Author's Note:
I have been trying and failing to update twice a week. Life just has me really busy with stuff and things.
John easily followed his husband and Thomas out of the room, Amy resting comfortably against his hip as she gazed at the hallway around her. Once they got in the lift and then made their way down to the first floor he leaned to the side and pressed a quick kiss against Sherlock's cheek. "I'll get Amy's if you get Thomas' and then we can meet at the same table we ate at yesterday." With a soft smile he was off, managing to get everything together and make their daughter comfortable as she eagerly started eating her biscuits and gravy. A simple cup of tea was in front of him and he'd hardly touched it.
Amy, clearly not caring about the mess she seemed to be making of her face, looked around as she happily started to swing her feet, bobbing and swaying her head to some beat that was clearly in her head. "I likes 'Merican breaksfast."
Sherlock got food for Thomas, the boy talking excitedly about the day. It was hard to focus on what their son said because he was worried about John. When they sat down at the table, a frown creased his lips. His husband wasn't eating. "If I get something for you, I promise to eat too." He gave a small, worried smile.
Thomas frowned as he watched their parents. Something was wrong, that much he could tell but he didn't know what. Why wasn't anyone happy about being on holiday? Was it his fault? Because he had gotten lost yesterday? At least Amy was happy and he smiled at his sister. "Me too Sis." He began eating the food on his plate.
Leave it to Sherlock to bargain with him about eating. A gentle and genuine smile tugged at his lips as he glanced toward the buffet of breakfast food. None of it had looked good and the smell alone had left him with a horrid feeling in his stomach but it would make his husband happy and hopefully get that frown off of their son's face. "All right," he said with a small nod. As he stood up he smiled warmly at Thomas, reached across the table to ruffle his hair, and then made his way over to the food. Without a thought he grabbed a plate and went straight toward the fresh fruit, spooning out fresh pineapple and honeydew before looking at Sherlock. "You're up."
Amy watched her parents for a long moment before taking another bite of her breakfast. "I thinks we should learns how to cook, 'Mas, and thens we can make 'Merican foods all the time," he said with a glanced toward him.
Sherlock wasn't hungry at all but he would force himself to eat something if it meant it would get John to eat. It reminded him of when he ate to get little Sandi to eat. The thought made him smirk faintly as he got up and went over to get some food. He got a bagel with jam and a cup of tea.
Thomas smiled at Amy. "That would be good Sis!" He nodded his agreement for emphasis and continued to eat his breakfast.
John sat back down and took a bite of pineapple, chewing it slowly as he watched both of the kids. They each seemed so happy and it was lifting his spirits just a bit. The moment Sherlock sat down next to him again he moved his hand and rested it gently on his husband's knee. It was a silent thank you that he knew the man would understand.
Amy looked proud as Thomas agreed with her, watching him eat for a moment before digging back into her own meal. "'Cepts I doesn't reach the stove so's you mights be doing lots of the cooking."
Sherlock smiled and took a bite of his bagel. His other hand rested on top of John's and gave it a small squeeze of reassurance. At least the children seemed to be doing all right and hadn't noticed them. He had managed to eat half of the bagel but he couldn't bring himself to eat anymore. He wasn't hungry in the least and he didn't want to make himself sick. He took to sipping quietly on his tea.
"We can get you a stool, so you can reach!" Thomas nodded at that. They would probably have to get permission to cook since they weren't allowed to use the stove without an adult around.
Sherlock's touch was comforting and he relaxed, occasionally picking at his meal as the children spoke about everything in front of them. After taking only a few bites from his plate he pushed it away, clearing his throat and sitting back in his seat. He felt weak for feeling like he did but knew there was nothing to do but wait it out. "What is there all to do at Ellis Island?" He glanced over at his husband curiously.
Amy's eyes brightened at that idea. "Yeahs! A'cause then I can reach and helps you cook!" Her body bounced several times in her seat in excitement and she let out a laugh. "I wants to go back to London and cooks now."
Sherlock wished there was more he could do for John, but he supposed there wasn't really. At this rate he wondered if they should just cancel this whole bloody trip. It felt like no one wanted to be here anymore. Should he suggest it? Had his husband asked him a question? Ellis Island. Right. "When we walk in, there will be book we can look at of all the different immigrants who signed their names. I think there are four different exhibits to see. Probably a documentary movie." He wasn't sure the children would be interested in the movie. Thomas maybe, but probably not little Sandi.
