Chapter 10

Best Laid Plans of Mice and Shamy

I want to thank a few folks that helped this story: ShAmy4evr as always. Nibbler747 and GoHawks12 for helping me. SHamybaboos read through this as well, as did Shamour long ago. Author support is so important, and these ladies consistently support and help me. Thank you all again.

This is the end of the tale... Or is it?

15 Days later, Amy was collecting her carry-on bag ready to deplane as she landed at Los Angeles Airport. She could feel her heart beat thump louder as each minute drew near to the time she would see Sheldon again. In the last two weeks, Amy had felt that the relationship had been strained, but she knew it was the burden of news she carried. She thought him to be aloof and carefree, which had infuriated her since she was experiencing the worst time of her life. She couldn't fault him however; he knew nothing of the lead weighted decision with which she wrestled.

Sheldon continued to tell her how much he looked forward to seeing her again while asking her odd questions like, what was her favorite brand of feminine hygiene products or brand of girly yogurt. His innocent quizzical nature only solidified her decision as the right one. She just needed to tell him what she decided.

She had a week off for the Thanksgiving break, but after she gave Sheldon the news, she expected she would be staying with her mother. Amy expected the worst and planned for it.

Amy had been avoiding talking to him on the phone and used the excuse of a heavy work load. The truth was she was only going on this trip to tell him in person. He deserved to know what she had planned BEFORE she did anything. He might try and talk her out of it, but Amy could see no other option available: She would have the child and give it up for adoption.

As much as an abortion would be easier, she just couldn't bring herself to go back to the clinic. Each day she felt her body change and she knew that this was the best choice for her. Their combined genetic material could make an astonishing offspring and a loving family who lived together could raise their child in the environment that would foster it's brilliant mind. Of course, Amy had a list of requirements for the prospective parents that made even the best of homes fall short of her impeccable scrutiny.

When she arrived, Amy expected the stoic greeting similar to the goodbye they had exchanged when she had dropped him off at Logan's airport. She laughed to herself as she thought he might even reach out and shake her hand. She hoped he wouldn't notice the change in her body. She was only three months along and hardly showing. Her morning sickness had subsided and she had more energy. The long flight had taken the wind from her sails, but she couldn't deny, seeing Sheldon again was a joy she couldn't miss.

At the airport, Sheldon was waiting impatiently for Amy to arrive. Beside him, was a redheaded companion who seemed as eager for Amy to arrive as Sheldon.

"Dr. Cooper. How long since you've seen your girlfriend?"

SHeldon looked at his watched for the 10th time in a minute, "Well, Henry, our status is ambiguous at the moment, but to answer your question, 81 days 12 hours, 23 minutes."

The man standing next to Sheldon was only older than he by a few years but was no fool about Sheldon's status with Amy Farrah Fowler. Henry knew as much about her as anyone could care to know since Dr. Cooper's only two subjects of conversation were string theory and Amy Farrah Fowler.

"I bet you can't wait to see her. I hope I have enough tissues for the teary reunion." Henry nudged Sheldon playfully, but it was ill received.

Sheldon rolled his eyes, "Amy Farrah Fowler does not give into maudlin displays of emotion. There will be none of those emotional reunions that you see in those girly movies you are always telling me to watch."

"HEY! The movie Chocolat' was brilliant, Dr. Cooper."

"I think you just have a craving for sweets." Sheldon poked Henry's rotund stomach, "You need to watch that habit, Henry."

Henry shook his head and chuckled, "Like your habit for clementine's, Dr. Cooper. You're gonna get an ulcer the way you put them away."

"At least they are healthy. I have to watch my figure." Sheldon glared at him a moment as Henry rolled his eyes. Sheldon turned and looked through the crowd, "Now hush, the plane is landing."

When Amy made her way off the ramp, Sheldon was in the large crowd waiting for her. As soon as her eyes met his, her heart almost stopped and she couldn't stop her smile. At the moment Sheldon saw Amy, all reason escaped him. He tore through the crowd almost mowing over a mid-age couple wearing matching tropical shirts just to get to her. He immediately cupped her face while he smiled. He couldn't find any words. He just drew her into a searing kiss, not caring who saw or how much they groused. Emotion over took Amy and tears started down her face as Sheldon picked her up and twirled her around.

