Chapter 49

"Sorry we're late, but Leonard insisted that we should bring with us, almost every little thing that was in Kaley's room, even though I've told him that we live just across the street and we won't need that much stuff." Penny shook her head, as she watched Leonard with a scolding look.

Leonard was pushing a baby stroller, while carrying a couple of teddy bears, a diaper bag, a fluffy blanket and some presents for Nicky, Olivia and Thomas.

"Although we live across the street, I don't think I'm exaggerating. Not, at all! Kaley needs every single thing I've brought for her. You'll thank me later." Leonard said, looking with sweet eyes at her newborn daughter. Kaley, who was sleeping peacefully in Penny's arms, was just two weeks old at the time.

The little baby girl looked a lot like Penny; her gorgeous face, the color of her eyes and her blonde hair, were certainly features she'd taken after her mother. Apparently, Nebraskan genes were quite dominant; however, her sweet smile and her lovely gesture of kindness, were purely Hofstadter features, which made Penny fall helplessly in love with her daughter with just one look.

Leonard almost couldn't believe that what he'd dreamed ten years ago, when he met Penny, became a wonderful reality. Sometimes he caught himself, repeating softly: 'Our babies will be smart and beautiful'. He was right after all, and Kaley was living proof of that.

With great effort and a little help from Sheldon, Leonard entered the house with all that 'baggage' that he'd brought for Kaley.

Sheldon shook his head in disapproval at the sight of all those unnecessary items: a car seat, teddy bears, the diaper bag, a second bag full of clothes, a couple of blankets, bottles, etc. It was impossible for little Kaley to use everything her daddy has brought with them.

Sheldon couldn't help but feel sympathy for Leonard, as he recalled his first experiences as a father, when Nicholas was born, two years ago.

"Leonard ... you know we have blankets, pillows, a crib, and everything you might need for your newborn daughter. Right?" Sheldon condescendingly, pointed to the bassinet where Thomas and Olivia were fast asleep. Sheldon considered that offering little Kaley a place to sleep next to her cousins was the appropriate social protocol.

Leonard and Penny exchanged glances. They had to admit that Sheldon and Amy were years ahead from them in the difficult mission of being parents.

Amy waved cheerfully to her bestie and Leonard, and with a huge smile she took Kaley in her arms. The little girl opened her green eyes to stare at her Aunt Amy.

"Oh Bestie! She's becoming more beautiful with each passing day! "Amy smiled as she looked at the baby. "And she's so sweet and calm."

Penny nodded and smiled. "Yeah! She's the sweetest baby ever! Thank God, she takes that after Leonard, otherwise we'd be in trouble." Said the proud mother of Kaley.

A few minutes later, Howard, Bernadette and Isabella arrived to the Cooper's house, along with Raj and Emily.

Nicky and Isabella's laughter, filled the house with joy as they ran and jumped, playing with the Christmas decorations that Amy put up with so much love and care.

As they waited for dinner to be ready, Emily and Raj enjoyed the moment, playing with the children. The home of the Cooper family was so alive and full of love!

After the delicious dinner that Amy, Mrs. Fowler and Aunt Marion had prepared for their vast and extended but beautiful family, the guests shared a nice conversation, gathered in the living room in front of the fireplace. Nicky and Isabella had a blast, playing with all the gifts that Santa Claus had brought them.

Although Sheldon had been about to start a dissertation on the improbability of the existence of that bearded old man dressed in red and white, finally he decided against it, so as not to ruin the magic of the holidays to the little ones. Seeing Nicholas smiling so cheerfully was enough reason to remain silent on the subject; at least for a few more years.

Later that night, the guests were saying goodbye and going home with a smile upon their faces.

Mrs. Fowler and Aunt Marion were the first to say goodbye. When Mrs. Fowler and Aunt Marion were about to go home they told Sheldon and Amy that they'd visit them the next day. They offered them to take care of the children, so Amy and Sheldon can finally have some rest. That was certainly an offer they couldn't refuse; with Nicky and the twins, all the help was welcome.

Emily and Raj said goodbye to Sheldon and Amy, too. Raj had planned a romantic weekend in Napa Valley and Emily couldn't wait to discover the mysterious Christmas gift that the Indian astrophysicist was so reluctant to reveal.

"Thanks for everything!" Said Emily with a smile as she hugged Amy. Emily stroked the cheeks of Oliva who was staring at her from the arms of her mother.

Emily felt like home while sharing these moments with Raj's friends; she felt a special connection with Amy.

