CHAPTER 29
"Mmm, Sheldon, that was ... fascinating!", Amy smiled as she brought her lips to Sheldon's, in a deep kiss. They're wrapped in the messy sheets of their bed. Her boyfriend tried to catch his breath after a passionate lovemaking session.
"What can I say?, I believe practice makes perfect". Sheldon mentioned while stroking Amy's back, gently.
"Yeah, we certainly have practiced in the last weeks". Amy blushed. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go pee. It seems that with each passing week my bladder decreases its capacity a little more".
Amy got up from the bed in a single bound and put on her red plaid pajama shirt, which brought them such good memories; she hurried to the bathroom. Sheldon stared at her as she walked away. He couldn't believe it; they're finally going home that day.
After spending more than a month in Sweden, Sheldon was finally going back to his job, his apartment and his old routines. Although he must confess he didn't know how things could be as usual now that his relationship with Amy had progressed exponentially.
"Why don't we take a shower together?, I think it would be fun", Amy winked, after returning from the bathroom. She knew the effect she had on Sheldon when she proposed some experiment.
Sheldon blushed upon hearing his girlfriend's plan. He swallowed hard and answered: "While I recognize that taking a shower with you, is something I would absolutely enjoy; I think it's time to check that everything is ready to go home. In just four hours, we should be on a plane, back to Pasadena."
"Yes, you're right Sheldon, we better get ready, we will have enough time to keep practicing and gaining experience. "Yeih baby!, We're going home! Isn't it exciting?" Amy put her hands on her belly, stroking it gently.
Sheldon was sitting on the bed, looking at Amy. Now that she was fourteen weeks and 2 days pregnant, Sheldon could see for the first time, something different in his girlfriend's silhouette. Amy's belly had started to show a slight curve, protruding below her navel. He hadn't seen it previously.
The theoretical physicist rose from the bed and hugging Amy from behind, very affectionately, he put his arms around her waist, finally placing them on her belly. Amy sighed as Sheldon whispered these words:
"Amy, I think… our baby has grown considerably in recent weeks. I can say that your belly just started showing. It's not much, it's barely noticeable, but it's true! You started showing!" Sheldon was smiling. He was thrilled with his discovery.
Amy looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror; she gently lifted her shirt up, exposing her belly. Sheldon was right. Apparently, the little homo novus, had grown enough to be noticed, just in time to meet their uncles and aunties in Pasadena. Amy's heart was pounding hard and fast.
"Do you really think so?, I haven't noticed before. Of course my clothes fit a little tighter, but ... Yeah you're right! I started showing!". Amy breathed deeply and snuggled in her boyfriend's arms, he leaned to kiss her lip with immense tenderness.
At their apartment's living room Sheldon checked his list twice. They had everything neatly packed. Now, they only had to go to the airport.
It was ten o'clock, and they had exactly two hours left until their flight takes off. Sheldon was trying to look calm and in control of the situation, but he was actually very nervous. That wasn't surprising. Now he had to face a new reality in his life, and he obviously wasn't ready for it. Although these weeks together had been extraordinarily pleasant, the future looked uncertain. "Calm down Cooper!, You have to be strong for them", he told himself.
Amy heard a knock on the door and quickly ran to open it. Just as they're expecting, Mattias and Martina were coming to take them to the airport, like they'd promised.
"Hey guys! Are you ready to go? Do you have your luggage and your documents?", Mattias told them, as he greeted them cheerfully.
Mattias and Sheldon finally got along in recent weeks, especially when Sheldon realized that the young Swedish doctor wasn't a threat to his relationship with Amy. Just like Sheldon, Mattias was a big fan of video games, and they'd spent some afternoons competing in his Play Station 3. Sheldon had won almost every time, of course.
"Yes, we're ready", Sheldon said as he carried their luggage, he was prepared to leave the apartment. Mattias help them with their bags.
"Wait a minute! Before you guys leave, Mattias and I have a farewell gift for you", Martina said as she handed a present to Amy.
"Thank you, you shouldn't have!" Amy replied while she opened the gift with great curiosity
"You're welcome! It's just something we think you might need in a few months. We'll miss you. You know you'll always have a place to stay in Stockholm", Mattias said.
