. . .

The Anniversary Evolution

Year Eight

"Sometimes," Amy said even as she opened the door to their home, "I think that we take advantage of them too much, because they're just two floors down. But then when I drop Ada off, I see how excited Raj is, all these plans he has made for them to make Valentine's cookies before Stuart gets home, and I don't feel guilty anymore. Do you think that's bad?"

Sheldon, sitting in his spot on the sofa, Belle already curled up on his lap, the movie no doubt queued up and ready to watch, tilted his head. "You feel guilty about not feeling guilty about making Raj and Stuart happy?"

"Well, when you put it that way . . . You're right, they're crazy about her." Amy shook her head and walked toward him.

"That's because they have good taste in children."

Amy chuckled and look down at the coffee table. Not that she could have missed it, the giant number eight composed of yellow Post-It notes upon its surface. The ones she expected were there, of course, scattered between the extra blank sheets needed to compose the large digit.

"I love you more than Ada Lovelace loved mathematics."
"I love you more than the little mermaid thought she loved her prince."
"I love you more than I hated Five Quarters of the Orange."
"I love you more than the unnamed Japanese protagonists loved their guest cat."
"I love you more than Bagger Vance loved giving a lecture."
"I love you more than Andrew loved humanity."

Smiling broadly, Amy said, "These are getting more verbose every year."

"We need to pick simpler books."

"Why the extra pieces? Just to make a large eight?" she asked, finally sitting down next to him on the sofa, and she reached over to scratch Belle's outstretched chin.

"Ah, look!" Sheldon leaned forward with eagerness. "It's no longer just the numeral eight. It's even grander and more important from this angle."

Looking again, Amy said, "The infinity symbol?"

"Yes, the lemniscate. Obviously. What the number eight looks like when you turn it on its side."

"Okay, so that's fun and interesting, but why do I feel like I'm missing something?" Amy turned toward him and wrinkled her brow.

"Don't you think it's interesting that society puts a lot of emphasis on various other anniversaries - first, twenty-fifth, fiftieth - when, in reality, we could all just stop counting at number eight because it also represents infinity?" he asked.

She sucked in her breath and stopped the first thought that came to her mind from coming out of her mouth. Loving Sheldon meant knowing that things that seemed perfectly obvious to him were not necessarily obvious to her. "Can you explain this concept to me further? Because," she swallowed, "I would like to think the you are not saying that after this year you never want to celebrate our anniversary or . . . this day ever again?" Finally an exhale.

"No! Amy, no!" Sheldon reached for her hand. "That's not what I meant at all. I love celebrating with you, and we can do it for, well -" he waved his free hand "- infinity if you want. I'm just saying that this year is the recognition of that infinity. We're forged together now, our lives forming an endless loop. Isn't that far more important and exciting than bronze or linens?"

Amy smiled and squeezed his hand. Why had her subconscious ever leapt to a false conclusion and doubted that something sweet and romantic was lurking behind this little gesture? He may be using science and math as his excuse, but it was just that - an excuse - to find another way to reveal his sentimental soul.

"That's lovely. But we gave up on the traditional anniversary gifts years ago. And I, for one, believed that we've been forged together for at least eight years already. Our infinity started ages ago," she said.

Sheldon paused and then nodded. "Yes, of course, you're correct. I'm sorry, it was just a silly little idea." He reached forward to pull the extra notes off the coffee table.

"No!" Amy reached out and stopped his hands. "Leave them. I love the idea, Sheldon. There's no one else in this world I'd rather be forged with, whether it was eight years ago or today. Or even beyond infinity."

He sat back with small smile. "You do know that's impossible, right? Technically, as infinity never ends, it's impossible to go beyond it no matter what Buzz Lightyear told billions of impressionable children."

"I love you, Sheldon. So much." Amy leaned forward and kissed him. "Shall we watch the movie?"

"I'd love to." Just a pause and then he said, louder, "Computer, play movie." Three quick chimes of acknowledgement and About Time started. Amy wrapped her arms around Sheldon's and pulled her feet up to curl up and lean into him.

Although she always enjoyed this movie and especially it's meaning for them as a couple, Amy had already seen it at least seven times so she let her mind wonder. She turned her head to watch Sheldon watching the movie. If he noticed, he didn't respond. It was a such a small thing, really, watching this movie with him. Just as those Post-It's aligned on the coffee table were small objects arranged with a small action. And, yet, all these objects and actions and rituals meant far more than infinity to her. Just as Sheldon did. Still, after all these years, she loved watching him: the way he stood at his whiteboard, the way he moved his hands with flourish when he had an idea, the controlled way he moved about their home and through her life.

