Ok, so my excuse for writing this is that I saw the first two episodes of Sherlock series 3. And it left me with so many feels (very bad feels, feelsy feels...) that I had to come back to the sanctuary of this AU. And write some fluffy smut to recover.
So, you know... read if you like...let me know what you think. :)

And thanks to everyone who has left reviews earlier. FF is behaving a little funnily so am not sure if my replies have reached you.

~O~

"You know at this stage of my life, I really thought I would be patching up my son's scrapes and bruises not my husband's!" John exclaimed in exasperation. He was cleaning an ugly looking abrasion on Sherlock's elbow with a soft washcloth, while the detective tried to look unconcerned. "Alright, now this may sting a little bit", John said as he opened the bottle of liniment.

"Please John!" his husband snorted. "I'm not a chil… Ow! What is this infernal thing?!" Sherlock glared balefully at the green liquid his Omega had applied to his elbow.

John grinned. "It's a new herbal soother Mrs. Hudson has prepared. I've found it very useful whenever Ben's up to his usual antics. Heals all manner of injuries in no time."

"You are using this painful preparation on our child?! It is unfit for human use!" Sherlock said in outraged accents.

"Just so you know, Ben doesn't even wince when I apply it," John said unperturbed, "Of course, that could be because I always give him a kiss to take away the sting of the medicine." And with that he placed a soft kiss just above the bruise on his Alpha's arm.

Sherlock's face cleared, "Mmmm…That does feel better." He drew his Omega closer until they were almost pressed chest to chest and wrapping his arms around him, said in a low voice, "And John, I think I may have bruised my lips too".

John's eyes twinkled and he murmured, "Let me take care of that…" He turned his face up to press his mouth against Sherlock's and closing his eyes lost himself in the bliss of that familiar scent and those soft lips moving against his.

They had been married for five years now and were parents to two year old twin girls, Olivia and Sylvia, besides their son, Benedict. Sherlock's fame had spread far and wide and he now had an international reputation as a consulting detective. John still accompanied him on cases whenever he was able and remained his sounding board and conductor of light.

"I've missed you, darling", John said as he laid his head on his husband's chest. Sherlock had been away looking into a case on the Continent. He had returned just that morning after more than a week away.

"I missed you too", Sherlock rumbled into his mate's soft hair.

"Faa-ther!" came a sudden shriek as little whirlwind ran into the room and wrapped himself around Sherlock's legs.

"Ah! Benny, come here son!" Sherlock said with a broad smile as he lifted Ben up into his arms and kissed his forehead. "So have you been a good boy while I've been away?"

"Yes, Father I have! You can ask Papa!" the child said immediately.

John smiled at his son indulgently, recognizing the holier-than-thou expression only too well. He had seen it on his husband's face too many times to count. He ruffled his son's curls which were turning darker everyday from the blond they had once been. He rather thought his son's hair would end up the same auburn shade as Sherlock's. The boy looked like the spitting image of his Alpha sire in any case. John had hopes that his baby girls would look more like him. They looked like blonde and blue-eyed cherubs now as they tottered towards Sherlock when they went up to the nursery. Mrs. Hudson had been keeping them company and she said excitedly, "Oh, look at that! The girls are so delighted to see you Sherlock!"

Sherlock knelt down and while Ben still clung possessively to him, the girls dropped into his outstretched arms murmuring excited gibberish. Sherlock sighed contentedly scenting his children as they fought for his attention.

Sherlock had returned with several gifts for the children. There were exotic sweets from the different cities he had traversed, beautifully embroidered cloth to be fashioned into dresses, a kaleidoscope for his son and several other trinkets. Ben crowed with delight at his kaleidoscope and the girls clearly had a sweet tooth.

"Look Papa, I think this one's a thpider", Ben lisped as he showed John the patterns formed by the glass pieces.

"Yes darling", John said nodding. He looked at his husband and whispered, "Only your son could spot a spider in these lovely patterns. And you do know that he's going to take the thing apart by tomorrow."

"And put it back together too", Sherlock pointed out proudly. "He has a healthy curiosity about the world."

John smiled and went to remove the box of sweets from the twins' grasp.

It was late afternoon by the time a sumptuous lunch was had, the children put to bed for their nap and Sherlock and John were able to retire to their chambers.
"You didn't ask me what I brought for you, John", Sherlock said to his Omega as he lazed in his lap. John bent down to kiss him, "Mmm…I'm just happy you're home."

"Good. Gifts are just a societal construct intended to foster materialism and transactional behavior patterns", Sherlock said. He turned his head and looked with delight at the slight pout emerging on John's face. "But yes, I have brought something for you!" he grinned and reaching a hand inside his coat drew out a small cloth pouch.

When John loosened the strings of the pouch, he found what felt like a golden chain inside. There were two broad, smooth, gleaming strands and the circle of gold was caught together in an adjustable loop. The gold strands passed through the loop to end in a few tinkling bells.

