Sorry for the delay. I had a 25,000-word epilogue typed up but decided that while it was long, it just wasn't any GOOD. I hope this rewrite was worth the wait. The epilogue will be in two parts. I'm still working on part 2 and hope to get that out before the end of the year. Thanks again for sticking with me on this crazy ride. Dr. W


Epilogue

Hoping she didn't just make a colossal mistake, Amy sets the pen on top of the document she just signed and releases a huge sigh. It's done and there are no take-backs. Standing, she shakes her attorney's hand before exiting the office and going straight for her non-descript blue SUV. She opens the doors and smiles at the two car seats that take up the entirety of the back seat as she reaches in for her backpack, stopping to laugh at her daughter's teddy bear and her son's dinosaur safely harnessed in between the seats, sharing a seatbelt. Sheldon must've done that when he took the kids for Daddy and Me night yesterday evening.

Grabbing her water bottle, Amy stands outside the car for a few minutes as she takes slow sips and tries to calm her nerves. She knows she needs to get back to Sheldon and the children, but sometimes it's nice to take a few minutes for herself. She rarely gets that opportunity now.

Knowing she can put it off no longer, Amy slides into the driver's seat and quickly cleanses her hands with Purell before starting the car. She turns on the radio and groans as "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" blares from the speakers. Turning the channel to the pop 2k station, Amy makes the 45-minute drive, singing along the entire time.

Pulling into the driveway, Amy sighs in relief that the house isn't on fire or there isn't an ambulance out front (both real possibilities when Sheldon is left alone with the children.) She stops and grabs the mail before walking inside. It's quiet. A little too quiet, she worries.

"Sheldon?" she calls out as she goes to the kitchen and sets the unopened mail on the counter for later.

"Shh. I just got them down for a nap," Sheldon cautions as he comes around the corner and embraces his wife in a long loving hug. "How did it go?"

"It went well. Legal will have to go through the manuscript with a fine-tooth comb since there are several mentions of the woman who is facing prosecution for espionage. It was never meant to be about her, Sheldon. It was always about us, about how we overcame infidelity, but the publisher didn't want that story. That story doesn't sell," Amy rants, the same rant he's heard a hundred times before.

"It is our story, Amy. I've read it, every word, every rewrite. It's still the self-help book you set out to write, wrapped up in the salacious details those with lesser intellect will gobble up like Thanksgiving dinner. I think what really bothers you is that you're having to relive it by writing about it, talking about it. So...let's change the topic," Sheldon decides.

Letting go of his wife for just a moment, Sheldon walks over to the fridge and reaches up, grasping a flat white envelope he hid on top. Walking back to Amy, he wraps his arms around her waist as he holds her to his chest.

"It's only December 22nd," Amy points out.

"I know, but I need you to open this today. It's rather urgent," Sheldon hints.

Intrigued, Amy lifts the tongue of the envelope Sheldon didn't seal due to his phobia of licking envelopes (some things haven't changed she internally laughs) and removes three perfectly folded pieces of paper. Scanning the first sheet, she sees the Delta Airlines logo, followed by the names of their children. Looking for the airport code, she gasps as she spots it.

"You're taking us to Paris for Christmas?" she questions.

"I promised you we'd go back and what better timing than the fifth anniversary of you agreeing to marry me?" Sheldon asks.

"I can't believe it's been five years," Amy replies.

"Me either. Would you change anything?" he wonders.

"No. I could do without the postpartum depression after I gave birth, but changing a single detail, even one I may consider minor or unimportant could alter the course of history. We have two beautiful, healthy children, our marriage is stronger than it's ever been, you got your Nobel and I became a New York Times best selling author... all in all, I'd say the past five years have been the best of our lives," Amy decides.


December 25, 2017

She said yes.

He doesn't know why or when Amy changed her mind, but as Sheldon reads the update to their relationship status, he grins like a deranged idiot. He's certain Amy is still at the airport. He could go back, get down on one knee and formalize this before kissing her senseless as his fellow travelers applaud...

He can't do that, he realizes with a heavy sigh. The consequences of missing this flight are far too grave. He decides he's going to quickly change their status until they have a chance to talk this through... until he gets the chance to actually ask Amy to marry him.

The update has already been emoji'd by Missy, Stewart, and Amy's Aunt, Linda. He doesn't dare remove it now. Alright, so, how should he play this? Ignore it? Always a good option, except he's about to spend the next 15 hours traveling. Confirm it and speak with Amy as soon as possible? It's probably his only option, Sheldon decides. He uploads the photo of him holding Amy's hand at the Wall of Love into the comments section and then texts Amy, "we definitely need to talk."

She doesn't immediately reply back, signaling she's either busy or her phone died. Sheldon keeps checking his phone for updates up until the moment he has to power down once boarding the flight. Nothing. He texts an, "I love you," before powering down and closing his eyes, exhausted after a whirlwind 8 days in Paris.

Turning on his phone the moment he lands in New York, he gets a barrage of incoming texts from Amy, "I can explain," "I love you," "text me when you land at JFK," "I miss you already," and the last one, which makes him chuckle, "Dave met me on the stairs as I was coming home. Asked that we rearrange the bedroom furniture and keep the volume to a minimum." As quickly as possible, Sheldon makes his way from the international arrivals deck over to domestic departures and finds the gate for his next flight. It's just turned midnight in Paris, but Amy did ask him to contact her when he arrives at JFK. Deciding it's worth the risk of waking her, Sheldon puts in his headphones and initiates a Skype call.

Amy kept her phone under her pillow and she startles as the vibration awakens her. Quickly answering, she rolls and turns on the light so he can see she is in bed. He's smiling, instantly calming her.

"Hi," she answers, knowing she better offers an explanation very quickly.

"Hello. I'm at JFK."

"Good. So... um... I owe you an explanation. I made a huge mistake, Sheldon when I said: "not yet." You have shown me, time and again, that I can trust you with my life... with my heart. I don't know why I've been fighting this and I am just so... stupid."

"Amy, you're not..." Sheldon attempts to interject.

"Yes, I am. You have done everything you can think of to prove to me that this was a one time mistake and that you love me. You want me. I've been demanding more. More of what, I'm not exactly sure, but it's only been serving to drive a wedge between us. It's been right in front of me all along. You love me. You chose me. I can trust you. So... I made a mistake when I said not yet... and then last night... last night was amazing. You are amazing and I... I realized, probably too late... that all I want for Christmas is you... is to be your wife. I made a mistake saying no to you, Sheldon, and I know that I've given you every reason to suspect that I'm having a psychotic breakdown but... I'm saying yes now. I'm saying yes now," she rambles on in spite of her tears.

"Better late than never, right?" Sheldon teases her, making her laugh. "I'm not saying no, Amy... but I think the most consequential question I will ever ask you should not be asked over a Skype call. Would you agree?" he questions, as he looks up to find all eyes on him.

"Yes..." she soberly replies, waiting for the sucker punch straight to her heart.

"So, here's what we're going to do. No one needs to know what happened at the Eiffel Tower yesterday. It doesn't matter now. We love each other and we are engaged. This is conditional upon you accepting my proposal in person on April 1st. Deal?" Sheldon offers, setting his terms.

"Deal," Amy quickly agrees. "I freaked out for a moment at the airport. I tried to purchase a ticket for the cheapest flight possible... a last-minute one-way ticket from Paris to Geneva is $59 by the way... just so I could propose to you Sheldon... but I didn't have my passport and they wouldn't accept my work visa..."

"Breathe, Amy," Sheldon requests, grinning the entire time. "I briefly considered going back through security so I could formalize this... even if it meant missing my flight. Do you think, "but I had to propose" is a valid excuse for the U.S. military?"

"Somehow I doubt it," Amy decides. "In all of my craziest fantasies, this is not how I imagined us getting engaged," she admits.

"You want the full experience... roses, candles, an overly sappy prepared speech as I get down on one knee?" Sheldon questions.

"All of those other little details don't matter anymore, Sheldon. You could ask me while we're cuddling in bed or playing a game or... I don't know... by hiding a ring in a brain specimen... and I'd still say yes," she promises as boarding for Sheldon's flight is announced.

"I'll call you the moment I get home," Sheldon promises.

"Okay. I love you," Amy softly murmurs as she kisses two fingers and lays them on the screen over his face.

"I love you too," Sheldon replies as he mimics her kiss.

Knowing she won't be able to get back to sleep now, Amy rolls over and brings Sheldon's pillow to her nose, breathing in the comforting smell of his tea tree shampoo combined with the slightest hint of talc. They definitely won the "craziest engagement story" award, if such a thing existed.

Sheldon gifted her a USB drive with every journal entry since the day they met. She can finally get inside his head and find out what he was really thinking during their biggest milestones. Decision made, she goes to her living room to retrieve her laptop and the USB drive before returning to her bedroom. Sheldon conveniently separated the "milestones" into a second folder for her and after scanning the titles, she opens the most recent entry, "Last Night in Paris" first. He must have written this while I was sleeping.

I knew you'd select this entry first, Sheldon wrote, and for a moment, she can see his "stern look of condescension" as she continues to read, "Since you are reading this, it means that you have left me at the airport and are now spending the first of 100 nights alone in that tiny box of an apartment.

You're taking a shower after making love for the last 4 hours. I hope it was everything you wanted it to be, Amy. I hope that I was able to show you through every kiss, every touch, everyone whispered "I love you," just how special you are to me.

Earlier today, I placed a ring upon your finger, Amy. While this ring represents a different promise than it's the original intended use, it is still a promise. Never again will you wonder how I really feel about you, never again will I break your heart or give you a reason to not trust me. I won't pressure you to change your mind because I trust that you will tell me when you're ready for a change in our relationship status. Until that day comes, I will work to regain your trust, to earn your love and your heart which I alone am responsible for breaking.

I love you. I was falling in love with you from the very beginning. I was already in love with you when I asked you to officially be my girlfriend. The proof is in the pudding, as they say. Eat the pudding, Amy.

"Eat the pudding?" she questions as she reads that last line.

One entry, in particular, caught her eye, "Amelia and Cooper fanfic." Clicking on that file, Amy is surprised that it's not a rant like she expected, but rather Sheldon wrote a fanfic scene about Cooper and Amelia. Why did he never show this to her?

The soft glow of moonlight illuminates Amelia's path as she makes her way to the barn where Cooper has set up camp. Amelia finds him hiding behind a stack of square hay bales, terror in his eyes as he places a finger over his lips signaling for her to remain quiet.

Her father and brothers are on the other side of the barn, seemingly waiting for someone to arrive. Soon hearing the gentle clip-clop of horse hooves against the dirt path, her brother opens the door as Amelia's betrothed, Joseph, arrives for the late-night meeting.

"What's this about?" Joseph questions as he dismounts from the brown horse and hands the reins to Amelia's younger brother, Daniel.

"Amelia is refusing to marry you. She has made claims of physical assault," her father, Elijah, replies.

"Amelia was seen in town with that new fella from Texas, that doctor... I will not be humiliated!" Joseph yells, startling the pigeons in the rafters, as they take flight.

"You don't deny striking my daughter?" her father questions, his voice low and threatening.

"You swore that she is intact. If she doesn't bleed as I take her maidenhood tomorrow night..." Joseph trails off.

"You are to never lay another finger upon her or her friendship with the doctor will be the least of your worries," Amelia's elder brother, Amos, threatens.

The expression, "startled like a deer in the headlights" comes to Cooper's mind as he watches the fear completely paralyze Amelia. She looks completely terrified of the man she is supposed to marry tomorrow morning. Cooper reaches for her hand, entwining their fingers, hoping that he is being supportive. The skin of her hand is surprisingly rough and calloused, the sign of a lifetime of hard physical labor, Cooper suspects. He can fix this. He can protect her. He can show her what love is.

"Did he hurt you because of me?" Cooper questions as soon as the barn door closes.

"Yes. His friends saw us swimming in the lake. They lied to him and said that we were both naked... that we kissed... that I had my legs wrapped around you..." Amelia lists. "I came to tell you that we cannot see each other again, Cooper. Once he becomes my husband tomorrow... he will kill me if he even suspects..."

"I can't let you marry him, Amelia. Come with me," Cooper pleads, grasping both of her hands in his.

"Come with you to where exactly?" Amelia questions.

"To the future," Cooper replies.

"Alas, I can not leave. The thought of never seeing my family again is more than I can bear. I'll be alright. Joseph comes from a good family and if I just obey his every command..."

"Is that any life, to constantly live in fear of your husband? I can keep you safe. I can love you as you deserve..." Cooper whispers.

Cooper hesitates only briefly as he leans in and allows his lips to softly brush against Amelia's. Forcefully pushing his chest, she turns and runs out of the barn into the large field of wheat, leaving him stunned and feeling utterly hopeless.

"Wow, this is really good," Amy comments to herself. She may be able to turn this into a chapter, she decides, as she closes out of it.


That little scene became chapter 12 of her first novel, setting Amy on a career trajectory she never could've predicted five years ago on their last night in Paris.

As Amy finishes folding the last of her children's clothing and zips up the suitcase that lays upon the bed, she decides to take the empty white laundry basket to the appropriately named laundry room. She just enters the hallway when her 4-year-old daughter comes streaking past her, followed a few moments later by her 2 year-old son as they giggle and run for the living room. Looking into the bathroom at her shirtless husband, who is now covered in streaks of the red and blue bath time crayons the terrible twosome absolutely love, she raises an eyebrow, awaiting an explanation.

"Thing 1 refused to have her hair washed and made a run for it. As I was attempting to corral her, Thing 2 joined in for a formal protest," Sheldon explains. "You were right. Do not bathe them together. They will double team me."

"Did you manage to get the crayons away from our little nudists before they made their escape?" Amy questions.

"Oh dear," Sheldon worries.

"I can think of much better reasons to spend the night on my hands and knees," she whispers in his ear as she stops him at the door. "If I'm cleaning that up, then you will owe me... big time."

"I'll clean it up since it was I who let them escape," Sheldon promises as he pecks her lips before going to the living room.

Not seeing his children, he looks for signs of them destroying the house, thankfully not seeing any large crayon streaks covering the walls. He can play this one of two ways, hide and seek, or, he can immediately go to bad cop mode and threaten no toys from Santa. He decides on a combination of the two, hoping Amy will play along.

"Mommy, have you seen our children?" he calls out to Amy.

"Nope, looks like we lost them. What shall we do with all of these presents?" Amy replies, her voice dripping with fake sarcasm.

"I guess we will have to take them back to the store. I better call Santa and tell him that he doesn't need to stop at the Fowler-Cooper house tonight," Sheldon teases as he pulls his phone out of his pocket and dials Amy's work number.

"NOOOO!" Their daughter cries as she comes out from hiding in the kitchen cabinet.

"Then you need to let me wash your hair," Amy demands as she snatches the crayon from her daughter's grasp.

"Fine, but I want to do it the way Nana taught me," their daughter insists.

"That's fine, as long as your hair gets washed," Amy agrees before turning to Sheldon, "you'll locate your mini-me?" she requests.

"Yes. He needs his hair washed as well," Sheldon clarifies as Amy gently takes her daughter's tiny hand and leads her back to the bathtub.

Where would I hide if he were a 2 year old with my father's sweet tooth and my mother's penchant for getting into mischief? I'd go straight for the cookies, Sheldon decides as he heads towards the kitchen. He finds his son sitting in the kitchen sink happily munching on a sugar cookie.

"Hi Dada," the little boy greets him as he holds the cookie up in the air triumphantly, "Cookie!"

"Come on, Cookie Monster, you still need your hair washed," Sheldon demands as he takes the half-eaten cookie away and sets it on the high chair for after bath time. Picking up his son, Sheldon tries to brush away most of the evidence, lest his daughter finds it unfair that she didn't get one of the freshly baked cookies also. Arriving at the bathroom, Sheldon sets his son back in the tub and gets on his knees next to his wife, who raises an eyebrow at him. Did you give him a cookie?

The ability to communicate solely with their eyes is something that Sheldon has found quite intriguing about marriage. It seems that he and Amy are always on the same page when it comes to rearing their children. How he wishes other aspects of their marriage were as simple, gift-giving for example. He spends days fretting over finding the perfect gift, looking at dozens of websites and their joint Amazon account. He got the birthday present this year just right, he decides with a sigh of relief. A birthday present they have yet to use, now that he thinks about it since Amy's just getting over that cold that the kids brought home from daycare. Maybe they can use it tonight, he decides.

"Daddy, I got in a fight at school today," his daughter admits, bringing him back to the present. "Emma said that Santa can't exist because he would need to visit t houses every second! Can we do the math after my bath?" she requests. If anyone can prove Santa is real, it's her Daddy.

Oh boy. He knew this day would come. Panic-stricken, he looks to his wife for help. Amy just shrugs nonchalantly, "You are the one who insisted they believe in Santa, The Easter Bunny, and magical talking dragons. You figure it out."

His beloved late Meemaw was fond of saying, "If you can't dazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bullshit." While his daughter possesses above-average intellect, luckily he and Amy agreed that they are going to let her be a kid. There will be time for academia when she's a little older. He can still baffle her if he fudges the numbers.

"Of course, Peanut," he dutifully replies. "I'll never turn down an opportunity to do math with you."

"I read an interesting study out of Sorbonne today. That's the school I was working at in Paris when Daddy asked me to marry him," she explains for her daughter's benefit. "Scientists have long been baffled by how Santa can visit the house of every child in one night, but it turns out that Santa isn't completely human..."

"Like Frankenstein?" their daughter asks.

"No, not like Frankenstein. Like Spock," Sheldon chimes in while wondering how his 4-years-old knows about Frankenstein.

"Santa's non-human side, the balaclava, is capable of freezing human time, so while it seems like it's only been one night to us, it's actually been days for Santa," Amy confidentially fibs without batting an eye.

"Cool. Say that word again Mommy?" their little one requests.

"Balaclava," Amy slowly annunciates. "It means, "people of the snow."

How did five years pass so quickly, Sheldon wonders as he tickles his son's belly before zipping up the red sleeper adorned with green cartoon grinches? Quickly pulling on his adult-sized matching t-shirt, Sheldon picks up his little guy and walls out to the living room, where he stops and smiles at Amy as their daughter sits in her lap.

"Hi, Bubba!" Amy enthusiastically greets their son as their son immediately runs to sit with his Mommy and sister.

Sheldon notices his daughter is carefully examining the pendant on Amy's necklace, as though it's the first time she's ever seen it. He knows it's not as Amy never takes it off. Curious, he watches his family while trying to get into the mind of his 4-year-old.

"The Grinch? Really?" Amy asks as Sheldon walks by the couch on his way to plug on the Christmas tree.

"Like the Grinch, my heart has also grown 3 sizes," Sheldon explains as he comes back to sit next to his family and leans over to peck his wife's lips.

"Eww! Do you have to kiss?" their daughter exclaims on disgust.

They have strict rules in place regarding the display of affection in front of the children. Having agreed that it's important for the children to see affection as signs of a happy, healthy and loving marriage between their parents, Sheldon and Amy decided that G-rated touching, flirting, and kissing was acceptable behavior. The arrangement worked great until Sheldon gave Amy a love tap on the rear one night as she walked by him. Having thought Daddy hurt Mommy, their daughter freaked out and cried herself to sleep. Sheldon called an emergency relationship summit where they established the current rules: handholding, hugs, and kisses lasting 1/2 a Mississippi are allowed. All other forms of physical contact are prohibited between the hours of 7 am and 8:30 pm and must take place behind a closed and locked door.

"We don't have to kiss, but we like to kiss," Sheldon replies as he reaches for a star-shaped sugar cookie.

"Daddy, no! That's for Santa!" his daughter exclaims as Sheldon picks up the cookie and immediately sets it back on the plate. "Mommy said that Santa will come tonight because we won't be home for Christmas."

"I assume the carrots are for the reindeer?" He questions.

"Yeah!" his son confirms as he points to the tiny stuffed Rudolph doll Mary sent flr him.

"Yes, Rudolph is a reindeer," Amy confirms as she grins at her sweet baby boy.

"Mommy, I know the words, but what do the numbers mean?" Their daughter questions as she goes back to examining Amy's necklace.

"The numbers are called a coordinate. Scientists like Mommy and Daddy put thousands of imaginary lines on a globe as the one Uncle Raj has in his office. Each line has a number and the numbers can tell you exactly where you are on the globe. The coordinate on my necklace is for the first house Daddy and I lived in together," Amy explains.

"In Paris?" Their daughter excitedly asks.

"No. Here, in Pasadena, before you were born," Amy clarifies.

"But Daddy said you made me in Paris and I was born in your bedroom. I saw the pictures. Why do you have two houses?" their daughter wanders.

"We did make you in Paris and you were born in the bedroom Daddy and I share in this house," Amy confirms, smiling at Sheldon as she recalls the night they made their daughter, "but Daddy and I haven't always had this house. When I was working in Paris, Daddy stayed at our first house. It was only after we found out that we had made you that we purchased this house."

He'll never forget the night he and Amy made their daughter, or the night he found out he was about to be a father...


