Mary spun round and stared at the group round the table.
"Did you all know this? Am I the last to find out my son has been living in sin?"
Standing up, without waiting for an answer, Mary left the table.
"Oh boy, do you think we should warn Amy?" Penny asked looking at Leonard.
"I think we should go warn Meemaw!" James grinned "Mary looked fit to burst!"
73~73
Knock, knock, knock AMY!
Knock, knock, knock AMY!
Knock, knock, knock AMY!
Sheldon hammered on the door with his fist, his voice getting louder with each shout. The door opened and a very very bleary eyed Missy stood staring at him.
"This had better be darned good Shelly 'cos I swear to god..."
Sheldon pushed Missy out of the way and looked at Amy face down on the bed snoring lightly.
Sheldon strode up to her and shook her shoulder "Amy! Wake up!"
Groaning Amy muttered "What time is it?"
Sheldon shook his head at the condition Amy was in. Moving to retrieve a glass from the bathroom and a bottle of water from the mini fridge, he filled the glass and shoved it at her.
"Here. Drink this." He stood over her until he was satisfied she had drank it all before refilling it and putting it down next to her.
"How much have you had to drink?" he questioned, his tone softening slightly as he looked at her curled up in a ball, she didn't answer.
Turning on Missy he said "This is your fault! You know Amy doesn't drink like you and Penny!"
"Shelly shhh!" Missy lay back down on her twin bed covering her eyes with her arm.
Sheldon could see he was going to get no sense out of either girl tonight; so pulling out his phone and setting the alarm for 6 am he pulled off his shirts and pants and sat on to the bed next to Amy.
He sat there watching her sleep for nearly an hour before he was satisfied her breathing was regular, her airways clear and she was unlikely to choke on her own vomit. Closing his eyes he drifted off to sleep still sat up next to her.
It was the sniggering that woke him. Opening his eyes he saw Missy standing over him and Amy, a devilish grin on her face.
"Morning Shelly!" she laughed, no sign of a hangover in sight.
Sheldon sat up realising he had not only fallen asleep; but in his normal fashion had wound himself around Amy, legs entwined hand firmly cupping and stroking her breast.
"Sleep well?" she winked.
"Don't start with me Missy! I cannot believe you let Amy get that drunk, you have no idea of the repercussions your actions had!" Sheldon stood up, not moving far from Amy's side but far enough from the temptation of her body.
"Sheldon shhh!" came Amy's voice next to him. She sat up gingerly holding her head. Reaching over for the pills and water he handed them to her.
"Take these." he muttered, in not the most sympathetic of tones. Swallowing them gratefully Amy focused on his face. "Sheldon why are you here?"
"Because Amy, thanks to you and my sister I have been forced to spend half the night searching for you; then arguing with my mother; before checking the pair of you didn't lapse into some alcohol induce coma!
"Oh Shelly you do exaggerate." Missy laughed. "We went for a drink with James and Simon then they walked us back here. We weren't missing; just having fun. You should try it sometime!"
"Why did you argue with your mother?" Amy asked curiously.
"Because she found out we were sharing a room." Sheldon muttered.
"How? I didn't tell her."
"No I did. I also told her about Texas, and about me staying at yours. She was not happy."
"Oh!" Amy was amazed. Missy looked absolutely stunned.
"Wow Shelly! What did she say?"
"I don't remember. There was talk of sinning, then I got angry and left."
Amy's phone began buzzing on the table followed by Missy's. Both girls looked at their text messages from Penny; their mouths falling open in perfect synchronisation.
"Shelly did you tell momma you wanted to live with Amy permanently?" Amy watched Sheldon blush at Missy question.
"Maybe." he muttered.
"Wow!" Amy whispered. Kneeling up she leant over and kissed him. "I cant believe you did that. Thank you Sheldon." Pulling him closer she deepened the kiss.
It took Missy a second to process the sight of her brother kissing his girlfriend, not just kissing but a full on passionate embrace.
Coughing she said, "I'll just go wash up." and headed to the bathroom.
Sheldon pushed Amy gently backwards so she was now sat on her heels, he followed sitting next to her. Pulling back from their kiss reluctantly Amy looked at him.
"I didn't mean for you to fight with your mum, I'm sorry."
"It's OK. I guess I should have just been honest, like you told me too from the beginning. I should probably ring Meemaw, momma was cross! Especially when she knew we had stayed in the same room at Meemaw's."
