Author's Note: Thanks to the few of you guys who reviewed last chapter. They always make me happy. This chapter is short but I think it's cute. I hope you like it too. I was going to take a few days to write it but it was so fun I wrote it in one day. Let me know what you thought, please! 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 Any Of Them Were Having A Boy

Anthea enjoyed having James and Jamie at her place from time to time. Even now when it was without a doubt her home – there were signs of her and Margot everywhere – it still made Anthea feel like this place was hers when she could have her best friends over. Margot loved it, too. Margot and Hope adored each other but Margot always seemed a little more at ease in her own environment, like any other Holmes.

Another great thing was that James never looked entirely relaxed here. He didn't look uncomfortable and he was definitely his happy-go-lucky self but his posture was just a little straighter and he was just a bit better behaved. If there was a chance Mycroft was home then he wouldn't throw food or maybe not even a cushion… It depended. Anthea and Jamie liked to tease him about this.

Mycroft wasn't home when they got here. He was off visiting Sherlock at Baker Street with Varya. But it had been some time and he was planning to leave Varya there and leave so he'd probably be home any minute. Not that it mattered. Anthea's friends were here to see her… And the girls were playing together.

Anthea had looked for anything in the cupboard and fridge from them to eat. She found some corn chips and she found some crackers and Bree. Jamie would probably be extremely jealous of the soft cheese so Anthea just brought out the chips. She checked for salsa or dip but there wasn't any. James and Jamie hadn't expected there to be. This is why it was usually at their place or they went out.

"We have plenty of food for Margot." Anthea had said sheepishly. "We're not bad parents. We just don't have adult food."

"And probably not entertaining guests kind of food ever." Jamie added teasingly as she took one of the chips.

"That's not true." Anthea pointed her index finger at Jamie. "Mycroft loves that kind of stuff." Pretentious and pompous as he was – it was true.

"Yeah." James nodded. "It's your fault we can't have the cheese." He said to his wife. Jamie raised her eyebrows.

"My fault?" She asked coolly. He nodded. "Just my fault? Not yours?" James' face pulled into a large grin.

"Maybe." He said in a cheeky voice. Jamie playfully pushed him. It barely moved the tall and strong man. Anthea just watched with amusement. Jamie looked at Anthea and pointed to James with her thumb.

"I don't want him anymore." She said to Anthea while James continued to grin. "If Mycroft wants him back he can have him." Anthea pulled a face.

"No…" She hummed playfully. "I don't think Mycroft could handle having more than one kid in the house." James laughed.

"Hey!" He smirked. "I'm probably more mature than both of you put together."

"Sure." Anthea said flatly while Jamie just smiled condescendingly at him. James pulled the blonde in and kiss her on the forehead.

After a few more random conversation topics and tangents Jamie ended it. She was finally about to reveal why she actually wanted to come over. A normal chat rarely happened at this place.

"So, we caved…" Jamie said with clear disappointment in her voice.

"Hmm?" Anthea hummed, not being so on Jamie's wavelength that she'd automatically know what that means. Jamie put a hand on her belly. "Oh!" A lightbulb went off in Anthea's head.

"The baby's gender." James said. Anthea rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I got that. Thanks." She said sarcastically. James pulled a joking face at her.

James and Jamie had been talking and they had been determined to do what Anthea had done and wait. They had thought it was so fun waiting like that and getting a nice surprise like that. Turns out they were either less patient than Anthea or more controlling. Anthea would bet on less patient.

"And?" Anthea asked with her chin lowered and her eyebrows raised. James and Jamie exchanged a look. James was barely containing his excitement.

"Well…" Jamie sung as she turned to Anthea. "It looks like there's finally going to be a boy in the playgroup." Anthea gasped and then, covering her mouth, laughed lightly.

"That's great news!" She said. She felt lithe and bright. She was going to have a nephew. That was delightful and brilliant. Plus she already had the best niece in the world, now there wouldn't be any competition for that role. The new baby would just be the best nephew.

