Author's Note:
Because you all had to wait so long for the previous chapter, here is another one for your patience!
The man probably wouldn't have done anything but after almost losing Thomas there was no way John could just ignore it. After a moment he smiled at the children and shook his head. "You are just fine. We fancy a bit of a walk and maybe we can find another playground for you." It was best not to worry them at this point because their son would only become more paranoid at the thought.
Amy held on to her brother's hand tightly, looking at her parents and taking it all in. It was clear to her that something had happened because Papa had seemed so panicked in the first place. "Yeah. I wants to find another ones," she said happily, bouncing on her feet just a bit.
Sherlock smiled at the children. "This park is really big, don't you want to see more of it?" There. No need for them to be alarmed. Especially Thomas. The boy was always so anxious about things, it worried him at times. He got up from the blanket, helped up John before starting to put things away.
Thomas continued to chew his bottom lip pensively. Something...wasn't right, but he couldn't figure out what. Probably best not to ask. It might upset Amy. "Okay," he agreed with a nod of his head.
John easily grabbed the basket of left-over food and smiled down at the children. Thomas already knew something was going on but was not asking questions. He moved and gently grabbed the boy's hand, giving it a small squeeze. "Off we go, then," he said once Sherlock got everything picked up. Right away his eyes were on his husband, attempting to keep as much fear down as possible.
Amy just grinned, offering her hand to Sherlock with wiggling fingers. To her it was now more about seeing more of the park and more of American, something she was far too excited about.
Sherlock took little Sandi's hand with a small smile. He glanced up to John and gave his husband a reassuring smile. Everything would be fine. It had to be. They had already had so much happen to them. They were on holiday, hopefully all things would go smoothly.
Thomas kept his curious thoughts to himself as he followed his parents to a new part of the park. He wasn't sure what was going on still, only they were moving for no real reason he could decipher.
With Sherlock being so calm John had no choice but to take a deep breath and do the same thing. The last thing he needed to do was upset his husband because he couldn't keep himself in check. All he wanted to do was rush forward and tackle the man to the ground but he knew that would be frowned upon. "How do we want to spend our last day in New York?" The next day they'd be off to Washington D.C. which he knew Thomas would rather enjoy.
Amy looked up at Sherlock, let out a huff, and then squeezed his hand. More often than not he was far too tall for her and she was forced to stretch her arm up to simply hold his hand. "Papa," she whispered. "Why is you so tall?"
Sherlock shrugged a little. There were a lot of things left to do in New York City, but he supposed it would be impossible to do them all since they so many other places to go. "I don't know. However the family wants to do it, is fine with me." He glanced down at little Sandi, with raised eyebrows and smirk. "Well, Baby Girl. Everyone in my family is tall. Your grandfather was taller than I am."
Thomas' eyes went wide. Someone was taller than Daddy? That just didn't seem possible to him. No one was taller than Daddy.
John glanced at Sherlock as he spoke about Siger. There was no malice in his voice and that was counted as an achievement. Simple little steps that were hopefully a sign that his husband was doing better because of the holiday. "Don't worry Amy," he said with a grin. "You'll probably be short just like me. Thomas is going to be the tall one." He knew that was something that their son was going to enjoy hearing.
Amy nodded a bit, clearly content that she wouldn't be towering above the ground like her Papa. "That's good a'cause I is afraids of heights so I doesn't really wants to be tall." She looked at Thomas happily. "You can has all the tallness, 'Mas."
Sherlock wasn't sure how he had remained so calm while talking about his father. Probably because he had been talking to little Sandi. He frowned at her mentioning a fear of heights. "How come you don't like heights Baby Girl?" Once they found a new spot in the park far enough away from where they were, he began setting up their stuff again.
"You think I'll be tall like Daddy?" Thomas looked up at his Dad questioningly. He liked that thought very much, but he was still short and wasn't sure he'd ever be that tall. He wasn't even as tall as Dad yet.
