Amy was quiet. Sheldon kept glancing at her but he could see from the grip on the steering wheel her answer of "Fine" to his question "Is everything OK?" was maybe not true.
Amy pulled into the empty parking spot outside a pretty house with perfectly manicured lawns and colourful flower beds.
"Hey this is pretty" Sheldon grinned, the colours reminding him of the flowers Meemaw liked growing. Amy just nodded in response.
Sheldon was dressed in his smart suit trousers and a button down shirt. He thought as this was the first time he was to meet her mother in person he should try to conform to what would be expected. Amy had gone home to change after they had gone shopping for bedding. She was now in an outfit very similar to the one she was wearing on their first meeting. Her cardigan of dark coloured stripes covered a checked shirt and dark coloured under-shirt. Her tights were thick and green, as was her skirt. Frowning Sheldon realised how much Amy had changed. Now he was used to seeing her in brighter colours, looser fitting skirts and not so many layers that hide her body. Letting his gaze wander to her face he saw she had on her thicker framed glasses and her hair hang limply clipped back by a black clip on either side. Sheldon did not disapprove of this look, it was what had attracted her to him in the first place after all, but her realised the Amy sat before him now had changed a lot in the recent months and this look didn't suit her.
Amy had put the car into park but had made no move to get out.
"Amy are you sure you are OK? You don't look happy and you are not exactly jumping out of the car to go meet your mum!"
Sighing Amy looked at Sheldon. "I told you I am fine. Listen lets just go get this over with."
Opening her door Amy stepped out. She placed her bag over her shoulder and waiting for Sheldon to get out, locked the car. Sheldon held out his hand and squeezed her's gently. They waited for a reply to their knocking and Sheldon could feel Amy tense more as she heard the footsteps approach the door on the other side.
Before him stood the woman he remembered from their ill fated video chat of a few years previous. Small, thin faced with glasses, Mrs fowler had her hair also straight and pulled back at the sides. "Amy, Dr Cooper." she greeted opening the door wider to let them in.
"Mother." Amy nodded. There was no kiss or hug hello and Sheldon stood awkwardly not quite sure how to proceed.
"Mother this is my boyfriend, Sheldon."
"Hi" Sheldon smiled awkwardly.
Mrs fowler frowned "Yes I remember!" she muttered and moved away from the couple towards a large sitting room which was formally decorated and had a tray of tea things set out.
"Please sit down" she gestured to the sofa.
Sheldon kept a firm grip on Amy's hand as he followed behind her. When she moved to let go as she sat down he squeezed again and folded her hand into his lap. Mrs fowler noted their linked hands and said "So let me guess, you have ignored all the years of advise I have given you and run of with the first boy to look at you. Have you come to tell me he has knocked you up?"
As he felt Amy slump back he himself stiffened. "Mrs Fowler I asked Amy if we could come see you today as I thought it was only polite. I am taking Amy to meet my own family next weekend."
"So you have knocked her up!"
"No Mrs Fowler I have not, and I very much resent the implication!"
"Well you can hardly blame me. I don't see or hear from her from one year to the next then suddenly she appears with you in tow."
"Mother please."Amy begged quietly.
Ignoring Amy her mother poured tea and handed them both a cup.
"So have you got tenure yet?" she fired at Amy ignoring Sheldon completely.
"No." Amy muttered.
"Amy tell your mother about your trip to England." Sheldon prompted.
"I received a postcard. I know she went to England."
Sheldon frowned. Glancing at the clock on the wall Mrs Fowler put her tea cup down "If you will excuse me I need to make a call." and standing she left the room.
Amy almost fell against Sheldon's shoulder her cup rattling in its saucer.
"Please Sheldon can we just go? I knew this was a bad idea. I told you she didn't need to meet you."
"But Amy" Sheldon began
"No Sheldon, lets just go." and standing Amy picked up her bag and moved to the door.
"We are leaving mother." she called; and was of down the path with Sheldon almost having to run to catch up.
73~73
Knock, knock, knock "Penny."
Knock, knock, knock "Penny."
Knock, knock, knock "Penny."
The door to 4B opened and grinning Penny waved Sheldon in.
"Hey Sheldon I thought you were spending the day with Amy?"
"I was, I am, I just wanted to talk to you. Has Amy mentioned her mother much to you?"
"Not really only when talking about her childhood. Things she wouldn't let Amy do, like go to prom and shave her legs, have a boyfriend. She sounds kinda strict!"
Nodding Sheldon said "I met her today. She was horrible to Amy. Amy cowered beside me the whole time we were there; then when her mother left the room she fled. Penny would you talk to Amy, see she is OK? Whenever I ask she says she is fine; but she quite clearly isn't and I don't know what to do."
