Chapter Two

The Perfect Couple Consideration

The Friday morning before the girls' second scrapbook Saturday, Amy awoke to find her husband already sitting up in bed, wearing his reading glasses, nose in a book. He didn't need to go to work that day, so they would be spending time together, heading out to do some gift shopping later. He didn't seem to be aware she was awake, giving her a moment to lovingly study him. She'd seen all of Erik's sides since she met him over a year and a half ago: silly, sexy, anxious, sweet, depressed, excited, terrified. And she loved all those sides, they made the man she loved a complete, complex person she still learned more about each day.

"Hey," she said softly.

He looked down at her, his bright smile spreading across his face, those shining hazel eyes lighting up. "Hi beautiful."

Amy sat up, pulled out her book, and read quietly with Erik for a while. Finally, she started to get up, but Erik grabbed her hand.

"Where are you going?"

"Just to start the day. Make some tea. We've got holiday shopping to do," she put her feet on the floor, but Erik grabbed her and yanked her back into bed.

"Excuse me, but I believe it's been at least three days since I've serviced my woman. And we have a mission," he said, looking down at her, Amy's head in his lap.

"Service your woman?" she laughed. "Well, service away!"

Amy loved morning sex, and Erik was slow and thorough this morning, his strong warm body against hers, hands playing her like an instrument. She'd often read couples could become bored with each other, but each time with Erik was something different, fun, exciting, relaxing. Afterwards, they lie for a bit longer looking at the ceiling.

"How long do you think it will take?" he asked finally.

Amy shrugged. "I don't know. I went off the pill about six weeks ago. I have a doctor's appointment the week of Christmas. I'll talk to her about fertility testing. If needed, I guess." She turned towards Erik. "I'm a biologist, but trying to conceive is new to me."

Erik laughed and nodded. "We've had good practice."

Amy smiled, and they both jumped out of bed to start the day.

After a fun day at the mall and dinner out, the couple went off to different activities that evening, Erik watching basketball, Amy reading the final draft of the addiction study article her students and herself would be submitting the next week. They'd gone through plenty of peer reviews, so Amy only found a small citation error. Glancing up at Erik, an idea occurred to her. And he'd be game – they were both usually quite horny.

Moving into their bedroom, she pulled one of his Portland Trailblazers jerseys from the closet, stripped to nothing, and put it on. It fell to her knees, so she decided to forgo panties altogether in favor of easy access. Amy regarded herself in the mirror, giggling. She'd become quite a bit more daring in the past year, and she knew Erik loved when she initiated things in a fun way. She walked out and plopped down on the couch next to him.

Erik wore jeans and a jersey for another player, and he glanced over at her briefly before looking back at the screen. "Amy, they traded that guy two years ago."

Amy rolled her eyes. Seriously, who cared? And why did he still have the jersey? Damnit, she was naked underneath!

"Should I take it off?" she asked.

Erik looked at her again, this time seeing her bare legs. A gleam was in his eyes. He turned down the volume of the game. "Yes," he said quietly, Amy recognizing that familiar desire in his voice.

Amy stood up in front of the television and pulled the jersey off over her head, now standing completely naked in front of him. He looked at her hungrily.

"Come here, babe," he breathed.

Amy walked over and knelt before him, undoing his pants and sliding them off. She moved his boxers around to reveal his growing erection and brought her mouth over it, Erik's body convulsing from her sudden move.

"Ahhh…yes, Amy," he moaned as she ran her tongue up and down, finally sucking on the tip, hands caressing him. "Amy, seriously, basketball and a blow job. Woman, I…ohhhh."

His groans were making her wet, and she grasped his base and sucked harder. The taste of his arousal enlivened her. Suddenly, Erik moved, gently guiding her head off of him, thrusting their coffee table aside, and laying her on the carpet as he moved over her, his boxers now completely off. He moved down her body to find her private area, Amy feeling excited before his mouth even found her vaginal opening. Erik never failed to get her to climax this way, and soon Amy was trusting up to his mouth as he licked around her private area, sucked on her clitoris.

"God, Erik, that is so good," she moaned, the waves of pleasure taking over completely. She laughed momentarily at the ridiculousness of their position, awkward in front of the television, the game playing softly in the background. But she loved it. This was her and Erik.

"Amy," Erik said, looking up from her. "I need…"

"Uh huh."

