A/N: Thank you everyone for all your favorites, follows, and reviews for this story's first chapter. You've motivated me to continue.

Leah slipped into her white tights, green body suit, and red vest. Her mom draped a gold cape over her shoulders and watched as the little girl twirled in the full-length mirror, long dark hair and cape floating behind her.

"Mommy! I'm flying!"

"Don't say that in front of Daddy. He'll have a fit if he hears you want to go out as a flying Robin."

Leah giggled.

Amy snickered. "I guess that does sound kind of funny. Robins do fly, just not the kind of Robin you'll be tonight." She patted the edge of the jungle-themed comforter. Her daughter bounced up next to her. Amy ran a comb through the mess of tangles, careful not to pull too hard. "Someone needs a haircut."

"I like my long hair." She gently pulled a lock of her mom's hair towards hers to compare them. "Look, it's the same length. If we cut mine, it won't look like yours anymore."

"I could use a trim too. Tell you what. Why don't we both get our hair cut this weekend?"

"Okay!"

When Leah was tangle-free, Amy tied her hair into a ponytail and admired her handiwork. "From the front you look just like Robin now."

She jumped off the bed and examined her costume from all angles. "Thanks, Mommy."

Amy excused herself to change into her own costume. When the coast was clear, Leah dug under her mattress for the little red book.

December 25, 1990

On the 45-minute drive to Grandma's this morning, Mother explained to me that the microscope was a combined birthday/Christmas gift. I kind of figured as much. She had been putting in some extra hours at the office lately. I didn't mind though because it meant spending more time with Jillian, who was thrilled to make a little extra cash for the holidays.

Christmas is the one day each year when we're actually like a normal family. Even Danny is tolerable as we lie on our stomachs in front of Grandma's antique TV watching It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story. Irene decided to revert back to her former self, joining us as the adults sat back on the couch and rocking chairs.

Mindy and Monica, home from their first semester at Harvard, appeared unsure if they should join us children or the older generation. They compromised and sat cross-legged next to Aunt Florence who was thrilled to have her girls back in town. A year ago I couldn't tell them apart. I would wait until someone addressed one of them then identify them by their outfits. That would only work until the next time I saw them. Now I noticed Monica had a slight scar on the side of her nose.

Grandma went to a lot of trouble over lunch again this year with a little help from her sister and daughters. Great Aunt Flora placed her 'famous' green Jell-o salad next to Mother's contribution - a platter of store-bought dill pickles. As they did every year, Aunt Doe and Aunt Florence sqabbled over whose buttermilk biscuits were the best.

Uncle Harvey carved the ginormous turkey. I watched closely as all the men loaded their plates with large portions of dark meat and stuffing and hardly a vegetable in sight.

Mindy and Monica claimed they needed to watch their calories. They stared pointedly at my heaping plate, but I didn't let them get to me this year. I rarely had a meal this tasty and planned to enjoy as much as I could stuff in.

After we all helped clear the table, we gathered around the tree. Grandma lugged her harp out of the corner, sat on her beloved 'harp stool', which is really just an old crushed velvet foot stool, and began to play Christmas tunes by heart. As everyone sang along, I couldn't help but picture myself plucking the strings in front of a crowd with the L.A. Philharmonic.

When the last note receded, I opened my eyes to find everyone staring at me.

"Your fingers were moving as if you were playing along," Mindy snickered. Her sister soon joined in.

Grandma silenced them with a look. She called me over then vacated her stool. She stood behind me, placing my hands into position. With her hands guiding mine, I played what was supposed to be Silent Night but came out sounding more like some twisted classical version of Metallica.

"It takes a lot of practice. With some lessons, by this time next year, you'll be putting me to shame," Grandma assured me.

Mother pulled Grandma aside. I could hear her complaining about the cost of lessons. Grandma offered to teach me on weekends if I was interested.