"Oh, it's very pretty, Sherlock! Is it… it's a bit long for a necklace though, isn't it?" John said looping the golden strands and trying to figure out how to wear the jewelry.

"As usual, John, you see but you do not observe. That's not a neckpiece. It's a girdle", Sherlock said. "In Luxembourg, one afternoon, I met a Greek merchant for whom I secured a good sale using my skills as an interpreter. He insisted on paying me with this. Said it was a suitable gift for an Omega."

"A… a girdle? To wear around the waist? Ohh…"

"Why don't you try it on?"

"I will… but not now, love. Maybe at night. Now you should get some rest. You've had a long journey and we will be having guests in the evening."

Sherlock hummed in assent as he closed his eyes. He was a little disappointed that John had not seemed to like the girdle enough to try it on but then he had not really expected John to go around wearing jewelry over his breeches. The practice had gone out of date for almost two hundred years. John ran his fingers through his hair and all his remaining thoughts seemed to float away.

In the evening Mycroft and Anthea joined them at 221B Baker Street for dinner. John liked to entertain and felt it was important to keep their family and friends close. Sherlock liked to keep John happy. Dinner itself was a pleasant affair though Mycroft and Sherlock continued to exchange a few barbs and argue about the details of his latest case. Anthea and John rolled their eyes and ignored them, as this was always the way the brothers interacted. The children were not allowed downstairs for dinner but the guests dropped in to see them in the nursery and left Mrs. Hudson clucking her tongue as she tried to calm down the excited children.

Finally, and much to Sherlock's relief, the guests took their leave. He had been away for a fair bit of time and he just wanted to surround himself with the scent of his Omega.

"Well done, husband. You were so patient tonight, you deserve a gift yourself", John said teasingly.

Sherlock's ears pricked up. "I do, don't I?" he said as he grabbed John round the waist and nuzzled his bondbite.

"And... you'll have to give me a few minutes. Why don't you check on the children and then change into your nightclothes? I'll wait for you in the bedchamber", John said as he slipped away.

Sherlock did as instructed wondering eagerly what his Omega was planning.

When he entered the bedchamber, John was standing in front of the fireplace wearing a satin robe, the colour of claret. His blond hair looked almost golden in the light from the fireplace. As Sherlock came closer, he said, "I did say I would wear your gift at night…" He undid the robe letting it slip off his shoulders and pool at his feet. He was completely naked except for the golden girdle slung low around his hips and dropping away to end in bells over his left thigh. After having birthed three babies, John was a bit rounded and soft but still remarkably fit. The girdle swept enticingly over his wide hips and skimmed the golden hair at his crotch. The blood shot to Sherlock's groin immediately and his mouth fell open.

John smirked and turned around slowly, putting on a show. He sashayed towards the bed, the golden strands gleaming against the top of his undulating buttocks, the bells tinkling softly as he moved. He crawled up over the bed and lay down on his stomach. He lifted his legs at the knees and crossed his ankles in the air playfully before turning to look seductively at where his husband stood rooted to the spot. "I take it, you like your gift then?" he teased.

Sherlock seemed to finally snap out of his lust addled haze. He reached the bed in a few strides and looked down at John's smooth plump behind, at how the girdle seemed to enhance and emphasize his nudity. "John!" Sherlock breathed out as he tore off his clothes and scrambled on top of his mate.

He sucked at John's pink lips and nipped at his earlobe before planting a line of kisses down his spine, trying to draw out the delicious torture as much as he was able. He cupped and kneaded the rounded globes of John's ass and couldn't resist a bite. John laughed softly and the Alpha growled. He pulled John up and positioned him, quickly penetrating him with his fingers to prepare him. John was already wet, the little game of seduction having turned him on as well and his Alpha's pheromones doing the rest.

Sherlock held his Omega's hips and guided himself in and John moaned in pleasure at being filled. "Ah..ah… I missed you, Sh..Sherlock", he gasped out as the Alpha began to thrust repeatedly into him. Sherlock watched as the golden girdle swayed tantalizingly over John's ass with the increasing force of his thrusts, its tinkling bells driving him mad with desire. He moved forward to cover John's body with his, placing an arm around his chest and holding his hand with the other. The bells on the girdle tinkled as skin slapped against skin and desperate moans and grunts filled the air. Sherlock squeezed John's nipples, knowing how sensitive John was there. John had been rutting at the sheets and he keened in pleasure. "Yes, John…yes… mine, mine", Sherlock said pounding breathlessly into him and the Omega orgasmed with a scream, clenching against Sherlock's cock. Sherlock held his mate's quivering form and came soon after, spurting uncontrollably within John.

When they had cleaned up and curled around each other, John's little form tucked away in Sherlock's large arms, the Alpha murmured, "John, I must admit, sometimes YOU are the genius!"