Sheldon woke up to Scooby nudging Sheldon with his nose, and opened his eyes.
Amy was knelt on the floor, with Sheldon's head on her knees, cleaning up his wounds with some cotton wool and water.
He looked up, and was met with the view of Amy's baby bump right in front of him.
He rolled over and put his cheek on the bump, snuggling against it. "Daddy defended you, don't you worry." He murmured. "No friend of mine will lay a finger on you in that way."
Sheldon felt a strong movement from both sides of Amy's stomach, and jumped back.
"What was that?" He asked, steadying himself.
"They both just kicked me!" Amy grinned. "They like your voice!"
"Fascinating!" Sheldon said, moving closer. "So they respond to voice as well as touch?"
Amy nodded.
Sheldon also noticed that they were now alone in the apartment, with the door closed.
Only Leonard hovered in the kitchen, making a drink.
Sheldon leaned forwards again, and lightly stroked Amy's tummy with his finger.
"Girls, if you can hear me, kick mommy." He said.
Almost instantly, Amy felt two movements.
Amy got overwhelmed with emotion, "I've never felt them kick before." She said, as her eyes moistened.
Sheldon put an arm around her.
Scooby woofed and wagged his tail, nudging Amy's bump with his nose.
"The girls are going to love you, Scooby!" Amy said, stroking Scooby's ears as she regained her composure.
The little dog woofed again, his tongue hanging out.
Amy tried to stand up, and Sheldon helped her.
"Are you okay now?" She asked.
"I'm fine…Are you okay?" He replied.
Amy nodded. "Tired. I'm going to lie down for a while." She said, kissing him.
"Okay, do you need anything?"
Amy shook her head as she made her way to the bedroom.
Leonard beckoned Sheldon over.
"I need to talk to you." Leonard said.
"Alright." Sheldon replied.
"There's no easy way to say this, but uh…You and Amy need more room for the twins." Leonard said, awkwardly.
Sheldon frowned. "Wait…Are you saying we need to leave?" He asked, hurt.
"No. I'm saying that Penny has asked me to move in with her." Leonard replied. "I'll be moving out within the next week or so. But I'll still come over to hang out all the time. You, Amy and the babies are more important, and Penny was ready to take things to the next level."
Sheldon blinked. "Oh…Well, that's very thoughtful of you Leonard. Thank you, but I'll miss living with you."
"I'll only be across the hall. You and Amy need your own space for your little family." Leonard shrugged. "I'll still see you every day."
Sheldon nodded. "Actually…there's something that I need to discuss with you."
"What's that?" Leonard asked.
Sheldon looked around then dropped his voice.
"Mine and Amy's first wedding anniversary is approaching, but she will be over seven months pregnant by then. I want to make it special for her, and I have some idea how, but I need your help to organize it…Would you be willing?"
"Of course." Leonard nodded, "What did you have in mind?"
Sheldon muttered his idea to Leonard as quietly as he could.
"That's a brilliant idea. Amy would love that!" Leonard replied. "Wow! Get you!"
"Well, I know it would mean a lot to Amy, and to me." Sheldon replied.
"I'll talk to the others." Leonard said.
"Oh wait, don't let them tell Amy anything, please!" Sheldon begged.
"I promise." Leonard nodded.
..
"Amy?"
Amy turned over to see her husband standing at the door. "Hey Sheldon." She smiled, tiredly. "Your bruises are looking painful. Come here so I can kiss them better."
He closed the door and sat on the bed next to Amy.
She leaned up to stroke his face, planting a kiss on each bruise.
Tingles ran through his face and his body at her touch.
He closed his eyes.
"Oh, the midwife is coming over tomorrow morning." Amy reminded.
Sheldon nodded. "Okay. Do you want me to be here?"
"Well…She wants to discuss birthing options after we've gone through the exercises and the check-ups, and she mentioned the possibility of a C-section." Amy whispered.
Sheldon opened his eyes and looked at Amy. "Is that something that scares you?"
Amy nodded.
"I'll call into the university and tell them I'll be running late. Siebert knows about everything now I've informed him; he'll understand." Sheldon said.
Amy smiled weakly. "Thank you."
..
Amy answered the door the next day, to reveal Julie, her midwife.
"Hey mama!" Julie grinned. "How are we feeling today?"
"Exhausted." Amy replied, "But they've been kicking me! It was actually down to Sheldon. He spoke to them, and they kicked."
