Warning: Very violent chapter. Contains death threats and threats of sexual assault as well as gun violence.

I want to say a few words before you read this chapter, because I am actually anxious posting it. I have never written anything as dark as this and I am pretty sure I never will again, because it shook me to my core. Even when I knew this chapter was coming next, I could hardly bring myself to reread and edit it and I almost ended up deleting the whole thing.

That said, I told you in the beginning, I do not like reading or writing extremely graphic violence, so I am only putting as many details into this as I feel are needed and I am focusing more on how the characters are feeling and what they are going through. Nonetheless, writing Sheldon's thoughts and feelings during this was extremely intense and I could imagine, reading them could be too, especially for those who – like me – tend to be sensitive to these topics.

This is the most violent chapter of this story. Proceed with caution if any of the things I mentioned above trigger you. This is also the last chapter that contains violence (also, I'm sure many of you will be glad to hear, it is Robbie's last physical appearance).

If you do not wish to read the whole violent part, you can easily skip to the last few paragraphs. The things that happen in this chapter will be talked about in future chapters, but in a less upsetting way and without the gruesome details.

The next few chapters will be painful, but I promise, things will get much less dramatic after that and only a few chapters after this, the Shamy romance will continue (almost) without interruptions.

But his question was answered only seconds later, when he smelled a whiff of alcohol before something charged at him and he felt a dull pain in his abdomen that made him tumble to the ground.

"Well, well, well, Smelly Pooper. I had hoped it would be you.", he heard a slurring voice.

Oh no.

As It Is In Heaven

Chapter 18 – "Grow Old With Me"

It was a split second between getting hit by something – a fist as he would later discover – and his body making contact with the ground on his mother's front yard.

A split second, but enough to be confused about what was happening to him.

The force with which he was hit was quite impressive. All air left his lungs and he saw stars behind his eyelids.

"Wha…", he managed to say before he felt another sharp pain. In his side this time. He felt like he was about to vomit.

And then a dark shadow appeared over him.

He tried to focus. Tried to figure out what was going on. But it was almost impossible.

Everything was blurry and he felt dizzy from the pain.

"You thought you would get away with it, huh? Thought I would just stand by while you destroyed my life."

Sheldon's blood ran cold.

"Robbie.", he gasped as the realization hit him. This was bad.

"That's right, genius.", the tall man barked at him. "Now get up. This'll be more fun if you try to fight back."

Oh no. No, no, no. This could not be happening.

He had never been in a real fight all his life. And he did not want to start now. Especially not today. Not after last night. This felt like a nightmare. He had to stop it.

"Robbie, please.", he croaked. "Think about this. You're not gaining anything by beating me up. Please. Can't we just talk?"

Another hit. A blow to his head this time. He thought he heard something crack as another wave of pain surged through him.

"I said, get up."

He knew he did not have a choice, so he tried to fight against the dizziness and scrambled up on his feet.

He tried to focus. To find a way out of this.

His eyes had grown accustomed to the dark and he saw his former bully already stepping towards him, grinning evilly.

"Are you scared, Shelly?", he sneered. "Cause you should be. Not so confident anymore now, without your little friends, huh?"

Oh, no. He could only imagine what Robbie would do to him now.

Outside in the dark. No one around to help. He couldn't think of a worse situation to be in.

Sheldon felt his legs shaking, and his mind was working in overdrive. Maybe if he stalled long enough. Maybe someone in his mother's house would wake up. Or maybe someone would drive by.

"Robbie.", he started pleading again. "Please. Think this through. I know you're angry. But please, let's just talk about this."

"You wanna talk?", Robbie spat. "Well, then let's talk, little Shelly. I had a good life here. I had an obedient wife to take care of my needs. I had a mother-in-law who kissed the ground I was walking on. The people in this town respected me. And then you had to go and ruin everything with your stupid little choir. You really think I'd let you get away with turning everyone against me? When this is over, you will wish you had never left California."

Robbie took another step towards him. He was reeking of alcohol. The smell was almost overwhelming.

Sheldon was shaking with fear and at the same time he felt unable to move. He knew what was about to happen. He had gone through it so many times before when he was a child. He knew he was only seconds away from lying on the ground helplessly while his bully took out his anger on him.

But then, Robbie made a mistake.

"You and that useless slut. She's just as bad as your grandmother.", he slurred. "But at least that one had the decency to bite the grass before she could turn my wife against me."

