A/N: Okay so here I am back and writing. I know it has been a year since I last published anything on this sight and it was chapter 21 of this story. To be honest I wasn't sure where I had left off and I had to go back and read the previous chapters.
So much has happened over the last year and let's just say we all have been through it. I am a teacher as some of you others may be and it has been that kind of school year, from virtual at the end of 2020 school year to starting that way until February of 2021 this year. Now hybrid. It's just that kind of crazy. I haven't wanted much to do with my computer after hours of staring at pictures my students have as their profiles. Never seeing a student is hard as some of you may also have experienced. I have kept busy in the evenings watching reruns of our favorite show and finally got my inspiration back to get back to writing it. So without further introduction here is chapter 22. If you don't remember what this story is about you may want to go back to the beginning and reread. I know it's been a while.
As always, I don't own these characters.
Enjoy!
Amy cut him off before he could finish the sentence because she knew he would tell her that it didn't matter if she was ready to say it yet. "I love you too." She said quietly.
His eyes went wide. "You do?" He asked.
"Well I've been trying to figure out what was going on in my stomach and head. I have had this weird feeling every time I was around you. I couldn't place my finger on it and went through every single possibility that it could be. I ruled out a thyroid condition, menopause and an alien parasite. I could only conclude one thing, it had to be love. So yeah, I love you." She said.
"It's about time." Lucy laughed, knowing how the two of them felt about each other. "Now kiss and get it over with."
Sheldon looked at Amy and leaned in and kissed her. The entire area seated around them applauded. They looked at each other and laughed. The next few hours were spent just holding each other until they landed in Houston.
The airport in Houston was crowded with people coming and going.
"I don't know how we will find anyone in here." Sheldon commented as they pushed their way down to the baggage claim.
"I wouldn't worry about that." Lucy commented, pointing to a group of people smiling and waving at them.
"It looks like mom brought the whole family." Sheldon blushed.
"And mine." Lucy said. "Couldn't we just all have met at your house?"
"You know my mother." Sheldon said to her.
"I guess so." Lucy said.
"Well we might as well get this over with." Sheldon said, looking at Amy. "After all they are here for you."
"Wait me?" Amy asked, stopping in her tracks. "Why?"
"They know Lucy and I." Sheldon said. "The only logical explanation is that they are all here to meet you."
"He is right." Lucy told her. "My mom was very interested in meeting you when I spoke to her last. She wanted to meet the woman that stole Sheldon Cooper's heart."
"Now I am nervous." Amy told them.
"There is nothing to be afraid of." Lucy said. "Mrs. Cooper is the nicest person in the world. And so is Sheldon's meemaw. You have nothing to worry about."
"She's not wrong." Sheldon told her also. "I already told you everyone will love you."
"Okay but who are all the other people?" Amy asked, looking at the group of people.
"It looks like George, Missy, Michael, my parents and some man and woman I don't know." Lucy said.
"George and Missy, your siblings?" Amy asked Sheldon.
"Yeah and the girl must be George's latest girlfriend. Since I haven't seen him in a while that is whom I can assume she is. Last I had heard he was dating Rebecca Jennings but that is not her. The man is a member of mom's church. I think his name is Ron. I have no idea why he is here." Sheldon said.
"Well let's go find out before they come over here." Lucy said. She realized they had all stopped in the middle of the airport and were just staring at the group of people waving.
They continued walking toward the group.
"Shelly, it is so good to see you again." Mrs. Cooper exclaimed, hugging her son tightly.
"Good to see you to mom." He answered. "Good to see everyone. Although I am not sure why you all are here."
"Well Sheldon, my reason is simple." George answered. "When mom told me you were coming home and bringing a girlfriend, I had to see that for myself."
"And you couldn't just wait at mom's house?" Sheldon asked.
"Of course not. What if she ran away as soon as she got here" George answered "I had to make sure she was real and actually got off the airplane. I'm George, by the way." He extended his hand to Amy.
