Author's Note:
Just some cute family time in this chapter!
Sherlock nodded. "We must have done something right. You are a fantastic father as well. We should probably get the children dinner soon. I imagine they will be hungry. " Better. He just needed time not to think about his Old Man. He glanced over to the telly, it was still on. He exited the game after taking a bit to figure it out then turned off the telly.
"Probably," John replied as he slowly stood up, his joints popping and echoing loudly through the room. It was only further proof on how old he was starting to get and how much the Army had torn up his body. "Something good, not fast food. I could order in again if we fancy that," he suggested as he stretched his entire body and then glanced back at the kids. Still wrapped up in that coloring book which was just fine with him. "Feeding them is utterly impossible, though."
Sherlock stood up as well, a slight smirk on his face. Right. John liked to keep the children on a healthy diet. He had mucked that up earlier at McDonald's but the children had needed it after Thomas had gotten lost momentarily.
"Don't smirk at me like that," John said as he leaned forward to place a soft kiss on his husband's lips. With that he turned and moved into the bedroom. His presence was ignored right away in favor of the coloring book. Not that he minded, really, because it just meant more time for them to figure everything out for dinner.
"Dada," Amy said without looking up from the coloring of a puppy. It was already a smear of colors and the lines had been completely ignored. "I wants some shrimps for dinner so can we please gets some."
Sherlock only smirked bigger as he watched John. "I'll smirk at you anyway I want to and there isn't anything you can do about it." The smirk on his lips broadened, mischief clearly twinkling in his eyes.
Thomas nodded. "Shrimp is good. Maybe some shrimp Alfredo?" He looked up from the page he was coloring to see what his Dad thought about their dinner idea.
There were so many things to focus on and John just looked around before chuckling and studying his husband. "I will snog that smirk off of your face later," he said before turning to their kids. Shrimp Alfredo. They could definitely do that. It was healthy enough and he didn't have a problem with it at all. "I think we can have some Shrimp Alfredo, yeah. I'll order it once we are all hungry."
Amy looked at Thomas, smiled, and then sat back and let out a soft sigh. "Um, but...I is hungry now so can we gets the food now?" She tilted her head to the side, twisting her mouth a bit in a very John-like fashion.
All Sherlock could do was smirk. "I look forward to seeing you try Love." He glanced at Thomas and little Sandi before looking back to his husband. "Yeah, John. Baby Girl is hungry now. And maybe I'm a little hungry too. Come on then. Get it ready." Now he was just being a mischievous little shit.
Thomas grinned as he looked up at his parents. They were being silly right now. It was different and nice to see. "Yeah, Dad! We are hungry now!" He decided to chime in with the rest of his family.
Oh fantastic. Now the entire family was following after Sherlock and being absolutely adorable while doing it. This was what their holiday was supposed to be about so how could he complain? "Oh, we are all hungry now?" John looked around with a grin and then crossing his arms. "It's actually Sherlock's turn to get us food. Tell Papa it's time for dinner."
Without hesitation Amy was up on her feet, teddy bear hanging limply from one hand, as she looked up at Sherlock expectantly. "Papa! Dinner! I is hungry now!" She looked at Thomas with a grin, motioning her head toward Sherlock so he would follow her lead.
Sherlock looked at John with raised eyebrows, but his smirk remained. Turn about was fair play he supposed. He watched Thomas stand up next to little Sandi, asking for dinner as well. "Right then. Calm down and I'll phone room service." He grinned at John and picked up the phone.
Thomas laughed and sat back down with his coloring book. This was turning out to be a rather fantastic holiday with his family and it had just barely started.
John chuckled and moved to sit on the bed with their children, smiling when Amy moved to lean against his side right away. "Are you coloring a puppy?" He asked as he grabbed a crayon of his own and gently colored in the picture's nose. It made him wince and realize why he'd always hated coloring. It was still bloody difficult.
Amy nodded softly and licked her lips, watching as Sherlock ordered their food. "You know whats? 'Mas looks like Papa and I looks like you, Dad, and that is how families works. A'cause one kid looks like a parent and another looks like a parent," she explained with a nod.
Sherlock hung up the phone once their food was ordered. "Got us a Caesar salad and garlic bread as well. Juice for the children and tea for us." He smiled at his family on the bed.
Thomas was coloring with furious concentration, as he kept in the lines as best he could and making everything the proper color.