It wasn't just that he was handsome, although he certainly was. She loved how everything was so planned with care; he'd probably had the idea for the Post-It notes for months. She loved the way he talked, the cadence of his words, especially when he was making a point that he felt others had gotten wrong. She knew they had both changed and perhaps grown and matured with time - certainly, motherhood had been a huge wake-up call to her - but she loved seeing flashes of the man she had fallen in love with, despite all his faults at the time. They had had so many silly games and plans then, like starting rumors as an experiment. Some had survived with less frequency, like Counterfactuals, but some had fallen victim to time and a child and, at least for her currently, a busier career. She wondered if Sheldon missed any of those things, too. Even though the result had been far less than ideal, his enthusiasm for the mini golf field trip had been a joy to watch and get caught up in herself. Was that sign that he missed his little projects?

"Sheldon?"

"Hmmm?" He turned. "Do you want me to stop it?"

"No, it's fine." She shook her head. "I was just wondering, why don't you do Fun with Flags anymore?"

His brows dipped behind his glasses. "What unusual timing for such a question. Well, as I'm sure you recall, we lost all the props and supplies in the fire and then Ada was born and . . ." He sighed. "I guess time just got away from us. We had to focus on Ada during all our free time for so long, and now your study is so important . . . " A shrug. "All our viewers have probably forgotten about it, anyway."

"Do you miss it?"

"Sometimes. But newer, better things have taken it's place, maybe."

"Maybe." Amy smiled. "Ada might be getting old enough that you could perhaps entice her to join you, if you want."

Sheldon tilted his head. "Are you saying you miss it? That you'd like to start it up again?"

"I don't know. It was just a thought. Maybe if you and Ada planned it and organized it all, I'd enjoy being a part of it again." Amy reached down to pet Belle's head again. She really didn't know why she's brought it up. But it had been so much fun.

"No, if we do it again, it should be just you and me," Sheldon said.

Amy looked up in surprise. "Really? Why?"

"It's our thing. Like Book Club." He paused. "But it's okay if it doesn't interest you anymore. As I said, no one is likely remember the show or the man behind it. Some things don't last for eternity."

Smiling softly, Amy nodded. There was the older, wiser, more mature, more pragmatic Sheldon. And he was probably correct. She snuggled up against him, and he moved his arm to go around her and pull her in closer. Yes, this was the bond that was forged to last forever, and maybe that's the only one that mattered.

It wasn't like her. In fact, it was so out of character for her that he was forced to ask if she was ill or if she had objections to the restaurant he'd suggested despite her previous agreement to calling and making the reservation herself.

"No, Sheldon, it's fine," she'd huffed, pulling up one leg of her stockings with, he thought, unusual slowness. "I just got behind. I got distracted with Ada, talking to her about my clothes."

It had become a treat for Ada, on evenings that Amy was dressing up for Date Nights, that she would be allowed into their bedroom to look at Amy's clothes and watch her put on her make-up and do her hair. Ada's obsession with clothes showed no signs of lessening, and, although there was no way she was wearing make-up until she was at least twenty, she loved touching all the little tubes and pots and bottles and hearing Amy tell her about them.

However, this evening, Amy had no clothes on yet, so he didn't understand from where all the distraction had come. Not to mention she'd never been distracted enough to be late before. "Really, just go ahead and take Ada to Penny's, and I promise I'll be ready when you get back."

"Amy, that's a waste of time -"

"Please, Sheldon, they're expecting her at a certain time."

There was something in her tone that told him that no matter how illogical and confusing the plan was, it was the new plan she had made and he would be following it. And he really didn't want to have a tiff with her tonight, their anniversary night. "Very well," he said, turning out of the bedroom and calling for Ada.

Later - much too much later, in Sheldon's opinion - Sheldon unlocked the door their condominium again, shaking his head at the absurdity of the wasted trip and resulting loss of time. And confusion as to what had caused the complete lapse in Amy's normally punctual nature. Now they would have to rush to make the reservation Amy had made for them, and he could already feel his fingernails digging into the dashboard of Amy's car as she drove at faster than normal speeds across town. What a fine anniversary this is turning out to be, he sighed privately as the door swung open -

- and sucked his breath in surprise. Their home was unusually dark, lit only by candles on the coffee table and end table and surrounding the television. The smell of freshly popped popcorn filled the air and made his stomach growl. As his pupils adjusted to the dim light, he could make out boxes of Red Vines and what appeared to be slushies setting on the coffee table. And sitting there on the sofa, serene and beautiful and fully dressed, was his wife.