John raised an eyebrow before looking down at their son with a warm smile. "I think so. You're far taller than I was at this age," he said softly as he pulled Thomas closer to him. "I think you're going to be very much like your daddy but," he paused gently and squatted down just a bit to get on the boy's level. "I think you'll be more unique because you'll be you."
Amy looked up at Sherlock curiously, tilting her head to the side before shrugging. "I doesn't really know. I gets a funny feeling in my belly and I doesn't like it so that must mean that I is 'fraids of heights."
Well, that made sense he supposed. Sherlock didn't really have any fears himself. Well, nothing like heights, spiders, or flying and the like. His fears were usually just about all the horrible things that could possible go wrong at any given moment with his family involved. "Well, they say the best way to get rid of your fear is to confront it. Maybe we can work on that, if you want."
Thomas blushed and shrugged. "Maybe," he muttered shyly. He glanced over to Amy and Daddy. "I can help you, if you want Sis. Be there to hold your hand."
John studied the rest of his family for a moment, grinning at the offers to help Amy get over her newly admitted fear. "We could have Papa hold you up, I fear I'm too short for that." That way she'd have the trust of her Papa holding her and not some sort of slide to climb up. "Then maybe you wouldn't feel as scared." It was definitely worth a try.
Amy shifted and looked between her parents and then at Thomas. "'Mas was doing a good job on the slide," she murmured softly. "And I wants to hold his hand while it happens."
Sherlock was about to suggest he could put little Sandi on his shoulders but she was already determined to have Thomas help. He smiled and nodded. "All right Baby Girl. Thomas, you heard her." He smiled as he watched their son puff out his chest in pride.
Thomas blushed at first but then Daddy spoke and he grinned. "Come on Sis! I won't let go of your hand, I promise."
John watched their children with absolute glee, a large grin nearly splitting his face in half. That's when he got an idea and couldn't help but jump a bit in his excitement. "What if Thomas gets on my shoulders and Amy gets on Papa's? That was he can still hold your hand." It seemed like the best of both worlds in his opinion.
Amy gazed up at John for a moment, looked at Thomas, and then gave her brother a hug. "Can we does that, 'Mas? A'cause then I'll till be holding your hand, yeah?"
Sherlock smiled at John's idea. He picked up little Sandi carefully and set her on his shoulders. He held onto her securely. "If you ever want down, let me know Baby Girl."
Thomas hesitated at the idea but agreed because it might help his sister. He thought he was too old to be on either of his parents shoulders but oh well. "Okay."
John smiled up at Amy, a massive grin on his face before he scooped Thomas up and easily balanced the boy on his shoulders. With a soft chuckle and moved closer to his husband, grabbing the man's hand while he waited for his son to grab Amy's. "Look at us, a perfect little family."
Amy instantly wrapped her arms around the top of Sherlock's head, her legs tightening the best they could manage against her Papa's shoulders. The moment she saw Thomas' hand she grabbed it, eyes wide as she studied the world from a brand new height.
Sherlock smiled and gave John's hand a squeeze. This was what the holiday was all about, right here. The whole family being together and happy. Maybe he had finally done something right for once. "We are, aren't we?" He looked down at his husband, the smile still on his lips.
Thomas held onto his Dad with one hand and the other reached out to take hold of Amy's. He wondered if their family looked weird to anyone watching them right now. At least no one from school was there to see him because it would have surely gotten him picked on more so than usual.
Seeing Sherlock's smile made John squeeze his husband's hand. This holiday was clearly starting to be the best idea that they could ever do. Seeing both if their children so happy made everything more than worth it. "I think we could walk around the park for a bit, don't you? Let the kids see some things?"
Amy held on to Thomas' hand tightly, smiling at her older brother nervously before taking a deep breath and shifting on Sherlock's shoulders a little to get comfortable. "Thanks 'Mas," she whispered with a smile as her free hand rested gently on the side of Sherlock's head.
Sherlock nodded in agreement. He gave John's hand another squeeze, as he walked slowly so as to help keep little Sandi balanced on his shoulders carefully. He lifted his eyes upward, to check on Amy to make sure their daughter was okay.
