Chapter Twenty-Five: Matrimony in the Making


"What's this?" Sheldon scrutinized the flattened brown bag, folded and stapled once at the very center. It was clear that it got crumpled somewhere, creases on all four corners, but Amy might have straightened it at the last minute.

"Comics," Amy replied as she returned to her side of the bed, leaning on the headboard. She smiled so seamlessly, impressed with how she was doing by buying his beloved superhero art books with little to none dialogue and a whole lot of onomatopoeic jibber-jabber.

Sheldon scoffed, smirking haughtily. "Comic books. Comics refer to those people who make a living out of people's laughs, commonly known as comedians," he began, carefully ripping the staple, "or if you're feeling whimsically archaic, a jester from the Medieval to the Renaissance era." Sheldon raised his eyebrows playfully, garnering a small laugh from Amy.

Amy raised her eyebrows at Sheldon's sassiness, clarifying justly, "Comic books."

"Much like it." Sheldon nodded his head in satisfaction. "What am I supposed to do with these?"

He removed 3 comic books from inside, all unfamiliar to him. He scanned it, turning it around, pleased to see that all of them were from known publishers that he frequents.

"I asked Leonard what you liked. He said there was an ongoing superhero issue that you read every week but I didn't know if we had it here. So I just asked Frank to buy a few recommendations from Leonard that you haven't read yet," she said. "And besides, it's Comic Book Night, Sheldon."

He looked at her incredulously. "Last night was Comic Book Night." He furrowed his head in confusion. "Today is just . . ." He turned on his phone ". . . 5 on a Thursday morning."

"Well, I was going to give it to you last night but you were already asleep," Amy admitted.

Exasperated, Sheldon dropped the comic books on his lap, reasoning to Amy, "But we did it anyway," referring to something they did last night. Yes, they did. They were very much engaged in it that Sheldon disregarded his rule of staying up past his 10 p.m. bedtime.

"I was talking about comic books, Sheldon." Slowly, Amy grinned coyly, tilting her head ever so slightly to the side.

"Oh," he gasped, embarrassed about his assumption. "This is awkward. I thought you were talking about that thing." His last syllables came out as a whisper as he tried to stir away the implication of his statement.

"What was it?" she said, innocently. Drawing her face near Sheldon, she asked in a deep, sultry voice, "What thing?" Sheldon's blushing made Amy feel for the man. But also his adorable blushing made her want to tease him more. With his disheveled hair, his ear displayed its reddened helix, his left cheek screaming crimson, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down as he sought to appear unmoved by her tantalizing.

"You're going to make me say it." Sheldon kept his gaze ahead, pretending he was unfazed. "Fine, we made love 5 hours ago," he snapped at her. This time, Amy thought Sheldon would be upset at her pushy stance. But his voice was deep and resounding. "And I love you for it."

His declaration of love caught her off guard. She's usually ready for it but Sheldon was so nonchalant and so innocent that it made her heart flutter. She sighed and smiled at the same time, shoulders drooping slightly. "I know you do, Sheldon."

"You know, Amy, I have an eidetic memory and I know what you said last night," he revealed. The way she whispered 'I love you' into his ear rang like an alarm, notifying him for months of effort. Finally, the words he never expected to hear from her. He couldn't quite tell how many times Amy had said it to him last night, but the most meaningful ones were the first—or rather, the second—time she said it to him as she sat on his lap, revealing to him that she was the first to say those words, and the other one was uttered as she wiped his tear-stained face and he kissed hers.

"I know you do," she thoughtfully replied, another sly grin forming on her lips. "And I think I've decided . . ." She tilted her chin up, rubbing it slowly.

"On what?" Sheldon ducked his head, waiting for her in anticipation.

Amy held her head high and nodded resolutely. "That I'll tell you once a day."

"Once a day?" he bellowed in shock, jaw slacked as he gazed at Amy with his eyes twitching a bit. It's been a while since his face had twitched. It wasn't too long before he closed his mouth and nodded nonchalantly. A mischievous grin plastered on his face, aware of Amy's game. "Lady, you are a teaser, aren't you?"

