Work Text:
Just a few minor adjustments, and he was done. An extra handful of sand here, a little less sand there, a window drawn carefully with a stick... There.
Sherlock stepped back and admired his work. Two round towers connected by a rectangular block of sand with a small cave to represent a door. A shallow moat separated it from the rest of the beach, though there was no drawbridge. He didn’t have the artistic talent for that. But he was still rather proud of it.
Laughter a few feet away drew his attention to a large blue blanket beneath a yellow beach umbrella. On top of the blanket, John lay on his back, lifting Rosie into the air and bouncing her.
John caught Sherlock’s gaze, and he sat up. “Oh, is it finished?” John turned to Rosie. “Let’s go see what he’s made, huh?”
Sherlock stood proud as his family joined him.
“That’s rather good,” John smiled. “What do you think Rosie?”
He set Rosie down. She then proceeded to walk into the castle. The towers crumbled first, and then the middle, until it was nothing but a mound of sand.
She looked up at Sherlock and giggled, proud of herself.
Sherlock gaped, trying to keep his own laughter at bay. “I know it’s not Versailles, but it’s not that bad!”