After a while, Amy and Sheldon had got up and wandered into the kitchen, wordlessly.
Sheldon picked up a takeout menu and glanced round at Amy, who was making some tea.
Leonard was hanging out with Howard and Raj that evening at the comic book store and then The Cheesecake Factory.
Sheldon had declined their invitation on order to be with Amy.
Amy caught Sheldon staring at her, and smiled.
He smiled back.
"Um…I just wanted to thank you for earlier." Amy said softly. "It was beautiful…I've never felt so close to you."
"Me too," Sheldon replied, taking Amy by the waist and kissing her softly.
The babies moved within Amy's abdomen.
"I think the girls liked that, too." She grinned, stroking her bump.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that." Sheldon frowned, bending down to talk to the girls. "I hope you two are behaving yourselves in there!"
He felt one kick, shortly followed by another.
"Does that mean yes or no?" He asked.
Amy put on a squeaky voice; "yes daddy."
Sheldon laughed. "Would you mind if I try something?" He looked up at Amy.
"Of course not. Go ahead." Amy nodded.
Sheldon lifted Amy's shirt and shyly pressed his lips to her stomach.
Almost instantly, he felt movement.
"I love you both so much." He murmured. "Hurry up and be born so we can meet you."
Amy laughed nervously. "But don't arrive too early, babies. We haven't got anything ready yet."
"That reminds me…Leonard is moving out within the week. Maybe we should visit some stores so we can start on the nursery." Sheldon said.
Amy blinked. "Really?"
"Of course. Why don't we go tomorrow? It's Saturday so we will have all day. Leonard was planning on moving into Penny's properly then anyway; he's already moved a majority of his stuff."
"Okay…I'd love that." Amy grinned. "And maybe you could give me another hint for our Anniversary party?"
"It's not really a party as such…" Sheldon replied.
"A-ha! So that's another clue!" Amy smiled, devilishly.
"You vixen!" Sheldon shook his head. "What do you want for dinner? Is pizza okay?"
"Pizza is fine. But could we get a large pizza? I'm eating for three, and I'm starving."
..
"Babies R Us!" Sheldon read as the cab dropped them outside the superstore the following day. "How original."
Amy laughed. "Come on, stud!"
Sheldon paid and thanked the driver as they got out of the cab and walked inside.
As soon as they stepped through the doors, Amy squealed and hurried towards a white and pale pink crib.
"Oh Sheldon, look!" She said excitedly, "Isn't this adorable?!"
"It is nice, but we should really check out our other options before we make a decision." He replied sensibly.
"Good point." Amy shrugged.
They wandered around the aisles, pushing a cart.
Within an hour, they had selected numerous cute outfits, sleepsuits, soft toys, pacifiers and bottles.
Sheldon had found a cute little night light that projected stars and planets onto the ceiling, and played lullaby music when a button was pressed.
They stocked up on necessities like diapers and blankets and burping cloths before Amy returned to the crib she had seen.
"This is the only one I liked." She pouted. "The others were so plain."
"Hmm it is cute…" Sheldon considered. "And it's flat-packed and looks easy enough to assemble. We'll need two though."
Amy nodded as she leaned down to pick up one of the boxes next to the display.
"Whoa! What are you doing?" Sheldon asked, hurrying round to stand next to her.
"Picking one up to put in the cart." She frowned.
"I don't think so!" He replied. "You're not allowed to lift heavy things."
"It doesn't look that heavy…"
Sheldon had picked it up and placed it into the cart. "It isn't." He replied, lifting the second one. "But you are pregnant and can't lift things."
Amy smiled and stepped back, letting Sheldon lift the box.
They pushed the cart to the checkout to pay for their things.
As they were leaving, a voice called out: "Dr Cooper?"
Sheldon turned around and spotted a tall, red-headed woman with a young child.
He frowned. "Ramona?"
Ramona grinned, until she saw Amy turn around, and then her expression hardened.
"And who is this?" Ramona demanded.
"This is my wife, Amy." Sheldon introduced.
