As Amy helped Mary clear the plates from the table, he wondered just what was left between herself and Sheldon.
Was it something more than friends or was it just a platonic relationship between the parents of the same children?
She remembered the constant text messages she had been receiving and exchanging with Richard. He was a biologist working at CalTech of all places.
She wasn't sure what he was looking for but he had been someone to confide to for the past month.
Missy was enjoying the time with the twins, they were only staying for the weekend but she had already played with them every game imaginable. She even took out her old toys and books.
Mee-Maw had also been with the twins reading them every book they wished to be read. She knew there was something going on between Sheldon and Amy, she saw it in the way they looked at each other when the twins did something adorable, as if they were silently thanking each other for them.
She knew how stubborn her grandson could be but she wasn't about to let her great-grand babies live in a broken family.
Mary had explained the circumstances to her, she knew that Sheldon left to Europe before Amy found out she was pregnant and as much as it pained her to say it, Amy did the right thing.
Her Shelly wasn't ready to make such a decision of choosing between family and science.
It was as Tyler and Marie were yawning profusely that Mee-Maw decided to get Missy to call Amy.
Amy was in the kitchen, putting away the plates Mary was drying as Sheldon washed them.
"Amy, the twins seem like they're ready for bed," Missy said, poking her head into the kitchen.
"Oh okay," Amy began, "I'll just finish here—" she was cut off by Mary.
"Nonsense dear, you go and put my grand babies to bed, I prepared Sheldon's old room for them,"
Amy smiled and nodded before following Missy back to the living room.
When Mary was sure that Amy was out of ear shot she spoke, "Now Shelly, what's your business with Amy?"
Sheldon, who had been silent for the entirety of the exchange, gave his mother a confused look.
"Business?" he began, "I do not have any pending contractual activities to conduct with Amy,"
Mary sighed, "Come on, Shelly, I know that you still are very fond of her,"
Sheldon looked down, but Mary continued, "You need to let her know, you need to be able to give those children everything they haven't had since the day they were born, they need a real family,"
Sheldon was quiet for a while before letting out a sigh, "Mom, I feel about Amy something indescribable, something that not even I can explain yet no matter what, the feeling has never left me, not when I was in Switzerland or now," he was quiet again, "But what if she doesn't feel that way about me?"
Mary smiled, Amy couldn't hide it. At least not from her. She could tell from the way she grinned and the twinkle in her eye appeared when someone pointed out how much the twins looked like Sheldon. But she wasn't about to tell this to Sheldon. He was going to have to find out for himself.
"I guess you're just going to have to take that risk, Shelly,"
TBBT
Amy was putting the twins to bed when there was a ritualistic knock on the door followed by her name.
"Come in," she called.
Sheldon walked in, "Would you like me to help you?"
Amy remained quiet for a second, in her head deliberating. This would be the first time they both partook in looking after the twins.
She nodded, as Sheldon approached them.
Both children were now in bed, Amy was holding a book in her hand.
"Oh, Little Red Train: Busy Day," Sheldon exclaimed, "that was my favourite book growing up,"
Amy smiled, "Marie picked it out,"
They turned to look at the twins, who were now fast asleep.
Amy looked at Sheldon, her eyebrows raised.
"How far into the story did you get?" Sheldon whispered.
"The title," Amy whispered back.
They both grinned, trying not to make too much noise.
"It has been a tiresome day," Sheldon reasoned.
Amy nodded as they both walked out. When they rejoined the rest of the family in the living room, George Jr. had also joined them.
"Hey little brother," he said looking up from his plate of food.
"Hello George," Sheldon replied, he had never had the best relationship with his brother but he had learnt to tolerate him.
"George, this is Amy," he said motioning towards Amy who was standing next him.
"Hello, George," Amy greeted.
George got up from the table and shook Amy's hand.
"So this is the little lady who made my little brother a man, huh?" George remarked as Amy blushed a deep red.
"George!" Mary remarked, "Now don't you start,"
Sheldon cleared his throat, "Yes, well...I'm sure mother has told you about the twins,"
Missy and Mee-Maw were watching the exchange play out. They knew George liked to push Sheldon's buttons so they were on stand-by to avoid an argument.
"Yeah, Missy told me they're sleeping," George continued as he moved to sit down, his cargo pants ruffling as he bent his legs.
"Yes," Sheldon spoke.
After a moment of silence, Mee-Maw decided to end it.
"Amy, darlin' come and sit with me in the porch," she suggested, "The sunset evenings are always the best in East Texas,"
Amy smiled and followed the woman out as Sheldon moved to sit by his sister and mother.
"So Shelly, what's your deal with her?" George asked.
"Georgie!" Missy berated, "it's non of your business,"
George tutted, "It was just an innocent question, sis,"
Mary continued, "Now this is bringing back memories," she said, "George pesterin' Shelly and Missy being the peacemaker,"
After a short smile she looked at her three children, "Now cut it out and act like adults,"
TBBT
Mee-Maw sat with Amy on the porch. They were sitting in a comfortable silence.
Amy was amazed at how Sheldon's grandma could make people feel. So warm and welcome.
It was until a couple of minutes later that Mee-Maw spoke, "Amy, you're a scientist too Shelly has told me,"
Amy turned to look at her, "Yes, I'm a neurobiologist, I study the brain,"
Mee-Maw smiled, "There was not a thing Shelly would forget to tell us about you," she paused, "he always said you were the most magnificent woman he's ever met,"
Amy blushed, she wasn't aware that Sheldon told his family about her in such detail.
Mee-Maw smiled, "It's alright, dear," she patted Amy's hand.
Amy looked back out to the horizon, the sun was just beginning to set.
"He's a good guy, my Shelly," she paused, "I know he's hurt you," she turned to look at Amy, "But I have never seen him act like he does with those children and you,"
Amy looked down, she knew what Mee-Maw wanted, she didn't know what she wanted.
"Maybe you should think about that, darlin'," Mee-Maw got up from the chair on the porch and walked in.
Amy took this time to think about what she had said. Sheldon was different with the twins, maybe also with her, but did that mean that he was willing to make a relationship work with her?
Just as Amy thought that through, Sheldon stepped out.
"Hello Amy," he sat on the chair his grandmother had previously occupied.
"Hello," she replied.
After some moments of silence, she decided to speak up. She was finally going to lay her cards on the table.
"Your family seem to think we should be pair-bonded," she caught his attention.
He blushed and after a moment said, "It isn't something I haven't thought about,"
Amy was surprised at this, "Really?"
He nodded turning to look back at the now almost set sun.
"I know I've hurt you," he began, "But they were never my intentions,"
Amy looked down as he continued, "I ended our relationship so you could be free, so you didn't have to keep waiting for something that maybe would never come," he paused, "Of course I wasn't going to pair-bond with another woman, I would have and will only ever be with you,"
Amy looked up at him, there were tears in her eyes as she remembered that day.
Sheldon didn't know where he had plucked that courage from but he wasn't about to lose it just yet, "I feel something indescribable about you, I feel like if I were a planet, you would be my gravity and I have never stopped feeling that way,"
Amy could feel a small tear leave her eye, "But why? If we get together are we doing it for us or for the children,"
Sheldon finally looked at her, the chairs were right by each other so he grabbed her hand, "For all of us, our family,"
Amy looked deep into his blue eyes, "I've never stopped loving you either, not even when I was so angry at you I thought I could kill you," she laughed.
Sheldon smiled, "Amy?" he asked, "Will you be my girlfriend?"
She smiled, "Yes,"