Author's Note:

I won't be able to update every day like I did with the last story. The updates will still be frequent though! It shouldn't be more than three days between each chapter.


It was October. Less than a week away until Halloween, a holiday that Sherlock hadn't really paid attention to until adopting Thomas. This year both children would be dressing up and going out. He hadn't used drugs at all. He hadn't decided whether or not the narcotics group was helping. He still hadn't shared, despite insistent urging. He still didn't have a sponsor either. Really, he had barely spoken two words to anyone there at any given time. He sighed at his thoughts. Think about the upcoming holiday and the children. It was better than driving himself mad. He took fewer cases from the Yard, unless something major came up like a high body count from the same killer. The private cases usually bored him but it provided income for the family. He missed having John working with him. He was sitting up in his lab at the office, a place he often escaped to help relax him when his husband was working and he wasn't. It was the weekend and the children were with his mother right now. Solitude. His mind palace. It was better than drugs. Damn it. Stop thinking about that.

The surgery had accepted him back with open arms and had accepted his hours eagerly. John had come back from quite the day and looked around his husband's office for a moment. Quiet. Sometimes it wasn't too good, other times it meant they had a case and would be getting a paycheck that was better than the meager one he took home every two weeks. "Sherlock?" He pulled his jacket off, glancing at his tie for a moment before heading up the lift and to the lab. That was where he always found his husband. "Sherlock?" He stepped out of the elevator and smiled warmly, walking forward and running a hand through Sherlock's hair. "You look so busy, love," he joked softly as he bent down and placed a soft kiss on the man's cheek.

Speaking. Someone was talking. However, Sherlock didn't break from his thoughts until he felt a hand in his hair and then a kiss. John. He smiled, his eyes finally focusing on his husband. "I don't work on the weekends anymore, remember?" He smirked a bit. "Mum took the children out for costume shopping. Apparently Thomas didn't want me to go with them, because he wants it to be a surprise." It was a little late to be going but there hadn't been time until now really. "He says he wants you to help him with it. Guess you get to know and I don't." He smirked again and gave a slight shrug.

"Oh?" John ran a hand down his husband's neck for a moment, looking around the lab. He had forgotten what day it was, apparently. Shit. Maybe work was taking a bit more out of him than he thought. "I imagine Amy still wants to be a dog, then?" He licked his lips and moved to sit on the table right in front of his husband, spreading his legs with bit of a smirk. "Must be a big surprise for his Daddy," he whispered with a wink.

Sherlock studied John in silence a moment before another smirk touched his lips. "I don't know. Maybe. She has taken quite a liking to plants since I bought her that birthday present. She can measure the plants all on her own now John. God, she just turned three. She checks for fairies every day too." He smirked again. They had made a growth chart to check the progress of the plants but lately their daughter insisted on doing it herself because she was 'a big girl now.' Shit. How much longer until she no longer needed or wanted them around period? He broke away from his thoughts in favor of staring at his husband who was sitting so invitingly in front of him.

"I doubt they have plant costumes," John muttered with a chuckle as he glanced around the lab. An organized mess, as always. Those bloody plants. One day Amy woke them up swearing up and down that she had found a fairy in her orb and demanded on showing them. Of course, that had been at four in the morning when she'd gone down to the kitchen and managed to be as loud as possible while attempting to get herself a glass of water. "So what did you do today? Just sit in your lab?"

"Mind palace," Sherlock answered simply. "How was work?" With the way John was sitting in front of him, he wanted to get up and straddle his husband. However, his mother would be back at the flat with the children soon and he was a responsible father now, or at least he tired his hardest to be one anyway. He stood slowly, resisting his initial urge and grabbed his coat. "The children will be home soon." Hopefully John would understand and didn't think he was trying to ignore his husband. He did walk back over to John and gave him slow kiss on the lips.

John watched Sherlock for a long moment, frowning a bit as he returned the kiss. "Good. Lots of sick kiddos," he whispered as he lifted a leg and curled it around his husband's waist. "Made sure they were all taken care of," he added as he turned his head and placed a gentle kiss on the side of Sherlock's neck. "No shagging, then?" There was no anger at all in his voice, just a question as he pressed his hips forward slightly.

