I got this suggestion multiple times when I was asking for ideas of one shots and knew I wanted to do more than just a one shot for it. I know I said I was only going to work on the Max one shots for the next few months while I work on packing and moving cross-country, but I've got my apartment packed and shipped home, except for what I'll need for the next 2 months, so I decided I'll have time to work on a new story. I still have several one shots that I want to write and will continue to post those as I finish them.


"Aren't you ready to go, Max? Leonard is waiting for us," Sheldon asked Max when he saw his son was still sitting at the kitchen island with his homework in front of him.

Looking up from the textbook and worksheets spread across the island, Max shook his head, "I want to go to the comic book store, but I have a lot of homework tonight. Can you pick something for me, please?" Sheldon glanced at the papers and saw his son was nowhere near done for the evening and nodded his head in agreement. "Is mom okay? I noticed she didn't eat a lot at dinner and said she wanted to go to bed early."

"Yeah. She's just tired. It's been a stressful month since we got back from Sweden. Your mom's been amazing with all the lectures and interviews. I think it's finally starting to catch up to her. Just let her relax tonight. Call me if you need anything," Sheldon reminded the eleven-year-old.

Max continued working on his homework after Sheldon exited the apartment. A little while later, he heard Amy rush into the bathroom, Max tried not to, but couldn't help hearing his mother throwing up. He waited until she returned to her bedroom before he left his spot at the island. Not finding what he was looking for in the kitchen, Max quietly opened the door to the hallway and closed it just as quietly before crossing the hallway. He knocked on the door of apartment 4B and Penny quickly answered, "Hi, Max. You know you don't have to knock, right. It's open doors between our apartments. What's up? Why didn't you go with the guys to the comic book store?"

"I needed to finish my homework. Do you have any ginger ale? Mom isn't feeling well and I thought that might help her. It always helps when I have an upset stomach, but I couldn't find any in our apartment.'

Penny turned around and began rummaging through the refrigerator, eventually turning around with a bottle of soda in her hand. "It's one of the only things that helped my morning sickness. I'm so glad that's mostly over now. Is Amy okay? She didn't mention being sick when I talked to her earlier today."

"Dad says she's just tired from everything since they won their Nobel. I tried not to, but I heard her in the bathroom a little while ago and it sounded like she was sick," the boy explained to the blonde. "Thanks for the ginger ale. I'm going to take it to her now."

Max returned across the hall and noticed the bathroom door was open, which meant Amy was still in bed. He opened the soda and poured it in a glass before making his way to his parents' room. He knocked on the half-open door and spoke as he entered, "Ginger ale always helps when I'm not feeling well. I thought it might help you feel better. Dad said you're tired from everything since we got back from Sweden. I tried not to, but I heard you in the bathroom a little while ago."

"That's really sweet of you," Amy accepted the glass as she sat up and motioned for Max to sit next to her. "Why didn't you go to the comic book store?"

"I wanted to finish my homework. Plus, I didn't want you to be alone when you weren't feeling well."

Across the hall, Penny was replaying her recent conversations with Amy in her head, as well as the interaction with Max a few minutes earlier. She had an idea, gathered what she needed, and let herself in across the hall. Finding the living room and kitchen empty, she made her way to her best friend's bedroom. "Hey, Max. Do you mind giving us a little privacy? I need to talk to Amy about something that's kind of important." The boy sighed as he stood from the bed and exited the room, closing the door behind him.

"I'm not feeling that well tonight, Penny. Can whatever you want to talk about wait until tomorrow? I just want to sleep," Amy shifted on the bed.

"No, this can't wait. Max came across the hall to ask if we had any ginger ale because he heard you being sick. You've been complaining about how tired you are the past few weeks. I think I know what's going on with you," the blonde smugly explained.

Amy rolled her eyes, "I'm just tired. I've been going non-stop for the past month. We've got two more lectures next week, then things should go back to normal. I'm sure we'll have things that pop up from time to time, but not nearly as many as we've been doing."

Reaching in her pocket, Penny passed something to her friend. "I had this leftover. I think you might need it. You sound exactly like I did before we found out I was pregnant."