Sheldon could feel his right eye starting to twitch. He did not care what Robbie said about him. But now he had gone too far.

Just as Robbie lunged at him, he stepped aside and shoved his enemy. Hard.

Maybe it was the combination of the alcohol and the surprise that Sheldon didn't just stand there defenselessly like he did all these years ago. But Robbie stumbled over his own two feet and fell on the grass.

For a moment, Sheldon thought about his next actions.

Just run away and call the police? He tried to calculate, how long it would take Robbie to recover. Could he make it to the front door, unlock it, go inside, and lock it again before Robbie would catch up with him?

But he was already starting to get up again, so Sheldon acted on instinct and pushed him back to the ground.

"Don't you dare call Amy a slut.", he shouted, trying to sound intimidating. "And do not talk ill of my meemaw. She was the best person who ever walked this planet. She knew the truth about you, that's why you were terrified of her. Just as you're terrified of me right now."

Robbie chuckled.

"You think I'm scared of you? Well, what're ya gonna do, weirdo? Teach me a science lecture?"

Sheldon had been angry at people before. But he couldn't remember ever really wanting to hit someone before. Not like this. Not with this steaming rage that was welling up inside him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?", he exclaimed. "You tortured and bullied me when I was only half your size. You seduced a strong, confident woman and abused her until she was merely a shadow of her former self. Still, you keep acting as if you were better than anyone else. I am not a weirdo, Robbie. You are."

Sheldon lifted his fist and hesitated. He didn't want to do this. He had not chosen to be in this situation.

Maybe he could just hold Robbie down until someone would help him.

"Can't do it, Smelly Pooper, can you?", Robbie chuckled as he noticed Sheldon's hesitation. "I always knew you were weak. Loser."

"Help!", he screamed, ignoring Robbie. "Somebody wake up and call the police!"

But nothing happened.

"Help!", he tried again, more desperately this time.

Robbie was still chuckling.

"Give up, Shelly. No one's coming to help you. It's you and me. You're on your own."

Finally, Sheldon had enough. He couldn't stand the smug smile on his enemy's face. So, again, he lifted up his fist.

He did not hesitate this time. With all the strength he could muster up, he punched Robbie, who let out a surprised gasp, on the nose.

It was a disgusting feeling, as he felt the nose give away under his knuckles, and for a second, he did not know how to proceed.

Unfortunately, Robbie wasn't as perplexed as he was and seized this moment of hesitation.

Fear gripped Sheldon's heart and he felt all color drain from his face as Robbie pushed him off and turned them over.

"I hope you enjoyed that. Because you just made the biggest mistake of your life. And now you're going to pay for it.", he hissed.

He felt himself pinned to the ground, unable to move. No matter how hard he tried. Robbie had him exactly where he wanted him.

"Your grandmother once took me aside and whined about how I hurt her precious moonpie and how she knew I was no good. She said she'd be watching me, and she would not let me hurt another one of her grandchildren.", Robbie said sarcastically as he hovered over Sheldon. "Well, listen up, moonpie. Your meemaw had no power over me. And neither have you. Better remember that."

As soon as he said it, Sheldon felt the first punch land in his face.

He was no stranger to this situation. It had been a regular occurrence, back when he was still a child.

There was nothing he could do but endure. Endure and hope someone would come and save him.

The hits continued and Sheldon had no other choice than lie there and take it. He tried to shield himself as much as he could, but he couldn't prevent the hits and the kicks that were raining down on his face and body while he was lying there in fetal position hoping it would be over soon.

There was pain radiating through his whole body. But the pain wasn't the worst thing about his situation.

No, the worst thing was that, in this moment, he was no longer a grown man. A respected scientist. A man with a successful life who had overcome the nightmares of his childhood.

He turned back into the little boy he once was. The little, frightened boy that was used as a punching bag by people like Robbie. Beaten and tortured without any chance to escape until the attack was over.

Until he was able to pick up the pieces again. Get up. Let his mother put band-aids on the wounds. Let her give him a cool patch to put on the bruises.

And then listen as she told him he was special and wonderful and that one day, all of this would stop.

He used to zone out whenever these attacks happened. Tried to find a happy place inside of his mind, where he could endure whatever was happening to his body.

His image of the universe. Equations to explain it. Long dead scientists discussing them with him in detail.

It was what he tried to do this time as well. Even if he sensed that this time, he would need more than just band-aids and a cool patch when this was over. There was no one here to stop Robbie after all.

