Author's Note:

Get to find out more about Sherlock's headaches in this new chapter!

"No, you still have questions." John took a deep breath. He would have to suck it up and be a good Dad for a bit. "Ask me what is going on, will you? I will answer it the best I can." He looked up at Thomas and patted the spot the boy had just stood up from.

Amy slid off of her chair, grabbed her plate, and took it to the sink. "I help," she stated as she grabbed the rag used to dry dishes and held a hand up for a wet dish. "Did you has to ask Daddy to go to his house and play?"

Thomas shrugged and sat back down. "I don't know. I guess I just don't understand. I'm not smart like Daddy." He dropped his head. "No one is…"

Sherlock smirked and gave little Sandi a dish. "Careful. If you drop it, it might break Baby Girl." The question confused him, mainly because he wasn't entirely sure what Amy was asking. Was she talking about John? "What do you mean Sweetie? I didn't know your Dada until I was much older. We were adults when we met."

"You are very smart, Thomas," John whispered as he wrapped an arm around their son's shoulders and pulled him close. "But somethings in life are just a bit difficult to figure out, yeah? Even Sherlock had trouble learning some things. Do you want to know a secret?"

Amy nodded and started drying the dish with a happy smile, looking way up at Sherlock. "Adults? You guys hasn't known each other since you was little?" She looked a tad disappointed at that and bit her bottom lip as she handed her Papa the completely dry dish. "So you guys just met each other at a playground and decided to play then?"

"Not smart like Daddy," Thomas muttered. How was he ever supposed to be like Daddy when he wasn't that smart? He glanced up at his Dad. He had a hard time believing Daddy didn't know everything about everything. "What?"

Sherlock managed a smile and handed Amy another dish. "We met when I was working on a case. We ended up living together and then we got married when we realized that we love each other very much."

"Your Daddy didn't even know about wanking until we started dating," John whispered softly as a bit of a blush spread across his cheeks. God, he hoped Sherlock never found out he had told Thomas that. "So, look at that." He grinned and placed a kiss on their son's temple. "You're smarter than him," he stated proudly.

Amy started drying her second dish and looked at the ground as she tried to piece everything together. "Dada moved in with you? And then you realized how much you loved him?" She looked up at her Papa for a moment and shrugged. "Is it a'cause he's good at the wrestling?"

Thomas' eye went wide. "R-really?" That seemed hard to believe. Daddy knew everything. He smiled up at his Dad.

Sherlock couldn't help but smirk as he handed little Sandi another dish to dry. "Dada is very good at wrestling, but I love him because of who he is. He is brave and smart." God, John was amazing. Why did his husband put up with him?

"Really," John replied back with a wide smile. "I had to teach him so many things, Thomas. About relationships and all those little domestic things he does." He chuckled at the thought. "So look at that, my favorite little boy, you are smarter than Sherlock Holmes."

Amy coughed slightly and continued drying the dish, looking up at her. "Gramma tolded me that Dada was a soldier," she stated softly before handing the dry dish to her Papa. "And that maded him brave and smart. She told me that he fought for me and you."

Thomas grinned and stood up. "I am still hungry Dad." He offered to help John up because that was what Daddy always did.

"That is exactly right." Sherlock had also talked to her a bit about it the day after little Sandi's birthday. Then John found out and he thought for sure it would start a fight, but luckily it hadn't.

"Well the rest of the family is doing dishes." John gently took the boy's hand but stood up mostly on his own. If he pulled at all on their son's hand Thomas would certainly fall over. "But I think I saved an extra blueberry pancake just for you, made it special." He bent down with a grin. "I cooked it in syrup. Don't even make those for Daddy."

Amy nodded and pushed her rag up on to the counter, clearly deep in thought. "So...does that mean Dada is a hero? That's what they say on the telly all the time when you watches the news. That soldiers, they is heroes."

Thomas grinned and rushed out of the room to find this special pancake his Dad spoke of. Oh good. His plate was still on the table. Daddy had only done the dishes that were empty. That was why Daddy was so smart. The man thought of everything.

"Yep, that is exactly right." Sherlock glanced behind him at their son and then over to John, his eyebrows raising slightly. He was curious what his husband had talked about with Thomas. Maybe they could talk about it later. He finished the last dish, giving it to little Sandi.

