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Chapter Text

The next morning, Sheldon woke up and rushed through his morning routine in order to check on Amy's recovery. He kicked himself for not staying with her. He told himself he wasn't prone to worry, but also told himself he was the master of his endocrine system; both were a lie. As he rushed across the hall, he licked his lips and he could swear he still felt her kiss, or should he say kisses, still embedded on his lips.

He decided to draw on every ounce of courage he had, and ask her to consider the party as a real date, but those plans were derailed by her accident. He thought time would erode his resolve, but her kiss erased the word "coward" from his character sheet. Sheldon drew in a quick breath and gave his traditional knock.

Amy opened the door, brushing her hair back behind her ears and covering herself with her arms, "Hello Sheldon. Forgive me I am still in my nightgown." Amy was suddenly shy, even though she knew that the previous night Sheldon had seen every square inch of her. She could barely look him in the eye.

Sheldon gave a perpendicular glance and breathed a thank you. He didn't think he could take another minute seeing Amy half-dressed, flaunting all her desirable parts. Well…he thought, he could take it but the problem was how he would take it. Last night, Sheldon had had numerous dreams about taking her up against a door. Lately, he had such unspeakable dreams, that if he ever could vocalize, he was sure he mother put him over her knee.

Sheldon gave her a sweet smile, and entered the apartment, "Oh, um… good. I am pleased you are dressed, given you went to sleep in just your undergarments. I was unsure if I should have taken off your… um… bra... but you were so exhausted, you fell asleep while we were…." Sheldon opened his eyes wide hoping she would finish the sentence.

"We were what?" Amy was struggling with the tea box trying to open it with her arm in a sling but more from her bumbling. Her voice shook as she asked the question.

Sheldon took over the task and sucked in his lips waiting for her to finish his comment. Amy spoke much too fast, but Sheldon mistook her nervousness for pain, "Oh dear, did I cut you off mid-sentence? I know you hate that! Okay, tell me what we were talking about, so you can get it off your chest. What was it?"

Sheldon continued to bite his bottom lip as he debated whether or not to mention the kiss. He lost his courage at her perceived lack of memory, "Nothing Amy. Just customary greetings and the cultural based salutations from an anthropological perspective…" Sheldon tilted his head, "You don't recall anything that we spoke of last night?"

Amy slumped her shoulder and turned from him, and said quietly, "I remember, I was grabbing your knee pushing the accelerator. " Amy turned back to him, and wore a half smile with a bit of regret around her eyes.

"Sorry for that by the way. Not only should I not do that to a new driver, but I know you well enough to know I crossed a line..." Amy gave him that knowing smile that told him she knew him better than anyone. Little did Sheldon she was speaking about more than driving. She thought the actives of last night were best left unsaid. She was wrong, but too keen to make him happy to correct the error.

Sheldon wasn't listening to her apology, but was thinking of the words he offered her unconscious body last night as she slept. She did know him well enough; better than anyone, but there was one subject he just couldn't let her know.

He knew she couldn't respond, but he spoke anyway, hoping her subconscious could help him in some mysterious way. While he watched her sleep for those 30 minutes, he brushed her hair off her face and thought aloud, "Amy, I wish you could help me. I've tried talking to Leonard, but he is as useless about relationships as he is about getting the dinner order correct.

I really need smart Amy now, but she is always wrapped up in pink laced tempting Amy and silly Amy and infuriating Amy. I don't know what to do about how I am feeling, it is all so novel. I have nothing to compare it to I have never encountered anything like this. I'm afraid it will overwhelm me, Amy. I will be lost in it. How can I put order and rules on something I have no way to predict?"

Amy turned slightly and moaned. Sheldon said with a scowl, "You're right, we can't predict everything. I know that, don't be preachy. I just... I need to know what to do. I don't want to botch this Amy. A little help here would be nice I'd have you know!"

Amy gave a little smile in her sleep. "Fine! I'll just have to figure it out on my own." Sheldon softened his tone and ran a finger down the side of Amy's face outlining her jaw.

Amy smiled and moaned again, "But, I just want to say, yes I love my family, my mother and especially Meemaw, but that feeling is not even close to how I feel about you and I don't know if I can handle it. You're like dark matter Amy. I can't see the feelings I have for you, I can't predict them, I can't make rules for them, heck I can't even detect them, but you are affecting my gravity. I'm spinning crashing, losing control, and I need a stable orbit, Amy and I fear I can't do it without you."

Sheldon sipped his tea while his mind replayed his own words. It wasn't until conscious Amy spoke to him with an odd lilt to her voice that the spell was broken.

Amy was quick to change the subject, "Speaking of drivers! Want to be my driver for a week!? I only have to wear this for that long." Amy pulled at her sling and winced.

Sheldon brushed her off, "Oh Amy, that's what I have Leonard for! He would lack purpose in his life if he wasn't at my beck and call!"

"So, can I highjack your codependent relationship and get a ride to work?" Amy rose off the couch and placed her tea on the counter.

Sheldon scowled at her, "Yes, but with little less sass, if you don't mind. I did rescue you!"

Sheldon remained seated on the couch eyeing his cup of tea dejectedly. Amy came over to him and kissed the top of his head, "Yes you did. Thank you again. Now I will attempt to get dressed. Be right back."

Sheldon reached up and touched the top of his head, and slumped back into the couch. "Another cultural salutation to master… Oh boy…" his eyes wandered to the closed bedroom door and he wondered if she needed anymore help dressing…

The following Saturday, Leonard dropped Sheldon and Amy at the Zoo. Now that Amy's injury had healed up nicely, this would be the last day of his role as chauffeur to the both of them. Leonard deserved the roommate AND neighbor of the year award for putting up with both Sheldon and Amy's insanely difficult car games. It was as if they enjoyed making Leonard uncomfortable, or they were avoiding a subject neither of them were ready to talk about. Now Leonard had his own game to finish back at the apartment. He and Raj were cooking up a scheme.

"Okay. I just need to combine this and Oua la! Hydrogen sulphide and ammonia gas. "

"Dude, rotten eggs smell is the worst." Raj helped Leonard move the canister to the elevator shaft and suspend it on a pulley that would bring it to the 5th floor.

"No this is fine…" Leonard pulled the cord, and the noxious fumes rose to the upper floor. "Hey Raj thanks for helping me with this."

"Dude, I grew up in India, an entire subcontinent where cows walk in the street, and nobody has ever had a solid bowel movement. This is nothing." Raj stepped back and said, "Besides, it would be great if they moved out! Maybe Howard can move in?"

"Well, I have different plans for a roommate. Speaking of which, "Leonard looked nervously around again, even though he knew Sheldon would be at the Zoo with Amy for another 2 hours, "PROMISE you will never tell Sheldon. "

"Dude, for sure, but I hope this doesn't blow up in your face like that rocket fuel thing. We don't have Sheldon here to help us and this elevator can only take so much!"

"Nothing's going to happen! I did the calculations myself! The canister will release the gas in slow increments. The residents of 5A will not know where the odor is coming from, and after some inspection, realize it's better to move. They are thinking about it anyway… I am just moving it up a bit. Nothing is going to happen!" Just as Leonard spoke, a small explosion occurred in the elevator shaft.

"Dude, that thing is never going to be fixed."

A few weeks later, the whole gang were seated around the coffee table eating their traditional Thai food and Penny and Bernadette seemed to be a bit too giddy. Finally Sheldon had had enough of their whispers and giggles and talk of their favorite songs.

"Ladies please, these four walls once housed a salon, where the mind as well as the stomach was fed. Through no one's fault… Penny… the level of conversation about Anxiety at dance halls and the like, is bringing down the intelligence of the whole room, which given the fact that Wolowitz is here, is really saying something."

"Sheldon! Don't be mean to my sweet little Howie Wowie!" Bernadette leaned over to rub noses with Howard."

"I really need a bucket." Amy rolled her eyes at the display, which made Sheldon give her a curled up smile.

"Don't worry Amy. We only have to put up this nauseating display once a week." Sheldon smiled in ignorance. He had yet to hear the news.

"Penny, are you sure this is the best idea. You know." Bernadette pointed her nose upstairs and then at Sheldon.

"Yes! It is." Leonard knew exactly what she was referring to, but wanted to ease the idea into Sheldon's mind slowly. Penny didn't help his cause and continued to blab.

"Bernadette, it will be great. We will only have to deal with Sheldon occasionally. Besides, Amy will keep him on a leash, won't ya Ames?"

Sheldon looked at Amy confused. She tried to hide from his view by hanging her head lower and having her hair block his view but Sheldon was having none of it. He brushed back her hair on her shoulder unaware of the intimacy of this action, and continued his interrogation, "What are they talking about? Why am I on a leash? Is this more about love potions and anxiety filled dance halls… Well let me tell you, that's nothing but twaddle."

Penny cracked. She could only take so much Sheldon, and her meter was full, "Sheldon! That's My Chemical Romance and Panic at the Disco and it has nothing to do with us moving in upstairs to 5A."

Sheldon fell on his knees from his seat on the couch, "Oh good Lord."

"Sheldon! It's not that bad…" Amy tried to comfort him, but he was beyond words.

"How is this possible!? What happened to the quiet almost nonexistent folks who lived there before?"

Leonard quickly looked at Raj, who was silent as always, and mouthed to him, "YOU KNOW NOTHING!" "Um… They had a better offer…" he said turning Sheldon

"Oh the horror!" Sheldon looked over to Penny, "Look at those freakishly large man feet! Oh the horror!"

"Hey pal! My feet are fine, as you will find out for yourself when I use them to kick your nuts in!"

"Oh my god!" Sheldon was wailing like a paid mourner at a funeral. Amy just rolled her eyes and gave him a few condescending taps on his shoulder to feign comfort.

"Penny! Why did you do that! I have to live with this!" Leonard pointed to the huddled mass of Sheldon melting into the wood floor.

Penny rolled her eyes, "We all do now, sweetie… we all do…"

Amy was elated. She had a beaming smile and said with glee as she bear hugged Bernadette and Penny, "We are going to be neighbors! We can do 1980's Hair band Sing A Long night! Paint each other's toes, leave notes for each other in our mailboxes! You'll see, it will be just like High School for you, only better with less homework!" Amy looked at Sheldon, "Well, a little homework."

Both Penny and Bernie cried out, "Oh the horror!"

After the girls moved in, Los Robles became a hot bed of romance for two of the couples. Leonard and Howard had numerous fights over who got to stay over at the ladies apartment and on what night. After a compromise was made, including ties on the door and text messages, the couples were calm.

Sheldon was anything but calm, but was thankful that most of Leonard's amorous activities occurred up stairs, though he swore he could hear every squeak of the bed. He was especially vexed however since the holidays were approaching and the gang was in full Christmas spirit mode, despite Sheldon's Saturnalia lecture.

Amy had always wanted to have a holiday party. Raj usually did the holiday parties, but this year, his dog Cinnamon had developed an allergy to dog hair, so he was having his apartment fumigated, and Amy jumped at the chance to host, and dove right into the holiday spirit.

Sheldon was a scrooge about the whole season, especially seeing how much everyone, including Amy clamored to the festivities. Amy wracked her brain to figure out what to get Sheldon for Christmas, despite his aversion to gifts. She went over to the Cheesecake factory to pick up Penny after her shift so that they could go to the mall and hopefully find something for him. Amy was having dinner while waiting for Penny's shift to end when she noticed an older gentleman across the room who looked familiar. Amy knew she had seen him, but she just couldn't place his face so she called Penny over to ask her about him.

"Penny, does that man look familiar to you?"

Penny squinted, "Oh my god, that's Leonard Nimoy! Sheldon would freak if he was here! All the guys would!"

"Yea, so would Nimoy, he has a restraining order against Sheldon." Amy saw that Nimoy was alone but was too shy to approach him for an autograph. However thankfully she knew that Penny would have no hesitation.

"Penny, see if he sign would something you can give it to Sheldon. It would make a great present."

"Just what I was thinking Ames!"

"He'll love you forever and it will make you're living upstairs more palatable to him!"

"Good Idea! I'll be right back." Penny left and walked over to man who gave her a sweet smile. Amy could see the two talking for a while, and Penny looking for some paper. She looked over to Amy and waved her over. Amy rose up and timidly walked over to man who seemed more than generous in allowing the attention.

"Mr. Nimoy. This is Amy Farrah Fowler. She the girlfriend of the guy I told you about."

"I'm not his girlfriend Penny. That hasn't changed. He doesn't want to change…" Amy rolled her eyes and smiled, "Sorry, she's a hopeless romantic."

Leonard Nimoy beamed at her, "So am I!" Amy held out her hand to shake his, he smiled and said, "I do wish you were his girlfriend. Then he might be less obsessed with me!" Nimoy let out a hearty laugh.

"Oh, I doubt that! He really admires not only your character with the ears but you as well. He loves In Search Of, and …" Amy couldn't remember anything else he had done, "You know… oh boy, would he just about faint to know you shook my hand."

"Well, do you want to take a picture or something to say hi to him? That is not against the restraining order." Nimoy straightened up and put on a wide smile.

"Oh my, that would be lovely." She was just about to take the video, when she stopped and said, "You are very kind to do this, sir. I know you meet a lot of crazy people, but you have to know how much they love you."

"I do. I am nothing without my fans. So let's give your future boyfriend something to remember."

Amy rolled her eyes, "Again, not my boyfriend…"

"Just roll the tape, lady."

Amy turned her phone camera on herself, and started, "Hello Sheldon. I wanted to say Merry Christmas and I have someone here who would like to say a little something to you."

Amy turned the camera to Leonard Nimoy, "Hello Sheldon. It's me. Yes… Calm down. You have a wonderful woman here. She is… "Nimoy looked Amy up and down. "Fascinating. I just wanted to say, change is the essential process of all existence. I hope you remember that as you…" Nimoy held up his hand in the Vulcan greeting, "Live Long and Prosper."

Penny bit her lip and said, "That was beautiful."

Amy put down her phone, "Okay… Great. So, this time let's try more real boy, less Pinocchio. And action."

Penny pulled Amy away, "Okay, thank you Mr. Nimoy! SO much! Free nachos!"

Nimoy clapped his hands together and smiled, "Alright!"

Penny pulled Amy to the side of the restaurant and squealed, "Oh man, Sheldon is going to freak!" Penny handed Amy the napkin. "You give it to him, with the video."

"Penny! I can't do that!"

"It was your idea to get him to sign something!"

"You would have done the same thing if I wasn't here! Then it would be all you!"

Penny shook her head and pushed the napkin back, "But he will love it and I want all that love to be directed at you. I will get you two together! Mark my words!"

"Oh, Penny… If he didn't even want to mention the kiss I gave him, why do you think he would fall in love with over a bit of cloth? "

"I still think you should have told him you remembered kissing him, Amy. Just because you fell asleep, doesn't mean anything! You told me how he kissed you back! He liked it!"

"Yes, but not enough to deal with it." Amy looked at the napkin and said, "From us, okay?"

"Okay! But the video is all you, understand?"

"Well okay... but ugh… it was terrible. I just wished he tried to say it the way people sound."

Penny couldn't believe Amy, "Amy! You know he did that for free?"

"And we got our money's worth!"

"Oh god…"

Later that day, Sheldon, Raj and Howard were playing Wii Bowling sans Leonard who was out carousing around with David Underhill, a visiting physicist who, according to Raj, was dreamy. As Leonard was not available it would be hard to have the necessary four person full team.

Sheldon had a brilliant idea, "Let's ask Amy! She is a wiz at bowling. She has an extremely low center of gravity. You should see her do Wii skiing." Sheldon had a dreamy haze in his eyes form which Howard pulled him out.

"Sheldon, you just want to see Amy bent over getting strikes!" Howard and Raj snickered, but Sheldon didn't get it.

"YES! I'll go ask her!" Sheldon went across the hall and knocked on the door. Amy was on a ladder putting the finishing touches on her tree and yelled for him to come in. Sheldon was just about to ask her to join them for Wii bowling when he noticed that she had two presents on the table, both of which were addressed to Sheldon.

He was mortified, "Amy, oh good lord, you didn't get me a present did you?"

Amy rolled her eyes and chastised him, "Don't give me that you've given me an obligation noise again Sheldon. You pulled that crap on me last year when I got you the flag from Saudi. Now hush. It's the social convention to get a gift for your best friend. So I won't hear another word about it."

Sheldon stepped back, "I'm your best friend? I thought Penny was?"

"You are my best male friend! I knew you first. Besides, you've love your present! It's mind-blowingly cool!"

"SPOILER ALERT, Please! Now my mind is pre-blown." Sheldon was now more worried than ever about what to get Amy.

Amy growled at him, and snapped, "I can tell you something else to blow." Sheldon still didn't get it.

Amy did not have the time to educate him, "Go away. I'm in the throes of the Christmas spirit and I don't want any of your hum bug attitude harshing my buzz!" Amy went back to hanging some more ornaments.

"But I wanted you to come play Wii Bowling with us. Is your shirt clean?" Sheldon had had a shirt custom made for Amy even though she had only previously spent 20 minutes playing bowling with him.

"Yes, it is, Sheldon." She leered at him. "And I will remind you, that shirt…. A gift! SO neener neener! Hand me that snow man ornament with the little Bunsen burner attached!"

Sheldon did what he was told, "So that's a yes on bowling?"

Amy slumped and looked around the room, "I don't know Sheldon… I still need to hang these ornaments, and the mistletoe, and the star!"

"Fine, if I help you, will you come play?" He looked up to her on the ladder. His rounded dark brows outlined his pleading blue eyes like perfect frames. She could never resist it when he looked at her like a boy asking to keep a lost puppy.

"UGH! Darn your eyes! Yes!" Sheldon licked away his smirk, and helped Amy the best he could. Amy handed him the last few ornaments for the tree. His height was an advantage for sure, especially hanging the garland.

Amy pulled out an old cardboard box, with worn corners. The box was so old, the sides were held together with yellowed tape that had long since lost its stick. Amy carefully lifted the lid, as if she were opening the arc. She reached inside, and pulled an object wrapped in tissue paper which she carefully pulled away as if the tissue itself was part of the relic. It was an old gaudy star topper with multi-colored lights. The fake tinsel and gold leaf was peeling off the object, but Amy held it like it was made of gold.

"My dad used to let me put on the star every year. He said it was the crown of the tree and only his little princess should put it on." Amy ran her fingers of the tissue paper lightly before she carried the star to Sheldon who was standing by the tree.

She looked up at him with shiny eyes, "Can you put it on for me?"

"Amy, I thought only a princess could put it on the tree?" Sheldon pushed her hands back to her but held on to them for a moment, "But let me help you do it." Sheldon held onto the ladder as she climbed up, she leaned over to place the star and Sheldon held her hips to steady her. Once it was placed, she looked down at Sheldon and gave him one of his favorite Amy faces. She was pleased, he had done something right.

Amy stayed on the ladder and looked around to spot where to hang the mistletoe. Over the entrance to her bedroom she thought. She climbed down and brought it over with a nail and string. Following her 'more to the left, more to the right' directions, Sheldon helped her hang it. Finally, he was done and put his arms down as Amy approached him, reached up and kissed his cheek.

Sheldon gave her a disapproving stare with far too little power behind it, "Did you kiss me because of the mistletoe?"

"No, to say thank you. I know you wouldn't want to be kissed because of some plant."

Sheldon shrugged his shoulders, "But it is tradition. Kind of like a game, how to avoid getting kissed. I was a master at it when I was little." Amy smiled imagining little germaphobe Sheldon avoiding all the mistletoe in his family's church during Christmas.

Sheldon gulped down and bit his bottom lip, then said, "... We… We wouldn't really be playing the game right if we didn't see that through."

"You're right, Sheldon." Amy smiled and arched her head back for Sheldon to kiss her and tilted her face so her cheek faced him. Sheldon took her chin in his finger tips and tilted her head back to face him. Amy breathed through her nose, and almost felt faint. He placed his hands on her hips, and pulled her close. Amy could feel his breath on her lips as he hesitated for a moment. Sheldon drew in a breath, and just as he was about to kiss her, they heard a pounding on the door.

"HEY! Are we going to play Wii Bowling or what?" Howard bellowed through the door.

Sheldon released Amy and jumped back against the door frame. Amy drew in a few short breaths and tried to stop her racing heart, "I'll go get that shirt…" Amy closed her door and as it shut, the mistletoe that Sheldon hung fell on his head and landed in his hands.

Sheldon sighed, "I guess I won again…"

Later that week after some Christmas shopping, Amy and Penny returned to the apartment. Penny rushed upstairs to change for her date with Leonard unaware that he had hurt his leg in a motorcycle accident that day with David Underhill. After checking the mail, Amy walked toward the stairwell, as Leonard came hobbling into the lobby on one leg with a tall man dressed in a leather jacket. He looked similar to Zack in build, and hair color though certainly better looking.

"Oh my god Leonard, what happened?"

Leonard tried to feign swagger, but he failed, "Motorcycle accident… It fell on me…"

"Well Hello, and who might you be?" The handsome Dr. Underhill gave Amy a toothy smile that made her knees weak.

"Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler."

"Nice to meet you Amy. I'm David." David offered Amy his hand to shake which Amy studied before she took it. She was nervous for a moment, but relaxed and smiled at him.

"Can you give us a hand here?"

"Sure." Amy hooked her arm around Leonard, and helped him up the stairs.

"So, what are you a doctor of exactly, Amy?"

"Neurobiology. I work at Cal-Tech with Leonard. "

"Oh, I've never seen you there." Underhill eyed Amy up and down and smiled a little too wide for Amy's taste.

"Then you didn't look hard enough. I am there every day."

Having a woman brush him off so easily seemed to excite David. He grew a sly grin and said like a wolf to a lamb, "I will have look harder next time. Definitely."

Underhill went on to explain his work at Cal-Tech. Amy was impressed with his research methods though it was still only physics. By the time Amy got Leonard to the door Sheldon had already opened it having heard Amy's voice and that of a strange man.

Amy was busy chatting to David and didn't notice that Sheldon was watching her. He spoke to Leonard, who had been left to his own devices since reaching the 4th floor.

"What do they have to talk about?" Sheldon crossed his arms and tried to listen. Before long, David asked Amy, "So do you want to go on a motorcycle ride? I bet you could handle it better than Leonard."

"Oh, well… two problems. I'm wearing a skirt." Amy looked down at her attire which was unsuitable for riding with your legs spread open. The thought of which made Amy blush.

Sheldon interrupted, "And her hips only open up 22 degrees. She could never get on the thing without popping off." Sheldon walked toward Amy and glared at her.

"Yes… that's the other...reason" Amy glared back and then turned back to David, "But thank you."

"Well, won't ask how he know how far your hips open up. I can guess." David winked at Sheldon and smiled at Amy with less of a wolfish grin.

Leonard coughed and shot Sheldon a look expecting him to deny the implication, but he didn't correct Underhill.

Amy caught the reference, "Oh, well. NO not that! He helped me with a shower injury. I was.. he just helped.. I mean I was.." Amy slumped down, "It's all very complicated."

"Yes, Amy. Did you tell me that tidbit about you, hmmm… was that before or after I put on your clothes?"

Amy narrowed her eyes at Sheldon to form lasers, "AFTER! At the hospital and you know that because you have an eidetic memory!" Her snapping tone reminded him of a turtle.

"Oh, that's right. It was…" Sheldon placed his hands behind his back and offered his fake smile he had to practice when Raj got his People Magazine award. Leonard stifled a chuckle.

David was uninterested in anything Sheldon had to say. He turned back to Amy, "Well, I really like your idea about neuronal connectivity. Can I swing by your lab tomorrow? Perhaps we can discuss it and maybe grab some lunch?" Just as David asked Amy on a date, Penny came down the stairs. Amy saw the wide eyed look on her face as she hid on the stairwell. She remembered that she had promised Penny if she was ever asked out on a date, she would say yes. Amy sucked in her lips then answered, "Um… sure… I will get my calculations ready."

David smiled and licked his lips, "Good, I look forward to going over your figures."

Sheldon snorted, but David ignored him and headed down the stairs waving behind him. "Leonard, hope your leg feels better!'

"Thanks…" Leonard looked at Sheldon whose neck vein was pulsing. "… for asking…"

Amy turned away from Sheldon without a word, and headed toward her door, followed by Penny, who quickly closed the door behind them.

Penny didn't wait a second before she started yelling, "What the hell Amy? You agreed to a date… in front of Sheldon?"

"I thought you wanted me to! You said to say yes to the next guy who asks me to go out! So I did!"

Penny rolled her eyes, "It was supposed to be SHELDON!" Amy snorted and turned away to make tea. Penny barked at her, "Who the hell is that guy?"

"A physicist who is working with Leonard." Amy slumped on the couch, "He wants me to help him with some figures. I should have known… With this brain, and beckoning pelvis it was bound to happen!"

Penny dropped down on the couch beside her, "Well he's a beast! Oh sister… you are good. Having Sheldon see you with another man, you'll be together before New Year's Eve." Penny shook her finger at Amy and snickered.

"HA! If that was the case, Sheldon would be over here right now asking me out… and as you can plainly see…"

Knock knock knock.. Amy?

