Author's Note:

It took me much longer to update this than I anticipated. I hope to be updating much more regularly but I dunno. I have been pretty busy lately.

And off they went with the rest of their planned day. John slowly let go of their son and shrugged, looking back at the boy with a smile. "Definitely up to you. We've got access to any movie you fancy, even the really good American ones. While your sister is asleep we could watch 'The Avengers' if you want. Your Daddy thinks that Robert Downey Jr. is a bit attractive so he'd fancy that."

Sherlock groaned and rolled his eyes. "I said he wasn't bad looking for American." He got up off the floor, found the remote to the telly and turned it on. The suite had a couch, so he sat down on it, making sure to leave room for Thomas and John. He began scrolling through the movies.

"Avengers!" Thomas squealed in delight, practically jumping up and down on the chair. He forced himself to calm down, least his sudden outburst woke up Amy. He hopped out of the chair and climbed up onto the couch with his Daddy.

John smiled as he watched Thomas move to sit next to Sherlock, making himself comfortable next to Thomas as well. "Sure," he murmured softly, winking toward his husband as the movie was selected and then started. "I will admit he's dashing but not as dashing as you, love," he added as he leaned over Thomas to meet his husband's lips in a quick kiss, grinning from ear to ear at the action.

Sherlock smirked and returned the quick. "Yes, well he isn't nearly as adorable as you are either Love." He grinned, an arm reaching around the back of the couch so his hand could rest on John's shoulder.

Thomas rolled his eyes at his parents. They were so weird sometimes. He locked his gaze intently on the telly as the movie began to start.

As Thomas' attention focused to the movie John knew instantly to keep quiet. They'd managed to brighten their son's day and to keep it going he knew he'd have to abide by the unspoken rule of children. No talking during movies and, especially for Thomas, no kissing or touching in any sort of way. Absently he leaned a bit to the side to be more in contact with his husband's hand and then settled in for the movie.

Sherlock began to gently rub John's shoulder as soon as he felt his husband lean into the touch. It was hard to concentrate on the movie when all he wanted to do was snuggle with John on the couch. The simple contact would have to do until both children were sleeping he supposed.

Thomas ignored his parents, completely captivated by what was happening on the screen in front of them.

John instantly relaxed at the touches, biting his bottom lip as his head fell back and he let his eyes slip shut. He'd seen the movie multiple times because Thomas loved it so much and he felt like he could practically quote the entire thing. As the movie continued he slowly fell asleep, clearly showing how much the jet lag was getting to him.

Perhaps it had been for the best that the day hadn't go as planned because it was obvious to him now that his family had needed time to adjust to the jet lag. Sherlock kept his hand on John's shoulder, fingers continuing their gentle massage. He glanced down at Thomas, the boy was obviously oblivious to everything except the movie that was on.

Almost the entire movie went through before John woke back up, taking a deep breath and wincing when his neck popped at just a simple movement of his head. Probably not best to keep falling asleep like that as he continued to get older. With a soft smile he turned to look at his husband, biting his bottom lip before looking at their son. The boy was always so caught up in telly shows or movies.

Sherlock returned the smile. He had never been that interested in movies or the telly but Thomas always watched things with an apt rapture, no matter how many times the boy had seen it. Maybe it was the way Thomas coped with things. It was better than trying drugs at least. He moved his hand of John's shoulder to sign. 'What should we do about dinner?'

John watched his husband's hands before slowly lifting up his hands. 'Needs to be something healthy for him after his lunch.' That bloody McDonald's was the last thing Thomas needed to constantly be eating and he figured if they could get something decently healthy the boy would eat it. 'I imagine something like vegetables.'

Sherlock smirked. 'Sorry about that Love. Got him chips and a soda because I thought he needed a bit of treat after the day's activities. If you can get the boy to eat a meal consisting only of vegetables, I will be rather impressed.' The smirk only got bigger once his fingers stopped moving.

Thomas sighed. "You guys, that's annoying. It is worse than actually talking." He didn't bother looking at his parents, preferring not to look away from the movie.

John grinned as he looked at his husband, eyebrows up high before he slowly stood up. A meal full of vegetables was definitely out of the question but he knew he could order something vaguely healthy like pasta and their son would eat it.

Sherlock glanced down to Thomas with a thoughtful frown. When had their son started talking like that? Usually the boy was quiet and respectful. It didn't really bother him, as long as it didn't go beyond that. If it did, then they would need to sit down and talk to Thomas. Maybe their son was finally gaining a bit of confidence. Once the movie ended, he watched Thomas slide off the couch and went to put his journal away. So, he moved a bit closer to John, his head coming to rest on his husband's shoulder.

