Two more chapters (including this one) until Sheldon and Amy head out to California. There will only be a little bit of story progression during these two chapters and other than that a lot of Shamy-fluff and a bit of naughtiness.

The story is far from over though. There are still a few things to resolve. Once Amy and Sheldon get to California, the gang will make an appearance and then there are a few questions for our beloved couple's future that need to be answered. But for now, let's just let them have a bit of harmony and fun together. They deserve it.

Well, I'll be the words on the pages
If you'll be my sweet melody
And the tune can keep changing
'Cause love I'll keep arranging
And this is the song that we'll sing

As It Is In Heaven
Chapter 27 – "Forever Like That"

"Hmmm.", he sighed as he finally caught his breath again. "I really enjoyed that."

He heard her chuckle lightly.

"I'd say the same thing. But it would be a huge understatement. Sheldon, you just completely rocked my world."

He could pretend to be humble but that just wasn't him.

"Oh, I know that, little lady.", he answered, more than a little proud of himself. "And it was just a start. I plan on becoming an expert in pleasing you."

"I would call you out for bragging.", she said and winked at him. "But you kind of already are, so who am I to complain."

He pulled her into his arms again.

Oh, this was so nice. Not just the lovemaking. But this. Lying in bed, both their desires more than fulfilled and nothing but contentment and happiness on his mind.

Well almost nothing.

As much as he fought it, something started bothering him. He tried to shove it to the back of his mind, not wanting to interrupt this perfect moment, but…

"Sheldon…", Amy whispered. "Go take a shower."

He stared at her.

Was she able to read his mind?

"But…", he started to protest.

"I know you will only feel comfortable once you've had the chance to clean yourself up. Now go. I will change the sheets on the bed and once you are done, I am going to take a shower myself. And then we will meet right here in our pajamas."

Oh, she already knew him so well.

It was not easy, dragging himself away from her, but she was right. He had to.

His heart soared with emotions, as he started his shower.

This woman. This wonderful, amazing woman. How was it possible that their paths had crossed?

He had missed his chance once, and that was on him. If only he could turn back time and go meet her at that coffee shop.

But he had been gifted a second chance. And that, he was certain, had only been possible because of someone, he missed so very much.

Meemaw.

He smiled as he imagined how happy she would be. And – his smile turned into a grin – probably a little proud too, if she knew about all the things that had happened right here, in her house.

After quickly drying himself off, he put on his pajamas. He met Amy in the hallway, on her way to the bathroom and gave her a sweet kiss before he calculated, how much time he would have until she would be in bed again.

Maybe fifteen, twenty minutes?

So, instead of heading right back to bed, he took a little detour and soon stood before meemaw's room, overcome with the urge to feel close to her just for a few minutes.

But as he opened the door, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.

There was still a faint hint of her scent. But it was barely there anymore.

Her pictures, vases, coasters… it all was covered in dust. He felt guilty for a second. Contrary to his intent, he had failed to dust her room regularly and it showed.

He sat down on her bed and sighed deeply.

Yes, this still looked like meemaw's room. But her presence was gone. This wasn't her room anymore.

Sadness crept up his spine.

No longer this pressing, suffocating, desperate kind of sadness he had felt all these months ago when he had learned about her death.

More a bittersweet feeling. He had possessed the privilege of being this wonderful woman's grandson. And while he would always miss her, his mind was full of memories of her.

Memories that no one could ever take away from him.

She had given him so much advice throughout his life. And comfort too, especially with all her letters. Reassurance that someone existed that loved him for exactly who he was.

And in the end… she had given him Amy too in a way.

Being her grandson had made his life so much richer. And even if she was gone, a part of her would always be with him, wherever he went.

But this room? It was empty. Lifeless.

Meemaw would have hated it.

He looked up as he heard the door open.

"I had a feeling I would find you here.", Amy said softly, as she stood in the doorframe.

She was dressed in her robe and her hair still seemed to be slightly wet, so he guessed she was done showering as well.

"I'm sorry.", he told her. "I meant to come back to bed, but I just needed to…"

"Be close to her.", she nodded. "I understand."

"I didn't plan to stay long.", he insisted.

"Sheldon. It's okay." She smiled at him reassuringly. "All of this… us… it wouldn't have been possible without her. She was on my mind too just now. So I am not surprised, you're here."

He gave her a pained smile. Sometimes he almost forgot how much meemaw had meant to Amy.