"Oh Amy. I'm so happy to see you." He breathed his confession into her neck while filling his nose with her unique clementine aroma.

Amy lost her words, but managed to eke out, "I missed you too, Sheldon."

He looked down at her red swollen eyes and wet face and saw a melancholy grin. "Ah, now. Don't worry. You're with me now, and everything is fine. I have everything arranged. Look, the university have even given me a lackey!" Sheldon walked over to a rotund young man with blinding red hair who rolled his eyes at Sheldon's description.

"I'm not a lackey! I'm your TA!" Henry handed a tissue to Amy and then shot at searing look at Sheldon who shook his head in return.

"Potato, patato. Anyway, help Ms. Fowler with her bags."

Sheldon was very pleased with himself at having the forethought to get a personal driver. He had wondered how he was going to drive Amy around and show her all of the sites he had planned without one. He had asked Caltech if he could have a grad student, and hordes of eager applicants were interviewed, but he had chosen Henry because he possessed the two qualities Sheldon needed as an assistant for one of the most acclaimed physicists in String Theory: A reliable car, and tendency to be quiet. Shy, ginger Henry who drove a Camry fit the bill perfectly. Though lately, he had a tendency to be mouthy, but Sheldon figured he was just cranky from sugar withdrawals.

"And another thing, the university didn't give me to you, I volunteered." The young man grabbed Amy's bags and held out his hand, "Hello, I'm Henry, Dr. Cooper's assistant. I've heard SO much about you, Ms. Fowler. " Amy blushed and pushed back her hair. Henry smiled and asked kindly, "How was your flight?"

Sheldon got between Amy and scowled at Henry, "Now now, I'll ask Ms. Fowler the questions…" Sheldon turned to Amy with a beaming smile, "How was your flight."

"Good, but long and a little bumpy." Amy held her stomach and just kept looking at Sheldon, barely believing he was real. He seemed older for some reason, and less thin and certainly more jovial. He wore her favorite shirt, his Red Flash shirt. She loved him in red. As they walked, she felt his hand grasp hers. He was never one for hand holding, as Amy had found out in Boston, but now that they were finally together after 81 long days, he couldn't let her go. Sheldon sat in the back seat with Amy, and Henry made some comment about Driving Ms. Daisy.

"I told you, her name is Ms. Fowler." Sheldon rolled his eyes and whispered to Amy, "See what they put out of MIT these days?"

As they drove home, Sheldon had to point out all the different ways to get across LA, most of which Amy already knew since she had grown up in Southern California. He also made Henry give Amy a driving tour of UCLA and was quick to point out that the only acceptable food source near the Neuroscience department only served Tacos. Sheldon also pointed out the large Bear Statue that he said gave him the willies, but he knew that Amy would be fine, since she loved bears.

Amy loved the tour but it also saddened her. She had hoped to be at UCLA at some time in the future for her post doc work, but that dream was over two years away. However that had been her original plan, but given her current situation, everything could be in jeopardy.

"See Amy, Henry is taking the 405 to the 101, however, at peak hours, he would take the 10 to the 101 then to Barham, Correct, Henry?"

"Correct Dr. Cooper. One day we drove this route over 20 times to get the optimum route for each time of day. A thrilling Wednesday if ever there was one." Amy noticed Henry's eyes rolling, but Sheldon didn't catch a hint of the sarcasm.

"It was fun, wasn't it?" Sheldon smiled at Amy. He was almost proud that he could put up with Henry for an entire afternoon. It showed that his tolerance for lesser minds had grown substantially.

Amy asked Henry, "Did you finish the driving lessons I started with Dr. Cooper in Boston? He was almost ready to put the car in gear before he left." Amy's smirk did not abate when she saw Sheldon's narrowed eyes to stare her down.

Henry tilted his head back to answer, but he was sure to keep his hands on the wheel, lest he face Dr. Cooper's ire, "No, Ms. Fowler. He insisted on waiting for you."

