Thank you for all of your reviews! Now, the gang puts their plan into action...
"This is exciting," Penny said from the backseat. "I can't believe this dinner is at such a fancy place."
"Yeah, they usually have at the university, so this will be a nice change of pace," Leonard said from behind the wheel. "Hey Sheldon, remember the year we had to be escorted out because Koothrappali got hammered and made a big scene?"
"Yes," Sheldon said from the passenger seat. His friends had basically dragged him from his apartment to this unnecessary event. Although it was nice to get out, he wanted nothing more then to crawl back into his bed. It was his safe place. A place he could escape to. His dreams could transport him to a time where everything was right. Where everything was right with…her.
"So Sheldon, you think you're going to whip out some of those dance moves for me," Bernadette asked.
"Highly unlikely," Sheldon said.
"Okay, we're here," Leonard said.
"You guys go ahead. I'm going to have a chat with Sheldon before we go in," Bernadette said as she eyed Penny.
"Okay, we'll see you in there," Penny said as she dragged a confused Leonard out of the car.
Bernadette went from the backseat and replaced Leonard in the driver's seat.
"Sheldon listen…I know this is not going to be easy for you. Trust me though, Howard is going to take great care of Amy." Sheldon flinched at her name. He hadn't heard it in weeks and it was like salt in a wound. "I'll be with you the whole time, and if things get too much for you, you just let me do the talking." Sheldon just continued to stare down at the ground. "Look at me, Sheldon…I know how much you love her. Seeing you this way is heartbreaking because I know deep down you love Amy more then you know how to express."
Sheldon then met Bernadette's eyes for the first time.
"Then why doesn't she know that?"
"Sometimes when you're the one in the relationship, you don't really see what others see."
"I'm going to lose her."
"Well, with that attitude, yes Sheldon you will lose her! She'll move on and meet a nice guy because she'll think that her boyfriend doesn't care about her. When in reality, he loves her so much that he's slowly killing himself without her."
"Stop it! Ok, I get it."
"Sheldon, you've never given up on anything in your life, and now suddenly you're going to give up on the best thing that's ever happened to you?"
"I'm not giving up."
"Yes, you are!"
"No, I'm not!"
"Fine, then prove me wrong," Bernadette said calmly as she stepped out of the car and slammed the door behind her, leaving Sheldon alone.
It made him wonder what Amy was doing and whether Howard was torturing her as much as his wife was doing to him currently. Definitely not, but in retrospect…he deserved this.
Amy was putting her last bit of makeup on when she heard a knock at the door. She opened it to reveal Howard's smiling face.
"Good evening, Amy."
"Hello Howard," she said smiling.
"You look so beautiful…and happy"
"Thank you."
Amy then locked her door and walked down with Howard as he put his arm around her.
"So, are you excited," Howard asked when they got in the car.
"Um, I don't if excited is the word. Maybe anxious."
"Amy, you can do this. I'll be right there with you the whole time, and if things start to get uncomfortable, remember I'm the king of uncomfortable!" Amy giggled at the accuracy of her friend's statement. "I'll say something so uncomfortable you'll forget why you were uncomfortable in the first place."
"I guess."
"No, no guessing. You and I are going to this dinner and have a great time. End of story."
"Okay, we're here," Howard said as he pulled up. Amy took a deep breath. "Why don't I let you have some alone time?"
"Thank you Howard."
"No problem," Howard said as he slammed the car door shut.
As she sat in the car alone, Amy wondered how Sheldon was doing. He clearly was being dragged to this, so was Bernadette trying to talk him into being at least somewhat into it? Was he even going to show up? It was torturous for Amy, but she brought this on herself. She didn't even let Sheldon finish his thought that day on Skype. She shut his mouth and broke his heart. Whatever torture she was feeling…she deserved it.
Leonard, Penny, Bernadette, and Sheldon made their way into the room, and met up with Raj and Emily who were already there. There were elegant tables as well as a dance floor in the middle.
"Here why don't we take this table," Penny said. The six of them sat down. "Wow, this place is gorgeous."
"Yeah, better then the Caltech cafeteria right Sheldon? Sheldon?" Leonard looked at Sheldon's face. He was staring at something, almost as if he was captivated by it. Leonard followed his friend's gaze, and suddenly everything made sense. Walking down the stairs, arm in arm, was Howard and Amy. She had on a green dress with her hair in waves. Howard and she took a seat on the other side of the room, but could be perfectly seen by Sheldon.
"Leonard, could you switch seats with me?"
"Sure, buddy."
Before Leonard sat down, he tugged at his ear. Howard, from the other side of the room, nodded and put out his hand.
"My lady?"
"I would love to, Mr. Wolowitz."
Howard led Amy to the dance floor, and wrapped her arms around her. Howard then strategically turned Amy away from Sheldon, so he could make eye contact with Raj. As soon as they saw each other, Howard put his finger on the side of his nose.
"My dearest Emily," Raj said. "May I have this dance?"
"Of course."