She raised her eyebrows and cocked her head quickly. "You can call me that."

Their day started once she and Sheldon finished with a fervid make-out session. After taking a bath individually, they went downstairs to the smell of over-easy eggs and the sound of Sunny's lullabies as she cradled Hero in her arms like a baby.

It was their last day in this cabin. They'll ride back to Concord, spend a few hours resting there, and maybe drive back again to Hanover in the afternoon so that she and Sheldon could have some alone time in her apartment.

Alone time. It was a pretty scary notion. What happened last night was glorious, even she could not describe properly. After Sheldon noticed her eyes red, a sign of crying, he couldn't contain his emotions. His cries were short in duration yet its intensity was distinct. Penetrating through her chest, his sobs were painful yet assuring to hear.

They washed up past 12 in the midnight, spent and tired with their exploration. They dressed back to their clothes and changed the sheets in a matter of minutes, before laying down and falling asleep.

Snowfall was heavy last night. Sheldon had to shovel the pathway leading to the car park, while Frank plowed on the way outside of the property using an attachment to the car. Sheldon seemed elated because of the plow looking like a train's cow-catcher.

As they left the driveway, the brick chimney puffing what's left of the morning fire, Amy noticed how Frank drove off to the opposite path, north and away from the state's capital. It was no surprise if her brother will bring them somewhere else; he'd been their tour guide this whole trip, except for that skiing part, she was the mastermind behind that.

So when Frank drifted off, she just shrugged it and continued watching Sheldon as he was deep in his comic book. She knew Sheldon picked the most child-friendly one, scanning all the pages of the 3 comic books, before picking out the DC comic book. His intention was to avoid any mishaps because he knew Sunny might read along with him in the car.

A quick drive and they were in another town, its main street riddled with local shops in Federal architecture buildings. Littleton, it said on one of the welcome signs.

She'd heard that this was one of best towns in New Hampshire, boasting a hub for the arts and business scene. Even 9 in the morning, the streets are bustling with locals and vehicles about to go on their day. It wasn't a long journey into the center when they stopped in front of Neoclassical-style building, prevalent architecture on government buildings.

They parked right in front of it, a designated spot along the street. At the very top of the building carved UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, and separated by 4 ionic columns, just above the doors, written UNITED STATES POST OFFICE AND COURTHOUSE—LITTLETON, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

"We have a surprise for you," Frank announced as he turned his head around, the excitement was evident in his tone.

"For whom?" Amy cocked her head and asked. It would be weird if he was talking to Sheldon like he would to Sunny.

"Well, for all of you."

Sheldon peeked on her side of the window, squishing his way past Sunny who was equally interested. "Neat! The post office! Are you gonna mail some letters? Or are we getting some packages?" Her husband's enthusiasm was met with giggles. He didn't seem affected by their reaction, he just continued looking outside in awe.

Dee responded as she released her seatbelt. "You'll see."

A sudden feeling jolted her. A surprise. Maybe they're getting a birthday gift for her. All her birthdays, she never asks for any gifts from her brother and his family. In fact, when the topic of gift-giving and asking for what she wants turns up, she immediately dismisses her brother and moves on from the topic.

Similarly, she'd stressed it a hundred of times that month that she doesn't want a lavish gift from Frank and Dee, spending time with all of them was enough, and now that Sunny's getting better at writing, she relies on whatever birthday card her niece writes.

But it doesn't seem like a birthday gift.

She'd heard a few times in the past 4 months that Frank and Dee were planning to get their marriage license. The couple had been engaged since she could remember. She was still at Harvard for her postdoc when Frank popped the question. And since then, no marriage took place in the 10 years the couple had been together. With now Frank holding a manila envelope, wedding bells could be happening within 90 days or less.

But every step that they take inside the building, her instincts tell her something's about to happen. Sheldon still couldn't take away his attention from the post office, admiring the short queue at the counter, relishing the stamps thwacking every envelope and the rips of paper running through the shredder.

