A/N Other members of the group start getting a bit more involved in this chapter. As far as my Real Life interruptions to writing (for those of you who have seen my IG post from yesterday), I finished the video game, Red Dead Redemption II, this past week (including the epilogue), so I've had some more time to write, instead of playing. But, since I'm nine chapters ahead, I still have Assassin's Creed: Origins, to start playing, and, of course, I can still work on my drumming, in my copious free time.

Chapter 46

Friday 06 March 6:50 PM

It had been a long week for Amy, getting everything set up for her two doctoral candidates. They would be coming in next week, giving them two weeks to settle in, before the spring term started. Amy had spent the week getting them their offices, schedules for their doctorate level classes, and their scheduled time in Amy's lab. But, today, she still had a lot to sort out, and had worked late, and then packed up a good deal of it into her messenger bag, to bring it home, so she could work on it over the weekend. When she got home, she saw that Sheldon has already ordered Indian food, one of the two choices for Fridays, and it had been delivered.

Open trays of the various items were on the range island, with a dirty plate in the sink. Amy had called to tell him she would be late, and she had encouraged him to eat without her and she was pleased to see Sheldon had eaten. She was less pleased to see both whiteboards full, and papers scattered over most of the furniture in the apartment since she was planning on using some of the living room for her work. Sheldon was staring at one of the whiteboards, and Amy felt it better, for now, not to disturb him. So, she hung her purse up, and went to the island, got a plate, and started putting her dinner on it, before putting it in the microwave.

The "ding" when her food was done must have penetrated Sheldon's brain, because he looked up and saw Amy and said, "Oh, hi Amy. When did you get home?"

"A few minutes ago," said Amy, taking a bite of the food. "What are you doing?" as she indicated the rest of the living room.

"I got an idea on how I might be able to change the math, to include gravity, in a 3+1 dimensional universe, as it appears we currently live in. But, I have to make some changes, and I'm trying to connect the different equations, which is why it's scattered all over."

"That's nice Sheldon," said Amy. "But, I'm going to need some room to work on the things I brought home to work on. So, you may have to clear some space, for me to work in."

"But Amy," said Sheldon, "I need all of this space, and besides, you're just working on that squishy biology stuff, so it's not all that important."

Amy could feel her temper rising, "Sheldon, I do need the room. This is for planning out my research when my students are going to work, and what offices I can put them in. All of which I currently have to have done by Monday and there is a lot more I will be working on over the next few weeks. So, get used to having squishy biology work spread across, at least, half of the room."

"But, Amy…" started Sheldon.

"No but's Sheldon," said Amy. "I will need room for this."

"But, Amy…" started Sheldon again.

"Sheldon, I'm eating," said Amy. "When I'm finished, I will start working on my things, and if you don't want to make space for me, I'll make it myself."

"But, Amy…" said Sheldon.

"I don't want to hear it," said Amy. "What gets moved is your choice now, or mine later." At that point, she turned away from Sheldon, and walked into the bedroom, with her dinner.

Friday 06 March 8:30 PM

Leonard and Penny were curled up on the couch together, watching a rom-com from Amazon, when Penny gasped.

"What's wrong," asked a concerned Leonard.

Penny turned to him with a smile, "I felt one of the babies move…er…it felt more like a punch."

Leonard smiled and put his hand on Penny's belly, but felt nothing. Penny said, "Sorry, there hasn't been anything else."

"It's okay," said Leonard. "I'll feel it event…"

They heard three knocks on their door, followed by, "Leonard and Penny," three times in succession.

They looked at each other, and Penny shrugged and Leonard said, "Come in, Sheldon."

Sheldon entered, closed the door, and said, "I don't know why you called me to enter. It's after eight and there could be some desperado looking to rob people who invited him in, and…"

"What do you want Sheldon?"

"Oh, yes, I need to use your bathroom," said Sheldon.

"Why?" asked Penny.

"What are you doing…" said Leonard.

"I really have to use the bathroom," said Sheldon. "Can I answer that when I come back?"

Leonard nodded and pointed and Sheldon took off. After a few minutes, he returned, stopped in front of them, blocking the TV, and said, "And now, as for why I'm over here."

Both Penny and Leonard rolled their eyes, but Sheldon continued. "I was working on some very important calculations, when Amy came home and told me I had to give up half of the living room, so she could work on her stuff, from her job. When I wouldn't do it, she said fine, she'd find a place."