John easily pulled Sherlock a little closer but definitely didn't miss the frown from their son sitting at the table. "How about we order you a video game, Thomas? There's a controller here and I'll buy it for you if you fancy that," he said softly as he wrapped an arm around his husband's shoulders protectively. "We could let you play for about half an hour before we all get ready for bed."

Sherlock leaned into John some more. He watched Thomas with a smile as the boy ran over to the telly to play another video game. He didn't understand their sons fascination with them still, but he had become a bit more tolerant of them. Thomas could be interested in something that was far worse than a video game.

For everything they were doing John felt like they deserved father of the year awards. In one day they'd managed to make Thomas just a bit more confident and Sherlock had effectively worn their daughter out without a second thought. "I love you," he whispered into his husband's hair as he watched the video game start up on the telly and smiled just a bit. "And I'm glad I have my family with you."

"I love you too and same." Sherlock honestly couldn't think of a life without his family now. He had been so resistant at first but now it was as much a part of him as being a consulting detective. Hell, his family was more to him than his job. He never thought it would happen but at some point he had grown up and stopped being a selfish child.

Before long John was completely relaxed, sitting back and watching the telly as his fingers idly rubbed through his husband's shirt to massage the muscles he could find. It was far better than being out and wandering around with the exhaustion that everybody seemed to be feeling aside from Sherlock. This definitely what family was supposed to be about and he was beyond happy to finally just sit with everybody - even their sleeping daughter - and enjoy their company.

Sherlock relaxed against into John's fingers. "You are trying to get me to sleep." He turned to give his husband a smirk and then a quick kiss on the lips. "You know, I never did you give you that massage I promised you on the plane. After you slept on the couch, I imagine you might need some kinks worked out."

"You have figured out my evil plan," John said softly, looking at Sherlock with a smile. The mention of the massage made a small shiver run through his body and he glanced at their son. "Nothing like we're used to on the bed, I don't think we'll stop ourselves," he said with a chuckle. "I can sit down on the floor, though, and you can work out my neck just a bit if you fancy."

Sherlock raised his eyebrows. The suggestion had been intended as innocent and not sexual but he smirked at John. "I think I can behave myself my dear doctor, it's you who I'm worried about." He leaned in to whisper in his husband's ear. "You wouldn't be able to resist my long fingers caressing you. Gliding over you skin. Working against the tension just right."

It was so bloody wrong to be fighting off an erection with their son a few feet in front of him but John couldn't deny how bloody amazing Sherlock was. A small whimper escaped his mouth and he bit down on his bottom lip right away to stifle it. "Hush up, you," he murmured with a chuckle, playfully placing a hand against his husband's stomach to push him away.

Was...John getting an erection? That made Sherlock smirk. He couldn't help it because he hadn't even really done anything, merely whispered a few...encouraging words. Did this mean they were going to have another moment in the shower? The thought made him squirm a bit. God. They were terrible parents. At least Thomas was distracted by the video game.

It had been quite a while since he'd had to fight an erection off at his age and yet here John was, a blush spreading across his cheeks. "You're killing me," he murmured with a soft laugh. He turned his head and gave his husband a soft, slow kiss before sliding down to the floor. "Massage away, my lovely husband."

Sherlock only smirked bigger as he followed John to the floor. He settled between his husband's hips easily. He began the massage at John's shoulders, fingers working on the tight muscles there first. He tried to adjust himself, so his own growing erection didn't press against his husband.

The shifting was hard to miss and John smiled a bit, one hand dropping to gently massage his husband's thigh. They had a serious problem now and as much as he wanted to take care of his husband he knew that both of the kids might wake up and their luck could run out with that bathroom. "Can you wait until we're in our own room in the next hotel?" Washington DC was next for the family and as much as he hated waiting he knew they didn't have a choice.

Sherlock smirked and nodded. "I'll be fine Love." He continued to massage John's shoulders and once he was satisfied that all the tension had been worked out he slowly moved down to his husband's upper back.

Thomas snorted. "Why don't you just break into the room next door? It's empty. Amy and I will be safe in here. I can even put the sliding chain on. It's better than doing it in the bathroom again."

John blushed furiously, looking back at Sherlock with a soft groan. Had it really been that obvious? Hell, he'd even spread soap across his body just so Thomas wouldn't be upset. "Breaking into another room is bad," he finally muttered, the blush still strong across his cheeks. "And we're not leaving you in here for the sake of making love when we can wait like responsible adults."

Sherlock glanced up to Thomas. "Son, I know we encouraged you be confident but try not to take it too far all right? We are still adults and your parents, remember that." There. That would be okay, wouldn't it? Hopefully it wouldn't upset too much but the boy needed to know it wasn't okay to be rude to them either.

