Chapter 35
"Your doctor is taking too much time with his other patients. Our appointment should've started three minutes ago". Sheldon was nervously fidgeting with the handle of his messenger bag. He was feeling anxious for their visit to the doctor.
During their last ultrasound, at the 16th week of pregnancy, the doctor informed them that one of the babies (the one at the left side of the uterus) was a boy, with 100% accuracy, and although the baby that was on the right side, seemed to be a boy too, they had just a 95% accuracy. And that 5% likelihood of having a girl instead of a boy was a lot for Sheldon.
Now at the 23th week of pregnancy, Sheldon still had the feeling that their twins were actually a boy and a girl.
To be honest, Sheldon thought that a girl could give more balance to their family which, at the present moment had a testosterone overload, with so many boys. Amy didn't show a clear preference, she always said that her only concern was the wellbeing of both babies, not their gender. If their two babies were fine, everything was fine.
"Honey, I think our babies are as impatient as you are for their visit to the doctor, because they don't stop moving for even a minute." Amy took Sheldon's hand and placed it over her belly. "Can you feel it? It feels like they're fighting." Amy smiled tenderly. "These two little boys are like an earthquake. Nicky was so quiet."
"Hey! I hope that you two calm down a little bit before our appointment or the doctor won't be able to differentiate you and determine if Oliver is indeed a boy or a girl." Sheldon gently stroked Amy's belly, like asking the babies to behave accordingly to the situation.
"Look, it seems that we are next." Amy said to Sheldon when the door of the doctor's office opened. Sheldon and Amy rose from their chairs.
The patients with whom Dr. Bowen was spending more time than the usual for a prenatal visit, were Penny and Leonard. The huge and shiny smiles upon their faces as Penny and Leonard left the doctor's office, made their friends smile as well.
"How was it?" Sheldon asked Leonard with empathy. He knew how thrilling and overwhelming at the same time, looking at your first child on the ultrasound screen was.
"Everything was perfect. The girl is healthy and beautiful. She looks like Penny" Leonard sobbed; he was trying his best to stay calm and not burst into tears. He wanted to be strong, although everyone knew he was the sensitive one in his relationship.
"Did Leonard say… the girl?" Amy grinned happily. "Bestie, are you having a daughter?"
"Yes! I'm having a girl. The doctor just told us" Penny hugged Amy, they're moved by the exciting news. "And, by the way, her name isn't Katniss" Penny said to Leonard as she wiped some happy tears with the sleeve of her blouse.
Sheldon looked at his watch impatiently and even though he didn't want to finish that emotional scene, he had to do it, because he was dying to confirm his suspicions.
"Congratulations! You gave us excellent news! When we get home, we can talk about this and celebrate together. We are a little late for our appointment." Sheldon gave a friendly pat on Leonard's back, while Amy and Penny said goodbye affectionately.
Sheldon took Amy's hand and they walked together to Dr. Bowen's office. He greeted them kindly.
Melissa walked by the halls of Caltech displaying her impressive domain of high heels. Her hair, even blonder than the previous day, her elegant beauty and her defiant attitude, attracted the gazes of everyone around her.
Thinking of how rude Doctor Cooper had been, when she called him a few minutes ago, Melissa arrived Dr. Siebert's office, walking with a fast pace and trying to calm herself down. "Good afternoon!" she announced her presence.
"Melissa, I was waiting for you. What took you so long?" Dr. Siebert told her. "Did you talk to Dr. Cooper? Did you tell him that we have confirmed his lectures at MIT and Harvard and he must fly to Massachusetts tomorrow?" Caltech's President asked with concern.
"Umm, yes", answered Melissa with little conviction. "Yes, I talked to him". Melissa didn't inform Dr. Siebert that Sheldon hung up the phone so abruptly that Melissa didn't have time to tell him their plans to visit Harvard too.
"Very well, so I suppose that everything is ready for your trip" Siebert smiled, trusting in the efficiency of the PR specialist. "MIT and Harvard are very important to expose Dr. Cooper's work. I'm sure that the Nobel Prize is closer than ever. Dr. Cooper is one of the most optioned nominees to win it. Did you know it?
"Yes, of course I knew it", Melissa announced with a shrewd glance. "I just hope that he doesn't change his mind suddenly and decide not to go to Massachusetts. Dr. Cooper has to focus on winning the Nobel Prize. That must be his priority!" Melissa was already imagining herself with Sheldon in a trip to Stockholm to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics.
"Don't worry, Dr. Siebert! I'll take care of everything. I'll call him later, just to check the details of our travel." Melissa was confident; she knew she had the weapons to win any battle.
