Chapter 36
Sheldon, Amy and Nicholas left the airport, they've missed each other so much that they barely realized that Raj and Melissa were saying goodbye. They just wanted to go home as soon as possible.
After a short drive, the Cooper Family reached their home, at #23-11 Los Robles Avenue.
I was so eager to see you, that I felt butterflies in my belly. Ha ha! Can you see?" Amy put both hands on her belly and started rubbing it tenderly. She was laughing joyfully at her own joke.
"Ha ha!" The most adorable breathy chuckle escaped from Sheldon's lips, while he opened the door of their apartment. "Well, they certainly don't feel like butterflies." Sheldon shook his head, as he softly touched Amy's belly. "And… they are too big to be butterflies. Ha ha!" He smiled sweetly.
"I've missed you a lot!" Amy looked into Sheldon's eyes and hugged him. "¡A lot!"
"Aw, I've missed you too!" Sheldon nodded. "I wish I could tell you that this is the last time that we'll have to be apart because of my job; but…that would be a lie."
Sheldon bit his lower lip, he didn't want to show his anger. "At the end of the month, I'll have to travel again because of these lectures. I still don't know where I'm going. I don't understand why Dr. Siebert and Melissa are organizing these last minute conferences."
"Oh! Is that true?" Amy looked for Sheldon's gaze with a disappointment gesture. "Well, it doesn't really matter. You know we'll wait for you right here. You'll finish with your obligations soon. There's less than three months left, until they announce the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics and you won't need to give those lectures anymore, unless you really want to do it, of course." Amy kissed him on the cheek.
"Daddy!" Nicholas stretched his arms to Sheldon, asking him to lift him up. Sheldon obliged.
"Even Nicholas knows it!" Amy hugged her family. "Yes baby! Your daddy's going to win the Nobel Prize". Amy said proudly.
"Thank you for being so enthusiastic about it." Sheldon headed to the kitchen, with Nicky in his arms. He opened the fridge, wanting to quench his thirst with a glass of cold chocolate milk.
"I'd like to be as optimistic as Nicky and you are". Sheldon looked at Amy with a hint of disappointment in his deep blue eyes.
Amy was surprised of hearing Sheldon admit that he didn't feel so optimistic of winning the Nobel Prize.
Amy knew that, Sheldon was sometimes afraid, thinking he wouldn't win it, but she thought that Sheldon had overcame that fear. Normally, Sheldon had a lot of confidence in himself, but just looking at his eyes, Amy knew that something was wrong.
"Why don't you feel so optimistic?", asked Amy worried.
"Amy, you've just said it. In less than three months the winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics would be announced. At least 10 renowned physicists around the world have received a nomination like the one I have, and from those 10 candidates, just 3 finalists are chosen to travel to Stockholm to the awards ceremony. Four months have passed since I received the letter where they told me I was nominated, but I haven't received a confirmation". Sheldon put Nicholas on the floor so he can go and look for his stuffed koala. "If I were one of the three finalists, I should've got any news by now." Sheldon shrugged his shoulders. "So, I assume this isn't going to happen, after all".
"Sheldon, it IS going to happen. You're going to have good news, very soon." Amy said resolutely. "You're going to the ceremony, I know it. That Prize has your name written all over it" Amy approached Sheldon and took a sip of his chocolate milk. "Now that we're talking about good news, I have something to tell you", she said smiling.
"Something to tell me?" Sheldon asked surprised.
"Yep! My aunt Marion is feeling better. It seems that chemotherapy is already working. She'll start her third course of it in September. My mother is staying with her in San Diego for a few more months. The second news is… Nicholas doesn't need diapers anymore. We've made a great progress in his potty training. I made some tables of our activities in this two weeks and you'll be surprised with how quickly he learns", Amy commented with a bright smile.
"That's great! I'm happy with both news. I'm so glad that Aunt Marion is feeling better and I'm so proud of Nicholas. I mean, I left the diapers at the age of two, I remember it perfectly, but Nicky is only 21 months and he's already beating me". Sheldon felt satisfied with the little but significant accomplishments of his son.
"However, it makes me a little sad to think that important things happen when I'm not with you. Nicholas has left the diapers and Thomas and Oliver are getting bigger every day. I don't want to miss these things. Who knows if, by the time I get back from my next trip, Nicholas is already solving differential equations or elaborating his first theories about Particle Physics. That's a possibility, Amy!"
