Author's Note:
Thank you so much to those who left reviews and are subscribing/favorting this story. Glad to know people are still interested in this Johnlock series.
John followed after his husband and sat down next to him, watching both Amy and Thomas as they ate. "Good dinner, then?" He asked softly. There was definitely an odd mood over the table and he knew it was because Thomas was afraid of what tomorrow would hold. "Thomas, mate, how about we talk after dinner? Can we do that?"
Amy was swinging her feet happily, picking up bits of chicken and broccoli with her fork and humming happily as she ate. She let her eyes glance between both of her dads before she looked over at Thomas. Still not in too good of a mood. "Hi, 'Mas."
Sherlock decided to eat in silence and observe his family. As usual the food John made was good and he gave a slight nod of approval. He was curious how their son would feel about being drugged during the flight.
Thomas smiled a bit nodded slowly at his Dad. He glanced over to Amy and managed a small smile. "Hey Sis." He didn't want to be around anyone right now.
John just watched the family before letting out a soft sigh, biting his bottom lip before continuing to eat his meal. Most of the time they were quiet but right now it was tense and he was starting to think their vacation wasn't going to be as enjoyable as he thought. Thomas wasn't even talking to Amy, something he was always willing to do. So he dropped his hand under the table and rested on Sherlock's knee, giving it a gentle squeeze.
Amy sighed and glanced at her Papa. He was eating so that meant she probably should, too. After studying Sherlock for a long moment she started picking at her food, occasionally taking a small bite and chewing it slowly.
Okay. So this was not off to a good start for vacation being so close. What could he possibly say to make things better? He continued to eat, chewing his food thoughtfully.
Thomas shifted uncomfortably in his chair. The silence was terrible and it was his fault. For being stupid and afraid of aeorplanes. He sighed at himself picking at the food more so than eating it.
John set his fork down and looked at everybody at the table. "Right. We are going on vacation tomorrow. Flying to America. It is going to be wonderful and we are going to have some fantastic family time together. Thomas, none of this quietness is your fault, all right? I promise. Sherlock, I packed for you so we won't have to go shopping when we get there. And Amy, make sure you don't bring too many toys or we will have to leave them at the airport." There was a long pause as he let out a soft sigh. "Why don't we all just perk up a bit and get ready to have a lot of fun?"
Amy nodded a bit and glanced between Thomas and Papa before taking a long sip of her tea and pushing more food around her plate. "I can't waits for vacation."
Sherlock smirked a bit at John and maintained his silence. His husband seemed to have everything under control. Should he add anything? He couldn't think of anything else to say, so he decided to keep quiet. It probably wasn't helping how quiet the children were being and he was feeling a little useless right now but what else could he do?
Thomas wanted to argue but he continued to eat without saying anything as well. He wished he could be as enthusiastic as Amy seemed to be about this whole dumb trip. Why couldn't they take a boat instead of flying?
No reply. Nothing in agreement from his husband and, of course, Thomas was still quiet. John sighed and looked down at his plate before standing up and moving to put the rest of his food back in the pan on the stove. "Fine. When everybody is actually ready to talk and go on vacation we'll sit down and discuss everything. Until then I'll let you all sit here in your clearly unexcited silence." With one last look at Sherlock he turned he went into their bedroom, keeping the door open.
Amy dropped her head instantly, slowly pushing her half-finished meal away from her and sniffing just a bit. Seeing anybody upset was unsettling for her but to have Dada talk like that was bringing tears to her eyes. She wiped at them furiously as they ran down her cheeks and brought her feet up on top of the chair to hug her knees against her chest.
Fuck. As usual he had made the wrong choice. Sherlock was about to get up and follow after his husband but Amy was crying. He got up, picked up little Sandi and held her to his chest. "It is okay Baby Girl. Dada isn't mad at you." He kissed the top of her head and rocked their daughter in his arms gently.
Thomas frowned as he watched his family. He left the rest of his dinner on his plate and ran away upstairs to be alone.
John stayed in his room for a good while before managing to calm himself down. He knew for a fact that their son had probably gone straight up to his bedroom so that's where he decided to go. He made his way slowly up the stairs and entered the room, shutting the door behind him right away. Thomas probably would want to be alone but they needed to talk. "C'mere, mate," he whispered as he moved to sit next to their son. "D'you want to talk to me?"
