Leonard was astonished about how stressed Sheldon was. It surely wasn't the first time he was going to Texas but for some reason he had run around like a scared squirrel all morning. Even though Leonard had told him to calm down repeatedly and made him chamomile tea, Sheldon was impossible to stop. He double-checked if everything he needed was in his suitcase and almost acted like there were no stores in Texas.

"Buddy, calm down" Leonard sighed once again when Sheldon rushed past him.

"I only have ten minutes left to have everything ready, don't tell me to calm down!" His high-pitched voice sounded from his bedroom.

"You do have everything ready" Leonard fell down on the sofa and stared at the two big suitcases Sheldon had already packed.

He was kind of happy that Sheldon wouldn't be here for a week – it gave him an entire week of living with Penny. On the other hand he'd sure miss him and Amy when they'd have one of their weekly friends-evenings.

Sheldon rushed back into the living room, looking around, then smiling happily. "I think I have everything!"

"Great!" Leonard nodded. "Are you excited about your sister marrying?"

Sheldon looked at him as if he didn't understand that question. "Why would I? It's not a surprise. They have been together for a long time and have an offspring together. A wedding was just next in line."

"A hopeless romantic at heart" Leonard grinned and got back up from the sofa. "Come on, buddy, give me one of these suitcases. I'll help you."

Sheldon was grateful. He smiled at his best friend and then walked after him out of the apartment. The two men started carrying the two heavy suitcases down the stairs.

"So, you're going to spend an entire week with Amy. Excited?" Leonard turned halfway around to see his friend.

Sheldon seemed confused again. "Why would I be excited?"

"You've never spent so much time together with her. Maybe things will happen…"

"What things?"

He had an idea what Leonard meant but he tried to play silly. Of course he had thought about sex with Amy – more and more within the last few months. But he still didn't feel quite ready. She was beautiful and desirable, no question. He also felt certain things happen to his body and hormones whenever they touched or kissed. But there was still this little barricade in his mind that set a panic attack free and told him to stop when things were about to get serious.

"Don't worry, buddy" Leonard just replied as if he had read Sheldon's mind. "The time will come and then you'll know it."

Sheldon decided not to answer. He quietly walked down the stairs behind his small friend and thanked him, when he held the door open for him.

Amy was already waiting in the car. When she saw the two men come out of the apartment complex, she got out of the car and opened the trunk. Leonard and Sheldon shoved the suitcases in and then turned to Amy.

"I hope you'll have a nice time" Leonard smiled.

"Thank you!"

Leonard quickly hugged Sheldon and nodded at Amy. Then he watched them get in the car and drive away.

Amy had hardly slept. Thoughts had been spiraling around in her brain. There were so many things to be nervous about; meeting Sheldon's family, spending time with them, sleeping in the same house as Sheldon, maybe even in the same bed. Amy quickly looked over at her boyfriend, he was typing on his phone and seemed very concentrated. Nervously she bit her lips and concentrated back on the street. Of course the thought of sex had struck her mind again. She knew they were probably still far away from it but ever since she had found out how his kisses tasted and how his muscular arms felt under her hands and around her, she couldn't stop imagining what it must feel like making love with him. She would never have admitted it to anyone but she had often stared at his pants whenever she had been sure no one had noticed. The sad thing was, that the real thing was still completely left to her imagination.

"Did you bring anything for your nephew?" She started to smalltalk just to occupy her thoughts otherwise.

Sheldon's eyes suddenly widened as he looked up from his phone and stared out the window. "That would be social convention, right?"

"Well, yes" Amy agreed sheepishly, knowing that his panicked tone predicted nothing good.

"We need to go to the Comic Book Store immediately!" He suddenly seemed even more hectic than a few minutes before.

Amy raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Do you think the Comic Book Store is the right store to get a present for an 18-month-old?"

"What do you suggest?" His blue panicked eyes looked over to her and squinted when she suggested a toy store. "Funny, since you always claim all I ever buy are toys"

Amy sighed. She didn't want to fight already so she quietly drove her car to the Comic Book Store.

Stuart was surprised to see Amy enter the store. Over some time he had slowly become a part of the friends group – even if he wasn't always invited, they still had accepted him as an active part. Even Howard had started to tolerate him again after his mother had passed away.

"Hey Stuart"

The tone of her voice already told him she wasn't here voluntarily. He didn't even have to ask, it only took Sheldon a few seconds to enter the store after his girlfriend. He looked around nervously, running over to the shelf with all the action figures.

Stuart shuffled over to Amy from behind his counter. "What's he looking for?"

She crossed her arms. "A toy for his 18-month-old nephew"

Stuart knitted his eyebrows but instead of saying anything or walking over to help, he just stared at Sheldon in confusion and watched him go through the entire shelf helplessly and all frustrated.

