A/N: I don't not own or make money from The Big Bang Theory

Chapter 26

Reluctantly, Sheldon had agreed to keep Merritt the week Cera had late shifts at the hospital. Keeping her overnight, every night, while juggling his own schedule would be taxing and more than he felt comfortable with, but she was his child and therefore his responsibility. He would have felt more at ease with the situation if Cera had agreed to his contract.

Merritt was dropped off shortly after he returned home from work and Cera picked her up and had a cup of coffee each morning. The whole occurrence did little to affect the flow of his schedule. Though some of the game play was not as intense as usual and the movie selections varied a bit, his week, so far, had remained relatively the same.

The first complication arose on Wednesday when Sheldon had to convince Leonard to return home before going to The Comic Center, in order to pick up Merritt. Fortunately, the wait wasn't too long.

When Sheldon opened the door, there stood a man who looked much less pleasant than the last time they met.

"Sheldon." Braden's voice sounded stern, his tone of respect and admiration, gone.

Noticing the shift from him formal designation, Sheldon shifted back on his feet, Merritt darting between them to the couch.

"Uh, hello Braden Tollman." Sheldon thought perhaps the bullying he faced as a youngster was not over, though, he may have earned this. From all of the research he had done, older brothers were not typically forgiving when they perceived their younger sisters being mistreated.

"Look, I know you were unaware of all of this, but your lack of knowledge was your own doing." Braden shook his head. "This is not something I would have expected from you." Braden had a low but hard tone.

"I, uh-" Sheldon couldn't deny his claims, but desperately want to regain some control in the situation.

"It's hurt to watch Cera lose herself. Not that" Braden nodded his head toward Merritt, "has not been wonderful, but...my sister, no longer trusts, she isolates herself and she wraps herself in a child that will be gone in six years…But that's not-" Wanting to vent his frustration, but not alienate the man, Braden made his displeasure known and then held his tongue. "What matters now is how you handle this."

Sheldon nodded his head in understanding. "Are…Do you feel the need to commit violence to my person? Please, not my head."

Braden gave Sheldon a calculating look, then laughed "I'm not going to hit you Dr. Cooper. I'm not really the violent type. You might want to watch out for Elliott, though. He's mentioned 'remindin' you of how it's done in Texas.'"

Sheldon cringed as Braden walked away laughing.

Fortunately, Leonard didn't mention going out of his way or the wait. The guys enjoyed seeing Merritt again when they arrived at the store. She was well behaved and Sheldon even bought her a comic book of her own.

"Can I read your comic book, daddy?" Merritt flopped down on the couch.

"Not right now Merritt. There is a certain procedure for handling them carefully. " Sheldon shooed her out his spot and sat down beside her.

"Oh, well how about one of the other ones in your room?"

"No Merritt, I don't think that's a good idea."

"But I want to."

"No." Sheldon said unconvincingly. While Sheldon was accustomed to people pushing back against his decisions, he wasn't quite sure how to handle Merritt. He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he didn't want his collectables ruined, and there were other things on his schedule for the evening. "No, Merritt." He managed to sound firmer.

"Ok," Merritt pouted as she went to settle in at the bar.

During a lull in the game Sheldon realized he hadn't seen or heard Merritt in several minutes. Sheldon silenced the guys and called out "Merritt?"

After hearing some scuffling from down the hall, Sheldon approached his room.

"What!? Merritt!" Sheldon could see several of his comics out of their sleeves laid across his bed. "Those aren't playthings. I distinctly remember telling you not to touch my comics."

"But, I did it right. I have your gloves on." Merritt held up her covered hands.

"But you still disobeyed." Sheldon heaved a deep breath. "Remove the gloves and go sit at the bar."

Sheldon spent the rest of his evening trying to overcome the loss of time from straightening his comic book collection, as well as sorting through the complex feelings he had about Merritt's actions.

"…So the comic was unharmed, but I am concerned for her disregard of the rules." Sheldon explained his evening with Merritt, to Cera.

"Merritt Lise, you know better. Do you want to write a paper for daddy?" Cera held Merritt's chin and made eye contact for a moment.

