It was difficult to feel anything but happiness with Thomas being so happy. John knew that this was the trip of a lifetime for both of their children. "We'll have to see, it cots a bit of money," he explained as he looked down at their son with a smile. "And Daddy and I have both got jobs that we can't miss a lot of." But they would certainly come back again when both of the children were a bit older.
The moment Amy was in Sherlock's arms she rested her head on the man's shoulder. "I thinks that we should has nap time after dinner," she whispered with a small yawn, shifting a bit in her Papa's arms.
Sherlock smiled down at little Sandi. "Okay Baby Girl. After dinner we will go back to the hotel." It would give the family time to relax before going to bed for the night and get ready for the big day tomorrow. He left the restaurant with his family and placed Amy in her car seat. Hopefully she wouldn't be too fussy in it on their drive. Or perhaps even sleep.
Thomas frowned but nodded. It was understandable but he was still a bit disappointed. He held onto his Dad's hand as they walked to their rental car. He let go, once he climbed into his seat and got situated.
Once they were all in the car John seemed to relax a bit. Out of McDonald's, eating somewhere far healthier that night. Making Thomas and Amy happy was easy but he hated that it involved junk food. When they got back to London they'd be back to eating healthier food, he knew that much. "You're amazing," he whispered to his husband, reaching out to take one of his hands. Already he had plans for them later that night.
Amy shifted a bit in her seat, got comfortable, and then glanced out the window of the car. Being full of food took any of the fight out of her. Instead of crying and whimpering, she was quiet and sat still.
"And perfect," Sherlock supplied automatically with a smirk and quick glance to John. He squeezed his husband's hand the moment he felt it in his hand. He began driving them to the Smithsonian Institute. It didn't take long to get there. Thankfully, little Sandi was too tired to put put up much a fight about being the car seat. Once the car was parked, he took their daughter out of the seat.
Thomas watched out the window quietly, but excitedly. He would never get tired of the constantly new scenery around them when they drove. Being in the car just might be his favorite part about being in America, since he got to see so much. When they came to a stop, he got out and took his Dad's hand.
Being at the museum meant that John had to keep his hands to himself. The kids were a bit touchy about it sometimes. With a smile he looked down at Thomas, winking at the boy was they walked toward the Smithsonian. "We're going to learn so much today. Think of what you'll be able to tell everybody when school starts back up."
Amy shifted slightly in her Papa's arms, letting out a small noise before tiredly resting her head against his shoulder. "I wants to learn things," she said softly, lifting one hand up to gently rub at her eyes.
Sherlock smiled down at little Sandi, figuring she would end up falling asleep soon. He glanced over at Thomas, the boy was looking around with a big smile on his face, pulling on John's hand excitedly. At least their son enjoyed learning and seeing new things. He didn't remember having the kind of exuberance Thomas was displaying when learning something new. He had always been rather bored by most things as a child. Hell, most things still bored him as an adult but he was much more tolerant of things since marrying John.
Thomas was excited to be at the museum. He was certain there must be a lot of cool things to see. He frowned and shrugged a bit at the suggestion by his Dad. It would probably just get him beat up for being a 'nerd' so he didn't plan on telling any of the stupid kids he went to school with.
John watched Sherlock and Amy for a long moment before looking down at Thomas. This was going to be a rather good day for them and, when it was all over, he knew for a fact that their children would both be exhausted. That meant that he would be able surprise his husband like he had been planning all day. "Well then, what do we fancy going off to see first?" It would be a good idea to find something that wouldn't require too much walking since it looked like their daughter would be falling asleep soon.
Amy let out another small noise, yawning as she finally let her eyes close. She had been sleeping a lot more since they had come to America but all of the traveling and moving was completely new to her. She couldn't help it at all.
Sherlock smirked a bit. He had known little Sandi was going to be falling asleep soon. It was easy to tell really. There were rare occasions when Amy would get cranky and fussy and refused to sleep. But lately that hadn't happened, which he was thankful for. Any kind of stressful situation these days brought on the damned headaches.
Thomas looked around, biting his lip. "Um...can...we see everything...maybe?" The place looked huge, so that probably wasn't possible but he didn't even know where to begin to start looking in place like this.
John couldn't help but chuckle at their son, grinning down at their little boy. "Well, I can't promise that we'll see everything but I definitely think that we could try." It was going to be quite the adventure for them. He squeezed Thomas' hand before walking forward. "We'll start here, yeah? And just go on. There's quite a bit to learn about." But that was what their son loved because he was constantly searching for new things to teach himself.
Amy let out a small sigh, scrunched her face up, and then relaxed again in Sherlock's arms. While napping was good for her, it was obvious that this one would be a bit short lived.
