Author's Note:
Still sucking at the updates but haven't been writing this story much lately. Sorry.
Sherlock smirked smugly. "I told you, I am perfect and amazing." He leaned forward and gave John a quick kiss, careful not to bump little Sandi. He went back to sipping his tea, preferring to savor the taste since he wouldn't be drinking it often while on holiday in America.
After the quick kiss John turned back to the bed, easily tucking Amy in next to her brother. Both of the kids got a quick kiss to their forehead before he joined Sherlock in the small living room. "You are the best father I have ever seen," he whispered as he picked up his mug and took several small drinks from it. "And every time I tell you that you don't believe me. But it is so true."
The smug smirk disappeared and Sherlock shrugged. He was still convinced John was better at parenting than he was. It only proved his husband's point but in his mind it was true. "You are better at it." He gave John a small smile and another quick kiss on the lips, hoping to distract himself from his thoughts.
John decided not to start an argument, not this early in the morning with the children still asleep. Instead he leaned forward, giving his husband another quick kiss. "We're quite the pair," he said with a smile. "Me and you, we're absolutely amazing parents and we've got two amazing children." That much he knew they could agree on. They were constantly discussing how lucky they were to have two fantastically behaved children.
Sherlock smirked. "Damn right we do." He set down his unfinished cup of tea and wrapped his arms around John, desiring to be close to his husband once more. "I love you." Another kiss, their lips lingering this time. "Mmm, you taste like tea..." Another smirk, as he pressed his forehead against John's.
Those short little kisses were enough to make John grin and as their foreheads were pressed together he just chuckled. "I love you, too," he whispered, setting down his tea as his arms slowly went around the man's waist. "What else am I supposed to taste like?" It was a playful remark and it was clear he couldn't help himself. "I rather fancy tasting you," he murmured as he started a slow kiss.
"Hmmm, I rather fancy the smell of blueberry lube on you myself." Sherlock smirked, eyes closing at the slow kiss couldn't help but moan softly into John's mouth. At least he had gotten off earlier so he didn't have to worry about getting an erection from all this snogging and snuggling.
That statement sent a shiver through John's body and he grinned into the kiss. When he pulled away for a breath he just chuckled. "Well, it's probably because you put it there, yeah?" For them sex was absolutely amazing and he loved that the physical side of their relationship was definitely still healthy.
Sherlock smirked. "All over you," he murmured in agreement. The thought made him shiver in excitement. He hadn't brought any flavored lube because he hadn't thought they would have that kind of time with the children with them. It hadn't even occurred to him to have separate rooms until John had mentioned it.
"God, you're kinky," John whispered with a smile before lifting a hand up to run through his husband's hair. "I absolutely love you. You're perfect and amazing." After a moment he simply rested his head on Sherlock's chest, enjoying being close to the man for the time being. "I had a dream about our wedding while I was asleep," he muttered gently.
"Yeah, but you like it." Sherlock smirked and was content to just hold John close to him. He arched a brow. "You did? About when I shagged you in my secret room? Or was it just about our dance?" He wasn't sure if it had been a sexual dream. He didn't dream often himself and if he did they were usually nightmares.
John studied his husband for a long moment before shrugging. "I dreamed about you bringing me that fruit salad," he whispered softly. "Then about how we rutted against each other like two teenagers while I was half asleep." Probably his favorite part of the wedding night if he was completely honest with himself.
Sherlock arched a brow and then smirked. "I remember that night. I recall finding you rather adorable and irresistible when you fed me fruit. Enjoyed licking you clean. Next thing I know we are getting each other off while I still had my trousers on and I ruined the bottom half of my tuxedo. But it didn't matter because for some reason there was an extra pair hanging in out bathroom." He smirked a bit bigger as he recollected out loud.
"And then I fell right back asleep," John replied with a soft laugh. "But it just...happened. And I loved it. One moment I was half asleep, the next you were above me." Looking rather amazing, he recalled, and completely irresistible. God, it had been one of the best nights of his life. "You helped me out of a really dark time in my life and you didn't even know it. That night I realized how loved I really was."
Sherlock smiled. "I'm glad I was able to help." He gave John a slow kiss for a bit before pulling away. The night of their wedding he had wanted to prove his love to his husband and he supposed he had, even without realizing it. They were past that now. He knew John loved him and vice versa.
