A/N: Apologies for the awfully long hiatus. Here's chapter four.
Disclaimer: All characters from The Big Bang Theory mentioned herein are not ours. We just take them out to play in our minds, for your reading pleasure.
Chapter 4
Today was Junior's first school trip and they were headed to El Paso. Mary has been fussing all morning about the reminders and pointers that George might need while taking care of their twins. All he could do was nod and follow her around while she imitates a hurricane; one that brought organization instead of destruction.
"Okay, now their feeding bottles has been sterilized and they're inside the first cupboard, and-"
"Mary! Would you quit talking like this is the first time I'm taking care of kids?" George says, interrupting his wife.
"Sorry honey, you know I just want to be sure that everything's in top shape before we leave." She then pulls two more cans of formula and placed them on the counter.
"I know hun, but I've got this. Just check your things for the trip. Don't worry too much about me and the twins. We'll be fine." George pats her cheek and she couldn't help but lean into his touch.
"Fine. But if one thing goes wrong, we're going home right away," she tells her husband.
She didn't notice Junior entering the kitchen and catching the tail end of conversation. He has been looking forward to their school trip for almost two months. Hearing that his mother might drag them back home, earlier than they're supposed to just because of the twins, annoyed him.
"Ma! Missy and Shelly won't be in trouble. Dad will take care of them. They'll be fine!" he all but yelled, which made his parents turn and frown at him. Realizing how whiny he sounded, he bowed his head and apologized.
George bends down to level with his first born and lifted his face.
"Don't worry son, I promise I won't give your mama a reason for you guys to leave earlier," he assures the kid, making him wrap his little arms around his father's neck.
"Thank you, daddy."
"Okay, now go get your shoes on. Your uncle Carl will be here in a few." He stands at full height again and looks at his wife.
"That ain't fair you know." Mary tells him.
"What is?" he raises an eyebrow at her.
"You always know how to calm that kid down while he won't even eat Brussel sprouts unless I warn him that I won't let him play outside," she says, wrapping her arms around George's waist.
"What can I say? He loves his daddy more'n his mama who wouldn't play ball with him," he tells her, smiling into her hair.
Mary playfully hits him in the chest and looks at him. She couldn't help but smile at her husband's smugness.
"You both take care. Call me when you get there, okay?" He kisses her forehead. "Now let's get your things ready. Carl's on a schedule and he won't wait if you take too long."
"That brother of yours listens to no one. He does what he likes. I'm surprised he even considered dropping us off."
"Constance and Philip won't be here until tomorrow. And you know bringing the twins isn't the best idea, what choice did I have but to ask him?"
"Oh I understand that. One cranky toddler in the car is enough, but two? Lord can they cry!" Mary says as they walk in the living room, checking their bags.
A few more minutes passed and George watches his brother's car drive away. He turns around and walks back in their house. A playpen has been set up in the far corner of their living room for the twins. Inside it, Missy was playing with the stuffed animals, while Sheldon was lining up the alphabet blocks. They could be a handful sometimes, especially Sheldon, but he wouldn't have them any other way.
Sometimes, George still couldn't believe that his twins were now three years old. If was as if that horrific fire just happened yesterday. His wife never found just how close they were to losing their second son and he plans on keeping it that way.
Constance agrees with his decision; considering how Mary can get and sparing her the unnecessary heartbreak since the boy was alive. When any of their kids get sick, she always goes overboard with how she takes care of them. He appreciates it, that she is such a loving and caring mother, but he's afraid of how much more attention she'll pour on Sheldon if she finds out that he came out of her, lifeless.
In the playpen, Missy walks on wobbly knees and throws a stuffed elephant at the blocks that Sheldon arranged, vertically. The blocks went in different directions and Sheldon throws a frown at her sister, but does nothing. He crawls around the enclosure and gathers the blocks that has scattered around them. Missy was now busy with the milk bottle that she left at the far end of their playpen. George stood there, watching the interaction between the two toddlers with his brows drawn together. Other kids might have bawled their eyes out after what Missy did to Sheldon's structure. But Sheldon didn't. He just frowned at her sister and started playing again.
Shaking his head, George went to the kitchen to get a can of coke and went back to the living room to watch their television. He was hoping to see a football replay but at noon on a Friday, he didn't have a lot of choices but variety programs and soaps. He flicked through the channels lazily but had to look over Missy when she started crying. He walked over to the pen to see what the problem was.
