Chapter 60 - Aftermath - Penny and Amy
Sheldon and Amy left the Hofstadter's before dinner to spend an evening entirely at home, and except for Sheldon doing the laundry they stayed in all night, eating and cuddling on the couch. Amy just wanting to be held and Sheldon held her like she was the most precious thing in the world, which she was to him. They sat there on the couch for a while both lost in their own thoughts, while the TV played, neither of them really watching, Amy both scared and happy. She was happy because she was married to the man she loved and happy she had the beginning of their family in her, but scared that she wouldn't be the best mother in the world and terrified she wouldn't know what to do when the baby came. However Sheldon holding her did have a calming effect, because no matter how concerned she got about the future, she knew he would be always by her side. Sheldon just held her while he sat there, his chin on her head, the warmth and smell of his wife invading all his senses, this is what he wanted, her next to him, to talk to, to feel against him, and to never feel alone anymore. It was also amazing to him, that she was pregnant with their baby, his already strong urge to protect her, now was in overdrive as he thought about her and their baby being his family, the need to protect them the most important thing in his mind as he held her slightly tighter. They both didn't say a lot that night, both of them just happy to be in each others arms, them both feeling safe and content with their lives at that moment.
The Hofstadter house was in a similar state as the Cooper's, Penny was cuddled next to Leonard, food carry out boxes on the coffee table, while the TV was on there too, neither of them actually watching. Penny was just happy to have Leonard to herself that evening and the next day, because the guys agreed to not work anymore this weekend. It wasn't long before Penny had herself practically on top of Leonard, her one leg over his, her arm around him, her belly sticking over his lap and her face buried in his shoulder, her lips close to his neck. Everything she had been thinking of seemed to vanish from her mind as her raging hormones took over, her lips suddenly finding their way to his neck, kissing him, her teeth nipping his skin and finally her sucking at his neck leaving a deep purple bruise, her not even realizing she was instinctively marking him, to warn all other women to stay away. The rest of night was a blur to her, filled with pleasure and ecstasy, her mind and body both satisfied and content as she found herself in the end, in bed, wrapped in Leonard's arms as she came down from her sexual high. Penny sighed with the warm feeling that circulated right then within her, pulling Leonard's arms tighter around her as he spooned her and assumed a protective position around her, the secure feeling that accompanied being cuddled that way soon letting her fall fast asleep.
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The next week, Amy and Penny saw a lot of each other, every day to be exact, Amy and Penny meeting at Penny's house to talk, while they drank juice, about all that was going on. Penny had asked Amy to come over that Monday night, because she wanted to talk to her friend about her concerns, which resulted in the rest of the week Amy joining her every night to continue their conversations. The guys had been coming home earlier too, than before, Sheldon making sure of this, his concern for his wife and her condition turning him into a huge nervous wreck when he was away from her. However, even with them coming home early, Penny and Amy had been able to spend a couple hours each day discussing what the guys were doing, the possibilities of their actions and their wants, as wives and soon to be mothers, when it came to all that was happening.
Penny's feelings were the same since she had first learned all that was going on, but Amy was the one that had made the most change when it came to what the guys planned. When they first found them, that Friday night, Amy was the wife and fellow scientist to Dr Sheldon Cooper, but now she was the wife and future mother of their children, that responsibility taking a higher precedent to her than her scientific interest. The acceptance of any risk to her unborn child was unimaginable to Amy now, and as her and Penny talked through the week, they found strength in their convictions, from their mutual situation.
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It was that next Saturday, when the enclosure was finally constructed and the only thing that remained was to complete the final pressure seal on it. However before that final phase was started, they had to test the enclosure to verify that it wouldn't be taken away when the field was formed and sent to the worm hole. The enclosure was large almost reaching the ceiling and at least a foot larger than the pad that was in it now, completely encased. Sheldon had made all the calculations so they could make the enclosure big enough to not touch the field and strong enough to survive a vacuum, but until they tested it, they wouldn't know for sure.
The test would be really simple, they would send something through time and see what the energy field would do to the enclosure. If Sheldon's calculations were right and the field acted like they hypnotized, the enclosure would still be there when the field left with its cargo to another time. If they were wrong, may different scenarios were possible, some of them the guys didn't even want to think about. If that wasn't bad enough, they had to be careful what they sent and were it went to, so it was Leonard that came up of the perfect solution, a block of ice sent back that field in World War II England. It would melt fast and not leave a trace, and most importantly not impact their time line.
