A/N: I apologize for the long break since the last update. My goal is to update every two weeks, so I will try my best to keep on schedule. Thank you all again so much for your likes, favorites, and follows. They're what keep me going.

Midafternoon on Friday Amy sorted through columns of data, compiling the relevant pieces into charts. She was so focused on her work that she almost didn't hear the frantic triple knock at her door.

"Just a minute!" She saved the document, locked her screen, and met her harried-looking husband at the door.

"The school finally called," he panted.

"I take it they shot down your idea?"

"Not exactly. Are you free to talk," he eyed the pigeon cages, "away from here?"

"Of course." She slipped out of her labcoat and locked the door behind them. "Break room okay?"

"Anywhere that doesn't have birds."

"Would you like some tea?" Amy offered when they entered the small room.

"I'm upset. Of course I want tea!" He sputtered. Then noting the look of surprise on his wife's face he meekly amended, "yes, please."

As Sheldon took a seat at the small round table, Amy pulled two mugs from the cupboard. She chose a generic 'I heart science' one for her husband and one that boldly stated 'HALF Neurobiologist, HALF Ninja' for herself from the odd assortment she and her colleagues had collected over the years.

"If the school didn't reject your proposal, why are you so upset?" She asked, as she placed a green tea bag in each mug.

He furtively glanced at the open door. Seeing no one, he turned back to her and sighed. "They said we could do a one-week trial."

"That's great!"

"No, it's not great. What if they decide after the week is over to go back to their boring lesson plan?"

"What if they love it and want to continue?" She countered.

"But what if they don't?"

Amy poured water into the mugs and placed each one in a microwave. "Sheldon, let's be grateful they're giving us a chance. If it doesn't work out, we'll come up with another plan."

"How are you always so optimistic?"

She shrugged. "One of us needs to be."

They sat sipping their beverages in companionable silence as one of the newest members of the neurobiology unit came in to pour himself a cup of coffee.

"That's my mug!" He commented jokingly.

Amy looked up. "Hi, Gabe. I should have known it was you who bought this. What does it even mean?"

"No idea!" He laughed. "I just thought it was fun."

Sheldon spun the mug around to read the quote. "Oh dear, Lord! Amy, you were right to question this. How does being a neurobiologist qualify one as a ninja?"

Gabe shrugged. "Like I said, I just thought it was fun. We need more of that around here. Everyone's always so serious."

"I should hope so!" Sheldon huffed. This is a prestiged university not a daycare center."

Amy placed her hand over her husband's. "Sheldon..."

"It's okay. I'm not offended. See you later, gators." Gabe downed his coffee then gave the couple a little wave as he stepped into the hall.

Sheldon shook his head. "How on earth did that man become a neurobiologist?"

"He's extremely intelligent. He was in the 90th percentile of his class."

"It's hard to imagine with that attitude," he grumbled.

"He likes having fun, but he has a serious side too. He's working on... It doesn't matter. You're probably not interested." She took a sip of her tea. "Getting back on topic, what were you thinking for our first lesson?"

"I suggested a brief overview of the 50 states for our first episode, but Miss Banitt is only giving us 30 minutes per episode. Not only that, she thought that would be too much information for the students to remember at their age." He shook his head in disgust. "Leah had all the state flags memorized when she was 3."

"We could start simple. How about just the California flag? It has a lot of history, and the bear might keep the children's interest."

"But that's just one flag! The show is called Fun with Flags," he grumbled, putting emphasis on the 's' in flags.

"Then we give a brief history of the US flag before discussing the California flag. Problem solved."

Sheldon mulled over the idea. "I suppose we could try it. I'll start working on the script tonight. Now that's what I call fun, not some silly mug."

She reached across the table and patted his hand. "I can't wait."

xxx

After Penny picked up the kids, Amy breathed a sigh of relief. Next week was her bestie's turn to collect them from school. While she enjoyed the children's chatter on the drive home and in the house, she was grateful for the solitude of her lab on her weeks off.

