A banging on the door the following morning startled Sheldon out of his already restless sleep. Rubbing his eyes he made his way to the door. He knew it would not be Amy this early, they were not due to leave for work for another hour yet. When he opened the door to reveal his sister, a young infant balanced on her hip and a case at her side, he frowned.
"What are you doing here?" He snapped rudely, moving to let her in, then glancing into the hall to see if his mother was there also.
"Now now Shelly, is that anyway to greet your sister." Thrusting the child at him she shrugged the bag from her shoulder and took off her jacket before retrieving the baby and sitting on the spot she knew very well was his. His raised eyebrow and head jolt had her shifting instantly with a grin before she patted the space she had just vacated. "Sit, tell me all the news."
"Missy, what is going on?" Sheldon demanded, still standing, glaring down at her. "You arrive totally unannounced as if it is an everyday occurrence."
"I am not unannounced, Penny told you I was coming Shelly, I know she did. I got an early flight is all. Thought we would surprise you"
Sighing, Sheldon sat down, knowing there was no escape and the quicker he got to the reason for Missy's sudden appearance the sooner he had a chance of solving whatever dilemma she had landed herself in this time and getting rid of her. He was aware of Missy staring at him from the sofa and was thankful when the child, who had so far been silent, suddenly let out a wail drawing Missy's attention away from him.
"Shh, shh." She comforted jiggling the baby on her knee. "Shelly could you bring me a jug of warm water, your nephew here has decided he can no longer wait to be offered a warm beverage and would like milk now!"
Grabbing the kettle and filling a jug he had retrieved from under the sink Sheldon took the bottle Missy handed him and stood watching the second hand on his watch tick round while the milk warmed. As he wiped down the bottle and went to hand it to his sister he was shocked when she instead handed him the baby and said "You do it, I need to use the bathroom."
As she hastily exited the room Sheldon settled back into the sofa and began talking to the child who was impatiently squawking for his food.
"Hush now," Sheldon said firmly as he uncapped the bottle and tested the temperature. Moving the little boy to a more comfortable position Sheldon offered him the bottle and was rewarded with two chubby hands grasping his own as he placed the bottle in the baby's mouth. Silence, broken only by the soft gulping swallows of the child, allowed Sheldon to get over the shock of his sisters sudden appearance. Closing his eyes as he braced himself for the barrage of questions he was about to face, he was surprised when Missy's voice filled his ears saying "Thanks Shelly." in a soft tone. Sitting next to him she asked "Are you OK?" He nodded slowly and looking at his sister saw not the mocking gaze he had expected but genuine concern.
"Why are you here?" he asked bluntly.
She grinned "Well I have been offered a new job. It may not be some high and mighty, fancy teaching job like yours, but a waitress earns an honest wage and …."
"Fudruckers is hardly a career!" Sheldon snipped.
"No but I am not working there any more. No, I have a job in Houston. At the Cheesecake Factory!" Missy grinned proudly.
Sheldon snorted.
"Hush now Shelly. It means a stable wage and hours to suit that little man there. We are looking to move into our own house too, so that little one can have a room of his own." She gazed fondly at her son.
"And Brody is OK with that, you working?"
"You sound like momma! Of course he is OK with it, why shouldn't he be?"
"Because you have a child. Don't you want to stay home with him?"
"Sheldon, can you remember how frustrated momma used to get cooped up in the house all day with us? How she would start hollering at dad when he walked through the door because she had not had another adult to talk to all day; I don't want to be like that. It may not be exciting or win prizes, but it will be a job and I want to do it. So I am visiting a restaurant here and one in Dallas. I could have gone to New York instead but I knew you would have been mad to miss the chance to baby sit that little bundle of fun." She grinned as she watched the baby push the bottle away and make a grab for Sheldon's shirt. The yellow sleeves under the purple t shirt soon firmly in his grasp, his pulled himself up and reached for Sheldon's nose causing Sheldon to flinch and Missy to giggle.
"I am not baby sitting!" Sheldon said firmly, removing the small hand which was now pulling at his lip distorting his voice and making what he had hoped was a firm statement sound like a whimper.
"It will only be for a few hours," Missy soothed pulling the baby away onto her lap. "I had hoped we could stay overnight, but I can see momma's suggestion of a few days is much more sensible. You can tell me all about how things are now Amy is back. Momma is worried and talking about coming to visit you herself!"