Knock knock knock.. Amy?

Knock knock knock.. Amy?

Penny rose off the couch with a smug swagger, "You were saying, Miss beckoning pelvis?" Penny opened the door, and let Sheldon in. "I'll see you later, you little minx." Penny ran across the hall to Leonard.

"Hello Sheldon." Amy was smiling but Sheldon was not. He burst into the apartment and started to pace back and forth rallying his thoughts.

"Sheldon, did you need something?"

"Yes! What did he mean your figures?" Sheldon skin was burning. His hands were red with rage and he was almost panting. Amy took no notice as she went to the kitchen to put on a kettle.

"Well, I've been thinking of a cellular automata approach to neuronal connectivity and it might have some applications to String theory. No big deal."

"NO BIG DEAL! That's my field Amy! Why would you help any guy on the street corner with your math instead of me?"

"Well, I tried to, but you blew me off! You said the only math biologists know is if you have three frogs and one hops away, what do you have?"

"Well, that was a joke!" Sheldon laughed, "It was a good joke too." He looked to Amy who wasn't laughing and he went back to being upset, "I can't believe you would share this with that… that.. Other man! String theory isn't even his field!"

"You seem to exhibiting jealousy, Sheldon." Amy couldn't help but curve up the side of her mouth.

"HA! Impossible. He is beneath me in every way!" Sheldon glared at her, and thought, she better not say the same thing, the beneath part…

"Is it the work, you are jealous I am sharing, or something else?"

Sheldon eyes popped out, "WHAT ELSE DO I HAVE TO BE JEALOUS ABOUT, AMY?" Sheldon stepped back surprised, but his own voice. It had a vague familiar hitch and diction; a lot like a whisky soaked Texas that would take Sheldon driving to see a certain blond bar maid. He calmed down quickly, and changed the timber in his voice, "Its.. Just the work, Amy. You shouldn't share your ideas with just anyone!"

"We are all colleagues, Sheldon. I was helping out another scientist. You could have heard my idea and seen my calculations if you had only asked, and I knew that if I had made the suggestion it would have been dismissed because you are too intent on keeping everything inside and secretive. It is only because I have offered it to another scientist that you are now interested."

Sheldon eyes darted around in a frenzy. He didn't want to ask for Amy's idea, he shouldn't want it and he definitely shouldn't need it. Why should he have to spill his guts to any hotsy totsy with a clever derivative? "Well, I don't need it! I can do it on my own!"

"Fine!" Amy turned around to finish the tea expecting Sheldon to leave in a huff. He did not. He came up behind her and grabbed the tea mugs from over her head. Amy turned around just as he pulled them down.

Sheldon stood inches away from Amy. He was looking down, but he was so close to her he could only focus on her hair. Amy was looking down as well, trying desperately not to look up into his eyes. Finally the pull was too great, and she looked up into his pools of blue. She whispered to him,

"I take it you want tea?"

"Yes please." Sheldon backed away. "I have something to ask you, and I wanted you to be in a good mood for it..." Sheldon moved to the bar stool. He added, "But you seem emotional, so I will wait."

"My emotions are not getting any better with comments like that. So what is it?"

Sheldon took a deep breath, "Well, I know you don't like costumes, but…"

Amy drew out her word, bracing for impact, "Yes….."

Sheldon cleared his throat, "First, let me explain the exciting and thrilling genre of comic books."

"Oh, brother… Lame-o…"

"Now, wait… you should know comic books employ storytelling through sequential art, a medium that dates back 17,000 years to the cave paintings of Lascaux, and B. They are not LAMO." Sheldon looked around the room, "Besides, you play the harp. Like that's cool."

Amy snapped again at him, "Not helping your case, Sheldon!"

Sheldon decided to change the pitch, "Okay… let me explain the exciting and thrilling world of the JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA!"

"Oh god, Sheldon! Just ask me!"

"Fine, we need another member of the Justice League for a New Year's Eve Costume contest. I ran into Zack and he agreed to be Superman, but we need a Wonder Woman."

"Zack? Big dumb Zack that dated Bernadette for like a day, before she dumped him when he asked her what type of microbe was in a microscope?"

"YES! Him. His a perfect Superman because he actually has muscles! But, back to Wonder Woman… Penny won't do it, because she says the black wig is stupid. Bernadette is too short and also blond…But you are…" Sheldon outlined her figure with his hands, but put them away quickly, "Well you are brunette!"

"Sheldon! You know I hate costumes."

Sheldon took a deep breath, "Rue to play this card…. But.. Amy, given that you have classified us as "best friends" I am evoking the "favor" Clause. Plus, you totally owe me for saving your life!" He gave her those blue eyes topped by half-moon brows in a pleading stare. He leaned his head forward to emphasize them. She vanished in them, willingly. Sheldon had his own Amy kryptonite.

Amy lost three inches in height slumping down. Damn his baby blues! "Fine! I didn't have plans for New Years anyway!"

Sheldon was thrilled beyond words. He had to count to three not to grab Amy and hugs the daylights out of her. Still there was one issue gnawing at him.

While they drank their tea, Sheldon gingerly ran his fingers around the rim of the mug and asked Amy, "So… um.. out of curiousity, what is your idea anyway?"

"You want me to show you my idea after all?"

"Yes…" Sheldon cleared his throat, "You know… so you won't embarrass yourself on your… Date."

Amy frowned at him, "My math is solid, Mr."

Sheldon curled up lip, leaned back on the couch and crossed his arms, "That's Dr., and prove it, Ms. Smarty Pants.

"That's Dr. Smarty pants to you! And I will!" Amy raced off to get her white board and markers. At first, Sheldon expected some half thought out nonsense that would garner a tap on the head. What he found as Amy started to explain her thoughts was nothing less than genius, and he should know.

He rose off the couch and studied the board, with his hand on his chin. He grabbed the pen out of her hand, "What about this?"

Amy took it back, and added another thing, "Or, this but you would miss the neutrino decay at this point. It like neural decay. That's why I thought it was similar. Do you see what I'm driving at here?" Amy pointed to one part of the board, but Sheldon had already pulled the marker out of her hand and worked out about 15 more problems before he turned around and smiled at Amy.

"I think you got something here, Amy."

Amy had to get back at Sheldon for being so callous with her, "I'm sure Dr. Underhill will be pleased."

"Um… Yes… He would be…" Sheldon snapped the cap back on the marker and headed out the door. "Good night, Amy."

"Good night Sheldon!" Amy called out to him as he stormed across the hall.

The next afternoon, around 2:00 PM, Sheldon made an unexpected visit to Amy's lab.

"Hello Dr. Fowler."

"Sheldon! What an unexpected delight! What are you doing here?" Amy seemed to unsurprised in the least to see Sheldon. She actually expected him much earlier.

Sheldon walked into the room, with his hands behind his back. "I was just curious how your.. um.. date went with the charming Dr. Underhill." Sheldon tried to look around her lab like he had never seen it before, but the thought of touching anything made him reach for his emergency Purell.

"Well, if you must know, I cancelled it."

Sheldon released his hands, and almost jumped to Amy with glee, "Really, why?"

"I am not in the habit of dating married men."

"Oh, he was married? Really? The cad." Sheldon was smiling too much not to know anything.

"Yes, it was amazing. His wife called looking for him just before we were going to have lunch. It seems someone from the University called her saying he was in come kind of accident at the monkey lab? Strange, don't you think, Sheldon?"

"Very! I would think the University switchboard would more careful giving out false information!"

"Oh don't worry, I will speak to them later, after work."

"Um… well.. I don't think you will have time, Amy! I mean, I was going to ask you to accompany to the comic book store tonight. We need to find your costume."

Amy smirked at him, "Well, okay." Amy went back to her work. As she would looking in the microscope, she said to Sheldon, "I really should thank whoever called his wife, or I would have never known." She looked up with her googles hiding her smiling eyes, "I also decided not to share my idea with him."

"Oh, good. He's not good enough for you, Amy. I mean… your idea… You should share it someone who can really appreciate it."

"As soon as I find a person who will appreciate my ideas. I will. Wholeheartedly. See you later Dr. Cooper."

"Good after noon Dr. Fowler." Sheldon almost skipped out of the lab.

A week later, it was almost time for the Christmas party. Amy had agreed to move the party, tree included to 4A since it was much larger for the dinner. Sheldon, begrudgingly agreed, when Amy evoked the "favor clause" of their friendship. Amy had all her shopping done, her Figgie pudding was perfect and she was just finishing up the roast beef. If she could only talk Penny and Leonard into the fun party games she found on the internet, they would be having a terrific time.

Penny and Leonard were frantic to escape, but they felt they were tied up with garland and trapped by a stupid tradition.

On the other side of town, Sheldon was in a similar state. He had recruited Bernadette and Howard to go Christmas shopping for Amy. He had to get her something that was so spectacular, she could never top the gift again. Howard had suggested the bath soap shop, but it was too pedestrian. He needed something that would take her breath away.

"Well, the best gifts are the ones that come from what you know about a person."

Sheldon stopped, "Hmm.. What do I know about Amy…?" Sheldon's face lit up like a Christmas tree, "Well, she loves to play the harp. Her fingers dance over the strings." Sheldon smiled, "Oh and she loves medieval poetry and literature… She's read Chaucer to me before. That night, she talked me into a French movie, too... Can you believe that vixen? But you know it wasn't so bad. Lots of reading, but Amy helped me keep up with the French…"

Sheldon gave a sigh then straightened out like cat who had eyed his prey. "I know exactly what I am going to get her." Sheldon have a devious grin, "Oh that woman will never get me a present again!"

As Sheldon rushed away, Bernadette whispered to Howard, "He really does love her, huh?"

"Yep, but he is making a bee line to the Lego Store… Red Alert. Wait.. Where is he going?"

"Holy sweet mother of god! He going in!" Bernadette and Howard both looked at each other in horror and rushed toward Sheldon, who had just entered a store they never thought he would.

The Christmas party was a great success, even the pudding. All during dinner, Sheldon was itching to give Amy his gift. He had purchased 5 gifts, each one of varying degrees of expense. He held one back, knowing it was his ace in the hole. Amy would never get him a gift again once she laid her eyes on Sheldon's surprise. His plan was foolproof.

Penny was just as excited as Sheldon to exchange gifts. She couldn't wait to see his reaction when Amy gave Sheldon hers.

Amy grabbed the first package. "Sheldon, you need to know, this is mostly from Penny."

Penny interrupted and slapped Amy on the arm, "No… no… mostly from you… Open it!"

Sheldon hadn't planned on getting Penny anything, and it totally upset his master plan. "Fine! But a little heads up that Penny was on this debacle would have been nice."

"Sheldon, if you like it, just let me and Bernadette live here without any complaints, Okay?"

"Fine! But I doubt…." Sheldon opened the package and grew a confused expression, "Oh, a napkin."

Penny smirked at Amy, "Turn it over."

Sheldon and stumbled backwards as he read the words, "To Sheldon, live long and prosper. Leonard Nimoy."

The guys all gasped while Sheldon tried to recover. Penny was elated, "Yeah, he came into the restaurant and Amy and I saw him. Sorry the napkin's dirty. He wiped his mouth with it."

Sheldon almost cried out, "I possess the DNA of Leonard Nimoy!"

Amy smiled as she saw how overwhelmed Sheldon had become. She almost didn't want to give him the gift she had.

Sheldon screamed out, "Do you realize what this means? All I need is a healthy ovum and I can grow my own Leonard Nimoy!"

Penny held up her hand, "Okay, you have to get that from Amy, Sheldon. Okay?" Amy snapped her head back to Penny and narrowed her eyes. "Shh!" Amy scowled her, but Penny didn't care. She was having way too much fun with her favorite couple.

Sheldon looked over to Amy, who handed him the other gift. He was almost too overwhelmed to open it, "Sheldon, this goes with it."

Penny shouted out, "And that one is all Amy! So enjoy."

Amy pulled out a frame that showed a video. Sheldon looked perplexed when Amy's face appeared, but then she turned the camera. There on the screen was Sheldon's ultimate hero, smiling back at him. Sheldon gasped, and he heard his deep voice bellow over the small speakers, "Hello Sheldon. It's me. Yes…"

Sheldon looked at Amy and started to hyperventilate, "Calm down. You have a wonderful woman here. She is… Fascinating. I just wanted to say, change is the essential process of all existence. I hope you remember that as you, Live Long and Prosper."

Sheldon looked at Amy with wide eyes, "I didn't tell him to say that. He just winged it. I hope it's okay, I couldn't get him to say much else." Amy glared at Penny, but she was smiling too much to care.

Sheldon's lip was quivering. He said nothing, but pulled Amy into his arms and held her so close she found it hard to breathe. Sheldon pulled up one hand and cupped her face, while the other kept her close to him. He didn't care who saw him, and he didn't care what the protocol for gift giving was at the moment. His emotions were busting through his every pore.

He kissed her cheek and breathed onto her skin, "Thank you." Then he kissed her again, and said it again, this time moving his mouth to close to her ear. He had to say it one more time, as he kissed her so close to her ear, she could hear his lips snap as he pulled away and looked back at the screen.

Sheldon composed himself and looked at Penny with shiny eyes. Not wanting to have Sheldon overwhelm her with kissing, Penny backed toward Leonard, "We're good pal! Merry Christmas."

Amy sat stunned still trying to recover from Sheldon's abrupt touch, but the frenzy around her was just beginning. Sheldon ran to his room and brought out all the bags from the store. He handed them to Amy, covering her with silver bags.

"Sheldon... what the devil?"

Sheldon slapped his hands to his face, "I know it's not enough! Here start with this one."

Sheldon threw a bag at Penny as well, "Here you need this too! OH man… Not enough! Not enough!"

Penny reached in her bag and pulled out a pair of diamond earrings. Her jaw dropped to the floor, "SHELDON! Oh My GOD!"

"I know! It's not enough! I should have gone to that bath store!"

Howard held up his glass, "I told ya! Chicks love it!"

Amy reached into the bag and felt metal with coarse stones. She almost melted into the hair piece as she screamed out, "Oh my It's a tiara! A Tiara a tiara!" She rushed to Penny for her to help her put it on, "Put it on me! Put it on me! Put it on me!"

As soon as the tiara was on her head, Amy beamed. She rushed over to Sheldon and wrapped her arms around him. She reached up and peppered his cheek with rapid fire kisses before bear hugging him again. It was now Sheldon's turn to stop breathing. He put his chin on the top of her head and spoke to Penny, "I thought it was too much, but it's not."

Amy was elated beyond what the crowd watching her knew. Her father had died when she was 7 and it was the last time she was ever called a princess. If Sheldon only knew what this simple piece of jewelry meant, one napkin with some actor's scribble was not enough in her eyes. Amy continued to hold Sheldon, hoping not to cry.

Leonard looked over to Penny and smiled, "Just so you know, all I got you was a new stereo with latest DTS for low end sound…" Leonard smirked, "No crowns, sorry!"

Sheldon pushed Amy away and scowled at Leonard, "Excuse me? You gave her what?"

Penny smiled as she put on her new earrings, "Sheldon! I only want you to be nice! That's my only Christmas wish!"

Sheldon looked down at his napkin, and timidly came over to give Penny an awkward hug, "Welcome to the building Penny."

Chapter 22: Chapter 22

The Big Reversal Theory 22

Or the Vixen in 4B

"Sheldon, I rarely like to say this out loud, but you really are a genius." Leonard checked himself in the mirror as Sheldon adjusted his costume. Leonard was completely impressed he had talked Amy into being Wonder Woman for the New Year's Party at the comic book store. Amy had long said it was a place that perpetuated ones' Peter Pan complex and aptly described it as a " store that sells picture books about flying men in colorful underwear."

Leonard had to admit, he was little envious of Sheldon having his "girlfriend" go with him to comic book event; in costume, no less. Sheldon was beaming; Leonard had never seen him so happy.

"There should be little doubt Leonard, now… You may borrow my limited edition Green Lantern lantern, but one scratch and I will repay it in kind on your bottled city of Kandor!"

Leonard put on his green mask, and pulled on his gloves, "There's no need for that kinda talk, Sheldon!" Leonard put his glasses over the mask and added, "Speaking of Superman, did you hear that Zack will be meeting us there? He had to drop off some new menus somewhere."

"Yes. Bernadette told me. Handy that she dated him, or we would never have a more manly and convincing son of Krypton."

Leonard whined and stomped his foot, "Hey, I was a great Superman." Sheldon looked at him like he told him 2 +2 was 5.

Leonard sniped back, "Well, at least I agreed to let him be Superman. Howard was ready to blow a gasket!"

Sheldon clicked his tongue, "He and Bernadette dated once, hardly a relationship of which to be envious….Petty jealousy, Leonard. Such a shame. I am glad I have never succumbed to the green eyed monster."

Leonard rolled his eyes, but the mask hid his derision, "Oh yeah… Sure…. You're above all that!"

Sheldon's posture rose while he answered, "Of course, Leonard. Just like my genius, there should be little doubt."

Leonard couldn't help it, he actually snorted, "Then, pray tell me, why is it you INSISTED on being Batman this year when every year you call dibs on the Flash? Could it be that in the new animated series, Batman and Wonder Woman are an item?"

Sheldon ignored him and pulled on his black boots, "Please, Leonard, as much as I am slave to canon, there is no correlation at all with my and Amy's costume. I just… Liked my new cookie jar this year so much.."

"Oh Good…because in the comics, Superman and Wonder Woman are an item. And I've seen Zack eying up Amy. But, you are have never been bitten by the green eyed monster, have you, Sheldon?"

Sheldon straightened up and thought for a moment. Maybe he should have insisted on Superman? Sheldon irked out finally, "Yes, Leonard good thing I've never been bitten, I have tender skin."

Leonard took pity on his friend who suddenly looked ill, "Don't worry about it buddy. I don't blame you for being worried. I would hate to see Zack around Penny."

"Although they share the same range of IQ points, there isn't a universe I can fathom that Penny would be with Zack."

Leonard knew Sheldon was attempting to be nice, in his own way, "Thanks buddy. Oh Raj called, they are going to be late because Raj can't get on the bus with his Aqua-Man outfit."

"Speaking of multiverses," Sheldon shook his head, "In what Universe is the Flash late?"

"One where Aqua-Man is the only ride, and the Flash's girlfriend agreed to take him."

"No matter. I am in such a good mood, nothing will disturb it, not even tardy super heroes." Sheldon paid no attention to Leonard's snide looks, as he put on his Batman outfit hood, complete with pointed eared mask. "We should be guaranteed to win! I can smell victory, Leonard! That trophy will be ours!"

"I think what you smell is your Green Lantern lantern. Didn't you turn it off?"

"Drats.." Sheldon looked inside, and saw he had burnt out the bulb.

Across the hall, Amy was getting her makeup done by Penny who was thrilled it was Amy all dolled up like the Fourth of July and not her. Amy was wringing her hands fretfully as she looked down at her exposed chest. She had never been on display in public like this, not counting Irene's horrendous bride's maid dress. To top it off, she was going to a contest where she would be judged on her appearance. She had never worn so much makeup since the wedding.

Amy laughed nervously, "For being an Icon of female power, Wonder Woman sure put on the whoreish war paint, huh?"

"HA! Look at this outfit, Amy. Is Wonder Woman an icon of female power? More like super hero eye candy!" Penny laughed till she saw Amy looked down at her exposed chest and pulled nervously at the bodice. She looked up to Penny with half-done eyes filled with worry.

"Oh, but not you Ames. You changed it remember? The skirt!"

Ames smiled and leaned forward for Penny to finish, "Yes! It's the 1950's Wonder Woman was more conservatively dressed due to more stringent purity laws. God bless the McCarthy era." She was still wearing the original bottoms under the skirt; an extra layer wouldn't hurt. Amy let out a sigh, "God I hope Sheldon likes it."

"He'll love it! If he doesn't, he has no pulse! Your eyes look amazing. You should do this more often."

"If I could see through these, I'd think about it." Amy blinked; her contacts were killing her, but they did help keep true to the character.

Penny finished her up, "And… done!" Penny backed up, "Wow Amy, you look pretty good! I have to say, that outfit is pretty hot!"

Amy flipped on her cape to cover her back and butt, "Well, let's give it all away, shall we." Amy looked at herself in the mirror and shook her head while whispering to herself, "The things I do for that man!"

About 15 minutes later, Amy timidly knocked on the door of 4A with a giddy swing to her cape. She did feel pretty, even with showing so much skin. The boots were fun and the skirt was long enough to cover her thighs. Amy was thrilled.

Sheldon opened the door with a large smile which quickly dropped as he looked down Amy's outfit.

"Amy! What did you do?"

Amy's happy toothy grin dropped like it was sucked into gravity well. She looked down at herself, and furled her brow, "What? What's wrong? Don't I look okay?"

Leonard could hear the screeching of train brakes of Sheldon causing another train wreck with Amy. He jumped to the door to see Amy. He couldn't believe his eyes, she looked fantastic, he thought. Her hair was darker, because she had used a so much gel to hold the curl, it was almost glossy black. Her eyes were stunning and perfectly in character. She was wearing a red cape that matched her knee high boots. Her bodice covered her chest well, and she had the chest to fill it out. Actually, Leonard had to look away from her chest, so he looked down to see the problem: Amy's skirt was wrong. Sheldon, of course would notice.

"Amy, you look great! Doesn't she look great, Sheldon." Leonard was impressed. Amy had the outfit, hair style, everything down to meticulous detail. Sheldon saw none of it but just that she was anachronistic mess.

"Yes, if we're going to party in 1950! Amy! The Justice League wasn't even formed till 1960! While I appreciate your attention to detail, this is not a Justice League Wonder Woman costume!"

"But, I don't want to wear that other one! This one covers me more." Amy pulled up her bodice at the same time she pulled down her skirt. She wondered how could he not understand that this was hard for her to do at all?

"Yes. It covers you in a layer of WRONG!" Sheldon looked at her like she was wearing a garbage bag.

Amy put her hands on her hips and puffed out. She wasn't about to put up with Sheldon's selfishness after all she did, "You know what, Sheldon? I should have known you couldn't be bothered to give one indication how I looked. This is not a Justice League Wonder Woman? Fine!" Amy pulled the handmade gold tiara out of her hair, and handed it to him, "Then I will stay home."

Amy stormed off back to her apartment. Sheldon looked down at her tiara. She even remade it so it would match the decade. Her attention to detail was uncanny, and incorrect.

Leonard snarled at his boneheaded friend, "Nice job, Sheldon." Leonard slumped on the beige chair, "So much for winning this year. I bet another group will kidnap Zack as their Superman."

Sheldon's jaw was clenched so tight he almost couldn't open to speak. How dare she cancel at the last minute, he groused, He stormed over to Amy's apartment, and tried to knock thrice but Amy opened on the first knock.

Amy screamed at him before he could a word out, "I'm not going. Get over it."

She slammed the door.

Sheldon didn't know what to do. He knocked again, once, but Amy opened it before he could finish.

"GO AWAY! Get mouth to mouth Mona to wear your costume!"

"Wait, Amy I need you!"

Amy opened the door slightly, "You do?" She had hopeful half smile.

Sheldon ruined it, "Yes, the costume has to be worn by a human. We already tried Mona two years ago!"

Amy slammed the door again.

"Amy, wait!"

Sheldon knocked again, this time twice. He was so flustered, and upset over the costume and now not knowing how many knocks he should do. Amy opened the door before he could finish the rest of the missed knocks.

"Five! You are missing five knocks! I know that is what you are thinking, too! That is it. Not, how did I hurt Amy's feelings, or how much time did Amy put into this stupid juvenile costume! Just that you are missing your 5 knocks. Well.. KNOCK! Then Do it!" Amy slammed the door again.

Sheldon took a deep swallow and waited. The lack of action or knowing what do to do ate at him, like acid on his skin. He had to scratch that uncomfortable feeling and finish it. He knocked on her door calling her name 15 times before she answered.

Amy threw the door open. This time, she was wearing the original costume that Sheldon bought for her after Christmas. Amy had told him not to worry about the outfit, she would take care of it, but he insisted. It wasn't as nice, showed far too much of her thighs and hips, it was skin tight and Amy felt as uncomfortable as a hooker in church. Amy's face had lost its glow as she covered herself in the cape. Sheldon noticed how well the bottoms fit around her hips, but he told himself he just wanted her to accurate: that was all.

Sheldon beamed at her, "You changed!"

"I had to! Because you never will!" Her words ripped through him like his heart was as the paper thin as the fabric of the cape that hid her body.

Sheldon said nothing to her. He just looked down to her costume and tried to give a smile, but Amy was having none of it.

She grabbed her purse, pushed Sheldon out of the way, and barked, "Let's go! I don't want to let Leonard down. He's been a good friend."

Amy stormed off down the stairs. Leonard had heard everything from the opened door or 4A. He grabbed the keys and shook his head disapprovingly at Sheldon and took off after Amy. He was still holding her 1950's tiara in his hands.

