Em knew she was being stupid, she knew she would hate herself the next day, but the feel of Sheldon's hands caressing her and his lips suckling her neck and breasts were just too much for her to stand. The pair did not move from the sofa but were soon both naked hands desperately seeking each other. The only sounds were their breathing and the occasional moan, but their eyes never left each other. As Sheldon pushed into Em she closed her eyes but he whispered
"Look at me em" and she immediately did, knowing she couldn't refuse him.
He was gentle at first, carefully keeping his weight on his arms so as not to squash her, but as soon as he felt her squeeze him and her orgasm washed over him, he let go, thrusting hard and fast and shouting her name before collapsing to the side.
He turned onto his side moving her over so her back was nestled into his chest. He laid one hand over her swollen belly and the other held her hip. He closed his eyes and whispered. "I'm sorry. I am not being fair to you but you make me feel like no-one ever has."
Em put her hand over his and said nothing. Inside her head she was screaming "then stay here and love me" but she knew he would not.
"Have you told anyone about this... about us?" she asked quietly.
"Yes I have told Raj, he was shocked!"
"Will he tell your girlfriend?"
"No... he told me I had to tell you goodbye"
"Is that why you are here?" Em was very still waiting for Sheldons reply.
"I think so... it was why I came. But seeing you, holding you, I just get confused. I think it is a mistake to do this but yet I am here. I have an agreement with my girlfriend that means a lot to me. She means a lot to me. I cant walk away from her, or my job, or my friends"
Em was glad she wasn't facing Sheldon. She knew this was coming, she knew when she had looked at his face when he arrived that this would be the outcome, but to hear the words still hurt.
"Sheldon will you come see the baby?"
Sheldon hesitated.. "yes" he said quietly.
"You aren't going to tell anyone though are you?" Em felt Sheldon shake his head.
"Sheldon I won't hound you, and I wont tell your friends but you need to make me a promise. You need to stay away now. I cant keep doing this. I know I asked you here, but I have my answers now and if you keep coming I will keep letting you, I can't stop myself , and I need to be strong now for the baby."
"Shall I leave?" asked Sheldon quietly.
"Yes please" whispered Em feeling the tears roll down her cheeks. For a second she grasped Sheldons hand that lay on her stomach before letting him go. She didn't turn round when he climbed off the sofa over her. She sat up however, once he had stood, and quietly she dressed too.
As she held the door open Sheldon moved to kiss her but Em put her head down slightly shaking her head and, nodding, Sheldon walked away.
After Sheldon had gone Em went and lay on her bed. She was now 5 months pregnant. She had just told the father of her baby to stay away, and she knew this time he would. She wanted to chase after him and beg him to choose her, pride alone stopped her. Resting her hand on her stomach where Sheldon had been she whispered. "Just me and you now babe"
~73~73~73~
Sheldon walked home. He had no idea what he was going to say when he saw Leonard. Raj hadn't called, in fact no-one had called, so Sheldon guessed they had all gone for dinner as normal and had assumed he was working.
He had felt the baby move.
He had seen the changes to Ems body yet all he felt was panic. Em had told him to leave and he had. Would it be that easy to walk away if he saw the baby? Sheldon didn't know and he really had no-one he could ask. He somehow didn't think Raj would be open to him discussing his fears.
Sheldon slowly walked up the stairs taking his keys out of his pocket, he could hear voices that indicated penny was winning at halo without his help. Opening the door Sheldon noted Amy sitting in his spot, watching the proceedings but not joining in. Sheldon placed his bag on his desk and moved to get some water form the fridge.
"Hey Sheldon come see my score!" crowed penny. Turning Sheldon could feel Raj's eyes following him but he ignored him and said
"well done Penny, nice to see our record hasn't been broken! Amy you know that is my spot!"
Raj continued to try to catch Sheldon's eye and Sheldon continued to ignore him. When everyone was leaving Sheldon again ignored Raj moving down the hall to his room. He would wait til tomorrow to face the questions.
~73~73~73~
As the weeks and months passed Carmen grew more annoyed at Ems refusal to talk about Sheldon. She knew that they had met, she knew Em was struggling emotionally but she refused to talk about it. She had painted a beautiful mural on her bedroom wall for the baby. She had put together a crib herself refusing offers of help from Carmen and Steve, who was also bemused as to her refusal to contact Sheldon or even talk about him.
Em had started saving frantically. She had a great paying job and managed to save thousands of dollars now she wasn't drinking and clubbing and buying the latest fashion. She saw her friends occasionally but had built a protective shell around herself only letting Carmen and now her mum in.
The pregnancy was going well. She was meeting all the milestones and the Dr's were pleased. Em was very relieved to have it confirmed she was not having twins! With only a couple of weeks to go now however, she was scared. She didn't have anything to do with kids. Had never changed a diaper, or fed a baby even, and now she was going to have to do it all on her own.
Agreeing to meet Carmen after work for a catch up Em was glad to leave work early. She was in her last week at work and tired and emotional at what lay ahead. She hugged her friend and together they moved to a booth in the coffee shop facing away from the door. She therefore didn't see Amy, Raj ,Penny and Bernadette come in, and sit behind them in the adjoining booth. She wouldn't have recognised them if she had seen them, but Carmen may have done. As the two friends chatted about work then moved on to discuss Ems swelling ankles and fingers, Raj went over his plans with the girls for the anniversary party Bernadette was planning for herself and Howard. The group drank coffee which Raj was topping up from his hip flask.
