Author's Note: Thank you so much for your wonderful reviews last chapter! And sorry for my inconsistencies! Between my last exam yesterday, new internet installation before I went to my exam, and internet connection issues all day today I didn't get this done as quickly as I expected. It's short but I am actually really happy with it. I don't think it needs length to be good. 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 He Really Talked About His Sleep Problems

Mycroft's trouble sleeping had long become a part of his and Anthea's existence together. It rarely bothered her to wake up and find Mycroft absent from the bedroom. She could find him in one of three common locations; the home office, the kitchen, or Margot's room. It became so common that Anthea rarely questioned it. Only once in a while did her brain remind her that this wasn't entirely normal. Even if it was a 'Mycroft thing' or a 'Holmes thing' it still wasn't good for the body or the mind. So occasionally, ever rarer than when she became aware of the oddity of it, she decided to question it. Carefully and supportively but question it none the less.

Tonight was one of those nights. Anthea had caught Mycroft leaving Margot's room. She went with him downstairs and made them both a cup of tea which he thanked her for. They sat together at the kitchen bench. Normally this would be silent; Anthea's presence as support only. Today, as her hands cupped both sides of the warm mug, she prepared herself to talk.

"One day I'd like you to tell me what it is." She said. She heard Mycroft sigh softly. Anthea looked at him. He was looking pensively into his mug like it could give him the answers to all his problems. This too was a common sight on a night like this. "I'd like to know if it's a problem shutting off your brain or nightmares."

"We all have trouble shutting our brains off sometimes, my dear." Mycroft spoke into the mug. "While that is the problem some of the time it's not usually the case and if it is it is precipitated by something." Anthea turned her body in her seat so she could get a better look at Mycroft and hopefully catch his eyes.

"Nightmares, then?" She asked. Mycroft looked at her, deep icy blue eyes brimming with feelings that he couldn't explain. So that wasn't a no then. Anthea tilted her head. "Is it Eurus?" She asked gently. "Is it what she did when you were a kid? Or the secrets you had to keep." Mycroft winced and looked back down at his mug. He held his hand up in a silence signal.

"Just…" He winced again and shook his head. Mycroft closed his eyes and rubbed at his forehead. Anthea felt bad as she watched the weight on Mycroft's shoulders grow heavier rather than lighten. She rested her head on his shoulder. He tensed under her.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I just want to help you and I think talking would help." She explained. Mycroft relaxed. He sighed. "I won't push it but I'd would like to hear all about it one day." If he, or rather if they, expected to be together forever they needed to be able to trust each other. Not that Anthea thought it was about a lack of trust. Mycroft was always going to be guarded and closed off to everyone in one way or another. Anthea just wanted him to know he shouldn't have to feel that way around her. He knew all her darkness, she could handle all of his.

Mycroft said nothing in response. Instead he took Anthea's hand in his own and caressed her fingers with his thumb.

Anthea went to back to bed fifteen minutes later. Mycroft came back an hour later. Hopefully he got back to sleep.

It was a number of days later before the topic of Mycroft's sleeping habits came up again, it might have even been a week. It was long enough that when he brought it up it took Anthea a few seconds to connect the dots and realise what he was talking about.

They were in the home office together. As often happened in this room Mycroft was working on consultant work while Anthea peacefully read something on the couch. They just liked being in the same room as each other – they really didn't need to talk. That was until Mycroft stopped. He put down his pen and rubbed at his forehead. He folded his arms on the desk and looked over at Anthea. Having been watching him from the moment he put his pen down, Anthea smiled softly.

"Sometimes they're about Eurus, but only sometimes." He said. This is where Anthea's brain had to do what was previously mentioned and quickly realise what Mycroft was talking about. When she did she mimed an 'oh' and closed her book on her lap. "Even then," Mycroft frowned and shook his head. "Sometimes it's about her and sometimes it's about letting her down." Anthea, pouting her lips, nodded a few times.

"Okay." She said to acknowledge that she was listening. She didn't suspect for a moment that it would end there and she didn't want to close the gates by saying the wrong thing.

"It's the same sort of dichotomy no matter the subject matter," Mycroft unfolded his arms so his hands could begin wringing each other. Anthea could feel the tension rising from him, "Sherlock and everything we've put each other through, my parents – the file as well as the file they most likely have on me, you," He threw 'you' in there like a bit of an afterthought. "Work and the unaccountable amount of things I've done for this country. I realise I have not been a good person but karma has paid its retributions."

"Oh, Mycroft." Anthea cooed. Her heart ached. Sure he was no saint but his heart was always in the right place. Anthea abandoned the book on the couch and moved to sit in the chair facing the desk. After that she just felt like she had to be closer. Mycroft was staring at his desk, not seeing it but something in his mind's eye instead.