Amy looked surprised, "I hardly think a week will be sufficient time, Sheldon."

Sheldon just smiled, "We'll see. Now, oh look! It's the LA Zoo! We have to go there Amy! You'll love it!"

Amy had no idea how he planned to fit all his sightseeing, driving lessons, plus Thanksgiving into such a short visit. He was very cagey on her itinerary which puzzled her as Sheldon had an itinerary when they went to the grocery store, let alone a visit to LA.

Henry drove Sheldon and Amy straight to his apartment in Pasadena. He had just leased the space, and was so thrilled to show Amy that he leaped out of the car and pulled her into the foyer before she had a chance to thank Henry who brought in her bags.

Henry called back to the hurried couple, "I'll see you tomorrow, Dr. Cooper!" Sheldon was too engrossed with Amy to call back to him, but Henry was not surprised, knowing he would be that way as Dr. Cooper had been unable to talk about anything other than Amy Farrah Fowler for weeks.

As they walked into the apartment foyer, Sheldon had to show her everything: How to get mail, where the laundry was and who to avoid in the elevator. He was very pleased there was a police officer next door, and said Amy could ask his advice on dresses. Amy cocked her head and just listened to everything Sheldon was rattling off about the space. It was as if he was a real estate broker selling her on the property.

Once on the 4th floor, Sheldon opened up the door and announced, "And we're home." He had an bubbling grin as she walked into the spacious apartment. "Our home." Sheldon added under his breath.

It was sparsely decorated, with a few green and white folding lawn chairs and a plastic milk carton for a table, but it was large, with a wonderful view of Pasadena City Hall. Each magnificent thing Sheldon showed her just made her gloomier. She realized that once had she told him she was pregnant, every idea of sharing a life together would be for naught. Amy feared more than anything he would be angry, and reject her. She was prepared that he would blame her, yell, scream and say how she is ruining his perfect life. She caught a hitch in her throat as she tried to hold back tears. Her hormones were raging, firing off negative thoughts faster than super collider. She needed to catch her breath.

Sheldon noticed that she was woozy and offered her a chair, "I'm sorry, Amy. I am just so happy you are here. I have so much to tell you, but you need to rest. Do you want to take a nap before dinner?"

Amy sighed, "Yes, please Sheldon. I am so exhausted from my power study sessions, and the flight. I haven't slept well since I found out…" Amy trailed her voice off and looked at her hands folded in her lap.

Sheldon tipped his head in confusion, "Found out what?" She usually told him everything.

Amy looked up and saw Sheldon's kind face. He looked so innocent wide eyed and eager for any knowledge. This news had to wait, however. Amy needed to have a clear head when she told him. She prayed that Mildred hadn't fired off an email to him informing him of her condition. Though given his demeanor she was fairly sure that he knew nothing.. Amy blurted out the first thing she thought of.

"Oh… that I got a 98% on my midterm… Silly me. I forgot the most likely mechanism for a certain drug would increase in the rate of voltage-dependent changes in K+ permeability, not decrease… I mean, it was ludicrous that I would miss it."

Sheldon looked concerned and then hooded his eyes and he turned from her. He bit his lip and then asked timidly, "It's because I left, isn't it? Couple that with all the changes to the plans for our visit. I'm…sorry but I couldn't help the plan change. " He walked over to her and ran his hand down her cheek with a guilty scowl.

Amy tried to ease away his concerns, but she started to ramble, "No… no…. I know you had to come back, really. I understand that. I mean, you have your work and you're on track for the Nobel. I would never stand in the way of that. It would be selfish of me to think you would stay and I could never live with the guilt. You don't want to live back East with what did you call them, Yankee liberal popsicles?"

"Well, it gets ridiculously cold there, but that's not why I couldn't go Amy!" Sheldon was frantic to tell his side of the story, but Amy cut him off.

"Besides, I have only two years left, and I will be coming here anyway. I would never want anything to…" Amy didn't notice the tear streaming down her face. "This is how it has to be. We have a plan. We need to stick to the plan. Just because something happens that you want more than anything before in your life, you have to keep the blinders on and not let emotional considerations fog your life choices."

