Hi lovely readers!
Thank you so much for all of the reviews on the last chapter (it was one of my favourites) it really does mean so much!
First of all, I want to apologise to the guest who requested this prompt, I feel like it has taken me so long to get round to writing this and I hate to keep you lovely people waiting. Thank you for being so patient and again, apologies for taking so long.
For this prompt I decided to just focus on Amy, Sheldon and Emily with a tiny little mention of Arthur's presence. I feel like there's lots of little things I've briefly spoken about here, I hope it isn't too all over the place for you.
Enjoy reading!
Amy was never one for early mornings. Of course, she rose early during the week for work but when allowed she adored a lay in, a few more undisturbed hours of sleep for her was complete bliss. She was the complete contrast to her husband who regardless of the day or previous nights sleep woke at the same time every single day, yet despite his routine Amy was sure that even today, Sheldon was struggling with the exceptionally early start.
Now that both she and her husband were awake, there was only one other little person that needed to be stirred from her sleep. Carefully, Amy crept into her daughters bedroom, the light from the hallway seeping through the half opened door, illuminating her sleeping frame. She looked so beautiful and in that moment Amy's heart was bursting with love.
Amy knew her daughter was sound asleep, her breathing was heavy and her favourite teddy was tucked under her arm, her little girl was completely unaware of her mothers presence. Sitting down on the bed, Amy watched as her eyelashes fluttered whilst she slept, she wondered what she was dreaming of, what went on in that little head of hers when she dreamed.
"Emily" she whispered, placing her hand on her daughters shoulder. Waking her up like this was wishful thinking, Emily was just like her father and was as stubborn as anything to wake up. "Em" she tried again, a little louder this time. "Emily" this time her name was accompanied by a gentle shake of her body that seemed to do the trick and caused her to stir. "Hi darling" Amy smiled to herself as she watched her daughter close her eyes even tighter and pout her lips. "It's time to wake up" she kept her hand gently on her shoulder.
"It isn't" Emily mumbled as she allowed her eyes to slowly open, her little hands that were balled into fists rose to rub at her eyes.
"Guess what?" Amy spoke with excitement, voice rising in pitch in the hope of getting her daughter out of bed. "Daddy's making your favourite. Pancakes" despite it being the early hours of the morning breakfast was needed and Amy thought pancakes would be the best incentive to lure their daughter from her slumber. Sheldon's pancakes were Emily's favourite and on many occasions Emily had told her mother that she didn't make them quite as good as her daddy.
"But it's too soon for pancakes" her voice was slow and sleepy and Amy knew if she left the room right now, Emily would curl up and fall straight back to sleep.
"Oh I know" Amy sympathised, feeling just as tired as Emily. "But we have to get up nice and early to start our vacation" their vacation had been the subject of Emily's conversations for months, she was beyond excited which meant last nights bedtime routine was less than smooth.
"I don't want to" Emily pouted with a groan, Amy knew if she'd have been standing she would be stamping her feet. Most of the time their daughter was calm and pretty laid back but since turning three her tantrums, although very rare had definitely gone up a gear. The little girl wiggled further down the bed and with both hands pulled the duvet up over her head, hiding herself from her mother.
"Oh no" Amy sighed, deciding to play along with this little charade that Emily had put together. "Emily where are you? Where have you gone?" she called out causing the little bundle hidden under the duvet to giggle. Suddenly, despite feeling exhausted and her patience wearing thin, that little laugh was music to her ears. "Is she under the bed?" Amy asked to no one really but the little giggles continued. "Oh, could she be in the closet?"
"I'm here mumma" Emily exclaimed as she pulled down the duvet and sent a beaming smile in her mothers direction.
"Oh" Amy placed her hand to her heart. "You had me worried for a second. Are you ready to get up now?" Emily stood up on her bed, rubbing her eyes again but this time slowly nodding her head. She wrapped her arms around her mothers neck and squeezed her tightly, burying her head into her shoulder.
"Good. Shall we go and get pancakes" Amy asked as she wrapped her arms around her too and squeezed her just as tight. She loved her so much even if at times she tested her like crazy.
"Can you carry me?" Emily mumbled into her shoulder. Amy found herself agreeing as she really didn't have the energy to start another battle.