"Well, I wouldn't move my work, and she did find a place," said Sheldon. "All her work is scattered around the bedroom, and on my side of the bed. When I tried to go to the bathroom, she said I should come over here, because she was busy with her things."

"Sheldon, I don't know how to tell you this," said Penny. "But, Amy is right, you have to give her some space to work."

"But, I need my stuff all spread out," said Sheldon.

"Well, then, I guess you are just going to have to get used to coming over here," said Leonard. Penny gave Leonard a strange look, and mouthed, "What are you doing?"

Leonard ignored it and continued, "Think about this though, if all of Amy's stuff is scatter around the bedroom, and on your side of the bed, where are you going to sleep?"

"I'll come here and use my old room," said Sheldon.

"Sorry Sheldon," said Penny. "But, your old room has nothing but baby stuff in it."

Leonard added, "And, if you have to go to the bathroom and we're not here, or in bed, the door will be locked, and the chains will be set, so you won't be able to come over here. I think your best bet, is to go work something out with Amy."

"Oh, drat," said Sheldon. "I suppose I will have to do something. Or use a chamberpot."

Leonard shook his head, "Do you think Amy is going to put up with you having and using a chamberpot in your living room? For that matter, are you willing to have a chamberpot in your apartment?"

"No, I suppose not," said Sheldon. "And, that doesn't help me with going to bed. Thank you, both." And with that, Sheldon left.

"Damn, Hofstadter, that was brilliant," said Penny. "I thought you were nuts, suggesting coming over here. But, telling him about locking the door was brilliant."

"I know," said Leonard with a smile. He kissed Penny and they went back to watching the movie.

Saturday 07 March 9:30 AM

Leonard and Penny were standing by the island, drinking their coffee when Amy knocked and came into the apartment.

Penny gave her a cup of coffee and Amy said, "Thanks, for this, and for Sheldon."

"Did you get your own space?" asked Penny.

"Yes, we finally worked it out," said Amy. "But, it's just a short-term solution. Over the long term, there really isn't a solution. We have no place to put one desk, much less two. So I use the bed and he uses the table to sit at. I have a path to the kitchen, and he has a path to the bedroom. We both agreed we have to put everything away by 8 PM."

"We only have room for only a couple of whiteboards, that is why he's all spread out. We just don't have the room. We may have to start looking for another place. And, if we do that, Sheldon is going to object, and I don't think I have the strength, to argue about it."

Penny and Leonard both remembered their own thoughts about moving but didn't say anything.

"So what are you doing today, Ames?" asked Penny.

"I'm working on getting my two students set up, getting the preliminary work on my experiments done, and probably fighting about space with Sheldon. How about you?"

"Well, we're going to the farmers market this morning," said Penny. Then for the rest of the weekend, I've got to study my management book. "My boss will be going over it with me, starting this week, and I want to make sure I have a good grasp on it."

Amy nodded, then said, "How about you Leonard?"

"I'm working on getting my experiment up and running," said Leonard. "I would like to get the first runs done before this term ends. Then make the changes I've come up with and get some more runs in during the spring term. Then start working on getting the upgrades for next year planned out."

"Sounds like you are going to be busy," said Amy.

"I am," said Leonard. "And, so do you."

Amy stood and said, "I'll see you guys later, I've got to get back and get started before Sheldon finds a way to take back some of my space." Amy left and Penny and Leonard went to get dressed, before leaving for the market.

Sunday, 08 March 9:30 PM

Leonard was half laying on the couch, leaning on the back and the arm of the couch, with Penny also half laying and leaning against him, with his arm around her, and resting on her stomach. They were both watching television, but not really. They had spent Saturday afternoon and most of Sunday supposedly working. Penny on her management textbook, and Leonard on his experiment. In reality, they spent a lot of time thinking about if the apartment was big enough for twins.

Leonard was still trying to figure out how to get all the furniture to fit in Sheldon's former bedroom, and Penny was thinking about moving their desks, to make room for a playpen, possibly two. But, Leonard could never figure out a way to make them all fit, and Penny, mindful of the problems Amy and Sheldon were having, was stuck at where the desks would go if they moved them. And in the back of both their minds, was the specter of having to tell Sheldon and Amy they were leaving, if they decided to leave.

So, as they sat there, not watching the movie, they were both thinking about how to broach the subject of possibly moving, along with the big question, where? When Penny suddenly felt movement in her belly, and she heard Leonard say excitedly, "I felt it, I felt it, I felt one of the babies."

