Disclaimer: I own no rights to these characters and make no financial gains by utilizing any characters of The Big Bang Theory in my stories.

Amy made her way up the final flight of stairs and stood in front of Leonard and Sheldon's apartment door. This would be the first time she would see Sheldon since their amorous encounter. Her mind flashed back to him kissing her, them writhing happily on her bed. She wondered how she would restrain herself in the company of their friends that evening – how to act as if nothing happened. They were just going to eat Thai food together as they had so many times before, she told herself. She could do this.

"Hey, Ames, coming in?" Penny asked as she approached from her apartment across the hall.

Amy nodded.

"You okay?" Penny asked. "You look like you have a fever or something."

"No, I'm quite alright. Thank you." She followed Penny into the apartment.

Raj and Howard were seated on the couch. Sheldon stood in the kitchen double-checking his order, wincing at an ordering mishap.

"I suppose, if I want something done right, I have to do it myself!" Sheldon huffed.

"Please," said Leonard, "Feel free."

Sheldon shook his head. "Come on Leonard, we both know my time is too valuable to waste retrieving take out."

Leonard opened his mouth to reply when he noticed Amy standing in the living room. She hadn't been sure how to act. Should she sit in her usual spot on the couch, or approach Sheldon in the kitchen? Instead, she halted in front of the TV. Luckily, Howard and Raj weren't yet engrossed in the show. Either that, or they were simply being kind by not shooing Amy out of the way.

"Hey, Amy," Leonard said as he smiled, "Your food is on the coffee table."

Amy nodded in appreciation. Sheldon didn't look in her direction. He just kept shaking his head and picking at his Thai food.

Raj got up from the middle cushion and moved to the floor, giving Amy her seat on the couch in front of her food. Soon, everyone had found their usual place around the coffee table – everyone except Sheldon who'd stopped fiddling with his food and was now eagerly searching the refrigerator for some unknown item. He finally made his way to his spot with his dinner and two water bottles in hand. He placed one beverage before Amy. She smiled, trying to make eye contact with him, but he looked away as he sat down. His thigh grazed hers. He pulled away quickly. Amy rubbed her hand on her leg where they'd last touched. They both took new-found interest in their dinners, eating as if ending a fast.

"So, Howard," Penny began, "Where's Bernadette?"

"Ugh, she's working late again. Being a kept man has its downside," Howard replied.

"Oh, boo hoo! You're married. That's guaranteed sex for life!" Raj said, "Hard to feel sorry for you, Dude."

"Things not going well with Lucy?" Howard asked.

"Things are fine. We are trying something new. Apparently Lucy is very good at reading lips, so she's started wearing earplugs on our dates. That way I can talk freely," said Raj. "Then, without telling me when, she'll remove one and then, eventually, both earplugs until I'm actually speaking to her."

"Smart," said Leonard, "Sort of like learning how to ride a bike."

Raj looked at him, not understanding.

"You know," Leonard continued, "Your parent runs behind you telling you they are holding the bike and when you don't notice, they let go."

"Exactly," Raj said.

"My mother was always too big to run behind my bike," Howard said. "My Dad could have done it but she was afraid to let him take off running down the street. Come to think of it, that was probably a red flag."

Everyone looked down at their food uncomfortably.

"So, Sheldon," Penny asked, "Speaking of flags, what have you and Amy been up to? Shot anything lately?

Amy coughed on her Pad Thai, trying not to choke.

"Excuse me!" Sheldon tried to control his voice.

"Yeah, the special…whatever you called it…adventures down under, home of the bushwacker," Penny said. "Did you do it?"

Amy put down her food. She had officially given up eating for the night.

"I most certainly did not!" Sheldon retorted.

"Yes, you did," Leonard said, "You taped it the other night when Amy was dressed up as a kangaroo."

"Ohhh, Fun With Flags, the Australian special!" Sheldon said, relieved. "Flags from down under; home of the koala."