She was looking forward to their trip to Massachusetts, it would be a golden opportunity to be alone with Sheldon, and Melissa couldn't waste it.
"Doctor, please… Can you check again? Just to be sure" Sheldon asked Dr. Bowen "The babies are moving a lot and maybe you confused one with the other. That could happen, Right?"
"Love, the doctor already told us that both babies are boys. It's not necessary to check again. They are 23 weeks now and that's clearly noticeable. They're boys, we just saw it". Amy tried to reason with Sheldon. "It doesn't matter if we don't have a girl. We talked about this before."
"Yes, I know Thomas is clearly a boy, but I still have my doubts about Oliver; he is a little shy and it wasn't so obvious to me. I would like to check again. One more look, please!" With his eyes, Sheldon was begging Amy, although she couldn't do anything to transform Oliver into a girl.
"We can take another look at them. But I don't think it would change the result". Dr. Bowen was willing to collaborate with Sheldon.
"No, Dr. Bowen, that's not necessary." Amy shook her head. "Shelly, they're boys and that's it. We must be happy that everything is fine with the babies. Besides, the doctor has a lot of patients waiting for him. Come on, let's go home, we must get ready for your trip to Massachusetts. You have a flight to catch, tomorrow. Thank you for your time Dr. Bowen. See you, next month." Amy took Sheldon's hand and got up from the chair.
"See you soon", Sheldon said good bye too. "Next month we can confirm this result".
Sheldon and Amy walked to their car. Amy sat on the passenger seat and fastened her safety belt. Sheldon was about to start the car but, just before it, Amy touched him gently on the arm and told him:
"Sheldon, I know that you're feeling that our family is somewhat unbalanced or incomplete because we have three boys, but we don't have a girl yet. We've already talked, in several occasions, about your pathological need to find balance and closure in every aspect of your life, but in this case… that's not required." Amy gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek. "I think our family is perfect, just the way it is. Thomas and Oliver are boys and I love them. Nicholas is going to have a lot of fun with his two little brothers".
"Yes, you are right; but with a girl, our family would be complete." Sheldon sighed. "I always have thought that you need someone of your gender; perhaps, a little Amy so you could identify with her, you know, someone to share… girl's stuff."
"Really? You're concerned about that?" Amy asked Sheldon sweetly.
He nodded affirmatively.
"Don't worry about it, I'm happy with my boys. With all of them!" Amy chuckled. "Besides… Oliver is listening to you and he's going to think that you're disappointed that he isn't a girl."
"Amy, I've never considered that! Oliver's going to think that I'm not happy with him. He needs to know that I'm happy to have him." Sheldon put his hand on the right side of Amy's belly. "Oliver, don't even think that I'm disappointed that you aren't a girl. I'm so glad of having you in my life, and your brothers as well. Furthermore, after a prudential time, your mother and I will give you a sister."
"What? Sheldon… three kids are enough" Amy was surprised while listening to Sheldon's plans.
"Amy, I think I must show you again the PowerPoint presentation that I did to explain the contribution that our wonderful genetic mixture could do to the humanity. We can't deny this gift to the world. A new, female homo-novus is indispensable for the future of the human race." Sheldon stated seriously, while starting the car.
"I'm afraid that, if we try one more time, we'll end up with another boy." Amy laughed lovingly as she listened to Sheldon. "One big Sheldon and three mini-Sheldons are enough".
"That's true, three little homo-novus are enough", commented Sheldon with a sigh. "Anyway, I must admit that you have the hardest work. It's not an easy job to be a mother. You know Amy, I've always though that if I can merge with another living being, I would merge with a lichen."
"Because… that way you'd be human, fungus and algae at the same time. Well though! That's very clever" Amy said, smiling. "But… what does it have to do with our conversation?"
"It has a lot to do. Amy, in the past, I'd have chosen to merge with a lichen, but now I'd like to merge with a seahorse." Sheldon affirmed with great determination.
"I don't understand… Why would you like to merge with a sea horse?" Amy stared into Sheldon's eyes, while they stopped at a red light.
"Amy, you are a biologist and you know that in seahorses or hippocampus, the male is the one that takes care of the development of the fertilized eggs." Sheldon replied like it was the most obvious answer in the world.
"Sheldon, I've never thought about it." Amy gave him a tender kiss on the lips. "But… that's a really sweet idea." Sheldon started the car again when the green light was showing.
"Amy, I respect your decision to stay at home with the kids, and I think it's necessary in this moment of our lives, but it doesn't make me happy". Sheldon admitted. "When the opportunity arises, I will take care of our kids, for all the time you need so you could go back to your lab. Is it a deal?"
