Hello folks! This started out as a little something to fill in between episodes 09x10 "The Earworm Reverberation" and 09x11 "The Opening Night Excitation". Somehow it turned out to be more. What exactly I don't know yet. Here it is anyways.


The Path of Realization

Chapter One

There had been something different about him. She'd noticed almost as soon as she'd opened the door to talk to him. While he'd always be Sheldon – in all his special ways- there'd been a different aura surrounding him. He'd appeared a little desperate, but mostly sure of what he wanted. While that shouldn't have been surprising because Sheldon was always very self-conscious, it had astonished her because it'd been her that he'd wanted.

Amy's next clue had been the way he'd wrapped his arms around her to kiss her. He'd never held her like that before. And even though Dave had kind of made him do it, he'd kissed her – unscheduled, passionately and because he'd wanted to.

Amy could still feel her lips tingle. Wow.
Now, hours later she still couldn't believe Sheldon had made out with her. His blue eyes had been dilated once he'd pulled away and he'd send her a smile that had been both, sexy and adorable.
"Maybe we should sit down. My legs are wobbling," he'd suggested and Amy had just gaped at him because…really? He wasn't running away, even though his mind had apparently caught up with his actions?

Dumbstruck, she'd simply nodded and they'd walked over to her couch and had sat down. Embarrassed, Amy had noticed that hers and Dave's wine glasses had still been on the table.

"Uh…I'll just…" Awkwardly, she'd grabbed them to put them away. Somehow, now that she and Sheldon were back together, it had felt like a betrayal.

"Would you like some Yoo-hoo?"

"That'd be great. Although, I must admit it makes me wonder why you still bought it, given that you could not have known I'd come and try to get us back together."

Amy couldn't help but blush. "Well…we were still friends and I had it here for you even when we weren't dating in the beginning. It's almost natural for me to put it in the cart when I'm grocery shopping. Besides that, I guess a part of me was always hoping you'd change your mind."

They had talked for a while and then Sheldon had asked to watch a movie and to her complete surprise, he'd willingly held her hand. Afterwards, she'd moved to drive him home but Sheldon told her, he'd already texted Leonard because he didn't want her out on the streets that late and by herself.
She'd been touched.

Then he'd kissed her again, not as passionately as before though, and had vanished.

Amy was still unable to wrap her mind around all that. They were back together and Sheldon had kissed her more tonight than in the five years they had been dating. It was completely shocking and Amy didn't quite know how to act around him now that he'd been so forthcoming with physical affection. Did that mean that he was open to…more?

Gritting her teeth, Amy forced her mind to stop. This was still Sheldon and no matter for what reason he'd acted the way he had tonight, did not necessarily mean anything. She shouldn't get her hopes up.

Turning to lie on her left, Amy forced her eyes shut and her mind off in order to find some much needed sleep.

Amy had just started dissecting the newest brain she'd only received yesterday when her phone informed her of an incoming message.

Penny.

Amy smiled, knowing what this was probably about. While their breakup had been devastating for Sheldon and her, she knew it had also not been easy for Penny, since they were all friends. They were besties and well, whatever one wanted to call Sheldon's and Penny's relationship, Amy thought it was very similar to what siblings acted like around each other. While she knew Sheldon didn't have the best relationship with his actual siblings Missy and George Jr., it was different with Penny. Probably because she'd never bullied him as a child.

»Morning Ames. How did it go with Smelly Shelly last night? He realized what you meant to him through a song and then ran out the door. We supposed it was to get you back. How did it go?«

Amy, filled with giddy excitement, decided to simply call her friend. Luckily, Penny was apparently ready to take her call.

"Hey bestie," Amy greeted happily which caused Penny to chuckle at the other end of the line.

"Wow, someone's in a good mood today. So I take it Sheldon did something right kast night?"

Amy giggled, unable to help herself. "You have no idea. He kissed me. Like in made out with me. Red swollen lips and all."

"Wow," Penny said incredulously, "I didn't know he had it in him."

"Yeah, me neither, sister," Amy agreed, "but I'm trying to be calm about this. He's still Sheldon and I highly doubt anything will change in the physical regard."

"I don't know, he might surprise you. He sure as hell surprised me."

Frowning, Amy asked what she meant by that, but Penny quickly changed the subject. "Listen, now that you're back together, does that mean you'll eat with us tonight? It's been so long and Bernadette and I feel lonely without you."

"I don't know," Amy replied honestly. While Penny mostly lived in 4A now, it didn't seem right to join them simply because Penny had invited her. Sheldon had to want her there too because Amy didn't want to break the fragile thing they had going now.