"Aw, is my little girl still hungry?" he coos, trying to get Missy's attention. His daughter was waving her little hands, one of which was clutching the bottle that she just emptied.
Missy stands up and walks to her father, murmuring her request for more milk. The twins can already talk, but Sheldon's words were a little bit more coherent compared to her sister. Another difference that the he, Mary and Mary's parents have noticed.
George carries her up and decided to bring her with him to the kitchen to stop her from crying. Once in the kitchen, he sets her down on one of the high chairs while he looks through the cupboard. Missy greedily grabs the bottle when he handed it. With Missy, looking happy again, he carried her back to their play pen.
"How about you, Shelly? Do you want more milk-" he stops talking, when he takes Sheldon's appearance. The boy was in a trance, unblinking and focused on what he was looking at. He was standing, holding on the railings of their enclosure.
George bends down next to him, cupping his little face with his hands. "Sheldon?" he asks, again. Sheldon remained unblinking, just staring at something in front of him. That's when the sound of the television reached George's ears.
"Most of North and Central America will be able to have a clear view of the Annular eclipse. It is expected to last for at least two hours, starting at four in the afternoon…" Came from the voice of the newscaster. He tore his vision from his son and looked over his shoulder to see a slow-mo video of an eclipse; the moon, moving to cover the sun. The light of the sun created a ring of light once the moon was completely blocking it. The woman in the news kept talking about the phenomenon, accompanied by a series of images and footage of a similar type of eclipse that happened, years ago.
Looking back into his son's eyes, he noticed that his usual blue eyes looked dark, now. He thought it may be the lack of light inside the house and didn't pay much attention to it. But there was something disturbing about how the child was not even moving. It was as if he was understanding what the newscaster was talking about and was keen on finding out more about what's going to happen.
The news ended, and just like that, Sheldon started blinking again, batting his eyelids softly.
"Daddy? Where's mommy?" he asks his father.
"He went with Junior today. She won't be back until Sunday afternoon, but you have daddy here. And meemaw and pop-pop tomorrow, too" he replies, still perplexed as to why his son seem to have been hypnotized by some news about an eclipse.
"Pop-pop! Meemaw!" Sheldon squealed in excitement upon learning that his grandparents will be coming over.
"Yes. And meemaw, too. Is my baby boy, feeling okay?" he asks, feeling his forehead to see if he was getting a fever.
"Yes daddy. Daddy, paper and colors please," he asks his father, pointing at the table where his and Missy's coloring stuff was piled up.
Sheldon immediately turned his attention to his coloring books and started working on one page. All the while, George was looking at him curiously; like he was trying to see if he'll go into another trance just like earlier. Since George was a tall man and his kids were on the carpeted floor, there was something that he didn't notice. Sheldon's forearm, specifically the half-moon mark, darkening again.
"I should be home by six tonight. Thank you for watching over the twins," George tells Philip as he crosses the threshold, slinging his bag over his shoulder.
"Nonsense, you know we're happy to do it. Now go on," Philip tells his son-in-law, waving a hand to send him off.
George waved to Constance before going down to their yard to hop on his truck. He didn't usually have work during the weekends, but one of his coworkers at the factory got the flu and needed him to cover for the fellow. Not to mention he could use the extra money. Having three kids was not easy. Between him changing jobs every other month and Mary, volunteering at the church, they weren't saving a lot these days. Especially after finding out that Sheldon was, as the doctor put in simple words, gifted. The doctor was thrilled with his findings that he started going on about advanced studies and materials for fast-learners. Junior was in a Public school. Most of the books and other school materials that he had to have for school were from his grandparents. But even George knows it would be too much if he'll allow Constance and Philip to pay for the twins the things they need for school - especially Sheldon. A couple of school years of them taking care of Junior's needs was enough for him. He doesn't think he can take another blow on his ability to provide for his family. No matter how subtle the blows were.
His mind was wandering to dangerous places while driving to the plantation. He turned the radio for some much-needed distraction. The radio was set to a local news station and the person was talking about the eclipse that was happening in a few days' time. "Honestly don't get all the ruckus about moon and sun mergin'." He mutters, changing the dial to find a station playing some music. Passing through a grocery store, he saw a family of four looking so happy as they made their way back to their car. The kids were showing off each other's new toys, while the parents looked at them with adoration. George continued to look at them through the rearview mirror and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. They were barely getting by. He had to do something about their financial situation. Fast.
