Continents Away

Something People Do When They Love Each Other

Fully clothed, they held hands as they walk into John’s living room. Hamish was sitting calmly on the sofa, watching the telly as if nothing had happened.  As if he had not seen his father in an extremely intimate situation with another man.  They took their seats on either side of Hamish, while John quieted the TV. 

          “Hamish,” Sherlock began to explain the situation awkwardly, “Now what you saw was a perfectly natural thing.  It’s something that two people do when they love each other very much-”

          “Sherlock!” John butted in as he registered the terrified expression on Hamish’s face, “I think I should do all of the talking for now. Ok?”

          Sherlock, who would usually object to being silenced, nodded his head in understanding. 

          “Now, Hamish,” John looked his son in the eyes, “I know this may seem very strange after everything that has happened-”

          “Really, it is not all that strange,” the child interrupted as he looked back and forth between John and Sherlock, “I know and understand the situation, you need to give me more credit, dad.” Hamish laughed, “If you want to be with Sherlock, then be with him.  I can wear earplugs to bed, if that would make you two happier.”

          John blushed, and Sherlock looked down at his hands awkwardly.  Neither of them spoke, and Hamish giggled.  Laughter that sounded like bells.  Sherlock shifted in his seat, moving his left hand to the sofa behind Hamish’s head.

          “So…” he trailed off, deciding he should not say anything, as John requested.

          “Are we going to be a family?” Hamish asked as he looked at his father. 

          John played with a loose string hanging off his shirt, ignoring the small eyes that were watching his every move. Hamish sighed and leaned forward, placing his head in his hands out of frustration. Sherlock just watched John. The blue eyes darting around the room, thinking deeply.  Sherlock wished those eyes would meet his, he wanted to know what John was thinking. And then John spoke, his gaze not leaving his hands. 

          “Hamish, you know I care about you very much, and I will do whatever I can to keep you happy. I will also do what is best for you, which does not include letting a madman live in our home.” John watched his son, who was now rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands. Sherlock could feel despair growing in the pit of his stomach. “But, that madman saved my life,” John’s hand moved to the back of the sofa, just inches away from Sherlock’s.

          “And maybe that madman,”

          Their hands were touching.

          “Who nearly got me killed by trying to save me.”

          Blue eyes meeting blue eyes.  

          “Who also happens to be the love of my life.”

          John’s finger softly traveled up Sherlock’s ring finger.

          “Could see his way to becoming my husband?”

          The answer did not need to be spoken, everything was written in Sherlock’s eyes.  And that answer was yes.