John watched as Thomas colored, eyes wide for a moment as he watched the boy. Definitely Sherlock's son in so many aspects. With a soft smile he leaned back and let his head relax against the headboard. "You know me so well," he said with a soft smile, stretching a bit and curling his toes into the sheet beneath his feet. "I am so glad you are my husband."
Amy giggled as she continued to 'color' her picture, pinks clashing with browns. It was obvious she hardly cared about coloring inside the lines like her older brother. "I likes juice a'cause 'Mas likes juice so I will drinks it," she said softly, not looking up from her coloring page.
"Well, you are my husband." Sherlock smirked at John and moved over to the bed with his family. He laid down on the bed next to his husband. "It will be a few minutes, but they'll bring it to the room when it is done."
Thomas wasn't trying to ignore his family, he just wanted to make sure the picture was perfect and maybe even a little amazing. Just like his Daddy was.
"Thank you for ordering dinner," John said as he leaned against his husband with ease, letting out a soft sigh as his eyes slipped shut. Despite how happy and content they all were now it was clear that the emotional stress of the day had finally caught up with him. Already the sun was down which meant the hotel room would be quiet before long. That much he was grateful for.
Amy finished her coloring and sat up with a nod and a small noise of decision before leaning back against Sherlock's feet. Her small back moved easily against him as she watched her older brother color.
Sherlock smiled. "Not a problem Love." He got up when there was finally a knock at the door. "Come on everyone. To the table, time for dinner." He answered the door, tipped the server and wheeled in the cart of food. It smelled pretty good. It had been awhile since he had sat down and had a proper meal with his family. Maybe it was about time he did so.
Thomas stopped coloring when he heard the knock at the door. "Food!" He got up from the bed eagerly and moved over to the table.
John got up slowly, helping Amy off of the tall mattress with ease before moving to sit down. More pops and cracks from his joints made him wince and he forced himself to sit back and try to relax. Sleeping on a new bed definitely wasn't helping him too much. "All right. We got you both juice and a very good meal. After you eat it is into your pajamas, Thomas, and then straight to bed for the both of you."
Amy climbed into her booster seat with ease, looking down at her pajamas before eagerly awaiting her meal. "Beds," she repeated with a nod so John would know she had heard him. "But eats first. Eats and then beds."
Sherlock wheeled the food to his family. He placed plates in front of everyone, taking a moment to cut up Amy's food. He even set aside a plate for himself. He poured apple juice for the children and then prepared tea for John and himself. He finally sat down, smiling at everyone. This was what the holiday was all about right here.
Thomas began eating once everyone was served and seated. "Thank you Daddy!" He smiled brightly at his family.
John smiled warmly as he took a bite from his salad, chewing it slowly before leaning to the side and placing a lingering kiss on his husband's cheek. "Thank you," he whispered softly, smiling warmly at the man. This was perfect for them and he couldn't help but feel absolutely wonderful about how their day had ended. Everybody looked so wonderfully happy.
Amy picked at her pasta before picking up a shrimp with her fingers and eagerly putting it in her mouth as she kicked her feet in her booster seat. "I likes the shrimps," she said with a giggle before picking her fork up and slowly eating her pasta.
Sherlock smiled back. "You are welcome Love. It is nice to see the family happy like this." He began eating off the small plate he had prepared for himself. It wasn't too bad, for American hotel food.
Thomas smiled happily as he began eating, his feet swinging back and forth rapidly excitedly.
After a soft sigh and several more bites John sat back, clearly indicating that he was finished. The past few days he hadn't really been too hungry and he knew it was his PTSD acting up but he kept the information to himself. Why worry his family when they were so happy? So he simply picked up his cup of tea and drank it quietly, watching both of the kids with a small smile.
Amy watched Thomas before taking a bite and chewing it, eyes locked intently on him. It was clear now that she was copying him, only taking bites when he did and eagerly swinging her feet just like her older brother.
Sherlock turned his gaze to John, a thoughtful frown forming on his lips as he watched his husband. Something was wrong but he didn't wan to say anything in front of the children. He gave John a small, reassuring smile as he continued to eat.
Thomas laughed as he watched Amy. "Sis, you are being silly!" He continued to eat and smile, completely missing the change in his parents.
Right away John felt his husband's gaze on him and he returned the smile. They would probably be talking about it later and he knew that much. As he kept one hand on his tea the other went to rest on Sherlock's knee, his thumb rubbing back and forth as he did so. It was a small gesture to show that he was fine and that they would definitely talk when the children were asleep.