As Amy hauled herself and Emily up from the bed and trudged through the apartment, it dawned on her that maybe she might not be able to do this for much longer. Just a few weeks ago she had discovered that she was pregnant with their second baby, although there had been various conversations about having another baby and some time soon, it had happened much quicker than both Amy and Sheldon had expected. They were of course thrilled by the notion of expanding their little family but Amy had quite quickly forgotten how exhausting the first trimester of pregnancy was.
"We have a very tired little one" Amy spoke across the room to Sheldon as she placed Emily down in one of the chairs at the dining table. Sheldon who was stood in the kitchen, mixing the pancake batter, looked up and smiled, Emily looked as if she was about fall asleep at the table and Amy suddenly looked as if all colour had drained from her face. Sheldon had seen this enough times to know what it meant and decided to distract Emily so her mother could make a swift exit.
"Well you're just in time" Sheldon announced excitedly. "Come and help me flip them" that was Emily's favourite part, she watched her dad, her eyes filled with love and awe as he flipped pancakes. At three, that was the coolest thing in the world, now that she was that little bit older he let her hold the pan too, placing his hands over her own to help. "Okay, are you ready?" Sheldon asked once her hands were in place.
"Yep" Emily nodded, her tongue poking out the corner of her mouth, a little habit of hers when she concentrated and focused. Together they flipped the pancake and Emily squealed loudly as it flipped so in high in the air. "Daddy that nearly hit the ceiling" she gasped in amazement. "Will they have pancakes in Florida?"
—
Even though they had woken in the early hours of the morning and allowed themselves plenty of time to reach the airport, it somehow still felt like a mad rush. Maybe it was down to Amy triple checking every single case or because Emily couldn't possibly leave the house without her favourite teddy that was buried deep in her case but somehow they had made it.
Amy was determined to make this vacation special knowing that this would be the last one that they would spend as a family of three. This vacation would be quite the family affair, they had initially been invited to Florida as Missy Cooper was finally getting married. Once Sheldon had finally stopped moaning about his sisters wedding destination and actually listened to Amy's suggestion of tying the trip in with a vacation, he started to warm to the idea. Besides, aside from trips to Texas, they had never really had a vacation with Emily.
"So soon we'll be in the sky?" Emily asked from her seat on the plane as she peered round her mother to look out of the small circular window. She had been on planes before but she was so young and the gap between them made them forgettable.
"Yep" Amy nodded, looking down at the little girl who was sitting between her parents. Sheldon hated take off and couldn't bare to be near the window.
"Like in the clouds?"
"Yeah, we'll be right next to the clouds."
"Wow" Emily whispered under her breath, "Dad, we get to see clouds" she turned her attention to her father even at her young age she just knew something wasn't quite right. He was trying to get himself in the zone, trying his hardest not to freak out and put on a brave face for Emily. "He isn't talking" Emily sighed as she fell back into her seat.
"You know" Amy began gently. "Some people are afraid of things" she watched as her daughter nodded. "Well some people are afraid of flying on an aeroplane, I think right now daddy's just a little scared"
Despite Sheldon's fear, knowing that the people he loved most in the world were close by helped with putting him at ease and nothing filled his heart with more love for them both than hearing his wife explain his fear to their daughter. He really hoped she grew up to be just as kind and understanding as Amy and maybe her next proved exactly that.
Whilst he was in his little daze, Sheldon felt a little hand take hold of his own, threading her little fingers through his. It amazed him how someone so small could affect him so much.
"Don't worry daddy. I can look after you"
—
"Oh hello my gorgeous girl" Mary cooed excitedly as she scooped Emily up into her arms, right in the middle of the hotel lobby. After a five hour flight, they had finally arrived in Florida. Amy had been apprehensive about the flight, worried about how Emily would cope in such a confined space for so long. She had come prepared with books, colouring and a few little games but she needn't have bothered as Emily slept for the majority of the flight and was a total angel. It did however mean she was wide awake now with a ton of energy. "Oh I've missed you so much darlin," they both knew how much family meant to Mary and the fact that her youngest granddaughter was so far away broke her heart.
