Disclaimer: I don't own Sherlock or anything.
Author's note: Please review! Thank you! THIS HAS BEEN EDITED! I NOTICED MY MISTAKE IN JOHN CLAIMING HE WAS BI AND HAD KNOWN SINCE HE WAS YOUNG, WHEN IN EARLIER CHAPTERS HE HAD SAID TO HIS DAD THAT HE HADN'T KNOWN UNTIL HE MET SHERLOCK! MY BAD, PEOPLE, SORRY!
Hamish wakes up peacefully, supposedly so exhausted from his night of night terrors and bed wetting that he was too tired to dream.
Sherlock and John were already up talking quietly to one another with content smiles on their faces.
"Daddy? Dadda?" Hamish calls up to them.
"Good morning, Hay, and how is our gorgeous son today?" John asked with a smile.
"I'm okay." Hamish said with a smile.
"Do you want a family cuddle?" John asked.
"Yes!" Hamish grinned and shuffled up in the bed.
Sherlock and John wrapped their arms around him and each other, content in the embrace of the people they loved most.
Soon they get dressed and all go down for breakfast. It's ten o'clock in the morning, so everyone is already at the table.
"Morning, lads!" Arthur's brother, Jeremy says with a smile.
"Morning." John greeted and got some cereal for himself, Hamish and Sherlock.
"How is Hamish this morning?" Harry asked, to those who hadn't been aware of the night's debacle it was an ordinary question, but John knew she was checking on her nephew.
"He's fine, aren't you, sweetheart?" John said and sat down.
"I good!" Hamish gave a kind smile at his Auntie.
"Hey, do you know where we are going to go today, little man?" Clara said with an excited grin.
Hamish shook his head "Where?"
"We're going to go and see the Christmas lights! We're going to go to the town centre, do a little festive shopping and maybe, we might be able to go and see Father Christmas!" Clara said cheerfully.
"Really?" Hamish asked, looking up at Sherlock and John with wide eyes.
"Really." Sherlock smiled.
"Yay!" Hamish clapped his hands and giggled.
Sherlock and John watched their son in his moment of joy and when he returned to his breakfast they looked up at each other with uncontrollable smiles and behind Hamish's chair they joined their hands and squeezed in happiness.
They wrapped all the children up in their winter coats, scarfs, hats and gloves. Hamish looked very snug as Sherlock carried him out of the house to join the rest of the family. Everybody was going.
They walked to the town centre, though the house was in a desolate area, the town was close by.
Hamish mostly stayed in Sherlock's arms for the walk. John chatted with his parents and some of the other family members, but stayed by Sherlock's side, holding his husband's hand and occasionally checking that Hamish was warm and content. Though his health was good, they didn't want him getting a cold or cough that could cause him a lot of pain with his rib and would not be good news for his just-healed lung.
Once they approached the town centre that had many shops and people and decorations all the children looked up at the lights and looked around at the toys in the windows.
Hamish pointed at everything; he was starting to take an interest in things again, which really pleased Sherlock and John.
Daisy and Dora liked asking John questions about Hamish, only Daisy, the seven year old, was brave enough to chat to the clever boy. Dora was still a bit shy. The teenagers made Hamish giggle by pulling funny faces or saying silly jokes to the small boy. However, Joanna, Tallulah and Thomas' ten year old, didn't seem to even take an interest in the youngest boy. She just glared and frowned at him. She didn't seem to like Hamish one bit. The girl was used to being the centre of attention, both at home and school, and around her cousins she was usually the centre of attention too. But the youngest boy took all that away, and he didn't even say much except to his dads. She pouted and refused to even talk to him.
They came to a normal supermarket and Sherlock pulled at John's hand and mouthed "Here?" at his husband.
John looked at the store and nodded.
"Hey, guys, we need to get something from in here. You don't mind, do you?" John turned to the group.