"Why don't you come inside for a bit?", he offered.

She nodded and sat down next to him on the bed. "I wasn't sure if you wanted me here. You once told me I was to never enter this room."

He smiled at her gently. "Well…", he sighed. "That was before."

She returned his smile, and they sat there in silence for a while.

"I still miss her so much.", she finally broke the silence. "I wish she could be here to see this. Us."

"Me too.", he admitted. "I'm sure, she would be thrilled."

She rested her head on his shoulder and he wrapped one arm around her.

"I think it's time…", he whispered softly, even though the words didn't come easily.

"Time for what?", Amy asked curiously.

"Time to clean out her room.", he continued. "It has been ten months. Meemaw wouldn't have wanted us to keep it like this. Like a shrine to her. She would hate the idea of this room not being lived in. She would want us to use it. Fill it with life, like she did."

He heard Amy take a deep breath.

"I agree she would have wanted this at some point. But not before you're ready, Sheldon. You don't have to do this rashly. First and foremost, Connie would want you to be comfortable with this decision."

"I am ready.", he said firmly. "Meemaw was such an important part of my life. And she always will be. But she's no longer here. She'll never come back. And as much as I want it too, keeping her room like this won't change that. I don't need this room to remember her. It's time."

"Alright.", Amy agreed. "I can help you clean it out if you want."

He kissed her head softly.

"That would be great. I think we should make it a family event. Let everyone pick a few items to keep. And then you and me can decide what we do with this room. Maybe we could still dedicate a corner to her. Maybe decorate it with her favorite flowers and hang up a picture of her. Other than that, we could move our instruments in here. Or use it as an office. Or if you want a bigger bedroom, we could turn the guest room into an office."

He hadn't noticed that she had lifted her head from his shoulder and was staring at him before he turned to her.

"We?", she asked carefully. "I'm getting a say here?"

He shrugged. "Well, you live here. And I am here all the time. Don't you think we should be making these decisions together?"

She kept looking at him strangely and he couldn't figure out why. He was only being practical after all, wasn't he?

"I would love that.", she whispered.

"Also.", he continued. "You will no longer be paying rent. It would feel weird."

"Sheldon, no.", Amy protested. "I've always paid rent. That should not change just because of what's happening between us."

"Amy.", he said firmly and took her hand. "This house is paid off. You paying to live here was okay as long as the money went straight to the savings account. But Missy's situation is resolved now. I never liked the thought of profiting from meemaw's death. So, I will no longer be accepting money from you."

"But Sheldon…", she started again.

"No but, Amy. If it makes you feel more comfortable, we can keep some sort of contract that gives you the right to live here, regardless of the state of our relationship. But I don't want you to pay me. It wouldn't feel right."

Now that he pondered it, he liked the thought of having a contract with her. Maybe they could add more things. Things that didn't have to do with the house. Things that she expected from him and thing he needed, so he would feel comfortable, now that they were… well, whatever they were right now.

"Come on, let's go back to bed.", she said, pulling him out of his thoughts. "You must feel tired. And we can talk more about this tomorrow."

He was. Very tired.

But once they were back in Amy's room and all cuddled up together under the covers, he did not feel like sleeping at all.

"Tell me about yourself.", he whispered into Amy's ear once she had settled into his arms.

"What?", she replied softly.

"You know so much about me. About my childhood, my family, my time in college, my favorite foods… and I know next to nothing about you."

"Sheldon…", she shook his head at him in amusement. "You know me so well. Better than most people."

"I know who you are now.", he argued. "But I don't know anything about your life. Up until a few hours ago I didn't even know you had a doctorate. Are your parents still alive? Do you have siblings? What was your childhood like? Where did you go to college? What was the topic of your dissertation? No, do not tell me that last thing. I want to read it as soon as possible. And then I will find all your published works and read them as well. But first… tell me, Amy. Tell me everything."

He knew it was a strange demand, when they were both exhausted from their earlier activities. But he had to know. He wanted to know everything that was to know about her.

"Well, let's see…", she started.

She began telling him about her life. Painting a picture for him. A picture of a unique little girl with curiosity and motivation to uncover as much of life as she could. Sweet and naïve but misunderstood and rejected by most people she met.

Maybe because she was complicated and unusual, and they didn't have the patience to really get to know her. A lonely girl but resilient. A girl that turned into a driven and ambitious woman, was at the top of her class at a prestigious University and found happiness in science.

