Work Text:
Amy expected Sheldon to scold her when she was late meeting him at his office for lunch, but to her surprise and relief his office was empty when she arrived.
It was her first day back at Caltech since the accident and she'd had a busy morning meeting with President Siebert and HR. There were what felt like a million details to hammer out regarding her return schedule, laboratory availability, and what studies were currently available for her to join. Not to mention all her colleagues stopping her in the halls to offer their well-wishes. Perhaps she and Sheldon were being foolish when they agreed that morning to meet up in his office before heading to the cafeteria together, they should have known all her meetings were likely to run late. But Sheldon had insisted, and she suspected he had some lingering anxiety about her return, so to put him at ease she agreed without a second thought.
But now where was he?
Amy checked her phone to see if she missed any texts from him, but she did not. She didn't think he would leave for the cafeteria without her, not when he was the one insisting they meet here first. Maybe he went looking for her. She sent him a text letting him know where she was, then made herself comfortable in his desk chair while she waited.
Her stomach growled soon after she sat down, another reminder of how late she was. After a few more seconds without any sign of Sheldon, she started digging through his desk drawers, searching for the Red Vines she knew he stashed away. Sure enough, there was a package in his bottom drawer. She tore it open and pulled out a couple pieces to munch on, but just when she was about to put it back, a folder that was hidden just underneath the candy caught her eye.
The little tab was labeled “RENEWAL.” Amy opened it up on top of Sheldon's desk and began leafing through the papers inside. To her surprise, a lot of it seemed to be their old wedding planning materials, including information on some of the locations they had ultimately rejected, quotes from catering companies, a music list, photographer names, and the business card for Raj's flower guy. Mixed in with the old documents, though, were newer ones she did not recognize, and numerous notes in Sheldon's handwriting.
“What is he up to?” Amy asked herself.
She ate the last of the Red Vines she removed, then ducked back down to see if there was anything else hidden in the drawer. Leaning in close, she could just make out what looked like a small velvet jewelry box tucked deep in the back corner.
“What are you doing?”
Amy jumped at the sound of her husband's voice and nearly hit her head on the top of his desk. He was standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Waiting for you,” she told him. “What is all this?”
“Before you got your memory back, I was considering asking you to marry me again,” he said, glancing at the array of documents she had spread out on his desk. “The cafeteria will be closing soon, we should—”
“You were what?!”
He had said it so matter-of-factly. As if that wasn't something extraordinary. Amy felt like she must not have understood him. And judging by the folder contents and that box she glimpsed in his drawer, he was doing more than just considering it.
“You weren't supposed to find this,” he said instead. “Why were you going through my desk?”
“Not important, go back to the part where we're getting married again.”
Sheldon sighed and started putting the folder back together.
“In your vows you said you dreamed about your wedding ever since you were a little girl,” he explained. “It didn't seem fair that you should miss out on a lifelong dream just because you had a little brain trauma.”
“Sheldon . . .”
“Obviously we wouldn't have been able to really get married again, since we already legally are,” he continued. “But then Koothrappali suggested a vow renewal. That seemed like a sufficient alternative.”
“You were actually discussing it with the guys?”
“Just Koothrappali. You regained your memories days later, so the point was moot.”
He held out the folder for her to put away. She stared at it for a second before taking it, holding it in her hands, feeling its thickness and weight. Years ago, she had been jealous of Penny for having someone who loved her so much he was willing to marry her twice, but it turned out she had that as well. And better yet, Sheldon wasn't going to do it to appease a disgruntled relative or because their first wedding wasn't adequate. He was doing it solely for her, to help make her whole. It was almost too bad she recovered as quickly as she did.
“You know, I've heard some couples have vow renewal ceremonies after overcoming a major illness or injury together . . .” She let the thought trail off, dropping the folder and walking out from behind the desk to approach him and loop her arms around his neck.
“Amy . . .” There was a slight edge to his tone, like he meant it to be scolding but couldn't quite manage it.
“Just something else for you to consider,” she said, then leaned up to press a kiss to his lips before he could respond.
She knew it was a risky move, with them being at work and with his office door open, but she couldn't resist. He only hesitated for a heartbeat before he was kissing her back, but as soon as she started to deepen it he pulled away, giving her a stern look.
“Were you eating my Red Vines?”