John glanced at Sherlock and smiled slightly, lifting his hand and quickly signing 'later.' He moved to the plate still on the counter and placed the special pancake on Thomas' plate. "There you go, mate," he said with a smile before turning to his husband. "Thanks for picking up," he whispered as he stood on his toes and gave Sherlock a quick kiss. "You are wonderful."

Amy studied her daddies for a long moment before clearing her throat to draw attention to herself. "Dada, dids you know that you is a hero?" She looked at John with a smile. "And Papa saided you is brave and smart."

Sherlock nodded and then grinned at John. "I know. It is because I am amazing and perfect Love." He turned to see Thomas happily eating the pancake his husband had given the boy. "I said it Baby Girl, because it is true." He gave John a smile, hoping his husband wouldn't be upset by what little Sandi said.

"Hmm..." John forced a quick smile and cleared his throat, glancing down at their daughter. "Go on and watch telly, Amy." He watched her scamper out of the kitchen and on to the couch. He turned his attention to Thomas and watched him with a warm smile. "Would you eat those? Pancakes cooked with syrup? You could carry them to the office."

Sherlock raised an eyebrow. "Seems a bit messy to carry to the office." He smirked at John. He turned his attention to their son. Thomas had finished eating and the boy went to the living room with Amy. "So, Baby Girl wants to know how soon she can 'wrestle' with someone like the adults do. I was vague and said a long time."

John nearly choked on the air in his lungs. Sure, she didn't actually know what 'wrestling' was but still... He cleared his throat and leaned against Sherlock as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Thomas asked me what wanking was and," he paused and looked at Amy protectively. "And apparently some boys in school asked him if he wanked to Amy since they weren't related." He tensed and narrowed his eyes.

Sherlock smirked a bit and then his eyes narrowed dangerously. "They said what?" He growled, his hands curling into fists and fingernails dug into his skin. "What in the hell is wrong with the other children at his school?" He sighed. "Amy wants to know if Jeremy, that boy you don't like touching our daughter can come over to play since they held hands at her party. She thinks I don't like him, so she is mad at me for it not you." He managed a smirk at that.

For a small moment John really disliked their children for simply putting him through such mood swings. The selfishness of the thought made him blush. "He is not coming over here," he said softly as he reached down and grabbed Sherlock's hand. "No. I refuse to let that happen. He'll kiss her or something." He squeezed his husband's hand and licked his lips. Why did both of their children need to be difficult at the same time? "This parenting thing is tough."

Sherlock returned the squeeze. "I knew you wouldn't like it so I told her no. Now she thinks I hate that boy and she is mad at me." He shrugged a bit. He hadn't particularly enjoyed playing the bad guy but hopefully it would blow over. "It is. I thought it would be easy, but it isn't...at all..." He leaned his head down so it could rest on his husband's shoulder.

"I never thought it was going to be easy," John replied with a lop-sided smile, fading fast as he tried keep his thoughts positive. He didn't want his little boy and girl to grow up anymore, to think about kids of the opposite sex...or same sex, for that matter. "I am glad I have got you at my side doing this, too," he whispered with a bit of a chuckle. "I couldn't do this without you at all."

Sherlock smirked a bit. "Yeah. I couldn't do this without you either Love." He squeezed John's hand against, to help reassure both of them. "They are growing up fast it seems." Of course time was relative and constant, but it didn't change the fact that he felt like they had just brought home little Sandi from the hospital.

"Can you use your massive brain to stop them from growing? That possible?" John smirked and turned to placed several soft kisses across the side of his husband's jaw. "You are a genius, I know you can do it." He laughed softly and watched as Amy shifted on the couch, clearly a bit unhappy about whatever show was on the telly. Despite the twisted up look on her face, she didn't say a word. That made John grin. "You have taught them so well."

Sherlock snorted. "Right, I'll get right on that Love." He smirked down at John. "You have too." He turned his head to give John a kiss on the cheek and squeezed his husband's hand again. "Think I am going to do some research online about the headaches, see if I can find what is wrong with me...if anything..."

John's head shot up at that, clearly worried. He could go without actually knowing. "Okay," he whispered with his eyes still a bit wide. "Just, you know, don't believe everything you read." There. Of course this was Sherlock, the man was a genius and would know not to believe everything. "You will be fine, I promise." He stood on his toes and gave his husband a slow kiss before moving into the living room. "Oi, don't pout like that Miss Amy." He chuckled as he sat down and lifted her into his lap. "What are we watching, Thomas?"