When Amy opened the gift, she could see it contained two little onesies for a newborn baby. One was white, with of a smiling monkey, embroidered on its front. The other one was blue and decorated with Superman's logo. Amy and Sheldon looked at the tiny outfits with affection. The onesies were so little and delicate as if they're made for a doll.
"Thanks!, this is the first gift that our baby has received, it's very special to us", Amy sincerely told her friends. She'd promised herself not to cry, but she was finding it increasingly hard to keep that promise.
"As we don't know yet if you're having a boy or a girl, I chose the white outfit with the monkey, I know you love monkeys and I think this one's really funny", Mattias told Amy.
"I chose the Superman onesie because I remembered the day when Sheldon suddenly burst into my office, looking for you; he was wearing a Superman shirt. If your baby's a boy, Sheldon and him could dress alike. If it's a girl, and I'm crossing my fingers, she would look adorable in her Superman onesie. I hope you send me all the pictures of your baby." Martina warmly hugged Amy.
"Amy knows that for me, the practice of giving and receiving gifts, is stressful, but I'm sincerely grateful for all you have done for us. I never expected to find new friends, so far from home. I could never repay you for… this". Sheldon was genuinely touched by the gesture of Mattias and Martina.
Surprisingly Sheldon hugged Mattias and Martina, as Amy gave him a stunned look.
"Well, I think it's time to go to the airport, we don't want to miss our flight". Amy finally added.
The minute before they left, Sheldon and Amy looked at the empty apartment where they had shared so many memorable moments. Sheldon closed the door and holding Amy's hand, they said goodbye to their first home.
With fifteen hours of travel ahead, Sheldon was feeling uncomfortable in his seat, he was moving from side to side, unable to sit at ease. Amy read the latest issue of Neuron in which they mentioned the outstanding work of the researchers from the Neurosciences Institute in Stockholm, led by Dr. Mattias Johansson.
Sheldon was trying to read as well, but he couldn't concentrate on that edition of the "New England Journal of Physics". He felt anxious, as if he were attempting to solve a difficult problem.
Sheldon had noticed that during these weeks, they hadn't discussed several key issues for their future. Now that they were expecting a baby, Amy needed all the care and protection he could provide. In order to achieve that goal, he'd need to stay with her as long as possible.
Sheldon didn't know if Amy wanted him to move in with her, or perhaps it would be better if Amy moves in with him.
The apartment at 23-11 Los Robles, was more spacious than Amy's apartment, it had two bedrooms and a larger living room. It was also conveniently located near the hospital. Sheldon had lived there for over ten years; it would be very difficult for him to face a sudden change. His video games, his books, his action figures, his spot… his life, everything was in that apartment. And also, there was Leonard, his little buddy, his best friend. He couldn't ask him to leave the apartment just like that. Sheldon suddenly had a headache.
Amy wanted to keep reading her magazine; however she had lost track of her reading, long ago. She was actually thinking about their future when they to get to Pasadena. Sheldon was utterly silent.
To be honest, Amy didn't think Sheldon was going to propose. He never talked about marriage, but maybe living together could be an option, now that they were expecting a baby. Amy didn't know how to proceed. After meditating, she concluded that asking Sheldon to live with her might be too drastic for him. They certainly had spent together the best weeks of their lives in Stockholm, but that didn't guarantee that Sheldon wants to live with her.
"Sheldon, I want you to know you're not forced to live with me, or follow any social convention. I'm not asking you for commitment. I'm going to live at my apartment as I did before. You can come anytime you want and stay as long as you like. We can return to a previous stage of our relationship, with some obvious exceptions" Amy gently stroked her belly. She was speaking seriously.
Sheldon was surprised to hear those words; he didn't expect Amy to suggest that pathway for their relationship. Although that arrangement could take away a lot of pressure for them, Sheldon felt something wasn't right. "No, we should be together; she needs me and I need her", he thought.
"Amy, if that's what you want, we can do that. I'll always take care of you and our child. However, I believe, we shouldn't rule out the possibility of living together. I think that's the rational approach, considering our current situation. Needless to say, I could never live without you". Sheldon sighed deeply.
"Are you… trying to tell me… you want to live with me?, Amy asked haltingly.
"Yes, Amy Farrah Fowler, that's exactly what I´m trying to say". Sheldon answered resolutely.
