Chapter 3

The morning light started streaming through the curtains and fell onto Sheldon's face. He tried to shut his eyes tighter but it didn't work. Then he realised he was lying in bed with his arms wrapped around Amy. She was still peacefully asleep a small smile upon her face. Sheldon leant up and propped himself up on his shoulder to look at her. She was so beautiful when asleep; she was so beautiful all the time. He didn't want to look away from her at all, in fact not ever.

'Sheldon are you still there' said Amy with her eyes still closed.

'Yes I am, the sun woke me up' said Sheldon.

'Did you realise you spent the entire night holding me?' said Amy finally opening her eyes and looking into the endless depths of Sheldon's blue ones.

'No I did not, I did know had held you as that is how I awoke' said Sheldon

Both of them lay there for a moment just looking into each other's eyes. It was nice for both of them to lose their normal rational thoughts and lose themselves in each other. Then the realisation of the day came to Sheldon. He had to start getting ready for work and then face the hardest thing which would be to face Leonard. He recalled the conversation he had the night before in his mind.

'Sheldon this is amazing, I can't believe it '

'Yes Leonard, I'm very happy for you. It is a notable achievement'

'Man Sheldon that doesn't sound like you care at all'

'You know I do Leonard but I'm trying to control the feelings I have against you'

'What!'

'I just feel I deserve a Nobel Prize much more than you and whilst I know what you have done is important, I've always worked so much harder than you, I've never let things like coitus or girl troubles distract me'

'Sheldon how could you be so mean, I know this is hurting you but come on. Sheldon, sometimes I really do hate you'

That was the moment that Sheldon dissolved into tears and ran out of the apartment to Amy's. He was still scared of facing Leonard but also was still mad at him for the comment he had made. Sheldon also knew he was at fault but his stubborn nature was not going to let him apologise. He moved towards Amy and started to cuddle her in order to stop himself crying.

'Something tells me that you don't want to go to work' said Amy

'How'd you guess' said Sheldon

'Because you're shaking and holding me rather tightly' said Amy smiling. 'Sheldon it's best to face your fears'

'But it's not just Leonard I'm scared about, it's facing Raj and Howard and all the other members in the department 'wailed Sheldon

'Sweetheart, it's not going to be the end of the world' said Amy

'I know but it's the end of my world!' said Sheldon 'Hang on, since when do you call me sweetheart?'

Amy paused a moment. She and Sheldon had never used the cliché nicknames that most couples would use. She didn't mind them but she knew Sheldon didn't like them at all. So she would always make sure that she didn't say them. She then started to consider Sheldon's predicament. She knew he couldn't face a whole day at Caltech alone; sure he might be able to avoid Leonard but not everyone else. People were sure to make comments that the great Sheldon Cooper wasn't the recipient of the Nobel Prize which Sheldon would take to heart. They would also do nothing but sing the praises of Leonard.

'Tell you what Sheldon, I'll come and have lunch with you and if you feel like you can't cope, then we'll take it from there' she said, avoiding the nickname issue.

'Ok, do you mind if I use your bathroom to freshen up' said Sheldon.

'Not an issue at all Sheldon' said Amy

As Sheldon let her go and walked over to the bathroom, Amy again started to wonder about Sheldon and his new outlook. Who would have thought this was even possible for Sheldon ? Sure over the time she had known him, when something extraordinary happened then Sheldon would forego routine. There was the time they sort of broke up and he'd adopted the 25 cats. There was the time that Sheldon couldn't get a haircut and took to playing the bongos. This time though the shock to his system was making him do things on impulse. She however had no issue if all his impulses involved her. The thrill of what could happen next was at the forefront of her mind and all she wanted was him.

'Sheldon, what are you going to do about clothes?' called Amy as she started to get dressed.

'Oh I have a couple of spare outfits at the university so I'll change there' said Sheldon. 'For now I'll have to wear the outfit I came in last night which I will put back on once you go and use the bathroom.

It took about 45 minutes for both of them to be ready. Sheldon refused to let Amy make him breakfast, saying he would grab something when he got to the university. Amy wasn't feeling very hungry so dismissed the thought of it altogether. They walked hand in hand out of her apartment building and down to her car. Both of them were having the same thought, what would happen next?