Short chapter this time guys. Sorry! I'm back to my 8 hour work days (boo!) so things are busy. Hoping to get back into my groove and get to posting more soon. This is just a bit of a filler chapter. Setting up for the next few. Hope you enjoy!
Chapter 15
John sleepily shuffled into the kitchen and opened the fridge, intending to grab some milk for his tea. He was met with an empty milk carton sitting open in the shelf. With barely restrained anger he yelled to Sherlock in the other room.
"Why didn't you tell me we're out of milk?"
"Oh. Sorry. We're out of milk," Sherlock said. "Mind going down to the market to pick some up?"
John sighed in annoyance and walked in the room to talk to the lounging detective. "You know, you could always come with me, or better yet, go yourself!"
"Nah, no thanks," Sherlock replied.
John rolled his eyes and went to go get dressed.
"I'll come wif you Mr. John! I wanna go to the grossey store," Addie said from her spot on the floor.
"It's grocery store, Addie," Sherlock interjected.
"Oh, sorry. Can I go to the gro-suh-ree store wif you, Mr. John?"
John smiled. "Of course, kiddo. Go get changed and we'll head out when you're ready," he said.
Ten minutes later John and Addie were walking down the street to the local market in town. Addie was under strict orders to hold John's hand the whole time and not run off. The walk wasn't too long, but John supposed he wasn't four-years-old, so it was probably harder for Addie than him. When she got tired he settled for giving her a piggy-back ride and listened to her giggle the rest of the way when he bounced her up and down.
John set her back on the floor when they entered the market and Addie clapped. "That was fun!"
John smiled and grabbed a small trolley from the front entrance.
"Addie, stay by the trolley ok? No wandering off. I mean it," John told her sternly.
"Ok, Mr. John. I promise!"
"Good girl. Now, let's see…ah, milk!" John said walking towards the aisle.
After getting the milk they wandered a bit, brainstorming what else they might need.
"We need some more jam, Mr. John," Addie told him. "Strawberry please," she pointed to the shelf in front of her.
"Strawberry? Not blackcurrant?" John asked.
Addie made a disgusted face. "Blech! Blackcurrant is yucky! Mycof likes blackcurrant though. He's weird," she whispered.
John chuckled, "Alright then, strawberry it is. I wonder if we need more marmalade," John started muttering to himself and walking further down the aisle to explore his options in marmalade.
"I'll get the jam, Mr. John," Addie said. He didn't seem to hear her though as he never stopped his muttering or perusing.
Addie, wanting to be helpful, decided to reach for the jam herself. She couldn't quite reach the jar so she planted her feet on the bottom shelf and started climbing. When she finally had the jar in hand, she shifted her foot to climb back down, but unfortunately her foot slipped and she scrambled to get the traction back. She nearly crashed to the ground, jam and all, when strong arms caught her and set her down gently.
"Addie! What were you doing?!" John said harshly.
"I was just trying to be helpful," she frowned and looked at her shoes. "I'm sorry."
John took the jam from her and carefully set it in the trolley. "It's good you want to help, Addie, but climbing the shelf is never a good idea. Next time, ask me and I can lift you up to get it. Alright?"
"Ok," Addie said shyly. "Am I in trouble?" she asked looking sad.
"No sweetie, you're fine. Now come on, I think we're done," he said, taking her hand.
"Mr. John?"
"Yes?"
"Can we get these raspberry scones, please?" she asked as she pulled a box from one of the shelves.
"That's a lot of sugar, Addie, plus you won't eat all of those scones," John said.
"No, not for me," she said, as if it was obvious. "For Sherlock. They're his favorite!"
John never even knew Sherlock had a favorite anything. He nodded at her. "Yeah, alright. I don't see why not. They are his favorite after all."
"Yay! Thanks Mr. John! Sherlock's gonna be real happy!"
"You're welcome Addie," John said, smiling.
Finally they were in the check-out line and the machine was actually working for him this time around. John let Addie scan some of the food and she helped him put it in the bags. Her excitement over scanning groceries made him smile and warmed his heart. She was so carefree and truly childlike in her approach to life and he found it incredibly refreshing.
With groceries in hand, they left to make the long (ish) walk back to the flat. Addie had her hand gripped on John's coat since his hands were full of bags. That's when it started raining.
"Great, just bloody great!" John muttered. The rain was cold and blowing into their faces, soaking them in minutes.
"I wish Mycof was here wif his big umbrella," Addie said, shielding her face from the sideways rain.
Mercifully they made it home and hauled the groceries into the kitchen, with no help from Sherlock of course. In fact, he didn't even notice them until he looked up briefly from his paper and saw a soaking wet John looking less-than-amused. Addie was next to him, also soaking and shivering.
Sherlock told them to stop dripping on the floor and ordered them to go change and warm up. To their pleasant surprise, they found tea waiting for them at the table. John figured it was Sherlock's way of apologizing for making them walk to the store and them getting drenched in the process.
Addie and John eventually warmed up from their tea and Addie stopped shivering.
"Sherlock, I got your favorite thing at the gro-suh-ree store!" Addie said excitedly. She jumped off her chair and went to find the scones. She returned with a box and set it down in front of him. Sherlock looked wary and carefully opened the box.
He smiled and immediately took a scone and started munching on it. "Thank you, Addie. That was very nice of you."
"You're welcome, Sherlock. That's for being such a great big brother!" She launched a hug at him and he returned it.
"Now sit down and finish your breakfast before I eat your scone too," Sherlock said making grabby hands toward her plate. Addie laughed and moved her plate away to finish her tea and breakfast in peace.