Author's Note:
Another delay in updates. Sorry. Life has been crazy lately. I will post another chapter tomorrow as well, for you all being so patient.
When Sherlock left John turned his attention to the bed. Both of the children were still sleeping and it was quite the relaxing sight. They had done quite an amazing job of raising the two of them considering the circumstances and when he looked at both of them he didn't see accidents, he saw his family. Before long Amy must have sensed his eyes on her because she started moving, her hair a mess as she stretched and then looked up at John tiredly, smiling the best she could.
"Mornin' Dada," Amy whispered as she sloppily rubbed at both of her eyes with one fist. A closer inspection of the room made her smile a little more. "And Papa," she added before burrowed deeper into her covers for warmth. "Is we leavings today?"
Sherlock smiled at little Sandi. "Good morning Baby Girl. Yes. We will be in the car a lot today, while we drive to the next city." Maybe they could stop here and there for the children. It wasn't like they were in a hurry. That reminded him. He had promised to keep Mycroft updated. He walked over, picked up his mobile and sent a text to his older brother.
Thomas didn't want to wake up yet but it sounded like everyone was up already. Maybe he could sleep in the car later. "Morning Sis," he mumbled sleepily.
John glanced at Thomas and smiled softly. The boy had definitely planned on sleeping a bit more but now everybody was awake. "We'll get breakfast for you guys and then get everything packed," he said as he reached over and gently ruffled their son's hair. "Tea, apple juice, some cereal, fresh fruit," he murmured before picking up the hotel phone and calling in their meal.
Amy watched Sherlock for a moment, glancing at Thomas before launching herself into his arms. "Morning, 'Mas," she said happily. With that done she turned her attention back to Sherlock, curiously raising an eyebrow. "Is you texting Uncle Mycroft?"
Sherlock glanced up from his mobile and smiled at little Sandi again. "You are very smart Baby Girl. That is exactly right." His brother was probably busy with something or other and would text back later. He put the mobile in his pocket and began packing things up while John ordered breakfast.
Thomas nodded a bit. "Going to get ready," he muttered to no one in particular. He found a new pair of clothes and then went into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him quietly.
John watched Thomas for a moment before hanging up the phone. "Breakfast will be here soon," he said was he watched his husband pack. Being adult sounded horrid at the moment so he crawled on the bed, paused, and ambushed Amy with growls and a playful raspberry against her stomach. "Got you," he declared before picking her up and holding her above his head.
Amy could do nothing more than laugh, hands wiggling and grabbing down at John's face before she was lowered into a warm hug. "You is silly, Dada," she murmured before yawning yet again and curiously looking around the hotel room.
Sherlock paused from packing to watch John and little Sandi, a smile on his lips. "You are both silly." He smirked a bit and went back to getting things ready so they could just go after eating breakfast. He almost picked up the journal and put in it Thomas' luggage, but he figured their son might get upset so he let it be.
Thomas didn't take long to get ready and when he came out freshly showered, he was much more awake. "Good morning everyone!" He grinned and sat down at the table, since he figured breakfast would be at the room soon.
John chuckled and relinquished his hold on Amy the moment their son was out of the shower. Now she had to be near him and so as she darted toward the table he stood up and packed up he and Sherlock's suitcase, shutting it to indicate he was wearing the older clothes. "I'll change at the hotel," he said softly, placed a quick kiss on his husband's cheek before answer the door and getting their food. When the table was set and everybody had their food he sat down and dug in.
"I think I might sleeps today while we drive," Amy said softly as she took a bite of fresh honeydew and chewed it happily, clearly not noticing the juice from the fruit running down her chin.
Sherlock was double checking things while the family ate. He was a bit hungry but he could eat later, when they stopped to get lunch somewhere. Knowing the children, it would have to be very American. Not hard since that was where they were. Thomas seemed to be fascinated by everything to see so far.
Thomas began eating, just having some dry toast and juice. They were leaving today and he was eager to see more of America and take more pictures. "Can we stop at places so I can take pictures?" He glanced between his Dad and Daddy hopefully.
John glanced at Sherlock and shrugged before nodding. "I don't see why not. We're not really in a hurry and I'm sure Amy would like that, too." He smiled as he finished up small bowl of cereal, reaching over to wipe off Amy's face so she wouldn't be horribly messy for the trip. "We did get you a new camera so you should be ready to go." Seeing all of those pictures once they came out was going to be absolutely amazing, he knew that much.
Amy continued to eat her fruit happily, occasionally taking a sip from her warm cup of tea. It was amazing to her that the tea could taste so different in America but she drank it anyway.