"Of course not. We'll go ahead. I think we're going to take the kids to see Santa's Grotto, but we'll wait outside for you." Mildred said.
"I need to get something too!" Harry said and she, pulling Clara with her, entered the shop with her brother, brother-in-law and nephew.
"What do you need?" she asked as she looked around at the signs.
John took his sister's arm and pulled her slightly away from Sherlock and Hamish.
"Listen, we're going to talk to Hamish about it later, but we were thinking of buying him some night nappies. Most four year olds aren't trained through the night yet, so they sell nappies for kids to wear at night. We thought that if he has an accident again then we'll have to put him in a nappy to make sure his nightmares don't cause such a fiasco as last night did." John explained.
"Oh, right, good plan. I myself need some toiletries." Harry said.
"Okay. Just, don't mention this to anyone else, I trust you, but I just don't want this to be a big thing. And some of the other kids are at an age when they might take the mick out of him for it. I want him to be happy and not have to worry about it." John pleaded.
"Of course! It's totally your business." Harry reassured her little brother and the five moved down the aisle.
Sherlock smiled at Hamish and said "Hey, why don't you go to your Auntie Harry? Daddy and I just want to go and look at something together. You will be able to see us, we'll just be a few steps away from you."
Hamish looked very reluctant so John added "And Harry was really upset because she hasn't got to talk to you and give you a big auntie hug yet!"
Hamish looked at Harry and then his dads "You can see me?" he asked.
"Yes." John confirmed.
"You be watching me?" Hamish asked.
"Yes, we'll watch you. And Harry won't let go of you. You're safe." John reassured Hamish.
Hamish slowly nodded and went to Harry's arms, who quickly distracted him with pointing out the different flavours of baby foods and giving her opinion of them.
Sherlock and John went a few steps up the aisle and found the nappies.
"Here they are." Sherlock said and picked up a blue packet.
"It reads: Night-time accident needn't be a worry for you or your children. These nappies able to fit… well, this packet is age three, but we both know that that is Hamish's size rather than age… and will help train your child with no stress or embarrassment." Sherlock read.
"Great. So, in normal circumstances the kid wears these, and during the night the parent takes them to the loo every few hours and in the end the child will be able to last most, if not all, of the night. And if they do have an accident then there's no need to worry because they have a nappy on. No dirty sheets and no embarrassment. However, in our case, while he is having a nightmare every night we won't have to worry about his fear making him wet the bed, because he'll wet this. But, once the nightmares have calmed down, which I think they will, then we can stop the nappies. Except, if he continues to wet the bed we can retrain him into going through the night." John said.
"Exactly. And we both know that the nightmares are lessening. He used to have one every time he went to sleep. Now he has only one a night and if he continues to make such progress then maybe they will lessen even more so." Sherlock nodded.
"I think we are making this work." John smiled.
"We just have to think logically." Sherlock commented.
John put the pack of nappies in the basket and kept Hamish distracted from observing what they were to a more convenient time. Harry got her toiletries after she passed Hamish to John and they all went to Santa's Grotto with a few more bags.
Once there all the children who weren't teenagers were buzzing at seeing Father Christmas. Hamish was looking everywhere and seemed to be content for now.
They entered the grotto and Daisy and Dora ran to Father Christmas, sitting on each knee and telling him in a rush how much they loved last year's Christmas and what they wanted this year. The 'Santa' was jolly and cheerful and handed the girls presents and they scurried back off to their parents.
Joanna stood and informed Father Christmas that she wanted a pony and some shoes that another girl in her school had.
The Santa gave her a present and with a cheerful goodbye she went back to her parents.
"And who do we have here? The smallest of the bunch! Come over here and tell me what you want for Christmas, young man!" Father Christmas smiled at Hamish.
Hamish buried his face in John's neck in shyness, making surrounding adults coo over the small boy.
"He's a little nervous." John explained.
"That's alright. Would you like your dad to come up with you?" Father Christmas asked.