"A paper?" Sheldon perked up.

"Oh yeah. When we were kids, dad made us write papers as a learning exercise. The topic was our wrong doing, why it was wrong, how we could correct our errors, and how we could prevent such behavior in the future. The older we were the more complex the papers were expected to be. Dad would proof read, mark and make us rewrite the paper until it was perfect. In blue or black ink. Even when he wasn't with us Connie would fax pages to him and he would proof read and send back for us to correct. It was good for learning writing skills and proper penmanship. Passing it on seemed like a good idea."

"That doesn't sound so bad for a punishment. It could even be fun."

"No, analyzing yourself for behavioral short comings and recognizing the need for personal change is never fun." Cera shook her head remembering her many papers.

"When put that way, I don't suppose it would."

"Daddy can come for dinner this weekend." Merritt broke in.

"Huh?" "What?" came from each of Merritt's parents.

Cera shrugged in agreement.

Thursday Cera called to alert him that Merritt wanted to spend time with her grandparents.

While he was glad for some peace after the previous evening's mishap, her absence left a void. He took solace in Graziano's pizza and a Skype meeting with Amy. He was delighted at the interest Amy took in his progeny and even agreed to a meeting.

"Hey daddy." Merritt didn't even bother to knock.

Sheldon looked around, "Merritt, how did you get here?"

"Bumpa. He's parking the car."

"Bumpa? You mean, you mean your grandfather?" Sheldon felt a surge of panic. While Braden had been surprisingly passive, he was unsure of Cera's father.

"Yeah, he wants to meet you."

"Drat" Sheldon muttered. He looked around his apartment, his hands flapping in distress. He should do something. Change clothes? Clean? Protect his genitals? Probably the last one, his genitals were at fault after all.

Two minutes later a tall, slim, older man appeared at his door. The dark jeans, half open button up and the sunglasses perched in his dark curly hair, was a casualness that reminded him of Cera.

"So you must be Sheldon Cooper. Pat Tollman." Patrick stuck his hand out and clapped Sheldon on shoulder.

"That's Doctor Cooper." Sheldon impulsively corrected.

"Sure it is. I wouldn't have let my kids ride half way across Germany for just any scientist. Merritt had a good time last night, but she missed you. She's been talkin' up a storm about you." Cera's father drawled.

"I missed her as well."

"Well then. I will leave you two, to it. The girls are coming out next weekend. We're going to grill lunch and catch up. You're welcome to come. Cyn and I would love to get to know you better."

"I, uh, I suppose, I-."Sheldon wanted to turn him down, but didn't think it would be proper etiquette.

"Just think about it and let Ceridwen know." Patrick broke in to save the poor boy from himself.

"Oh-uh, ok." Sheldon really hated how unsure of himself he had become since Cera reentered his life.

"Alrighty then…later baby." Patrick waved to Merritt.

"Bye, Bumpa."

Sheldon was surprised Cera's family seemed less upset with him than his own. Maybe there was something to be said for hippies.

When Cera picked Merritt up Saturday morning she could feel the tension. Merritt was immediately ready to go and she spoke very little to Sheldon.

Cera pulled Sheldon aside and asked if there was a problem. Sheldon said Merritt withdrew last night, but he didn't know why.

"Well, what did you do last night?"

"Your father dropped her off. I believe, he is expecting me to join your family in a gathering next weekend. Merritt seemed to be in a pleasant mood at that time. We went to dinner with Amy. Then we returned to the apartment. Amy and I played counterfactuals and after that we prepared to sleep. Merritt wouldn't tell me good night, though."

"Hmm, I'll get it figured out." Cera at least knew what questions to start asking from the description given.

"Am, am I still allowed to come for dinner?" Sheldon seemed childlike and confused.

"Yes. She can't hide from you just because she's upset. I'll give her a few hours to recoup and then we'll talk. Y'all will get through this."

"Thank you, Olivia."

As expected Merritt wasn't talkative when she got home. Cera had given her a few hours, which gave her time for a nap on the couch. But now they were going to talk.

"Baby, what happened with your daddy?" Cera was answered with a shrug. "Come on, we can't fix it, if you don't talk about it." Cera received another shrug. "Does this have anything to do with Miss Amy?"

