If you were to ask Sheldon what his favorite day of the week is, without hesitation, he would say Friday. If you were to ask him what his least favorite day of the week is, he would immediately answer Sunday. Asking him why would instantly get you a raised eyebrow and shake of his head.
Friday has always been his favorite day of the week- the last day of the school, and later, work week, retro video game night, and Chinese food with his friends. Friday has come to mean something else in the last year- Amy comes home from Stanford, and for 39 hours, all is right in Sheldon's world. After picking Amy up at LAX, they go home, where Sheldon has prepared dinner (usually consisting of something spicy for Amy and spaghetti and hot dogs for himself), and then Amy will go across the hall for exactly 90 minutes as the guys come into 4A for video game night. After 90 minutes, Sheldon kicks them out, goes across the hall, gives Amy "the look," and they come home where they do something Amy refers to as, "Netflix and chill." He's not sure why she can't just say that they pretend to watch a movie while making out on the couch.
Sunday mornings have their own routine too. Every Sunday morning for the past year, Sheldon wakes up at 6:15 am, rolls over and spoons Amy. Since April, this has included his hand resting on her swollen belly, protecting their unborn child. He then waits for her to wake up around 7:30, and they either make love or more recently since Amy's doctor recommended they no longer engage in sexual activity, Sheldon will place the doppler machine upon Amy's abdomen and they listen to the baby's heartbeat until Amy's growling stomach signals that it is time for Sheldon to go make breakfast- chocolate chip pancakes. Amy will shower and finish her packing while Sheldon makes breakfast.
The unspoken rule during breakfast is that they always keep conversation light- Factual Truths is off limits, and so is any talk of work, stories about what Amy has missed during the week, or any discussion of their relationship. The last few minutes they spend together each week is instead filled with banal chit-chat- discussion of a scientific principle, movies they both want to see, a magazine article one of them recently read or Counterfactuals.
After breakfast, Amy does one last check to make sure she didn't leave anything important behind, and then he wraps his arms around her as she fights back tears, whispers, "I love you, I miss you, I support you," in her ear and they kiss until Amy inevitably starts sobbing and he has to hold her while she composes herself. He'll drop to his knees to kiss the baby, then off they go to the airport. She won't allow him to go in to see her off- another rule. He's come to loathe Amy's rules.
It's Sunday morning and the last time Amy will leave his arms, and their home, for her final full week at Stanford before she goes on maternity leave. Rolling over without opening his eyes, Sheldon reaches out for Amy, and cocoons himself around her.
She hates Sunday mornings. She hates looking into her husband's eyes and seeing the unspoken plea, "please don't go." He'd never voice that request aloud- in fact, he encouraged her to take the position in the first place; but every Sunday morning, she looks into his soulful azure eyes and she sees it. The past year has been difficult for them, and she is thankful she has one week left before she goes on maternity leave. Sighing contentedly, Amy leans back further into Sheldon and closes her eyes.
"Good morning," she sleepily mumbles. "You've been awake for a while."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Sheldon apologizes as he kisses the top of her head.
"You didn't. I'm regretting that second helping of chicken vindaloo," Amy explains.
Rolling back over in order to reach his nightstand, Sheldon retrieves the bottle of antacid tablets and shakes out a handful, making sure he gets two yellow ones for Amy, her favorite flavor, before handing them to her and putting the remaining tablets back in the bottle.
"Do you need to sit up?" Sheldon wonders as he pops on his slippers in order to go get a glass of water for Amy to rinse her mouth.
"I should, but I really want to snuggle with you," Amy requests.
"I'll be right back," Sheldon reassures as he goes to get water for Amy.
Coming back into the room, Sheldon hands the water to Amy then requests that she scoot towards the end of the bed.
"I'm nine months pregnant. There will be no 'scooting," Amy insists as she sits up.
"I want you to sit up in order to relieve the acid reflux and you want to snuggle. In order for both of us to get what we want, you should sit between my legs and lean against my chest," Sheldon explains as he holds his hands out for Amy to grab onto as she adjusts herself.