Leonard was nervous and looked at Sheldon, but it his friend was no help, he seemed just as nervous, which didn't do anything to relieve Leonard's feelings at all as they powered up the machine. Several bad things could happen in the next few minutes, the field could take the enclosure, either part of it or the whole thing with it. Then even if the enclosure didn't leave their time, the resultant vacuum, caused by the air in the enclosure being taken, could collapse the entire thing in on itself. So it was with a bit of trepidation, Sheldon activated the field and both scientists watched the next minute holding their breath.
It was only a moment later, they both were now standing and watching, as the field grew to full intensity, making both men involuntarily step back, fearing the worse. However, as the field left and the enclosure was still there intact, their ears were assaulted by the horrible groaning noise of the enclosure being crushed inwards by approximately 14.7 pounds per square inch on its exterior, due to the vacuum inside, and that made them step back even further. That wasn't all however, there was also a horrible whistling sound, of the air leaking through the seams, due to the enclosure being not sealed and the outside air trying to fill that interior vacuum. This high frequency noise that assaulted their ears, was especially hurting Sheldon's sensitive ears, making him want to run out of the room. So, Leonard found his courage and quickly walked up to hit the electrical switch which powered four solenoids, one on each side, that opened four values that allowed the outside air to fill the enclosure. The air quickly equalized the pressure on inside of the enclosure, with the outside, eliminating the groaning of strained metal and the horrible whistle, making Sheldon visibly relax.
"Well that really worked out well. The enclosure stayed and nothing broke." Leonard said with relief.
"Was there any doubt?" Sheldon stated simply, getting a glare from Leonard and realizing he probably was being too arrogant, especially after all that happened. "I guess it would have better without the noise though."
Leonard's glare softened, "Yeah it would. How are your ears."
"Better, thank you for asking." Sheldon responded as he and Leonard walked back to the computer console.
It was just then they heard the knock on the door to the room they were in. "Who's there." Leonard quickly asked.
"Its us Sweetie." Penny responded.
Leonard quickly opened the door for Penny and Amy to enter, immediately noticing something was wrong. "Um…..I was hoping you guys were going to bring some food." he said quietly.
Penny looked at her husband, it was now or never, "Sweetie we need to talk."
Leonard stared at her for a minute, those words making him a little scared about what was coming next. "Okay."
"Can we talk in your office?" Penny wanted to separate him from Amy and Sheldon, so Amy could talk to Sheldon alone too.
Leonard nodded, his worry ratcheting up a notch. "Okay." He then followed her to his office, neither of them saying a word, until Penny closed and locked his office door behind them, grabbing his hand and leading him to the couch.
Penny sat as close as she could to him, then leaned over and kissed him hard, making him understand how much she loved him, before they started their talk. She had to actually force herself to stop kissing him, as she started to get carried away with him, after a few moments of their kiss turning more passionate, and she finally pulled back to look at him in the eyes. She could see the confusion on his face, so she decided she needed to tell him now. "Honey, I love you so much, just the thought of being without you hurts more than you can imagine." Penny then looked at her belly, noticing Leonard's eyes looking at her belly too. "I love these two babies inside me too. We are a family and the most important thing to me is you and them, I will do anything to protect you all." She then stared at Leonard.
"Penny, I love you too and our babies, I would die for you all." Leonard softly responded.
Penny nodded, "Leonard we both agree what is most important to us, but one of us in not acting in a way to protect us."
Leonard looked at her even more confused as he understood she meant him. "I would do nothing to hurt you or our babies." he tried to defend himself.
"I know Sweetie, you wouldn't do anything deliberately, but Honey you are doing something to risk us all." Penny touched Leonard's face gently as she said those words.
"What Penny, what am I doing, I will stop immediately!" Leonard said while looking deeply into her eyes.
Penny hated herself for manipulating him this way, but she had to get through to him and make him understand. "Honey, what you are Sheldon are doing, because of that marker you discovered, has terrible risks that could result if something goes wrong. Amy explained them all to me. Sweetie, those risks apply to me, our babies and you. Why are you risking us all?" Penny hated putting him on the spot like this, but she felt she had to do it, so now she just looked directly at him, and waited for his answer.
"Penny, I…" Leonard just looked at her, suddenly not knowing how to answer. They just stared at each other for a couple minutes.
Penny decided to put all her cards on the table, "Honey, I don't want you to continue this. I want you to forget about it and not use the machine. I want everything to stay the same and I don't want to take any chances something will change again. Please Sweetie, for me, for us, stop."