"She doesn't think you're a good mom, she doesn't think I'm smart and, and Sheldon agrees."

Cera took a deep breath before dismantling the actual conversation. Things were dire if Sheldon was losing his daddy title.

"What, exactly, did Miss Amy say?"

"While we were riding out to eat she asked me how much time I spent on school work, and she asked if I was advanced enough to have learned cognitive neuroscience and some other words I can't say. When she asked my hobbies, she said my time would be better spent buckling down and getting a real education. Then she asked if Sheldon felt that you are a sufficient parental unit to his progeny."

"She asked that in front of you?"

"Well she kinda whispered that, but you know I hear really good."

"You hear well. What did Sh- your daddy say?"

"He said your 'intelligence wasn't as high as he'd prefer to instruct me, but your medical education could at least ensure my health, though you were overly particular about it. You were kind and supportive like Meemaw, but that did cause you to overindulge me." Merritt squeezed her Pillow Pet tighter.

"Well that's…not so…is there anything else?"

Merritt nodded and explained the rest of her evening.

Sheldon was able to catch a ride with Zack, who was just leaving Penny's at the time he was seeking a ride. While he found interesting that Zack and Penny had wed, he wasn't surprised. Penny had always been impulsive and Zack very loyal. He felt certain between Zack's steadfastness and Penny's stubbornness they could actually make this last.

The ride was quiet as Zack knew Sheldon didn't like banal chit chat and Sheldon was nervous about the tension with his daughter.

"The ride is much appreciated, Zack."

"Yeah, No prob. Tell Cera and Merritt, hey."

Sheldon nodded his affirmation and nervously approached the house.

"Hello, Olivia. Is Merritt still upset?" Sheldon looked around for his daughter.

"Yes, and perhaps rightly so."

"Was it something I did?"

"Yes…and no."

"Can't you help me?"

"I don't think I can. I wouldn't be…perceived as impartial. You just need to be careful when exposing children to other people. I hated it when my parents had 'special friends' and I was pushed to be pleasant to them…even if they weren't to me.

"As a child, it's all seems worse in your head. But it seems as though you and Amy gave Merritt much to be worried about."

"I…don't understand."

"Not all of the people you date are going to be into kids and I cannot be an impartial observer in situations involving Merritt and you're…entanglements."

"Oh, did…did you date men who didn't like Merritt?" While Sheldon wanted to express his thoughts on Amy and dating again, he felt getting information on Cera more pressing. His stomach clenched with the idea of Cera being with other men. The discomfort seemed preposterous since there was no relationship between them and he knew she had been with no one but him, physically anyway.

"Not very long." Cera chuckled. She had no time for any man that could love Merritt as if she were his own.

"Did you have any romantic partners that were agreeable to Merritt?"

"She and Jeff got along very well. I often thought they had more fun…He had been a great guy." Cera trailed off, nodding her head in rumination.

"So Merritt was not the reason for the dissolution of your relationship?"

"No. Upon reflection, I think it was inevitable. Though he was very stable and peaceful, which was the appeal, he was also very serious and reserved, which led to a…bland union. But what caused the end, was learning that he was a self-serving ass. Stability and peace apparently only went as far, as it didn't threaten his way of life."

"He harmed you?"

"Not physically. Just my work…" Cera explained Jeff's deflection of responsibility onto her jeopardizing her career. "I was afraid it would follow me forever…I guess, in a way, being deceived by someone you trust, does."

"That is indeed, a dreadful experience."

"Yeah, but even without the permanent damage to my work, I couldn't be as forgiving as you."

Sheldon considered his answer for a moment. "It was in my best interest to put it behind me. Otherwise, I would be without all that I had spent years constructing. Giving up my life here and permanently returning to Texas wasn't really an option."

"No?"

Sheldon merely shook his head. He didn't want to admit to the weakness of needing the relationships he had built here, or the weakness of being affected by the memories that lingered there. He felt perhaps it was a good time to halt their current topic and check on Merritt.