Sherlock frowned a bit. Little Sandi hadn't napped very long. Hopefully she wouldn't be too cranky the rest of the day. He kissed the top of her head and followed after John and Thomas quietly. He glanced around at a few of the exhibits but didn't take a particular interest in any of it. It was pretty much stuff he already knew but the rest of the family would like it.
Thomas nodded, still holding onto his Dad's hand as he looked around at the displays. His eyes were wide with wonder and sometimes he would ask John to stop so he could he read some of the plaques. He was definitely enjoying himself as he took in all the new information.
John glanced back at Sherlock and Amy, watching their daughter for a long moment in order to see what was going on. She normally slept a bit longer than that but maybe all of the moving around and excitement had started to wake her up. As they kept walking they came to an exhibit on the United States Army and suddenly his interested was captured. "D'you fancy maybe seeing this one?"
Amy yawned again and looked up tiredly at her Papa. "'Mas is having so much fun," he whispered with a lazy smile. To her that was all that really mattered because she always wanted her older brother to be happy.
Sherlock gave John a smile when he saw his husband look back at them. He then glanced down at little Sandi, the smile returning. "Yes. He likes these kinds of things. What about you Baby Girl? We will do something you like soon, okay? Is there anything you want to do?" He wanted to make sure their daughter had a good time too.
Thomas nodded. "Okay Dad!" He grinned a bit and pulled John towards the military exhibit. "Do...do you miss it?" He looked up at his Dad, eyes wide. He nervously began biting his bottom lip, hoping he wouldn't get in trouble for asking.
At the question John bit his bottom lip, looking down at Thomas before nodding. "I do miss it just a bit. There was a rush and everything that came with it. But I love this more, being a father and having a family." Being the in the Army was simply something he was and he would always miss it but now he had to focus on so much more. Plus, he was definitely too old to do anything in the Army anymore.
Amy bit her bottom lip, practically mirroring John as she did so. "I wants to, um," she looked up at him before letting out a small huff. "I wants to go to a 'Mericans mall and buy some clothes."
Sherlock smiled. "Okay Baby Girl. We will find a mall tomorrow. We will go in any store you want." He shifted her to the other side of his hip, because Jesus she wasn't getting any lighter and he wasn't getting any younger. There would come a time, perhaps soon, that he and John wouldn't be able to carry her everywhere anymore.
Thomas continued to chew his lip. "Grandma...said Grandad died serving his country. Is that why he died? Because he was too old serve and he should have retired?" He had gotten a few answers out of parents about his grandfather before but he still didn't know much about Sherlock's dad.
John listened as Sherlock talked to their daughter, explaining that she would be able to do what she had planned the next day. It was good that they planned on pleasing both of their kids because they both needed to be enjoying their vacation as much as possible. Those thoughts were diverted when Thomas brought up. "Your Grandad died serving his country proudly and I can promise you it wasn't because he was too old." After a moment he cleared his throat, trying to get those memories out of his mind.
Amy grinned and wiggled slightly in Sherlock's arms as the excitement got to her. Shopping. It had gotten to her through several sources, especially Mrs. Hudson, that little girls were supposed to love shopping. With that information she definitely wanted to give it a try.
Sherlock smiled, happy to see little Sandi so excited. He had only been partially listening to the conversation Thomas and John were having and he frowned a bit. Something about his father. It wouldn't be good to worry or dwell on it right now, not with the family with him. He could ask his husband about it later.
Thomas stared up at his Dad for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Okay. Grandma said he was a hero like you." He nodded again and looked at some of the older uniforms the American soldiers used to wear.
A hero. In many ways Siger was because he wouldn't be here if the man hadn't sacrificed himself. Those few days of being held captive flashed through John's mind and he winced. Those were times he would much rather forget. "He was a hero," he murmured to Thomas, smiling softly at their son. "He saved me and Daddy's lives one time."
Amy glanced at Thomas and John, studying them for a very long moment. The way she looked at them was almost Sherlockian. "They talks 'bouts lots of stuff," she murmured softly, looking at Sherlock. "Dada doesn't talks about things with me like he does with 'Mas."
Sherlock gave little Sandi a kiss on the head. "Well, that just means that you and I get have our own little conversations." He had only been partially listening, to what was being said. Something about John being a hero and his father, was all he had really caught. Thomas was always so curious about...well everything.
Thomas' eyes went wide. "He saved you and Daddy? What happened?" He was suddenly much more interested in the family history than anything on display at the Smithsonian.
John bit his bottom lip, sucking a deep breath as he glanced over at Thomas. This was something that their children didn't know about in the slightest. Amy had been a baby, Thomas not even in their lives. "I got kidnapped while I was in the war and Daddy came to save me. But then we both got caught so your Grandfather came and rescued us." Without Siger he had no doubt that they would both be dead.
Amy yawned and pressed her face against Sherlock's neck, clearly more interested in cuddling than having their own little conversation. When her Papa held her she was completely calm, almost limp against his chest.