"Truth? Train of thought, " Amy requests after settling into his arms, sensing that something is on Sheldon's mind.
"You are 4 weeks from your due date. As it is not an accurate calculation of the day the baby will be born, realistically, you could go into labor in as soon as 14 days or as long as 6 weeks. We're not ready. We have not purchased a single item for the baby," Sheldon worries.
"I'm going shopping with Penny and Bernadette next weekend," Amy explains. "It feels like we're unprepared because I only have 39 hours a week with you and I don't want to spend that time shopping."
"I'm going with you," Sheldon demands, leaving zero room for argument. "Get the Ipad. We need to research and decide what we are purchasing and from where."
"I didn't think you'd want to spend all day shopping with us," Amy replies, shocked and pleased by his demand.
"Did you really expect me to turn you gals loose with my credit card?" Sheldon teases as he kisses the top of her head.
"Yes," Amy replies, mock hurt tinging her voice. "We don't need much- clothing and diapers mostly. In Finland, new parents receive a gift box, which doubles as a bed for the newborn child. We could use a laundry basket," she jokes.
"Amy, this isn't funny. We are completely unprepared! By this point in her pregnancy, Missy had the nursery fully prepared and more clothes than the kid could wear in a hundred lifetimes! We haven't discussed names, bottle or breastfed, if we're using disposable or cloth diapers, your birthing plan, cribs, car seats, strollers, to vaccinate or not to vaccinate, found a pediatrician, a daycare, preschools...oh, good Lord," Sheldon mutters as he starts panicking.
Reaching over to her night stand, Amy grabs the doppler from its spot by her lamp and pushes Sheldon's hand off of her so she can lift her t-shirt. Turning on the machine, Amy places the wand upon her stomach and moves it around for a few seconds before the gentle woosh-woosh-woosh of the baby's heartbeat fills the room, instantly silencing its worrying Daddy as a huge grin lights up his face.
"Say hi, Daddy. I love you," Amy says to the baby.
Taking the wand from Amy, Sheldon holds it to her stomach as he sighs contentedly and leans further back against the headboard.
"I love that sound. It's like a train," Sheldon whispers.
"I know that you fall asleep listening to the baby's heartbeat every night," Amy confesses.
"How?" Sheldon wonders.
"I used your phone a few months ago to call mine when I misplaced it. When I unlocked your phone, it was still loaded onto your playlist where the only tracks were "Baby Cooper's heartbeat May 2016, June 2016, July 2016 and so on," She explains. "It appears that you secretly recorded every time we've heard the baby's heartbeat during my checkups."
"Drats. That was supposed to be my secret," Sheldon mumbles under his breath.
"It's cute, Sheldon. I haven't told anyone. That's just between us. I've already made a list... several revised lists of everything we need and where it will be purchased from," Amy reassures.
"Thank you," he whispers as he kisses the top of her head again.
"Everything is about to change forever. Are you scared?" Amy wonders.
"I'm a little scared... but mostly happy and excited. How about you?" he wonders.
"The same. I know nothing about babies," She worries.
"For the first few months, all it will do is eat, sleep, cry and soil itself. As long as we care for its basic needs, and avoid pressing the self-destruct button, it should be easy," Sheldon reasons.
"Self-destruct button?" Amy asks with a hint of laughter tinging her voice.
"The infant's fontanel, or soft spot. I'm borrowing Howard's term for it. It was supposed to remain our secret, but all 6 of us have been preparing by reading What to Expect when You're Expecting and we took a prenatal class from the hospital together," Sheldon explains as Amy laughs.
"You're just full of surprises, Sheldon Cooper," Amy praises as she turns her head for a soft kiss.
"Amy, I want to be in the room with you, but I'm scared that with the blood and... icky stuff... I may pass out," Sheldon confesses in the barest whisper.
"I want you in the room when I give birth, Sheldon, and I will be extremely disappointed if you're not, but I do understand you have a valid medical reason for not being there," Amy reassures. "I don't want you watching... down there... because you will never want to touch me again by the time this is all over."