"But Amy…"

"No, Sheldon I would not do that to you. I ..lo… I just won't!" Amy swallowed the word love. emotions had to be squashed for her decision. She had to keep her heart away from her head while she carried the baby. It was the only way she could do what she planned.

Amy stiffened up, took on a robotic cadence and continued, "I won't be a burden. I won't. I just… I'll take care of things. I know you can't now.. I will…" Amy almost fainted from her exhaustion, but Sheldon picked her off the chair before both she and the chair folded up. He wondered if she had heat exhaustion again, but as he held her she was shivering from cold he thought.

Sheldon pushed back her hair as he held her face and gave her a soft kiss. The gesture relaxed her, and she fell into his arms again. He was itching to tell her his plan, but he knew he had to wait till she had rested. He walked her back to the bedroom and tucked her into the new sheets and blanket he bought just for her. She noted that the bed was large enough for two, but was too tired to comment on it. She smiled as soon as the scent of talc hit her and was out in 20 seconds. Sheldon sat with her, and watched her sleep. He bent down, and kissed her head, but paused for a moment to soak up her clementine scent. He hadn't realized how much he had missed just that scent in his life.

A few hours later, Amy awoke to the smell of scolded water, burned hot dogs and carbonized tomato sauce. She almost jumped off the bed with horror: Sheldon was cooking.

She rushed to the kitchen to find Sheldon fighting with a spaghetti package. He was wearing an apron with a Fire Marshall shield on it. How apropos, Amy thought.

"Sheldon! Are you cooking?" She rushed to the kitchen to save the tomato sauce from Cooper Fire Department.

"Well, trying… I seemed to have.. Oh fiddle sticks. Those hot dogs are burned too!" Sheldon moved the smoking pan to the sink. Amy came up behind him, and tapped his shoulder.

"Please… Let me…" Amy didn't wait for a reply. She moved around the kitchen as if she had been there for years, as if she were at home, Sheldon thought. Within 20 minutes, Sheldon was being served his first Spaghetti with hot dogs in almost three months.

"Oh how I've missed you, Amy!"

During the silent dinner Sheldon was worried about Amy's demeanor. He didn't expect a maudlin display of emotion but he also didn't expect her to be so despondent. Amy was uncharacteristically quiet she didn't seem to want to meet his eyes and avoided physical contact. He knew it was time to tell her.

"Amy, please sit. I have so much to tell you."

"I have a lot to tell you, as well, Sheldon." Amy grabbed the two sheets of paper in her purse and made her way to the chairs. One sheet was the positive results of her pregnancy from the doctor, and the other was a comprehensive list of requirements for adoptive parents.

Sheldon wondered what her news was, but he couldn't wait a second more to tell her.

He took a deep breath and started. "Amy, I have been working on something for months, and finally a few weeks ago I got confirmation. I have something to show you." He went to his desk and brought over a letter in a thick envelope. It was addressed to Amy Farrah Fowler at Sheldon's address at 2311 Los Robles Ave. and it was from UCLA."

"I don't understand. Why would UCLA be sending me letters to this address?"

"Read it." Sheldon smiled and tapped his knee in anticipation.

Amy opened the letter and read the words, but she could hardly believe it. "What is this? How could UCLA accept me to the Neuroscience department, when I have never applied?"

"I did… For you! The only hard part was your signature, but the pages out of your notebook where you practice Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler made it a cinch."

Amy jaw dropped, "You did what? You forged my name?"

Sheldon sucked in his bottom lip and with a grin, looked at her with largest eyes she'd ever seen. He was so pleased it was almost contagious, "Amy, when I was in Boston with you, I realized I couldn't wait two years for us to be together again. I mean, a week here and there is not enough for a relationship. I tried to get work in Boston, but Caltech made it clear, I work for them or nowhere. Unfortunately, they have enough clout to carry out their threat. So, if you can't reach the mountain, move it! Right Mohammed?" Sheldon winked at her with a smug grin.

"Sheldon? How did you apply, you need my transcripts, they need your latest published work, you need recommendations."

"Our computers did have coitus...I might have caught some of your files as they were connected!" Sheldon winked at her, but she didn't find it funny. He still couldn't hid his smile.