John stood for a moment before leaning heavily against his husband, smiling softly as he attempted to figure out everything that had ended up bringing them together. It was quite the work of art, he figured, and in the end it had definitely paid off. "You're always able to help," he replied after a long pause, looking up at the man proudly. "That's why I married you."
Sherlock smirked. "That's what husbands are for. And of course I'm always able to help. I'm perfect and amazing, remember?." The smirk only got bigger. Despite how cocky he was being at the moment, he still had doubts about being a good husband and father but he wasn't going to say anything to John about it. He wasn't going to ruin this moment with his husband.
Leave it to his wonderful husband to be so proud of that fact. John smiled and gave his husband a quick kiss. "I love you," he whispered as one hand smoothed up and down the man's back. All of the love between them, every ounce of love that he felt for Sherlock, suddenly welled up inside of him and he couldn't contain it. "God, I love you." Without a care he started a heated kiss.
Sherlock smiled into the kiss. "Love you too," he murmured. He didn't want to pull away but he had heard movement on the bed. He glanced over to Thomas, their son was staring at them. Great. He gave John a quick kiss on the head. "You got Baby Girl last time, I will get Thomas."
Thomas had a nightmare about losing his Mum, a dream he hadn't had for awhile now. He sighed and looked away when he noticed Daddy looking at him. "Sorry," he muttered. He didn't want to go back to sleep, so he stayed seated on the edge of the bed and staring at the floor.
When John looked over his shoulder there was a pause before Sherlock said he'd take over. But Thomas was apologizing which meant they definitely needed to take care of this together. "I'll help," he whispered as he smiled up at his husband. With a deep breath he moved over to the bed, Sherlock at his side. "No need to apologize, we're sorry you saw us kissing and being icky."
Sherlock nodded at John and then moved over to Thomas and knelt down next to their son. It was obvious to him that the boy had a nightmare of some sort. Should he bring it up or just let Thomas talk about it if the boy was ready? He wasn't being a very good father right now, was he?
Thomas frowned a bit and shrugged. "I had a dream about my Mum dying again and Daddy saving me. Only when I look back one last time, it was Amy. I couldn't...save her...what if I can't save Sis every time like I couldn't save my Mum?" Tears began streaking his cheeks and pressed his face into Sherlock's chest, arms wrapping around his Daddy in a tight hug.
And just like that John felt a twist in his stomach because he knew exactly what Thomas was feeling. Those dreams happened to him all of the time and he never wanted anybody to have to go through that. "But those are just nightmares," he whispered as he ran a hand through his son's hair. "Do you fancy a warm cup of hot chocolate?"
Sherlock was a bit surprised Thomas had hugged him and not John, but he wrapped his arms around their son and returned the hug. "What happened to your Mum, wasn't your fault Thomas." He wasn't sure if that would help at all but he was trying to be a better father to the boy and sometimes he wasn't sure he was doing all that well at it.
Thomas clung to his Daddy awhile, sniffling into Sherlock's chest. He finally pulled away to look at his Dad and nodded. "P-please?" He looked back up his Daddy. "It wasn't it?" More sniffling as he ran his arm under his nose.
Right. Thomas just wanted to be with Sherlock and John understood that. He stood up and moved into the small kitchen in their suite, starting a mug of hot chocolate for the boy so he could be alone with Sherlock for a moment. When it was finished he moved back toward the bed, checking on Amy to make sure she was still asleep. "Here," he said softly as he handed their son the warm mug.
Sherlock glanced over to John as his husband left but then looked back over to Thomas. "Of course it isn't." He paused, unsure what to say next to their son. He was barely good at comforting John and now he felt overwhelmingly unable to do anything for Thomas.
Thomas nodded a bit at his Daddy and then looked over to John. "Thank you Dad." He sipped the hot chocolate. "It is good." He gave his Dad a small smile.
"I'm a master hot cocoa maker," John said with a warm smile. Thomas seemed to be perking up just a bit and Sherlock looked to be a little out of place. "Did y'know that I have nightmares like that, too? And it's all right to be scared, Thomas. Nightmares are really scary. But you're strong and I know you'll soldier on." A soft smile tugged at his lips as he ruffled the boy's hair.
At least John knew what to say. Thomas seemed to be responding to his husband better than him. John always made being a parent look so easy to do. He decided to be quiet, since he still hadn't thought of anything to say. So much for being a better father.