"I just want to see if I can figure it out on my own," Sherlock muttered before John left the kitchen. He sighed and followed after his husband. He grabbed his laptop and slumped into his chair.

Thomas looked over at his Dad. "Lego Ninjas. I think its an American cartoon originally."

"Lego ninjas?" John glanced at the telly for a long moment. If Thomas liked it than there was no reason to find it odd. "As long as isn't that American sponge show," he muttered. Sherlock had commented more than once on how horrid that show was for children. He agreed, it was rather annoying. "No violence, right?" He studied Thomas and glanced momentarily at Amy.

The little girl had effectively distracted herself with John, turning in his lap to play with the buttons of his pajama shirt. She glanced up at him for a moment, smiled, and returned her attention to his buttons.

Thomas shrugged. "Not really. No more than those stupid Bugs Bunny cartoons." The only other cartoon he really liked from America was Adventure Time. He didn't get to watch It a lot though, because of Amy. His parents thought it was too violent for her to watch. Which he supposed it was. "Besides I hate Spongebob, it is a stupid baby show."

Right. John nodded slightly and watched Amy with a small bit of a smile. He was proud of Thomas and after a long moment he moved his arm out and tugged their son closer to his side. "You're such a fantastic son," he whispered as he turned his head and placed a kiss on the crown of the boy's head. "You are amazing."

Amy watched Thomas for a long moment with a toothy grin, her eyes bright before she rested her head against John's chest. "Yeah 'Mas," she whispered. "You's amazing."

"Dad, I sm almost nine." Thomas pulled away. Apparently he was in one of those where he felt too old for hugs. "And I'm not amazing," he grumbled. The only amazing person in the room was his Daddy and he wasn't near as cool as that.

Sherlock glanced up over his laptop and over to the couch. Their son seemed to lack self confidence like John. He frowned at the thought and went back to reading the screen in front of him.

John bit his bottom lip and sighed as Amy moved off of his lap and situated herself next to Thomas with a small smile. Apparently today was not his day to be Dad because...Jesus, he was just trying to compliment their son. He shifted slightly on the couch and glanced up at his husband. Probably his fault, he was just as negative about himself. Wonderful. He stood up slowly and decided it would be best to finish some paper work from the clinic. He grabbed all of his folders from the table next to the couch and started working his way through them.

Sherlock sighed and put the laptop down off his lap. "Thomas, apologize to John."

Thomas muttered an apology, gave the remote to Amy and stalked off to his room.

Sherlock frowned and sighed again. He could do Internet research later. He got up and walked over to John. Sherlock placed his hands on his husband's shoulders and began a gentle massage.

John let his head fall for a moment, his grip on the pen in his left hand loosening slightly. "I have upset him," he whispered as Amy glanced between her parents and the direction Thomas went. "I don't know what I did...but, God, sometimes he's just so..." He cut himself off before he said something he might regret, clearing his throat. "I don't know, I just am trying to be positive with him." He let his head fall back to rest gently against his husband's stomach. "What else can I do, really?"He slowly opened his eyes and studied his husband.

Sherlock bent down and kissed the top of John's head. "You didn't do anything wrong Love. He is just at that age where kids are moody. It will probably get worse when he is a teenager." He continued to massage his husband's shoulders. Should he go talk to Thomas or just let the boy brood for a bit?

John sighed. God, he hated moments where he had no idea how to handle Thomas. It made him feel like a horrible father. "Right. I understand that but...I feel like, I dunno. It's stupid and childish but it hurts me, Sherlock. I feel like I can't do anything right for him. Some days he runs to me and hugs me, wants to sleep on my chest and the next he pushes me away. It's...it's bloody annoying."

Sherlock rested his chin on John's head, his arms coming to rest on his husband's chest in a slight hug. "Try not to let it get to you Love." Should he tell John about what he had found so far? Would it make things better or worse? He wasn't completely sure he had it all figured out yet, but he had already found a couple of things.

John cleared his throat and glanced down at the open file on the table in front of him. A woman who had been using cocaine, came in with stomach cramps. She had told him multiple times there was no way she was pregnant. It didn't take Sherlock's amazing deductions to know she actually was. He needed to get his mind off of his patients. "What did you find?" He muttered as he pushed his paperwork away.

