Hi lovely readers!
Thank you all so much for the reviews on the last chapter. I really loved writing that one so I'm glad you all loved reading it too!
This prompt was requested by Boris Yeltsin. Thank you so much for requesting. Normally in my stories Howard and Bernadette's kids are quite a bit older than Emily and Arthur but for the storyline of this one, I kept them all a similar age.
Hope you all enjoy reading.
"Hey," Amy beamed as she burst open the door to Sheldon's office. Initially, she had been reluctant to dress up for work but Sheldon's enthusiasm for their couples outfit was too infectious for her not to get on board with, besides she had been trying to get him to do a couples dress up for years.
This years choice was Doc Brown and Clara Clayton one of Sheldon's only suggestions that didn't involve Star Trek, Star Wars or a scientific couple that no one would really know. Amy's face dropped when she saw Sheldon sat down behind his desk, costume removed and in its place his usual attire.
"Why aren't you in your costume?" she asked, looking him up and down. He had been so excited for this she couldn't understand why now after less than a few hours he was dressed just like Sheldon.
"I just didn't feel like it" he shrugged, not making eye contact with her and returned to pressing keys on his laptop.
"You do realise I'm only doing this for you" she told him. It wasn't strictly true, she was thrilled they were finally dressing up as a couple but the corset that she was wearing that was currently breaking her ribs and reducing her ability to breath wasn't exactly ideal.
"Amy, do you think that I'm always correcting people?" He closed the lid of his laptop and looked at his wife, there was something in his eyes that Amy could read instantly. Something wasn't right.
"What does this have to do with dressing up?" Amy asked carefully, stepping forward and closing the door behind her.
"Howard dressed up as me, he imitated me and everyone laughed" it was moments like this when she suddenly saw the little boy that he used to be. When she suddenly saw the resemblance between Sheldon and their son, his sad, blue eyes and pouty lips.
"Oh I'm sorry. That's sounds terrible" she sympathised with him greatly, there was nothing worse than feeling like an outsider in your own group of friends. Nothing worse than feeling lonely when you're surrounded by people. She knew her husband wasn't perfect, she would be the first to admit that but it still didn't stop her heart hurting for him.
"It was" he stood up and made his way over to the whiteboard and started writing equations, whenever he was upset his mind always went to work.
"Hey" Amy made her way to him and gently placed her hands on his shoulders. "Ignore them, I know it's hard to do but we've got a really lovely evening planned with everyone. Don't let it get to you" she massaged his shoulders, this always helped relax him and stay calm and as she watched him, she knew her magic was working. "I love you" she pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.
—
"Mummy does this look okay?" their nine year old waltzed into her parents room and gave a little twirl, her pink and white dress flaying out as she did so. "Wow, mumma! You look so good" she stopped herself mid spin, her eyes lighting up when she her mother dressed in her second costume of the day.
"Do you think so?" Amy asked as she adjusted the red cowboy hat on her head. Emily quickly nodded her head and smiled. "You look fantastic" Amy smiled as she took in her daughters appearance, it surprised her everyday how old her children were now. They weren't little babies that constantly needed to be rocked and held, they were real little human beings that could hold a conversation and laugh and joke.
"Thank you. I want to see daddy and Arthur. Where are they?" she asked. It was obvious to Amy that their daughter was incredibly excited, what child wouldn't be excited to attend Halloween party filled with all their loved ones.
"I think they're in Arthurs room"
Her daughter let out a little squeal before she turned away and began making her way down the hall to her brothers room. Amy turned to look at her reflection again in the mirror, she wasn't entirely sure how she felt about her outfit but seeing the look on Emily's face when her eyes first landed upon her had made her day. How she felt right now didn't matter, she was doing this for her kids and seeing one of their smiley faces meant the world.
Tonight the Cooper family were heading over to Leonard and Penny's place for a Halloween party, all of their friends and their children were attending and both Emily and Arthur were bursting with excitement. The children had been so excited that between the two of them they had come up with the idea to do a family dress up, Amy was sure this was very much Emily's idea and her little brother had found himself agreeing.
"Dad you look so cool!" Amy heard Emily shout excitedly from down the hallway. Again, she found herself smiling. Their family dress up this year had been down to Emily and Arthur who had opted to go for a Toy Story theme. Sheldon had been given the role of Woody with Arthur acting as a little Buzz Lightyear, Amy was Jessie and naturally Emily had opted for Bo Peep.
Hearing the excitement and chatter coming from down the hall, Amy felt compelled to join. She knew that moments like this were moments that she and Sheldon would look back on and cherish when the children were older, memories and moments that they would share with others.