Erik moved up her quickly, thrusting his penis inside her, Amy grunting with the pleasure of his large member moving inside just as she was coming down off her first orgasm. Perfect timing indeed as things began to build again. Erik grabbed her and rolled over, Amy now moving on top.

"I just love when your breasts hover in my face," he moaned, his lips grazing her nipples.

And Amy loved when he talked like that, a little dirty, but still sweet. Amy brought her face in front of his. "Erik," she sighed, starting to lose words again with a second climax. "Making babies is fun."

Erik laughed at her silly comment and continued thrusting, then groaned as he filled her, Amy loving when he hardened and throbbed within her, encouraging her to grind on him more. They'd perfected the art of lovemaking, knowing what each other liked. Amy thought for a moment about a conversation from a couple months ago with someone on the research team, calling her and Erik a perfect couple. As they lie together on the living room floor, both giggling from good sex, Amy couldn't agree more.

Saturday morning, Erik drove to Louis' small production studio to continue work on their film, a smile gracing his lips at memories of his day with his wife. Reading in bed, holiday shopping, making love, basketball. Perfect.

Entering the studio, Erik felt excited to continue work on the documentary. Actually, Louis and him were working on two separate film projects, one on the chimpanzees and their struggles for survival and another on AIDS orphans, the latter a pet project of Louis, one he knew he wanted to pursue going in and team leader Jill supported. Louis' mother, from western Africa who studied abroad in Los Angeles where she met her white, California-born husband, had a sister who died of AIDS. Louis' filmmaking style focused on the everyday lives of everyday people, his previous work including the exploration of Los Angeles gangs, Alaskan dog sled racing, and a family-owned restaurant in New Orleans. But with this new film, Louis employed the same style, but definitely had a personal agenda to expose a social injustice. The raw footage and interviews with the children as well as those who used and abused the system were haunting, and Erik knew the film would get people's attention.

Today, Erik focused on one interview in particular, one he conducted himself, with a young boy of about seven who bused tables at a bar in the village in order to earn his room and board. Glancing up at the storyboard for the film gracing the wall of the office, Erik began to move around chunks of the interview as it applied to the outline of the film. He found he enjoyed the filmmaking process immensely and was grateful to Louis for allowing him the opportunity to work with him from shooting to premiere, and Louis seemed to like his style. Disney gave him the chance for video several times, including the very successful Star Wars commercial, but these two films told a story, didn't advertise an amusement park. While Erik enjoyed his work at Disney, now part-time, he liked the idea of creating a film that could spark social change, especially since he saw how this young boy worked and lived first hand.

"I have a composer lined up to work on some original music for our AIDS film," said Louis, taking a drink of coffee while he studied another interview on his computer across from Erik. "He also wants to do the chimp film too, so I'd actually like to storyboard that next week so we can give him a little footage."

"When Project Gabon comes out, it's going to be amazing," said Erik, regarding Louis. The group was simultaneously releasing the book, the two films, and the National Geographic article, Erik posting entries from all the team members online as they worked on their individual assignments for the project.

"So, you get Amy knocked up yet?" asked Louis, sliding his chair over to see Erik's work.

Erik began laughing. "Working on it. Enjoying the hell out of it."

"Well, just remember it could take some time," said Louis. "My brother and his wife took over a year to conceive. But they got there naturally."

Erik shrugged. "I guess my big concern is our age…"

"You're in your mid-thirties. Chill out. Don't let your anxiety creep in, Erik. It'll ruin your bedroom game," Louis laughed. "Have fun, and it'll come."

"Love the double-entendre, Lou," said Erik, shaking his head and smiling.

"Well, you both got plenty of practice in Gabon," Louis said.

"Hey, we tried to be quiet."

"Not quiet enough," Louis laughed.

"It's not like you and Anne are chaste saints, sugar bear," teased Erik.

"Watch it, Koster. Only my wife calls me that," Louis smiled. "Hey, so Amy heads back to Caltech in January. She still going to work on her addiction studies? From the sounds of it, Jill would love to have her focus on Project Gabon full time."

Erik shook his head, staring at the screen. "She's really torn, man. Especially after…well, that day."

Louis just nodded.