"Hi mother" Sheldon smiled. He loved watching her with his daughter, despite the distance their love for each other was so strong. Mary moved Emily onto her hip and pulled Sheldon into a one armed hug.
"How was your flight darling?" she asked the couple as she did the same with Amy and kissed her cheek, Amy was sure it was just her mind playing tricks on her but she could have sworn she saw Mary's eyes glance down to her stomach.
"It was good" Amy answered. "This little one slept forever" she reached out and stroked Emily's cheek.
"Oh well how about we give mummy and daddy a little break and you can spend the next few hours with grandma" Mary spoke excitedly as she bounced Emily up and down on her hip.
"Are you really sure? She could be quite a live wire"
"Absolutely. Have a break. Take a nap. Spend some time together" Mary waved her hand around as she reeled off a list of things they could do together. "We'll see you at dinner."
—
"Your mum knows" Amy announced as soon as she closed the door to their hotel room. She knew Mary Cooper far too well, she was incredibly intuitive and Amy knew with just one look she'd be able to tell she was pregnant.
"Knows what?" Sheldon asked as he dragged their suitcases into the centre of the room.
"About the baby"
"No, she doesn't" Sheldon dismissed the idea instantly.
"She looked straight at my stomach" Amy placed her hands there, she was starting to show but that was only because she knew there was something there. Turning sideways, she gazed at her reflection in the full length mirror positioned on the wall. "Does it look as if somethings there?" she asked Sheldon, her hands smoothing over the fabric of her stomach.
He cocked his head to one side, "I don't know, maybe a little," he wasn't entirely sure if that was the right thing to say and he found himself biting his lip in anticipation.
"What if it's noticeable in the dress tomorrow?" her body was changing week by week and it had been a minute since she had tried on her dress. The very last thing she wanted to do was look obviously pregnant and steal Missy, the brides, thunder.
"It won't be" Sheldon really had no idea but he figured that was what Amy needed to hear.
"And then what do I do when they realise I'm not drinking?" Amy was panicking now that she was here under Mary's watchful and questioning eye, she figured all would be unraveled.
"Would it be the end of the world if they did find out?" Sheldon asked as he sank down on the bed. He knew that finding out about the baby on the day her daughter was getting married would absolutely make his mothers day.
"Yes" Amy sighed, "I just want to wait, it's important"
"Look" Sheldon said rising from the bed, "everything will be fine, don't worry about it" he wasn't normally an affectionate person but in that moment he sensed Amy needed a cuddle. Walking towards her, he pulled her close to him. "Can you hear that?" he asked as Amy wrapped her arms around him.
"What?"
"Silence" he laughed. "Let's just enjoy these next few hours because we're not going to get this time again for a while." With her arms still wrapped round him, Amy pulled away and looked him up and down, her eyes questioning.
"Where is my husband and what have you done with him?" she asked with a smile dancing on her lips, his previous words were very unusual and un-Sheldon like, maybe the Florida sunshine had done him good already and the vacation lifestyle that he had resisted so much was finally rubbing off on him.
—
The wedding had been a beautiful event and thankfully Amy's pregnancy had stayed the little secret that she had intended it too. Although she was sure certain family members were on to her although she knew they would never outright ask. Emily had captured all of their hearts as the most adorable little flower girl and watching her with her cousins confirmed Amy's suspicions that she would be an incredible, if not slight bossy, big sister.
The Cooper family parted ways the day after the wedding, leaving Sheldon, Amy and Emily to enjoy their vacation. They continued their stay at the hotel for just one more day, this day was spent in the sun, Amy lounged by the pool reading whilst Sheldon set out with determination to get Emily swimming. Every so often, Amy found herself leaning forward on her sun lounger subtly watching her husband and daughter over her sunglasses.
Stolen little moments like this where neither of them were aware they were being watched, melted Amy's heart. Emily was in her little pink safety jacket, something that Sheldon insisted she wore until he was one hundred percent sure she was confident. Amy had argued the case that she wouldn't learn to properly swim with it on and that he would always be close by to catch her but the advice had fallen on deaf ears.