Sherlock nodded as well. "Of course we can Son. Just ask and I'll pull over, all right?" He gave Thomas a smile and then glanced around the room. Everything seemed to be put away that needed to be. He finally sat down with his family, even though they were all almost done eating.
Thomas grinned happily. Yes! "Thank you!" He was even more excited, his feet kicking under the table rapidly.
Making their children happy wasn't too difficult of a task and before long they were all rather happy. John was sitting back, hand resting on his husband's thigh, while he watched both of them. Sometimes the love that he felt for his family overwhelmed him and it knocked the air from his chest. So he just squeezed Sherlock's leg, looking at him with a tiny little smile.
Amy grinned at Thomas, finishing her fruit before she sat back and looked around the room. "I likes this hotel," she commented softly. "And I's really gonna miss it."
Sherlock placed his hand on top of John's and smiled at his husband. He gave the hand a small squeezed. They were certainly very lucky to have the children they had. He supposed in time, they could become right terrors but he felt like he and John had taught both of them better than that and would turn out pretty well as adults. Maybe his husband was right, he was a good father.
Thomas looked around and nodded in agreement with Amy. It was big. "Are all the hotels we going to stay out have rooms like this for us to stay in?" He glanced over to his parents curiously.
For a moment he was distracted from Thomas' question because of Sherlock's hand. He smiled a bit and then glanced back at their son. "They will be like this. In our next city you two even get a room all to yourself!" Hopefully he would enjoy that because it was also so he and Sherlock would have some time alone with each other as well.
Amy squealed and jumped a bit in her chair. "We gets a room? Does I gets my own bed and 'Mas gets his own bed?" That would mean that she'd be able to jump on it like a real kid.
Sherlock smiled at their children. "Yes Baby Girl. You two will get your own beds." He thought for a moment. "Do you two want your own room from now on? It will be right next to ours. So, if you need anything you just have to knock on the door and ask." Would John be okay with that idea? He probably should have consulted his husband before making that suggestion. He glanced over to John, to try and gauge his husband's reaction.
Thomas nodded a bit. "I think that would be good. But, can we hang out with you and Dad sometimes?" He glanced between his Daddy and Dad, chewing on his lip thoughtfully.
John listened to Sherlock talk and smiled at his suggestion. It would mean a bit more freedom for Amy and Thomas, something he knew that both of them would rather enjoy, and give he and his husband some time together when both of the kids were asleep. When Thomas agreed he couldn't help but squeeze his husband's hand. "Of course you can, Thomas. There will be a door in between both of our rooms, you open it and we'll be right there." Sometimes he imagined they'd have to sit in the room with the children until they fell asleep but he had no problem with that.
"I likes the idea," Amy blurted out happily, even more eager now that she knew her older brother like the idea as well. "And we can still sees you but also has our own room and own telly, too!"
Sherlock smiled. Good the family liked that idea. He supposed they would still spend a lot of time in the children's bedroom but at night he would have John to himself and he quite liked that idea. "Well, then it is settled. You two will have your own room for the rest of the trip." He gave his husband's hand another squeeze.
Thomas grinned at Amy. "This is going to be fun Sis!" His feet continued to kick excitedly. He was ready to leave now, but the family was still at the table so he stayed in his chair.
And just like that John and his husband had their own room for the rest of the trip. Certainly a bit more expensive but definitely worth it to see the kids so happy. Even Thomas was excited and the boy probably had already figured out why he and Sherlock would want a room alone. "Look at that, you two. All grown up and quite like adults, I would imagine."
Amy looked up at John with wide eyes. "Adult? I wants to be an adult and now me and 'Mas practically is adults!" The thought was clearly amazing to her.
Sherlock snuck a sly smirk to John, it was obvious he was pleased about how things were turning out for the vacation. He looked back over to the children, smiling. "You want to be an adult already Baby Girl? You'll have to get a job and pay bills and do all kinds of adult stuff. You won't be able to do kid things anymore." God, did little Sandi want to grow up so soon on them? The thought was terrifying to him. He wasn't ready for that at all.
Thomas grinned. "I don't think I want to be an adult yet...being a kid is too much fun!" He nodded at his own words. He was ready to go still, but everyone was at the table and he was getting anxious. His feet continued to swing back and forth under the chair.
John returned the little smirk before noticing how anxious looking their son started to get. "Let's get going," he murmured as he stood up and gently lifted Amy up to rest on his hip. "We'll listen to some music while we drive, too." Not the type of music he enjoyed, particularly, but things Amy and Thomas would rather like. Before long they'd be asleep and he and Sherlock would be able to talk and listen to what they wanted.
