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This chapter wasn't as long and I don't understand why, oh, well

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Leonard woke up in the middle of the night, walking into the kitchen-running into a small stool at first, due to the change of atmosphere-getting himself some juice. He had been staying over here for a full week now, and so far things with Penny were going pretty good. They hadn't even had a single fight since he moved in.

And they also hadn't heard from Sheldon all week. Apart from taking him to work, being around him for a short while at work, and taking him home from work, they hadn't heard a single word from him.

Apparently no Sheldon was healthy for their relationship.

"What are you doing?" Penny asked quietly as she walked into the room, wearing her purple robe. She sat on the stool, leaning against the counter.

"Can't sleep," Leonard answered as he poured the grape juice into a mug.

"How come?" Penny asked, understandably worried for her boyfriend. "What's on your mind?"

"Sheldon," Leonard said, leaning against the counter himself.

Penny nodded her head. "Yeah, he has been kinda quiet here lately," she said. "He didn't invite us over for pizza night. Tonight was Thai food night and we ate Italian in the bedroom. It's just not like him. I'm worried."

"Do you think..." Leonard started before trailing off, looking for the words to say. "Do you think his conversation with Amy ended badly?"

"I don't know," Penny said. "I hadn't taken it into thought. Amy hadn't mentioned anything of it, which means she probably doesn't want to. Is it possible they broke up?"

"I don't know," Leonard said with a shrug. "I'm not saying it didn't happen, but I'm also not saying it did. But one does wonder these things."

"One?" Penny asked.

"Oh, god, now I'm talking like him," Leonard said.

"In the morning we'll pop by," Penny suggested. "Check up on him. Then maybe we can finally sleep."

"I have to go to work early tomorrow," Leonard said. "Gone by five. And Sheldon has the day off. You can talk to him and give me an update."

"Sounds like a plan," Penny said. "Are you gonna come back to bed now?"

"Yeah," Leonard said, putting the mug down on the counter.

Penny leaned forward, giving him a kiss. "He'll be fine," she said. "Because no matter what, he'll still have us." She stood up and headed to the bedroom.

"No," Leonard said, following after her. "No matter what, we'll always have him."

The next morning, Penny had let herself into Sheldon's apartment with the spare key Leonard had given her years ago. From the looks of it, Sheldon wasn't up yet. The lights were still off. This was odd. Normally Sheldon woke thirty minutes earlier.

The light turned on, revealing Sheldon, who wasn't wearing his robe or his slippers, which was also odd. "Good morning, Penny," he said, though he didn't sound very cheerful at all. "I see you let yourself in." He walked into the kitchen. "Did Leonard wake you?"

"Yeah," Penny said, walking to join him. "I was told you have today off. So I was thinking maybe you and me could spend the day together. It could be fun."

Sheldon opened the fridge, looking at her. "I don't understand how that is your definition of fun," he said. He grabbed the milk and walked to the counter.

"I'm sorry," Penny said. "Do you have other plans?"

Sheldon lifted his head, which means he didn't. He looked at her. "Penny," he said with his know-it-all tone. "This is my day off, I have no plans whatsoever"

"Not even with Amy?" Penny asked, fearing the worse.

"I haven't spoken to Amy all week," Sheldon said, grabbing the shredded wheat from off the top of the fridge. "I said something to her I wasn't quite ready for and haven't been able to speak to her since. And I've tried."

He was opening up to her. And on his own terms. Something was seriously going on here. "What did you say?" she asked.

Sheldon poured the cereal into the blue bowl he had gotten down. "I mentioned how I was never in a relationship with Miranda," he said. "And that I was never interested to be in one. Nor did I have feelings for her."

"Oh, my god!" Penny exclaimed, slapping her hand against the counter, as if she had just made a realization.

Sheldon's surprise by her sudden out-burst showed in his expression. "What?" he asked.

"You told her you love her!" Penny said. "Sheldon, this is great!"

"Great?" Sheldon questioned. "There are countless amounts of universes and, I assure you, not in one of them is this situation considered great."

"Probably in all of them but this one," Penny said, following Sheldon into the living room. "Sheldon, this is a step forward in your relationship." She sat down in the chair at the same time Sheldon sat down in his spot. "Did you mean it?"

Sheldon was clearly uncomfortable talking about this, but she didn't care. "I changed my mind," he said, putting the bowl down on the coffee table. "I'm going to work today."

"You can't change your mind," Penny said. "Taking today off wasn't even your decision."

"Drat," Sheldon said as he leaned forward and picked up the bowl. He stuck the spoon into the cereal to get a bite.

"I know what the problem is," Penny said.

Sheldon looked at her hopeful. "A tumor?" he asked. "A parasite? An alien symbiote?"

"No," Penny said with a shake of her head. She should've been expecting things like this from the whackadoodle. "You're scared."

"Of what?" Sheldon asked. "A tumor? A parasite? An alien symbiote?" He nodded his head quickly. "Yes, to all three."

