A/N: Thanks for reviewing! I know I'm updating quickly and frequently, but I literally have nothing to do. (It's a long weekend/Bank Holiday over here in the UK at the moment, so I have no work and no college until tomorrow!) So you're stuck with another quick update; sorry! :P
..
Over the next few weeks, Amy and Sheldon were finding it hard not to give anything away about the pregnancy.
Amy still felt pregnant, which was giving them both hope, and she was finding it increasingly difficult each week to conceal her growing baby bump, but she had been given some medication to stop her sickness.
The worst problem was group gatherings and girls' nights.
This particular week, Amy was sat at Penny's apartment with Penny and Bernadette.
"Who wants some wine?" Penny asked, reaching for the bottle and three glasses.
"Yes please!" Bernadette smiled.
"Oh, not for me, thank you." Amy said, apologetically.
Penny frowned. "Really? How come?"
"I'm watching my weight." Amy lied. "I've put on weight lately, and I decided to watch what I eat and drink."
"Wine is nothing." Penny smiled, "Go on Amy."
"No, no…I really can't. I've just gone on a diet. I'm cutting out all alcohol and fatty foods."
"That would explain why you've been eating healthier!" Bernadette piped up. "I thought it was because we might be hearing the pitter-patter of tiny Cooper babies soon!"
Amy swallowed hard.
"Nope. You know the odds are low." She lied again, mentally kicking herself for having to lie to her best friends.
"Fair enough. No wine for Amy, who's watching her weight!" Penny smiled. "I don't wanna hurt your feelings, but I had noticed you'd gotten a little thicker." She added apologetically. "But I didn't want to say anything and upset you. I mean out in Florida and when you came back, you looked amazing! Not that you don't now of course, but…"
"I know, but it's okay. I know what you mean; I have let myself go since being back home." Amy answered.
And the lies continued.
Sheldon was having a much harder time lying, so he spent most of his lunch breaks in his office instead of the cafeteria.
On the few occasions he did sit with his friends at lunch, Leonard would keep the topic away from relationships or baby talk.
Like today for example;
"Gentlemen." Sheldon greeted, setting his tray down at the table that Howard and Raj had saved.
Leonard followed closely behind, but got stopped by President Siebert, who wanted to ask him to take on a new project.
Sheldon timidly sat at the table.
"Hey Sheldon. Haven't seen much of you lately." Howard remarked, biting into his spaghetti.
"Oh, well I've been busy." Sheldon replied, taking his satchel off and storing it under the table.
"Hey, have you heard that Dr Turner is on maternity leave now?" Raj said.
"Yeah, I heard. Sorry Raj." Howard replied.
"I can't believe she's gone. I loved her." Raj whined.
"I thought you liked Alex?" Sheldon frowned.
"Keep up, that was last year." Raj scoffed. "Ever since I broke up with Lucy, I've held a candle for Rosanna Turner. She's hot! But now she's all pregnant by her stupid boyfriend." He threw his fork down in frustration.
"Uh…That's her husband. She's married." Howard replied.
"What!? Oh man, that just makes it worse!" Raj complained. "Anyway, speaking of babies, are you and Amy still trying?"
Sheldon's eyes widened, and he started twitching.
"Uh…Sheldon?" Howard inquired.
"That's a very uncomfortable topic to discuss at work in the cafeteria." Sheldon answered, nervously.
"Oh…Do you wanna go talk privately in your office?" Howard offered.
"No!"
Howard and Raj frowned.
Sheldon swallowed. "Uh…No. It's um…The thing is…"
"Guys, it's not best to ask Sheldon about babies right now." Leonard cut in, finally joining the table. "He's still cut up over the miscarriage, aren't you buddy?"
"Yes…Cut up…Like a hotdog in spaghetti." Sheldon spluttered.
Howard and Raj nodded.
"Fair enough. Sorry." Raj said.
"Sorry Sheldon." Howard added.
The two of them returned to eating their food, as Sheldon mouthed 'thank you' at Leonard.
Leonard winked in response.
..
"Amy! Are you ready?" Sheldon called through the apartment.
"Yep, coming!" She replied, emerging from the bathroom with her jacket on, pushing her bag onto her shoulder.
Today was their 12 week scan.
Amy had been checked over a month before at 8 weeks, just to check that everything was running smoothly.
Thankfully, both babies were fine, although Sheldon and Amy hadn't looked at the screen when the ultrasound had been performed, because they wanted to wait until 12 weeks to see how much the babies had grown since the dating scan.
"I'll be so glad when we can tell everyone." Amy sighed as they descended the stairs, "I can't keep hiding the bump and making excuses. I think everyone's starting to get suspicious as to why my so-called 'diet' is actually making me gain weight as opposed to losing it!"
Sheldon nodded as they reached the car. "Me too."
..
After arriving at the doctors' office, Amy was called in almost instantly.
"Sheldon, I'm scared." She turned around and whispered.
"It will be fine." He replied, sounding more confident than he felt.
Amy seemed to accept it though, as they entered Dr Farrow's room.
"Hey Amy, Hi Sheldon! How are things?" She greeted.
"Good, we think." Amy smiled.
"Any complications?"
"Nope."