Amy stayed curled up against Sherlock, taking several deep breaths as she pressed her wet face against his shirt. "But he's is m-mad," she whimpered as she looked up at her Papa, eyes already red.
"Dada is mad at me, not you Baby Girl." Sherlock continued to hold onto little Sandi and when he heard John go upstairs, he moved to the living room and sat down on the couch.
Thomas shook his head. "Not if you are going to be mean again," he muttered with a sniffle. "You made Amy cry!" He sniffled some more but refused to look at his Dad.
Right. John probably deserved that. It hurt to know that he had made his daughter cry but he would fix that soon enough. Hell, Sherlock was probably already doing it. "I'm not going to be mean again, I'm going to talk to you about tomorrow," he said softly. The urge to put his arm around the boy was strong but Thomas wasn't even looking at him so he figured it probably wasn't the best idea. "I can get something for you tomorrow that will make you sleep through the whole flight so you wouldn't remember any of it. How does that sound?"
Amy curled against Sherlock further the moment he sat down, sniffing several times before she managed to get her voice back just a bit without it shaking. "Just wants everybody to be happy," she whispered as she continued to wipe at her eyes.
"I know Baby Girl, me too." Sherlock shifted a bit on the couch when Hamish jumped up. "Look. Hamish wants to say hi and make you feel better." The cat head butted Amy with a loud, rumbling purr.
Thomas furrowed his brows in confusion. What? "Like...a drug? Drugs are bad! They made Daddy go to jail and move out for awhile...and...and..." He shook his head violently and began hyperventilating as he scrambled away from his Dad. "No! Please. I'll be good...please...I don't want to go to jail. If I go to jail then I won't be able to join the Yard and if I don't do that, then I can't be the best Detective Inspector, Consulting Detective ever in the world!" He was near hysterical now, eyes wide as he finally looked to his Dad.
John closed his eyes for a long moment, forcing himself to calm down before he shook his head. "Thomas, not all drugs are bad. Some drugs are good and help people feel better, overcome sickness and disease, and others help people sleep so they don't have to experience stressful situations," he explained softly. Right now he was more worried about getting Thomas to calm down over everything else. "Shhh, c'mere, my little boy," he whispered as he gently embraced their son.
Amy smiled softly at Hamish and slowly reached a hand out to pet him, playfully headbutting him back. It was gentle because she was starting to learn when to not be rough with the cat. "Hi 'Mish," she said softly, glancing up at Sherlock happily.
Sherlock smiled as he watched little Sandi and Hamish. Good. At least the cat was helping her calm down, since he was doing a piss poor job of it. He could hear a bit of a commotion upstairs and he glanced up at the ceiling, eyebrows furrowing a bit. Hamish continued to purr and rub all over Amy.
Thomas squirmed away from his Dad again. It was clear he was in a panicked hysteria. "No! Stay away! I don't want it! Daddy! Help me!" He suddenly lost his will to fight and collapsed in a crying heap against John.
Dammit. This wasn't going at all like John imagined it would and he was constantly getting more and more of a feeling that Thomas absolutely abhorred him. "Shh, 's all right," he whispered as soon as Thomas collapsed against him. No more talking about drugs. He was going to simply hold their son and try and keep him as calm as possible. "I'm right here and I've got you. We're not going to give you anything you don't want." His voice broke a little and he closed his eyes. "I'm sorry."
The sounds from upstairs distracted Amy for merely a moment before Hamish stole her attention away. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his black fur with a small giggle. "Papa, looks. 'Mish is silly."
What the hell was going on upstairs? Sherlock returned his attention back to little Sandi and Hamish and managed a small smile. "Silly like you Baby Girl."
Thomas continued to cry, despite his vow to himself to never do it again. He hadn't even realized how much of a big deal drugs were to him until now. They were almost as scary as aeroplanes.
Still crying. John started to rock from side to side to try and calm Thomas down. "I've got you. Shhh, it's all right, I've got you," he whispered as he placed a soft kiss on the top of the boy's head. "I'm so sorry. Thomas, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." That was the last thing he wanted but it had happened and he felt horrid for it all.
"I isn't silly!" Amy said with a laugh, looking up at Sherlock for a long moment. "You's is silly, Papa!" Her embrace on Hamish tightened slightly as she snuggled closer to the cat. "We is a silly family."
Sherlock smirked. "I guess we are Baby Girl." The commotion upstairs seemed to have stopped but he was still curious as to what had happened. Right now he needed to keep little Sandi distracted though.