"No, Sheldon," Penny said, her annoyance starting to show at this point. "You're scared of the step you're taking in this relationship with Amy. What you said made it official. Like official, official. She's yours. Forever."

"Oh, no," Sheldon said, putting the bowl down on the coffee table once again.

Penny shook her head. "Don't say that," she said. "It's ok to be scared. I mean, I was scared when Leonard proposed this test run and moved in. But look at us. Our relationship is better than ever."

"What are you saying?" Sheldon asked.

"I'm saying you should talk to Amy," Penny said. "Give her a few roses. Maybe some chocolates. Tell her what you told me. Tell her how you're feeling. You'll feel better after it all."

"But I don't want to do those things," Sheldon said with a shake of his head. "You said it yourself, I'm scared." It wasn't a rare thing for Sheldon Cooper to admit he was scared, but something about it this time was different. He leaned back in the seat. "I'm talking illogically anyways. Love. Never thought I would be fooled."

"You're not being fooled, Sheldon," Penny said. "Just go. Amy has waited too long for this moment. You'll just have to man up and do what you have to do."

Sheldon looked at the bowl in front of him, his breathing growing a little bit unsteady. "I'm suddenly not hungry anymore," he said, standing up.

Penny looked up at him. "Sheldon," she said. He stopped what he was doing and looked down at her. "Good luck."

Sheldon shook his head. "Penny, you know I don't believe in luck," he said as he made his way to his bedroom.

Yep, still the same Sheldon.

Sheldon was standing outside of Amy's apartment door, holding a single rose in one hand. He took a breath and lifted his right hand, knocking three times before speaking. "Amy." Three more knocks. "Amy." Thrice more. "Amy." He lowered his arm and waited.

It was only a few seconds before Amy opened the door, looking happy to see him, but still holding the same expression as when he had last seen her. "Hi, Sheldon," she said.

"Hello, Amy," Sheldon said before holding the rose up to her.

"What's this?" Amy asked as she took the flower from his hand.

"That is a rose," Sheldon answered. "I'm to understand it stands for... romance. I had forgotten my money at home. I picked that on the way over here. It's special." He gave her a small smile. "Just like you."

Amy smiled wide when he had said that. "Thank you, Sheldon," she said as Sheldon walked in. She closed the door and placed the rose on the counter. "How'd you get here if you forgot your money?

"I walked," Sheldon said, sitting down on the couch. "It took me nearly two hours, but it was worth it. I waited outside your door for twenty minutes to catch my breath. Walking that far is not an easy task, Amy."

Amy joined Sheldon on the couch, sitting down next to him. "I haven't heard from you in a while," she said. "And I was growing worried."

"I appreciate the concern, but it was unnecessary," Sheldon said. "I have figured everything out." He placed his bag on the couch between them, taking his iPad out and holding it out to Amy.

"Oh, no, you're breaking up with me again," Amy said, starting to have a small panic attack.

"Don't be absurd," Sheldon said. "I adjusted our relationship agreement to coincide with this 'step' we're taking. I added the Relationship Advancement Clause." He held the tablet out to her once again.

Amy took it from his hands, but still didn't understand completly. "Relationship Advancement Clause?" she asked.

"Yes," Sheldon said with a nod. "I'm to understand we made a step forward in our relationship when I said... what I said."

"We did?" Amy asked, not getting how that was an advancement. "But I didn't even say it back and you abruptly left shortly thereafter." She looked down at the electronic device in her hands. "And now you can't even say it." She looked at Sheldon once more. "This isn't a step forward, this is just the same step at a different angle."

"But I thought you'd be thrilled," Sheldon said.

"Thrilled?" Amy asked, putting the iPad down in front of her. "Sheldon, I love you. I do. I have no problem saying so. It comes easy now that it's out there. The step will be you saying it to me again. On purpose this time."

"But it only needs your initals," Sheldon said, pointing at the iPad.

"No," Amy said, clearly angry at this point. "No Advancement Clause until you tell me you love me."

Sheldon was silent for a moment. He took a breath. "Kissing is a part of the extention," he said.

Amy quickly picked the iPad back up. "Where do I initial?"

Leonard, Raj, and Howard all sat in silence as they sat at their usual table in the cafeteria. This was the table they always sat at because of Sheldon, but even with his absence they sat there. Having Sheldon gone was good and bad. Good because they didn't have to worry about all his talking. Bad because they all knew something was up with him and, as his friends, were worried.

"He has an intern," Raj said, breaking the sielnce. "Should he even be taking the day off?"

"Which is why I'm here," Sheldon said. They hadn't even noticed him walk up. He placed the tray he was holding on the table, sitting down. He reached next to him, taking a single fry from Howard's plate, causing the three of them to just stare at him in shock. "I had a wonderful talk with Amy," he continued, taking a bite of the fry.

"Did you sleep with her?" Howard asked, the only question that would explain Sheldon eating off his plate.

"No," Sheldon said, looking at him. "Why does everything you talk about have to involve coitus?"

"Because he gets it whenever he wants," Raj said.

