Author's Note: Hey guys! Thanks for the fantastic feedback last chapter. It was very hard so it's so rewarding for it to be well received. Thanks also for any of you who have read my first one shot of the summer (summer for me anyway). There will be a few chapters between now and TAB. I want to focus on the actual point of the story for a little bit and we have that little meeting with Lady Smallwood and other fancy people to cover too. I think we'll be on to TAB for Christmas or just before. I'm going to do a Victorian thing for TAB but I don't know whether to post it here as a chapter, I have a way for it to work, or as a one shot. You guys tell me what you think. So, without further ado; 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 Bought McDonalds

The ringing of her mobile, as well as the steady vibration of it between the couch and her hip, woke Anthea up. Groggily she pulled herself into sitting position, the pang in her neck making her regret doing it so suddenly. Sleeping on couches was never kind to the human spine. Through bleary eyes she looked around the space.

She'd spent the night at their… at Mycroft's house. She hadn't meant to for her own sake. She had intended completely to leave just before she wanted to go to sleep. But they had both been so tired, physically and emotionally, that they must have just fallen asleep here. And how could she leave Mycroft when he was so lost? The things he had said last night about being a failure, it had torn her heart into little pieces. He'd asked her for help and she had promised to be there when he finally admitted to needing help. She looked at his face. He looked asleep but he did not look at peace. Anthea wanted so desperately to run her fingers through his hair as some form of silent and unknown comfort for him but she had a phone to stop ringing. She dug into her trouser pocket and pulled out her phone.

Jamie Thompson

It didn't matter that the time read five in the morning. Anthea had to answer to Jamie. Jamie was Anthea's only family and if she expected Jamie to be on call for her like letting her move in without notice, then she had to be there for her. Plus, it would just be about all this anyway.

"Hello?" Anthea answered. She licked her lips and scrunched up her face realising how dry her mouth was. She needed a drink of water. The kitchen was awfully close but Mycroft she didn't really want to get up completely in case the sudden change in weight on the couch woke him up.

"Hey, Ali." Jamie was speaking quietly which was very strange for her. So was being up at this time so she was no doubt doing it just to not wake up James or start Thatch barking. Anthea smiled wearily as if Jamie could see it.

"Hey."

"I woke up to, well, throw up, and I noticed your door was still open." Anthea closed her eyes and frowned.

"Yeah, sorry. I fell asleep at Myc's. I'm sorry."

"Nah, I figured something like that. I just wanted to make sure everything is okay." Anthea looked at Mycroft on the couch and inwardly sighed.

"Yeah, it's… fine."

"How is he?" She asked in one of the most serious tones Jamie was capable of.

"Right in front of me and a light sleeper so I probably can't get away with talking about him."

"Say whatever you want." Mycroft muttered, eyes still shut. He turned, burying his nose into the couch cushion.

"Did you hear that?" Anthea asked down the phone.

"Yeah." Jamie laughed. "Can you get away with anything? On a level of zero to ten, how bad is he?"

"Holmsian or normal scale?"

"Both?"

"A six maybe, which translates to about a nine." On the other side of the line Jamie sighed heavily.

"Need any help?"

"Um, no." Anthea rubbed her eyes, feeling tired again. "Not right now. Too soon I think."

"But if he does need anything," Jamie insisted warmly. "We're here. I'm a better cook than you. If he needs some food." Anthea's mouth pulled into a smirk and she even thought about laughing.

"You're sweet, Jay." Anthea hummed. She yawned, using the back of her free hand to cover her mouth. "I'll be home tonight, okay?"

"Don't rush." Anthea frowned to herself, trying to find hidden meaning in that statement that was in all likelihood not there. It was Jamie after all, she probably just meant what she said. Don't rush home.

"See you."

"Bye."

Click.

Anthea put her phone down on the coffee table she and Mycroft picked together. Still sitting up, she looked down at Mycroft resting. Anthea felt at a loss as she looked over him. She wanted to help ease some of that pain but she knew better than anyone that it doesn't go that easily. She rubbed her eyes again. She hadn't gotten to wash her face last night so she was probably rubbing away whatever remained of yesterday's eye makeup.