Thomas smiled at Amy. "Of course Sis, it is what I am here for." He continued to hold onto his sister's hand and took a look around from his new view. Was this what it looked like for Daddy all the time?
John glanced up at Amy for a moment just to check on her but seeing that little smile on her face was enough to relax him slightly. As they started walking he looked around them, taking in the small little duck ponds around them and wondering how they managed to save so much room for just one park in the middle of a massive city. "I love this place," he said softly. "I can't believe I've never been here before."
Amy looked ahead, eyes wide was she took everything in from a brand new height. Hopefully she would never grow up to be this tall because she would be afraid all the time. At that thought she squeezed her brother's hand tightly, pressing her stomach against the back of Sherlock's head to keep close to him.
Sherlock could feel little Sandi getting a little tense up there. Still scared then. "Do you want down yet Baby Girl?" His gaze followed John's over to the duck pond. "Do you want to feed the ducks children?" That was something kids liked, wasn't it?
Thomas squeezed back gently. "You are doing great Sis." Feed ducks? That could be fun and he was sure Amy would like something like that. "I think we should feed the ducks Daddy!"
John glanced at the duck pond and watched as a few of them simply floated in the water, quacking and occasionally glancing over at the family. "Why don't we do that? I think that will be a very fun thing to do." There were little machines where they would get some duck food and he knew that Amy loved animals far more than she clearly enjoyed heights.
"Yeah, I is fine," Amy assured Sherlock with a soft smile. After a moment she dropped her head and placed a little kiss against the crown of her Papa's head. "And I wants to go and feeds the ducks."
Sherlock walked the family over to the pond. He let go of John's hand and lifted both of his so he could gently take little Sandi from his shoulders. He made sure to hold onto her hand as he put money into one of the machines and turned the knob. "Here Baby Girl. Now you can feed the ducks." He smiled at their daughter.
Thomas thought about jumping down once Amy was on the ground, but that might not end well. It would have been fun though. "Dad, can I get down too please?"
John instantly lowered Thomas to the ground, getting him his own handful of duck food before moving to smile gently at Sherlock. "Very fantastic idea," he murmured softly as he watched the ducks slowly wander closer to the kids. They were definitely curious about the food, that much was obvious. "Go on,you two," he said with a smile.
Amy looked at the food and then picked one little pellet out of the pile, holding it in her other hand as the ducks approached her. One wandered toward her, quacked, and easily picked up the pellet. Before long there were two around her and she was happily feeding them pellets.
Sherlock stood next to John, still holding onto his husband's hand. "Thought they might like it," he admitted softly. He watched their children with a soft smile. This vacation just kept getting better and better for them.
Thomas crouched near the edge of the pond and held out his hand for the ducks. They seem more interested in Amy than him, but that was okay because he didn't really care about it that much and his sister seemed to be enjoying it.
John leaned against his husband with a grin, taking a deep breath before turning his head and placing a soft kiss on the man's cheek. "You are making an absolutely amazing father, Sherlock. I am so proud of you and everything that you've done." While that was happening he was hardly paying attention to the pond because he knew the children would be safe. One kid, near Thomas' age, darted up to the pond without a care, not bothering to look where he was, and knocked into Amy.
Right away she screamed, not able to touch in the pond with how far out she was. Amy looked desperately at Thomas, hold a hand out as she struggled to keep her head above the water. "'M-Mas!"
Sherlock smirked but it quickly disappeared the moment he heard little Sandi scream. He was about to dart forward, except Thomas was already in the pond. A panic washed over him and he tugged John to the shore with him. Their son seemed to have everything under control, but he wanted to be close at hand if it was needed.
Thomas glared that the boy who had knocked Amy in the pond but he didn't have time to beat that stupid kid up. He jumped in after her and got behind her and wrapped an arm around her. "I got you Sis." He couldn't let anything happen to Amy. She couldn't drown. Not like his Mum had. He was near tears at the thought but he managed to pull them both to the shore. He shivered from the air hitting his wet body but he didn't care about that. He needed to make sure Amy was okay.