"You're eating my fry," Howard said, deciding to get straight to the point.

"Yes," Sheldon said with a nod. He pointed at Leonard. "And he's eating his fries."

"Off my plate," Howard said, hoping Sheldon would get it.

Sheldon held the half-eaten fry towards Howard. "Do you want it back?" he asked.

"No!" Howard answered.

"You're in a strange mood today, Sheldon," Leonard said.

Howard took this chance to test something out, quickly snatching a fry from Sheldon's plate. "How do you like it?" he asked.

Sheldon stared at his plate, mouth agape for a few seconds before gasping. "You touched my food!" he exclaimed.

Howard couldn't believe this. "Oh, my god," he said, throwing the fry back onto the plate. He grabbed his tray and stood up. "I'll never fully understand you, Sheldon." He left the cafeteria, stopping to empty the tray into the garbage.

Sheldon stared at the tray of food, his hands up close to his body, practically afraid of what was in front of him. "Now it's all ruined," he said. "I have to get more food."

"Sheldon, what's the deal?" Leonard asked.

Sheldon pushed the tray aside, lifting his head to look at Leonard. "I suppose you want an explanation," he said. "I had a talk with Penny. And you know those never turn out well. This was an exception. She told me how I was feeling then I told Amy. I assume you told Koothrappali and Wolowitz."

"You're in love with Amy," Raj said with a nod.

"Correct," Sheldon said. "I added a new clause to our relationship agreement. The Relationship Advancement Clause. It covers the new status of our relationship as well as stating that two days a week will be date night. And a kiss is required when greeting, saying our salutations, or on special ocasions."

"Kissing?" Leonard asked.

Almost having bat ears, Howard quickly returned to the cafeteria, sitting down next to Sheldon once again, leaning closer to the physist. "Kissing?" he asked as well. "Like, with tongue?"

Sheldon looked at him with a look of disgust. "Oh, gross!" he said. "Why would anyone do that?"

"I don't know," Howard said, shrugging his shoulders. "But it's kinda nice. And I really like it."

"But I'm still confused," Raj said.

"Oh, I'm not surprised," Sheldon said. "This is nothing new. Normally your confusion is about your own culture, but, considering neither India nor Hinduism has been a part of our conversation, I'm required to question you as to why you're confused."

"You took a fry off Howards plate," Raj said. "And then ate it."

"I still don't see you're-" Sheldon started before cutting himself off. He slowly turned his head to look at Howard. "What has Amy done to me?" he asked. He grabbed his napkin and proceeded to wipe at his tongue, being the only way to clean himself from the germs.

Tanya walked into the cafeteria, with a notebook in her hand. She found them and walked to the table. "Sheldon," she said.

Sheldon stopped what he was doing, lowering the napkin to his lap. "This is the workplace, Miss Carter," he said. "Here, you call me Dr. Cooper. We have been over this twice now."

"Right, and I apologize, Dr. Cooper," Tanya said. "I've been doing some calculations on your most recent paper." She held the notebook out to Sheldon. "You were off by one decimel point. I thought I would let you know before you published the paper."

Sheldon opened the notebook then began looking through the equations. "I did this paper last week on new information on the String Theory," he said. "The day after I said..." He looked up. "What I said. I was obviously not in my right mind." He frantically shook his head. "I'm never wrong on my equations."

"Actually," Leonard said. "It happens more then you let on."

Sheldon looked at him. "She's in my head, Leonard," he said. "And I can't get her out. I can't stop thinking about her!"

"Is this a bad time?" Tanya asked.

Sheldon turned his head to look at her. "Go check any work I've done in the last week," he said. "And if you find anymore mistakes, burn down my office."

"But that's called 'arson'," Tanya said.

"Correct," Sheldon said with a single nod. "And what is your point?"

Tanya raised an eyebrow. "It's kinda illegal," she said.

"I hadn't considered that," Sheldon said. He handed her the notebook back. "Well, I guess I should think of something. You run along."

Tanya nodded her head in understandment and left the cafeteria.

"What are you gonna do?" Leonard asked.

"Well, there are two things I could do," Sheldon said. "Break up with Amy and focus on physics... or quit physics and focus on Amy."

"Wow," Howard said under his breath. "Physics just won't be the same without you." He looked up at Sheldon with hopeful eyes.

The silence only made them all fear the worst.

"No, it won't," Sheldon said. "I would no longer contribute to the world of science. I won't help guide the human race along the evolutionary track."

"What are you gonna do?" Leonard asked once again.

"I think the answer is obvious," Sheldon said.

"I don't think it is," Leonard said. "I think you should wait a few days, maybe weeks, think it over."

"Leonard, I never have to think for so long," Sheldon said. "I always make the right decision." He stood up.

Leonard looked up at him. "Where are you going?" he asked, ready to phone Penny to warn Amy.

"Dr. Gablehauser's office," Sheldon said as if Leonard should have already known. "I'm going to quit physics."

Dun, dun, dun!

Another cliff hanger

I really need to stop doing that

But it's so fun!

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