Amy just shook her head, "How did you do this? I would have had to do an essay stating why I wanted to join the program. I have to interview…"

"Your essay was brilliant, if I do say so myself. No grammar mistakes, just so you know, smarty pants! And the interview? Well that is exactly why you had to come here for Thanksgiving. You have an interview with UCLA on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. I pulled some strings and…"

Amy threw down the paper along with hers, "Wait, you did what? Sheldon! This is my career! You can't just go around making decisions for me! This is my life!"

"But Amy! You wanted to do your doctoral work at UCLA anyway! This had just moved it up a few years! They have a visiting professor, Dr. Neumann. I heard he is the best in the field at least that is what he said on the phone when I called him about you. Fair warning, he's not an early riser. Anyway... He wants to work with you as your advisor."

"Dr. Neumann? Hans Neumann? Are you serious? Sheldon! He is the top Neuroscientist in the field right now! There is no way he would work with me! I am just in my master program! I'm nobody!" Amy couldn't fathom what Sheldon could have said to get Dr. Neumann to say he would want to work with her. It would be like Stephen Hawking saying he would review Sheldon's paper.

"Well, he knows all about you, and he does want to work with you. He heard about you from Mildred at Harvard. It seems she was working there when he went there as well. Funny story..."

"Mildred? You spoke with her?" Amy almost swallowed her throat.

"I called her for his number when I found he went to Harvard. She was very helpful and more than willing to help me break privacy laws when she heard my plan."

Amy swallowed, "She didn't say anything else?"

"Yes, she said I better hurry my skinny butt up, but I already had a plan, so I told her to go have smoke. She gets cranky with out her cigarettes. Anyway, when I spoke to him, he said you can work on you masters and doctorate congruently with him, and you would have it by 22 or sooner." Sheldon knew her lifelong goal and he thought she'd be pleased, but her grumpy face was a shock.

"Sheldon! My scholarships are at Harvard! I can't afford student loans! The trust from my grandfather only works if I go to Harvard! You know that!"

"Well, you've almost gone through that whole trust, ergo, the next part of my brilliant plan." Sheldon went again to his desk, grabbed another paper and something else that he put in his pocket. Amy was too busy reading over the letter from UCLA to notice. She could start in January; contingent on her interview, it all seemed to be a foregone conclusion. It was everything she hoped for and more, but for Sheldon to decide without her consent seemed so presumptuous.

"Sheldon! Why didn't you tell me about this? Why didn't you ask me?"

Sheldon stopped mid stride on his way to the desk and turned back to her. His face dropped to a frown for a moment, "If it didn't work, I just couldn't see that look on your face again, Amy. That look you gave me every time my going back to California was mentioned. It was like I was stabbing you, wounding you with the situation. Never again will I see that look on your face, Amy. Not if I can help it." Sheldon sucked in his bottom lip and closed his eyes for a moment. Then, as if he remembered something, he rushed back to the desk and retrieved another paper.

"Here's the best part! I can save you thousands in student loans. Look!" Sheldon came back and handed her another letter. It was from Caltech. It allowed Sheldon to teach one class at UCLA as an adjunct professor so long as he kept his research at Caltech.

The letter was even more confusing than Sheldon assuming it was okay to do all this without her consent, "Sheldon why on earth would you want to teach a class at UCLA? I thought you said all they knew how to do was lose at Football and whine that they aren't as good as Berkeley?"

"Well, they aren't as good as Berkeley, for most things. However, for your field, they are acceptable. Physics.. Well… Let's say they desperately need my brilliant mind."

"Sheldon… Its charity! They could never appreciate you!" Amy couldn't comprehend why Sheldon would lower himself to teach at UCLA.

"No appreciates my brilliant mind, Amy. UCLA isn't special in that regard. Besides, there are tuition breaks for families. You would only have to pay half what you normally would. Harvard is three times as expensive as UCLA. Here, I made a spreadsheet outlining the cost savings. Also, you can buy your books with your trust at Harvard before you leave, so you will save money. See it's all planned out." Sheldon handed her a spreadsheet with figures, but she was still too confused by his previous statement.

