – but it did effect car rides, lunch, and every waking moment that wasn't spent doing work.

To be honest, Anthea didn't want to be the one to apologise because really, she hadn't done anything wrong. Tim did something wrong and then Mycroft was a drama queen about it like he always was. And comparing it to Charlotte Cunningham? Well, Anthea could see the connection, but she still despised the notion regardless. It had to be her, though. Mycroft was stubborn, and if Anthea didn't try to suggest mending it, it could go away but it would more than likely fester.

So, still lying down on her couch, Anthea picked up her phone and held it in front of her blocking her view of the ceiling. She'd type something simple in a text message, maybe open a line of dialogue and see where that went.

Hey, you're not a robot. You know I don't actually think that. – A x.

Anthea pressed send. She kept her phone in the air, biting her bottom lips as she thought. It didn't seem enough to her. What did she want to add to that? How could she make it better? Should she say she was missing him? What could she do? She tried to type something funny about shipping Tim and Charlotte off somewhere, she tried to say that she thought of something funny today and wanted to tell him. She ended up going for something more subtle.

I started rereading your copy of The Phantom of the Opera today. – A x.

She dropped her phone on her chest and waited.

When half an hour had passed and she'd not received a response, Anthea wasn't annoyed, she was fed up. What did she do to deserve this treatment from people? Surely she was a good person. She had to do some bad things for work, but she tried to be nice, and given her family history she should have earn some good karma. Maybe she should just give up on relationships. Anthea turned on the television and switched off the news channel onto something a little more palatable, a little more… Alice.

Just as she'd found something she really wanted to watch, Anthea heard a knock at her door. Great, just what she needed. With a loud groan, the PA slunk off the couch and walked to her door. Mycroft was standing on the opposite side of the door. He looked slightly annoyed, and Anthea had no mood for it. Though he did look nice with his jacket removed. Anthea took a deep breath and looked the man over. Noting this, Mycroft quirked an eyebrow.

"Am I missing something?" He asked. Anthea help back the barking laugh that threatened to escape. She popped out her hip and pouted.

"I sent you some text messages and you didn't respond." Mycroft mimed an 'oh' and nodded.

"Oh yes, those." He waved her off. "I received them after I got off the phone from Miss Thompson and I needed to speak to you anyway. I didn't see the point in responding." A pause. "Sorry?" He offered up. Anthea tilted her head.

"Miss Thompson? As in Jamie?" She asked. Why in the world was he on the phone to Jamie. He only ever did that when he was concerned about Anthea and he had no reason to do so now. Not to mention she hadn't received a phone call from an angry Jamie yet, so nothing could have happened. Mycroft rolled his eyes and sighed.

"Yes. That one." He hummed. "We've chosen Death of a Salesmen for next weekend. Miss Thompson suggested that James may like it and I might not complain so much during it. I managed to book decent tickets, and I've also arranged dinner for the four of us before the show." Mycroft looked exhausted at the mere thought of it as his lip twitched, threatening to scowl. Anthea felt her heart swell just a touch. "I am attempting not to treat this like our work relationship and occasionally I may need you to spell it out for me like I'm a child." Anthea shifted her position, leaning on the door. She understood that he was completely new to relationships and to not being in total control. He was a work in progress, but he might be worth it.

"Okay." Anthea nodded. "You run all personal decisions past me first, and I'll let you know when any of mine need a yes or a no answer in particular."

"Good." Mycroft mirrored Anthea's nod, and the girl in question chuckled lightly. "If I overreacted with the lawyer, then –"

"It shows you're not a robot." She smiled, tucking her hair out of her face. "I don't mind as long as you believe me when I tell you that I don't like him anymore because I like you."

Silence.

Mycroft cleared his throat.

"Am I disrupting anything?" He asked, sounding unsure of himself. It was cute.

"I'm watching a documentary on Radiohead. Or about to, anyway." Mycroft gestured to Anthea's clothes.

"That's the logo on that shirt you often wear to bed."

"Yeah." Anthea laughed. "It's my favourite band."

A pause.

"Would you like some company?" Mycroft was frowning as the words fell awkwardly out of his mouth. Anthea pursed her lips and took in Mycroft. She would like some company, sure. But…

"You're not going to like it, Mycroft."

Another pause.

"The offer remains." Anthea's smile grew.

"Sure." She stood out of the way of the doorway. "For once you can borrow one of my books to keep you entertained."

Author's Note: So? Opinions? What do we think? I've wanted to stir things up for a while, and there were so many ways to do that. It's been AGES since we saw Tim so, well… yeah :P. Anyway, I feel like we had some development here… I hope you like it :/. Thanks to my guest reviewers last chapter; Guests x2, MinaCarlyle, Tadaa, Wheezzy8, Corrine, ovejalucifer, Wink, and guest101. I'm sure you all know by now how much I appreciate everyone who reads this, but I'll mention it again anyway. Let me know what you thought of this chapter!