Merry Christmas from this author.
P. S.: reviews are a great gift. ;)
This is set somewhere between the episodes 11 and 12 from the 9th season.
Christmas was Mary's favourite holiday. Her religious self – which was pretty much all of her – always loved the attention Jesus got this time of the year. The prayers were more present in everyone's lives. Plus, everything looked beautiful and sparkly and kind of magical.
Well, when she was in Texas at least.
"Shelly, are you sure you don't want to buy a Christmas tree?" She asked once again to her son.
She had planned spending the Holiday's with her baby boy some months before, when he was still single and hurting from his break up with Amy. She was worried to death with him, who was vulnerable in a way he never appeared before, not even when he suffered in the hands of his much older classmates.
To be honest, she knew her Shelly Bean was not an easy person to be around, but Amy seemed to understand him so well that her decision to terminate the relationship was a shock to Mary. Especially since Sheldon had asked for her ring.
After some long months, her son finally did something sentimental and went to declare himself to his loved one. According to him, it was not a big deal and that didn't mean he now was a hippy dippy. According to Amy, it was the most romantic moment of her life.
And now here Mary was, in California, even though she wasn't needed anymore. The ticked was already bought and she missed her son too much.
Apparently, she had forgotten what Christmas with him meant.
"Of course I won't, mother. You know I don't participate in Christmas festivities nor traditions." He said, with an inhuman effort to not dismiss her, she had to give credit where credit was due.
"And yet you're hosting a Christmas dinner on the 24th." She looked at him and gave a warm smile. "Since you can give in to one of those things, you can give in to the other."
He looked tricked, as if he hadn't given much thought to his actions.
"I am hosting the dinner because Amy asked me to. Apparently something happened with her apartment and she cannot do it there" he still looked confused.
Mary knew Amy had something to do with her son's sudden desire to throw a Christmas dinner, but it was so sweet to see his need to please her in action.
"I see. So how do you think Amy would like a tree to set the mood?" She attempted to Sheldon's Kryptonite.
"Huh. I have no idea. Do you think she'd like it?" He looked truly doubtful.
Mary wanted to laugh right in his face. That boy, her little Shelly, was so in love with his woman he'd do anything for her.
She asked herself how much their relationship had changed in the past month they were together.
She had not yet seen Sheldon and Amy interacting after their reunion – she had arrived that very own day and her daughter-in-law was working.
"Of course she will love it, Shelly. If I were you, I'd even put some mistletoes up."
"Oh, no. No mistletoes! We're not a Tijuana sex show." He shook his head a little bit, as if to supress a memory. "Plus, neither Amy not I enjoy PDA's."
"PDA's?"
"Yes. Public Display of Attention." Her son said matter-of-factly.
"I see…" She tried to come back to the original topic. "So, are ya getting a tree?"
"How did you get me to do this?" Leonard whined. Mary thought that only made him look more like a baby.
"It wasn't me!" Sheldon defended himself. "My mother was the one who missed a Christmas tree. You know I would do anything to please her, don't you?"
Mary laughed inside her head. She was pretending to sleep while they drove to the nearest Home Depot, which still was a bit long ride. A real' funny one too.
She knew Sheldon would never admit to anyone he was doing this for Amy, but she was surprised to see him lying so well. By what she remembered, he would flinch every time he said some lie.
"Anything but believe in her God." Leonard teased.
"Well, we can't have everything, can we?" was Sheldon's surprisingly chill response.
"No, but since you don't believe in her God, you also refuse to celebrate Christmas or any Christian holiday, for that matter. I wonder what made you change your mind."
"Leonard, don't be silly. You know it is because she is here this year and it had been so long since we saw each other. I am nothing but comprehensive, so I gently said her we would get a tree. Stop making this a bigger deal than it is."
Sheldon's voice was getting louder by the second and it was getting harder to pretend she was sleeping, but so worth it.
"Ok, don't get so defensive. I just thought the reason you're celebrating the holidays this year was the same one that last year's." Leonard was certainly having fun, his voice containing a laugh. "Specially since, well, you know, someone's birthday…"
Since what? What was the reason? Was it Amy? Mary no longer felt the need to laugh, now she wanted to make an inquiry with her son. She knew he didn't share much with her and the curiosity about his life reached preoccupant levels.