"That's brilliant! They are developing quickly already! That's a good sign. How was the scan yesterday? Did you find out what you're having?"
"Two girls." Amy grinned.
"Aww, congratulations!" Julie smiled. "Poor Sheldon will be outnumbered."
"Yes he will!" Sheldon said as he walked through to the lounge. "Hello Julie. We haven't met yet; I'm Sheldon Cooper."
"Nice to meet you!" Julie replied, shaking his hand. "So, you're the daddy, huh?"
Sheldon nodded. "I'm the daddy." He confirmed.
"Well you've been brilliant from what Amy's been telling me!" Julie said.
Sheldon smiled proudly.
"Sheldon, I hate to ask but, um…Why do you have bruises on your face?" Julie asked.
"That would be from fighting with my friends." He replied.
Julie looked momentarily alarmed.
"Oh no, nothing like that. I never resort to violence, ever. It's just that these friends made crude remarks about my baby daughters. I warned them to stop and they didn't, so they faced the consequences!" He explained.
"Protecting the family? I like it!" Julie grinned.
"Sheldon's Texan." Amy announced proudly. "He's been brought up to protect his woman and protect his family. It's such a sexy quality to have."
"Hmm, I do like Southerners!" Julie replied with a sultry smile, "My husband is from Huntsville, and he was brought up near enough the same way."
"Do you mind if I sit in on this particular session?" Sheldon asked, "It's just that Amy is worried about the discussion you were supposed to have about birthing methods, and the talk of a Caesarean frightened her."
"Oh Amy, why didn't you say?" Julie asked softly.
"I didn't want to sound stupid or like a child." Amy admitted.
"You don't at all sweetie. Of course Sheldon can stay if you need support. You don't need to ask me. He is your husband and the father." Julie smiled, patting Amy on the arm. "Sheldon can sit in whenever he likes."
Amy nodded and relaxed a little.
"Now, we'll start off with the exercises we practised last week. In fact, having Sheldon here would be good, so he can support you physically too." Julie smiled.
"Julie is teaching me breathing and birthing exercises," Amy explained to Sheldon. "I didn't want to go to antenatal classes, so Julie offered to teach me one-to-one. Isn't that great?"
"That is great! Now I know why Amy's Gynaecologist referred to you as their best midwife." Sheldon said.
Julie beamed. "Thank you Sheldon!"
They launched into the breathing exercises, as Sheldon sat and watched, fascinated by it all.
Julie then moved onto a more practical subject…
"How do you feel about massage during labor?" She asked Amy.
"Would it help?" Amy frowned.
"Some studies have shown that it can aid in relaxing the mother. I can teach Sheldon how to massage your shoulders and lower back. During the actual pregnancy it can be helpful, too, if you experience any discomfort." Julie explained.
"What do you think Sheldon?" Amy asked.
She didn't think Sheldon would want to do something so hands-on like massage, but he happily agreed.
"Let's give it a shot." He nodded. "If it helps Amy, I'll do anything."
Amy smiled gratefully at him.
Julie took some baby oil from her bag and handed it to Sheldon, who timidly took the cap off and sprayed some of the oil onto his hands, rubbing them together as Amy removed her shirt and sat shyly in her bra and sweatpants.
He didn't like the feel of the oil on his hands, and had a huge urge to wipe it off, but he gritted his teeth and let Julie guide him on what to do.
"From the top of the spine, run the flat of your hand all the way down. Apply some pressure but not too much, and not so little that it feels like you're stroking her skin."
Sheldon followed the instruction, and Amy felt tingles run through her body as Sheldon ran his hand down her spine and then instinctively moved both hands around her lower back and her sides.
"Wow! You've got it already!" Julie said, surprised. "I didn't even tell him to do this part Amy, that's all Sheldon."
Amy was soothed by the feel of Sheldon's hands massaging and caressing her skin.
He rested his chin on her shoulder, and Amy felt his breath on her neck.
She closed her eyes.
Sheldon stopped, and then turned to face Julie. "How did I do?"
"You should be asking Amy." Julie replied, "But from here, it looked very good. You're a fast learner! Amy, what do you think?"
"It was wonderful." Amy replied. "I felt so connected to him."
Julie smiled. "That's another benefit of this technique."
"Julie…Could I ask you to teach us some sexual positions that are good for pregnant women?" Amy asked, meekly.