"Wait, what? What does this have to do with you working there? Families?"

"Yes, but spousal tuition discounts start immediately. See? It says it right here." Sheldon pointed to another page he handed her.

"SPOUSE?"

"Yes. Once we are married, you would get…"

"Married?" Amy felt all the blood in her veins drop to the floor, along with the papers she was holding.

Sheldon scrambled to pick them all up on his hands and knees, and then he realized her confusion. He had made a grave oversight due to his exuberance for his brilliant plan, "Oh right… Hold on…" Sheldon reached in his pocket and pulled out a black box. "Here. It's your ring." He handed her the opened box without looking at her, and continued to pick up the papers.

Amy's lips started to quiver as she looked at the modest ring being handed to her by Sheldon on his knees. She hated to admit it, but she had fantasized that he would propose to her someday, on his knees with a ring in hand. Now she had almost had her wish, except everything was wrong.

"You want to marry me? FOR TUITION BREAKS?" Amy voice rose an octave.

"Yes!" Sheldon smiled, "Um… That's what you should be saying, by the way."

"Sheldon! I can't believe you! You don't get married for tuition breaks! That is a stupid reason to get married!"

"Stupid!? I think not! It's brilliant! So what do you think is a good reason for getting married, Ms. Smarty pants?"

Amy almost screamed at him, "BECAUSE YOU ARE IN LOVE!"

"That a stupid reason. That's as dumb as getting married because you're pregnant or some other nonsense."

Amy pushed him and little black box away and ran off down the hall. She slammed the door on his bedroom and threw herself on the bed to cry.

Sheldon was stunned and did not know what to say to her unexpected reaction. Not only did she not put on the ring, but she didn't even say yes. He had to talk to her, but the papers on the floor were driving him crazy. As he picked up them up to put them in order, he noticed two new sheets. One had her name on the top and said pregnancy test. Sheldon sat back on his knees when he saw the word: Positive

The next paper ripped the air out of his lungs: a list of adoptive family requirements. Amy had a list with everything from acceptable income levels, educational background, dietary concerns to non-gender specific toys and even acceptable colleges for their offspring to attend.

Sheldon started to pull in any breath he could from the suddenly thin air around him, but it wasn't enough. His mind was reeling from the news and he just kept looking over and over the page with word positive.

Finally, he rose off the floor, grabbed the little black box and put it in his pocket. He walked back to the bedroom with shaky legs and heavy heart. He knocked on the door, and entered without a word or waiting for a response.

Amy sat up and brushed the tears off her eyes, hoping he didn't see them, but her reddened eyes gave her away. She looked up to Sheldon and tried to say something, but he cut her off.

"You're pregnant." He dropped on the bed next to her and looked out at nothing while he was still processing everything.

Amy let out a relieved sigh that she had not had to actually to tell him the news, but his reaction was unreadable. She rattled off everything she could in her best martinet fashion.:

"Yes. I think it was our first time when the condom messed up. At least I think so as did the doctor. Also, every time after that we were so careful."

"You're pregnant." Sheldon said the same thing, but just as shocked.

"Yes… I know… I have to tell you, my first thought was to end the pregnancy.I won't be a burden, Sheldon."

Sheldon grabbed her hands, and could only say, "But, you're pregnant?" Sheldon eyes looked pained as she revealed her initial plans. He still couldn't say much more.

"Yes. I still am, almost exactly 3 months. I tried to go at one month, but I couldn't do it, Sheldon. Not without telling you in person. You deserve that. But I have decided that I want to continue with the pregnancy. I am in contact with an adoption agency."

Sheldon cut her off, "You're pregnant!" He said it more like a statement than a question, but it was still all he could say.

"Yes… I know that! Sheldon neither one of us are ready for a baby. Your career is everything to you. I can't stand in the way of that. We live on opposite coasts, it would never work. I don't even think we should see each other after this. It's too much of a distraction for you…" Amy looked down at her hands that she in fists.

Sheldon cut her off again and this time, he changed what he said, "But we won't be living on opposite coasts. You'd live here starting in December. Its only three more weeks… You'd be four months… Pregnant…" He stared off again.

