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Chapter 1.

Leonard and Penny stood outside Sheldon's bedroom door, feeling guilty.

It was only meant as a bit of teasing, when Penny suggested Amy and Sheldon have imaginary sex, in the Dungeons and Dragons game, but Amy had been embarrassed, and had run off to Sheldon's room, with Sheldon following her.

They'd been in there quite a while, and Penny was starting to worry.

Knocking gently on the door, Leonard called "Hey, you guys have been in there for a while. You doing okay?"

Sheldon's voice came through the door, "We're fine, thank you".

Penny began, "Okay, we just want to say, we feel really bad about…", but she was cut off, mid sentence by Amy's voice, which was getting more urgent with each word, "Go away!" Amy shouted, "Sheldon is nibbling on my".

There was the sound of dice being rolled, then Amy shouted "14! Yes!"

Leonard gave Penny a 'what the hell?' kind of look, and they both slipped away, back to the living room.

-o-o-o-o-

In the bedroom, Amy sat on the bed, alongside Sheldon, as he bagged up the D&D dice.

With a grin, she said "You realize Leonard and Penny will be wondering what we've been doing in here".

Sheldon shrugged, "Serves them right".

Getting up from the bed, he made his way round to the other side, and placed the bag of dice on the shelf, before turning back to the bed, leaning over to pick up the book they'd been using as a dice table.

As he leaned nearer to her, Amy pushed her head toward him and planted her lips on his.

The kiss only lasted for a second, and it was with a closed mouth, but when she drew back, Sheldon's eyes were wide and his mouth agape.

Seeing the look on Sheldon's face, she began to panic. Had she ruined everything, for a brief kiss?

"I-I-I'm so sorry Sheldon" she stammered.

Feeling the need to flee, she began to stand, again repeating her apology, "I-I-I'm so sorry Shel…".

Before she could complete his name, her words were stifled by Sheldon's mouth, as it covered hers, his hands gripping the sleeves of her cardigan.

The kiss was clumsy and hurried, lasting a few seconds at most, but it stirred a deep feeling in her.

He broke the kiss and drew his head back, and Amy could see into his eyes. There was something in them she'd never seen before. It was a deep penetrating, unblinking look, that excited her.

Amy was now on the back foot. "OK Sheldon" she gasped, "I really think we need to slow this down".

His face twitched and his body trembled, as he continued to stare into her eyes.

Kneeling on the bed, he began to crawl toward her like a Leopard, slowly closing the gap between them. In a low voice he said "I don't want to slow it down".

Leaping from the bed, Amy headed for the door, but Sheldon beat her to it.

"Sheldon" she said, "Let me out".

He considered her for a moment, then stepped out of the way, giving access to the door.

As she took hold of the doorknob, Sheldon's mouth found her neck, a kiss so brief and tender there was barely any contact, but it sent bolts of electricity through her body.

She was frozen to the spot, her mind a mass of conflicting emotions, shock, surprise, excitement, desire, all fighting for control of her.

In the end, excitement and desire shared the winners podium.

Her breath coming in gasps, she turned to look him in the eyes. The deep penetrating, unblinking look was still there.

Surrendering to the winning emotions, she threw her arms around his neck and crushed her mouth to his, as they stumbled toward the bed, falling onto it, with her landing on top of him.

She tried to roll off him, but he wrapped his arms around her body, his mouth still pressed to hers.

The kiss continued, then his tongue slipped from between his lips and briefly flicked across hers.

She'd never experienced a kiss like this, and the taste and sensation drove her wild.

Finally breaking the kiss, she raised her head and stared into his eyes, her heart pounding, as she gasped "Oh my God Sheldon".

He stared back at her, his breathing so urgent and labored, Amy was being lifted several inches with each breath.

Finally, as his breathing slowed, he released his grip and she rolled onto the bed alongside him.

Turning toward him, Amy said "Sheldon, that was amazing, but we really need to talk, before we go any further".

Rolling toward her, Sheldon lifted himself onto his elbow. "I know what I want" he said, "and I believe it's the same as you, but if you would like to compile lists, we can do that".

"OK" she said, "let me know when you've compiled your list".