April 1, 2018

3:24 am

Sheldon can't sleep. He knows he should try to sleep but he's just too excited. The past 100 days have dragged on... and on and on... and it seemed like today, April 1st, was never going to arrive. Of course, he knows that sounds ludicrous as time is a constant with no regard for anything external. Still, it feels as though it's been 100 years since he left Amy in Paris.

Reaching for his phone, Sheldon opens the last email Amy sent to him, attempting to make sense of the obscure line, "Let choice whisper in your ear and love murmur in your heart. Be ready. Here comes life." Sheldon has no idea what she is trying to tell him with that particular quote but knows that Amy chose it intentionally.

She asked for him to meet her in Las Vegas today. Why Vegas, he's not exactly sure. There are only two reasons to come to Vegas... well 3, really, but he doubts Amy has any interest in going to the Marvel Station exhibit... the other two reasons being to gamble and to elope. Amy has reassured him that she only wants a relaxing week in Vegas and she is not expecting them to get married while they're here. That did little to quell his nerves, especially once their friends decided to join them in Vegas.

While their friends decided to spend the evening engaging in all the debauchery Vegas has to offer, Sheldon's been in the hotel suite he booked for him and Amy, watching the flight tracking website as Delta Airlines Flight 8642 brings his fiancé home from her European adventure. She's 1,000 miles off the coast of New York right now, hopefully sleeping since she has just over an hour before landing at JFK. He plans to text her a myriad of patriotic silliness once she's officially back on American soil.

Getting out of bed, Sheldon walks into the adjoining living room and double-checks that the five long stem red roses along with the single white rose have enough water. The chocolates are in the fridge for now, where they will remain until he leaves for the airport. The most important item, the heart-shaped diamond ring, is tucked into the in-room safe, along with Amy's tiara, which he brought along just in case they decide to elope. He grabs one of the bottles of water from the pack he had delivered, along with the package of red vines, and decides to flip through the early morning offerings on the in-room satellite tv, settling on an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine on the SyFy Channel.

"At JFK, 2,475 miles and 6 hours to go. I can't wait to kiss you," Amy texts him 35 minutes earlier than expected.

He hits send on the draft text he put together earlier, blowing Amy's phone up with flag-waving, chants of "USA!" and several obscure facts about the United States. That leads to an unexpected but most welcome Skype call from his beloved.

"I woke you with my text," Amy immediately apologizes as soon as Sheldon answers.

"No. Sleep eludes me," he reassures. "I'm too excited."

"Me too," Amy reassures, as she smiles at him. "Have you been out of the room since we last spoke?"

"No. Everyone else went to one of the night clubs in our hotel. That didn't interest me so I worked on that theory I told you about: super asymmetry."

"Oh. Did you make any progress?" Amy wonders.

"No. I have all the puzzle pieces, I just can't make them fit together. I assume you've been reading?" he asks.

"That's the one downfall of a red-eye flight. Everyone around me was sleeping and I didn't want to be rude. I might be able to read if I don't doze off on the flight to Vegas. You really should try to sleep. You won't have time for a nap before we meet everyone for breakfast."

"Actually, Penny and Bernadette are insisting that they are coming with me to greet you at the airport. I was going to take an Uber but they said that's ridiculous since we have two cars," he explains.

"Oh. Um... alright," she stutters.

That's a rather strange reaction, Sheldon decides. "I thought you'd show more enthusiasm about seeing your gal pals?"

"I'm excited, Sheldon, but I've told them that I want to spend the day with you, just the two of us..." she hints.

"I have a feeling that once you see the enormous sunken tub in the other room, you'll ignore me completely."

"Is this tub big enough for two?" she questions.

"I believe that could be arranged," he murmurs, dropping his voice an octave.

"My flight is boarding. I'll see you in 5 hours. Get some sleep," she insists as she kisses her fingers and lays them on the screen. "I love you."

"I love you," Sheldon replies as Amy ends the call.

Going into the other room, Sheldon crawls into the king-sized bed, thankful it's the last night he'll spend alone for the foreseeable future. Amy's agreed to move in with him again, sharing the apartment they once called home. She wants a larger place and has made no qualms about letting him know that. They've agreed to six months in the apartment while they adjust to living with each other once again, after which, they'll start looking to purchase a house.

Setting his alarm, Sheldon closes his eyes and dozes off, waking every hour to check Amy's flight progress. With 90 minutes left, he takes a quick shower and sparingly mists himself with the cologne that Amy purchased for him but he never wears. After placing the chocolates on the table, Sheldon grabs the white long-stemmed rose and makes his way down the hall to Penny and Leonard's room, where Penny and Bernadette are just locking up.

"You got her a rose? That's so sweet," Penny states the obvious.

"Do I need to make a stop at a pharmacy?" Bernadette teases with a wink.

"How would I know?" Sheldon wonders as he leads the way to the elevator.

"Sheldon, think about it. You haven't seen your fiancé in 100 days, we're asking if you need anything from a pharmacy... perhaps a shield of some kind..." Penny hints.

"A shield... oh. No, I have that covered... so to speak," Sheldon reassures as he blushes at his faux pas.

"Amy mentioned that you have a surprise for her tonight. Any hints?" Bernie questions, changing the topic.

"I'm taking her for a gondola ride at the Venetian, followed by dinner at Hell's Kitchen in Caeser's Palace because she absolutely loves watching Gordon Ramsey's cooking shows, and finally, to the Paris casino for dueling pianos and a kiss atop the Eiffel Tower viewing deck," Sheldon lists, pleased with himself and all the planning he put into the perfect proposal.

"That sounds like a perfect date night, Sheldon. Amy will love it," Penny praises.

Sheldon is incredibly quiet as they make their way to Penny's car. Pulling out his cell phone as soon as he gets into the back seat, he checks the flight tracking app, seeing that Amy is over Colorado. He hopes she has a good view of the snowcapped Rockies.

"Are you alright?" Penny wonders from the front seat as she turns around to check on him.

"I'm surprisingly finding myself to be slightly nervous," Sheldon admits. "There's something you should know. I haven't actually proposed to Amy..."

"Whoa. What?! What about the pictures and the French 'she said yes?" Bernie screeches from the driver's seat.

"I got down on one knee at the Eiffel Tower. Amy had a visceral reaction and insisted I not ask her because she didn't want to say no to my proposal. We then went to a small coffee shop where we talked through it. I took her to the Wall of Love, where I asked if she would accept a promise ring and she agreed. The next day, as I was waiting at the gate for my flight, Amy unknowingly changed our Facebook status. We talked later, as I was waiting for my flight from New York to LAX. She changed her mind but I refused to propose over Skype..."

"Good call," Penny praises before asking, "so going to the Eiffel Tower here in Vegas is a do-over?"

"Yes," Sheldon confirms. "Hence the nerves. I know she'll say yes this time, but I want it to be perfect and I don't know what to say..."

"I don't think you need some big fancy speech, Sheldon. That's not your style," Bernie advises.

"I agree, except, I think you should tell her that you missed her and you love her," Penny suggests.

"Yeah, that," Bernie agrees.

"I think I've made that pretty clear in our correspondence," Sheldon replies as he checks the flight tracking. Amy is now over Utah. One state closer to being in his arms.

"Are you gonna lay one on her?" Bernie wonders as she checks her mirrors in order to merge onto the freeway.

"One of what?" Sheldon asks.

"A big ol' Smucker," Penny teases.

"I don't understand what you're suggesting," Sheldon admits.

"Are you going to kiss Amy at the airport?" Penny clarifies.

"Oh. Yes, we've agreed to one kiss hello lasting 3 seconds. We'll save the proper hello kiss for once we're behind closed and locked doors," he explains, proud of himself for his suggestion.

"And all of Las Vegas thanks you for not humping in public," Penny teases, turning to wink at Sheldon. "I assume we won't see either of you until you come up for air tomorrow morning?"

"Amy wants us to spend the day together. Whether that's because she wants to spend all day engaging in coitus..." Sheldon explains before Bernadette cuts him off.

"Of course she does! You two can get pretty loud in the sack. Try to keep it to a minimum alright?" Bernie teases.

"I like it when she bites me in order to keep quiet..." Sheldon admits.

"Whoa, whoa whoa, the zone of privacy, Sheldon. That's between you and Amy," Penny explains as she smirks at Bernie while trying to hold in a laugh.

"So, things are back to normal for you two? No more fighting?" Bernie asks, suspecting she knows the answer.

"No. We haven't fought at all since I left Paris. There was a slight misunderstanding when my autocorrect typed "I have a cunnilingus call at 2 ." It was supposed to be 'I have a conference call at 2," Sheldon explains.

"Oh, my God! Best autocorrect fail ever!" Penny exclaims as she laughs until tears roll down her cheeks.

"How often do you type cunnilingus that your phone autocorrects to it?" Bernadette wonders as she switches into the exit only lane for the airport.

"I don't want to talk about it," Sheldon quickly mumbles.

"Good, we don't want to hear about it," Penny reassures before adding, "but just so you know, Amy said that your last night in Paris quote, 'blew her mind' so whatever you did, keep doing it."

Sheldon checks his phone one more time as they arrive at the parking lot, seeing that Amy is now 10 miles from the airport. He grabs the rose off the seat and excitedly climbs out of the van, almost running for the elevator that will take him inside the airport to await his beloved. Bouncing on his heels, he keeps checking behind him as he waits until Penny and Bernadette are within a few steps before pressing the elevator call button.

"I think someone's excited," Bernie softly murmurs to Penny

"Or horny," Penny whispers.

"Both," Sheldon confirms without turning around as he boards the elevator first.

It feels like it takes forever between the time he gets into the baggage claim area and when the arrivals board updates to show that Amy's flight has arrived.

"She's here!" Sheldon exclaims, buzzing with excited energy.

"Go get your girl," Penny encourages, smiling at his excitement.

Sheldon makes his way towards the front of the smattering of other people awaiting their friends, colleagues, and loved ones and pulls the homemade paper sign, reading "My Fiancé" out of his back pocket, carefully unfolding it.

Amy is one of the last people in the concourse. Her smile as she spots Sheldon is brighter than all of the lights on the famed strip combined he thinks to himself. As Amy reaches the bottom of the escalator, she swings her messenger bag that had been covering her stomach to her side... showing off a perfect round bump. A baby bump.

Sheldon turns as white as a ghost as Amy approaches him and meekly mumbles, "surprise." Seeing Sheldon's stunned reaction, she tries to hold back the tears. She expected this reaction if she's being completely honest, and at least he hasn't run out the door, as she's had nightmares about.

"He didn't know..." Penny whispers to Bernie as they watch the reunion from a few feet away. "Come on, Sheldon, don't freak out..." she urges, knowing he can't hear her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he finally asks.

"I didn't tell you because I was freaking out and I knew you would freak out..." Amy explains.

Interrupting Amy, Sheldon places his hand over her abdomen as a huge smile breaks out across his face, instantly relaxing his fiancé. "Is it a girl or a boy?" he wonders.

"I don't know yet. I have an appointment for a 3-D ultrasound this afternoon so we can find out. Are you mad that I didn't tell you?" she wonders.

"The honest answer is yes, I am slightly upset that you didn't tell me the second you found out, but I understand why you didn't. I would have freaked out and insisted on coming back to Paris, the military project be damned. When you were sick in early February..."

"That's when I found out. They ran the test when I went to the doctor thinking I had a urinary tract infection. Thank you for being honest. I hated keeping you in the dark," Amy admits.

"You're feeling alright? The baby is alright after that long flight?" he asks. "Was it even safe for you to fly?"

"I received medical clearance to fly back. We are just fine," Amy reassures. "Don't kiss me. I need to brush my teeth first."

"Welcome home," Sheldon whispers while opening his arms and wrapping them around Amy, being mindful to not squeeze her too hard. He kisses the top of her head as Amy lays her cheek against his shoulder and closes her eyes, sighing heavily. "That was a heavy sigh," he worries.

"I've been freaking out about your reaction for the past 15 hours and playing possible scenarios in my head. In most of them, you turned around and ran out the door," Amy explains.

"Now that the initial shock is wearing off, I'm... I'm elated," he admits.

"I'll gladly take elated. Shall we join the rest of our party?" she wonders.

Sheldon kisses her cheek before taking her bag from Amy and swinging the strap over his shoulder. Reaching for her hand, Sheldon leads Amy the few feet to where Penny and Bernadette have been watching the reunion and declares, "Amy brought back a little surprise from Paris. I'm going to be a Daddy!"


It seems like just yesterday Amy was telling him about the croissant in her oven and now, bam, his little croissant is four going on fourteen. Smiling at his daughter as she sits in Amy's lap, Sheldon hands Amy the bottle of green apple detangler spray.

He doesn't see where their son went but assumes he's trying to get into trouble. Turning around, Sheldon spots the little boy at the Christmas tree, pressing the button to change the speed of the blinking red, green, and blue lights.

"Mommy and sister, did a great job decorating the tree, right Bubba?" Sheldon talks to his little guy while removing the baby from the nearby electrical outlet.

"Mommy, when we go to Paris, you are coming home with me right?" their daughter worries.

"Yes, I'm coming home," Amy immediately reassures. "Why do you ask?"

"Dakota and Sydney's Daddy went to Moscow but he didn't come home," her daughter explains, "Sydney said that it's because her daddy doesn't love them anymore."

"It's much more complicated than that, Sweetheart. I know Doctor Noyes, Sydney, and Dakota's, daddy. He loves them very much," Amy reassures.

Another marriage and family destroyed by the dumpster fire that is Ramona Nowitzki, Amy thinks to herself. She knew about the impending divorce of Doctor Nathan Noyes and Doctor Paige Martell, Sydney, and Dakota's parents, of course. It was absolutely impossible to avoid the media circus as Ramona and Nathan's offices were raided following their arrests for espionage.

"Then why didn't he come home?" her daughter rightly questions.

How do they possibly explain this? Sheldon worries as Amy catches his eye. They make it a practice to not discuss Ramona or Sheldon's affair, both of which the kids never need to know about. He needs to calm his little girl's fears though. Going to the couch, he sits next to his wife and children as his son instantly crawls into his lap for bedtime snuggles. My favorite time of day.

"Well, Peanut, the reason that Nathan, Sydney, and Dakota's daddy, didn't come home is that he made some bad choices and it landed him in trouble with the police. He's in jail and he's probably going to be there for a while," Amy simplifies it, leaving out the part about Nathan having an affair or being charged with espionage.

"Oh. I can't tell Sydney though, right?" their daughter wanders.

"I think that is something that her mommy needs to tell her," Sheldon chimes in. "It's not your place and it will make Sydney cry. You don't want that, right?"

"Right. I don't want her to be sad. Daddy, you are a good Daddy. Can you be Sydney and Dakota's Daddy too?" her daughter wonders.

"I'm afraid not, sweetie. They already have a daddy. Maybe after we get back from Paris, we can have Sydney and Dakota over," he offers as a consolation prize.

"Okay. You made me in Paris. Are we going to the lab to make another baby?" their daughter wanders.

"The lab?" Amy questions, trying to hold back a laugh. "How do you think babies are made?"

"You go to the lab and they give you baby food but it has real chunks of the baby in it, not just the apples and bananas like in the baby food you make. A Mommy eats it and the baby grows in her tummy!" their daughter excitedly explains before adding, "I thought you were really really smart, Mommy! Did Daddy feed you the baby food but you didn't know it was baby food?"

What are they teaching her at that preschool? Sheldon wonders. Amy is highly amused though, he notices as she bites her lip to keep from laughing.

"Yep. Both you and your brother are all Daddy's fault," Amy teases him with a wink. "Daddy and I have decided we only want two babies."

"Oh. I asked Santa for a sister. Can I have a fish instead?" their little one tries to bargain.

"We might be able to discuss getting you a fish once we get back from Paris. Let me talk it over with your father," Amy decides. "What would you name it?"

"How did you choose my name?" their baby girl wonders.


Watching Sheldon and Amy through the tiny mirror of the sun visor, Penny can't help but smile to herself. They've yet to kiss, electing instead to simply hold hands, but the way Sheldon is looking at Amy, well, they may as well be naked and doing it.

That boy is head over heels in love.

"If you're not downstairs in 15 minutes, we'll assume you're not coming..." Bernie decides as they reach the parking garage of the Excalibur hotel.

"Oh, they'll be coming alright," Penny mumbles under her breath as she winks at a blushing Amy.⁸

"Not until later. I'm starving," Amy declares before explaining, "The little croissant did not like flying. I couldn't keep anything down on either flight."

"Oh, the little croissant. That's so cute!" Penny exclaims as Sheldon holds his hand out to help Amy out of the van.

"We won't tell the guys. I want to see the collective freak-out," Bernie promises. "See you in 15."

As Sheldon struggles with her bags, Amy feels guilt-ridden that he absolutely refuses to let her carry anything heavier than the keycard for their room. Deciding not to get one of the luggage carts as they pass by, Sheldon is tired by the time they reach the elevator.

"What did you put in here, rocks?" he teases.

"The baby insisted that we bring gifts for Daddy," Amy replies.

There's an elderly lady in the elevator with them, who smiles at Amy as Sheldon immediately lights up with a huge smile on his face.

"Congratulations. How far along are you?" the woman asks.

"16 weeks. I've been working in Europe and just surprised my fiancé with the big news at the airport," Amy explains.

"Oh goodness! I bet that was quite a shock. My husband would've had a heart attack!" the woman replies.

"I very briefly thought about turning around and running out the door," Sheldon admits as the elevator doors open on the 14th floor.

"What floor are we on?" Amy asks.

"21st," Sheldon replies as Amy steps out to let the woman disembark.

"Alone at last," Amy murmurs as she reenters the elevator.

"Yes, except for the security cameras located there, there and there," Sheldon replies as he points to the cameras on the left, right, and top of the elevator car.

"In other words, no kissing until we reach our room?" Amy assumes.

"As much as I am certain it would delight the security agents on the other side of those cameras, we won't be providing them with a sex tape," Sheldon decides as the doors open for their floor.

Amy follows Sheldon down the long corridor to the end of the hall where she finds two doors with their room number. That's odd, she thinks, as she asks, "Which door?"

"Either, one is for the bedroom and the other leads to the kitchen and living room," Sheldon explains.

"You upgraded us to a suite?" Amy questions.

"It's only $25 more a night and I was able to ensure that the bedroom is not connected to any other adjoining rooms," he explains as Amy opens the door to the kitchen and steps inside.

The room is spectacular. Sheldon left the curtains open, giving an incredible view of the strip below. Once it's lit up at night, that'll be quite the sight Amy decides. She spots the presents Sheldon left on the table for her and goes to them, lifting the 5 long stem red roses to her nose.

"Roses and chocolates? Sheldon, you didn't have to..."

"I wanted to. I've missed you and since we're going to become officially engaged while in Vegas, I need to lay on the romance. Here, the baby needs you to rehydrate," he insists as he twists the lid off of a bottle of apple juice and hands it to her.

"The baby needs Daddy to kiss Mommy hello," Amy teases before reassuring, "I brushed my teeth when I went into the restroom at the airport and popped a couple of Tic-Tacs."

Setting the juice on the table, Sheldon immediately obliges as he leans down and softly brushes his lips against Amy's. As she reaches up to caress his stubbled cheek, Sheldon opens his mouth, allowing Amy's tongue to duel with his as he softly moans and pulls her closer. Gently grasping her hand, Sheldon entwines their fingers before laying their hands over Amy's abdomen, making her choke back a sob as she lays her head against his chest.

"Amy?" he whispers, afraid he did something wrong.

"Unexplained emotions due to hormonal imbalances. On Monday, I started crying because the cafeteria was out of the caramel Caramba's. Dave was in line behind me and the next day when I came home, there were two large boxes of caramel Caramba's at my door," Amy shares, becoming troubled by Sheldon bristling at the mention of Dave. "Sorry. I didn't think mentioning him in passing would cause you to feel uncomfortable."

"You're home now so I can be the one bringing you treats when you have a craving," he explains before adding "Whatever Mommy wants, Mommy gets."

"I want to eat as fast as politely possible in public, come back here and sleep for a few hours before my ultrasound at 2," she requests.

"Can I be in the room for your exam?" Sheldon wonders.

"Yes. It's not a normal exam, Sheldon. This is simply an ultrasound to reveal the gender and I want you there. After breakfast, I'll show you all of the pictures I've been taking for you from the positive tests to the video of hearing the heartbeat for the first time," Amy promises.

"I need you to be honest with me," Sheldon requests. "In light of the new evidence, so to speak, you had to have known you're pregnant when you suggested Vegas for our getaway trip upon your return."

"I did," Amy confirms.

"I see. That makes me suspect that you want to elope while we're here," Sheldon questions.

"No. As I've been saying, I simply want a fun and relaxing week away with you before starting my job at Caltech. I know there will be a lot of pressure upon you now to marry me this week, but I don't want us rushing into it simply because I'm pregnant. We can wait and get married at City Hall after the baby comes."

"My mom is going to lecture me for hours about conceiving a baby out of wedlock but if I don't marry you before it's birth, she may actually kill me. Plus our friends think that's the purpose of our trip..."

"They invited themselves, Sheldon. I didn't extend an invitation and I'm certain you didn't either."