"Of course I will sweetie. I thought she was coming here tonight?"
"No she was going too but now am going there later to cook for her."
"OK well how about you go get ready and I will call her; then I will drive you over when you are ready and fill you in."
"Thank you Penny." Sheldon smiled and made his way back across the hall.
73~73
"Sheldon I keep telling you! She said she was fine and she sounded fine. She said she was looking forward to dinner and you staying over. She didn't mention her mother at all. When I asked what you had done she said you had gone shopping for bed linen then she changed the subject. Sheldon maybe you need to give her a little time to process whatever occurred today and then she will talk."
"OK, thank you for trying." Sheldon sighed.
He had a bag on his knee full of the ingredients for tonight's meal. At his feet he had his rucksack of clothes to refill his sleepover bag at Amy's and on the back seat he had his laundry which Amy had assured him he could do at 8.15 at hers.
Grinning Penny watched Sheldon shift the bags and enter Amy's apartment building. Well you couldn't say he wasn't trying she acknowledged!
An hour later Amy and Sheldon were sat across the table eating a lasagne Sheldon had made, with salad and garlic bread.
"This is lovely Sheldon." Amy grinned sipping her wine.
"I am glad you like it. Another Meemaw recipe! I have sent her a list of things I want her to cook for us next weekend" Sheldon grinned. "No one cooks like Meemaw!"
"Even your mother?" Amy asked curiously
"Oh mummy cooks just fine, better than fine really. But Meemaw cooks the best." Sheldon grinned from ear to ear as he spoke of his beloved grandmother. "I have asked if we can stay at mummy's one night and Meemaw's the next. That way at least one night we can share a bed! Momma is strict about stuff like that so I am guessing she will put you in my old room and me in Missy s room on the floor."
"Would it not make more sense for me to share with Missy?"
"No. You are a guest so will have a bed. Missy may not even be home much if she is working. Meemaw knows we are 'together'" Sheldon blushed as he said this making Amy smile. "She asked me on my last visit and I can not hide anything from her!"
"She didn't mind? She wont tell you mother?"
"Oh no she wouldn't tell momma, and besides Meemaw is a romantic" Sheldon grinned "it was her that told me to come get you in England!"
"Then I have a lot to thank her for "Amy smiled.
Having cleared away their dinner things Sheldon set about doing his laundry. He offered to do Amy's too so was now quite happily sorting their clothes into coloureds and whites as Amy sat at her computer emailing.
First she emailed James and told him about her week and the tentative links she had made with the hospital, then she told him about her planned weekend to Texas. She omitted any mention of her own mother. She then emailed Yaşargil. She had not been in contact since her return from the UK and was keen to fill him in on what she had been up too. She was surprised when she felt Sheldon's hands on her shoulders behind her.
"You made me jump!" she grinned leaning back against him.
"Sorry." he leant down and kissed the top of her head. "I like you hair like this" he commented noticing she had curled it since their trip to her mothers that morning. He twirled a curl round his finger. "Who are you emailing?"
"Gazi, I haven't updated him recently so I thought I'd catch him up."
"He will be impressed" Sheldon nodded.
"I also emailed James, told him about the hospital and our trip to Texas next weekend." Sheldon smiled at this.
"Well you may need to shop again! It wont be cold like Boston and London!"
"I am sure that Penny will be more than happy to help!" Amy grinned. "I will ask if she can meet me after work one day next week."
Returning to move their clothes from the washer to the drier Sheldon happily pottered about the kitchen. Amy watched him smiling at how comfortable he seemed. "I Like having you here." she stated smiling over at him. Sheldon smiled back.
The rest of the evening was spent with the pair happily completing their chores and chatting before they made their way to bed. Sheldon snuggled Amy close and said "good night Amy."
"Night Sheldon."
73~73
The following weekend flew past. Amy's new contacts at the hospital were keen to become part of her research project so Amy was kept busy reading possible patient files and checking with James and Linda as to suitable candidates. She had a reply from Yaşargil who was very keen to hear of news of her project and more than encouraging her work in the hospital itself.
Sheldon became more and more exited as the week progressed at the thought of introducing Meemaw to Amy. On Wednesday night having returned from the comic book stare and then beaten Raj at halo Sheldon rang home.
"Hi Mummy!" he smiled
"Shelly honey, is everything OK?" Mary Cooper was not expecting to hear from her son mid week.
"Yes everything is fine, I was just checking everything was still OK for Amy and I to visit at the weekend."