As he climbed the stairs, Sheldon contemplated what to say. Typically, the only feelings he concerned himself with, were his own, and even then it was only when he was uncomfortable. But with Merritt it almost seemed as though her feelings were his own; because she was sad, he was, too. When he triple knocked on his daughter's bedroom door, Merritt yelled for him to come in but didn't seem to move. Sheldon entered and stood at the end, awkwardly shifting from one foot to the other. Finally, he decided to sit in order to gain her attention.

"Your mother said you were upset with me."

Merritt remained silent, not acknowledging his presence, before finally throwing herself at him. "Amy is not better than my momma, and, and she's mean. And you like her better!" Merrit was wailing by the end.

"There, there." Sheldon patted her considering what she said and how to respond. The problem was, her statement didn't make any sense. "Could you please explain the meaning of your outburst?"

Merritt described their evening together, from her perspective. From Amy's analysis of her (that she felt like she failed) to the discussion of her mom's parenting (that sounded as if she was lacking), and the game of counterfactuals that she was wrong on her first go and therefore ignored for the remainder of the evening.

Stroking Merritt's hair, Sheldon contemplated his response. He knew he was bad with emotional expression, his or anyone else's. If he had been better, perhaps he would have caught this rift, as it was occurring. He still wasn't sure who he supposedly liked Amy better than-Merritt or Cera. He knew he didn't like her better than his daughter and he wasn't certain he liked her better than Cera either.

"I…apologize for Amy's over inquisitiveness. The fact that you are intelligent, healthy, and…happy speaks volumes for your mother and her abilities. I should have been more explicit in my support of you two. As for disregarding you in favor of counterfactuals, I believe you… and others may be right on that front, it really is just conjecture. I didn't have any successful answers last night either, though I'm certain I was right."

"Umm, ok." Merritt sat quietly a moment before planting a kiss on Sheldon's forehead that he wanted to both, rub off and rub in at the same time. He wasn't certain if he was forgiven or not, but things were no longer as stressed.

"Thank you…sweetheart. Will you come down now?" Sheldon wasn't usually one for endearments, but she was a sweetheart. Suddenly, he understood how he came to be Moonpie to Meemaw.

"Maybe, in a minute."

"Very well, your mother and I will see you soon.

When you were good, baby/Mmm, you were very good

I still look up/When you walk in the room

I've the same wide eyes/Now they tell a story

I try not to reach out/When you turn around

You say hello/And we both pretend…

Sheldon could hear Cera singing in the kitchen as he descended the stair and crossed the living room. It was a pleasant sound, though he didn't know the song.

"I believe I have solved Merritt's problem." He said after perching at the bar.

"Oh? Good." Cera dug a few items from the refrigerator.

Sheldon watched Cera bustle around the kitchen for a few minutes before asking "Do you think Amy is, for lack of a better term, mean?"

"I don't think that she's malicious, maybe sometimes, but I think she should and could be more mindful of the feelings of others. Especially for as sensitive as she is concerning the treatment of herself…She tends to use her intelligence like a battering ram, but seems to have no wisdom to wield it helpfully. Behavior you seemed to have acquired in the last several years as well. What's the saying? 'I object to intellect without discipline, as well as power without constructive purpose'."

Sheldon stared at Cera in awe, "Did you know you paraphrased Spock?"

"Well, I couldn't be around the twins that much and not know that." Cera shrugged, "Or you… I may have heard that one from you."

"Perhaps." Sheldon mumbled. He had a lot to think about. This wasn't first time others had cautioned him about Amy's demeanor…or his own. Typically, he would disregard such, but he wouldn't allow, or be, the cause of pain and distress to his child.

After a moment of silence Sheldon stated, "I don't want to attend your family gathering. I don't think I would enjoy it."

After a beat Cera said "Um, ok." And returned to cooking.

"Is your hesitation displeasure?"

"Well, I'm disappointed... But I'm not angry. I'm not even surprised."

"Oh…very well then." Sheldon found this surprisingly simple.

"Yep." Cera popping her 'p' reminded Sheldon of an irritated Penny.

It was too simple, perhaps he was unwanted, "Did you not want me to go?"