Thomas smiled at Amy and nodded again. He wasn't ready to leave yet. There was so much stuff to do in America. Hopefully his parents would be in better moods soon. He had noticed but hadn't said anything because he didn't want to upset his sister.
John nodded as he listened, mindlessly taking another bite from his food before smiling warmly at his husband. "Is this the one where we get a card or something and then follow our immigrant through the process of going through all the checkpoints?" It had always fascinated him while he'd been in school and now he had a chance to actually learn how it all worked. "Or was that something people just made up?"
Amy watched her brother before setting her food down and relaxing into her seat. There was a tense mood around her but she hardly cared because walking around would definitely cheer everybody up. "I likes breaksfast a'cause we is all together."
Sherlock frowned and then shrugged. "I don't know. There could be something like that there. I do know they have packaged tours. Where you can tickets Stature of Liberty and Ellis Island together." He was already thinking about tomorrow for them. Central Park maybe. Little Sandi would like that. Grand Central Station. Empire State Building. Wall Street. Times Square. There was a lot to do in New York City.
Thomas finished his meal and his juice. "Tomorrow can we go see the nine-eleven memorial?" A lot of people had died there. It wasn't something he had learned at school. It was something he found on the Internet when doing research on New York City when he found out they were going there.
John nodded and leaned to the side to place a soft kiss against his husband's cheek. "That's good. We will figure it out, yeah? I'm sure either way that both of the kids will have fun and that's good." At that moment he knew he would do his best to also keep his head up so Sherlock would stop worrying. Once Thomas spoke he turned and looked at the boy, nodding his head with a smile. "We can definitely see it tomorrow, of course."
Amy had no idea what her older brother was talking about but she knew that if he liked it then it would be just fine. "I wants to goes there, too," she declared as she pushed a bit of extra food around on her plate.
Sherlock raised his eyebrows in surprise but nodded. He hadn't thought Thomas would be interested in that kind of thing, but if that was what the boy wanted to do then they would. They could probably fit in a few other things as well. So, another two days in New York City then. Not that it mattered to him. There was no real time table. They could spend as much or little time anywhere they wanted really. He just wanted his family to be happy.
Thomas grinned happily. He was ready to go and see things, but he would need to wait until everyone else was ready. Amy and Dad were still eating breakfast.
After a long moment and a shaky sigh he pushed his plate away, taking a small sip of tea. John looked at both of the kids and once Amy did the same as him he stood up and gently wrapped her in his arms. "Right then. Let's get us a taxi and make our way to Ellis Island, yeah?" It would probably be best since walking the previous day had resulted in everything going to Hell.
Amy instantly curled closer to her Dada, looking at Thomas with a soft smile before letting out a yawn. It was clear she was planning on taking a bit of a nap before they got there, no matter how short it ended up being.
"I was planning on driving us there. We will have to take a ferry across to the island, obviously." Sherlock didn't want to try and cram the family into a taxi. America did have those bus cabs, but he'd rather just drive. He handed John the car keys. "Get the children all buckled in and I'll be right back. Want to grab something from our room." He gave his husband a quick kiss on the cheek and then took the lift to their room. He grabbed the bag from yesterday and made sure it would have everything they would need, including aspirin because he could feel a headache coming on. He went down to the parking garage and found his family with ease.
Thomas jumped from the chair happily and took his Dad's hand. He climbed into the back of their car, and got himself situated. His feet kicked excitedly again, swaying in the air in quick succession.
It took John nearly no time at all to get Amy in her car despite a massive amount of squirming around on her part. Once everything was set Sherlock had arrived and he just smiled, meeting the man's lips in a shameless kiss. "Driving in America," he murmured with a wink. "I've married the brightest man in the world, I think." That was one of the truest statements he could imagine in his entire life. "C'mon, then, let's get going." With that he slid into the passenger side of the car, looking around as it confused him for a slight second.
"Dada, you is on the wrong side," Amy said with a soft smile. "'Mercia is weird and I thinks that cars is weird here," she murmured as she tugged a bit at the seat bleat in her car seat.
Sherlock smirked. "Slide over, unless you plan on driving." The smirk only got bigger as he popped his head into the car to look at John. He was trying hard not to laugh. His husband was a bit...touchy...right now and he didn't want to inadvertently upset John further.
Thomas giggled. "Dad! You are silly!" He couldn't stop laughing.
