Chapter Text
“What do you mean, you forgot about it?” John Watson asks his partner angrily from his position on the couch.
Sherlock was at the kitchen table looking at something in his microscope and shrugged.
“It didn’t seem to be important.” Sherlock says.
“Not important? The fact that your parents want you, me, Greg, and Mycroft to come over for the Holmes gathering isn’t important? You could have mentioned this earlier!” John says fuming.
“I was too preoccupied making sure my brother was still breathing and not a corpse!” Sherlock says whirling around now angry himself.
“How about after he was released and you insisted on taking him home? You saw he was ok and then we came home. You had opportunities to say something.” John says taking deep breathes to calm down.
Sherlock said nothing. John made a noise that sounded like a growl and proceeded to get up and grab his coat and slip on his shoes.
“John, where are you going?” Sherlock asks his anger seeping away to be replaced by worry.
“I’m going out!” He shouts. He yanks open the door and storms out slamming the door behind him harshly.
John took a cab to the pub he met Greg at sometimes and ordered a beer. He sat on the stool and sipped it slowly and savoring the bitterness. His phone vibrates but he ignores it. It stops but then vibrates again and again. John finally pulls it out to see he has 3 messages.
Do not blame Sherlock for not mentioning it. He hates that I am forcing him to attend with you.-MH
John, please come home. I apologize.-SH
Please don’t leave me.-SH
John sighs and responds to Mycroft.
I’m not. I guess the whole recent incident; I would think family would be more important to him.-JW
He only cares for you, me, and Gregory. We are his family.-MH
I hate to say this but our family is not as accepting of my and Sherlock’s choice of partner.-MH
Homophobic?-JW
Yes.-MH
Then why did you agree to go with Greg and drag Sherlock and me to go?-JW
Mummy was insistence, I’m afraid.-MH
Can you say you can’t make it? Then Sherlock and I wouldn’t have to go either.-JW
John, please come home. I’m sorry!-SH
Mummy wouldn’t believe it. She has threatened to send someone down and drag both Sherlock and I there.-MH
There’s no way of getting out of it, is there?-JW
Afraid not and I do apologize.-MH
Not even you recovering from a gunshot wound?-JW
No.-MH
Can I shoot myself and get out of it?-JW
No.-MH
Fine. I’ll put up with this but I will say this: if I hear anyone say anything remotely negative about Sherlock, you, or Greg, I make no promises that my fists will stay at my sides.-JW
Sherlock has said that. And I am so glad that he has found you to stick up for him. And willing to stand up for me and Gregory as well.-MH
You’re family.-JW
Glad to hear that. Now, I suggest you head home before Sherlock decides to turn London upside down to find you.-MH
John puts his phone back into his pocket and downs the rest of his beer. He pays for it and takes a cab back to 221B Bakers St. He walks up the stairs and opens the door to find Sherlock cleaning the table and putting away what he was looking at earlier. He turned when he heard John come in. He ran and almost tackled John to the floor.
“I’m sorry, John! Please don’t leave me!” Sherlock says holding John tightly. John puts one arm around Sherlock’s waist and the other tangled in dark curls. He soothed a nail down the consulting detective’s scalp and smiled when Sherlock practically melted.
“I’m not leaving you, love.” John says kissing the side of his neck.
“I am sorry for not mentioning it but I don’t want to go. My family is unintelligent, homophobes. Even my own father is one!” Sherlock says pulling away.
“Mycroft has informed me that your family isn’t…accepting of your and Mycroft’s love life, really. And even I knew about your father when he didn’t show up for Mycroft’s and Greg’s wedding. I’m not as unobserving as you think, love.” John says.
“Can we just lock ourselves in the flat until the reunion is over?” Sherlock asks.
“Fraid not. Your Mum has threatened to have you brought home by force if you don’t willingly.” John says. He goes to the kitchen and puts on a kettle.
“She would most likely send those brutes Jones and Mattock. They were always willing to drag Mycroft and I bodily from the bed to school.” Sherlock says entering the kitchen. John pulls a few cups from the cupboard and fills them with tea. He puts sugar in Sherlock’s and cream in his own. He hands Sherlock’s to him.
“Hmm. Would you tell me more about your childhood? I mean, you don’t have to but I am curious.” John says sipping his tea.
“Not much to tell. I have deleted most of it. I had a dog when I was 9. Red Beard was his name. One of those beautiful Irish Settlers. I remember boys at school calling me things like queer and faggot. I remember the beatings I received and the ones Mycroft received as well. I do hate to admit it but Mycroft was stronger than I was. He stood up to the bullies who tormented him and then I started my deductions but it didn’t help me. Then Mycroft started standing up for me and they backed off. He protected me until he left for Uni and then I resented him and hated him. He left me to deal with the bullies and such. I would go home bruised and scuffed and my father would say it was my own damn fault for being a fag. I suffered both verbal and physical abuse until I left for Uni. Then the drugs happened and well, you know the rest, I’m sure.” Sherlock says looking everywhere but at John.
Then he felt the gentle touch of his lover on his cheek and sliding his thumb over his cheek bone softly. Sherlock leaned into the touch.
“I’ll protect you from your posh relatives.” John says softly.
“I know you will, my dearest John.” Sherlock whispers softly that John almost didn’t hear it.
“Look, we have until the weekend until we have to be there. What do you say that we just watch crap telly for today?” John asks.
“Telly is boring! Can we go to New Scotland Yard? Maybe Greg will let me go through some cold cases before having to leave for my childhood home.” Sherlock says. He gets up and throws on his signature long, black coat and slips on his shoes.
“He’s probably trying to finish that case you refused to take right now, Sherlock.” John says following his fiancée out the door and onto the street.