"Aw, it's not like that. There's a long way before he learns about algebra or Physics and Nicholas is going to learn how to solve equations from you." Amy approached Sheldon, and placed her arms around his neck. "Anyway, there are some other things that can only happen when you are here with me". Amy touched her lips with Sheldon's in a passionate kiss, that made his face blush intently.
After five minutes of uncomfortable silence, Melissa decided to start a conversation with Raj.
The shy Indian astrophysicist, was starting to regret his hasty invitation to share a cab with Melissa. "I should've gone home with Amy and Sheldon. What was I thinking? She won't even talk to me", Raj thought to himself as he admired the gorgeous features of Melissa's face, dimly illuminated by the afternoon sunshine filtering through the window.
"Dr. Koothrappali, you've known Dr. Cooper for a long time. Right?", asked Melissa, with a fake innocence in her voice.
"Yes, I've known him for years." Raj answered; he was surprised by the fact that Melissa was the one who started the conversation. "You can call me Rajesh or Raj, if you want to. Everybody calls me Raj", he gulped nervously.
"Rajesh! What an unusual name! I like it. Where is it from?" Melissa asked with curiosity.
"It's an Indian name. I was born in New Delhi", answered Raj with his exotic accent.
"Rajesh, I can't help but think of how affectionate Dr. Cooper is with his girlfriend. Are they always…so demonstrative?" Melissa remembered with anger the passionate kiss that Sheldon and Amy shared, a few minutes ago. "I don't know, in my mind I had a different image of Dr. Cooper. I thought he was cold and aloof with the people around him. Anyway, he barely speaks with me, he is always focused in his job."
"No, he isn't always that way. Sheldon is different when he's with Amy or Nicky. Most of the time they're quite discreet with their public displays of affection, but Amy and Sheldon are very much in love, and that's obvious. Besides, they've missed each other a lot during this days they've been apart".
Raj remained in silence for a few seconds, thinking that he'd like to fall in love in the same way that Amy and Sheldon did.
"I have to admit, when we settled their first date, I never imagined they'd end up together and as happy as they are". Raj commented imprudently.
"You arranged their first date?" asked Melissa in annoyance. Now she knew that Raj was the one to blame of the 'romance' between Gorilla fingers Fowler and Sheldon Cooper.
"Yeah, my friend Howard Wolowitz and I arranged Sheldon and Amy's first date in a site on internet, and I guess you already know what happened next." Raj smiled.
"Yes I know, they both fell madly in love and they lived happily ever after." Melissa stated sarcastically, rolling her eyes with disapproval. She was so jealous, thinking that Amy's been so lucky to find Sheldon Cooper in her life.
"To be honest, things weren't so easy and simple as you said. They didn't start a family overnight; Sheldon and Amy had struggled to build their home with so much love and effort. It's an inspiration to me" Raj shook his head, trying to organize his thoughts. "You see, somehow the relationship that Sheldon and Amy share, gives me hope that any person could experience that kind of joy." Raj sighed deeply.
In days like these, when Raj witnesses the happiness of his friends, he couldn't help but feel lonely.
Melissa felt an unexpected tightness in her chest while listening to Raj. Maybe Gorilla Fingers Fowler and Dr. Cooper had fought to build their family, as the corny Dr. Koothrappali said. However, Melissa couldn't help feeling envious of Amy. She had everything she'd like to have, and it wasn't fair.
Melissa knew for certain that she was the one who deserved to have someone like Sheldon by her side, she always had everything she wished, everything she liked, and this time, wouldn't be the exception.
Melissa shook her head, trying to think of something else and looked away, staring at the window, as if she were avoiding eye contact with Raj.
"You are awfully quiet. What happened? Did I say something wrong?" asked Raj, worried by Melissa's cold silence.
"No, you didn't. I was just thinking of Dr. Cooper's family. That's all!" Answered Melissa, absentmindedly. "Oh, I almost didn't notice… my house is right there. Please, pull over at the next corner." Melissa asked the cab driver.
"What a coincidence! I live in this neighborhood too. Yeah! Exactly two blocks from here." Raj smiled happily when he noticed that Melissa Thompson was his neighbor.
Melissa told Raj that she'd moved recently into that neighborhood. She also said that she didn't have the time to meet new people, since she was constantly traveling because of her work.