Hamish took his face out of John's neck and nodded slowly.
John smiled and took Hamish to Santa's side. John crouched next to the man dressed in red and Hamish sat on his dad's knee, leaning back into the familiar warmth.
"What's your name?" Father Christmas asked.
"Hamish." Hamish said quietly.
"Hamish? What a lovely name! Scottish, I think. And where's your mum? Is she here? I'm sure she'd like a picture!" Father Christmas said, trying to ease Hamish's worry with thoughts of his parents.
"I don't have a mummy." Hamish said.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, lad." Father Christmas said.
"He doesn't mean it like that." John explained "He has two dads."
"Oh, well aren't you lucky? Having two dads!" The 'Santa' said cheerfully.
Hamish nodded and looked back at Sherlock, who gave him an encouraging wave. Hamish smiled and put his thumb in his mouth and looked back at Santa.
"So, what do you want for Christmas this year?" the man asked.
"I… want… a toy sonic screw driver. Me and my daddy watch Doctor Who. And I want good dreams." Hamish added.
John smiled, he wanted Hamish to have good dreams too.
"Well, I'll see what I can do." Father Christmas smiled and handed Hamish a small present.
"Thank you." Hamish said and John picked him up and took him back to Sherlock.
Sherlock smiled "You were so brave, Hay!"
"I got a present, dadda." Hamish grinned and shook the object.
"Ohh, what is it?" Sherlock took an interest and shared a smile with John.
Hamish ripped the wrapping paper off of it and found a small notebook and pen. It was all blue.
"Isn't that nice?" Sherlock smiled.
"Draw and write?" Hamish suggested.
"Yes!" John smiled and kissed Hamish's temple.
They walked home with the large group of family. Hamish himself walked a little way and Kevin and Colin started a snowball fight. Hamish picked up some snow in his hands and chucked it at John. It hit his daddy's legs and the blonde boy giggled.
John gasped "Hamish!" he said with a smile but pretend shock.
Sherlock knelt beside his son and helped him compact some more snow into a snow ball. He then helped Hamish throw it at John again. It hit John's stomach.
"Right, that's it you two!" John shouted and ran after them.
John tackled Sherlock to the ground and gently pulled Hamish onto Sherlock's chest so as not to hurt him.
Hamish giggled and once John sat on Sherlock and demanded an apology the boy was in hysterical laughter.
"Okay, I'm sorry!" Sherlock laughed along with his son.
John grinned "Forgiven." He said and pecked Sherlock's lips. He stood up and helped his son and husband up, brushing them down with snow.
As they approached the front door, Hamish in Harry's arms, John tapped Sherlock's bum.
Sherlock looked back and smirked "Some snow is on your trousers." John said with fake seriousness.
"Well, make sure you get it, John." Sherlock said, just as seriously.
"I will." John promised rested his hand on Sherlock's bum as they stepped through the door.
Apparently Hamish had heard the conversation and as Harry helped take his gloves off he said "Daddy! You can't get snow off like that! You have to pat and wipe." He said and was soon next to John and Sherlock and was patting Sherlock's bum.
"You see?" he asked innocently.
John and Sherlock were close to laughing, as was Harry, Clara and a few others.
"Thank you so much. Silly me." John said.
"That's okay, daddy." Hamish forgave him.
Sherlock and John took Hamish upstairs and to their room to get him out of his snowy clothes, and once that was done Sherlock nodded to John.
"Hay, come and sit with me and dadda for a minute." John said.
Hamish sat between Sherlock and John on the bed and waited patiently.
"Okay, listen to me and dadda. We are very proud of you. You have always been an incredibly brave boy and a fast learner. Now last night you had a little accident, that's fine. But we need to tell you that to make things less distressing for you, if it does happen again then you will have to wear training nappies. It isn't because your bad or anything of the sort. It is just so that if you have a nightmare and you have an accident, which is inconvenient but absolutely fine, then it would be easier if we didn't have to bath you and change the bedding at two in the morning. Do you understand?" John asked.