"Shhh, Leonard! My mother's is back there!" Sheldon hissed.
"Don't worry, she's asleep."
"I know. But any sort of information can be caught by her brain and introduced in her unconscious. Suddenly she will have questions based on a weird dream she had, but it actually was this conversation. No matter what she will ask them and I don't want to answer."
"Gosh, calm down. I will not say that you're…"
"Leonard!"
Mary thought that Sheldon's scream was her cue to fake wake up in a non-suspicious way.
"Good God, I slept like a baby." She said, while stretching her arms. It seemed a bit too exaggerated but thank God those two would never notice. "Are we close to the Home Depot?"
"Yes, Mrs. Cooper. Only about a miles left."
"Alright." Mary started to think about anything – literally anything – to keep her from asking all the questions surrounding her head. She knew the only thing that'd happen if she did ask them was Sheldon shutting down and she didn't want that. "So, Leonard, where's your wife tonight?"
"Oh, she's at Amy's. The girls are having some sort of girls' night while they start the preparations for tomorrow."
"That's nice." She turned to her son. "Shelly, why don't you tell Amy to come to cook at your place tomorrow instead of bringing in the food? I'd like to help."
"Are you sure, mother? That would be a change in the plan."
"What plan?" Leonard asked, as if it was his first day as Sheldon's friend. Sometimes seems like he's never going to learn.
"The Christmas' plan." He stated, with the unsaid "obviously" there. "I have a portfolio and everything. Don't you read your e-mails?"
"When they come from you, usually no."
"That is absolutely your own loss. I put the best of my wisdom on them. You could be doing important contributions to science by now if you read them."
Mary felt like it was the right time to intervene, even though she was having fun with the discussion. She would never admit it, but watching her son interacting in his condescending, strange way sometimes brought certain sense of pride to her.
"Okay, boys. Don't get all offensive here." She said. "And, Sheldon, I want to help with the meal, and I think Amy and I should spend some time together. I didn't even see her yet, and it'd do us good to talk for a bit."
Her tone was serious, but not too harsh – at least she didn't think so. But hearing Leonard's scared "oh", she thought if it didn't have the same effect on her son.
Of course she wouldn't do anything to Amy – if she was being honest, she was really grateful for having Amy in Sheldon's life. She did want to know how their relationship was going and maybe give her a warning or two.
Mary did not want to see her baby boy so hurt again.
"I'm going to talk to her, mother. I think she will be pleased."
"I'm sure she will, Shelly." She assured, padding his shoulder. "We're family, after all."
The smell of pine trees was strongly surrounding the trio.
A great part of the parking spot was filled with trees and people. Mary thought it was adorable, all that holiday spirit. December was always a magical month.
Her son, though, didn't share her opinion.
"Oh my God! Look at all those people! Don't they have anywhere else to be?" He complained. "And it's December 23rd! Weren't they supposed to buy the tree earlier the month?"
"Sheldon, we're here today. We can't blame them for being late." Leonard said.
"Of course we can. We're buying today because a Christmas try is going to make A-" he stopped for a moment, "my mother happy. And I'm a good son."
They were idly walking through the space, not really noticing any specific trees.
"Can't we just choose one and go home?" Leonard pleaded.
The place was really crowded, as if nobody in town had bought their tree yet. Even Mary was starting to lose her patience. A part of her still couldn't believe her son was doing this for his girlfriend.
"No" Sheldon protested. "We have to get the perfect one."
"How can a tree look perfect, Sheldon?" Mary asked him.
She was truly curious about what his definition of a perfect tree was like. He never even cared about the holiday, imagine caring enough to actually participate in small details like this.
"It has to be how they appear in Christmas movies. Tall, round and symmetrical." He affirmed.
"Since when do you watch Christmas movies?" Leonard teased.
Sheldon actually blushed. His faced had a cute shade of pink and Mary thought he looked adorable.
"It's none of your business, but Amy and I watch some when it's the holiday season. Don't act like this is a big deal." He said defensively.