"I didn't," Sheldon confirms.

"So they can be disappointed. The important thing is that we enter into marriage on our terms. When we get married, that commitment is for life Sheldon, no take-backs. The only way out is death. I want to be absolutely certain that we're ready."

"What lingering doubts remain?" Sheldon wonders.

"No doubts... I just... I want it to be because you love me and want to marry me, not because I'm carrying your child..." she whispers before sighing, "I'm starting to think I should have gone with my second choice so you wouldn't feel pressured into marriage."

"What was your second choice?" Sheldon wonders.

"An Alaskan cruise. I've always wanted to do that but didn't know if you'd agree to it," Amy explains.

"That can be our honeymoon," he suggests, making Amy smile. "Although Section 6 Article 3 subsection B of The Relationship Agreement states: "Both parties agree that in the event of an accidental pregnancy, the boyfriend shall propose within 90 days of a positive pregnancy test and the couple shall wed no later than 100 days before the birth of the child," I'd like to point out that technically I did propose before the baby was conceived... granted it was by a matter of hours..."

"Subsection B also states that you can request to only provide financial support to the child, leaving me as a single mother..."

"That was me being stupid, Amy. I want to be fully involved in this child's life. I want to be a good father. I want a relationship with our childlike the relationship you had with your father..."

"That's reassuring because I want a relationship with our childlike what you have with your mother..." Amy replies.

"I'll need you to teach me how to swaddle the baby and change a diaper and what temperature the bathwater should be... please don't tell anyone I admitted to not knowing anything about babies?" he requests.

"It's our secret," Amy reassures.

"Have you thought of any names for our little one?" Sheldon wonders.

"I have my heart set on Sheldon being the middle name for a boy but absolutely nothing for a girl."

"Will the baby have a hyphenated surname?" Sheldon wonders.

"That's something we'll need to discuss. Are you alright, Sheldon? I know I gave you a pretty huge shock..."

"I'm great. Let's go get some nourishment to our baby," Sheldon suggests

"Oh, I need to take my vitamin!" Amy remembers as there's a knock at the door. "I love you," she whispers as she steals one more kiss.

"I love you too... both of you," he adds as an afterthought, making Amy gasp at the most unexpected declaration of love.

Amy's lips crashing into his knocks the wind out of Sheldon's lungs as she passionately kisses him, wrapping her arms around his neck. As Penny knocks on the door and calls out, "Sheldon and Amy!" she closes her eyes and rests her forehead against Sheldon's, stealing a private moment with her love.

"We're having a baby," he whispers, stealing one more kiss before going to answer the door as Amy gets into her backpack to retrieve her vitamins.

"Hey, he guys are in the casino and Raj is apparently up over $5,000 on a slot machine so they're hoping you'd be alright with just meeting up for lunch in a few hours?" Penny asks.

"Yes, that's fine. We need to leave the hotel by 1:15 to make the ultrasound appointment," Amy relays as she comes to the door.

"Meet here at 11:30?" Penny confirms.

"Sounds good," Amy agrees before shutting the door.

"Room service?" Sheldon suggests as he grabs the menu and goes to sit on the couch.

Amy's surprised when Sheldon sits sideways on the couch and kicks his leg up, silently inviting her to settle between his hands the menu to her before resting both hands over the baby... there can't quite wrap his head around that.

"Do you know what you want?" Amy wonders.

"You," he whispers before kissing her cheek. "I'm prepared to make that dirty email you sent me last week a reality. There are two cans of whipped cream in the fridge."

"There's only one flaw in your otherwise perfect plan, we have to leave the room at least twice today," Amy points out.

"Is it safe for us to..." he trails off.

"It's completely safe up until a few weeks before I give birth. I've been experiencing... well... I've been horny for the past three weeks. I'm masturbating twice a day. You won't be able to keep up with me, handsome."

"Whatever Mommy wants, Mommy gets. There are other methods... which are solely for your pleasure," Sheldon hints. "Hurry up and pick something and then I'd be glad to show you these other methods..."

"What are you having?" Amy wonders.

"The bananas foster waffle," he replies.

"Your dentist must love you," Amy teases. "Your baby does not like eggs or dairy by the way."

"Are you getting enough calcium through alternative milk or supplements?" Sheldon worries.

"I've been drinking soy milk with added calcium and taking my prenatal vitamin religiously," Amy reassures. "I still can't wrap my mind around it, Sheldon. We used condoms, I was on the birth control patch... we did everything right..."

"When you fell asleep on my chest after we had our early morning … I thought I had dreamt this, which is why I never mentioned it... but do you recall rubbing your vagina against my penis?"

"Oh, God... I thought I dreamt that. Sheldon, I am so sorry for taking advantage of you..."

"Shh. It's alright. We're alright," he reassures. "It gave us a baby and I will never regret that."

"What do you think of naming the baby Charles Sheldon if it's a boy, after your Pop-Pop?" Amy wonders.

"I think Mee-maw would tell me to do it because Pop Pop would hate it," Sheldon decides.

"Is Sheldon a family name?" Amy asks.

"No. Sheldon was the name of the pastor that baptized my mother. My dad hated the name. He wanted to name me, Roger Thomas, after the quarterback and head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. When my mom went into labor, my dad was drunk as a skunk down at his brother's automotive shop. Pop Pop drove down there and my dad refused to come home, saying that my mom wasn't due for three more weeks and would make it up just to get him home, so, as revenge, my mom named me Sheldon."

"I want you in the room with me, Sheldon," Amy requests.

"I'll prepare by watching birthing videos on YouTube," he decides. "What do you think of the name Hope if it's a girl?" Sheldon wonders.

"Oh, my God... that is perfect. How did you decide on that?"

"We talked about needing hope before I left Paris. What if I literally gave you Hope later that night?" he questions with a shrug.

"Are you alright with her middle name being Elizabeth after my grandmother?" Amy wonders.

"Of course," he reassures.


"Good night, Peanut," Sheldon wishes as he closes the book he read to Hope and lays it on the tiny pink table next to her bed before tucking her Minnie Mouse blanket around her as she yawns.

"Daddy? I've never been on an airplane before and I'm scared," Hope admits.

"I'll hold your hand when we take off and land," Sheldon promises. "Once we're in the sky, it doesn't feel like we're moving at all."

"Okay. How long is the ride?" Hope wonders.

"It will be 12 hours," Sheldon replies.

"But what if I get hungry or I have to go potty?" Hope questions before adamantly declaring, "I am not wearing a diaper!"

"One in diapers is enough and I am greatly looking forward to the day when your brother can wipe his own bottom," Sheldon admits. "There will be food on the plane and they have very small bathrooms..."

"So when I potty it falls out of the sky on someone's head,? Eww!"

"No. There's a large container called a tank that stores it until the plane lands," Sheldon explains.

"Daddy, you are going to come home from Paris with me right?" Hope questions.

"Yes, Hope Everyone is coming home together, I promise. Who else am I going to watch Lego Masters with?" Sheldon questions, hoping the mention of their favorite tv show will be enough to calm his little girl.

"Why would Sydney's daddy not love them anymore? I don't understand, Daddy," Hope admits as she sniffles.

"Can I tell you what I think?" Sheldon wonders as he sits back down on the edge of the tiny toddler bed.

"Alright," Hope agrees.

"I think that Doctor Noyes, Sydney and Dakota's father, love them very much and that will never change. Doctor Noyes just made some really bad decisions. and he's in trouble for that so he has to go to jail, which is the adult version of time out," Sheldon explains.

"Oh, okay. But you love my mommy, right? You won't kiss the bad lady too?" Hope questions.

"No, sweetheart, I won't kiss the bad lady. I love your mother and you and Charlie more than I can ever put into words. Close your eyes. We have a long day tomorrow," Sheldon urges.

"Can you sing my song?" Hope requests.

"Sure, sweetheart. Eyes closed," he insists, waiting until she complies. "Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur, happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr purr purr. Good night, Hope. I love you."

"I love you too Daddy," Hope replies as she rolls onto her side as Sheldon shuts her door.

Turning around, he almost bumps into Amy as she appears around the corner carrying their sleepy toddler. Lifting his head, Charlie exclaims, "Whoa!" as Amy quickly spins out of the way and cradles his body to her chest to protect against impact.

"Sorry, sorry. I wasn't paying attention," Amy apologizes. "Are you okay, Bubba?" Amy asks their son.

"Yeah," Charlie replies. "Hi, Dada!"

"Hi, buddy," Sheldon replies she softly smiles at Charlie. "Who's going to fall asleep first, Charlie or Mommy?" Sheldon teases as Amy hides her yawn behind her hand.

"I think we're in for a long night. Charlie is pulling at his ear again. Do you know where those drops are?" Amy wonders.

"I think I put them in the medicine cabinet in our room. I'll find them and bring them in. Does he have a fever?" Sheldon asks before reaching out with the back of his hand to check the baby's forehead.

"I haven't checked," Amy admits. "I hope we're not traveling with a sick baby."

"I'd rather have a fussy baby than a diaper blowout as we had with Hope when we went to Texas," Sheldon recalls with a shudder.

"Yeah, that one was pretty bad," Amy recalls. "I still need to pack our suitcase, unless we just do that in the morning?"

"Between letting Hope open her presents and a potentially sick and clingy baby, hen are we going to have time? I'll pack after I bring the drops in," Sheldon decides.

"You'll remember to pack more than my panties this time?" Amy teases.

"As we never left the hotel room, clean panties were all you needed," Sheldon teases.

"That was a great weekend though. If I recall correctly, it was also the last time we had all night marathon sex," Amy points out. "We're lucky now if we manage to get an hour once a month for lovemaking between the kids interrupting us and our work schedules."

"I've noticed you're taking longer and longer showers now," Sheldon points out.

"We'll talk more once I get him down," Amy promises as she turns so Sheldon can say goodnight to his son.

"Good night, Charles. I love you," Sheldon whispers before leaning down to kiss the downy soft brown hair of his little boy.

Going across the hall to the master bedroom, Sheldon stops suddenly. It's been 100 days since the last time he and Amy made love. Thinking that can't be right, he grabs his phone from his pocket and opens the coitus schedule, scrolling backward, looking for the last green box. Friday, October 26th. Amy arrived home from a week-long conference in Toronto. He barely locked the front door before Amy had him pressed up against it as she kissed him hello.

Amy has never pressured him about the frequency of their marital relations. But, this is also the longest they have gone without a romp in the sack since she returned from Paris. It's not that he doesn't want to have sex, but between both of them traveling for work, the kids being night owls, and Amy spending the last month finishing her book, lovemaking got pushed to the bottom of the priority list. They're ending the drought tonight, Sheldon decides, and, hopefully, they can get back into a routine over the next ten days in Paris.

Quickly finding the ear drops, Sheldon turns on the hot water tap of the shower and holds the bottle under it for a few moments to warm the medication. Taking the bottle into the train-themed bedroom of his youngest child, Sheldon softly smiles at Amy as she softly sings "Soft Kitty" to their son.

"Hope asked me to sing Soft Kitty tonight," Sheldon shares as he fills the dropper with the medicated oil. Which ear?"

"Left," Amy replies as she turns Charlie so Sheldon can dispense the medication, holding her son close as he snuggles into her chest. "I thought I'd be thrilled once he weaned, but, I miss my baby snuggle time," she whispers.

"Do you regret asking me to have the vasectomy?" Sheldon asks as Charlie does the baby sign language sign for 'thank you."

"You're welcome, Charlie. I hope that helps make it all better," Sheldon replies.

"Close your eyes, baby. It's time to go night night. "No, I don't regret it, Sheldon. The postpartum depression after both pregnancies just about tore us apart. You did everything for our babies... because I was a horrible..."

"You are an amazing wife and an incredible mother. The post-partum depression was difficult and I didn't understand it, which I am sure made it worse for you, but you are not a horrible mother. You realized something was wrong and you sounded the alarm bells. That takes strength and courage, Amy. I am so proud of you for being persistent until someone listened. We are a team, Amy, and when one of us is struggling, the other person picks up the slack. That's how marriage should work."

"I think... our babies are growing too quickly and I'm feeling guilty about how much I am gone for work. Both of the kids are closer to you than to me," Amy whispers. "I can't help but think that if I had only made an attempt to bond with them sooner after their births..."

"You're Hope's partner in crime and Charlie's music time buddy. Amy, you are at your happiest and most relaxed when you're spending time with our children. I see it in the way you smile at them when you think no one is watching, or how you always want "just one more" hug and kiss from the kids before you have to leave on a business trip, or how your office at the university is covered in pictures Hope colored for you, or how you will get out of bed at 3 in the morning and I'll find you just watching them sleep... our babies are lucky to have you and they love you. Look at where Charlie laid his hand... over your heart. If you're concerned about spending more time with them, we can reassess you quitting your job at the university?"

No. The book deal and movie rights... that's temporary money. My next book could be a flop. Oh, so the movie rights to the Amelia and Cooper book... the production company wants to change the story. They think that Amelia needs more of a reason to run away the night before she's supposed to marry Joseph."

"I remember us discussing this when you were writing the book," Sheldon recalls before asking, "what's being considered?"

"There are three options, one of which I am vehemently opposed to..."

"The rape scene," Sheldon immediately guesses, "I remember you sobbing in my arms after you woke up from that dream. I never knew you put it in writing."

"I had to get it out and I thought writing it would help... I forgot to delete it from the manuscript file before handing that over to the publisher. The second option is that Joseph sees Amelia and Cooper kiss and the three of them have a confrontation and the third is that Cooper is fixing his time machine when Amelia goes to say goodbye. He spouts some long speech about hoping she will someday know what love is and she decides she's going with him."

"Are you writing the scene for the movie?" Sheldon wonders.

"The studio has me as a consultant. They asked me to write it, but, ultimately if they go with the rape scene, they own the characters now so there's nothing I can do to stop it," Amy explains.

"What about a combination of the three? I'm not suggesting that Joseph rapes Amelia in this scenario... the fact that that is even in writing disturbs me... but what if Cooper and Amelia make love in the barn and Joseph either walks in on them or sees the evidence... a piece of clothing or blood on the bed of hay or... Amelia has hay in her hair... something indicating it happened... and Joseph becomes unhinged, telling Cooper he has until morning to disappear or Joseph will report him for rape? Distraught, Amelia goes to say goodbye at the time machine and as they're kissing goodbye, she intentionally flips the switch, bringing them to the future?" Sheldon suggests.

"I might be able to work with that," Amy decides as she mulls it over. "Would it upset you if I go write after I get him down?"

"Yes," Sheldon admits. "It's been 100 days, Amy. Can you take the next two weeks off and just be my wife, not Amelia Cooper, the New York Times Best Selling Author?" he wonders. "You don't have any impending deadlines. I checked before booking our trip."

"Okay, that's fair," Amy agrees. "I love you, Sheldon, and it's not that I don't want to be intimate or my vibrator is better, because, trust me, it's not... it's just deadlines and business trips and the kids needing me and... life."

"I know but you could also ask me to come into the shower with you after the kids are down or maybe come to bed at 10 instead of 3 am... and I could make more of an effort to let you know I miss you and want to cuddle or just come sit in your office and talk... it's both of us, Amy. I'm not blaming you any more than I blame myself."

"So what I'm hearing is that we need to make each other a priority again?" Amy questions.

"Yes. Is he asleep?" Sheldon wonders.

"He's fighting it," Amy relays as she looks down at the precious face of her baby. "Did you see that photo Missy posted of the two of you at 18 months? You were in a little red wagon and George Junior was pulling you. Charlie looks just like you, Sheldon. I didn't realize how much so until seeing that photo."

"Not true. You were constantly looking at the 3D ultrasounds and saying, "oh, she has your pout!" or "he has your chin! I think I even once heard, "his penis bends to the right just like his Daddy's!" Sheldon teases her.

"We make cute babies," Amy whispers as Sheldon comes to sit on the blue beanbag next to her rocking chair.

"Yes, we most certainly do," Sheldon agrees as he looks over at his now sleeping son.


July 17, 2018

Everything is awesome, Sheldon decides, as Amy settles between his legs for some post-dinner cuddling on the couch. His hands coming to rest on either side of her ever-expanding abdomen, he's instantly rewarded with a kick hello from Baby Hope.

"Ooh! That was a good one!" Amy exclaims as she turns her head to see Sheldon's goofy smile.

"Has she moved off of your sciatic nerve?" Sheldon wonders.

"Yes. Today she's been playing soccer with my bladder, which was loads of fun when the nearest restroom is a good 5-minute brisk walk from my classroom," Amy points out. "So... a little birdie told me that it's Comic-Con weekend?" Amy questions.

"Are you referring to Toucan, the official mascot of the San Diego Comic-con?" Sheldon wonders, "Cleaver."

"No. I didn't know that little factoid. Leonard came to my office this morning to ask me if I knew why you're not responding to any of their texts or emails regarding Comic-Con. So... what gives?" Amy wonders.

"As I am not attending this year, it seemed pointless to respond," Sheldon explains as Hope kicks again, making Sheldon grin his koala smile.

"Can I ask why you are not going?" Amy requests, suspecting it has everything to do with the baby.

"Passes went on sale the week we were in Las Vegas, and, having just found out I am going to be a father, I didn't purchase a pass for this year. The money I would spend on Comic-Con has been reallocated to our nursery fund," he explains.

"Raj purchased the pass for you, Sheldon, and I know you took the time off from work... do you want to go but are afraid that it's something you will have to give up now that you're going to be a father?" Amy questions.

"Yes," he admits with a heavy sigh. "We need that money for the baby and if we are going to purchase a home, it has to be this weekend so we have enough time to close before you give birth."

"Comic-Con is 4 days, right? What if you just go down for one or two days of it?" Amy suggests.

"Not this year. Can you drop it, please?" he requests.

"Fine, but I want it noted that I do not expect you to give up everything that you love, Sheldon. You need to have fun," she explains.

"Comics books and superheroes are immature and childish. Fathers do not go to Comic-Con," he argues.

"There are plenty of fathers at Comic-Con, most of whom became fathers after hooking up with a furry," Amy counters. "Who told you that you can't go to Comic-Con?"

"How do you know about furries?" Sheldon wonders.

" Raj and Howard. Who told you that you can't go to Comic-Con?" she asks again.

"Amy, please..."

"Who told you that you can't go to Comic-Con?" she asks a third time.

"My mother," he admits with a heavy sigh. "She railed for hours about me needing to grow up and act like an adult now, no more comic books and superheroes. No more paintball and all-night gaming sessions. I'm to go to work, come home and take up some mundane hobbies like collecting stamps or reading. She suggested I start with The Bible. I made the mistake of telling her I'll read The Bible when she reads, On the Origin of Species or Gilgamesh.

"You didn't," Amy gasps in horror.

"Oh, I did, and I got The Good Book metaphorically thrown at me over Skype. She preached for 3 hours about infidelity, premarital sex, pride, greed...all the brimstone and fire horse pucky every good Southern boy should know," Sheldon recalls.

"Where was I during this?" Amy questions.

"Penny and Bernadette took you for a girl's day in Vegas... whatever that entailed."

"Mani/pedis and shopping for baby clothes," Amy reminds him. "That explains why you were so quiet that night. We went to The Marvel Station exhibit and you barely said five words. Going there made you sad," she realizes now as she turns her head to look at him.

"Yes. I was having a great internal debate. For the record, my mother is not happy that I've yet to 'make an honest woman' of you. She's threatening to drag me by my ear to City Hall if we are not married by the time she arrives to help us with the baby."

"Then I bet she'd be horrified to know that I specifically requested that you not propose to me in Vegas because we were both overwhelmed. It's on our terms, Sheldon. Nobody can make us get married," Amy points out.

"Are we only waiting because you don't want to be pregnant at our wedding photos?" Sheldon wonders.

"That thought did occur to me, but, I'm asking you to wait because I'm scared, Sheldon..."

"I thought I have proven myself, Amy? How much longer are you planning on punishing me for..."

" I'm scared that I'm not going to be a good mother or a good wife! I'm asking for time to adjust to being a family so that when we do get married, it just feels natural instead of this huge monumental thing we have to do..." she yells at him before swatting at the tears rolling down her cheeks, "Damn hormones," she mutters into his shoulder as she hides her head.

"Shh..." Sheldon whispers as he gently rubs her back and lays a lingering kiss on her forehead. "I'm sorry I got angry. Shh..."

"I'm sorry that I am dragging my feet and it's causing your mom to lecture you," Amy apologizes.

"Even if we don't do anything else with regards to planning a wedding in the near future, can we agree that we'll get married on May 11th?" Sheldon whispers as he uses his thumb to wipe her tears. "I don't care if it's next year or ten years from now, but it has to be May 11th, alright?"

"The day we met. You really are a lovesick hippy," Amy teases as she leans up for a kiss.

Waking up the next morning, Sheldon decides today is the day he is going to propose and he knows just how he's going to finally ask his long-time love to marry him. She's still sleeping, curled up in her purple pregnancy pillow as she softly snores. He gently brushes a strand of hair away from her mouth before getting out of bed in order to relieve his bladder. He's just lathered up the shaving cream onto his face when Amy comes in and wraps her arms around his waist, kissing his shoulder as she smiles at him in the mirror.