"Amy!" he called, dropping his keys in the bowl by the door. "What is all this? What's going on? We have a dinner reservation that we're almost late for!"

"I never made the reservation," Amy answered cooly and then he saw the corners of her lips turn up into her smirk.

"You never . . ." He didn't even finish and he took a step forward.

"While you were taking Ada to Penny's, I drove to the convenience store and got your favorite cherry flavor slushie, and it's still ice cold."

"Ice cold slushie . . ." He took another step closer to her.

"And there's Red Vines and fresh popcorn with real melted butter on it."

"Melted butter . . ." Closer he walked.

Amy's smirk changed into a very broad smile. "We're staying in, Sheldon, and watching a movie. It was my plan all along. It's a surprise."

"I don't like surprises," he said without thought or conviction.

"Yes, you do, at least when they're happy. And I think - hope - you'll enjoy this movie very much. Now shut the door and come join me." She patted the sofa next to her.

Nodding, Sheldon turned to shut the door he's left hanging open in his confusion and then he padded over next to her and sat down in his spot. "What are we watching? Oh, did you get an advanced screening copy of Star Wars: The Legend of Yoda?"

Dipping her chin to give him a look out of the top of her glasses, Amy said, "I'm your wife, not a miracle worker."

"Bootleg copy? I normally don't condone any criminal activity, but getting the new Star Wars movie a month in advance might be an exception I'd make."

A chuckle. "No." A pause as she bit the edge of her lip. "However, tonight is the world premiere of this particular movie."

Sheldon studied her closely. She was happy, yes, but proud, too, he could tell. Of this whole little scheme or something about the movie? And he thought maybe just a little nervous based on the lip biting. So much mystery tonight.

"So," she took a deep breath, "just settle in. Loosen your tie, relax. Do you want to take off your jacket?"

Sheldon shook his head, but he did reach up to loosen the knot in his tie.

"I'll set your slushie right here in front of you, and I thought we could put the popcorn between us. Tell me when you're ready, and I'll pass you the Red Vines."

"I still don't understand. We can do a movie any night of year. And why the candles?"

"Shhh, Sheldon. Just watch." Then, louder, "Computer, play Amy's video 'Life.'"

Life? What does that mean? Before he could ask, the screen came alive. There, in the very center of their sofa, sat Amy. Not dressed up as she was this evening, but she was smiling in her regular clothes. Sheldon couldn't help but be mesmerized.

"Hello. I'm Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler. Please join me this evening for a very special edition of " - the camera panned out (So someone else had assisted her! Raj? Penny?) and television-Amy spread her arms toward a poster board setting next to her, in Sheldon's spot "- Fun With Flags. Tonight's topic is 'Sheldon Cooper, This is Your Life!'"

Over the fake applause of the sound track, Sheldon whispered, "Amy . . . "

"Watch," she whispered back, and he heard her crunch on some popcorn.

"Fun with Flags, the brain child of the brilliant Dr. Sheldon Cooper, first premiered on Thursday, January 26, 2012. This," the television-Amy continued holding up a flag, "is the state flag of Oregon. It was the first flag that appeared on this esteemed webcast. Do you know it's the only two-sided state flag?"

"I did!" Sheldon called and Amy laughed next to him.

"However," television-Amy turned serious and put the flag down, "I think the fun facts that all our viewers really want to know is about the cutie in front of the camera, the wolf of vexillology, the heraldist of our hearts, and my own personal paramour of pennants, Dr. Cooper himself. So, in this very special episode, I will reveal all that makes him more special to me than another other person in the universe."

Sheldon took a sharp breath.

"Here," television-Amy reached forward and then back up again, holding a red, white, and blue flag, "is the state flag of Texas, where Sheldon was born. Did you know that Texas is called the Lone Star State because the official name for this flag is The Lone Star Flag? Also, the lone star was originally used to signify independence from Mexico. One of Sheldon's childhood accomplishments was -" the flag was switched to one with bowling ball rolling over bottles of beer "- to co-captain the East Texan Christian Youth Holy Roller Bowling League Championship team.

