Two months later…
..
"Sheldon, there's your case!" Amy said, as Sheldon leaned forward and grabbed his suitcase off the conveyor belt and placed it on the cart next to Amy's bags.
They had arrived back in LA, and Amy was still feeling emotional.
Her colleagues at the Fitzpatrick had given her a leaving party the day before, and had bought her gifts and cards, whilst thanking her for her work.
She had won an award for her research paper, which had been published in the local newspapers, and the national news.
Sheldon had finally made a breakthrough, and had won an award himself, which was also published in the same column as Amy's, which was headlined: 'Married couple both win awards for ground-breaking discoveries in Neurobiology and Physics.'
Their parents and friends had called them, full of congratulations and praise.
During the time of their loss with the babies, the gang had stayed for ten days before returning home, and Sheldon and Amy's sex life had returned to normal.
Now, they were home, ready to go back to work. (Or in Amy's case, her new job at the California Fitzpatrick facility.)
"Scooby is being brought back to the apartment later." Amy said to Sheldon.
"Okay," he replied. "It feels so strange to be back home! I can't believe I'm saying this, but I already miss Florida!"
"Me too," Amy sighed as they made their way through the arrivals building and through declaration. "But not as much as I missed home. Things will be the same, but different now."
Sheldon frowned at her, and was about to say something, when they turned the corner and were leapt on by their friends. "WELCOME HOME!"
"Oh good Lord, don't do that!" Sheldon cried, "I almost had a heart attack."
"Ah, it's good to have you home, Sheldon!" Leonard grinned, patting his friend on the back. "It's been…Quiet."
"Well, it will be less quiet now with Amy moving in." Sheldon replied.
He had cleared this with Leonard back when he and the others had visited the couple.
"That's true! Well Amy, you are welcome to stay with us tonight, and we can help you move your stuff tomorrow or the day after or whenever you're ready." Leonard smiled.
"Actually, if you don't mind, I'd like to stay in my own apartment tonight. It's been so long…" She said.
"Not a problem." Leonard took the cart from them and pushed it out to the parking lot.
"So how was your flight?" Bernadette asked.
"It was good thank you. We were seated in first class, so it was relatively peaceful." Amy replied.
"They gave us champagne! They recognized us from the news!" Sheldon cut in.
"Yes, Sheldon had a little too much…" Amy eyed him.
Sheldon rolled his eyes. "I assure you I'm fine. I am in full control of my mind and body."
As he said this, he tripped on a speed bump and hurtled forward, only to have Penny grab him and pull him back up.
Everyone stared at him, eyebrows raised, biting back laughter.
Sheldon brushed himself down, embarrassed. "Shut up." He mumbled.
..
As the gang piled into their cars, Sheldon and Amy got in the back of Leonard's car with Leonard and Penny.
Leonard was shocked that Sheldon hadn't called shotgun, but hadn't argued either, as the group sat chatting happily about Florida.
"So…Have you guys been trying for another baby?" Penny asked.
The car fell silent.
Amy and Sheldon exchanged a look.
"Uh…"
"No." Amy replied, "We decided to try once we were settled back home."
"What Amy said." Sheldon muttered, staring out of the window.
"Sorry, is that topic still uncomfortable to talk about?" Penny winced.
"Not really. We sort of came to terms with it." Amy smiled weakly.
"But you are still having…?"
"Coitus? Yes." Sheldon answered. "Can we change the subject now, please?"
"Sorry." Penny apologized. "Um…So how are David and Emily?"
"They seem alright. They text us to ask how our flight was. So did Jack and Sandy." Amy replied, looking down at her phone and replying to their friends back in Tampa.
"You're gonna miss them, huh?" Leonard asked.
"Yes, but they want to visit. We agreed to bi-yearly visits; they will come to us once a year, and we will go to them once a year. Each will stay for two weeks, before returning home." Sheldon added.
"Ah, so you haven't completely abandoned your schedules then?" Leonard laughed uncomfortably.
"You know…I was thinking…" Sheldon began.
"Oh God." Leonard whispered under his breath.
Sheldon ignored him. "I was thinking we could revise the Roommate Agreement? Not trash it altogether but remove a majority of it."
"This doesn't mean you'll be playing bongos at 3am again does it?" Leonard groaned.
"No."
"Then I agree."
"Sheldon, what about the Relationship Agreement?" Amy asked.
"What Relationship Agreement?" He asked, winking.
Amy grinned and kissed him.
"So Amy gets special treatment and I don't?" Leonard complained.
"I'm sorry; I don't recall having romantic feelings for you Leonard." Sheldon answered, "Therefore, you're darn tootin' you don't!"
"Yeah, you're also not giving him sex, Leonard." Penny added, "And you don't look like Amy or have…Lady Parts."
"Sex has nothing to do with this!" Sheldon protested.
"Really?" Amy asked, "Okay…Scrap the Roommate Agreement or you won't get lucky for a month."
Sheldon stared at her.
The car was silent for about ten minutes.
"Fine, I'll do it." Sheldon sighed.
Penny turned around and grinned at Amy. "Told ya!" She said to Sheldon, who glared back at her.
"Women are mean." Sheldon huffed, folding his arms and staring out the window.
"Thank you Amy." Leonard smiled into the rear-view mirror.
Amy smiled back and sighed contentedly, leaning back in her seat.
It's good to be home!
..
Amy let herself into her apartment after Leonard and Penny dropped her off and helped her carry her cases inside.
