So this is my second Penny-Sheldon song based fan fic. It's based on a song by an Aussie Country singer called Adam Brand. The song is called "Little Girl" and I really encourage you guys to find a copy and listen to it, it really is a beautiful song and it does help explain the fan fic a bit more, although it is pretty self explanatory! Anyways, read and review because I was absolutely amazed by all the reviews I got for my first song based fan fic and it did encourage me to make this one! Thanks again guys!
Disclaimer: I don't own the song "Little Girls" by Adam Brand nor The Big Bang Theory and any of its characters.
Darling one day you will know
why it is that you must go.
Why tomorrow you will be
so far away from me.
Maybe then we'll understand how easily
the time between the sweetest love and bitter tears
Can be measured in your tender years
Sheldon woke suddenly. Today was the day. He sat up in bed and rubbed his face with his hands. Pulling back the covers, he swing his feet from under the sheets and felt the weight of his body as he placed his feet on the floor and rose from the bed. Crossing the room, he silently opened the door, so as not to wake the person who was currently sharing his bed. Her blonde hair was scattered across the pillow, and he deduced that it was a strand of that that may have startled him awake.
As annoyed as he would have been only 5 years ago that his precious REM cycle had been disturbed, today he could not be annoyed. He knew what the consequences of the decision today might be. He might never see her again.
She moved in her sleep and resumed a position that would be no good for her back. Resisting the urge to go over and move her to a more comfortable position, he slipped out of the room and headed to the bathroom. Quietly closing the door, he saw his plaid suit hanging on a hook on the back. He touched the material and remembered back to the day he had worn it last. Smiling slightly, he remembered as Penny had adamantly refused to let him wear the suit on their big day. Eventually, his stubbornness had won her over and although she was not pleased, she allowed him to wear it.
She had looked beautiful as she walked up that small length of carpet to meet him at the altar. It had made his heart skip into tachycardia. He can remember her face as he made the priest stop until he had counted his heart rate and deduced he had not entered the early stages of heart failure. It was incredulous and at the same time, not at all surprised.
Still smiling at the memory, he removed his razor from under its protective UV light and began the careful process of sterilising it. Maybe this is why Penny couldn't last? He could have been more understanding and at least attempted to change his neurotic ways. But of course, that had been a clause in their pre marriage contract he had drawn up. That she must be willing to withstand all of his little habits.
Rubbing shaving cream onto the small whiskers on his chin, he carefully made all of the cream the same depth to maximise the efficiency of the razor. After examining it, he seemed satisfied enough to begin. A small knock on the door made him stop halfway through his first stroke. As much as he was irritated with the interruption of the motion, he knew who was on the other side of the door and he wanted nothing else to make as much time as he could for her.
He opened the door and saw his little miniature Penny on the other side. Her thumb was in her mouth, her other hand clutching a teddy under the crook of her arm and clasping her ear. Her hair was messy with sleep and her eyes appraised him.
"Daddy?" She mumbled around her thumb.
"Yes, princess?" Sheldon muttered, using his pet name for her. It was one of the few things that Penny had actually approved of. She had said it was bonding.
"Can I watch please?"
Sheldon was a little put out, but reminding himself that he would not be seeing her again for a while, he agreed.
Lifting her up, he placed her on the sink within clear sight of him. Picking up the razor again, he fought the urge to restart the whole disinfecting process again and began where he left off.
Some would say the world is lost
in court rooms as the details
of the custody and court costs
are read aloud to the parties.
I believe my world is saved
by a little girl watching her daddy shave
When he arrived at the courtroom, Penny rushed up to them and grasped their daughter in her arms covering her body in hugs and kisses. Standing, she turned to Sheldon, acknowledging him for the first time.
"How was she?"
"Well, I think you mean 'what was her behaviour like?'. In that case, she was perfectly well behaved."
"You know what I mean Sheldon." She was irritated. "Was she upset? Because it was decided that this was the best option."
"I am very well aware Penny. But I neither like nor condone this idea. To take my daughter away so you can return home? Preposterous."
"Sheldon, you have neither the mental or emotional sides to handle her!"
"I am more than insulted by that Penny. I certainly have the mental capacities. I have an IQ that cannot be measured by present testing methods."
"You know what I meant! When she has problems, real social problems, you will not be able to handle them or help her through them!"
"I can do my best. As any parent attempts."
"Sometimes, just attempting doesn't work." She sighed. "Look at us. We tried, we failed. It's as simple as that."
At that moment, a member of the court ushered them into the court room and sat them down. They rose as the judge entered and sat after she had been seated.
"Custody hearing of Cooper vs Cooper. Last time we adjourned, we established that Penny would be obtaining full time custody, and that Sheldon would be able to attain custody over holiday periods and at other times at the discretion of Penny. An amicable decision was reached, so I have no choice but to agree to the terms dictated by both parties and rule that the mother of Marie Grace gains full custody on the proviso that father may make arrangements to get custody over holiday periods. This decision will be reviewed in one year. Court is adjourned."
With that, the judge rose and left the room.
Sheldon looked across the room and saw Penny pulling Marie's parka over her sweater. Tears were in her eyes, but it was nothing to what Sheldon felt. His body felt hollow. He stood and left the room as he couldn't stand to see anymore.
Outside the courtroom, Marie caught up with him.
"Daddy, I get to go and see grandma and grandpa in Nebraska!" She's so excited, he thought. She had no idea that this would be the last time she saw him for six months.
They had tried to explain it to her but even with her above average intelligence, at 3 years old she wasn't going to get it. It seemed that now, she still didn't get it.
Penny approached and he enveloped her in a big hug.
"I'll see you when you get back then, ok?" He whispered, pushing her hair out of the way of her face.
He looked at Penny.
"Take good care of her."
"You know I will."
Penny reached down to take Marie's hand and led her away. Marie turned to wave at Sheldon.
"I'm sorry." He whispered when no one would hear.
When he arrived home, he went to the bathroom to retrieve his suit coat hanger. It had to be that coat hanger. It was the perfect dimensions to withstand the weight of the suit.
As he opened the door, he saw his razor under the protective UV light and he cast his mind back to that morning, remembering Marie watching him so carefully.
Standing there without a care
watching daddy through your hair.
Suddenly I recognise
what used to be your mother's eyes.
And that was when Sheldon knew. He had to get Penny back.