"Jamie wanted you to know that if you need anything…" She trailed off, not knowing quite how to finish that sentence. She heard Mycroft hum in acknowledgement as he rolled back over so his face was visible again.

"I suppose I should get used to pity." He muttered.

"It's not pity." Anthea answered too quickly, looking at him and wishing he'd open his eyes. "When have you ever known Jamie to pity anyone?" Mycroft hummed, acknowledging Anthea's point but he did not speak. Anthea glanced at the kitchen, considering that drink of water she wanted. She looked at her phone, then back at the kitchen. "Are you hungry or anything?" She asked. Mycroft shook his head. "Do you want to talk or anything?" He shook his head again. Anthea tried to rub the tension out of her neck. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to help. "It's still early, I guess. Do you want to go up to your bed?" His bed, not their bed. Mycroft's brow furrowed. He shook his head again.

"No." He hummed quietly. "No. Just." He swallowed nothing. "Stay here." Anthea pulled a face.

"Really?" She thought of her neck. "This can't be good for your back."

"I don't care." The genius answer. His hand sought her out, touching her arm lightly. "Let's just stay here a while longer." It was early, and Anthea was still tired. She would have much preferred to go to a bed, but if Mycroft wanted to lie down longer and that would help him out just a little bit then she'd do it.

"Okay." Twisting carefully, Anthea lay on her side to fit on the couch next to Mycroft. How easily his hand found her waist and his nose found the crook of her neck. She always did say they were like two puzzle pieces.

Anthea outstretched her arm and with the tips of her fingers managed to touch her phone on the coffee table. She dragged it closer until it was on the very edge of the coffee table and she could pick it up without getting up. She lit up the screen and checked the time. It was ten o'clock. On a day off that wasn't horribly surprising for Anthea. It was nice to have a sleep in for a change. However, it was extremely rare for Mycroft. Since the man had trouble sleeping he usually gave up if he woke up after the sun was beginning to rise. Even then he'd always be up by nine to check his phone and his emails.

"Mycroft." Anthea nudged his stomach with her elbow. "Mycroft." She spoke a little louder.

"Mmm?" He frowned at her.

"It's ten."

Silence.

"Mycroft."

"And?" He asked flatly. Anthea pulled herself into sitting position, her feet touching the cold floor. She must have kicked her shoes off in the night some time. She placed a hand between her neck and shoulder and stretched her neck out to one side, hoping to hear the relief of a click but to no avail.

"We should get up."

No answer. He ignored her again. Anthea held back the urge to sigh.

"Mycroft."

"Why?" He asked. "What can I do today? Nothing. Make a phone call or two but they'll refuse to see me on Boxing Day." He was hiding his anguish behind harsh tones and fake anger so much like his brother did. It made Anthea physically ache to see him feeling useless.

"We said we'd get through breakfast together."

"I'm not hungry." He answered. Anthea rubbed at her neck to loosen it from the awkward sleep and alleviate the tension she could feel building in it. "And as you saw yesterday, I don't exactly have a stocked cupboard." Anthea's brow furrowed.

"Yeah." She mused. She looked down at Mycroft and cocked her head to the side. "You don't even have bread. Why?" No answer, just a mild shrug. She waited five minutes for some kind of response. Mycroft chose to hide somewhere between awake and asleep. "Well, I'm hungry. I'm going to go buy food."

"Are you leaving?" Steel eyes opened finally. His expression was blank but this was the closest thing to an actual response. Anthea sniffed a laugh, her mouth pulling up.

"And leave you here to starve yourself? No." She laughed. "I'm going to go and see if anything's open today and bring back some food."

"Ah." Mycroft purred. He stretched out his back and seemed dead set on going back to sleep.

"After we eat, don't forget you promised to visit your brother today." Anthea spoke as gently as she could. Mycroft's mouth pulled down as he stared at the ceiling like it just insulted him. Anthea could see Mycroft's brain ticking behind his eyes. He stayed this way for a minute then rolled his eyes. The man pulled himself into sitting position.

"I'll make those phone calls while you're gone." He muttered so quietly Anthea almost missed it. She couldn't help herself. Affectionately, as if rewarding his step out of his cave, Anthea ran her fingers through Mycroft's hair. He didn't flinch. He didn't move into it, but he didn't flinch or move away.

