Thanks again everyone for reading and reviewing! I'm going to try to update this story weekly now that I'm done with school for the summer. Please let me know if there are any storylines or prompts you would like to see, because as much fun as I have writing, the ideating is hard and I want to write stuff you all want to read. Again, please read and review and obviously I own nothing.
"I can't believe my little baby is starting kindergarten tomorrow." Penny said, as she got into bed next to her husband.
"I know, but I'm so excited for her. She's gonna be the smartest kid there." Leonard said, which was probably not true. While Lily was ahead of her peers at preschool, learning how to read and taking an interest in some things like science, she was going to the best private school in Pasadena. There, all of the kids were pretty smart or very wealthy and had the resources to become smart.
"I don't want to put any pressure on her, the application process was crazy enough. She's five years old, she's not a genius." Penny said, looking at Leonard as she took out her iPad, "And thank god."
"Hey, you don't know that." Leonard said, but she wasn't a genius. She was a normal, happy, well-adjusted kid.
"You know she told me this morning that when she finishes kindergarten, she wants to go to Princeton like you. I don't think she's grasped how long you have to be in school." Penny said. They had gone to New Jersey earlier in the summer to visit Leonard's parents, and he decided to show them around his alma mater while they were there. He had never felt any true school spirit, but when he was taking his daughter around the campus, he felt an overwhelming sense of pride. Every night, she slept with the Princeton teddy bear they had bought at the student store.
"Oh, she's going to Princeton. Elliott too." Leonard said, which made Penny roll her eyes, "he's only two, he might be a genius."
"Don't wish that upon my little boy." Penny said. She wanted her kids to have a childhood more like hers, she wanted them to go to school dances and football games and have friends and not get bullied. At the school they were sending Lily to, she could do all of those things and have a rigorous education. "And if anything, if they're smart they're going to Caltech so they'll never leave us."
"And it'll be free." Leonard said, which made Penny smile. She clicked on her iPad, looking at pictures of her daughter as a baby.
"It's crazy how big she is." Penny said. She was marveling at all the pictures that showed her growth. Every day she looked more and more like Penny, with little blonde curls and big green eyes. But, she had become a daddy's girl as she got older. She loved going to the comic book store and watching movies with her dad. She had attended the preschool that Caltech offered for their employees' children and got to go to her dad's lab after school some days. He'd set up little experiments for her to do, to keep her occupied while he worked.
"I can't believe it. I hope she makes friends." Leonard said. He had always had that concern in the back of his mind. He knew that she already had tons of friends, and a few of them would be in her kindergarten class. She was one of the busiest kids, she went to dance class, soccer, tennis, and had tons of playdates. She would be fine, but he couldn't help but think about his experience in school. He'd also gone to a private school like the one she was going to, a school that promised a nurturing environment. He didn't get that at his school, but he'd hoped that for how much tuition was, Lily would have the best experience possible.
"She'll be fine, she's the busiest five year old I know. She gets a new playdate request every week." Penny said, laughing.
"Yeah, but kids are mean when they get older." Leonard said.
"She's tough, and I'll step in if anyone hurts her." Penny replied, "I'm going to cry so much tomorrow." she said, laying down and putting her head on Leonard's chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead.
"Me too," Leonard said. Then, there was a knock at their door.
"Mommy, Daddy." They heard through the door.
"Come in, Sweetie," Penny said, as she sat up. Lily opened the door, Princeton bear in hand. She looked as though she'd been crying, "come here," Penny said as she tapped the middle of the bed and Lily climbed in between her and Leonard.
"What's wrong Lily bean?" Leonard asked his daughter as Penny took her into her lap and wiped her tears.
"I don't want to go to kindergarten tomorrow." She said, then the tears just kept flowing.
"You've been so excited about it all summer, why don't you want to go?" Leonard asked her.
"I'm scared." Lily said, "I like my preschool. I like going to school next to Daddy." Penny looked at Leonard with the same look she'd given him for years when Sheldon was hurting and they needed to step up and fix it.
"It's ok to be scared, baby." Penny said, holding her tighter, "It's a new school and a new teacher, there's a lot of change. But, Halley will be there in 3rd grade and Michael is in 2nd and we're going to walk you in and stay with you until you're ready for us to go. And you have tons of friends there already from school and ballet and your soccer team and you're going to make even more."
"What if my teacher is mean?" Lily asked.
"She won't be, but if she is, she'll have to deal with me." Penny said.
"Do you think it will be hard?" Lily asked.
"The schoolwork?" Penny said.
"Uh huh." She responded.
"Maybe, but you're the smartest little girl I know. I think you'll be able to handle it. And we're always here to help you. Until you get to high school, then daddy is always there to help you and I'm there to support you no matter what." Penny said, kissing her head.
"And it's fun sometimes when things are hard and you overcome them." Leonard said, "Remember when you didn't know how to read yet, and then when you got it, it was so exciting." Lily seemed to calm down a little bit. She had always been a very happy kid, but her anxiety often got the best of her.