Sherlock smiled and held little Sandi close. She would probably fall back asleep at this rate, so he kept quiet and just listened to John talking to Thomas. Their son didn't seem interested in the the exhibits anymore, and far more enraptured by what his husband was saying.
Thomas' eyes got wide again. "He sounds amazing," he whispered reverently. He had forgotten all about looking around he museum because he would much rather learn about his family than anything else. He felt like he didn't know anything about Dad and Daddy before living with them.
Despite how horrid the man had been, John couldn't help but admit that Siger Holmes was, in fact, an amazing man. "He was for many reasons." No need to ruin the boy's image of his Grandfather while he was still so young. "I like to think that without him we wouldn't have met you." A grin tugged at his lips as he moved his free hand to ruffle Thomas' hair. "A great military man."
Amy yawned again, one hand gently curling into Sherlock's shirt. Her body would tense every now and then, proof that she was attempting to fight sleep so that she wouldn't miss anything. But it was all in vain. Her body was still recovering from jetlag and before long she was fast asleep again.
Sherlock smiled as little Sandi gradually began falling back asleep. He kissed her forehead yet again, and then glanced to John and Thomas. Right. Still talking about his old man. He was pretty sure their son would never tire of asking questions. It wasn't a bad thing, but sometimes it was a bit overwhelming as a parent.
Thomas just continued to stare up at his Dad in wonderment. "Wow. I wish I could have met him. Do you think he would have like me and Amy?"
While Thomas spoke, John was brought back to the time when he'd really met Siger. The man had scared him, had hit Sherlock...but he had Sherlock's interests at heart. "I think he would have loved you two," he said softly. Well, Thomas at least. Amy not so much. A bastard child he had called her once. But that was so long ago and they never needed to know. "You are his grandchildren after all." With a soft smile he glanced back at his husband and their daughter.
Amy was oblivious to the world around her, face pressed contentedly against Sherlock's neck while she slept without a care. Walking around in her Papa's arms was absolutely amazing to her and there was no place she would rather be.
Sherlock almost choked at what John said but managed to keep himself under control. He decided to try and ignore the conversation about his father and instead focused on little Sandi sleeping in his arms. He returned a weak smile to his husband, as he tried to calm down. He wasn't so sure about everything John had just said, but he supposed it was to make Thomas feel better.
Thomas nodded in agreement. "Did he love grandma too?" He couldn't imagine someone not liking his Grandma. She was one of the most wonderful ladies he had ever met, even if she had been scary at first. He missed her still and his Mum too. He sighed wishing he could stop being a baby about things.
One glance at his husband told John that Sherlock wasn't particularly enjoying their conversation. It did make sense to him, of course. Siger wasn't a loving man, even he knew that in the short instances that they had met. With a soft smile he looked down at Thomas, smiling widely. "Oh yes, he loved your grandma, Thomas." That brought back all of the memories, including how Nancy had explained sex to him and what Sherlock might like based off of what she'd learned with Siger. A bit of a blush spread across his cheeks at the thought alone.
Sherlock paced a bit, hoping the movement would help keep little Sandi calm and asleep in his arms. He supposed father loved Mum, in the Old Man's own strange way of showing love. He supposed he wouldn't know though, since he had never really seen that side of his father. He sighed at his thoughts and hoped he hadn't ruined the rest of the day for his husband and son.
Thomas nodded with a smile. He glanced over to his Daddy with a small frown. Something was wrong, he figured but he wasn't sure what. "We should keep looking at stuff."
John studied Sherlock before looking down at their son. "Probably," he said with a grin. There was a long moment before he shifted and reached out with his free hand, taking the one that his husband wasn't using to hold Amy up. "Hey," he murmured softly, giving the hand a squeeze. "You are fine. Why don't we finish walking through here and then go back to the hotel?"
Sherlock managed a small smile at John, as he took his husband's hand gently. Weren't they supposed to stop and get dinner somewhere for the family? He wasn't hungry and probably wouldn't eat but his family would need to. Especially the children. "We should stop for food in between," he uttered, hoping his voice wouldn't wake up little Sandi.
Thomas glanced at his Daddy again, the frown returning. Was something the matter because of what he had talked to Dad about? He wasn't sure so he decided to start looking at all the different exhibits around him and quickly became interested in them. There was so much to learn in this museum!
Right. Stopping for food instead of waiting was probably a better option. A soft smile tugged at John's lips as he stood on his toes and gave Sherlock a chaste kiss. "Let's stop and eat. You are right," he murmured before leading their family out of the museum. Thomas was growing and constantly eating so he knew that they would have to get him something soon. As they walked he spotted a little sit down restaurant. "How about this one?" Hopefully they would have some healthy options for the family.
As they walked Amy shifted and let out a soft sigh, indicating that she was starting to wake up. But she stayed quiet, settling in to enjoy the warmth from her Papa while she could.