Thomas sniffled and was able to stop crying after a while. "Can I be alone please?" He was feeling stupid for crying like a baby. He was nine. Dad said it was okay but he still hated it.
John watched Thomas for a long while, just looking at their son and trying to figure everything out. "Of course," he said softly as he ran a hand through the boy's hair and placed a lingering kiss on his forehead. "I love you, Thomas. You will always be my son and please don't you ever forget that." He gave the boy one more hug before slowly leaving the room and going straight to he and Sherlock's bedroom.
Amy yawned and held onto Hamish just a bit tighter, letting her eyes slip shut. They opened again when she heard John come downstairs. "Papa," she whispered into the cat's black fur. "You's should prolly go and talk to Dada."
Sherlock frowned as he watched John walk by without saying anything. Right. His husband was probably still pissed at him. He managed a small smile as he glanced down at their daughter. "You are absolutely right Baby Girl." He shifted little Sandi off his lap gently and then got up off the couch. He walked in after John and shut the door behind him quietly. "I'm sorry I didn't back you up in the kitchen. I should have. I just..." He sighed, slumped a bit against the door and closed his eyes. "...I didn't know what to say."
John looked up from his spot on the bed, studying his husband before dropping his head again. "'S fine, I overreacted," he mumbled softly as he stood up. It wouldn't do to have a fight right after the first time they had shagged in months. "I'm sorry," he added as he moved to slowly pull Sherlock off the door and simply hold him. The frustration of the last few months was clearly getting to him now. "I just hate seeing Thomas like that."
Sherlock slumped into John the moment his husband held him. "Is everything all right with him? I heard him yelling upstairs. That isn't like him." He wrapped his arms around John in a hug. "I haven't been a very good husband or father these last few months." Things hadn't been bad really, he had just become a bit distant since his mother had passed. "I'm sorry Love." There had been several moments when he felt weak and wanted drugs. Or at least a fucking cigarette. He hadn't given into either. He couldn't...wouldn't...
How in the world could he but upset with his husband when Sherlock had lost his mum? John just closed his eyes and shook his head the best he could. "Shhh," he whispered as he turned and placed a gently kiss on the man's temple. "Sherlock, you lost your mum and we can't expect you to recover from that right away. Things happen," he murmured as he continued to hold his husband. It was the least he could do after everything that happened. "Don't apologize. That's what vacation is for, yeah? We will figure it all out."
Sherlock held onto John for a bit but he couldn't help but be curious about Thomas since his husband hadn't answered any of the questions about their son. Should he ask again or not? Things hadn't sounded like they had gone very well up there. Maybe he would go up and talk to the boy later. "The vacation will do us all some good I think."
There. Questions avoided completely. John had felt like a horrible parent after that entire situation upstairs and he'd rather not discuss it until, really, he figured it out himself. "I think it'll be fantastic," he whispered as he lifted a hand up to run through the man's hair. "I think that it will do you the most good. Get away from everything, have a break from cases," a pause as a small smirk spread over his lips. "And you'll have all the time in the world with your attractive husband."
"My adorable husband," Sherlock corrected with a smirk. He continued to hold onto John and gave his husband a kiss on the lips. "Love you," he murmured as their lips met. He let the kiss linger for a bit before finally breaking it. He was insufferably curious about Thomas but John wasn't saying anything about it all and he wanted to avoid a fight so he just kept quiet and held his husband close.
It wasn't too difficult to determine that Sherlock was still curious about Thomas. John stood on his toes, gave Sherlock another kiss and letting it linger as well before he pulled away. A hand gently ran down the center of the man's chest before he lifted his head and held his husband's gaze. "He had a panic attack," he said softly, wincing just a bit when he realized he would have to explain why. "I used the wrong words, probably, but I said I could give him something to help him sleep." Deep breath, it'd be fine. "And he got scared because his only experience with drugs led to you getting arrested and he thought I would be giving him something that would send him to jail."
Sherlock frowned at what John said. So, this was his fault. If he had never gone back to drugs like an idiot then maybe Thomas wouldn't have reacted so negatively. "I see. Do you think it would do any good if I tried to talk to him?" He didn't really talk to their son, not like John did anyway. It was strange to him that Thomas still seemed closer to him when really, his husband was a better father to the boy than he was.