"Yeah and now I can almost read chapter books." Lily said, proud of herself.
"Exactly, you can do anything." Leonard said.
"But, you need to get to sleep so that you're well rested for the big day." Penny said.
"Can I sleep in here?" Lily said, looking at her mother and then her father with puppy dog eyes.
"You know the rules." Penny said, they had a very strict no children sleeping in their bed rule.
"Just for tonight, please." Lily begged.
"Let's let her stay." Leonard said, and Lily got under the covers between her parents.
"Fine, good night." Penny said, turning off the lamp and then kissing her daughter and then her husband before laying down and closing her eyes.
When Penny woke up the next morning, she noticed her bed was empty. She checked the time and it was 6:30. She got up and walked over to Lily's room, where she found Leonard and Lily choosing her outfit for school. She had a uniform, so there weren't many options, but she went with a white polo and a plaid jumper and her new Converse. Elliott was in Leonard's arms, trying to help his sister get ready. Penny stood in the door frame and watched for a bit until Lily saw her.
"Do you like my outfit?" Lily asked, twirling around for her mother.
"I love it! You look so old and smart." Penny said, kneeling down to Lily's level.
"Mama mama," Elliott said, reaching for his mom, from Leonard's arms.
"Hi baby." Penny said, grabbing him.
"Can you do my hair Mommy?" Lily asked, handing her mother a brush and two little bows with plaid that matched her uniform. Penny obliged and put her daughter's hair half up, half down, securing the hair that was up in the little bows.
"What do you want for breakfast?" Leonard asked his daughter.
"Pancake!" Elliott screamed and clapped.
"Yeah, pancakes and bacon!" Lily said.
"Okay, I'll go make it. Is your backpack packed?" Leonard asked.
"Yes." Lily said. Leonard retreated to the kitchen with Lily and got started on breakfast for the family. He and Penny had both taken the morning off so they could drop Lily off at school together. Penny took Elliott into his room and got him ready for the day so he could go to daycare at Caltech with Leonard. She put him in shorts and a tee shirt and fixed his curly, dirty blonde hair.
"What a handsome little boy!" Penny said, tickling him. He giggled back at her and tried to wiggle out of her arms.
"Mama stop!" He said through the laughs. She could never get tired of hearing him say "mama." He was two years old and had already been talking for a while, but his little raspy voice was music to her ears. He loved his older sister and followed her around whenever he could. Elliott's favorite thing to do was play in the backyard with his best friend, Leo. They were rough, true little boys who never stopped running and playing. Penny was shocked that Sheldon's and Leonard's sons loved the outdoors and physical activity so much, but she embraced it. They had a backyard full of balls to kick and throw and a little playground with a sandbox and swings.
"Pancakes are ready!" Leonard called from the kitchen. Penny put Elliott on her hip and walked into the kitchen, grabbing the pancake Leonard had just flipped off the pan and taking a bite.
"Mommy, you need to use a fork and a knife." Lily said, from the table, carefully dipping the pancake her dad had cut up for her into syrup. She was a major rule follower.
"I was just tasting it." Penny said, placing the hot pancake back on a plate. She put Elliott in his high chair and pulled out one of the kid plates, cutting a pancake and bacon up for him and pouring a little bit of syrup on the side. She brought it over to him and he began to stuff his face with his fingers, exactly opposite to his older sister. Penny sat down with the kids and Leonard joined them with plates of pancakes for the two of them. The four of them never really had breakfast together on weekdays. Penny worked out early in the mornings before work and Leonard would usually make something quick for him and the kids before work..
"What time are we leaving for school?" Lily asked, as she dipped a piece of pancake in syrup.
"Probably 7:40." Penny said, looking at the clock that read 7:15.
"Is Elliott going to go to my old school?" Lily asked. She was less interested in her little brother than he was in her, but she still wanted to know everything.
"He's going to stay in the daycare at Caltech for a few more months and when he's ready, he'll transition to the preschool." Leonard answered.
"Is Leo going to be in his class?" Lily asked.
"Yes, probably." Leonard said.
"Daddy, these are the best pancakes you've ever made," she said, as she dipped another perfectly cut piece into the syrup.
"Thank you, Lily." He said, taking another bite of his own pancakes and nodding his head in agreement with her.
"Now that I'm in kindergarten are we always going to eat breakfast together?" Lily asked, which made Penny sad. She felt guilty for leaving her kids to go to a job that she hated, but the job was the only reason they could afford to send Lily to the best private school.
"Not every day baby, but when we can we always will." Penny said, looking sadly at her husband.
"I wish we could every day." Lily said, which put a dagger into Penny's heart.
