CHAPTER 30
It was a sizzling hot afternoon in Galveston, Texas. A thin, little boy, with brown hair and soft blue eyes, looked at the useless remnants of what had been his science project. The scale model of a nuclear reactor was lying on the withered grass of his house's front yard.
Sitting on the porch, the boy was still wiping away the tears that escaped from his blue eyes and moistened his cheeks, full of tiny freckles. A few hours ago, his nuclear reactor model was in perfect condition, ready to win the first prize in the science contest, as he always did. His older brother just broke the model without any regard to his pleas and for no more reason than the evident wish to make him suffer.
Hearing the shrill screams coming from the kitchen of his small house, the little boy covered his ears with his hands. It was useless; he could perceive each one of the hurtful words that came from his father's mouth, who, drunk as usual, was arguing heatedly with his mother.
"Mary, I forbid you to go and comfort him, you have completely spoiled that kid. He has to learn that life's hard. Life is cruel, and that boy can't even defend himself. I've had enough". The boy's father growled like an ogre from the stories that his grandfather used to read to him when he was younger. Sheldon missed him so much. His grandfather had died three years ago. His Pop-pop and his Meemaw were the only ones who understand him. He was peculiar to everyone else, but just a normal child for them.
"George, why are you so hard on him? He's just eight. You know that our son is very special; you should've punished George Junior for breaking his science project. Sheldon's been working very hard on that. "Mary Cooper tried to calm down his angry husband".
"He's special... he's special, you always tell me the same. For me, he's just weird, a strange kid who thinks he's better and smarter than everyone else in this house. That's all!"
Going to the window to see what happened, Sheldon could see how his father raised his hand to his mother defiantly as he was about to slap her on the face. He was tired of their fights, the screams. How many times he had wanted it to end. He'd promised himself he would never be like his father.
He'd never let anyone hurt him. All those fights and violence from his father, coupled with the teasing and mortifications he received from the bullies at school, made him stay away from people, he never looked for friendships, he never trusted people. He couldn't nor wanted to open his heart to anyone. So he'd tried to cover himself under an almost impenetrable armor. The reasoning was simple, if you don't love anyone, no one will hurt you. Sheldon heard the sound of broken plates, and his father shouted again.
"No dad! No!" Sheldon shook his head, suddenly waking up from that disturbing nightmare. Well, he wished it were only a nightmare but it was actually a remembrance, one of the painful memories he kept in his mind, despite the years. At times like this, having an eidetic memory was a punishment rather than a blessing. Sheldon would like to forget so many things. But he couldn't.
When he opened his eyes, which now had a watery glow, mixed with a shadow of profound sadness; Sheldon stared at Amy, who was still asleep on his shoulder, sitting next to him. He sweetly smiled and wrapped his arms around her.
Amy snuggled in Sheldon's arms, without waking up. He was still thinking about those intense memories from his childhood. He was tormented by the thought of being like his father, so violent, so abusive. He couldn't forgive himself if he ever acts like that with Amy or their baby. "And… what if that behavior is within me? What if… being like him, is in my nature?", Sheldon was thinking again and again, unable to fall asleep. He still had scars inside him, extremely difficult to heal.
The plane was about to land; the seat belt signal lit, and the pilot's voice was heard at full volume. Sheldon woke Amy up, caressing her cheek. "Amy, wake up! We're home".
Amy looked into his eyes, and saw that Sheldon was somewhat upset, maybe a little sad. She wasn't sure why. Amy hoped it wasn't anything serious, probably he was just tired.
At the airport, Sheldon and Amy grabbed their luggage and headed to one of the exit doors, precisely where Leonard and Penny were looking for them.
Penny ran toward them, glad to see her friends. The beautiful girl was as smiley and happy as ever. "Amy, Sheldon! I missed you so much. Look Leonard! They're finally here. And now there are three of them" Penny hugged Sheldon and Amy like she hadn't seen them in years.
"Sheldon, I missed you!. Amy, you look radiant! I think pregnancy has done you good," Leonard was very happy to be reunited with his friends.
"Be careful Leonard! My relationship with Sheldon is one of total exclusivity" Amy replied uncomfortably.
Sheldon looked askance at Leonard, as if he was feeling jealous for that compliment of his friend to Amy. Leonard gulped. He decided it was better to help Sheldon with their luggage.
It felt so good to be home, finally. Sheldon asked Amy that, at least for tonight, she stays at the apartment he shared with Leonard. Amy accepted the suggestion; she didn't want to spend the night alone. Tomorrow morning they'd decide their next step.
When they got home, they were greeted by Howard, Raj and Bernadette, who had prepared a delicious dinner with pepperoni and ham and mushrooms pizzas. The pizzas were still warm, on the coffee table.
After dinner, Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj started playing Halo; meanwhile Amy and the girls chatted in the kitchen.