"Of course. In fact, I actually have a book to give you on it." Julie replied, taking a book out of her bag and handing it to Amy. "That's yours to keep. Sex positions are on page 20 to page 30."
"Thank you." Amy replied, opening the book and flicking through the pages.
The book contained information and images on exercises Amy could do, sexual positions and breathing and birthing techniques.
"So Amy…Many twin pregnancies unfortunately can result in Caesarean sections." Julie said softly, "If this happens, there really isn't a lot that can be done to prevent it. However, you can still write up a birth plan and choose where you'd like to give birth; in a private room, semi-private, a birthing pool…Hopefully your babies will be born naturally, but it's always good to have a plan."
Amy nodded. "Can Sheldon be allowed into the O.R if I do need a Caesarean?" She asked.
"Of course. The father or birthing partner is always allowed in." Julie nodded. "He'd need to wear hospital scrubs, gloves and a mask of course, but he'll be allowed in."
"Sheldon's a bit funny with hospitals." Amy confessed. "He absolutely hates them. I'm scared he won't…"
"I will be there for the birth." He cut in. "Regardless of my aversion to hospitals! I put the babies inside you, so you can bet your life I'll be there when they're being born…Or cut out of you."
"I think you're okay Amy." Julie said, "Sheldon doesn't seem the type to just leave you alone in all of this."
"I'm not." He replied.
"I know," Amy nodded. "I'm just scared to give birth, and I'm scared to have a C-section. That's the only thing about this whole pregnancy that's scaring me. I couldn't bear to do it alone." She sniffed and wiped a tear away.
"You won't be alone. I'll be there; you never have to be alone again." Sheldon said quietly.
Amy took a deep breath and nodded, calming herself down.
Stupid hormones!
"So um…Which of these would you recommend?" Amy asked Julie, opening her book to the pregnancy sex position pages.
"Look on page 24." Julie replied.
Amy flicked to that page, and looked at the illustration.
"So, you would both lay on your sides, with your back to him, and he would penetrate from behind. Both of his legs would go between yours, so it's like you're sitting on his lap, but you're lying on your sides, if that makes sense? It's a lot easier than it looks, trust me. That way, it puts less pressure on your stomach, and his hand will be free so he can easily caress your baby bump, or explore your breasts, or use his hand for clitoral stimulation; whatever he prefers." Julie explained. "This is probably the most romantic and most comfortable one for you."
Amy nodded. "Thank you. We'll try that."
"No problem. Now, I have twenty minutes left; would you like to make a start drawing up a birth plan?"
..
Once Julie had left, Amy turned to Sheldon, who was putting the mugs in the sink ready to wash.
"Thank you for being there." Amy said.
"No problem. Actually…I was wondering if I could sit in on some more sessions with you. We're both new to babies and birth so it would help me, too." Sheldon asked.
"I'd love that!" Amy grinned. "Thanks."
Sheldon smiled, but at that moment, his cell phone rang.
He answered and put it on speaker whilst he washed the cups. "Hello?"
"Hey Sheldon, it's Leonard. Listen, I spoke to the guys and Penny and Bernadette about yours and Amy's anniversary, and they love the idea, too! When are you getting to work? We all need to meet at lunch to start organizing the…"
Sheldon hurriedly turned off the speaker, embarrassed. "Um, I'll be leaving home in a minute." He replied, drying up the cups as he balanced his phone between his shoulder and his ear.
"Alright Leonard, I'll see you at lunch. Goodbye."
He hung up and pocketed his phone, looking up sheepishly at Amy.
"What do you have planned for our anniversary then?" She grinned. "Come on stud, tell me."
"I can't tell you. It's a secret."
"You hate secrets."
"I happen to like this one."
Amy raised her eyebrows. "Sheldon…"
"Oh look at the time. I have to go. I'll see you later; I love you." Sheldon said hurriedly, kissing Amy on the lips and then racing out of the door, only stopping long enough to grab his windbreaker, bag and keys.
Amy frowned and shook her head, seating herself on the couch to watch some TV.
..
A/N: Okay, so I know I've updated twice today now, but today has just been so completely crappy, I actually want to burst into tears right now, and writing is the only thing keeping me sane at the moment :/ . So, I'm sorry if you aren't liking the really frequent updates. Thanks for taking the time to read and review.