Hoping one last time that his tormentor would come to his senses before it was too late, he finally was able to drift off to his happy place.

At first, it looked just the same as it did when he was a boy.

All these equations. Oh, they were so beautiful.

Hello Dr. Einstein. Nice to see you again.

But then, the image changed. Because – and this was new – there seemed to be more than one thing that made him happy at his core.

His new happy place – it was wherever he was with Amy.

Meeting Amy at the cemetery for the first time. But this time, instead of getting angry at her, he greeted her with a kiss. "What took you so long?", he asked. "I've been waiting for you all my life."

"I am here now.", she answered after she kissed him back. "And from now on, I'll be in your life forever."

Sheldon's eyes shifted to the grave, where they had met. He did not recognize the name that was written on it. Because, in his happy place another thing was different.

"Are you two lovebirds coming?", he heard a voice, he hadn't heard in a very long time.

"Meemaw!", he shouted and jumped up on his feet to hug her.

"Oh, my moonpie.", she whispered into his ear. "I've missed you. Let's go home."

They walked home together then. He was holding Amy's hand. Meemaw was walking at his other side and both women were chatting happily while he was just enjoying listening to them.

They arrived at her house and sat at the table together. Meemaw had made cookies and they caught up on everything that was going on in their lives.

"I was waiting for you two to finally meet.", his meemaw said at some point. "I am so glad I am still here to see it."

And Sheldon agreed. He was glad about that too.

Meemaw was looking at him with a proud expression before turning to Amy. "I told you, he's special, didn't I? I told you, you should meet him."

"You did.", Amy replied as she bestowed him her most beautiful smile. "And might I say, the things you told me about him were a huge understatement."

A little later, meemaw excused herself to go to bed.

"Don't worry, sweethearts. I'll be wearing earplugs. I won't hear a thing.", she said and winked at them.

He and Amy sat on the couch as they so often did.

He looked at the pictures in the living room.

There were so many more of them now.

Of the three of them together. Sitting on the front porch. Bowling. Dancing.

One of him, on a stage he had seen on TV before, giving a speech.

"I won a Nobel Prize?", he asked surprised.

"Why do you ask me this?", she said grinning at him. "It's all you ever talk about. Look, you're still wearing the medal."

He looked down on his chest and his heart jumped when he saw it. He had done it. His life goal was fulfilled.

And oh, this medal. It was so shiny.

Amy rested her head against him, and he wrapped his arms around her.

Only now did he notice, she was wearing some kind of jewelry too. There was a familiar ring on her finger.

"We're getting married?", he whispered to her.

"Of course.", she shrugged. "You've asked me a long time ago. And how could you not. We're meant to be."

"We are?", he asked softly, even if he knew it was the truth. But he wanted to hear it from her.

"Sheldon…", she said as she cuddled up to him. "This is the only possible outcome. In every universe. No matter how our story begins, it always ends like this. You and me happy and in love. Making each other's lives better and achieving our dreams together. Getting married and enjoying a lifetime of happiness. Experiencing things that always seemed impossible to both of us."

She was right. Ever since he had first laid eyes on her, this was the only possible outcome of their story. His meemaw had known. Even before they had met. Because she knew everything.

"Kiss me.", he heard her say and of course he was happy to oblige.

Slowly and sensually their lips moved together.

"I really want this to happen.", he told her as he pulled away. "I want this to be real. I want to have this life with you. I want to grow old with you. Please. Tell me I still can."

"Oh, Sheldon.", she said, tears shimmering in her eyes. "There's nothing I want more than for this to be real."

"Oh my God, stop it.", he heard a high-pitched scream that took him out of his happy place. He opened his eyes groggily to see light coming from Amy's front porch.

"Stop it, Robbie. You're killing him."

He heard fast steps then and it made him gather all his strength.

"Leave.", he croaked. "Amy don't come closer. Please leave. He can't hurt you too."

No matter what his fate was, he couldn't stand the thought of Amy being in danger.

But Amy did not listen, instead she charged at Robbie, trying to get him to stop his attack.

Everything was blurry, but Sheldon could make out Amy's form trying her best to pull Robbie off him. She drummed her fists against his shoulder, pulled at his arms and screamed at him to stop.

And then, to his horror, he saw Amy being tossed away and landing on the ground a few yards away from him.

"Amy, no.", he wailed.

