Hi lovely readers!
Thank you so much for all of the reviews on the last chapter. I really do think that that one is one of my favourites that I've written so to know you guys loved it too really means a lot.
I feel like I haven't updated in a while, this is partly down to life just getting in the way and also because I discovered (and totally fell in love) with a Shamy fic called Th Science of Love by Darcyfitz, it was posted years ago so I'm incredibly late to the party but it's absolutely gorgeous and I think, if you haven't, you should all go and give it a read. That fic kind of took up my time, when I would normally be writing instead I was reading.
Anyway, this prompt was requested by Boris Yeltsin, apologies for the wait. I hope this is okay for you.
Enjoy reading.
Sheldon sat in the car, tapping his fingers against the steering wheel as he waited patiently for the clock to change. Picking up the kids from school was often quite a rare occurrence for him, it was often Amy who got off work early and was able to do the school run. He was actually feeling excited at seeing the two little faces he loved most, he couldn't wait to see their smiles and hear all about their school day. Usually by the time he was home, questions about school were often answered with 'I can't remember' or 'I don't know.'
The car was silent and often this is where Sheldon did lots of his thinking and reflection. Most mornings, he would pull into his parking space at work and just sit there for a moment, thinking. Sometimes he couldn't even tell you what he was thinking about but with a busy work and home life, the car was sometimes the only quiet space.
He thought about how precious these moments were. Every little moment with Emily and Arthur was precious but he knew that it wouldn't be long until his children wouldn't want him to pick them up from school. He knew especially with Emily that that time was short, at eight years old he often feared that at times he was too uncool for her. All it took was an eye roll, very similar to the one her mother gave him, to put him in his place.
As soon as it hit 3.30, Sheldon was out of the car and onto the school playground in seconds. Standing amongst a sea of parents all eager to see their children, he finally saw Emily, heading over to him. The plait that Amy had put in her hair that morning was now hanging rather loose, he had no idea what she did at school but she never quite looked as pristine at pick up. Bag slung over her shoulder, she approached Sheldon with a huge smile that made his heart melt.
"Hi dad" she smiled, she took the bag off of her shoulder and handed it straight to him. "I didn't know you were coming today."
"I know, I wasn't planning to but I managed to get off work early" he smiled as she threw her arms around his waist and squeezed him tightly. The gesture took him by surprise, not expecting such a grand display of affection in front of some of her friends.
"I like it when you pick us up dad" that was all Sheldon needed to hear for him to make a promise to himself to do this more often. He squeezed her just as tight as she was him hoping that the gesture said all he wanted too. "Where's Arthur?" she asked, pulling away and searching the playground for her brother. At times, they argued in the way that only siblings could but deep down, Emily was incredibly protective over her little brother.
"He isn't out yet" Sheldon answered, even though he could see some of Arthur's friends coming out of the door, his son was nowhere in sight. He had no idea what Arthur got up to but he was always one of the last out.
"He takes ages" Emily sighed throwing her hands up in the air. "I can go and get him"
"No, it's okay, we're in no rush"
They stood in silence for a few moments, Emily talking to her friends as they passed about a new tennis club and a parent stopped by to remind Sheldon of a party next week that he had to make sure he told Amy about. After a while, he finally saw Arthur coming out of school, his little boy looked so small, the bag that he was carrying was almost as big as him. Arthur starting school had been just as a big deal for Sheldon and Amy as it was when Emily started, he was their little baby finally embarking on this huge journey.
He had flourished in his first year at school. He was for sure intelligent his intellect definitely took after his parents in that respect but Amy had always worried about him socially. He was much quieter than his sister and at times rather shy, whenever there were big events and their friends children were present or even his cousins, it always took a little while to warm up. School had been the best thing for him and very quickly, he had found his little group of friends. It seemed that at four years old everyone had the same interests.
"Hi buddy" Sheldon smiled as Arthur appeared in front of him. He looked so tried, when he had first started school for the first few weeks in the car on the drive home he would often fall asleep.
"Hi" he followed his sisters lead and handed his father his bag.
"How was your day?" he asked.
"Good. I painted a picture and played in the sand" Arthur smiled his big toothy grin.
"Sounds amazing" Sheldon took both of their hands as he led them out of the school gates and into the car. It was only when the kids were strapped in and Sheldon was sitting in the drivers seat, that he noticed through his mirror, two huge stickers on Arthur's jumper. "Arthur tell me all about your stickers?" Sheldon asked, excitement in his tone. He had learnt on his fatherhood journey that sometimes in order to make your children happy you had to get excited over the tiniest of things.
"I got this one for being kind and this one for doing good tidying up" he was bursting with happiness, stickers were the be all and end all for someone so small.
"Oh well done Arthur. I'm very proud of you" he strapped himself in and started the engine.
"Dad, can I join tennis club?" Emily asked after a few moments of silence. "Miss Williams said it starts soon, there's something in my bag about it. Can I go?" she asked. Sheldon knew his daughter well enough to know that she wouldn't let this drop until he gave her an answer.
"How about we talk to mum about it?" Sheldon never wanted to make any parenting decisions without consulting Amy first, no matter how big or small.