John ran over with Sherlock and as Thomas emerged from the pond he could do nothing more but embrace the boy before checking to see if he was all right. "God, Thomas," he whispered softly. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?" And then he glanced at Amy who was shaking just as bad. Without a thought he took off the pullover he'd put on, wrapping it around both of them. "Shhhh, it's fine." Thomas definitely deserved something while they were on their trip.
Amy just let our soft whimpers, shaking as she held on to Thomas. On occasion she would cough and would that make her just press closer to her older brother. It was clear she wasn't focused on anything else around her.
Sherlock was about to take off his shirt for the children but John had beat them to it. His heart was still pounding in his chest, a feeling he wasn't really familiar with. He tried to calm himself down as he looked over both their children to make sure they were both okay. "I have a change for each of the children in my bag. There should be public restroom we can take them to."
Thomas clung to Amy while he continued to shiver, even though his Dad's shirt offered some warmth. He nodded through chattering teeth that he was fine. He could worry about himself later. His sister was still upset and he needed to take care of her.
John studied Sherlock for a moment before nodding, exhaling shakily before running a hand nervously through his hair. "Yeah, let's get them changed and th-then," he paused and effortlessly picked both of them up, holding them close in an attempt to keep them warm. "Then let's go back to the hotel, have a movie day instead." At this rate he was thinking that going outside was the worst possible thing for them.
Amy slowly started crying, looking up at Thomas as she held on to him tightly despite being in John's arms. All she wanted to do was go back to London now because America wasn't fun in the slightest.
Sherlock wasn't sure how he was staying so calm when on the inside his heart was still pounding and he was panicking but someone had to make sure they kept going. This was all his fault. The holiday had been his idea and now his family was suffering because he had thought it was a good idea. He sighed and led his family to the restroom.
Thomas clung to Amy and his Dad tightly. He shivered some more, and he pressed into John a bit in effort to get warmer. He had thought America would be fun but so far it had been scary.
It wasn't hard to see that Sherlock was blaming this entire thing on himself and John knew that he was going to have to fix that when they were back in the hotel room. "Right, here we go," he whispered as they got into the restroom and he shut the door. Without hesitation he gently started to undress Thomas, snatching up the new clothes before managing a soft smile at Sherlock. "You dress Amy, love," he whispered as he used his pullover to dry of Thomas' body before starting to dress him.
Amy sniffed and looked up at Sherlock with wide eyes, holding her arms up as she waited to get new clothes on. "S-Sorry Papa," she whimpered and a few tears rolled down her cheeks as she rocked on her feet.
Sherlock nodded at what John said. Finally. He would be useful, as he had been utterly useless the moment little Sandi had fallen into the water. He managed a smile at their daughter. "Come here Baby Girl. There is nothing to be sorry for Sweetie. You did nothing wrong." He got the clothes out and changed Amy.
Thomas went through the motions of getting changed with his Dad's help, without much thought. He was trying not to think of all the things that could have happened to Amy in the pond if he hadn't saved her. Would he have watched her drown like his Mum? The thought made tears brim in his eyes.
John reached a hand up and gently wiped the tears away from Thomas' eyes, smiling warmly at the boy before pulling him into a gentle embrace. "You're a hero," he whispered as he rocked their son in an attempt to keep him calm. "You saved your sister and I couldn't be more proud of you. Your Mum would be proud." All he wanted was for Thomas to be happy and that seemed to be a massive battle as of late.
Amy looked down at her new clothes with a sniff, letting out a little sob before crawling into Sherlock's lap. It was obvious that she didn't care they were in a public restroom, she just wanted to be comforted after a rather scary moment.
Sherlock smiled down at little Sandi, and held her close to his chest as he arms enveloped their daughter. He kissed the top of Amy's head. He glanced over to John to see how his husband and son were doing.