"That wont be necessary!" Sheldon muttered. "Although I am beginning to suspect Penny has already filled you in on all the details of my private life."
"Listen Shelly, let me settled Isaac down and you can tell me all about it."
As Sheldon watched Missy go back towards the bedrooms he couldn't help but smile. When he had heard she had called her son Isaac, Sheldon was delighted. Sure his mother thought it was after some character from her beloved bible, but he knew his suggestion to name the boy after Isaac Newton had been the real reason for his nephews first class name. Now maybe he would be able to see if any of his own genetic superiority had been passed on vis his twins DNA. Sheldon returned to the kitchen to finish preparing the beverages he had abandoned in favour of Isaac milk. Maybe Missy being here was not so bad. She had not met Amy so would be slightly less bias than any of their friends.
Once Missy had returned she looked closely at her brother, sat in his pyjamas, looking uncharacteristically rumpled and tired. "Are you OK Sheldon. You look tired. Is it Amy? Things are no better?"
"We are getting on OK. We are friends now." Sheldon admitted before Missy had a chance to ask.
"So she is back for good?" Missy asked calmly, a little shocked Sheldon was willing to talk about Amy. She had been fully expecting to have to bully the details out of him. "Penny said she lives across the hall now, is that not awkward?"
"Penny does report back to you!" Sheldon squeaked indignantly, then composing himself said defensively "I don't need you all interfering. Things are OK, I told you. We are friends. We drive to work together, sometimes we eat together…."
Seeing his sisters grin and raised eyebrows he shut up quickly, grabbing the phone from the table next to him.
"Amy, I'm sorry it is so early." He glared again at Missy. "I just wanted to inform you I will not be requiring a ride this morning. No no everything is fine. At least it was. Missy is here." Listening to Amy then agreeing to call later Sheldon replaced the phone and turned to his sister.
"That's great Shelly, thanks for agreeing..."
"You left me no choice!" Sheldon muttered then grabbing the remote and turning on the TV Sheldon effectively drew the conversation to a close. The siblings sat quietly, neither really focused on the screen, but the familiarity of having his sister back next to him led Sheldon to realise he was happy she had turned up this morning; looking at her he said. "I think you will do just fine at any job you take on." He patted her hand before adding "but if that boy in there shows any sign at all of scientific prowess, I am taking over!"
73
The crying woke him. When his noise cancelling headphones failed to dull the piercing wail Sheldon got out of bed and stormed into his ex room-mates bedroom to find his sister pacing up and down jiggling the sobbing infant.
"What on earth are you doing?" Sheldon demanded grabbing the child who had momentarily stopped crying at the sudden appearance of his uncle.
"He wont stop crying!" Missy stated needlessly.
"No, nor would I if you kept bouncing me around." Then turning without a word Sheldon took the child away.
For a few seconds Missy contemplated following to see what Sheldon was going to do, but safe in the knowledge her son had been fed and changed she decided to make the most of the opportunity, and shut the door behind them and getting back into bed.
Sheldon meanwhile had stated firmly "It is sleep time now Isaac. You will never be able to function tomorrow without the required rem sleep, so hush." Laying the child on his back, in a position identical to the one he favoured himself, he firmly tucked the blankets around him then climbed onto the bed and adopted an identical position.
It was like this that Missy found them the next morning.
"Come in sugar, you must be Amy. Penny has told me so much about you."
Amy hesitated, glancing at her watch. "Hello." She smiled, "Is Sheldon ready?"
Sheldon appeared behind Missy carrying Isaac who was grinning toothily on seeing his mother. Reaching for her son she began cooing and singing as she bounced her way back to the bedroom to get him ready for the day, calling for Sheldon to heat some water. Already having the task in hand he glanced at Amy.
"Well? Out with it? I am sure you have some quip about being landed with the baby."
Amy frowned at his snappy tone and watched as Sheldon took his cereal and settled down to watch Dr Who. "Sheldon? Are you intending to stay home today too?"
Sheldon nodded as he continued to watch the screen.