In moments like these Sherlock was always torn between being a good father or a good husband. Did John need him right now? The opportunity to shag uninterrupted didn't happen a lot and it wasn't something he really wanted to turn down, but they probably shouldn't. They had tried 'quickies' in the past and he had never really liked them. It wasn't intimate at all and he felt like the only reason they did it was for the sake of shagging. When had he become so sentimental? He knew the answer of course, ever since dating John had progressively became more open emotionally. Some days it was amazing and other days it damn near destroyed him.

The long silence made John smile warmly, eyes bright as he slid gently from the table and looked up at his husband. "'S fine," he whispered as he stood on his toes to give his husband a gentle kiss. "I understand and I am not going to force you to do anything." He grinned and gently ran his hands across Sherlock's stomach and slowly wrapped his arms around his husband. "You are wonderful, you know that? And I think I respect you more for telling me no with your silence."

Sherlock hadn't realized he had failed to say anything until John pointed it out. He smiled, and returned the hug. He rested his chin on top of his husband's head. He kept the embrace for awhile. He would never tire of being close to John. "I love you. Thank you." He closed his eyes, wanting to enjoy this moment just a little longer before finally releasing his husband. He took John's hand and led them outside into the cool London air.

John followed his husband with ease, squeezing his husband's hand as they walked down the street. Some people looked, smiled at them knowingly. He felt so oddly popular, like everybody knew them. Well, they did because of all the media coverage around them the past few years. He looked back up at his husband. "Does that mean I at least get to sleep in the same bed as you tonight?" He moved a bit closer to his husband as they walked, their bodies gently bumping together.

Sherlock looked down at John with a smile. "Of course. I might even sleep too. It has been almost three days since I slept last." He had wanted to finish the last case before the weekend, so he had foregone sleep. He would go over notes and other case related things in bed next to his husband but with it finished he would finally be able to relax next to John.

Three days? God, he would die without three days of sleep. John bit his bottom lip and moved his legs a bit faster to keep up with Sherlock. "Good. You need some sleep and," a pause as they finally arrived at the flat and he gently pushed the door open, "I could cook you dinner, too. Nice glass of wine and the macaroni and cheese I am sure Amy will enjoy."

It had only been a day and half since he had eaten. Amy had been in one of her moods so he had made hotdogs for them to eat. He supposed if he could eat to humor little Sandi he could do it for John too. "That would be good." He walked up the stairs, removed his coat and hung it up. The children weren't back yet. He would have a bit time to relax in his chair then. He supposed relaxation wasn't something he needed, since he had pretty much done that all day in the lab.

"Go sit, I will put the kettle on," John whispered as he moved into the kitchen. It was a bit of a mess but with both of them working and struggling to find time to even sleep with both of the kids, he wasn't too surprised. "And Lestrade dropped by? Said he wanted to know if you knew where Mycroft had gone off to this time." He poked his head from the kitchen as he grabbed two mugs. "Know anything about that?"

Sherlock smirked and slumped into his chair. He raised his eyebrows at the question. Lestrade and Mycroft were still having problems then. He had thought the Detective Inspector and his brother would be able to work things out by talking. Apparently he was wrong. "No, I have no idea where Mycroft has run off too." They hadn't even fought lately. So, it must have been something else? Maybe his older sibling actually had business to attend to for once.

"That is what I told him," John muttered with a shrug as he turned and poured the water into each of their mugs, preparing them to taste as he headed toward the living room. "There you go, love," he said as he handed Sherlock's mug off and sat down in his own chair. "Bit hot, don't burn your mouth," he said with a small laugh as he took a sip himself and hummed his appreciation for the drink. "So," he paused and blushed a bit. "Thomas found the video camera yesterday. I don't think I have ever moved so fast across this living room in my life."