Sheldon returned home shortly after with ingredients to make moo shu pork. He set the bag on the counter then pecked Amy on the lips and reached down to give his daughter a hug.

"Hi, Daddy!"

"How's my girl?"

"Happy it's Friday! Mommy's taking me to the fabric store tomorrow, and no boring classes for two days!" She pulled away slightly, her expression turning serious. "Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"Have you and the school found a solution to my classroom situation?"

"I think we should all discuss it after dinner."

"Okay. May I read before we eat?"

Amy patted her daughter's shoulder. "Of course, Monkey. I found an express recipe, so you'll have about 20 minutes. Plan to be ready by 6:05."

Leah pulled a novel from her backpack and headed for the library. She set the book on the coffee table then cautiously peeked out into the hall. She could hear her parents talking and laughing as they prepared the meal together. Closing her eyes momentarily to gather courage, she quietly slipped out the door and tiptoed to the broom closet. She reached out, slowly turned the handle, and sighed in relief when the door didn't squeak. Her fingers grasped the broom handle, lifted it slightly off the floor, and pulled it into the hall.

Back in the library, Leah got down on her stomach, located the black diary, and pushed the broomhead under the couch. When it made contact with the diary, she carefully dragged it out. She quickly snatched it up and headed for the book ladder. As her left hand gripped the railing, the diary slipped from the fingers of her right hand. A dull thud sounded as the book hit the hardwood floor. Leah froze. She cocked her ear towards the hall. She could still hear her parents in the kitchen.

Satisfied, she bent down to pick up the diary which had fallen spine down, pages open, and gasped. The name 'Giuseppe' nearly popped off the page. That didn't even make sense. Giuseppe wouldn't have even been born for another five years, unless the pet shop and her parents lied about his age. She plopped down cross-legged on the floor and began to read.

March 5, 2015

Sheldon and I decided today's the day to buy our turtle. I love the way that sounds - our turtle! We were so excited we made a big production out of it to Leonard and Penny. Sheldon even reached for my hand willingly. He's come a long way these past few months.

On the ride over, we discussed names. I suggested Shelly, but Sheldon pointed out it would be too confusing. He began listing superhero names until I told him that would be confusing too, maybe even more so. He was unconvinced, so I explained that if I were to say "I'll watch Green Lantern", he might think I'm interested in seeing a movie, not babysitting our pet. In the end we agreed to just keep thinking on the way there.

Unfortunately when we arrived, they had several puppies in an uncovered glass pen right next to the doorway. There was no way to avoid them. Sheldon hung onto my arm for dear life as we skirted around the pen. I'm glad it was easier to avoid the birds, though I wouldn't have minded more physical contact.

We examined the turtles and after some deliberation, we decided on one. Sheldon wanted to name him Giuseppe because he thought he looked Italian. I don't know how a turtle can look Italian, but Sheldon was so excited that I didn't want to argue about it. He talked to him like he was already ours, explaining our living arrangements to him. Then he dropped a bombshell on me. He said I would keep our pet full-time if his application to go to Mars was accepted...

Leah set the diary on her lap. Mars? Why would her dad leave her mom to move to another planet? It sounded like something out of a science fiction novel. She bit her lip. What was her dad thinking... Her eyes widened as a thought came to her. Maybe her parents were onto her. Had they found out she was reading the diaries and planted some false information to make her ask questions, causing her to confess? That seemed too farfetched, but so did her mom's diary entry. Could this be the reason for their breakup? No, it couldn't be. A month later they had their fort sleepover. How could she find out the truth without being caught? She decided asking Auntie Penny was out of the question, as she told her mom everything. She sat pondering the possibilities until the grandfather clock chimed 6 o'clock.

Leah startled, scooped up the diary, stuffed it in her waistband, and covered it with her shirt. There was no time to return it now. She spun around the room looking for a good hiding place. She was not concealing it under the couch again after all she went through to retrieve it.

"Leah, dinner in three minutes!" Amy called out.