"Shelly! Don't be rude!" Missy said re-entering the room and reached to turn of the TV. "Amy I apologise for my brother, although I know you are aware of his many bad habits, today though is my fault. Sheldon has said he will stay home to look after my son again as I have another interview. I thought he would have called you."
Sheldon sniggered "Yeah, who would have thought the interview process to be a waitress was so intense." Then noticing Amy glaring his smiled faded. "I'm sorry I didn't call. I was woken in the night by my nephew and my disturbed rest means I am not functioning this morning."
"I can see that." Amy grinned. "Do you need me to let them know at work?"
"No its OK. Once Missy arrived yesterday I booked the next few days off, I meant to inform you but then Isaac and I got to playing with my legos and I got distracted."
"OK, well I had better leave you to it or I will be late. Nice meeting you." Amy smiled at Missy and turned to the door.
"You too sugar, hey, if you are not working tonight why don't you join me and Penny. It would be nice to get to know you."
Muttering she would see Amy hastily made her way down to her car.
73
"Amy come on, we haven't been to a bar in ages. And Missy has come all this way..."
Amy shook her head. "I'm sorry bestie, but I meant it when I said I had work to do, and I have to be in the lab early tomorrow."
"OK the timing isn't ideal," Penny agreed "but we can still have fun. You will love Missy, she is nothing like Sheldon! And Bernie has already taken Howard to Sheldon's so she can help Missy settle the baby. It is all arranged. We could come to yours and it can be a proper girly sleep over."
Amy hesitated. Sensing this Penny continued, "you don't have to drink, and you can leave us in the morning we will tidy up."
Guessing Penny had a whole list of arguments up her sleeve Amy knew it was easier to give in, so agreeing and saying goodbye Amy began to tidy her work away.
"And you really think working at the Cheesecake Factory is a good move?" Penny frowned at Missy, unable to believe anyone would want to work there let alone see it as a way up.
"Look sugar, I know for you it was a way to pay bills while you waited for an acting job, but I seriously love it!" Missy grinned and both Penny and Bernadette stared at her disbelievingly. "I tell you what" she grinned "I am doing a trial shift tomorrow, come let me serve you, it will be nice for me having some friendly faces and you can see how I do and give me some advise."
Beside her Amy who had until now been quiet snorted. Missy turned to her. "What?" She asked. So far she had been unable to make out what she thought of the woman everyone else seem to love.
"I'm sorry it is just I am not sure these are the best people to be giving you advise on waitressing!"
"Hey!" Penny exclaimed while Bernie shrugged and nodded, conceding Amy may have a point.
"No if you want real critical feedback you should invite your brother."
Now it was Penny's turn to snort. "Ames you heard her, she wants this job. If her nut bag of a brother is there she is likely to get banned from every cheesecake factory in the country, especially if it is known they are related."
"Really?" Amy looked mildly amused, "yet you were his neighbour and notoriously bad as a waitress yet your ability to calm him by you mere presence and get his order right kept you in the job far longer than lets face it should have been allowed!"
At Bernie smirk and the challenge in Amy's eyes Missy began to see the spark that would have attracted her brother to this otherwise mousey looking girl. She was not afraid to voice her opinion, and was prepared to back it up, even if she knew it would be unpopular.
Turning to address her Missy said "You make a good point Amy, but I cant see Sheldon agreeing to be my guinea pig just to secure a job."
"No maybe not, but to get his apartment back and a child free zone will certainly appeal to him I'm sure." Amy pointed out dryly.
"Oh you say that Amy," Penny grinned, "but from the picture Missy showed me of Sheldon and Isaac I am not so sure."
Seeing Amy frown at this Penny grabbed her phone and retrieved the picture of Sheldon asleep, with the baby in an identical position next to him.
"Oh my!" Bernie gasped unable to hold back her laugh as she handed the phone to Amy. Amy's face was unmoving though as she studied the picture.
"He would make a good daddy," Missy said gently before adding "Shelly still loves you sugar."
"I cannot comment of his qualities as a father, but Yes, I know in his own way Sheldon holds feelings of affection for me that he has not held for another female. But I need to decide if that is enough."
"But Amy you waited so long and things are better between you now."
"Yes and that's my point too. I waited. I have waited a long time, yet I was seemingly not much further forward." Seeing the 3 women all move to disprove her statement she continued. "Oh yes we saw each other more regularly, we kissed and occasionally had sleepovers, but I think even he would be unable to deny all of these steps only occurred because I have, in various situations, backed him into a corner."
