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Chapter Three
Maybe the reason why she didn't see the clues for what they were was that after her birthday things went rather back to normal. Just not completely.
A few days shy of Christmas Sheldon called her on Skype, a little irritated, and told her that Penny and Leonard had decided to celebrate their first Christmas as a married couple traditionally and therefore they'd be heading to Leonard's father who'd invited them.
"They told me I wasn't allowed to come," he told her agitated.
"I'm sorry, Sheldon," she said. Amy knew that even though Sheldon didn't like celebrating Christmas, he hated that he wouldn't be spending it in his secured cocoon that included Leonard and Penny.
Amy herself would spend Christmas day with her own family. Not that she was exactly looking forward to it, especially since her nasty cousins would be there too, but at least she and Sheldon would be together on Christmas Eve.
"Well, that means you and I are gonna spend every day together, little lady," Sheldon suddenly informed her and Amy realized she hadn't been listening.
"What?"
Sheldon frowned and shook his head disapprovingly. "Amy, you should listen to me. That's rather rude," he complained.
"Sorry."
"Apology accepted. As I was saying, since my so called best friend abandoned me, you and I will spend every day of Christmas together. I've planned it all and already sent you the sheet. Please open it so we can go over our schedule."
"Uh…what?" Taken aback, Amy checked her inbox for Sheldon's latest email and indeed found what he'd been talking about.
Opening it, Amy almost couldn't believe her eyes.
» Dr. Sheldon Cooper's and Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler's First Postcoital Christmas Schedule
Christmas Eve (Dec 24):
2 pm: expected arrival of Amy Farrah Fowler
2:15 pm: grocery shopping
4 pm: baking Meemaw's cookies«
It continued in that matter until December 26, 4 pm.
Staring up at him, Amy didn't know what to say. He wanted to spend what looked like a rather traditional Christmas with her? What else she found very interesting was the fact that he apparently thought of their first sexual encounter somehow life-changing as well since he'd felt the need to refer to it in the title of his little Christmas schedule.
"Are you agreeing with it?"
Unable to keep a smile of her face, she nodded. "Just two things, though," she replied.
Raising his eyebrows skeptically, Sheldon motioned for her to continue.
"I was supposed to spend Christmas Day with my mother and the family."
Looking at her, Sheldon's reaction surprised her. "Do you want to spend Christmas Day with them?"
Her brow furrowed, Amy shook her head. "No, but I need a good excuse for cancelling."
"Well, you're going to spend it with the most important person in your life," Sheldon replied so matter-of-factly that Amy had to smile. While her mother probably wouldn't understand this and be angry with her, Amy would rather face her mother's wrath than pass upon the opportunity of spending a romantic Christmas with her boyfriend.
"You said there were two things," Sheldon reminded her, causing Amy to nod.
"Yes, you didn't say when you want me to be at your place Christmas Day and the day afterwards."
At that, Sheldon looked away, blushing a little. Confused, but delighted nonetheless, Amy realized he was embarrassed. Why that?
"I…assumed you'd be spending the nights," he finally confessed, shyly meeting her gaze.
For a moment, Amy was too surprised to react. Sheldon wanted to spend two nights in a row with her, especially considering they'd be alone at 4A.
"It's fine if you're not comfortable with that. I apologize for my impulsiveness. I should have-"
"No, no," Amy hastily interrupted him. "It's okay. It's…more than I ever hoped for in fact," she admitted, her heart pounding in her chest.
Sheldon nervously licked his lips. "Still, if it's too much, there's always Leonard's room." Not knowing for whom it might be too overwhelming, Amy simply nodded and smiled at him.
"I'm really looking forward to this year's Christmas, Sheldon."
He smiled back and gave her a nod. "Me too, but I need to go now. I got work to do."
"Well, I was going to invite you to spend Christmas with Howie, Raj and I, but it sounds like you got yourself a merry little Christmas all on your own," Bernadette giggled after Amy had finished telling her girlfriends all about her exciting plans.
