For Sherlock's birthday, John got him an iPad. John was very proud of it. He was sure Sherlock would love it, but when it arrived, Sherlock wasn't very excited about it.

The three of them are sitting in John and Sherlock's bed watching Sherlock open his presents. Ian hands him a small package and Sherlock smiles down at him.

He shakes the box. "Ooh, what could this be?"

"It's a rock!"

Ian looks from the three year old to John.

John stares at him. "Do not," John warns.

Sherlock smiles back at Ian and opens the box. Sure enough it's a rock. He smiles. "Thank you, Ian. It's a…very lovely rock."

Ian smiles with pride. "I found it at the park."

"You did? Well, it's great. Thank you." Sherlock leans down and kisses Ian.

"Welcome, Daddy!"

John laughs and picks up his gift. He hands the box to Sherlock.

"Oh, what's this?" Sherlock asks. He hates surprises.

"It's a pad!" Ian shouts as Sherlock pulls the first slice of tape off.

Sherlock pauses and stares at Ian. Then John.

John grabs Ian and pulls the three year old onto his lap. He whispers in Ian's ear, even though Sherlock can hear, "I told you not to tell Daddy what his present is."

"But I want to play with it!" Ian says.

Sherlock laughs. "Here," he holds the box out to Ian. "Help me open it."

Ian digs in to the wrapping paper. Soon the box is bare but for the white Apple symbol.

"Hmm," Sherlock mutters as he cuts the tape off with his fingernail.

"What do you think?" John asks.

Sherlock looks at John showing no expression for a minute, then he breaks into a shy smile. "I like it," he says.

John smiles wide. "Do you? I wasn't sure, but I thought you'd like it."

"I do," Sherlock takes it out of the foam. "It'll come in handy."

Sherlock plays with his iPad that morning. He syncs it to his laptop, then adds a few songs and buys a few apps for Ian. The three of them play with it that day, and at night Sherlock leaves it to charge. The next day, he unplugs it and lets Ian see it, but he himself doesn't play with it much.

After that, Sherlock only really plays with it if Ian wants to. Soon, it gets filled with games, movies, and other apps for Ian. There are letter and number games, language games, Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, and of course Netflix.

Ian loves it. Every day, many times, he asks for the 'YourPad'. That's what he calls it. Every time Ian asks for it, Sherlock lets him play with it. Ian knows how to turn it on, get to the app he wants, and when he's done he knows to put it away.

Two weeks after Sherlock's birthday, Ian's very attached to the iPad and John is annoyed.

"Why are you so annoyed, John?" Sherlock asks as he hands the iPad to Ian.

"I bought that for you, Sherlock. Not for Ian."

"He just wants to play with it," Sherlock says.

"You haven't played with it almost at all. Ian's played with it more than you even look at it."

Sherlock looks at Ian laughing while watching Mickey Mouse. "He's so happy, John," Sherlock says, kissing John's cheek. "It was a good gift. I'll make more use of it, ok?"

John nods. "That's all I ask. It's got great features for you to use for work."

Sherlock agrees and goes back to Ian to watch Mickey Mouse.

The next day, Sherlock does find a few apps that are good for work. The iPad helps him to do a lot of research and stay organized.

Right before Ian's naptime, Ian stomps into the living room asking for the iPad to watch a movie as he falls asleep.

Sherlock shoos him away. "I'm working, son."

"But I want the YourPad."

"I'm using it, Ian," Sherlock says, looking at Ian.

"But I want it!" Ian shouts, stomping his feet.

"Come on," Sherlock says, picking Ian up. "You're grouchy. You need a nap."

"I want the YourPad!" Ian cries.

Sherlock carries him up to his room as he cries the whole way. "Stop crying," Sherlock says. "I know you're fine."

Ian sniffles in Sherlock's ear. "I'm not fine."

Sherlock lays him down in his bed. "You are fine," Sherlock grabs three of Ian's favorite stuffed animals and tucks them in next to him. "You are fine. Go to sleep."

Ian sniffles some more, but he closes his eyes.

