Sherlock: The Next Generation

Chapter 26

Chapter 26

"We're all going on a summer holiday!" Sherlock let out an audible groan as Molly launched into the song yet again. John chuckled lightly at his partner's rather pained expression. Hamish had stuffed headphones into his ears as soon as they got onto the airplane to avoid Molly's singing. She wasn't half bad but even John had to admit that it was getting annoying. Maybe he shouldn't have taught her it. Martin was sketching like normal, a light frown on his face as he did so.

"I wish you had never taught her that song," Sherlock whispered to John with a rather irritated expression. John just shrugged as if to say what's done is done. Sherlock let out a dramatic sigh at that, leaning over to rest his head on John's shoulder. John rolled his eyes as he gently ran one hand through the man who might as well be a five year old's curls. Molly eventually subsided in her singing and slumped to her right, head also lying against John as she fell asleep. Sherlock didn't move from where he was for the whole plane journey. He gave out an annoyed groan when John forced his head off of his shoulder so that they could actually get off the plane.  As if it was some kind of inconvenience. John really had married a big child, hadn't he?

It was chaotic to say the least getting the children through passport control and into a taxi to take them to the hotel. They were all incredibly excited. Even Martin was strangely hyper. They were all so difficult (Sherlock contributing to this difficulty) that John barely stopped himself collapsing onto a bed when they entered their rooms in the hotel. It was nice enough, two rooms connected together. One had a large double bed while the other also had a double bed along with a single bed. It seemed that Hamish and Martin would be sharing a double bed... Not that they would mind. The twins were perfectly fine with sharing just about everything.

"Can we go and see Paris! Please Papa! Please Daddy!" Molly was bouncing about, excitement shining in her colourful eyes. John shook his head with a frown.

"It's eight o'clock at night, Molly," he sighed with an almost tired smile on his lips. "We need to have dinner and by then we won't have time."

"Aw," Molly pouted.

They ended up having an okay dinner in the hotel's restaurant. Both Hamish and Martin ate a surprising amount while Sherlock was as difficult as normal when it came to eating. John decided not to even bother trying when Sherlock refused to order anything. Everyone else ate normal meals, though. Which was a relief. They spent the rest of the evening playing various games they had brought with them (well, half the time was spent arguing about the rules) before sitting down to a bedtime story which lulled Molly to sleep. Martin and Hamish were tucked into bed with the orders to not be too loud while talking.

"Well I'm going to sleep!" John announced as they moved back into their room, beginning to get changed for bed. "I'm absolutely exhausted."

"But Jawn..." Sherlock whined. "It's only ten." He proceeded to look at John with puppy dog eyes. John knew exactly what he wanted but... It wasn't the best idea.

"The kids are right next door."

"Jawn..."

"No. I'm going to sleep."

"Fine," Sherlock huffed, folding his arms and moving over to the corner of the room. John rolled his eyes and got into the double bed, closing his eyes. He had only been lying there for a few minutes when he felt someone slip in next to him. John smiled slightly and moved closer to Sherlock, who instantly pulled him closer.

"Night, Sherlock," John murmured.

"Goodnight John. I love you."

"Love you too."

John woke to find a distinct lack of Sherlock. Normally when he first opened his eyes in the morning Sherlock was draped across him in some way, shape or form. But he was absent. Hmm... He must have got up earlier. Maybe he had gone down for breakfast with the children.

John groaned slightly as he blinked open his eyes and sat up. He grabbed his phone to check the time. Eight in the morning. Okay. So he hadn't exactly woken up late then. Talking fluttered through from the other room so John decided to go there first. What he found was Hamish and Sherlock both sitting together on the double bed seemingly pouring over something. A newspaper from what John could tell. Molly and Martin were reading the books they had brought with them, ignoring the other two.

John cleared his throat to gain the attention of his family. "What is going on?"

"Three murders in the past three days. The police are stumped as to who did it." Sherlock didn't even turn his head as he spoke. John could tell that both he and Hamish were practically vibrating with excitement.

"No."

"What?" Sherlock's sharp, colourful gaze found John's.

"You are not investigating this, Sherlock."

"But Jawn! It's a case! An interesting one!" His pleas were echoed by Hamish's but Papa! Both turned around with large puppy dog eyes and begging expression. You've got to stay strong, John. Can't give in to those big eyes.

"We are on holiday, Sherlock. And anyway how would you find the time? We're only in Paris for two more days before we go to Spain."

"I can solve it in two days with Hamish's help," Sherlock replied rather stiffly.

"No. I don't care. You are not ruining a perfectly nice family holiday by going off solving cases. I will not have it."

"But John! There haven't been any interesting cases at home and I need cases! I need a case to not be bored!"

"That's funny. Because you haven't complained about being bored for over twelve years. So how come you're suddenly bored without cases now? I know that you are trying to convince me, Sherlock. It won't work."

"But..."

"No buts." Both Sherlock and Hamish now wore identical pouts and disappointed looks. John tried not to sigh. Dealing with his family was incredibly exhausting at times. He had known that when he had first started in a relationship with Sherlock...

A cup of tea sometimes helped, though. Now that he thought about it he could do with it. Because it was going to be a jam packed week. And knowing Sherlock and Hamish this wouldn't be last he would hear of some case that they wanted to investigate. He would just have to prepare himself for saying no a lot more. But he was sure they would have a brilliant time. Chaotic but brilliant.