"No need" he replied. My list is already complete".

Hesitatingly, she said, "OK, what does it contain?"

With a smile, he replied "Everything".

-o-o-o-o-

Sitting in the drivers seat of her car, Amy tried to put the key in the ignition, but her hands were trembling so much, she couldn't manage it.

Her mind was racing, at the conversation she had just had.

Sheldon had elaborated on what he meant by everything, and it turned out he really did mean everything.

As he had spelt out the list, she had been both excited and terrified. The list consisted of hand holding, kissing, bodily contact, and coitus.

She too had wanted all these things, but now they were a real possibility, she was frightened.

It seemed their roles had been reversed, and Sheldon was now the one craving intimacy, while she was no longer certain.

When he had asked her about her list, she'd stalled, saying she would compile it tomorrow, and text it to him.

She really needed advice, but she could think of nobody she could seek it from. Certainly, she couldn't approach anyone from her and Sheldon's group of friends.

Finally, taking a deep breath, she steadied her hand enough to insert the key and start the engine.

Swinging out of the Los Robles Avenue parking lot, she drove toward Glendale and home, grateful for the low traffic volume at this time of the night.

When she arrived home, she made herself a cup of chamomile tea, but it did little to calm her nerves.

Making a second cup, she settled on the couch, and mulled over the night's events, until, at about 3am, She finally drifted into a fitful sleep.

-o-o-o-o-

As sunlight began to enter her living room, Amy blinked awake.

Getting up from the couch, she rolled her head to ease the crick in her neck, then made her way to the bathroom.

Turning on the bath taps, she began to undress, placing each item in a neat pile by the hand basin.

As she placed her panties on the top of the pile, she paused, thinking yet again about last night.

"This is ridiculous" she thought. "Of all the people in the world, Sheldon Cooper is the most ideally matched to me. If I'm going to have a relationship with someone, he's the perfect choice".

Turning the bath taps off, she slipped on her bathrobe and padded to the living room, to collect her cell phone.

Sitting on the edge of the bath, she wrote a quick text, 'My list is the same. I'm in - AFF'.

Reading it once more, she pressed send. Taking a deep breath, she held it then let it out. "That's it" she thought, "No turning back now".

Two minutes later, a text arrived. With shaking hands, she opened it.

'Good. Shall we begin this evening? - SLC'.

She texted straight back, 'Yes please. Your place or mine? - AFF'.

Almost instantly, another text arrived. 'Your place. 7-30? BTW. Sorry, should've mention earlier, ILY - SLC'.

She stared at the text, her heart doing summersaults, as she reread the second set of capital letters.

With trembling hands, she typed a reply. '7-30 is fine. See you then. ILYT - AFF'.

Pressing send, she waited for the confirmation bleep, then putting the phone on the window sill, she slipped off the bathrobe and climbed into the bath.

Laying back in the bath, she relaxed into the bubbles, letting her mind drift back to last night. An image lingered in her thoughts. It was Sheldon's face, as he lay beside her, that beautiful, unafraid smile on his face, as he mouthed the word 'everything'.

She wished she too had an eidetic memory, so she could file away that image for all time.

As she soaked in the bath, she swung between a feeling of pure bliss and one of nervousness, bordering on sheer terror.

She berated herself for being silly. Nothing they would be doing would be particularly frightening. New and novel yes, exciting undoubtedly, but it would all be pleasurable.

Finally, she picked up the soap and sponge and began washing herself.

When she was finished, she ducked her head under the water to rinse her face and hair, before pulling the plug and climbing out of the bath.

Reaching for the bathrobe, she paused, then left it were it was on the hook.

Glancing down at her own body, she considered it for a long moment. "If I'm going to be intimate with Sheldon" she thought, "then I'd better get used to the idea of being naked".

Grabbing a towel, she wrapped it round her head, covering her hair. Grabbing a second towel, she flicked it over her shoulder and wandered casually from the bathroom, across the hall and into the bedroom.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, she began drying herself, feeling the soft fluffy towel caress her warm damp skin. She felt different somehow, lighter, happier, more comfortable in her own skin.

"Is this" she wondered, "what it's like to be in love?"

