A/N: Okay this may be a bit longer than I had planned on in the first place but I am hoping to keep it to no more than 5 chapters. I just have so many ideas floating around in my head. This chapter will deal with Sheldon and Amy's quest for the perfect gift. It was hard not to write the spoilers I know but I did not so there is nothing here that will be in future episodes. Anything that may seem that way is not what you think. I will not reveal what the gifts will be well except for the large one which you will find out about at the end of the chapter.
Sheldon had the perfect gifts in mind. He decided on more than one gift for no other reason than he wanted to get them. He was beginning to understand that this was what you did for the ones you loved. He never understood this before Amy. She was constantly getting little things for him just because and never expected anything in return, even when he said he felt he needed to buy her something. Then he realized that he had done the same for her. The tiara was probably the biggest example. Even though he bought it to get her to forgive him, he easily could have gotten her a gift that was way cheaper. When he saw it in that blasted jewelry store Penny had dragged him into, he knew it was perfect. To him, she was a princess, even that early in their relationship. Penny had told him it was ridiculously too much. When Amy kissed him, he thought maybe Penny was right. He had been kissed by Amy before and he had been fascinated by it and not repulsed. She, of course, did not remember that kiss. He told Penny she was right and the tiara was too much, but deep down he did not believe what he said. He knew she deserved that and so much more.
She never made him feel guilty about the little gifts she would give him. She did it because she wanted to give him something. Even their first Valentine's Day, she put his needs above her own. She cancelled everything she wanted to do that evening and did for him. She ordered a pizza, because it was Thursday and watched Star Wars with him, even though she thought of it as a silly space movie. It was the single greatest gift she could have given him. She even told him to return the gift he had gotten her.
That year, he had thought long and hard about the gift giving process and he thought it a good idea to hand the responsibility off to his assistant, Alex. He gave her $2000 to find a gift and she got nothing that he thought was worthy of Amy. He knew what would make her happy so while he kept the one gift idea that Alex had bought, because it was truly remarkable, he returned the others and formulated his own plan. When Amy told him to take it back, he knew he couldn't. It wasn't something he could return and he had already turned in the paperwork to Human Resources. He wanted her to be the first one called if he ever got sick. She absolutely loved it and even hugged him.
She knew how much he hated Christmas and never expected to get a gift from him but she did little things for him. The first official Christmas they had as a couple, she didn't get him anything but not because she didn't want to buy one. He insisted that it was not necessary. She always listened to him. He was so grateful for that. However, the second Christmas, she made him cookies. She had said they were a special recipe she used to make with her mother and grandmother at Christmas each year. They were amazing. Of course not as good as the ones his Meemaw made, but still really good. He was beginning to think that maybe they could bake together this year using Meemaw's recipe. It was the one aspect of the holiday that he always enjoyed. It was something he did with his Meemaw and Pop Pop every year and then with his Meemaw after Pop Pop died. He thought it could be a holiday tradition he started with Amy.
He came home from Texas the year before to a stocking full of sweets. He had not expected anything since his friends knew of his aversion to gifts. It was a pleasant surprise. Leonard told him that Amy thought he needed something after all he had been through with his sister. She always knew just what would make him feel good. That was one of the things he loved so much about her. This year, he was going to prove it to her. He knew exactly what he was getting; now he just had to get to the mall.
What he hadn't expected was the amount of people that would be at the mall on a Saturday afternoon. Of course it was 2 weeks before Christmas, so he shouldn't be surprised. He absolutely hated it, but he knew he had to endure it if he wanted to get the perfect gifts. There were three places he wanted to go and he actually made it out in record time. He got everything he needed with no casualties. He took his purchases home and put them in his closet well except the biggest one which would be delivered in a few days' time.
Amy had no idea what to get Sheldon but she had never been more nervous about a gift before. She wanted him to see how much she loved him plus understand how much this holiday meant to her. She knew he hated it. She was hoping to try and start some traditions with him. It hadn't been easy the first couple of years they were together. The first year he insisted he did not need a gift even if she wanted to buy him one. So she returned the Flash shirt she had bought him. The next year she made him cookies. She knew he would eat them; he had such a sweet tooth. He loved them and while he said they weren't his Meemaw's, he told her they ranked a very close second. She never expected anything in return when she would buy him something but he always felt obligated. That was the main reason she didn't actually buy things but made them since he would then try and find something the exact same price as the gift she would get. It drove her crazy. For birthdays, she would take him out to dinner and he would do the same for her. It was easier that way. They usually picked their favorite restaurants and Sheldon didn't usually worry about the cost of the meals. They never exchanged any kind of anniversary gifts, they would just go out for dinner and then to the movies.