"Olivia will look so cute with the little dress we gave her. It's good to know that she has some girl clothes and not just those hand-me-down clothes from Nicky." Emily grinned happily. "I still think it's funny that you thought you were expecting two boys. Olivia surprised us all."

Amy nodded. "Yes, Olivia was a surprise ... a beautiful surprise. I can't imagine my family without her." Amy stated, kissing her daughter's forehead. "She came in to our lives at the perfect time." Amy whispered. Suddenly her eyes met Sheldon's gaze, as he was staring at her from the other side of the living room.

Sheldon's face flushed as he realized that Amy couldn't take her eyes off him. He was helping Leonard to take back to his house all those things that Kaley didn't even use.

Howard and Bernadette said goodbye too. Izzy was sound asleep, after playing with Nicky.

Leonard, Penny and Kaley were the last ones to say leave. Fortunately their home was just across the street.

After carrying Nicholas, Olivia and Thomas to bed, Amy and Sheldon walked hand in hand to their room.

"What a nice day! We had so much fun!" Amy smiled as she approached Sheldon and placed her arms around his neck. "It was an exhausting day, but it was so ... so funny" Amy sighed as she joined her lips to Sheldon's.

"I would say it was a chaotic day" Sheldon whispered against Amy's lips. "An extremely chaotic day". He sighed deeply.

"Judging by that smile on your face, I'd say you enjoyed this day." Amy said mischievously, as she stepped back to stare at Sheldon's flushed face.

"Ha ha!" Sheldon let out his characteristic chuckle. "If I'm smiling it's because you've just kissed me and that's my natural reaction to it." Sheldon blushed even more. "I don't know if I really enjoyed this day or it's just because your lips taste like that grape juice that burns and I've ended up drunk but ... I must admit I had some fun."

"Hey!" Amy protested. "I just had a little glass of red wine, and there's no way you could end up drunk with a kiss! You had fun! You and the guys played with those toys, even more than Nicky and Izzy did. "

"First of all ... I was only testing the toys, modesty aside, my choices when buying toys are flawless." Sheldon nodded proudly. "And yes! Your lips taste like grape juice that burns. "

All of a sudden, Sheldon took hold of Amy's chin and kissed her so intensely and passionately that Amy forgot what she was about to say.

When the need for air was stronger, Sheldon parted his lips and inhaled Amy's essence.

Amy tried to regain her normal breathing as her gaze got lost in the dark and dilated pupils of Sheldon, surrounded by a bright blue ring.

Sheldon swallowed hard.

"Mmm! Definitely, your lips taste like grape juice that burns, and apple pie… and maybe raspberry lip gloss." Sheldon smiled timidly. "Perhaps it's not just the wine that is burning me." Sheldon paused briefly to take Amy's hand.

Amy couldn't stop a shy "Hoo" that escaped from her mouth.

"Your lips, by themselves, have that effect." Sheldon said as he gently stroked Amy's face with the back of his hand. "Your lips burn me and make me drunk… your lips are mesmerizing". Sheldon slowly traced a trail of kisses from Amy's mouth to the space between her collarbones. "I'm truly convinced that they cause addiction."

Amy smiled sweetly at the words of Sheldon. Her favorite theoretical physicist had a knack for finding the most romantic words, without even realizing it or trying.

"Now that you mention things that cause addiction ..." Amy put her hands Sheldon's shoulders and looked into his eyes, "I don't know if you've noticed but ... Olivia and Tom, are seven weeks old, now." Amy whispered in his ear. "Besides, they are fast asleep and so is Nicholas."

Sheldon started blinking repeatedly, without understanding fully that subtle hint of Amy. After a few seconds of silence that his brain needed to process the new information, Sheldon was finally able to say:

"Oh ... I get it" Sheldon flushed. "But it's been so long since the last time that I actually don't know how to proceed." Sheldon said thoughtfully. "I think it would be the best if we left those activities for some other day."

"Are you serious?" Amy asked, with a look of disappointment.

"Bazinga!" Sheldon replied with a chuckle. "How do you think I could ever forget at least one of the wonderful moments I've spent with you?" Sheldon took Amy's right hand and intertwined his fingers with hers. "Every second of my life with you has been saved right here, thanks to my eidetic memory," Sheldon said as he pointed to his head with his forefinger.

Amy nodded lovingly.

"And above all ... every moment with you, has been recorded in here," Sheldon whispered softly, while placing Amy's hand on his chest.

Sheldon's heart was beating frantically, as it always happened when he was so close to Amy.

Amy placed the palm of her hand on Sheldon's chest, and clearly felt his erratic heartbeat pounding inside his thorax. It looks as if Sheldon's heart was trying to synchronize with Amy's heart, which long ago had left in a wild race.