"Yes, it's a deal", answered Amy. She was so glad and grateful to know she could count on Sheldon.
After two weeks in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for his lectures at MIT and Harvard, Sheldon was longing to go home. Although he didn't plan to stay out of town for so long, the lectures went better that he expected. However, to Sheldon the only good thing of traveling was coming back home, with Amy and their kids.
"Dr. Cooper, your lectures were a great success. Our audience was rather larger than we initially thought. I love the way you exposed all those theories. No wonder why you're a Nobel Prize nominee". Melissa Thompson couldn't stop praising Dr. Cooper. "You're the best. I'm so proud of working with you".
She was increasingly attracted to him. Sheldon was a very interesting man, and Melissa couldn't read him completely yet. It was captivating to see him talking about his theories with so much passion for Theoretical Physics that, although she didn't understand a word about it, Melissa couldn't stop listening to him.
Despite the fact that Melissa spent most of the time with Sheldon, during those fifteen days in Massachusetts, Sheldon seemed completely immune to her presence and her flirtations.
Sheldon complied fully with all his obligations and, at the afternoon he headed to his room, without saying a word to Melissa.
Melissa, instead of feeling aggravated because of Sheldon's attitude, she felt even more captivated by him. Like a moth lured by the fire, Melissa would inevitably try to get closer to him, despite the risk of getting burned.
"I'm just doing my job, Melissa", Sheldon added, as he was accommodating himself in his seat at the plane. Sheldon was eager to go back to Pasadena. "I can't way to see my family", he whispered while contemplating a picture of Amy and Nicky; observing that picture in his cell phone had become a ritual each time he traveled.
"I understand, you must miss your children a lot", Melissa stated with a smile that could advertise toothpaste.
"Yes, I've missed them… I've missed Amy so much." Sheldon muttered under his breath.
Melissa suppressed a groan of disgust when she listened to that name.
"Amy Farrah Fowler", Melissa repeated, feeling a lump in her throat.
"Yes, Amy Farrah Fowler!" Sheldon nodded.
"Thanks for coming with us, Raj", Amy mentioned as they arrived to the airport.
Raj, Amy and Nicholas were waiting for Sheldon.
"You're welcome, Amy. I just wanted to help you." Answered Raj.
"Sheldon's acting a little overprotective lately" added Amy. "He thinks it's unsafe for me to drive on a highway, and when I told him that Leonard and Penny went to Nebraska to visit her parents, he worried so much because Leonard couldn't accompany me to the airport."
"Yes, Sheldon called me, and asked me to take care of Nicky and you, during his absence." Raj raised Nicky in his arms so he could look for his father easily.
"Daddy!", Nicholas soon found his dad. He was standing a few steps apart from them.
"Sheldon!" called Amy affectionately. She didn't even noticed that Melissa was with Sheldon.
Sheldon ran to Amy and hugged her firmly. Without wasting time, he kissed her like he was a thirsty castaway. "I've missed you and the kids so much" he whispered in her ear. "Thanks Raj for taking care of Amy."
Melissa was watching from afar, feeling uncomfortable with the sugary scene of the Cooper family reunion. Looking at Amy, Melissa wondered if 'Gorilla fingers Fowler' remembered that they've met before. There was only a way to find out.
Dr. Cooper, aren't you going to introduce me to your family?" Melissa approach Amy, sweetening the tone of her voice. "Your boyfriend is a genius but sometimes he gets a little distracted, right?"
"Yeah, my boyfriend…gets a little distracted", answered Amy, as he took Sheldon by his arm. Amy stared at Melissa from head to toe. It was shocking to see her, she really looked like that mean girl she met in high school.
Melissa reached out her hand with determination. "I'm Melissa Thompson. Nice to meet you."
"Amy Farrah Fowler, nice to meet you too." Answered Amy politely.
"I work at Caltech too, and although I've seen you there, we've never been introduced. My name is Rajesh Koothrappali" Raj greeted Melissa, blushing intently.
Melissa nodded, with her eyes still focused in Sheldon and Amy.
"Well, it's time to go back home", said Sheldon, taking Nicholas in his arms.
"Did you get here in your car or Rajesh's?" asked Sheldon, while leaving the airport.
"We got here in my car but Raj drove it", answered Amy. She wanted to get away from Melissa as soon as possible. Something about her, made Amy feel nervous.
Noticing that Sheldon and Amy wanted to spend some time together, Raj decided to leave them alone. "I'll take a cab to go back home. We can share it, if you want to", Raj told Melissa, as a courteous gesture.
"Mmm, okay", Melissa's initial reaction was to say no, but she decided to accompany Raj in the end. Maybe… getting to know one of Dr. Cooper's friends could be useful.