"Amy, I may not know you very well but I do know my brother, and believe me nothing he does is because he is backed into a corner."
Amy shrugged. "He would never have consented to kissing if I hadn't got him on that train then demanded he pay attention to me rather than some nuisance train spotter he befriended."
"Really? You don't think he could have spent the whole evening arguing you were wrong, that you had forced his hand and therefore made any form of romantic obligation void? As you pointed out, he managed for years previously; why would one night be any different. And even if he was just proving a point you added more kissing to this infamous agreement and I know for a fact he doesn't get out his notary stamp if he doesn't think he is gonna benefit. Look sugar, he may have let you think you were winning these little battles, but I am sure really he was as excited to be moving things forward as you were."
"She is right Amy. Leonard and I both teased him about the fact it was tradition to loose your virginity on prom night and Leonard said he was so jittery he had to assure him he was kidding, but Sheldon seemed happy to consider it as a possibility."
Missy watched emotions cross the face of the nervous looking woman before her and was very tempted to tell her that in fact the man she considered unmoving had not only intended proposing but had a ring. She was not totally convinced however that the reason for Amy's behaviour was all she was making out.
"Maybe your feelings changed in the year you were away!" she said provocatively.
"No!" Amy said without hesitation and in total honesty. "Not for Sheldon anyway. Just to how my life was. I don't want to go back to how it was. Things are different now better."
"So maybe you need Sheldon to tell you how he really feels, admit he wants more than a friendship or meeting of minds. Because I am telling you Amy he does."
Amy shrugged. "I don't believe he told you that. We are friends now that's all."
"He didn't need too, he is my brother. I know what he told you but he was not woken by Isaac, he was already awake, and from the state of him when I arrived he hadn't slept much the night before either. He loves you Amy; he is just not sure you wont reject him again. So maybe the problem isn't Sheldon but you?"
Missy looked at Penny and Bernadette before standing "I'm sorry Penny I am gonna go check on my son and my brother." and without another word left all 3 women staring after her stunned.
"I thought you said she was fun!" Amy muttered.
"Amy maybe she is worried for her brother. We are all worried for the pair of you. Was Missy right? Is the problem you?"
Amy shrugged. "I had a plan. If I am honest I never expected to fall in love. As a child I expected to work in a lab and become a famous scientist like Marie Curie, without the handsome husband.
Then I met Sheldon and I realised I could have it all. The science and the man. I made the 5 year plan and part of me thought I really could have it all.
But while Sheldon may love me, he doesn't need my plan. He doesn't need marriage and children. His dream has always been science. Me, well I am just trying to figure out what I want now. Its different now."
"No!" Bernie looked angry. "Look I have not known Sheldon as long as Penny sure, but I do know how in the past year, 6 months even, he has changed in so many ways. You left town a year ago and he dealt with the pressure and the fact things were changing, but right now he is sat across the hall babysitting for his sister. His girlfriend has, in his mind left him, and yes to him you are just his friend now. It is what you said you wanted. But we all saw him looking at you at Stewart's, that wasn't lust it was love. And his face when he saw you in that flash costume. How he functioned the rest of the evening was a miracle! You know how he feels Amy."
Amy nodded. A small part of her wanted to say she felt the same but they were in a good place, she didn't want to loose him again by pushing things to fast.
The door opening and Missy reappearing made Amy focus on the present, "Hey," she smiled, a little surprised Missy had come back.
Missy smiled and sat down on the floor "I'm sorry OK." She looked directly at Amy. "I am so used to having to stick up for Shelly, I forget sometimes he is a grown man and can stand up for himself. Our whole childhood I felt I had to defend him form people bullying him because he was misunderstood."
"I am not bullying him!" Amy said hurt that they would think this of her.
"I know." Missy nodded "I also know, more than most, how frustrating Shelly can be. But just now I walked across the hall and found 4 grown men all sat on the floor watching Barney the purple dinosaur. While Isaac was bobbing about to the song, they were pointing out the scientific inaccuracies of Barney being able to move and dance like he was. When I pointed out to Sheldon Isaac was too young to care he said it was never too young to learn."