"Aww, come on, Amy. Please."

Not wanting to disappoint her bestie, Amy tried to be diplomatic. "I'll see what I can do."

Maybe later she'd come up with an excuse why she couldn't join them. They said their goodbyes and Amy promised to call her friend later.

Refocusing on the child's brain in front of her again, Amy realized this would be an excuse as good enough as any. Everyone knew how important her work was to her. Her gaze went to her phone again and Amy frowned. When they'd been dating before the breakup, Sheldon had texted her every morning to inform her of how he'd slept. Of course that had been because of his OCD, but she'd gotten used to this routine as well.

He had not contacted her since he'd left her apartment last night. What did that mean? Maybe in the months of their breakup he'd gotten used to the new routine.

Shaking her head, Amy reprimanded herself. She'd promised herself not to dwell on these things anymore. She loved him just the way he was and wouldn't try to change him anymore. She only made them both miserable if she tried.

Around lunchtime Sheldon's three characteristic knocks pulled her out of work mode. She looked up and found him slightly leaning against the door frame. The pose caused him body to stretch a little and Amy found she couldn't look away.

"Hi," she greeted after a moment. It wasn't like him to simply appear unscheduled. It usually only happened under the influence of alcohol or stress. It worried her.

"Hello Amy Farrah Fowler," he greeted, holding up a plastic bag. "I brought lunch."

"Uh…okay…" That had almost never happened before either. Deciding it was time for a break anyway, Amy carefully pushed away her work utensils before motioning for Sheldon to sit down.

He pulled out the boxes and soon they were quietly eating. Amy wasn't sure why he was here. The few times he'd eaten lunch with her instead of in the cafeteria were way too easy to count.

"Amy?"

Sheldon's voice pulled her out of her musings. "Yes?"

"In case you are surprised by my visit – I think there a few things we need to clarify."

Her stomach dropped. He'd changed his mind. He was going to break up with her. That was why he hadn't texted her in the morning. Tears gathered in her eyes and she was unable to blink them away.

"Why are you crying?", Sheldon asked her, confusion written all over his handsome face.

"Because you're going to break up with me."

The confused lines on his face deepened and he raised an eyebrow. "Why would I do that? We've just gotten back together and I've been waiting for this for the better part of the year."

The ache in her chest lessened slightly and with her heart pounding, she looked up at him.

Sheldon sighed. "We really need to stop assuming this about each other." He shook his head, apparently frustrated, and took another bite of his sandwich. "I'm here because we've never really officially announced our relationship status. I want us to be together again and therefore your presence is required at tonight's dinner gathering. I'm expecting you promptly at 7:30 pm, sitting on your spot right next to me."

She swallowed, a happy smile stretching across her face. "I'd love to."

Sheldon grinned back. "Great. I'm looking forward to our friends' surprised looks." He did his haughty chuckle and Amy found him so adorable, she could barely suppress a "Hoo." Lord, had she missed him. Her sweet baboo.

"Hey Sheldon?", she said quietly, suddenly overcome with love and gratitude for him, "I'm glad we're back together." Unable to face him directly, she watched him out of the corner of her eye. Amy noticed how he froze, stopped eating for a moment and then, in an uncharacteristically empathic move, he covered her hand with his larger one.

"I'm really happy about that, too, Amy." His blue eyes met hers with full force and Amy felt tingles all over. Not wanting to embarrass them both, she quickly looked away and resumed eating.

She told herself she was being ridiculous feeling nervous about dinner. It wasn't like she was new to the group and even then everyone had accepted her gracefully. Besides that, she'd already told Penny about their reunion, so everybody else probably knew by now as well.

Taking a deep breath to calm her pounding heart, Amy forced herself to knock.

It was like Sheldon had already been waiting for her because he opened instantly, a wide smile on his handsome face. Automatically, Amy looked down at her watch to check if maybe she'd been running late. But no, she was perfectly on time. Seven thirty sharp.

"You're right on time. I was just giddy for you to arrive," Sheldon explained, for once apparently able to guess her thoughts.

"Oh, okay." She blushed a little, to which Sheldon's smile widened into a grin. Suddenly, with only one quick glance backwards, he stepped forward, slid his hands around her waist and pressed his lips to hers.

Surprised, but no less enthusiastic, Amy kissed him back. It was quick, but thorough nonetheless, and when Sheldon pulled away, he looked almost as dazed as he'd had the night before.

"Why…," he cut himself off and cleared this apparently dry throat before starting again, "Why don't you come in?"

