LAX was a bustle of business and recreational travelers, most looking at least a little frazzled as they tried to find their way around the busy airport. Sheldon was barely able to control his anxiety. Being in an airport was enough to raise his apprehension – all the people, all the germs they carried (especially confined in tight air spaces on airplanes), and with very little room to maneuver even in the airports. Waiting for his mother and MeeMaw was raising his anxiety to a whole other level.
"Sheldon, you need to calm down," Amy said, taking his hand. "They've already landed. Your Mom and MeeMaw probably will be last off the plane, seeing as they may need some extra time to come up the walkway."
Sheldon looked at Amy as though she had lost her mind. "Extra time? For who?"
Amy returned his look. "MeeMaw. Surely she needs a little assistance in an airport…"
Sheldon's gaze suddenly raced over Amy's head and up the exit ramp from security. His eyes positively glowed. Amy turned to see Mary Cooper and an older lady coming their way. Mary's travel companion might have been approaching eighty years old, but she was no elderly woman. She moved with grace and ease and required no assistance. Her hair was a silver halo about her head, and her smile could light up a night sky. But it was her eyes that struck Amy to the core of her being… it was like looking into a mirror. These emerald eyes spoke of a kind and generous soul, and they had known a lifetime of experiences… great sadness, and even greater joy.
"Shelly!" Mary yelled from mid-way down the ramp, waiving. Sheldon smiled softly, and went forward to his mother. She pulled him to her and hugged as hard as she could. The pained look on his face was obvious to the other two, but his mother had her eyes closed with delight.
Mary opened her eyes and pulled back from her embrace slightly. "Let me look at you… it's been too long… you've put on a little weight, but it looks good on you… you were too skinny before…"
Mary's litany was going on for too long for Sheldon's comfort. "Mom," Sheldon said, exasperated, as he rolled his eyes upward.
Mary reluctantly finally let her son go, and MeeMaw came forward. Sheldon's eyes were suddenly unguarded, and his countenance overjoyed. "Sheldon…" was all MeeMaw said, as she gently wrapped her arms around him. Sheldon's previous anxiety took flight and left him. MeeMaw understood him… understood he needed a gentler and slower touch. Sheldon bent down as he melted into her arms and sighed, happily.
MeeMaw looked over Sheldon's shoulder and saw Amy, standing a few feet behind with both hands clasped in front of her. She appeared to be trying to be inconspicuous during the family reunion, but her eyes were riveted on MeeMaw. Amy seemed somewhat anxious herself, her face reflecting a deep seeded desire for approval from both women, but especially from MeeMaw. Little did Amy know, Mary was fond of her from their previous encounter, and she already had MeeMaw's approval in more ways than one…
MeeMaw released Sheldon from her hug, and stepped around him. With a joyful smile on her face, she slowly approached Amy.
Sheldon quickly caught up with MeeMaw to introduce her, although MeeMaw would have known this soul anywhere…
"MeeMaw, I'd like to introduce you to Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, my girlfriend. Amy, this is Clarice Stevenson, my grandmother."
MeeMaw's eyes didn't leave Amy's, nor did Amy's leave MeeMaw's. Amy held out her hand for a polite shake, but that simply would not do. MeeMaw encircled Amy in the same hug she had given Sheldon only moments before. Amy returned the embrace, enveloped in a feeling of love, peace, acceptance, and belonging. A connection formed instantaneously that would never be severed.
"It's so good to finally meet you, after we spoke last Christmas," MeeMaw whispered in Amy's ear. "You too," Amy replied, hugging her just a little tighter.
MeeMaw released Amy after a moment, and held her hands outstretched to the side. "Let me look at you, Amy. Good heavens, but you are beautiful, child! Sheldon truly outdid himself, didn't he?"
Amy had the decency to blush crimson and drop her face in modesty. "You are too kind to me, Mrs. Stevenson."
MeeMaw lifted Amy's head by the chin and looked her in the eyes. Amy immediately knew MeeMaw never spoke anything but the truth… a trait she shared with Sheldon. "No, Amy. I call it like I see it. And 'Mrs. Stevenson' is much too formal; I would appreciate it if you would consider calling me MeeMaw." Amy smiled and nodded happily.
