Jemma Simmons did not speak until she was three years old. That isn't to say she was behind, it was actually quite the opposite. You could give her a differential equation on a sheet of paper and she would solve it and rather quickly at that. She was reading at age two. She was fond of biology and chemistry, to her mum's dismay. Her mother, Jane, i s a professor of quantum physics. Jemma seemed to comprehend physics but was always brought back to her biology and chemistry. Her favorite picture was her dry-erase periodic table that hung on the wall of her father's, James, study. She would look up at it and then study one of her father's old chemistry books from uni. James is an astronomer.

But toddler Jemma was not all work and no play— her favorite books were the 'Lord of the Rings' series. She, at age four, had even attempted to teach herself Sindarin so she could learn to speak like the elves. She also enjoyed playing with her Tinker Toys so she could build models of her favorite elements. When she went to the park with mother and father, she would calculate velocity she was swinging at. She would determine how long it would take her to get down the slide—and have to recalculate because she forgot about resistance. Her father would play catch with her and taught her to think of aiming as an ark. She would try to identify every tree and animal she came across, but father would not let her dissect anything, which would lead to her only temper tantrums. So, therefore, toddler Jemma was not all work.

Just before Jemma's third birthday, since she still was not speaking, her parent's feared that their baby girl was autistic. She was so intelligent and they were afraid it was going to hinder her from the world seeing her as the genius she is. They had a couple different doctors evaluate her and both exams came back with negative results. They thought Jemma was on the verge of talking. One doctor's opinion was that she had so much going on in her head and she didn't know how to respond to baby words. He recommended that they speak to her like an adult. Within a couple months, she wouldn't stop talking. Her first words were, "Father, what is the molecular composition of vibranium? I can't find it in your textbook."

Jemma was taught at home until she could go to school, but her curriculum was advanced leading into concepts that most upper school children would have a difficult time understanding. Thus started the arduous work of getting a 4 year old into a prestigious school that would challenge the little one.

She

"But father—"

"Jemma, please, please say daddy or dad," James cut her off.

"But, 'father' is the term used for our biological connection."

"I think we need to have a discussion about layman terms and how we can sometimes hurt people's feelings if we always use the 'correct' term" James sighed.

"Fine, I'll do it." Jemma paused to take a deep breath before continuing, "Daddy, it says I must be thirteen to enter this school."

"Yes, but darling, you're special."

"But then you and mother—"

"Mum"

Jemma sighed, "You and mum will be far away and I'll miss you so very much."

James smiled, "Darling, we would go with you. We would rent a flat right in London and see you every day."

"Oh. Alright."

After numerous phone calls and personal visits, Westminster School allowed Jemma to take the entrance exam. This exam covered material from 9th year material (as a third year at Westminster, you should be able to at least cover 10th year things at a normal school) to college material (in order to truly evaluate a child's abilities). Jemma place at an eleventh year level, but for this reason and that, she had to start as a 9th year. She were to start two months from that day. In a week, her father had a flat, two weeks worth of uniform, and a bunch of material the school wanted her to catch up on because they would not slow down for her. Her mom, soon after, got a teaching job at University College London.

A month or so later, James received an interesting call. After allowing Jemma's entrance, the school opened the program to students in a similar situation and sent it out to all of the top under schools in the UK. One of the applicants was too young to board there, like Jemma. The children were only three weeks apart in age. This applicant, a boy named Leopold, and his mother were from Glasgow, and because of his mother's career as a local politician, she was unable to move them to London. If they were willing to allow to board at their home, Jemma would receive a 35 percent discount on her tuition.

James was not too concerned about the discount on tuition, but he agreed to meet the child and his mother out of concern for his daughter. She had no interest in playing with kids her age and their vocabulary was rudimentary, so she had even less desire to converse with them. She is an only child and now, she was about to start school with children 10 years her senior. He feared she'd never make friends, which could be detrimental to er ability to communicate and learn key skills like empathy, trust, and conflict mediation. A boy her age living with them who is just as smart with shared interest could benefit her greatly. The flat in London was only a 3 bedroom place, so he would have to give up his study, but most of the books could stay at their Sheffield home.