When the couple ahead of them continued on walking and walking, disregarding the queues and proceeding to the hallway, Amy had a hunch on what was happening. Marriage license, she thought, Maybe they'll get it from someone they already knew, Frank always has connections here in New Hampshire.

Amy saw door after door of offices, followed by courtrooms numbered as they moved forward. Courtrooms . . . courtrooms.

A sudden realization hit her. "Oh my God!" whispered Amy to Sheldon. She tugged his hand, trying to catch his attention.

"Huh? Why? What happened?" he said, rattled, stopping and looking around for any signs of threat; there's none, only a few employees loitering around the hallway. Did she suddenly develop a fear of people? Very unusual behavior for Amy?

When Frank and Dee stopped at one of the double doors, she couldn't contain her excitement, she danced on her feet, still clutching and tugging Sheldon's hands. She doesn't care if she attracts attention or if she looks silly, all she wanted was to express herself.

"Amy, you're gonna have to talk to me. What is happening?" He stopped her, holding her hands to stop her from fidgeting.

"THEY'RE GETTING MARRIED!" Amy shrieked, tugging his hand. If it weren't for his gloves, his hand would surely chafe.

"Who's getting married?"

"Them!" Amy pointed at Dee and Frank entering the door. They both turned to them and flashed a cheeky smile. Dragging Sheldon, Amy pushed the door and followed them inside.

"Really?" he asked, amazed and elated. "Did they tell you?"

"No, but Frank's been telling me that they're getting married soon," Amy responded quickly, seeking the eyes of her family asking for confirmation. Even Sunny's unaware of what's happening, still holding onto Hero's leash who happened to be allowed in the building. "This is it!" she whispered giddily.

Sheldon leaned it as they sat at the very end of the minute courtroom. "Ask them."

They didn't need to ask. As Frank and Dee sat in the front row of chairs, waiting for someone, Frank turned around, opened the envelope, and pulled out half of the document to show it to them. She couldn't see it clearly but it sure does look like a marriage license she and Sheldon had to acquire when they were in Pasadena.

Amy jumped to her feet, congratulating them briefly before a woman emerged from the side door, beaming and greeting the couple. The ceremony started as soon as niceties were cleared. Amy couldn't contain her emotions. She must have cried more than she had when she and Sheldon got married.

Sheldon noticed the tears being wiped off incessantly. "Why are you crying?"

"Because they're getting married," she sobbed, wiping her face completely. She couldn't appear this emotional in their photos; her disheveled image would be ingrained in every single person who sees them.

Sheldon tilted his head and furrowed his forehead. "Do you not want your brother to get married? Because we can always object to it." There's a solution to everything, and if the wedding is making Amy miserable, he would no doubt voice his argument.

"No, of course not! I want them to get married," she wailed, listening as the officiant read from her notebook.

"Oh…" he jolted, "I thought these were sad tears."

As the ceremony carried through, all Sheldon could hear was Amy's quiet sobs and Frank and Dee's voice, exchanging words of affection and devotion. So this is what 10 years of companionship looks like, he contemplated. Would that be him and Amy in 10 years, with a child, a cat, and vows between them? A cat would be tolerable; he acquired a few as soon as Amy left for the east coast. He wouldn't be opposed to renewing vows, either; that's pretty standard for married couples, right?. Although a child would be hard to believe, it would take years before he would come to a conclusion of searing one.

All of a sudden the officiant announced both as husband and wife, sealing it with a kiss, before looking at him and Amy in full enthusiasm.

After snapping a hundred photos of the newlyweds, amidst her full-on emotional distress, Amy jumped to her feet, ready to tell her brother and sister-in-law how happy she was.

"Oh, Frankie, Dee, I love you both!" wailed Amy hugging them simultaneously, disregarding the amused look of the officiant and Sunny's high-pitched giggles.

Sheldon pulled out his phone, knowing that his wife would like to see this very moment and put it to memory. Photos were taken, Sheldon amazed that Frank insisted that he be part of it and not just behind the camera.