In the meantime Amy had turned and looked around a little. She tapped Stuart's arm and pointed at a little rocket on the counter. "Do you sell this one?"

"Of course" Stuart nodded and walked back, followed by Amy. "Where are you going?"

She looked up from her purse. "To Texas. Sheldon's sister is getting married and we're invited."

It was impossible not to hear how proud she was.

"Oh, that's nice" Stuart nodded. "Even though I'll miss you both at D&D Friday"

"Are you sure you'll miss Sheldon's elven magic user that always tries to kill you or use you as prey?" Amy grinned.

While she bought the small rocket, Sheldon was still busy digging through the shelves and slowly getting desperate. Would it be bad to bring a comic book and read it to his nephew? That was clearly the only option he saw at the moment.

He spun around when Amy carefully touched his shoulder. "What?"

She raised the bag and looked at him deadpan. "I have something. Let's go."

Skeptically he looked at her and took the bag out of her hands, taking out the little rocket. His jaw dropped hardly noticeable and then he looked at his girlfriend. Admittedly, it was a better idea than a comic book. Before she could have even protested, he had grabbed the money and pushed it into her hand.

"Take care!" Stuart shouted after them, before they left the store.

Amy turned around and smiled. "I'll get you a T-shirt!"

They were relieved when they got their boarding cards and had their luggage stored and had gotten through the security check. Sheldon hated to fly – not because of flying itself but because of all the stress it caused. Being at the airport two hours early and then having to wait anyway. He didn't see the sense. Then this preposterous metal detector check and the times it had beeped and he had been touched by a stranger. Waiting for everyone to finally board. Not being able to sit down because someone was shoving their heavy hand luggage into one of the small boxes near the plane ceiling. Sitting next to a stranger that was either snoring or telling him "interesting stories" that didn't interest him in the slightest. No, actually flying was hell. But Amy was with him so he was in a better mood than usual. They still had some time to kill and what better way was there than shopping? Sometimes it was remarkable how much Penny had influenced Amy – even Sheldon noticed that. Wine drinking, shoe shopping, putting on makeup. Yes, it was definitely Penny's influence.

"I can't wait to meet your family" Amy smiled while walking through the Duty-Free Shop with her boyfriend. "I bet they are lovely"

"Most of them are" Sheldon agreed. "But George Junior and my cousins are… well, special. And Uncle Stumpy also is in need of getting used to."

Amy grinned – it still sounded fun. The only Texan she had ever had to deal with was Sheldon, but since she loved him she wasn't too worried about the others. She was sure she would like them. What still worried her was if they'd like her back.

She suddenly stopped in front of a huge shelf with teddy bears. "Sheldon, look"

"If you want a teddy bear I would recommend you get one in Texas with a Texan flag as shirt. I didn't know you collect these…"

How could he have missed the point so badly? Amy sighed, took one of the stuffed little bears and waved it around in front of his face. "For your nephew, Spock!"

"But we already have the rocket?" Sheldon pushed her hand down.

"I still think we should give the teddy a try nevertheless" She smiled and walked over to the register without waiting for an answer.

Sheldon sighed and shook his head. Missy probably would love her – she loved everyone who spoiled Noah to death. Of course, Mary was the proudest grandmother alive and did everything for the little pantie pooper. From what Missy had told Sheldon even Meemaw was a little stricter than Mary. The next thing Missy had mentioned was that Sheldon had to finally "grow a pair" and surprise their mother with more grandchildren. No one was expecting this from George Junior anymore – he had his own life and clearly his own lifestyle and it wasn't geared to children at all. But Mary still hadn't given up hope about Sheldon and Amy and them possibly having a kid one day.

Sometimes Sheldon felt guilty for being such a complicated person. He knew that all of the people around him tried hard to live with his quirks. Leonard had done a great job over the past years but on the other hand, he also lived with Sheldon so what chances had he had? Then there were all of his other friends who put up with him every day. Of course there was Amy who apparently really seemed to love him despite all of his peculiarities and had even managed to make him fall in love with her. But Sheldon was still most thankful for his mother. He knew just too well that he and his mother were two completely different people but she had put up with him all the time and respected him no matter what he had done. Missy had always been the little cuddly princess and, oh boy, had Mary loved this. But she had also had to accept the fact that Sheldon had always drained physical contact. She also had accepted that he wasn't religious in the slightest and that he rather believed in science than God. She had never abandoned him or never told him once that he was wrong the way he was. Sheldon smiled. Yes, it would be good to see her again. And it would be even better to really introduce her to Amy. He couldn't wait to make his mother proud again finally – by visiting her with the love of his life.