6 weeks later
It was now the third week of September, it was Sunday morning and Amy and Sheldon were talking to the children at breakfast time about their plans to go away for a couple of days
"Mommy and Daddy will be back on Tuesday night but Uncle George will look after you tonight and Nanny will have you tomorrow is that ok? Asked Amy to Marie and Richard
"Yes mommy, is Tasha coming as well? Asked Marie
"And Archie" chipped in Richard
"Yes Tasha is coming and I can ask if Archie can have a sleepover" replied Amy
"Mommy where are you going? Asked Marie again
"I have to give a speech at a University in Boston"
"What kind of speech? Asked Marie
"It's just to do with my work really, I was invited there"
"Why is Daddy going then? Asked Marie again
"Because I will be there to support Amy, it's what couples do" replied Sheldon
"Daddy can I have a cuddle?" asked Mary clambering on to Sheldon's lap, then making herself comfortable on him and resting her head on his chest
"I think you already are!" replied Sheldon putting his arms around her and kissing her head
"Daddy can you call us on computer? Asked Marie
"What do you mean? asked Sheldon
"I think she means Skype them when we get to Boston, is that what you mean Marie? Asked Amy looking at Marie and getting a head nod in confirmation
Later that day they arrived at Boston airport just after 7pm, Professor McDonald picked them up and drove them to his house where Sheldon and Amy would be staying for the two nights and the next day once they were at the University, Sheldon and Amy were sitting together backstage, Amy was feeling excited but nervous, Sheldon was doing his best to ease her nerves
"Amy you love speaking to students, you will be fine and I will be sitting in the front row, so just look at me if you feel overwhelmed"
"Thank you Sheldon" replied Amy as her phone beeped with a message
"Oh Bernie's had the baby, it was due last week so I bet she is relieved" said Amy
"Yes, did they send a picture?
"No I shall ask them now but I will have to turn my phone off for the speech" said Amy looking through her prepared speech and memorizing what she had to say, she could hear other guest speakers talking and knew she only had a few minutes left to wait, Sheldon stood up with her and gave her a reassuring hug and a sweet kiss and quickly walked out to the main seating area and sat down next to Professor McDonald
Amy waited until her name was called and then entered the stage and looked at the University grad students who were taking the Neuroscience classes, she loved talking to students more than anything
"Hello to you all, first off I would like to thank Harvard and Professor McDonald for inviting me here to speak to you all, I would also like to thank my Husband Dr Sheldon Cooper for coming with me to support me for the next two days. I was in your position many years ago and I know how scary it can be starting afresh at University but I am here to tell you all that that with a bit of hard work and graft, you can achieve anything you want"
Amy continued on with her prepared speech for another 10 minutes and at the end she was given a standing ovation and asked if anybody had questions which she answered for a few more minutes before the students were asked to leave the hall, Amy made her way down the steps to where Sheldon was standing beaming at her with Professor McDonald
"Amy you were fantastic, I think you should go on speaking tours" replied Professor McDonald
"Well I don't know about that, all I know is I much prefer talking to a room full of students than I do with older experienced scientists" replied Amy
"Yes I used to feel like that but since I have got older, I find I am no longer intimidated by my peers" replied Professor McDonald
"Amy I so proud of you" said Sheldon giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek
"Ok Amy after lunch I have arranged for you to give a lecture and demonstration of your work, we currently have a monkey addiction study going on ourselves and we would like you to do something you have done before with them, you remember when you tested their baseline fears?
"Yes of course, in fact I have everything I need on my laptop to do so" replied Amy
"Excellent, Dr Cooper would you be interested in giving a talk of sorts regarding your work? I can take you to the physics department"
"Oh no thank you, its bad enough I have to do it at my own University let alone somewhere else, no offence" replied Sheldon shuddering at the thought
"None taken, I guess you would like to support Amy"
"Ok, I shall leave you two alone as I have a lecture to give, unless you want to watch?