Amy watched her brother with a smile before easily returning to copying him. It was clear that she was in a very playful mood and all she wanted to do was laugh and be with her family. "You is silly too, 'Mas!"
Sherlock nodded in understanding and put his hand on top of John's. He mouthed the words 'I love you' to his husband. He glanced over to their children, they were still happy and that was good. He was worried about John and he gave his husband's hand a small squeeze.
Thomas grinned. "You were silly first Sis!" He laughed, his feet still kicking as he continued to eat the food happily.
How was it possible for his mind to be replaying horrid images when everybody around him was so happy? John smiled at his husband and nodded. 'I love you, too,' he mouthed back as he finished off his tea. Before long he knew that they would have some time to talk so it wouldn't all be bottled up inside.
"You's is older, 'Mas, so's you is sillier first," Amy explained softly before taking a deep breath and realizing that she'd finished her child-sized meal. With a nod she pushed her plate back, finishing her juice before looking back toward her bed and the coloring book. "I knows that it is almost bed times but we should color more."
Damn it. It was obvious that something was bothering John. Sherlock frowned and he gave his husband's hand another reassuring squeeze. He wanted to hug John but he couldn't, not yet anyway.
Thomas laughed and finished his meal a little after Amy had. He nodded and hopped off his chair and then helped his sister down from the booster seat. "Come on!"
And then they were alone at the table, John's gaze locked forward in a military calm as he attempted to keep himself as calm as possible. Sherlock could definitely tell that something was wrong and if he kept his voice low then the kids wouldn't find out. "My PTSD is acting up." It had been years since it had happened but being so far away from home and then having to deal with Thomas nearly getting kidnapped wasn't helping too much.
Sherlock frowned and got up from the table. "Come here Love." He still held John's hand and he led them to the couch, to offer them a bit more privacy still. He sat down and leaned into his husband. He wasn't sure if he should ask John to go on or just simply hold his husband at this point.
John followed after Sherlock without question, looking at the man with a soft smile. "I'm just having some difficulty adjusting to a new place and with what happened to Thomas." He cleared his throat and looked down to his feet with a sigh. "It's ridiculous, I know. I'm sorry." To him it really was nothing more than his brain not wanting to focus on things around him and he hated it.
"It isn't ridiculous John. You are stressed and it can trigger things from your past." Sherlock put his arm around his husband to pull John into a small sideways hug. He wasn't sure if he would be able to comfort his husband but he was going to try his best.
John allowed himself to lean into Sherlock and before long his eyes slipped shut. "I just want to be happy like everybody else." But constantly focusing on everybody around him had drained him emotionally. Between caring for Sherlock and then both of the kids he hardly had any time to try and care for himself and it was clear now that it was all catching up to him. "The kids are going to notice that I'm not eating anymore."
Sherlock continued to hold onto John. "Don't worry about the children right now Love, worry about yourself. They will be fine. Thomas will look after Amy. And I will be here for you. Now just relax into me. Keep your eyes closed. Don't think about anything but hearing my heart beat under your ear." He wasn't sure if this would help his husband but he was going to try.
It was so endearing to hear Sherlock talk like that and all John could do was listen and hope it would work. Before long he was relaxed against his husband, breathing steadily and attempting to stay as calm as he could manage. He tended after several minutes and opened his eyes, looking straight ahead as his heart rate picked up. "Promise me we'll all be safe because after almost losing Thomas I am so scared."
How could he promise John that? It would be impossible to keep, but he needed to calm his husband down. "I can promise you that I will do everything in my power to keep our family safe." And that was true. He worried about his family all the time and how to keep them all from harm. It was the best he could do and sometimes he didn't think it would be enough. Damn it. Focus on John. His husband needed him right now. He pulled John a bit closer to him, the grip around his husband tightening a bit.
It was foolish and nearly impossible, John knew, but just hearing it made his racing thoughts slow just a bit. They wouldn't lose Thomas again, wouldn't let Amy out of their sight. Everything was going to be just fine. "Thank you," he murmured softly as he turned his face and gently pressed it into his husband's neck. Sherlock was getting rather good and comforting others and it was something he was incredibly thankful for. "We both know it's going to last a few days," he said softly as one hand moved to run gently up and down Sherlock's forearm.
John was thanking him? Sherlock was a bit surprised but he smiled. "You are welcome Love. I am your husband and I will always be there for you, no matter how long it takes." He kissed the top of John's head, content to just hold his husband close to him.