"Job? I doesn't want that," Amy murmured as her warms instinctively went around John's neck so she could hold on. "I wants to be a kid still like 'Mas," she declared before grinning down at him happily. "A'cause kids can still jump on beds."
Sherlock got up from the table. The children were certainly ready to go, especially Thomas. He gathered up the luggage and smiled when he saw Thomas helping him, since John had his hands full with little Sandi. He looked over at his husband. "Do you want to take the New Jersey Turnpike and get there in about four hours, or travel up and around through Pennsylvania and get there closer in five hours?"
"Can we take the long way? Then we get to see more of America?" Thomas couldn't help but interrupt his parents, even if it was a bit rude. The question hadn't been directed at him but he was just so excited to see as much as he could and it didn't seem to matter to him how long it would take.
Having kids in a car on a road trip instantly made John want to take the shortest way possible to their next destination but he paused, took a deep breath, and then grinned. "Yeah, let's see more of America," he said with a nod. If Thomas wanted it then the boy was going to get it. It definitely made their kids a bit spoiled but he hardly minded because he believed that both of their children deserved only the best. He was rather sure that every parent felt like him.
"More of 'Mericas!" Amy bounced a bit in John's arms as they made their way out of the hotel room and made their way to the lift. Once they were outside and packing the car she started to squirm, clearly getting excited about their trip.
Sherlock followed his family out of the room and down the lift. He checked them out while they went ahead to the car. He had to pay for the movie, video games and room service. He went out to the vehicle once he was done and loaded up the luggage. Once the family was all ready, he got in the car and started it up.
Thomas was really excited and his feet still swung back and forth when he finally sat down in the car. More American music and they were going to get to see more of the place. He had left his camera out, gripped tightly between both hands.
As they started moving John right away moved to rest a hand on his husband's knee, giving it a gentle squeeze as they left their first destination and slowly made their way to the second. It was going to be amazing, he knew that much, and he could hardly wait for the kids to see what was ahead of them. "I think they're really going to have some fun," he murmured softly.
Amy shifted a bit in her car seat but didn't whimper or whine, instead she just looked out the window curiously, knowing that she might fall asleep before long and not have to deal with how uncomfortable she really was.
Sherlock smirked a bit. He knew what John had meant but he decided to make a devious comment. "Wait until we are properly alone, we'll have all kinds of fun." He dropped one hand from the steering wheel and gave John's hand a slight squeeze before moving back up so he could steer properly.
Thomas didn't want to bother Amy, since he knew she would be sleeping soon. So, he looked out his window as he watched the city go by.
Oh, that bastard. John narrowed his eyes and looked at the man, smirking just a bit before taking a deep breath and squeezing the man's hand back. Already he knew that they would be having quite the time together that night since they'd finally have a bedroom alone to themselves. It was going to be perfect for all of them and he knew it.
Amy squirmed a bit more, looking at her brother with a small whimper before sitting back. There were a few more minutes of twisting, pushing, and pulling at the chair but it faded the moment she fell asleep.
All Sherlock could do was smirk bigger. The back seat was quiet so he glanced in the rear view mirror to check on the children. Little Sandi was asleep and Thomas was just staring out the window. With their daughter sleeping, he decided not to turn the radio on. It would save him his sanity a little longer and hopefully the silence would help him ignore the headache that hadn't gone away yet.
With Amy asleep the car was silent. John took one glance back at their son who was grasping his camera and waiting for something to take a picture of. After a moment he glanced out the windows, noticing how beautiful the area around them was. "Sherlock," he whispered. "Roll the window down, slow down a bit," he added with a grin. "Let Thomas take a picture, it's beautiful outside."
The car ride was quiet, which Sherlock appreciated. They were out of the city now, finally getting into the country side. At John's request he let his foot up off the accelerator, and the car slowed down a bit. Scenery wasn't something he really cared about but his husband and son seemed to like it.
John glanced back to see if Thomas was going to take a few pictures before settling in and looking outside himself. The amount of wildlife that America had compared to England always made him realize how different everything really was. "I think it's lovely," he murmured with a squeeze to his husband's knee. "Something I'm sad I haven't seen until now."
Sherlock glanced out the driver's side door briefly before turning his attention back to the road. "A lot different than back home, isn't it?" He checked on Thomas in the back seat with a slight smirk. "I think he is too in awe of the landscape outside at the moment."
Thomas just sat and stared, mystified by everything. He would take pictures later, right now he just wanted to watch the scenery roll by.
John couldn't help but feel like a proud father as he watched Thomas. Their children were able to see things that he'd never had the chance to and he loved it. "Very different," he murmured to himself before relaxing back into his chair and letting out a soft sigh. It was absolutely amazing. "Thank you for doing this. It's amazing." He turned his gaze to Sherlock with a wide grin.