"At the age of eleven, Sheldon began a major in physics at the University of Houston." Television-Amy switched out to a white flag with a red crest of two animals in the center. "Fun fact, the official mascot for the University of Houston is a cougar named Shasta, but there are two greyhounds on their seal to indicate speed. The school motto is 'In Time,' as in 'in time, perhaps this level of incongruity will make sense.'"

He was so engrossed it took him a second before his laugh came in short, breathy bursts. "Well said, dear Amy!"

The video continued. "However, even the largest state in the contiguous United States couldn't hold all the brain power of our Sheldon, and, after graduating summa cum laude with his degree in physics from the University of Houston and starting his first doctorate there, he traveled to Heidelberg, Germany to serve as guest professor at the Heidelberg Institute, affiliated with the Heidelberg University." Two flags went up, one in each hand. "The official German flag is considered black, red, and gold, not yellow. In November 1959, the Federal Court of Justice ruled that the use of the color yellow, instead of gold, had gained too much significance during the years of Nazi rule to be used in the national flag, and the use of yellow was ruled an offense." Television-Amy swirled her head toward the black symbol in a field of white. "The Great University Seal for the University of Heidelberg, however, dates from the original commission of the university in 1386. The central figure is that of Saint Peter and the two kneeling figures are believed to be Ruprecht I and his nephew Ruprecht II.

"After obtaining both his first doctorate and the Stevenson Award by the age of sixteen, Sheldon traveled to the great state of California." A flutter of mostly white with some red and brown. "The state flag of California was adopted in 1911 and features a California grizzly bear. Fun fact, one of the early precursors of the bear flag was designed by William L. Todd, a cousin of Mary Todd Lincoln." Television-Amy shifted. "This orange flag with two hands holding up a torch is not, in fact, from the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angles, but rather it's the official seal for the California Institute of Technology. Fun fact, even though Caltech has a multi-page website explaining how to properly use the seal, the history of the seal is never explained." Television-Amy shrugged and tossed the offending orange flag over her shoulder.

"Even though he obtained his second doctorate at Caltech, the powers that be recognized his greatness and offered him a job as a theoretical physicist, even though most academic institutions don't hire their own graduate students."

Television-Amy seemed to morph slightly, and Sheldon wondered if she was actually flushing or if they needed a new television until he noticed the woman on his screen smiled softly and ran her hands down her skirt. "On Monday, May 24, 2010, I experienced the life-changing moment of meeting Dr. Sheldon Cooper."

Sheldon heard the real Amy sitting next to him, watching this movie she had made for him, sigh softly. He reached over, above the popcorn bowl that he still had not touched, and took her hand, smiling as she squeezed back.

"At the time, I was working at the University of California, Los Angles. Here's their seal and flag. Yes, that's an open book. How original for a institute of higher learning, I'm sure it took months to come up with that symbolism." A hiccup of pleasure escaped Sheldon's lips. "A year and half later, this brilliant man introduced me to the joys of vexillology, when Fun with Flag was born. What even our most faithful viewers may not have noticed was that, off screen, Dr. Cooper and I were falling madly in love. One of us fell a bit faster and the other fell so slowly it was as though he weighed less than a sheet a paper, but it was falling in love nonetheless. And, one magical evening in Napa County, California -" up went a flag with a cluster of purple grapes "- we shared the most amazing kiss that changed everything. However, despite this momentous occasion, I still can't get Sheldon to watch A Walk in the Clouds with me."

A slight grumble came from real Amy next to him, and Sheldon turned his head ever so slightly, no wanting to miss a second on the screen. After this, he doubted he would have a choice about watching some cheesy mid-nineties romantic movie with Amy again. More importantly, at this exact second, he couldn't wait to watch every movie she wanted for the rest of his life as long as she was by his side, holding his hand.

"Now, this is isn't a real flag or even a real seal," television-Amy said, holding up a cream flag with an illustration of dragon anatomy, "but this is the cover to A Natural History of Dragons, the first book we ever read together as part of the Fowler Cooper Publication Federation, which is still in existence to this day. Now this navy and yellow beauty -" a flash of fabric "- is the official flag for the city of Pasadena, California. It was in this city, where we both live, that on Halloween evening of 2014, that we declared our love for each other. I'm not even going to put this flag down because just three and half months later, a few short blocks from our apartment, we got married in this city's gorgeous City Hall. There are three great days in my life: the day I met Sheldon, the day I married Sheldon, and this day -" a flutter on the screen until there was a pale square emblem comprised of two letter H's "- the day I made Sheldon a father at our local Huntington Hospital.