"Melissa, there's a coffee shop nearby. If you aren't feeling too tired, I'd like to have a cup of coffee with you." Raj told Melissa with a quivering voice. "Or a cup of tea, or water, or cocoa, whatever you like to drink. I really don't want to finish our conversation so soon." Raj added anxiously, feeling like his heart would come out of his chest and cold sweat drops started to fall from his forehead.
Melissa wasn't in the mood to go out and have a cup of coffee with anyone and let alone with an Indian astrophysicist that she'd just met. She felt tired because of the trip and upset to know how lucky Amy was. She couldn't erase the mental images of Amy and her family. Amy had everything that Melissa would like to have.
Despite her initial predisposition to answer the invitation with a 'no', something in Raj's voice and his shy way to ask her out, put a smile upon Melissa's face. She suddenly forgot the headache she was feeling before.
"You know what…you don't have to accept my invitation if you don't want to do it. It's okay, I understand. This isn't the first time that I'm being rejected." Raj added with his unmistakable accent, he lowered his head timidly. He felt so silly to believe that a woman like Melissa would say yes to him.
"Actually… Dr. Koothrappali, I'd like to have a cup of coffee with you." Melissa answered, out of the blue. "But… first I'm going to my apartment to leave my luggage. Is that okay?"
"Yes, of course." Raj answered enthusiastically. "I'll wait for you here." Raj smiled, he couldn't believe his ears. He didn't know how he'd gained that courage to ask her out, but he felt so happy he did it, and even happier that she'd said yes.
"Alright then!" Melissa nodded and quickly entered the building. She took the elevator to get to her apartment in the fifth floor.
To Melissa it wasn't so clear why she had accepted Dr. Koothrappali's invitation, maybe she did it, because she was interested to know something else about the enigmatic Dr. Cooper, and apparently the Indian astrophysicist was willing to answer any question.
"So, you're telling me that… when Dr. Fowler traveled to Sweden to participate in an international research project, Dr. Cooper couldn't stay away from her for so long and traveled to Stockholm. Right?" Melissa listened to Raj, unable to hide her curiosity.
"Yes, Sheldon told us that he was interested to know more about Amy's project so, he traveled to Stockholm, but we all knew that he was missing Amy and wanted to be with her. Although he didn't admit it." Raj took a sip of his decaf latte. "So romantic! Don't you think?"
Melissa wrinkled her nose while pronouncing a halfhearted yes.
"Amy's research project was supposed to last for six months, but after a couple of months of staying together in Stockholm, Amy and Sheldon came back to Pasadena and… little Nicholas was on his way." Raj continued with the story. "From that moment, Sheldon and Amy are inseparable."
"I see", Melissa commented with an exhalation. "So… They've never had problems or fights? Don't tell they're the perfect couple because there's no such a thing as a perfect couple". Melissa was slyly taking advantage of Raj's loquacious mood.
"Of course they've had problems, just like everybody else." Raj admitted. "But they've always come back together. I know it's going to sound stupid or naïve, but I'd like to live a love story like theirs." Raj sighed.
"A love story like theirs!" Melissa's voice sounded full of repulsion. "I'm going to be honest with you, I think I've never fallen in love and perhaps it'll never happen to me" Melissa acknowledged like it were the most natural thing in the world. There was something in Raj that was slowly gaining Melissa's trust.
"I don't know if I've ever fallen in love. Will it ever happen to me?" Raj shrugged his shoulders and smiled sweetly. "Probably not. But it's fun to imagine that someday it will happen to me. Isn't it?"
"Okay, you can call me materialistic or whatever you want, but I've always preferred something tangible, something more physical. I'd rather take things with my own hands. I'm not the kind of woman who waits for the love of my life to knock on my door. If I want something, I go for it and take it. It's simple." Melissa told Raj with sincerity. "I think, people make things unnecessarily complicated. Don't you think?" Little by little Melissa started to feel sympathy for Raj, without realizing it.
"You're probably saying that because, everything has been easier for you. I bet you were cheerleader captain, prom queen and class president. Am I wrong?" Raj began to feel more comfortable around Melissa.
"No, you aren't wrong. Is it so obvious?" Melissa couldn't help but laugh. Raj's company was actually funnier than she had considered in the beginning.
"The minute I saw you, I knew it. Although, it could be just post-traumatic stress since I've been bullied by the popular kids my whole life; after that experiences, you learn how to identify a bully at first sight." Admitted Raj with a nervous smile.