Sherlock smiled with a nod. "Of course my dear doctor." The whole family had needed the holiday. It was nice to get out of London for awhile and not worry about anything. Well, almost nothing. Damn headaches still pestered him although not as often.
Thomas finally lifted his camera to take pictures outside the car. They were in the mountains somewhere. "Daddy, where are we now?"
When Thomas asked where they were John could do nothing more than bite his bottom lip because only Sherlock really know. "Yeah, where are we?" It was stated purely out of curiosity so he grinned, looking at the man happily before letting out a small chuckle. "Going the long way so somewhere beautiful, I'd assume."
"We are in Pennsylvania. I think people refer to it as 'PA' though." Sherlock gave a slight shrug. He quickly went through what he knew of the state. "It is known for its steel work. Steel workers are big into Unions. The capital city is Harrisburg." He shrugged again. He had never been to the state before and that was about the extent of his knowledge. "We will be driving through mostly rural and mountainous areas."
Thomas glanced up to his parents in the front seat, his mouth slightly ajar as he listened to his Daddy talk. Daddy was so smart and knew everything.
There went Sherlock, being incredibly intelligent and wonderful. A soft smile tugged at his lips before he moved and pecked a quick kiss on his husband's cheek. "Have you seen more states than the ones on the coast?" It was a question completely out of curiosity because he was excited to see more of the United States and he wanted to know how much Sherlock had really seen.
Sherlock thought for moment. "A few, but most of cases I worked were either in New York, Florida or California. Some of this will be just as new for me as it is for everyone else." He turned his head briefly to give John a smile before returning his attention to the road in front of them.
Thomas looked back out his window, still fascinated by everything he was seeing. America was amazing. Pictures. He needed to take some for Amy. She was napping right now and he needed to make she would be able to see it too, even if only through photographs.
That was completely new information for John but he just took in. Later that night they could discuss his husband's past when it came to the United States. He heard Thomas taking some more photographs and smiled warmly as they continued to drive. That was broken, though, when he heard that slight whimpering from the seat behind him. "Amy might need to hear some of your stories," he murmured to Sherlock.
Amy squirmed and reached her feet out, pressing them against the back of John's seat the best she could manage. "Is we there?" Her voice was soft and little rough from sleep but from the way she looked around it was clear that she was still half asleep. Right away the surroundings capture his attention, eyes a bit wide as she took everything in.
Sherlock frowned a bit. A story would take a bit creativeness but he was trying to concentrate on driving. He supposed he could multitask, long as he kept most of his attention on the road. "Once upon a time," a pause as he tried to come up with something. "There was beautiful blonde Princess. She loved fairies and flowers. She often played with the fairies in a field of flowers." God, where was he going with this? He glanced up in the mirror to see if little Sandi had fallen back asleep yet or he would have to continue the story.
"Daddy, you should voice audio books." Thomas nodded and turned his attention back up front to his parents with a grin.
John chuckled a bit and sat back, squeezing his husband's hand as he listened intently to the story. When there was a long pause he just picked it up, looking at their daughter through the rear-view mirror. "One day the fairies picked up that princess, carrying her away. But a Prince came in and saved her, pulling her away from the fairies. When he looked at them he noticed that they were being control by the evil witch!" After a quick glance in the mirror he noticed that Amy was completely captivated.
"Papa," Amy said immediately, looking at Sherlock with large, expectant eyes. "Is your turn now a'cause you and Dada is telling the story together."
Sherlock smirked a bit when John jumped in on the story. So, they were telling the story together then... They hadn't done that before. "The Prince knew he had to free the fairies from the evil witch, so the Princess could live at peace and free. The only way to do that, was to defeat the witch. So he went to her witch's tower!"
Thomas was listening to the story with rapt attention, staring up at his parents anxiously to see what would happen next.
And just like that they were telling the story together. John chuckled as Sherlock told his section before attempting to figure out where to go with it next. "So the Prince dashed toward the castle, sword drawn and angry because his Princess needed to be rescued. When he broke into the castle he was confronted by a dragon!" After a long pause he looked back at their children. "And he blew fire right at the Prince."
Amy gasped and bit her bottom lip, burying her face in her hands with a small frown. "No," she whispered, clearly shocked by the sudden turn of events.
Sherlock raised an eyebrow at John, but the smirk remained. "But the Prince was ready! He rolled and tumbled to the side. He was smaller and faster than the dragon and he managed to get away from it without getting burned. He didn't know where he was going and he wound up lost. He came to a hallway with only one door and it was at the very end. Curious he went to investigate."
