John kept turning to check on their daughter as they drove, clearly nervous that she was going to wake up at any moment. When it happened he knew that everybody in the car would know but for now they seemed to be in the clear. "You're doing fantastic with her," he whispered to Sherlock as his hand moved to rest comfortably on his husband's knee.
Sherlock shrugged a bit. "She was obviously tired so I made sure she napped." He then smirked a bit. "But I am perfect and amazing, so of course I knew what to do." He glanced over to John briefly, flashing his husband an even bigger smirk.
John chuckled and shook his head playfully, winking at his husband as they finally got to the park. "Only perfect and amazing people know how to take care of families so I guess I'm lucky that I snatched you up when I did," he murmured as the car came to a stop. "If you grab Amy I'll get Thomas and the food." With that the door was open and he was grabbing the grocery bags from the trunk before offering his hand to their son.
The park was busy of course, so he had parked a few blocks away. The walk wouldn't be that bad though. Sherlock got out of the car, once he made sure there wasn't oncoming traffic to run him over while he got little Sandi out of the back seat carefully and then stepped up onto the sidewalk next to John and Thomas.
Thomas latched on to his Dad's hand almost immediately and helped to get bags out of the trunk. He grinned up at his parents, excited already and they weren't even in the park yet.
John smiled down at Thomas, giving the boy's hand a gentle squeeze before they started walking. This holiday had definitely brought him a little closer to Thomas and he was beyond thankful for that. Their relationship was still growing and he knew that but now he knew that they could talk to each other about certain things. He didn't feel inferior to Sherlock anymore.
Amy stirred in Sherlock's arms, letting out a small squeak before she yawned. It had been a quick nap but at least she'd missed her second trip in the car seat. Going back while she was awake would have resulted in a massive fit. "Papa," she whispered, clearly still tired. "Is it picnic times?"
Sherlock smiled down at little Sandi when she woke up. "Almost Baby Girl. We will be at the park very soon and then we will have our picnic." He waited for the pedestrian traffic light to change before crossing the street. He wasn't surprised to see a lot of people at the park. He found an open area on the grass for the family to spread out the blanket so they could eat together.
Thomas clung to his Dad a little tighter because there were a lot of people around and he was still worried about getting lost again. The park was bigger than he could have ever imagined and he continued to stare in wonderment of all the new things to see.
John sat down and effortlessly pull Thomas closer to him, grinning at their little boy as he got some food out. Right away he was making their son a peanut butter and jam sandwich, pouring some crisps next to it on a cheap plate before handing it over. With that done he made himself his own sandwich, digging in eagerly. The lack of food he had been eating recently was definitely taking its toll.
Amy kept herself curled against Sherlock's side, tired eyes taking everything in intently before she glanced at the food. "Can you makes me tuna?" Her voice was quiet as she gazed up intently at her Papa.
Since John was making Thomas' sandwich, he made little Sandi's. "Of course Baby Girl." He made it for Amy, making sure to cut it into quarters and placed it on one of the cheap paper plates. "Here you go Sweetie." He smiled as he placed the sandwich in front of their daughter.
Thomas began eating enthusiastically. He chewed a little while because the peanut butter was a bit difficult to swallow. "Juice, please?" He glanced up to his Dad.
John chuckled and reached into the basket, snatching up a small bottle of juice before sitting back and glancing around the park. It was all rather fantastic and here people who passed seemed to simply smile at them, not judge them. It was more of a relief than anything. Every once and a while he'd take a bite of his sandwich and just smile at his family.
Amy reached a hand out and picked up a slice of her sandwich with ease. After taking a bite she glanced up at Sherlock, smiling around the food in her mouth. With a glance toward the small bit of food in her hand she moved and pressed it against Sherlock's mouth curiously.