Thomas sipped on the hot chocolate thoughtfully. He knew Dad had nightmares. Had heard John wake from them from time to time but had never said anything. "What are your nightmares about Dad?" He glanced over to his Daddy, scrutinizing Sherlock a moment. "Do you have nightmares Daddy?"
John glanced at Sherlock for a moment as Thomas asked both of them about nightmares. There was a moment of silence between the three of them before he finally spoke up. "Mine are about war," he murmured softly, tilting his head to the side. "I have flashbacks about when I used to be a soldier and they scare me. Your Daddy always helps me, though. He's always there." One of his hands moved to grab one of Sherlock's.
Sherlock had never really talked about his nightmares, on the rare occasions he had them. Most of them involved losing John in some fashion or other. "I do sometimes yes. Everyone has them from time to time."
Thomas listened to his parents with wide eyes as he continued to sip on his hot chocolate. Even Daddy had nightmares. That was weird for him to think about. "Do you dream about drugs?" He wondered what would scare Daddy enough to have nightmares. Drugs were scary, at least to him.
Shit. No. That was the last thing Sherlock needed to be asked about. "Nightmares are just scary," John murmured lamely, trying to fix as many things as possible without telling Thomas he'd done something wrong. "And you're a very strong boy so I know that you'll do just fine and get through this." When he finished talking he noticed that Amy was moving and waking up before looking tiredly at her family. He moved and gently picked her up, holding her close to his chest.
Drugs? Sherlock shook his head slowly. "No, not about that son." His gaze flicked over to John and little Sandi. Damn. They had woke up Amy. He glanced back down to Thomas. Should he try to explain his nightmares? "Sometimes I worry about things happening, like something happening to Dad or you or your sister and I have nightmares about that. It is perfectly normal to have nightmares about things you think are scary or worry about. But you are Daddy's little boy, so I'm sure you will be fine."
Thomas looked up at his Daddy, eyes wide again. The cup of cocoa was still in his hands but he wrapped his arms around Sherlock in a tight hug. "Okay Daddy. I love you."
Sherlock had definitely managed to keep the situation under control, then. John smiled and bounded Amy on his hip in an attempt to get her sleepy again. Before long he was humming and she was asleep yet again and as he put her back in the bed she curled around the closest stuffed animal. He smiled at that before moved to sit next to Thomas. "You're just like Sherlock so I know you'll make it through just fine."
He must have done something right. Sherlock returned the hug and smiled when Thomas put the cup on the nightstand and settled back under the covers and went back to sleep. He looked over to John, tugging on his husband's hand gently and led them back over to the bed so they could snuggle some more.
And just like that they were alone again. John slowly followed after his husband, easily pulling the man against his chest before glancing at both of the children. They both seemed rather content now and there was still a few hours until the sun would come up. "You did very good," he whispered as he placed a quick kiss on Sherlock's forehead. "Very good father."
Sherlock smiled. "Yeah, I guess so. I didn't know what to say at first," he admitted quietly. He pressed his forehead into John's side, just under his husband's arm. Just like their honeymoon, he couldn't keep his hands off John except this time they weren't shagging each other senseless. Just snuggling with his husband was enough for him.
They were touching so much more than John had remembered but he loved every second of it. After a moment he turned his head to press his nose into Sherlock's messy hair, inhaling slowly before chuckling. "I feel like we're young again, like we don't have to care about when we'll have sex and just...it's great." This holiday was definitely helping every last bit of their relationship.
Sherlock smirked into John's side. "Like it," he muttered as he put an arm over his husband's stomach. "You should try and get more sleep if you can my dear doctor." With a bit of shifting and tilting of his head, he managed to be able to kiss John on the lips quickly before pressing his face back into his husband.
"Me too," John replied with a smile before he let out a shaky sigh and moved to stretch and then settle against the mattress. Sherlock wanted him to sleep but that meant that his husband would stay awake. It wasn't too much of a surprise for him only because the man hardly slept as it was. "Few more hours," he murmured softly as he let his eyes slip shut. Before long he was fast asleep, holding Sherlock against him like the man was a stuffed animal.
Good. John needed the sleep just like the children did. He wasn't tired himself, but he stayed pressed into his husband. Sherlock let his eyes close, but he wasn't sleeping. He was just merely enjoying the moment of being pressed up against John and he didn't want to move, for fear of waking his husband.
For nearly three hours John slept easily with Sherlock curled against him. When the sun started to come up he stirred, letting out a soft groan as he opened his eyes. "Morning." His voice was rough from lack of use and as he stretched so his muscles wouldn't be as tense. "Did you sleep well?" Or at all in his husband's case.