He took a step aside and motioned for Amy to pass. Soon everybody was seated and it was almost like there'd never been a breakup. Everybody talked and joked, Sheldon did one of his tirades about something stupid which caused the group to get annoyed and Howard to make fun of him.

"So Amy, how did Sheldon convince you to take him back?", Bernadette asked, making everybody turn their attention on Sheldon and her. He froze, pressure apparently rising for him and he helplessly looked over at Amy.

She instantly took pity on him. "We just talked it out," she said evasively enough to make it clear the topic was off table for now. Sheldon smiled thankfully at her.

"Anyway, we're going to have a girl's night real soon," Penny said, taking a gulp of her glass of wine. Amy and Bernadette nodded in agreement while Leonard moved to put in the movie Sheldon had chosen for the evening. And then, while nobody was paying attention, Sheldon quickly reached for Amy's hand.

Surprised, she held still, afraid to make any kind of move. What was happening? In all the time they'd been dating, he'd always complained about the needlessness and filthiness of any forms of physical contact.
Whatever his reasons were, Amy decided not to dwell on it or analyze it to death. Instead, she would simply enjoy this.

Biting her lip, Amy curled her fingers around his with her heart pounding wildly in her chest. She caught Penny's happy wink and smiled back.

Maybe there was hope after all.

Almost two hours later, the movie was over and Raj, Howard and Bernadette were already gone. Penny and Leonard were all cuddled up and fast asleep on the arm chair.

"Alright, I should go home now. Good night, Sheldon," Amy said quietly, trying not to disturb her friends, and rose. She took her bag as Sheldon nodded and stood up as well. He motioned for her to go to the door and followed her. She opened, stepped out and turned around to face her boyfriend.

"I really had a good time tonight. Thanks for inviting me over." She smiled at him. Was he going to kiss her? They hadn't really talked about how their relationship was going to look like now. Were they going to continue where they'd stopped? Was touching and kissing off limits again? Sheldon had kissed her passionately since then, so apparently, kissing and touching was still okay. At least in doses.

Since neither of them was moving, Amy decided to leave it at that for now. Smiling at him one last time, Amy turned to go.

"Amy?" Sheldon's voice made her pause and turn back around. What now? Did he want to kiss her after all?

With a quick glance backwards, Sheldon carefully stepped forward and closed the door almost fully behind him. "I noticed that you have not sought out or initiated any kind of physical contact between is today. Are you no longer interested in that aspect of our relationship?" She was speechless for a moment and almost one hundred percent positive Sheldon looked disappointed at the prospect.

"Uh," she blinked, trying to find her voice. Deciding to simply be honest, she sighed before continuing. "Of course I am, Sheldon. But we haven't talked about anything regarding that yet and I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

Biting her lip, she nervously waited for his response. Sheldon watched her, his forehead wrinkled. His blue eyes refocused on hers and he gave her a quick nod. "Alright, then I am about to inform you that I also am interested in kissing, hugging and holding hands. Of course not in general, but solely with you."

She couldn't help but smile happily at that. Sheldon Cooper wanted to keep kissing her! Who'd have thought?
"Alright then," she answered giddily, "bring it on, brother."

Sheldon, for a second apparently irritated, paid up nonetheless. Closing the gap between them, Sheldon wrapped his long amazing arms tightly around Amy, just like he'd done the previous night and kissed her passionately.

Unable to hold in a moan, Amy slipped her hands around his neck. Sheldon's lips worked over hers and Amy lost it. It was warm and hot and tasted amazing. She wanted to get closer, much closer, always closer. Opening her mouth, she let her tongue brushed against his upper lip and to her utter amazement, Sheldon shyly opened up and let her tongue into his mouth. Tentatively, their tongues brushed, carefully moving around each other and suddenly, they were French Kissing. Amy couldn't believe it!

When they finally needed to breathe, they both looked thoroughly worked up. Apparently, their hands hadn't stayed put. Sheldon's pupils were dilated, his eyes glazed over. With his hair disheveled and the collars of his tees slightly askew, he looked incredibly sexy. Amy felt heat pooling low in her belly.

"Wow," he said at last, obviously having found back his voice. It was hoarse, with a hint of huskiness though.

"Yeah," Amy agreed, her eyes widening upon hearing her own voice. She sounded thoroughly sexed up.

"You really need to go now," Sheldon said and while for someone else his words might have sounded harsh, Amy knew what he was saying. He wasn't ready for the next step which would follow undoubtedly if she stayed a minute longer.

"Alright, good night, Dr. Cooper."

"Good night, Dr. Fowler."