The comic book store was crowded with 95% men. There were a few women there, but Amy suspected they were the mothers of some of the younger men. At least she hoped it was the younger men. Amy found a seat in the corner and covered herself with the cape. She grabbed the first comic within arm's reach and started to read, but her contacts made it impossible. At least the blurry character on the cover of the book was handsome, she thought, and the Thor guy he was fighting wasn't bad either.

A friendly man with wild hair coming out of large brimmed hat sauntered up to Amy and smiled, "Can I help you find something?"

"Yeah, a comic that doesn't depict a woman's bosom like it can be used as a flotation device."

The friendly man dressed in a long beige trench coat and overly long multicolored scarf laughed, and tilted his head as he said, "Well… some of the guys here like big boobs…" The man looked around, "Hell, some of them have big boobs."

"Well, we all want what we can't have, it seems." Amy stood up and held out her hand for the man to shake. As she did, her cape fell away from her body and revealed her rounded hips, tucked in waist and a bosom that could compete with any comic book character, only real, and very much on display. The man swallowed and offered her a shaking hand. "I'm Amy Farrah Fowler, by the way."

"Um.. yes.. I'm … uh.. Stuart… right… Stuart. I own the comic book store." Stuart tried to focus on Amy's stunning eyes instead of her ample bosom or even more appealing hips.

She made the phantom motion of pushing up her glasses to refocus, but then she remembered, she wasn't wearing them. She knew that Sheldon wouldn't have approved of a glasses on an Amazonian princess. He made such a big deal about how she would be a princess, and wear a tiara she almost felt he used her past attachments against her. She knew he would never be so manipulative, but said it innocently. He was not in-tuned with her feelings enough to know how that flattery would hit her. She joked that she wanted to wear the diamond tiara Sheldon gave her, but he scowled at the suggestion. She should have known then.

She had spent all week making the costume better, improving on it. She didn't want to be a half-naked spectacle, she was nervous to show so much skin in front of so many men. She thought her costume was a great compromise and she had hoped Sheldon would applaud her efforts. She held onto dubious hope that she might even get a New Year's Eve kiss; her first ever. Seeing Sheldon across the comic book store glaring at her like she was super villain, she wondered why she tried at all.

Amy turned her attention back to Stuart, "Oh, the owner. Do you host this party every year?"

"Yep! Every year hordes of comic book loving nerds make the pilgrimage to my store vying to be crowned the best in Geekdom. It's magical!" Stuart dropped his smile, and looked around his store, "And expensive. These guys never buy anything and eat like truck drivers. They spent all their allowance before the end of the month."

Amy laughed and relaxed a little, "Well, that would be annoying. Maybe charge a cover to compete?"

Stuart looked at her with coy grin, "Boy that's a good idea. I need to keep on the payroll. I have to tell you though, I can't pay much. I can give you dibs on all the first issues."

"I should probably ask then, who's the best superhero?" Amy asked innocently.

Stuart grabbed her by her arm and pulled her to the side, "Shh! You can't ask a question like that in here. Are you trying to start a rumble?" Stuart noticed how her skin felt like silk. He regrettably released her arm and smiled innocently. Neither Amy nor Stuart saw Sheldon almost stumble when he saw them touch.

Amy looked around to see if any fights had started. So far, she was safe, but a few of the men surrounding them were giving her strange looks. Amy bit her lip and tasted the red lipstick that Penny had applied. She was having such a comfortable conversation with Stuart, she forgot she was dolled up like the women on the covers of the picture books surrounding her. She decided to enjoy it. Let them look, she thought. That's right boys, soak it in! She flipped her cape over her shoulder and arched her back to extenuate her chest. The same men jaws dropped. Amy almost pushed their jaws up and said, "Let me get that for ya.."

The men surrounding her weren't the only ones gawking. Sheldon hadn't taken his eyes off her all night.

Leonard noticed Stuart chatting up Amy, "Looks like Amy finally left the corner, huh?"

"Yes, and now the wolves are circling. Amy will keep them in line." Sheldon continued to look through the stack of comic he had already thumbed through 5 times while watching her. By now, he didn't even bother to look down to give the illusion he cared about them at all.

Sheldon hated this gnawing feeling and he had felt too often with Amy. He never knew what he did wrong, or how to fix it. Looking around the store, he wished more than ever to have the super power of reading minds. If he had it now, he could read Amy's and determine if her wide smile and hardy laugh at Stuart's jokes were for pity or admiration.

Finally, Stuart left Amy's side and headed to the refreshment table. He nodded with a sly smile to have Leonard who met him at the table. Leonard knew the look on Stuart's face: Smitten.

Stuart almost stumbled as he kept his eyes on Amy while he walked toward Leonard, "Holy hotness! Leonard! Is she your friend? How did you get a girl here? You guys didn't drug her, right?"

"NO! She's is..well… She is kinda with Sheldon."

Stuart slumped, but then perked up and asked, "Kinda? Like they are dating? I didn't think Sheldon knew how to do that. "

"Well, he doesn't, hence the kinda…Frankly, I don't know what they are…"

"Well, ask him if it's okay if I ask her out." Stuart looked over at Amy swaying her hips to the beat of the music, "She's amazing."

"Sheldon thinks so too…" Leonard cleared his throat, "Um, you do realize she doesn't look that normally, right? She was here like a week ago. You were out. Dale was here."

"Oh, yeah, I was trying to beg my Aunt for a loan. No money, but a free piece of cake!" Stuart looked back to Amy and gave her a shy wave, which she returned and turned away from a man in grey sweat pants eyeing her like a steak.

"Anyway, I know she doesn't look like THAT all the time! If she did that would be weird. Been there.. ComicCon chicks are crazy. Some wear the costumes to bed." Stuart looked back and smiled sweetly at Amy, "Although that wouldn't be so bad..." Stuart cleared his throat, "She said she was a biologist, so I'm thinking lab coats. I don't know. It doesn't really matter… But…How does she look?"

"Cardigans, sensible shoes, tights, you know, like my Great Aunt Gladys."

Stuart leered at Amy, "God, that's so hot! She dresses like that, and she is sporting that figure. Oh man. I got goose bumps! Hey, ask Sheldon if it's okay if I ask her out, okay?" Stuart almost bounced away as he headed back to Amy with two glasses of red punch.

The party wore on and Leonard worried they were missing two of their cohorts. Finally, after Bernadette dropped the guys off by slowing down to 20 mph and opening the door: Howard dressed as Flash, and Raj as Agua Man had arrived. They were chatting up Zack who had his nose in the latest Archie comic, mouthing the words as he read. The contest was scheduled for right before midnight. Leonard hoped that Sheldon wouldn't do something to ruin it, but with Stuart's undivided attention to Amy and Sheldon's constant growling, it looked unlikely to end well.

Leonard approached Sheldon like a wounded animal, "Hey buddy. How you doing?"

Sheldon snarled, "It's time my enemies shared my dread. "

"You're brooding and quoting Batman, not a good sign, Sheldon!"

"I'm Batman… I'm brooding to be in character!" Sheldon swallowed and asked seething through his grinding teeth, "What did Stuart want, besides ruin the honor of Tom Baker with that abomination of Doctor Who costume. I mean. That hat is WAY to large!"

Leonard let out a regret filled sigh, "Honestly, he wants to ask out Amy and he wants your blessing."

Sheldon cranked his neck up and straightened out his back, "I…I'm not sure how to respond, Leonard. I don't own Amy, you can't own a person." His feeble attempt to feign interest in Amy's dating was giving away by his spastic twitching.

Leonard cocked his head in confusion. He almost wanted to put Sheldon in Wonder Woman's golden lasso of Truth in order to get him to be honest, "Sheldon! Are you telling me, you're okay with Amy going out with Stuart?"

"The question is moot, there is no way Amy Farrah Fowler would be at all interested in Stuart, an impoverished peddler of picture books." Just as Sheldon finished the sentence, Amy let out a chuckle, and pushed her hair behind her ear. She wore her pleased face, that Sheldon had only seen given to him. "No matter how interesting being a comic book store owner is. I mean, what could they be talking about for so long?"

A skeevy little man who had been listening let out a stifled laugh, "Kissing!"

Both Sheldon and Leonard turned around to see a short young man, with a pimple face and far too much glee for any topic. He looked like it took an effort not to bounce up and down. He was failing at the moment.

Sheldon snapped at the little man, "What? Who are you?"

"Dale! Stuart left me in charge of the food tonight." Dale let out a nasally giggle.

Leonard asked, "Really?"

Dale looked off in the distance. "Yeah, I don't get it, either."

Leonard looked around, "I don't see any food..."

"Yeah... getting food is hard..." Dale looked like he processed the information and then continued, "Anyway… They are talking about the tradition of kissing at New Year's Eve."

Sheldon looked at Leonard for confirmation, "Is that true? Do people kiss on New Year's Eve?"

Leonard tapped his arm, "Sheldon, relax. You don't have to kiss anyone. That's only for those with hormones."

Sheldon looked back to Leonard, surprised by his response. If he only knew that Sheldon's hormones were raging and had been activity suppressing them since September 26 th of 2007: The moment that woman currently wearing flag themed underwear moved in across the hall. The only hormone rushing through him at the moment was adrenaline. Without another word, he walked over to Stuart who had just spilled Amy's drink and was on his way to retrieve another.

A short Flash came up to Leonard and tipped his head toward Stuart and Amy, "Trouble in Shamy-ville?"

"Have you ever seen a skinny Batman take down a short Tom Baker Doctor Who?"

"No, but think I am about to, and I didn't bring a camera. Should we do something?"

"Yeah.." Leonard looked at Howard's Flash outfit, "Get a cranial extractor for Sheldon's butt. He's an idiot."

Howard watched as Amy giggled at whatever Stuart said, "Holy smooth moves, Stuart." Howard shook his head, "What a player! How could he get Amy Farrah Fowler to give him a second look? I tried to get with her for months! Better keep Penny away from him, Leonard."

Leonard let out a laugh and looked at Howard like he grew a third head, "In what universe would Penny EVER date Stuart?"

Howard laughed, and looked through the stack of comic in front of him, "You're right! There isn't one!"

Across the room, Sheldon's husky Batman voice seemed in character, but it was really Sheldon's vocal cords rumbling with anger. He groaned in a low baritone, "Hello Stuart."

"Hey Sheldon. Hey… um… Amy's great. Is it okay if I ask her…"

Sheldon interrupted his anticipated question with a wave of his hand, "Stuart we have bigger problems now than your impeding failed love life. I have just been having a heated debate with Leonard. He asserts that in the event that Batman's death proves permanent, that original Robin, Dick Grayson, is the logical successor to the Bat Cowl. I tend not to agree with Leonard, however on this point, he does make a good case."

"A good case? Sheldon, I'm sorry, but you and Leonard couldn't be more wrong."

"More wrong? Wrong is an absolute state and not subject to gradation." Sheldon looked at the paper cup in Stuart's hand and curled up his mouth slightly. That's right Stuart, put down the cup… Stuart put down the paper cup that once held Amy's drink. Point Cooper.

Stuart shook his head, "Of course you can be more wrong! It's a little wrong to say a tomato is a vegetable, it's very wrong to say it's a suspension bridge. But returning to the original issue, Dick Grayson became Nightwing, a superhero in his own right. Batman 2 is probably gonna be Jason Todd."

Just then another man came who had heard the debate, "Hold up, Skinny Batman here makes a good point!" He slapped Sheldon on the back, to which Sheldon just returned a strained smile.

Another younger man in a Wonder Woman outfit joined the triad, "No way, Batman 2 has to be Jason Todd, the second Robin." The man crossed his arms over his exposed chest when everyone was staring at his impressive cleavage.

Sheldon snorted and said, "Has to be? Has to be? I hope you're being deliberately provocative."

"Telling you hard facts that you aren't ready to hear, is not provocative. It's just the dose of reality you need to hear: You're obviously stuck in a pre-Zero Hour DC universe."

Yet another man came up, "Now, hold on… Let's look at this logically… Removing Joe Chill as the killer of Batman's parents effectively deprived him of his reason for becoming Batman in the first place!" The large man in grey sweat pants spoke so loudly, that 5 other guys came up to join Stuart hoist his own petard.

While Amy waited for Stuart to return, she glanced around the room for promised drink, but he was lost in the large unruly crowd gathering near her. Amy snuck away from the corner, and made her way around the side of the group to the back of the store. By the time she turned around, Sheldon was standing right next to her, leaning down to whisper a husky hello in her ear.

"Hello Princess Diana."

Amy held her hand on her chest, "Oh god, Sheldon, you scared the pants off me."

Sheldon looked down at her tight blue and starred bottoms and smiled, "I guess it worked." His attempt at joke was lost on his audience.

"Well it would have been a skirt if you weren't such a baby!" Amy turned around and crossed her arms, "Shouldn't you be over there fighting about Batman, or birds or something."

"Oh, that debate will go on for hours. It's like asking who the best Super hero is."

Amy turned around and poked Sheldon in his styrofoamed bulging chest, "You did that on purpose, didn't you!?" Even though he was padded, he still winced in pain.

Sheldon was shocked she caught him so easily in his clever ruse but he was wary to admit to it, "AMY! We are in a comic book store. People are going to talk about comics, kinda goes with the territory!" Sheldon held his arms open, "What can ya do?"

"I can do a lot of things." Amy flipped her cape over her shoulder, "I can walk away, but not before I show you my super strength." Amy punched Sheldon in the shoulder and walked away.

Sheldon held his shoulder and cried out, "OW!" Then he remembered his character and growled, "I mean… OW!

Amy stormed off, but she didn't know where to go in such a small place. The front door was almost blocked with the unruly crowd, so she headed toward the curtained back room being followed by a caped crusader.

"Amy! Wait!" Sheldon grabbed at her, but could only reach her lasso which pulled from her costume. Amy paid no attention to the golden rope, and rushed to the back door of the store, but it was locked. She turned around to see Sheldon playing with the rope, getting it looped up and fiddling with the tie. His body was leaned against the doorway to the shop, blocking Amy's escape.

Sheldon's costume was very tight around his hips and upper thighs as well as his back. Seeing him lean against the door with a boyish charm mixed with a rough swagger almost caused Amy to buckle to his every whim. Amy could have sworn Sheldon's biceps seemed larger since his bout with his "flu" and his shoulders barely needed the padding. She had to admit, he looked very handsome in his grey and black outfit, with his steel blue eyes gazing out of his mask like blue beacons. Although she wondered how a character with the name of Batman got away with such small ears.

His overwhelming aroma of baby powder followed him like an intoxicating cloud, but at the moment it was like fumes sucking the air from her lungs.

"Amy, you seem to be getting along well with Stuart, huh?" Sheldon's usual well-spoken witty retorts were replaced by a cracked voice adolescent nervousness. He continued to fiddle with the lasso but shot her a blue flamed searing look through his mask.

Amy just wanted to get back to the party or leave, preferably the latter. The only reason she came to the party was to make Sheldon happy and try and milk some response out of him. She had been confused by him for months. One moment, he acted like the most attentive man she had ever known. Just one look from his blue eyes shackled her heart to him. However, the next moment, he would back away from her, almost like she was a pariah. More than once he seemed he wanted to say something to her, but quickly gave her some random fact. The night he recited pi to a thousand places was as dull as it was uneventful.

Amy had enough of his juvenile actions and selfish fits. Her mind was brewing through all the little things she had ever done for him without a second thought. She had done everything right for this ungrateful man: She took care of him, chauffeured him around, treated him as if she was best girlfriend he would ever have. Amy realized the problem in an instant. He already had her, heart and soul. They only thing missing was the title. He was fine with status quo. Amy was not.

"Yes, as a matter of fact. He is nice, attentive and seems intelligent. He is also funny." Amy threw down the gambit. She knew Sheldon didn't like to share her attention.

"Well, are you interested in him? He wants to go out with you, you know?" Sheldon said so meekly, that Amy could barely hear him.

"GO OUT WITH ME? LIKE ON A DATE?! What a crazy idea, huh Sheldon!" Amy cleared her throat, and opened her eyes wide hoping he would get the sarcasm. Her lessons in sarcasm hadn't stuck: he completely missed it.

"Yeah, I know! Why would he waste time with you?" Sheldon smiled, but seeing Amy's face ripped it off his face.

Amy grew 10 inches and seethed at him, "WASTE TIME? Being with me is a waste of time?"

"NO! I mean you'd waste your time!" He gulped and thought he might not have said the right thing. "I mean… you are too good for him, Amy. It's a compliment! Learn to accept them!"

"Sheldon Cooper, you wouldn't know a compliment if it slapped you across your the face. And let me tell ya buddy, it just might!" Amy glared at Sheldon and he swallowed whatever moisture was left in his mouth.

Amy kept at him, not stopping for him to gain back any composure, "I would really like to know why you care what I do. How is it any of your concern? Based on the current parameters of our relationship, I can waste time with anyone I choose. "

Sheldon walked toward her at the other end of the room. With each step he drew in a breath, hoping to keep his courage through oxygen. "Well, it could be my concern… If we change the parameters.. I mean…"

Amy backed up, confused by his sudden movement and change in demeanor. He had traversed the room to stand next to her as quiet as a cat.

Sheldon stood up straight, but was almost shaking as he continued, "I think you should be my girlfriend before you go off and ruin your life with Stuart. So, can we agree to that before you go back out there?" Sheldon snapped his fingers and made a circle with hand to hurry things along, "Let's get this over with quickly, the contest is starting any minute." He looked away from her so she couldn't see him wincing in fear.

Amy was trembling, with fists held tight, and eyes downtrodden. "That's it? Are you asking me to your girlfriend? LIKE THAT?"

Sheldon coughed, and cleared his throat, "Um.. yes.. I am. I think you should be thrilled."

"Really? I should be so lucky to be Sheldon Cooper's girlfriend?"

"Well… Yeah!" Sheldon gulped and tried to smile, "You forget what I bring to the party, Amy?"

"Selfish callous behavior that any normal person with a modicum of self-respect would never sign up for?"

"NO!" SHeldon crossed his arms over his chest, "But you will be able to say you're Sheldon Cooper's girlfriend, which rings hallow if you can't lord it over them!"

"Unbelievable!" Amy held her fingers to her mouth to rally her thoughts, "Was it a good idea to be your girlfriend yesterday? When we went to the zoo? Or the week before, at Christmas? When did this good idea pop in your brain, Sheldon?" Amy snapped her fingers with such a harsh sound, it cut throw the air like a whip, " I KNOW! When you saw me with Stuart? That's when!"

"Well, I just don't think you should be with him. He is not good enough for you."

"And you are?"

Sheldon held out his hands like it was the most obvious thing in the world, "Well…. Yeah!"

"Then maybe it's you who want's to say your Amy Farrah Fowler's boyfriend, huh?"

Sheldon knew he should say something here, but he just swallowed and blinked at her, "Umm."

"Why do I try?" Amy rolled her eyes, again, "Tell me something, Sheldon… Do you want to be with me? Or am I just something you want use your label maker on? Claim me as yours, but never treat me differently?"

"Why would I treat you differently? You'd be the same! I don't want to change anything, Amy."

"Of course you don't… This is like that string theory work I did with Underhill. You are only interested in me when someone else is. Do you even want a girlfriend, Sheldon?"

Sheldon looked away. He didn't want to answer that. What he wanted was all the breath he lost every time she entered the room, or touched him. He wanted back the hours that he thought of her. He wanted control back.

He didn't use to want a girlfriend, he didn't want to have his emotions enslaved by anyone. He also didn't want to hold his breath every time she kissed his cheek, feeling his chest almost explode. He didn't want to miss her every night he slept alone, hoping for her attention, and craving her approval. He didn't want to see her with other men. He didn't want any of it. More than anything, he didn't want her to leave. He didn't want to imagine a life without her by his side. What he didn't want was a much easier topic.

Amy heard volumes in his silence, "Sheldon… You can't just ask me to be your girlfriend because you won't share me. I am worth more than that, Sheldon. I deserve better than that!" Amy's voice cracked, "I don't even know if you have feelings for me or if you are attracted to me. I won't go into a relationship wondering that for years. I might have before, when I lacked confidence, or craved friendship and companionship so much it physically hurt to go home to an empty house. But now? NO!" Amy turned from him, not able to look at him for a moment more.

Sheldon didn't know what to say. He stood for a minute watching her back bob up and down as she tried to regain her breath. He had to say something, but the right words were as allusive as dark energy and just as mysterious, "I just… I told you. I don't want…I just need to know…" Sheldon couldn't formulate a coherent thought. He looked down at his hands for answer.

Sheldon came up to her and put the lasso around her body. Amy just rolled her eyes, "What are you doing?"

"This is Wonder Woman's Golden Lasso of Truth. You have to answer honestly."

"Sheldon, please, this is ludicrous." Amy tried to walk away, but Sheldon tugged at the rope. Amy stopped, but didn't turn around. "That thing doesn't work on Wonder Woman because she controls it."

Sheldon smiled at her obvious research in the subject matter, but he still knew more than she, "Yes it does! Since you are a DC Pre-crisis Wonder Woman, the lasso power is innate to the object, not merely a vessel to channel Wonder Woman's power."

Amy didn't care enough to hear half of what Sheldon was babbling about, "Huh?" Amy turned around with furled brow and confused expression.

Sheldon snapped, "It'll work!"

Sheldon drew in a short breath and asked, "Did you remember the kiss you gave me the night you sprained your wrist."

Amy pulled in her lips, holding back the answer, but she finally let out a small reply. "Yes."

"Why didn't you say anything to me?"

"Because I thought you hated it, and if you wanted to do something about it, you would have. But you didn't. I knew then, like after the wedding, that you didn't really want me. I pushed away what I was feeling to make you feel better, like I always do, Sheldon." She tried to pull away from him, but he brought her back wanting to see her eyes. She didn't look up.

Sheldon's chest felt like it was going implode from the sinking feeling in his heart. "Do you even have feelings for me, Amy?" He held his breath.

Amy's face was crimson with anger, but he couldn't see her eyes; she kept them down, "Do I have feelings for you? That's what you want to know? How completely blind could you possibly be? "

Amy finally locked eyes with him and then Sheldon saw it. Her eyes were blue, not green. She had put so much effort to keep in character for him. She wore blue contacts for the costume and Sheldon had only noticed at the moment it was convenient for him. Either the irritation of wearing contacts were making her eyes water, or some other cause, but she had a single tear streaming down her face.

"For all the good they do me, yes, Sheldon. I do." Amy wiped away the tear and glared at him.

Amy struggled away from him and her voice shattered, "Why did it have to be you!? Of all the people, you! You're infuriating! You are the most selfish person I've ever met in my life! I had to go and fall for a guy who thinks the idea of love is indicative of weakness. I have feelings for a man… and I use the term loosely… who couldn't even admit if he liked me or not." She almost spit her response, "Why don't you use that damn rope on yourself."

Amy stormed off toward the door, but Sheldon still had the lasso in his hands. As he felt the rope slip through his hands, he had to make a decision. Let her go, or pull her back.

Just before the end of rope slipped through his fingers, he grabbed the end, stopping her. He pulled the rope, hitching it around his elbow pulling her back to him. Amy fought the pull of the rope, and stumbled back to him, but he was too determined not to lose either the silly game they were playing or her.

He pulled her into him by her waist but she moved her head away from him. Sheldon put his hand on her cheek, and ran his thumb over her skin before he pulled her chin closer to him. Sheldon dropped the rope, and put his other hand around her cheek. He closed his eyes to kiss her, but the sound of Leonard' voice stirred him.

As he opened his eyes, he looked down at his hands. They still held the rope, and that alone. No Amy, just the golden thread tied to nothing, empty and cold. Amy was untethered and he never pulled her back. She was gone.

Leonard voice called to him again, "Sheldon, the contest is starting… Are you coming?"

Holding onto the lasso for dear life, Sheldon rushed past Leonard to find Amy.

The competing groups had gathered together for the costume judges. Sheldon stood next to Leonard and Amy stood in front of Raj and Howard. Raj was sullen, still upset over being Aqua-Man, Leonard was concerned for Sheldon, as was Howard. The only grinning one of the bunch of Zack, who was completely clueless of the intrigue behind the scenes.

As the winner was announced, the team held their breath. Even with all the drama, both Sheldon and Amy had a fierce competitive streak. The crowd hushed as the name was announced:

"The winner of the group costume contest is….The Justice League!"

All three groups who were the Justice League looked at each other, but Stuart clarified: "Justice League group one!"

As soon as their victory was assured, Sheldon glanced over to Amy, who had a slight smirk on her face. As soon as she saw Sheldon watching her, she dropped her smile and drew in a breath as she looked toward the door.

Stuart joined the group and handed Sheldon the trophy, but his eyes were on Amy, who offered him a half smile and closed her eyes. Her contacts were killing her, and she just wanted the night to be over sooner than later.

Stuart bent down and kissed her cheek and whispered something to her. Amy's eyes were still closed and she mouthed something that caused Stuart to pull back and look at Sheldon who held onto his plastic trophy with a Titan's grip.

To see another man kiss Amy's cheek, tore something deep in Sheldon's soul. He had seen Stuart touch her arm and Sheldon had seen a man kiss her, but it was nothing compared to witnessing someone else doing something that was so uniquely theirs, a part of him shattered.