Until the loneliness was too much for her to take, and – triggered by the unfortunate event that, sadly, was connected to him – decided to get a fresh start which brought her to where she was now.

Sheldon couldn't help but admire the woman next to him. Even more than before. For her intelligence. For her ambition. For her bravery. But most of all for her kindness.

Once she had finished talking, he reached for her face and almost of their own volition, their lips found each other.

And there it was again. This urge to tell her. Something he wasn't sure if he was supposed to tell her yet.

"Amy…", he said as he pulled away for a second. "Do you remember the conversation we had, after we just met? How do you know if you like someone?"

She raised her eyebrows at him. "Still not sure about that?", she asked, grinning cheekily.

He playfully slapped her butt, and she giggled.

"I am serious, Amy.", he told her. "And I have a follow-up question."

"Go on.", she said, looking at him expectantly.

"Well…", he sighed. It was now or never. "Once you've figured out you really like someone… then how do you know if you love her too?"

Her eyes widened and for a second, he was afraid he made a mistake.

"Are… are you saying you… you think you could be… be in love? With me? Do you want us to… identify parameters to be sure?"

He shrugged. "I believe that won't be necessary. I do not need parameters to know for sure. But… I've seen my best friend's relationship fall apart because he said it too early. And I do not want to risk telling you before you are ready to hear it."

She was blinking rapidly. But she was also smiling. Good Lord, she was confusing. Was she happy about this? Or upset?

"Sheldon…", she whispered and he could see her eyes sparkling with tears. "I don't want you to say it before you feel comfortable, but please trust in the fact that, once you are ready to say it, I will be ready to hear it. So… just take your time. And tell me when you feel the time is right."

He nodded. "Good."

He kissed her on the cheek, and she sighed contently. It was so wholesome, lying here with her in his arms.

"Amy?", he whispered again and turned on his side to face her.

"Mhmm?", she hummed. She sounded sleepy. It was adorable.

His heart pounded in his chest as he cupped her face to make her look at him. In a way, he doubted that it was really necessary to say those words out loud.

They had told each other numerous times. Maybe not with those exact words. But with their actions towards each other. With the trust they had gifted one another and last but not least with the things they had told each other earlier that evening. Before they retreated to her bedroom.

Compared to that, those three little words almost seemed insufficient.

But still. It felt like another big step, telling her, and she seemed to feel the same way, because suddenly, she appeared to be wide awake again.

"I love you.", he told her. No parameters or reasoning. No big speech. No love song. Just three little words. Simple and pure. And nothing but the truth.

She gasped and her lower lip started trembling.

"I… I love you too.", she croaked.

Just as simple. Just as true. And oh, the most beautiful words he had heard in his entire life.

A strangled sob escaped her throat, before she pulled his head to hers and kissed him deeply.

Already she started unbuttoning his pajama top.

He wasn't even sure, if his body could take any more of this sweet torture, but he helped her pull it off and removed his undershirt too in the process. For some reason, he couldn't wait to feel her hands on his skin again.

"Amy…", he said between kisses. "Before we continue. Does this… I mean all of this… does it mean that… uhm… are we in a relationship? Are we boyfriend and girlfriend now?"

She stopped her movements and looked at him incredulously. Then, she laughed heartily before she kissed his cheek softly.

"What?", he asked. Wasn't this a valid question? Shouldn't they agree on what exactly they were doing here?

But she just shook her head and sat up to remove his pants and his underwear.

She exhaled shakily then and pulled her nightgown over her head, leaving her in only her panties.

He could only stare as she slung her left leg over him and sat on top of him, her eyes roaming over his body.

"Amy? What are you doing?", he asked, still waiting for an answer to his earlier question.

"Shhh", she shushed him and let her fingers run over his chest. Then she leaned down to kiss his lips softly. "Don't distract me. Just lie back and let me make love to my amazing boyfriend." She giggled. "Which is you. In case that wasn't clear."

He bit his lip as he pondered this word. A word he had often heard before. But never connected to him.

Sheldon Cooper. Physicist. Genius. One of a kind. No longer a landlord. Brother. Friend. Lover. Boyfriend.

Yes. It sounded right. He wanted to be her boyfriend. At least for a little while, until he wanted to be more than just that.

He wanted that very much.

And that other thing she had said… well, in this moment he wanted that just as much.

"Well, Dr. Fowler…", he said and winked at her. "What are you waiting for?"

She bent down to kiss his lips again and then, she explored him, like he had explored her before.

