A/n: I just officially passed the 600 reader mark. Thank you to each and every one of you for reading, reviewing and letting me know how much you are enjoying this. If you would like to get a glimpse into my writing process whilst reading, "I Never Told You" By Colbie Caillat spoke to me while writing this chapter.

Chapter 3: Must I Paint you a Picture

"Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will."- W. Clement Stone

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3am the following day...

Darkness. Never-ending darkness. Falling. No, floating. I'm in water. I can't swim. Gasping for air. Drowning. Deeper and deeper into the darkness.

Amy's laugh. Amy's face.

"I need time to assess the status of our relationship. You're not committed, Sheldon."

Cersi Lannister. "You should give yourself to the relationship . Once you do, your other interests will come into focus."

Meemaw. "Give yourself, Sheldon. Give yourself."

Clowns. Maniacal laughter. "She'll never accept you as you are."

Amy's face. "I will break you."

Sheldon suddenly bolts upright in bed. His heart is racing in his chest. Just a dream. Taking a quick glance at the clock, he groans when he sees that it is 3:14 in the morning. Concluding that he will get no further sleep tonight, Sheldon gets out of bed and decides that maybe he should try to get some work done...after a quick glance at pet finder. After all, I never agreed to not getting a cat.

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The rest of the week for Sheldon is much of the same. At least the Gorns are gone. Luckily, work has been busy and occupying his full attention during the day. He and Leonard have been invited to speak at The National Institute of University Researchers National Convention taking place in New York City next month. While a tremendous honor, it is also an incredible amount of additional work wrecking havoc on his other daily responsibilities. The fact that his personal life is crumbling at his feet certainly doesn't make life easier. At least tonight is date night with Amy. Sheldon had spent countless hours meticulously planning every minute detail of the evening. Although sure that it is not something he will enjoy, Sheldon decided upon taking Amy to the opening of a Baroque period art exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, followed by dinner at a small Italian restaurant close by. What's life without a little whimsy. He just hopes that anything can happen Friday doesn't turn into it won't stop coming up Saturday.

Saving his speech and powering down his computer, Sheldon sends a message to Amy to confirm that she will indeed meet him at his apartment in one hour's time. They have only exchanged three text messages all week- A record low. Sheldon silently prays to a deity he isn't sure exists that tonight is the night that they put this silly break behind them.

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Right on time, Amy pulls up outside of the guys' apartment building to find Sheldon already waiting for her. She has had the day from hell and honestly, all she feels like doing is going home, taking a long, hot shower, and watching Little House on the Prairie. However, she has a promise to keep to Sheldon. She is genuinely excited that he is taking her to the new art exhibit of his own volition. Maybe he has changed and I simply can't see the forest for the trees.

She can see Penny not so discreetly spying on them from her living room window. Deciding not to give the group any more fodder for their amusement, she ignores Penny and unlocks the door for Sheldon.

She is wearing the same dress she wore the first time Sheldon kissed her, a conscious decision, and as she sees Sheldon visibly gulp, she decides that it was definitely the right choice. Score one for an eidetic memory.

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After not speaking to Amy for almost a full week, Sheldon is positively giddy with excitement at the opportunity to spend a few hours alone with her. Getting into the car, he has to remind himself that his normal greeting of a kiss is now off limits. He instead extends his right arm for a hearty handshake and is "left hanging."

" No physical contact, Sheldon."

"We need to clarify the rules. I suggest..."

Before Sheldon can finish his sentence, Amy cuts him off. "You suggest nothing. As I am the one that asked for the break, I make the rules."

Fully reprimanded, Sheldon mutters. "Alright," and buckles in. He's not used to giving up control quite so easily, but he finds this new side of Amy oddly arousing. That's enough of that.

"Can I interest you in a round of counterfactuals while we travel?" Sheldon eagerly asks.

"I think I'd rather have an unscheduled relationship summit... a small council meeting if you will." Amy counters. She checks her mirrors and pulls into traffic before continuing. "I know that you value structure and order above all else. The relationship agreement is suspended and you're not sure what I expect of you, what your obligations to me are. Here are the rules. Number one, as you already know, physical contact up to and including coitus is strictly prohibited. Number two, Dates will hereafter take place on Friday night. Number three, we will resume daily text messages for a period of no less than one hour each evening. Number four, neither party is allowed to cancel or reschedule a date without seventy-two hours advanced notice. Number five, neither party will discuss any part of our dates or the status of our relationship with any of our friends."

Taking a moment to mentally review the conditions placed upon him, Sheldon nods in agreement. "Is there any room for negotiations?"

"None."

"But I don't want to subtract anything. I wish to add to it."

Suppressing a small smile, Amy glances at Sheldon and says, "You really want to cross the t's and dot the i's. What is it?"

"Neither party is permitted to go on dates, start a new romantic relationship or otherwise, I believe the term is hook up, with another person during this period. In public, we are still boyfriend and girlfriend."

"Agreed. Sheldon, I'm not doing this to punish you."

"I know." But it sure feels like it. Dream Amy said that "she will break me." Consider me broken like a pony.

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The stroll through the museum is largely uneventful. Each exchanged their opinions on various paintings and Sheldon was surprisingly having a good time. Itching to touch Amy was another matter entirely. Where he had once abhorred hand holding, he now expected it, placing his hand on the small of Amy's back as they walked was now second nature, and oh, how he wishes he could kiss her again. His brain short circuts and his goofy brain juices free flow to make him feel euphoric. it's not just the first kiss, either . No, each of the 463 kisses he has shared with Amy have had this effect. He enjoys kissing. He really enjoys kissing.