The little girl panicked. Not knowing what else to do, she slipped out of the library towards her room and shoved the diary with the red one under her mattress until she could devise a better plan.

xxx

Sheldon led the way to the library after the dishes were cleared. He gestured towards the couch, and Leah took a seat on the end cushion as her parents stood before her.

"Leah, we discussed a possible solution to your boredom with Miss Bannitt. After she spoke with the principal and he spoke with the superintendent, your school agreed to the plan," Sheldon informed her.

"What's the plan?" Leah asked skeptically.

He turned to his wife. "Would you like to tell her, or should I?"

"Let's say it together."

Sheldon reached for his wife's hand. She squeezed gently and gave him a small nod.

"We're doing Fun with Flags!"

Leah tilted her head curiously. "Huh?"

Sheldon took a step closer to his daughter. "We're going to record mini episodes of Fun with Flags for your geography class."

"Really?"

"Yes, really," he confirmed.

Leah jumped off the couch and flung herself at him. "Thank you, Daddy!"

He bent down slightly and wrapped his arms around her. "Anything for my little girl."

"When does it start?"

"Next week. I should warn you, we were only given a one-week trial."

"Are you and Mommy going to record them all this weekend?"

"We'll have to. With your help, of course."

"I don't think I should be in the videos."

Sheldon held her at arms length so he could look at her. "Of course you should! You're an integral part of the show."

"But Daddy, I don't think the other kids will appreciate me teaching them. Miss Bannitt was very unhappy with me when I answered for Colton."

"This is different."

"I really think I should just be the student this time."

Sheldon dropped his arms from his daughter's shoulders then ran his hand down his face. "But the whiteboard has your name on it. I can't just erase your name."

"Sheldon, Leah's right. It will probably be for the best if just you and I do it."

"But the board..."

"We'll buy another one tomorrow to use especially for these lessons," Amy promised.

"But it's been the three of us ever since Leah's been old enough to talk."

Leah's eyes followed the conversation. When round three of the same arguments were voiced, she yelled, "please stop!"

Her mom jumped, and her dad's hand reflexively covered his heart.

"Don't fight! You're on the same team; we all are." She touched her dad's arm. "I'm sorry, Daddy. I'm not trying to upset you. I love doing Fun with Flags. It's one of my favorite family events, and I know you don't like change. I just really think I should be the student this time. If I'm part of the show, I'll know exactly what's going to happen. This will give me a chance to see something new in the classroom, even if I don't learn anything new."

Sheldon swallowed hard. "You're right. It won't be the same without you, but I... I guess we'll manage."

"Daddy?"

"Yes?"

"Maybe to make it easier on you that I'm not participating, you can change the location to the living room instead of the library."

"Change the location?! How would that make it easier? We can't do that. I'm barely able to accept one change," he sputtered.

Leah tried again. "A new location for a new audience. Plus the living room has more color. Kids love colors."

"Sheldon, I think Leah's onto something. It's a known fact that color improves memory performance. You remember that study we read when Leah was a baby?"

"The Influence of Colour on Memory Performance: A Review."

"Exactly. Think about it. The more information the children retain, the more likely the school will consider our lessons a success, thereby..."

"Allowing us to continue," Sheldon concluded. "Confound it, you're right! You both are."

"Yay! And since you won't need the library, I'll stay in here with the door shut so I won't see or hear you."

"Why not your bedroom, Monkey?" Amy asked. "Wouldn't that be more comfortable?"

Leah shrugged. "I just think I'd rather spend time in here."

"I guess that would be alright. Sheldon, do you have any objections?"

"Why would I deprive her of the vast knowledge contained within these four walls?" He countered, indicating the floor-to-ceiling bookcases.

"When are you going to start taping? It's going to take awhile to film five episodes, especially if you use a lot of costumes and props," Leah pointed out.

"Oh, Monkey! Don't worry. We'll still spend time with you this weekend. I haven't forgotten about the fabric store."

Leah looked up thoughtfully towards the fourth shelf where the biology books hid the empty spaces of the two missing diaries. "It's okay. I'm sure I'll be so busy that the weekend will fly by."