Penny smiled at him, "Yeah, I felt it too. So, we've both felt it. Makes it more real somehow."

Leonard was grinning, "Yeah, it does." He gently turned her head and kissed her, then said, " I love you."

Penny smiled back, "I love you, too."

Tuesday 10 March 11:30 AM

Penny was back in her office, looking to go to lunch. Dan and she had started working on the first three chapters of the management book, this morning. They were supposed to have started yesterday, but Dan had called in to miss work, as his wife was ill. So Penny used the day to visit Karen and see how she was doing. Karen had called several times, over the last two weeks, to ask a question or to get an opinion, but overall, she was doing quite well. Going along with Karen allowed Penny to see how her approach to the clients was going. Penny had offered a few minor suggestions, but she really hadn't seen anything that would cause a problem for Karen.

Today, she would be meeting with Rod Davidson, who would be one of her salespeople, when she became the DM, and tomorrow, she was planning on visiting Phil Fuller. On Thursday she would be meeting Ray Delaney, and Friday, it would be Jim Branch. She had already met with the other four, so these would be the last four salespeople she needed to meet with.

These were informal get to know each other better meetings. She, of course, knew all of them from sales meetings and general company get-togethers, and, as far as she knew, they all got along. But, having Penny as their boss, would change their business relationship, and these meetings were the beginning of that change.

Those meetings would be in the afternoons, and she and Dan would work on management in the morning. For now, she checked her voice and emails, and then shut down her computer, and left for lunch.

Tuesday 10 March 5:30 PM

They had finished the first part of the installation, the core of the machine, over the last week. Now, they were trying to integrate the individual modules that were installed, but the integration tests had failed. They took everything apart and then checked each of the modules, individually, again, and they all passed. They added the first module, and then tested it, it passed. Then they added a second module, and ran the test, and found it passed. The third module was next and it passed as the first two did.

Now the crew expected the fourth module to fail, and as expected, after adding the fourth one, the test failed. They were now checking each wire of the fourth module, where it came in, and where went out. Leonard looked at the clock on the wall and realized they weren't going to get out of here anytime soon. He turned it over to his number two person on the team and said he'd be back in a few minutes. He walked out of the lab and started texting Penny, letting her know he would be late coming home.

Wednesday, 11 March 3:30 PM

Amy had left the university early, hoping to get home, get her work set up, and get some of it done before everybody came over 4A for dinner after the guys had gone to the comic book store. Entering the apartment, she was shocked to find Sheldon, with his work scattered throughout the living room.

"What are you doing home?" asked Amy.

"I might ask you the same questions," said Sheldon.

"I asked you first," said Amy.

"Well, I asked you second and two is more…"

"SHELDON," yelled Amy.

"Well, when you told me you were leaving early, I had to find another way home," said Sheldon. "I went to ask Leonard, and he said he would probably be there late tonight. At lunch, I mentioned it to Howard, and he offered to bring me home, because he was going to be late also, due to his working on his PhD, but he had to pick up a few things from his house."

"I'm also given to understand that Bernadette will be working late, and Stuart will be taking care of Halley and Michael, while Denise takes care of the comic book store. As a result of all this, we won't be going to the comic book store tonight, and we won't be gathering, for dinner."

"I didn't hear anything from Penny about this," said Amy.

"I think she was waiting for you to get home," said Sheldon. "She is already home."

Amy looked around the living room, "Okay, I'm going over there to talk to her, and when I get back, I'll be working on my stuff, in the bedroom. I suggest we both work until six PM, break for dinner, and then continued working until our agreed upon time, otherwise, you may have to worry about sleeping on the couch."

Sheldon looked nervous about that, but nodded his head, before speaking up, "Amy, how would you feel about doing an addendum to the marriage agreement, where we lay out the rules for working in our home. Where each can work, how much space, along with what happens if one of us breaks the rules?"

"I think that is an excellent idea, Sheldon," said Amy. "I would suggest we both think about it, until Saturday. Then, we can discuss it, and on Sunday, you can draw it up. Does that sound satisfactory?"

"Yes, yes it does," said Sheldon.

"Good," said Amy. "For now, I'm going over to talk to Penny, I'll see you in a little bit." Amy turned and walked out the door, heading for Apartment 4A, while Sheldon turned back to his papers and his whiteboard.