MeeMaw's glance fell down to Amy's left hand, and recognizing her ring had not yet made it to Amy's finger, raised an eyebrow in Sheldon's direction. Not yet, MeeMaw… leave it alone for now… was the silent message she received back. MeeMaw replied in kind: Yes, Sheldon… but we will talk.
######
Amy drove the four, with MeeMaw sitting beside her and Sheldon and Mary in the backseat, to the hotel where Mary and MeeMaw would be staying for this trip. The hotel room was comfortable and roomy, with two single beds and a well cushioned couch and two side chairs. Sheldon had brought his mother's and grandmother's belongings to the room from the lobby.
Mary and MeeMaw hung up their clothes and packed away their toiletries. Mary decided to visit the hotel's coffee bar on the main floor, and Amy elected to go with her to allow Sheldon a chance to visit with MeeMaw privately. Amy didn't realize she so quickly would be the topic of conversation…
MeeMaw dove in just as the door latched closed. "So, what are you waiting for?"
Sheldon was caught off guard by the immediacy of MeeMaw's conversation. For once in his life, Sheldon was speechless... he could only stare at his grandmother.
MeeMaw sighed, and shook her head. She muttered underneath her breath something that even Sheldon's Vulcan ears did not perceive. MeeMaw tried again.
"Sheldon, after last Christmas you knew you wanted to marry Amy. I believe your exact words were…"
"'We're meant to be together.'" Sheldon interrupted.
MeeMaw smiled. "You and your eidetic memory… Yes. That's what I thought you had said. But now it's nearly a year later and you're still in the same place." MeeMaw saw Sheldon's face fall, and his head dip downward. Softer, then… she thought.
"Sheldon, I only want you to be happy. You, and Amy too. So what's holding you back?" MeeMaw asked, as she moved next to Sheldon on the couch and put her arm around his shoulders.
Sheldon picked his head back up and looked her directly in the eyes. He saw only her love and acceptance of him. Sheldon knew MeeMaw would help him if she could.
Sheldon told MeeMaw everything that had happened since they last spoke. He told her of his initial plan to present the ring to Amy that evening of the argument in May, and how awful things had been for him during their month-long separation. Sheldon told MeeMaw of his and Amy's reconciliation, and the changes in their relationship since. He told MeeMaw, hesitantly and with great difficulty, of his continuing inability to consummate his relationship with Amy…
"You what?" MeeMaw cried and sat upright, completely shocked. "You and Amy have been together how long?"
Sheldon was sheepish. "Five years this past May."
MeeMaw took a deep breath. Her face and voice softened. "It must be so difficult… for you both."
She then took his hands in her own. "Sheldon, Amy's right. You shouldn't be intimate until you're both absolutely certain you are ready. You definitely shouldn't ask her to marry you if you aren't sure…"
Sheldon's laugh was filled with irony. "Isn't it interesting? I have no doubts about asking Amy to marry me. I love her and I know she loves me. We're meant to be together; I'm just as certain of that as I am that you and Pop-Pop were meant to be. I feel this force pulling us together that I can't deny. But when it comes to touching her, the… I don't know, maybe it is fear... whatever it is, it's overwhelming."
MeeMaw silently considered Sheldon's plight for a few moments. Then she spoke. "Where is the fear coming from?" she asked, softly.
Sheldon reflected inwardly. When he met Amy, Sheldon immediately subconsciously erected walls within himself to protect him from the pain of relationships. One by one, Amy had broken down each of those walls. However, one wall remained that she had not been able to demolish… the final wall of truth within him that he hadn't wanted to admit, even to himself. But that truth would no longer be denied.
Sheldon looked directly into MeeMaw's eyes. "I'm afraid that being physically intimate with Amy will change me… in ways I don't want to go and I won't be able to control … that she only wants me if she can change me to what she wants me to be. I'm afraid deep inside she feels I'm not good enough for her as I am. I'm afraid that in making love to her, I'll lose me."
The tears flowed freely from both MeeMaw's and Sheldon's eyes. MeeMaw pulled Sheldon into her arms.