Sheldon stood close to Emily, walking backwards in the water, his arm outstretched, there if she needed him at all, he would be there for her in seconds. Amy smiled to herself, watching him blossom into this attentive, loving father was something that before Emily's arrival she could only have dreamt of. Regardless of where they were in life Amy knew he would always be there for Emily no matter what.
"I'm doing it, I'm doing it daddy" Amy could hear her calling out as she began to splash with a little bit more determination.
"You are. Keep kicking those legs" Sheldon exclaimed excitedly as Emily swam closer to him. Once she reached him, he scooped her up in his arms. "You did it Em!"
The look of love and pride on Sheldon's face was absolutely everything to Amy, the look in his eyes made her want to just cry. Maybe it was just the hormones.
"Mumma, did you see me swimming?" Emily asked as she made her way over to her mother, Amy could hear her little wet footsteps slapping against the floor.
"I did darling. You were amazing" Amy reached out to wrap her up in the towel, there was something about her that made her look so little when she was wet. The water droplets dripping down her face and her eyelashes extra dark and long. Amy pulled her close and squeezed her tightly. "I'm super proud of you" she kissed her head.
"Mumma, I'm exhausted now" Emily sighed, collapsing into Amy's arms, she caught Sheldon's eye and both of them just laughed at how grown up and impressionable their little girl was.
—
The next few days were spent in Disney World. This was a place Amy had always wanted to take Emily but Sheldon had always been reluctant even though he argued they had Disneyland just round the corner, it wasn't quite the same. Besides, travelling to Florida for Missy's wedding seemed almost like fate.
It really was the most incredible place and Amy found herself resisting the urge to cry on many occasions. The happiness that a place like this brought to Emily made Amy want to take her every single year. She was enthralled by the castles and completely in love with every character that they past.
"Should you even be on here" Sheldon leaned back whispering to Amy from behind their daughter.
"It's a gentle ride for toddlers, I'll be fine" even though she knew at times, it could be a little too much and intense she loved how protective and caring he was with her when she was pregnant. It was like this whole other side to him that she very rarely saw.
They were currently sat on Peter Pan's Flight, Emily loved her Disney princesses and had lost her mind when she saw them wandering round the resort but Peter Pan and especially Tinkerbell were her absolute favourites.
"Are you ready?" Amy asked, placing her hand upon Emily's knee.
"Mhmm" Emily nodded her head. "I'm excited"
Amy wanted to bottle up this moment and remember it forever. She wanted to remember exactly how she felt and the sheer excitement and wonder on her daughters face. Although she knew he may not admit it, she was pretty sure Sheldon was enjoying himself too.
The ride started to move and Emily's hands reached out to latch onto both of her parents. Sheldon hadn't expected fatherhood to affect him so much but knowing that for someone he was their little safety blanket made him feel more complete than he could have ever imagined.
"It's okay" Amy placed her hand over the top of Emily's. "We're just starting to move" she explained watching as Emily nodded.
They soon passed Wendy in her bedroom and Emily waved as if she was real. They soared above Nana outside the Darlings house, again Emily waved. She shuffled closer to Sheldon, craning her neck to look over the sides and down at the ground.
"Wow, daddy we're up so high" she whispered excitedly. "This is so cool" she laughed when she saw the town below. She relaxed into the ride, amazed by the scene and colours before her. For someone so small it was just as if she had stepped into the movie. "Mumma" she leaned across and whispered to Amy, Sheldon was having a mini panic attack as he was desperate for his daughter just to sit still. "Are we actually going to Neverland?" her voice was full of uncertainty and nerves.
Amy smiled, she draped her arm round her and pulled her into her side. "No darling, we're just visiting"
"Phew" Emily sighed, using the back of her hand to wipe her forehead. "I don't think I'd want to be near Captain Hook"
They continued through the ride and their Peter Pan flight. Emily was so animated and excited by everything, pointing out the characters and what they doing. That child magic she possessed made parenting all the more worthwhile and despite feeling nervous about their expanding family, they were both feeling excited to do it all over again.
Thank you so much for reading. I kind of skimmed over the wedding as that wasn't part of the request but I felt like I needed an excuse to get Sheldon to Disney world.
As always your reviews are always welcome and so appreciated.
Stay safe
Lots of love.