"You don't usually shave until Saturday morning. What's going on?" Amy wonders.

"I have a meeting with the military at 9 this morning," he fibs. "I'll need the car."

"Oh, I have my prenatal appointment at 1. Do I need to arrange an Uber?" she wonders.

"No. I've made them aware of your appointment. They said I should be finished by eleven. Do you want to have lunch in your office at 11:30?" he wonders, hoping she'll agree as it's the key part of his proposal plan. "I'll stop and get that salad you liked from that new restaurant."

"That sounds great," Amy agrees before kissing his shoulder again as she suggestively runs one finger along the waistband of his sleep pants.

"Again?" Sheldon questions, "You are insatiable, Amy Farrah Fowler."

"Take advantage of my extreme horniness while you can. I'm almost too big for sex now."

"Nonsense. You are beautiful, Amy. I read that having sex in a bathtub so that you're floating is quite comfortable for mothers in their third trimester."

"We can barely fit into this tub just to shower together. that house I like has a clawfoot tub in the master bath," Amy points out. "We could definitely have some dirty fun in that."

"It's an hour from work and that's if there's no traffic. I really don't like the idea of spending two hours a day in the car with our newborn daughter stuck in a car seat," Sheldon counters.

"Point Cooper, but it's right on the bus line and you won't have to make any connections," Amy counters.

"It's in an area called Antelope Acres. We'd have to contend with wildlife in our yard, eating your garden," he tries again.

"But it's on 5 acres of land. Hope could have bunnies and ducks and chickens and we could role play Amelia and Cooper in that barn..."

"It's on a septic system. We'd have to get a truck to haul water, the internet speed is questionable at best, that house is in need of a major remodel and upgrading of the electrical system to bring it up to code, the pipes are lead, which is going to cost us $25,000 right out of the gate before we even move in, and the roof was leaking in the mudroom..." He lists, counting each point off on his fingers.

"Okay, okay, you hate the house," Amy relents as she holds up her hands to stop his rant.

"I don't hate it, I just don't think it's the right house for us. We need something that is move-in ready. I did like how much natural sunlight came in through all of those windows as well as the hardwood floors..."

"Those were big selling points for me too," Amy agrees. "I want a back yard that is big enough for Hope to have a swing set and me to have a garden. I'm tired of renting."

"We'll find something," Sheldon promises.

Needing Amy to believe he has a meeting with the military, Sheldon elects to drive them to Caltech today. Their normal route to work is blocked for pothole repair, and so Sheldon makes a left-hand turn from Los Robles onto Rancho Domingo Drive. The very first house on the street has a "for sale" sign in the yard, he notices. It looks like a nice, middle-class neighborhood.

"That green house is for sale. Go back around the block," Amy requests, apparently on the same wavelength as him.

Doing as requested, he pulls up in front of the house and notices there's a box on the "for sale sign" containing a paper for the listing. Getting out to grab it, he startles as the front door of the house opens, and a man and his pug steps out on the porch.

"Hi, there! Didn't mean to sneak up on ya," the man apologizes.

"That's alright," Sheldon reassures as Amy gets out of the car.

"I can give you'll a tour if you're interested?" the man offers.

"We're on our way to work but saw the sign and came back around to grab the flyer," Amy explains. "How many bedrooms?"

"4 bedroom 2 and a half bath. Great neighborhood, one of the best school zones in the county," the man replies.

"May I ask why you're selling?" Sheldon inquires.

"My husband is from LA, but I grew up in a small town in Texas and I absolutely hate big city life, so I begged and pleaded enough that hubby finally agreed to move to Texas just to shut me up," the man explains, laughing to himself.

"I'm from Medford, Texas, just outside of Galveston," Sheldon replies.

"I thought so with that accent. I'm from Turkey, the northern part of the state," the man replies. "If you wanna come by on Saturday, we'll be here for an open house from noon to 5."

"Yeah, I think I'd like to see the inside," Amy decides. "We'll see ya Saturday."

He could definitely see himself living here, Sheldon decides as he takes one more look at the mint green house. Other than that eyesore of a basketball hoop over the garage, it has definite curbside appeal. If Amy loves it, he won't put up any fight, Sheldon decides, since it checks off both boxes on his list: close to work and move-in ready.

"What do you think?" Amy wonders as she peruses the listing.

"That basketball hoop is the first thing that is coming down," Sheldon replies, making Amy laugh.

"What if Hope wants a basketball hoop when she's older?" Amy wonders.

"Doubtful as neither of us have an athletic bone in our bodies, but if she wants one, we'll get her a portable one that can be stored in the garage," Sheldon decides. "What do you think?"

"It's cute. I could see us living here," Amy decides. "It is a little over the maximum purchase price you want to stay under but still well within the range of what we are approved for," Amy points out.

"We have some wiggle room for negotiation on that," Sheldon decides. "It meets both items on my checklist so if you like it, we'll make an offer."

"All of these adult decisions are kind of scary," Amy admits.

"What do you mean?" Sheldon wonders as he pulls back out into traffic.

"Marriage, babies, buying a home... I mean, we're adults, but sometimes I sit back and go, 'whoa, am I really in my 30's?" Amy explains.

"I understand that, especially when my mom berates my choices."

"Go to Comic-Con, Sheldon, please? Go tomorrow and can still look at the house on Saturday."

"I thought we agreed to drop that discussion?" Sheldon questions, taking a deep breath in an effort to control his temper.

"Alright, you leave me no choice, I'm invoking Clause 262 of The Relationship Agreement," Amy decides as Sheldon turns onto College Drive.

"When the girlfriend makes a determination that the boyfriend is being unreasonably stubborn, the girlfriend can veto the boyfriend's decision?' You may only use this once per calendar year, Amy. Are you sure you want to waste it on Comic-Con?"

"Yes. I want you to go have fun before the baby comes. One last hurrah as a single childless man," Amy replies.

"It's a long time between now and January 1st. I'm bound to piss you off again," Sheldon warns.

"I'll take my chances. You're going to Comic-Con on Thursday and Friday. You can come back by train on Friday night. I've already made that reservation for you."

"You're the best," He praises as he brings her hand to his lips for a quick kiss.

Holding her hand until he pulls into Amy's designated parking spot, Sheldon places the car in park and unbuckles his seatbelt. Turning to Amy, he leans in and brushes his lips against hers in a very tender they're in public, he pulls back and kisses her cheek and then places their hands over Baby Hope.

"I love you. Have a good day," he softly murmurs.

"I love you too. You better get going so you're not late," Amy insists.

Yes," Sheldon agrees.

In actuality, he's going to retrieve the prop he is using to propose marriage from the hiding spot in their storage unit. Carefully carrying it to the car, he sets it on the front passenger seat and rushes to the restaurant to get the salad for Amy as well as a meatball sub for himself. Checking the time as he pulls into Amy's parking spot, he realizes that Amy is still in class. Sheldon grabs his surprise and lunch, going to Amy's office and luckily finding her door unlocked. He places lunch on the desk and then sets his project next to the digital microscope.

Checking he has the ring in his pocket, Sheldon steps out of Amy's office and makes his way down the hall to the auditorium where Amy is teaching cognitive neuroscience. Discreetly stepping in to the room, he finds Amy actively engaging with her students in a Q&A session. She's 100 percent in her element as she scribbles something on the whiteboard. Sheldon seldom gets the chance to sit in on Amy's classes but when he does, she never fails to wow him. He knew she was brilliant, but there's something incredibly sexy about her confidence and intellect.

"I'm giving you the answers for your midterm, yet I see hardly anyone taking notes," Amy points out. "Unless you all have suddenly developed communal telepathy, or hace eidetic memories you're likely to fail."

"Doesn't your husband have an eidetic memory?" a random male student calls out.

"Yes, he does," Amy replies.

"What causes that? Humans only use 10 percent of their brains, so is he, like, capable of accessing parts of his brain that we normally don't use?" a female student follows up. "Is that a stupid question?"

Yes, Sheldon thinks as Amy immediately answers, "No. The terms eidetic memory and photographic memory are used interchangeably in popular culture, but they are actually two very different things. How many of you have looked at your phone screen late at night in bed and then still seen the image when you close your eyes?" Amy asks as most of her students raise their hands, "That's eidetic memory. For most of us, it lasts just a matter of a few seconds. For others, people like my husband, it is lifelong. True photographic memory, the ability to instantly recall events, dialogue and memories of any random event in ones life in explicit and completely accurate detail has never been proven to exist."

"So, how do memories work? Like, I can recall snippets of going to Disneyland when I was 6 in graphic detail but I don't remember my parents' birthdays, " A different male in the class wonders.

"Memory is formed in three key parts of the brain, the amygdala, the hippocampus and the thalamus. It's believed that they are interconnected through a complex system of synapses. Importance also plays a key role in memory recall. For example, I remember that my husband ordered a slice of banana bread on our first date, because that was an important day for us, but I couldn't tell you what he had for lunch last Saturday, because it's not important."

"I read an article on Facebook saying that intelligence is thought to increase the size of the prefrontal cortex. Any truth to that?" A third female student wonders.

"There's some credence to that article and,anecdotally , I've seen preliminary results indicating that intelligence increases as the prefrontal cortex increases. Gentleman, if you want to really impress your next Tinder hookup, talk about the size of your prefrontal cortex rather than your penis," Amy suggests, making her class laugh.

"Penis size does not equate to intelligence. I've seen her husband's penis and his brain scan. Trust me, they're not that impressive. If you're hung, flaunt it," Ramona yells out from the back of the auditorium.

"Alright, um, class dismissed," Amy mutters before immediately turning towards the door and running smack into Sheldon's chest as he comes to play guard dog.

"Are you alright?" he angrily questions as he scans the auditorium for the blonde bitch.

"Let's just go. I don't want a confrontation. I'll report her to HR for harassment," Amy decides.

"No, I am going to end this. You're pregnant and she is causing harm to you and our baby..." Sheldon counters.

"How do you know it's yours?" Ramona asks as she comes down the stairs. "You were only in Paris for a week and only slept with her twice."

"I don't know who told you that..." Sheldon argues.

"You told your friends, Wheezy and Fruitt Loops, in the cafeteria. I'd ask for a paternity test if I were you," Ramona suggests.

"Go wait in the hall," Sheldon whispers to Amy.

"Sheldon..." Amy warns.

"Hope is capable of recognizing my voice now. I don't want her to hear Daddy swear or raise my voice. It's alright, go wait in the hall," he pleads.

Turning towards the hall, Amy barely makes it three steps before she hears Sheldon slam his palm against the whiteboard in anger, making both her and Ramona gasp.

"Don't you EVER harass my wife again!" Sheldon yells as he gets in Ramona's face and grabs the collar of her hooded jacket.

"What are you going to do about it, tough guy?" Ramona questions, her voice dripping with fake sarcasm.

That does it, Sheldon decides as he roughly pushes Ramona against the whiteboard and raises his fist as though he wants to punch her. It's as he sees her smirk that he realizes this is all a game to her. Ramona doesn't really care about him or his happiness. Her only goal is to come between him and Amy.

"Ooh, I love it when my man gets rough," Ramona exclaims as she looks to watch Amy's reaction.

"DON'T talk to her!" Sheldon demands as he slams his palm just inches from Ramona's head. "This is between you and me, Ramona. I. Am. Done."

"If you're so "done" I would not be able to get under your skin. I think you still have unresolved feelings for me. Does it make Amy cry?" Ramona wonders. "Waah wahh bitch."

"You better stop talking, right now!" Sheldon warns. "How much clearer do I have to be before you get it through your pea sized brain? I don't love you. I don't want you. You were nothing but my whore. You may have been able to temporarily come between Amy and me but nothing... NOTHING will ever come between me and my child."

"Hit me, Sheldon. I know you want to," Ramona eggs him on. "Do it."

Let go of her, Sheldon, please, Amy thinks to herself, knowing Ramona now has cause to file a claim of assualt with Human Resources. Sheldon glances towards the door, catching movement out of the corner of his eye, as Amy places her hand over where Hope just kicked.

"I was taught to never hit a woman," he replies. "But how I want to. You're getting off lucky."

He lets go of Ramona's collar and immediately rushes to get between Ramona and Amy, just in case Ramona decides this isn't finished. He backs Amy into the corner, shielding her with his body.

"What, you think I'm going to attack her?" Ramona questions.

"I'm holding her back from attacking you," Sheldon counters.

"Keep walking, Blondie!" Amy yells for emphasis.

"It's sad that you're buying into her delusion that this is your kid. Think about it. She was alone in Paris for months. Sheldon, you are not the father," Ramona eggs him on.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but that is my child. I don't need a paternity test. The dates match my daughter's gestational age perfectly. Do you know why that is? Amy keeps her legs closed for everyone but me," Sheldon explains.

"From what I've heard, the Ice Queen doesn't open her legs for you either," Ramona snarks. "Which is why you came running to me the first chance you got."

"I plead temporary insanity," Sheldon replies. "It's been a year, Ramona, and in that time have I given you any indication that I wish to resume a carnal relationship?"

"No. If you see me coming, you run and hide like a little bitch," Ramona replies.

"You can't take the hint? Maybe you are dumber than I imagined," Amy comments from her hiding spot.

"Do you want to say that to my face?" Ramona wonders as she takes a step towards Sheldon.

Reacting on pure instinct, Sheldon forcefully shoves Ramona away from him, making her stumble and fall backward. Grinning at she looks up at him completely flabbergasted, Sheldon warns, "you do not want to fuck with me when it comes to protecting my wife and child. Get out of here and don't you ever harass Amy again or so help me..."

"Pathetic. I can do better than a pussy whipped moron," Ramona huffs as she walks out the door.

"Are you alright?" Sheldon wonders as he gently cups Amy's cheek in his hand.

"Yeah. Let's go file that report," Amy decides.

"I have forms in my bag. Let's go eat lunch and we can file them on our way to your appointment," Sheldon counters.

Sheldon has often said that when he has a feeling he knows it He knows that Amy is the only woman he wants. He's ready. They are ready. They walk the short distance to Amy's office in silence, holding hands the entire way. Sheldon shuts the door behind him and goes to Amy, pecking her lips in a tender kiss.

"PDA clause, Sheldon. We're at work," Amy reminds him.

"Sorry. She got me riled up," he apologizes.

"Me too, but do you know what the best revenge is?" Amy wonders. Coming right up behind Sheldon, she leans in, cupping her hand around his ear as she whispers, "letting me ride you until it falls off or you flatline once we get home."

Sheldon's jaw hits the floor as Amy opens her salad container and picks out one of the cucumber slices, popping it into her mouth as she grins at him.

"How did your meeting go?" she wonders as she opens the container of citrus vinaigrette and drizzles it over the salad.

"Oh uh fine," He replies as he opens his sub. "They sent over a coded message for me. I'm going to need to use your digital microscope to examine it."

"Yeah, that's fine. Is it classified? Do I need to step out?" Amy wonders.

"No, it's not. In fact, the colonel insisted you see this," Sheldon lies.

This is it, he decides as he stands up and goes to the digital microscope, next to Amy. Picking up the black pouch, Amy opens it to find one perfect glass slide. It looks like a normal slide to Amy as she examines it. That's weird, she thinks. Sheldon s project has nothing to do with microscopic particles. Amy places it under the microscope and turns it on, moving the sheet until she locates a line of text.

As Amy adjusts the magnification, Sheldon drops to one knee, pulling the ring out of his pocket as the words, "Amy, will you marry me?" appear on the digital display. She turns towards him and instantly has tears running down her cheeks as she silently nods.

"How did you do this?" she whispers.

"I found a company online that could do the laser etching, not important," he replies.

Tugging on his hands, Amy immediately cups his cheeks in her hands as Sheldon returns to standing, soundly kissing him. Pulling back for a brief moment, she grins at him before pecking his lips one more time.

"You still haven't answered me," he teases.

"You haven't verbally asked me," she counters

"Amy Farrah Fowler, will you be my wife?" he softly questions.

"Yes," she immediately whispers. "Yes," she whispers again before pecking his lips. "Yes."


September 1, 2018

Carrying the last box out of the U-Haul, Sheldon sighs in relief. They are officially moved in. He still can't believe he's a homeowner, and, in a complete surprise to both him and Amy, they were able to pay $100 in cash to secure a fully furnished nursery since the previous owners weren't taking any of the furniture with them. He smiles at Penny, who is up on a ladder taking down the basketball hoop as Leonard ",assists" by holding the ladder steady. As Sheldon walks through the door, he sets the box labeled "bathroom" in the entryway before going to find Amy sitting on the couch next to Bernadette as the gals fold the recently washed baby clothes.

"Oh, this is adorable!" Bernie exclaims as she holds up a pink onesie declaring Hope "Daddy's Little Princess."

"Sheldon purchased that in Las Vegas," Amy divulges. "He's also on the hunt for an infant sized tiara for a Mommy/Daughter photo shoot."

"Aww! Is Mary coming to help?" Bernie wonders.

"Yes, she and Mee-maw are flying in tomorrow" Sheldon replies as he walks by and glances at Amy's mostly full water bottle. "Amy, you need to keep sipping the water to flush out that UTI," he lectures.

"You're not the one peeing every hour, even without the UTI," Amy grumbles as she grabs the bottle and sucks it down just to make Sheldon stop lecturing her.

"He means well, Amy," Bernie reassures her after Sheldon disappears.

"I know he does. I'm just so uncomfortable and the Braxton Hicks contractions hurt like hell even though they're doing nothing to bring on true labor. I'd cut this kid out myself if I could," Amy explains.

"Oh, I know exactly how you feel. I was done at 7 months with Halley," Bernie recalls. "Mee-maw being here to meet Hope will be nice."

"I'm glad she'll get to experience this with Sheldon," Amy replies with a genuine smile.

"How many kids and grandkids does Mee-maw have?" Penny asks as she walks in from the kitchen with a bottle of beer and takes a swig.

"You know, I'm not sure," Amy replies. "Where did Sheldon run off to?"

"He and the guys are putting together your bed. I needed a breather," Penny explains.

Feeling her entire abdomen and pelvic region tightening, Amy sucks in air before fritting her teeth, alerting her friends that she's having another contraction.

"Amy? What can we do?" Bernie asks in concern as she sees the pain on her friend's face.

"I need someone to time this," Amy grunts as she takes slow deep breaths through her mouth.

"Do you want me to get Sheldon?" Bernie wonders as Penny tracks the seconds on her phone.

Nodding yes, Amy closes her eyes and focuses on getting air into her lungs and to the baby. Deep breath in. Slow exhale. Sheldon comes running down the hall and gets on his knees on front of Amy so she can lean into his chest. Turning his head briefly, he asks Penny, "how long?"

"13 seconds," Penny replies as Amy whimpers.

"Don't tense up. Don't tense up. I need you to breathe, Amy. Hope needs you to breathe. You're doing great. Slow deep breaths, sweetheart," Sheldon coaches, changing his breathing to be in time with Amy.

Looking at each other, Penny and Bernadette share a smile as they watch how gentle and supportive Sheldon is being while coaching Amy through the contraction. They've privately shared their concerns with each other, but as they watch Sheldon now as he tenderly strokes Amy's hair and whispers in her ear, they realize their fears were misguided and their pre-judgement was not only inappropriate but also way off the mark.

"You're doing great, Amy. It should be letting up any second. Keep breathing. Don't tense up. Relax your jaw, sweetheart," he urges as Amy whimpers in pain. "I know it hurts. I wish I could do this part for you," Sheldon whispers as he softly strokes her hair. "It should be letting up any second now. You're doing great. Take a deep breath for me, okay?" he softly requests.

Sheldon absolutely hates seeing her in so much pain, and, the worst part is, this isn't true labor. Amy just hopes he can stsy as calm and supportive when she's in true intense active labor. Looking up into his eyes, she sees the worry within them as he encourages her to keep breathing. Laying her head against his shoulder, she takes one last deep breath as the contraction finally eases.

"That was the most intense one yet," Amy comments as she kisses Sheldon's cheek, thanking him for being there for her.

"How long was it?" Sheldon wonders.

"82 seconds," Penny relays.

"That's consistent with where they've been," Sheldon replies as he holds his hands out for Amy ti use as grab bars while she readjusts herself on the couch. "Did it feel different?"

"No, just more intense," Amy replies.

"Can you describe it?" Penny wonders, "for someone that hasn't been pregnant."

"Um... the stomach ache you have with food poisoning by a factor of 10," Bernie replies.

"Combined with that kidney infection you had a few years ago," Amy adds.

"Damn. Note to self, stop at the pharmacy to pick up my birth control," Penny jokes.

"How many kids and grandkids does Mee-maw have?" Amy asks once she's comfy.

"4 children, 2 are deceased. 13 grandchildren and Hope will make great grandbaby number 10," Sheldon relays. "Interestingly, Hope is the first girl in her generation."

"Oh wow, really?" Penny exclaims.

"The sperm are strong with this one," Leonard jokes as the guys come out of the master bedroom.

"Hope will be spoiled rotten because of it," Sheldon warns. "Are you alright? Do you need anything?" he asks Amy.

