Sheldon entered the living room of his apartment and found Amy and Max watching television together. "Max, you ready to go? Penny isn't letting Leonard go to the baby shower, so he and I are doing something this afternoon and you're coming with us."
"Can't I stay here? I stay home alone every day after school," Max pleaded. "My birthday is next week. All my friends get to stay home alone sometimes."
"Max, we've talked about this. I know your birthday is in five days, but we agreed you can't stay home for more than an hour until after you're twelve. I don't know what your dad and Leonard have planned for the afternoon, but you love hanging out with them," Amy pointed out. "We can finish this movie later."
Max reluctantly stopped the movie and put on the jacket that Sheldon was holding out to him. "What are we doing?"
The pair exited the apartment and started to make their way downstairs before Sheldon answered his son. "It might not be very exciting, but it's a surprise for your mom for after your little brother is born. I think you'll like it, as well."
Leonard picked up the father and son and drove the group across town to their destination. Pulling into the parking lot, Max excitedly asked, "Are you buying mom a new car? She hasn't gotten a new car since our accident and that was years ago."
"No, I'm not buying Amy a new car. With us moving next month, we will no longer be living near the most convenient bus routes to get to the university. We are about to become a two-car household," explained Sheldon as the group got out of Leonard's car. "Leonard agreed to help because I've never done this before.''
Max walked ahead of the former roommates, turning around and continuing to walk backward. "What kind of car are you getting? Can you get the Bat Mobile?"
Chuckling, Sheldon replied, "I'm not getting the Bat Mobile. Although that would be fun, it wouldn't be a very good family car. I want something safe, has plenty of room for the baby's car seat, and is something that I'll be comfortable driving."
"Do you even know how to drive?"
"Yes," Sheldon stopped in his tracks to look at an SUV. "Leonard and Penny forced me to get my learner's permit not long after Penny moved into the building, then your mom taught me to drive after we'd been dating a few years. I don't like driving, but I will if I have to. With you getting older and the baby coming, I feel it will be a good idea for us to get a second car, even if I don't use it all the time. What do you think of this one, Leonard?"
Leonard was reading the vehicle information taped in the window of the car before pulling his phone out to look up more information. "Everything I'm finding says it's a good car. It gets great gas mileage, especially considering it's an SUV. There are side airbags, no major maintenance or safety recalls, everyone who has posted reviews doesn't have any real complaints about it. Do you want to take it for a test drive? I can find a salesperson."
Before Leonard could find a salesperson, one was approaching the group. "Do you have any questions about anything?"
"Yes, I think I'd like to do a test drive for this SUV," answered Sheldon.
"Alright," the salesperson nodded. "If you join me inside, I can get some information from you and grab the keys."
Twenty minutes later, the salesperson handed Sheldon the key for the car he had just been looking at when Sheldon turned to Leonard, "Do you mind coming with me? I've only ever driven by myself a few times and there was one time I ended up leaving the car and walking home."
"Sure," Leonard agreed, opening the passenger side door. "Wait, are you the reason my car was down the block when I was sure I had parked it in the lot next to the building?"
"Leonard, please. I need to focus on what I'm doing," Sheldon avoided the question while pulling out of the car lot.
Hours of paperwork later, Sheldon was handed the key to his first car and he drove himself and Max home. "Remember, not a word to mom. I want to surprise her with this," he told Max as they entered their apartment late that afternoon.
"Hi, guys," Amy greeted them, letting herself into the apartment not long after they returned. "You will not believe how much stuff Penny got at her shower. Raj bought them a car seat, so fingers crossed he gets the one from our registry for us since those things can be pricy. What did you end up doing with Leonard?" Max busied himself with his tablet, avoiding Amy's question. "What did you do that Max is avoiding eye contact? I'm guessing you bought something you don't want me to know about. Was it at the comic book store or the train store?"
Sheldon crossed the living room and retrieved his keys from the bowl next to the door. "I did buy something, but I think you'll appreciate it. I know you just came upstairs, but it's outside. You probably walked past it on your way in."
Amy rolled her eyes, "What did you do, Sheldon? We're moving in a month. I don't want to have more stuff to pack. I don't remember passing anything on my way in. Will you just tell me what you got?"
"Just come with me. I'd rather show you," Sheldon grabbed Amy's hand and pulled her towards the door, leaving Max in the apartment. The couple exited the apartment and Sheldon led his wife to the parking lot next to their building. "I want to show you this," he waved his arms in front of the silver SUV in the spot next to Amy's car.
"You bought a car? My car is just fine, Sheldon. We don't need a new car."
"It's not for you. It's for me," Sheldon smugly said while opening the car door for Amy to get a closer look at his new purchase. "With us moving, and the baby coming, and Max getting older, I've decided it's time for me to start driving on a more regular basis. Leonard helped me pick it out and did the test drive with me. It's a good car, side airbags, no recalls, decent gas mileage. I'll still prefer you drive when we go out together, but now I'll be able to get to work while you're on maternity leave, plus help chauffeur Max around, and you'll still have your car if you need to go somewhere."
Amy pulled Sheldon close to her and quickly kissed him before pulling back, "This is perfect. I'm proud of you for wanting to do this, Sheldon."
