So. We've arrived at the final chapter. I had considered posting a tenth chapter that's actually never been published at all, but due to my technologically challenged mind I couldn't figure out how to transfer it from my flash drive to my laptop, plus it's one I certainly wouldn't categorize as "fluff". But thank you for the support and taking this journey down memory lane with me!

Original publish date: May 31st, 2019

Amy shut the door behind the Hofstadters, the last of their friends to leave the apartment. She wished they could have stayed later, had a couple of drinks as one last hurrah, but Jason had begun to fuss and if there was one thing that Amy was learning, it was that the whims of a child was the true head of a household.

Speaking of which, what was Sheldon up to? He had disappeared a while ago, and Amy wasn't certain if it was because he was stepping up to his new responsibilities or avoiding the work that had to be done in the living room. Amy didn't like having to do this any more than he did, but there was only so much that they could cram into their apartment before it became more a storage space than a home.

After locking up and turning out the lights, Amy maneuvered around a maze of cardboard boxes and approached the bedroom door, possibly for the last time. They weren't moving far- just upstairs where a two bedroom had recently opened up- but this floor had been the birthplace of so many wonderful memories. Amy had made friends here, made love here, made career breakthroughs here, made a new life here. It would be hard to leave all that behind, but now there were things that mattered more.

Amy pushed the door open to find Sheldon lying on their bed, surrounded by a mess of partly filled boxes and piles of clothing and knick-knacks. She was honestly surprised that all the clutter wasn't driving him crazy, but it seemed he was preoccupied with the other new life they had made together.

Their daughter, just shy of three weeks old, was on the bed beside Sheldon. Her eyes were trained on his steadily, and Sheldon responded in kind as he slowly stroked her dark hair from her round little face, looking as if he couldn't quite believe she was there. Amy still couldn't believe it either, if she was being honest. How on earth could she, if it had taken them ten years to get this far?

"Hey," she said softly as she joined them both on the bed. "Everyone's gone home."

Sheldon blinked several times and looked up, registering her in the room for the first time. "How long have we been in here?"

"About an hour," Amy said, smiling despite herself. "I know she's flawless and all, but you probably should've come back and helped us finish packing."

"I'm sorry," Sheldon said, eyes back on their baby. "I came to put her to bed and finish up in here, but then I noticed this new crease in her forehead when she frowns, which made me notice her brows are filling in, and I think her eyes are bluer now than ever…" Sheldon trailed off as the little girl's eyes fluttered at him, trying in vain to fight off sleep. "Every day she looks a little bit different. I don't want to miss any of it."

"I know," Amy said, her hand coming around to rest on her daughter's tummy. Never had she been more envious of her husband's eidetic memory than since becoming a mother.

They stayed that way for a long time, simply watching their baby, but eventually Amy's attention was drawn to the rest of the room. The bassinet shoved in the corner, the plethora of baby things (mostly) packed away, their dresser that had become a makeshift changing table. This move was necessary, but that didn't make it any easier.

"Are you okay?"

Amy turned back to find Sheldon's attention on her now, in that unwavering way that made her feel like the only thing in the world. It was one of the many reasons she fell in love with him.

"I'm fine," she said. "Just a little sad. I'm gonna miss this place."

"Oh." Sheldon took a long, sweeping glance across their bedroom as if seeing it for the first time in decades. "I suppose so."

"You suppose so?" Amy asked. "You won't miss living here?"

"It's not like we're moving to a new country. It will be different, an adjustment for sure. But…" Sheldon's gaze returned to their daughter, who had at last fallen asleep, mouth slightly agape. "Sometimes change is good."

Amy didn't trust herself to speak without allowing emotional, postpartum hormones to do the talking for her, so instead she scooped her baby to her chest and got up. Sheldon stood as well, and the two took her to the bassinet and laid her down to sleep. Sheldon wrapped an arm around Amy's waist as they looked down on their daughter together.

"Amy?" Sheldon said after a moment. "Speaking of change…"

"We're not changing her name. You love it."

"But it's so hippy-dippy. I have a brand to keep up, you know."

"Come on, Sheldon, it's not that bad," Amy said, snuggling into his side. "And it's the perfect name, considering where she was conceived…"

As she expected, Sheldon flushed a deep scarlet as he pulled at his collar. "Yes, well. We'll be leaving that part of the story out when we tell her."

Amy grinned against his shirt, knowing her victory was secure. Sheldon grew quiet again as he reached down to run a thumb against his daughter's cheek. The baby stirred, but did not wake.

"Noelle Cooper," he said slowly, feeling and tasting each syllable in his mouth. He pulled Amy in a bit closer, and despite his earlier protests, he smiled. "Our little Noelle Prize."