James scheduled a trip for him and Jemma to visit their potential boarder in Glasgow the following weekend.

—

"Fa-" Emma started, before getting the look from her dad, "daddy, what happens if we don't like him?"

They were boarding their plane from London to Glasgow.

"That's not a great mindset to go into this with."

"I'm sorry, but what if it's true?"

"Well, that's why we are staying at the hotel. It'll give us all some time to back out if we don't think it's going to work. But I really hope it will work."

"Why?"

James ushered Jemma to her seat, picking her up to get her all the way to the window seat. "Well, I really want you to have a friend. Buckle up."

"Why do I need a friend? I have you and mum."

"When you get older, you'll learn that me and mum are not enough."

"I don't think so."

"Well I know so. And you will be on your best behavior. When I introduce you, you will curtsy to show respect."

"Yes, sir."

"So what do you want to learn about on the flight?"

"My book mentioned radioisotopes. I was curious about them."

—

"But mother—"

"Mam," Kenna was at her wits end with getting her boy to act like a normal 4 year old.

It wasn't that she hated the he's a genius, but he didn't know the first thing about social cues. And it upset her a bit that he didn't want to call her mam. The other mams at the play date group would make fun of her for that and make fun of Leo for playing with magnets and measuring angles of things instead of playing with the other kids. That boy brought his protractor with him everywhere. Plus, she kept bumping him up grades (he skipped 5 in three months) and he was still bored.

"Mam, I don't want to leave you," Leo teared up.

"I know, my sweet boy, but I have to give you your best chance at getting a proper can't do that here. Plus, miss Jemma is your age and just as smart. Maybe you'll actually have a friend."

"I don't care about friends, moth-mam, I care about you. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart, but you don't even know them yet. You haven't tried the school. If you do that for me for a whole year, and absolutely hate it, we can discuss. Now, go wash your hands and fix your hair, they will be here any minute," Kenna tousled his curly blonde hair.

He really was a sweet and caring boy. His bright blue eyes were the thing that made you fall in love with him. He always insisted on wearing button-ups and sweater vests, which added to his cute-factor. He loved with all of his heart and was the kindest soul she ever met. And this is why he was so heart broken when his father left the previous year. His father didn't know how to communicate with the boy. He didn't have the patience and he believed that Kenna was holding him back from his true potential. Kenna shook er head at the thought of it. The boy had been three. How do you know the potential of a three year old?

Kenna heard a car coming up and so she peered out the window.

"They're pulling up. Now, when they enter, you will bow after I introduce you and extend your hand to both Mr. and miss Simmons, do you hear?"

"Yes, mam."

"Now go grab the biscuits and set them on the table, dear."

"Yes, mam."

"Hurry up now, they're coming."

"Alright."

"Remember, best manners."

Leo returned as the doorbell rang. His mother introduced him and he bowed as he had been told. He waited as Jemma, the girl, curtsied at them and then held out his hand to Mr. Simmons with a smile and a, "Pleased to meet you, sir."

Mr. Simmons took a knee and spoke to him, "Well aren't you the most polite little gentleman I have ever seen."

Leo offered a smile and then turned to shake Jemma's hand. Once Leo offered to shake her hand, Jemma glared at her father before taking Leo's hand in hers and shaking it a bit too rough to be polite. This earned her a glare from Leo.

"Oh, goodness, the tea! I'll be right back, take a seat, won't you dears," Kenna ushered them into the living room before running to the kitchen.

After tea, Kenna had Leo invite Jemma to play with his magnets with him so the adults could talk about logistics, for example, getting to and from school, disciplinary actions, dietary needs, balancing family and school, etc.

They were just started on the topic when the heard Jemma scream, "YOU TAKE THAT
BACK! TAKE IT BACK!"

"Jemma," Mr. Simmons scorned.

Leo then shouted, "NO, NO, NO! PHYSICS IS THE PUREST FORM OF SCIENCE! CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY IS FOR PEOPLE TOO STUPID FOR PHYSICS!"