Sherlock hadn't really slept, had teetered between that state of being awake and not. "I didn't," he muttered into John's side. He opened his eyes and did something he almost never did, yawn. He would probably sleep at the new hotel. Except, he had all these plans with his husband. "Too early to wake the kids up and go?"
John yawned as soon as Sherlock did, grinning from ear to ear and chuckling at the sound. It was rare for his husband to do something like that and he loved it. "Probably just a bit," he whispered as he pushed some unruly hair back from the man's forehead. "They need their sleep so we can travel today without going through the issue of having cranky children."
Sherlock nodded into John's side. "Don't want to leave your side right now anyway." Teetering on half sleep was messing with him a bit and he was feeling a little grumpy. He finally understood the phrase, 'waking up on the wrong side of bed.' He clung to his husband a little tighter, his face burying further into John.
Right away John knew that something was wrong and he wanted to figure out what but asking would probably lead to a bit of a fight. Instead of talking he simply tightened his embrace around his husband, letting out a soft sigh as he pressed a quick kiss into the man's hair. "I don't fancy letting you go, either." At the rate Sherlock was going he had a feeling that they might be sleeping their first night in their own room and making love later.
"Sorry," Sherlock grumbled. Maybe it was the fast oncoming headache that was annoying him the most. "Grumpy this morning," he admitted with a mutter. There wasn't any real reason for it. Nothing had happened really to change his mood, but right now he didn't feel like moving or doing anything.
Little things like that no longer surprised John. Sometimes his husband would be in a bad mood and that was simply how it happened. "It's fine," he whispered as he started to rub the man's back. Now he just had to make sure that Sherlock was as comfortable as possible before the kids woke up so he wouldn't take it out on them. "Just think, later today we'll be able to snuggle and snog all we want."
"Think I am getting another one of those bad headaches." It had been a few months since then they had been particularly difficult to handle. He got the pains every now and then, but not always so intensely. Sherlock sighed and kept his face pressed into John's side because he just didn't want to move at all. Not even to snog.
"All right," John whispered, clearly taking a bit of an initiative now that he knew what was going on. "When the kids wake up we'll get you some medication so we can at least attempt to get rid of the pain, yeah?" If it got any worse he was hesitant about driving to their next destination which would mean another day in New York City. Sherlock wouldn't be able to go out and he would have to find some way to entertain their children.
"That would good." His words were a bit mumbled since his face was still pressed tightly into his husband. "Sorry," Sherlock repeated and then sighed. He hated these stupid headaches and he wished there was a way to make them stop forever. He didn't want to ruin the family holiday and he was determined to get up at some point.
John just smiled and started to rub gently at Sherlock's back. "Don't apologize," he murmured softly. "You can't help these things, it's fine. I'm not upset." There was no possible way that he could be because his husband was hardly like this. "I promise we'll make you feel better soon." After a moment of silence he dropped his head so the man wouldn't have to move and gave him a gentle kiss.
Sherlock nodded a bit and stayed curled into John. "Thank you," he mumbled. "How much longer do you think we have until the kids get up?" He wanted to lay pressed against his husband as long as possible. He shifted a bit, so his head finally came to rest on John's shoulder.
"'Bout an hour," John murmured in reply as he buried his face in the man's hair. Laying like this wasn't too common for them anymore, especially since they had lost Nancy, and now he wanted to take advantage of every last moment he had like this with Sherlock. "Then I think the kids will be up and by then they'll be hungry." At least the food service at the hotel was acceptable.
"Good." It would give him a chance to relax awhile longer and maybe even for his headache to lessen a bit. Sherlock doubted it would go away without taking something for it. "Can...I tell you something?" He lifted his head to look up at John. It had been something he had been thinking about a bit while on holiday with the family.
There was a moment of hesitation before John nodded, his heart beating a little faster without his permission. In most relationships those words didn't end well but they had been happily married for quite a while. He figured nothing too bad could come from it. "Of course you can," he murmured as one hand lifted to gently run through Sherlock's hair.
Sherlock hesitated as well, hardly believing the words were about to come out of his mouth. "What do you think of me retiring from being a consulting detective? Just...being a family man? With the money we got from Mum's will neither of us have to work...ever again." He would miss that life but he felt like he was missing so much more with his family the more time he spent with them on holiday.