"Oh sure, what time is it starting? Asked Amy
"In 15 minutes"
"Sure we will come with you now" replied Amy after a look with Sheldon and following him
At lunchtime Amy and Sheldon went out to the University car park to get some space from everybody and also to Skype with Bernadette and Howard who had now returned home after the birth of baby David, they found a picnic bench to sit on and Amy rang their Skype
"Hi Bernie" said Amy on seeing on her
"Hi Amy, thanks for your earlier message, how did the speech go?
"Oh it was fantastic but never mind that, congratulations to you two, how was the birth?
"Oh it was painful but I am just glad he is here now" replied Bernadette lifting the baby and showing them
"Very cute, he looks just like Howard" replied Amy
"What time are you due back tomorrow? Asked Howard
"Probably around 6" replied Amy
"You can stop by on the way home if you like to see David"
"Of course, we would be delighted to, Leonard is picking us up from the airport so we can ask him then" replied Sheldon
"Well we were going to save everybody coming over until tomorrow anyway, Rose is very excited and Rebecca too" replied Bernadette as David started whimpering "Oh he is due a feed so I better give him what he wants" said Bernadette
"Ok bye and congratulations again" said Amy signing off
"Shall we skype the kids? Asked Sheldon
"I think leave it until tonight" replied Amy shutting her laptop and leaning against Sheldon, he put his arm around her and kissed her briefly
"Seeing as we have a bit of free time, shall we talk about Christmas? Leonard and Penny are holding it this year and I would like to invite Mom, Missy and Meemaw"
"Yes I agree"
"How are you feeling about the demonstration this afternoon?
"I am looking forward to it, this is what I do best after all" replied Amy
Amy gave her demonstration to the students and later on that day back at Professor McDonald's house he had a request for Amy
"Amy would you ever consider coming here every September to talk to the students? The board of directors here originally asked me if I could persuade you to move to Boston and teach here full time but I don't think you would do that would you?
"Oh, well I didn't see that coming, I would be delighted to come every September but I am very happy at Caltech, I am honoured that people want me here full time though, maybe in the future when the kids are older" replied Amy
"Maybe in the future? Amy what happened to us always making decisions together? Exclaimed Sheldon glaring at her
"Sheldon I did say maybe and that is all it is" replied Amy giving him a little kiss
"Sorry to cause a domestic there, now dinner will be served shortly, my housemaid is cooking it now" said Professor McDonald
The next day Amy had an early morning lecture and by 12pm they were boarding the flight back to LAX and Leonard picked them up from the airport
"Hey you two, your mom had an invitation to see a friend, so I took Marie and Richard to Bernadette's house on the way here, Penny is there as well so they are not alone" said Leonard driving off after the bags were packing into the boot
"Oh good thanks, were they ok? Asked Amy
"Yes they were good as always, how was everything at Harvard?
"Oh it was fantastic, they have invited me back every September to do the same thing for the incoming students"
"You forgot to tell Leonard about them asking you to work there full time" chipped in Sheldon
"Really? What did you say to that? Asked Leonard
"I said no for now, I am very happy here"
"Well we would miss you all if you went" replied Leonard
30 minutes later they pulled up outside Bernadette and Howard's house, Marie was in the front garden with George waiting for Amy and Sheldon
"Mommy, daddy" shouted Marie running up to them
"Hello Marie, how are you doing? Asked Amy picking her up to cuddle her and putting her down again
"New baby mommy" said Marie holding her arms out for Sheldon to pick her up
"I know, I saw him on the computer yesterday, also how come my car is here? Asked Amy noticing it
"Oh that was Natasha, we guessed you would need to drive back with the kids" replied George
"Good thinking! Replied Amy as she entered the house and saw everybody there minus Raj and Kelly
"Hi Ames" said Penny passing David to her
"Oh isn't he adorable" said Amy giving the baby a little kiss on the head, then giving Bernadette and Howard hugs and then noticing a school brochure on the coffee table
"Are you sending Rose to school already? Asked Amy
"No we are thinking of which school to send her to, she will be 5 next year and starting in school in September so we need to get our applications in fast" replied Bernadette
"Will Marie be starting the same time? Asked Sheldon to Amy
"No and she wouldn't be in the same year as Rose either, she will start the following year with Archie" replied Amy
"Amy seeing as you are here, I have to ask a favour" said Penny
"Sure go ahead?