A scalpel?" Amy jokes.

"Why would you need that?" Sheldon wonders.

"I know I have two weeks until my due date, but I am done. All of those old wives tales about how to induce labor? Well buddy, we're trying every single one," Amy warns in her no nonsense voice.

"Whatever you want," Sheldon replies as he softly pecks her lips.

"Good answer," Howard teases.

"Gentleman, we have a bed to assemble," Sheldon declares as he leads the way to the master bedroom.

"Have you seen the nursery yet?" Amy wonders.

"No. We've walked by but Sheldon shut the door before we could get a good look. He said Hope and her Mommy would have to let us in," Bernie explains as she grins at her friend.

"What do you think, Hope? Shall we show your aunties your bedroom?" Amy asks as she rubs her stomach before changing the tone of her voice to be as high pitched as possible as she says, "Okay, Mommy!"

Giggling as they pick up the two white laundry baskets in order to help Amy, Penny and Bernadette follow Amy as she waddles her way to the nursery, where they find Sheldon securing the pink wood block letters spelling out "Hope" to the door.

"Going all in on the pink, huh?" Penny questions.

"Sheldon surprised me with them this morning," Amy explains. "He's the one that is wanting the pink and frilly baby girl things. This nursery is adorable though. Hope said it's okay to show them," Amy reassures Sheldon as he doesn't immediately move to open the door.

"She did, huh?" Sheldon teases as he pecks Amy's lips before moving out of the way.

Opening the door, Amy leads them inside the cream colored room where hand painted etchings of Winnie the Pooh and his friends civer the walls. In the center of the room, there is a white crib with pink Winnie the Pooh bedding just awaiting the arrival of Baby Hope. The room is accented by a matching changing table and rocker glider, as well as a white bookshelf, which is currently empty.

"Oh, my God! This is adorable!" Penny exclaims.

"We had to beg the realtor to not paint over it before we made our offer," Amy shares. "The previous owner is an art curator. We found out that he spent a month hand drawing every detail. This scene here is new. See how he wrote "Hope" in the clouds?" Amy points out as she stands by the clouds.

"That was really sweet of him," Bernie gushes.

"Matt and Greg are absolute sweethearts. It turns out that Matt knows Missy's husband, Jason. They played football at Texas A&M together," Amy explains. "So once that connection was discovered, we were able to negotiate a private side deal where we purchased the baby furniture."

"How old is their little one?" Bernie wonders.

"Aiden is right around the same age as Missy's son, J.J... a year, 13 months," Amy replies. "Ooh. Contraction."

Carefully setting the drill on the nearby dresser, Sheldon immediately goes to Amy, allowing her to lean all of her weight on him as he rubs her back. This is the first she's had while standing and Sheldon finds himself wondering if he should try to guide her to the recliner.

"Don't let me fall," Amy pleads as she takes a deep breath.

"I've got you. Lean into me," he reassures as he places his back against the wall for support.

He continues softly whispering to her as Penny times the contraction, keeping his voice low so as to not be overheard. As it ends, Amy lifts her head and immediately heads for the bathroom.

"Is she alright?" Penny asks in concern.

"Yes. It um... it made her dribble in her pants. I'm just going to find some clean clothes for her," Sheldon explains before excusing himself.

"I'm impressed by how great Sheldon is doing with all of this. He's a fantastic birthing coach," Bernie comments to Penny once the parents to be are out of the room.

"Oh, I know. I went to a few of the birthing classes with them since I'm Amy's back up coach. The questions he asked were well thought out and things I never would've thought of like if Amy should be pumping and storing breastmilk now and how do they determine if it's Braxton Hicks or a real contraction and if a heating pad on Amy's back is safe. He's really changed since Ramona," Penny replies as she folds the tiniest pair of jeans she has ever seen.

"Is she leaving them alone? I haven't heard anything more since that run in," Bernie questions.

"As far as I know. Amy's been on maternity leave and Sheldon hasn't said anything to the guys. I'd love to turn Mary Cooper loose on that skank. I guess the reason Sheldon didn't want to go to Comicon is because Mary laid into him about infidelity, premarital sex, and being a giant man-child," Penny shares.

"I assumed it was something like that," Bernie replies.

Meanwhile, Sheldon goes into the master bedroom where he placed a suitcase of spare clothing for him and Amy while they work to unpack bit by bit and locates the pair of black yoga pants she requested. Not wanting their friends to see the polka dotted panties, he quickly wraps them in Amy's t-shirt before carrying the bundle into the connected master bathroom.

"Are you sure that your water didn't break?" Sheldon questions as Amy sits on the toilet.

"Yes. I haven't lost my mucus plug yet so I'm fairly certain it was just urine. It also was just a little squirt. I'd expect more fluid if it was my water," Amy explains. "You're so great at keeping me calm and making sure I keep breathing."

"I wish I could do more," Sheldon softly murmurs. "I really don't like seeing you in so much pain."

"I know, but the prize at the end... our beautiful little baby... it's worth it, Sheldon. I may cry and scream and be in so much pain that I swear that we are never having coitus again..." she warns, making him chuckle, "but what we both need to keep in mind is the end result, holding Hope in our arms. I can't wait for that."

"Me either. I keep looking at her crib trying to imagine her laying there. I'm excited, Amy," Sheldon confesses.

"I want to talk to you before Mee-maw gets here. I didn't know that Hope is the first girl in her generation. Given that new piece of information, I am proposing we alter Hope's middle name from Elizabeth to Constance Elizabeth. Thoughts?" Amy asks.

"Having this conversation in our bathroom is slightly weird," he points out, making Amy smile, "but I am completely on board with that. Does your mom want to be here between the time you go into labor and we leave for the hospital?"

"My mother is one of the last people on Earth that I want around when I am in labor," Amy decides, before adding, "I'm so glad that Mee-maw is able to be here to meet the baby."

"She's very excited about it. She sent me a list of possible nicknames she's considering for Hope," Sheldon shares. "The top contender is Peanut."

"That's adorable. I want a shower but with everyone here..." Amy trails off.

"I'll lock the doors. Do whatever you need in order to be comfortable," Sheldon reassures.

Back in the bedroom, the guys are hard at work helping their friends. With the bed almost together, Raj and Howard hold the headboard while Leonard drills the screws into the metal frame. Needing to move the bag out of the way, Howard picks it up and snickers as he looks inside.

"What?" Raj asks.

"There are 4 different vibrators and a pair of handcuffs in here," Howard explains.

"That doesn't surprise me given how loud and prolonged their bedroom proclivities are," Leonard replies.

"How the hell does this work?" Howard wonders as he pulls out a green apparatus that looks like a bottle opener crossed with the rebellion symbol from Star Wars.

"Amy shoves it up my rectum. I'll give you a demonstration if you'd like," Sheldon offers as he opens the bathroom door after overhearing the guys. "While you're digging, can you find Amy's yeast infection cream and the prenatal vitamins?" he requests.

"Dude, that's all you," Howard replies as he drops the vibrator back into the bag.

"Serves you right for snooping," Raj points out.

"Is Amy alright?" Leonard wonders.

"That last contraction was intense. She's just cleaning up," Sheldon reassures.

"Can I see the nursery? Penny said it's adorable," Raj requests as they place the last bolt in the frame.

"Sure," Sheldon agrees.

"We were just discussing lunch. Amy can't handle tomatoes so pizza is out," Leonard points out.

"She asked me to make her a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She's craving peanut butter," Sheldon explains before asking, "is that alright given your allergy?" of Howard.

"Yeah, of course, as long as whatever we order is kept separate," Howard replies. "Halley loves peanut butter. Bernie buys these frozen ones with the crust already cut off."

"Oh yeah, I've seen those. I haven't had pb&j in years. That actually sounds kind of good," Leonard decides.

"How about I go get a jar of peanut butter and a couple loaves of bread? Howard, you can come along and pick something out," Raj decides.

"We'll be back in 45 minutes. Does Amy need anything else?" Leonard asks.

"Let me check," Sheldon requests.

Lightly knocking on the door, he opens it and steps inside, immediately met by a rush of steam. He can see Amy's outline through the white shower curtain as she sits on the floor of the shower, her knees to her chest. He immediately reaches in and turns off the water before flinging the curtain open to find her crying.

"What happened? Did you fall?" he asks, panic stricken.

"No, no. I had another contraction and very carefully sat down but now I can't get up."

"I may need help. Can Penny and Bernadette come in?" Sheldon asks.

"Can we try it without them first? This is embarrassing," Amy points out. "Are the guys still in the bedroom?"

The guys are just finishing up with the bed. They decided they want pb&j for lunch and are going to the store. Do you want anything else?" Sheldon wonders.

"Can you have them get me a gallon of l]Lactaid milk and something sweet like dairy free ice cream or Oreos?"

"Cookies and cream ice cream?" Sheldon wonders.

"Ooh, perfect," Amy decides. "This is probably going to be easier if I crawl out of the shower to the sink."

"Work on that. I'll be right back," Sheldon promises.

Sheldon rushes to the door, barely cracking it, and not seeing any one, goes to see if they're in the baby's room. He finds all of his friends in the baby's room, working in unison to put away the clothing and stack the children books on the shelves. One of them got a Winnie the Pooh stuffed doll, which they put inside the crib. Seeing his friends so excited about the imminent arrival of his daughter does something to Sheldon. Entering the room, he clears his throat in order to get their attention

"I just wanted to say thank you for helping us move in and thank you for prioritizing the things Amy wants to do but shouldn't like putting away the baby's clothes and books," Sheldon softly murmurs.

"You're welcome, Sweetie. Anything for Amy and the baby. Is she alright?" Penny wonders.

"She had another contraction in the shower and now she can't get up. I may need help," Sheldon requests.

"Oh, my God. Did she fall?!" Bernie exclaims in concern.

"She said she didn't. I'm going to try to get her up on my own first. Oh, she wants a gallon of Lactaid milk and some cookies and cream ice cream. Make sure it's dairy free," Sheldon requests as he hands them $25.

Rushing back to the bedroom, with all of their friends hot on his trail, Sheldon flings open the bathroom door to find Amy on her hands and knees in the middle of the bathroom, in the middle of another contraction. Slamming the door, kneels in front of her, allowing Amy to pull herself up to a sitting position as she tries to keep from screaming as pain instantly shoots down her spine.

"They're getting closer together," Sheldon worries as Amy pants for air after the contraction lets up.

"This is kind of gross, and you can say no, but you've read every birthing book and watched every video you can find about the process. Do you want to check me to see how far dilated I am?" Amy wonders before adding, "I trust you, Sheldon."

"Yeah. Let me grab gloves from the emergency kit," he decides. Would you be more comfortable in the bedroom?"

"No. I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea if they walk in," Amy points out.

"Um... they saw the vibrators. Howard was trying to figure out how the one you got me as a joke works," Sheldon confesses.

"Oh, God. What did you tell him?" Amy wonders.

"You shove it up my ass," Sheldon replies as Amy bursts into hysterical laughter.

Out in the bedroom, Penny and Bernadette stand by as they wait to see if Sheldon will need assistance. Hearing Amy laugh, they turn to each other and grin before deciding to give Sheldon and Amy some privacy right as the bathroom door opens.

"Hey. We heard her laughing so everything must be alright?" Penny asks.

"Yes. Amy will be out in a few minutes," Sheldon reassures as he grabs the emergency kit and unzips it so he can retrieve a pair of latex gloves.

Soundly dismissing them, Sheldon shuts and locks the bedroom door before going to their suitcase and retrieving the lubrication from the side pouch. Stepping back into the bedroom, he finds Amy sitting up on the floor, gently caressing her stomach as she talks to the baby. He softly smiles as Amy says, "I love you, Munchkin."

"Why'd you choose Munchkin as her nickname?" Sheldon wonders.

"It's what my dad called me," Amy explains.

"I wish he could be here for the birth of his grand laughter," Sheldon softly murmurs as Amy looks up at him with teary eyes.

"Am I a bitch for not wanting my mom?" Amy quietly wonders.

"No. If she stresses you out, then it's better for everyone if she stays away," Sheldon reasons. "In some ways, I wish it was just us without Penny or Bernadette or my mom or Mee-maw. I know having women who have given birth before is comforting for you, but, I feel... like I'm being pushed aside," he confesses.

"Sheldon, I want you there to hold me and keep me calm. I need you there, Cuddles. We are a team and we are doing this together, alright?" Amy insists.

"Alright. Let's see what's going on down there. Lay back."

After rolling up a towel and placing it behind her head, Amy tries to relax as much as possible as Sheldon puts on the gloves with a snap of the the cap on the lubrication, he spreads it on his fingers before encouraging Amy to "Relax. I'll go slow."

She opens her legs for him and gasps as he carefully insert two fingers into her. He feels around for a few seconds before removing his hand, startled when there's a little bit of mucus and blood on the glove.

"That's normal. It's alright. It means my body is preparing for birth," Amy reassures him. "I'll probably lose the plug in the next 24 hours."

"The full moon is the 6th. Mee-maw swears you'll go into labor on the 6th and have the baby in the early morning hours of the 7th. She's got a betting pool going with her bingo friends," Sheldon shares.

"Why the full moon?" Amy wonders as Sheldon helps her sit up.

"She had all 5 of her kids the morning after the full moon, my mom went into labor with the 3 of us during full moons, Missy had J.J. during a full moon... superstition but there's enough evidence that she may be right. You're still at a 1. I don't know how to check effacement."

"I'm hoping she'll be born on Monday, the appropriately named Labor Day," Amy shares, making Sheldon laugh. "I think if I can get in a kneeling position, I should be able to push myself up if I can grab onto you."

"Do whatever you need," Sheldon reassures.

Together, the arey able to get Amy standing once again. As she backs up, Sheldon reaches out to grasp her hips. Leaning forward, he kisses her abdomen over the baby.

"Daddy loves you," he softly murmurs before kissing Amy's abdomen again.

The next few days pass quickly for Sheldon. For his poor beleaguered fiancé, not so much. As September 6th, the day Mee-maw predicted Amy would go into labor, arrives, Sheldon and Amy find themselves both wishing they could evict Hope from her womb.

Laying in bed, Amy moans in agony as another contraction hits. She rolls onto her side towards Sheldon and lays her head against his bare shoulder as he softly rubs her back.

The contractions have been stronger and more regular over the past 12 hours, occurring now every 15 minutes, like clock work. Her water has yet to break but Sheldon suspects it's coming in the next few hours. He's placed a waterproof mattress cover over the bed just in case.

"Breathe," he encourages as she grits her teeth.

"I AM!" she yells at him before reaching for his hand and squeezing as hard as she possibly can.

"49 50, 51..." he counts aloud, having found if he does so, it tends to help Amy relax.

At 62 seconds, her water breaks in a warm gush of liquid dribbling down her bare legs and wettng Sheldon's thigh. Sheldon knows better than to try to move away while Amy's in the middle of a contraction. He kisses her forehead as he murmurs, "Keep breathing. You're doing great, Amy."

"Fuuuuuck," she moans in pain. "AAAARRRRGGHHH!"

""That's it. Let it out. Let it out. You're so strong, Amy. You're doing great. 87... 88... 89... 90. It'll be over any second. One more breath for Hope," he whispers in her ear as she seems to relax once the contraction eases. "Good. Can you take another breath for me, sweetheart?"

"My water broke," She murmurs, as if just noticing it for the first time.

"Did you not realize it?" Sheldon asks.

"I felt... something... but it just dawned on me what that was. It's after midnight now, right?" she wonders.

"12:45. Huh, Mee-maw won the bet," Sheldon points out in amazement.

"You should call the midwife's office. Can you ask if I can have ice?" she requests.

"Sure. We're almost to the finish line. You're doing great, Amy."

"Don't wake your mom and Mee-maw to do a load of laundry. We may just have to put a blanket over it until morning," Amy decides.

"Okay. Do you want anything else? Is there anything I can do?" he wonders.

"I need you for the next one so hurry back, okay?" she requests as she slightly rolls in order to let him up.

"I promise," he murmurs in response before kissing her lips.

As they were both naked in bed, clean up is quick and easy. He quickly washes his thigh with a wash cloth from the sink before taking a washcloth to Amy. She thanks him as he helps her to sit up on the edge of the bed.

"Do you want your pillow?" Sheldon wonders.

"No, not right now. I just want to be held if you're okay with that?" she requests.

"Whatever you need, Amy. You are the boss now," he insists. "Is your hospital bag ready to go?"

"With the exception of a few last minute items like my glasses and a cell phone charger. Do you need me to make a list of things we nerd to do prior to leaving?" She wonders.

"Yes, please, that would be helpful. Let me call and then we'll get that blanket spread out."

Speaking with the after hours answering service, Sheldon provides basic information and receives a promise of a call back. He carefully helps Amy to the rocking chair that he moved into their bedroom two days ago at Amy's request and strips the bed, tossing the soiled bedding into the bathroom. Stepping out, he finds Amy caressing her stomach as she once again talks to the baby.

"Not much longer now, Little One. Now, you might hear Mommy screaming but the sooner you get here, the sooner I stop and then you get to do all the screaming in the Fowler-Cooper house, alright? Your Daddy might say you're making his ears bleed but don't believe him. He likes to be a bit of a drama queen."

"Turning her against me already?" Sheldon pouts from the doorway of the bathroom.

"Yep. You're outnumbered now, Cooper," Amy teases.

"I haven't married you yet. I can still get out of the estrogen purgatory," he teases.

"This is Hotel California, babe. You can check out any time you like but you can't ever leave. Oh, here we go... mmmuuhhh," she moans, somewhere between a moan snd a moo to his Texan ears.

Getting on his knees, he takes both of Amy's hands in his as he watches the pain wash over his fiancé's face. It's just going to get worse before it gets better. Eyes on the prize, he decides as Amy leans forward and wraps her arms around his waist so she's hugging him.

"I need you to keep breathing, Amy. Hope needs you to keep breathing. I know it hurts. You are amazing, Amy, doing this without the drugs because you're worried about the effect on our daughter. I love you so much. You're going to be an amazing Mommy. Hope and I are so lucky to have you. Take another breath for our baby " he whispers to her, hoping he can keep her calm and distract her.

"Keep talking. Tell me about work," she pleads as she gasps for air. "Oh, God it hurts."

"Work... let's see... um... oh, do you remember that expedition to the Artic Circle I told you about? Well it turns out that what we thought were static interference signals from the can opener may not have been. A Polish team is up there right now and have been looking over my data. I won't get credit of course but if we can prove string theory, that would change the entire field of physics," he rambles on.

"Not just physics. Our understanding of the universe and everything it conta...tains..." she replies before gasping for air. "Count, count, count..."

"60, 61, 62," he rattles. The truth is he hasn't been timing this one and just took a guess by estimating their average words per second. "Take a breath, take a breath, take a breath..."

"Arrrggghh, this kid better be cute!" Amy moans as she once again gasps for air.

"She is going to be beautiful, just like her Mommy," Sheldon promises. "She had so much hair in that 3D ultrasound. The image we got of her sucking her thumb is my favorite. I have it as my screensaver on my personal laptop. I bet you didn't know that."

"Noooo," she moans in agony. "I'm going to wake everyone."

"Shh, it's alright, it's alright. My mom and Mee-maw are night owls. I bet they're watching tv. Make as much noise as you need. Almost done with this one. I love you. You are doing great sweetheart. Take a breath," he encourages.

With one last breath, the contraction eases. Leaning her forehead against Sheldon's she brings his hand to rest over Hope, savoring what is likely their last moment alone before their daughter's birth.

"Are you scared?" Sheldon whispers.

"Yeah. I don't know if I can do this without the epidural," Amy admits. "I've been going through it for 4 weeks with the Braxton-Hicks contractions. I'm worn out."

"I will not think any less of you if you take the epidural. I want you to do whatever you need to do, alright?" Sheldon vows as his phone lights up.

After speaking with the midwife and being reassured that they've still got hours before Amy will be ready to come in to the birthing center, Sheldon leaves her so he can retrieve a large cup of ice. Walking into the living room, he finds both Mary and Mee-maw sitting up watching tv.

"Hey, Moon pie. Surprised to see you up," Mee-maw greets him.

"Amy's water broke at 12:45. You won the pool," Sheldon shares.

"Told ya. It has to be something with gravitational pull as we get closer to the moon, right?" Mee-maw winders.

"In laymen's terms, yes. If you see Howard, ask him to show you the photos he took from the International Space Station. He has one of a typhoon in the southern hemisphere. Amy loves that one," Sheldon encourages as he hits the button on the fridge door for ice.

"How's Amy doing?" Mary wonders.

"She's talking about taking the epidural," Sheldon shares.

"Don't you give her any lip about that, Sheldon," Mary warns. "If she wants it, you simply say, 'okay, sweetheart' and hold her while they do it. Got it?"

"One step ahead of you. I told her to take it if she needs to. She may change her mind because she would have to deliver in the hospital instead of doing the water birth that she wants," Sheldon explains. "I need to get back to her."

"Okay. Let us know if we can help," Mee-maw offers.