But Amy had already gotten up again and started pleading with Robbie who had let up from him for a moment to get up as well.

Everything hurt. He couldn't move, not even an inch. There was pain everywhere. He was hardly able to breathe anymore.

He looked at Amy. Why was she still here? Why was she still trying to save him when she should be saving herself?

"Run.", he said a little louder. It hurt to move his mouth. "Please Amy, you cannot be here."

"You should listen to your loverboy, slut.", Robbie sneered and took a step towards her. "But it's too late now. You two destroyed my life. Now watch as I destroy his."

Amy reached for the pocket of the robe she had wrapped around herself, and Sheldon assumed she was planning on taking out her phone and calling the police.

If his mind hadn't been so foggy, and he hadn't felt so weak, he would have told her she should have done that before instead of running to him and putting herself in danger.

"Do not even think about it.", the tall man above him hissed and lifted his foot. "Toss the phone on the grass or I will kick his head so hard there will be no more saving him."

'Don't.' Sheldon meant to say, but he didn't have the strength anymore. 'Just run. Don't worry about me.'

The way Robbie was behaving, there was probably no way to save him anyway. The alcohol seemed to have lowered his inhibitions because Sheldon had never seen his bully so determined. And he was slowly coming to peace with the fact there was a chance he would not survive this day.

But Amy… she still had a chance of getting out of this unharmed.

He felt another kick to his stomach and groaned.

Instead of running, like he wanted her to, Amy put her phone on the ground and came closer.

What the hell was she doing?

"Please, Robbie.", she begged. "Leave Sheldon alone. Look at him. You've hurt him enough. Please stop it. Please. Try to think about this. If he dies, you'll end up in prison. Just let me call an ambulance. You can still run. We won't tell anyone it was you."

Robbie chuckled dryly. Had he even listened to what Amy was saying?

"What do you even want from this loser, slut? You think I don't know why he was coming home from your place so early in the morning? You don't say no to anyone. Not even him. You know what? Maybe I'll show you a good time after I'm done having fun here."

That was it. As weak and helpless as he had felt before, he couldn't let that monster hurt Amy. Maybe it was the adrenaline that let him seize the opportunity while Robbie was focused on her. He fought about the pain and got up on wobbly legs with great difficulty. With a deep growl, he lunged at Robbie, pulling him down to the ground with him.

"Run, Amy.", he shouted as he tried his best to hold the brutal man down. He knew there wasn't much time. He did not have the strength to do this much longer. And he knew he was making Robbie even angrier. He would have to pay for that later. But he needed Amy away from this situation. "Save yourself. Now!", he shouted again.

"No.", Amy shook her head vehemently. Instead, she ran to him, probably to try and help him hold Robbie down.

But it was too late. Oh, why did she have to be so stubborn?

Even intoxicated, Robbie was so much stronger than him and he found himself flat on the ground again with Robbie punching his face once more.

It hardly even hurt anymore.

"What is it, Shelly? You don't want me to show her what it's like being with a real man? Maybe that will stop her from sleeping around in the future. But you won't be there to see it anymore. You're not getting in my way ever again. Your story ends here."

"Please, no!", Amy sobbed. "Please, Robbie I'll do anything you say, just… just let him be. Don't do this. Please."

Sheldon wanted to protest but his eyes widened when Robbie reached down his side and suddenly, he was staring down the barrel of a gun.

"I wasn't going to do that.", Robbie said. "Not yet anyway. I wanted you to see what I am about to do. But quite frankly, that bitch's whining is starting to go on my nerves. And so are your weak attempts to stop me. But don't you worry. You'll soon be reunited with her and all the members of your family. Let me paint a picture for you, moonpie. Because it'll be beautiful. After I'm done with you both, I will break into this house. I will tie up anyone who's in there and then I will burn it to the ground."

"No… no, please.", he tried again. He couldn't let this happen. "It… It's me you're angry with. Everything that happened. It was all me. Please, do to me whatever you want but let it end here."

Robbie just chuckled in response.

"There's nothing you can do or say to change the fate of the people you love. It's your fault, Sheldon. Everything that is happening today. All the suffering. It's all because of you."

Sheldon knew he was right. It was all his fault. And there really was nothing he could do. Not about his mother or his sister. Or his childhood home. Everything he had done had only made their situation worse. He could not save them.

But maybe he could still save her.

He took one last look at Amy and his lips trembled.