"Oh my goodness, look at you" Amy gushed as she bent down to scoop up her little buzz lightyear. "You look amazing" she smiled, kissing his cheek as he too took in his mother's appearance and smiled.
"I think we all look very good" Sheldon answered. It was only now that Amy looked at him, there was something about him dressed in cowboy attire that she found strangely attractive.
"Why don't you both go downstairs and make sure we've got all the snacks in the bag" Amy asked the children as she placed Arthur back down on the floor. They nodded their heads and disappeared down the stairs. "You look…you look amazing" Amy moved closer to Sheldon, wrapped her arms around his neck and went to kiss him but as she did something felt off. "Hey, what's wrong?" her arms were still wrapped around his neck as she leaned back, getting a better look at him.
"I'm just worried about tonight. I haven't really seen anyone since my outburst at Howard this morning" Amy didn't quite know just how much this had affected him. "What if he does it again tonight Amy, in front of everyone, it'll be so embarrassing.
"It will be fine, I promise" she hoped her reassuring smile helped settle him. "I've spoken to Bernadette, she's going to talk to Howard, he won't do anything like that, not tonight" she told him. What she really wanted to point out was that for as long as she had known him he had always poked fun at Howard and his career and that maybe just this time he should take some of the fun poking himself. She refrained however, knowing that actually Howard had really upset him and at times Sheldon didn't mean to be or know just how cutting he could be. "It will be fine" she felt him relax and pecked his lips. "Now we need to get going because I think our children are the most excited I've ever seen them."
—
By the time the Cooper family arrived at the Hofstadters , the party was in full swing. Already feeling nervous, this was something else that set Sheldon on edge, he hated being late for things and although Amy pointed out that they were just two minutes past the time they were told to arrive, he still didn't like being late.
Upon arrival, the children instantly ran off to be with their friends and Amy watched on with apprehension at Sheldon and Howard's first interaction. Within seconds all seemed to be forgotten and for now at least, everything was going well.
"Mumma" Arthur came running in from the garden where he had been playing with everyone. From the small bit of his face that was visible, he looked as if he was trying to hold it together, on the brink of tears. "Micheal keeps copying me and I don't like it and I've told him not to do it but he's not stopping" he threw his arms up in the air.
Bernadette who had been stood at Amy's side and heard everything marched to the wide, open patio doors. "Michael, come here now!" she shouted.
"Okay darling, it's okay" Amy knelt down in front of him, she could see the tears in his eyes and the tremble of his lip. Amy always worried about Arthur, being her little baby and the youngest out of all the children she always worried about moments like because despite his carefree attitude, deep down he was a very sensitive little boy. "Bernadette's going to sort it" she told him gently cupping her cheek with her hand.
"What do you think you're playing. Mimicking Arthur after he's asked you to stop" Bernadette appeared at their side with a very sorry for himself looking Michael. Whilst lecturing him about his behaviour she sounded strangely like Howard's late mother and for a brief moment Amy was transported back to a time when they would all head round to Debbies for dinner. "That's not how we treat our cousin, apologise now."
Even though they weren't cousins by blood, Amy loved the fact that her children had a plethora of friends so close they were like family so close they were like cousins. For her it meant that her children would never be lonely, that they would have a friend and someone who had their back. It would be miles away from her own childhood.
"But I heard you and dad talking about how dad was copying Sheldon. I thought it would be funny" Michael tried to reason with his mother who was having none of it.
"Well it isn't funny and I didn't find your father funny either" by this point both Howard and Sheldon had come over to see what all the fuss was about. "Now your dad has apologised to Sheldon and I'd like you to apologise to Arthur" Bernadette instructed.
"He actually hasn't apologised t…" Sheldon kept his voice quiet as he whispered to Amy, yet all she needed to do was to glare at him to get him to stay quiet.
"I'm sorry Arthur" Michael muttered. "We can go and play again if you like"
"Okay" Arthur nodded his head eagerly and followed Michael outside. Amy smiled grateful that Michael had apologised and thankful that in this situation Arthur forgave so quickly.
Amy grabbed her glass of wine that was sitting on the kitchen surface and brought it to her lips. All of their children were playing out in the garden and her friends looked so happy, this was her life and at times she still had to pinch herself about that fact. Even if right now all she could hear was Bernadette lecturing Howard on setting a good example for their son.
Thank you so much for reading. As always reviews are always welcome and so appreciated. I love hearing your thoughts.
Stay safe.
Lots of love. xxx