When she went to the mall that Saturday, she knew she was going to be met with a lot of people. It was only 2 weeks until Christmas. She had no idea where to begin her quest. As she was browsing the shops a kiosk caught her eye. They sold specialty pajamas. She knew Sheldon had a rotation of pajamas but she was hoping that these could make the cut. These had red bottoms that had koalas all over them and then a black shirt to match. They also had light blue bottoms with a white shirt that were for females. She thought it would be cute if they matched. She wasn't sure how he would feel but she was going to get them anyway. She continued shopping for a few more hours and was completely exhausted by the time she made her way home. She had plans with the gang that night at the apartment and knew they were all going to be exchanging gifts with each other. She picked up gifts for everyone while she was out and would just sign the card from her and Sheldon. She knew he wouldn't get them anything. She had a couple of hours before she was due to the guys' apartment so she decided to take a short nap before heading over.
When she arrived later that evening, she was met with quite the surprise. The apartment had been decked out in Christmas decorations.
"I thought we weren't going to decorate until next weekend." She said to Sheldon when he greeted her at the door.
"We weren't but my roommate and his fiancé thought it would be more festive for tonight's get together." He answered her.
"Oh come on Sheldon!" Penny said to him. "You have to admit it looks great in here."
"I will do no such thing." He answered. "Amy and I were going to keep the decorations to a minimum this year. We weren't even going to have tree."
"And you agreed to that Amy?" Penny asked.
"Hey I got him to agree to put up decorations. The least I could do was compromise." She answered. "So no tree I could live with. I have a ceramic one I was going to bring over next weekend for when we decorated. I guess I can leave that at home now."
"Why wouldn't you just keep it at your place anyway?" Penny asked curiously. "I mean why would you need your decorations here? Don't you want your apartment decorated?"
"You haven't told them?" Amy looked at Sheldon.
"I only have to give 12 hours notice for overnight guests." He answered.
"Wait, what?" Leonard asked. "Overnight guests? Who is coming? Is your family flying in from Texas?"
"Well I might as well tell you now, since Amy already said something." Sheldon said. "We are heading to Texas on the 26th and will return on the 29th. We are going to my nephew's birthday party. We will be spending Christmas together here at this apartment. I figured since everyone else would be away, Amy could stay here with me."
"Oh well that is sweet." Penny said.
"Yes it is. I will be sure the sheets are changed on my bed before I go." Leonard said.
"That won't be necessary, Leonard." Sheldon said.
"You can't make her sleep on the couch, Sheldon." He answered. "She is perfectly welcome to sleep in my bed while she is here."
"I think you misunderstand, Leonard. Amy will be sleeping in my bed while she is here." Sheldon answered.
"So you will be taking the couch or my room?" Leonard asked him.
"No, I will be sleeping in my bed as well." Sheldon answered.
"Let me get this straight." Penny interrupted. "You and Amy will be sleeping in the same bed over Christmas break?"
Amy had been quiet during this conversation. She didn't realize Sheldon had not told him about the arrangements.
"Yes." Amy said quietly. She wasn't sure why all of a sudden she felt embarrassed by the situation.
"Um, okay well that is great. But Sheldon, isn't your bed a bit small for two people?" Leonard asked seriously.
"Sheldon, he's right, it is small. I can't possibly stay with you for 2 weeks in that small of a bed." Amy exclaimed.
"That is why I bought a new bed today. It will be delivered on Tuesday." Sheldon answered quickly.
"You bought a new bed, just so I can stay here?" Amy asked him.
"Well I needed a new one anyway. I have had that one since I moved to California 20 years ago. I think it was time. So I got a queen size bed. There will be plenty of room for two." He said.
"I can't believe you did that." She said.
"Well like I said I needed a new one so it made sense if we are going to be sleeping in it together to get something where we will both be comfortable."
"Wow Sheldon way to go the extra mile." Penny said smiling.
"Yeah Sheldon, that is great. Well don't worry about the twelve hour notice, I never follow that rule anyway. You can invite Amy to stay any night you want and I will stay at Penny's if she is okay with it." Leonard said.
"Thank you Leonard." Amy said.
"Yes thank you." Sheldon said as well. "Well now that we have all that settled shall we order the food so it gets here by the time everyone else does as well."
"Yes we were thinking about ordering from the new Italian place up the road. Have you eaten there yet?" Leonard asked Sheldon.
"Yes, Amy and I had dinner there a few weeks ago for her birthday. It was quite enjoyable." Sheldon answered.
"Great so everyone but you guys have given us their orders. We will phone this in and it should be here by the time the rest of the group arrives." Leonard said.
The rest of the group arrived around 7 and they all sat down to have a wonderful meal together.
A/N: Okay so the next chapter will be how the gang reacts to Sheldon and Amy staying together. I think the girls may have to have a girls night maybe before everyone goes away. I think Penny and Leonard would be mature about it so I didn't want to have them overreact.
Reviews always help me write faster but since there is so much going on in my brain right now, I can't tell you when it will be ready.