Amy was so taken back, she glanced at Sheldon whose eyes were boring into her and she had to look away. Unfortunately, Zack was thrilled with winning and felt like celebrating. He grabbed Amy by the waist, lifted her off the ground and tossed her around him in a twirl. Amy let out a squeal and demanded he put her down.

"We WON!" Zack put Amy back on solid ground and gave her an innocent smile. "AWESOME!"

Amy thought all the attention was less than awesome. Sheldon could see her trembling as she pushed Zack off of her. Amy rushed out the comic book store door just as the clock was a minute from striking midnight.

Zack was confused as always, "I guess Wonder Woman doesn't dig Superman?"

"No she doesn't." Sheldon snapped at Zack who shrugged his shoulders and started doing a makeshift victory dance with a giddy caramel skinned Aqua-Man.

Sheldon handed the plastic trophy to Leonard, "Here, don't lose it." He pushed through the disappointed crowd of other Justice League competitors, and headed toward the door. Stuart was directly behind him but Sheldon swiftly turned around and practically growled at him.

"Stuart, you wanted to know if I would mind if you asked Amy out. The answer is now and will always be yes." Sheldon stepped a little closer to him and with a husky growl that would make Bruce Wayne alter ego proud, he sneered, "I would mind VERY much. Are we clear?"

Suddenly Sheldon Cooper seemed 20 feet tall. Stuart took a step back and almost swallowed his Adam's apple, "Crystal clear, Sheldon. You don't have to tell me. She whispered your name when I kissed her cheek. Sorry, I didn't know."

Sheldon said nothing more, but pushed back through the crowd toward the exit. When he rushed out of the store, he felt a drop of rain on his cheek. The streets were wet from a recent rain. Under an awning down the block stood a shivering Wonder Woman, huddled against the wall with her thin cape covering her.

Sheldon rushed over to her, and wrapped his arms around her, but not before he slipped the lasso around his own chest.

Amy rolled her eyes, and gave him an exhausted look. "Oh Sheldon, give it a rest." She thought she couldn't take him seriously while he was wearing the ridiculous Batman mask.

"Here." Sheldon offered her the end of the lasso, "Ask me anything."

Amy let out chuckle, "Did you really like my Figgy pudding, or were you just being nice when you said you liked it?"

Sheldon smiled through his mask, "I tolerated it. It was better when I knew it didn't have raisins."

Amy smiled through the tension. She didn't know if she was shaking from the cold or the feeling of him so close to her.

Sheldon lowered his voice, "Now, ask what you really want to know, Amy." He moved even closer to her and pulled her into his chest. He wrapped his arms around her along with his thin cape, trying to give her as much warmth as he could.

Amy was surrounded by him, both physically and mentally, she couldn't escape. "Do you … have any feelings for me, Sheldon?"

Sheldon smiled, and pulled off his mask. The street lights lit up his shining blue eyes with a cerulean hue. The mask had made his hair wild and it matched the look he gave her.

"Amy, I have feelings for you I can't explain. I briefly thought I had a brain parasite, but Dr. Hofstadter said that seemed far-fetched." He licked his lips and said softly, "The only conclusion… was love."

Amy fell back against the cold brick and placed her hand on her chest to hold in her beating heart.

Sheldon followed her body against the wall, pushing against her as his hands reached up to hold her face. Sheldon tried to kiss her but Amy leaned away slightly, but Sheldon was undeterred. His lips lightly graced her, but he drew back slightly, catching his breath. Amy's lips had been magnetized, locked onto his. She chased his lips and gave him a slight kiss, then pulled back to look at him with her faux blue eyes. He pulled her into him, finally succumbing to every fear, and doubt. Each time his lips touched hers, he forgot his reasons for never doing this before. He closed his eyes, lost in the feeling of holding her, sharing her sweet breath with every kiss.

The couple could hear cheers, car horns going off and fireworks, but none stirred them apart. Only Amy's shivering body finally broke the spell. Amy was freezing but too surprised with Sheldon's actions to stop.

Sheldon pulled back far enough to ask her, "Does that count as New Year's kiss?"

"Yes, Sheldon." Amy caught her hitched breath through shivering, "It does."

"Good..." Sheldon reluctantly pulled back and kept his arm around her waist as they walked back to the comic book store. "Um... later Captain sweat pants might play his tuba for us..." Sheldon could only focus on her mouth and holding onto the memory of her lips for a moment longer.

"Well, have fun then..." Amy let out a sigh, and looked away.

Sheldon pulled her face back to him with a light feather touch on her chin, "Um... Do you want to go with me?"

"Really?" Amy was flabbergasted, but the idea of listening to Tuba music in the wee hours of the morning made her skin crawl, "I really don't... I'm sorry."

"That's okay. He is terrible anyway." Sheldon smiled and pulled her closer.

Before they re-entered the store, Amy stopped him, "I really am ready to go home, Sheldon. I can barely see through these contacts now."

"Okay… I'll get Leonard." Sheldon almost entered the shop, but then turned to her, "Amy? Are you my girlfriend now?"

Amy smiled sweetly as she wrapped her arms around herself, "We'll see, Sheldon."

Chapter 23: Chapter 23

The Big Reversal Theory 23

Or the Vixen in 4B

Amy's emotions the last few weeks felt like they had been put through a taffy machine. At first, she was elated after the comic book store kiss and Sheldon's confession. Her heart stretched beyond what she thought possible.

After a few weeks, however, Sheldon had pulled away from her, like the strands of sugar in the pull, her heart was at its tensile strength limit. As she sat in her lab, alone, she dreaded to head home; not because she didn't want to see him, but that she wouldn't. Amy always tried to keep her emotions close to her chest, the confusing actions of her kinda sorta, not quite boyfriend, made her heart ache. She only hoped he would come back again, to status quo.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

In the early morning hours of New Year's Day, Amy and Sheldon left alone together after Sheldon talked Leonard out of his car keys. He didn't bother to tell Leonard that he was the one who was going to drive, Leonard just assumed it was Amy.

When Sheldon returned to her, sans Leonard and keys alone, she offered him a proud beaming smile that told him he did something right. Sheldon insisted he drive, fearing Amy's reddened eyes would get them in an accident. The ride back took longer than it would with Leonard, but Amy was thrilled. Her own superhero rescuing her in his Batmobile.

As they walked up the floor flights, Amy was pensive, crafting the words she would say to Sheldon like a house of cards. He walked her to the door without a word, as he was thinking the same thoughts: How to end the evening? What should they do? He needed rules, a plan, and some kind of strategy. The ignorance on how to proceed grated on his mind.

He remembered the last time he was at her door, he wanted to tell her how stunning she looked, but his mouth and mind weren't in synch. Now, as he watched her brush her dark hair off her pale shoulders, he knew he needed to say something.

"Amy… I really did think you looked pretty tonight. I should have made that clear." He licked his lips and looked at her once more. She was the perfect Wonder Woman: Strong, intelligent, and with an aura of class like royalty. She was a princess in his eyes.

All the thoughts Amy had hewn left her mind and she let out a love soaked sigh, "Really?"

"Yes… So much so, I almost panicked."

"Well, you don't need to worry. There is no pressure here." Amy saw her words didn't soothe him, so she came up with a proposal. Something he could predict and plan to assuage his fear, or so she thought. She inched closer to him and tried to capture his gaze.

"Proposal. We go on three dates together and dip our toes in the wading pool of a relationship, so to speak." Amy bit the inside of her lip waiting for him to respond. She was afraid of spooking him.

"That's seems amenable. We ease into a new paradigm. Agreed." Sheldon beamed a smile at Amy, "When would our first date be?"

"Um…Today is Thursday, January 1, 2009. What do you propose? Do you need time?"

That was the last thing Sheldon wanted was time. He wanted this whole dating thing over and done with so he could get to some kind of equilibrium with their relationship. In his heart, he wanted to schedule the dates in rapid succession in the same evening. "NO!" He screeched back, "No… No…"

He drew in a breath and wringed his hands. "Um… How about Saturday? The 3rd?"

"Sounds perfect."

Amy looked down at her own clasped hands and licked her lips, unsure how to end the conversation. She wanted nothing more than to feel him against her. His fake muscles and polyester suit soaked in a talc aroma was like a Sheldon flavored pillow that she longed to collapse into and forget the world.

Sheldon felt the same way looking at Amy, her eyes were red from the contacts and tears she fought back that night. His heart dropped thinking how once again he had hurt her through his words, but she forgave him. She always did. He stepped closer to her and placed his hand on her cheek, rubbing her bone with his thumb as his fingers glazed over her ear and neck. He wanted to erase the tear trail he saw fall down her face earlier.

Amy looked up at him as he gazed at her false colored eyes and curled up mouth. In a low voice, he told her softly, "I miss your green eyes, Amy. Blue is so… common."

"Oh, Sheldon, I've seen the rarest of blue staring back at me. Common is never a word I would use for them."

Amy melted into his touch, closed her eyes, and drew in a few short breathes at his soft contact. She smiled as his hand moved across her skin.

He moved closer to her and lightly kissed her cheek. "Thank you for coming with us, Amy."

Amy's cognitive processes stopped with the feel of his warm breath so near to her ear. "Sure...sure, no problem. Any time."

The mood changed in an instant as Sheldon sprang back with a huge smile. "Really!? So you'll go with us to the comic convention in Bakersfield? I was thinking we should go as Star Trek characters from the Next Generation."

He was giddy with excitement to have a new member of his squad. She could see his mind wandering through all the costume ideas he would torture her with in attempt to convert her to his juvenile pastimes. Amy slumped her shoulders down. Damn his talc laden aroma! She thought, what did she get herself into now?

Sheldon stepped back and held onto Amy's hips as his eyes roamed over her body so exposed by her costume. He memorized her every curve as he let his thumb caress her hip bone as he sized up her body for a costume. He was breathless thinking of her in knee high black boots and short skirt.

"But now that you are coming… I am thinking Original Series….Oh you would look good in Starfleet Blue!" Sheldon's eyes grew dark in an instant.

Amy couldn't imagine what was running through his mind, but Sheldon's entire Star Trek fantasy flashed before him, including her riding on top of his naked body. Sheldon's eyes were clocked in a longing hungry gaze she had never seen on him before.

Amy jumped back against the door, "Oh God, Sheldon! Star Trek! I don't like that tall, Space Bear thing who growls to talk or that lady that looks like she is wearing cinnamon rolls on the sides of her head!"

Sheldon snapped out of his lust filled haze. He tried to stay calm, but failed miserably, "Amy, if we are going to be boyfriend and girlfriend soon, you have GOT to learn the difference between the two! THAT'S STAR WARS!"

Amy felt a rush of blood flood to her chest. For some reason, having Sheldon be commanding with her set her endocrine system on fire. She let out a husky sigh and arched her head back. "Oh my. Okay... I will... yes, sir…" Sheldon couldn't see her eyes darken as well, but her instant blush said enough.

Sheldon sucked in his bottom lip. He loved it when she called him 'sir'. He lowered his tone, but softened the words, "Oh...just so you know. I will be a Starfleet Captain." He stepped closer to her and lowered his voice to almost rumble, "So you will have to get used to calling me sir."

Sheldon was transfixed as Amy stepped closer to him and ran her hand between his faux muscles to the six pack of foam around his ribs. He watched her hands, but her eyes were fixed on his face.

"Oh... I can get used to it…. Sir." Amy bit her lip slightly and drew in a short shot of air. "Good night, Captain."

Amy turned around, flipped her cape over her shoulder so Sheldon had one more shot of her back side before the closing door took it away.

Two weeks after their first date, everything changed one evening when apartment 4A was burglarized. Amy worried Sheldon shying away from her was through her actions and the break- in that occurred. Little did she know how much things would change between them and it would almost pull them apart forever:

Denying Sheldon and not becoming his girlfriend was difficult for her, but she thought it was what he needed to be comfortable. Additionally, Amy was not ready to jump into a relationship with Sheldon. Truthfully, she was dying to be his girlfriend, but she decided there was no way she would agree to be his girlfriend after the appalling way he asked her, not matter how good that New Year's Eve kiss was. Her knees were still weak from that evening. She felt electrified for the two days she had to wait for the first date. It was worth every second of nail biting anticipation. Sheldon was a perfect gentlemen, in fact she couldn't have dreamt of a better date.

Sheldon drove her to a restaurant they had been to before, but it felt as new as the rising tension between them. As the evening progressed, they grew more comfortable with each other, talking and laughing most of the night so easily, Amy almost forget it was a date, let alone their first.

When he dropped her off at her door, he gave her a sweet lingering kiss on her cheek and a hungry look that was almost a promise for more. The smile he gave her was almost like dawn on a mountain: warm, glowing and blew away the cold from years of loneliness. She almost said forget the three date rule, but she hesitated.

After the second date, she wished she had.

The next date was awkward, forced and one of the worse she ever had, including handsy Victor. The date coincided with time the men started to build their robot for some competition that Sheldon could not shut up about all night. Amy thought Sheldon was just distracted by the competition, but Sheldon seemed eager for the date in the days leading up to it. Everything changed the night the guys worked on the robot.

Sheldon delayed the date for two days before Amy insisted they go. Sheldon took Amy to the movies, which was a heated debate. Sheldon refused most of the movies because of the suggestion of sex, even a nature documentary on Penguins.

Finally they agreed to a G rated film. He had to find the acoustic sweet spot in the theater that took up any chance of talking before the movie. He seemed more worried that she would steal a sip of his slushee than seeing if she was happy.

Sheldon hated the film and made sure Amy knew it by sighing loudly every few minutes. After the film, Sheldon said he ate too many Red Vines and needed to rush to the emergency room. Amy convinced him instead to just go home and lie down.

Once they were back at Los Robles, he almost raced up the stairs. There was no good night thank you kisses, just the hollow sound of the door to 4A slamming before she even reached the 4th floor. That disaster of a date was three days before the break in and Sheldon had yet to speak to her about a third date since.

Sheldon Cooper's Journal:

Security system in place. However, sleep continues to elude me. I've seen the underbelly of Pasadena, this so-called City of Roses, and it haunts me. Ah, the injustice, I lie here awake, tormented, while out there evil lurks, probably playing Donkey Kong on my classic Nintendo.

It's been a week since the break in and I have yet to find peace. I knew we should have gone straight home from the Southern California Robot Fighting League Round Robin Invitational, but Wolowitz insisted we drown our sorrows in frozen yogurt after Kripke's Krippler destroyed our beloved Monte the killer robot. Frozen yogurt…Ha! Any idiot knows that it doesn't have enough live acidophilus cultures, therefore it's really just iced milk with carrageenan added for thickness.

The scoundrels pilfered my laptop and all elctronics. At least they didn't discover my flash drive with all my papers. My heart sank when I saw my Batman cookie jar had been moved, but thankfully the rapscallions didn't have a taste for genre. Good thing too, I still have over five thousand dollars implanted in Green Lantern's buttocks.

The women in 5A seemed unfazed by the violation of our domicile and stated that they said they were armed with bats if the intruders returned. Amy seemed to exude the same indifference as she demonstrated what she would do to an intruder on poor unsuspecting Mouth to Mouth Mona, who I fear has given her last safety practice session.

Of course, Amy's apartment was left untouched, including her precious monkey figurines. If they were pilfered, she might be more diligent about finding out the caller identification before answering her door.

On a completely unrelated topic, the ill-fated night that my space was violated was the same week Wolowitz also informed me of a certain threshold for coitus. I usually ignore Wolowitz baser urges banter, but I was informed that after only three dates, the female expects coitus from the other pair bonded individual. My three so-called friends enjoyed taunting me on the subject for hours while we worked on Monte. It seems there is an understood time line that I was not informed of previously.

I ignored their jabs at my seemingly lack of hormones. This information about a threshold for coitus is of no concern to me. Amy Farrah Fowler and I have been on only two dates. I have yet to schedule the third. Given the mean streets of this lawless metropolitan area are teaming up with undesirable elements, I am weary to do so. I am just worried for her safety, nothing more.

However, now that I think about it, perhaps Amy's insistence on three dates before we change our relationship status was in some way indicative of her intension to pursue coitus with me. I have not considered coitus as something I needed to worry with our relationship, however, I have not ruled it out.

I should be to blame for this increase in her womanly urges and estrogen based longings. I informed her of the likelihood for the activity through my brilliant calculations. 87.5 %! What was I thinking? Maybe she is upping the odds!

Given the lawless nature of the community, it seems my only option is to…

Sheldon's keen Vulcan hearing tuned in to an unidentified noise originating from somewhere in the apartment. He did the only rational thing he could think of, and went out side his 4th floor window.

He crawled to Leonard's room on the ledge outside the building. Needless to say, there was nothing there, save for his amorous roommate's activities with Penny. They had knocked a lamp over and that was the sound he had heard.

After Sheldon went to the living room, he was "attacked" by Wolowitz's security system and electrified with a net. After he cleaned himself up from his uncontrolled bladder, he made the decision to leave Pasadena forever. He felt it was his only option.

The next week, Sheldon tried to avoid all contact with Amy, but she made it impossible for him. Amy tried to go her friends for help, because they had no explanation or insight why Sheldon would ignore her. She thought he might be just freaking out over the break-in, he did seem to want Leonard to stay with him every waking moment.

A few nights after the break in, Amy did some rouse to get Sheldon over the apartment. She lured him with Spaghetti and little hot dogs cut up to tried to make Sheldon feel better. Dinner was quiet, and Sheldon spent more time looking at the door then speaking to her. As they hung out in her apartment, but he was anything but relaxed.

He was pacing back and forth frantic running his hands over his hair. He avoided sitting near her or looking at her. Amy was beginning to worry. Amy handed him a glass of pink liquid, "Here, I made you some Strawberry Quik."

Sheldon took the glass begrudgingly, "I have real problems here, Amy. My home has been violated! I can't be mollified with a beverage designed for children."

He took a sip and exclaimed, "Mmm, yummy." He finally sat on her couch and looked at his drink.

Amy didn't really know what to say to placate his fears, "You know, this might work out for the best. I mean, you're always complaining about what a terrible operating system your laptop had, now you can get new one!"

Sheldon looked away, "Ugh… Windows Vista. What were they thinking? I mean the power save mode is ridiculous."

"Yes, and you hate the sounds of those alarms." Amy sat on the couch, but deliberately sat on the far edge away from him. He still inched away further from her.

"FOUR ALARMS! I just want to change a directory, and Bill Gates gets to be the warden of all my information! Fascists!"

Amy smiled, "See? Maybe you'll love your new computer."

Sheldon looked down at his drink, "I don't know. Perhaps."

"And if you don't…you can always come here and use mine. Anytime you want...

Sheldon snapped, "Oh sure! Just use your computer anytime the notion crosses my mind? Just because you have an Apple, doesn't mean you can tempt me with your lack of Blue Screens! While you're at it, why don't I just use your tea kettle…or your shower! Sleep here! Do you hear yourself, woman?" He almost slammed down his drink in a huff.

Amy's face fell, "Sheldon, it was just a thought."

Sheldon stood up in huff, "No. Here's a thought. I'm not going to switch to Mac, you're not going to tempt me with your…"

He waved his hands over Amy's body then blurted out, "... Operating systems… Everything stays exactly the way it is"

Sheldon stomped toward her door and roughly opened it before he snapped back at her, "And by the way, I saw you make this Strawberry Quik with syrup. You're supposed to use the powder."

"It tastes the same!"

"No! The syrup tastes better, and I don't like it!" He slammed her door.

The next morning, she briefly spoke to him at the mail boxes but he was still brooding. Amy tried to offer that he could stay with her if he was frightened, but that flustered him even more, and she hadn't spoken to him face to face since.

As the events of the last few weeks weighed on her mind, she shuffled off to her car, leaving work a little later than normal. She got nothing done for the day, anyway; it was a waste.

All her thoughts were how she could speak to Sheldon. What would she say to quell his fears with dismissing them? She spent more time thinking about Sheldon's feelings that he did his own and she knew someday, the balance would need to be shifted. She would not always be the one to think about their relationship. The drive to Los Robles that night seemed more solitary than normal.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*

Sheldon Cooper's Journal:

I am currently waiting for a bus to take me to Bozeman, Montana. After extensive research, I've determined that it was safest place for me. Leonard promised to send my belongings and forward my mail. I was unable to say a farewell to Amy in person, however I did send her a link to the video I made to say good bye. I'm not comfortable with prolonged good-byes and maudlin displays of emotion. As I assume Dr. Fowler would be the same, I decided to schedule my departure when she was in the lab. She is a formidable woman who would understand my reasoning; probably the only person who would.

In fact, in retrospect, perhaps I should have informed her of my decision and asked her to accompany me. However, since I have never scheduled the third date, I am not sure of our status and to ask her to move away from everything she knows seems like a drastic decision that would take our relationship to a level I am sure she is not prepared for or welcoming.

The change in our status has been confusing at best to me. She was my friend, but now she is not my girlfriend and currently, I am not sure about the parameters of our relationship. These changes are just too much for me. I am overwhelmed. I need to get away and think and a 17 hour bus trip to Montana will do the trick. Get back to what I know best…Me.

Back in Pasadena, Amy was just coming home from work after her lonely ride home. She hoped to see Sheldon at the mailbox, but he wasn't there, just like every day for the last week.

As she started drudging up the stairs, the conversation she had with Bernadette and Penny the evening before weighed on her mind.

"Did he ever ask for the third date, Amy?"

"No, and I don't think he will. He has been avoiding me. He usually only calls me to talk now and avoids seeing me as much as possible. However, he always finds an excuse to get off the phone. We do our word of the day over text instead of in person on the way to the mail boxes. He must have decided he didn't want me after all." Amy tried to stay upbeat, but it was difficult with the heavy weight of disappointment manacled to her heart.

Penny seemed nervous, "He is just freaking out a little now. I'm sure he'll get over it."

Bernadette looked pensive and then added, "Well…Amy, it could be the three date rule."

Both Penny and Amy asked, "What's that?"

"Sex after three dates?" Bernie looked at both her friends, "What you never heard of it?" Bernie looked at her ignorant friends with shock at the lack of knowledge.

"What? Are you serious? What rule is that?" Amy was floored she had never heard of it.

Even Penny was shocked, "Three dates? That's a long time!" Penny looked at both her friends, and rolled her eyes, "Come on…wait three dates? Who does that?"

"I did, with Howie." Bernie nodded, "It's true! I told Howie about it. He was stunned too."

Amy finally put two and one together and got the answer she was looking for: 3. Three reasons for his behavior: The break-in, the need for closure to their relationship status. The third reason was the real trouble: Closure of their relationship status would be tainted by the insane idea that he had to have coitus with her after three dates. "Oh God. Howard probably that to Sheldon, and he has been freaking out ever since and never asked for the third date! He thinks he has to have sex with me!"

As she walked up the four flights, she had an uneasy feeling. When she turned the corner on the fourth floor, Penny and Leonard were waiting there with a bottle of wine and worried expressions.

Amy slumped down, "Oh, God, what happened?"

"Come on, Honey. Let's get you drunk."

Amy opened her apartment and let her worried friends in the door. Penny went straight to the glass cabinet, thought for a moment, and then grabbed a measure cup.

Penny poured Amy a glass of wine and handed it to her. "Wine glasses should have handles, especially today." Amy looked down at her wine and swirled the liquid around the cup. Her stomach was too upset to drink, especially out a Pyrex measuring cup she normally uses for pancake batter.

Amy was nervous over whatever curled her friend's brow, but she was anxious a great deal recently. Feeling bathed in disappointment was almost a permanent condition and it was all due to the three dates she insisted she and Sheldon go on before they discussed their relationship.

The last few weeks made much more sense now that she knew Sheldon's motivations. He was afraid of their progress and what that meant for them. It was a change, a large one, and the word itself made Sheldon shiver in fear. Amy's heart was back in the taffy pull powered by Sheldon's actions.

As Amy gingerly sat on the couch, her friends approached her with such trepidation, she feared something terrible had happened.

Leonard sat next to Amy on the couch, "Amy, I'm sorry to tell you this, but Sheldon is gone."

"What do you mean, gone?" Amy could barely swallow.

Leonard cleared his throat and used that calming tone Amy had often heard him use with Sheldon to sooth him. It didn't work on Amy. "He left. He said it was all too much to handle living in Pasadena, and he left."

Leonard didn't look at Amy's face, but he could almost see her armor reappear. She stifled, like she was dropped in starch and drowning in it. She could barely breathe.

Amy locked her jaw and gripped her cup with such strength, the thick glass almost shattered in her hand. It would have cut less than the feeling in her heart.

Amy could only eek out one word, "When?"

"About three hours ago."

Her eyes shot back with beams like lasers, "No… when did you know he was going?" She looked at Penny with a renewed ire. Penny shirked back into her chair.

"Amy… I saw him working on some map, but I never thought he would do it! I thought he would snap out of it, you know... Sheldon being Sheldon. He just needs time to think. I think this might be a good thing for him." Penny chewed her lip, unsure at her declaration.

