CHAPTER 26

Although Amy had no intention of being away from Sheldon, not in fifteen days, not ever; she wasn't ready to return to Pasadena.

On one hand, Amy was very comfortable working for the Neurosciences Institute of Stockholm; this was certainly the great opportunity she had always been waiting. She had a better salary and there were still four months of research ahead.

On the other hand, Amy was afraid, in fact, she was terrified by just considering the changes that will come into her life at the time she returns to Pasadena. The idea of listening to her mother's rant, the minute she knows she's having a baby, was only surpassed by the prospect of... telling Sheldon's mom.

Mary Cooper, Sheldon's mother, was a deeply religious woman; she couldn't be glad to know that his innocent Shelly Bean has sinned and conceived a child, out of wedlock. Just thinking about it made Amy feel nauseated again.

What course would her relationship with Sheldon take when they get back to Pasadena? They haven't talked about it yet. Would they live together? Sheldon wouldn't want to move to another place. Would he want Amy to move with him? Why does everything has to be so complicated?. This was getting too real, too soon! Amy started to hyperventilate.

"Amy!, I asked you a question. When are we coming back to Pasadena?, Sheldon inquired her once again.

"Sheldon, I don't know what to say. I want to be with you, but ... my work here isn't over yet, the study continues for four months. I'd like to stay a little longer in Stockholm, plus my salary is excellent and I need the extra money for when the baby arrives", Amy said trying to sound composed, but she could hardly hide her fears.

Sheldon felt a little disappointed to hear those words, it made him feel sad to know that, apparently, Amy thought she couldn't count on him.

"Amy, this is our baby, and… OUR baby has a mother and a father! You know I can provide everything you need. I don't think the money's the only problem. Besides, you're a brilliant neurobiologist, and your work stands out anywhere, whether in Stockholm or Pasadena. Please, tell me the truth. How come you don't want to go back to Pasadena?", Sheldon questioned her. Amy felt exposed. His blue eyes were able to pass completely through her soul.

"The truth is ... I'm scared. I'm not ready to face so many changes in my life. I'm afraid to tell my mother, and terrified to tell your mom; and there's so much more!. I thought you were the one who had troubles adjusting to changes, but it turns out that I can't handle this situation. I'm sorry!", Amy replied sincerely.

"Amy, everything's going to be fine. I must confess I'm afraid too, but… do you realize that one day our mothers will find out about our baby? Even if we decide to live in Stockholm, Mrs. Mary Cooper has better sense of smell than a bloodhound. I don't think we can hide this for too long". Sheldon told Amy as he took her hand. "Besides, I'm not going back to Pasadena without you".

Amy pressed her lips to Sheldon's in a tender kiss. "Yes, I guess everything is going to be okay, right?" She finally said.

"Come, let's go to bed! Did you know that babies have periods of higher growth during their mother's sleep?", Sheldon affirmed.

After brushing her teeth again, Amy went back to bed and fell asleep quickly, surrounded by his boyfriend's arms. Sheldon gently placed his left hand on Amy's belly, as he had done before. He sighed deeply; it will be a long night, thinking about all the changes in their lives.

"I'll have to ask for an extension of my days off. I haven't taken a vacation for a while. Maybe I can take a month off work. I hope it's not a problem. I'll talk to Siebert tomorrow." Sheldon sighed heavily. "Oh, my! How can I tell my mom? And… my Meemaw?" Sheldon's mind couldn't stop working, even for a moment.

The next day, Leonard and Penny met Raj, Howard and Bernadette for dinner at his apartment.

Raj took a few sips of his beer; as usual he needed alcohol to interact with women. Sadly, that's the way things were.

"Have you guys had any news of Sheldon and Amy?", Raj asked curiously.

"I haven't heard about them since Sheldon left; and I'm not complaining, that is somewhat reassuring. Can you feel the peace in this apartment? It's nice having Sheldon several miles away", Howard was kidding.

Penny and Leonard looked at each other and smiled with complicity. Of course they had news of Sheldon and Amy.

"Well ... as far as we know; Sheldon arrived in Stockholm, yesterday, then he met Amy and for a reason that I couldn't understand, Sheldon broke his right hand", Leonard informed his friends.

"Poor Sheldon, I hope he's fine! Although I'm sure Amy's taking care of him", Bernadette smiled.

"Oh, Leonard… we almost forgot to tell them!" Penny made a brief pause. "Amy is pregnant!. Are you gonna eat all your onion rings?", Penny asked Leonard with a relaxed tone.

"No way!, This is unbelievable!", Raj was shouting.

"Did you just say that Amy's pregnant?, I think I haven't heard you correctly", Bernadette asked Penny.

"Yes, that's exactly what I said!", Penny gladly replied.

"Amy's having a baby!, Leonard said smiling.

"Amy's having a baby... a baby, with Sheldon?" Howard asked completely befuddled and breathing hard. "Sheldon's the father?".

"Yes Howard, of course, Sheldon's the father!. Who else could to be the father of Amy's baby?", Bernadette yelled in a voice that sounded disturbingly similar to Howard's mother. "Those are great news! I'm so happy for them!", Bernadette said with her usual voice.

Penny looked on her phone, for the pictures of the ultrasounds that Amy sent her. Auntie Penny couldn't help but smile when she showed the pictures to everyone.

"Believe it or not; these are the first pictures of the Shamy Baby. Amy's seven weeks and two days pregnant", Penny was giggling like a little girl.

"Aw!, Howard look at the baby!, Raj was about to cry. "It's so tiny!".

"Yeah, and it's the living proof that Sheldon Cooper had sex!, Ha ha!", Howard joked.

After dinner Bernadette and Howard went home. Howard was unusually quiet.

"Howie, What's wrong?, Bernadette asked him.