Sherlock smirked and shook his head. "You don't think I left that on there, do you? I copied it to my laptop and saved it to the hard dive. I change the password every week." The password change had been a precaution he had taken when he started taking on more private cases than cases the Yard had. He finally took a sip of the tea. "We still haven't watched that video yet." He had thought about watching after he had copied it but it was something he was supposed to share with John, so he had waited.

The blush that spread across John's cheeks was strong. Hell, he even felt it at the tips of his ears. "We haven't," he muttered with a genuine smile. "We could tonight while we are in bed," he suggested softly. Watching themselves having sex. God, with the media breathing down their throats he was nervous about it. Would anybody pay any attention to a sex tape made by two middle-aged men? With Sherlock in it he was certain somebody would. That thought made a small frown tug at the edges of his lips.

"After everything we have done and tried, it still amazes me that you blush." Sherlock smirked as he took another sip of tea. "We will need to keep the volume low, obviously." Another smirk.

Thomas ran up the stairs excitedly, going straight to his room so his Daddy wouldn't be able to figure out his costume just by looking at the items purchased. His Daddy was amazing like that. "Dad! Come look!"

John looked up from his tea before turning to look at the disappearing figure of Thomas. "Right. Apparently I am heading upstairs," he chuckled and stood up, setting his empty mug on the small table beside his chair before bending to give his husband a quick kiss on the cheek. "I'm sure you will see our little princess in abo-"

"Papa! Dada!" Amy scampered up the stairs and darted into the living room holding a bag proudly. "I'mma be a fairy!" She declared with a grin as she moved toward Sherlock and slowly climbed into his lap.

John turned away with a grin as he went into the kids' bedroom. "Thomas?" He peaked in curiously. "What did you get, mate?"

A fairy. No surprise really. Sherlock smiled and held onto little Sandi as she climbed into his lap. "Do you want to try it on? I bet you will be the prettiest fairy out there Baby Girl."

Thomas grinned, pleased. "I am going to be Daddy," he whispered confidentially. "I already have the coat. I got some hair dye and a curling iron and I've been growing out my hair a bit, why I haven't let Grandma cut it yet. AND! LOOK!" He practically was jumping up and down now. "I got a purple button up shirt, black trousers and a scarf!"

Amy bit her bottom lip and opened the bag, studying the costume intently. The best that could be found, of course, because Nancy would settle for nothing less. She blushed a bit and looked up at her Papa. "Can I? Gramma says that I can'ts wear it until 'Allo-een." She nodded furiously.

John stood in the door way, mouth slightly open but grinning none-the-less. How in the world had Nancy managed all of that? He glanced over his shoulder and took a step in to the room with a soft chuckle. "Good job Thomas! I am sure Daddy is going to love it. We have got to hide this all, though! We can't let Sherlock find it."

Sherlock grinned. "Of course Baby Girl. It will be our secret okay? Only this once so it doesn't accidentally get ruined before you go out for treats!" He picked Amy up easily and took them to his bedroom and closed the door. "If you need help putting it on, let me know." He smiled as he set little Sandi down on the floor.

Thomas was beaming proudly up at his Dad. "I know! I told Daddy he can't come into the room until after Halloween! But Daddy likes to know everything, so I have to find a good hiding spot!"

Amy wiggled as she was set on her feet, eagerly pulling her shirt and skirt off in favor of sliding on the fairy costume. She glanced in the mirror on the wall for a moment before grinning. Hanging from the corner of the mirror were John's replica dog tags. Her eyes went wide as her fairy wings were forgotten in the bag in favor of turning to study Sherlock. "Those Dada's doggy tags?" She asked in awe.

"Good hiding spot?" John tugged his bottom lip into his mouth and looked around the room. Hiding spot? They were all over the flat and this had been his room when he first moved in. "I know a place," he muttered as he moved to the back of the room and tapped his foot on several different floor boards. He had to move the corner of the massive rug but finally found the loose one. "How is this?"

Sherlock smiled but it faded. Oh no. Would John get mad? "Yes, Baby Girl." Maybe he could distract her with the fairy wings. He glanced in the bag. Of course, glitter as well. He grinned and took out the wings and glitter.

