Author's note: Writer's block. Really really really bad writer's block. I'm so sorry, honestly. You can't imagine how guilty I'm feeling.

Amy walked up the stairs and tried not to make too much of a noise. Missy seemed extremely stressed and she didn't want to add to it. Her boyfriend had already made clear that Missy had more of Texan temperament than all of them combined and Amy wasn't sure how to handle that yet. She knocked on the door and immediately heard a loud "Come in!"

The neurobiologist entered the room and bit her lips. The room was a mess. Shoes lying everywhere. Garters lying everywhere. And Missy's dress seemed as if something had randomly thrown tulle at the young woman.

"Oh dear" Amy mumbled and hurried over to her boyfriend's sister to zip the dress and then fix it the best she could.

Missy blew a strand of hair out of her face and turned around. She looked pale and unrelaxed. "I'm never gonna marry John if it all continues like this!"

"Of course you will" Amy smiled at her but she didn't get a smile back.

Missy just turned back around and combed her hair with her fingers. "Men always think everything's so easy"

"But he loves you and that's what's most important" Amy knew she sounded cliché but she had no idea how else to calm the young woman down otherwise.

Missy sighed. "I wish he loved me as much as Sheldon loves you but hey, gotta work with what I got, don't I?"

Amy blinked a few times and swallowed. She didn't really know what to do with this information. Was Missy implying that John didn't really love her? And even more important; was she implying that Sheldon's love was even bigger?

Of course Amy knew that Sheldon loved her. But she was never sure about how much. She knew that it shouldn't have mattered but she still cared. This was no competition; it was just for her own peace of mind.

"I am sure John loves you very much"

"Oh, he does. But it's not that kind of teenage-butterfly-tummy-love anymore, you know? Sheldon won't shut up about you whenever he's on the phone with anyone from our family, while John just goes like 'She's probably breastfeeding Noah' when someone asks where I am." Missy sighed. "My hair looks awful."

Amy wasn't really able to process the news she just had gotten. Sheldon talked about her nonstop? And Missy thought he was in a teenage-butterfly-tummy-love with her? The neurobiologist felt a huge smile appear on her lips but wasn't able to stop it. She knew she was walking on thin ice since Missy was the exact opposite of relaxed at the moment. Luckily the door opened and Mary came in.

"Oh mom, this is never going to work out" Missy sighed and hugged her mother.

Mary patted her back and nodded at Amy. "Amy, dear, I think Sheldon could use some help with Noah."

"Stop chewing on that!"

Amy sighed and peeked into the living room. Noah was happily biting the tire of a little toy car, while Sheldon tried to get some order into three toy boxes. Amy was too far away to figure out what system he was going for. Quietly she entered the living room and smiled at the baby that immediately looked up at her.

"Thank God. Underage humans make me nervous!" Sheldon admitted and side-eyed his nephew skeptically.

"Just relax" Amy couldn't think of anything better. It was her first experience with a baby as well. She sat down on the big carpet and softly took the toy away from Noah, afraid he'd bite something off and swallow it. She handed him a little stuffed cat from one of the boxes. Noah happily grabbed it and stared at it. Then out of nowhere he began laughing and wiggled his arms around. Amy couldn't help but grin. When the little boy accidentally dropped the stuffed animal, Amy took it, hid her face behind it and made Meow-sounds. Noah's eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he stared at the toy. Sheldon watched the whole scenario and smiled. Amy was so good with kids. It wasn't the first time Sheldon had thought about starting a family of his own with her. He knew they were still pretty much in the beginning of that, even though they had been together for five years. But maybe it had been the slow pace which made their relationship so special after all.

"Do you think he's hungry?" Amy mumbled when Noah started whining.

"Maybe. Let's go to the kitchen." Sheldon stood up and wanted to take his nephew, but Noah raised his little arms towards Amy.

She stared at Sheldon with wide open eyes.

"Seems like someone has a favorite auntie" Sheldon grinned.

Amy took the baby into her arms and carried him to the kitchen, followed by Sheldon. While Amy sat down near the table with Noah on her lap, Sheldon started to prepare some bread, cheese, and pickles. Then he walked over to the table with a plate and Noah immediately grabbed the food and happily munched it.

"Do you think we'll have one of our own one day?" Amy sighed, entirely lost in her thoughts. She was charmed by the little boy and his baby smell, even though he left bread crumps on her skirt and his wet little fingers made her blouse smell like pickles.

"Eventually. I have never really thought about procreation. Even though I must admit we'd waste a lot of potential if we didn't have a baby with our intelligence."

Amy swallowed her answer. There he was again, thinking just about waste of potential instead of having a love child with her. But she knew what she had gotten herself into and she knew that after all she still loved him.

"Oh, there you are!" Meemaw entered the kitchen and planted a kiss on Sheldon's forehead. "Is everything alright? Getting along with the little bug?" One of her big smiles hit Amy.

Amy loved this woman. She was head over heels with her. She had never understood how this old woman had managed to put Sheldon under such a spell but now that she got to know her herself, she definitely understood.

"Yes. He just got a little hungry."

"That's fine" Meemaw caressed Noah's little rosy cheeks. "Keep eatin', boy. So you'll be big and strong like your dad and your uncles!"