Amy set her glass down extremely carefully because she worried she was about to put it through the table. "Penny… I am so glad you have determined what is good for Sheldon and by extension, me."

Sheldon Cooper's Journal:

The bus is late, I shouldn't be surprised. Typical poor customer service associated with unreliable metropolis that is Pasadena. I recall the first time I stepped foot in this city at the tender age of 14 after my brief professorship in Germany.

Within a day at Cal-Tech, I realized I was again alone. Intellectually, and physically, but not that I minded. I am used to being unique. A sui generis genius. That status has afforded me the luxury of freeing my mind to explore endless wonders. I am not shackled to the constraints that tie other people to social convention. I am free. I am alone. Unless of course, I choose to bring a person in my inner circle. It was apparent to me, after a few failed attempts at roommates, that perhaps having a companion would not be so repellant. Also having someone at my beck and call would free me from the mundane task such as fetching dinner or driving.

Not until I met Leonard did I find a true friend. He idolizes me, and nothing I could ever do would knock me off that pedestal he put me on, but he is not my intellectual equal. In fact there are few who can keep up with me, challenge me, and excite me.

I was sure that I would find my intellectual equal somewhere in the sacred halls of Cal-Tech that was once home to such giants as Feynman, Wilson, Fowler. That name itself evokes genius.

Even though I'm not sure that Amy Farrah Fowler is related to William Alfred Fowler, I would not be surprised to learn she was. She has excellent genes; I've seen her DNA profile. It's breathtaking. As is her mind. Her brain scans makes one quiver. Never have I met a person so completely like myself, yet so different. She is everything I am not, attuned with emotions, generous, patient, yet with mind that is as quick as my own. She is a sui generis genius.

I will have to ask her if she related to William Alfred Fowler the next time I see her…

Sheldon looked up from his book when they announced that the bus to Bozeman was leaving. He looked around at the faceless crowd around him and in an instant had a feeling of dread wash over him. He was lost and alone once again. The thought back to the last time he saw her eyes, really studied them. It was after their first date, and he was staring at the gold flecks scattered around her emerald iris like jewels.

As the thought struck him that he would never see those green eyes again, never feel her skin or her breath on his cheek, he caught a cry in his throat, and his chest felt like someone had pulled his heart from his rib cage. He loved her, he knew it; so much so he told her. It took everything he had to admit that feeling, but he knew it was real. When he has a feeling, he know it, and he is running away? How often does one find another sui generis? Never… He will never find another like her, nor would he want to.

He looked at the last words he wrote (next time) and said out loud, "What am I doing?"

Sheldon grabbed his suitcases and rushed to the door. He caught the bus just before it was about to leave. It was the number 9 to Pasadena, Los Robles line.

Back at the apartment, Amy had just set down her wine glass, "Penny… I am so glad you have determined what is good for Sheldon and by extension, me."

Amy glared at Leonard and breathed out the only words she could pull from her heart, "How could you have let him go?"

Leonard was about to shield himself from angry Amy, while Penny checked her nails when all three heard a knock at the door:

Knock Knock Knock, "Amy?"

Knock Knock Knock, "Amy?"

Knock Knock Knock, "Amy?"

All three friends looked at each other like they heard a ghost at the door, frozen from any action. Sheldon knocked again.

Knock Knock Knock, "Amy?"

Knock Knock Knock, "Amy?"

Knock Knock Knock, "Amy?"

Amy drew in a breath as she rose off the couch. She straightened out her skirt and deliberately walked to the door. Her hand was trembling as she reached for the knob. As she slowly opened the door, her eyes were down and she lifted them to see a reddened face, sweating, breathless Sheldon. He held himself up by bracing his arms on her door frame.

"Amy… please tell me you didn't watch that video."

Amy was so shocked by Sheldon's appearance, she answered before she thought, "What video?"

Sheldon put his head down and breathed out every molecule of air in his lungs. Once he caught his breath, he straightened himself out to his full height. "Thank goddess…."

He was just about to latch onto her and pull her body to his, but then Sheldon saw Leonard and Penny in the apartment and his heart sank.

"Oh..You..two are here. Have you told…?" Sheldon's eyes were begging to hear that they hadn't told Amy he left. He wanted to forget it all, every stupid decision he made for days without her: The research in leaving Pasadena the only home he's know for almost 20 years, listening to Wolowitz and his stupid rules, worried about their status without speaking to her. None of it he discussed with her, and that was his biggest mistake. She was his sounding board, the only clear thoughts he had were echoed from her, and he turned a deaf ear to only person in the world who could translate his emotions for him.

"Did…"Sheldon couldn't tell by Leonard and Penny's petrified expressions what the answer was but he didn't have a chance to ask before Amy spoke in a calm tone, almost business like.

Amy cut off his stammer, "Oh Leonard and Penny were just here to ask me what I wanted for dinner." Amy seemed icy calm, like a frozen pond.

Amy turned to Leonard, "It's Thai night, correct? Hmmm. Yellow curry for me. How about you Sheldon, oh wait…"

Amy swiveled around to face Penny, "I'm sure Penny knows what you want, Sheldon… Don't you, Penny?" Amy's flaming look melted the icy exterior.

Penny stood up and threw a quick glance at Leonard before she said, "No Amy. I think you know better than all of us." Her stuttered and embarrassed tone made Amy give her a half smile. Penny knew she crossed a line, and Amy knew it as well.

Amy smiled, "Yes… mee krob with chicken satay with extra peanut sauce, right Sheldon?"

"Yes…Nothing changed." He hoped, went through his mind as he looked at Amy. However the glare she gave him told Sheldon he should stay quiet.

"I know. You would hate that, wouldn't you? Amy almost spat the words at him, but tried to pull back her emotions before the elastic of her heart snapped.

Penny could feel the tension rise in the room like a thick fog, "Leonard why don't you and I go get that dinner, huh?"

They left the apartment, and grabbed Sheldon's suitcases that were hidden in the hall. As soon as the door to 4B closed, Penny and Leonard let out a sigh of relief to escape Amy's wrath.

"How can she not kill him? He left her without a word, callous son of bitch."

Leonard opened 4A and put Sheldon's suitcases in his room. He had only been gone for 3 hours, but it seemed like a life time. Leonard let out a relieved sigh, "But he came back. Amy knows Sheldon well enough to know what that means."

"What does it mean?"

"He's grown up. A lot. I don't think if this happened a year ago, he would have been gone. The only thing that surprised me is that he didn't take a train. Something must have pulled him back." Leonard shrugged his shoulders, "Maybe you were right after all, it was good for him to go."

"God, don't tell Amy that." Penny gulped as she looked at Amy's door, "I don't think she is going to forgive me for not warning her."

Leonard slumped on the leather couch and rubbed his temples. He sat up and leaned on his knees as Penny sat down and put her hand on his shoulder.

"I should have told her. I knew he was making a mistake, but I thought he needed to do it. I should have warned Amy, she's my friend." Penny started to chew the nails she was so interested in earlier in the evening as Amy was dying a little on the couch. Penny thought it was just another one of Sheldon's selfish acts, and she was almost bored with Sheldon's behavior at this point. Penny felt that Amy had hitched her wagon to that crazy train, then it was her business. However, Penny realized that no matter what she thought of Sheldon and his childlike antics, Amy deserved to be treated like the friend she had claimed to be. If roles were reversed, she would want to know if Leonard ever left her. She laughed a little inside, thinking how ridiculous that sounded.

"Yeah… I hate to admit this, but maybe I was worried she would talk him out of it." Leonard took a big sigh and continued, "Then he was gone for three hours. Only three, and I missed him."

Penny looked over at 4B, "I hope Amy talks to me." She smiled and said, "I never thought she had a backbone, but that girl got spunk. I wonder why she let him think she didn't know he left."

Leonard pulled Penny over to his chest, "She knows if you confront him, he will bolt. His mom said, you have to take your time with Sheldon. I never have enough patience, but she does. I am not in the mood to raise a 6'1 toddler."

Penny let out a laugh, "I'm not ready to be a mom. It's time we treated him a friend and less like a child we have to raise. Besides, can you see he's not thinking like a toddler anymore!"

"What do you mean?"

Penny rolled her eyes at her unaware boyfriend, "Oh please, don't tell me you haven't noticed him checking out her butt every time she gets off the couch or how he always looks at her a few seconds longer after she looks away? He's not thinking like a toddler with her anymore."

Leonard pushed Penny back on the couch, "I'm not thinking like a toddler either." He starting kissing her neck and whispered in her ear, then quickly looked up in horror, "Do you think they'll be okay if we are late with dinner?"

"Oh, they're gonna be!" Penny wrapped her legs around him. "Besides, no more babying him, right?"

"Right!"

Behind the doors of 4B, Amy went straight to fix Sheldon a hot beverage, which he was desperate for at the moment. The only thing Sheldon wanted more was to take Amy in his arms and feel her against him. He ran his thumbs roughly over the middle of his palms, hoping the sweat and strain would disappear without another word. Just like he almost did to her.

Amy brought the hot mugs of teas over to the couch with shaking hands. She was trembling in her loosened armor she donned the moment she heard he left. She knew he was a flight risk and this proved it.

One of the main reasons she waited to become his girlfriend was that she feared having the label would spook him. Amy didn't have time to process his leaving before he returned and she was still in shock. As she tried to find some air, she pulled in what she could, but it made her lip quiver and she almost shed tears she swore he would never see.

Sheldon noticed her quiet demeanor and shaking, "Amy, are you all right? Are you sure you didn't see that video?"

"No, I haven't seen it. I haven't started up my Mac over there. I just got home."

"My new laptop has Windows 7. It's much more user friendly." He ran his thumb over the rim of his mug desperate for that mind reading power. He put down his tea, and warmed his hands on the phantom heat from the cup. He wanted his hands free to touch her, but he could tell she would reject him.

"You must hate that." Amy smiled and sipped her tea.

Sheldon smiled and held his hands so he wouldn't reach out for her. She knew him better than anyone and he almost ran away from her.

"Amy, you seem upset. Please tell me." He looked down and saw the almost full two cups of liquid in a measuring cup that smelled like wine. "I see you are keeping accurate track of your alcohol intake. Smart idea considering how grumpy you get when you've had a few." Sheldon smile quickly faded when he felt her icy gaze.

He swallowed the last remaining taste in his mouth. She knew. He left her, and she knew. He didn't know how to fix it. He wanted to run again and get away from the feeling pressing on his chest. Instead he moved closer to her, and out of instinct, he grabbed her hand for a moment, but Amy pulled away from his touch.

"Sheldon… I had some disturbing news that I wasn't prepared for, and it shocked me. It turned out to be false alarm, but news that still hurt me." She looked at him with shiny green eyes holding back tears. She wore the face he hated, the one that told him he hurt her. He was wrapped around his own poor thought-out actions, tied to his mistakes.

"Um…would you like a consoling hug?"

Did she want the man who pulled her heart apart in one minute be the same one who pushed it back together?

Amy hesitated for a nanosecond before she threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his torso like a boa constrictor. Sheldon thought it wasn't tight enough. They sat quietly for almost ten minutes letting the tension of the day precipitate off them like mist. Neither of them knew what to say to each other.

He wrapped his arms around her, one secured on her waist pushing her near him, the other wrapped around her arm, stopping her from pulling away. Amy could barely speak, but finally she broke the silence and eked out a word which asked more in the three letters than a paragraph could.

"Why?"

Sheldon took shallow breaths and whispered, "Because I was afraid."

Amy swallowed back the lump in her throat, "Did you stop being afraid?"

"No..." Sheldon looked down at her, "It changed."

"To what?"

"Afraid of losing you." He brought his hand up to her face, and brushed a strand of hair off her cheek. He held onto her chin to hold her face up to him, as he ran the pad of his thumb over the bottom of her quivering lower lip. "I'm… sorry."

Amy pushed her face back into his chest, "I know..."

Sheldon put his hand on her hair, and placed a small kiss on the top of her head. Amy pulled back and looked at him, "If you… again… I can't. I won't…"

"I won't. I promise you." The push and pull was done, just a stable orbit as they locked eyes with each other. It was four solid minutes of intense staring, each one saying nothing, yet assurances were made with each second that passed.

Finally, Sheldon spoke again, "Amy?"

"Yes?"

"Can I use your computer?" He asked with such a causal tone, it seemed to Amy status quo had returned more quickly than anticipated.

Amy was not expecting him to ask that, "Really? My user friendly operating system calling to you from across the room."

Sheldon looked over at her computer, "Yes, the silver clad vixen. Now, can I use it or not?"

"Go ahead, but don't be surprised if you fall madly in love with it, and want to switch." Amy stood up, and took the tea mugs to the kitchen. She looked at her watch hoping dinner would come soon.

"Nothing would surprise me anymore." Sheldon rose off the couch and started up her computer. He went straight to her mail folder, opened it, found his video which he explained his leaving to her including crime statistics, and a link to Cops: Pasadena.

There was nothing on the video about how he felt about her, or anything that she would want to hear. Just a flaccid explanation why he left without saying good-bye. He hit delete just as Amy came up behind him.

"Is that my mail?" Her piercing green eyes that earlier showed such love for him were now cutting him like lasers. He gulped and thought as fast as he could.

"I was trying to log you out, but Steve Jobs won't let me!" Sheldon coughed, "See how hard it is to navigate this system!" He looked away from her laser beams.

Amy rolled her eyes at his flagrant deceit. She tapped him on shoulder and made him look at her, "I won't watch your video, Sheldon. I promise. Don't worry."

"I'm sorry, Amy. I just don't like my stupid decisions immortalized on the internet forever."

She nudged him playfully, "Come on Sheldon, it's not like you pulled your pants off or something!"

"At least that would be funny." Sheldon stifled a laugh, but Amy was still taciturn.

She took in a short breath and said quickly, "Well, at least you admitted it was a mistake. That's progress."

Sheldon stood up as Amy started to walk away to head toward 4A for dinner. He pulled her back to him by lightly touching her hip with his hand. Amy turned around to find Sheldon looking down at her with an expression Amy had seen often grace his face. It was the one that told her that she did something right.

"Amy…" Sheldon bent his head down, and pressed his lips against her cheek, "Thank you." He closed his eyes and pressed his lips against her again, this time closer to her mouth. He didn't pull away as he spoke, "Thank you for being so patient."

Amy pulled back and smiled, but the look she gave him was still damaged slightly. "No problem. But just so you know, we will not be having coitus after three dates."

Sheldon pushed her back in alarm and his face turned ghostly pale, "What? What do you… um… mean... Amy… who ever heard…" His eyes darted around as his brow twitched. Is she a mind reader, he thought as he blinked his eyes rapidly.

"Cut the crap, Cooper. I know Howard told you that after three dates there is a threshold for sex. You do realize that means you can't have sex BEFORE three dates, right? Not that you have to have sex after three dates?" Amy crossed her arms and glared at him.

His eyes darted around in a frenzy and he finally said, "I might have heard… something…" Sheldon feigned ignorance faded quickly to rosy embarrassment blooming on his face, "Wait… What? You just can't have coitus before three dates, are you sure?" he couldn't believe he misunderstood that. All the worrying he did, wondering if she could love him if he couldn't do it or if waited too long, it was all for naught. He had more time, lots of time and now, it seemed he didn't have to worry about it all it all. He should be thrilled, but he felt robbed yet again.

"Of course I'm sure! Besides, I've said it to all my dates, and now to you. All forms of physical contact up to and including coitus are off the table." Amy turned away from him to hide her smirk. He followed her around the room, throwing rapid fire questions at her like a lawyer.

Sheldon voice fractured, "All physical contact? Like when you kiss my cheek? Or consoling hugs." He unconsciously touched his cheek and wrapped his arm around his waist. Then he shot her a look of horror, "Oh no, not that neck muscle thing you do? Not that right?"

"Well, not that, but coitus... off the table." Amy didn't want to give up her bits of intimacy she had grown addicted to. She adored getting consoling hugs, loved the une bise kisses he gave her and never wanted to give up the opportunity to touch his tempting back. She thought she was alone in this longing, but upon hearing Sheldon want them just as much, it empowered her. She pulled in a smile and turned around to face him.

Sheldon looked agitated, like someone took his candy, "Like forever?"

"Off the table."

"Are you breaking up with me?" His voice crackled in his throat as he spoke.

"We are not boyfriend and girlfriend, yet... I cannot break up with you." She should have reminded him that after he had planned leaving the state, he should count his stars she even spoke to him. Amy was giving Sheldon was she though he wanted, because he would never say himself. "It's just coitus… it's off the table!"

Sheldon crossed his arms and glared at Amy who was busily trying to get to 4A for dinner, "Why does it feel you are breaking up with me over this table thing?"

"Sheldon! What idiot would break up with a person over a table?" Amy rolled her eyes, "It's an expression! No sex! No pressure, okay?"

"Well…okay…" Sheldon scoffed his feet and looked at her with those huge pleading blue eyes that melt the coating around her heart, "Um…so can we schedule our third date?"

"We'll see."

Chapter 24: Chapter 24

The Big Reversal Theory 24

Or the Vixen in 4B

Amy Penny and Bernadette congregated at 4B for a much needed girl's night. Amy was hoping that Sheldon would not interrupt this one as he and the boys were on their way to the comic book store. She was still trying to come to terms with the fact that he had intended to leave Pasadena forever without telling her and Sheldon had been overcompensating for his attempted selfish sojourn by never wanting to leave Amy's side again. He was almost smothering her, but Amy had to admit that his talc laden aura and pontificating ways were working. He was inching his way back in her heart, mending the shattered bits he almost left behind.

She knew she needed to let it go. Penny's attempt to help by suggesting that Amy try some silly visualization thing with a pen had Amy rolling her eyes at the pop psychology mumbo jumbo. Amy said she'd let go of the damn pen when she damn well wanted to let go of the damn pen. Penny shut up after that.

Penny knew that she was still on shaky ground with Amy following her apparent lack of support for her friend by not informing her about Sheldon's planned move to Montana and had promised to keep this to herself and not let Bernadette know.

Amy needed a break, and this girl's night was supposed to be just that. However, no sooner did she pour herself the first glass of wine, than the Yellow Rose of Texas ring tone on her phone sang out.

Penny rolled her eyes and whispered to Bernadette, "He's been like this for weeks now. Hardly a moment goes by that he doesn't want to see her."

Bernadette slurred her words. She was having a wonderful girl's night, even though it had just started. "Aww. That's swwweet!"

"Yeah, like drowning in syrup…"

Amy was in the middle of a heated discussion with Sheldon on the other end of the line, "Okay… Yes. I know… Forget it! Nope, don't care about the suspension characteristics of a pre-1980 Pullman-built Superliner Deluxe passenger coach… Yes… I memorized it… you want me to do what when I see you?"

Amy turned away from the ladies eavesdropping on her conversation and started to twirl her hair. "Okay... I will remember what I said and say it to you again when I see you… Stop that!" Amy let out an uncharacteristic giggle. Both Penny and Bernadette looked at each other wondering what the heck Sheldon had just said to make Amy's blush like school girl.

Soon the blush left, Amy slumped down and her tone changed to agitated, "No, it won't be on the train! I don't doubt your endorphin rewards will be on fire from the steady clickety-clack of steel wheels on polished rails, but that doesn't do it for me, Sheldon...YES I MEMEORIZED THAT TOO! Good for you! Mine will be enjoying a one hour flight to San Francisco, with free drinks in first class, and without the view."

Amy covered the receiver and mouthed to the girl's, "sorry" and turning back to Sheldon "I understand… Oh yeah? Well maybe the rails will help your sour disposition abate. … I know.. I will. Don't worry! I will be there almost the same time as you are, just without the 11 hour train ride. Okay… bye."

Both Penny and Bernadette stared at each other during the awkward call. When Amy finally hung up, they asked, "Amy? What the hell was that all about?"

Amy let out sigh and sunk into the couch, "Ugh, Sheldon… He wants me to go with him on the train to the symposium."

Bernadette drooped her shoulders, "God I wish I was going. Stupid Finals!I hate being a TA!"

Amy continued to gush about the conference, "I heard there's supposed to be bioorganic cellular computer devices! And a talk on the advancements in multi-threaded task completion!"

Bernadette had only one year left on her doctoral thesis and the weekend of the symposium was going to be a critical time and additionally she had promised she would watch Raj's dog Cinnamon. But at this point she was too drunk to glower at Amy for boasting about going.

Amy jumped up excitedly, "Sheldon says, there's a roundtable on the non-equilibrium Green's function approach to the photoionization process in atoms. Smoot is going to be there too!"

Penny let out a chuckle, "NO WAY! Not Smoot!?"

"You know him?"

Penny rolled her eyes as she grabbed more wine, "Of course I DON'T! Well, at least it's in San Francisco. You can ride the cable cars, after you get drunk, of course!"

"It will be a non-stop weekend so I doubt I will be drinking. Sheldon is dying to go to all the panels."

Penny raised her brows, "And get you on a train! Hubba hubba!"

Amy rolled her eyes, "There is no hubba! Just Sheldon being Sheldon."

"Oh Amy, Sheldon wants you to go with him on the train! How romantic!" Bernadette was starry eyed thinking of a nice romantic weekend on the train, maybe looking out the glass roof to gaze the stars.

Though she was hammered on her 4th glass of wine, Amy's chuckle cut through her tipsy haze. "HA! The orient express is romantic. Going on a train with a train enthusiast, not so much. Sheldon would spend 11 hours explaining every detail of the train. Lord help the guys."

Penny nudged Amy with her shoulder, "Soo… Amy…. What are the sleeping arrangements? Sharing a room?" Penny raised her brows again, but Amy just ignored her.

Bernadette let out a whistley woo, and winked at Amy, "Amy and Sheldon sitting in a tree.. K-I—s-s-s-s-s-s-s."

"That's too many S's, you're cut off, Bernadette!" Penny grabbed her empty glass.

Amy sipped her wine and revealed, "No. We will not be sharing a room. Sheldon is sharing a room with Leonard. We didn't want to jeopardize our new relationship by getting to know each other too well. Nothing sours a friendship more than over-familiarity with someone's toilet routine."

"Friendship? What happened to his declaration of love for you? That kiss! Your three dates?"

Amy licked her lips nervously and looked away from Penny's wide eyes waiting for an answer, "We are taking it slow."

Bernadette woke up from her stupor. "Looks like someone has commitment issues!'

Amy shook her head, "No, Sheldon has been…"

Bernadette cut her off by poking her chest, "Not him, you! It's been over a month and no third date?" Bernadette grabbed Penny's wine and threw it back with one swallow. She stuck her tongue out at Penny who glared at her.

"No! I'm just… I don't know… I'm afraid he'll freak out if we become boyfriend/girlfriend. I don't think he wants a relationship. He had never seemed interested in one before and now, well I think he just is going through the motions. Things are good now. I want to keep them that way. I'm keeping things… you know…" Amy flattened out her hand in a sweeping motion, "Homeostasis."

"What the heck is that? Some kind of kinky sex thing. I'll have to tell you Amy, I don't think Sheldon is ready for that kinky stuff….. Yet!" She started to snicker, as did Amy.

Bernadette was now laid back on the couch and had started to fall asleep but couldn't helped letting out a drunken giggle, "Sex thing.. that's …zzzzz funny.."

"Not some sex thing Penny. Homeostasis refers to a system's ability to regulate its internal environment and maintain a constant condition of properties like temperature or ph."

Bernadette snorted out a sleepy moan, "Worst bedtime story ever! Just sleep with the lanky SOB and get it over with!"

Over at comic book store…

Sheldon had waited a whole 10 minutes on the drive over the comic book store before calling Amy. He had to convince her to try and take the train; it had become almost an obsession. For some reason, the idea of seeing Amy on a train made his heart skip a beat, but Amy was not so enamored with the idea. The guys heard Sheldon on the phone with Amy:

"The train is best way to see the coast, Amy. But Amy... You have to hear about the signature characteristics sounds of a pre-1980 Pullman-built Superliner Deluxe passenger coach. Did you just repeat back what I said? Did you memorize it or something?"

Sheldon turned away from the guys so he couldn't be overheard and see a blush rise on his cheeks. Having Amy speak out about trains was giving him thoughts best left for the shower. Unfortunately, he was still in public and on the phone,

"Oh, Amy you have to say that back to me when we are alone. Promise? We have to be alone... I need to hear that on your lips. The best would be on the train! Amy, your endorphin rewards will be on fire once you hear the steady clickety clack of the patented sound of steel wheels on polished rails. It's breathtaking. Oh my god, you memorized that too? You vixen, what are you doing to me! Amy... Amy... are you going to be drinking on the plane? That will affect your cognitive prowess, and you will be late! I think the rails will help your sour deposition abate!"

Sheldon slumped down when she snapped at him, "I just don't want you to miss anything. Fine... but you're missing out. Okay.. Bye..."

Howard watched Sheldon hang up with Amy and come back to the group with a scowl. Without a word of warning, he blurted out, "So are you and Amy dating or not?"

Leonard snapped at Howard, "Howard! We don't ask Sheldon questions like that!"

Howard glared at Leonard, "You don't, but I do…" and turned back to Sheldon, "So what's the deal?"