When she was dry, she stood up and made her way to the dresser. Opening the top drawer, she took hold of a pair of panties.

Thinking for a moment, she let them go and, instead, knelt down and opened the bottom drawer. Reaching in, she removed a flattish cardboard box.

Opening the box, she took out a pair of skimpy, frilly white panties and a matching bra. She'd bought them as an impulse buy, several years ago, but had never worn them.

Stepping into the panties, she pulled them up, settling them into position.

Swinging open the door of her closet, she examined herself in the full length mirror.

The panties were tiny, the waistband just a narrow strip of elasticated material, with a similarly small piece of material passing between her legs.

Slipping on the bra, she tried to pull the cups up far enough to cover her breasts, but there was nowhere near enough material. She felt that if she leaned forward, she would literally fall out.

With a bit of tugging and jiggling, she managed to get her nipples covered, but only just.

Looking herself up and down in the mirror, she grinned as she thought "Sheldon will have a heart attack if he sees me in these".

Undressing again, she draped the bra and panties across the top of the dresser, making a mental note to wear them tonight. Even if Sheldon wouldn't know she was wearing them, she would, and the thought of it made her feel more desirable.

-o-o-o-o-

At 6pm, Amy took a shower, then dried herself and got dressed.

She followed through with her decision to wear the skimpy underwear, together with a light blouse, topped with a cardigan, and a knee length skirt. She ditched the heavy woolen tights, opting instead for a much thinner pair, that made her skin visible through them. She was treading a fine line between looking attractive and scaring the hell out of Sheldon.

At 7-25pm, she heard Sheldon's telltale triple knocking. Smiling, she thought "Some things never change".

Opening the door, she said "Good evening Sheldon. Please come in".

As he entered the apartment, he held out a bottle.

Taking it, Amy Glanced at the label. "Sheldon" she said, "You don't drink".

"Alcohol free" he replied, "I thought it sensible for is both to avoid intoxication tonight, in case it should cause us to do something we might regret".

Amy frowned. "You might regret doing things with me?"

"Sorry" he said, "bad choice of words. How about, get carried away and do something we're not quite ready for?"

The smile returning to her face, she took a seat on the couch and said "Sheldon, please come and sit down".

As he sat down beside her, Amy noticed he was sitting very close.

She didn't want to put a dampener on the evening, but she had to know.

"Sheldon" she began, "why the change?"

"Change?" he asked, "what change are you talking about?"

"The change in you" she said. "Since last night, you are suddenly confident. I mean, look at you. You're sitting just inches from me."

Sheldon looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry" he said, "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable".

"No, no" she replied, "it's OK. It's you that is usually uncomfortable, with being so close, yet you're not".

He thought for a moment. "Well" he began, "it was last night, when you ran to the bedroom. You were so frightened. It was then I realized, you were as frightened as I am.

He paused, scanning her eyes for signs of understanding.

Seeing none, he continued. "It was then I realized you would never hurt me, because you know what it's like to be afraid. I know you will be gentle".

Amy's heart melted. Here was a man, terrified of intimacy, who had found someone he trusted completely, and it was her.

She felt a great privilege had been bestowed upon her. He'd placed his very heart and soul into her tender care.

"Oh my" she said, "that's the kindest, sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me".

A wave of guilt sweeping over her, she said "Would you excuse me, for just a minute".

Standing up, she made her way to her bedroom. Closing the door behind her, she reached under her skirt and pulled down her panties. Taking them off, she opened the closet and threw them to the very back of the top shelf.

Taking off her cardigan and blouse, she shrugged off the bra and threw that onto the top shelf as well.

Opening the top drawer of the dresser, she took out the original bra and panties.

Quickly, she stepped into the panties and slid them into position, then put on the bra, followed by the blouse and cardigan.

Checking herself in the mirror, she satisfied herself she didn't look any different, then opening the door, she took a deep breath and returned to the living room.

Turning the corkscrew, she asked "Glass of wine Sheldon?"

"Yes please" he replied.

Handing him a glass, she sat alongside him on the couch.

"Sheldon" she said, "You will tell me if I'm sitting too close, won't you?"

"Of course I will" he replied, as he squeezed up even closer.