Thomas' eyes went wide. "Yes! Dad that is perfect!" He ran over to John and gave his Dad a big hug. He put the costume under the boards with a big grin.

Amy glanced back at Sherlock for a moment, clearly torn now. Fairy wings and glitter or the one object she had been asking for, for months. She bit her bottom lip, shifted on her feet, and pointed up at them. "Can I's have them? Please?" Her eyes, so much like John's while she begged for them, were locked intently on Sherlock. She knew if she worked him long enough then she would get whatever she wanted.

John grinned and returned the hug, slowly lowering the floor board and looking around the bedroom. "Right then. Do you have homework to be doing?" He asked softly as he ruffled the boy's hair.

That look. How could he say no to that? Except, Sherlock knew he had to. "Sweetie, those aren't mine to give away. They are Dada's and he might get mad at me if I tell you yes, when he isn't ready to part with them."

Thomas shook his head. "I already did it. Daddy said we weren't allowed to go out until I was done with all my studies."

Amy's eyes narrowed and she plopped on to the ground with a 'hmph' as she looked up at Sherlock. Her chin shook as she started to cry, sniffing and letting out a small sob. "But I wants them," she demanded with a small hiccup. It wasn't fair because they were just hanging there. Dada wasn't using them.

"Right then. We could go watch some telly before dinner, then?" John moved toward the door of the bedroom and smiled. "We are having macaroni and cheese. How does that sound?" He opened the door with ease and heard the tell-tale signs of Amy starting a temper tantrum.

Right. How was he supposed to keep telling little Sandi no when his Baby Girl was sitting there crying? Appease Amy and risk making John mad at him for who knew how long? "I know you do, but they aren't mine. How would you like it if I gave your fairy plants away without asking you first? That wouldn't be very nice, would it?" Maybe he could reason with his daughter?

Thomas followed his Dad out of the room. "Amy wants something. You better go save Daddy before he caves, like usual." He flopped onto the couch, grabbed the remote and turned on the telly.

Amy let out another near-scream and kicked her little feet against the wood floor. "But I uses my fairy plants an' Dada doesn't uses the doggy tags!" She shouted as she narrowed her eyes and stood up, shoving gently at Sherlock's legs. "You's a big meanie, Papa!"

John frowned at Thomas for a moment before he heard her screaming. Not good. He moved into the bedroom and cleared his throat, studying the situation before looked at his husband. "What is wrong?" He asked softly as Amy looked up at him, red eyes narrowed as her anger was directed toward him with just a glare.

Sherlock wanted nothing more than to make little Sandi happy. Maybe he could get his daughter to take the dog tags he wore. He was about to take them off when John came in. "Baby Girl wants your dog tags." Giving their daughter something every time she wanted something probably wasn't the best parenting in the world but he just found it so hard to tell Amy no.

John glanced up at the mirror where his extra pair of dog tags were hanging and cleared his throat. "I..." He licked his lips and moved forward, grabbing them before glancing down at their daughter. These represented everything he never wanted her to see or experience. He bit his bottom lip and glanced at Sherlock. "Here, Baby Girl," he whispered as he bent down and gently handed them off to her.

Amy sniffed and studied them intently, holding the dog tags in her hand. "What's this mean?" She asked as she pointed to the 'B+' indented into the metal.

"That is my blood type, Amy," John whispered softly as he studied the dog tags in her hand, nearly too big for them.

"Why's they need that?" Amy shot back curiously as she tried to read the rest of them.

"Just so they know," John replied softly as he stood up and looked at Sherlock for a long moment before exhaling shakily and moving to stand next to him.

Sherlock watched John and little Sandi in silence. When his husband came to stand next to him, he took John's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "Baby Girl, why don't you go watch telly with Thomas. Dada and I will make some dinner. I will even do the aeroplane for you." He gave their daughter a small smile.

Amy nodded, dropping the dog tags on the ground so she could change out of the costume she got on and changing back into her normal clothes. "Mkay," she muttered as she grabbed her bag, the dog tags, and left the room.