Ramona plastered on a fake, spiteful smile. "So, is the baby Sheldon's?"
"Babies, actually. We're expecting twins." Amy replied, confused by the younger woman's nasty tone.
"How nice for you." She glared at Sheldon.
"Uh…Amy, Ramona was one of my students once. We met after one of my lectures." Sheldon introduced.
"Don't forget the rest." Ramona said. "I guess you haven't told Amy about us?"
Sheldon frowned. "Us?"
"Yes…Us. I'm surprised you've forgotten."
"I never forget. We were never an item; you tried to help me on some of my work just so I'd credit you once it was published."
Ramona shook her head pityingly, before glancing at Amy and eyeing her stomach with disgust. "Typical Sheldon Cooper." She said, "And I'll bet he spun you the same story about how he has never slept with or kissed another woman, right?"
"It's not a story; it's true. I was his first." Amy replied.
"Really? Then how do you explain Freddie here?" Ramona sneered as the five-year-old boy ran up behind her and grabbed her hand.
Sheldon and Amy stared wide-eyed.
"Bye!" Ramona grinned maliciously as she walked away with the young boy.
Amy looked to Sheldon for confirmation.
"Amy…I swear I didn't!" Sheldon shook his head. "I never did anything with her! I haven't seen her in about six years or more!"
"That child looked about five, Sheldon. How do you explain that?"
"Wait, you are actually doubting me based on what some random girl said?" He asked, feeling hurt.
"No…I don't know…" Amy shrugged.
"She is trying to cause trouble Amy. She's jealous. I promise you, that girl was obsessed with me and I never in any way, shape or form let her believe that we were in a relationship! Ask Penny and Leonard. They know everything!" Sheldon said, truthfully. "The last thing I told her was to get out because she used me to get credit. I never saw or spoke to her again, I swear."
Amy blinked furiously.
"Are you crying?" Sheldon asked. "Please don't cry…"
"I need to be alone. I need to clear my head." Amy whispered, walking over to the taxis and selecting one, ignoring Sheldon's protests.
He gave up trying once the cab drove away.
Whipping out his phone, he called Leonard to come get him.
As he waited, he leaned against the building and let the tears fall.
All the romance, all the things he had done…And one person's lies had changed Amy's mind just like that.
..
Leonard arrived minutes later and got out the car to find Sheldon sobbing against the wall.
"Hey, come here." Leonard extended his arms.
Without a second thought, Sheldon accepted the hug.
"Amy is with Penny." Leonard said, handing Sheldon a paper bag to breathe into. "Penny is putting her straight about the whole Ramona thing."
"I don't understand it." Sheldon shook his head. "I have never lied to Amy. I would never lie to her about something like that. I trust her more than anyone else, so why won't she trust me?"
"Sometimes when people make passing comments, and bring their kid along, sometimes you don't think about it. You just hear what's been said, saw a kid who looks about the right age, and in creep the doubts. You and I both know Ramona is bat crap crazy, and we sure as hell know you didn't sleep with her!"
"I did nothing with her." Sheldon corrected. "Not a kiss, not a hug… nothing!"
"I know, and Penny knows. She is telling Amy right now."
"We haven't even been married for a year; it's been ten months. Our marriage lasted ten months. I was going to make our one year anniversary special." Sheldon cried. "I was going to…"
"I know…" Leonard comforted. "Amy won't separate from you. She just had a momentary doubt. Hell, anyone would if some woman from your past rocked up with a kid about the right age, and said it's yours. It's just an instant reaction. Amy knows deep down you'd never do that. Her hormones certainly aren't helping things."
"But how will I know if she really trusts me now?" Sheldon asked.
"Um Sheldon…Not to be a jerk, but didn't you question her about the pregnancy after finding out how far along she was?" Leonard said, gently.
Sheldon said nothing.
"You and Amy had been trying again for three weeks, but she was five weeks pregnant and it freaked you out. But you know deep down Amy was never with anyone else. Those twins are yours, yet you still questioned her; that's what couples do. If you really love and care about them, of course you'll get jealous and doubtful sometimes. That's normal." Leonard explained.