So, little Sandi wanted him to eat. He wasn't very hungry but there wasn't a lot Sherlock wouldn't do to humor Amy. He smiled at their daughter and took the offered food in front of him. "Eat the rest Baby Girl, so you can grow up to be big and strong like Thomas. Papa is already fully grown." He smiled down at Amy before glancing up to his husband with a smirk.
"Thank you Dad." Thomas took the juice and took a big drink. "This is good. I like it!" He nodded and he stopped eating to start taking pictures with his camera. Some he took of the park and then he took a few of his family.
Watching Thomas take pictures of anything he could was quite endearing and all he could do was laugh, grinning for a few before he winked at Sherlock. John took a few more bites of his food before resting back on his elbows, legs crossed as he simply took everything in. "I'm very glad you like it. We might have to see if we can bring a few back to London for you as a special treat," he said softly.
Amy giggled and picked up another bit of her sandwich, taking a bite as she watched her older brother. "'Mas is going to be very strong," she explained to Sherlock. "A'cause he is going to protects all of us the bests that he can and I thinks he will save the world." With a nod she reached out and wiggled her fingers, looking up at her Papa expectantly so she could get a juice box of her own.
Sherlock smirked at what little Sandi said. Their daughter thought the world of Thomas. He handed Amy a juice box, poking a straw in it for her. He leaned back, stretching out next to John. He couldn't help it and gave his husband a quick, chaste kiss on the lips.
Thomas blushed at what Amy said. He wasn't sure about all of that. Saving the world. That was a tall order. He could barely save himself, how could he possible save anyone else?
John smiled at Sherlock after the quick kiss, clearly happy that they were comfortable sharing that bit of affection in public. Not even Thomas had commented on it which was definitely a plus. "Thank you for all of this," he said with a smile. It was certainly the best holiday of his life and he knew that the children were having a very good time.
Amy took several sips from her juice box, eagerly grinning at everybody around her. After nearly half of her sandwich was gone she stood up and gently slid her shoes off. With that done she started happily running around the grass close to the blanket.
Sherlock smirked but then shrugged. "We all agreed to the holiday." Grant it, he made most of the plans but he had made sure to get input from John before doing so. He turned his attention to little Sandi when she began running around, just to make sure she didn't fall and get hurt.
Thomas grinned and soon followed after Amy. He began chasing her, laughing and giggling. "Sis, I am going to get you!"
John couldn't help but watch their children and smile, taking it all in with a laugh. For this moment they weren't a family with a past full of issues, they were normal and enjoying themselves. He felt like they'd done something right with their children. "You came to me with the idea," he murmured before giving Sherlock another quick kiss.
Amy let out a joyful squeal, darting around the blanket with a loud laugh. "Nu-uh!" After a few more strides she tripped and slid in the grass. Without hesitation she stood up, gasping for a moment before taking off again.
Sherlock smiled and returned the kiss but his attention quickly went to their daughter as she fell. He almost sprang up off the blanket to rush over to here but little Sandi was already running around again. He relaxed back next to John and gave his husband another kiss, this one lingering just a bit longer than the last two.
Thomas stopped running the moment he saw Amy fall but she seemed okay so he kept going after, running slower on purpose so his sister could keep the lead. "Yes huh!"
There was a beam of pride in John's eyes as Amy got up and simply kept going. Soon enough, though, he was distracted by his husband's kiss, readily returning it before a soft chuckle forced him to pull back. "She might be quite the athlete when she gets older." Already he was planning on getting her into some football league in an attempt to see if she would like it.
Amy moved a few feet from the blanket to hide behind a tree, peaking around it and giggling as she glanced at Thomas. "No a'cause I is faster than you, 'Mas," she explained before sticking her tongue out at him.
Sherlock raised his eyebrows at John's statement. He had never really thought about it honestly. He supposed his husband could be right though. "I could see it. She definitely has the energy for it." He moved in for another kiss, because he rather enjoyed snogging with John. He didn't care if they were in public or not. The children were distracted too. He felt confident that Thomas wouldn't let anything happen to little Sandi, so they could stop watching just a bit.