Sherlock smirked, a bit surprised that John had just asked exactly what he had been thinking about. Was it coincident or had they just lived together long enough to know what the other is thinking? "Well, I don't have any other problems besides the headache. Apparently there is something called CDH, chronic daily headaches, but it only occurs in about four to five percent of the general population. No cure but there are treatments available. None of which I am keen on. Things like yoga and acupuncture, it basically helps relieve the tension in your body. There are also behavioral or psychological treatments." He rolled his eyes at the last suggestions.

John narrowed his eyes for a moment and studied his husband. "Oi, don't roll your eyes like that," he stated softly as he chuckled. "Sounds a bit ridiculous but I imagine it will help. You have got a job, yeah? Can't have you getting distracted in the slightest." He lifted up an arm and rested his hand the best he could on his husband's cheek. "We could try yoga. It might be a wonderful way to start our mornings."

Sherlock sighed in resignation. "Well, if I had to pick one I guess it would be yoga." It still seemed ridiculous to him. "If we did it together, it might not be so bad. Would you be up for that?" He suddenly smirked and leaned down to whisper in John's ear. "It might limber us both up and maybe we could try something new in the bedroom. Maybe one of those ridiculous poses they have people do." His tongue briefly trailed over his husband's ear after he finished speaking.

"Twat," John whispered as his eyes slipped closed, his bottom lip tugged into his mouth. He was certain that would be one of the many benefits to doing yoga and he swallowed hard. "Stop turning me on. It is a cuddle day," he added as he turned his head and captured Sherlock's lips in a slow kiss. With Thomas upset he couldln't risk their son overhearing them doing anything at all. "I feel like we have tried every bloody pose."

Sherlock smirked again. "You like it." The smirk got bigger. "We haven't tried every pose of that I can assure you. I am constantly finding new things in my…books." He had refrained from calling them 'sex books' because little Sandi was in the next room and she might hear since he wasn't whispering in John's ear like before. "What about family outing? We don't do those often and I just got paid a pretty good amount. We could go out to lunch and catch a late afternoon movie. How does that sound Love?"

John blushed slightly and cleared his throat, licking his lips as he glanced toward the living room. "I like the sound of that. We might have a member of the family that isn't so excited, though," he whispered as he looked up at his husband. "Maybe you should go talk to Thomas? I don't want to drag him anywhere if he is going to be negative about it." There was a pause as he heard the tell-tale song for the opening of 'My Little Pony' and he groaned. "We are going to have to see an Amy and Thomas movie, you know that right?"

"I was hoping going to see a movie would improve his mood and of course I know that. I have sat through them before, Love." Sherlock smirked a bit and kissed John on the kiss, before he straightened. "I am sure there is some children's movie out that is in 3-D that they will like. I will go check in on Thomas and then we can get ready." He walked to the children's room and knocked on the door before entering. "T.C. do you want to have a family day out? We can go see a movie, it has to be appropriate for Amy of course."

Thomas was playing a handheld game. He looked up at his Daddy, clearly excited. "Yeah! Please? I promise I'll be good…I'll even apologize to Dad better…" He darted past Sherlock and into the kitchen. "Dad, I'm sorry about earlier."

John turned and looked at Thomas. Jesus, how could Sherlock turn the boy's mood around like that? Was it just him that upset Thomas? He smiled the best he could and stood up, ruffling their son's hair. "It's fine, sometimes big boys like you get a tad upset." He looked over at Amy, intently tugging on her toes with one hand while the other was near her mouth as she sucked on her thumb. "Do you know of any good movies out that we could see as a family?"

"I think there is a new Wallace and Gromit movie out right now. There is something called Animal Farm that is cartoon but I don't understand what it is about." Thomas shrugged a bit. "I'm going to get Amy and I ready!" He scampered into the living room. "Sis! Do you want to go see a movie?"

Sherlock came back out to where the family was and gave John a smirk. "Looks like a family outing." He gave his husband a hug before going back to his chair. He had showered before breakfast and dressed, so he was already set to go.

Amy's head shot up and she grinned, sliding eagerly from the couch and lifting her arms up. "'Iggy back ride to the room, 'Mas?" She grinned up at him as she shifted on her feet, still dressed in her bright pink pajamas.

John watched Sherlock for a long moment before moving into their bedroom and getting dressed. "We aren't taking them to Animal Farm," he muttered as he fixed his buttons in the mirror above the fireplace the best he could. "Wallace and Gromit, though...kids like that rubbish, don't they?" He glanced at Sherlock for a long moment.