"I can assure you that will never happen," Sheldon replies, "but we're in agreement, I don't want to look and you don't want me looking."
With a sudden, sharp kick from the baby, the wand goes flying out of Sheldon's hand and lands a few feet away on the bed, bringing their attention back to enjoying the moment and the little time they have left together.
"Someone says stop spying on me!" Amy exclaims as she laughs.
"It's strong," Sheldon comments as he picks up the doppler and places it back on Amy's stomach.
"Just like Daddy," Amy gushes.
Pulling into the expectant mother's parking spot, Sheldon kills the engine before looking over at his visibly miserable wife in the passenger seat. Reaching into the insulated black and red Trader Joe's bag behind her seat, he retrieves a bottle of orange Gatorade for Amy.
"Thanks," Amy murmurs with a thankful smile as she downs most of the Gatorade in six large gulps. "Remind me what's on our list from this store?"
"The car seat and stroller, your breast pump, the diaper bag, the swing, and the bathtub," Sheldon rattles off from memory. "Stay right there," he warns as Amy starts to reach to open her car door.
Fully reprimanded, Amy holds up her hands in surrender and waits for her husband to circle the car to open the door for her. Grabbing both of Amy's hands, Sheldon helps pull Amy up out of the car, before reaching in to grab her purse, slinging the black strap around his shoulders. He double clicks the car alarm button to lock the door, sticking the key in his back pocket, then takes five steps to catch up with Amy.
"I don't know how we're going to get all of this home, never mind up four flights of stairs," Amy wonders as she slowly waddles towards Penny, Leonard, Bernadette, Howard, and Raj, who are waiting for them at the entryway.
"Why do you think I let the pack mules come along?" Sheldon asks as they approach their friends.
"I heard that!" Penny exclaims as she pitches her Starbucks cup into the garbage and they follow Sheldon and Amy into the store.
Barely getting through the doors, Sheldon and Amy freeze as they hear Raj exclaim, "Oh my goodness! That is too adorable!"
"Now hold on," Sheldon reprimands as he goes to see what all of the commotion is all about, "As we do not yet know the child to be's gender, it is a little premature to be purchasing clothing."
"But this is too cute!" Penny chimes in as she holds up the black t-shirt with, "Mad Scientist in Training" written in lime green block letters.
"It is pretty cute," Amy decides as she attempts to take it from Penny to place into the cart.
"Auntie Penny is getting it for Baby Shamy," Penny decides.
"Let's get the 3-6 month size so that the baby can grow into it," Leonard suggests. "Oh look, pink Super Girl onesies!"
"Did you see the Rogue One stuff at the front of the store? I think Uncle Howie is buying Baby Shamy a lightsaber before we leave the store today!"
"Can't even hold its head up, but it's going to own a lightsaber," Bernadette snarks as she shakes her head.
"You're going to condone this blatant disregard for our pre-established rules of only buying gender neutral items until after the baby's birth?" Sheldon questions of Amy.
"Yes," Amy replies smugly as she sees a rack of white onesies which have been marked down to 75% off and goes over to select the appropriate sizes. "
"You can't win them all, Buddy," Leonard empathizes with his friend.
"Since marrying and impregnating Amy, I can't win any of them," Sheldon gripes, causing Howard and Leonard to snort as they attempt to hold back laughter.
"Is there anything in this store that you can pick out without Amy's input?" Leonard wonders.
"She said I could pick the baby's diaper bag," Sheldon perks up, "and, if I'm 'not too much of a handful' I get a new Lego set."
"They have a new robotic T-rex demo in aisle 12, or there's the new Madden demo in aisle 20," a dad passing by with his very recently born child strapped to his chest in a carrier shares as he walks by.
"To the dinosaur!" all of the guys, minus Sheldon, exclaim.
"Do you ever think about having one?" Penny asks Bernadette as they wait for Amy to finish using the restroom.