Thomas stopped near the tree when Amy had hid behind. He didn't have the heart to argue with her. "Yeah, okay. You are right Sis. I'll never catch you."
More kissing it was. John rather enjoyed it and couldn't help but playfully nip at the man's bottom lip before pulling back with a smirk. "Feeling a bit affectionate?" It was clearly playful and instead of waiting for an answer he moved to started a slow kiss without a second though. Amy and Thomas were distracted enough and it was just kissing.
Amy slowly stepped out from behind the tree, hands on her hips while she grinned proudly at her older brother. "You is the bestest though a'cause I says so."
Sherlock was about to reply but they were kissing again. He smirked and returned the slow kiss. They had been snogging a lot while on holiday and that was certainly fine with him. It had been missed since before the vacation, they hadn't done much of anything period.
Thomas blushed. "No I'm not." The words were quiet. He didn't think he was the best at anything at all.
When John finally needed to breathe he pulled away, smiling warmly at his husband and lifting a hand up to run through his hair. "I miss kissing you so much," he whispered with a gentle smile. "And I'm glad that I get to kiss you like this, just little kisses and all that. It's perfect."
Amy looked up at her brother, head tilted to the side curiously. "Why doesn't you believe me? A'cause it's true. You is the bestest person I know, 'Mas."
Sherlock smirked. "Not nearly as perfect as amazing as me though, but yes I missed kissing you and everything. I am sorry I wasn't around before." He frowned at that. No. Don't think about it. Just keep moving forward. Damn it. Had he ruined the moment with John?
Thomas blushed, glancing down at the ground. It was hard for him to accept and believe Amy when she said things like that about him.
At those words John moved without hesitation and embraced his husband, one hand instantly going through his hair while the other scratched at his back. "But you're back now and being quite the amazing family man. I'm very glad for it." At this point he simply saw the past as the past and planned on moving forward to try and fix everything for the future.
Amy bit her bottom lip, clearly a bit nervous at the fact that Thomas had yet to reply. "Sorry. I doesn't means to upset you, 'Mas," she murmured before clearing her throat and plopping down in the grass. "Uh. We can sits here if you wants and do things."
Sherlock returned the embrace immediately. "I'm trying to make it up to you and the kids. You deserve better than what I was giving before." He sighed at his words, his head leaning into his husband's shoulder. This was supposed to be a fun, carefree picnic with the family but here he was ruining it.
Thomas sat down next to Amy. "We can do whatever you want Sis. There are some swings over there." He turned and pointed behind them. "I can push you, if you want."
John kept his arms tightly around his husband, pressing a kiss gently against Sherlock's temple. "I don't think I deserve anything better because you're the best," he whispered with a smile. That was the truth and he would always believe it. Sherlock Holmes was the best man he had ever met and that was why they were married.
Amy glanced at the swings and nodded eagerly, even bouncing a bit on the grass. "Can we does that?" Without waiting she was up on her feet, grabbing Thomas' hand and darting toward the swings.
Sherlock managed to smirk a bit. "Well, you'd be hard pressed to find someone better anyway since I am perfect and amazing." He checked on the children to make sure they were okay before he turned and kissed John on the lips again.
Thomas followed after Amy and helped his sister onto a swing. "All right Sis, here we go!" He got behind her and pushed her gently on the swing.
More kissing. John certainly wasn't going to argue and eagerly returned it, exhaling softly into the man's mouth as he playfully sucked at Sherlock's tongue. Little moments like this were far better than making love simply because he felt closer to Sherlock when they could just do these little things.
Amy giggled and attempted to help the best she could with her legs. As she got going she couldn't help but grin at what her daddies were doing. "I hopes that Papa and Dada keep loving each others forevers."
Sherlock smirked and continued the kiss. Of course they couldn't do much else in such a public place and of course the children present. That was fine though because he was quite content just to snog his husband all day at this point.