Entering the bedroom, he finds Amy has turned on the bedside lamp as she sits up, making a list for him. He sets the ice on the side table next to her and crawls back into bed, barely making it before the next contraction hits. It surprises him when Amy simply closes her eyes and breathes through it, staying calm and quiet as she focuses on her breathing. Timing the contraction, he adds the last two to his list on his phone as it ends.

"Hey, sorry, that one just snuck up on me," Amy apologizes as she takes out her earbuds. "Thank you for the ice," she murmurs as she grabs the cup and tilts one cube into her mouth.

"We're still at 15 minutes apart?" he wonders.

"Yep. It's going to be a long night. You should try to sleep. Go to the nursery for awhile."

"I'm not leaving your side, Amy. If you don't get to sleep, I don't either."

Long night indeed, Sheldon internally bemoans at 11 o'clock that morning. Amy's contractions are still at 15 minutes apart. As she comes out of the bathroom, she smiles at him as he tries to hide his yawn behind his hand.

"Sheldon, please go eat and try to take a nap. Your mom and Mee-maw are here to help me, okay?" Amy pleads.

"If you don't get to sleep, I don't get to sleep," he stubbornly replies. "I am pretty hungry though. Would it bother you if I eat in front of you?"

"Yes. It's okay to need a break, Sheldon. I'm going to need you when things really get going and if you're fighting to stay awake, you are no good to me. Please nap? I promise we'll wake you if the contractions start getting closer together."

"Okay. Do you want my mom or Mee-maw to come in here or do you want a change in scenery?"

"I'm going to go to the living room so you can sleep," Amy decides. "Did the midwife's office say when they are going to check in again?"

"They'll call at noon. How long can you labor after your water breaks before they have to do a C-section?" Sheldon wonders.

"Don't even put that out in the universe as an option. I believe it's 72 hours but I will ask when they call. I really want Melanie to deliver the baby rather than going into the hospital."

"So, no epidural?" Sheldon confirms.

"No. We're doing this naturally, as nature intended. Remind me I said that when I'm begging for the drugs."

"You'll probably threaten to cut off my penis if I do that," Sheldon teases her.

"Hmm, I am rather fond if your penis so maybe you better keep your mouth shut," Amy decides, winking at him. "Speaking of which, you have been so good to me in that aspect of our relationship, my on-demand sex slave, so I fully intend on returning the favor. Until Hope is sleeping soundly through the night, our sexual encounters will be spontaneous by necessity, but if you find yourself in need of release, be it a hand job, blow job, or a quickie while the baby sleeps, tell me, and I will happily oblige," she promises as she comes to sit next to him on the bed.

"As much as I appreciate that, Amy, we need to focus on all aspects of our relationship when Hope is napping not just the sex," Sheldon points out.

"Oh, I agree, Sheldon and we could very well be too busy and exhausted for much more than cuddling. I'm simply pointing out that we need to make our relationship a priority too."

"I agree with that. Do you want to try one of those protein drinks Melanie suggested? I'm worried about your blood sugar levels crashing."

"Yeah, I should try something," Amy decides. I should be getting close to another contraction. Can we wait for the next one before going out?" she requests.

"Of course. Is it possible this is still just Braxton,-Hicks?" Sheldon wonders.

"That's entirely possible, especially since they haven't changed since my water broke. Do you want to check me again?"

"Do you want to see what Melanie thinks first? She may want you to come in for an evaluation."

"Okay. I'm exhausted, babe. I wish I could get comfortable enough to sleep," Amy complains as Mary knocks on the door and opens it without waiting for permission to enter to hear Sheldon say, "I wish I was a seahorse."

"Are ya'll playing a game?" Mary wonders as she enters the room, her arms loaded down with four grocery bags of items.

"No. Male seahorses carry their young from fertilization of the egg until giving birth," Sheldon explains.

"Ah. You're trying to say you wish you could be pregnant with Hope so Amy wouldn't experience the pain of childbirth," Mary deduces.

"Yes, exactly. Did you need something, Mom?" Sheldon wonders.

"We got bored so we went to the grocery store down the street. Mee-maws in the mood to bake. We got ya'll some goodies to keep your energy levels u. There's plenty more in the kitchen.

"Thank you Mare... oh, God..." Amy haltingly replies as she leans against Sheldon when the next contraction hits.

Standing back, Mary is stunned at the tenderness her son is displaying as he softly rubs Amy's back and whispers in her ear. This is so unlike him. To be perfectly honest, Mary and Mee-maw both had concerns that poor Amy would labor alone as Sheldon stayed in the living room or went about his stringent daily routine. To see Sheldon not only engaged with Amy but genuinely concerned about the wellbeing of his fiancé and their baby warms her heart.

"Mom? Can you answer my phone please? It's right here on the night stand," Sheldon requests as the phone lights up. "Take another breath for me, sweetheart," she overhears him saying as she grabs the phone.

"It's the midwife's office. How do I put this on speakerphone?" Mary asks after explaining that Amy's in the middle of a contraction.

After speaking with Amy, they decide to have her come in for evaluation. While Amy gets ready, Sheldon frantically runs between rooms, grabbing everything on Amy's list. Mary catches him in the hallway as he's about to go into the nursery and places her hand on his shoulder to calm him.

"Sheldon, you need to take a deep breath too and calm down," Mary urges.

"I've been calm up until now... now, it's hitting me that the baby really is coming and...Amy is in so much pain, Mom, and it's only going to get worse. How do I talk her into doing the epidural?" he wonders.

Wow. She was not expecting that.

"I don't think you can, Sheldon. I watched how you coached her through that last one. Just keep doing what you're doing. You're working as a team and keeping each other calm. Keep doing that," Mary encourages.

"I hate seeing her in pain," he whispers.

"I know, Lambchop. That part of this whole experience really sucks."

"Have you seen the nursery?" Sheldon wonders as he changes the topic.

"No, but we don't have time for that right now. I'll be spending plenty of time in there lovin' on that baby," Mary promises. " Get back to Amy. Give me that list."

"Thanks, Mom," he replies as the bedroom door opens and Amy steps out into the hall.

"Ready to go?" Sheldon questions.

"Yes. I just need to send a text to my aunt," Amy explains. "What am I smelling?"

"Mee-maw is making a bunch of casseroles for ya'll to just pop in the oven once we're gone. You've got that giant freezer in the garage but when I went to find something for supper tonight, I was shocked that it's totally empty," Mary points out.

"Oh, it came with the house. Bernadette's dad knows someone a couple hours north of here that raises cattle and pigs so we are going to buy 1/2 of each, with Bernadette and Howard taking the other halves," Amy explains.

"I'm glad to hear you two aren't living on McDonald's anymore," Mee-maw chimes in as she comes into the hallway.

"We rarely have McDonald's. In fact, I haven't had McDonald's since..." Sheldon replies, before stopping himself. Since the weekend I cheated on Amy. "That doesn't matter," he decides. "We have to be at the midwife's office at 1:15."

"You can come with us if you want," Amy offers.

"Oh, thank you darlin', but I should probably stay here with Mee-maw. If they decide to keep ya, we can get a ride up from Penny later. I've been texting Penny and Bernadette all mornin'. Such sweet gals," Mary replies.

"Bernadette, sweet? There's a first," Sheldon mutters as Amy glares at him. "Sorry."

"Whoo-wee, you got him trained, Amy!" Mee-maw exclaims with a laugh. I just came to ask ya where ya keep the dishwasher soap? I looked under the sink but couldn't find it."

"I purchased a container of tablets when we went to Costco. Any idea where Leonard or Raj may have stuck them?" Amy asks Sheldon.

"The only place I can possibly think of them being placed by mistake is the laundry room," Sheldon replies.

"Okay, I'll check. You kids better skedaddle so you're not late," Mee-maw replies as she brushes past them.

"How far down the list did you get?" Mary wonders.

"I just need to grab a few diapers from the nursery. Two of the newborn and two of the size one diapers, right?" Sheldon confirms.

"Yes. She may be too big for the newborn diapers but I picked up a pack just in case," Amy explains.

"How many diapers do you have on hand?" Mary wonders as Sheldon goes into the nursery.

"400 size one diapers and 50 Newborn diapers, as well as 1,000 baby wipes separated into two cases. I figured that should get us through the first day," Amy jokes as Mary smiles at her.

"So... between us ladies," Mary whispers as Sheldon disappears into the baby's room, "Sheldon wants you to take the epidural. He asked me how to talk you into doing it."

"He did, huh?" Amy replies as she turns and glares at Sheldon as he comes out with the diapers.

He doesn't know what he did, but that look means he's in trouble. He goes into the bedroom and places the diapers into the silver backpack like diaper bag that was a baby shower gift from Leonard and Penny, and zips it up as Amy comes back in and forcefully shuts the door.

"You want me to take the epidural?" she questions before getting in his face and asking, "You think I'm too weak to do this without the drugs?"

"No. I know you can do it, Amy, but you're exhausted and in excruciating pain. It's been a month of this. I hate seeing you in pain and thought that..." he tries explaining before she cuts him off.

"It sounds to me like you weren't thinking at all. I told you I do not want to deliver in the hospital," she reminds him.

"I can't imagine the pain you're in, Amy. I thought that if you took the epidural, you might be able to sleep for a little bit before the contractions get too intense."

"Yes, I am in pain. Can we pour some boiling hot tea in your lap and see how much pain you're in?!" Amy yells. "I'm going to the exam by myself."

"Amy..."

"Stop talking, Sheldon," she warns.

"You are not driving yourself. I forbid it."

Ooh, that was a poor choice of words, he realizes too late as Amy grits her teeth and utters the two words that signal he crossed a line, "Fuck you. You do not own me or this baby."

"I never said I... this is about your safety, Amy. You shouldn't drive when you're in so much pain."

"Some days, I regret giving you another chance!" Amy yells at him as she slams the door.

He sits on the edge of the bed, stunned. Did she really mean that or was she just trying to hurt him? He can't focus on that now, he decides as he rushes out the bedroom door in order to stop Amy. Reaching the kitchen, he snatches the keys off of the counter moments before she reaches for them,, triumphantly holding them in the air with a smirk.

"You are not driving," he demands.

"Fine, but you better do more than 5 miles per hour!" Amy yells in frustration before grabbing her ice filled water bottle and storming off.

"What's that about?" Mee-maw wonders from where she's standing at the kitchen counter peeling eggs.

"I made the mistake of telling Amy that Sheldon wants her to have an epidural. Do you want me to come with you two, try to get her calmed down?" Mary wonders.

"Are you alright by yourself, Mee-maw?" Sheldon wonders.

"Go, go. I'm gonna go watch Judge Judy and take a nap after I get done with mixin' up the potato salad. Let me know what's goin' on so I know when to start fryin' the chicken,," Mee-maw requests.

"We will. Do you want me to drive?" Mary wonders as she follows Sheldon to the car.

"Yes, please. We can take a back street to avoid the interstate," Sheldon decides.

Amy's shocked when Sheldon gets in the back seat of their new SUV, next to the carseat. She tries to catch his eye as she gets in the front passenger seat, but he won't look at her, instead looking out the window as he gives Mary directions to the birthing center.

As they arrive and Mary parks, she reaches over and hits the lock button on the door, trapping them.

"I don't know what is goin' on with you two but you're gonna fix it, right now," Mary demands.

"Were you just trying to hurt me or do you really not want to be in a relationship with me but feel stuck because of the baby?" Sheldon wonders.

"I just wanted to hurt you. As soon as I found out I was pregnant, I made the decision that I'm keeping the baby, even if it meant that I'm raising it as a single parent. I love that I call tell Hope that her Daddy chose her name," Amy shares.

"Is there a reason you chose Hope Elizabeth?" Mary asks as she grins at that revelation.

"Hope Constance Elizabeth. It's Mee-maw's birthday present, even if it is a few days early," Sheldon corrects. "When I proposed, I said that I was giving us hope that we could get through that ugly chapter. A few hours later, we literally gave each other Hope."

"Oh, Sheldon, that is beautiful. I've loved the name from the moment you told me, but knowing the special meaning behind it warms my heart. Now, Amy, you should be angry at me, not Sheldon. It wasn't my place to tell you he said that but the fact that he did is because he's worried about you, Sweetheart. He hates seeing you in so much pain," Mary explains, hoping they can end this.

"I know. I'm sorry, Sheldon," Amy apologizes.

"I'm sorry too, Amy. Are we alright?"

"Yeah. Let's go have a baby," Amy decides. "When is Mee-maw's birthday?"

"September 29th," Mary answers. "We definitely hope you have the baby before that."

"I'll be performing my own caesarean if I haven't had her by the 10th," Amy warns.

As Sheldon helps her out of the car, Amy gently brushes her knuckles against his cheek, stilling him. Whispering, "I love you," in his ear, she leans in and tenderly kisses him for precisely 3 Mississippi's before pulling back. "If they decide to keep me, the first thing I want you to do is go get something to eat, alright?" she says loud enough for Mary to overhear.

"Alright," Sheldon agrees. "Did you have a contraction between here and the house?" he winders. "It's a 22 minute drive and I didn't see any indication that you had one."

"I had one when I was waiting for you to come to the car. I didn't time it."

After getting Amy settled into one of the delivery rooms and hooked up to monitors so they can track her contractions, Sheldon and Amy find themselves trying to get back into the lovey-dovey mood they were in prior to their fight. The one good thing about this room is the queen sized bed that she and Sheldon can cuddle on once the contractions get closer together, Amy decides.

He looks absolutely exhausted, Amy worries as Sheldon yawns again "Sorry," he apologizes when he realizes Amy is watching him. He hasn't eaten since dinner last night, some 20 hours ago now, and has slept 12 hours total in the last 4 days. He has to be just as exhausted as she is.

"I want you to come lay next to me and close your eyes," Amy insists. "Melanie said I'll be here at least 2 hours before they decide whether to admit me. You can get a nap."

"Okay," Sheldon decides, showing just how exhausted he really is when he doesn't put up a fight.

"Oh, if that's the case, I'm giona go across the street to that Wendy's and get some chow. Amy can you have anything to eat?" Mary questions as the door opens right as she starts the second part of her question.

"I don't know, let's ask the expert," Amy requests before making introductions. "This is Hope's Mee-maw Mary..."

"Nope, there's only one Mee-maw. My other grandbabies call me Nana. I'm Mary Cooper, Sheldon's mother, and you're Doctor...?"

"Not a doctor. I'm Melanie Grant, Amy's midwife. Pleasure to meet you. I understand you and Sheldon's Mee-maw flew in from Texas?" Melanie questions as she shakes Mary's hand.

"We did. That sounds like a Texan accent," Mary points out.

"You got me, I'm from Austin. How are you doing, Amy?" Melanie questions as she shifts focus to her patient.

"Pretty miserable," Amy replies.

"I'm sure. You've been going through the Braxton-Hicks contractions for awhile now. Refresh my memory about when thise started?" Melanie requests.

"A month ago today, August 6th," Sheldon replies as he sits up.

"You look exhausted too, Sheldon. It's important for you to take care of yourself too so you can be here for Amy when she needs you the most. As to the question about eating, let me just take a quick look to confirm, but I don't think Hope's coming in the next 12 hours, so I'd like to see you try to eat a little something if you can, especially since you're hypoglycemic," Melanie encourages. "When is the last time you did eat or drink anything?"

"I've been chewing on ice cubes all day today, but my last real meal was at 6pm last night," Amy replies.

"I assume it's the same for you, Sheldon?" Melanie questions.

"Yes," he replies.

"When's the last time either of you have slept?" Melanie wonders.

"We've been awake since 4:30 am yesterday morning," Amy replies. "Sheldon went to work at 7 and I could not get comfortable enough to fall back asleep."

"And you are a firm 'no' on any medication, even just to help you sleep?" Melanie questions.

"I'm a firm no on the epidural unless it is needed for an emergency caesarean. As for sleep... I may be persuaded," Amy decides.

"I'd like you... BOTH of you to get some sleep by taking a low dose of melatonin with supper tonight," Melanie suggests as she awaits the much anticipated rejection.

"Okay," Sheldon agrees. "What dosage do you suggest?"

"You're going to take it?" Amy asks in amazement.

"I am exhausted, Amy. We both are. I'll take it if you will," Sheldon decides.

"Okay," Amy agrees.

"Is that safe? What if she's ready to deliver in the middle of the night?" Mary questions.

"Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that plays a key role in your sleep-wake cycle. For short term use, it is very safe for both Amy and Hope. I don't think Hope is coming tonight so I'll have you come back tomorrow morning so we can check your progress. Of course, if you become concerned, call us or 911. Have you been doing kick counts?" Melanie wonders.

"Yes. The ice water really gets her going," Amy shares.

"I hear that from most moms. I'd just like to take a look at what's going on down there and check Hope's heartbeat if that's alright?" Melanie requests.

"Of course," Amy replies.

"You know the routine, everything off below the waist. Mary and Sheldon, if you want to step out for a moment, I have a couple of additional questions," Melanie requests.

"You wore your sandals right?" Sheldon confirms as he gets out of the bed.

"Yeah. I can handle this on my own," Amy reassures as she leans over and pecks his lips.

Closing the door behind them, Melanie leads them to a small waiting room just off to the left side of Amy's room and motions for Sheldon and Mary to take a seat on the brown leather loveseat.

"I noticed some scabbing on Amy's left wrist. Can you tell me what happened?" Melanie requests.

"She was taking a pizza out of the oven and her wrist touched the element," Sheldon explains.

"Ouch. It did look more like a burn than a cut mark, but I just wanted to confirm that with you. with regards to her mental health, have you noticed anything of concern?" Melanie questions.

"No, she seems excited even though she's exhausted and in pain," Sheldon replies.

"Have you noticed anything, Mary?" Melanie wonders.

"No, not at all. She's been very talkative and asking us a ton of questions about or side of the family and Sheldon's childhood. She seems happy and excited to start this chapter of her life," Mary replies.

"Great, so, obviously, Amy is at risk for post-partum depression. We can go over it in more detail after the birth, but some signs to watch for are disinterest in bonding with the baby or taking care of her basic needs, mood swings, sleeping more than usual, and little interest or pleasure in doing things," Melanie lists. "Do you have any questions or concerns for me?"

"How long can she go after her water broke before we have to do a caesarean section?" Sheldon wonders.

"Policy and procedures require us to do a C-section after 48 hours due to an increased risk of infection for both Amy and Hope. If we reach the 36 hour mark, tomorrow at 12:30pm is my understanding, I'll alert Doctor Townsend. She works out of our Los Angeles location but has hospital privilege's so Amy can deliver across the street at Pasadena Memorial. We'll also run some lab work at that time. We might be able to try Pitocin to get things going rather than jumping straight into a C-section, but that really depends on vitals and lab work," Melanie explains. "Do you know anything about Amy's birth, specifically if Amy was a C-section or if her mother was induced?"

"Amy said she was a natural birth but other than that, I don't know. Amy and Rita had a falling out and are not on great terms right now. I don't think she'll make any effort to be here for the birth," Sheldon explains.

"That's too bad, but I'm glad you're here, Mary. Ooh, the light over Amy's door is on, signaling she's having a contraction. We should get back," Melanie points out.

"Wow, I didn't realize that technology exists," Mary states.

"My nurses monitor the equipment from their station and press a button to turn on the light. I wish we had the technology available for it to turn on automatically. We're not quite there yet, but I see it coming in the next ten years," Melanie explains as she opens the door.

Rushing to her side, Sheldon holds her hand, afraid of disturbing the monitoring equipment while Amy's in the middle of the contraction.

"Breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe, breathe," Melanie chants as she watches Amy's pulse skyrocket and oxygen levels drop.

"Relax your jaw," Sheldon whispers to Amy as he drops onto his knees so Amy can kean against him. "Good good. Take another breath. You're doing great, Amy. I'm so proud of you. Deep breath sweetheart. That's it, one more."

"He is so good at this," Melanie whispers to Mary.

"The baby needs you to breathe, Amy. Take a breath for Hope. Good. It's almost over. You're doing great. One more breath," he encourages as she relaxes in his arms and the contraction passes.

"That looked intense," Melanie comments. "Did it feel any different to what you've been experiencing with the Braxton Hicks contractions?"

"No, they feel the same," Amy replies as Sheldon helps her adjust in the bed.

"They hurt like hell too," Melanie sympathizes. Hope's heart rate is slightly elevated after that one. I'll give her a minute to see if it comes down once you're settled. My understanding is that they're consistently 15 minutes apart?"

"Yes," Amy replies. "Sheldon has a list on his phone showing duration as well."

"Is the length pretty consistent or do they vary?" Melanie wonders.

"If they vary, it's by no more than five seconds and that may just be human error," Sheldon explains. "They're consistently 90 seconds."

"She's kicking up a storm right now. Is that normal?" Amy wonders.

"She's probably coming down the birth canal a little bit. Her heart rate elevation could be due to that as well. I'd like to give you some IV fluids just to make sure the both of you aren't becoming dehydrated," Melanie requests.

"Sure," Amy agrees.

She's angry. I can see her little feet imprints in your stomach," Melanie relays as she watches the monitors. "Do you want to get a look Dad, Nana?"