"Yes, I did, as did my family. But it's your prerogative to do as you wish." Cera stayed by the stove, never turning her gaze to Sheldon.

"Oh, am I breaking some social convention by not attending?"

"I wouldn't know. I'm not from a family that's ever given much credence to social convention. And there is no such thing, in our situation...are you... are you wanting me to beg? Because you know I don't do that…

"No, of course not." There was a lull in conversation until Sheldon brought up something he found curious. "Amy said you thought, I should marry her."

Cera ceased stirring, "That's not exactly what I said, but I assumed that was why you were seeing a woman you met on a dating site."

"We aren't dating because she's not my girlfriend."

"Hmm, maybe. What is her mother's perception of that? What does she think you do when you're alone with her daughter?"

"That...that was a ruse orchestrated by Amy. That doesn't mean I want to marry her." Sheldon's voice took the tone of a boy, who thought girls were 'icky'.

"You don't have to. It was just a senseless discussion about bride's maids."

Sheldon paused to consider the two women discussing weddings. "Do you want one?"

"Do I want one, what?" This time Cera did turn around and look at Sheldon.

"Aren't you listening? A bride's maid."

"No, why would I want one? I'm not getting married." Cera slid a pan in the oven.

"But, I did ask you to marry me."

"No, you asked if it was a good idea to get married, for Merritt."

"Is that not what I just stated?"

"No, it's not. I don't think marrying for a third party is a good idea. A marriage out of obligation wouldn't really be happy and long term obligation very easily turn into resentment."

"You think I would resent you?"

"I think you resented committing to sex more than once, and then you resented it not being on your terms, or maintaining anything beyond the physical so, no, I don't think you really want to be married." Cera slammed down a large bowl punctuating the end of the conversation.

Sheldon didn't have a response for that. He didn't know if wanted to be married. But he wasn't sure he didn't want to either. He felt it was unfair that she used an occurrence from years ago to define him, when she wouldn't let him do the same to her.

She was tossing a salad at the bar when Sheldon noticed a burn scar on the back of her middle finger, just above the middle knuckle. He knew she had washed her hands minutes ago. He reached out and took her hand, touched the scar, traced his finger across the back of her hand to the wrist then turned her hand over. He recalled Cera burning herself while frying chicken with Meemaw.

Cera jerked her hand away as if he had burned her. Sheldon wasn't accustomed to people pulling from him. He tried to reason why. His hands were clean, he didn't think he caused her pain, she didn't seem to be occupied with anything. The only thing he could come up with was she just didn't want him to touch her.

There was enough tension for the rest of the evening that even Sheldon could detect it. It didn't help that all tension was directed at him, from both females.

With a few clicks Sheldon placed an order on, what he recalled to be, Cera's favorite. They should be delivered to her office this afternoon. While she insisted she was not upset, things were…different. He hoped she would cease her aggravation and actually talk to him, instead of merely passing him off to Merritt.

Merritt wasn't nearly as talkative as she once had been either. Sheldon hoped receiving her Groovy Girl activity gift basket this evening would help that. He needed her to know she was important to him. Even when they weren't together.

Speaking with Amy had become complicated. He observed her behavior and weighed her actions. He may not be able to read emotions and motivations, but he could see patterns. Her comportment was a string of blunt statements and adverse observations. While he preferred that method of communication, he was aware others could find it rough. He recalled advice Meemaw had given him years before and applied it to Amy. 'Are the statements positive or negative, if they are negative are they constructive? Can it be said nicely?' While he was never able to slow his mind down enough to be fully successful, perhaps for a while he was less rude, less mean.

Feeling like a cad or bounder, Sheldon was becoming uneasy with his association with Amy. Though he was not in a formalized relationship with either her or Cera, he found himself thinking frequently about the latter. While he felt compelled to be loyal to Cera, he also wanted to interact with her, laugh with her. He attempted to keep his thoughts strictly to her role as Merritt's mother. To think about Cera in her own right, seemed perilous.

In between patients, the receptionist knocked at Cera's office door. "You have a delivery."

Cera looked up, but her eyes were drawn to large pot of pink, potted Calla Lilies. "Oh, my."

