A/N: Sorry for the delay. I'm working on my fanfic for the Prom Equivalency and I want to get it out there, but need to do it right, too. I had several drafts of this chapter before I got it as I wanted.

I have to thank hazelra7 for her beta of my crappy rough draft of this chapter. Once I did my editing and read through her notes after, it turned out we were almost on the same page, but her wise words did give me guidance.

Disclaimer: I don't own BBT, but like to take the Shamy out to play sometimes...especially now that they said 'ILY' HOO!

Sheldon and Amy could not get out of the house fast enough to pick up Meamaw and go on Amy's errand. Borrowing Mary's car, the couple headed out for a quick escape as Sheldon directed her to the CVS pharmacy on 61st Street.

As Amy drove, Sheldon was hesitant, but he needed the wisest advice he knew. Before he could change his mind, he spoke up as only the physicist did best, without warning.

"Ron's a doctor"

Amy, who was following Sheldon's directions, almost lost control in shock. "What?"

"He's a doctor, Amy. A forensic chemist. He went to excellent universities, but he's working in the public sector. Did you know that he only uses the 'Doctor' title when he goes to testify in court?"

Amy could understand Sheldon's shock. "Having a doctorate is what everyone should aspire to have and display prominently, not conceal in a false sense of modesty. Where did he matriculate?"

Sheldon turned to his girlfriend. "Turn left here at the stop sign" When she did, he continued. "He went to Lake Superior State University and Michigan State before University of Florida"

"Steve grew up in Sault Sainte Marie and got his biology bachelor's there at Lake Superior or LSSU as he always calls it and it's an excellent school. One of my colleagues at UCLA went to Michigan State"

Sheldon stared ahead. "He's educated, Amy. Junior was on his best behavior when he was around. He didn't drink beer during the baseball game on television earlier. He stopped my brother from giving me a noogie"

Amy read between the lines. "Sheldon, are you starting to like Ron?"

Sheldon looked out the window as he talked. "Yes. No. He's not my father, Amy"

Amy could see the conflict in his eyes when she stopped looking at the road for a moment. Pulling over, she stopped the car and put it in park before turning to her boyfriend.

"Sheldon, I don't think he wants to be your father. I think he wants to be your friend"

"I have nine friends. That's enough. Anymore and it could compromise the world of science because I would have to accommodate more people into my world. That takes effort and time. The field I will soon determine to be my best fit could suffer as a result."

Amy could see right through her boyfriend. "Sheldon, do you not want to be Ron's friend or could it be you looking for a reason to spite your mother for her cherry picking when it comes to her relationship and ours?"

When greeted with silence, the neurobiologist took a chance and continued. "Or are you scared to have any sort of father figure in your life because you think you will love your Pop Pop any less?" She hesitated for a moment, but pushed forward. "Or even your father?"

When Amy saw the stunned look on her boyfriend's face, she knew she hit the jackpot. "Don't answer that now, Sheldon. Just think about it, okay? Change is not always a bad thing."

She put the car in gear and headed out. "Now, we have to hurry and get those pills before we get Meamaw"

Sheldon continued to direct her as they drove for a few minutes. "Are you sure you didn't leave them in Michigan?"

"I'm sure because I took one while on the plane in case I would be too tired to remember. I don't want your mother to find them and think the worst of me."

"Amy you have a legitimate medical reason for taking them. Frankly, I don't care what she thinks if she finds them. It's not fair for her to have coitus outside of marriage and give me a lecture about sinning. Heck, if my mother's mythical Jesus struck down everyone for premarital coitus, Penny wouldn't have made it through high school"

She laughed for a moment because as much as she loved her bestie, her boyfriend was right. "True, but that doesn't change the fact that I don't want your mother to hate me, okay?"

Sheldon looked at his girlfriend and knew he couldn't refuse her. "Fine" he said in an exasperated tone. His loved his mother, crazy religion myths aside, but he would not tolerate her going bat crap crazy on his neuroscientist.

An hour later, the couple arrived back at the house with Meamaw. Sheldon got out of the back seat to let his grandmother out of the front. He handed her the cane and was going to take her arm for assistance when she refused.

"You go in, Moon Pie. I want to spend some time with your girl"

He looked to Amy who merely shrugged her shoulders. When her physicist went into the house, Amy came around to the older woman.

"Can I help you, Marie?"

"No, I've got it. It makes everybody feel better to help me, but my ankle is doing much better. Hip's still a bit sore, but can't do much about that. I've been cooped up all day. Let's take a walk, Honey"

Sheldon stood on the porch watching his girlfriend and grandmother walk away from the house. He was joined by his mother and Ron a moment later.

"Shelly, where are those two going?"

He turned to his mother. "I don't know. Meamaw said she wanted to spend some time with Amy."

"Darn it all to hell. Your girlfriend is going to tire out your poor grandmother. How irresponsible can that young woman get, Sheldon?"

