A few days after the incident in Houston, Sheldon found himself pacing the lobby of a hospital. Violet had gone into labor earlier that morning and was experiencing a few complications. The baby was breached and they were worried that it may suffer brain damage due to oxygen deprivation. Stuart was a complete nervous wreck, but he stayed strong and held his wife's hand tight. After eight hours of pacing, a nurse finally came out to get him. She helped him suit up in sterile clothes, then led him into the room. Stuart was pale, but grinning proudly, and Violet lay in the bed looking fatigued. In her arms was a tinny pink blanket. He knelt beside her bed to get a better look, eyes widening at the sight of the baby's mess of black curls.

"Her name is Victoria Shelly Bloom and she's absolutely perfect."

He stared incredulously at Stuart and he shrugged, smiling sheepishly.

"I got to choose her first name, she got to choose the middle. I think it's quite fitting though."

"M-May I?" he whispered, holding his arms out.

"Of course."

Violet placed Victoria in his arms and helped him properly position her body. Her eyes opened a little, looking at him for a moment before closing again. He smiled and kissed her forehead delicately. This was the first baby he had ever held before. Even his sister's son was met with adamant resistance on his part. But, for whatever insane reason, this felt right.

"She likes him," Stuart chuckled, kissing Violet's cheek.

"Why wouldn't she? He'll be the best godfather in the world."

Ignoring their comments, Sheldon stroked her cheek. Someone touched his arm and he looked up to see Lily smiling softly. He smiled back, blushing at being caught in such a vulnerable position. She kissed his cheek.

"You look so natural, Sheldon."

"I agree," Violet piped up.

He handed the baby back to her mother and rose from his seat.

"As much as I love the hospital, I should go. I've been here for eight hours and you guys probably want time alone."

"Okay, Shelly. See you later!"

He hugged the grinning parents, kissed Victoria's forehead once more, and then left with Lily. His goofy smile lasted the whole way to the car. She had actually come with him in the morning, but had errands to run so she took his car. Now they climbed in with him in the driver's seat, heading to his office at the university. Despite the obvious despair the other members had over his return, he needed to work; His work had gone neglected long enough. Lily was tagging along because she had always wanted to see where he worked. They drove to the university and went in hand-in-hand. Upon entering his office, Sheldon discovered that his desk had been covered entirely in sticky notes. Fluorescent pink sticky notes. Sighing softly, he set to work peeling them off one by one. She knelt beside him to do the same.

"You don't have to help."

"I want to."

He smiled softly, sticking one to her forehead. She retaliated by sticking another to his forehead. They smirked mischievously at each other and began sticking them all over their bodies. When they were done, Lily was covered entirely except for her eyes and mouth while he was only covered halfway. She laughed hard at this, alerting his colleagues in the surrounding rooms. Barry leaned against the doorway, taking pictures. Sheldon spotted him first and sighed softly.

"Hello, Kripke…"

"Well, well, well. It wooks wike you made a fwiend from my little pwesent."

"Oh, right. This is Lily. Lily, this is Barry Kripke."

"Hi."

She waved and Barry's eyes widened, as if he was surprised there was a girl under the cloak of paper. The couple peeled off the sticky notes and put them in a box for recycling. Once she was unveiled, Kripke smirked and leaned against the desk. Her boyfriend eyed him warily.

"Well, hewwo gorgeous."

"Hello?"

"Has anyone ever told you that you'we smokin'?"

"Mhm, many people… I punched them in the teeth."

Sheldon smiled inwardly at her sharpness. She made it very clear that she was not to be reckoned with. But, alas, the rival physicist was not deterred.

"Aww, don't be wike that. How about we ditch this woozer and get wunch?"

"I'm afraid I don't quite understand your accent."

"I said, how about we ditch-"

"There it is again. That word is not in my vocabulary. So, if you would be a peach and take a flying leap, that'd be great."

His face turned bright red and he stormed off. This left Sheldon able to pick Lily up in a tight embrace with no interruption. She hugged him back, smiling. They stayed like that for a few moments before going back to organizing, a task that took the better part of a half hour. Her phone buzzed, prompting her to glance at it and sigh softly. This action did not go unnoticed by Sheldon. He looked at her curiously, but she waved it off as an annoying coworker. Believing her, he asked if she would like to go to lunch.

"I would love to," she smiled, holding his hand.

They walked down to the cafeteria, earning a few odd looks, and got their food. They got the same thing, taking adjacent seats at his usual table. Howard and Rajesh paused their conversation to greet them, then resumed talking about how superheroes. Leonard joined them a few minutes later, sitting beside Howard, who was across from Raj and Lily. He greeted the couple as well before joining the conversation. Lily watched them with great interest. It was almost cute.

"You can join in if you want. I'm sure they'd love a pretty girl to talk to."

"Nah, I'm sure they get that at home. Besides, I'm here for you!"

He smiled and touched her cheek in a simple, yet loving gesture. The other men silenced to watch.

"I am not a nature documentary, gentlemen," he sighed, "I can touch my girlfriend too."

She blushed and he couldn't figure out why. The others guffawed apishly, ruffling him more. What was so funny about him touching his girlfriend? It's not like he didn't do it all the time! Sighing heavily, he stood up with his food and threw it away before storming out. Lily had to run to keep up. When they reached his office, he shut the door firmly and sank down in his chair.

"I don't understand what they found so darn funny…"

"I'm only going to say this once," she replied, before stating in a sultry tone, "I like when you touch me."

He felt a dark blush flood his face, dark thought creeping in. Thoughts of her bent over his desk, begging. She noticed his change in demeanor and tapped his cheek.

"Sheldon, wake up."

"Huh?"

"You zoned out there for a second. Do you see what I meant though?"

"Uh, yeah. I see where my words could've been conveyed differently."

"Good."

Her phone buzzed again and she grimaced.

"Damn it…"

"If you need to go, you can. I won't hold it against you."

"You are a life saver! I love you!"

He grinned, taking her into his arms. Lily kissed him sweetly, smiling.

"I love you too," he whispered in her ear.

She blushed and, giving him one last squeeze, hurried out. Kripke entered a few moments later, much to the physicist's displeasure.

"Hey Cooper. I have to congratulate you on that stone cowd fox."

"Thank you. She is quite beautiful."

"How much are you paying fow her?"

Sheldon was shocked and enraged. How dare he ask something like that!

"Lily is not a prostitute."

"Of couwse she is," he replied with a wink, "Tell me, where can I meet one of her fwiends?"

"Barry, get out of my office. Now."

The other male's eyes widened and he put his hands up in surrender as he backed out. Then Sheldon's phone pinged to indicate a text.

"Oh what now?"

Checking it, he was horrified to see a picture sent by Penny. It was of Lily having lunch with another man at the Cheesecake Factory. They were grinning and she was holding his hand. Not even thinking about it, he bolted out of his office and to his car. As he sped to the restaurant, his mind filled with images of terrible scenarios. Her cheating, leaving, and hating him popped into his mind one after the other. Growling, he shook his head to clear the dark thoughts. There had to be another reason. Maybe he was her boss… but that doesn't explain the hand holding. He pulled up to the restaurant and jumped out, storming in. With a dark glower, he walked up to Lily. She glanced up at him and her smile faded.

"H-Hi…"