Oh. That was definitely not what John had expected at all. For a moment he was quiet, staring down at the man as he tried to picture their life like that. Sherlock had been a consulting detective from the moment they had met and the change would be difficult for the both of them. "I think," he murmured softly, "That if that's what you want to do then I certainly can't stop you. If that's what you want then we'll make it work. I want you to be happy." There was a small pause before he shrugged and smiled. "We could also only accept cases that you deem 'boring' and do those because they'd have hours on them so you could spend your nights at home, some days, too. I just...I really want you to be happy, Sherlock."
Sherlock frowned a bit. He had thought John would be happy about that. Apparently he had been wrong. He buried his face back into his husband's side with a sigh. "Just forget about it," he muttered. So, he was pouting now. Wonderful. What a stubborn git he was. "Do you not want me home?" He didn't want to fight with John but this was something they should talk about...wasn't it?
John paused and then gently moved so he could look at his husband. "I am very happy that you've made that decision, Sherlock, and I would love to have you home at the flat with the kids." The only issue was the fact that he wasn't too sure if Sherlock would be able to handle it. Before long the man would, more or less, go crazy if he stopped doing cases. "I'd be happy to have you at home," he whispered.
Sherlock was quiet a long while, lost in thought. "I just...on holiday with the family...it has been nice, despite some of the mishaps... I feel like I am missing out." He shrugged, his head lifting so he could look at John. A slow smirk crossed his lips. "What have you done to me John Watson? To think I would miss time with the family, more than I will working..."
All John could really do was smile down at the man and chuckle. "I've domesticated you which I thought could never be done," he whispered softly as he lifted a hand to run through Sherlock's hair. It was a relief, though, he would admit, and he would rather enjoy having Sherlock around to help with the children. "I think it's a great idea, to be honest, and if you are committed to it then I will support you."
Sherlock relaxed into John with a smile. That was what he needed to hear. That his husband would support him in the decision. "I think it will be okay. I...we will be okay if I do it. I don't want to miss anything else. I want...to be the father mine wasn't..." The thought of the Old Man made him frown a bit, his face burying into John's side again.
"I can tell you right now that you're doing so much better than him," John whispered as held Sherlock close, pressing his nose against the crown of the man's head carelessly. "You're such an amazing father, Sherlock. You're amazing and both of the kids love you completely. I am so proud of you." And that much was the truth. If somebody would have told him five years ago that they would have children to add to their family he would have scoffed but here they were and his husband was doing a great job.
Sherlock stayed pressed into John tightly. Sometimes he didn't feel like a very good father, since there were so many times he just didn't know what to do. He was learning though. A lot it from his husband and some it they learned together. "I try," he murmured quietly.
"And you succeed," John replied instantly, smiling as he held the man tighter. At the moment he was completely committed to keeping the man as calm and happy as possible. Hopefully he was succeeding. That man definitely needed it because, despite what he thought about himself, he was doing a fantastic job of caring for both of their kids. "And you're a rather good husband, I've heard."
"We should get up, the children will be up soon and I want to take something before that happens." Sherlock didn't want to leave the comfort of John's arms but it needed to be done. He groaned a bit, as he slowly pulled away from his husband and stretched before getting up off the bed.
John sighed and stretched himself, slowly pulling the blankets from his body and letting out a slow yawn. "I'll get it for you," he murmured softly as he moved to his suitcase and got what he needed. "You can take some more in about six hours but this should do the trick for now," he said as he pulled on a pair of old workout shorts and an old shirt.
Sherlock took the aspirin and swallowed them dry. Hopefully that would help. Just laying and talking with John had relieved some of the throbbing pain in his head. "I should be fine for the day, I think." He went through his suitcase and smirked. "Remember when you bought this for me on our honeymoon?" He removed a grey shirt and dark jeans.
There was a small smirk on his face at that and John nodded. "Yeah, I gave you a blow job in the dressing room," he replied softly. His card had declined, too, and Sherlock had ended up paying for the outfit anyway, but the man still looking amazing in it. "Fancy wearing it today for when we got to Washington D.C.?" It was more of a chance for him to show his husband off, really.
All Sherlock could do was smirk bigger. "I remember and yes, I had planned on it." Since they were driving all day, there was no real need to shower in his opinion. He did go to the bathroom and freshen up a bit though before putting on the outfit. He walked back out and glanced over to the children's bed to see if they were up yet.