Parentlock Flash Fics

Sherlock Gay?

John was alarmed when the school called him, telling him that Rosie had gotten detention. She had reportedly knocked out a kid after having been provoked. She was crying when he got there, so he just scooped her up and gave her a hug and a kiss and told her everything would be ok. They didn't really start talking until the walk home.

"What did that kid do to provoke you?" John asked, worried about his daughter being bullied. "Has it happened before?"

Rosie wiped a tear away with her fist. "No," she said. "Tylor kept calling you and Sherlock bad names. I didn't really know what they meant, but he was being so mean..."

"What did he say?" John inquired.

"He- he kept calling you and Sherlock Gay. Daddy, what does that mean?"

John sighed with slight relief— at least it was not a slur the kid used.

"Gay isn't really a bad word, honey. Some people just feel like it is."

"But what does it mean?"

John took a breath before he started, "Well, it's when two men are attracted to each other, or two women. It's part of someone's identity, often times— it's called sexuality. And it's different for everyone, so it might be hard to understand someone else, but you just have to respect who and what they are. Not everyone does, though, and that is called homophobia."

During his explanation, Rosie's gaze was intently fixed on him. Oh, it reminded him of Sherlock so much. She was picking up a lot of things from him.

"So, are you? Are you and Sherlock gay I mean?"

That really caught him off guard. He started to sputter, but then realized that in front of his daughter wouldn't be the best time to yell to the world "I'M NOT GAY!" Instead, he smiled as he looked down at her and said, "I'm pretty sure I'm straight— uh, which means not gay, by the way— but I honestly have no idea about Sherlock. Sometimes it's hard to believe he has feelings at all... some people don't get attracted at all, and that's ok too."

His voice trailed off, and Rosie frowned at him. "You look confused." She stated, and he nodded.

"It can be a confusing subject. The only way to really know is to ask, I suppose."

Rosie took these words to heart, unbeknownst to John.

They made a pit stop to the grocery store to get dinner and ice cream before heading home in a cab.

When they entered 221B, Sherlock was playing the violin. Rosie squealed and ran to the living room to watch and listen, and John smiled to himself as he put the ice cream in the freezer. He put a pot of water on to boil and started making tea for everyone. The violin kept playing as he dumped pasta in the now piping-hot water, put a can of spaghetti sauce in another pot, and set the timer.

When he finally sat on his armchair, after having given Rosie her tea and setting Sherlock's on the coffee table, he sighed contentedly. Warmth bloomed in his chest with each sip, and seeing Rosie watch Sherlock's music with so much excitement and wonder filled John with love. There was no doubt, this was how it was meant to be.

And then the music stopped, and Rosie asked Sherlock a question which nearly made John's heart stop as well.

"Sherlock?"

"Hm?"

"Are you gay?"

Sherlock seemed surprised and was definitely caught off guard, but otherwise there was no hesitation when he said, "Yes. I am gay."

Rosie smiled politely at Sherlock, and he returned it, but it didn't reach his eyes. She then turned and grinned at John, but her face dropped, for he was in utter shock.