"Raj and I have to go to New York on Friday to see Sarah at Bloomingdales just to renegotiate the collections around the States, the contract for them is ending at the end of September so we need to sort that out, Leonard coming with us so would you mind having Archie and Corey?
"Of course we will be happy to, how's the collection going anyway?
"It's been very successful, we as a company were already doing great but this has made it even better" replied Penny
"You and Raj must be millionaires by now" asked Howard
"Howard! That's rude" said Bernadette
"Bernie its ok, for the record the company is doing very well financially"
"But are you millionaires yet" continued Howard and getting a clip round the head from Bernadette
"Howard you are persistent but Raj and I originally agreed a deal of 50/50 profits but we later also agreed that we would take home a lesser shared amount each month and leave the remainder in the bank for products and wages" replied Penny
"You have enough to live on though? Asked Amy this time
"Oh of course, I can take whatever I like out of the account but I don't mainly because I don't need to" replied Penny as a knock at the door came, Howard went to answer it and returned with Raj, Kelly, Chandra and Anita
"Hi, sorry we are late but we had an appointment to attend to" said Raj looking at Kelly and smirking
"What sort of appointment? Asked Penny who noticed the look
"Just the sort where you find out that you are having another baby, sorry to steal your thunder Bernie" said Kelly looking very happy
"Forget about it and congratulations, how far gone are you? Asked Bernadette giving them both hugs
"We are already 12 weeks but I have been spotting randomly throughout but the doctor confirmed at the scan today that everything is now ok" replied Kelly
"Penny I have insisted that Kelly stops work for a couple of months to rest as well, she has this funny notion that she wants to work all the time, even though I can provide for all of us" said Raj
"Raj you know I like working and its also to prove to your parents that I am not a gold digger" said Kelly
"I think they know that by now" replied Raj
"Sure that's fine, as long as you and the baby are ok that's good" replied Penny jumping into the conversation
"I think a double celebration is called for" said Howard coming back into the room with two bottles of champagne and passing everybody but Kelly a glass
"Are you two still going to India at Christmas? Asked Leonard
"No and especially as Kelly has had problems with this one, my parents are going to come here instead" replied Raj
"Did you find out the babies sex as well? Asked Bernadette
"No the baby wasn't in a good position to see but we are going for monthly scans from now on so maybe next month we will see" replied Kelly
"Mommy" said Marie coming into the room
"Yes Marie?
"Can we go home yet?
"Why? What's the matter?