"Okay" she nodded. "Can I have a snack?"
—
"So tell mumma all about this tennis club" Sheldon opened up the conversation for Emily as he placed the wooden salad bowl in the centre of the table. He took a seat at the table, joining the rest of his family for a dinner of spaghetti bolognese, the kids absolute favourite.
"Well," Emily placed down her cutlery, "it's called Tennis Club, Miss Williams says it starts in a few weeks time and I really want to try it. There's something in my bag about it that you have to fill out to say I can go" she was always so animated when she spoke and her excitement and desire for this shone through. Amy and Sheldon shared a look with one another, if Amy hadn't carried her for nine months and she hadn't come out as the spitting image of her father, they were both sure that even they would question whether she was their daughter. The fact that any child of theirs could show an interest in sports was baffling.
"Oh tennis" Amy said excitedly.
"Yeah" Emily nodded, as she twiddled some spaghetti round her fork. "Millie says her cousin plays tennis and she is going to help her practise and I thought, because I know she was really good at school, auntie Penny could teach me"
"Oh wow, you really have thought all of this through haven't you?" Amy smiled in amusement as she imagined the little conversations Emily and her friends had on the playground. Amy really couldn't have been prouder of her, how her little girl had no fear and was willing to throw herself into anything and everything just to say she gave something a try.
"Yep" she nodded her head, placing more spaghetti in her mouth. She turned to glance at her brother, giggling as she quickly noticed his tomato sauce covered face.
"What do you think?" Amy turned to ask Sheldon. "Shall we let her give a go?"
"I don't see why not" he flashed Emily a smile and seeing the smile she sent his way lit up his whole world.
—
"Okay" Penny moved from foot to foot as she stood in front of Emily on the tennis courts. Penny was incredibly competitive, Sheldon had warned her to keep that part of her personality at bay when teaching his daughter. "First thing is how to hold your tennis racket. Hold it like this" Penny explained picking up a racket with expertise and showing Emily where to position her fingers. "Move your thumb slightly" Penny nudged Emily's thumb in the correct direction, "like you're shaking its hand."
Emily giggled as she followed her auntie Penny's instructions. She looked utterly adorable in her new little tennis outfit that Penny had insisted buying, stating that if she was going to be the part she also had to look the part. Amy and Sheldon didn't completely agree with that statement but Emily had been so excited by the little outfit that it was hard to put a stop to it.
"That's it, there you go" Penny praised when Emily finally got her hands in the correct position. "I don't want to teach you too much because you'll learn loads at your club but how about we just practise hitting the ball" Emily nodded, a huge smile on her face.
"Okay"
"So let's practise a serve" with her free hand Penny bent down to pick up a tennis ball. She threw the ball up into the air and swung her racket back and then forward. Emily watched in awe as the racket made a zipping noise as it went through the air before coming into contact with the tennis ball, the ball was hit with a force and power that Emily could only dream of achieving.
"That was so good" Emily gasped. "I'm not going to be that good" she shook her head from side to side as she spoke already a little hesitant.
"Yes you will" Penny encouraged. "Give it a go. You just throw the ball up into the air and hit it" she smiled. Emily tried this a few times, the concentration on her face reminded Penny so much of Sheldon, how her eyes were slightly narrowed as she focused and her tongue was poking out of her mouth. She was her fathers double.
"Ah, I can't do it," she sighed. Every time she threw the ball up in the air her racket just kept missing it. Emily Cooper was never one to give up, whether it was down to her fathers stubbornness or her mothers need to be a little bit of a perfectionist but even Penny could see that the little ones patience was wearing thin.
"Yeah you can, remember practise makes perfect"
"You sound like my mum" Emily sighed rolling her eyes.
Penny laughed. She found it hard to believe that this little eight year old was once a little baby. She could remember the day she was born, visiting Amy in hospital and holding her for the first time. She had watched her grow before her eyes and she loved her as if she were her own.
"Okay, how about this" Penny rethought her tactic. "Imagine that someone has really annoyed you and that the ball is them" Emily laughed. "But please don't tell your parents I said that"
Emily took a deep breath, trying to channel Penny's words and skills. This time when she swung her racket forward it hit the ball, sending it hurtling through the air before it bounced on the floor. The look of wonder on Emily's face was a picture.
"I did it" she jumped up and down excitedly. "I hit the ball."
"That was quite some power there Em" Penny laughed, as she walked across the court to retrieve the ball. "I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of you."
"Can I do it again?"
"Sure" Penny threw the ball in Emily's direction. "You know Em, keep this up and you'll be the best tennis player in the world" she flashed Emily a smile, giving her all the confidence she needed.
Thank you all so much for reading. As always reviews are always appreciated and so welcome. I absolutely love hearing your thoughts.
I suddenly have a bit of the 'writing a fic' bug. I had an idea months ago to create something similar to the story/film Me Before You and I've recently been revisiting it. Who knows maybe it will never become anything. What are your thought?
Also, I never normally do this but I'm super excited to post the next prompt. It's a follow up to the previous prompt but told from Amy's perspective :)
Stay safe
Lots of love.