A/N: Sooo, this is going to be pretty poor, but... I love this show so much it's unreal, and it would feel like sacrilege not to write something for it.

I'm guessing Missy and Sheldon are about 10 here. Wasn't really sure how to write little Sheldon but... here goes.

Disclaimer: oh, I can but dream.

Missy Cooper sighed. She hated having to do this, but really, they left her no choice.

"Billy Sparks, you either put my brother down this instant, or so help me I'll make your face even uglier than it is already."

"Oooh, I'm so scared of the little girl with the big mouth."

"Right, that's it."

She took two steps forward and delivered a swift, expert kick to the back of Billy's leg. Caught off guard, he fell to the ground on his knees, and she planted a foot on the small of his back, forcing him to stay down.

"You stay away from Sheldon. Got it?"

Billy grunted.

"What was that?"

"Yes, Missy."

"Good." She removed her foot, and turned to her brother, who was staring at the floor, trying to hide the black mark which was already starting to show up around his left eye. "Sheldon, come on." She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away from the cowering bully on the ground.

"Mom's gonna ask you where you got that shiner, you know that, right?"

"Of course."

"What you gonna tell her?"

"What else? That a neighbour kid of lesser intelligence felt compelled to express his displeasure with my superior intellect in the only way he knew how."

"Whatever. You could say thanks, y'know."

"For what?"

"For saving your ass. One day you're gonna have to learn to stick up for yourself, Sheldon."

She found him later sitting on his bed, staring into space.

He hated her coming into his room and she knew it, but she did it anyway.

"Sheldon."

Silence.

"Shelly, are you okay?"

Still nothing. She crossed the room and came to sit next to him.

"Mom said to tell you dinner's ready."

"I'm not hungry."

"Sure you are. Mom made steak."

"Nevertheless, I am not hungry and would prefer it if you left."

She moved closer to him, wrapped an arm around his bony shoulders. She felt him stiffen as he did whenever any physical contact was forced upon him, but then he seemed to relax a little.

"Missy?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you mean it when you said I'd have to learn to stick up for myself one day?"

She laughed softly. "No."

"Really?"

"I'll always be there to fight the bullies off, Shelly. I promise."

"Missy?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."