"I'm going to borrow one of your shirts." Anthea said as she finally stood up.

"Not a nice one."

Anthea, her hair in a high pony and with one of Mycroft's button up shirts tucked into her skinny leg trousers, came back to the big empty house with a brown paper bag and a cup tray. She was also wearing a wicked smirk as she knew her food would not be appreciated. But what was she going to do on the day after Christmas? Not everything was open, and she really wasn't in the mood to wait at one of Mycroft's fancy places for them to cook the food and pack it all away. Balancing the bag and the cup tray, Anthea opened the front door.

"Hey!" She called out surprisingly chirpily as she shut the door with her hip. She didn't get an answer but that was not surprising. He was not one to call out, usually he'd greet her at the entrance and given his state of not even wanting to get up Anthea hadn't expected anything. Upon entering the main living space Anthea found Mycroft sitting at the kitchen bench. His face was buried in his hands and his phone was set just before him on the bench. He'd made the phone calls, then. That was good. That was a start. Even if they couldn't do anything for Sherlock today it would be a good move to make Mycroft feel more like himself and more capable of doing something.

Anthea entered the kitchen silent but for the click of her shoes. Mycroft looked up at her with exhausted grey eyes. She smiled kindly at him, placing the food on the counter. Mycroft looked down at what she had brought. Immediately after seeing the large yellow 'M' that emblazoned the bag and the cups Mycroft's expression dropped.

"Dear God." He hissed with the most emotion Anthea had heard that day. It made her smile turn quite naughty once more. "What on Earth have you brought into the kitchen where we prepare our meals?" Anthea crinkled up her nose and bit her thumbnail playfully, tasting her nail polish.

"There wasn't much open." She explained, her voice bright with humour. Mycroft was looking at her in shock. Like she'd insulted him far more than the ceiling had earlier.

"So you decided we should eat plastic?" It was nice to hear some trademark dramatics in his voice. Anthea sniffed a single laugh.

"No, I decided I wanted you to eat anything." She went to the cupboard and pulled out two plates, setting them out on the bench. She opened the bag. "And it's not poison. It's just cheese burgers. Jamie and I lived on these during final exams in school."

"You and your little friend were teenaged young ladies with fast metabolisms. Neither of you have ever had a weight problem." The way he said that, like it was nothing but facts. It was so him and so refreshing that for a moment she could forget what was going on, and even the problems still existing between them. Anthea rolled her eyes and put the wrapped burgers and the small packets of chips on each plate.

"Considering you have no food in your house I don't think one bad meal is going to kill you."

"It'll kill my tastebuds."

"It's fine!" Anthea picked up a chip and flicked it at him. Mycroft dogged the thin little piece of potato easily but stared after it blinking in shock horror. He looked at Anthea with wide blue eyes.

"Now you're throwing fake food?" He gasped. "Do you hate this house that much?" Anthea burst into a big smile.

"Shut up! Stop being such a Holmes." She flicked another chip at him. Mycroft swatted the chip away from his face, watching as it fell to his feet. He stared at it egregiously then glared at Anthea, a little bit of his boy like spark in his eyes.

"Miss Clarke, you come here and pick these up right now." He pointed firmly down at the chip at his feet.

"No." Anthea answered like she had a death wish. "Not until you try one."

"I'm not eating that."

"Then I'm not picking it up." They watched each other in silence like two men in the Wild West in the middle of a standoff. Anthea picked up another chip between her thumb and index like clutching onto the holster of a gun. "Just try one." She raised her eyebrows.

"No!" Mycroft sounded like a petulant child. Anthea came around the counter and approached him. His only retreat was one step backwards and raising his hands to defend his face.

"Come on, try it!" Anthea giggled, invading the genius' face.

"No." He repeated, pulling his face away from her. "You're just making a mess. What are you, five?"

"You're five for refusing to try something." Anthea spoke through a breathy laugh. "Come on." She brought the chip up to his face. In a very swift movement Mycroft grabbed hold of Anthea's wrist and pulled it out of the way of his face. They were silent again as Anthea looked between the tight hold on her hand ad Mycroft, and he searched her eyes.