Sheldon swallowed and looked down at the stack of comic books he had already thumbed through twice, "We are taking things slow…"

Raj laughed, "Ha, like a glacier."

Howard had watched Sheldon for the last month, and he saw a man who didn't want to take things slow. He had to know what was going on, "Why? Why are you going so mind numbingly slow?"

Sheldon looked around and bit his lip, "No reason…"

Howard shook his head, "Come on.. There has to be a reason.."

Sheldon turned to face Howard, "Not necessarily. This is a classic example of Munchausen's trilemma. Either the reason is predicated on a series of sub-reasons leading to an infinite regression, or it tracks back to arbitrary axiomatic statements, or it's ultimately circular, i.e., I'm moving slow with Amy because I'm moving slow with Amy."

Howard wasn't impressed with Sheldon's explanation, "Denial. You must have screwed up! How could you not? You're well… Sheldon!"

Raj's turn at Sheldon was not so nice, "Sheldon, are you like those Ken Dolls with no genitals? Amy was smoking in that Wonder Woman outfit! How can you go slow when that is at the finish line?"

Sheldon shot Raj a familiar glare that told him not comment on Amy, especially her appearance. He stood up straight and proclaimed proudly, "Well.. In the fable the tortoise and the hare, it's the tortoise who crosses the line first. So slow and steady wins the race!" Sheldon narrowed his eyes at his friends and then added quickly, "And for the record, I do have genitals and they are fully functional and aesthetically pleasing."

"Well I hope Amy finds out how aesthetically pleasing they are soon! Keep that slow and steady thing for then, okay pal!" Raj and Howard then caught scent of a new comic book and went to the other side of the store to bother Stuart, who had been avoiding the group all night; Especially Sheldon.

The other guys knew nothing about the events earlier in the month when Sheldon due to his fear of coitus, almost left the woman who was tailor made for him and he was thankful for their ignorance. Leonard like Penny had agreed to keep this to himself.

However, the last month had been tough on Sheldon and Leonard knew this by Sheldon's stranger than usual behavior. Sheldon seemed to have particular problems at night. On the third night in one week Sheldon had woken Leonard at 2:00 am to ask him a critical question:

"Leonard, I have an important question…do you like transformers?

Leonard let out an exhaustive moan, "Sheldon I don't like anything at 2.00 am except sleep! Why? What is going on?" Leonard grabbed his glasses and sat up.

Sheldon sat on Leonard's bed, ready to have a conversation, "Well, the transformers teach us that things are not always as they appear to be. Like truck might actually be a robot… Or a person in a semi-romantic relationship might be thinking they would like to revert back to their previous form, or a conversation about transformers could be about something else… You know?"

Leonard let out an exhaustive sigh and gave Sheldon a comforting touch on his arm. "I know what this is about, the guy who seems like an emotionless robot is you, but your relationship with Amy is causing you to transform into a red-blooded man with sexual desires!"

Sheldon shook his head, "That is literally the stupidest thing I've ever heard." Sheldon got up, headed to the door but paused and without looking round asked, "But let's assume by some miracle you're right. What would one do about it?" Sheldon looked at his feet as he shuffled them around.

Leonard couldn't hide his smirk at his seemingly asexual friend, "Sheldon just give Amy some time. She'll come around."

"You don't think she wants to transform our relationship back to boy/ friend girl/ friend status?" Sheldon bit in his bottom lip as he turned to Leonard, his eyes begging for answers.

"No buddy. I don't. Amy is absolutely nuts about you and if anything is going to transform, it will be you guys into a great relationship. You have nothing to worry about, especially at 2:00 am." Leonard threw off his glasses, slumped back on his pillow and added, "Another thing: No more picking up women in the cafeteria, okay?"

"Yes, you all told me that was inappropriate." Sheldon let out a breath, "Okay, good night Leonard…" Sheldon was just about to leave Leonard's room when he turned back around, "For the record, I was just checking to see if I had physical attractiveness to the opposite sex, that's all!"

"Sheldon… You tapped the shoulder of the most beautiful woman I had seen since Penny, you asked her, without any thought, if she was interested a physical relationship would she consider you!"

"For the record, I said, hypothetically!" Sheldon eyes opened wide and he tilted his head. He was still unaware what a terrible idea it had been, "I had to know if I was at all appealing to the opposite sex and she was the first female I saw! It's not something one just knows Leonard! I've never cared before! I need data!"

"No what you need is another round of testing that you mother put you through!" Though Leonard was till impressed with how the woman was so taken aback with Sheldon. "The most surprising thing is she said yes! She wrote her number on your hand!"

Sheldon looked away in disgust, "With a sharpie, it took me 20 minutes to get that off my hand! Worse than Lady Macbeth with that damn spot." Sheldon looked at his hand to make sure he cleaned all the ink off.

"Well good thing Amy didn't see you."

Sheldon had returned to sit on Leonard's bed again, "Not that she'd care. She's lost that loving feeling Leonard." Sheldon grabbed Leonard's pillow, "I think she is going to let me go."

"She's not letting go of anything, but you are… my pillow! Go to bed! You and Amy will be fine! You just need to turn up the charm. Spend time with her. She'll come around."

"Okay Leonard, good idea. Who am I to deny Ms. Fowler the joy of my company?"

"God, I wish I could be denied… Right now! GO TO BED!"

"Fine, Leonard. You give good advice at 2:00 am!"

Leonard mumbled in his pillow, "Don't get used to it. Go away!"

So as per Leonard's advice, Sheldon had spent as much time with Amy as possible, and they had enjoyed every minute together. But Sheldon couldn't deny changes were happening to him when he looked at her. He had an overwhelming desire to relive that kiss she gave him and the sight of her posterior was causing his slacks to grow tight. He was coming to realize that he wanted more out of the relationship than just that of the mind and Leonard could see this reflected on his friend's face every time he saw them together. Leonard himself had had the same painful waiting period with Penny before she broke up with her louse of boyfriend, Kurt.

Now at the comic book store, the boys' teasing was hitting Sheldon hard. Leonard looked over his glasses and saw Sheldon was chewing at his lip like it was a stick of gum and he knew that his stoic friend was crumbling inside.

"Buddy, don't listen to those guys. Raj is jealous that you have a woman and Howard, is well… extremely Howard… Amy is nuts about you, you know that right? She's says yes to seeing you all the time and you guys have been inseparable for a month! Things are good between you."

"Things are good now Leonard, but she keeps putting off the last date. She refuses to go with me on the train."

Leonard mumbled, "That's because she's smart, and has a back bone."

"Oh come on Leonard, you know you love the train." Sheldon's quick retort, did not remove his depression "I don't know, maybe she's not interested in me anymore. I cannot fathom why not! I'm a delight!"

"As charming as you are buddy, you did hurt her pretty bad by leaving."

Sheldon screeched out his defensively reply, "But I didn't leave!" He looked around to make sure no one heard him.

"I know, and that is why she is still talking to you. Give her time. She'll come around. Just be patient."

"Sheldon Cooper is always patient. Now where the devil is Stuart with my new issue of Hellboy?" Sheldon slammed the stack of comic books down and stomped over to Stuart.

A week later, the boys were finding their perfect seats on the Coast Starlight Train to San Francisco. Sheldon seemed to be the only one elated to be on the train, that was until Raj saw the actress from the Terminator, Summer Glau seated not more than 8 feet away from him.

Howard had seen the actress as well and was now completely torn. He wanted to speak to her, and turn on the patented Wolowitz charm, but the thought of a short bespectacled blond power house back home prevented this. So he decided to help his exotic friend Raj connect with the stunning creature. He would live vicariously through Raj's actions. As Raj went to get an alcoholic beverage, Howard approached the Goddess to turn on the charm, but only for his friend's sake.

Sheldon's face suddenly grew pale, "Oh man… Oh no… Oh NO!" He looked through his carry-on bag, but nothing. It wasn't there.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"I forgot my Flash drive."

"So?" Leonard kept looking at his magazine uninterested. Sheldon often panicked over nothing.

"We have to go back to Pasadena!"

Leonard folded his magazine and glared at Sheldon over his glasses, "Okay Sheldon, I'm going to say why and your answer cannot be because I forgot my flash drive."

Sheldon was panicking, "You don't understand. My flash drive has my paper on astrophysical probes of M-theory effects in the early universe that I was going to give it to George Smoot at the conference!"

Leonard relaxed back in his seat and reopened the magazine, "Well just get Amy to bring it with her, she's won't have left yet."

"That's brilliant!"

"I have my moments."

Sheldon pulled his phone out as he said, "You know Leonard it's at times like this I forget you're grasping at the death throes of your career. You may still be going places…" Sheldon moved his mouth to the receiver, "Hello Amy Farrah Fowler… Yes. I am on the train… No it's not boring!"

Leonard yelled into the phone, "He's lying!'

Sheldon pulled the phone away from Leonard, "Forgive him, he had one good idea and it's gone to his head. I am calling to ask you to do me a favor… Yes…I will keep track… Yes the costume was a favor too… What a silly statement, of course I'll remember!!"

Sheldon held his hand over the receiver and whispered to Leonard, "I'm gonna owe this woman my soul before the year is out!"

"Hey, buddy. You invited her to lunch a year and half ago, everything about her is on you!"

"Don't remind me!" Sheldon went back on the phone… "Yes.. Good… Okay.. I need you get your emergency key, go into the apartment. Yes, without me there. Ha Ha! Payback I'm sure! Don't redo the spices! Okay… I need you to go to my room. Yes..You can go in… I give you this one time dispensation. Yes, that time too. Okay… that time too. Of course when you spent the night. Are you even listening?"

Sheldon covered the receiver again and rolled his eyes at Leonard, "Women… Delightfully mysterious or bat-crap crazy?"

Back in Pasadena…

"Sheldon? Why would you keep your key in a puzzle box? This Japanese one? Really 10 precise moves? Done. Yes… Oh, please I have monkeys who can open this box in less time. Just put a banana in it …" Amy noticed there was another box nearby that held a stack of papers. She pulled one out and read the first line.

"What about this box of letters? Who's Moon pie? Sorry… Nope, calm down. I didn't read a word, I wouldn't do that… Meamaw? ... Later, you can tell me all about Meamaw and Moon Pie, I'd love to hear about her, Sheldon …. Okay… I've put them back safely…"

Amy put back the letters and headed to the living room. "I'm at your desk… This little flash drive with the picture of a bolt on it… Like your red shirt, oh I do like that shirt… Not as much as your blue S one, though… Why Dr. Cooper, have I made you blush? Okay, I will be nice since Leonard is there… "

Amy smiled listening to Sheldon stammer. She had no idea flirting with him would get him so flustered. She liked it better than the stammer he had about the letters. She must do it more often.

"I'll print it for you… Yes on my Mac! Ugh…It won't corrupt your drive! Which one… Probes? Oh the one you told me about. Sure. I can get that. It's not cheap paper! It's the same! Ugh… fine… yes.. I know… I'll see you soon. Need anything else while I'm here? Oh look your napkins! Should I fold them? Just teasing. I'm leaving. See you soon. Goodbye..."

Amy hung up the phone, put everything back just as she found it and went to Sheldon's desk to find some paper. He had stated that he wanted a better quality than the "cheap junk" Amy used. As she opened his drawer, a leather bond document caught her eye. "Relationship Agreement."

Amy dropped down on the chair and flipped through the pages.

The first page read: The Relationship Agreement: A binding covenant that, in its 31 pages, enumerates, iterates and codifies the rights and responsibilities of Sheldon Lee Cooper, here and after known as the boyfriend, and Amy Farrah Fowler, here and after known as the girlfriend.

He had categorized every anticipated action they would do as a couple. Future plans, financial hardships, sickness, everything had been included in meticulous detail. Amy was swept away with the scope of it. It was the most romantic thing she had ever read, but then mutual indemnification always is, she thought.

Wondering when he had written it, she thought it had probably been during the last month when he had been so attentive, and she smiled that he had put so much thought into their relationship. She decided right then and there to schedule that third date after the conference.

Putting the agreement back in his drawer she grabbed the special paper and returned to her apartment to print the paper for Smoot.

As she opened the flash drive, she saw a number of files, but none intrigued her as much as the "Relationship Agreement." It wasn't the words that caught her attention, it was the date. It was first written over a year ago, about the same time as his sister's visit. Amy put her hand to her mouth, not believing the evidence of her eyes. He had been interested in being in a relationship with her for more than a year. Before the wedding, before Beverly Hofstadter, before driving lessons or Raj's party or Christmas or even New Year's Eve. But more importantly, before she had really accepted her own feelings.

The extra time Amy had spent in getting Sheldon's paper, had not affected her travel time, which though it involved hiring a car and TSA extra screening meant that she arrived at her hotel at least 30 minutes ahead of the group. She checked into her hotel room, cleaned up from her travels and was returning to the lobby when she ran into the group of three guys.

Amy's face lit up when she saw Sheldon looking over the panel list again. He was standing in line waiting to check in to his room. She took a short breath and admired how handsome he looked when he was concentrating on something.

Then just as she was about to walk up to the group, she heard a voice behind her and turning around she saw David Underhill's grinning face. "Hello doll." He tried to lean in and hug her but she backed away from him and held out her hand.

"Hello David."

"How have you been? Are you here with anyone?"

Amy thought for a moment and then blurted out, "Um, yes…. My boyfriend is here. I think you know him. Dr. Cooper."

"Lucky man." Underhill smirked.

Amy's head was down and she felt anxious to get away from him. "Um… yes… What are you doing here?"

"Presenting a paper on Dark matter. "He licked his lips which made Amy's face scrunch up in disgust. She was not in the mood to be hit on by an egotistical married man. "Sure wish we could have gotten together on your figures, I'm sure they are… specular."

Then a deep voice was raised behind her, "They are. Incredibly so." Amy turned to see Sheldon, standing so close to her she could feel the heat off his body. But he wasn't looking at her. Instead his focus was on the tall man who he felt was invading Amy's personal space, a space that Sheldon felt should be occupied by him only. "In fact, I would say that Dr. Fowler's figures are the most impressive I've seen by a non-physicist. I should know. I have looked over them extensively."

Amy cleared her throat, "Um, yes… he did. He likes them, right Sheldon?" She looked up at him with wide open eyes hoping he would say something nice about her idea.

Sheldon looked down at her with beaming blue eyes, "No Amy, I love them."

David Underhill started to retreat as Amy and Sheldon continued to merge together through eye coitus. "Well, great. I am glad someone is using them." He winked at Sheldon who looked at him with a confused scowl, but then Sheldon looked down to see Amy beaming at him.

Amy clasped her hands together, "Do you really think you can use them, Sheldon? Oh that would be marvelous." Amy spun around to greet her other friends leaving Sheldon to wonder if they were still talking about her idea on string theory or some other innuendo he missed, and the lilt of her echoing in his head as he replayed her comment, "My boyfriend… Dr. Cooper." Sheldon was beaming as he followed her.

She walked up to the group and smiled, "Hello! You made it! How was the Coast Starlight?"

Sheldon shined with delight, "Magical." Just as Leonard groaned, "Exhausting!"

Amy knew Sheldon would want the paper he asked her to print straight away and she had it ready for him.

She pulled the bonded paper out of her bag just as Sheldon was about to ask. He held back his words and just smiled as she handed it to him with a huge smile, "Here you are! Special delivery!"

Sheldon noticed right away the quality of the paper, "Oh marvelous, you used the good paper!"

"Oh course, I did! I can take direction very well."

"I love that about you." Sheldon was looking over his paper, not seeing the glimmering smile grow over Amy's face at his compliment.

Amy looked around noticing that someone was missing from their group, "Hey where's Raj?"

"He got off the train with Summer Glau in Santa Barbara, she thought Raj was charming and intriguing and invited him to join her for the weekend, lucky bastard, and not even a thank you to me for warming her up!" Howard threw his bag over his shoulder and trudged further up the line. He had been in the middle of talking to Summer Glau when Bernadette had called. She heard his voice and then another woman. He spent the last 6 hours trying to calm her down, but Bernadette was only just getting warmed up. Howard had been so busy making excuses to Bernadette that he had not pointed out to Raj that he had been drinking a non-alcoholic beverage.

Amy looked confused, "With a name like Summer, I doubt she needed much warming, Howard."

"I think the line, "Hypothetically, if you were interested in a physical relationship, would you be interested in me?' did the trick."

Amy was shocked, "WOW! That's a great line! Where did Raj learn that!?"

Sheldon blushed and turned toward Leonard with wide eyes pleading with him to shut up. He did, but with a snicker.

Howard was not so amused, "There goes my bunk mate!' He moaned. At this Leonard's eyes lit up.

Having traveled by train Sheldon was now in a fantastic mood. Unfortunately giddy Sheldon was almost as bad as moody Sheldon and during the last few weeks Leonard had hardly had any sleep. He had now spent 11 hours on the train with Sheldon and had heard more about trains than anyone had a right to know. He had had enough and needed a break, "Don't worry! Sheldon will bunk with you!"

Howard's face paled, "Oh, no you don't!"

"Oh yes I do! You totally owe me for getting rid of Zack on New Year's Eve before Bernadette picked us up! Tag you're it!" Leonard rushed to check in, "Can you change my room to a king bed?"

Sheldon looked confused, "There is no need to fight over me! I'm a light sleeper, but I have an impeccable bathroom routine. You need to be out by 8:00 am, that is when I move my bowels."

"Oh lord…"Howard moaned and slumped to the counter, "I want to move mine right now!"

After check in, and Sheldon's post travel shower, the group left to have dinner in the hotel lounge. The other two men left the dinner early. Leonard was exhausted from the tedious train ride and lack of sleep, plus he wanted to Skype with Penny before bed and Howard still had some work to do to gain Bernadette's forgiveness. Sheldon and Amy finished dinner with a lively discussion about the presenters and his paper for Smoot. Though Amy coached Sheldon on what to say to him, Sheldon was sure his charm would win the day.

After dinner, Sheldon escorted Amy to her room. She was bushed too, but for a different reason. She had noticed that the chef had cut her sandwich with a knife that had avocado on it. She had taken a Benadryl without telling Sheldon, fearing he would fret over her.

"Thank you for walking me to my door. I hope we can get to that first panel early! I want good seats."

Sheldon held up his hand, "Never fear. I am a master at finding good seats at panels. I always get the best ones for ComiCon."

"Yes, but this time, it's actually interesting."

He glared at her and snapped, "Amy, it's a good thing we aren't in a physical relationship, or you would have lost sex tonight."

Amy just smiled and shook her head slightly, "Oh brother. If we were in a physical relationship, Sheldon, there is no way you'd ever give up sex with me."

Sheldon's eyes bulged out of the sockets, and he stammered, "Oh… really."

Amy answered matter a factly, "Really." She turned to put her key card in the door and looked over her shoulder. "See you around 8:30?"

"Yes, good night, Amy Farrah Fowler."

"Good night Sheldon Cooper." Amy closed the door and Sheldon looked down at his key card. She was right across the hall. He let out a laugh, "Just like home."

Around 45 minutes later Amy heard Sheldon's signature knock on her door, but it was timid and he barely got her name out through the whisper. He was worried someone would to see him knocking on a woman's door at that god forsaken hour. People would talk, he thought.

Sleepy Amy answered the door. Her hair was not the usual straight locks, but tumbled in waves, she was bleary eyed from the allergy medicine and confused by his appearance at her door. He was wearing his Friday pajamas with a sleeping mask pushed up on his forehead. He looked disheveled and exhausted.

Rubbing her eyes and still half asleep she asked, "Sheldon, what are you doing here?"

"Well, according to Bernadette who is yelling loudly through the phone, Howard is an ass. Raj is back because his dalliance with Summer Glau faded once realized that his drinks were non-alcoholic and he is now watching a movie about a woman named Jones and her journal. Additionally, Leonard is having virtual coitus with Penny."

The last thing woke Amy up, "Oh dear. Like on the computer?" Amy wondered how that was even possible.

"Yes, and using incorrect Star Trek references I might add."

"Oh, dear. You must have blown a gasket."

"Nearly… Can I stay with you?" Sheldon rubbed his eyes sleepily.

Amy was stunned, "Really? What happened to not knowing our bathroom routines?"

"Right now, I don't care as long you don't have virtual coitus with anyone and watch some romantic movie about a journal. Please." Sheldon looked down at her with those rounded pleading blue eyes.

Amy was surprised by the request, but was unable to resist, "Deal! Come in."

Sheldon entered Amy's room and stopped dead in his tracks, "Amy, you only have one bed."

"Yes Sheldon you do have a flair for the obvious."

"Sorry, too much time with Leonard." Sheldon was still frozen gawking at the bed.

Amy rolled her eyes and moved around Sheldon who was blocking her path to the bed, "But it's a king bed, that is like two twins."

"Except, they are together… Like.. connected…"

Amy shook her head and sat on the side of the bed where she had been sleeping, "Sheldon. Nothing is going to happen! First off, we have only had two dates. We aren't even boyfriend and girlfriend yet."

Sheldon snapped at her with that thick Texas accent he hated to hear off his own lips, "Any idea whose fault is that, lady?"

"Yours! You never scheduled the third date before you left because you were worried you had to have sex with me! And I am really trying here not to be insulted that the idea of Sex with me would drive you out of state."

Sheldon stared at his slippered feet, hid his hands in the pockets of his plaid robe, and whispered "It wasn't about you, Amy."

Amy softened her tone and put her hand on his arm, "I know…and I also know that you aren't ready for coitus yet but just as important, neither am I. There's no pressure." She tapped the bed and flipped down the blanket to invite him in. Little knowing what a temptress he thought she was, but in typical Sheldon fashion, he pushed the blame for his raging endocrine on her, instead of himself

"Are you sure your moth like personality won't be drawn to the blazing fire that is myself?"

"More and more sure." Amy had had enough. She was tired and not willing to cater to worries that had no hold on reality. "Sheldon, I can sleep next to you and not fall victim to your charms, believe me! Especially tonight!"

Sheldon hemmed and said, "Well, you have my permission to go to sleep then."

Amy crawled into bed and took off her glasses, "I didn't ask for your permission."

Sheldon narrowed his eyes, "Too late. No backsies."

Sheldon pulled off his robe and laid it on the chaise lounge at the end of the bed. He slipped out of his slippers and carefully crawled into bed. Amy was facing him, rolling her eyes at how timidly he was getting in to bed.

"Look Sheldon." She motioned towards the middle of the bed. There was huge amount of space between them, "This part of the bed… It's a no passing zone. Imagine a bundling board."

Sheldon relaxed a bit, "Good idea, the wide board kept adolescents apart and insured no sexual conduct would occur." Sheldon swallowed as he saw Amy rub her neck and place her hand on her curvaceous hip.

"But the Victorians had an actual board, Amy! Maybe we can all down to the front desk and see if they have one." Sheldon looked over to the phone that was on the other side of the bed, near Amy, who at the moment was glaring at him.

"There will be no board, Sheldon. Just imagine it, like a zone you can't cross."

"Like the Neutral Zone!"

"What?"

"You know, the Neutral Zone between the Federation and the Romulan Empire."

"Sheldon, whatever you want to call it, its fine. I am not crossing it! Good night!" Amy slammed her head into her pillow and pulled the paper thin sheet over her shoulder.

It was quiet for a few minutes. Sheldon was lying on his back, painfully aware of Amy no more than 2 feet away from him. He could hear her breathing but that wasn't the most distracting thing. It was the permeating smell of cherries wafting from her hair. She must have washed it before going to bed. That would explain the enticing smell and the tumbled look of it on her shoulders. Sheldon shifted his weight slightly and said, "Of course, sometimes the Federation and the Romulans would enter the Neutral Zone to negotiate a temporary truce."

Believing that Sheldon was worried she would violate the zone, Amy had had enough. "Oh for the love of god" Amy rose off the pillow, "I can sleep next to you NAKED and not want to cross your damn Star Trek Zone!"

Sheldon sat up and smiled, "Hey you knew it was Star Trek." He looked back at the ceiling and said flatly, "However, I doubt if you were naked and hopped up on raging female hormones you could resist crossing it!"

"That's it!" Amy sat up and faced the wall. She roughly pulled off her nightgown and threw it across the room to the corner. Sheldon saw her bare back and hips before she quickly covered herself and threw her head deep in her pillow. "Watch me, Sheldon! Now, me and my raging hormones will be sleeping. Enjoy your time on the Romulan side."

Sheldon gulped as he looked at her hair sprayed across the pillow. She now only had a thin sheet covering her body. The flannel fabric shouldn't have made a difference, but Sheldon was grossly aware that there was only one layer of cloth covering her. He tried not to stare at her hour glass figure covered in cotton, but the light from the street was beaming through the thin shears. Her hair fanned out across her pillow and the ends were in the middle of neutral zone. He wanted to point that out, but he also wanted to reach out and touch them. He leaned back on his pillow and let out a sigh as he stared at the ceiling. Then he wondered, "Why am I the Romulans?"

Amy turned around and faced Sheldon. It was a good question, she thought. She held the sheet up to her chest, but held her head up with a bent arm, "Well, you're a twin, ergo Romulus and Remus."