"I cant believe it has been a whole year since I was maid of honour" said Amy in wonder." it was the best day of my life!"
Penny laughed." Amy now Sheldon has finally grown up and discovered what his genitals are for I am sure you will have your own wedding day in no time!"
Em froze in the next booth, catching Sheldon and Amy's names in one sentence she blocked out Carmen chatting about birthing plans and labour drugs and listened to the conversation going on behind her.
"Well," whispered Amy in a voice that was so full of excitement it barely qualified as a whisper! "Sheldon said last night, when we were in bed, he would not be opposed if I wanted to bring the 5 year plan forward!"
Penny gasped "Ames! that's amazing!" she squealed.
"I know! He didn't want me to get too carried away and suggested we didn't tell anyone, but I told him I wanted my day and he had better get used to the idea. He has holiday Gablehauser is insisting he take, so I thought to avoid a repeat of the débâcle of him working with me we would make that our honeymoon. I have told him I was going to tell you guys tonight and ask you Raj if would you like to repeat your wedding planner role?"
There was a shout of "Em wait!" from behind Amy, as Carmen watched in horror as her heavily pregnant friend stumbled out of the booth and moved towards the door "Em wait for me!"
Raj closed his eyes in horror as the heavily pregnant girl looked over her shoulder towards their table, tears streaming down her face. As realisation dawned he moved to stand, but the girl from the booth behind glared at him and pointed saying "NO!"
He sat quickly aware of Amy, Penny and Bernadette watching him. "Raj?" Amy questioned.
Shaking his head Raj stood up "I'm sorry Amy I have to go" and he followed Em and Carmen out of the shop.
"He didn't answer my question, said Amy puzzled. She hadn't noticed the pregnant girl in tears, but Penny and Bernadette had.
~73~73~73~
Once outside Raj scanned the street looking for the two women. He saw them huddled on the far corner, one obviously comforting the other. He knew he should probably not get involved, but seeing the heavily pregnant girl in such obvious distress and hearing her friend call her Em convinced Raj that this must be the girl Sheldon had told him about. He walked up to the two women and said "Ladies excuse me, I am Raj. I couldn't help but notice you leave the coffee shop. Can I help?"
Em looked at the stranger. "Raj? Sheldon's friend Raj?" she gasped. Carmen glared at the man "Just leave us alone. You and your friends have done enough!"
Raj looked at Em helplessly. "I am so sorry" he offered quietly. Looking at the girl in front of him he was amazed she would look twice at his neurotic friend. Even very heavily pregnant and red faced from running and crying she was a beautiful girl.
"He told me you know." he said quietly. "the others don't know though."
Em nodded "I know." she sighed, "Look, I'm sorry Raj I guess that was Sheldon s girlfriend you were with, you had better go." she turned her back on Raj grasping Carmen's hand tightly for strength.
Raj asked "when are you due?"
Em shook her head, but Carmen replied "2 weeks"
Raj muttered "I am so sorry!" again not knowing what he could say to make up for what distress Sheldon and now himself and the girls had caused.
"Just go" muttered Carmen and guided Em towards her car. Raj watched them walk away. He couldn't face going back and talking about a wedding. He couldn't face seeing Sheldon as he might just tell him what he thought of him. So Raj went home. He didn't call the girls or Howard or Sheldon. He went home and thought about what he had seen and heard.
~73~73~73~
After dropping a positively giddy Amy back at her apartment, Penny took Bernadette back to apartment 4B. " What do you think that was with Raj and those girls?" Penny asked once inside.
"I don't know. He looked shocked didn't he. Shall we go see if the others are home and know anything?"
"I don't know" hesitated Penny "I guess Raj may have come back here to see them?"
The girls crossed the hall. They knocked and Sheldon answered, he was obviously settled in for the evening and was reluctant to let them in
"Your men folk are not here, I thought you were off on a girls night with Amy and Raj?"
"We were but Raj ran off! Have you heard from him?"
Sheldon frowned. "no, why would he do that, Amy said she was going to mention the wedding. We thought he would be happy!"
"She did mention it! Way to go Sheldon! but it was weird, these girls were there and Raj chased them!"
Sheldon looked exasperated. "he needs to sort himself out! Chasing women out of shops isn't going to find him a mate!"
"No these girls weren't like that, one was pregnant and crying her friend seemed angry at us but we don't know who they are. Raj chased after them and then didn't come back. We thought he may have come here."
Sheldon felt the blood drain from his face and turned quickly toward the kitchen, under the pretence of making tea. "Well I'm sorry I haven't seen or heard form him, but if I do I will get him to call you"
Obviously being dismissed the girls shrugged and went back across the hall. Opening a bottle of wine they soon forgot their little mystery and settled down to watch 'the bachelor.'
Sheldon however felt derailed. He knew immediately who the girls had seen and could only imagine what had transpired. Picking up his phone he texted Raj.
"Was it Em?" said his short message.
"yes" was the abrupt reply.
Sheldon didn't know what to say or do. Em had made it very clear she wanted him to stay away and now just as he could see a future with Amy ahead, things began to get messy again.
Did Penny and Bernadette suspect anything? Had Amy seen Em? Sheldon sat staring at his phone for a long time and he cursed the night he had walked into that club looking for an escape.
A/N: Thank you so much for the kind reviews follows and favourites. Nearly at the end now.
Special thanks to smilin steph and Jislane for their kind words and encouragement that mean a lot. x