Anthea got up to hug them both. When she got to James he engulfed her in a huge prison of a hug until Anthea threatened him to let her go.

"I knew this one was a boy." He said. "This pregnancy has been so different to Hope's – I just knew it." He looked so proud of himself.

"You know that doesn't mean anything." Anthea said, tucking a curl behind her ear. Jamie shrugged and waved her hand.

"I've been letting him have it." She said. "I like to see that stupid smile." She smiled up at her husband with fondness. James lent forward (bent over more like it) and they kissed. Anthea returned to her seat.

"I guess." She relented as she sat down. "Just don't say that part to Mycroft – he'll have a go at you."

When Mycroft got home he looked at the group amassed together and took a long suffering sigh.

"Oh." He said so dully and so flatly that he actually did sound void of emotion. "You're still here." Jamie took the opportunity to snarl at him. James thought nothing of it.

"Hey, sir." James chirped.

"Hello, James." Mycroft hummed in a bored tone as he discarded of his coat. Anthea nodded at him and Mycroft offered her a small smile that was only ever meant for her. Of course it looked miserable because company was over but hey, it was something.

"No cousin?" Jamie asked, peering a look in the direction Mycroft had come from. "I was hoping to meet the artist today."

"Not today, thank you." Mycroft scoffed. He was looking at his phone checking his messages. "Not around you." He uttered. Jamie sniffed. Anthea rolled her eyes.

"She's seeing Sherlock and John today." Anthea gave the real reason. Jamie nodded, understanding.

"Moreover," Mycroft continued. "The last time she saw James she convinced him to go on a date with him and I'd rather not have to see that again." Jamie and Anthea both perked up in their seated positions. James – for a trained agent – was going remarkably pink.

"What?" Anthea asked.

"Are you jealous of your cousin?" Jamie teased with a Cheshire cat grin.

"No, I want to hear this." Anthea waved her hand in front of Jamie to silence her. "What?" She asked Mycroft again. Mycroft looked up from his phone but it was James who spoke.

"It wasn't like that." The blond agent moaned. He ran his hands though his hair, went to speak and hesitated. "She…" He sighed. "It was years ago. I was Holmes' office and she was there trying to get one of her cousins to go out with her on her last night in town. I felt bad for her." He shrugged a shoulder. "So I said I'd go with her. I took her home afterwards, she kissed me, and told me I was a good kid. That's all." Jamie was laughing and Anthea was now the one who was grinning.

"You could've been fiancé number twenty." Anthea teased.

"Look! You're embarrassed to talk about it in front of Mycroft!" Jamie laughed. James rubbed at his forehead. Mycroft had disappeared during the story and had returned with a glass of amber liquid for himself.

"I can't tell if you were a player or if you naive." Anthea smirked.

"What kind of kiss was it?" Jamie asked eagerly. "Was it a peck or a proper snog?"

"Jay." James whispered with a frown. Jamie giggled. She looked at Anthea with a cute smile.

"He doesn't want to talk about it in front of Mycroft." She said, loving this. "I'll ask him about it later and text you."

"No!" James insisted.

"Deal." Anthea said. James sighed. Mycroft calmly sipped on his drink.

"Pardon my manners or lack-there-of," The genius said as he inspected his crystal tumbler. "But why are you still here?"

"Myc." Anthea chastised. The genius looked at her with his steel eyes, un-phased.

"Ah, maybe we had something we wanted to tell you." Jamie jeered at him. Mycroft looked calmly from her to James. James nodded. Mycroft sighed. He put the glass down on the nearest surface that wasn't directly on wood.

"Very well, then." He sighed as he looked at Jamie. Jamie folded her arms across her chest.

"Maybe I don't want to tell you now." She said. Mycroft clicked his tongue and dramatically rolled his eyes. Anthea sighed. She'd deal with this before it became an ordeal.