"Sheldon, I appreciate your plan, I do, but that was before you knew I was pregnant. Come on , getting married for tuition?" Amy slumped down as she swallowed her disappointment. "What happens when the tuition is no longer an issue? Do we divorce?"

"I'd rather not."

"Why get married at all?

"For the tuition discount!"

Amy put her hands on her face and nearly screamed through her fingers, "Ugh… I want to get married because it means something. It would mean you want to spend your life with me, not because of tuition."

Sheldon pulled off her hands and held them, "I do want to spend my life with you. Why do you think I am doing this?" Sheldon raised his eye brows hoping she would understand, but she had the look of utter confusion. Pregnancy brain, he figured. "OK, look… the tuition break will make it so you can go to UCLA, UCLA will make is so you are here with me. Being with me forever is the primary goal. Epso facto, marrying you gets you to be with me. Easy peasy."

Amy whispered with a hope she had been suppressing for weeks, "You want me to be with you forever?"

"Of course! That's what you do when you fall in love. Really, Amy, you need to take some prenatal vitamins or something, your mind… lordy…" Sheldon scrunched his face in concern at her addled brain, but Amy beaming smile brighten the room and eased the worry. "As soon as you get here, I gonna have to start watching you better!"

"You said you loved me?" Amy always questioned if he meant what he had said before to her.

Sheldon looked annoyed, "Well, yeah! I thought it was obvious! I told you that night in the fountain? Why else would I want to spend the rest of my life with you? Amy, really this is all very simple. You need to marry me…" Sheldon thought for a moment and then his eyes lit up, "Maybe this weekend!"

"But why did you say getting married for love was stupid?"

"Because it is. You should decide you want to be someone for the rest of your life because you are in love. Being married is just paperwork. Like getting married because you are pregnant. You wouldn't have been pregnant unless we were in love, because we would have never slept together if we weren't. That reminds me." Sheldon looked down at her stomach and smiled, "You're pregnant!"

"Yes.. I am." Amy put her hands on her stomach and furled her brow. "We should discuss my adoption requirements." Amy thought she knew Sheldon's desire on the matter.

Sheldon waved his hand is dismissal, "Oh, I already have a prospective couple. They are brilliant, well-educated and versed in the proper child care techniques to raise our brilliant offspring in the environment which will foster their development."

Amy dropped her shoulders at his calm demeanor at the thought of giving their child away to strangers, but she knew it was the best option. "Who do you have in mind? Another professor at Caltech or something?"

"Not unless you are going to work at Caltech… We are the ideal couple, Amy. We will have the income you require as soon as you get your degree. You can complete your first semester at UCLA and given the gestation period of an average human, our little wunderkind will be here at the end of May, perfect timing. You take the summer off and then we put junior in UCLA day care while we work. It's the best in the whole area."

"How do you know what the best day care facilities are in the area?" Amy was still processing his words. She could barely ask her question.

"Amy, I research everything. I figured it was a matter of time before we would want to have a child and given you would be at UCLA, I found out about it. We just moved up the time schedule." Sheldon grinned, "It all still fits with my 'brilliant plan'. You can call it that, by the way." Sheldon raised his brows and smirked.

"Oh, Sheldon this was never the plan! Are you sure? We are so young, your career is taking off, I am in the middle of school! I'm only 20."

"Age means nothing, Amy. We are smarter than anyone our age and always will be. We can figure this out." Sheldon ran his fingers down her jaw and smiled at her.

He asked with his eyes if he could touch her stomach. Amy nodded with a smile. Sheldon paced his hand on her stomach and just let out a breath. It felt the same, but the implications were mind blowing. "You're pregnant!"

"We really can keep the baby?" Tears streamed down Amy's face. It was everything she hoped. "I thought you… I thought… all our plans, Sheldon! I mean… Are you sure?"

Sheldon brushed her hair off her face with a calming smile he said, "Remember what you said to me: Sometimes things change, and your best laid plans are for naught! Part of good planning is to have contingencies for such unforeseen occurrences… "

Amy sniffed and asked through her tears, "When did I say that?"