The receptionist left them on her desk. Cera couldn't imagine anybody sending her flowers to her office, let alone anyone who knew her favorite flower and knew she hated getting vases of, soon to be, dead flowers. The most shocking was the card that held no message, merely 'Dr. Sheldon Lee Cooper B.S., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., Sc.D.'

If they were from any other man, she would assume this was some sort of romantic gesture, but since it was Sheldon, this was probably nothing more than 'I find your emotional state inconvenient, please desist.' Though being presented with an unexpected gift felt nice, it didn't change anything. She wasn't mad at him, she never was. But his decision did cause a rift that couldn't be repaired by a flowering plant.

Still, they were lovely and it was a gesture of…something. Cera was honestly afraid what it could mean. She feared reading too much into it, but she didn't want to just dismiss it either. So, until she spoke to Sheldon, to gain context, they were nothing more than a potted plant.

"Daddy wants to talk to you." Merritt handed her brightly colored, Just5 phone to Cera.

"Hello, Olivia. After thanking me for her gift basket, Merritt informed me you did indeed receive the flowers I sent to you."

"Oh, yeah. Calla Lilies are my favorite, but you knew that. You didn't have to do that, though."

"I did. It's a social convention to give a peace offering when offending another."

"Sheldon, I told you, I'm not mad."

"Then why does your behavior indicate otherwise?"

"My behavior is…an acknowledgement that you would…not prefer me and my family's company."

"I don't mean it as an offense. I just prefer to spend my time doing something more functional."

"I know, but that preference is a barricade. You mean to keep yourself apart from us. And no it doesn't make me feel good, but I'm not angry either. It's nothing you haven't told me before."

Cera's response carried more emotional implications than he thought himself capable. He merely preferred to have his Saturday to himself. Also, he felt mildly intimidated by the thought of spending a day with Cera's family. Being invited to spend time with the Tollman's, in their home, seemed like a defining and irrevocable action. Being uncomfortable with Cera's insinuation, Sheldon decided to move onto something more important.

"You do know how care for your Zantedeschia aethiopica, do you not?"

"Yes, though they did have to spend an unfortunate hour and a half in my car. I didn't want to aggravate any one's asthma or cause an allergic response. But they are safely on my kitchen table now, until I can plant them on my patio."

"That sounds acceptable."

"Of course it does. Now I need to go tend to Merritt. Later."

Sheldon stared at his phone as if it had offended him. He was still uncertain about Cera's state of mind. Clearly, sending flowers had not fully eased her sensitive feelings. Perhaps he should seek advice somewhere other than Google.

"I believe she may be angry. I don't like her upset with me." Sheldon inspected his lunch setting, accounted for all napkins, and checked his flatware.

"Of course she's pissed at you. You blew her and her family off, hurt her feelings." Howard popped the top on his soda.

"But she didn't say so." Sheldon was still examining his food.

"Because people don't like to expose when they feel weak. If anything they usually act angry." Raj pointed out.

"Oh. So, I should go, then?" Sheldon questioned.

"I don't think it would make her feel any better if you treat her like an obligation either, dude." Raj said between bites.

"Then what does she want?" Sheldon finally decided his lunch was satisfactory.

"She...probably, wants you, to want to." Howard answered.

"What does that even mean?" Sheldon didn't understand why this was so complicated. He was certain he would solve String Theory, before figuring women out. Especially, Cera.

"Hell if I know, man." Howard shrugged.

"Then why did you say it?" Clearly, his friends had no more clue than he did.

"Because that is what women want." Howard said

"They want you to desire their happiness." Raj explained.

"Oh. How do I do that?" Sheldon fiddled with his water bottle. Cera would disapprove of the plastic. Hoo boy, he couldn't even get through lunch without thinking of her.

"Ask Leonard, he's good at groveling." Howard jabbed.

"I am not…But doing what you have to, to keep them happy, is the key." Leonard supplied.

"Not always. But I think, in this instance she wants you to go because your presence would make her happy, even if you don't want to go." Raj said.

Sheldon merely nodded, curious about his presence, making Cera happy.

Cera was singing Angel by Fleetwood Mac-I don't own that either