Author's Note: Thanks for all your lovely words regarding last chapter. I liked it so I'm very glad you all liked it. It was nice to have some cuteness back. As for today's chapter… Well, it's something that was bound to start coming up. I hope its okay, I really do. If it doesn't go down well I'm blaming Lauren and Camilla, because they both told me it was a good idea when I ran it past them. Let me know, yeah? 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 She Tried To Go Further

"Oh, Mr. Holmes?" Anthea held her phone to her lips as she watched Mycroft on the other side of the town car, typing away on his own phone. He hummed in response, too busy with whatever he was doing. "A scheduling matter has arisen." Anthea hid her smirk behind her phone. Mycroft clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes.

"Oh, what now?" He bemoaned. He turned to look at his assistant and immediately paused. Steel eyes looked over her face, noting the hiding smirk and the shining eyes. His eyebrows raised and he nodded at her. "This wouldn't be a Miss Clarke now, would it?" He hummed, going along with what Anthea presumed he thought was one of her silly little games. Anthea nodded.

"She requests you presence on Saturday night, regarding the reconstruction project." Anthea had been in this job far too long, she could make anything sound official. Mycroft pursed his lips and hummed.

"Oh, I suppose I might be able to lend some time to the young lady." He sighed. "Do you know what would be on the agenda, Miss James?" Anthea bit her lip.

"I believe it was something about a very casual date." She shrugged, crinkling up her nose. Mycroft quirked an eyebrow. "She also made it known that everything is under her control but she'd like you to bring the wine."

"Of course." Mycroft nodded, turning his attention to the umbrella handle he was twirling in one hand. "That girl has poor taste in wine." Anthea made a noise somewhere between a laugh and a scoff. No, Mycroft just had ridiculous expensive taste and she wasn't going to spend that much on wine.

"I'll make a note of that, sir." Anthea laughed with a roll of her eyes. She saw the side of Mycroft's mouth pull faintly into a smirk. "Shall I put it in your schedule?"

"Certainly." He nodded. "I'll always have time for Miss Clarke." Anthea nodded back and opened the calendar on her phone, adding the 'reconstruction project' meeting into Mycroft's schedule. The sound of laughter from the front seat caused her eyes to flicker up. The same for Mycroft. The man almost sneered at the seat in front of him.

"And what are you laughing at, hmm?" He asked, leaning forward, mouth stern.

"Excuse me for speaking out of line, sir." Walter looked at the pair through his rear-view mirror. "But if that's how you two flirt with each other. Making fun of each other and talking in business terms, then you've been flirting from the moment you met." Mycroft scoffed and Anthea laughed, trying to keep any form of blush off her face. What made Walter's comment so amusing to her was how true it could quite possibly be.

"Walter, if that were the case I'd have married James years ago."

"Oh, I'm sending that quote to Jamie without any context what-so-ever."

Mycroft didn't knock on Saturday night. Of course not, why would he knock when he had the key? When he'd never given the key back? He let himself into Anthea's flat, just as she expected him to, which is why Anthea was waiting at her dining room table. She smiled warmly as he lay his eyes on her. He smiled back and leaned his umbrella against the wall.

"Alice, dear." Anthea stood up as Mycroft approached. "Here is the wine you requested." He handed her a bottle of red wine.

"Ah, good. You got the memo." She chuckled, pushing his hair back rather than kissing him. His eyes were sparkling, she loved it so much when his eyes were full of life and light.

"I did." He smirked. "So do explain what the agenda for this so-called 'casual date' is?" Anthea hummed, as she turned to place the wine on the table.

"It's a very Ali evening." She sung.

"In other words, I most likely won't enjoy it?" He matched her tone. Anthea turned back around.

"Movie night." She winced, waiting for what she knew was coming. Mycroft's face dropped and he rolled his eyes. "But…" She stepped back into his space, rubbing his arm. "I got Alfred Hitchcock films. As a sort of in-between." Mycroft seemed to toss this idea around his head as he looked down onto Anthea. His smirk returned as his eyes narrowed.

"Very well…" He huffed. "But I insist we open the wine first." Anthea laughed, hitting him playfully before she started wandering into her kitchen.

"You're so predictable." She called out as she searched for her good wine glasses. "This is why I let you pick the wine."

"Don't act like you're not easy to read." It seemed he'd followed her into the kitchen. He put his briefcase on her counter and undid the latches. Out of it he pulled out another bottle of wine. "I knew you'd have set up something insufferable. I came prepared." If she did have glasses in her hands Anthea would have smacked her forehead as she laughed. Mycroft Holmes… Always one step ahead of everyone.

They were on the second bottle of wine by the time they were watching the third movie. Mycroft's shoes and jacket had been removed, and Anthea had gotten into a comfortable position on the couch. Instead of once upon a time where she lay close to him and that was good enough, she had her arm touching his with her legs curled up next to her.

Anthea pursed her lips, trying to decide whether she was of sound enough mind to actually enjoy this movie or not. It seemed… heavy, and her head was a little light. She'd be far more in the mood for a good old bad horror film right now – not something so psychological.

"I think I liked the Birds better." She scrunched up her nose at the television, really only thinking out loud rather than talking to Mycroft.

"Yes, well, you would, wouldn't you?" He hummed into his melodic tone next to her. Anthea's brow furrowed as she turned to look at the man. He was watching the television and seemed to be ignoring her glare.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She laughed.

"Nothing." He raised his eyebrows. "Obviously you'd enjoy something like that over something as nuanced as this." He had to be calling her stupid as a joke right now. She scoffed.

"This isn't about me." She crossed her legs on the couch, facing him. "This about your love of spying on people, you voyeur." Something flashed across Mycroft's face. He put his wine down on Anthea's coffee table and turned to look at her, an evil smirk on his face.