"I already have two, I don't need another one," Bernadette points out as she sees Howard and Stewart excitedly chatting about the toy dinosaur. "How about you guys?"
"I don't know, maybe. We've never really talked about it in anything more than a 'someday' hypothetical sense," Penny explains. "Out of all of us, I thought that Sheldon and Amy would be the last ones to procreate."
"Me too," Bernadette confesses. "I can't believe how excited Sheldon is. He's going to be a good dad."
"I think so too. Have they told you what they're having?" Penny wonders.
"No. Do you know?" Bernadette questions.
"No. Apparently Amy's going old school. I just thought maybe they know but aren't telling us."
"We don't know," Amy reassures as she walks out of the restroom. Looking around for Sheldon, she spots him at the baby monitors with two boxes flipped over so he can compare specifications.
"We forgot about baby monitors," Sheldon points out without looking up.
"I don't think it's necessary. With how small our apartment is, if we can't hear our child crying, we are terrible parents," Amy decides.
"But it's included on all of the lists of necessary items to have for the nursery," Sheldon argues. "Now, the range on the white box is better, but the blue box comes with 2 parent monitors so we could have one in our bedroom and one in the living room. There's also a camera option on the yellow box, however, I don't know how I feel about having our baby's monitor running through WiFi. This one has an option to link it to our phones..."
"Is this going to turn into our Xbox or PS4 fiasco?" Amy questions.
"Pick one before it does," Sheldon requests, feeling slightly overwhelmed by the choices and being unprepared.
"I like the idea of having two monitors and agree with you about not wanting cameras on our child," Amy decides as she places the appropriate box into their shopping cart.
Behind that box, somebody placed a Cat in the Hat mobile, which Sheldon smiles at as he picks it up to show Amy.
"Isn't that cute?" Sheldon asks her as he places it into their cart.
"I thought we were going to decorate the nursery in trains if we have a boy and butterflies if we have a girl?" Amy questions as she takes the mobile out of the cart to look closer at it. "I've already purchased the white sheets for the crib, as we agreed to."
"I thought it was still Winnie the Pooh?" Bernadette questions, having already purchased several themed items for the baby.
"They have a whole section of Dr. Suess nursery sets," Penny points out, "but they seem a little gender specific."
"I'm glad I budgeted away extra money for impulse purchases," Amy mumbles to herself. "Should we go look?"
Reaching for Amy's hand, Sheldon allows Penny to push the shopping cart and lead the way over to the bedding sets, where they see a wide assortment of butterfly, Disney, and gender neutral selections. They find two Dr. Seuss sets left, one in baby blue, clearly for a boy, and the other in a soft pink, definitely for a girl.
"What do you think?" Amy asks Sheldon.
"I have no preference as to the theme for the nursery. My concerns related to the nursery are the baby's safety and your comfort as you will be spending a majority of your time in there. I want you to test the rocking chairs next," Sheldon requests as he sees a row of them lined up behind them. "Do you like the Dr. Suess theme or would you rather choose something else?"
"I love the Dr. Suess theme," Amy confirms, "and as you read Dr. Suess to the baby every night, it makes sense for us to continue with that in the nursery. Do we purchase both and return a set once we have the baby?"
"As you wish," Sheldon agrees, getting his smile from Amy.
"You can register for the sets you like now and receive a discount for anything you purchase off of your registry list after the baby is born," a salesperson points out as she overheard the conversation. "It sounds like you don't know what you're having yet?"
"No, we want to be surprised," Amy confirms.
"What are you hoping for?" Penny asks.
"Officially, I have no gender preference. Unofficially, as my brother pointed out, if we have a boy we only have to worry about one penis, whereas, if we have a girl, we will need to worry about every penis in the Los Angeles Metro area," Amy explains as Penny, the sales person, and Bernadette laugh.
"Sheldon, do you have a gender preference?" Bernadette wonders as they walk over to the bedding sets.
"No. All I want are a healthy, happy baby and Mommy," Sheldon shares as he smiles and winks at Amy.