"I think Dad and Daddy will love each other no matter what Sis." Thomas really believed that because his parents were amazing. He had seen them fight sometimes but never for long periods of time.
After another snog John pulled away, smiling as a blush spread across his cheeks. "You need to stop being such a damn good kisser," he whispered as he lifted a hand to run through his husband's hair. "You might get us into some sort of trouble."
Amy looked back at her brother for a moment as she continued to swing, smiling softly before letting out a soft sigh. "Yeah, I thinks they will. We has the bestest parents ever, 'Mas."
Sherlock smirked. "You would love it." His eyes twinkled with mischief, even though he knew they wouldn't be able to follow through with anything he might like to happen. He glanced over to the children again, because he couldn't help it. He had to make sure they were okay.
Thomas smiled and continued to push Amy on the swing. "We do." He missed his Mum but he couldn't imagine not leaving with Sherlock and John. He frowned at the thought. Did that make him a bad son? Would his Mummy be disappointed in him? He tried not to think about it and just concentrate on pushing his sister.
John moved to gently lean against his husband, one hand moving to gently scratch at the man's lower back. "You'd certainly make everything worth it," he whispered with a smile before watching the kids as well. "They're perfect," he whispered proudly.
Amy kept swinging her legs, happy to look around at the park as she got just a bit higher. "I mostly would be a'scared but you's is really good at this and I trusts you, 'Mas," she explained happily.
Sherlock leaned into the touch automatically, the smirk still on his lips. He nodded in agreement. "They are good children." A thoughtful frown crossed his lips. "Do you ever worry they will grow out of it? Or do you think they are close enough now, things will never change between them?"
Thomas smiled shyly, a small blush flushing his cheeks. "There is nothing to be scared of. I got you Sis."
John looked at Amy and Thomas for a moment longer before shrugging. "I like to think that they'll stay this close," he said softly. "But there's always a chance it could change. They'll grow up, go to school, make more friends. It's natural." Except right now they were so close that he had a feeling their children would never grow too far apart.
Amy stifled a laugh as she continued to swing. "I know, 'Mas. You always has me and I know that you will never lets me get hurt," she said like it was obvious. Thomas was the person she trusted most in her life.
Sherlock nodded a bit. He supposed there was no point in worrying about things that hadn't happened yet or was out of his control. He did it often enough though. He was trying not to while on holiday with the family but it was tough sometimes. He couldn't help but get lost in his head from time to time.
Thomas smiled again. He was going to try really hard to make sure nothing ever happened to Amy like had happened to his Mum.
John let the silence settle around them for a moment before looking up at his husband. "But we'll figure it out when we get there. I promise. They're both always going to be our children and we'll always do our best to keep them as happy and safe as possible."
Amy let herself keep sitting on the swing, watching people walk past them and smiling at the sight before she finally decided that she was one. "'Mas, I thinks I am done. Can we maybe go and gets some drinks?"
Sherlock nodded again. Just stay out of his head. It wasn't that hard, right? Just think about here and now. John. The children. No. Not now. Not another headache. He sighed and reached into the bag he had been bringing with them everywhere. He took out some aspirin and took them dry. "Sorry," he muttered to his husband.
Thomas stopped the swing gently and then helped Amy off. "Okay Sis." He glanced around briefly before he spotted some water fountains. He led them over to them, and they had a to wait a bit since there was a line to use them.
"You're fine," John replied with a soft smile. Right now he was simply trying to keep his husband as calm as possible and all he wanted was to make the man smile. "Look at Thomas," he said softly. "He's helping her around everywhere. He's perfect, isn't he?" They had definitely raised him to be quite the young gentlemen.
Amy held tightly onto Thomas' hand, looking up at him happily. "Thanks," she murmured as she rocked from her toes to her heels and back again before looking at the line of people in front of them.