John stood still for a moment before looking at Sherlock. "Did I do the right thing there? I hate seeing her cry...I just..." He shrugged and turned back toward the bathroom, letting go of Sherlock's hand in favor of moving toward the bathroom and turning the water in, splashing some on to his face.

Sherlock watched little Sandi for a moment before following after John. "I don't Love. Maybe. I don't like seeing her cry either but…" He trailed off with a slight shrug. Who was he to say anything? He could never tell their daughter no and she knew it. He would always give in eventually. Some father he was turning out to be. "Come on, let's get dinner ready for the children."

John braced himself, both hands on either side of their bathroom sink as the cool water dripped off the tip of his nose. "I just want to make them both happy," he muttered as he blindly grabbed the small washcloth and ran it across his face. "I don't...know," he muttered as he tossed the rag on the counter and turned too look at Sherlock. His cheeks were a bit flushed as he studied his husband. "I don't think I am suited for being a parent at all."

Sherlock embraced John in a hug from behind. "Easy Love. You are a great father." He gave a gentle kiss on his husband's neck. "A wonderful husband." Another kiss. "An amazing lover." He smirked a bit as he gave John another kiss. He held onto his husband tightly now, nuzzling his nose into where he had been placing kisses.

All the loving touches, Sherlock's words...John smiled and let his eyes slip shut for a long moment. "You have to say that, we are married," he whispered as he moved his hands, leaned back against his husband, and rested his hands over Sherlock's. "But thank you." He turned his head a bit and placed a soft kiss on his husband's cheek, pressing back against Sherlock suggestively. "We're going to watch ourselves shagging tonight. I think it might lead to some intense snogging." He chuckled as he heard Amy scream something about fairies from the living room.

Sherlock smirked with a small snort. "You say things like that to me all the time and you believe them. I believe what I say too, even if you don't." He kissed John on the back of the neck one more time before finally releasing his husband before he got a hard on just thinking about the shag against the window. Tonight. Just snogging. Right.

"You are a fantastic husband and father, though," John muttered as he turned the light in the bathroom off and studied his husband intently in the dark before opening the door. "But this time I will believe you," he whispered as he stood on his toes and gave Sherlock a quick kiss. "Now. Macaroni and cheese and wine," he laughed as he walked into the living room and saw Amy standing in front of the couch, hands on her hips, and glaring at Thomas.

"I wants to watch the fairies, 'Mas!" Amy muttered with a pout as she stomped her foot on the ground.

Sherlock smirked as he followed after John. His mouth twisted to the side in thought as he studied their children.

"Well, wait your turn. I was watching the telly first. When my show is over, we will watch yours." Thomas wasn't going to give in all the time just because his daddies did.

John smirked and moved into the kitchen to start cooking, moving around and trying to make as little noise as possible so Thomas could continue to watch telly. Knowing Amy's penchant for screaming when she didn't get what she want, something a co-worker had told him was completely normal for a child of her age, he was going to have to come and help Sherlock at some point.

Amy looked back at the telly and shook her head. "No, 'Mas, a'cause your shows is stupid," she muttered as she moved forward toward the couch and climbed on to it with a small sniff, looking at Sherlock and waiting for him to say something.

Sherlock arched a brow. "Baby Girl, you need to share. Thomas is right, he was watching first. If you don't want to watch his show, we can go check on your plants and see if any fairies showed up." He smiled at little Sandi hoping that would work. He was trying hard not to favor their daughter over their son. Treat them both the same. It had been tough but he was doing better.

Thomas smiled at his Daddy, happily. He wasn't sure Amy would be so easily dissuaded though.

Amy shook her head and dug her heels into the couch cushion with a whine. "No! 'Mas always gets the telly and I never do!" She muttered as she lowered her head and pressed her chin against her chest. "I wants the telly." She slid off the couch and stomped into the kitchen dramatically, looking up at John as he started boiling the water.