"You could try," John said softly, standing on his toes to press the tips of their noses together. "I love you," he whispered as he pulled the man closer. It was hard to watch Sherlock try and go through everything and he felt horrible for not doing everything he possibly could to make his husband feel better. "And he loves you. He loves you far more than he loves me and I think talking to him would be good if you did it."
Sherlock wanted to argue that John was wrong, except...his husband wasn't... For some reason Thomas had been attached to him the moment he saved the boy from the plane crash. "I will see what I can do. Probably should do it now, before the children go to bed." Like usual, he didn't want to leave John's arms.
"He wants to be alone," John whispered as he selfishly held on tighter to his husband. Right now he wanted Sherlock to himself and Thomas didn't want to talk to anybody. Or... he didn't want to talk to anybody who wasn't Sherlock, probably. "Except you are probably the exception." Wasn't Sherlock the exception to everything? Hell, Amy probably loved him more than she loved John at this rate.
Well, shit. He had made things worse not better, hadn't he? "We should go talk to him together." Sherlock kissed the top of John's head and held his husband close to him still. "I'm sure everything is fine. Thomas loves you, you know that. You are the one he runs to about everything, or haven't you noticed?"
John looked up at Sherlock with a small smile, even managing a small chuckle. "I've noticed, yes, but that's only because..." There wasn't really a good explanation for that, was there? Thomas did come to him when he had questions. "Right, you win this round Holmes," he growled playfully as he gently tugged at the man's hips to bring him a bit closer. "But nobody will ever be as fantastic as you, Sherlock. That is how he views everything."
Sherlock smirked. "Of course I win, I'm a genius remember?" He couldn't help the small moan as he was pulled closer to John. Damn it, at this rate his husband was going to give him another erection. Just...Amy was still in the living room probably so best not to act on his impulses. "Well, I am perfect and amazing, so I can see why he would think that." The smirk got bigger.
"God help us if he grows up with your ego," John said with a laugh, lifting a hand to run it through Sherlock's unruly curls. "You're fantastic, though. I won't deny that. You're my husband and I can't even think of anything wrong with you." After a soft smile, he moved and pressed his nose against the underside of his husband's jaw, placing several soft kisses there. "Are you getting hard again? Jesus, you're still so young."
Sherlock automatically tilted his head for John, unable to resist the kisses there. "Not yet but if you keep doing wonderful things to me, I might. My husband is so adorable I can't help it but get turned on by every little thing he does." He pressed into John a bit more with a small whimper. God, he was terrible and selfish. He had already gotten off twice today and the children might hear.
"Oi," John growled, narrowing his eyes with a smirk as he pulled away to look at Sherlock. "I'm old. Old isn't adorable. This pudge isn't, either," he muttered with and small laugh. But Sherlock still found him attractive so that meant they were definitely in love. Hell, they had survived nearly everything and they were still together. "I'll have to be careful while I'm finishing packing then, won't I? Wouldn't want to bend over and then suddenly find you rutting against me." He giggled at the thought and pulled his husband closer.
Sherlock smirked back. "I don't care that you are old, you will always be adorable to me." The smirk got bigger. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? If I took you from behind." He leaned down to whisper in John's ear and then began sucking on it. God, he should stop this right now but he couldn't help himself. He rarely could really.
John let out a soft moan and leaned a bit against his husband, one hand weakly grasping at Sherlock's shirt. He wouldn't be able to get hard again today but that didn't mean he had to stop Sherlock from doing such wonderful things. The man's mouth was perfect and he rather enjoyed the attention from his husband. "Y-Yeah, I would," he whispered breathlessly.
Stopping. He should be, right? He really didn't want to, but they needed to talk to their son. Get the children to bed. Be completely ready for tomorrow. Sherlock pulled away slowly. "When you least expect it Love. Come on, we need to go be proper parents." He smiled at John as he held out his hand, wiggling his fingers dramatically.
Proper parents. That's what they were most of the time and John couldn't deny that they had children to talk to and to tuck in. "Of course," he said as he grabbed Sherlock's hand and let out a small laugh. "Let's go talk to Thomas and then get them both ready for bed. After that you can go find our tickets, make sure we have them, and I will finish packing."
Sherlock nodded. "Sounds good Love. You are going to pack things to make me look like a tourist, aren't you? Shorts and all that." His lips twisted into a slight smirk as he led them upstairs. He knocked on the door before entering the room. "Thomas. Dad and I want to talk to you Son."
