Chapter 2.
Amy woke up in Penny's bed confused and dehydrated. It took her a while to figure out where she was and why she was there. Her first instinct was to check her phone for any news from Sheldon. She picked up her phone and switched on. Her heart melted as so stared at his photo on her lock screen and furthermore as there was no message or missed calls from him. She rolled onto her back and closed her eyes. Her mind could think of nothing but Sheldon. She was angry, but she missed him so much. She knew she loved him, But after this pain what can she do if he comes back?
—
Leonard and Penny were in the kitchen of 4A drinking coffee, They both had a subdued look about them. Leonard was the first to break the silence. "Damn it, I miss him.. And I hate seeing Amy like this. And I'm worried about Sheldon, now more then ever."
"Did Mrs Cooper say where we was going"? Penny asked while pouring a cup of coffee to take through to Amy.
"No, She didn't, I'm not sure she is even sure. Here let me take that into Amy for you"
Leonard grabbed the coffee and slowly walked over to the door being carful not to spill the contents. He entered Penny's apartment to find Amy sitting on the sofa looking lost.
"Hey Amy, I bought you some coffee' He placed the coffee in front of her and hesitated slightly. With a deep breath he sat down next to Amy, extended his arm around her back and pulled her into a hug. Amy didn't resist, She allowed him to hug her and just closed her eyes and accepted the gesture of friendship.
"It will be ok Amy, He can't hide from it forever.. He will be back, I promise."
—
Sheldon stood in the hallway, Outside his girlfriends apartment door. He didn't know what to do. He had feared this moment since he ran away. What would he say, what he would do? The time he has been away he hasn't accomplished anything. He was no closer to solving his field of study issue, He had come to terms that he can't change living arrangements and he could always visit capital comics until Stuart was back open. He knew the thing bothering him the most was Amy. He felt so different about her. The past few weeks he spent travelling state to state by train. And Amy was on his mind 100% of the time. Even when he stopped in Texas to visit his Mother, Still Amy occupied his mind.
Sheldon went to knock but hesitated. He didn't know what to do.
"Curse this woman and what she has done to me. I need to speak to penny first" And with that Sheldon made a retreat.
—
Amy was still sitting on Penny's sofa. She had finished her coffee. She still held the cup, just staring into it and thinking. She had no idea what to do, Wait for him? Move on? to be angry or sad.
Penny and Leonard had gone for groceries, They offered to take Amy but she declined. She sat alone listening to footsteps outside 4A. "I should probably go give them a hand" she thought to herself. She lifted herself up from the sofa and made her way over to the door. Without checking the peephole she opened the door to find Sheldon sitting on the stairwell, hand buried in his face. Amy was speechless and stopped in her tracks working harder to support herself a little.
"I know what you are going to say Penny" Sheldon said head still in his hands. "But I need your help, This whole thing, Its about my feelings for Amy isn't it"
Still not looking up, Sheldon's voice was croaking and higher pitched then normal Almost like he was crying slightly.
"Sheldon, Its… Its me" Amy said in a very soft voice.
Sheldon looked up from his hands, His eyes wet from the tears fighting to leave his eyes. His face shocked, his heart pounding and lost for words. He stood up slowly never breaking eye contact with Amy's eyes. He took every step towards her slowly. Tears filled both their eyes as Sheldon stepped closer towards her. He lifted hand to her face to wipe a tear away which was gliding down her cheek. Sheldon wanted to make things right straight away, He knew he couldn't. But he knew what to give her to keep her from running.
The hand resting on her cheek slowly moved down to her waste. His free hand took her the other side of her waist gently. He closed his eyes, leant his head down and kissed Amy gently. As much as Amy enjoyed feeling his warmth again, She broke the kiss sharply and stepped back from his gentle grip.
"Sheldon, Do you have any idea how worried I have been, how Heart broken I feel and what you have done to me?, I understand running away was something that would eventually help you. But you stopped contact! I have been worried sick
Sheldon studied her for the first time. She looked exhausted and thinner. Something was different about her. "Amy I'm sorry, Look at you. Why haven't you been taking care of yourself?"
"Because Sheldon, When someone you care about just runs away without even a goodbye. That hurts, And it hasn't stopped hurting. I have been worried sick about you, I feel like my heart has been ripped to shreds and you haven't been in contact for almost a week, Anything could have happened to you and what could I do? Nothing"
Amy's eyes wear filling with tears again.. She wanted to run away from him but she knew she couldn't. She was scared of losing him again. Sheldon looked at her in shock and took a step towards her. He gulped and looked down at his feet. "Sorry" he whispered so softly.
"I am truly sorry Amy, but if you understood how I felt, then maybe you would understand".
Amy gestured Sheldon to enter Penny's apartment. "Well, Make me understand, sit down and explain everything". Sheldon gulped and looked like he was about to collapse. This moment he knew he couldn't put off forever. He entered Penny's apartment and sat down on her sofa waiting for Amy to join him. Amy closed the door gently and joined Sheldon on the sofa making sure to keep at least an arms length from him.
"Are you going to offer me a beverage?" Sheldon asked. His answer from Amy needed no words. It was clear he wasn't getting one.
"Very well. Well Amy, I am a person that doesn't take to change very well. I like order, consistency and change is something that has to happen slowly for it to work with me, Even then its a struggle. Up until a few weeks ago everything was fine, And then everything starts changing all at the same time. My field of study, Living arrangements, Professor Proton passing away, The Comic book store And my relationship with you, Especially after what the physic said."
Sheldon gulped and hesitated before finding his words again.
"She said I should commit to you and everything will fall into place. Honestly at the time I thought it was all malarkey, but everything from then on started to change and then you once again suggested you and I should live together. Everything just seemed to come together around what she said, And I didn't feel I was that guy to commit to another human being. There was just so much going on in my head Amy that I just needed to get away and let a course run itself.
While I was away I was thinking of every possible solution to come back to, But I couldn't find one. I know that I can't control Leonard now he is engaged to Penny, They are going to move in together without me and there is nothing I can do to change that as much as I try. I cant bring Arthur back from the dead, The comic book store will re-open one day and my field of study problem can't get resolved if I'm away. Even with all this on my mind Amy, I still thought about you, A lot and committing to you. If this journey has taught me anything, Its that I want to commit to you. But, I just don't know how"
And thats why I fell silent. I didn't know what to say or do, And I knew you would be angry with me for running away"
Amy looked at Sheldon who was clearly struggling with this much honesty. He was looking very tired himself. She knew she had to ask the question, for the better of them both.
"Sheldon, Look at me" Amy said. Sheldon's head lifted and their eyes met "Maybe telling me how you truly feel about me will be enough for you to know what to do"
Amy lifted her hand towards his face, She hesitated slightly before gently gliding her fingers slowly over his cheek. To her surprise he didn't flinch or snap at her. He slowly closed his eyes and leaned against her touch slightly. He opened his eyes and stared into Amy's eyes. Gulping again he looked for what words to say.
"Well Amy, The truth is. I guess if I were to explain all my symptoms of my feelings towards you, Some might call it Love. But before you get excited Amy, I am scared, I just don't know what to do".
For the first time in weeks, A small smile appeared on Amy's face, She knew that was hard for him to say. Admission of Love is hard for anyone. But for Sheldon Cooper, Admission of love is something that nobody ever thought would come. She Pulled him into a gentle hug, stroking the back of his head she whispered into his ear,
"Its ok Sheldon, Im scared as well. But, I Love you too."