"That's what I said!" Penny said. Sheldon eyed her in disbelief.

"Yes, we filmed it. No, I haven't gotten it up yet…up online, that is," Sheldon said while reaching for his water bottle. He took a big swig to calm his nerves.

"Actually, Sheldon," Leonard said, "That's Amy's water."

"Oh, sorry, Amy." Sheldon handed the water bottle to Amy and retrieved his own from the coffee table.

Raj turned to Howard and mouthed, "wow!"

Amy couldn't take the tension anymore. She had to get out of there. She quickly got to her feet. "I have to be in the lab early tomorrow. I'd better get going."

"Already?" Sheldon asked. She nodded. "Very well, I'll walk you out."

"Well, that was odd" Penny said after Sheldon and Amy had left.

"What do you mean?" asked Leonard.

"Didn't you notice how strange they were acting? Amy barely ate her food and Sheldon, even for a wackadoodle, was acting extra wacky."

"It's like fifty shades of crazy around her normally, I don't really notice anymore," Leonard said. Penny's eyebrow arched at his literary reference.

"What?" Leonard asked. "It's just an expression."

"And, an amazing book," Raj said.

Penny rolled her eyes then saw Amy's purse on the floor in front of the couch.

"I'm going to see if I can catch them and give Amy her purse," Penny said as she headed out the door.


Sheldon walked Amy to her car in silence. They'd walked down the stairs without a word. Amy was worried he may be reconsidering taking their relationship to the next level. Maybe he'd revert to the safety of their relationship agreement restrictions. As they neared her car she felt his hand in hers. She spun around, facing him. He looked deeply in her eyes and her worry fell away. He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers, then deepening as they leaned against her driver's side door. He pulled back slightly, looking her in the eyes once more.

"I wanted to do that all night," he said. Then he leaned in for a deeper, longer kiss, wrapping his arms around her waist. He brushed her hair aside and began kissing her neck.

"Sheldon, are you sure we can keep this new level of intimacy just between us?"

Sheldon pulled away from her neck. "Amy, you know I'm not ready to make the physicality of our relationship public knowledge."

"I know," she said, wrapping his hands back around her waist. Trying not to gush to Penny about Sheldon's touch was challenging, but she'd have to go at his pace. Sheldon pushed his weight against Amy as he settled back into a passionate kiss. His pace seemed just about right.


Penny walked out of the lobby holding Amy's purse in her hand and searching the street for Amy's car or any sign of Sheldon and Amy. Nothing. She only saw a couple making out against a car, really going at it. Good for them, she thought. Wait, that wasn't any couple, that was…Sheldon and Amy? She couldn't look away. Frozen on the sidewalk, she watched from afar as Sheldon caressed Amy's face, his hands roaming down her sides, all while maintaining a blush-inducing liplock.

Penny saw Sheldon and Amy break apart, Amy reaching for something in her pockets, coming up empty. Damn it, she'd realized she left her keys and purse behind. Penny ran back into the lobby and up a flight of stairs, stopping on the landing, still clutching Amy's purse. She heard footsteps and turned to descend, coming face to face with Sheldon.

"Amy forgot her purse," Penny said. She held it out for him to take. His hair was mussed, pale pink lipstick was smudged on his cheek and neck and lips. His face was flushed.

"Yes, I know. I was just coming to retrieve it," Sheldon grabbed the purse from Penny. "Thank you."

Penny averted her eyes. Attempting not to stare at his disheveled state, her eyes followed the purse as Sheldon held it in front him. Did she see what she thought she did? Was Sheldon hiding a….she couldn't even think about it. He turned, walked down the stairs, and out the lobby to Amy.

Penny spoke aloud to herself as she walked back up the steps.

"Holy crap on a cracker!"

Thank you for the comments, follows, and favorites. It is so appreciated! This chapter was a bit toned down, but hopefully you enjoyed it! :)