John and Sherlock's relationship had progressed leaps and bounds since Sherlock told him the truth about his past. The next glitch in their relationship came when John took Sherlock to meet the parents. In other relationship this would be seen as a massive commitment step, however with them it was rather a case of John trying to keep Sherlock from being bored while at the same time coming out as sherlocked man (John was not gay only sherlocked, as matter of fact). During the train trip into the country John pre-warned Sherlock on correct behaviour around his parents. Sherlock knew John's parents had no idea they were in a relationship. But never the less, Sherlock agreed to John's demands; Good behaviour or no tea or sex. Sherlock promised, anything but that!
Sherlock watched out the window as his territory of London disappeared and green fields replaced concrete roads and glass buildings. Coming out into the countryside always made Sherlock feel uneasy. He preferred the bright life of London, the countryside only reminded him of his withdrawal from drugs. He didn't want to be like that ever again. Sherlock became lost deep in thought. He only registered that John had interlaced their fingers when John had lightly moved his hand to get a better grip. They sat in silence as John subconsciously rubbed circles onto the back of Sherlock's hand.
As the train pulled into the station, John jostled Sherlock into grabbing his bags as they prepared to exit the carriage.
John became more and more agitated as time passed, the jitteriness was radiating off of him. It didn't help that Sherlock needed constant supervision so that he didn't piss anyone off or got himself into trouble. Seriously John didn't know how this man survived with out him sometimes.
As Sherlock hailed a taxi, John dropped his bags on the concrete floor and stretched his aching shoulder. Sherlock gave him a warm smile as he took the bags that were slumped at John feet and piled them into the boot of the taxi. It wasn't long now until John would face his parents. Both men entered the vehicle and rested against the fabric of the seats as the driver slammed the car door shut for them.
Pulling up to a detached house in a small town, the taxi came to a halt. John's heart rate quicken the moment had arrived. All the courage he had as soldier had disappeared as soon as he saw the curtains of his parent's house twitch. Sherlock was already out of the taxi and waiting for John to pull himself together.
'I can do this. I invaded Afghanistan for fuck sake' John mentally shouted at himself.
John pushed the car door open with more force than was really necessary. He stood next to Sherlock and gave him a silent nod. Sherlock handed John his bags and waited for John to make the first move to the house. John turned sharply and proceeded to the white wooden door, knocking three times he took a deep breath and hovered while his parents made it to the door. With a creak, John's father had prised the door open wide.
"Oh John dear, it is so good to see you. It's been far too long" declared John's mother from behind her husband. John's father stepped aside so that his wife to greet John properly.
"John, you didn't say you were bringing a friend with you?" she questioned her son.
"Doesn't matter come in both of you, I'll get dinner started for all of us" continued .
All four of them walked into the living of the house, John's father sat in only single chair while both Sherlock and John perched on the sofa. They waited for John's mother to come back from the kitchen, carrying a tray of tea and biscuits.
"It's finally great to meet you Mr and Mrs Watson" commented Sherlock as he was passed a teacup.
"Please, call us Jane and Christopher. We will have to make up the spare bedroom for you later, dear" smiled Jane.
"That won't be necessary mum. Sherlock and I are together" stated John. He hadn't mean to say it only think it, but it had slipped out and now the room was silent. John mentally kicked himself for not paying attention.
Christopher and Jane stared open-mouthed at Sherlock as if he had corrupted their son. Jane let the cup slip from her hands, it hit the floor with a muffled clatter as the rest of the tea from the cup was spilt across the cream coloured carpet, soaking into the fibres. Christopher made a slight coughing noise. Well this was certainly awkward.
"You could of given us some warning, son" expressed Christopher.
John hung his head. This shouldn't feel guilty for this, love should matter whether the other person is a man or a women. It wasn't his fault that both he and his sister preferred the same sex.
"Least we have saved you the trouble of making up the spare room" joked Sherlock. Suddenly Sherlock had three pairs of eyes boring into him. This certainly wasn't the time to be messing around.
"Why don't you take your stuff up stairs boys" suggested Jane as an attempt to end the awkwardness.
Following her order both John and Sherlock placed their cups down on the tray, stepped out of the room and jogged up the stairs with their bags. John directed Sherlock to a room towards the back of the house. Wrenching the door open both men lumbered into the tight room that was once John's childhood bedroom. Sherlock gently shut the down behind him. Thank god John had a double bed at least. Sherlock reached out to grab John's hand. He pulled the other man closer to him and hugged him while whispering sweet nothings into his ear. John smiled into Sherlock's chest. Sherlock kissed John on the forehead and started to unpack his things. Just below them John's parents could be heard arguing over their son being gay. John tried to not let it affect him. He had Sherlock that was all he needed in life, fuck what his parents thought.
Deciding to have it out with his parents, John quickly excused himself from the room and left Sherlock to unpack he didn't want him getting mixed up in his families business as John of all people knew how horrendous his father could be.
Sherlock and pulled the last item of clothing out of his bag and had stuff it into one of John's drawers. Pushing the bag under the bed he went to go find John. Sherlock crept down the stairs barely making a noise. He could hear raised voices coming from the kitchen, observing the corridor he saw that the door was slightly ajar so instead of announcing his present he decided to eavesdrop. Sherlock could distinctly hear Christopher's voice.
"Now I don't know if you are following in your sisters disgraceful footsteps but there is no way I raised my son to be gay. Even so, why him? What the hell were you thinking bringing your posh boyfriend here. By the looks of him one of his suits would be worth more than this whole house. Is that why you brought him here, to show off your new toy? What are you some sort of gold-digger?" hissed Christopher.
Sherlock couldn't hear John reply at all, almost as if John was accepting everything his father was shouting at him. There was a pause in the conversation, then John spoke.
"I'm sorry dad. I have shamed you'" cried John.
"You will not take part in any homosexual acts while you are under my roof. That man is a freak a utter weirdo Of all the people in the world you chose a faggot" hissed Christopher back at John.
"Yes father" John answered in defeat, there would be no reasoning with his father who was set in his tradition old ways.
With that Sherlock pushed the rest of the door to the kitchen open and stood there looking both shocked and angry.
"Well John if you are going to stand there and let your father say derogatory rubbish and not defend yourself or I, I better go" stated Sherlock, raising his voice.
John's face fell. He had no idea Sherlock had heard all of that. No idea that Sherlock currently thought John wasn't going to defend him. John knew he should of at least put up some sort of a fight with his dad. Before he could answer, Sherlock had already taken off and was out the front door.
John's phone vibrated, he pulled it out to read the new message;
Just to hear you agree with your father that I am a freak is just inexcusable. Don't bother coming back to Baker Street. -SH
John's world had just fallen apart once again in just a matter of weeks.
Hey there, hope you enjoy this latest chapter as angsty as it is.
Remember you can find me on Tumblr over at brokehisactionman or elementarysherlocked if you want to talk to me, ask questions or whatever.
Love all of you,
Kt x