Sheldon rolled on his side to face her. He mirrored her arm placement and moved a little closer. "It's interesting that you made the distinction. In Star Trek, the Romulans are related to Vulcans, in fact they once were the same race. They separated over a dispute about how to handle their unwanted emotions. Vulcan's used to be a violent and emotional people. They use logic to control their strong emotions. Romulans rejected that philosophy."

Amy gave Sheldon a quizzical stare, then asked, "Is that why older Spock went to speak with them, to get them back?"

Sheldon dropped his jaw, "What.. How do you know that?"

Amy loved shocking Sheldon, it was her favorite pastime. "You said if I was going to be Sheldon Cooper's girlfriend, I had to know the difference. I looked a few things up. Since I met Leonard Nimoy, I started with him. I saw a few clips on YouTube, but I didn't understand the context."

Sheldon's face glimmered with delight, "Amy… that's the … that's… really?" Sheldon moved a few inches closer to her, wanting desperately to brush her hair from her face. Her hair pin was gone, and her normally tame brown locks were wild. It took everything he had not to taste the words on her mouth again, like candy. She had watched Star Trek for him?

Amy didn't notice Sheldon's eyes darken,, "Is that why you identify so much with Vulcans? You have strong emotions as well."

"I've been told I have no emotions. Howard calls me an emotionless robot." Sheldon grinned, "He's such a charmer. Too bad he didn't use that line on Summer Glau, he might had made some headway with her."

"Huh…emotionless robot? You? Then they really don't know you, do they? You have more emotions and passions than anyone I have ever met."

"I think I am being insulted." Sheldon narrowed his glaze at her. He wasn't sure he liked the sound of what she was saying.

"Not at all. You channel your emotions. How do you think you have such a drive for science? For your hobbies? That passion comes from somewhere Sh sh sh eldon…" Amy pulled the thin hotel blanket over her shoulders but it offered little warmth.

"Amy, are you cold?"

Amy didn't want to admit her brilliant plan to make Sheldon eat his words was a disaster. She was freezing and missed her flannel nightgown. "I'll be ffff ine…"

"You know, sometimes the Federation and the Romulans would enter the Neutral Zone for humanitarian reasons."

Amy's teeth were beginning to chatter, "Like… delivering blankets?"

Sheldon let out chuckle, "You know the expression, 'The coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco'. Some people think Mark Twain said that, but he didn't. In fact, there are rumors that…"

"Sheldon, can you fffind another bbblanket?" Amy had to cut him off, or she would never get warm.

Sheldon looked around the room, but there was nothing. He pulled the blanket up to her shoulder but he knew it was too thin to do any good. "Well, there is only this blanket, but we can share warmth, if you want?"

Amy looked down at herself, "Sheldon, I barely have stitch on! Is that okay?" What was she thinking when she ripped off her nightgown? She hated when he told her she couldn't do something. Nothing upset her more. Still, she had surprised herself by her brazen actions, but Sheldon not seeming to mind however, was the most surprising.

"Amy, if we can sleep together with you naked, then it shows that we can control any urges. We can be like Vulcans instead of Romulans."

"Sounds good…"Amy looked across the room at her flannel nightgown that was hanging off her suitcase. She had good aim, but too good, it seemed a world away. "But I should put back on my nightgown."

"I have a better idea." Sheldon peeled off his pajama top along with the under shirt. "We can share body heat. I heard this is how they do it in cold weather climates."

Amy watched him strip off his shirt with a slack jaw. How could this man go from complaining about sleeping in the same bed to striping off his clothes?

"Well, I feel I am on an arctic expedition…" Amy sat up and held the sheet against her chest. She glowered at him and gave him her face that said he better tell the truth, "Are you sure?"

"Amy… You're right. We have only been on two dates. Nothing can happen." Sheldon held open his arms to welcome Amy.

She thought about the implications. If they slept together, almost naked, and nothing happened, it would prove to Sheldon they could control their urges. He could relax, and not worry so much about their intimacy. Amy was only going to nuzzle in Sheldon's bare chest to prove a point, nothing more, or so she told herself. His wide open eyes and beckoning chest was a siren's call to her.

Amy almost jumped into his arms and wrapped herself around him like a red stripe around a candy cane. "Oh god, Sheldon you're like an electric blanket!"

Sheldon let out shiver. He didn't expect her to be quite so icy, "Sweet lord, Amy! You are freezing!"

"As advertised. Oh god, you're warm. Sooo warm…" She nuzzled in his soft chest, like it was a winter quilt. His arms fully wrapped around her and held her to him.

"Good lord, woman, it's like snuggling with an ice core sample. I am going to get frost bite!"

"How can your body be so warm, and you're so thin?"

"Um… good circulation. I have to say your breasts feel like two snow cones on my chest." Sheldon loved snow cones, but Amy was insulted.

"Thank you for making it clear NOTHING is happening between us tonight…" Amy yawned, and nuzzled into Sheldon's warm chest. It was more than the smell of talc she was savoring. He had a distinctive redolence to his scent. His skin was downy soft, with faint ripples of muscles underneath his taut skin. The smattering of chest hair was as soft as she remembered when she drenched his chest in Vabo Rub.

She bent her leg and leaned it against his trying to capture as much of his warmth as possible. Within minutes she was warm, comfortable and safe. Drinking in his scent, Amy drifted off to sleep, with the Benadryl and exhausting day guiding her to dreamland.

Sheldon soon felt the repetitive motion of her steady breathing. She was asleep, but Sheldon couldn't succumb so readily. Her silken skin was fused to him and he thanked the Vulcan masters for Kolinhr.

How had this vixen done this, he thought. Within 20 minutes he had gone from panicking over the idea of sharing a king size, to sleeping next to her practically naked. He's fears of their amorous activities were put to rest the moment he felt her body next to his, like a missing puzzle piece driving him crazy, suddenly found. She completed the picture.

After a month of worrying about their relationship and endless sleepless nights, Sheldon was exhausted as well. He pulled her as close he could and drifted off to sleep while his hand ran down her arm feeling her silken skin under his fingers tips.

Chapter 25: Chapter 25

The Big Reversal Theory 25

Or the Vixen in 4B

The next morning, Sheldon woke up to find Amy in the exact same position she fell asleep. They had slept all night in each other's arms. Sheldon smiled. They did it. They had proved that they weren't slaves to their endocrine system after all. But just as that thought had crossed his mind, Amy let out a soft yearning moan and twisted her silken leg around his like an anaconda. Drat, he had spoken too soon, he thought, as he moved his body to feel her warm breath on his neck. He knew he had to get outta there now, but just a minute more…

His right arm was around her shoulders, with his left hand draped around her waist, resting on her hip. He could feel the outline of her panties under the pads of his fingers and he cursed his eidetic memory as it brought back flashes him pulling them up her legs when she had sprained her wrist.

He moved his hand from her hip up to her shoulder, coating her skin in a trail of feather light touches. Her skin felt softer than angora. This tender action caused Amy to moan once again and move her hand from his chest down his stomach to his hip bone. Her touch was like defibrillator to his no longer sleepy endocrine system.

Just as he was about to wake, her she blinked her eyes open to see him looking down at her. Her sleepy look and ruffled russet hair was just as adorable as it had been 8 hours ago.

Slowly, Amy pulled her hands off Sheldon's hip, letting her fingers glide over his stomach and ribs. She pushed back from Sheldon and stretched her arms over her head. Laying on her side, hugging her pillow she offered him a wide genuine smile which he couldn't help but return.

The sheet had slipped down from her shoulders and was now molded to her body accentuating the tops of her breasts. It was a bittersweet moment as Sheldon felt regret that she had taken her warmth away, but was grateful as he was quickly noticing the growing problem caused by this beguiling woman.

Amy was oblivious to his state of arousal. She was simply elated to have slept with him. It was one of her favorite fantasies.

"Sheldon! We did it! See! Aren't you pleased? Nothing happened! You have nothing to worry about." She hoped all his fears would now be put to rest, but his face told a different story. He seemed more terrified than she had ever seen him before, and she didn't know the cause.

The pulsing hard source of Sheldon's discomfort was the last thing he wanted to discuss while lying almost naked next to her. He moved his body away from her, but could not take his eyes from the tempting pale shoulders now clothed in her hair alone.

"Uh, huh.. Yeah.. Umm I should go. You know, get clothes, and um.. take a shower.. You should…" Sheldon looked down at her waving hair laying over her half exposed breast. "Um.. You should… Get dressed too."

Sheldon almost jumped off the bed and turned away from her. His early morning arousal did not abate. Just her voice made him shudder with excitement. Amy sat up pulling the sheet around her. She curled her legs underneath her body and leaned against the head board.

"Sheldon…?"

Sheldon could not look at her but continued to tussle with his top, undershirt and robe, hoping they would cover not so little 'problem'. He fought with his slippers as well, as he kept putting them on the wrong feet while he struggled with the robe. It was like the first time he had ever put on clothes. He could still smell her on him, and the scent was driving him wild. He really didn't want her to see his excitement almost bursting through his pants.

"Sheldon…"

"Um…" he finally succeeded in getting his pajama top on, but it was inside out and his t-shirt was over it. His robe was also inside out and his slippers were on the wrong feet. It was evident that he was upset and not knowing the reason worried Amy more.

"Sheldon Lee Cooper, sit down on this bed right now and tell what in hell is going on?" Amy's voice snapped through the air, just like a certain polecat mother he knew back in Texas. He sat down quickly on the bed and swallowed still not facing her.

After a silent moment he relaxed and let out a sigh.

"What did I do wrong?" Amy's voice shook. "Are you going to run away again?"

Sheldon reached back to her, "No! I'm not going to do that…"

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No, not at all. It's nothing." Sheldon looked back at her for a moment, "Amy, nothing is wrong. Everything was great." He gave her a reassuring smile which seemed to relax her and Sheldon tried not to look at her tempting hair brushing over her pale clavicles peeking out of the paper thin sheet. He had to get out of there; fast.

"I knew you'd be pleased. You were able to sleep with me, and you weren't tempted in the least…" As soon as Amy said it she thought, but why was he not tempted. She looked down at her body, and bit her lip. She was not attractive, that was why. She pulled back her hair, pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them doing her best to cover herself with the blanket as well.

Sheldon couldn't help it he let out short laugh "I think I'm finally getting sarcasm, Amy!"

Amy looked up and beamed at him. "Really? You think that was sarcastic?"

"Well, wasn't it? Rats, I thought I had that one. I was sure of it! You people really need to get a sign!"

Amy blew out the breath she was holding. Sheldon had just said he was tempted by her? Amy suddenly felt like a goddess thanks to that one simple off the cuff remark. She beamed with joy and almost bouncing on the bed while asking him, "Did you sleep well?"

Her tempting bouncing and jigging all her appealing parts was not helping his situation in the least. However, she brought up an interesting point.

Sheldon thought about it for a moment. He hadn't expected to, but he did in fact sleep very well, even with someone so close to him. He had no fears of germs with Amy. It must be that he had become anesthetized to her because of the year and half of her saliva soaked cheek kisses and hugs.

"Yes, I did… huh… imagine that?"

"I'm surprised too that I slept so well." Amy relaxed and sat back against the headboard with only the nearly transparent white sheet covering her chest.

"You are?" Sheldon expected her to have no compunction about sleeping with him. He was taken aback that she was surprised.

"Yes, I mean I did take a Benadryl, so that helped me fall asleep so easily. However, I have never slept with anyone so intimately before."

Amy was busily watching Sheldon who was now attempting to readjust his shirts and robe. He had stripped off his shirt and pajama top to put them on the right order. Amy was grateful that Sheldon was facing the other way so that he didn't see her drool over the arched muscles in his back as he peeled off the pajama top. She had to get him outta there before she pounced on him like a cat and scratched that tempting back of his in a lust filled stupor.

"You forget that we have Amy. You slept on my chest before… on your couch. Remember?" Sheldon turned back to her, his tops still in his hands but his eyes were immediately drawn back to her chest. Amy didn't notice his eyes as she had her own floor show to watch. "After that scoundrel Victor accosted you. The cad."

Sheldon continued trying to dress, but her chest was a major distraction. He almost shook his head to stop gawking.

"Oh yeah.. But we had clothes on." Amy licked her lips as she watched him throw on the t-shirt. She was almost whimpering.

"Um.. yeah. Lots of clothes…" Sheldon's breath was ragged by the time he had finished dressing, still unable to take his eyes off her twirling her hair as it floated over her bare shoulders.

Amy was ignorant to the affect her state of undress was having on Sheldon, "It's funny but I usually move around during the night and traveling sometimes gives me night terrors. But last night… Nothing. It must have been the allergy meds, but still I am surprised." She smiled and reached out for his hand, "I think.. you um, make me comfortable."

Amy was leaning over to reach for his hand. Her eyes had a stunning glow that caused Sheldon to lose his thoughts for a moment. He scooted closer to her, "Well, maybe because you were warm enough. Um.. do you want to sleep again…I mean…Not now.. later… Like tonight. But with me. Do you want to sleep with me. I don't mean what you think I mean.. because of that table thing. I just….what I mean is.."

Amy put her hand on his arm to stop his rambling. "Sheldon… If you need a place to stay tonight, you are more than welcome to stay with me. Take the extra keycard over there." Amy tucked her hair behind her ears and looked down, "In fact, I would like it very much."

"Thank you Amy.. I might just take you up on that…" Sheldon gulped and looked once again at her chest, "…tempting offer."

Sheldon reluctantly left Amy's bedside and returned to the room where his belongings were stored. He found Raj passed out and snoring away in the same bed as Howard, spooning each other and sleeping comfortably. Sheldon's bed was untouched so he could have slept there after all. Sheldon showered, dressed and gathered his things. Though his movements were as always, cat like, his bunkmates were so deeply asleep he could have started a tap dance school and they would not have woken up. He placed his packed suitcase near the door for later, and quickly left the room to meet Amy for breakfast.

Sheldon found that the best part of breakfast wasn't the pancakes or the perfectly cooked bacon, it was the fact that he felt so comfortable and at ease with Amy. His calm smile remained on his face for most of the meal, and he didn't even make too much of a fuss when the waitress gave him whole milk instead of 2%.

As the guys had slept in, Amy and Sheldon were left alone all morning to attend any panel they chose without complaint and the couple enjoyed every one especially when they could mock the presenters for their dumbing down of science through biting Q and A questions.

When they attended David Underhill's presentation Sheldon was in his element.

"Dr. Underhill, You've dedicated your latest book to educating the general populace about complex scientific ideas like dark matter." Sheldon commented.

David Underhill smiled, "Yes, in part…"

Sheldon hid his snicker, "Have you ever considered trying to do something useful? Perhaps, reading to the elderly?"

Underhill snorted, "Excuse me?"

Sheldon continued, "Yeah, but not your book, that's poppycock... You know, something they might enjoy." Sheldon finally gave a fake smile to Underhill's gawking face, "I kid, of course. Keep going, please… We haven't heard about Dark matter and photino particle. You know, the super-partner of the photon?"

Underhill stumbled, "Oh I .. um.. didn't discuss the photino particle in this book."

Sheldon looked around wide eyed, "Oh Dear… Well.. no wonder. Anyway.. Big fan." Sheldon sat down and smirked at Amy. She almost wanted to kiss him senseless but decided instead on a shoulder nudge and glimmering smile of approval at his Alpha Male Status.

After the dismantling of Underhill, Sheldon and Amy had lunch while waiting for the panel on bioorganic cellular computer devices. It was then Sheldon spotted Smoot. He ran over to him and caught his attention.

"Dr. Smoot, I'm Dr. Sheldon Cooper." Amy came up beside him, "Oh and this is my… um girlfriend… Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler." Sheldon looked at Amy's shocked face and blushed, but he had to concentrate on Smoot.

Smoot looked bothered, like he was late for something, "Um, yes hello."

"I have a paper here, I would love for you to read." Instead of the line he was going to say, like what has anyone heard from Smoot lately, he said the line that Amy made him memorize.

His delivery was robotic, but still effective, "Um… I would be… grateful." Sheldon winced as he gritted his teeth, "If you would give me your opinion. I believe it is paradigm alerting. We could continue my…" Amy nudged him, "I mean… this research… as a team…"

Smoot barely looked at the paper, and then said, "Yes, I doubt it's paradigm altering, but I'll give you some pointers and get back to you."

Amy snarled and almost pushed Sheldon out to the way, "Hey Pal. If my boyfriend says it's paradigm altering than it is! What do you know, working at some hippy college like Berkley! Dr. Cooper works at Cal-Tech! So while you're riding out the coat tails of you dying career, remember that you had a chance to work with one of the brightest minds in the world!" Amy shook her head, "Geez, get one Nobel Prize and turn into a diva."

Sheldon was too shocked to say anything, but Smoot seemed to like Amy's barracuda's ways, "Okay, Dr. Fowler. I'll take a look. I am late for my panel though, but I'll call as soon as the conference is over. I have a meeting with CalT-tech next week, I'll come see you and we can discuss it." Smoot smirked at Amy, "Is that okay with your manager?"

Amy crossed her arms and replied, "Yes, but just remember, When you get the Nobel, Sheldon's name is first, he gets 20% on the backend of all book deals plus residuals. Oh, and none of this lame-o PR work like showing up on TV shows or something. He's strictly a research guy, got it?"

"Got it! Nice talking to you, Dr. Cooper." Smoot ran off to his panel, with Sheldon's paper in hand and a smile on his face at Amy's overprotective ways.

She turned to Sheldon still gob smacked face and smiled, "Girlfriend, huh?"

Sheldon cleared his throat, "Um, yes well. That was easier than long winded explanation about three dates and the like. Besides, you said that to Underhill, so neerer neerer."

Amy looked away and said, "I didn't know you heard that." Sheldon just raised his eye brows at Amy, who smiled, "It does seem simpler doesn't it?"

Sheldon bit his lip and smirked, "Oh and calling me the brightest minds in the world will help your chances of becoming Sheldon Cooper's girlfriend, by the way."

"Oh I didn't know there was a competition." Amy picked an imaginary piece of lint off his shirt, "And I said ONE of the brightest minds. Don't get cocky, Cooper." Amy sauntered off down the hall to toward the panel. Watching Amy defend him like a pole cat was definitely on the qualities he wanted in a girlfriend. He joked about it, but he never had anyone defend him like she did. There was no competition, Amy was the only one in the race.

After the panel, the two separated as Amy was interested in a panel on Freudian theory of Penis envy and how it related to primate behavior. And as interested as Sheldon might be in the fascinating subject of penises and how Amy might weigh in on the subject, he wanted to attend the discussion of robotics and space exploration. It was at this point that his three friends found him as he watched Amy walk away with a smile on his face.

Leonard called out to him, "Sheldon! There you are!"

Sheldon looked like a love sick teenager as he turned to his tardy friends, "Hello gentlemen. While you all were sleeping your lives away, Amy and I have attended all the best panels. And no, we won't tell you spoilers…" Sheldon almost jumped up and down, "Okay one, Underhill is an idiot."

"That's not a spoiler Sheldon you've been saying that for months."

"Well I now have confirmation. Oh and one more, Smoot is a diva, but Amy put him in his place!" Sheldon's giddy smile was disturbing to his tardy friends, plus they were all feeling a little guilty wondering where Sheldon had slept last night.

"Listen, pal. We all feel terrible about last night. Did you get another room? Where did ya sleep?" Howard asked, feeling uncomfortable that he had been so elated at Sheldon's disappearance.

Sheldon hid a smirk, and said quickly "Oh I got by. No need to worry."

Leonard now felt even worse about abandoning Sheldon thinking he had probably slept in the lobby. "Look, I am going to the front desk right now and changing the room to a double bed. Or Raj and Howard can take my room and we can switch to the double, okay?"

Sheldon's face twitched as he said, "Oh.. no need. I fixed the sleeping arrangements. It's all sorted." a little too eager to drop the subject.

"All sorted? Did you get a room? They just said they are fully booked. Where did you… Oh…. I get it…" Raj figured it out and gave Sheldon a beaming smile while he nudged him.

Sheldon feigned lack of knowledge of his friends insinuation, but his blushing face gave him away, "Get what, what are you getting?"

Leonard finally got the reference as well, "You dawg!"

Sheldon rolled his eyes, "Nothing happened! We just slept in the same bed. We didn't move all night."

"No movement? Buddy, I hate to tell ya, but to do it right, you have got to have some hip movements. Here, I call this one the Wolowitz Whopper!" Howard thrust his hips forward a few times in a circular motion. Sheldon wasn't the only one getting sick watching him.

"Howard, stop that gyration right now! Amy and I will do no such thing! We aren't even boyfriend/girlfriend yet."

"Woah, wait a minute. You slept with Amy, in the same bed? And you aren't even official? Damn dude, you're a stud!" Raj slapped him on the back and beamed at him.

Sheldon held his paper to his chest like a teddy bear, "I am not a stud! I will not sire offspring for a fee like a horse!"

Howard winked at him, "If you were like a horse, you could get good fee! I bet Amy would pay..."

Sheldon cut off Howard tawdry rant, "Stop that kinda talk right now. Just because Amy was naked doesn't mean anything…"

"Hold the phone, WHAT?!"

Sheldon's own ears couldn't believe he had let that little factoid slip, "Never mind… the panel is starting…" Sheldon almost ran off down the hall toward the doors leaving Howard, Raj and Leonard with looks of amazement painted on their faces.

"Don't tell me he's not a stud!"

Leonard looked nauseated, "Guys… I just realized…Once he is with Amy officially, there will no living with him! His ego will be size of the State he is from!"

All three men looked positively pale, "Oh god. What do you we do?"

Howard popped up, "Hey, there's a panel about going to Mars, maybe he'll sign up?"

Raj looked sad, "I hope he doesn't take Amy with him. I would really miss her…"

"He probably won't because he probably wouldn't even think of it." Howard and the guys started to troop toward the panel, but Leonard stopped them with a snap.

"Of course he would take Amy with him! Sheldon is not such an ass that he would sign up to go to Mars without Amy! Damn Howard, that's just cold!"

"I know, I should give him more credit! Our little homo novus is growing up so fast!"

"Yeah, well, if he goes, I still have to keep to rules of the apartment."

"How do you figure, he'll be millions of miles away."

Raj popped in, "yeah, like 225 Million km. Dude, there is no way he'd watch the thermostat."

"No it is already written into the agreement. If one of us goes on an interspace journey, the roommate agreement still applies unless one is informed of the other's death, and then only after an appropriate mourning period."

"Dude, you're screwed…"

After the panel, Sheldon almost ran out of the conference room to get away from the guys and to meet up with Amy for dinner. He did not want to have the guys make inappropriate comments to her that could interfere with his wish to stay with her again that night, but he had nothing to worry about, as Amy had been looking forward to the evening the entire day.

Eventually Sheldon found Amy in the crowd of biologists debating whether penis sizes were related to intelligence. When Sheldon approached the group, the three women she was speaking with all stepped back and eyed Sheldon with a lust fill scrutiny. Amy quickly pulled him away before the horny primatologists took out their measuring tape for his hands.

"Oh boy, Sheldon, they were ready to strap you on a table! We better get you outta here before they start to measure the banana locked in your puzzle box!"

"Amy, what do you…" When Amy looked down at Sheldon and then back up to his face with a waggle of her eyebrows and a wink, he knew what she meant.

"Oh dear…" Sheldon looked back in horror as the three cougars licked their lips eyeing a gazelle.

"Proposal: We eat dinner in your room. Away from all this.." Sheldon was getting crowd crazy from the hordes of people he feared would trample him any moment. Amy was also feeling a little claustrophobic, but it was the idea of having Sheldon all to herself that made her tremble. She couldn't get the scent of him off her and she didn't want to.

"I share your Enochlophobia at the moment. Let's go to our room."

"Well technically it's your room. I'm just couch surfing like some vagrant indie rock band member."

"Well, if you were a band member, you'd be the dreamy one and the smart one." Amy smiled and then looked away quickly before Sheldon had a chance to react to her compliment. Weaving their way through the crowd Amy was a nervous as a bride on her wedding night though she was making efforts to hide it from Sheldon.

Sheldon retrieved his bag from Howard's room and quickly brought it to Amy's. Though he was nervous and a little reluctant to just walk in with his keycard, he also did not want anyone to see him knocking at a lady's door with a suitcase in his hand.

Quickly entering the room he looked around for Amy and realized that she was in bathroom. Sheldon waited at the door, now unsure the protocol. Amy's room was spacious, with a desk big enough for two, and a large armoire. It seemed custom made for two people sharing a room, but to Sheldon, it suddenly felt small.

Amy emerged from the bathroom to find Sheldon eyeing the room with a glazed look on his face. Yep, she knew he would be freaking out about it at some point.

"Oh, good, you're here." Amy tried to act as causal as possible, but even she was nervous.

Sheldon just nodded. Amy sat on the chaise lounge at the end of the king size bed and tapped it for him to sit next to her. Sheldon did so, but so timidly that Amy sat away from him to give him some space.

"Look Sheldon. I can tell you're nervous."

"Well. A sleepover is a big step for us."