Leonard looked down at his hands, ashamed to look at her. "Penny, what if…"
Penny didn't let him continue, "I don't care Sweetie. I want this life with you and our family, I do not want to take even a tiny chance on loosing it. Honey, this is the most important thing I have ever asked from you, even more important than the time I asked you to marry me. Please Sweetie, Please do this for me."
Leonard looked at her again, then slowly nodded, "I'll ask Sheldon and convince him to stop."
"You shouldn't have to talk to him, Honey. Amy is talking to him now." Penny confessed, admitting that her and Amy planned this, Leonard only nodded. Penny then launched herself into his arms and pulled herself tight to him, tears streaming down her cheeks, she loved him so much.
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Amy had walked to one of the chairs as soon as Penny and Leonard walked out the door, then looked up at her husband, a small sad smile on her lips. "Sheldon sit with me."
Sheldon looked at her a second, he had seen that look before and he wondered if he was in trouble. "Okay." He then pulled a chair up next to her and sat down.
Sheldon's chair was so close, Amy just leaned into him as he put his arm around her to hold her close and they just sat there for a couple minutes saying nothing. So after a short time, Amy was the first to speak, "I love you Sheldon."
A tiny smile formed on Sheldon's lips, being with her, like now, always made him feel content and happy inside. "I love you too, Amy and I love our baby in you too."
Amy smiled on how easily the words, 'I love you', flowed from his mouth and how sincere he was when he said them. She didn't want to hurt him, but she had to remind him. "Sheldon, Penny told me what happened in the parking lot on the day you left."
Sheldon stiffened, anger forming towards Penny because of her breaking her promise to him to let him decide if he would ever tell Amy. "Amy, what did Penny tell you?"
"Everything Honey. Don't hate her, she told me she promised she wouldn't tell me, but I am glad she did." Amy tried to reassure him.
Sheldon nodded, "I'm sorry then, I should have told you before."
Amy smiled and shook your head, "You don't have to be sorry Honey. Penny told me why you were keeping it from me, I know you were trying to protect me and I love you for it."
Sheldon smiled a little, "I didn't see a positive reason to tell you Amy. All I saw was it hurting you."
"I know Honey, I understand, really I do. But now that I know about it, there is something I have to ask you." Amy looked up at him.
Sheldon was a little concerned about what was coming next, but he nodded, "Ask anything you want."
Amy swallowed, hoping she was doing the right thing, she so didn't want to hurt him, "Honey, after knowing what happened to me and my baby then…."
Sheldon sucked in his breath, Penny told her about the baby too.
"Why are you risking me and our baby now?" Amy hated she said that to him as soon as the words left her mouth, but Penny told her they needed to give them a verbal slap to get their attention.
Sheldon stared at her, his jaw dropped, as his mind raced trying to analyze her words. "Amy how am I risking you?"
"Honey, I saw your boards. You tell me if there are clearly defined risks on them." Amy said quietly, looking at him.
Sheldon swallowed, "Amy the probably of something happening is…" he never got to finish.
"Sheldon are there clearly defined risks?" Amy interrupted him.
Sheldon sighed, "Yes."
"So there is a risk to me and our baby, even if small, it is still there isn't it." Amy looked at him, making him know she expected a honest answer.
Sheldon nodded in defeat and suddenly felt ashamed, he was risking her, something he promised he never do again. "What do you want me to do, Amy."
"Nothing Sheldon, I want you to do nothing." Amy told him and gave him a small smile.
Sheldon looked at her confused, "Nothing?"
Amy nodded, "I want you to ignore whatever you two found, shut this down and do nothing more about it."
Sheldon wanted to protest, but couldn't find it in himself, the risks she told him about were now nagging on his mind. She was right and he was wrong, and he was disgusted with himself for not seeing it before, so slowly Sheldon nodded, "Can I assume Penny is having this same conversation with Leonard."
Amy nodded. "Honey, Penny and I are pregnant with our families, we don't want to risk our children or our husbands. We want things to stay the same, any risk is unacceptable, to us. Please Sheldon, let us just live our lives and raise our family, no more time travel. I'm asking you to do this for me and our family."
Sheldon nodded. "I love you Amy, I will not risk you or our child. I will stop this now, I promise."
"Thank you Honey. I love you very much too." Amy then smiled at him and leaned up to him as he leaned down, their lips meeting half way, their arms going around each other shortly afterward, to pull each other closer to the one they loved.
A/N: This was a hard chapter to write, but I think it is in character for Penny to want to stop any risk that something would change and I made Amy pregnant to see it from Penny's point of view, so she could talk to Sheldon. The guys also needed a wake up and stop thinking about things as scientists and think about their obligations as fathers too.