Sheldon felt Amy's undeniable feelings, opposite to Frank and Dee who seemed very nonchalant about their relationship's milestone. She'd flourished with these people. From graduate school to full-time researcher. From being single to getting married. They'd got to see Amy achieve these accomplishments. Sheldon realized Amy deserved to see this moment as they enter a new chapter in their lives.

But the most amusing thing that happened in that building was when he heard Amy whisper to him, "I love you, Sheldon," as she wrapped her arm on his back and drew him near her, dropping a kiss on his shoulders.

They drove for only a minute, proceeding to a road dipping to a river's bank, before putting the car into park once again.

A covered bridge was in the distance. Amy enthusiastically dragged the newlyweds and devised a make-shift wedding photoshoot. A very unusual one since Dee and Frank were clad in winter clothes, not an ounce of fabric that would imply that they got married a little over 5 minutes before.

With the comfortable love between the 2 of them, the first photo they instinctively took was their photo with Sunny clinging to her father and a vest-clad Hero cradled like a baby by Dee. Soon enough, the couple posed for wacky shots—throwing snow at each other, Dee piggyback-riding on Frank, Dee attempting to do the same but soon realized that she was pregnant and one wrong move could injure her, both of them laying on the snow and posed, giggling like children.

"Kiss," Amy behind her phone, sensing Sheldon observing from behind.

Frank and Dee quickly exchanged a laugh and positioned themselves at the very end of the bridge, highlighting the red timber of the bridge, its roof sheathed with a blanket of snow. They shared a passionate kiss amidst the light snowfall, Amy clicking rapidly; she'd have to pick the best photo later on. Frank dipped Dee slightly as he was still kissing her. Everyone realized that was the best shot.

"Give me your phone!" Dee bellowed, reaching in. She handed it, expecting that Dee would just like to look at the photos, but she stood in her position and pointed to where they came from.

"Stand there—the two of you!" She relentlessly pointed her finger, garnering weird looks from both Amy and Sheldon. Dee widening her eyes jolted them.

"Why—" Amy protested, dragging her feet on the snow.

"No buts! Go on, Sheldon, right beside Amy."

Amy waited for Sheldon to take his position right at the entrance of the bridge. She stood there waiting while her sister-in-law behind her phone.

"What?!" she shouted, feeling Sheldon's warmth right beside her.

Dee gave them knowing looks, jaw-dropping at their incredulity. "Smile!" she ordered.

She glanced at Sheldon first who seemed very participative. He smiled so timidly, keeping his gaze at the camera. Defeated, Amy looked at the camera and smiled her heart out. It took a couple of clicks before she felt Sheldon's right hand making its way on her waist, wrapping his arm around her back.

Frank seemed to notice it and started bouncing behind Dee, even urging Sunny to do the same. Their actions made her chuckle and when she looked at Sheldon, a grin of delight was on his face. She started to redden when his brother brought up his arms and, with his bare hands, started doing a kissing gesture, bumping his puckered fingertips together. Dee noticed the change in the couple's expressions and looked behind to see what her husband was doing.

"Kiss!" she shouted, a smile on her face as she rode along with her husband's childish actions.

Amy started to panic. Sheldon doesn't want that. He hated the mere fact of someone witnessing their intimacy, even though their kiss at that viewing deck caught the attention of everybody. Her mind started filling with rants coming from Sheldon. Not long before her notions started to turn sour, she felt a soft touch on her left cheek.

Sheldon stooped down and puckered his lips on Amy's cheek. He waited there for a few seconds while Dee captured the moment. Frank started chanting, as well as Sunny. He pulled away with a smile on his face, glancing at Amy's family with pride, while she stood flustered at her feet.

But it doesn't seem enough for the older Fowler. "What kind of kiss was that?! On the lips!" he cheered, gesturing his puckered hands again to signify that a kiss on the cheek was not enough. He sighed in defeat and gawked at her brother. Her eyes were widening in alarm as a puff of smoke came out of her mouth.

Sheldon sensed the tension coming from Amy but he won't let ruin whatever fun they were having.

"They won't shut up, Amy," he muttered, holding onto her shoulders and facing her to him.