"Unless you count keeping the pregnancy secret as a complication?" Sheldon piped up.
Dr Farrow laughed. "I hope you're not planning on keeping it secret for too long. You're having twins, remember? Your bump will be getting bigger than it would with only one baby inside."
"We were planning on telling everyone after today if I haven't miscarried." Amy confessed. "We didn't want to jinx it early on."
"Ah, good idea." Dr Farrow nodded. "You and Julie seem to have hit it off, so I hear!"
"She's an amazing midwife, she's been so helpful." Amy smiled.
"Excellent. She's our best midwife!" Dr Farrow smiled, pulling on her gloves. "Right, you know the drill." She patted the bed, and Amy eased herself up and lay down as the Gynaecologist prepared the monitor.
Sheldon took a deep breath and nervously stood beside the bed, stroking Amy's arm.
She reached for his hand as Dr Farrow moved the stick over Amy's growing stomach.
"Let's turn up the volume…" Dr Farrow said, pressing some buttons until a loud, muffled booming sound filled the room.
"What's that?" Sheldon asked.
"That would be two heartbeats." Dr Farrow grinned.
"Shouldn't there be three?" Sheldon asked.
"Nope. I'd need to move this higher to hear Amy's heartbeat. The ones you hear are coming from the twins!"
She moved the stick lower until she had found one of the babies, and then moved it again until she found the second.
Both were active, and the two scientists couldn't help but stare at the screen in awe.
"Fascinating." Sheldon whispered. "So they're both okay?"
"They look great!" Dr Farrow grinned broadly. "You're past the danger zone now, Amy. Obviously, we'd still like to do regular check-ups with you just to be on the safe side but I think you'll carry full term this time."
Amy grinned, ecstatic. "I can't believe how big they are now! A few weeks ago, they were two tiny little round shapes, and now they're actual babies!"
"And this time, you get to keep the scan photos!" Dr Farrow smiled, as she marked 'baby 1 and baby 2' on the screengrabs before printing off two copies of each.
As she handed the photos to both parents, Amy started crying.
"What's wrong? I thought this would make you happy." Sheldon said putting an arm around her shoulders.
"I am happy." Amy answered, wiping her eyes. "I'm overwhelmed with happiness! I really thought we would lose them."
Dr Farrow put a hand on Amy's other arm, comfortingly. "It's natural to feel like this if you've miscarried before. You've done exceptionally well at looking after your body, and the babies have benefitted from it; you're glowing, Amy! Give yourself a break. You'll all be fine." She said softly.
"Thank you." Amy replied, smiling.
"No problem. I'll see you in another four weeks." Dr Farrow smiled, handing Amy an appointment card. "Take care, and don't forget to tell your family and friends now!"
Amy laughed as they left the room and entered the parking lot, where she threw her arms around her husband and kissed him passionately as he let his hands rest lovingly on either side of her bump.
..
As they arrived back at the apartment, Leonard had gathered everyone together as a surprise, although none of them knew why.
Sheldon opened the door, and found everyone sitting in the living room, talking amongst themselves.
"Hey, lovebirds!" Penny grinned. "Been out for a romantic walk?"
"Not quite." Sheldon smiled. "We actually have some news…"
Everyone fell silent and looked at Sheldon and Amy, expectantly.
"I'm pregnant again!" Amy announced, excitedly.
Penny and Bernadette screamed and ran to hug Amy, whilst the guys congratulated her and Sheldon.
"Aww…I thought you might be; I knew this whole diet thing was covering up something!" Penny said, smiling broadly.
"Congratulations Amy." She and Bernadette said in unison.
"So…You're not mad that I lied to you?" Amy asked. "Because we knew for a while but didn't want to jinx it by telling people, just in case I lost them again."
"Of course not, we understand." Penny replied.
"Wait…Lost them!?" Bernadette frowned. "When you say 'them'…"
"I mean twins again." Amy beamed.
"Oh my God!" Both of her friends threw their hands to their mouths.
"That is amazing! We are so happy for you guys…Sheldon, get over here!" Penny called, dragging her neighbor away from where he was getting congratulations and 'knew you had it in you' from the guys!
"Aww, you dog, you!" Penny grinned, "Come here, daddy Sheldon!" She extended her arms to hug him.
"Ohhh no, that's really not necess…" But he was cut off by Penny and Bernadette wrapping him in a massive hug.
He wriggled free, clearing his throat. "Yes, well…Thank you…For that."
"Oh lighten up! You're going to hug your kids aren't you? Surely you can hug your friends?" Bernadette said.
"Yes, but children – and Amy – are different! They are my family." Sheldon replied.
"We're family too." Leonard piped up. "Whether you like it or not!"
Amy laughed.
"Actually, I do like it." Sheldon shrugged. "I've accommodated room for all of you in my life. First as friends, but you have become like family to me over time." He shifted uncomfortably as he spoke. "I guess I'll get used to you all hugging me at some point; it's not as bad as I thought…"
"Awww!" The girls swooned.
"That killed you to say, didn't it?" Howard whispered.
"It was true." Sheldon answered, wrapping one arm around Amy, and placing his other hand on her stomach. "But yeah. Killed me!"
..
Chapter 52 coming soon…