"But… I'm a big boy!" Hamish said.
"Yes, you are, Hamish. You were quickly potty trained. And you still are trained. But sometimes when you have a nightmare it can be so scary that you lose control and you accidently have a wee. That's alright; it isn't anything to be embarrassed or ashamed of. This is just to make it easier for daddy, me and you. We won't get you to wear them unless we think it will happen again. And that would be if you have an accident again any time within the next two weeks." Sherlock explained.
"Will the nightmares go away?" Hamish asked.
"Hamish, when I came back from the war I had lots of nightmares, and now I hardly have any. Me and dadda agree that we don't think they will be here for too much longer. It will get better." John promised.
"Okay." Hamish said.
"So you're okay with the nappies?" Sherlock asked.
"I'm still a big boy though?" Hamish questioned.
"Yes." John said and ruffled his four year Old's hair.
"Then yes." Hamish nodded.
"Do you need to talk to us about anything? Dadda and I are always, always here when you want to talk about the nightmares or any questions you have." John said firmly.
"Daddy?" Hamish asked.
"Yes?"
"The… the men… who hurt me… are they all dead?" Hamish asked, his bottom lip trembling.
John pulled his son into a hug.
"We weren't sure if we wanted to tell you this." Sherlock said "But you need the truth. All of the men were taken by Uncle Mycroft. Every single one. Moriarty, died as soon as we saw him. And Mycroft informed me that all of the men had been killed."
John held Hamish tighter, as if he could shield his son from the terrible words of killings.
Hamish seemed to relax and he pulled away and looked at his dads "So I'm safe now?" he asked.
"Yes, darling. You are completely safe. Mycroft has ensured that we are as safe as possible. And Dadda and I will always be by your side to protect you." John said.
"So, now the bad men are dead, I don't need to be scared?" Hamish asked.
"Being scared is okay, in my opinion it keeps you on your toes. But yes, there is no need to be scared because they can't hurt you anymore, sweetheart." John said.
"Can we stay here? Just us? I want to play up here with you." Hamish said.
"Alright." John smiled and he and Sherlock kissed Hamish's head.
They played charades, a bit of chess, which Hamish was learning, they played hide and seek, and musical statues with Sherlock being the music with his violin.
During this time as Sherlock helped Hamish beat John at chess Hamish said "I'm safe now. Thank you."
"We love you, son." Sherlock said. John ruffled Hamish's curly hair and Sherlock kissed Hamish's temple.
In the evening Sherlock, John and Hamish went downstairs for dinner, apologised for their absence and tucked into the meal.
"John, Sherlock?" Summer asked.
The couple looked up and saw the triplets looking at them.
"Yes?" John asked.
"You see… my best friend, Lola; well she's been having a really tough time at school for being gay. She came out a few weeks before the Christmas holiday and though a lot of people were supportive there were some really nasty comments made, to her specifically, and me because I hang around with her. People are really thick assuming that if you are best friends with a gay person that it makes you gay." The fifteen year old said "And anyway, well, I was thinking that, if it would be no trouble for you, do you think you could come to my school, which is just outside London, and like talk to everyone in assembly? I was speaking to a teacher about them getting some speaker in but they didn't have the time to look for anyone. So, if you'd come and talk, then maybe it would really help Lola and other people." Summer finished, slightly nervously.
Sherlock and John looked at each other briefly and then back at Summer.
"Well, I'd do it happily." John said.
"If there isn't a case, then it would be fine." Sherlock nodded.
"Seriously?" Summer brightened.
"Sure. People need to be educated properly and we're happy to help people." John smiled kindly.
"So, where is your school?" Sherlock asked.
The triplets gave them information and they would talk to the head teacher as soon as they got back and if it was okay then they'd call Sherlock and John.