It was rather hilarious and all John could do was chuckle, looking up at Sherlock with grinning. "Sorry," he murmured with another laugh as he slid over into the right seat. Bloody American cars. "I couldn't drive here, I'd wreck this car," he said with a laugh as he reached back and playfully tickled at the top of Thomas' knee. "I am very silly, aren't I?"
Amy giggled and reached a foot out to push at John's hand with it. "Silly Dada," she murmured with a small blush on her cheeks. Clearly she was a bit nervous about calling John silly but Thomas had done it so it was very much okay.
Sherlock didn't hold back his laughter when he had heard the rest of his family laughing, even John. Good, maybe his husband would have a better day from here on out. He got in the car, started it up and began driving. He would probably run into traffic no matter where he went but that was just New York City. Thomas had liked the American music so he turned it on for the children. He didn't enjoy the noise but he could just tune it out if it became too annoying.
Thomas grinned up at his Dad. "You are!" He giggled again. He would have bounced up in down in his seat in excitement at hearing the radio come on, but his seat belt restricted a lot of his movement.
"Oh yes?" Another laugh escaped John's mouth before he forced himself to face forward. "Thomas Curtis Fitzgerald Watson-Holmes," he murmured with a grin. "I think we can agree that we are both very silly, can't we?" After a moment he moved his hand to rest on Sherlock's knee, rubbing at it absently as he looked at everything around them.
Amy looked over at Thomas the moment she heard his full name. "That's a long name," she said before looking down at her feet. "And mines is Amy Sandoval Sawyer Watson-Holmes. We has long names, 'Mas."
Sherlock relaxed the moment he felt John's hand on his knee. He sighed as the car came to stop. He couldn't help but wonder how long they would be stuck in the grid lock. Hopefully not long. He wanted his family to be able to enjoy as much of New York City as they could.
Thomas laughed at the use of his full name. Should he try to explain to Amy why there names were so long? He wasn't sure she was old enough to understand. Maybe another time. "We sure do Sis."
John cleared his throat as the came to a stop, gently rubbing at his husbands's knee under his trousers with a soft smile. "You look very good today," he murmured. Maybe their tourist clothes weren't the best and he rather enjoyed looking what they usually looked like. "I might want to rip your clothes off when we're back." It was spoken softly so the children would hear.
Amy nodded. "I likes it a'cause it makes us really different." It was clear that she thought different wasn't horrible and would continue to think that probably until she got into school.
Sherlock smirked. "You always look adorable, so it's hard for me not to do that to you every night." He kept his voice low, so they wouldn't be heard of the music playing. Weren't they supposed to wait until they finally had a room to themselves? He wouldn't mind another adventure in the shower, if his husband was up to it though.
Thomas nodded and looked out the window, so Amy wouldn't see the frown on his face. Different. It wasn't that great. Not really. At least not at school anyway.
Right away a strong blush spread across his cheeks and he could do nothing more than study his husband. "Hardly," John said with a small chuckle, glancing down at his feet and trying to keep his blush under control. "You are just as attractive," he added with a wink toward Sherlock.
Amy watched her brother for a moment and then decided it was time to change the subject. After a long moment she shifted a bit in her car seat and attempted to reach her hand out to touch her. "I love you, 'Mas," she murmured with a smile.
The smirk on his lips only got bigger. Sherlock didn't need to be looking at John to know his husband was probably blushing right about now. Finally the vehicles in front of them started moving and they began to go forward.
Thomas turned to look at Amy, a small smile on his face. "I love you too Sis."
Once they started moving John relaxed, keeping his hand on Sherlock's knee. Everything that passed around them captured his attention since it was all so different. God, it all looked amazing. How did people just live here and not think anything of it? It was breathtaking. "Fancy going out somewhere fancy for dinner?" Maybe the kids would really enjoy it.
Amy studied her older brother curiously, mouth twisted slightly to the side before she relaxed. "I thinks that you is fantastic," she whispered with a smile. Her brother would always be the one person she would look up to.
Sherlock nodded. "We can do that. I can look places up on my mobile while we are on the ferry." The traffic thinned out enough to at least go the speed limit. It took longer than he would have liked but eventually he found a parking area close to where they would take the ferry across to Ellis Island.
Thomas looked down at his swinging feet, as a small blush made its way on his cheeks. He cleared his throat and managed a quiet 'thank you' to Amy. He looked back out the window, enjoying all the sights around them. When the car came to a stop he could see the ocean. It was so big and blue.