"But—"

Sheldon gave them what they wanted. He gave Amy a chaste kiss on the lips, not initiating a move nor deepening it. A kiss that would suffice two photos or so. But Amy seemed to like the hollering that she cupped Sheldon's cheeks and moved her head to deepen it.

It took him off guard but he was quick to respond. He pivoted his head so that they wouldn't be able to see the kiss. All the photos onward will just be the back of his head and Amy's body. He thought it would be an ingenious idea, but it stirred something within Amy.

She started nibbling his lower lip, prompting his jaw to loosen. Amy found another way to intensify the kiss that they only did during their affair last night and after giving those comic books that sure fired up Sheldon's cravings.

"Hey!" They heard a faint shout from afar.

Amy quickly pulled away from their kiss. Winter was really not on their side as their heavy breathing was humiliatingly obvious at every gust of smoke coming out from their swollen lips. Plain as day, her family could see how much they were enjoying the kiss on the covered bridge. Even people from afar must have known what was happening.

"Photoshoot's done, lovebirds!"


"How many days do we have?" Sheldon blurted out of the blue, still gazing down to his iPad, as the door opened

After a menacing photoshoot that turned out to be too much for the public's eye, they gathered around a close-by cafe to celebrate the recent nuptials. A makeshift alfresco reception with hot cinnamon drinks and sandwiches, overlooking the all but frozen river, rushing on a winter's day. The patio gave a beautiful glimpse of the covered bridge, its length extending to the other side of the town as silhouettes of people peeked from the crisscrossed wooden beams of the bridge.

They went back to Concord and stayed in the Fowler residence up until 2 in the afternoon, doing some snow chores after 3 days of winter repose. Arriving back to Hanover, they bought dinner and provisions for the ensuing days.

"What do you mean?" Amy asked as she closed the bedroom door. What kind of days, she thought, questioning if Sheldon was talking about his flight back to California. He hadn't said anything about it yet, but chances are, he'd want to go home as soon as possible.

"I'm aware that you'd want to spend the holidays with your family, when are we going back to Concord?"

"Dee's working a 13-hour morning shift on the 23rd to 26th. We'd have to be there on the 23rd for last-minute Christmas shopping and groceries—if there's any—and for Christmas Eve dinner." Amy pulled down the comforter on her side, sitting down on the mattress.

Sheldon did the quick calculation. "So that leaves us 5 days all by ourselves…" he said, closing the magnetic flap of his iPad.

"Exactly," she answered in her deep voice, facing Sheldon. In his genius, he'd have to get the suggestive voice.

"I'd have 5 days to order gifts for all of you. It'd be very ungrateful to arrive empty-handed."

Amy's facial expression quickly turned the other way around. "Scouring gifts for 5 days? That seems very bland," she insinuated.

"Of course, we can always do other things," Sheldon suggested innocently, still oblivious.

A coy grin formed on her lips. Of course, we can. "Like what?"

"Explore other parts of Hanover, maybe neighboring towns," he listed.

"What else?"

"I still have to submit the final grades for my 30 graduate students." He puckered his lips and grimaced. "I might need to borrow your laptop."

"That's fine." Amy shrugged. "What else do you have in mind?"

Deep in thought, Sheldon tilted his head and put a finger upon his chin. "Ooh, ooh! I've always wanted to do some snow experiments! We could have done it at the Arctic but the conditions were too harsh to just spend a few hours outside of our living quarters. Now that this place will be a winter wonderland for a few months, it's only logical to do it here."

"That's nice . . . and a bit fun." Amy cocked her head and put her hand on her waist. "But there could be other things we could do."

"I think that would be enough for 5 days, you reckon?" Sheldon flashed a genuine smile. A hunch is what he would call Amy's thinly-veiled advances. She wants something, he thought gazing at her cheeky grin and down to her waist where her finger sluggishly tapped her nightgown.

"Let's have some fun," she whispered, nearing him as the sheets rustled beneath.

"Right now?" Sheldon gulped, feeling Amy's warm body pressing on his left arm.

Amy nodded her head in acknowledgment. "Up until dawn . . ."


Stay safe everybody! Last chapter on Monday.