Thomas looked up at his Dad with a sniffle. "Do you think so? Do you think Grandma is too?" She had been the one to teach him it was his job to take care of Amy. He tried his best at it but sometimes he felt like he failed.
John nodded and ran a hand through Thomas' hair. "Grandma would be very proud of you, Thomas. I promise." With every word his heart was breaking more and more because it was becoming beyond obvious what went through his son's head. "Everybody is very proud of you."
Amy gazed over at Thomas and instantly she was curious, looking up at Sherlock before coughing. "'Mas as a Mummy?" It was obvious that she was just now figuring some things out about her family.
Sherlock smiled down at little Sandi. "Of course he does Baby Girl. Just like you have Mummy." Shit. Should he bring up the fact that the reason he and John were raising them was because both mothers were dead? In his hesitation he glanced over to his husband.
Thomas sniffled and nodded. He managed a slight smile. "O-okay." He continued to cling tightly to his Dad but at least he wasn't crying anymore.
John glanced at Sherlock for a moment, taking a deep breath and giving a small shake of his head. At the moment he didn't feel like it was the best moment to explain everything to their daughter. When she was older he wouldn't have a problem with it. He turned his attention back to Thomas and smiled, keeping his arms around the boy to help keep him calm. "Heroes get ice cream cones, how does that sound?"
Amy studied Sherlock for a moment after his answer before shifting a bit in his lap. "So... Dada is my actual Dada so is you 'Mas's real Dada?" More and more questions. She liked being curious far more than being scared.
Sherlock gave a slight nod of understanding to John before looking back down to little Sandi. His lips twitched into a frown at the question. He didn't want to lie to her. He glanced to his husband again and then back down at their daughter. "No Baby Girl. Thomas is adopted." Should he try to explain further or would Amy just accept the answer?
Thomas shook his head. "I don't want ice cream. I just want to go back to the hotel..." He sniffled again, but at least no more tears fell.
John nodded as he gently picked Thomas up. Despite his age he was able to hold the boy and at the moment he could imagine doing anything else. Their son had just saved Amy's life and, even if he didn't want ice cream, he was going to get some sort of treat to make sure that he knew how loved and important he was. "Let's go back, then. You can take a nice hot bath, if you fancy."
"Adopted?" Amy's head tilted to the side curiously as she bit her bottom lip. "Does that mean that you isn't his real Papa?" Now she was confused because she thought every family was just like theirs and now she was being told differently.
Shit. More questions. Of course. "That's right Baby Girl. Thomas didn't have anybody so we took him in." True enough. Hopefully more questions wouldn't be asked. He led his family back out to the park and began walking to the car.
Thomas shook his head again. "No. I'm fine." He just wanted to be left alone really. All of Amy's questions were making him uncomfortable but she didn't know that and he certainly wouldn't say anything about it.
John nodded and easily carried Thomas to the car. Once there he set their son down, lingering to place a kiss on the boy's forehead. "Thank you, Thomas," he whispered. "For not only saving Amy but for being one of the best kids any family could ask for." Their relationship had been rocky from the start but he loved the boy to bits and he always would.
Amy let out a huff when she was set in her car seat but was quiet after that. Everything around her was serious and even she knew how bad things had gotten when Thomas had pulled her from the pond. No more questions left her mouth, she simply sat back and let the occasional shiver run through her body. "'Mas," she whispered as she turned her head to look at him. "Thanks."
Sherlock was thankful no more questions were asked. Once he had little Sandi secured in her car seat, he got in the driver's seat. "Sorry," he muttered to John. It has been his suggestion to have the children feed the ducks. To come on this stupid holiday. He sighed and started up their vehicle.
Thomas looked over to Amy and managed a small smile. "You are welcome Sis. I won't ever let anything happen to you." He reached over and grabbed her hand, giving it a small squeeze or reassurance.
"Oi, no," John said softly as he reached out and gave his husband's hand a squeeze. "Don't apologize." That was the last thing he wanted to hear because, despite the little hiccups, the holiday was one of the best things they could have done. It was bringing the family together in the most wonderful way and he wouldn't change any of it for the world. "We're having a lot of fun, don't you dare deny that."