Grandma gave me another $10 and a pair of socks, the twins brought me a Harvard pennant, and I received various books from everyone else. When I mentioned my reading level was well past the third-grade level, I expected high school-level literature, not Sweet Valley High. It's fine though. At this point I'll take any new books I can get my hands on.

I folded my wrapping paper neatly so Grandma could use it again next year. Danny and the twins tore through theirs to the point where it was unsalvagable. At least Irene had the decency to save hers.

Mother surprised me with a small lumpy package. After what she told me in the car, I wasn't expecting anything more from her. I carefully peeled back the paper and pulled out the cutest stuffed monkey.

Leah stashed the book in its hiding space upon hearing her parents' voices in the hall. They peeked into her room as she smoothed down her comforter.

Amy tugged at her form-fitting purple bodysuit and adjusted her matching cowl over her red wig. "Who's ready to fight crime?"

Sheldon shook his head. "Batgirl would never say that."

"What would she say?"

"A hero is not measured by what her power may be but by the courage she shows in living and the warmth she shows in her heart!"

"Maybe Leah should have been Batgirl and you be Robin."

Amy pretended to be offended. "Does Batman really want to sleep with Robin tonight?"

"Good point." As their daughter ran ahead to grab her Batman treat bucket from the counter, he lightly smacked his wife's butt. She looked over her shoulder, a coy smile on her lips.

Amy carried a pillowcase so she could dump the candy in when the bucket filled. She and Sheldon waited on the sidewalk as their daughter visited the first two houses on their street. They all walked up the steps of the third house and were greeted by Penny in a witch costume.

"Hey, guys! Nice group costume." She turned her head towards the inside of the house. "Leonard, they're here!" She shouted above the sounds of ghosts and gouls moaning via Bluetooth speakers.

Leonard, dressed as Superman, greeted them with Dylan at his heels in a cowboy costume. Leah peeked around the corner for her best friend.

"She's coming, Sweetie." Penny promised.

Cadence floated through the room in a flowy pink gown and matching cone-shaped hat.

Leah ran to her friend. "You make such a pretty princess!"

"Why are you dressed like a boy?"

"Cadence!" Leonard warned his daughter.

"Halloween costumes shouldn't be gender-specific," the youngest Cooper retorted.

"Whatever. It's just not something I would wear."

"Girls, that's enough!" Penny shouted from her post by the door. Her scowl transformed into a grin when she opened the door to two preschoolers dressed as a kitten and a puppy.

Leonard brushed away a cotton cobweb then handed his kids their treat buckets. "Alright, let's go."

"Ames, are you sure you don't want to stay here and drink wine in between trick-or-treaters?"

"Tempting, but I won't have many chances left before she decides she doesn't want to be seen with me."

The group strolled down their street, the adults admiring the houses decked out in jack-o-lanterns, tombstones, and giant spiders. Dylan stayed behind when they approached a house with a creepy coffin. The girls were unfazed until a vampire lept out in front of them baring his fangs. They raced back to the sidewalk shrieking and asked to skip the next few houses in case he decided to follow them.

"Do you know what would be fun? We should drive over to the old apartment, see who's renting our former homes."

"I don't know, Leonard. Seeing someone else's furniture in my old spot might be disconcerting."

"Come on, Sheldon. I think it would be fun. We can show the girls their first home," Amy pleaded.

"I suppose we could," he relented.

"Yay!"

Leonard walked home to pick up his minivan while the Coopers led the kids to the last few houses on the street.

On the short drive to Los Robles, the children tried sneaking some candy from their buckets. Amy promised then they would have plenty of time when they returned home. "We don't want to scatter wrappers all over the van."

Cadence leaned over the seat. "We're just trading, Auntie Amy."

Leonard parallel parked in front of the old, familiar building. He, Sheldon, and Amy gazed up towards the fouth floor, each lost in their own memories. Inside the building they surveyed the lobby. Everything appeared the same except for one detail.