"I apologized to Amy for that. I know they are mine." Sheldon said.
"I know, and Amy will apologize too. Don't hold it over her. All couples doubt each other, and there's always some home-wrecking bitch around getting jealous and trying to ruin it. But you guys aren't used to that, because this is all new to you. You cannot let this ruin what you and Amy have."
"Leonard…What if Amy really does leave me? I'll lose her and the twins. I don't want the love of my life to leave me and take my babies away."
"She won't. I promise." Leonard soothed. "Come on. I'll help you put all of this in the car, and we'll go back to the apartment and cool off until Amy and Penny come to talk to us, okay?"
Sheldon nodded.
"Come on buddy. It'll be fine, I promise." Leonard said, helping Sheldon to carry the new baby stuff to the car.
..
"So…Nothing happened? At all?" Amy asked croakily, her eyes bloodshot.
"Amy, I swear nothing happened." Penny promised, "This girl was absolutely fricking insane! She thought I was in love with Sheldon! I mean seriously…Me!?"
Amy smiled weakly. "Sheldon and you are so not each other's type!"
"Exactly." Penny nodded, "That gives you some idea of how crazy she is. She was super controlling of him, too. She was always on at him to finish his work, and he was never allowed to hang out with me or the guys. He got fed up and started sneaking out to play paintball, and hiding in the shower to play his handheld games. Does that sound like someone who was in love to you?"
"No." Amy shook her head.
"I swear to God, Sheldon did not touch that psycho girl. She just made a passing comment to be spiteful; girls do that Amy, unfortunately, but you can't let it destroy you and Sheldon; you guys are perfect for each other. The only way that kid could be Sheldon's is if she sperm-jacked him while he was asleep! But come on, he would have woken up halfway through and had a heart attack if that had happened!" Penny said. "It's probably her nephew or brother or cousin… or it is her kid, but the dad isn't around. Seriously Amy, Sheldon loves you and you need to trust him. He's breaking his back to prove how much he loves you. I've known that man for over seven years now, and he's never, ever even been close to showing this much affection to anyone. He's in love with you Amy; he'd never do that to you."
Amy nodded, a tear slipping down her cheek. "You're right. I feel so stupid…" She wiped her eyes. "Why did I believe it? Even for a moment."
"Amy, come on. She had a five year old kid with her, and Sheldon knew her six years ago. Sure it looked suspicious; anyone would think so. But I think you knew deep down that Sheldon would never keep something like this from you…Don't you?"
Amy nodded. "Yeah." She admitted. "I owe him a huge apology."
Penny smiled. "I hate to say it Ames, but you kinda do."
Amy took a deep breath and stood up to go out into the hall.
As she exited the door, she saw Leonard helping Sheldon with the baby stuff through the opposite apartment's door.
She caught a quick glance of Sheldon's face, and saw that it was pale and tear-stained, his eyes bright red.
Sheldon heard movement and looked up at Amy.
He swallowed hard as he walked towards her.
"Sheldon…I am so, so sorry that I doubted you. I know she was lying and just being spiteful, and Penny has told me everything. I should have believed you…I-I'm sorry." Amy said, tearfully.
"You're not going to leave me are you?" Sheldon asked, "You're not going to leave and take the babies away with you?"
Amy saw then just how hurt her husband was and it broke her, knowing that she was the reason behind it.
"No." She cried harder, "Never."
Sheldon nodded, and sighed with relief as he embraced Amy in a tight hug. "I guess the hormones didn't help?" He mentioned.
"Probably not." Amy shook her head. "I really am sorry Sheldon. I know you've bent over backwards for me, and you really have done everything for me. I had no right to think that you would do something like that."
"It's okay. Can we just pretend it never happened?" Sheldon asked.
Amy nodded. "Of course."
Sheldon smiled and kissed her on the lips, before kneeling down and kissing her bump.
"I love you three too much to sabotage this." He said, softly.
Amy nodded again. "I know. Me too."