Coming to Amy's stomach, Sheldon watches in fascination as he soon sees a large bump on Amy's stomach, Hope's foot, as she kicks. He reaches out and places his hand on Amy's abdomen before leaning down to talk to the baby, "hi, peanut. Settle down sweetie. It's alright. I'm sure it's just as scary for you as it is for Mommy and Daddy, huh? You're alright. Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur, happy kitty, sleepy kitty, purr purr purr," he sings before looking over at his mom as she chokes back a sob.

"Mom?" Sheldon questions.

"Tears of happiness, Sheldon. Tears of happiness and joy. I sang that to my kids when they were babies and now you're singing it to your baby..." Mary explains.

"I still sing it to him when he's sick," Amy confesses.

"It's sweet to have family traditions like that pass on from one generation to the next. Ooh, it looks like she's calming down. Her heart rate is back down to 155, which is absolutely perfect," Melanie explains as she smiles at Sheldon.

"That's awfully fast. When does it start slowing down?" Sheldon wonders.

"It'll gradually slow down over the first three years of her life. For a newborn up to one month of age, a normal pulse is between 70 and 190 beats per minute," Melanie explains. "Hope reached 215 after the last contraction. I'm just going to use the Doppler to listen to her.

Moving the wand around, the gentle whooshing sound of the heartbeat fills the room. Turning her head towards Sheldon, Amy returns his grin and mouths, "love you" to him. As Melanie removes the wand and turns off the machine, the in room intercom beeps before saying, "Code 10, Room 3."

"Acknowledged. Excuse me," she apologizes as she quickly leaves.

"Has your mom replied to your texts?" Sheldon questions as he continues watching Hope kick.

"No, but I didn't expect her to," Amy replies in a tone that Sheldon recognizes as "drop it."

"Do you want her here, Amy?" Mary wonders.

"Honestly, no. She stresses me out," Amy explains as a nurse brings in an iv bag and her kit to take some blood work.

"What's a Code 10?" Mary asks the two nurses working to get Amy's iv and blood work.

"The mother is dilated to 10 centimeters and ready to push," the older of the two nurses explains "Melanie may be awhile so just make yourself comfortable. Melanie wants both parents to eat. We can either bring something in or you can bring in outside food," the younger nurse explains.

"A frosty sounds really good," Amy decides. "Do you mind going Mary?

"Oh, not at all. It's been years since I've had a frosty. Do you think you could keep down a baked potato?" Mary wonders.

"Let's give it a try. Extra sour cream and some pepper packets if they have them," Amy requests.

"Of course. Sheldon, do you want to stay here or come with me to help?" Mary wonders.

"If you take the car, you can text me to come help carry in the drinks," Sheldon insists as he hands over the keys.

The next 2 hours fly by in a blur of food, contractions and laughter as Sheldon accidentally feeds the chocolate frosty to Amy's nose rather than her mouth. After checking Amy and seeing that she's still dilated to a 1, they send her home with an appointment for the next morning. After a nice evening introducing her grandparents and Aunt Linda to Sheldon's family, Amy turns in a little before 10. Sheldon stayed up to finish the dishes but soon joins her, holding her close as they fall into an exhausted slumber.

Amy awakens at 6:30am to the worst pain she has ever been in in her entire life. This must be what a real, actual contraction feels like, she decides. She could talk through the Braxton-Hicks contractions but this... those were a bee sting compared to this. She rolls towards Sheldon, who in his sleep wraps his arm around her waist and kisses the crown of her head, not waking up. Taking a gasping breath, she trues ti focus on getting oxygen to the baby.

Her breathing is different, Sheldon realizes as he startles awake to find Amy has tears running down her cheeks. He softly brushes them away as he questions, "it's different, right?"

She can't talk through it he immediately realizes as she lays her head on his shoulder and takes another breath. There's nothing he can do but hold her and encourages her to breathe. As it lets up and she relaxes, Amy tries to explain, "that was definitely my first real contraction. The intensity is on a completely different level than the Braxton-Hicks contractions and it's more in my pelvic region than my back. It started at 6:29."

"It just turned 6:32. I'll write it down. I'm sorry I didn't wake up right away," he apologizes.

"It's alright. We both needed a good night's sleep. How are you doing, Daddy?" Amy wonders.

"I feel much better today. Do you want some breakfast?" he wonders.

"I'm nauseous. Maybe just one of those protein drinks for now," Amy decides.

"Mom got pop tarts for me. Is it alright if I eat in front of you?" he wonders.

"Yeah. Bring in the yellow puke bowl in case I can't make it to the bathroom," Amy requests.

Over the next two hours, it becomes evident that Amy is actually in labor. Puking again immediately following the most recent contraction, Amy reaches for the water Sheldon brought in so she can rinse her mouth. Spitting into the bowl, she moves to go dump it and is shocked when Sheldon stills her by saying, "I can do it."

"I know you're grossed out. I've got it," she reassures.

"No Amy... true, I don't like bodily fluids, but Hope will puke on, urinate on and likely deficate on me. A little bile in a bowl is a cakewalk. I've got it. Just relax," he urges as he takes the bowl to the bathroom.

She's got 6 minutes before the next contraction, Amy realizes as she glances at the clock. Laying back into her pregnancy pillow, she closes her eyes as she asks Sheldon, "are you sure you can handle being in the room when I deliver?"

"I'm not going to miss this, Amy," he promises. "I've missed so much already."

"I know, and I feel horrible that I didn't tell you sooner," Amy apologizes for what has to be the millionth time.

"I'm here now and that is all that matters. I am so excited to meet our little princess," He confesses with a huge grin.

"Me too," Amy replies, matching his grin. "Do you want to have a friendly bet about when she'll be born? Loser changes the first poopy diaper?" she offers.

"Alright," Sheldon decides as he wonders if Vicks Vapor Rub will mask the smell enough to not trigger his gag reflex. "She's coming between 2 and 4 am and will weigh 8 pounds 2 ounces."

"Whoa nuh-uh. I'm in enough pain, but trying to push a watermelon through a lemon? I will cut off your cock if she's much bigger than 7 pounds 4 ounces," Amy threatens. " She's coming between 4 and 6 am."

"Alright, what happens if we're only half right?" Sheldon wonders.

"You get the honor of holding the baby first?" Amy decides with a shrug.

"We're going to have to fight her Nana and Mee-maw to hold her at all over the next month," Sheldon warns.

"I'm glad they're here," Amy replies.

"So we agree we're in for a long night?" Sheldon confirms.

"For the next 18 years, the only long nights we have will be because of our children," Amy bemoans.

"You're planning Baby number 2 already?" Sheldon asks, a little shocked by that revelation.

"I want our children to be about 18 months apart," Amy explains.

"I don't want two in diapers," Sheldon replies, shivering in horror at the thought.

"I partially understand that, but, as you've also pointed out, my eggs have an expiration date. I've always pictured us having a son with the cutest pair of glasses and a Spiderman t-shirt just like his Daddy's. I want to give you a son to share your love of comic books and trains with," she softly murmurs.

"I am thrilled I'm getting a little princess, but I was momentarily disappointed that we're having a girl. I don't know anything about princesses or Barbie or Pepper Pig..." he rattles off as Amy cuts him off.

"Peppa Pig. She's far too hip to be Pepper. You know Hello Kitty and Power Puff Girls and I know you watched Sesame Street as a child. We'll figure it out. There's no reason she can't like comics like Harley Quinn..."

"Harley isn't appropriate for children," Sheldon points out. "I'm looking forward to Family Game Night teaching her Chutes and Ladders and Monopoly and..."

"Candy Land?" Amy hopefully asks.

"Definitely Candy Land," Sheldon promises.

As they arrive at the birthing center a few hours later, Amy's contractions are 6 minutes apart. Sheldon is asked to stay in the waiting room while they get Amy settled. It's the first chance he's had to take a break and very quickly he finds his anxiety ratcheting up due to not knowing what's happening. Reaching into his pocket, he pulls out his cell phone and sends a quick text update to their friends before retrieving Amy's phone and sending the same update to her family. He's shocked when he receives an almost immediate reply from Amy's mother, Rita, asking if she can be there for the birth of her first grandchild.

Sheldon's immediate reaction is to tell Rita she's not welcome, but that's not really his call now, is it? He'll have to ask Amy, he decides, as he elects to not send a response.

"You alright, Sugar? You look sad " his mother questions as she returns to the waiting room with a cup of coffee in hand.

"Amy's mother wants to be in the room when Hope is born and I don't know how to respond," Sheldon explains. "Amy wants it to be just the two of us and the medical team... in fact, Amy doesn't want Rita here at all while she's in labor... but I can't tell Rita that."

"No, you definitely don't want to say that. Does she know what birthing center we're at?" Mary wonders.

"I don't know what Amy has shared with her family," Sheldon replies. "Mom, does it hurt your feelings that we decided not to let anyone else in the room?

"Oh, not at all, Sheldon. This is such a special moment for the two... three of you. It should be private. I'm glad Mee-maw and I are able to be here to help but promise me you'll take the first couple of hours after Hope's born as family bonding time," Mary requests as the nurse comes out to get Sheldon.

"I promise, Mom. I'll come get you once Amy says it's alright," Sheldon promises.

"No rush. Sheldon... make sure you tell Amy how much you love her several times over the next few hours while she's in labor. She's going to need to hear it," Mary pleads with him.

"I will," he promises as he follows the nurse.

Amy's on all fours in the bath tub as he enters the room, finding it dimly lit. He quickly sets their bags in one corner on the room before rushing to her side as she has another contraction. She's fighting the urge to scream, he notices, as she bites her lip.

"Breathe, Amy," the nurse coaches, beating him to the punch by nanoseconds.

"Take a breath, sweetheart," Sheldon whispers as he uses a washcloth to wet her face. "You can scream."

She gasps for air as the contraction eases and lays her head against the soft bath pillow on the edge of the tub. Gently, Sheldon brushes her hair out of her eyes and pulls one of Amy's ponytail bands from his pocket, twisting her hair into a messy bun.

"Thank you. Where did you get that?" he wonders.

"Mee-maw found it on the floor in the bathroom and told me to hang onto it today because you might need it," he explains.

"God bless that woman. I never even thought of packing a few," Amy replies. "I'm only dilated to 5 centimeters and 90 percent effaced. It's going to be hours yet."

"It's only 10:30. We still have 14 hours before I can win our bet," he points out before teasing, "Cross your legs and hold her in."

"Haha," Amy mockingly laughs.

Six hours later and Amy is still at a 5. Growing frustrated, she's transitioned from the birthing tub to sitting on a large rubber ball as they watch Judge Judy. Mary and Mee-maw arrived back a little bit ago and thankfully forced Sheldon to eat a late lunch. He's sitting next to Amy, holding her hand, but prepared to drop down to the floor at a moment's notice in order to support Amy.

Hearing a knock on the door, it softly opens as Amy's midwife and two nurses come in to speak with Amy and Sheldon.

"Will your mother and Mee-maw be present for the birth?" Melanie asks Sheldon as he carefully helps Amy to remove her pants.

"The actual birth will be just Sheldon and me," Amy explains, "but they have 8 kids between them and can get this one to do things I can't... like take a break to eat," Amy teases Sheldon.

"I find that women that have given birth make the best coaches. No offense, Sheldon," Melanie adds thinking she may have offended him. "Can you remind me again what Hope's full name will be?" Melanie requests as she motions for Amy to lay back in the bed.

"Hope Constance Elizabeth Fowler-Cooper," Sheldon replies, grinning the entire time.

"Constance Elizabeth? Oh! Thank you. I know I said I never wanted a baby named after me but I am honored," Mee-maw murmurs as she wipes a tear from her eye.

"That's quite a mouthful," Mary points out. "And why Fowler-Cooper? Is he refusing to marry you, Amy?" she questions.

"We are getting married on May 11th," Amy shares. "As for the baby's surname, I will be hyphenating my name so it makes sense for our daughter to have the same last name as me."

."We are committed to each other and to providing the best life possible for our daughter. While we do realize there are some benefits to being legally married, it's just a piece of paper. I don't need that in order to know that we will be spending the rest of our lives together," Sheldon explains to his mother.

Smiling at Sheldon, Amy softly murmurs, "I love you," before leaning over to kiss him. Holding hands, they grin at each other as Amy lays back in the bed. Feeling her next contraction starting, she begins the Lamaze breathing technique that she and Sheldon have practiced together many times.

"Keep breathing, just like that," Sheldon encourages as he mimics her breathing. "You're doing great, Amy. Relax into the pillows. Let your muscles go heavy. There you go," he encourages as she lays back rather than halfway sitting up. "Squeeze my hand," he encourages when she starts tensing up again. "Breathe, Amy. You need to breathe."

As the contraction eases, Sheldon immediately reaches for the green bag the birthing center provided for Amy in case she needs to vomit. As she holds it, Sheldon retrieves her water cup and refills it as well as brings her toothbrush and toothpaste to her.

"So, what would you name a boy?" Mary wonders, as she smiles at the way Sheldon is caring for Amy.

"Tucker Charles Sheldon Larry George Fowler-Cooper," Amy replies.

"That's a name fit for royalty," Mee-maw laughs.

:It's a work in progress. We have about 18 months to figure it out," Sheldon replies as he winks at Amy.

"You're planning baby number two already?" Mary questions, grinning at the parents to be.

"Yes, we'll be having at least one more after Hope," Amy confirms.

"I'm curious now, do you have another name for a girl?" Mee-maw wonders.

"Chloe," Amy replies.

"You better beat Missy to it. That's the baby girl name she and Jason have had picked out for years now," Mary warns.

"We have an agreement since she plans on naming a boy Tucker Charles. Whoever has the next baby can use either name but forfeits the right to the name of the opposite gender. In the event of both children being the same gender, the parent of the younger child will name the child after their sibling," Sheldon explains.

"So Missy could have a little Sheldon runnin' around? Oh, I love it!" Mee-maw chortles.

"When did you plan on telling me about this?" Amy wonders.

"About fifteen minutes after the baby's birth," Sheldon teases with a wink before leaning in to kiss her cheek.

"We're just going to step out for a moment," Mary decides as she and Mee-maw quickly exit the room and close the door.

Laying back, Amy tries to relax as Melanie pokes and prods at her nether regions. Turning her head, Amy softly smiles at Sheldon as he squeezes her hand, his silent way of saying he loves her. He's been saying it more than usual over the past few weeks, she realizes, ever since their run in with Dr. Slutbunny, now that she thinks about it. It may just be a coincidence, since that is also the day he proposed, but Amy can't help but wonder if there's a link.

"Well, Amy, I've got some good news and some bad news. You are 100 percent effaced but you are still only dilated to 5 centimeters. I am going to need to consult with Doctor Townsend to see how we should proceed, but usually in these situations, and since your water broke over 24 hours ago, she recommends either trying to jumpstart contractions with Pitocin or proceeding to a caesarean section," Melanie explains.

"If we try the Pitocin, might she get dilated to a 9 but still have to have a C-section anyway if we reach that 48 hour mark?" Sheldon wonders.

"It's not outside the realm of possibility at this point," Melanie replies. "I'll give you some time to discuss this while we order some lab work that will help us better determine the next step."

"Is there anything we can try to jumpstart things naturally or are the only options medication or surgery?" Amy wonders.

"There are a few things you can try: going for a walk, spicy food, although since you're vomiting, that may not be a good idea, nipple stimulation is often effective," Melanie suggests.

"Let's try going for a walk after they draw the lab work," Amy decides.

"Excellent. I just want to have you plugged back in so I can check Hope's vital signs. I think she just wants to make a dramatic entrance, but it's something we need to check," Melanie requests.

"Of course," Amy agrees as she begins adjusting so she can sit up.

After confirming that both Hope and Amy's vitals are perfect, Sheldon helps Amy dress so that they can go for a walk in the nearby courtyard. Exiting the building, they hold hands as they slowly stroll, stopping occasionally to look at some flowers or when Amy has a contraction.

"What do you want to do?" Amy asks after her second contraction.

"It's your body so it is your decision, Amy," Sheldon replies as he squeezes her hand. "My only concern is that you and Hope are safe. What are you thinking?"

"You made a great point about possibly needing a C-section even if we do the medication route first. That would suck. I don't know what to do. I'm going to have a longer recovery with the caesarean. Am I selfish for wanting to deliver naturally?" she questions.

"No. I think most women would be torn about making this decision, Amy. I fully support whatever you decide," Sheldon reassures her.

"Hope's safety comes first. We're doing the caesarean section, no Pitocin," Amy decides.

"Let's try everything we can to jumpstart things," Sheldon offers as he leans over and kisses her cheek.

Spending another half hour slowly walking through the courtyard, Amy finds herself relaxing more than she thought possible while in labor. As they go back into their room, Sheldon lays down next to her on the bed and softly whispers in her ear, "I don't know how to stimulate your nipples without making you cum and this shouldn't be sexual."

"I had the same thought about it. I think we need to skip that one," Amy decides as she rolls onto her side and rests her head in the crook of his arm. "Is this alright?"

"Of course," he reassures as he kisses the top of her head. "I'm sorry you're in so much pain."

"Totally worth it," Amy reassures him.

"Are you able to be quiet?" Sheldon wonders as he pulls the blanket up over them.

Amy's quiet gasp of shock is caught in her throat as Sheldon's lips are immediately on hers while he snakes his hand under her t-shirt and lifts her bra up out of the way.

Gently, Sheldon massages her nipple in slow soft circles until it peaks before rolling it between his fingers.

"Oh, God, that feels good," she whispers in his ear.

"Shhh," he whispers before kissing her again.

Making her cum twice in quick succession, Sheldon finds himself now aroused. As he continues his attempts to bring Amy to a third orgasm, she has other ideas as her hand brushes against the zipper of his khakis, making Sheldon gasp.

"You're rock hard. Let's go into the bathroom and I can help you out too," Amy offers.

"It'll go away. This isn't supposed to be sexual," he reminds her.

"So, if your mom and Mee-maw come back in and see you tenting your pants, you're going to say what, exactly?" Amy wonders.

"Nothing. I will say nothing and excuse myself to the bathroom," he decides.

"Let me jerk you off. It'll be a funny story for us to have," Amy pleads.

"Amy, please, I am disgusted that my body is betraying me. This is about helping you and our daughter. It's... revolting and..."

"A normal biological reaction. I'm panting and moaning in your ear. It's absolutely natural that you would react to that, Sheldon."

"I can't take you anywhere," he teases her, making her laugh. "I need to calm down. Will you be alright for a few minutes?"

"Yeah," she reassures as she slowly rolls onto her back so Sheldon can get out of bed.

Returning from the bathroom a few minutes later, Sheldon stops at the foot of the bed, softly smiling. Amy has retrieved the pink teddy bear he purchased in Las Vegas and is now cuddling it as she naps. He tucks the blanket around her and kisses her cheek before deciding he needs a snack and quietly leaving her room. Making his way to the cafeteria, he finds Mary and Mee-maw sitting at one of the tables drinking coffee. He quickly retrieves a soft pretzel and a carton of milk before joining them.

"How's she doing?" Mee-maw wonders.

"Labor has stalled. She's still at 5 centimeters. She had just fallen asleep when I stepped out," Sheldon relays.

"Oh, poor thing. She's exhausted. What are they going to do?" Mary wonders.

"Our choices are to either induce labor with medication or proceed to a caesarean section. Amy's wavering on what is the best option. We're waiting on lab work," Sheldon explains.

"What do you mean by wavering?" Mee-maw wonders.

"She wants to deliver naturally but believes that she should have the C-section as the safer alternative for the baby," Sheldon explains. "I won't tell her this, but I want her to choose the natural delivery because I know that's what she wants."

"Why won't you tell her it's okay to want that?" Mary questions.

"It's her body, so it's her choice," Sheldon sums up.

With Amy's labor completely stalled, her medical team makes the decision that she can go home and they'll deliver Hope by caesarean in the morning. Settling into bed later that night, Sheldon kisses Amy's abdomen before asking Hope, "why won't you come out?"

"I crossed my legs and am holding her in," Amy jokes.

Holding Amy close, they are able to sleep until the contractions start picking up in intensity around 3 am. By 3:30, Amy is having contractions 5 minutes apart. The hospital stated that she should come back if they're 5 minutes apart for an hour. By 3:50, the contractions are 2 minutes apart. Sheldon quickly gets out of bed to get dressed when Amy calls out to him, "She's coming. Oh my God, she's coming!"

He quickly rushes back into the room finding Amy struggling to remove the underwear he just helped her put on. As she lays back in bed, he sees the top of the baby's head.

"Oh, shit!" he exclaims as he immediately dials the midwife's office. Once he gets the answering service on the line, and explains what he's seeing he hears the man who answered yell, "Melanie, Code 10! Baby crowning!"

"Sheldon, listen to me. You're not going to have time to get to the hospital. I'm 25 minutes out from your location. Are you able to see the baby's mouth yet?" Melanie questions as she rushes for her car.

"No not yet. Amy wants to push," he relays.

"Let her push. As soon as you see Hope's mouth, I need you to use your pinky to sweep out anything that could inhibit her ability to breath. Am I on speaker?" Melanie asks.

"One second," Sheldon requests as he places the call on speaker and sets the phone aside. "You're on speaker."