"Baby Girl, you know what I am going to say," John stated as he bent down and picked her up. "I think it's just nap time for you, isn't it?" He watched as she rested her head on his shoulder, sticking her thumb in her mouth as her eyes studied the counter lazily.

Sherlock frowned as he watched little Sandi stalk off. He sighed and slumped into his chair, eyes flickering to the telly. Something about ninjas or pirates, he wasn't entirely sure. Maybe both. Was Amy going to hate him now?

Thomas looked over at his Daddy. "It's okay. She is just pouting. Also, I think she may need put down for a bedtime." He ignored the telly in favor of getting off the couch and climbing up into his Daddy's lap.

John continued to cook while Amy slowly fell asleep with her head on his shoulder. She sucked easily on her thumb, not making a noise as he turned to look into the living room and smiled at Sherlock. Everything they were doing right now was so bloody domestic. Taking care of children, cooking... He never pictured his husband in this position. He shifted on his feet and finished making dinner, dishing it out easily on to four plates and setting them around their small table in the living room. "Dinner," he whispered as he sat down, balanced Amy easily, and started eating.

Sherlock smiled a bit at Thomas, as the boy snuggled against his chest. He sat there with their son until John called them to dinner. "Come on T.C. let's go eat." Thomas crawled off of him and scampered to the kitchen. He followed after the boy, Hamish hot on his heels. When he sat down at the table, the cat jumped into his lap and began purring loudly. He pet the feline idly with one hand as he fixed himself a small portion of the macaroni and cheese.

John smiled around a mouthful of food and gently shifted Amy as she started snoring. It stopped and she made a noise around her thumb before slipping back off to sleep. He took another bite and looked up at Sherlock. "Didn't get the wine out, bit of a kid on my side," he laughed softly and sat back in his chair as she started to wake up, looking at her Dada for a long moment before slowly opening her mouth. Of course. He picked up his fork and gently fed her a bite. She locked her gaze slowly on Sherlock as she chewed sleepily.

Sherlock smiled at John and then little Sandi. Their dinners always tended to be on the quiet side. It was always a nice family moment though. "I can get it Love." He set down the fork, not having taken a bite yet anyway and then put the Hamish on the ground, much to the cat's dismay. The feline growled its dissatisfaction and stalked out of the kitchen. He shook his head at it, got up and fetched the wine and two glasses. He poured the liquor into them both, set a glass and the bottle by John before returning to his seat.

John smiled warmly and took a sip, moving to feed Amy a second bite as she opened her mouth again. He took a bite himself, letting the fork knock against the plate a moment as he waited for Amy to chew her food. The sound of the telly floated softly toward the table and for the first time that day he finally relaxed, sitting back in his chair as Amy fell asleep again after only two bites of food. He rubbed his hand gently up and down her back as he lifted his glass to his lips again and studied Sherlock over the rim.

Sherlock took a sip of the wine before he finally began eating. He gave John a small smile as he continued to eat in the comfortable silence.

Thomas finished eating before his parents. "May I be excused please?"

"Of course Thomas," Sherlock replied. He didn't see why not.

"Dad, do you want me to take Amy and put her in bed?" Thomas got up from his chair, put his dishes in the sink and walked back over to the table

John glanced at their son and then at his plate. He was done eating and gently shook his head. It wasn't their son's job to take care of Amy. "It is fine, Thomas, I will do it." He smiled warmly despite the questioning glance in their son's direction as he stood up. "Be right back, love," he said as he walked past his husband and started upstairs. Amy didn't squirm as he changed her into her pajamas, just watched him with half-open eyes before turning to face the wall and yanking her covers to her chin. He moved back downstairs with a laugh and looked at Sherlock. "All tucked in. Anything you want to do with your night, Thomas?"

Sherlock finished eating and did the few dishes while John put little Sandi down. Thomas dried and put them away. They both moved to the living room. He sat back down in his chair, petting Hamish as soon as the cat hopped up onto his lap.

Thomas looked up at his Dad and shrugged. "Naw. Telly is fine." He picked up the remote and began flipping channels from the couch.