Hi guys! Thank you so so much for all the wonderful reviews! You guys motivate me soo much to write more and I just want to say thank you very much for all your kind words and that I hope you continue to enjoy my stories. Also, thank you for all the favourites and follows, you guys make my day!

This is more of a explanatory chapter as a reviewer pointed out some things that they were a bit unclear about and I thought I would just straighten everything out now.

Please don't forget to review, I really want to know what you guys think and how to make the story clearer if anything.

Disclaimer applies: I do not own The Big Bang Theory, everything belongs to its rightful owners.

TBBT

The next day, Amy walked into work with a skip in her step. She had a bright smile on her face even though she hadn't seen Sheldon this morning. He left early to change and shower as he had a meeting with CalTech early in the day. After leaving the twins at daycare, which they had been attending since they were two, left Amy right on schedule which rarely ever happened.

As she walked into her lab, she was greeted by the smell of disinfectant and the chittering of the lab animals down the hall. She smiled as she shrugged her lab coat on.

TBBT

As her lunch hour was approaching, Amy decided to check her phone, she had 4 texts, one from Penny, one from Sheldon, one from Richard and one from a number she didn't recognise.

She opened Sheldon's first:

Hello Amy,
I hope that you've had a productive
day so far. I was wondering if
yourself and the twins would like to
have dinner with me this evening?
—S.

She smiled as she contemplating answering, but thought to read the rest of the messages first.

Next, she read Richard's:

Hi Ames,
How are you? I didn't see you on
Friday... Do you want to have lunch
together?
Richard.

Amy felt uneasy reading his messages. She had decided to return to work one year early from the three year hiatus that she had taken to look after the twins. She not only needed a to focus on the career she had spent so long building up but economically it was becoming a necessity that she return to work.

She had walked in on her first day to the delight of her colleagues. She recognised old faces and welcomed new ones. It was then that she had met Richard, however briefly.

Richard had seen the happiness on her face as Dr Jhai welcomed her back to her lab, showing her the new equipment and he loved the adorable look of recognition she had when she saw some of her old equipment.

Her colleagues were so happy to have her that it was difficult for Richard not to get carried along with the euphoria. He had welcomed her back as if he had known her from long ago.

It wasn't until a couple of days later that Richard plucked up the courage to talk to her.

"Dr Fowler?"

Amy looked up from her pesto salad, into the brown eyes of the man standing in front of her.

"Yes?" she smiled politely.

The man wriggled slightly, his tray of food in both his hands.

"Would you mind if I sat with you?" he asked.

Amy shook her head, "No, please sit,"

"Thank you," he answered, placing his tray down.

As he sat, he looked at her green eyes and warm smile, "Dr Fowler, I've read all your previous publications and I have to say that you have absolutely entrapped me in the research on degenerative diseases,"

She smiled, "Thank you, although admittedly it has been a long time since I've written to those standards,"

Richard's brows rose in slight surprise, "May I ask why? I've noticed you haven't published anything in the last couple of years,"

Amy nodded, "I took an extended maternity leave,"

Something deflated in Richard, children usually meant partner.

"Oh you have children?" he tried to mask his disappointment.

Amy nodded, smiling again, "Twins, a boy and a girl,"

Richard smiled with her, he didn't want to sound too forward but if he didn't ask then nothing else could ever happen.

"Dr Fowler, would it be completely out of line for me to ask you for your email, I'd love to pick your brain at some point or to have your opinions on some of my topics of research?"

Amy felt herself becoming confused, dammit, where was Penny when you needed her.

"Sure,"

TBBT

After that things had progressed with ria hard, they emailed a lot before they begun texting. She was glad she had finally found someone to talk with about her work again and someone who wasn't constantly being careful not to mention Sheldon.

Things went by smoothly for a while until a couple of months before Sheldon's return.

Richard would begin asking her things about her past relationships to which she had never answered except than telling him his name. Richard had gathered that he could be the twins' father but had only realised that Amy was very hurt by him. He considered this a point in his favour.

He also began to 'accidentally' touch Amy, whether it was a brush of the shoulders or catching one of her fingers in his. Amy wasn't quite sure she felt comfortable but she still treasured his friendship so she ignored it.

As she was about to reply to the text, she heard a knock on her door.

"Hello, Amy,"

Amy looked up to see the familiar face.

"Dr Jhai, how are you?," Dr Jhai had been Amy's mentor on her post-doc years and was now one her seniors.

"Fine thank you, Amy, I just decided to pop in to see how the packing was going," she smiled, "I've been talking with some of my peers at MIT and they are all very excited to have you,"

Amy's eyes widened, dammit she had forgotten all about that.

"Dr Jhai, I've completely forgotten, it's just, I've been so busy with the twins and Marie's illness that it must have just slipped my mind," she said apologetically.