"July 28th, 1:28 PM. You were a little over heated." Sheldon wanted to change the subject from the one time she was right. "Anyway… Plans change and more importantly… You're pregnant!"

Amy smiled and asked timidly, "Does that mean you are happy about this?" She placed her hand on her belly and looked up to Sheldon who was already smiling.

"Oh, Amy… Why do you continually make me state the obvious? Yes, I am happy about this. Yes, I am in love with you, and if you follow the chain of causality, yes I want to marry because I love you. Now, put on this ring!" He shoved the box in her hands.

Amy sat up straight, and spoke hiding a smirk, "You should have asked me properly, then!"

Sheldon rolled his eyes, and went down on one knee while he held out the ring to Amy. He looked down for a moment to gather his thoughts and then looked up at her with wide lapis colored eyes and a slight smile, "Amy… I never planned on falling love, but from the moment I met you, it seemed a foregone conclusion. The mere notion of anything that has even a remote connection to you, and I am filled with a happiness I've never known. I want you in my life forever, and for us to become one so I can have that feeling again every day of my life till my last dying breath."

Amy drew in a short breath and she could feel her face blush. She was ready to say yes before he finished, but Sheldon wasn't done with his proposal.

"In order for this to happen, I need to you to live with me. That can only happened if you go to UCLA, which can only happen if you have a discounted tuition. So Amy Farrah Fowler, will you marry me…" Sheldon smirked and added quickly, "For the tuition break?"

Amy put her hand to mouth and held back her laugh. Then she said sweetly, "Yes, Sheldon, I will marry you… For the tuition break, you romantic fool, you." Sheldon put the ring on her finger and smiled as he saw it fit perfectly. He put both hands on the side of her face and brought her closer. She could feel his shaky hands relax as the kiss lingered. He pulled back and gave her the brightest smile she had ever seen on his face.

Amy let a breath she seemed to have been holding since he left back in September. They had a plan. It wasn't the original, but it was even better. She knew with him by her side, they could do anything. Well, almost anything. She realized that getting any kind of romance from her future husband was going to be difficult.

Amy couldn't help herself, she let out a laugh, "You know, Sheldon… a little romance wouldn't kill ya!" Amy wrapped her arms around him to pull him up and nuzzled into his chest as they lay on the bed together. Sheldon rubbed her stomach and smiled.

"Yes it would kill me, and you know it. However…" Sheldon looked sheepishly at his nightstand. "I… um… got you a candle and a Neil Diamond CD, but given your condition…" Sheldon looked with concern at Amy who was playing with ribs through his shirt.

"You know Sheldon; pregnant women can have sex up till the ninth month with no adverse effects to the child or mother. Additionally, and here I go stating the obvious again, you don't need to wear a condom during intercourse." Amy looked up at his eyes and blinked a few times with a coy grin.

Sheldon cleared his throat, "Um.. Okay… what would that be like?"

"I don't know. Wanna find out?" Amy sat up a little to see his reaction.

"Are you proposing a research project, future Dr. Fowler-Cooper?

"Yes, but we should repeat it as often as we can to get the correct data."

Sheldon started to undo her cardigan as he nuzzled in her neck, "Oh, Amy. You are going to make a marvelous Dr. of Science." He kissed her with all the hope he had been holding in for months, and let it flow to her. He leaned back and added as he rubbed her belly, "And a marvelous momma."

A/N: This is the end of this story, but next week, I will be publishing a new Story about the Six Sheldons. Its a meeting of Six different Sheldons from alternate universes.

1. One is the Show Sheldon.

2. Two is from my Vixen Story.

3. Three is a love Sick.

4. Four is forlorn.

5. Five is the man from this story. The story will be set in the year 2015, 15 years from this story.

6. Six is... well you will have to see...

Each one will have a back story, including this Sheldon you just read about. To call it AU might be a misnomer because it has Canon Sheldon as well. I hope, if you liked this story, and you want to hear how they did, you might check it out. Shameless plug.

Thanks again as always for reading and reviewing. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your feedback. To say it keeps me going is a gross understatement. Thanks to all who have read this little tale.