"I would love to see her work with Jill, become the liaison in the U.S. for the project, for conservation, for continued study. And she loved working in the field, and we can totally figure it out with kids, I know," Erik said, parroting some of the conversation he and Amy spoke of over the past several weeks. "She's so smart, so passionate about her work. And this study only added to it, made her see what she can really accomplish, not just as a scientist, but, well…"

"As a humanitarian?"

"Yes. That's perfect."

"I love Amy. And you both make a great team. You know, when you do have kids, you can do a lot of this editing from home," winked Louis. "I'd love to have you on my crew even after this, Erik. Maybe heading your own project. Headlining Cannes."

Erik smiled broadly. "Yes, I can see Amy and I on the red carpet, the reporters asking her what she's wearing."

"They ask who you're wearing," corrected Louis. "Anne was asked that a couple of times at Sundance a few years ago. And she bought the dress for $75 at Macy's."

Erik laughed, looking forward to the day their films would premiere, but for now, they needed to be edited. Both Erik and Louis turned their attentions back to the interviews, delving once again into the world of Gabon, filled with both beauty and suffering.

Across town, Penny organized snacks and drinks for her day working on the scrapbook calendars with the girls. She left the food on the kitchen island to avoid an accident, and began spreading out her project on the table, looking at her focus for the day.

The first three months of the year were her and Leonard's wedding, so now she wanted to do pictures of their honeymoon in Maui. As she browsed through the photos, she wished she had some more shots to choose from, but alas, her and Leonard didn't leave their room a whole lot. She smiled at the memories, her and Leonard, finally married, exploring each other as husband and wife. Soon they would be married for a year, which shocked Penny, thinking how time flies.

Soon the girls were over, and they began to gossip, first discussing the latest news from Sheldon, but soon moving on to hear about each others' plans for the holidays. Erik had secured Christmas day passes for Disneyland for Leonard, Penny, Howard, and Bernadette, and even booked Christmas dinner at the Blue Bayou. They talked about Laura and Raj heading to India for the holidays, wondering when that couple would get married. Bernadette laughed when talking about decorating the house for both Hanukah and Christmas, and Amy revealed her and Erik were getting their Christmas tree sometime next week, their first as a couple.

"It'll be nice to get a Christmas tree this year," said Penny. "We were on our honeymoon last Christmas."

"Yeah, this will be our first Christmas at home," smiled Amy, browsing through the stickers in front of her. "Paris was amazing and romantic, but being home with Erik will be wonderful. Hot cocoa and stocking stuffers and…well, I did buy some naughty Mrs. Claus lingerie." She giggled, making Penny smile. She enjoyed silly and horny Amy far more than desperate and sex-starved. Penny could relate to Amy better once she began seeing Erik.

"Oohhh, Howie and I have done the whole Santa and Mrs. thing. So much fun," said Bernadette.

"Howard would make a rather scrawny Santa," laughed Penny. "He's more like an elf."

"Oh, you hush," said Bernadette, throwing a glue stick at her friend. She then glanced down at one of Amy's photos and gasped. "Wow, who's the hottie with a naughty body?"

Penny snatched up the photo. "Holy crap, that guy is gorgeous. Who is he?"

Amy looked at the picture, one of several men, including Erik, from the research team, posing with a soccer ball. "You guys know Erik. I married him!" she teased.

"Um, yeah, Erik's cute and all, but tell us about the dude with the arms," said Penny.

Amy began to laugh. "That's Khalid, the political scientist on the team. He's from Jordan but went to school and works at Cambridge."

"Ooohhh, does he have a nice British accent to go along with the hot bod?" asked Bernadette.

Amy began to laugh hard. "Why yes he does," she paused for a moment. "We had a little bit of a soap opera around camp involving him and…"

"You?!" gasped Penny, joking. "Or you, him, and Erik? Oh my, Amy, how things have changed since I met you. Kinky lingerie, threesomes…"

"Jesus, Penny," said Amy, turning red but still giggling. "Lingerie yes, threesome no. Khalid and Cassidy became an item. She's that sweet sociologist I told you about."

"The little redhead," asked Bernadette.

"Yes. And since our communication with the outside world cut out often, they became the focus entertainment," Amy began.

August 2016

Amy sat at one of the outside tables under the tarp of the research camp, working on her laptop, glad for a day to just sit and work, catching up on things from back home. Anne ordered her, in her firm nurse voice, to stay out of the field for at least two days in order to recover. Amy contracted some sort of rash on her right arm, and since she was allergic to many different antibiotics, Anne concocted her own treatment, reminding Amy of an old apothecary. Jill assured Amy she would heal quickly, everyone being attacked by the forest at some point or another. Now, Amy found herself proofing her recent article, her entire right arm covered in Anne's treatment.