Amy grinned and handed Noah another piece of bread.

Meemaw looked around between her and Sheldon, then she quickly caressed Amy's shoulder. "Will you be okay if I have a short talk with my little Shelly?"

Amy nodded. "Of course!"

Sheldon was confused but got up and followed his grandmother into the hallway.

"Shelly" Meemaw turned around and looked up at her grandson. "When will you finally make a move towards this pretty young woman?"

He blinked faster than he should have and knitted his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

"I can see that she's the earth and heaven to you, Moonpie. Don't waste your time. I saw how fondly you looked at her when she was holding Noah and I know that you want to have a family with this woman."

"Actually", he grinned, "we just talked about that. I said it'd be a waste of our intelligence if…"

"Stop with your science nonsense" Meemaw grumbled. "You love her. I have never seen you look at someone like that. You're crazy about this girl, Shelly. There's no way to deny it. And you know I know you better than you know yourself!"

Sheldon sighed, nodded, and stared at his shoes.

"I'm not tryin' to pressure you, Shelly. All I'm saying is don't wait too long. Sometimes you might think you're not ready but you are and all it takes is one tiny step into the right direction."

Sheldon looked up again, eyes wide open. "Do you think I should ask her to marry me?"

Meemaw just shrugged but had a huge grin on her face.

The physicist was suddenly all giddy and nervous. He stepped from one foot on the other. "I… I need a ring. I can't propose to her without a ring."

"Sheldon, you do not have to do that right now. I was just trying to help you a little bit. And you don't need to buy a ring. I still have the one from my mother and I think it'd suit Amy very well." Meemaw smiled as her grandson dipped into her arms.

She hugged him firmly and caressed his back, closing her eyes.

"I love you, Meemaw"

"I love you, too, Moonpie!"

The evening had laid darkness over Texas and the Cooper family including Amy and John was seated around the big dinner table. Mary and Meemaw had cooked more than double the people could have eaten but it looked delicious and Amy was afraid her stomach was audibly growling already. She felt incredibly well between all these people, with Sheldon on one side and Meemaw on the other. Noah sat on the opposite side of the table and kept smiling behind his pacifier every time Amy looked at him.

"Okay. Let's start eating." Mary declared. John immediately grabbed a pot.

"After we pray" Mary added and glared at her soon-to-be son-in-law.

John dropped the pot back onto the table and immediately folded his hands. Amy couldn't help but grin and the big man winked at her and tried to hide a small giggle. Amy liked him. He was incredibly normal compared to all the others. Of course they were lovable but they all had their flaws… very special flaws. Just like Sheldon.

They all prayed together, then Mary started pouring red wine in everyone's glass – except for George Junior's.

"Oh mom, come on"

"You're not gonna drink one sip" Meemaw hissed at her grandson and George Junior immediately shut his mouth.

They all raised their glasses – George's filled with water – and then took a sip. While they started a conversation, Amy looked at Sheldon who hardly noticeable squinted and put the glass down.

"Grape juice that burns" She whispered, grinning down at her own wine.

He looked up, smiled, and put his hand on her knee under the table. It both reminded them of this special Valentine's Day on the train to Napa Valley. And their breathtaking kiss. Amy almost sighed out loud thinking about it. His lips had been so delicious, tasting like wine and him. Deep, dark, and manly.

She swallowed and cleared her throat. It was not the right time to think about that right now. She was with his family and she needed to bond with them. But his hand on her knee didn't exactly make it easier to concentrate. Fortunately he didn't move it up.

"I heard you had a nice afternoon with Noah?" Missy smiled at Amy.

The neurobiologist nodded. "Yes, it was quite delightful."

"He seems to really like you. He keeps smiling at you." John mentioned, looking at his kid. Noah's attention was still on Amy and he wouldn't take his eyes off her.

Amy had no idea why but she was flattered. Babies didn't like everyone.

"Sheldon, I forgot to bring the bread baskets. Can you give me a hand?" Meemaw stood up.

"I'll do that, sit down!" George Junior offered immediately.

"No! Stay there and eat. I asked Shelly."

Once again George shut his mouth and stared down at his plate.

While Sheldon and his grandmother headed over to the kitchen counter, Amy engaged in a conversation with Mary, Missy, and John.

Meemaw made sure that Amy was occupied enough, then she quickly handed Sheldon a little box.

"What is that?" He whispered.

"The ring" Meemaw mouthed. "Put it in your pocket"

Sheldon quickly nodded and let the little box glide into the pocket of his black pants. If Amy slept in his room again tonight he needed to make sure she wouldn't see it or it wouldn't fall out of his pocket. The mere thought of Amy sleeping in the same room as him, sent shivers down his spine. He was more than sure that he wanted to touch her again. He stared over at Amy, starting to smile. She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen and she got along well with his family. And most importantly; she accepted him for who he was. He knew he wasn't easy and in mean arguments and fights with his siblings, they had always said he would die alone (which they had been scolded for by Mary countless times). But even though Sheldon had played it cool and told them physics was the only love he needed, he was still relieved he had found Amy.

"Shelly. The bread." Meemaw grinned and pinched her grandson.