Amy grinned at her older brother, her feet pressed together as she stretched in her seat. "And that's is why you is the bestest older brother in forever," she explained with a simple nod. "And I loves you lots for that."
Sherlock gave a slight nod. "It has been good for the most part, hasn't it?" He managed a faint smile. It had brought he and John closer together again, after he had been a stubborn git and pushed his husband away. He was doing better as a father for Thomas. Or trying at least. Thomas and John seemed to be getting on better as well. "Yeah, you are right." He let one hand leave the steering wheel and he reached out to take his husband's hand.
Thomas blushed and looked away. "Thanks Sis." At least he was better at accepting compliments now. Before he would have argued.
John grinned as his husband agreed, leaning to the side to place a quick kiss on the man's cheek. "The best idea you've ever had," he paused and chuckled. "Aside from marrying me, of course." After another soft laugh he looked out the windshield, giving Sherlock's hand a quick squeeze. They were both getting on far better than they had been since Nancy's death and he was beyond thankful for that.
"Why is you blushing, 'Mas?" Amy whispered it so her parents wouldn't hear, clearly intent on trying to figure out all that was going on. "It is true and...I loves you so that means that you can't blush."
Sherlock smiled as he kept his eyes on the road, but left his hand in John's. "Well, I am amazing and perfect so naturally I make the best decisions." The smile twitched into a smirk.
Thomas blushed a deeper shade of red, that spread down his neck. He was still really shy about compliments and now he didn't know what to say to Amy.
"That you are," John agreed with a gentle smile. Leave it to his husband to brighten his day after something so drastic. After a moment he ran his thumb over Sherlock's knuckles, taking in New York as it passed them by. "The most amazing man I know."
Amy bit her bottom lip and squeezed her brother's hand with a soft sigh. Maybe that wasn't the way to go so soon after he had rescued her. "I loves you, 'Mas," she said softly. "And you is my favorite brother."
Sherlock only smirked bigger. "Damn right I am. And you, my dear doctor, are the most adorable man I know." All he could do was smirk bigger still. He didn't need to be looking at John to know the reaction his husband would have.
Thomas smiled shyly. "I know Sis. I love you too and you are my favorite sister. Best sister in the whole world."
"Oi," John mumbled softly, shifting on his feet and attempting to focus on how not adorable he was. "I prefer...not adorable," he murmured as he tried to think of something else. "Cute, even. I would settled for cute."
Amy nodded and leaned forward the best she could. When it was evident that she wouldn't be able to actually place a kiss on her brother's cheek she simply blew one toward him happily.
"It's Mum's fault you know. Saying you were adorable the first time she met you through Skype." The smirk faltered fractionally as Sherlock shrugged. "I guess it stuck." He cleared his throat, the grip on John's hand tightening slightly without him realizing it.
Thomas smiled again, the blush still flushing his cheeks. He had finally calmed down since Amy had fallen into the pond and he wasn't shivering anymore. He just wanted to be back at the hotel so he could write in his journal.
Shit. That was definitely not what Sherlock had planned. After a moment he paused and leaned to the side to place another gentle kiss on his husband's cheek. "She's left us all sorts of things to remember her by, hasn't she?" His voice was hushed as he smiled at the man. "Just think about everything that she's done, yeah? She's raised you into such an amazing man."
As silence settled between them Amy focused on her parents, curious about what they were talking about but too tired to attempt to listen in. The drama of the day had finally caught up with her and before long she was sleeping in her car seat.
Sherlock glanced into the rear view mirror to check on the children. Little Sandi was sleeping and even Thomas, the boy's head leaned against the window. "I guess she did. I did turn out amazing and perfect after all." Despite his rather large ego, sometimes he doubted that he really was. There had never been doubt in his life before John but after everything, it was a change in himself worth having because of all the other amazing thing John had done for him.