Amy felt glad for the little break. Although she enjoyed observing the chimpanzees and interacting with them more and more, she did need to connect with her students Mindy and Charlie on their article on the spring addiction studies. The students had done a nice job with the methodology and results sections, and now Amy worked through the implications. Not for the first time Amy became troubled by the study they conducted. While the research was sound, methods solid, Amy couldn't stop thinking about the chimpanzees they used in her lab, comparing them to the ones she saw in the field. Closed cages versus open spaces, the chimps of the troop they studied playing around the lagoon.

Amy shook her head, refocusing on the article. She'd always known using animals in her research made others raise an eyebrow at her ethics, but she'd been blinded by the science, the goals of her study and not the participants. Finding the answer. Now, the more time she spent with the animals in their natural habitat, the more she felt her morality shifting. While she knew what her next research study needed to focus on, she was no longer sure her methods were ethical. Sure, they were fine for the university and ethics committee. But what about the guilt in her own heart, her ever-increasing love for the chimpanzee troop.

The camp was quiet, the only other people present Joseph, the writer from National Geographic, lounging in the hammock, once reading but now dozing, and Cassidy, who remained in her tent. Erik left an hour ago to pick up new supplies for the camp from the village, Khalid riding along. Amy sighed, and continued to write, hoping to e-mail her students back a nice draft by the afternoon.

Cassidy suddenly emerged from her tent and sat across from Amy.

"Hey Amy," she said, her Minnesota accent shining through. "Can I talk to you?"

Amy glanced up at the younger women. Cassidy, in her mid-twenties, was a delight. Smart, sweet, funny. And from what Erik said from their time in the local villages working on human aspect of the study, a hardnose for research with a compassionate heart. Amy knew Cassidy was only at the beginning of a successful career.

Closing her laptop to give Cassidy her full attention, Amy said, "What's up?"

Cassidy glanced down, studying the table in front of her. "Okay, so I need some advice."

"Okay."

"But you can't tell anyone. Please."

"Um…okay," said Amy, her curiosity piqued.

"So, you know Khalid and I have been getting…close," Cassidy began slowly.

Amy smiled and nodded. When the research team met in Kauai the previous spring, she saw the two young people obviously flirting, and they just continued upon reaching Gabon. Playful teasing, sitting close together, walks alone. One day, Amy and Erik went for a walk along one of the park's paths, chatting away, and spotted them down by the creek in a passionate make out session. The Kosters quietly moved on.

"Yes, I think everyone has noticed, Cass," laughed Amy.

Cassidy sighed. "Yeah, well, he's just so wonderful. He's so nice and sweet."

Amy nodded. Khalid was very nice, always willing to help out. He owned a gentle disposition.

"And he's so smart."

Amy nodded again. Khalid had a combination of both worldly and book knowledge. He argued well and seemed deeply interested and truly passionate about the way the world worked. Amy wished Sheldon could meet Khalid, knowing he'd enjoy debating with the young man. Amy smiled at the thought, knowing Sheldon would probably lose said debate with Khalid.

"And good God is he sexy. I mean really, those abs."

Amy nodded enthusiastically. Khalid's abs had been the talk of the camp with all of the women from time to time. She didn't mention it to Cassidy, but two weeks before, as Jill, Amy, and botanist Karen sat down with the chimp troop for the day, Khalid's abs became the central topic of conversation for at least fifteen minutes.

"So, last night he was in my tent and we were talking and…um, some other things," Cassidy began. "It was getting late so he was going to leave, but I wanted him to stay, so I suggested playing cards."

Cards had become a huge past time around camp. Amy had several games of rummy going with different team members.

Cassidy continued. "So, he said let's make it interesting. And I'm like okay. And he said, let's play strip poker. And of course I agree, because I'm good at poker and…well…those abs."

Amy could see where this was going.

"So, I swear he was losing on purpose at first, and then, when he's just in his boxers, he starts winning, and then I'm naked…and then he is…and we…we…we did it. Like, um, twice."

Amy smiled, completely unsurprised.