"A voyeur?" He repeated. Anthea crinkled her eyes and hummed as she nodded at the genius.

"All of your brother's friends, what is wrong with you?" She teased, or rather flirted in their strange way. "I bet you spy on me, too."

"Of course I do." He teased back. "Nothing gives me more pleasure than watching you sit around reading books all day, or burning down your kitchen."

"I knew it." Anthea whispered, leaning close to Mycroft. "I guess you saw me flirting with the pizza delivery guy a few days ago?" Mycroft smiled as he nodded.

"But I'm not worried, sweetheart. You prefer your men to have rather stressful careers. Lawyers, accountants, government workers…" He was leaning into her now too, only a small distance separated them.

"Hey," Anthea held her index finger up between her and Mycroft's faces. "I'll have you know working in fast food is far more stressful than anything you do."

"Even dealing with you?" Mycroft raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. Anthea chuckled, almost oblivious to the television screen.

"Oh, way worse than dealing with me." Mycroft laughed softly. Anthea leaned over the top of him and kissed him softly. It was sweet, gentle, and just right. As they broke apart from the kiss Anthea smiled, looking into those blue eyes full of amusement.

"You are such a pain in my side." Mycroft's tone was full of humour and, dare she say it, happiness. Anthea crinkled up her nose at him before she went in for another kiss – a real one this time. She placed one hand in Mycroft's hair as he placed his hands just above her hips. She could feel them, tight and gentle at the same time as they rested in her curves. She pulled herself closer and moaned in response. Anthea had almost forgotten what this was like – what it was like to get lost in something without using your brain. This time when she broke the kiss to come up from air she planted a small peck on his cheek.

"Yeah, whatever you say, sir." And she initiated another kiss without any hesitation. His hands found their way closer to her back, as hers moved to his shoulder and his neck.

There was no adrenaline to blame this time, nor was there an overly romantic atmosphere. It might be the wine, sure, but it was also them. Anthea knew that this warmth between the pair of them, this heat that she could generate between her and the Ice Man was real. There was a connection here that just felt right. He made her feel like she fitted, like she was complete, and she had no doubt she made him feel like he wasn't alone. Like maybe he fit in somewhere too. To think she'd almost ruined this. This absolutely perfect connection between two human beings. Anthea had never wanted another person more in her entire life. She never wanted someone like she wanted Mycroft right now.

Her yearning was only made worse when she heard Mycroft make a noise she'd never heard from him before. He moaned. Anthea had just made Mycroft Holmes moan. That was the most amazing thing she'd ever heard in her life.

Anthea moved back to allow some distance between her chest and Mycroft's. She brought her hands between him and began removing his ties. Without so much as a look, she managed to get it off and dropped it down to the floor. She'd just began on the buttons of his shirt when he made a noise in her mouth. Mycroft's hands removed themselves from her back to be placed over her hands as he broke from the kiss.

"Alice." He whispered, lowering her hands to fall between their laps. Anthea blinked in confusion as she looked down at her hands held in Mycroft's. He shook his head. "No." Anthea pulled her hands free.

"Why?" She breathed, bringing her hand up and pushing Mycroft's hair out of his face. His steel eyes looked sombre as he looked at her.

"Sweetheart, we've only just gotten back in a relationship."

"Exactly." Anthea laughed, leaning forward. "That's what makes it so perfect." She placed her hands on his chest as she leaned forward again. Mycroft sat up, causing Anthea to sit up again. He took her hands and lowered them once more.

"Alice." His tone was firm, like talking to a child again. "No." Anthea felt that heat begin to dissipate and be replaced with icy winds as she looked down at their hands. Why no? Why? Hadn't she been nothing but patient? Hadn't they proved how much they needed each other? They were happy together again, and surely that was a big deal…

Why Charlotte and not her?

Why those other nameless people but not her? Not his girlfriend?

Anthea swallowed and nodded.

"Okay." She mumbled. She looked up to the roof and blinked away any emotions. "Okay." She breathed a little louder. It wasn't time. Maybe there wouldn't be a time. That's okay. It's Mycroft, he was complicated and was never going to make complete sense. It didn't stop it from hurting like crazy though. It didn't stop it from feeling like her throat had been pulled out. "Sorry. Sorry, Myc." Serves her right for suggesting wine with movies. She moved back to the other side of the couch and cleared her throat. She leaned on the armrest and tried to focus back on the movie.

"Alice." Oh, what now? She tried to keep her face calm and neutral as she turned to look at Mycroft. Face gentle as it had ever been, he took her hand in his own again. He leaned forward and placed his lips softly against her fingers. She couldn't help but let a small smile escape from all her hurt at that simple gesture. "I-" He stopped himself. Mycroft glanced at the television as his mouth pulled into a straight line. He seemed lost in his head for a moment before he turned back to her. "You don't have to sit all the way over there, dear." Anthea sniffed.

She moved in closer, until their arms were touching once more. She leaned her head against Mycroft's shoulder, and as she did some of the sudden tension dissipated. At least he wanted her to do this. At least he wanted her nearby. That was something. When had she began to take that for granted? She needed to remember how special this was.

"Mycroft…" Anthea sighed.

"Mmm?"

"A reminder that I love you."

A pause.

"Duly noted, dear."

Author's Note: Alright? Okay? Fine? At the very least some fun dialogue, right? Hahaha. I hope it was okay. Let me take a break from my internal struggle and thank the guest reviewers. Thanks to: TheNightManager, bgeiner, Mars, Guest, Anna, Chulija, Wink, elona, Tadaa, SwtPea, and Louise Pond. A bonus little mention of ovejalucifer who is slowly catching up on her reviews. Thanks to everyone who left a review – I thanked you all personally.