"Everything's fine! I was just thinking about Sheldon and Amy. I can't believe they're going to have a baby", Howard replied, his eyes looked glassy.

"I know, it's totally unexpected!. I'm so happy for them. I can't imagine Sheldon's face when Amy told him", Bernadette continued.

"I must say that I always thought you and I would be the first ones having a baby within our group. I won't lie, I'm a little upset about this, Howard confessed.

"Howard, whatever's to happen will happen. We just have tried for a couple of months. You'll see that sooner than you think we'll have a baby". Bernie attempted to comfort her husband. "Can you imagine our child?"

"Yeah! The little nerd that Sheldon and Amy are having, will need someone to look after him or her in school, right?", Howard laughed sincerely. Bernadette kissed him on his cheek.

Fifteen days had passed since Sheldon arrived in Sweden, and despite the considerable opposition from Dr. Siebert; Sheldon managed to extend his period of stay in Stockholm for another month. Sheldon started to work with Kripke and Alex Jensen via teleconference; this arrangement gave him the opportunity to take care of Amy and their baby.

"Amy, I think you're not consuming the nutrients you need during pregnancy. I've been researching and, for instance, you should consume a liter, or four cups of milk a day to get all the calcium you need", Sheldon stated as he studied several articles on nutrition in pregnancy.

"Well, I don't think I can drink four cups of milk, and if I do, I guarantee you, that milk won't last in my stomach for too long", Amy felt nausea as she imagined herself drinking a liter of milk. "Yikes!"

"But… now that we are nine weeks pregnant, the baby's bones are developing, and you need calcium for the process", Sheldon continued. "Did you know that, he or she, is no longer an embryo but a fetus?; our baby already has eyelids and knees", Sheldon was grinning. "Knees!".

During these fifteen days, Sheldon had taken care of everything. He couldn't have done a better job. Amy couldn't complain, but at times, she considered Sheldon was somewhat overprotective.

"Yes, nine weeks and three days, and I can't wait to have our baby in my arms", Amy told Sheldon.

"Me neither, but we still have to wait. We better go now, I don't want to be late, we have a doctor's appointment in an hour" , Sheldon rose from his chair, he helped Amy to get up from the couch.

It was a bright and sunny day in Stockholm. Summer was coming; it was the first week of June and therefore the days were longer, with more hours of sunlight. Sheldon and Amy took a cab; they had an appointment with Dr. Martina Lundqvist. It was their first prenatal visit since the emergency check up that Amy had two weeks ago.

"Hey Amy! Hey Sheldon!", Martina greeted them as they entered her office. Martina was a tall, young woman, with her red hair in a French braid and her beautiful green eyes, shining behind her thick framed glasses.

"Hello Martina!", Amy and Sheldon saluted her.

"How are you feeling today?", Martina asked Amy. "Let's see, how far along are you?"

"Nine weeks and three days, fortunately everything seems to be fine. The pain's almost gone, and the bleeding ceased completely, but the nausea persists", Sheldon replied immediately.

"Well, I was asking Amy, but it's good to know that everything's fine", Martina smiled; it was obvious that Sheldon was concerned for Amy's wellbeing.

"Yes, as Sheldon told you the bleeding stopped completely; I just feel pain occasionally, and it's more like a mild cramp. But the nausea is killing me, and it's not only morning sickness, it's all day long sickness", Amy told Martina.

"Amy's nauseated and vomits several times a day, I think she might be suffering from Hyperemesis gravidarum. I'm concerned that Amy is not getting enough nutrients four our baby's development", Sheldon stated. "In addition, Amy plans to return to the lab tomorrow if you authorize her".

"Hyperemesis gravidarum? No, I don't feel that bad! I can eat small portions of food. Seriously, I'll be fine." Amy stared at Martina as if she was trying to convince her to let her go back to work.

"No, this isn't hyperemesis gravidarum! I think you'll have these symptoms at least for the first three months of your pregnancy. I don't see any problem for you to return to your normal activities. Martina informed them. "Just to check that everything is fine, you need a new ultrasound".

Amy put on a white hospital gown, behind a screen, and then she lay on the examination bed. Although she had an ultrasound before, she was nervous like the first time. Sheldon tried to remain calm, but he was paralyzed as a statue.

"And here's your baby!" Martina captured its image on the screen. "The baby has grown a lot, and now you can clearly distinguish the head and the rest of the body. Aw!, the baby's moving although you can't feel it yet." Martina loved her job, especially at moments like this.

"Is everything okay?", Sheldon asked with a lump in his throat.

"Yes, of course, and now the baby's heartbeats are even stronger".

"I'll never get tired of this sound", Amy was holding Sheldon's hand as tears escaped from her eyes.

Martina prescribed Amy a medication for her nausea and prenatal vitamins; she also gave them some recommendations to prevent morning sickness. Amy and Sheldon were ready to leave the office, they said goodbye to Martina.

"Wait a minute; if you want I could drive you home. You're my last patients today, and I know, you're living in the same building as Mattias. I'd like to drop by and say hello to him.", Martina mentioned casually.

"That would be very convenient for us, thanks Martina", Sheldon replied.

"Yes, thank you... could I ask you one more question before we go?", Amy looked at Martina.

"Yes, no problem. Ask me anything!"

"I can resume my normal activities at work and at home, right?", Amy asked the doctor.

"Yes, like I said before, I don't see any problem", Martina answered.

"And, among my usual activities can I include... coitus?", Amy asked naughtily as she saw the astonished gaze of Sheldon.

"Oh, I would say yes, you can!" Martina laughed.

"I just wanted to make sure that everything is fine", Amy winked mischievously.

A.N.: I know I make mistakes, but I'm trying to do a better job. Thanks for your reviews!