Penny sniggered while Amy nodded "Well he has a point."
"Next they will be teaching him the elements song." Missy muttered. "Sheldon seems determined to establish whether or not my child has inherited his so called genius. I just hope he has some of my social skills!"
"Is Sheldon testing him?" Amy asked curiously.
"Not so you would notice, but I know Sheldon, he is making notes and that is never good."
"I wouldn't worry too much. Sheldon is a physicist primarily, so his ability to stay focused on any task outside of his own field is limited. If you really want to determine Isaac IQ, the areas of high ability, I have some tests I used on Ricky."
"Ricky is Amy's rest monkey!" Penny laughed seeing Missy confused expression.
"Nobody is testing my son with some monkey tests!" Missy looked horrified. "They would do that?" She looked at Penny who was grinning.
"Oh yeah. When these two first met they spoke about having a child just to create some superior race or something."
"Sheldon said he wanted kids?" Bernadette looked shocked, "Damn. I had assumed he would be on my side in the whole kids front."
At Missy's questioning look she said "Howie wants children, I don't. I had hoped when the conversation came up again I could use what I thought would be Sheldon's arguments to back up my own. Right now it is only the thought of changing dirty diapers that is keeping the whole thing at bay, but I caught a glimpse at Howie's invention notebook the other day and he is working on some robot..." her voice trailed off lost in her own thoughts while Missy grinned.
"Well I would say all 4 of them are naturals from what I have seen. That picture I took this morning, well I had been trying to calm Isaac for 30 minutes. It took Sheldon 30 seconds! And you saw the evidence. The pair of them slept soundly all night. Me, I spent the night with my ear to the wall waiting for the screams for help."
"As long as the don't get out the trains set you will be fine." Amy said seriously.
Penny laughed "Yeah or the legos."
"Momma warned me it was a mistake bringing Isaac, they have introduced the Lego already!" Missy muttered, "she had obviously thought it through more than me."
"Well while the boys are happy playing I say we open some more wine and let them get on with it." Penny laughed standing to get another bottle.
The conversation drifted between Missy's life in Texas and her dreams of a bigger house, to Penny's fascination with her desire to be a waitress.
As it grew later Amy looked at her watch. "I should be going to bed, I need to be in the lab at 6." She said rising slowly.
"Ames just one more drink." Penny pleaded.
"We said it would be a girly sleepover right?" Missy grinned
"Do you not need to go tend to you son?" Amy asked slightly shocked Missy was so comfortable leaving the small child with her brother.
Missy shrugged. "I will go check if they need anything, but I'm telling you Shelly has it covered."
"Lets all go check!" Bernadette said suddenly. "I want to make sure Howie is not getting any ideas."
So fuelled by wine the women made their way to the door, Amy however sat back down.
"Amy, come on." Missy beckoned.
"No it is OK, I will stay here and get my stuff ready for work."
"Look sugar, if my suspicions are correct Sheldon will be too busy fussing over Isaac to want worry about what we have been doing or talking about." Seeing her still hesitate Missy went back towards Amy, "Come on. He is OK about it I promise. Who knows maybe he agrees with you?" Even as she said the words Missy knew they were untrue, but she also wanted Amy to see this other side of Sheldon. His group of friends obviously meant a lot to him and she knew that Amy meant more than just a friend. Maybe her being here could help.
Slowly nodding Amy trailed after Missy. The sight that greeted her in 4a made her laugh. Sheldon was sat on the floor, having propped Isaac amongst some cushions that she was guessing were from Leonard's room judging by the disgruntled look on his room mates face. Around Isaac though, Sheldon had set up a train track. He had Sheldon's conductors hat balanced on his head and every time Sheldon blew his train whistle the baby jumped then giggled.
"Amy, hi!" Sheldon grinned ignoring completely the other women who had entered. "Come see what Isaac can do, he would give that monkey a run for his money!"
Moving into the room towards the baby Amy missed the smiles her friends exchanged. Settling down next to Sheldon they were soon arguing over suitable testing methods.
"Meemaw was right." Missy sighed. "Together they make the other whole. We just need them to see it."
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A/N: Thank you so much for the reviews and messages on the last chapter. I am sorry I did not reply but the website was not letting me play! :-(