"I wish we could every day too." Penny said, reaching across the table to grab her daughter's hand, "For now, why don't we finish eating and then we'll take some pictures so we always remember today." Lily nodded her head and quickly finished her pancakes, while Leonard went over to clean Elliott's hands and face with a baby wipe. The family cleaned up the table and headed to the front porch of their home to take pictures of Lily and a few of both kids to commemorate her first day of kindergarten. Lily posed with her backpack and smiled for the camera. She loved taking pictures, she was a beautiful child and Penny had considered putting her in modeling but held back because she wanted for her kids to just be kids more than anything. Leonard set his phone on a self timer so they could get a picture of the four of them before they headed to Lily's school. After a few attempts and a picture that was good enough, the four of them got into Leonard's car and headed to school. Lily had been before for a kindergarten orientation earlier in the summer, so it wasn't too new of a place for her. In the car, she sat nervously, looking out the window. So, her parents distracted her by asking her questions about what she was looking forward to and what she hoped she'd learn this year.
"Alright, we're here." Leonard said, pulling into the parking lot and finding the closest spot available. Penny jumped out of the passenger seat and helped the kids out of their carseats. She carried Elliott and held Lily's hand, walking her into the school. There was a sea of kids in the same plaids and polos. They found the kindergarten area and checked Lily in, grabbing a nametag for her and taking a folder with information for parents. She placed the nametag on her dress and looked around at all the other kids around her age starting kindergarten.
"Smile Lily bear!" Penny said, taking out her phone and capturing a picture. They found Lily's class and walked her in, introducing themselves to her teacher and searching for the little desk that said "Lily Hofstadter." When they found it, they helped her organize her pencils and supplies and each gave her a kiss on the head.
"You're leaving?" she asked, with tears beginning to well.
"Not until you're absolutely ready." Leonard said, crouching down to get on eye level with his daughter. Penny looked at her daughter and started to cry, which triggered Leonard to start crying too.
"Mommy why cry?" Elliott asked his mother, touching the tears on her face as he sat in her arms. .
"Because Lily is such a big girl and I'm very proud of her, these are happies tears."
"Mommy, I'm ok you don't have to cry." Lily said, hugging her Mother's waist. Penny kissed her daughter's head, "I'm ready for you to go."
"Are you sure?" Penny asked, still crying.
"Yes, but if you're not ready, you can stay." Lily said, trying to be considerate of her mother.
"No, you're a big girl, Lil. You're going to have the best time ever in kindergarten." Leonard said, "You're so smart and so beautiful, just like your mommy." Penny smiled through the tears as Leonard pulled her into his arms as they said their final goodbye to Lily. They walked out of the kindergarten classroom and onto the yard. Penny looked through the window and saw Lily already chatting with a group of girls, she smiled at that.
"Why don't we take the rest of the day off and do something fun with Elliott? Lily only has a half day anyway." Penny said as they walked to the car.
"Park!" Elliott said as soon as he heard the word "fun" and his name.
"We can go to the park, buddy." Leonard said. They reached the car and strapped Elliott in. Penny opened the mirror and checked her makeup which was now smudged all over her face. She wiped her tears with a baby wipe and looked back at Elliott and smiled.
"Do you think she's okay?" Penny asked as Leonard pulled out of the parking lot and onto the street, heading toward the park near their house.
"I know she's okay. She's a smart, friendly little girl and she only has a half day today. She's going to be fine." Leonard said.
"I feel like she was just born and now she's a teenager?" Penny said, fully believing herself.
"Okay, she's five." Leonard said.
"And tomorrow she'll be sixteen!" Penny said.
"Elliott, Mommy is being so silly." Leonard said, making eye contact with him in the rear view mirror. The toddler just laughed, "we'll pick her up in a few hours and she'll still be the little five year old that we dropped off."
"I know Leonard, but she's my baby and now she's in school and…" she said, freaking herself out.
"She's in school like she's supposed to be. She's a happy, healthy, well adjusted kid. Let's think like that instead of being sad about how fast she's grown, the alternative isn't good." He said. He was always there to bring reason to their parenting. He could be emotional and he was often, but Penny would take things to another level and he knew it was his job to bring her back down to Earth.
"You're right," Penny said, "and at least I still have my sweet baby boy."
"She didn't go to college, she went to kindergarten." Leonard said.
"Don't even get me started on college, I don't ever want her to leave us." Penny said.
"Well she has her sights set on Princeton so you better be okay with her leaving or get excited about living in New Jersey." Leonard joked, which Penny didn't like.
"I don't know why you had to tell her about Princeton." Penny said.
"Because we went to New Jersey and I wanted to show her where I went to school?" he both said and asked, he couldn't decide if they were fighting or if Penny was just joking with him.
"Hey El, you're going to CalTech." Penny said, turning her head to tell her son in his car seat.
"CalTech with Daddy!" He responded.
"That's right, buddy!" Penny said, "You're never ever going to leave your mommy."
"Love mommy!" he said.
"I love you too, baby." Penny said, blowing him a kiss.
"Love daddy and love Lily!" he said, clapping his hands.
"I love you too and so does your sister," Leonard said, focusing on the road, "and I love you, Penny."
"Thanks for helping me make our kids." Penny said, earnestly to him, she was holding back tears.
"Hey, as I recall, you did most of the work." Leonard said, with a wink.
"Oh I know." She said, laughing.