Thomas grinned back and then moved over so Amy could climb up behind him and he could hold onto her safely before moving toward the bedroom, making horse noises.

Sherlock watched the children disappear before turning his attention to John. "Animal Farm? The book by George Orwell? That wasn't even a good allegory story and definitely not suitable for children. They made that into a cartoon?" His eyes narrowed and he shook his head. "I don't even know what Wallace and Gromit is John. Is that the latest craze for children's movies?"

"I dunno," John muttered as he sighed and sat slowly into his chair. "Besides, I liked Animal Farm. Good book," he added as he sank slowly into his chair, legs spread as he focused intently on Sherlock's feet. "Does he hate me?" He finally asked, eyes lifting. That had to be the only explanation. Using him when it was needed, to hide his costume or to make breakfast but.. God, the kid practically ignored him when it wasn't necessary anymore. "He hates me."

Sherlock snorted at John's statement about Animal Farm being a good book but didn't comment on it. "I don't think he hates you Love." He shut down his laptop, put it away and moved over to his husband, kneeling in front of John. It wouldn't be appropriate to straddle his husband when the children could walk back into the living room at any moment. He took John's hands in his, giving them a squeeze. "Maybe you two should go out and do something tomorrow. Have a day to bond with him."

John looked down at their hands, leaning forward slightly to inspect Sherlock's a bit better. "He won't go with me," he said softly as he ran his thumbs over his husband's knuckles. "Sherlock, he doesn't like me. I'm not you. I am normal, boring. I work at a clinic and I'm not a genius. He will never like me." He squeezed Sherlock's hands and closed his eyes. What if Amy was the same way?

"Have you ever asked to him to go out with you? You are the one he always runs to for 'important' talks. He never talks to me about those kinds of things John. Maybe he could shadow you at work one day, if that would be okay with you of course." Sherlock lifted his husband's hands to his lips and he kissed the knuckles.

"He doesn't want to be some washed up doctor," John muttered as he watched Sherlock's lips, licking his own without a thought. "I try to hug him and he gets upset but the moment you go into his room he lights up, agrees to everything." He shrugged and leaned forward, pressing his forehead into his husband's hair. "I can try, I guess. He might want to." After a moment he let his eyes slip shut and he relaxed a bit. "Can't wait to snuggle with you tonight."

"Thomas isn't even nine yet. He has all kinds of time to figure out what he wants to do. I am sure wanting to be me is just phase. Who knows, maybe the singing lessons with Lestrade will put him on a different path. The reason he looks up to me so much is because I saved him on that plane John. Not because I am a good father. He's just a bit moody sometimes, I am sure that is perfectly normal for boys his age." Sherlock gave his husband a smile. "It will be nice. We should probably just stick to snuggling this time around." The smile twisted into a smirk.

John smiled a bit and lowered his head, giving his husband and quick kiss and letting his tongue run across his husband's bottom lip. "Yeah, you are right," he whispered as he slowly pulled away. "I will talk to him tonight when they are getting ready for bed," he said as he smirked a bit himself. Snuggling. Getting all tangled in the blankets, not knowing where he ended and Sherlock started...it was amazing. "Snuggling," he whispered as he pressed his nose against Sherlock's ear.

Good. Better. Much better. Sherlock smiled and stood back up, ignoring his creaking joints. Thomas had come back in the living room. Lunch and a movie. Little Sandi would probably be cranky after the movie, without a nap after lunch. Maybe they could just tuck her in early, instead of having her nap today.

John watched Sherlock stand up, biting his bottom lip as he stood up and rested his hand on his husband's lower back. "So, Wallace and Gromit?" He glanced at their son with a lop-sided smile, an eyebrow raised questionably. "I guess if Amy likes it," he muttered with a bit of a chuckle.

"'Mas dresseded me," Amy declared as she came to her brother's side. A white skirt and bright green shirt, little black Converse that John had bought for her. "'Mas is good at that," she muttered as she walked up to John and held her arms up.

"Oi, I am almost too old for this," John stated as he bent down and picked their daughter up, resting her against his hip and glancing at Thomas. "Are you ready to go then?"

Sherlock was certain he wouldn't care about the movie at all, but then again he wasn't a fan of film watching or watching shows on the telly. He dealt with both on a pretty regular basis now, but it was mostly just background noise to him. He took Thomas' hand and led his family down the stairs. "Where do you want to go for lunch?"