Thomas reached over and took Amy's hand. "It is okay Sis. I am sure the Prince will be fine," he whispered quietly. He gave his sister's hand a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
John glanced at Sherlock with a warm smile, squeezing the man's hand happily before continuing on with ease. "The Prince moved down the dark hallway slowly, sword up and ready for any attack. Before long he made his way toward the door, pausing in front of it." There was a pause for dramatic effect and then he moved on with a little smirk. "When he slowly opened the door there was a sinister voice that greeted him and it said: 'Come in, my sweet prince.' So he did."
Amy squeezed Thomas' hand a bit tighter, looking up at him with a small, nervous smile. "Yeah," she whispered with a quick nod of her head. "Prince is gonna be fine."
Sherlock thought for a moment before continuing on with their little impromptu story together. "The prince went inside but kept his guard up. He didn't trust the voice who spoke to him. He didn't see anyone, but he continued along slowly."
Thomas gave Amy another reassuring smile. "See, he is fine Sis." Another small squeeze of her hand.
"After several more steps inside the Prince was swooped up by the dragon who growled at him. Before long he heard the cries of his Princess," John said with a grin. This was something that he knew their children would enjoy since it would have a lot of suspense in it. "So he fought against the hold of the dragon, pulling his sword out in desperation."
Amy gasped and held tighter on to her brother's hand, taking a deep breath as her feet kicked slightly in her car seat. "No," she said again, eyes wide as she looked at the back of John's chair, then over to Sherlock's expectantly.
Sherlock waited a few moments before continuing the story. "The Prince stabbed the dragon in the foot that was holding him. The foot opened reflexively from the pain and the Prince was dropped back to the ground." He glanced back at the children through the rear view mirror to see how they were reacting to the story so far.
Thomas was getting into the story now and he had inched forward a bit on his seat and returned the squeeze of Amy's hand.
Together they were definitely able to create rather amazing stories. After a moment John bit his bottom lip before carrying on. "When he hit the ground he started running, seeing the Princess and going far faster. When he finally got to her he picked her up with a smile." Not the best section but it would do.
Amy bit her bottom lip and listened intently, taking a deep breath. Already her eyes were wide, turned expertly to Sherlock as she waited for the next part.
Sherlock picked up the story quite easily from where John left off. "The Prince knew the Princess would never be safe unless the witch was taken care of. So, he got the Princess out safely and then The Prince went back into the castle to confront the witch alone."
Thomas was getting nervous now. Why would the Prince go back and fight the witch alone? There was a dragon inside the castle... He had to be calm for Amy, so she wouldn't worry about the story.
Definitely a fantastic tag team. John cleared his throat to make everything more suspenseful before he started back up. "As the Prince approached the room alone he took a deep breath, trying to keep himself calm," he said softly, glancing at the two of them in the rear view mirror. "When he finally got up to her he puffed his chest out and said: 'I have saved the Princess but now I must also save the fairies. Free them from your evil spell."
Amy smiled a bit at that, clearly enjoying the fact that the Prince wasn't going to take any nonsense from the evil witch. "Good, a'cause she is very mean," she whispered softly, squeezing Thomas' hand.
"The Prince and the witch fought each other for awhile, and the Prince thought he had the evil witch but then the dragon came back to attack the Prince!" Sherlock wasn't entirely sure where this story was going but the children were entertained and John seemed to be getting into as well. His headache was still pestering him but he ignored it as best he could.
Thomas gasped quietly when the dragon came back to get the Prince. He looked to the back of his Dad's head expectantly to see what would happen next.
"So the Prince turned around, sword drawn, and he defeated the dragon." John said breathlessly as he turned back in his chair to look at their children. "And when he defeated everybody he sprinted from the castle to officially rescue his Princess." He grinned and reached out to touch Thomas' knee for a moment in an attempt to keep him calm. "And all the fairies were free."
Amy grinned, kicking her feet slightly as the story ended happily. "That seems like a strong Prince, Dad. I think that he is a lot like 'Mas."
Sherlock smiled as John finished the story. He gave his husband's hand a quick squeeze, before returning his own hand to the steering wheel so he could drive safely. They were out of Pennsylvania now and in Maryland. The children had been entertained so far but he figured they should stop soon. Baltimore wasn't too far away. They could stop there for a bit and then continue on to the American capital.
Thomas smiled at his Dad and then blushed at what Amy said. He gave a slight shrug. He didn't think he was that strong really. He was still a kid. He had a lot of growing up to do before he was strong like his parents. He glanced out the window and noticed the change in scenery. Somewhere new!