Sorry this Chapter is a bit short. But I hope the fluff and cute factor make up for it. I'll try to post another one later this week to make up for the length of this one. I'm out of town until Wednesday so if I do post another one, it wont be until Thursday or so. Or I might make you wait for the weekend ;) Depends on my mood, hehe. As always, thanks for the reviews, follows, and favorites!
Chapter 6
They ended up ordering the pizza and taking it home. None of them feeling up to sitting in a public place for hours.
After eating, and cleaning Addie's sauce covered face, the trio found themselves in the living room lounging around and not doing much of anything.
Addie was bored, given that her puzzle game was taken away from her as punishment for her tantrum, and Sherlock was bored too, because, well, he's Sherlock.
They took to watching telly, talk shows no less, and deducing the guests. Sherlock was testing Addie's four-year-old deductions to see if she retained any of her adult skills.
"Ok, what about the man on the left?" Sherlock pointed at the TV.
"Ummm, he's a farmer cuz he's got a tan where his sleeves roll up and dirty boots. His hands are rough and unclean which means he works wif the aminuls and lots of food. He's got 2 kids and a good wife. And he's getting arferitus in his knee since he's bendin' it funny," she looked to Sherlock for approval.
"Very good observations Addie," he praised. Addie beamed at the praise and went back to watching the show.
"Your turn Sherlock," Addie said.
"Well, the woman on the far right is a secretary, given the ink smudges on her fingers and the carpal tunnel she's developing in her wrists from constant typing on the computer. She owns 3, no, 4 cats and she lives alone. She also has her eyes on the ex-husband of her colleague who is waiting for her outside the studio so they can go home together," he said.
Addie stared at him in awe. "Wow! That was wonderful Sherlock! Very well done!" she said, echoing the praise he gave her and clapping for him.
They went back to watching the ridiculous show when Addie spoke up again, looking to John who was on his computer.
"We're you scared Mr. John?"
John looked up from his laptop at being addressed.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I mean, were you scared when you were in the war?" she asked.
"How did…how did you know I was in a war?" John asked, confused.
"I dunno."
John looked to Sherlock but he seemed to be studying Addie intently, as if trying to figure her out.
"Were you, Mr. John?" she asked again. "Were you scared?"
"Yes," John replied. "Yes I was, Addie. There were many times when I was very, very scared."
Addie looked sad as she walked over to John's armchair and faced him. She took his hand in hers and spoke quietly, "It's ok, Mr. John. It's over now. You don't need to be scared anymore. Sherlock and I will take care of you."
John suddenly found his eyes misting up as he looked at her compassionate and warm expression. She looked so much like a little adult in that moment that he swore she was her 24-year-old self trapped in a child's body. The illusion was over soon though as she crawled into his lap and continued to talk.
"You didn't have anyone to make you feel better when you were scared, did you?" she asked.
John shook his head, for some reason not able to speak.
"Don't worry! You got us now! I can sit wif you and talk, or tell you a story to make you feel better. You can even sleep wif my flag pillow or take my warm orange blanket. And maybe Sherlock can play his violin so you can go to sleep better and not have nightmares. That's what he always does for me."
John, as cheesy as it sounded, was truly touched by her child-like empathy, offering him the gestures of comfort she had been offered in the past. Telling stories, snuggling pillows, and playing music brought her peace and happiness when she was scared, so why not offer them to John too. In her four-year-old brain, these were the ultimate forms of comfort and love.
John hugged her to his chest and steadied his voice before he spoke. "Thank you Addie. That means more to me than you can possibly understand."
He caught Sherlock's eye. Sherlock stared at John curiously before looking him in the eye, trying and failing to keep the fond smile from his face.
They all sat in comfortable silence until Addie spoke up again.
"Mr. John?"
"Yes?"
"Will you play wif me?"
"Play with you?"
"Yeah. Since my game got taken away I've had nothing and no one to play wif," she said as she stuck out her bottom lip.
John just couldn't resist her begging face and he couldn't stop thinking about the comfort and kindness she just offered him whenever he may need it. How could he say no?
"Sure Addie. I'll play with you," he said.
Addie's eyes lit up and a huge smile came across her face. "You will?"
"Yeah, why not? What do you want to play?"
"You're the brave knight and I'm the pretty princess who's trapped in the dungeon by the evil king! And you gotta get past the scary dragon to save me!"
"Do I get a sword?" John asked.
"Of course! You get a sword, and a helmet, and some armor, and a horse too! That's what all good knights have."
"Sounds like I'm all set then," John said. He raised his hand in the air pretending to brandish a sword, "I shall rescue you, my fair maiden!"
Addie was laughing as she watched John wave his "sword" around and kill the bad guys who came into his path.
"Watch out brave night! Here comes the Sherlock dragon!" Addie yelled.
John looked to Sherlock warily. Sherlock's head whipped towards them at the mention of his name and he gave them a questioning look.
"Uh-oh! Not the Sherlock dragon! Is the Sherlock dragon really scary?" John asked, keeping his eye on Sherlock's reaction.
"He's terrifying! He's got huge claws, big teef, and a long tail to hit you wif! And he's very smart and fast and…"
"And he breathes fire! Huge fireballs that can burn up armor and swords and reduce petty little knights to dust!" Sherlock finished, getting on his knees, crawling towards them with his hands held like claws. "Beware Sir John! The Sherlock dragon is on the hunt!"
"No! Sir John! Watch out!" Addie yelled.
Sherlock took a swipe at John and Addie gasped dramatically. Sherlock then turned his focus to Addie and started crawling towards her, his teeth barred. Addie screamed and ran away from him. Sherlock caught her and grabbed her around her middle. He began tickling her with his claws, growling and pinning her down.
Addie was shrieking with laughter, trying to call out to John between breaths. "Help me…Sir John! The Sherlock dragon…has got me! I can't…get…away!"
"Never fear, Princess Addie! Sir John to the rescue!" he said jumping up and brandishing his fake sword. He pretended to stab Sherlock and Sherlock let out at terrible moan before falling over next to Addie.
Addie rushed to John and hugged him tight. "Oh, Sir John! You defeated the evil Sherlock dragon! You saved me! You're my hero!"
"All hail Sir John! Bravest knight in the land!" John said, raising his sword in the air and waving it around as Addie chanted "Sir John! Sir John! Sir John!" over and over again.