Thomas blushed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to..." He sighed and shrugged. "...Its just, I don't understand why you try to hide all your shaggings when its obvious every time you do." He blushed again and looked away from his dad's.

Right in front of him it felt like Thomas' confidence was suddenly gone all over again. John's shoulder relaxed forward and he let out a sigh. "No need to apologize, Thomas. We try to hide them because we know how uncomfortable they make you and we don't want to upset you." It was a completely honest answer and he gently scooted forward to place a kiss on the boy's forehead. "I like your new-found confidence, though," he paused and smiled. "You remind me a lot of your Daddy."

Right. Too much then. Sherlock didn't know why he bothered trying to be a father at times. Was he being too hard on Thomas like his Old Man had been on him? On the plus side he supposed, he was no longer hard. He sighed at his thoughts but managed to keep his fingers focused on the massage.

Thomas blushed furiously at the compliment. He still wasn't used to them. He decided to just go back to playing the video game.

At this point there really was no winning between either of them so John turned around and kept his gaze locked on Sherlock before leaning forward and giving the man a slow, languid kiss. When he pulled away he kept his forehead against his husband's. "It's all fine," he murmured softly. "You're not being too hard on him but we've got to be careful."

Of course John was right. His husband was, always had been the better parent. Damn it. Sherlock was trying hard to stay out his head again but it was hard when his biggest insecurity was being a good father. Constantly worried about being like his Old Man. He felt like this moment pretty much proved himself a failure.

Now it was time for John to start picking up the pieces. "Look at me," he murmured softly. "You're not like him. You never have been. I've never seen you get violent and you are doing everything that any parent would do when it came to their children." That had to work because before long he was going to have to resort to waking Amy up just so his husband felt a little better.

Sherlock met John's gaze and nodded slowly. "I'm fine Love, I just get lost in my head sometimes." It wasn't a very pleasant place sometimes. He managed a small smile to reassure his husband and then leaned in for a kiss on the lips. "I love you."

Thomas hadn't meant to eavesdrop but it was hard not to when his parents were right there. "Who are you talking about? Daddy's dad?" He paused the game to look back at his dad's. "Was he...not nice? Uncle Mycroft and Uncle Gregory named Siger after Grandpa didn't they?"

"I love you, too," John replied before returning the kiss. That was when Thomas opened his mouth and started talking about Siger. "Your Grandfather was a strong man, Thomas. He was a soldier, like me, but sometimes people make mistakes and your Grandfather made a few. Uncle Mycroft looked up to him very much and respected him a great deal." It wasn't good to tell a nine year old that his Daddy had been practically beaten by the man.

The questions asked by Thomas made his chest tighten. Sherlock had a hard enough talking about growing up with John that he couldn't find words to say to their son. His husband was doing it though and with effort he managed not to scoff at the fact his father made 'a few mistakes.' He let out a breath that he hadn't realized he had been holding until he was practically gasping for air.

Thomas frowned and he studied Sherlock curiously. "Daddy didn't like him, did he. How come?" The game was forgotten about because this was much more interesting to him now. Dad and Daddy had never talked about his grandfather and now maybe he had his chance to learn something.

God help him he was about to say horrid things about a veteran and a man who was dead. John took a deep breath and grabbed his husband's hand before starting to talk again. "Some parents are not nice to their children, Thomas, and your Grandfather did some very bad things to Daddy." What else did he say? It was difficult for him to go into detail simply because he hardly knew what happened, to be honest. "But your Daddy is trying his hardest to try not to be like him because he loves you and Amy very much."

Sherlock couldn't find words still. He should have known that questions like these would have been asked, should have been prepared. But here he was flat footed and he could barely breathe. John was still talking. Best to let his husband do all the talking because he wasn't sure anything nice would come out of his mouth right now.

Thomas frowned. "If his Dad was so mean, how come Grandma or Uncle Mycroft didn't protect Daddy? Especially Uncle Mycroft, isn't it his job as an older brother to protect the younger sibling? If...if...you or Daddy was ever mean to Amy I would stop you! I wouldn't let you!" He was breathing heavily now, his lower lip quivering and tears brimming his eyes at the mere thought of one his dad's ever doing anything to his sister.

More questions. Thomas was far too curious for his own good sometimes. "Because sometimes people make mistakes or they are scared that it might be them. A lapse in judgement is completely normal." Now their son probably thought his Grandfather was a brute who couldn't be controlled which wasn't too far from the truth but Thomas was not even ten yet and he didn't need to know about everything. "But we're not going to let anything like that happen, we promise. Your Daddy and I will never do anything like that to you."

Damn it. Sherlock really wanted a cigarette right now but he hadn't packed any for the holiday. After all it was supposed to reduce stress, not induce it. He finally found his voice. "My father did a lot of things to hurt me, but that isn't what you should remember. Your grandfather saved your Dad's life before we were married and while that didn't make things right between us, it..." He paused, his jaw clenching a bit. "...it still show he cared about me in some way."