Constance was watching the twins from the door of their room. The couple finally managed to get them down for a nap. The two have been playing - fighting over toys for the good part of the day.
"What time did George say he'll be back?" she asks her husband.
"He said four-thirty. Are you getting tired? You can take a nap too, if you'd like to," Philip suggested.
"Nonsense. I ain't sleepy. Why don't we help the guy more, instead? I'll cook dinner."
Philip looked down at his wife. Full of concern and love for their daughter's family. When he looks in her eyes, he sees nothing but genuine kindness. Constance was in her early fifties and he was just a couple years older. They have been married for almost thirty years and Mary was their only daughter. They weren't the richest in their small town, but they never had money issues. As much as Mary would like to hide their problems to her parents, they can tell that something was going on. Just like what any other parents would do, they're helping their kids out as much as they can. As much as they can, without hurting their son-in-law's feelings. Philip knows if George can help it, he wouldn't accept their assistance. The fact that he hasn't said anything to refute them was enough to confirm that the problem exists and George hasn't found a way to take care of it yet.
A couple of hours pass and the couple hear the familiar sound of George's truck pulling up on the driveway. The twins were already up from their nap and were, thankfully, playing on their own instead of bickering again.
"That's our cue to leave," Philip looks at his wife and stands up from the couch.
Sheldon heard his grandfather and immediately wobbles his way to his grandparents, not wanting them to go home. The child has grown fond of the two and liked being with his pop-pop and memaw a lot. They usually read him books and the boy enjoys nothing more than being read to.
The boy tugs at his grandfather's pants, looking up hopefully. "You're leaving?" he asks.
"We have to little boy. But we'll be back soon," he tells Sheldon, just as the door opens revealing George.
"Philip, Constance." He greets, removing his cap. He sees his son, looking like he's pleading again for his grandpa to not leave. Happens all the time. It makes him a little sad when he sees the boy doing that. Missy on the other hand, runs to his father and wraps her arms around his leg.
"Hey there Missy. You're gon' have to get off for a second and let me change, these pants are dirty." And she lets go, smiling up at him.
George walked the couple down their yard. Before Philip got in their car, he motioned for George to follow him. Once they were out of earshot from her wife, he placed a hand on his son-in-law's shoulder.
"I heard there will be an opening for a football coach down at Clear Lake high. I don't know if you'd be interested but I heard they pay well and I know the principal. I could talk to him about giving you a shot at the position."
George looked up at his father-in-law. Of course, they knew. How much do they know, though? He felt his face getting hot. He felt embarrassed that his Philip was offering him a job.
Seeing the man's reaction to his offer, he patted his back and shook his head. "George, there ain't nothing wrong with accepting this. Just think about your family. Don't worry, son. I've been through the same. I know what that's like." He assures George.
He sighs, and looks around before answering. "I'll give a mind to it. Thank you," George says.
He watched the car disappear into down the trail leading to the highway. He huffed and made his way back to their house to take care of the twins.
It was almost six in the evening and he's finished feeding the kids. Missy was on her back on the couch. Sheldon was on the carpet, scribbling on the blank side of his coloring book pages. The sun doesn't usually go down until past seven during November up to January. Looking out the window, the surrounding looked a bit darker than usual. George got up to see check it was about to rain.
"Well I'll be damned. I forgot about this eclipse happenin' today," he mutters.
He watched as the sun gets completely covered by the moon, forming a ring of light around it.
From the inside of their house, he hears an unusual ringing, then he hears Missy shriek.
"Daddy! Sheldon's flying!"
He runs inside, just in time to find Sheldon, elevated from where he was before he went out. The picture was bone-chilling. It looked like something straight out of those scifi movies where the character has supernatural power. George was quick to grab Missy, shielding her, from what – he didn't know exactly. Then he was stuck, mouth agape and eyes, wide open. As quickly as it all started happening, it ended. The eclipse was over, the boy, his son – slowly descended onto the floor and with a soft thud, he fell on his back, sound asleep. Like nothing out of the ordinary happened just a few minutes ago. He, once again, looked just like what a three-year-old boy would look like when it's sleeping.
Somewhere, over four thousand miles away, the same thing happened to a little girl. And Daniel was just as clueless as George was when it all ended.