A/N: For some reason this chapter was difficult to write. Haha. Enjoy. The next one will be out faster.

Disclaimer: I do not own The Big Bang Theory

Parenthood: The Final Frontier

Or Snapshots of the first five years of Isaac Cooper's life

Chapter Eleven: Meemaw

Sheldon, in general, did not like the last two months of the year. There were just too many holiday celebrations bunched up together in a short span of time. When it was just him and Leonard this was not a problem but as it happened he was married to Penny now and she observed the holidays more vigorously than his former roommate. Again that would have not been a problem if his mother was not as zealous as his wife. Either of them was formidable, but together they were invincible.

So he was not really surprised when Penny told him that they were going to Galveston for Thanksgiving. He tried to explain (whine, Penny would say) his way out but then she brought out the big guns. Meemaw wanted to see Isaac. It was five words but the effect was devastating. The complaints died on his lips and all he could do was nod his assent.


The train ride from Pasadena exceeded his expectation. They arrived at his childhood home at 1:23 in the afternoon. The aluminum house was just as Sheldon remembered it. The flower boxes at the windows were empty and the paint of the picket fence that surrounded it was washed out but it was the same. The loose gravel crunched under the tires of the rental as Penny as parked. His mother and his sister practically tore the car door opened in search of Isaac. There were welcome hugs and kisses and laughter all of which Sheldon grudgingly participated in.

"I'm picking up Meemaw later." Missy said as she helped him and Penny settle in at his old room. "She's bringing her pumpkin pie."

He perked up with that statement. Meemaw's pumpkin pies were the best.


Sheldon observed as his wife and his mother worked in tandem in the kitchen. It was fascinating how they moved. Efficient even without the aid of a sea shanty. He tried to help at one point but was quickly shot down by both women. Before long the turkey was in the oven. The stuffing, the mashed potatoes and the other casseroles were almost finished and the house was filled with aromas that made him not think about how Thursday nights were pizza nights. Isaac, trying to reach across the counter, jostled on his thigh. The baby obviously stimulated by the olfactory stimuli as well. There was a sound of the front door opening and Missy voice echoed throughout the house.

"Meemaw's here!"


Isaac tilted his face to the side. Then the other. But still he was confused. He never saw this person before. She reminded him of Gramie. But she had more lines than Gramie and her hair was even lighter than Mommy's.

"Well, aren't ya a good looking little boy." She said.

Isaac's eyes grew wide. She sounded like Gramie too. He turned to look at his Daddy, who smiled at him. "Isaac this is Meemaw."

He looked at the person again and stretched his arm to touch her cheek."Meema." He retracted his hand to touch his chest. "Isik."

He grinned and repeated his action. "Meema. Isik."

"Yes." Meemaw smiled. "It's nice ta meet ya dear."

Isaac clapped his hands in delight.


One of the many reasons why Sheldon loved his Meemaw was that she was a great story teller. It did not matter whether she was reading it from a book or making it up along the way, he thought she was fantastic and now as he sat by her feet listening to the Velveteen Rabbit while Isaac snuggled against his grandmother's chest and Penny leaned against his side he thought it could not get any better.

"But he never knew that it really was his own Bunny, come back to look at the child who had first helped him to be Real." Meemaw concluded, closing the the well-worn copy.

Isaac yawned widely. His eyes drooped with sleepiness.

"Oh looks like it's somebody's bedtime." Penny said, gathering the baby on her arms. "I'll tuck him in."

She let Meemaw kiss Isaac and her on the forehead. "Good night dears."

"Thank you for the story Meemaw." Penny replied, she walked by Sheldon and kissed him on the corner of his lips.

He felt his ears burn in embarrassment. He was adjusting a bit to Penny's displays of affection but when she did them in front of his family he could not help but feel shy. He watched her disappear to his childhood bedroom and glanced to look at his Meemaw.

"She's one of a kind, your Penny." She said.

He nodded. The old woman motioned for him to come closer. She wrapped her frail arms around him and Sheldon basked at her familiar peppermint smell.


Penny turned in his arms to face him in the darkness of the room he could barely see her face but he had this feeling that she was smiling smugly.

"Admit it."

He rolled his eyes again with her vague inquiries. "Admit what, Penny?"

She thumped him playfully on the shoulder. "That coming here for Thanksgiving isn't so bad."

He paused as the events of the night ran in his mind. His mother and Missy playing with Isaac. Meemaw arriving with her pie. Isaac meeting Meemaw for the first time. Him carving the turkey because Junior and his family could not come. Penny laughing heartily at his baby pictures. Meemaw reading a story. "Indeed. It did exceed my expectations."

Penny's hand cradled his chin and she leaned in to kiss him tenderly. "Good. Cause your mom invited us again next year and I said yes."