"It doesn't always make sense, of course. The mind can concoct strange imagery. One look at Varya's paintings and you know, even lacking the genius level intelligence, her mind can be as much trouble as mine and my siblings'." He let out a small breathy laugh. "Then again, sometimes it is simply that I am too focused on a point of interest to sleep. Generally, however, that leads me into this room here and not to searching a cup of tea for the answers to the universe." He looked at Anthea here. He raised his eyebrows and forced one of those smiles that didn't reach his eyes. Anthea couldn't smile back. She just swallowed nothing and nodded again.

"Thank you for telling." Anthea really truly meant that. He needed to tell her and now she knew she could maybe be of more help.

"Yes, well…" Mycroft looked back down. He moved his pen to be parallel with the document he had been writing all over. Anthea rubbed at her neck. Where to start? There was so much to dissect. Maybe she needed time just like he had but she didn't want the opening to pass her by. So she forced herself to say something.

"Have you ever considered…" She began but paused to prepare herself as if she already knew what the answer was going to be. "Talking to a professional." Immediately Mycroft frowned. He waved a hand to dismiss the idea.

"No, no." He scoffed. Anthea took no offence, it washed over her like water off a duck's back.

"Why?" She asked, keeping the same even and gentle tone.

"Well for one, I can't trust anyone with what I know." He said in a very iceman cocky tone. The walls were trying to build.

"And that would be admitting that you can't handle everything by yourself." Anthea said. She knew exactly why those walls started to build. Mycroft too, by the way he looked a little bashful for a second and then smiled. It was sombre but it was definitely real.

"You know me too well, Alice." He said. Anthea smiled back, accepting this as a compliment.

"I thought we already covered that no one can do everything by themselves." Anthea said to her genius. He closed his eyes and flicked his hand – waving it off. Okay, so that wasn't working.

"Well," Anthea sighed. She tucked a curl behind her ear. "You know you can trust me and rely on me. Maybe now I know you can tell me about them when they happen." Mycroft visibly bristled. Anthea jumped on it right away and corrected herself. "Or maybe even just tell me what the topic was for a start." Mycroft shrugged a shoulder as he pursed his lips. "I'm not going to tell anyone." Anthea moved to catch Mycroft's gaze. "I wouldn't even tell Margot when she's old enough to understand." Mycroft tapped on the desk with his fingers. He shrugged again.

"I suppose it couldn't do any harm." He rationalised it to himself. Anthea felt her whole body relax just a little bit. More air was getting into her lungs.

"No," She hummed with a smile. "It can't." She pulled the chair closer to the desk and outstretched an arm to touch place her hand on top of Mycroft's. "And Myc," She said. "If saying no to your proposal has caused any problems for you then I'm sorry." Mycroft scoffed. He tried to pull his hand away but Anthea clung to it.

"Don't be ridiculous." He sneered. "As if anyone can take the blame for the unconscious mind of someone else."

"You know what I mean." Anthea exhaled.

"I do know what you mean," Mycroft looked right at Anthea. "And I still think you're ridiculous for apologising when in reality we've moved past it." Anthea squeezed Mycroft's hand again.

"I just want you to know that I'm here for you and I plan to always be here for you. Rings or not." She gave a lopsided smiled. Something really gentle crossed Mycroft's eyes. He picked up Anthea's hand, leaned forward, and kissed her on the top of her fingers. No matter how many times he did that it was still magical to Anthea. She was certain it made her blush like a fool.

"Oh, my love." Mycroft hummed. His thumb was now stroking her hand. "It's funny that you think I'd even let you leave anymore." Anthea burst into laughter at this comment, earning herself a proud and rather sinister smirk from Mycroft. Anthea took her hand back from him and used it to push her hair off her shoulders.

"You're so strange." She laughed lightly.

"I know." Mycroft hummed with that naughty glint in his eye.

"But seriously, Mycroft," Anthea said. "I'm really glad you shared this with me and if you ever want to share more I am always waiting." Mycroft looked Anthea's face over, memorising every single detail. He looked down at his desk, pursed and then pouted his lips all to stop smiling like a lovesick puppy.

"Thank you."

That night when Mycroft wrapped his arms around Anthea and wished her a good night she wished him one too. She hoped he would sleep soundly, she hoped knowing he had support would help put his mind at ease, and she hoped that if he struggled he'd tell her about it. She would sleep better just knowing that he knew she was there for him.

Author's Note: So how was it? I thought this was a good time to bring up this issue again. They haven't spoken about it in a little while and Anthea would never drop it forever. So please let me know what you think. Thanks to our gest reviewers; Guests x2, Observant Potato, Bear, and Madalina. Thank to everyone reading this. I am aiming for six days. Should be more achievable with exams done and only nanowrimo in the way.