"Thank you for collecting us from the airport." Amy and Sheldon said.
"You're welcome. So are you staying here tonight, Sheldon?" Leonard asked.
Sheldon looked at Amy briefly, and then shook his head. "I'd like to come home for tonight…Will you be over tomorrow, Amy?"
Amy bit her lip as she looked around her apartment, and breathed in the familiar smell.
Five months away from home was too much for her.
She said nothing.
Sheldon's heart dropped and he turned to look at Leonard and Penny.
"Uh…We'll give you two a minute." Penny said, as she and Leonard waited in the hall closing Amy's door.
"Don't you want to move in with me?" Sheldon asked.
"I do…But I've missed my own apartment so much." Amy replied.
"But…But we're married." Sheldon said, fiddling with the wedding ring on his finger.
"I know, I know…It's just…I've missed this place so much. It's my home, and I don't want to drag you away from your routine at yours and Leonard's place, and what you're used to…" Amy shook her head. "Scooby is being brought back here anyway."
Sheldon frowned. "He is?"
Amy nodded. "That's the address I gave the Pet Freight, yeah."
"Amy…Scooby belongs to both of us. I'll miss him tonight."
"Then stay over," Amy said.
"I have to organize everything back at my place, you know I can't."
"Well, so do I."
The couple looked at each other or a moment, willing the other to back down.
"I see, so we have a temporary spell of separation and our child goes with you? That's hurtful." Sheldon said, sulkily.
Amy rolled her eyes. "He's a dog, Sheldon!"
Sheldon gasped. "He's our dog!"
"Either stay over tonight, or don't." Amy was saying now.
"Will you promise to move in tomorrow?" Sheldon asked.
Amy swallowed. "Well…"
Sheldon sighed. "Fine. I'll see you when I see you. Give my love to Scooby."
He turned around and walked out of the door.
"Sheldon…" Amy called.
It was too late; he was out in the hallway hurrying down the stairs, with a confused Leonard following him.
Penny hesitated and Leonard glanced round at her.
"You go. I'll catch you later; I left my car here anyway." Penny said, kissing Leonard goodbye, before he raced after Sheldon.
Penny opened Amy's apartment door and found her friend slowly wheeling a suitcase through to her room.
"Ames, wait…"
Amy looked round, and her expression said it all.
Penny ran forward to hug her. "Oh Amy, what happened?"
"I don't want to leave here yet, but I want to live with Sheldon. This is my home…" Amy replied, "And Scooby is being brought back here later, which upset Sheldon more…"
"Ah the whole married couple being apart, and only one of them gets the dog. I get it." Penny nodded. "But you're moving in soon, right?"
Amy chewed her lip.
"Okay…Ames, I know how you feel; I wouldn't want to leave my apartment now; it's home to me. But…Sheldon has made so many sacrifices for you. I know you have in the past, too, but…His have been life-changing. Do you see what I mean?"
Amy nodded slowly. "I feel so guilty."
"Don't," Penny said, "It's natural to feel this way. But you guys are married, you have a pet together, you almost had two babies, and you'll soon have one for sure, I know you will…But those things come from taking risks, making sacrifices because you love that person too much to let anything get in the way…"
Amy nodded again. "But then…Why won't you agree to marry Leonard?"
Penny looked down at her lap, thoughtfully. "Who are we talking about here?"
Amy shrugged. "I love Sheldon so much…We've been through hell and every time he's done the unexpected and he's pulled through for me. I never thought he would."
"He's crazy about you Amy." Penny replied, "He really is."
"Me too." Amy nodded.
She turned around and pulled her suitcases back through the apartment.
"Where are you going?" Penny frowned.
"I'm moving in with my husband." Amy smiled. "Just as soon as Scooby arrives!"
..
Sheldon was unpacking his cases, full of the few clothes he took with him and the ones he had bought out in Florida.
Leonard entered Sheldon's room with a steaming mug of tea for him.
"Hot beverage." Leonard smiled. "You know…'Cause you're feeling low."
"Thank you." Sheldon replied, taking the mug and sipping the hot liquid.
There was a knock at the door, and Leonard answered it.
From the bedroom, Sheldon heard barking.
"I know that bark anywhere!" He muttered, standing up and hurrying into the hallway.
"Scooby!"
The Fox Terrier bounded over to him and knocked him over, happily licking Sheldon's face.
Sheldon managed to get him off, and stood up, face to face with Amy.
"Damn, Scooby beat me to it!" She grinned.
"Amy…What are you doing here?" Sheldon asked, kissing her.
She took a deep breath. "I want to move in. I'll collect my stuff from my apartment over the next week or so…That is, if you still want me here?" She looked meaningfully at him and Leonard.
"Of course we do." Leonard smiled.
"Yes!" Sheldon grinned, "I do, you know I do." He hugged Amy tightly, as Scooby danced excitedly beside them, yapping. "What changed your mind?"
"Guilty!" Penny said, as she pulled the last case into the apartment. "I told Amy that Sheldon has sacrificed a lot to be with her, and that his changes have changed both of their lives. That and she should take the risk if she really loves him." The blonde smiled. "Which brings me to you."
Penny walked over to Leonard.
Leonard looked at Penny, slightly worried. "Yes?" He asked nervously.
"Leonard Hofstadter, will you marry me?"
..
A/N: Sorry for the cliffhanger…Well, I'm not but hey! xD Still more of the story to come…Things are starting to look up now for The Shamy! Thank you for reading and reviewing. Next chapter up soon!