"I love you," Sherlock says, kissing Ian's forehead.

"Love you," Ian says.

Sherlock goes back downstairs to work, and by the time Ian's awake, John gets home. John goes upstairs to get Ian while Sherlock finishes up his work, then plugs in the iPad in it's usual spot.

They all forget about the iPad for the rest of the afternoon and through dinner, and at bedtime Ian doesn't ask for it. Sherlock and John go to bed right after they tuck Ian in, so the iPad is left plugged in at the desk.

Well, that is until the next morning.

Sherlock gets up early and decides to work using the iPad. He goes to the desk to retrieve it when he finds it's gone. He glances up the stairs and smirks, fully knowing that Ian stole it. He thinks to not confront his three year old at six A.M., so Sherlock resumes his work without the iPad.

A while later, Ian waltzes down the stairs. "Hi, Daddy," he says.

"Hello, Ian," Sherlock says, smiling at Ian. Ian gives him a kiss, then Ian turns to leave but Sherlock grabs his hand. "Have you got something to tell me?"

Ian's eyes grow wide and she shakes his head.

Sherlock laughs. "Ok," he lets Ian go, "Go wake Dad up."

Sherlock isn't going to confront Ian until Ian tells the truth.

All day, Ian plays in his room. Sherlock told John that Ian took the iPad, and at lunch, when Ian finally leaves his room, Sherlock and John both eye him suspiciously. The three year old doesn't crack, instead he takes his peanut butter sandwich to his room.

A while after that, John hands Sherlock a load of Ian's laundry to take up to his room. Sherlock rolls his eyes and takes the basket upstairs, and when he opens Ian's door, Ian jumps.

"Daddy!" Ian shouts.

Sherlock looks at him huddled in the corner with his stuffed animals and the iPad in the center. The iPad with peanut butter smears all over it.

"Ian!" Sherlock shouts. "What did you do?"

Ian bursts into tears. "I was just playing!"

Sherlock quickly grabs the iPad, then Ian. Ian's sticky fingers smear on Sherlock's crisp white shirt. Ian cries into Sherlock's shoulder.

When they get downstairs, Sherlock sits Ian on the kitchen table and grabs a cloth. He wipes the peanut butter off, but it's very difficult to come off.

"What's going on?" John asks, walking into the room from their laundry room.

"Ian's smeared peanut butter on my iPad," Sherlock calmly says.

"Why did you do that, Ian?" John demands.

"I didn't mean to!" Ian cries.

Sherlock takes a deep breath when all of it finally comes off. Then, he looks at Ian. "Why did you take this?"

"I wanted to play with it," he says. "And you wouldn't let me."

"That's because it's mine, Ian. If I wanted to play with something that belongs to you, but you didn't want me to, should I steal it?"

Ian shrugs. "I don't know."

John turns Ian to face him. "You shouldn't have taken it, Ian."

Ian nods. "I know."

"What do you tell Daddy?"

Ian looks up at Sherlock with red, puffy eyes. "I'm sorry for taking your YourPad, Daddy."

Sherlock takes a deep, calmly breath. "It's ok," he says, patting Ian's head. "Just don't take it without permission again. And no food near it, got it?"

Ian nods.

Sherlock takes him off the table and Ian plays with his toys in the living room while Sherlock helps John with the rest of the laundry.

"Did you think he ruined it?" John asks.

"Hmm? Oh, no. Not really."

John smiles. "You were. You do like it! I knew you would."

"I said I did, John."

"You didn't show it very well."

Sherlock glances at John, then at the towel he's folding. "Well, I love it. Ok? You always get me the best gifts."

"Because I know you the best," John says.

When they're finished, they go back to the living room to find Ian laying on the couch with the iPad. Before Sherlock can scold him, Ian shouts, "Can I play with the YourPad?!"

John begins to laugh, which makes Sherlock laugh.

Sherlock sighs and goes to the couch to join Ian in playing Angry Birds.

*Yay new chapter. Uhm if you want Kid!Sherlock adorableness, written by me, check out my story A Study in Magenta. Trust me. I think you'll like it.