"Hi nice to meet you." Amy said.
"Fine." Sheldon said. "I assume everyone is here for the same reason. So with that said, everyone, this is Amy. Amy this is everyone."
Sheldon's meemaw came up to Amy. "I'm Sheldon's meemaw. I hear you are the girl that stole my moon pie's heart." She said to Amy.
Sheldon took Amy's hand. "She has." Sheldon said to her.
"Okay so one question for her then." Meemaw said.
Amy swallowed. "Oh for me? Okay." She stuttered.
"Why do I call Sheldon moon pie?" She asked her.
Amy smiled. Sheldon had told her all about his meemaw and her special nickname for him. "Because he's so nummy nummy you could just eat him up."
"Okay she's good." Meemaw laughed.
"That was a test?" Amy choked.
"Well of course. If a woman comes into any of my grandchildren's lives and don't ask about family, then they ain't worth it." Meemaw said. "You knowing the nickname and why I call him means you talk to each other. And probably ask lots of questions. George's last girlfriend had no idea why I call him buttercup." She looked pointedly at the girl standing by George's side.
"She calls you buttercup?" The girl asked him. "Why?"
"Later." George said, blushing.
"Well at least she asked." Meemaw said. "Better than that Rebecca."
Lucy leaned over to Michael. "You know Missy's nickname?" She asked.
"Yep and I already passed the test." He laughed, smiling at meemaw. "I'm Michael, Lucy's brother and Missy's f." But he stopped before saying another word.
"I'm sorry. You're her what?" Amy asked.
"Boyfriend." He blushed. Missy had glared at him.
"Well let's get out of here and we can get to know each other some more over lunch." Mrs. Cooper said. "I have fried chicken all ready to go"
"And pecan pie?" Sheldon asked excitedly.
"Of course." She answered.
He looked at Amy. "Oh boy are you in for a treat. My mother's fried chicken is why we had to buy my dad the extra-large coffin."
"Sheldon!" His meemaw chided.
"What?" Sheldon asked, looking around at the group of people staring at him in disbelief. "I didn't say anything that wasn't true. Mom is an amazing cook. Dad enjoyed it. He was a big man."
"It's okay mom. Shelly's right. George had no problems eating. Or drinking for that matter." She laughed. The unfamiliar gentleman placed his hand on her shoulder. She put her hand on top of his.
"Um, mom." Sheldon said to her, noticing the gesture between this man and his mother. "Who is this?" He asked. Missy and George exchanged a look that said this could get ugly quick.
"Oh yes I forgot." Mary Cooper said. "Shelly this is Ron Dawson. He goes to church with me."
"It's nice to meet you" Ron said, putting his hand out to shake Sheldon's. Sheldon looked at him in disdain.
"I want to know why he is touching you like that." Sheldon said a little louder than necessary. Amy could see Sheldon getting angry. She laid a hand on his arm to calm him down but he didn't back down.
"Well now Shelly, it's been a few years since your daddy passed away." Mary started.
"More than a few." George mumbled. He was happy his mother was happy. He hoped Sheldon wouldn't make a scene in the airport.
"I don't think now is the time to discuss this." Sheldon's meemaw added. "Why don't we wait until we all get home and then we can talk about it."
"Meemaw's right." Missy said, sensing this would not go over well.
"No now I want to know now." Sheldon said. "Why is this man touching my mother like they are dating." Even Amy was surprised at his tone at the moment. She had figured out immediately that this man was probably Mary's boyfriend and when she saw the small gesture she knew instantly. If it had been more than a few years since Sheldon's father had passed, she didn't understand why he would be so angry if she was dating again.
Amy looked at him again and could see his anger. She wasn't sure what to do but she calmly said to him, "Sheldon, I think your meemaw is right. This isn't the time or place for this discussion." She was looking him straight in the eyes. She needed him to see her and calm down.