"I love you!" Amy cried, knowing that those short syllables couldn't materialize what she actually felt.

"I love you!" Sheldon replied, feeling nostalgia for those words that just vanished, the moment they left his mouth.

Amy and Sheldon knew that a succinct "I love you" comprised a thousand words yet to be spoken. A thousand words that could fly over their heads like birds, dragged by a thin silver thread.

Amy embraced Sheldon even harder, clutching to his chest. A new kiss, perhaps sweeter than the last one, a new touch of those that feel like tiny electric shocks traveling through the bloodstream and just one look between them could start the well-orchestrated sequence that Sheldon and Amy knew by heart.

Everything that had happened between them and most likely, everything what would happen in their future, follows its own pace.

And so, without knowing why, maybe through the work of instinct, maybe by nature or perhaps due to an incandescent conscious decision, their bodies began to sway rhythmically as if guided by a nonexistent melody.

"Amy ..." Sheldon sighed feebly. "Would you like to dance with me?" He asked with a shy smile.

"Sheldon ..." she answered somewhat puzzled. "I'd love to dance with you, but there is no music" Amy said with untimely logical thinking, which threatened to ruin the moment.

Sheldon nodded resignedly. Amy was right. There was no music. "Yes, it's foolish to dance without music."

"But we could do something about it." Despite his protests, Amy left Sheldon's arms briefly, and walked to the bedside table, where she kept her cell phone.

"I'll put a playlist on shuffle and we'll dance to the beat of the first song we listen. Is that okay?" Amy asked Sheldon.

"It sounds good to me. Who cares! We're completely immersed in this ocean of hippie dippy feelings. We'll dance to the first song we hear! "Sheldon laughed happily. "But ... just make sure that the music isn't so loud. I don't want Nicholas, Thomas or Olivia to wake up."

Amy nodded, while the first song started with a very famous dance beat.

"Amy ... that's ... Macarena?" Sheldon raised his eyebrows in disgust. "I said I would dance anything with you, but I won't dance Macarena. Forget it!"

"I know it! I was kidding! I'll find something more romantic." Amy grinned playfully.

The theme of Mario, the popular Nintendo game started playing.

"Ha ha!" Sheldon laughed again. "I know exactly what you just did and I like the idea but I'd like to dance slowly with you." Sheldon admitted coyly.

Sheldon began humming the catchy tune of the videogame, almost immediately, while Amy looked for a suitable song to dance.

"What do you think of this song?" Asked Amy. "I know it's not your style and you've probably never heard it before, but I kind of like it."

The song: 'All of me', by John Legend, started playing.

Sheldon remained silent for a moment, listening to the lyrics of that song.

What would I do without your smart mouth?

Drawing me in, and you kicking me out.

Sheldon looked at Amy and swallowed as if he had a lump in his throat. He couldn't say a single word.

What's going on in that beautiful mind?

I'm on your magical mystery ride

And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright.

"Oh, you don't like this song. I'll look for something else." Amy shrugged resignedly as she said those words.

Sheldon shook his head and sat on the bed, next to Amy; holding her hand he said:

"No, it's fine! I'd like to hear a little more of this song."

Sheldon got up of the bed, and offered his hand for Amy to hold it.

When they were both standing up and facing each other, Sheldon put his hands on Amy's waist and pulled her closer to him.

Amy placed her hands on the shoulders of her beloved theoretical physicist, getting lost in his deep blue eyes.

'Cause all of me

Loves all of you

Love your curves and all your edges

All your perfect imperfections

Give your all to me

I'll give my all to you

You're my end and my beginning

Even When I lose I'm winning

'Cause I give you all of me

And you give me all of you.

Despite Sheldon's eidetic memory, he couldn't tell for sure if he'd heard that song before. Probably he'd had but he wasn't paying attention before.

It was certainly the type of songs that Leonard or Koothrappali would listen in the car and sing out loud. They liked that cheesy kind of music, Sheldon thought as he took a few seconds to listen carefully. Although not entirely to his liking, there was something in those verses that forced him to listen further.

"Wow!" Sheldon finally said with a sigh.

Sheldon knew that Amy usually enjoyed those catchy pop songs, but personally, he preferred the music of classical authors or a few country songs, due to his humble Texan origin.

"Cause all of me loves all of you," Sheldon whispered into Amy's ear, repeating the lyrics of that song which seemed to be written just for them.

That phrase was completely true between them, and every verse of that song was an expression of the way he felt about Amy.