Ron could see a fight brewing. "Mary, how about I help you with that chicken? Missy, Richie, and Noah will be here shortly"

Sheldon watched as Ron took a speechless Mary by the hand and led her back into the house. Suddenly, he remembered times when his father would take his mother back into the house after a fight, except that his cajoling was much more forceful. Feeling conflicted, he walked back inside.

He looked over to the living room and was grateful to see his brother passed out on the couch. Walking towards the kitchen, he opened the door a crack but stopped when he heard the conversation.

"Mary, why are you all over Shelly's girlfriend? She's a nice girl from the few minutes I spoke with her before they left. She's been nothing but respectful to you"

"I don't want her leading Shelly to sin. He's special"

"Well, from what I can tell, she is well mannered and obviously loves your son. Frankly, even if they are sinning as you are carrying on about, they are consenting adults and it's none of our business"

"They are not married, Ron in the eyes of God—"

"Well, neither are we, woman! That girl has stayed out of your hair and been courteous to all in this house"

"She's dragging my elderly mother around after coming home from the hospital. Mom needs to rest."

"Mary, is there another reason that you don't want Amy and your mother to be alone?"

"Of course not, but can't they just talk here?"

"Maybe your mother wanted a break from your hovering"

"I am not hovering. She is injured. The doctor said she is having an issue with her heart—"

"Mary, that's enough. She only sprained her ankle and bruised her hip. Yes, your mother has atrial fibrillation, but she is on medication and the doctors felt she was well enough to come home. Your mother is a tough cookie. I know you are scared about your mother and with what Shelly is going through, but treating her or your adult son as children does not help, nor being testy with your boy's girl"

"But Ron-"

"Did Amy commit a murder?"

"No"

"Was she ever in prison?"

"Of course not!"

"Does she beat on your boy? Does he have bruises?"

"No, but—"

"Well, then, whatever she had done to put a craw in your paw, it can't be that bad because your Sheldon is with her, obviously loves her, and I would say that it's mutual on her end. Now leave that poor girl alone and take your frustrations out on that chicken you're making. I barely know Shelly, but even I can see that if you push him enough, the boy will push back."

"I am looking out for my son"

"No, you're hovering and being a pain to your son and girlfriend."

Sheldon's heart felt conflicted as he thought about Ron's words. Pop Pop left his life after only five years and his primary male parental unit did not give him much support over the first fourteen years of his life. After his grandfather died, he protected himself by pushing his emotions down. However, that part of him that he kept locked away was starting to open again and Sheldon wasn't sure if he was able to open his heart for another man.

His thoughts concluded when Sheldon heard Ron again. "Now get that mouth of yours shut before flies get in. Mmm mmm, that chicken will sure be good when done. I'll get out of your hair now"

No more words were spoken. Sheldon moved quickly down the hall to the restroom as he saw Ron leave the kitchen from the corner of his eye. He walked into the bathroom, shut the door, and looked at himself in the mirror.

After about a minute, thoughts of Pop Pop, his father, what Amy said earlier, and what he heard in the kitchen were overloading his senses. Refusing to acknowledge the collection of water he could feel brewing behind his eyes, he used Kohlinar to make himself presentable. A few minutes later, he heard a loud knock at the door.

"Shelly, hurry up in there! Noah wants to see his uncle"

He wasn't ready to face people yet and used the one thing he knew would buy him time. "Back off, Missy. You can't rush these things"

"Fine, whatever"

When he heard footsteps, Sheldon sat himself down on the toilet with his face in his hands and went back to his deep breathing.

Meamaw and Amy walked the property. The neurobiologist couldn't keep her excitement to herself as the two got closer to the tire swing.

The elder woman sensed a need in the young lady. "Go ahead, Honey"

"Thanks, Marie" Amy said before she ran back over and climbed in again.

The elder woman sat on the stump and watched her Moon Pie's girl swing with a look of total contentment on her face. It was one she would have whenever she was alone with her husband when he was alive. She sensed storms brewing within her however, especially this morning after her daughter's interrogation. Deciding she needed to cut through the bullshit, she started asking questions.

"Honey, can we talk straight?"

Amy's dazed freedom was broken by the other woman's words. She turned to her but couldn't be mad as the woman made her feel more at home than Sheldon's mother. She got the sense she could tell this woman anything and knew she would.

"Of course, Marie"

"I sense you have a lot on your plate and not just my Moon Pie"

"I do"

"I could see this morning that all that talk about your daddy got you upset. Am I right, Honey?"

Amy was struck as the woman hit the nail on the head. She couldn't respond, but only put her head down and look out at the property much like with Sheldon earlier.

"He must have been a special man"

"He was. He always found time for me" She then said it before she could stop herself. "He promised he would never leave me behind, but he did."