"They must have finally fixed the elevator!" Leonard exclaimed, noting the 'Out of Order' sign was absent. He pressed the button and sure enough, the elevator dinged and opened to reveal a new car.

Amy peered in. "Shall we take the elevator or the stairs for old time's sake?"

They ultimately decided to take the elevator to the top then take the stairs down after visiting the apartments on each floor.

The fifth floor tenants were new to the building. They happily threw several pieces of candy into each bucket. "We've hardly had any trick-or-treaters."

"We used to live on the fourth floor. We didn't get a lot of trick-or-treaters either. I think most of them tend to visit houses rather than apartment complexes," Leonard rationalized.

Sheldon began hyperventilating as they reached the fourth floor.

"Daddy, what's wrong?"

Amy reassured her daughter he was fine. She rubbed his back in slow, soothing circles. "It's okay, Sheldon. You can do this."

He took a deep breath in and chanted, "I can do this, I can do this..."

Dylan had gotten brave over the course of the evening and yelled, "trick-or-treat!" in front of 4B.

A young blonde woman emerged, causing Leonard to do a double take. He was transported 20 years back in time when he had first laid eyes on Penny in the very spot he stood. He shook his head to rid himself of the image and noted that the only thing this woman and his wife had in common was their hair color. Amy peeked in. It was so strange not seeing the teal couch or clothes strewn around the room.

Satisfied with the fun-sized Snickers bars the young woman had tossed in, Dylan shouted in front of 4A, the girls right behind him. They waited several seconds.

"They must not be home," Amy murmured, the disappointment evident in her voice and the slumping of her shoulders.

As they turned to leave, the door opened to reveal a girl about Leah and Cadence's age dressed in a Spider-Man suit, minus the head. Dylan eyed the candy bowl sitting on a small table next to the door. The girl's eyes followed his then called her mother over. The woman hobbled over on crutches and tossed several pieces of candy into each of the buckets.

"I'm sorry. Sofia's a little shy."

The girl looked down then back up at Leah. "I like your costume."

"Thanks! My mom made it for me."

As the girls chatted, Amy peered around the woman's shoulder. Her eyes were drawn to the island where she and Sheldon had shared multiple cups of tea over intelligent conversations. She tore her gaze away to examine the rest of the room. Sheldon was right. It was somewhat disconcerting seeing a gray striped couch where the brown couch had stood for more than two decades. She stood back to join her husband who was hyperventilating again.

Sheldon's breathing returned to normal when they reached the third floor. Mrs. Gunderson still occupied 3A and was delighted to see how much the girls had grown. Leonard still couldn't look her in the eye even though 17 years had passed since she overheard his rodeo coitus with Penny. After visiting briefly with Mrs. Vartabedian in 3B, they descended to the second floor. Mrs. Petrescu's eyes lit up upon seeing Sheldon and Amy. They complimented her on her English, which was much improved.

When Leonard dropped the Coopers off in front of their house, the streets had almost cleared of trick-or-treaters. Leah dumped her bucket and the partial pillowcase of candy on the livingroom floor and began sorting into piles of chocolate and non-chocolate then into sub-piles of alike candy.

Amy took a seat next to her daughter. "Mind if I eat one of these Snickers?"

After a slight hesitation, the youngest Cooper slid one over to her mom. "Daddy, you get one candy too."

Sheldon surveyed the piles. "Hmm... Just one? Hmm... I don't see any Red Vines..."

Deciding for her dad, Leah handed him a packet of Milk Duds then searched the cupboard for Ziploc bags. She placed each type of candy in its own bag, threw them in the pillowcase, and deposited it in her room before beginning her nightly rituals.

While her parents read in the library after they tucked her into bed, she reached under her mattress for the little red book. She clipped on her reading light and continued where she left off.

The next morning Leah awoke with the book next to her on the bed. She unclipped the light and shoved the diary in its hiding place just as Amy entered the room to open her blinds. She would have to be more careful in the future. No more reading after lights out.