Mary felt like she had to intervene again. Those two fought like two cocks.
"That's very sweet of you. I'm sure we can find a Hollywood-worth tree out here. Let's just keep looking."
"Sheldon! I can't believe you picked a Christmas tree!" Amy exclaimed in the moment she stepped into the apartment.
Sheldon hushed in her direction, grabbing half of the pans Amy managed to get upstairs. How she did it was a mystery.
It was the morning before Christmas and it seemed like Mary didn't scare Sheldon off with her request to cook with Amy.
They made their way to the kitchen isle while Mary just watched them interact. Amy's smile was reaching her ears and Sheldon had a smug face on.
"I did. Do you like it? He asked her, a bit apprehensive.
"Do I like it? It's perfect! Can we decorate it later?" She sounded almost childish as she pleaded.
"Of course. That's the tradition, isn't it?" Sheldon said, trying to sound as serious as he could, but he was obviously very pleased with himself. Apparently he was putting a lot more effort into their relationship. A change in they rhythm, sure, although it was a good one.
"Well, yeah, but I didn't expect you to follow it." Amy admitted. Only them she seemed to notice her boyfriend's mother standing against the wall in the hall. "Oh, Mary, I didn't see you there."
She quickly made her way towards Mary, who stood there with her arms open. Their hug was tight and had a lot more of emotion than any of them would like to admit, but the fact that they were there, united again – at Christmas no less – was a true blessing.
"I missed you" Amy whispered. Mary's eyes filled with tears, a wave of maternal affection rushing into her. "I missed you too" was what Amy heard in return.
"All right, enough chit chat, you two. Are we going to prepare dinner or not?" Sheldon broke the mood. The reason behind his actions may or may not be the tears he tried to hold back, not quite successfully – we may never know.
"Shelly, don't you have some science-y thing to do? I thought I was clear when I told you I wanted to have quality time with Amy."
"I always have science-y things to do, mother. That's the great thing about physics. But I don't want you two to do all the work all by yourselves." He said, suspiciously blinking. As if Mary didn't know him enough to identify when he was lying.
"Sheldon, you can go. I won't scare Amy off, if that's what's troubling you." She teased with a joking face. It wasn't enough to ease her son.
He looked so terrified it would be easy to think he came out of a thriller movie.
"It's okay, Sheldon. You mother and I have a lot of catching up to do." Amy tried to smooth her boyfriend. Her hand went quickly to his cheek, and back to the front of her body just as fast. Mary watched as her son seemed to calm down, without even flitching with Amy's touch. That's rare.
And then something even more disturbing happened. After mouthing a "okay, I'll leave you two alone", Sheldon went and gave Amy a kiss. In the mouth. In front of his mother.
Oh, Mighty Lord, I know I asked for a miracle, but even I didn't expect You to go so far.
"Please, text me whenever you finish. We still have a tree to decorate." He reminded, grabbing his coat and making his way out of the apartment.
"So, seems like it's just the two of us now." Mary smiled at a nervous Amy.
"I can't believe he did that!" Amy exclaimed, laughing so hard she put her hands on her belly. Too good she was wearing an apron, otherwise her denim skirt would've gone white from the flour.
"Well, he did it. And I just found out when some FBI agents came to our door asking if a Sheldon Cooper lived there, and asking why he wanted to buy uranium." Mary finished her story, smiling nostalgically. "That boy was a handful."
"I had no idea. I mean, he told me some stories about his childhood, but most of them involve his siblings teasing him" Amy admitted.
"Yes, the poor thing suffered a great deal. Nobody could understand him. Well, even now nobody can understand him." Mary said without giving a second thought. And then she added "You being the exception, of course."
The corner of Amy's lips tilted up, pleased with the belated comment. Mary remembered the words Sheldon used to defend their relationship, so many years ago. "By any standards, Amy is more similar to me than anyone else." It was still clear how much.
"I don't know if I already told you, but I am so happy you two are back together. I knew that was gonna happen, ya know. I prayed every night for months, and the Lord never fails."
Amy looked at her eyes, probably searching for the tiniest bit of irony. With the staring opportunity, Mary could analyze her gaze. The eyes could never lie.