"I don't need this, but thank you for bringing it over," Amy tried passing the pregnancy test back, but Penny pushed it back into her hands.

"Just take it. It's better to know for sure than to walk around thinking you've got the flu for a week before going to the doctor," Penny pointed out as Amy accepted the test. "I promise I won't say anything to anyone if you take it now."

Amy set the test on the bed next to her. "I don't need it because I went to the doctor this afternoon and they did a pregnancy test as part of my workup. I know what that stick is going to say."

Penny's eyes widened as she looked at the brunette. "If you were to take it, what would it say?"

"It would say don't say anything to Penny before you've talked to your husband," snickered Amy.

"Oh my god! Amy!" Penny squealed as she threw her arms around Amy and pulled her into a hug. "We're going to be pregnancy buddies, just like you wanted when I wasn't sure I wanted kids."

Returning the hug, Amy replied, "Keep it down. I don't want Max to find out before I've told Sheldon."

"Can I ask, is this a little Nobel baby or a birthday baby?"

"Yes, I'm not sure which, though. I don't have an appointment to figure out my exact due date until next week. I'm planning on telling Sheldon when he gets home from the comic book store and we'll tell Max together. You have to promise to not say anything to Leonard or Bernadette or anyone else?" Amy pleaded.

"Okay. I'll let you tell everyone, but please let me know how it goes telling Sheldon."


Sheldon returned from the comic book store two hours later to find the apartment dark. He set his bag at his desk and hung his jacket on the back of the chair before heading down the hallway. Reaching Max's room, he knocked quietly and opened the door when he didn't get a response. He saw Max was asleep, so he left his new comic book on his nightstand before backing out of the room. Darkness greeted him when he entered his and Amy's bedroom, as well. He collected his pajamas and was heading towards the bathroom to change when he heard Amy. "How was the comic book store? You can turn on the light. I don't mind."

"It was okay," Sheldon answered as he began to change into his pajamas after turning on the lamp next to the bed. "How are you feeling? Did Max finish his homework?"

"I'm feeling a little better. He finished his homework and decided to go to bed early. I was hoping we could talk before we go to sleep for the night?" Amy watched Sheldon as he continued to change.

"Alright," Sheldon sat on his side of the bed. "Is something wrong?"

Amy shook her head, "No, quite the opposite actually. While you were gone, I was sick. Max heard me and asked Penny if she had any ginger ale because we're out. She came over, thinking she knew why I'm feeling more run down than usual."

Struggling to understand where Amy was going with this story, Sheldon interjected, "It's because of all the Nobel stuff. I've been more tired as well. As for the getting sick, you hardly touched your dinner, so maybe you had something bad for lunch."

"I didn't eat anything bad, Sheldon. Penny came over with a leftover pregnancy test from when she found out she was pregnant."

"Did you take it? What did it say?" A smile spread across Sheldon's face, but quickly fell as Amy continued.

"I told her I didn't need it because I knew what it would say. I left work for a little while this morning to go to the doctor because I was starting to be concerned with how rundown I've been feeling. I'm sorry for not telling you, but I didn't want you to worry if they told me it was nothing other than I was overdoing it and needed to slow down. We've been so busy with everything; I didn't give it a thought that I was late until they asked at the doctor's office. They did a pregnancy test and it was positive. I'm pregnant, Sheldon."

Sheldon was smiling bigger than he'd ever smiled before as he pulled Amy into a hug. "We're having a baby!"

Amy nodded against Sheldon's shoulder. "We are. Max doesn't know yet. I thought we should tell him together. I have an appointment on Monday to find out my exact due date. Penny knows, but I swore her to secrecy until I could tell you and we can tell Max."

"I'm so excited to be having a baby." Sheldon was giddy as he released Amy from his hug. "I don't think I'll be able to sleep tonight."

"Let's get some sleep while we can because nine months from now, you won't be getting nearly as much," Amy rolled on her side while Sheldon shifted closer to spoon her from behind. She smiled to herself as Sheldon rested his hand on her lower abdomen before they fell asleep.