John got out and moved right away to get Amy out of her car seat and hold her easily against his hip. "Look at that, baby," he whispered as he pressed a kiss against her temple. "That's the ocean. On the other side of that is London." He smiled warmly as he started to sway back and forth without a thought before following his husband toward the way to get on the ferry.
Amy gazed at it with wide eyes, taking several deep breaths and grinning for a moment. "'S so big," she murmured softly as she moved a bit closer to John's side. "It must be really deep, too, Papa."
Sherlock got out of the car as well, grabbed the bag and then locked the vehicle. He took Thomas' hand gently and led his family up to purchase tickets for everything. The ferry was two stories, a deck up top with seats and railings. The first deck had an indoor area with seating.
Thomas took everything in and breathed in the ocean smell deeply. There was a light breeze and he found everything to be rather perfect. "Can we go up top? Take pictures?" He tugged on his Daddy's hand a bit.
John looked over at Thomas with a soft smile. It was hard to admit but he wouldn't mind being on the top level, either, and he gently nudged his husband at the suggestion. "Upstairs would be fantastic and I'm sure a rather nice person might even take a picture of all of us." It would fantastic.
Amy nodded eagerly as she held on to her Dada's shirt tightly. "Yeah! I wants pictures a'cause that will be very good. Pictures!" She bounced a bit before reaching out to take a bit of Sherlock's sleeve into her hand. "Please, Papa."
Sherlock laughed. "All right. I'm getting there. Calm down guys." He grinned at his family and led them up top. Now he just needed to find someone who wouldn't scowl at their family just by looking at them, to ask them to take a picture of them. If all else failed, he would take the pictures. He didn't like being in them anyway.
Thomas looked around at everything. "I want pictures taken with my camera too Daddy! Can I have it please?" He tugged on Sherlock once more in his excitement.
John sat down and put Amy in his lap and right away and young woman moved to sit in the seat across from them. Without hesitation he gently took their camera and politely asked her to take a picture. A warm smile took over her face as she agreed and once everybody was ready she snapped a few. Not every in America was bad. "Thank you," he said softly as he accepted the camera back before easily handing Thomas' camera over to him.
Amy sat happily in John's lap, looking around with a smile before shifting to look over at the ocean. "I thinks that swimming in the ocea would be really scary and...let's not swim in it."
Sherlock smiled the best he could for the camera, hoping he didn't look too annoyed. He hesitantly let go of Thomas' hand so their son could take some pictures. It wasn't like the boy could get lost but other things could happen, like falling over board. He kept a watchful on Thomas, just in case.
Thomas began taking pictures immediately. He made sure not to lean over the rail too much. "I don't think Dad and Daddy would let us swim in the ocean anyway Sis, so we are safe." He gave her a reassuring smile and then took a picture of her.
John watched their son with a gentle smile, keeping Amy securely on his lap. "We could go if you both really wanted to go," he suggested with a soft smile and a chuckle. Apparently Thomas had made up his mind rather quick about the ocean decision. Maybe that meant he just didn't want to go. "That pictures is going to look fantastic," he said as he finally turned to look at his husband.
Amy watched Thomas curiously, smiling eagerly for her picture before leaning back against John's chest. After a short yawn she started to swing her legs the best she could manage from her position.
Sherlock continued to keep a careful eye on Thomas. "Careful you don't use up all the pictures so soon Son. Disposable cameras only have a certain amount of pictures that can be taken." He'd probably end up buying more, he could tell. Not that he had minded. He had set aside a considerable amount of money for the holiday. Throwing himself into cases had been rough on him but it had given extra money the family hadn't been expecting. So, maybe all that extra work would be worth it in the end.
Thomas nodded and gave the camera back. "Can we get more, if I run out? Daddy? Please?" He took his Daddy's hand again and looked up at Sherlock pleadingly.
John smiled and couldn't help but notice how much of a father Sherlock really was. The man knew exactly how to take care of their son and daughter despite the fact that he thought he always did a horrible job. As he continued to hold Amy he gently leaned to the side, resting against his husband with a soft smile. "I think when we get those pictures published they will be all over the wall upstairs."
Amy curled easily into John's chest, closing her eyes as the gently rocking of the ferry finally lulled her to sleep.
Sherlock nodded. "Of course Son." He gave Thomas a small smile. The ferry ride didn't take that long and before long they were docked. He led the family back down and onto the island. He followed the rest of the people into the building where they were met by a tour guide.
Thomas grinned happily and followed after his Daddy anxiously. He just kept looking all around him, his eyes wide with wonder. Everything was so different here than in London.