Penny laughed as well. "I knew it was a good idea to forbid him to join us."
Amy grinned. "Yeah, thanks for that. I would have had to be at my mother's instead."
They giggled and took a few sips of their wines. "What did she say when you told her you wouldn't be there but with Sheldon instead?", Bernadette asked, causing Amy's good mood to darken. The talk with her mother had been anything but nice. She had been furious with her daughter, appalled she was favoring Sheldon over her family. When Amy had calmly explained that her friends but especially Sheldon were her family, her mother had almost exploded and made her sit in her closet again.
"She wasn't happy," Amy told the girls, not wanting to get into the topic.
"Let's not dwell on it, ladies. We're all going to spend Christmas with the men we love. That's something to be happy about," Penny said, toasting her glass.
"And even better, you don't have to share your husband with his better half this years," Bernadette giggled which made Penny laugh and Amy send an annoyed look at her. As if Bernadette was one to talk, with Raj and Howard and there latent homosexuality.
"Well, Ames, maybe your Christmas will be jolly in another area as well," Penny winked once she'd swallowed her wine, but Amy merely shook her head. While she'd told them about her birthday of course, she hadn't exactly said that sex was only going to occur on her birthday, once a year.
They'd probably insist on making Sheldon see reason and she didn't want for him to feel pressured or uncomfortable. "I don't think so. He's already planned a tight schedule. There won't be any free time."
"Well, you are going to spend the nights and not in Leonard's room, I hope," Bernadette reminded her and Amy shrugged.
"He hasn't specified that." Biting her lip, Amy looked away. "I just…don't want to pressure him with any expectations. Celebrating Christmas like this – it's a big step for him. I'm not going to make it even more difficult for him."
Her friends were quiet for a moment and Amy blushed.
"I love him to death, but sometimes he doesn't deserve you," Penny suddenly let out. Biting her lip and looking uncertain for a second, she leaned forward in her seat.
"Okay, I'm gonna tell you something and….I need you to be cool about this. Don't freak out and please don't let him know that you know because he's seriously gonna kill me, but….since your birthday Sheldon's had a few hard times, if you know what I mean."
Penny tried to bite back a smile and Bernadette giggled hysterically while Amy stared blankly at her friends because she didn't get it? Had it been difficult for Sheldon? Being intimate with her? If so, why was Bernadette giggling? That wasn't very nice.
Maybe that was the reason why he wanted to wait a year – because he only could bring himself to do it only so often.
The thought made Amy sick. During their night he hadn't appeared to be disturbed, but what did she know? Maybe –
"Geez, Amy," Penny cut off her thoughts, looking exasperated. Rolling her eyes, she explained. "Having a hard time….it's an expression."
Confused, Amy raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"It means he masturbated," Bernadette supplied helpfully and giggled again.
At Amy's wide-eyed, disbelieving stare, Penny decided to add more. "Yeah, Leonard and I heard him jerking off and your name definitely came up."
What?
Sheldon had…what?
Amy could hardly imagine Sheldon doing…that. What did that mean? For how long had he been doing it? Thinking of him doing it caused Amy to flush. Maybe she wouldn't have to wait-
"I just told you because I wanted you to know that he's thinking about it and therefore it's okay if you do so as well. But he was mortified when he realized Leonard and I had heard him so don't let him know you know."
Amy nodded, but she felt incredibly giddy. Who'd have thought…Sheldon thought about sex. Maybe with a little patience she'd be able to wear him down before her birthday. Maybe for his birthday!
"Yeah, you need to relax. Sheldon would consider Penny a bad friend of he found out she told you," Bernadette agreed.
The girls all took a few sips of their wines, but Amy was too lost in her thoughts and imaginations to really pay attention to her friends. She was way beyond excited for Christmas.
On the twenty-second, everybody met up at 4A in the evening to celebrate Christmas in advance because they wouldn't be spending the actual holidays together. For that occasion, Raj had decided to play Secret Santa.
Everybody had exasperatedly agreed.