"My head hurts" replied Marie sitting on Amy's lap and holding her head
"Amy I have some junior dissolvable paracetomal if you want to give her some" said Bernadette
"Thanks, Sheldon will you go and get it from the kitchen please, Bernadette needs to rest, now Marie I will give you a little fizzy drink and hopefully the headache will go" said Amy cuddling her as Sheldon came back quickly with a glass, Marie tasted some of it and made a disgusted face
"Its yucky mommy"
"I know but it will make you feel better and if you like I will buy you a special treat tomorrow if you drink it" replied Amy, Marie gulped the drink down in one go and Amy sat her down on the sofa to rest for a few minutes
"Amy if you want to go please don't feel offended, Marie looks very tired" said Bernadette
"I think we will" replied Amy getting up and saying goodbye to everybody, she strapped Marie into the car seat as Sheldon did the same for Richard and they drove home
The next morning Marie's headache had spread to a cold and she was in bed between her and Sheldon who was also complaining of feeling unwell and had been sneezing since he woke up
"Amy can you make me some chicken soup with little stars for lunch please? Asked Sheldon sniffing
"I am supposed to be working but seeing as you and Marie both appear to be unwell I will look after you both for the day although I don't remember anything about this in our wedding vows" said Amy going downstairs and making Sheldon a cup of tea and getting a cold flannel for Marie
"Mommy my nose hurts" complained Marie
"Yes it would do and you know what would make things better, if you both came downstairs and lay down on the sofas so I don't have to keep running up and down all the day" said Amy
"Amy I looked after you when you recovered from your operations, so I think you can return the favour" said Sheldon as he still lay in bed with the duvet wrapped around him
"I was joking" said Amy kissing him on the forehead and going downstairs to answer the door to Penny who was dropping Archie and Corey off
"Hey Ames"
"Hi Penny, I think it would be best if my mom looks after your two and Richard next door, Sheldon and Marie have colds and are refusing to get out of bed"
"Oh sure, is Richard ready?
"Yes I will just get him"
"Also Sheldon will probably need you to sing to him and rub vaporub on his chest, it might work for Marie as well" said Penny as she followed Amy into the lounge as she collected Richard and walked him round to Penny's house
"Hi Leonard, Sheldon is sick so not coming to work" said Amy when she saw him
"Oh good luck with that" replied Leonard
Amy returned back next door and carried Marie downstairs to the smaller sofa and put some childrens tv program on for her then went back to Sheldon who had dozed off
"Sheldon wake up" said Amy shaking his arm
"What?
"I have some vaporub if you want me to rub some on your chest?
"Thank you, Amy you are the best" replied Sheldon taking his top off as Amy started to rub the stuff on him
"How's that? Asked Amy as she continued to rub the stuff on his chest
"Its very nice and especially the way you are circling your fingers around" replied Sheldon giving Amy a familiar look which she decided to ignore
"Right good, now perhaps you can come downstairs, I can get the spare duvet and you can lay on the sofa like I asked please" said Amy trying to shift him
"Can I still have chicken soup?
"Yes of course"
"Thanks Amy" replied Sheldon giving her a hug and trying to kiss her
"Yes that's enough of that, I don't want to get what you have thank you and I will be sleeping in the spare room tonight because of that"
By the end of day Amy was exhausted from running around after Sheldon who made hourly requests for tea and more chest rubbing, Marie on spotting her father doing this, also exploited the situation, Amy did as she said and slept in the spare room and by the next day both Marie and Sheldon were feeling better enough that Amy could do some work in the office
The following weekend both Sheldon and Marie were better and Amy took care of Archie and Corey while Penny was in New York, she and Raj successfully negotiated the new contracts for the 4 stores for another year and returned home late on Sunday night
The weekend after everybody was invited to George and Natasha's apartment as it was her 30th birthday, he had ordered a selection of Pizza and Chinese food as decided to make an announcement once they were all there
"Thanks for coming everybody, as well as it being Natasha's birthday I do have a question for her" said George going down on one knee in front of Natasha and producing an open box
"Natasha I am not good with words but I love you very much, will you marry me? Asked George as everybody gasped at the sight of the ring which was a Tiffany Diamond Grace ring and then waited for Natasha's answer
There was a long silence while she looked at the ring, then back at George
"Yes" replied Natasha giving George a kiss and a hug
"By the way I did things the correct way, I Skyped your dad and asked for his approval before asking you" said George as he put the ring on Natashas finger
"So that's why you asked for his Skype then" said Penny
"Yes"
"Well I would say welcome to the family but you are already in the family" said Penny again giving her sister a hug and then George, Sheldon and Amy joined in
"Hey bestie, we are almost related now" said Amy
"We are and we will be even more so if these two have kids" said Penny laughing at the shocked expression on Natasha and Georges face as her words sunk in
Next chapter up soon