"Please, Amy, run.", he whispered one last time.

But she just stood there frozen, her eyes wide and tears pouring down her face.

Why didn't she run? Why didn't she leave? He did not want her to see this. He did not want her to suffer because of him.

"Run.", he whispered one last time.

"No.", she said, followed by a sob. "I won't leave you. Ever."

"Any last words? Moonpie?", Robbie sneered.

He knew his time had come.

Defeated, he tried to focus on the one good thing in his life. The person who had made him feel more happiness than he could ever have imagined.

Amy.

There was so much, he still wanted to tell her. So many things he wanted to experience with her.

He could see it all in front of him.

Asking her out. Forming a relationship.

Learning even more about who this woman was.

Giving her meemaw's ring. Getting married. Growing old together.

Oh, what could have been.

He heard a clicking sound. The end was near.

But then he heard another sound.

Tires screeching? No. that must be a hallucination. Especially because Robbie did not seem to hear it.

He swallowed deeply as he tried to focus on nothing but Amy during his last moments on Earth.

And then he heard the gunshot. And someone screamed. But he was still here. How was that possible?

There was a dull thud. Later he would realize, it was the gun dropping down on the lawn, as Robbie was being pulled off him.

More thuds – someone knocking out his tormentor.

Steps. People approaching him.

A tall man, taller even than Robbie, appearing.

Everything was still blurry, he could barely make out his features. But still, he seemed familiar.

"Daddy?", he whispered.

Was that it? Was he dead after all? And somehow reunited with his late father?

"Close enough.", a gruffy voice spoke to him. "Don't try to move, little brother. I can't see how badly you're injured, but I'm sure help will be here soon. You need to make it through this, if only so I can tell you how wrong I was this whole time. And how sorry I am for not believing you."

Sheldon tried to smile, but it made everything hurt again.

"Amy… is she…"

"She's fine, Sheldon. She's calling an ambulance."

Right that moment, another face appeared. He did not have to look to know it was her.

"Oh, Sheldon…", Amy sobbed and gently caressed his face.

"I'll go watch Robbie.", his brother excused himself. "I think I knocked him out hard enough, but just in case. Maybe punch out the rest of his teeth while I'm at it. His nose looks pretty messed up. Was that you, Sheldon? I'm proud of you."

"I… I'm glad you're okay.", Sheldon ignored his brother as he turned to Amy and whispered. Every word hurt. "Amy, I need to tell you… I want you to know…"

"Shhh.", she shushed him. "Tell me later. At the hospital. Once you're feeling better."

"But…"

"No, Sheldon.", she insisted "There is no urgency, do you hear me? Because it's all going to be fine. The ambulance will be here any minute. You'll be okay. You have to be."

He nodded weakly. His eyelids were starting to feel heavy.

"I'm tired.", he whispered.

"Stay awake, Sheldon, please. Just until the ambulance arrives. Please, this is important. We don't know the extent of your injuries yet."

Oh, he did not want to stay awake. He just wanted to succumb to the darkness that was starting to surround him. Away from the pain. Away from the terror.

But oh, how could he ever deny Amy anything.

So, he tried. For her.

"Will you sing to me?", he whispered.

She was still holding his face and he could see tears sparkling in her eyes.

And then, she started to sing for him, her voice laced with tears.

Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be
When our time is come
We will be as one
God bless our love
God bless our love

He let her words wash over him and if he had any strength left, he would have probably cried because her voice was so soothing.

She sobbed before she continued.

Spending our lives together
Man and wife together
World without end
World without end

She lay down in the grass, next to him her face almost touching his as she gently caressed his hair.

Grow old along with me
Whatever fate decrees
We will see it through
For our love is true
God bless our love
God bless our love

He was barely conscious anymore, but her voice kept him from drifting off completely. Like the voice of an angel. Which she was in a way. His angel. His happy place. His everything.

In the distance he heard another screeching sound. That must be the ambulance. The police too probably to get Robbie.

A weight was lifted from his shoulders.

Whatever happened now, at least he had kept his promise to her. He had stayed awake. The rest wasn't in his hands anymore.

Several people came running into his direction, asking questions directed at Amy and Georgie. As he was assessed and talked to with soothing voices, he knew everything was going to be fine.

Amy was safe. His family was safe. And maybe he was safe too. Hopefully.

And then, he finally allowed himself to give in to the desire to close his eyes, as he felt himself drifting off.