Cassidy reached over and put her hand on top of Amy's. "And it was soooo good. Like, okay, so I know I'm not totally experienced. Like two guys during undergrad and my first time prom night in high school. Well, you know."

Amy didn't, but she encouraged Cassidy to continue.

"But the thing is, I think I have real feelings for Khalid. But then I think I don't. Like, how much of this is being on this adventure, in the romance of the jungle. If we were just at the university together, working, would we even be into each other."

Amy understood Cassidy's debate, even though she herself never experienced it. Her first relationship with Sheldon had been more of a friendship in disguise, and her second romance with Erik, which spiraled from hot and heavy to commitment to hot and heavy committed marriage remained her only experience. And having found her true love in Erik, she intended to keep him the end game.

"I understand Cassidy, but I honestly don't have a lot of experience with men…" Amy began.

Cassidy sighed. "But I see you with Erik. And you two are great team, working together, helping each other. And you laugh all the time. I can hear you guys in your tent at night, laughing."

Amy blushed slightly. What else could people hear?

"You and Erik are relationship goals. A perfect couple. Everyone else here totally thinks so too. You know how we all talk about each other, no Netflix and all," Cassidy laughed.

Relationship goals? Perfect couple? Amy never thought before how other people viewed her and Erik's relationship. She felt happy knowing people could see their happiness.

"So what should I do, Amy?" asked Cassidy.

Amy studied the younger woman. Cassidy was actually asking Amy Farrah Fowler-Koster's advice in how to deal with a romantic relationship. Never in a million years did Amy think she would be asked advice on matters of the heart. She recalled years of listening to Penny and Bernadette, trying to glean information from them, but to be asked to dispense it seemed ridiculous. Amy still considered herself the awkward, dour neurobiologist, but apparently that was no longer the image she projected.

Amy burst out laughing.

"What?" asked Cassidy.

"It's just…I've never been asked to give relationship advice before," said Amy, wiping tears from her eyes, trying to recover in order to help her friend.

"Seriously?" asked Cassidy. "You just seem so natural. You and Erik are, well, yummy."

Amy began to laugh again at Cassidy and the way she described things.

"Well, I'll give you the advice I got from a t-shirt in Disneyland that led me to pursuing my relationship with Erik: follow your heart," said Amy. "I was taking a break from my boyfriend, since our relationship seemed to be headed nowhere, and ran into Erik. We got to be friends and got closer and…well, it just felt right with him." Amy thought back to their first kiss at Disneyland and the moment in the gift shop after, where she made the decision to dissolve the Relationship Agreement with Sheldon and pursue a life with Erik. Best decision ever, she thought wistfully, thinking of the past year and all the amazing things that happened, Erik as the centerpiece. "Well, you don't know what's going to happen, but sometimes you need to slip outside your comfort zone, take a risk. It's hard for me as a scientist to say this, but follow your heart instead of your head. If you and Khalid are meant to be after Gabon, then it'll happen. If not, well, you had fun here, right?"

Cassidy nodded. "You're right. And holy shit was it fun." She began to giggle. "And those abs! Thanks, Amy. I'm going for it. And if it doesn't work out, at least I have memories of great sex."

"In the jungle," added Amy as the younger woman quickly hugged her then slipped away to her tent.

Early afternoon, Amy once again closed her laptop and moved into her own tent to lie down for a nap. She studied her arm, noticing the rash to have dissipated a bit. She was snuggling in when she heard the Jeep pull up. Soon, Erik entered the tent and flopped down beside her.

"Damn, it's hot today," he said, throwing his dog-eared Boba Fett baseball cap across the tent, Amy wishing he'd get a new one. Maybe that hat would somehow end up in the garbage. Hmmm… "How's the arm?"

"Doing better," she said, leaning over to kiss him. "About to take a nap."

"I'll join you," he said. "Busy day shooting with Louis tomorrow. Have an interview set up." He yawned. "Napping in the afternoon with the wife sounds like a great idea." He cuddled into her, but suddenly sat up. "Oh, do I have a juicy bit of gossip for you."

Amy sat up too. "I have gossip too!"

"Mine's better."

"Bet not."

"Okay, what's yours and then we'll judge."

"Well," began Amy. "I'm not supposed to tell anyone…"

"Husbands don't count as anyone," smiled Erik. "Tell!"

"Cassidy and Khalid slept together last night."

She saw Erik's face fall. "That was my gossip. Khalid told me on our drive."