Sherlock turned his attention back to their children. He couldn't help but smile. "He is a wonderful older brother. I'm glad little Sandi has him to look up to." He couldn't imagine having not ever met or adopting Thomas now. Despite all the terrible things that had happened on the island, he was happy with how things had turned out.
Thomas let Amy go first. "Go ahead Sis. Here, I'll lift you up." He wrapped his arms around his sister waist and gently lifted her up so she could reach.
John tilted his head and placed a gentle kiss on the underside of his husband's jaw. "And he has you to look up to," he said with a proud smile. It was far better than Thomas looking up to him because he had done so many things wrong in his life that he never wanted their kids to follow in his footsteps.
Amy easily got her drink from the fountain, some of it dripping down her chin and on to her shirt. Before long she was back on the ground, looking up happily at her older brother. "Thanks," she whispered with a soft smile. "Were is we going next, 'Mas?"
Sherlock shrugged a bit. "He does, doesn't he? I think he looks up to you too. Both of us really...just...differently?" He frowned in thought. To keep himself out of his head again, he leaned in and gave John a long kiss, tongue moving to eagerly explore the mouth beyond.
Thomas smiled with a nod. He took a quick drink himself, making sure to keep his hand's in Amy's. He glanced over at their parents. Still kissing. "Want to go down the swirly slide?"
John smiled slightly into the kiss, opening his mouth without a thought and giving his husband control of it. More often than not he gave Sherlock control simply because the man was far more dominant and he didn't mind that at all. He exhaled through his nose against his husband's cheek in order to keep breathing.
Amy looked over at the slide, smiled just a bit, and moved closer to Thomas. "Um, yeah," she murmured softly. "I thinks that we might be able to does that." After a moment she gently tugged him toward it.
Sherlock smiled behind the kiss and let it last a bit before pulling away. "I love you," he murmured before looking back in the direction of the children. Still safe. He breathed a sigh relief and then looked back to his husband.
Thomas frowned in thought. "We don't have to, if you don't want to Sis." He followed after he though, wondering if maybe Amy had wanted to do something else instead.
John grinned at the end of the kiss before relaxed against his husband again. "I love you, too," he whispered softly, grinning like an idiot. Everything at the moment seemed absolutely amazing and he couldn't be happier. "He really is a fantastic older brother. I can't imagine our lives without either of them, to be honest." It seemed like every little mistake they made had ended up paying off in the end.
Amy looked up at Thomas and smiled softly. "I wants to go down it but I doesn't likes heights," she explained with a gentle squeeze of his hand. "So does you think that maybe you could come ups with me and then go down with me too?"
Sherlock smiled and nodded in agreement. He reached out his hand and took John's in his, intertwining their fingers immediately. Coming to Central Park had certainly been a good idea. The day was going rather wonderful for the whole family, which is what he had been hoping for.
Thomas frowned a bit but then nodded. "Of course Sis! Come on!" He smiled at Amy and followed his sister over to the slide. He made sure to follow her up the ladder, so he could be there just in case she fell.
The silence form his husband made John smile softly, looking up for the man for a moment. After a pause he placed a soft kiss on Sherlock's cheek. With that done his gaze moved to the kids and immediately he tensed. An older man sitting on a bench was watching Thomas and Amy and right away he was on edge.
As Amy got the the top she grinned at Thomas, sitting down and then waiting for her brother to sit behind her. The moment they were situated she pushed off with a giggle. Once they were at the bottom she got to her feet and turner, focusing only on Thomas. "Again."
Sherlock felt John tense immediately and his eyes narrowed as he followed his husband's gaze. He shifted to a sitting position on the blanket. Should he say or do something? He didn't want to interrupt the children from having fun but he didn't want to take any chances either. "Hey Thomas! Come over here with your sister Son."
Thomas was about to take Amy back up the slide when he heard his Daddy call out to him. He frowned but took his sister's hand and led them back over to their parents. Had they done something wrong? Were they in trouble? "Is everything okay?" He began biting his bottom lip worriedly.