"Honey everything is set. Meemaw has already started baking and I have got fresh linens for your bed for Amy. I am not happy you want to only stay one night mind. How am I expected to get to know Amy if you are hardly here?"
"We will see you plenty mum! And I want to show Amy around town and let her meet Meemaw."
"OK, well I am sure excited to see you baby!"
"Me too mummy!" Sheldon smiled as he put down the phone. Realising he had meant to ask if his mum would cook fried chicken for their arrival Sheldon contemplated calling back. But then knowing what ever she cooked would be good he decided against it and went to get ready for bed.
By Friday morning Leonard was keen to get rid of Sheldon. He was so excited he could barely sit still on their drive to work.
"I cant believe you are this excited to see your mother and go on a plane" Leonard pointed out thinking back to a few months ago when Sheldon had to be drugged to get him to fly!
"But Amy will get to meet Meemaw and I get to eat Meemaw's cooking!"
Shaking his head Leonard waved his friend goodbye. He was looking forward to a Sheldon free weekend. Mind you he had had a few of those lately and even when he was home Leonard had to admit Sheldon was much more mellow. Amy had worked wonders!
73~73
As the flight landed Sheldon grinned. "Mum said she would send Missy to collect us."
"Oh good, Penny has told me all about Missy she sounds lovely!"
Sheldon snorted. He was happy because he was getting a ride not a cab and he really couldn't see how Amy could be excited to meet Missy they would have nothing in common.
"Shelly!" Missy called waving as she saw her brother. "Over here." Sheldon smiled and made his way towards his sister.
"Hey Missy, thanks for coming!"
"Oh Shelly I wouldn't have missed it! And this must be Amy!"
Holding out her hand Missy smiled at Amy who was standing just behind Sheldon.
"Hi" Amy smiled shyly. Missy was quite imposing, tall slim with her auburn hair and sparkling eyes. "Nice to meet you."
Missy grinned, Amy looked prettier than the description Penny and her own mother had given her. Side stepping Sheldon Missy linked arms with Amy and dragged her to the pick-up outside.
"So how was my brother on the flight? Did he behave himself? I cant believe he flew on his own to London. You must have some charms Amy!" Missy winked and then laughed when she saw Sheldon and Amy both blush scarlet.
"Mummy is so excited to see you Shelly. Meemaw is baking up a storm. You should come home every weekend!"
As Missy steered the pick-up up the drive to the family home Amy peered out of the window marvelling at the difference between Texas and LA. She had never seen such vast acres of land. The heat was not so bad in the air-conditioned truck but as soon as Amy stepped out it hit her again. She was glad she had let Penny persuade her to pack less in the way of layers and more in the way of loose and floaty!
Amy was not prepared to be almost barrelled to the ground by a small grey haired woman who barely reached her shoulders.
"Amy, Sweetheart! Oh I am so glad to meet you!" Amy looked at Sheldon who was grinning and almost hopping from foot to foot.
Amy felt herself being released only to be consumed again, this time by Mary Cooper.
"Welcome Amy!"
Amy looked at Sheldon who had wrapped himself around the little old lady who Amy guessed just had to be Meemaw.
73~73
Amy sat on an overstuffed sofa and couldn't help but grin at Sheldon; sat with his Meemaw deep in whispered conversation. They were smiling and laughing and Meemaw kept stroking his cheek and patting his knee. Mary had made sure Amy had a full tea cup and plate of both cakes and sandwiches at all times, to the point Amy could now barely move. Trying to stifle a yawn Amy realised she was more than a little tired. It seemed days ago she had been at work rather than just hours. Noticing her yawn Meemaw grinned. "We should let these two go rest. They have had a long day. Moonpie I will see you tomorrow, make sure to show Amy around town!" and with a grin and a wave she was gone.
"Sheldon I have put Amy in your old room, you can bunk down with Missy." Trying to hide her grin at the arrangements Sheldon had predicted Amy smiled "Thank you Mrs Cooper. For everything! I cant tell you how welcome you have made me feel."
"Why of course you are welcome sugar! Now Shelly go take Amy's bag to her room, but straight back mind. You know the rules!"
Sheldon held out his hand to Amy and led her to his old room. Amy stared around. It was like stepping back in time. "I cant believe they have left your room like this!" Amy said in wonder.
"What do you mean?"
"The day after I moved out mother striped my room and redecorated." Amy stated matter of factly. "This is so cool!"
"Yes, well..." Sheldon didn't know quite how to respond to Amy's statement. "I had better go or mummy will come searching. Good night Amy sweet dreams." and placing a quick kiss on Amy's mouth Sheldon was gone.
73~73