"Strip poker?"

"Yup."

Amy laughed. "Well, we have such as small group here, we're bound to have the same gossip." She paused. "Cassidy asked me for advice. Me! Can you believe it? Dishing out relationship advice."

Erik began to laugh. "Khalid did the same. Says you and I look like we know what we're doing." He shook his head and laughed dramatically. "Fools."

He lay back down with his wife, Amy loving his body next to hers as they lounged in the warm afternoon.

"I just told the kid to go with it. You know how we did," said Erik. "I told him I don't know much about love. Just been in two relationships. But, well, with you Amy, I just felt we clicked, and I don't think that happens often."

"I told Cass the same thing," said Amy. "It just feels strange to have people ask me for relationship advice."

Erik laughed. "We were meant to be, Amy. You know that, right? Two people with difficult pasts, needing support, love, then boom, you tackle my dog at the park. And now…well, now we're married, a team. Forever."

"Cass says we are relationship goals," said Amy, still trying to process what that meant.

"Well, I wish Khalid and Cass as much happiness as we have," Erik said, yawning, Amy sensing his sleepiness and felt her own come back. "Although he's worried she only wants him for his abs."

Amy bit her lip, trying to stifle a giggle.

"Oh my God, Amy," said Penny after she'd finished her story. "Those two sound so adorable. Are they still together?"

"Yes," said Amy, happy to report that the romance continued. "She actually moved to England for now, teaching part-time at Cambridge and working on her doctorate. And it's great too because their work on Project Gabon was so connected."

"Amy, you are totally qualified to give relationship advice," said Bernadette, studied her finished page for April. "You were with Sheldon for five years…"

Penny began to laugh, but Amy smiled, thinking about where Sheldon was at now both personally and professionally.

"And you and Erik really are relationship goals," Bernadette continued. "You're so different but also have a lot in common. You're so Jerry Maguire." She broke down laughing. "You complete him. And vice versa."

Amy just smiled, and studied her page for May. "Well, I'm not going into the marriage counseling business anytime soon," she said. Or maybe even back to the university, she thought.

The girls continued their work, enjoying their Saturday.

Later that week, Erik had a day off, so he and Amy set out to get their Christmas tree and begin decorating their apartment. They drove out to a u-cut tree farm, paid the proprietor, and drove as far out as the road went, before heading out on foot with the saw to find the perfect tree. Of course an argument ensued on the size of the tree, Erik wanting something large to dominate the room, Amy wanting smaller. They found the perfect tree, not too big, but bushy. Working together to cut it down, they tied it to the roof of Amy's car, Erik refusing to drive the Mustang to avoid getting pine needles and sap inside.

Starting back toward the main road, the couple heard a sliding sound and turned to see the tree lying in the road behind the car. After retying the tree twice without success, Erik began to wonder why he, of passing intelligence, and Amy, who was a genius, could not figure out how to get their Christmas tree home. Of course the third time was the charm, and they now bounced around their living room, decorating the tree, Christmas music playing in the background.

Amy had a beautiful collection of Victorian Christmas ornaments while Erik had been buying different Disney ones since he began working for the company. Their tree became a strange blending of Goofy and Dickens.

"I love these stockings you ordered. Justin do the embroidery?" Amy asked, hanging up their Mickey and Minnie stockings on the mantel.

"Yeah," he said as he hung up lights in their window. "Oh, got one for Honeybee yesterday."

He ran to a bag he'd placed on the chair in the kitchen and brought it over. The stocking was shaped like a dog bone and featured Pluto. Amy smiled and added it next to theirs. Finally, the couple stood back to admire their work. The apartment looked very festive, a blending of different Christmas decorations, symbolizing the blending of their lives. Erik smiled broadly – his and Amy's first Christmas tree. The first of many.

He went over to their music collection and pulled out his old Boys II Men Christmas CD. Putting the disc on and turning off all the lights except for the tree and windows, he pulled Amy to him, holding her tight as they danced slowly to the soft R&B. She felt so good in his arms, his amazing wife. Closing his eyes and nuzzling into her hair, he felt this was a perfect moment, one he'd thought of when he first met and been entranced by Amy. Opening his eyes, he found himself looking at their stockings on the mantel. He hoped next Christmas there might be another stocking to add.

Author's Note: Next time, Amy reflects on a terrifying moment that shifted her world view.

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