Amy's eyes were green, with blue corners and some gold freckles. They shone in a way that could only be described by big emotion, like she was in the verge of crying. She could tell her son's girlfriend was also still insecure, waiting for an approval she already had. Mary felt like hugging her again.
"I am really, really happy too." Amy muttered, her voice breaking slightly. "Please, tell your Lord I said 'thanks'."
Mary smiled at that. "I will."
After the emotional time passed, they continued to cook the meal. It did require a lot of work, although Amy had done some things in advance with the other girls the night before.
Even though they talked about pretty much anything, Mary still hadn't asked the thing that was keeping her alert.
Throughout the time she was there, there were some hints and comments that disturbed her peace. Specially one made by Leonard, referring about something that happened on Amy's birthday.
Mary could think of some pieces that fit the puzzle just right, but all of them did not seem like anything her son would do.
Except… Well, Sheldon had made all the effort to get Amy a tree, and he had kissed her – on the mouth! – in front of Mary. She knew some changes were happening due the breakup, but not so extreme.
The most absurd thing came to her mind. S-e-x. The three letters shinning like neon lights behind her eyelids every time she blinked. She had to ask.
"Amy, darlin'" she started, and the woman in front of her gazed idly smiling, as if Mary made her remember something, "I need to ask you something and I need you to be honest."
Amy gained back her focus after hearing Mary's serious tone of voice.
"Go ahead." She said nervously, her hands trembling while she tried to cut up the edges of an apple pie.
"Please, don't get offended by this. It's just- I never-" Mary took a deep breath. That was harder than she thought it would be. "Sheldon seem to behave very differently with you. I'm not surprised by the shift in his behaviour, I think I understand why you broke up with him and maybe he does too. It's not strange that he's being more thoughtful or anything." She clarified.
"Okay. I agree with you, and he is much more thoughtful and sweet now than he's ever been. Still, I fail seeing your point" Amy's tone was defensive.
"Well, the thing that does surprise me is how much intimate you two look." Mary subtly arched her eyebrow. Amy blushed hard. Right on the target.
"Ya see, he always had difficulty with physical intimacy. I knew the two of you overcame that throughout your relationship, but he still seemed to have some reservations. Today, though, you touched him and he made no flee-like movement."
Amy had completely stopped working on the pie now.
"And that isn't even the most shocking occurrence: he kissed you. In the mouth, even though I was standing right there." Mary shook her head. "I had never seen him so comfortable with anyone else."
"He is comfortable with me because I understand him. You even said so." Amy defended herself, though she had no idea why.
"You do. But that only can justify the intellectual intimacy you have, not the physical one." Mary said matter-of-factedly, finally putting down the spoon she was using to stir the gravy. "Here's my question, and please be honest: have you two been sinning?"
Amy coughed. But not a light, delicate kind of cough. No, she looked like she was with the flu or any illness of the sort. Thank god Sheldon's not home.
"It's a yes or no question, darlin'. I am not here to judge anyone." Mary tried to comfort her while taking out the possibility of her refusing to answer.
"Can I get a glass of water, please?" Amy asked while she rested against the kitchen isle.
"Sure." Mary said, turning to grab her water. "Here you go."
Amy drank it in two big sips.
"I am going to answer you, but please never tell Sheldon you know any of this. He cannot… He doesn't want you two think less of him in any way." Her gaze was fierce, probably to make sure Mary would accept her terms.
"I promise you he won't hear a word." Mary assured.
Amy seemed to be satisfied, because she started to tell.
"First of all, I am taking your no judgment promise right back at you. I understand that your faith does not agree with this, but, well, we don't share that faith, so…" She started babbling. "When Sheldon and I got back together, I think he missed our physical contact just as much as I did. He has come a long way, but by now we touching each other is normal. We don't usually do PDA's, though. He surprised me too today."
"I get it. It's kind of cute of you two. But can you just say it? Yes or no question, remember."
Mary was getting really impatient.
"Okay. We got back, everything was great and sweet. And then after a month or so, on my birthday, he gave me the greatest gift he could. He said he was ready to be intimate, and, well, we did it." Amy was getting redder and redder while she spoke, and by the end she was the color of one of Sheldon's Flash shirts.