Oh no. Was he in trouble? Thomas hastily put his journal under his pillow as the door opened and he looked up at his parents as they came in.
John took a deep breath as they entered the room. After everything that had just happened he was just a little nervous about talking to Thomas. "Hi Thomas," he said softly as he moved to sit on Amy's bed. It would probably be best for Sherlock to sit next to their son over him. "You're not in trouble, we just want to talk to you, all right?" Clearing the air right away would probably be best.
Sherlock almost sat down next to John but then thought better of it and sat down by Thomas. He always felt a little awkward talking to the boy since it didn't happen very often. Now then. Where should he start? "We know you are nervous about flying T.C. but it's all right. Your Dad mentioned he could give you something and I just want to let you know that not all drugs are bad. What I did was wrong and I had to face the consequences, no matter how hard they were. Some drugs are okay and help people. Dad is doctor and he would never give you anything that would hurt you, you know that right? If you don't want to take anything, that is okay too."
Thomas stared up at his Daddy with wide eyes, listening quietly and nodding here and there. "Okay Daddy." He looked over to John. "I'm sorry Dad. I know you were trying to help...I just..." He bit his bottom lip and shrugged. "I don't want to take anything still. Daddy will you hold my hand, so I won't be scared?"
John listened intently, smiling tightly at Thomas as the boy apologized to him. Leave it to Sherlock to fix everything when it came to Thomas. He was an absolutely horrible father when it came to their son. Sometimes he just didn't know what to do. That was what he had Sherlock for, though, to calm Thomas down and take care of everything. "Of course Daddy will be there for you and hold your hand. It'll be good."
Amy slowly pushed the door open and smiled at her family, easily climbing on to John's lap and smiling up at him. "Hi, Dada," she whispered as she turned to face her Papa and older brother. "Is you's all right?"
Good. That was easier to fix than he anticipated. "That's my boy." Sherlock gave Thomas a hug and looked over to little Sandi as she came in. "Hey Baby Girl." He gave her a warm smile.
Thomas returned the hug eagerly and also looked to Amy. "Hey Sis. Yeah. Everything is fine now. Papa and Dada made everything all better." He nodded got up off the bed, moved over to his sister and gave her a hug. "Tomorrow we will be flying and in America and we are going to have lots of fun!"
John looked up at his husband and smiled warmly. The man was an absolutely fantastic father whether he knew it or not. How could Sherlock deny it after that? He'd calmed down Thomas, something John had never been able to do in his life. He lifted one hand and signed across the room to his husband. 'I'm proud of you.'
Amy giggled and returned the hug, looking up at Thomas happily. "And I can's read t'you abouts the dog in the firehouse, yeahs?" She pulled away to run across the room, pulling the book from her backpack and plopping down on the floor. She opened the book in her lap and looked up at everybody else, eyes bright. "Waits...is it bedtime?"
Sherlock shrugged a bit with a smirk on his face ad he looked over at John. He glanced back over to the children with slightly raised eyebrows. Little Sandi was going to read to Thomas? How could he say no to that?
Thomas looked back at his parents and then back to Amy. "How about you read it to me on the aeroplane? That way I don't think about flying and I can listen to your story?" He wouldn't admit it but he was actually pretty tired right now. He hadn't slept very well in the last couple of days and maybe after talking to his dad's he would be able to.
"I think Thomas is right, definitely bedtime," John said as he stood up and picked Amy up off the ground. "Just think, when you wake up it'll be time to go on vacation." He set her down in bed and tucked her with slowly, running a hand through her blonde hair before placing a kiss on her forehead. "I love you, little Sandi," he whispered with a smile.
Amy smiled up at John and yawned, pulling the blankets up a bit higher before turning to look at Thomas and Sherlock. "'S bedtimes, 'Mas! Let's go to bed!" She yawned again and burrowed herself into her mass of pink blankets, facing her brother's bed.
Right then, bed. Sherlock got up off the bed and once both children were tucked in, he kissed the top of their heads. "See you in the morning kids. We have to be up early, so make sure you set the alarm Thomas." He probably wouldn't sleep but he could lay in bed with his husband and snuggle for a bit at least.
Thomas reached over and set the clock next to his bed. "Okay. Night Daddy. Night Dad. Night Sis. Love you guys." He pulled his covers up to his chin, gave a big yawn and promptly closed his eyes.