Dr Jhai's eyebrows rose high in surprise, "Amy, I must remind you that they are expecting you next week," she paused, "I don't want to pressure you but if you're having any second thoughts—"

"No, Dr Jhai," she interrupted quickly, "I can assure you that I'm not, I gave you and the people at MIT that I will be transferring to their neurobiology department,"

Dr Jhai nodded her head slowly, knowingly, "Amy, it's not I that wishes you to leave, as your supervisor, I would love for you knowledge and ingenuity to remain at this institute but as your mentor and friend, there's nothing more that I would hope for you than the flourish and advance of your career, especially after the break you've taken,"

Amy nodded softly, she looked at the lines on the woman's face, filled with wisdom and understanding.

"Thank you, Dr Jhai, I promise everything will be ready by next week,"

TBBT

Amy sat on the table, waiting for Richard, she had agreed to have lunch with him. She took this moment to reply to Sheldon.

Hello Sheldon,

Yes thank you, the day has been

very productive, I hope yours has

also been. I would and I'm sure

that the twins will also like to

have dinner with you.

I need to speak to you urgently.

—A.

She reread, checking for errors and sent it.

Next, she read Penny's text:

Hiya Bestie,

I heard Sheldon stayed at urs

ystrday? I need the details

ASAP!

Amy smiled, of course Leonard must have told her.

Hello Bestie,

You'd be happy to know that

Sheldon and I are dating again

but yesterday was just merely

time that got out of hand... I need

to talk to you and Bernadette

ASAP but not today, having

dinner with Sheldon and the twins,

TTYL xx,

—A.

It was then that she heard Richard approach her.

"Hi Amy!" he greeted amicably.

"Hello Richard," she returned the smile.

"Where were you on Friday? Is Marie feeling better?"

Amy nodded thankfully, "Yes thank goodness, we took the twins to visit some relatives in Texas,"

We?

Richard shrugged it off, "I didn't know you had relatives in Texas!"

Amy nodded softly, "The twins do,"

He wasn't sure what that meant but he decided not to overthink it.

TBBT

As Amy shut the door of her car, quickly taking her phone out, she saw she had three texts.

Sheldon:

I sense this is important so I will

wait until this evening to ask

questions.

Is seven o'clock a good time for

me to arrive at your apartment?

—S

She quickly sent him a quick reply and moved on to the next text.

Penny:

OMGGGGG! Yessss Shamy

for the win! Girls' night

tomorrow here urgently! Bring

wine :) say hi to the twins and

Sheldon 4 me ;)

Amy smiled broadly, she wasn't sure who the break up had hurt the most, her or Penny. She quickly replied and looked at her watch. She was late picking up the twins.

TBBT

The twins had fallen fast asleep in their car seats as Amy pulled into the parking space in front of her apartment complex. As she took the key out of the ignition, she remembered the third text.

She quickly took our her phone and opened the text.

Unknown number:

Amy! I'm in town next week!

How are you? Would love to

see my niece and nephew 3

Lots of love,

Missy.

Amy was surprised at this but decided to reply later.

"Mommy?"

She heard Marie call from behind her.

"Hi baby," she greeted, "good you've woken up, we're home,"

She took off her seatbelt and proceeded to unlatch Marie from her child seat, Tyler still fast asleep.

She placed Marie on the pavement, the infant rubbing at her sleepy eyes. Amy took Tyler out carrying him as he nestled into the crook of her neck.

She took Marie's hand and they stood by the elevator waiting to finally arrive at their apartment.

TBBT

It was seven on the dot when she heard the ritualistic, knock knock knock, "Amy, Marie and Tyler," knock knock knock, "Amy, Marie and Tyler," knock knock knock, "Amy, Marie and Tyler,"

Amy quickly finished placing the clip in her daughter's hair and opened the door.

"Hello Sheldon," she greeted brightly.

"Hello Amy," he replied, returning her smile.

"Daddy!" Marie leaped towards her father and Sheldon lifted her up into her arms, "You left without saying goodbye this morning," the little girl crossed her small arms and stuck her bottom lip out.

Sheldon looked from Marie to Amy amused, Amy grinned at him and turned to look at her daughter.

Sheldon nodded, "You're right, I apologise," he said.

Marie smiled at him, "I forgive you," she kissed his cheek and Amy held her breath.

Sheldon looked surprised at Marie then to Amy.

He didn't say anything but Marie and Tyler didn't notice.

"Okay guys, go and bring your one toy for the restaurant okay?" Amy said, taking Marie from Sheldon and setting her on the ground.

When the twins were out of sight and earshot, Amy asked, "Are you alright?"

Sheldon looked at her, the same dumbfounded expression on his face, "I never imagined that moment in my life, my own daughter," he was left speechless and Amy smiled.

Sheldon softly shook his head as if clearing his thoughts and looked up to see Amy.

"I believe I haven't said hello properly," he said, walking towards Amy.

He quickly pecked her lips, even that leaving him breathless. He couldn't stop thinking of yesterday's kiss. He wanted, no, he needed to taste the sweetness of her lips.

Amy blushed as the twins walked back into the living room.

TBBT

Once they had ordered and the twins were eating, Amy decided to speak to him.

"Sheldon, I have something to tell you," she took a deep breath as he placed his chopsticks down.

"Alright," he said, wiping his mouth.

"I'm transferring to the neurobiology department at MIT next week,"