Mary had no idea of what to say. Even though she suspected that happened, the confirmation was a bit harder to absolve. That was her little Shelly… having coitus.
As the time passed, the silence grew more and more uncomfortable, until Amy broke it.
"Don't tell Sheldon I told you that. I know I already asked, it's just… he's so scared of disappointing you and… I don't know. I don't want you to treat us any differently. And I don't want you to be disappointed either." She rambled as she went back to working on her pie.
"Ain't no need to worry. I won't say a thing. Even better: I will pretend I never heard anything, alright?" Mary managed to say. Yes, denial was a great idea.
"Thank you." Amy looked a bit more relieved.
"And just to clarify: I am not disappointed. Surprised, yes, and maybe a little bit skeptical, but not mad or anything. I knew this was bound to happen." She put her hand over her daughter-in-law's. "If I wish you two were married before you started sinning? Of course. But deep down I know that's gonna happen sooner than later. We just have to wait."
"Oh, don't worry about that. I assure you I hold a Ph.D. in Waiting." Amy joked, laughing a bit.
The two women went back to the supper's preparations, a strangely peaceful air surrounding them.
"Wow. Sheldon actually bought a tree. I can't believe it!" Penny exclaimed in surprise.
The three young women and Mary were talking over wine in the kitchen while the guys played whatever videogames in the living room. It was something around 5 P.M. and they were going to start dinner soon.
"It was so sweet of him." Amy said dreamingly, her eyes sparkling with love. "When we finishing cooking he came home so we could decorate it together."
"Wow." Bernadette mirrored Penny. "So Sheldon can be sweet."
Mary didn't like at all the tone that woman used to talk about her son, but she drank the red liquid in her glass instead of start fighting.
"Bernie, you don't want to go down that road. Offending Sheldon in front of Amy is asking to be attacked, don't you remember?" Penny warned the other blond woman.
When Mary looked at Amy she saw what Penny was talking about. Her eyes were determined, her face red with anger, and her body so tensed up Mary was afraid she was going to pass down.
"I think it's time to ask the boys to turn out their little games and start arranging the dinner, don't you think?" was Mary's intervention.
"Yeah, we better do that." Bernadette agreed, scared of Amy. Again, Mary felt a strange sense of pride.
Once everyone was settled and Mary had said her prayers (nobody followed her, she noticed), they started eating. A lot of compliments were made to the food, which the two woman who spent their day working on it received gracefully.
After the food was eaten and the dessert was served, Sheldon raised himself to his feet.
"Now it's time to exchange gifts." He said, smiling.
"Sheldon, nobody bought anything. You hate exchanging gifts." Leonard argued.
A chorus of "yep" "that's right" "what's happening?" was heard.
"I do. But what you all fail to remember is that last year Amy and I exchange gifts in order to surprise each other. This year, I tried to surprise her again." He bent down to grab a package under the coffee table. "This is for you" he spoke in a softer tone, while handing the gift to Amy.
Her eyes filled with tears while she opened it. It was a pair of Christmas themed socks, and in the bottom of each it was written "I love you". It was the sweetest gift Mary had ever seen, and apparently everybody shared her opinion, because all the eyes were sparkling with held tears.
"You did surprise me, Sheldon." Amy said nodding. She looked at Sheldon with so much devotion Mary felt like she was watching a very intimate moment. "Although… You weren't the only one to try again."
Amy went to Sheldon's desk, where her purse was, and brought a box to him. When he opened, the box was filled with Christmas cookies.
"You made Meemaw's cookies again!" He grinned. Then, taking a bite, he added "They're even more perfect than last year's."
"Merry Christmas, Sheldon." Amy said softly.
Sheldon, surprising everyone in the room, hugged Amy and gave a little peck on her mouth. Mary remembered the revelations of the afternoon and everything made much more sense. She couldn't afford being anything but happy for her son, though.
Watching the two of them together, stuck in their little bubble of understanding, she felt like the Lord had given her the greatest Christmas gift of all: the opportunity of witnessing such pure love.