He looked at Amy and could feel himself instantly relaxing. Maybe she was right. He didn't want to start an argument with his mother in public. He didn't even want to start a fight with her at all. He just wasn't sure if he was ready to hear that his mom was dating again, because it was obvious this was what was happening. He knew that. He just wanted them to tell him.
"Perhaps you are right." Sheldon said, calming himself down. "I don't want to make a scene." He had sensed people looking at him when he was raising his voice.
"Wait, what just happened?" George said, confused. "All it took was his girlfriend to say something and he stopped. Damn, Sheldon, I never thought I would see the day you were whipped by a woman." He laughed. "But very impressive, Amy. Very impressive." Amy blushed at the compliment.
"I don't know what you mean." Sheldon said. "I am not whipped. I simply agreed with Amy that it was not the place to be having a conversation about the man mom is dating."
"But Meemaw said the same thing and you ignored her." Missy pointed out. "And you never ignore Meemaw."
"I didn't ignore Meemaw." Sheldon said.
"You did moon pie." Meemaw said to him. "I expect that kind of sass from Missy or George but never you."
"Hey" Missy and George both said at once.
"Oh come on you know I love you anyway." She said to them.
"I'm sorry Meemaw. I guess I wasn't thinking when I spoke." Sheldon said to her.
"It's okay moon pie. I know you are only looking out for your mom." She said to him. "But rest assured, Ron is a good man and we will discuss you not knowing about this when we get home. So let's go get your luggage and get out of this airport."
Everyone agreed and finally headed to the baggage carriers to pick up the luggage. The group had brought two vans from the church to pick them up. Sheldon and Amy rode in the one George drove while Lucy went with Missy and Michael.
They arrived at the Cooper house 45 minutes later. They all settled in at the table and Mary and Missy went to the kitchen to bring in the dinner that Mary had prepared for everyone. Sheldon was just about to dig into the feast when his mother stopped him.
"Hold your horses, young man. Here in Texas we pray before we eat." She said to him.
"Really mom?" He said, frowning.
"This is not California, land of the heathens." She commented. She reached for his hand. Luckily Amy was on his other side so he didn't have to wear his mittens to hold hands and pray like he did when he was a kid. Everyone else joined hands.
"Thank you, God, for the food we are about to receive and for the nourishment of our bodies and bless the hands that prepared it, Amen." Mary prayed.
"Amen." Some replied.
"Given that your hands prepared it, isn't that a little self-serving?" Sheldon asked her. Ron laughed out loud.
"Oh I like him." Ron said.
"You go changing the words to the prayer, next thing you know you're in a church with a guitar." Mary chastised them both.
"What's wrong with a guitar in church?" Amy asked. "The church my mother used to take me to had a service with a full band." She commented.
"A full band?" Mary asked, shocked. "What kind of rock and roll church did your mother take you to?"
"Now mom, Amy grew up in California." Missy said, carefully. "Things are obviously a little different there than here."
"Well to be honest," Amy said. "I quite enjoyed the music. It was definitely catchy and was very worshipful if you ask me. Plenty of people worshipped with their hands raised and everyone was always singing and happy."
"Do you still go to church?" Mary asked, hopefully, thinking if she did maybe she wouldn't mind Sheldon being exposed somehow.
"Actually I don't." She admitted. "It's not that I don't believe in God, I just found that I didn't like going somewhere where they took attendance and got all upset if you missed a few weeks. Then my church took a stance I wasn't too fond of."
"Oh and what was that dear?" Mary asked.
"Well they didn't think it was right to be homosexual. They said it was sinning and shunned my cousin for coming out of the closet." Amy said, matter of factly.
"Oh that is terrible." Mary said. "Why would anyone do that? If she is a good Christian it shouldn't matter who they love."
"Wow mom, I am surprised to hear you say that." Sheldon said. "I guess I always just assumed you would say it was a sin."