They walk the two blocks to the little Italian restaurant that Sheldon had found online. During the walk, Sheldon keeps his hands in his pockets so as to resist the temptation of touching Amy. He doubts that there would be any consequences for touching her, but he's not willing to take the risk.

Lost in his thoughts, he just about walks by the small, non descript building, which looks more like an office than a restaurant.

"This is the place."

They walk in and are immediately seated in a booth in a busy area of the restaurant. After silently perusing the menu and then placing their orders, Amy decides there is no time like the present to get some truths out of Sheldon.

"Sheldon, I wish to speak of a topic that has been on my mind for quite some time. Please hear me out before you answer."

"I'm, as they say, all ears."

"I would like to conduct the intimacy test with you. You know that. I feel that your refusal to do so is indicative of the fact that you don't want or need intimacy with me to feel satisfied in this relationship. Your words from prom were simply rehearsed and not your true feelings."

"You're feeling insecure in the relationship."

"Yes, very much so. Why do you refuse?"

"I've already answered this question. What we have is extremely intimate. I don't need some test to tell me what I already know."

"Humor me."

"I don't see the point."

"What are you so afraid of, Sheldon?"

"I don't have to sit here and take this. Thank you for your company, Amy." Taking out a $50 dollar bill, Sheldon places it upon the table. "This should adequately cover the bill. I'll see myself home."

With a single nod of his head, Sheldon stands and exits the restaurant. Looking for a bus stop and remembering that the nearest one was precisely four blocks West, Sheldon takes off walking, rather surprised that Amy allowed him to just storm off like that.

What is her problem? We were having a perfectly nice dinner. Must be uterus stuff. I'm going to pay dearly for stomping out. At least I'm not dating Bernadette. Oh, good Lord, just the thought of that makes me want to vomit. Amy has been acting differently for several months now. Since that infernal intimacy test with Penny. Could it be possible that she feels threatened by Penny? Doesn't Amy realize that nothing has, is, or will ever happen with Penny? I thought that was crystal clear. I'm only attracted to Amy.

Wishing he had his bus pants right about now, Sheldon reaches the bench indicating a bus stop a few minutes later, to find Amy had already driven there and was waiting for him on said bench. Amy had placed her emergency kit blanket on the bench and indicates for Sheldon to sit.

"The last bus for the night left twenty minutes ago."

"Drats."

Deciding that he can avoid it no longer, he sighs and sits on the bench next to Amy, squarely on the proffered blanket.

"Are you going to pout all night, or do you actually want to be a man and fight for us?"

"I still don't understand what exactly it is I did wrong to cause this predicament in the first place. Is this all because I asked your opinion on the new Flash while we were kissing?"

"Let's start with that. How do you think that made me feel, Sheldon?"

"You know that I have difficulty recognizing emotions in others."

"You're getting better." Amy says, offering Sheldon her first compliment of the evening.

"You went from kissy face to angry face very quickly."

"Why?"

"It was our anniversary and you feel that I wasn't fully present in the moment. Your feelings were hurt but it's not a valid reason to break up with me. If anything, you should've broken up with me last year when I went away for 45 days."

"Believe you me, I came very close to ending it several times during that period. How could you think it would be okay with me to find out from Leonard that you had left?"

"It's not okay and I have apologized profusely."

"That's true, but Sheldon, I am finding it increasingly difficult to be a second thought to you. I think you are getting too used to having me around and taking me for granted. I've invested five years in this relationship, Sheldon, and I can't get those back. If this is to continue, I need to know that I matter in every way possible. I'm not asking for coitus. I know you are not ready yet, and I respect that. I'm simply asking for you to make me a priority."

"I'm... I'm no longer opposed to engaging in coitus. It's simply a matter of when, not if, it will happen."

"You're missing the point. Why don't we end this discussion here and you can think about what I am asking of you."

"Alright. Can you give me a ride home?"

"Of course."

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The ride home is eerily quiet. The tension in the car, however, is as thick as soup.

Make her a priority? But she already is a priority! She's my third favorite person behind Meemaw and mom, she occupies speed dial number 2 on my phone, I even made her my screen saver! Make her a priority. Doesn't she know that she's all I think about?

Stealing a quick glance at Amy, Sheldon can't help but become concerned about her physical indicators of distress: her white knuckle death grip on the steering wheel, the way she is chewing on her bottom lip, the way her usually emerald green eyes that sparkle have become muted, and that single tear rolling down her cheek. That's killing him. How he longs to reach over and wipe it away. Instead he digs his fingernails into the palm of his hand until he is sure he's drawn blood. Staring out the passenger window once again, his eyes are seeing the sights of Pasadena at night, however, his mind is a million miles away, lost in thought.

This emotions and feelings hippy nonsense is exhausting! How am I going to fix this? I should call Meemaw. I need to tell Amy about the conference. I wish she would come with me. She's my biggest supporter and the only person I want to see when I look out into the audience while giving my part of the presentation. But I can't just ask her to come with me when the relationship agreement is suspended. She's under no obligation to be there.

Soon enough, Amy pulls in front of Sheldon's building. Sheldon makes no immediate move to exit the vehicle, so Amy turns towards him, leans over and opens his door.

"Good night, Sheldon."

"Good night, Amy."

As Sheldon walks up the stairs to Apartment 4A, only one thought is on his mind, "I miss MY Amy."