"Okay, push, Amy, push push push push push, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10... breathe," Melanie coaches as her car door slams.

"Again for 10 seconds, push push push push push..." Melanie encourages as Amy screams in agony.

"I can see her nose!" Sheldon exclaims. "Keep going, Amy. You're doing great, Sweetheart."

"Big push to get her torso out. I want you to hold this as long as you can, Amy," Melanie encourages.

"Okay," Amy cries out as she takes a gasping breath.

"Push, Amy" Sheldon softly coaches as Hope's head exits her mother's body. "Her head's out. Push, Amy."

"ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!" Amy screams in response before laying back against the pillows for a few seconds.

"Sheldon, can you see her shoulders?" Melanie asks.

"Shoulders are out. One more push, Amy!"

With one last strong push, the baby is fully delivered and as she begins to cry, Sheldon carefully moves her to lay on Amy's stomach. Looking up at the two women who he loves more than anything, he feels tears coming to his eyes as he realizes that he just brought their baby into the world.

"That's a good, strong cry," Melanie reassures. "Can you quickly retrieve a blanket to keep her warm?"

"Get the receiving blanket from my bag," Amy requests.

He left Amy's bag by the front door, Sheldon realizes as he rushes out into the hall, coming within inches of barreling his mother over.

"Oh, Shelly! I thought I heard a baby crying," Mary explains. Listening closer, she gasps, "she's here?"

"Yes. Amy's labor progressed too quickly for us to make it to the hospital. I just delivered her," he explains.

"Oh! Are they alright?" Mary worries.

"They are just fine. Hope is beautiful, Mom. She'll be even cuter once she's not covered in blood and goop," he decides with a grin. "I just need to unlock the door and get a blanket and probably a diaper too."

"Oh, I'll get that. You get back in there, Daddy," Mary insists.

Rushing back in, he finds Amy with tear-stained cheeks as she tries to calm their crying daughter. Melanie is giving her instructions over the phone about how to care for Hope until the umbilical cord can be cut, he realizes as he returns to Amy's side.

"Mom's getting the blanket and a diaper," he explains as the door opens and Mary quietly makes her way in. Is there anything we need to do about the cord or placenta?"

"I'm 10 minutes out according to the GPS. You'll need to deliver the placenta," Melanie instructs.

This is the gross part, Sheldon. Do you think you can do this?" Mary wonders.

"I need to do it, even if it is gross. Tell me what to do," he insists.

"It's just like delivering the baby. Amy, we need you to push," Melanie requests.

"Oh! Look at all that hair! My babies were almost bald!" Mary gasps as she approaches and lays the blanket over Hope. "Oh, she is beautiful! Okay, Amy, push!"

Hope Constance Elizabeth stole her parents' hearts when she entered the world at 3:44 am this morning, September 9, 2018, weighing 7 pounds 1 oz. Hope was delivered by her Daddy in the family home. Mommy and baby are doing well, Sheldon posts on Facebook later that morning along with two pictures: one of Hope in her "Daddy's Little Princess" onesie after her first bath and one of Amy kissing Hope's forehead as the baby rests on her chest. Setting his phone aside, he leans over and kisses Amy as she nurses their daughter.

"How're you doing, Daddy?" Amy wonders.

"Now that the adrenaline is wearing off, I'm exhausted," he admits. "Are you alright? Would you like anything to eat?"

"Let me burp her and get her down first," Amy requests.

"I've only held her long enough for a couple of pictures. Can I burp her?" Sheldon requests.

"Of course," Amy agrees. "I think she's just playing right now," she decides as she carefully removes her breast from the baby's mouth, causing Hope to instantly protest. "Oh, I'm sorry!" Amy coos as she immediately helps Hope latch on again. "She's telling you that Mommy's breasts are hers now."

"I am absolutely fine with that," Sheldon reassures as he reaches to lightly caress Hope's cheek with his fingertip. "We made a beautiful baby."

"I think she's a keeper," Amy declares as she turns her head for another kiss.

While Sheldon becomes all consumed by bonding with Hope and caring for his daughter's every need, Amy seems perfectly content to let him. At first, they tell themselves that Amy's just recovering from a difficult labor and she'll be alright in a few days but the longer it stretches on, the more concerned they each become.

It becomes apparent that something is seriously wrong ten days after Hope's birth when Amy goes out to the kitchen to get breakfast. Mary and Mee-maw are sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee as they read the morning paper. Looking up, they give short terse smiles at Amy before returning to their papers.

"Why are there cans of baby formula on the counter?" Amy wonders as she opens the dishwasher to retrieve a bowl for cereal.

"Sheldon said that you decided you wanted to switch her to formula," Mary replies. "The white can makes hope too gassy according to Sheldon so he's trying the purple can today."

"We never discussed that. Why is he not using the frozen breast milk?" Amy wonders.

"We ran out three days ago," Mee-maw reminds her before asking, "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," Amy reassures them. "Where's Hope?" she wonders as she notices the baby isn't in the swing.

"Sheldon decided it was take your daughter to work day. Sit down, Sweetheart, we need to talk," Mary demands as she folds the paper. "Now, I've been trying to mind my business and telling myself that you're just recovering from a difficult labor, but it's crystal clear that isn't the case. What's wrong? How can we help?"

"I... I don't know what's wrong with me," Amy admits as her eyes instantly well up with tears. "I... I keep making the excuses too, 'Sheldon's bonding with the baby' or 'I had a rough labor and am recovering' but... I have no interest or desire to bond with Hope."

"Have you spoken with your doctor? This sounds more like depression than just a rough delivery," Mee-maw questions.

"No. I tried talking with Sheldon but he becomes angry and tells me to snap out of it," Amy quietly admits as tears now stain her cheeks.

"he said that he's a single father... that he doesn't trust you alone with the baby," Mee-maw shares as Amy gasps.

"I would never hurt her, not in a million years," Amy promises. "Sheldon has every right to be angry at me for being a terrible mother... but I do love Hope... and him... he is so cute with her," she smiles through the tears.

"Watching him dance with Hope last night was adorable," Mary agrees. "He loves that baby but, he loves you too, Amy. He needs you to be a part of this too, just like you needed him during your pregnancy. I'll talk to him again and beseech him to be gentle and patient with you but you need to get help. Not for Hope, or for Sheldon, but for you, so you feel normal again. Promise me you'll call your doctor?"

"Yeah, I'll do it right now," Amy promises.

Able to get a same day appointment, Amy feels a sense of relief as she sticks her pill bottle for the anti-depressant into her purse. Stopping for lunch on the way to CalTech, Amy decides to go visit her fiancé and offer to take the baby home. She finds Sheldon's office dark and the door locked, not surprising since Sheldon typically takes his lunch at 1. Pulling out her phone, she looks up and smiles at Raj as he comes around the corner with Hope strapped to his chest in her baby carrier.

"Look who's here, Hope! Mommy came to see you!" Raj coos to the baby. "Sheldon needed a break. His back is spasming because this one does not want to stay in her stroller."

"Oh no," Amy sighs, feeling terrible that she hasn't been helping him with the baby. " Is he in his office?"

"No, he took the bus to his doctor. It's weird that he didn't call you," Raj points out.

Pulling out her phone, she dials Sheldon as she follows Raj to his office, being sent to voicemail after 3 rings. Sighing, she takes the baby from Raj and snuggles her close as tears well in her eyes.

"Amy, what's wrong?" Raj wonders as he shuts the door.

"Sheldon thinks I hate our baby!" she wails, no longer able to hold it in.

"Oh, okay, um..." Raj stumbles, not sure how to answer. "What's going on between you two?"

After explaining in excruciating detail the past ten days, she watches as Raj leans back in his chair and temples his hands, deep in thought about what to say to comfort his friend, while not holding back any punches. Finally, he sighs as he says, "Amy, you better than anyone understand the chemical and anatomical changes taking place in your brain right now. You are not a bad person or a horrible mother. Your brain is fuc... um... out of balance right now," he catches himself, as Amy smiles in appreciation of him not swearing in front of the baby. "Millions of mothers go through this. Bernadette went through it. The medication will help. Be gentle with yourself. I can loop the guys in so we can talk with Sheldon."

"No. It'll only make him angry that I'm airing our dirty laundry," Amy explains, "but it's difficult to talk to his mom or Mee-maw. Everything I say gets back to Sheldon."

"That is tough. If you need a sympathetic ear, I'm always here and Uncle Raj is always available any time Hope wants a play date," he adds.

"Thank you, Raj. You're a great friend," Amy smiles at him.

"She got me a date with that cute post doc, the one that is the daughter of your boss over in Paris. I should be thanking you," he admits.

"Oh, I didn't realize she's doing her post doc here. That's great, Raj."

"Do you think talking to my dad would help?" Raj offers.

"No, that's alright. I need to sit down and talk with Sheldon," Amy decides as Sheldon chooses that moment to knock on the door.

As Sheldon sees her, Amy is able to read every emotion that slowly crosses his face; shock at seeing her, anger that she's holding the baby, fear for Hope's safety. It's that last one, the fear, that affects Amy the most as she defiantly juts her chin, daring him to say anything. Instead, he motions with his finger to turn around so he can adjust the straps on the baby carrier. After thanking Raj, Sheldon places the sack lunches Amy purchased into the stroller and leads the way to his office, shutting and locking the door behind him.

"What are you doing here, Amy?" he quietly questions so as to not wake the baby.

"Your Mom said that you brought Hope to work. I thought I'd come get her so you get a break," Amy explains.

"You're not taking her," he insists as he takes a seat in his chair and reaches into his desk drawer.

"Excuse me?" Amy questions.

"You. Are. Not. Taking. My. Daughter." he slowly enunciates each word as he lays three documents before her on the table.

"Our daughter," Amy corrects as Sheldon snorts derisively.

"She's only your daughter when it's convenient for you. This is the first time you've held her in a week, Amy! I am doing everything for her! I tried making the excuses for you, 'you had a difficult labor' or 'you want me to bond with the baby.' I've come to the conclusion that you don't want to be a mother. That's fine. 'You're free as soon as you sign the documents in front of you," he explains with sadness and resignation in his voice.

With trembling hands, Amy picks up the first document, "Termination of Parental Rights." Without reading it, she rips the three pages in half, before tearing them in half again. Crumpling them in a ball, she throws it at Sheldon.

"I'm not signing anything. I love her more than I can put into words... I just... need you to be patient with me..." Amy stumbles as she pulls a bottle of medication out of her purse to show him she's serious.

"What's this?" he asks as he reads the prescription label.

"An anti-depressant. I saw Melanie today. I have Grade 2 postpartum depression. Just be patient with me, Sheldon, please. I love both of you and I want to be a good mother."

"I don't trust you with her," he admits.

"I would never harm a single hair upon her body, Sheldon. Do you really think I'm capable of doing that?" Amy questions.

I don't know, Amy! I begged you to nurse her and you just rolled over and ignored me! I had no choice but to drive around looking for an open store at 2 in the morning so I could purchase formula. I'm doing it all. I'm Mommy and Daddy and if I was capable of producing breast milk, I'd be doing that too! I thought we were in this together, but I guess you have an excuse now!" he yells at her as he throws the pill bottle into the stroller.

"I'm not making up excuses, Sheldon. You're right. I'm a horrible mother. I just... I don't want to be a horrible mother. I want to fix this. It's not too late for us to fix this."

"You won't be able to nurse her anymore," he realizes.

"No, I won't, but we can look into milk banks or continue her on formula. I have to do this, for me, for us. I'm going to start counseling. I think... we need relationship counseling, Sheldon. We buried so much under the rug in Paris... after I came home pregnant... we need to work through this before we get married," Amy pleads with him.

"Okay," he agrees with a heavy sigh. "You'll start helping me with her?" he questions.

"Yes," Amy promises. "Tell me what to do and I will do it."


Becoming a father changed many things in his life, as well it should have. Sheldon hasn't been to the comic book store since the week before Hope was born. Saturdays are now spent helping Amy make that week's meals for both them and Hope, and he traded in his ever present messenger bag for a baby sling securely strapped to his chest. He doesn't mind it though, in fact, he relishes showing off his perfect family and talking about Hope any chance he gets.

True to her word, Amy became the loving and doting mother Sheldon always knew she would be, so when she asked him one night a few weeks before their wedding what he wanted for his wedding present, it came as no shock at all to him when his brain immediately went to another baby.

He couldn't immediately ask her for that, of course, and so he toyed with her a bit, making her go into the model train store as he looked for a non-existent model BZGA train (he's surprised she didn't figure out BZGA meant bazinga.) He would drone on and on about the specifications for the new PlayStation 5 over dinner, making Amy roll her eyes as she fed Hope applesauce, and when he said he wanted to put a pool in the back yard, Amy went to Walmart and got him a plastic blue kiddie pool.

They have never been closer or more in love. Personally, he credits that evolution to two things; relationship counseling and their daughter. Hope's front teeth are just starting to come in and when she grins at him, Sheldon can't help but to grin back. He and Amy often tease each other about Hope having his chin or Amy's nose, but the truth is, the baby is the perfect mix of both of them, a physical manifestation of the love they have for each other and undeniable proof that their relationship survived after his infidelity. While he does regret hurting Amy, Sheldon cannot say that he regrets the journey they went through. Without it, they may have waited a few more years before having a child or getting married. Maybe, as his mother believes, everything happens for a reason and Ramona came back into his life to bring him Hope, both figuratively and literally, in the form of his daughter.

It's now the night before his wedding, and much to his dismay, he hasn't seen his fiancé in person for the past 28 days. After a long discussion with Amy, Sheldon reluctantly agreed to a month of abstaining from physical intimacy. Instead, Amy has wanted for them to focus on communication and finding other ways to be intimate. After a kiss good night turned into an intense make out session on the couch, Sheldon moved into his old bedroom in Leonard and Penny's apartment, where he's been living for the past four weeks. One more night, he happily reminds himself.

Setting his messenger bag next to his daughter's diaper bag, Sheldon sighs in relief. Making his way to the kitchen, he stops in the doorway and softly smiles as his Mee-maw offers a tiny piece of sugar cookie to Hope, who squeals and kicks her legs.

"Shhh. You'll get us in trouble if your Mommy finds out I'm feeding you cookies for breakfast," Mee-maw warns the baby.

"I see she's being spoiled rotten," Sheldon pipes up from the doorway.

"That's what Mee-maw does best, huh?" Mee-maw coos to the baby.

"Hi Peanut," Sheldon greets the baby as he leans over and kisses the crown of her head before taking a seat as he tries to get Hope to take a bite of the green apple and kale puree. Quickly getting the spoon into Hope's mouth, he is pleasantly surprised when she seems to work it around her mouth, carefully tasting it before swallowing.

"Good girl," Sheldon praises. "Mommy is a good cook, huh? We'd starve without her," he jokes as he spots Amy entering the kitchen.

"Honestly, I'm surprised that Cardellos and Sichuan Palace didn't go out of business after we moved" Amy replies as she grabs her purse from the counter. "I prefilled the paperwork for the marriage license. It just needs notarized. Are you absolutely certain you are alright with me retaining my maiden name?" she offers one last time.

"Why wouldn't you take Sheldon's name?" Mee-maw wonders.

"I'm marrying a world renowned neurobiologist who is at the top of her field. Name recognition is vital. In fact, maybe I should take your name, Amy," Sheldon suggests.

"That psychic said that once you commit to me, your life will change, both professionally and personally. You'll get that Nobel, Sheldon," Amy promises him.

"When did you see a psychic?" Missy wonders.

"Penny made me go, not important," Sheldon dismissively replies. "With regards to your married name, I am absolutely fine with whatever you decide," Sheldon promises.

"I've been wavering," She admits. "I guess I have 30 minutes to decide. Nothing like waiting until the last minute."

"So off to get the license?" Mary confirms.

"Yes. We also need to pick up the flowers, rings, and the cake," Sheldon lists.

"We'll also have to pack our bags for the honeymoon, iron the suits, meet my cousin at the airport and take Hope for shots... and that's all before our rehearsal at 6," Amy commiserates.

"I can handle the ironing, while Mom and Mee-maw spoil the baby," Missy decides.

"Sounds like a plan. Everything is set up in the office," Amy explains as she leads Missy back so they can go over everything.

"How you doin', Moon pie? Nervous?" Mee-maw wonders.

"No, not at all. I'm just ready for it to be over. Penny and Bernadette are calling Amy Bridezilla. She is stressing out over every single detail," Sheldon confides before sighing heavily. "It's her day and of course I want it to be everything she's ever dreamed of, but I fear that if a single thing goes wrong, she is going to melt down."

"I picked up on something important there, Moon pie. You said it's her day. Did you make any decisions or help her with planning?" Mee-maw wonders.

"I chose the date," he proudly declares.

"That's it? Oh, Shelly, no wonder she's stressed out. Planning a wedding is a huge undertaking for one person," his mother reprimands as Amy comes back into the kitchen.

"It was a mutual decision after he broke his metatarsal by kicking a rock out of frustration. Why did you kick that rock again, Sheldon?" Amy asks him.

"We were having an argument over cake flavors. You told me to kick rocks after I suggested a classic French Vanilla cake with buttercream frosting," he softly mumbles. "Ready to go?" he asks, desperately wishing to change the topic.

"We'll be back by 2. If you could have her ready to go that'd be fantastic," Amy requests as she goes to kiss Hope's cheek. "Be good for Mee-maw."

"Bye bye, Peanut. Be a good girl," Sheldon murmurs as he leans over to kiss Hope as well.

Turning around, he takes a single step and freezes as Hope calls out, "Dada," as her little lip trembles with unshed tears. Her first word. I'm her first word.

Quickly turning around, he asks Amy "You heard it too, right?" who nods in confirmation that she too heard Hope's first word.

"We've been working on Mama and Dada," Amy explains as Sheldon picks up their daughter and snuggles her close.

"Dada and Mama will be back soon. I promise," Sheldon softly murmurs to the baby.

Giving Hope one last kiss, he hands her off to his mother and as that for wail vibrates off the walls, he has to take a steady breath of determination to not turn around. Hope is going through a stage right now, Amy warned him, where she cries any time Amy leaves the room. He plans on asking the pediatrician if that is something of concern.

Reaching Amy's car, Sheldon immediately proceeds to the back passenger door as Amy unlocks the vehicle and opens her door. Peeking her head in as Sheldon reaches for the seatbelt, she wonders, "why are you sitting back there?"

"You made a request that our next kiss be on our wedding day as my mom pronounces us husband and wife. I want to honor that request," he explains.

"I'll be completely honest with you, Sheldon, I don't believe I will be able to resist kissing you today," Amy admits. "I've missed you horribly."

"I've missed you. I've missed Hope," he replies.

"I know. In that regard, making this request of you, asking you to move out... that was incredibly selfish of me because it took you away from our daughter. I think that may be why she's so fussy lately. She's wondering where Daddy is. It must be so frustrating to not be able to communicate that," Amy realizes.

"I choose to believe that you had positive intent and I have enjoyed communicating with you solely through Skype and text messages. It reminded me of the early days of our relationship," Sheldon shares.

"Yes, that was nice. We had a lot of really good talks," Amy agrees as she turns over the engine.

"Why didn't you call me last night?" Sheldon wonders. "I waited up but you never answered my texts."

"I was having a bad night. Hope was fussy so I couldn't do anything I planned, the computer unexpectedly shut down so I lost six pages of my grant request and then my mother..." she pauses as she sighs, "I told you she's seeing someone, right?" Amy confirms.

"Yes. I have a feeling I'm not going to like this..."

"Oh, I'm certain you won't. My Aunt Linda sent me a text message last night. She and my Uncle Harry went out to dinner with some friends and spotted my mother a few tables away... kissing her new boyfriend," Amy shares as she hands Sheldon her phone with the photo of Rita Fowler holding hands with her new boyfriend as they kiss.

"Sam Walowitz?" Sheldon confirms as he hands Amy's phone back to her.

"Yes. That explains why my mother has been so secretive any time I ask her about her mystery man. Once she realized she'd been caught, my mother begged my aunt to not tell me. My mother plans on making the big announcement tomorrow at our wedding," Amy reveals as she tilts her head back against the headrest and sighs heavily.

"No, absolutely not. He is not welcome in our house and if I have to be the bad guy and lay down the law, I will," Sheldon offers.

"I don't want to pit you against her but the thought of her forcing me to have a relationship with him... it infuriates me, Sheldon. I don't know how to handle this."

"You stay out of it and let me handle it. Despite what your mother may believe, you deserve one day without her being the center of attention. I will make that much clear," Sheldon promises.

"What if... she chooses him over me? What if she refuses to come to the wedding without him?" Amy worries.

"I don't think that will happen, Amy, but if it does, then I'd like for you to turn your attention to celebrating our marriage with the 48 people who will be at our wedding rather than the one person who isn't."

"I don't know if I can go through with the wedding if my mother isn't there..." Amy admits.

Watching Sheldon through the rearview mirror, she instantly regrets saying that as Sheldon tries to hide his reaction from her. He closes his eyes and momentarily bows his head, signaling he feels defeated, before saying, "let's hope it doesn't come to that."