Thomas glanced to his Daddy and nodded slowly. "Okay." It was still weird to think about he nodded again, slower this time. He looked back over to his Dad. "I know...I would protect Amy no matter what is all. I don't want to lose her like I lost my Mum...and now grandma..." He couldn't stop the tears this time and they streaked down his cheeks.

John instantly pulled Thomas into a hug, looking at his husband over the top of the boy's head. 'I'm sorry,' he mouthed as he reached a hand out to grab one of Sherlock's. "I know you would protect her and that's why you are an absolutely amazing older brother," he whispered with a proud smile toward their son. "And Amy knows that because she looks up to you so much." God, he never wanted to have this conversation and he hated himself for it even being brought up. "But remember that people make mistakes and that your Grandfather was not a horrible person at all. Please remember that." At least Sherlock was able to be civil about it, that was a nice relief.

Sherlock gave a shrug and forced a smile that didn't meet his eyes at all. He wanted out of the hotel room, just for some space to breathe. Except, he had others to think about besides himself. He knew if he just upped and left it would make Thomas feel horrible. He sighed at himself but stayed where he was. He glanced down at his hand in John's and gave it a tight squeeze.

Thomas released his Dad and looked back to his Daddy with a frown. Daddy was sad and upset. It was all his fault. He had been so curious about everything, he hadn't stopped to think about his questions.

Right away John decided to start playing damage control and looked at Thomas. "We are very glad that you are curious about everything around you Thomas because learning about not only your history but the history of others helps make sure that it can never happen again," he said softly as a soft stir came from the bed where Amy was. "How about you go and check on your sister, yeah? She might need her big and wonderful brother there for her." Once the boy was gone then he could focus on his husband and let the man leave to get some air.

Sherlock watched their son go over to little Sandi. He looked back over to John and managed a small but genuine smile. He loosened the grip on his husband's hand. "I'm fine Love. Just a bit...tense, is all." He gave a slight shrug and forced himself to finally relax a little. "I should have been prepared for questions like that, given how inquisitive Thomas is. I guess, I just didn't expect it so soon."

"He's as bright as you are," John whispered softly with a small shrug. Both of their kids seemed far brighter than their age suggested and that made him happy. He knew, really, that neither of them would be as smart as Sherlock but they were both set to be rather intelligent. "And he's curious, it's not like he ever met Siger," he added with a simple shrug. "But you did good and we'll have to brace for questions like that from Amy when she's older."

Sherlock nodded. "Yeah, I know." He wrapped his arms around John, giving his husband a tight hug. He released John after a moment. "Sorry," he murmured as he laid his head onto his husband's shoulder. He just needed some comfort right now and he knew John could give that to him.

"You have nothing to be sorry for," John replied right away. There was no way he could know what was going on in his husband's head but he did know that he needed to help the man as much as possible and not let anything happen to him. "We worked through it together, you kept yourself calm and even helped answer some of his questions. You did a fantastic job. Your mum would be proud."

Sherlock smiled and kept his on John's shoulder. He just wanted to his husband to hold him right now. There had been a point in his life where seeking comfort from others never would have happened. He had changed so much. Better because of it though. "I'm so glad I found you."

John smiled softly and wrapped his arms around his husband, starting to rock slowly. "And I'm glad I found you," he whispered. There was silence in the hotel room now which meant Thomas had clearly managed to help Amy out. That made him very proud because their kids got along so well. "We're meant for each other, y'know? It's fantastic."

Sherlock wasn't sure if he believed in that kind of thing but he nodded anyway. "I suppose so, yes." There really wasn't a valid argument but he didn't want to argue about it because really, they were great together. Fantastic. "I love you."

"I love you, too," John replied as he pressed a soft kiss against his husband's temple. Before long there was more murmuring from the bedroom and he couldn't help but chuckle. The kids were managing to keeping themselves entertained, clearly good news for them. "Suppose so? Very true, actually. So very true. I love you so much."

Sherlock smirked and finally lifted his head from John's shoulder to look at his husband. He leaned in and gave John a quick kiss on the lips. That was all he really could do with their children up. He glanced over to Thomas and Amy. The boy had gotten out a coloring book and crayons for them. He smiled softly as he watched them for a bit.

"Look at them," John whispered as he watched their children as well. "We raised them both so well, didn't we?" All he felt was a rush of pride as he watched both of them, Amy with a smile on her face and happily coloring a page. It was clear that she wasn't coloring inside the lines at all and he could do nothing more than chuckle at that thought. "You're a fantastic father. You've done this all with me."