As they made their way over to the dance floor, Emily turned and nodded at Bernadette.
"What do you say Sheldon, do you want to dance," she asked eying him reminding him of their earlier conversation.
"Okay," Sheldon said reluctantly.
Sheldon and Bernadette made their way to the dance floor. He took Bernadette in his arms and started dancing. Now she had seen Sheldon dance before with Amy. This was not Sheldon dancing. She felt like she was dancing with a machine. There was no emotion at all.
"Sheldon, you're not dancing."
"Yes, I am."
"Sheldon, I've seen you dance and this is…"
"At this point, Bernadette, this is the most I can give you."
"Why don't we turn this way, Sheldon? That way…"
"I won't see her? Yeah, because then she won't consume my thoughts, right Bernadette? I won't care about her at all!"
"Sheldon…"
"If I don't see her, then I won't think how pretty she looks, and the fact that her dress matches her eyes, and…"
"Hey guys," said a voice next to them.
"Hey Howie. Hi Amy, you look amazing," Bernadette exclaimed.
"Thanks Bernadette…Hi Sheldon."
"Hi Amy." He felt like he was frozen. He couldn't think of anything else to say.
"So Sheldon," Howard said. "Isn't this so much better then the cafeteria and when we had to get escorted…"
"Because Koothrappali got highly intoxicated and started shouting across the room making a scene, yes I remember," Sheldon finished not taking his eyes off of Amy.
Just then, Howard coughed.
"Are you ok, Howard," Amy asked.
"Yeah, must be something in the air."
"He just coughed! Let's go," Penny said pulling Leonard with her. She and Leonard ran to the DJ. "Excuse me."
"What can I do for you folks?"
"Can you maybe do us a favor for some friends of ours?"
"So can you believe it took me that long to get to Amy's apartment just because of one wrong turn," Howard said.
"Howie, that is so funny," Bernadette said a little too loudly. "Amy, isn't that hysterical?"
"No, not really."
Howard and Bernadette continued their fake laughs.
"Are you sure," Howard asked desperately.
As if by some miracle, the DJ interrupted the music.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like each gentlemen to ask a lady whom they did not accompany this evening to dance this waltz."
As the music started, Howard bowed in front of Bernadette.
"Sheldon, may I steal your beautiful date for a dance?"
Sheldon nodded and Bernadette squeezed his hand in encouragement as she danced with her husband, leaving Sheldon and Amy. Both looked down at the floor. He wanted to ask her. It was like the opportunity was presenting itself to him, and he decided right then, he was not going to let it slip away. He had to prove it, both to Bernadette and himself. With his hands behind his back, he awkwardly moved closer to her.
"Shall we?" Sheldon asked as he presented his hand to her. She smiled and took it as they both made their way to the center of the dance floor.
You're in my arms, and all the world is calm.
The music playing on for only two.
So close, together.
And when I'm with you
So close to feeling alive.
"You look beautiful," Sheldon said as he took Amy in his arms.
"Thank you."
"No Amy, thank you."
He looked deep into her eyes, and then danced.
A life goes by,
Romantic dreams must die.
So I bid my goodbye
And never knew.
So close, was waiting,
Waiting here with you.
And now, forever, I know
All that I wanted
to hold you so close.
So close to reaching
That famous happy end.
Almost believing
This one's not pretend.
And now you're beside me,
And look how far we've come.
So far we are. So close...
Their eyes never left each other. They felt like they were the only people on Earth. They didn't even notice that Howard and Bernadette were looking at them the whole time trying to turn one another, so that they could get a better look. Those lyrics hit them right in the heart.
Oh how could I face the faceless days
If I should lose you now?
We're so close to reaching
that famous happy end,
And almost believing,
this one's not pretend.
Let's go on dreaming
for we know we are...
so close, so close
and still so far...
'I was so close,' Sheldon thought as he gazed into her eyes. 'So close to her being mine. I just had to open my stupid mouth.'
'I was so close,' Amy thought as she gazed into his eyes. 'So close to him being mine. I just had to open my stupid mouth.'
"I hate to disturb them," Bernadette said watching her friends get lost in one another.
"Me too, but the song's over."
"Howard, does it really look like they care?"
Howard looked at his friends. It looked like they were in a trance. Cutting into this moment would be a crime. It was clear that they only belonged in each other's arms. Suddenly, Sheldon bolted off the dance floor and out of the room, leaving Amy alone. She was then quickly surrounded by the entire group who was just as surprised as she was.
"Amy, what happened," Penny asked.
"Yeah, you guys looked like you just stepped into a movie before," Raj added. "I have to say I started tearing up when he lifted you off the ground, and spun you."
"I don't know. He looked like he was about to kiss me, then he just said…something and ran off."
"What did he say," Emily asked.
"What happened to me?"
So if you recognized the song, it's from the movie Enchanted! I love that song and I pictured Sheldon and Amy dancing the same way that they did in the movie. Next, Sheldon looks back at his pre-Amy life!