Amy was supposed to be Leonard's Secret Santa, much to her dismay because she knew her bestie's husband and boyfriend's roommate didn't have any hobbies besides videogames and comic books and she really didn't think he need any more of either things.
In the end, everybody was more or less happy about their gift and they spent a nice evening. They had decided to give Dungeons and Dragons, the Christmas edition, as Sheldon called it, another try with Howard as the leader.
Sheldon enjoyed the game immensely, but the best and yet most unbelievable thing was that he'd wrapped his arm around Amy's shoulders at one point during the night and hadn't removed it ever since.
Amy was on cloud nine. Sheldon was kissing her rather passionately every so often now, they were going to spend a wonderful Christmas together and her germaphobic, touch-hating boyfriend apparently couldn't stop thinking about sex with her.
Amy couldn't believe her luck. Who'd have thought something like that would actually happen to her, wallflower Amy Farrah Fowler?
Unable to hold it in, she let out a giggle.
"I know, Howard's so funny," Sheldon giggled haughtily next to her, mistaking her happiness for amusement.
His warm, long arm was still wrapped around her, even though it had slightly slid down and was now comfortable resting around her waist.
Happily, Amy leaned her head against his shoulder and when he didn't seem to mind, she took a deep breath and slowly placed her hand on his knee.
And Sheldon, to her utter amazement turned his head, smiled at her and turned his attention back to Howard. Just like that, like a normal guy, he'd accepted her touch.
What was going on?
Ever since they'd gotten back together, he'd been pretty forthcoming with physical attention. Why was that? Did he think it was necessary in order for her to be with him again? Or what were his reasons? Was he suddenly interested in intimacy? If so, how had that happened? When had that happened?
There were so many questions she didn't have an answer to, but she hoped she'd find out rather soon.
A few hours later, when Howard, Raj and Bernadette decided to go home, Amy helped Penny and their two boys cleaning up0 the living room.
Shortly after, they all wished each other a merry Christmas since the Hofstadter's were going to leave for New Jersey early in the morning.
"I could drive you to the airport," Amy suggested, but Penny declined.
"No need, Ames. Besides that, you need to be here around eight to take Sheldon to work."
The man in question nodded eagerly. "Indeed. I almost forget to tell you. Leonard here may be irresponsible and take his vacation-"
"I'm not irresponsible, Sheldon," Leonard sighed, rolling his eyes behind his glasses, "Siebert was perfectly fine with it and the flights were a lot cheaper than on Christmas Day."
"I wasn't talking about your responsibilities towards the university but your roommate and best friend. Me," Sheldon exclaimed dramatically.
Rolling her eyes, Penny had enough. "Seriously, Sheldon, don't make me hurt you."
As expected, Sheldon yelped and took a step back. Penny smirked and Amy rolled her eyes. This was getting ridiculous.
"I'll be here at seven forty-five. Good night," she said, grabbing her purse before turning around.
"Amy." Sheldon's voice made her pause and turn back around to face him. He'd taken a few steps towards her and a small smile illuminated his blue eyes. Then a frown appeared and he slightly turned to his friends. "Do you mind?", he asked irritably, causing Penny and Leonard to quickly vanish to Leonard's room.
Satisfied he wasn't being watched, Sheldon turned to face her again. His half smile back in place, he moved to grip her fingers. Instantly, her heart started to beat faster and she felt herself melt upon gazing at his handsome face.
"Good night, Amy Farrah Fowler," he said somehow softly. "Text me when you're home, please."
She nodded and unable to help herself, she stood up on her toes and pressed her lips to his in a sweet goodnight kiss.
For the first time, Sheldon didn't simply press her mouth with his. Instead he moved his lips experimentally, shyly across hers. Sometimes tiny pecks; sometimes the kisses were longer and more intense.
Amy felt so deliriously happy, she was afraid she was going to pass out.
"See you in the morning," he murmured against her lips before breaking away completely.
"Sweet dreams," she replied, leaning in for another kiss.
Twenty minutes later, she was finally on her way home.
