A/N: Many thanks to Phish Tacko for her help beta'ing this!
Ch. 9
Sherlock and Marie See a Boy Band
"Isn't there anything else you'd like to do? Anything? Another trip to Disney, maybe? I'm sure I could put off some cases and we could fly there for the week."
"I'm too old for Disney, Dad. I want to see South Side Bae!" Marie crossed her arms and pouted.
Sherlock sighed. He'd feared this day for months.
South Side Bae was the new boy band that most of Marie's class was obsessed with. Sherlock would wager to say that most British pre-teen girls were obsessed with them. Specifically, Marie had a crush on Justin Summers, the skinny little blonde boy that sang with a sickeningly high voice.
"And there's nothing I can do to convince you to take something else as a present? Seriously, Marie, anything else."
Marie stood her ground and shook her head. Sherlock's shoulders slumped.
Reluctantly, he walked towards his laptop to order the tickets.
"And I suppose Amanda will be coming? What about Selah?"
"Selah's not into them. She says she's too old for that."
"God, I can't wait 'til you reach that age," Sherlock muttered under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, darling. Daddy will order the tickets. Did Amanda's mum say yes to letting her go?"
"Of course!"
"Alright, then."
00
"Justin likes Abercrombie, so you should wear an Abercrombie shirt," Amanda, Marie's school friend said.
The two were sitting in the living room area of the flat, discussing what to wear for the concert. Sherlock listened in as best he could. When did his daughter start caring about fashion and boys? How hadn't he noticed it? Wasn't she young for this? He thought he at least had another two years left.
Then again, she was younger than most of her classmates, having skipped a year. She was around children who were slightly older, perhaps it was only natural that she acted more like them.
"Damn her intellect." He thought to himself.
"I think I have one," Marie answered. "How should I do my hair?"
"Ohh, I could braid it. Or you could leave it out, like you have now, with a headband. Maybe something that will match the shirt. What about me? What should I wear? I've heard Ethan likes girls who wear dark jeans…"
"You're too young for boys!" Sherlock called from his chair. He'd reached his limit.
There was a silence, though Sherlock thought that he could hear Amanda whisper something to the effect of, "Your dad is weird."
00
The day of the concert, Marie wore an Abercrombie shirt along, with a headband that matched. Thankfully, the outfit was conservative. He hated to think of what might happen in a few years, though. God willing, she would mature emotionally faster than the others. Maybe she wouldn't have an interest in boys and would just study and work like he did.
Well, Sherlock could dream, at least.
Amanda's mother dropped her off at the flat and soon enough, the three were off, Mycroft having offered to give them a lift to venue.
Mycroft had pitched in and bought the three box seats for the concert. Sherlock was grateful for this – it would make the experience more comfortable. Still, there came the task for hurdling through the crowds in front of the stadium to actually get to the seats.
"This way," Sherlock said, taking both girls' hands. He led them through a crowd of squealing teenyboppers and did his best not to cringe.
They'd almost made it to their seats when Sherlock felt Marie stop moving.
He and Amanda turned around to see what she was staring at.
And there it was: Justin Summers, Ethan Lee and Caleb Jones were all walking down the hallway. Three of the five members of South Side Bae were nearby.
Before Sherlock could properly react, both Marie and Amanda had grabbed his hands and dragged him towards the screaming crowd of girls that surrounded the singers.
"ETHAN! I LOVE YOU!" Amanda shouted.
Her voice was drowned out by the voices of the others, all yelling and reaching out to try to touch the three young men. By some miracle, Marie was standing still, at his side, and not yelling, though she seemed to be entranced by Justin Summers' presence. He wondered if perhaps Marie had inherited his good sense after all.
The boys, for their part, seemed to be lapping up the attention, giving high-fives to the younger girls and hugs to the older, more attractive ones.
Finally, the boys departed, and Sherlock was able to safely get Marie and Amanda to their seats.
00
Despite being in a secluded, walled-in area, the noise of the surrounding concert was overwhelming. Sherlock spent much of his time sitting back and trying to think of something else besides the god-awful lyrics and music of the songs SSB was singing, while Marie and Amanda remained pressed up against the glass of the box, staring intently at the band.
"I LOVE THIS ONE!" Amanda yelled, as some song that repeated the words "rock your body" came on. "Doesn't Ethan look so sexy?"
"Justin looks better," Marie countered.
"Lies!"
Though the statement sounded angry, both girls started laughing a second later. Sherlock shook his head and checked his watch. Only half an hour to go.
00
Sherlock and Marie did not get home until closer to 22:00. Marie had been bouncy and excited during most of the drive back, but once Amanda had been dropped off, she seemed to lose her energy. By the time they arrived him, she was ready for bed.
Sherlock tucked her in as usual, then made his way downstairs. He was tired, but he wanted to talk to another adult. The whole evening had been confusing and annoying and above all, much too loud. And there had been so many people. It was awful.
He knocked on Mrs. Hudson's door, hoping that she was still awake. Thankfully, she answered.
"Sherlock! What's going on?" She asked, a worried look on her face. "Is everything alright?"
"No."
"What's wrong?" She opened her door to let him in. "Did something happen with a case? Are you injured? You should call John if you're injured –"
"I'm not injured. I had to go… to a boy band concert." The last two words were said with such a sound of dread that Mrs. Hudson had to try her hardest not to laugh.
"Come inside, dear." She said, grinning. "Tell me all about it."
00
"There was so much squealing, Mrs. Hudson. And so many people! Thousands! All screaming, yelling! And there was this horrible auto-tuned music! And- and the worst part – did you know she likes boys, now?!"
Mrs. Hudson chuckled.
"She's just got a little crush. It's normal. When I was her age, I was absolutely in love with Don Everly."
"Don Everly?"
"Yes, from the Everly Brothers. Don't you know anything about music history?"
"I wasn't around then, so…"
"He was so handsome, with that nice wavy dark hair…" A dreamy smile crossed Mrs. Hudson's lips.
"Right. I still think she's too young to be chasing boys."
"She wasn't chasing them, she's just following along with what her classmates like. It's normal, anyway, even if she does have a little crush. If you think it's bad now, wait another five years."
"Oh good God." Sherlock's eyes grew wide.
"Take a seat before you faint," Mrs. Hudson said, pulling him towards a chair. "I'll make you some tea. Some nice, strong tea."
"Thank you," Sherlock replied, trying to calm himself down. Hopefully, whatever suitors Marie had in the future would know enough about him to stay away, or to at least be respectful.
Moments later Mrs. Hudson returned with a pot full of berry-flavored tea.
"Here we go," She said, pouring Sherlock a cup. She poured one for herself as well.
Sherlock sniffed it.
"Raspberry?"
"Yes. Try it. In fact, it's best if you drink it quickly. It's not very hot."
Sherlock raised an eyebrow but did as Mrs. Hudson suggested. Within seconds he could feel his throat burning.
"Vodka, Mrs. Hudson?" He asked.
"Like I said, it's 'very strong tea'."
It wasn't long before Sherlock began to feel a slight buzz. He hadn't eaten since earlier in the afternoon, prior to the concert.
"Y'know, if I didn't have such a bad day and I wasn't buzzed, I'd be mad at you."
"Mhmm. Want another cup?"
"Please," Sherlock answered, holding out his mug. "And thanks for listening."