"Sheldon, Amy doesn't want to change you," MeeMaw whispered in his ear. The tears flowed even harder for them both, as Sheldon sobbed in her arms. "She wants only you. But no words will ever make you believe this truth. You will have to see it for yourself. I pray it will be soon."
Sheldon's Vulcan ears picked up the sounds of footsteps and Amy and Mary's laughter coming up the hallway to the room. MeeMaw reached to the table behind the couch and grabbed a box of tissues. She pulled a couple for herself, and handed Sheldon the remainder of the box. He ran into the bathroom to try to pull himself together before Amy saw him again.
Amy and Mary both noticed the red, puffy eyes both MeeMaw and Sheldon exhibited when they returned to the hotel room, but graciously neither of them mentioned it. The four decided to have dinner together at Sheldon and Leonard's apartment, and called to see if Leonard and Penny would like to join them for carry-out. Leonard and Penny quickly agreed, and an order was called in to Sheldon's favorite Mexican restaurant, to be picked up by Sheldon and Amy on the way to the apartment.
Later, all six sat in the living room, eating dinner and exchanging casual conversation. Sheldon began to relax, thinking his initial response to his mother's visit might have been an over-reaction. This could be a good weekend without any difficulty…
And sometimes when we tempt fate, fate takes the opportunity for a good laugh.
After swallowing a bite of her dinner, Mary looked at Amy and asked, "So, Amy, where do you and your family go to church?"
"Mom!" Sheldon shouted.
"Mary!" MeeMaw echoed Sheldon's volume.
Amy was quiet as a mouse. She knew about Mary, but hadn't yet been exposed to her free espousal of her convictions. Amy was taken aback, and didn't know what to say. Leonard and Penny had experienced Mary's religious beliefs ("fanatical" according to Sheldon) in the past and knew to keep their mouths shut. It would all blow over, eventually. Usually…
"What?" Mary asked, not understanding what MeeMaw and Sheldon were yelling about. "I'm just trying to make sure her soul has been saved, and if there's ever a wedding, where it will be…"
Sheldon groaned and forcefully fell back into the couch, certain he could have crawled underneath the coffee table and died. MeeMaw simply face-palmed and shook her head. Amy, however, had quickly reached her limit…
"Sheldon, I'm sorry, I can't do this…" and with that, Amy grabbed her purse and ran out of the apartment.
Sheldon glared at his mother, and ran out the door, chasing Amy down the stairs. He nearly ran her over, as she hadn't made it past the second floor landing when she collapsed on the stair. Amy was sitting, her face was awash in tears, and she was blindly attempting to find a tissue in her purse.
Sheldon sat down next to Amy on the stairs. "I'm so sorry," he began.
Amy looked up at him. "Why? Your mother asked the questions, not you. Besides, I shouldn't have left. I should have answered her. I'm not ashamed of my beliefs; I just don't necessarily want or like to talk about them. But when she said 'if there's ever a wedding'… well, that hurt."
Sheldon reached around Amy's shoulders and pulled her close to him, which made Amy cry all that much harder.
"Do you want me to come home with you tonight?" Sheldon offered. "I can get Leonard to take Mom and MeeMaw back to the hotel…"
Amy stood up. "No," she said, and wiped at her eyes. "You really don't want to have that discussion with your mother." She chuckled a little at the thought.
Sheldon looked up at her. "Why not? Maybe it's time she was exposed to a different point of view."
Amy grabbed Sheldon's hands and pulled him up to stand in front of her. "No," she repeated, and smiled. "I appreciate that you're willing to talk to her on my behalf. But it's not necessary. I will come back tomorrow after work, and you, your mother, and I will talk. MeeMaw can be there, too. But let's keep it to the four of us, OK? I need to go home and think about all of this."
Sheldon nodded, and gently brought Amy into his arms. She breathed deeply of his scent and it calmed her. Amy looked up and kissed him softly. Sheldon stepped aside to let her pass on the stairs. He watched Amy walk down the stairs, and as she passed out of sight, Sheldon turned to head back up to the apartment to confront his mother.
Next: Sheldon takes a number... and Amy and Mary have a discussion about faith.
I'm hoping to update later this week (Thursday or Friday); we'll see what the work schedule allows!
Thank you for reading, and for leaving feedback in a review if you so choose.