Meamaw heard the anger-tinged sadness in her voice. "Was it sudden?"

"Yes. Automobile accident….May 22 1998. I don't remember much about the details"

Meamaw knew what it was like to be in a daze right after losing someone you love and was grateful she didn't remember all the details. She also thought back and realized the significance of that date for the young lady and her grandson. Not wanting to shove her epiphany down the girl's throat, she continued on her path. "Well, at least you had your momma to lean on"

Amy could only get out a mirthless chuckle. "I wish" Needing a change of subject, she turned to the elder woman. "At least Sheldon had you when his father died"

Meamaw had a few choice words about her son in law. "He had good in him, but the booze killed just about all there was by the time he died. He did love his children, Amy, I believe that, but he loved himself more. Like when Moon Pie and Missy were born. He wanted to name him Pete from Pete Rose, that damn degenerate"

She saw Amy's questioning face. "Star player of the Cincinnati Reds" Meamaw saw Amy was more confused. "Baseball, honey. As I was saying, the boy could play, but was a selfish bastard and almost ruined the game, but that was years later. Anyway, Mary wanted the name Sheldon. Did you know that's our family name?"

"No, I had no idea" Amy said. She wasn't surprised as her boyfriend kept his family to himself, even to her.

"She felt that since Junior was named for him, she wanted their other son named for her family. Melissa was named for Melissa Sue Anderson from—"

"Little House on the Prairie. It's my favorite show. I've seen all episodes and own the entire series. I read all the books growing up"

Meamaw smiled at the young woman. "I liked that show, too as does Shelly's mom." She thought for a minute before continuing with her earlier topic. "When it came to naming Moon Pie, George argued all the damn time with Mary all the way up until the twins were born. She got her way, but he never let her forget it"

Amy could only watch and listen to the elder woman as she got a window into the early life of her sweet baboo.

"Junior is the way he is because his daddy trained that boy early, but he knew Sheldon was different and it terrified him because he didn't know how to deal with him. That man would either take his fear out on that child or hump it away on the nearest barmaid"

"At least he showed something to Sheldon. My mother doesn't always know I'm alive unless I do something that offends her sensibilities of what she thinks I need to be. Mary hates me, but at least I know where I stand"

The elder woman moved towards Amy to reassure her. "No, Sweetheart. My Mary Louise can be brainless sometimes with her comments, but she doesn't hate you. She sees her son lost and needs somewhere to place the blame, that's all. It's not proper, but it's the truth"

Meamaw looked to the young girl she had grown to love as her own and sought to reassure. "I have to tell you, I've never seen my grandson look at a girl like he looks at you"

Amy turned to the elder woman in shock. "Oh he thinks no one notices, but I know for a fact that boy loves you like the dickens. He doesn't show it well, but he does…..oh he does. It's the only explanation for why he ran away from California and you, Honey. He's scared that he will fail you. Brainless I know, but it's the God's truth."

The elder woman sat for a moment as she let her words sink in. "Don't give up on my Moon Pie. Don't shut yourself away from him either because you're afraid."

Amy mouth opened to protest, but Meamaw stopped her. "Honey, I'm no fool. Your body language….your eyes. You're not afraid of my Moon Pie or my daughter, or even of your folks." She waited for a moment before continuing. "You're afraid of being left behind again."

Amy didn't speak, so the elder woman continued. "May this old broad say her peace?"

"You're not an old broad, Marie"

"I am Honey and you know it. She thought about her words before she continued. "My grandson had his fit and took off a couple months ago around the same time when your daddy left you. I think it brought back some old feelings that you never settled and it's making your hurt almost suffocating and you don't know how to stop it"

Meamaw saw the look in Amy's eyes and knew she was right. She didn't want to push, but her heart went out to the girl and the remark about her mother not being there for her child's loss got her ire up.

"Well, Sweetheart, it's like my daddy said. 'When you have to shit, shit. When you're done, wipe and move on."

Meamaw saw the girl's confusion. "Sorry, what I'm trying to say is if there are things to be said or you're feeling something, you need to get them out because holding it in only makes you feel worse. Things can't get better until that happens. If it gets someone's nose out of joint, then that's their problem."

When the young lady nodded slightly, the elder woman continued. "If you need to talk to someone, I'm always here, Honey"

Amy looked at her boyfriend's grandmother and a feeling enveloped her before a few tears fell down. "Oh Meamaw"

Meamaw kept the look of surprise off her face hearing her family name from the girl. She went over and gave her a hug. Amy returned it like a woman dying of thirst.

After a few minutes, she reluctantly let the neurobiologist go. "We should get back. We can talk about what you think Shelly should do about his career"

Grateful for the change in subject, Amy smiled. "I can do that"

The two women walked back to the house, forming a bond stronger than one Amy ever had with her mother. Neither had a clue of what would hit the fan less than two hours later.