“It was a 2, John! Boring!” Sherlock says waving down a cab.
“Well, clearly it’s not because Greg hasn’t solved it yet.” John says climbing into the cab beside Sherlock.
“To New Scotland Yard.” Sherlock says to the cabbie. They pull away from Baker’s Street.
“So, were you planning on going over cold cases until the weekend?” John asks. Then his phone vibrates. He pulls it out and reads his new message.
Change of plans. Mummy wants us to be there by tomorrow. She says she wants to spend time with us before the others arrive.-MH
“John, what is it? You have that expression on your face again.” Sherlock asks looking at him.
“And what expression is that?” John asks putting his phone away.
“The one that shows you are irritated. What is it? It was Mycroft, wasn’t it? We have to be at my home by tomorrow.” Sherlock says. John sighs.
“Yes.” John says.
Then their cab pulls up to New Scotland Yard and sees Greg stepping out. John and Sherlock pay the cabbie and get out and go to him.
“Whatever you want, no. I have to head home and pack for the whole weekend at your childhood home, Sherlock.” Greg says rubbing his face tiredly.
“You’re smoking again.” Sherlock says.
“Yes I have. Now, I suggest you and John pack. Mycroft is going to send a car for you this evening.” Greg says. One of Mycroft’s black cars pulls up and Greg gets in.
Sherlock crosses his arms in annoyance as he watches to car pull away.
“Come along then. We have packing to do.” John says grabbing Sherlock’s hand.
“John, let us at least grab a few cold cases. I’ll need some reading material at the house.” Sherlock says.
“Cold cases are not reading material, Lockie.” John says.
“Must you call me that?” Sherlock asks with amusement.
“Well, Mycroft calls you Sherly. I wanted to be different.” John says squeezing Sherlock’s hand.
“You are different. That’s why I love you.” Sherlock says placing a chaste, tender kiss to John’s lips. He pulls back smiling and John had a small blush on his cheeks but he was grinning like he just won the Lottery.
Sherlock waves for a cab and they head home to Baker Street. John pulls two suitcases from his old room and brings them down to their bedroom.
“Must we stay for the whole weekend?” John asks as he places in a few sweaters, t-shirts, boxers, and pants into his suitcase.
“Yes. Mummy will be presentence for us to stay. I may love Mummy but all the others I am less tolerant towards.” Sherlock says. He places some clothes into his suitcase.
“Your Mum is a very nice woman, Lockie. Look, I know you don’t want to go and I don’t either because I’ll probably end up breaking someone’s nose but let’s try to be civilized.” John says.
“You just said you’ll break someone’s nose! You contradict yourself, John.” Sherlock says.
He leaves the room and comes back with John’s razor, their toothbrushes, and both of their preferred brands of toothpaste. John takes his things and places them in his suitcase. Then he digs out his gun case and opens it. John takes out the magazine, which is full, beside it in the case and then puts the case in the suitcase with everything else. Finally, he puts his phone charger inside and zips it shut.
“John, we’re going to the house I grew up in. You won’t need your gun.” Sherlock says finishing his own packing. He didn’t see as Sherlock took his army fatigues and placed them in his suitcase.
“I’m not taking any chances of being caught off guard again without it. Once was quite enough, thank you.” John says.
“The house has over 100 security camera and at least 15 guards around the property at all times.” Sherlock says. John turns and glares at him.
“And what if something happens, huh? I remember all of New Scotland Yard being taken hostage! They were trained but were still caught off guard and it almost got you killed! I will not take that chance again.” John practically growls. Sherlock places his forehead against John’s.
“Ok. Just promise you won’t kill anyone with it. Mycroft can only cover up so much, dear.” Sherlock says.
“You called me ‘dear’.” John says laughing quietly.
“I did. You’re my dear John.” Sherlock says fondly.
“You are the sweetest couple I’ve ever seen!”
Both John and Sherlock looked up startled. Mrs. Hudson was standing at their bedroom doorway smiling.
“Hello, Mrs. Hudson.” John says.
“Oh, are you boys going somewhere?” She asks.
“We are going to my parent’s house for a few days, Mrs. Hudson.” Sherlock says.
“Oh, is that why there’s a car waiting outside for you?” Mrs. Hudson asks.
“Yes. We will be back by Monday at the latest, Mrs. Hudson.” Sherlock says. He grabs both his and John’s suitcases and kissed Mrs. Hudson on the cheek before heading outside.
“He looks like he’s heading to his own execution the poor dear.” Mrs. Hudson says.
“I feel like he looks. We’ll see you in a few days. Take care.” John says kissing her other cheek and following Sherlock outside. He climbed into the car and they were off.
John turned to look at his fiancée and saw how tense he was. He was bouncing his leg up and down and staring out the window. He was also twirling his ring. John placed his hand over Sherlock’s.
“Calm down, Lockie. There is no reason to be nervous.” John says tracing his finger over Sherlock’s knuckles.
“I am not nervous.” Sherlock huffs.
“I know you and you are. Don’t worry, ok?” John says. He scoots close to Sherlock until their thighs are touching. John snuggles close and feels the tension ebb away from Sherlock’s body.
“I haven’t seen father since I left for Uni.” Sherlock says placing his head on top of John’s.
“Well, at least yours was around. Mine skipped out after I was born. I don’t even know who he is.” John whispers. Sherlock kisses his hair.
“We both have family issues, I’m afraid, John, but that’s ok.” Sherlock says.
“Yeah. “ John says. He closes his eyes and Sherlock wraps an arm around him.
“We have a few hours until we get there. Why don’t you get some sleep?” Sherlock asks his voice soft in John’s ear. A light snore is the only answer he gets. Sherlock smiles fondly at his John.