"Amy, I can't even believe you're pregnant, this is so unexpected!" Bernadette looked at her with eyes full of sweetness and almost well-meaning envy.
"Yes, indeed it was totally unexpected. You have no idea of the shock it was for me to find out that I'm going to be a mother. But look at me now, I can't wait to have my baby in my arms" Amy admitted.
"I can't wait either to have the Shamy baby with us. So cute!. How far along are you?. You don't look pregnant yet" Penny asked, looking at her bestie from head to toe.
"Fourteen weeks and two days, and I already have a little baby bump. You can tell I'm pregnant when I'm not wearing a sweater. By now, the baby should be the size of a peach or so. I can't stop eating but ironically I'm throwing up everything" . Amy answered.
"Sheldon looks very happy, I think I'd never seen him smile so much" Bernadette was looking at Sheldon, who whenever he had the chance, stared at Amy.
Bernadette, Howard and Raj, decided it was best to let their friends get some rest. They said goodbye, after a lovely evening.
"Amy. I see you're staying with Sheldon tonight. Right?" Leonard inquired when he saw that the neurobiologist sat on the couch next to her boyfriend, with no intention to leave the apartment.
"Precisely Leonard! And don't worry if you hear screams coming from Sheldon's bedroom, we tend to be a bit effusive in lovemaking issues. You understand, don't you?" . Amy's words made the experimental physicist blush.
"I guess I better sleep at your apartment." Leonard told Penny, he was almost begging her. Penny nodded and holding Leonard's hand, she said goodbye to her friends.
Amy and Sheldon headed to the bedroom. Everything was as Sheldon had left it. He was glad to be home, he examined every object in the room. Amy put on her pink pajamas and after brushing her teeth, she went to bed. It was the second time that Amy slept in Sheldon's bed, but now it wasn't only the two of them, like the first time. Now their little homo novus, who most likely had been conceived in the same bed, was with them.
Sheldon sat on the bed and began to unpack and store his clothes neatly in the closet. Tomorrow there would be time to better organize his wardrobe and who knows, it might be appropriate to make room for Amy's clothes.
Sheldon got into bed, and covering himself with the blankets, he hugged his beloved girlfriend, kissing her neck fondly. "Amy, wouldn't you like to bring to mind what happened a few months ago on these same Star Wars sheets?" .
Amy affectionately kissed him on the lips and stroked his hair. Sheldon left tender kisses on his girlfriend's neck and chest as she hugged him tightly .
Amy couldn't keep her eyes open, even though she wanted it. After a couple of minutes, she fell asleep in Sheldon's arms. Soon after, he fell asleep too.
The next day, Amy got up early. It was Saturday and, as every Saturday, Sheldon would watch Doctor Who while having a bowl of cereal with 2% milk for breakfast. That day, Amy woke up in a good mood, for the first time, in more than three months, she wasn't feeling nauseated.
"Maybe, I could go out with Penny and Bernadette, and buy one or two maternity dresses; sooner or later I'd need them", Amy considered making a few changes on her wardrobe now that her baby was growing at a fast pace. "Maybe, I could buy something for you". Amy rubbed her belly, wondering if it was too soon to buy a Neuroscience text for her baby.
Amy would've wanted so much to go shopping with her mother; it would be great to have her support in this significant time of her life. Although Amy's relationship with her mother's never been very close, she was her mother. Amy loved her and, after all, she was entitled to know that in a few months she was going to be a grandmother.
Sheldon woke up in a little while; he rubbed his eyes, and shortly after he realized that the space occupied by Amy in his bed was empty. He rose quickly, and looked for her.
"Hey, Sheldon Good morning!", Amy happily greeted him when he entered the kitchen.
The theoretical physicist, walked toward his girlfriend and leaned in to reach her lips, he passionately kissed her. Surprisingly Amy felt Sheldon's tongue was slowly invading her mouth while his hands wandered for her waist and hips.
"Looks like someone got up quite affectionate today" Amy managed to say when she could break free from the captivating embrace of her boyfriend, for a few seconds.
"Yes, I can't help it. You know the effect you have on me. Don't you?" Sheldon's face went red.
"Before we continue… I wanted to talk to you about this idea I recently had" Amy told him.
"Okay, what idea is that? Is it so important as to interrupt this... "Sheldon said with a husky and seductive voice that made Amy's heart jump in her chest.
Amy sighed very deeply and swallowed hard. "Since it's Saturday and we both have the day off, I was thinking we could visit my mother and… tell her about the baby. I mean, only if you want to join me. Great idea! Isn't it?" Amy sought Sheldon's approval in this difficult decision she'd just made.
"If that's what you want to do..." Sheldon was scratching his head, thinking that maybe it wasn't a great idea. "Way to kill the mood!" he thought.
A.N: Thanks for your reviews! You're the reason I continue with this fic.