"Please, don't think I was a mean cheerleader who enjoyed the sorrow of her classmates. No!" Melissa giggled, she used to be exactly as she'd described, and… maybe she still was that way.
"It's the survival of the fittest!" Melissa took the last sip of her cup of coffee. "That's life! Those experiences build character."
"I suppose they do". Raj answered with dissapointment.
"Well, it's been a really nice evening, but I must go home." Melissa stood up from her chair.
"Yes, it's getting a little late." Raj affirmed; immediately he asked for the check.
Sheldon was sitting in his favorite spot. He was checking his email in the few minutes he had left until the beginning of a documentary about koalas that they had planned to watch.
"Amy! The documentary is about to start. You're going to miss the first minutes of it." Sheldon asked Amy to join him.
"I'm coming! The popcorn is almost ready." Amy answered him, from the kitchen. "I know it's practically dinnertime, but I couldn't help it, Thomas and Oliver are hungry all the time."
In less than two minutes, the delicious smell of popcorn filled the room; Amy put the popcorn in a bowl and walked to the living room.
Sheldon was staring at the TV screen anxiously. Amy could easily recognize his adorable 'koala face'.
"Good! Just in time for the documentary", said Sheldon as he settled on the couch. "Come, sit here!" Sheldon patted his lap twice.
"There?" Amy smiled. "Do you think you can deal with the three of us? We are kind of heavy" Amy told Sheldon, as she placed the popcorn bowl on the coffee table.
"Yeah, of course I can deal with you guys. You're underestimating my strength" Sheldon patted his lap again, "Come here!"
Amy gave some thought to Sheldon's invitation but, finally she sat on Sheldon's lap. He put his arms around Amy's waist and she gently stroked his face. He had a light stubble on his face that tickled Amy's fingertips.
Sheldon kissed Amy's cheek, leaving a trail of soft pecks along the short distance to her lips. "I love you", he whispered in her ear.
"I love you too." Amy hugged Sheldon with all her might. "And you already knew it."
Sheldon nodded.
Slowly getting lost in the mesmerizing aroma of her perfume, Sheldon closed his eyes and gently joined his lips to Amy's.
Amy's soft lips felt sweet and warm as they played with Sheldon's lips in a deep and intense kiss.
Sometimes, Sheldon surprised himself thinking about the time he'd wasted. He knew he could've experienced the happiness he was feeling with Amy, long time ago. It was in moments like this, when Sheldon tried to compensate Amy for all the kisses and caresses he didn't give her before and she truly deserved them.
"Shelly, we are missing the documentary", Amy sighed, separating her lips from Sheldon's for just a few millimeters. "You wanted to watch that documentary, because of the koalas", Amy exhaled in front of his lips.
"Mmm!" Sheldon moaned in protest. Though he didn't want to break the kiss, he needed some air. "I'm pretty sure they'll show this documentary again", answered Sheldon with a hoarse voice when he subtly caressed Amy's back and kissed the little space between her shoulder and neck.
"Thanks for walking me home", Melissa was about to say goodbye and enter her apartment. "I'll see you in Caltech. It was a pleasure to meet you."
"Thank you. I'm looking forward to see you again", Raj inhaled deeply attempting to gain some courage. "Maybe we could go out some time" he said weakly.
"Yeah, maybe", replied Melissa, thinking that she could find out a bit more about Sheldon and Amy. Besides, Dr. Koothrappali's company wasn't so unpleasant. "Good night!" Melissa stretched her hand politely.
Raj took the hand that Melissa stretched to him. "Good night!" he mentioned after a brief handshake. When it was time to let her go, Raj lingered.
Melissa felt uncomfortable trying to get free from the firm grasp of Raj's hand.
"Melissa", Raj, said in a whisper.
"What?" Melissa was flabbergasted due to the weird attitude of the astrophysicist. Without saying a word, Raj held Melissa by the waist and pressed his lips against hers in a desperate kiss, with the urgency of a clumsy teenager.
When Melissa and Raj broke that kiss, feeling the need to recover their normal breathing, Raj managed to say:
"You told me that… if we want something…we must get it; and that's what I've done", Raj blushed like never before; his heartbeat raced and his throat felt dry. Raj was mentally preparing himself for the imminent insult or slap in the face.
Melissa felt as if her blood was freezing inside her veins, she didn't know how to react. After a few seconds, she took a deep breath and entered the building where she lived, without looking back.
A.N: What do you think of this chapter? Whether you like it or hate it, let me know. Thanks for reading!