In his opinion this was far better than having sex in the bathroom and avoiding the children. This was still intimate and something that he wouldn't mind the kids seeing. "I love you," John muttered into Sherlock's neck as he exhaled shakily against the man's skin. It was clear that there was still fear in his body but it was difficult to get rid of it right away despite his husband's help. All he wanted to do was forget everything and focus on just being happy.
Sherlock smiled again. "I love you too." He was enjoying just being close to John. They hadn't been close like this in months. They had shagged sure, but not just sat and really snuggled. It was something his husband needed obviously and he didn't mind it one bit. It was nice to just hold John close to him.
"I love it when you just hold me," John murmured softly as his voice continued to get quieter. It was clear that Sherlock holding him was doing more than enough to help him calm down and he was nearing sleep. "Please don't tell the kids," he started as an after thought, his eyes opening again as he spoke. "I don't want them to worry and we both know that Thomas will think it's his fault." That was the last thing they needed.
"I love holding you." Sherlock could only smile bigger and just hold onto John. "And of course I won't say anything. Amy is far too young and Thomas worries enough as it is." He gave his husband another kiss on the head. "I like this. This is what out holiday is all about right here. I am glad we could take this vacation together with the children."
With that John slowly drifted off to sleep, relaxing easily against his husband as he started to snore. Clearly he was suddenly in a very deep sleep.
Amy slowly wandered into the bathroom, looking up at her parents before smiling just a bit. "Was Dada tired? A'cause he looks tired," she murmured as she glanced back toward her bed. "Can you comes and tuck me into bed when Dada is ready to move?"
Finally. Sherlock had managed to calm John down enough to sleep. He smiled at little Sandi. "Yes Baby Girl, Dada is very tired. I will come tuck you in soon, okay? I'm sure Thomas can help get you ready." He didn't want to move, not so soon after his husband had fallen asleep.
Thomas jumped off the bed and into action when he heard his Daddy talking to Amy. "Come on Sis! We can brush our teeth together." He took his sister's hand as he gave his Daddy a smile. Anything he could do to prove to Sherlock he would do anything to help his Daddy, especially if it meant helping Amy.
Amy nodded and then looked up at Thomas before following after him. "I wants to brush my teeth," she said as they walked into the bathroom. Before long she was looking back in the direction of the living room curiously. "Is something wrong with Dada?" It was clear now that she was worried about what she had seen. "Papa doesn't really hold Dada like that evers."
Thomas frowned a bit as he followed Amy's gaze to their parents. "Dada is just tired. Probably the jet lag. Jet lag is when you travel really far and it makes you tired. Dada probably is still effected by it." He glanced back to his Daddy and Dad. He wasn't sure what was wrong, but something was certainly going on with them. "Everything will be fine Sis." He gave Amy a reassuring smile.
Everything that Thomas said was right so Amy simply accepted his words with a nod, smiling happily before grabbing her toothbrush and easily squeezing some toothpaste on it. She managed to lift herself up on to the counter before starting to brush her teeth. It was a generally sloppy affair and it was obvious that she was going to need to change her pajamas before she went to bed.
Thomas watched Amy for a moment with a small smile. "Silly Sis, I could have picked you up! Now we are going to need to change you into new pajamas." He giggled and picked up his own tooth brush, put toothpaste on it and began brushing.
Amy smiled around her toothbrush before she finished brushing her teeth, washing off her toothbrush before sliding off the counter. "I will goes and change," she said softly before wandering into the bedroom. It took her some time before she managed to pull out a new set of pajamas. They didn't match at all but she hardly cared and easily changed into them before climbing up on to their bed.
Thomas finished brushing his teeth and then followed Amy out of the bathroom. He got changed into his own pajamas. He glanced back over to the couch and he smiled a bit. Daddy had fallen asleep with Dad. "Come on Sissy Poo. I'll tuck you in." He turned back to Amy and smiled as he moved over to their bed.
Amy easily climbed into bed, smirking a bit as she looked at her older brother. "I thinks that we has really adorable daddies," she said softly as she hunkered down into the blankets and nodded, clearly a bit serious. "And that means we is really adorable, too," she added as she yawned and instantly curled around her teddy bear. "Thanks 'Mas." With that she let her head rest on her pillow and slowly started to fall asleep.
Thomas grinned. "They are both perfect and amazing," he whispered since Amy had started falling asleep. Sometimes he didn't think either of them realized that. He pulled the covers over them, leaned over and turned off the light next to their bed. It didn't take long for him to fall into a slumber as well.