"They're having a boy." Anthea told him. Forgetting her annoyance; Jamie nodded happily.

If Mycroft's face was ever unreadable it was now. Pursed lips, careful eyes, and slow methodically breathing. He considered the words carefully – that much was clear. Why he was considering it so carefully Anthea wasn't sure. He looked between the two parents before his gaze settled on James. His eyebrows raised.

"Is this true?" He asked in the Ice Man's tone.

"Yes, sir." James said with a swift and curt nod.

"Is this what you wanted?" Mycroft asked in the same cold voice. James blinked.

"No." He said. He straightened his posture and squared off his shoulders. "I thought it was a boy but I wouldn't care, sir." He said. Mycroft hummed. His eyes narrowed.

"And how does this effect Hope?" Mycroft asked.

"How so?" James asked. Anthea was looking at Mycroft with a puzzled expression. Meanwhile Jamie just had her head buried in her hand.

"The fact that you will now have a son. How does this effect the future you envisioned for her prior to this new information?" Mycroft asked. James frowned.

"It doesn't." James said.

"Because," Mycroft hummed. "Subconsciously a lot of men still feel as if once a male is born the elder female is no longer the heir, to use archaic terms."

"Not me." James said with a bit of a nervous laugh. "You know me, sir. Four older sisters."

"And yet you're the favourite." Mycroft hummed menacingly.

"Hope's Daddy's little girl." James said earnestly. "She's silly, and happy, and brilliant. I always want her to be my best friend." Mycroft's expression relaxed.

"Good." He hummed. "Congratulations, then." Anthea and Jamie exchanged a look.

"Sheesh!" Jamie exclaimed.

"No, don't do that." Mycroft scowled at the blonde woman. "I was simply doing what you two asked me to do and protecting the interests of my niece." Anthea smiled like a love sick fool at Mycroft. He was, in his own way, looking after his niece. Bless is strange soul.

"I love you." She said fondly. Mycroft's mouth twisted into an unwanted smile. He bowed his head, returning the expression silently.

"No questioning for me?" Jamie asked. Mycroft picked up his glass and scoffed.

"I don't care what you do." He said. "You're not my responsibility." Jamie's eyes widened. She looked at Anthea. Anthea shrugged.

"I think that translate into he trusts your abilities as a mother." Anthea said.

"No." Mycroft added quickly after Anthea had finished speaking. "I simply don't care." Jamie scoffed.

"Why do I even bother with him?" She exclaimed with a dramatic shrug. "Taking his logic he's your responsibility and I shouldn't even try." She said to Anthea. Anthea hummed thoughtfully. She looked Mycroft up and down.

"I wouldn't bother either if he wasn't so cute." She said. Mycroft pulled a face at the word 'cute' and Anthea winked at him.

"In all sincerity; congratulations." He said to both Jamie and James. "You somehow ended up with one tolerable child. I hope for all our sakes you can do it again." Jamie cocked her head to the side.

"Thank you?" She asked.

"Thanks, sir." James laughed. Mycroft stared into his glass again, this time running his finger around the rim of it. Anthea loved that. She'd always loved that. Not only had she always loved watching his long elegant fingers play with glassware but she always loved how awkward he got in sincere moments. She couldn't just sit here anymore. Despite any mood he was in, she had to get up and kiss him on the cheek.

"You're so sweet." Anthea said gingerly to him. The genius' steel eyes softened as he looked into her eyes. She also loved that – the way he searched her eyes. It was like he could read her very soul.

"No he's not!" Jamie debated in her loud, annoyed voice. Mycroft gave another of those long suffering dramatic eye rolls. Anthea was pretty sure James just wanted to go home at this point.

Author's Note: What did you think? I really hope you liked it because I really did. Also I'm still taking thoughts on what you want to see in the future. Thanks to our guest reviewers; Guest and Observant Potato. Thanks to all my readers. I hope to update on Christmas or Boxing Day. I'll see you then!