Lie back and let me make love to my amazing boyfriend.

Well, she did not have to tell him twice.

He closed his eyes and marveled in the sensation of her small hands on his body. Mapping out every inch of him.

Her fingers were flying over him. Swiftly and sure. Just like when she played her harp. He moaned when her soft mouth joined her fingers, kissing him all over his upper body.

But then she stopped, and he could feel her run her fingers over the same area a few times.

He opened his eyes to see what she was doing. She was biting her lip and looking at a certain spot on the left side of his abdomen. She looked sad.

He knew what she was looking at. A reminder of what they had been through.

"It's just a scar, Amy. From my surgery", he told her. "It could have been so much worse."

"I know.", she whispered. "It's just… hard to think about all the pain you were in."

"But the pain is gone now. And this will fade.", he promised. "Give it a few more months and we will hardly know it's there."

She nodded thoughtfully, then she bent down and kissed the same spot she had been looking at.

Yes, all their scars would heal. The ones on his body and the ones they both were carrying on their souls. They were healing. The two of them together.

She looked up to him then.

"I love you, Sheldon.", she said seriously.

He smiled. It was obvious. She had told him the same thing only minutes ago.

But he had to admit, in this case, he did not mind her stating the obvious. He would never get tired of hearing it.

"I love you too.", he told her softly.

She just nodded and smiled at him, before she resumed doing what she was doing before.

Caressing his body, kissing his chest, his abdomen, his hip bones and…

"Ohhhh", he moaned as placed a soft kiss in a place he never imagined her to kiss him.

"Okay?", she clarified, and he could only nod weakly.

And then his senses were filled with unimaginable pleasure as she engulfed his length with her warm mouth.

Oh, good Lord, this woman was making him crazy.

She moved slowly, seemingly trying to find out how to do this, but oh, whatever she was doing, it worked very well.

She bobbed her head up and down, taking him in a bit further every time and he had to ball up his hands to fists when he felt her suckle softly in between.

"Amy…", he groaned. "You need to stop. Right now. Or there won't be much lovemaking left to do."

She grinned at him, looking very proud of himself.

And she had every reason to it.

It seemed she was on her way to become an expert as well, in this field that was new to both of them. But oh, would they have fun, exploring it together.

He reached to her nightstand to retrieve another prophylactic – at the rate they were using them, he would soon have to make another trip to the pharmacy – while she slipped out of her panties.

Her body felt familiar under his exploring hands. Her soft skin. Tender breasts. The wetness between her legs, telling him how she was yearning for him.

And when she lifted herself up a little to take him in, he did not have to ask, if it was comfortable for her. Because the desire in her eyes and the way she captured his lips again before she moved slowly but steadily on top of him told him everything he had to know.

He watched her as she took control of the situation, as the delicious feeling in his lower belly grew more intense by the second.

How could she ever think she wasn't pretty? She was the most alluring sight he had ever seen.

She was the whole package. So beautiful. On the outside but even more on the inside.

Her movements became faster and her breathing pattern changed. Her cheeks turned red, and her mouth fell open.

Oh, he loved that it was him, only him, that could bring her this kind of pleasure.

He grabbed her buttocks and pushed himself up into her and it did not take long for her to cry out her pleasure with him following soon after.

Hmmm… yes, he really, really enjoyed this. Being with her this way. Sharing his body with the only woman he would ever do this with.

They both took another trip to the bathroom and after that, they agreed, they were much too tired to get dressed again, so they left their nightclothes on top of her drawer and just went to bed naked.

Another first after many others that night and just like those others, he enjoyed it much, much more than he would have ever thought.

Later, when he was cradling her in his arms again, that he realized, it was already getting light outside.

He checked his watch. And then he checked it again.

4 am. How was that possible?

He, Sheldon Cooper, had just spent the whole night talking to and making love to his girlfriend.

His brilliant, beautiful girlfriend who loved him just as he loved her.

Who would have thought, a year ago, that he would ever find himself in this situation?

How do you know you love someone?

Maybe there were no parameters to that. Maybe you know, if you don't feel the need to find them. Because the way you feel does not leave any room for other possible explanations.

And on this early morning, as he held his girlfriend close and watched her fall asleep naked in his arms, his hunger for her satisfied in the best way possible, and he found himself looking forward to whatever the new day would bring…

He knew. He just knew.

He knew he loved every little thing about her.

And he also knew, he would love her until his last day.