"It is, but we've already done it!" Amy saw that her reassurances weren't helping Sheldon, "Okay, let's do this. Suspend the dating clause of our relationship for one evening, okay? We are friends, nothing more. Staying with me will be no different than staying with Leonard, Raj nor Howard."

"Well, Leonard snores, Howard talks in sleep about women and Raj as it turns out, is a cuddler. But I see your point."

Amy smiled, "I am cuddler too, but for tonight… We will keep our sleepover G rated. We can order a pizza, and put on pajamas, it will be like a slumber party!" Amy voice raised like a preteen girl.

"Slumber party reminds me too much of my sister and all her friend's trying to put makeup on me. Let's just call it a sleepover."

Amy calmed down the giddy girl screeching and lowered her tone to business mode, '"Deal."

"Sleepover or not, you're not braiding my hair!" Sheldon held his hair defensively. Amy thought his twin sister must have really done a number on him over the years.

"Fine! Now go put away your stuff and get on your PJ's."

Sheldon stood up and went to unpack his clothes to put them in the armoire. Amy had not used it at all. Sheldon noticing a blanket on the top shelf quickly closed the door, "Umm. Ya know… I will just keep my clothes in the suitcase as we are leaving early tomorrow." He knew it was wrong, but he was hoping Amy would be freezing like an Eskimo without a parka tonight.

"No problem." Amy was on the phone ordering the pizza. By the time she was done, Sheldon had emerged from the bath, PJ's on and ready for the evening. "Um… Amy…. Can we make this evening PG, instead of G?"

"Why sure, what do you have in mind?" Amy was grateful she had not been facing him otherwise he would have seen her blush in an instant.

Sheldon announced happily, "That way we can watch Star Trek II, the Wrath of Khan."

Amy sighed silently, "Okay… but next slumber party, I choose the movie!"

Sheldon smiled widely, "Not slumber party... sleepover, but DEAL!" He was so elated that he didn't realize he had just agreed to another sleepover.

Amy hid her smile as she returned to the bathroom to wash her hair, don her snap down nightgown and robe. Coming back into the bedroom she sat on the chaise in front of the TV. It seemed so formal, so she shifted and laid on the bed facing the opposite way to watch TV and Sheldon mirrored her actions. They had watched about 20 minute before the pizza arrived, causing Sheldon to hide from the delivery guy so he wouldn't see him in a girl's room.

Amy had no such worries and grinned at Sheldon who was cowering behind the door, "Sheldon, don't be silly. The pizza guy doesn't care what we are doing in here."

They returned to the bed, sat up against the headboard and continued watching the movie, while eating most of the pizza and polishing off a six pack of Diet soda.

"Hold up. How can he come back and deal with the Romanians if he is buried on that Genesis planet?" Despite herself, Amy had become interested in Star Trek and Sheldon was thrilled.

"You'll have to see!" He smiled as he cleaned up the mess and hopped back onto the bed with Amy. She returned to her original posture and was lying on her side twisting her hair into braids unconsciously.

"Boy that guy from Fantasy Island is hot! How old is he? Look at that chest!" Amy was still playing with her hair, while licking her lips eyeing a very buff Ricardo Montalbán. Sheldon was not amused. Amy kept looking, "Is that even real?"

Sheldon growled, "Yes it's real and he is evil and through his actions, Spock dies, so no ogling."

"Yes, Captain." Amy smirked at him. Sheldon had to adjust himself hearing that title. It was going to be a long night, he thought.

After the film was finished, they played a few rounds of counterfactuals while Sheldon tried to ignore how adorable Amy looked in braids on either side of her face. She looked like a sexy farm girl in her striped nightgown that covered every inch of her and her side braids. She was now on her stomach and her calves sticking out of her nightgown made Sheldon wish he could up the rating for the evening. He even loved watching her brush her teeth. She seemed a master at handling an electric toothbrush. Everything she did was fascinating to him.

A thought struck him as they pulled down the blanket to go to bed. "Um, Amy. You seemed to sleep well last night. One wonders if that was from your drug induced addled state, or the um… position you slept in…"

Amy knew exactly what Sheldon was hinting at, and she wanted the same thing. Sleeping with him so close was one of the best nights she had had in long time. Touching him and feeling his arms surround her was addictive and she had been trying to think of a way to introduce the subject. Now Sheldon had given her the opening she so desperately wanted.

"Well… it would be easy to test those variables. We would have to recreate the conditions and then eliminate the key variable; in this case, the allergy medicine."

Sheldon sat up in bed and looked down at Amy's nightgown, "Um… All the conditions would have to be the same in order for the experiment to be valid, wouldn't you agree?"

"Oh I agree." Amy drew in a breath as she noticed Sheldon's pale tempting neck peeking out of his pajamas. "Completely."

Underneath the blankets, Amy snapped open her nightgown and took it off while Sheldon removed his shirts. Both had avoided each other's eyes as they undressed.

The two met in the middle of the bed, gingerly wrapped their arms around each other and Amy nuzzled into Sheldon's warm, inviting chest. She was still wearing her braids, and also her glasses. Sheldon reached up and pulled the glasses slowly off her face.

"You forgot these. Also, Amy… Your braids feel like snakes."

"Snakes? Okay. I'll take them out. Amy sat up, holding the blanket to her chest she unraveled her hair and placed her glasses on the nightstand. Though Sheldon tried to avoid watching her place her glasses on the nightstand he just couldn't steal his eyes away from her. The braids had now made her hair wavy and it flowed over her back like melted chocolate. He was disappointed to only catch a glimpse before she pulled the blanket over her shoulders again and resumed her position.

Though Amy was not as cold as the night before Sheldon could not forget the blanket in the closet and he felt he was a cad for hiding it from her.

"Amy, in the interest of full disclosure, there is a blanket in the cabinet, if you are cold. I didn't know it was there last night, or I would have gotten it for you." Sheldon looked down at Amy whose face was nestled into his neck.

Amy swallowed and with a husky voice said, "It's okay. I'm warmer with you than I would be with any hotel blanket." Amy leaned up and gave Sheldon a quick kiss on his cheek, "I know this is hard for you, and I appreciate you keeping me warm. Thank you, Sheldon."

Sheldon leaned in to her cheek, feeling the heat off her skin on his lips. He placed a small kiss on her cheek, but only pulled away an inch. "Amy, thank you for letting me stay."

Amy tried to hold her breath in, but she let it out in spurts. She could barely breathe with him so close to her. She bent her head the short distance and kissed his cheek, "And thank you for keeping warm again tonight." Then she leaned in and did it again "And for being honest."

She pulled back slightly but Sheldon held her close. He swallowed and placed another kiss on her cheek, this time moving closer to her mouth, "Um… thank you for bringing the paper."

"Thank you for that lovely Cordon Bleu dinner." Amy kept her mouth near his cheek. Sheldon didn't pull away.

"Thank you for helping me with the Physics bowl." He kissed her cheek and pulled her closer to him.

Amy lingered a little longer and breathed her thank you on his cheek. He could almost taste the mint from her toothpaste. Her hair was now tumbled around her face. "Thank you for going with me to the wedding."

Sheldon reached up with his hand and held her jaw as he leaned in and kissed her cheek again.

"Thank you for getting rid of Ramona."

Amy kissed his cheek near the corner of his mouth, "For folding away all my boxes."

"For still talking to me after I broke into your apartment to get at those boxes." His kiss lingered on his cheek and he moved his mouth toward her ear feeling her skin on his lips.

"For helping me when I got drunk with Penny."

Sheldon pulled back in surprise, "You knew it was me that took care of you that night?"

"I did, later. But I should have realized given how well my sweater was folded. Thank you… Again." Amy leaned close again and kissed his cheek.

"Amy…" He let his kiss linger as he moved his mouth to the side of hers. She could almost taste his breath, "Thank you.. for moving in to 4B."

Amy turned her head, and her lips glazed around his. Sheldon's breath was shallow. He closed his eyes, and let his lips barely touch hers before he pulled away and opened his eyes. Amy's eyes were still closed, waiting for him to kiss her.

He moved his mouth to her ear and whispered, "Amy, I want to kiss you, but I have no parameters to do so. I kissed you on New Year's because it was a social convention. I kissed you at the wedding for a ruse, but.."

Amy blinked her eyes open and pulled back, "Sheldon… It's okay. You can kiss me. I give you permission."

"But why?"

"WHY?! Because you want to? Isn't that a good enough reason?"

"No… It's not!"

"But you kissed me when you drank that tea?"

"Yes, but I was a cad to do so. No better than Victor." Sheldon looked away from her face and perched his lips. He was convinced she went to Saudi because of his aborrant behavior. Sheldon looked back at her and sucked in his bottom lip in shame.

"Oh Sheldon, that's silly." Sheldon looked down when she spoke. She should not dismiss his fears so readily. So instead she realized what he needed, and smiled, "I get it… You need context."

Sheldon relaxed, and gave her a smile, "Yes. I can't just kiss you because I want to. It's not right. We aren't even…" Sheldon drew in a breath and said quietly, "In the spirit of full disclosure, my body does not realize that we are not a couple."

Amy whispered back to him, "My body doesn't realize it either, Sheldon." Sheldon raised his eyes at her admission.

"Well…" She leaned back on the pillow and put her finger to her lips as if she was thinking, though she knew exactly what to say, "If we were dating, it would easier. You could kiss me whenever you wanted… though with certain restrictions. like no public kissing. That's tacky."

Sheldon sat up and leaned toward her with a smile, "Really?" He looked at her with a skeptical glare, "Whenever I want?"

"Not in public." She corrected him.

"Of course, but... that doesn't seem right."

"Well, social convention dictates that you may kiss a person after a date, or if you are pair bonded usually whenever you want."

"But we went on two dates, and we didn't kiss?" Sheldon slumped down and whined.

Amy couldn't help teasing him "Sorry buddy." She shook her head, "You missed your chance!"

"Rats. I need these rules ahead of time before our next date! That's not fair!"

"I understand. However...You know what, Sheldon. It makes me think…" Amy moved closer to Sheldon and licked her upper lip, "Given the definition of a "Date" we have actually been on more than two."

Sheldon bent his elbow and sat up, "Oh, really? How do you figure?"

"Well, remember when you paid my way into the zoo? That could be considered a date." Amy bit her bottom lip and ran her fingers down his neck towards his chest. She then outlined his bicep on his bent arm. She stifled her whimpering. Sheldon started to quiver but still managed to answer her.

"That's only because you forgot to break a hundred when you cashed your check. I just fronted you the money." Amy stopped her hand on his chest and rolled her eyes at him missing her easy out. Sheldon finally got the hint and replied quickly, "Oh, but I see what you mean… But monetary constraints shouldn't determine a date." He sat up a little bit and inched closer to her, "But you could count whenever we went to the Zoo."

"Or the museum." Her head was under his jaw, so she couldn't see his reactions to her touching his neck, almost marking the territory she wanted to kiss him with a finger trail. His smell was inducing a fervor in her.

"Or the observatory."

"Anytime we had dinner, just the two of us." Amy inched her way closer to him and continued her trail down his neck to his chest and back to his ear.

"Or went to the train store." Sheldon was on a roll, but Amy stopped him dead in his tracks.

"Forget it pal. There is no way going to the train store counts as a date! Or if it does it's the worst date ever."

Amy edged back to him, and played with his chest hair slightly, "Sheldon let's use that sexy memory of yours, shall we."

"Sexy?"

"Yep, it makes the uterus quiver, Sheldon." Sheldon eyes popped open, but Amy was unabashed, "Back to business… Given these new parameters, how many dates have we been on since we've known each other?"

Sheldon looked away for a moment then turned back to her confident in his number, "273."

Amy let out a quivering sigh, "Well… I may be just a biologist, but that is way more than three, wouldn't you say?"

"Yes… it is most definitely more.." Sheldon pulled her by the bare waist closer to him. His hands trailed up to her spine to her hair and held onto the back of her head while he moved her on her back.

"Given this new information, I can only say that I would like to alter the paradigm of our relationship, Sheldon."

Sheldon couldn't hide his grin. He tried to bite his lip, but he was too excited, "I'm listening…"

Amy placed her hand on his chest, and almost pushed him back, "But everything is going to change, Sheldon. Physical and otherwise, are you okay with that?"

"Oh, I'm counting on it." He pulled her hand off his chest and wrapped it around his neck, as he moved closer to her.

"Then… um.. I would like to no longer consider you not.. not my friend. I mean, my friend, but not not your girl/friend. I mean.." Amy's stumbling was due to Sheldon continuing to close the gap between them till only centimeters separated them.

"Amy, let me do it before you butcher the English language with a quadruple negative, okay?"

"Okay.." It was Amy's turn to suppress her grin. Sheldon put his hands on either side of her face, holding it gently while he asked the question he had wanted to ask so long ago. The fear that had crippled him was now gone, and all the reasons that stopped him before forgotten. The only thing he knew was that he wanted her, the only thing he wanted to feel was her touch and all he wanted to see was her smiling face, "Amy… will you be my girlfriend."

Amy blinked her sparking large green eyes a few times, bit her lip for a second and answered as she leaned closer to him, "Yes."

He felt a wave of closure flood him and instant relief.

"Oh, thank god that's over…" Sheldon pulled her by her neck to meet him halfway but she was already at his lips. The first urgent kiss was unbroken until each of them were gasping for air. Sheldon pulled back and looked at Amy, half expecting it to be the dream or fantasy that had been plaguing him for months. He could feel her under him, her warm body fused with his. He leaned down kiss her again, this time without the urgency. He let his mouth move over hers as his hands moved to her back and shoulder blades. Sheldon's light touch tickled Amy a little, and she let out a quivering moan that opened her mouth. Sheldon remembered the kiss she had given him after she had returned from the hospital. He wanted to return it, perfect it, and practice it until he was a master.

His tongue savored the hint of mint on her lower lip and begged for more. Amy's roaming hands pulled Sheldon by the small of his back closer to her each time his tongue glided across hers. Sheldon moved his hands around her shoulder blades to her ribs, then to the sides of breasts. He stopped as soon as he felt his fingers move closer, almost grasping her. Amy stopped as well, and they both looked at each, surprised how quickly things had escalated.

"Amy. I am not sure what to do. I mean what I can do." He hadn't moved his hand from under her breast. Amy shifted up and Sheldon's hand fell to her hip.

"This is new for me as well. I am not sure protocols or parameters either." Suddenly Amy shot Sheldon a beaming smile.

"I've got the answer!" Amy sat up, holding the covers to her chest, she replaced her glasses and grabbed at her robe at the end of the bed.

"What, Amy? Where are you going?"

"I should have done this earlier." Amy threw on the robe and went to her briefcase. She pulled out a bonded stack of papers and then turned to Sheldon who by now had also got out of bed and put on his robe. Confused by her actions, he followed her to the middle of room.

"Amy, what are you doing?"

Amy smiled, "I present to you the relationship agreement. A binding covenant that, in its 35 pages, enumerates, iterates and codifies the rights and responsibilities of Sheldon Lee Cooper, here and after known as the boyfriend, and Amy Farrah Fowler, here and after known as the girlfriend." Amy handed him his own document and sat on the chaise lounge, hoping she had done the right thing.

Sheldon looked at the paper with awe. "Amy, I don't understand. Is this my relationship agreement?"

"No. It's ours." Amy winked at him, "I used the good paper too!"

Sheldon held the document to her, "You want this? I mean, I told Leonard about it, and he thought I was crazy."

"Phooey on Leonard and anyone else who tells us how to be a couple! He always says that to you when he doesn't agree with your opinion. You have given us a guide for our relationship, Sheldon. And you did this long before I even thought you were remotely interested in me. Do I want it? Yes, but with my changes. Your old document kept me at arm's length and I understood that. But things have changed between us, and you don't need to do that anymore. You need to read it and see if YOU want it now. You may not."

"35 pages? But it was 31 pages?"

"I added a few things… Go ahead, read it."

Sheldon flipped through the document like a speed reader. Everything was the same except she had clarified some loopholes he had specifically left out. She had expanded the holiday section, the familial visits, travel requirements, and most glaring: she had completely altered the physical contact section. Amy's relationship agreement was more about compromise and communication than constraint.

Amy held her hands tightly as she explained the document. "The changes are in the physical section, I thought it was too restrictive. I added that we can proceed through the customary advancements of intimacy, at our pace. If at any time, one or the other party doesn't like the pace, all they need to say is stop. If all you want to do is just kissing, that's fine. We can stop there. If you want more, we can proceed. Oh and there is no set schedule or timeline we have to reach. We can just have kissing for years before we move to another stage. No expectations, but parameters."

Sheldon looked at Amy with awe. She knew he needed the agreement to feel comfortable and she didn't ridicule him for it as other's might do. She recognized all his needs and tried to fulfill them. He was astounded how well she understood him.

"Amy… I just don't know what to say."

"Well, if you agree, you can sign it along with my signature on page 35. Then I'm all yours."

"Mine?" Sheldon said the word with almost a hungry growl to his voice. Little did Amy know how she had tapped into his possessive streak. No more dates with strangers or picture book store owners. No more would he have to worry about her looking for someone better than he, she would be his. She was willing to wait for him. She wanted him, quirks and all.

"That is if you'll have me?" she added innocently. She saw his demeanor change instantly as he almost ran to the desk, scribble his name across the bottom of page 35, then slowly turn his head toward her with a coy grin. His head was down as he eyed Amy across the room. He stripped off his robe and threw it on the chair as his cat like movements inched closer to Amy.

Amy knew Sheldon's faces. She had memorized all of them, but this one was new; hungry and determined. Her body shivered she met his gaze.

Sheldon crossed the room like a panther stalking his prey. Amy started to back up to the bed as he approached her. She was unsure what he was going to do to her, but she knew one thing, he was in control. Amy fell back onto the bed and used her elbows to inch her way up but Sheldon was on her, following her every movement, never breaking his gaze on her. He crawled over her, trapping her against the headboard.

Amy almost couldn't catch a breath before he dove in her mouth. His hands moved around her face and neck, holding her, possessing her. He had positioned himself between her legs, trapping her against the headboard, but Amy didn't mind. She did however need to catch her breath. As soon as she turned her head to gasp for oxygen, Sheldon moved his mouth to her neck, kissing her, tasting her. He pulled off her robe from her shoulders and his mouth followed the trail left behind by the thin cloth. He held her up by the small of her back, feeling her the tips of her hair tickling his hands. Amy arched her back, sliding more underneath Sheldon but he was moving at a light speed. He didn't take a second on one spot before he moved to another. Every sensation, taste and smell he felt he had to capture before it disappeared. It was too fast, too much. Amy had to pull him back, but she was lost in the new feeling as well. She didn't want everything over so soon, but she didn't want to stop.

"Sheldon… Wait." He didn't hear her. He had pulled off her robe and exposed her chest to him. His tongue danced and caressed over her nipples while his other hand squeezed and pulled her closer to him. He was devouring her, one inch of her at a time, but before Amy could get used to one tantalizing sensation, he quickly shifted to another.

He moved his hips closer to her, pulling her legs apart by prying her open with his body. Amy held onto his neck and called out to him again, "Sheldon! Wait." Just as quickly as it all started, he stopped his movements and looked at her. He was mortified he had lost control. Never had he felt that complete surrender to his body's wishes. He hoped Amy would forgive him, but the look she gave him said there was nothing to forgive.

She wore her understanding face, of comfort and love. It was one of his favorite Amy faces, and much needed at this point. She didn't look mad or annoyed, but instead she offered him a sweet smile and gently ran her hand down his jaw. "Slow and steady wins the race, right? I mean, we've only been dating for two minutes and here we are in bed together." She let out a small laugh and nuzzled into his chest.

Sheldon shifted on his side and pulled her closer to him, "Yes, Amy. You're right. I just…" Sheldon let out a large sigh to regain his breathing rhythm and steady his heart beat.

"I know… me too." Amy kissed his neck and jaw, "It's overwhelming. But I'm not going anywhere. Oh, and you know where I live, so no escape!"

"I should hope not!" Sheldon shifted to his side as did Amy. He looked saddened as he remembered something he wanted to forget. He traced his hand down her face, brushing her wild hair off her cheek, "Amy… I have to leave early in the morning. The train leaves…"

"I know. Don't worry. I'll see you when we get back home. It will only be 12 hours." Sheldon shifted on his back, and pulled Amy on his chest with a gentle pull.

But Sheldon wasn't thinking of the 12 hours or the train ride. He was only thinking this time tomorrow night he would be sleeping in his bed; alone. He pulled her closer and let his finger tips glide over her shoulder and back. Somehow, the few feet of space between their homes seemed oceans away. He savored every touch as he drifted off to sleep with Amy nestled in his arms.

The next morning, Sheldon blinked his eyes open at 5:00 AM. He had to be dressed, fed and out the door by six to catch the shuttle to the train, but he stole five more minutes of Amy in his arms. She hadn't moved all night. He would have to tell her when he saw her later that evening back in Pasadena.

He woke and quietly got ready for the day, while Amy slept. He left her note and snuck out to meet Leonard for breakfast, but his mind wasn't on food.

Leonard's voice rose a little to get his attention at the restaurant, "Sheldon… Did you hear that? The waitress wants to know what you want for breakfast."

"Okay Leonard, yeah good. You too…"

Leonard just rolled his eyes, "Oh, brother.. Give him oatmeal. 2% milk. No butter, no raisins, extra brown sugar." Sheldon had been in a haze all morning.

The sweet middle aged waitress winked at Leonard, "You got it sweetie, you guys are such a cute couple!"

Leonard called back to the waitress, "We're not a couple!" But she was already gone.

Sheldon had been completely unaware of what was going on around him. He was in a daze with a strange look on his face and Leonard was beginning to worry. How could his friend look so happy and sad at the same time?

"Sheldon, are you okay?"

Sheldon didn't look at him but instead in the distance, "Everything has changed, Leonard."

"For the better?"

Sheldon finally snapped out of his haze and said assuredly, "Yes. I am surprised that I can honestly say some change is a good thing."

"I'm glad you said that, because, Raj, Howard and I have booked plane tickets home… We just can't take that long train ride, Sheldon." Leonard winced waiting for the oncoming storm, but it never came.

Instead, Sheldon's eyes lit up and asked hopefully, "Can I get a ticket too?"

"You want to NOT take the train?"

"No… I just want to get home. As soon as possible Leonard."

"Okay, buddy, I'll try right now..."Leonard tried to book a flight to Burbank, but all the flights were full. Sheldon received this news at the same time as the waitress delivered the oatmeal Leonard had ordered for him.

Sheldon looked at his meal in disgust, "In what universe do I have oatmeal on Sunday?"

"I thought you said change was good?"

"Not this change! Oh man… I should never leave something so important to amateurs." Sheldon muttered as he begrudgingly ate his breakfast. "Oatmeal on Sunday? What, the did hippy fumes from Haight and Asbury fry your brain, Leonard? We better get out of this libertine bastion before we succumb to the patchouli and start weaving serapes."

After breakfast he stomped off alone toward the shuttle to take him to the train station. He took one last look up to the 5th floor, thinking of Amy sleeping away in the bed they shared.

Normally, he would have loved the solitude of the train, but today, the clickety clack of the rails only served to remind him that he was alone. He wanted Amy next to him again, and to be able to breathe in the cherry scent of her hair. It would now be a long 11 hours before he saw her and after waiting for so long to be with her, he didn't want to spend so many hours apart. Getting his ticket out of his bag he smiled when he saw the copy of the relationship agreement. As he pushed his way through the crowd to the platform, he saw a familiar beloved figure waiting by the train, it was Amy. He couldn't contain his smile.

"Amy! What are you doing here?"

"Relationship agreement section 6, paragraph 3: When either party is traveling to the same location as the other party, the travel will be ..." She didn't get to finish before he pulled her into a quick hug and kissed her cheek.

She smiled and hugged him back, "Did you even read the agreement? I could have put anything in there."

"I trust you, Amy!" Sheldon smiled faded as Amy winked at him with a suspicious grin. He vowed to go over that agreement with a fine toothed comb. "Or should I?"

Amy smirked at him, "Hey… feel free to get a lawyer…"

Sheldon helped her with her bags, and they found the perfect spot on the train to see the coast. They sat on the same side of the table so they could see the track disappear. Amy listened while Sheldon explained all the suspension characteristics of a pre-1980 Pullman-built Superliner Deluxe passenger coach while she listened to the clicky clack of the rails and Sheldon's voice as she leaned her head on his chest.

Amy laughed, "Now I know I love you. Your train talk is almost interesting." Amy looked up to Sheldon, but he had a strange look on his face. It was a mix of surprise, glee and relief.

"You said it…"

Amy smirked at his surprise, "Well, it took me awhile to realize it, but yeah. I do"

"As much I hate discussing emotions…" Sheldon gave her a smile and said quietly, "I didn't know I loved you for a long time, but once I did, I figured out the day it happened."

"Really?" Amy sat up and looked at him with a quizzical stare, "When?"

Sheldon gave Amy a nostalgic smile, as he kissed her cheek and whispered in her ear, "September 26th, 2007, 12:47 PM"