"Leo," Kenna scorned her son as well.

"PHYSICS IS A BEGINNING. IT'S RUDIMENTARY AT BEST. YOU'RE JUST TOO STUPID TO OPEN YOUR MIND TO CHEMISTRY AND BIOLOGY."

As Jemma shouted, she pushed Leo to the ground.

"Jemma, come here. Now," Mr. Simmons shouted.

Jemma began to cry, but did as her dad said.

Mr. Simmons— James, as he had asked to be called, pulled Jemma on his lap, and told her they couldn't talk until she stopped crying. When she did, he began, "Now, can you tell me why you were crying?"

Jemma sniffled, "I didn't want to be in trouble."

"And what did you do to get in trouble?"

"I pushed Leo, which is not very nice."

"Well, why did you do that?"

"He hurt my feelings with the things he was saying."

"Do you think maybe you could have hurt his feelings too?"

"Maybe. I'm sorry, fa— daddy."

"I forgive you this time. But maybe you should check if Kenna and Leo forgive you. And you need to understand that next time there will be real escalating consequences."

"Yes, sir."

Jemma apologized to Kenna first and Kenna, in turn, gave her a hug and told her it was quite alright.

"Honestly," Kenna started, "I'm just happy they are interacting and talking. That's more I've ever seen from him with someone his age."

"Unfortunately, that's the same with Jemma."

Jemma marched over to Leo and helped him up. After Jemma apologized, Leo looked to his mam before bowing his head and accepting the apology.

"Alright, now you should have a talk with Leo," Kenna said to James.

James looked confused in return.

"Well, he practically yours soon, you have to learn it." At the mention of this from Kenna, Leo started crying.

"I'm not sure what he did wrong," James responded.

"We both know he goaded her and you are guest. That's not how we treat guests."

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry, mam. Please don't leave me. I love you!"

"Leo, I told you, it's just for your schooling. You'll see me for a quarter of the year— every three months."

Leo kept crying, but shook his head to acknowledge his mam.

James pulled out a bag and handed it to Jemma. "Why don't you show these to Leo and you guys play nicely with them?"

"Okay, father. I'm going to make a sodium nitrate out of them!"

"I'm going to make a lever system and see how much weight I can lift with my index finger," Leo shouted, full of excitement.

James turned to Kenna and sighed, "If only I could get her to call me dad."

"I know what you mean," Kenna replied.

—

The next morning, James and Jemma were invited for breakfast with Kenna and Leo.

"There you are Jemma," Kenna sat Jemma down before offering her heaps of food, "You have your bread there and some jam. There is some eggs, bacon, and sausage. And I'll grab some orange juice for you."

"Mam," Leo waited with a smile while holding a jar.

"Oh, yes, of course," she she laughed, "Leo made you apple butter. He is quite proud of it, as he should be."

"You're allowed to use the stove," Jemma asked.

"No," Leo looked sad, "Me Mam helped me with that."

"That's okay. I'm not allowed to either. Daddy, can I try it?"

—

After breakfast, Kenna and James discussed how they both thought it was a great decision to go ahead with everything. Kenna offered food and clothes money, which James denied.

Jemma went upstairs to help Leo pack. he didn't really need much, most of the time he would be in uniform. They only had Sunday off completely. Instead, Leo packed a lot of strange gadgets that he made. he took two handfuls of magnets. he took a small tool box, which to Jemma, looked like a small glasses repair , he took a significant amount of books, which Jemma couldn't say anything about because she will be doing the same when they move to the flat in a week.

"Did you already finish your homework," Jemma asked

"Of course. Did you?"

"Obviously."

"Be nice," Leo pouted, "How am I supposed to know?"

—

For the entire plane ride back, the two kids argued about how to make a plane more aerodynamic to travel faster, and of course, Jemma was the buzz kill who had to talk about keeping up with the safety standards. At first, James found their theories intriguing, but after a bit, he just watched as his daughter ever so slowly making a friend.