"There have been other flags in our life, from happy to sad, but this last one is very special. And you, dear viewer, are the first to see it. I may not be Betsy Ross, but I have to say I'm inordinately proud of my creation." Television-Amy picked up and unfurled a large flag, mostly white with a large black lemniscate in the middle, surrounded by what appeared to be red words. "If you can't read it at home, it states, 'In our family, we are accustomed to glory.' That's a quote from another famous physicist, Irene Joliet-Curie. Sheldon once asked me to cross stitch it on a pillow with a new family crest. Well, Sheldon, it may not be needle work, but I hope this thermal transfer doesn't disappoint you."

Then television-Amy's eyelashes batted a few times and her voice lowered in that range it often did when she was trying not to cry. "On this day, at the edge of our infinity, even though I know you will tell me that infinity has no edges just as it has no beginning or end, I want you to know that the greatest glory of my life has been and always shall be sharing it with you."

It ended with a soft, loving, and satisfied smile before the screen faded to black.

Sheldon had rarely been in the position of being speechless before, and he'd certainly never admitted to it when it did happen. But sitting there, still holding her hand, the popcorn and slushie and Red Vines forgotten, staring at the blank television screen, he was speechless. Amy - his delightful, beautiful, forever surprising Amy - had created this for him. And he didn't know when or how she'd found the time to sneak away. The most logical solution was she'd left work and filmed it during the day some day in the past week, all without his knowledge. And what a surprise it had been! It was everything he loved about her: her sarcasm, her smiles and smirks, her sentimentality, her memory. But mostly her love for him. Sheldon felt like he was bathed in some sort of warm, soft glow of true contentment.

Finally, he turned his face toward her expectant one, still uncertain of what to say to her. There were not words for the way his entire chest was filled with this gentle and beautiful ache. "Amy, I . . .," he started and faltered.

"Here," Amy said softly, pulling her hand away and slipping it behind one of the throw pillows to pull out the same flag with which she'd ended her program. "You can hang it wherever you like. If you really want it as a pillow, I have more fabric to do so."

As he reached for the crisp white flag, the beautiful flag Amy had made for him, Sheldon felt something alarmingly like a tear prickle at the corner of his eye. "I . . ."

"It's okay, Sheldon," Amy said softly. "You don't have to say anything. Your silence tells me everything I need to know."

He nodded, tracing the red words with his thumb. Amy always knew, Amy had always known. Amy. She was infinity to him, a place without beginning or ending, a place he forever belonged. "The greatest glory of my life has been and always shall be sharing it with you, too," he whispered. Then he looked up sharply. "Did you really post this online?"

Amy shook her head. "No. It's a gift for you to do with as you please. If you want to post it, I don't object."

No. He wouldn't post it. He would save it on the cloud, his own private copy and when he felt the weight of the world more acutely or he found himself missing her while she was at a conference or even just some random morning at work, even the other side of campus being too far away from her, he'd watch it again.

"All I got you was my usual photo album," he admitted.

She reached out and gently touched his hand. "I love those photo albums. It's always the perfect gift."

Stretching forward, he carefully placed the new flag on the coffee table, before reaching back to take the bowl of uneaten popcorn to set next to it. Then he turned and put both of his hands on Amy's cheeks and looked deeply into those same emerald green eyes that had mesmerized him almost from the very beginning. No, there was no beginning with Amy.

"I didn't mean it, Amy. Or, rather, I had not fully considered the connotations and consequences of my statement. I want to celebrate every single year. I know that logic and mathematics tells us there is no way to enumerate infinity, but I want to die trying with you."

"Oh, Sheldon." His words had the effect of making her blush slightly and give that little bat of her eyelashes that Sheldon especially loved. "Our love will never die," she whispered.

"Never. To infinity and beyond."

Then there was the little chuckle in the midst of a happy tear that he so loved, and he leaned forward to gently kiss her lips. "Come to bed with me," he whispered.

In their bedroom, they gently peeled off each other clothes, brushing each other's skin softly, smoothing at first, taking their time to memorize it all over again. Sheldon whispered softly, into all her curves and valleys, "I love you and you give me tranquility and I love you and you challenge me to think harder and I never thought love could feel this good and you make me stronger and braver."

And Amy, his dear, perfect Amy for infinity, hushed back into his angles and plains, "You think you are only the right side of the brain, but I know you are also the left side of mine. You are always exactly who are you. You make me laugh, you make me happy, you make me angry. You make me braver and stronger."

Thank you in advance for your reviews!