Amy giggled, "I cant believe you told her that!"
"No, neither can I now!" Blushing Sheldon gave her another quick kiss then said, "Amy please move back into our room."
"Of course I will. Let me wash and change and I will follow you back." Nodding Sheldon moved to the door.
"You do realise Missy took her phone into the bathroom with her; she is probably texting Penny right now."
Amy grinned, "probably!"
73~73
Mary was angry.
She felt that not only had Sheldon deceived her but her own mother had too. On returning to her room Mary considered waking her mother up to confront her. Realising it wouldn't change the facts Mary sat on her bed and looked out of the window. Outside she could see people returning from their day at the park having watched the parade. Couples holding hands, young families carrying tired children.
There were other groups, just off out. Out to go drinking, find adventure at night, out to have fun.
Mary sighed.
She felt old.
How many years had she tried to instil Christian values into her children? She had given up on George Jr and Missy; but Sheldon, she had thought he understood. Tonight just seemed to confirm she was ignored by everyone even her own mother. Moving away from the window Mary got into bed.
The next morning Mary seriously considered packing her bag and going home. It was the knocking on her door as she moved to get her bag that stopped her. Opening the door she saw Missy.
"Hi momma" Missy said quietly "Can I come in?
Mary moved aside without answering. Quickly taking in the bag on the bed Missy frowned.
"Momma we need to talk. You cant take this out on Shelly. He loves her you know."
"I am sure he does Missy. He made it quite clear last night my opinion doesn't matter though. It is best I go home."
"No! You cant leave. Sheldon was angry and scared last night. He and Amy had had a fight because he was trying to do right by you. He didn't want to upset you and in the process upset Amy. But he is a grown up now, you have to let him choose."
Missy spoke quietly sitting next to Mary, holding her hand.
"Amy is so good for Shelly momma. He is different with her. She is kind and patient and she lets him do his science stuff. She understands him. Don't make him choose, please. He loves you so much he didn't want to upset you and he doesn't know what to do."
"But when he came home... Meemaw knew. Did you know too?"
"Does it matter? Did you never do things when you were young that your parents may not have approved of?"
Mary stood up pulling her hand away. "This isn't about me!"
"Yes it is. It is about all of us. Sheldon loves us all; we are his family, but he loves Amy too. Don't you want him to be happy, have someone there for him?"
"Of course I do, and I like Amy, I really really do. I just didn't think Sheldon would..."
"I know! I didn't either!" Missy grinned. "Come on lets go get Meemaw, tell her the news, and grab some breakfast."
Pulling Mary with her Missy headed for the door.
73~73
Amy opened the door to their room and saw Sheldon lying on the bed.
"You OK?" she asked quietly; worried that the previous nights events were catching up with him.
"Yes" he smiled sitting up. "Come here." He pulled her down onto the bed and hugged her.
"You do know I meant it... what I said to mummy. I have been lying here thinking about it and I know I was angry; but I don't want to move back when James and Simon go home. I like knowing I am coming home to you, I like sharing a meal every night as we talk about our day. I even like doing our washing together... I know we haven't spoken about this. But..."
"Sheldon I would love for you to live with me. I just never thought you would want too."
"Why?"
"Because ever since I have known you, you have placed so much stock in your routine. You have your spot on your sofa, nobody is allowed in your room, you have bathroom time and laundry time and days you eat pizza and Thai... I just thought when James and Simon went home you would want back your routine."
"Amy when did I last do my laundry on a Saturday at 8.15? Not only do you enter my room you stay in my room overnight.! You know I like pizza and Thai but recently, if you think about it, we have had far more home cooked meals than take out. Yes I like my routine, but I would be more than happy to have a new routine at your apartment. One that we devise together. Amy I love you and the thought of leaving here and going home to my room then waking up on my own... well I don't like that thought at all."
Amy couldn't talk. She didn't know if she should laugh or cry. She had dreamt of this moment for years. Literally years. She pulled him close and hugged him tight. She didn't kiss him, she just held on, breathing in his smell and hoping it wasn't some alcohol induced dream.
Gently prizing her fingers off him Sheldon leant back and looked at her.
"I love you Amy!"
"I love you too Sheldon!"
73~73
A/N Sorry, short tonight. Will try harder tomorrow ;-)
Thanks for all the lovely reviews and encouragement it really does help!