Ten seconds.

No one moved.

Thirty seconds.

No one moved.

One minute.

Mycroft dragged Anthea's hand back into its previous position and took a bit out of the thin yellow chip in her fingers. He still held her hand as he chewed and mentally dissected the foreign object. He pulled faces. First of disgust, then surprise, then of analysis. Finally he swallowed it.

"It's surprisingly good, right?" Anthea asked cheerfully. Mycroft pouted his lips and tiled his head from side to side, indication that it was probably just okay or he was playing down how he felt about it. He opened his mouth and took a little breath like he was about to speak.

Just as swift as before, Mycroft tugged on Anthea's wrist, pulling her closer to him. Suddenly his lips were on hers. One hand on her waist and the one around her wrist had moved up to tangle its fingers with hers. Anthea's mind went completely blank. Her free hand with a life of its own managed to find its way to the back of Mycroft's head. The kiss was heavy and strong, and full of passionate heat. Anthea lost herself, moaning quietly as the kiss was further deepened. Suddenly her hand was freed and a second hand was put onto her waist pulling her close into Mycroft's body. It was electrifying, her whole body was made of nothing but heat. Anthea's hand moved down from the back of Mycroft's head to his back. She'd forgotten this. In all this time she'd forgotten how so deeply moving a kiss from Mycroft was. No kiss could ever match up to the chemistry they had. It was incredible. She'd even almost forgotten how incredibly in love with Mycroft Holmes she was.

Oh.

Anthea broke the kiss, freeing her mouth. She rested her forehead against Mycroft's shoulder, holding him close, and closed her eyes.

"Mycroft." She couldn't talk over a whisper. "I… Not now." Mycroft seemed to search for the right words to say. He began speaking a few times only to cut himself off when only a little bit of breath had escaped. He was struggling and confused.

"Why?" Was what he finally settled on. What could Anthea say to that? Because she was scared that he was just doing the exact opposite of last time and didn't meant this? Because she was afraid that if things didn't work out with Sherlock he'd shut out everyone once again? Because she was terrified of getting hurt again? Because she loved him with her entire heart and she wanted to help him and this was not him, this would not help him. There were so many answers to that question.

"The food's getting cold." She answered, uncertainty clear in her voice. "And you need to go soon." It took a few seconds but Mycroft released Anthea's body, allowing her to take a step back. Neither of them looked happy but Mycroft looked a little lost again. Like he didn't know what to believe. Anthea wondered for a moment if she made the right choice. So she stroked Mycroft's right cheek and kissed him gently on the left. He closed his eyes and filed the memory away instantly. Anthea walked around to the other side of the counter and went back to unwrapping the food.

"What are your plans for today?" Mycroft asked as Anthea passed him over a plate containing the offending chips and the plastic burger. Bless him for being able to switch topics so quickly. Sometimes it was the bane of Anthea's existence but today it was a gift.

"I'm going to go home when you visit your brother." She explained. "I need to get changed and have access to my perfume and makeup." She looked at the food rather than Mycroft as she said this. "But you know, if you need anything I'm a phone call away." She looked up. "And it's not pity, I mean it." Mycroft pursed his lips like he was trying to smile but couldn't quite do it.

"You're the only one I wouldn't accuse of pity. Empathy, yes. Pity, no." Those words both heated Anthea's heart and broke it. She looked down and smiled at her plate.

"One phone call away." She reiterated.

"One call."

Author's Note: How was that? I wanted to diffuse all the tension that had built up but not take a complete 180 and forget everything. It's still a huge and serious issue. I hope you liked it. For once it turned out how I wanted it to. Let me know what you think of it, please! Thanks to our guest reviewers who I can't thank personally; LadySnowTheStark, Guests x3, Christie, and Eva's dreaming. Ovejalucifer gets a special mention because she's been communicating to me personally these days about her opinions and I didn't want her to feel entirely kicked out of the guest reviewers club :P. Thanks to all my lovely reviewers but you all know how much I love you. See you in five days!

Oh! And I promised readers on Tumblr that my next one shot will be about James and Mycroft from before Anthea started working for Mycroft. So if you have anything in particular from their pre-Anthea existence you want to see let me know!