Sheldon thought that he wouldn't be able to describe his feelings for Amy in such an accurate way as that song did.

"Who am I kidding?" Sheldon let out his breathy giggle. "Of course I would be able to do it!" he told himself.

Amy looked at him puzzled, and not understanding quite well what was going on in that beautiful mind of Sheldon. She shook her head and surrendered to the hypnotic movements of the dance.

Sheldon continued that cadent rhythm, as he were in a trance induced by the four and a half minutes that lasted that melody.

When the song ended, he suddenly and without any warning, sat on the edge of the bed, taking Amy's waist with both hands and pulling her as closer as he could

Amy grabbed Sheldon's shoulders, trying to maintain some stability, as she landed on his lap, almost straddling him.

"Hey!" She said in protest. "Take it easy!" She smiled sweetly, ruffling his thin brown hair and tangling his fingers through it.

The blackness of Sheldon's dilated pupils contrasted with the bright halo of his blue irises. Amy recognized that look perfectly, that look could melt her skin with its warmth.

"No, Amy I can't take it easy!" he groaned with a husky voice. "I ain't gonna take it easy, 'cause you've been teasing me for a while". He stated with his suggestive Texan accent.

"How exactly I've been teasing you?" Amy question him astonished.

"Well, you've been wiggling your luscious hips and… taking your breasts out, anytime you want." Sheldon's face reddened abruptly.

"Oh, I recognize there's nothing I can do about this damn beckoning pelvis", Amy laughed nervously. "But… I've been taking my breasts out, just to feed our hungry infants".

"I know it, Amy. You've been great with our babies and Nicholas, but I can't help it… I've been missing you so much". Sheldon acknowledged with a sigh.

"Aw, Sheldon! I've been missing you too." Amy hugged him tightly. "I need you so much!"

Hearing those words, Sheldon joined his lips to Amy's, feeling her breath becoming shallow with every second. As her lips parted, granting access to his probing tongue, Sheldon started undoing the buttons of Amy's green Christmas cardigan.

During Sheldon's frantic race to get rid of the garment, a couple of buttons flew from the cardigan and rolled on the floor, finally getting lost under the bed.

"I'll buy you a new sweater." He whispered softly. "I'll buy ten sweaters if you want." Sheldon in a sudden movement undid the zipper on the back of Amy's dress. "And… I'll give you ... another tiara" He inhaled deeply.

Amy moaned softly by way of approval, while undertaking her own mission to free Sheldon from the tie and dress shirt he was wearing. When Amy's hands finally made contact with the warm skin of Sheldon, her fingers ran free, up and down his chest.

The inviting feeling of Amy's hands, stroking his body, seemed to send a signal to his lips. A signal to kiss Amy without stopping for a second.

"I love you" Sheldon whispered, inhaling the minimum sips of air. "I've never loved, and I'll never love anyone… like I love you. That I know for certain." Sheldon's eyes glowed in the dim light of the room.

Amy caressed Sheldon's face with both hands, speaking softly into his ear: "I guess I've done something really good in this life, to deserve so much love. I love you Sheldon and I'll always do it. "

Amy deserved all the love he felt for her and even more; Sheldon thought, completely lost in the depth of Amy's green eyes.

Sheldon felt unexpectedly lonely, when, surprisingly Amy got up from his lap.

"Am ... Amy," he exclaimed in astonishment. "What are you...?" Sheldon couldn't finish the sentence because Amy put her forefinger against his lips, asking for silence.

With gentle movements, Amy stripped her modest dress off, in slow motion until the outfit fell to the floor, leaving her wearing a delicate set of purple lingerie.

Feeling Sheldon's eyes traveling over her body, from head to toe, Amy couldn't help but blush. She wasn't comfortable with that garment since it wasn't her usual underwear, but Penny and Bernadette had suggested she should buy it for a special occasion, and that was definitely one.

The semitransparent purple teddy, adorned with a black lace trim, reached somewhere between Amy's knees and her scrumptious hips. Amy knew that purple was one of the favorite colors of Sheldon and therefore she decided to buy this set, despite its plunging cleavage.

"So ... What do you think?" Asked Amy, concerned about Sheldon's silence. "Do you like it?".

"It's ... nice" Sheldon answered, swallowing hard.

"Just… nice?" Asked Amy. "I honestly expected a more enthusiastic response."

"Yes, it's nice, but it's a shame that you won't use it for a long time" Sheldon said with a naughty smile as she took Amy into his arms tightly. "Anyway, I like the content of the gift more than the wrapping paper." He mumbled under his breath.