"Even if it was, which I don't believe, God forgives all sins." Mary said. "I have had this argument one too many times with people over the years. I had a very good friend in high school who was a lesbian and so many of our other so called friends called her names and told her she was going to hell. I never understood it. She was a good church going girl. She just loved differently than I did. Our church accepted her for who she was and I guess that was always how I felt. I mean they accepted me even when I was pregnant before marriage." Sheldon choked on his drink.
"Wait, what?" Sheldon asked.
"Oh come on Sheldon, you didn't know?" George asked flabbergasted. "I was born in October. Mom and dad were married in May. You are pretty smart. I am sure you can do the math there."
"I always just assumed it was the year before." Sheldon said. Then it hit him. "Wait is this why you were always so keen on us not having sex before marriage?"
"Well duh, Sheldon." Missy said. "Of course that is the reason. She didn't want us to end up in the same situation as she did."
"Well at least he listened on that one." Mary said. "Unlike the two of you."
"Now how do you know that?" George asked her. "Maybe he and Amy have…"
Amy turned red. They had just said I love you on the plane and were just in the kissing stage and had done a little bit of exploring with touching but nothing too much. Sheldon had cupped her breasts a few times through her shirt and once just with a bra on, but they hadn't gotten farther than that.
"You are embarrassing the poor girl." Mary said. "And I know my Shelly and he wouldn't do that before marriage."
"Not even if he was in love?" Lucy asked her, knowing what they had said on the plane trip.
"Well I would he was in love before doing that either way. You two never had sex right?" Mary asked, just remembering they had dated back in high school. "I mean I used to let you watch television in Sheldon's room without even thinking about it."
Lucy's parents looked shocked. Lucy and Sheldon had been teenagers when they dated and had caught the two kissing a few times on the porch but never thought more could possibly have gone on with them. "Lucy?" Julie Spencer asked. "Did you and Sheldon?" But she was cut off.
"Excuse me…" Lucy said, running off toward the bathroom.
"Is she still like that?" Julie asked Sheldon, watching her daughter run away because she was embarrassed.
"Yes but it is getting better. She hangs out with me and Amy all the time but we can't get her to come with all our friends. I remember she never wanted it to be anyone but just the two of us when we went out. And to answer everyone's question, no we never had sex. We only ever kissed." He said. "Now if you will excuse me, I need to go rescue my friend from the bathroom." He got up from the table and walked out of the room.
Amy didn't know whether she should follow him or let him deal with her. He had known her longer and didn't want to intrude but she also saw 9 pairs of eyes staring at her.
"Um I guess I will help Sheldon." She said, getting up from the table.
"He's got it." Meemaw said. "Stay so we can make you more uncomfortable with our conversations." She laughed. That got Amy laughing with the rest of them. She sat back down and continued eating. No one mentioned sex or relationships the rest of the meal even after Sheldon came back with Lucy in tow ten minutes later.
Sheldon sat down next to her and leaned over. "Sorry about them. They can get carried away once they start on a topic." He kissed her cheek. "Thanks for putting up with them."
"I like them." She said, smiling, thinking things would be way different when she decided to take Sheldon to meet her parents and family. The conversations wouldn't be about sex. It would be more about marriage and babies. She knew her mom was itching to be a grandmother and would give Sheldon the third degree about his intentions. She was glad to put that off for just a little longer. She was just starting to see a future with the man sitting next to her and she didn't need her mother to jeopardize that at all.
A/N:Now I know I got into some controversial topics in this chapter but honestly I wanted Mary to be open-minded even if she may not really be although I could never see the writers going there. But this has been a big deal to me for a while since my own church decided to leave our affiliation for the very reasons I laid out here. We are open and affirming and believe that love can come in many forms.
I am sorry if I am political about this topic but it is dear to me and if you don't like my views that is fine but I would appreciate you not knocking my beliefs.
I would love feedback for this chapter so please review.
Next will be Christmas day and then we will skip to Lucy finally meeting Raj. Will she realize he is Sheldon's friend or will Sheldon realize Raj is dating his friend. Find out, hopefully not in a year.
Thanks!
Kimbee