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.

"Come on, Sheldon! We're gonna be late for work." Leonard jingled his keys anxiously.

Sheldon entered the living room wearing his pajamas, rubbing his eyes. Leonard's mouth dropped.

"Leonard, something's wrong," Sheldon looked around the room in a daze. "I must have…overslept."

"Well, hurry up and get ready."

"But, I do not oversleep. Ever. Maybe I'm sick."

"Maybe you're just, um, distracted." He fought to hide a smirk.

"Distracted?" Sheldon stared blankly as Leonard raised an eyebrow. "I could be dying from a brain tumor. I need to look this up on WebMD."

"Buddy, you're not dying. Go get ready." Sheldon didn't budge. "Sheldon Lee Cooper, we're now late. If you aren't ready in five minutes I'm leaving without you!"

"Fine! Geez." Sheldon walked down the hall to his room.

Equations spread across Sheldon's whiteboard, refusing to give up their knowledge of the universe. As hard as he tried, Sheldon could not determine why one wouldn't balance. What was he missing? He had to focus.

Shaking out his lanky limbs, he re-approached the board. He stared with newfound intensity, watching as the light blue of the dry erase marker transformed into the hazel of Amy's eyes as she gazed up at him, he remembered the feel of her hand on him, his hand exploring her, imagining what it would feel like to be enveloped by her, in her, moving together…

He shook his head as if to fend off a persistent fly. He had to stop thinking of Amy. But, how? Just then his eyes fell on the hackey sack on the edge of his desktop. Grabbing it, he headed out of his office. His break would have to come early today.

"Shut your ass!" Raj covered his mouth, realizing how loud he was in the university cafeteria. He lowered his voice and leaned in toward Leonard and Howard at the table.

"So, he was all over her?"

"It couldn't have been that intense if they didn't set off the car alarm," Howard said.

"I don't actually want to think about the details," Leonard said.

"But, Penny did give you details, right?" Howard asked.

Leonard saw Sheldon approaching the table. "Shhhhh. Be cool."

Sheldon sat down and started picking at his lunch.

"You alright, buddy?" Leonard asked.

"I'm fine. What's the topic of conversation today?"

"Car alarms," Howard chimed in.

"In what context?" Sheldon asked.

Raj took a bite of his sandwich to avoid answering. Howard looked to Leonard.

"Howard was thinking of getting a new system installed in his car. Right, Howard?" Leonard said drawing his jaw tight as he directed the question to Howard.

"Right!" Howard turned to Sheldon. "Hey, by any chance, do you happen to know what kind of car alarm system Amy has?"

"Why on earth would I know what kind of car alarm Amy has?" Sheldon asked.

"No reason."

"I suggest you put your masters degree to good use and do some internet research. You don't need a doctorate to figure this one out."

"Great. Thanks, Sheldon," Howard said as he rolled his eyes. "I'll do that."

"Let me know how you make out." Sheldon said.

Howard smirked. "I thought you were an expert in that arena."

"Howard!" Leonard glared at Howard.

"What?" Sheldon asked, looking around, puzzled.

"I'm just saying," Howard continued, "if you need some tips…" Howard turned to Leonard. "How thorough was that book you gave him?"

"Howard, stop," Leonard snapped back.

"He brought it up…well, at least he did the other night." Howard laughed.

"Don't listen to him, Sheldon." Raj quipped. "I think it's beautiful!"

"Huh?" Sheldon stared in confusion.

"You and Amy expressing your carnal love, out there for the world to see," Raj continued.

"It's about time, too," Howard added.

Raj waved his hand in front of his eyes to keep from crying, "I'm going to need a minute."

Sheldon studied his friends' faces – Howard looking like the proverbial cat who swallowed the canary, Raj's goofy smile and puppy dog eyes, Leonard averting his gaze, avoiding eye contact. It sunk in fully. He considered telling them all to grow up, but that would only confirm their assertions. He opened his mouth to speak, stopped, and began again.

"I have work to do."

With that, Sheldon abruptly left the cafeteria.

Amy was surprised by Sheldon's midday text message asking to come over her place after work. She couldn't help but consider the recent developments in their relationship and how they'd spent their alone time. She tried not to get her hopes up as she waited. Slipping off her bulky cardigan, she thought one less layer couldn't hurt.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Amy

Knock. Knock. Knock. Amy.

Knock. Knock. Knock. Amy.

Amy took a deep breath and opened the door.

"Hi, Sheldon."

"Hello." His reply was curt. Cold, even. He entered the apartment, standing an arm's length from Amy. As she took a small step toward him, he moved back in unison maintaining the distance between them.

"Is everything okay," Amy asked. Clearly, something was wrong. She couldn't quite read his face.

"You told Penny."

"Sheldon, I don't know what you're talking about. Told Penny what?"

"About you and me…and our…" Amy couldn't tell if his words were halting because he was suppressing anger or because he was embarrassed. "You're best friend did not keep your confidence. She blabbed the details you provided and now I'm subject to the juvenile sexual innuendos of Howard Wolowitz."

"I didn't tell her anything. I didn't tell anyone anything."

"Well, then how does everyone know?"

"Sheldon, I have no idea. I swear." Amy couldn't make sense of it. She was aware of a growing feeling of anger brewing in her that was tinged with sadness. "Are you ashamed of –"

She wasn't sure how to finish the question. Of us? Of me?

"I'm not ashamed," Sheldon said sharply.

"Then, what's the big deal if our friends know?"

"I've made up my mind," Sheldon said, not answering the question. "We'll reboot."

"Reboot?" What was he saying?

"Go back to the relationship agreement stipulations regarding physical contact."

Amy couldn't believe he was saying this. She'd expected him to revert to the safety of his rules – rules he routinely broke – much earlier. But, now? After he couldn't keep his hands off her, after he'd verbalized his desires…She felt like she'd been kicked in the chest.

"Is this really about our friends teasing you or," Amy looked at him, "are you afraid?"

"Afraid? What would I be afraid of?" he scoffed.

"That giving into your baser urges makes you less than remarkable. Makes you just a man like any other man."

Sheldon involuntarily shuddered at the thought.

"It's not true, you know. It's not one or the other." Amy held Sheldon's gaze until he looked away. She was talking sense and he knew it. But, would he admit it? "Do you really think you could stop now – now that we know what it is to be together intimately?"

"Of course I could stop. If I put my mind to it, of course I could."

"That's a horrible way to treat someone you love!" She heard the word escape her lips, looking to Sheldon for his reaction.

"Love?" The word hung in the air, echoing in Amy's mind just the way he'd repeated it – completely baffled why she would bring up the emotion.

They stood like that in silence for some time.

"That's it!" Amy walked over to her desk, opening the top drawer and retrieving a bound stack of papers. "Here," she said as she pushed the papers into Sheldon's arms, "Now, I want you to leave."

Sheldon began in protest, "But, Amy…"

"Go!" She didn't trust herself to be in his presence for another second without bursting into tears.

He did as she asked. Amy slammed the door behind him. Sheldon stood in the hallway outside her apartment clutching Amy's copy of the relationship agreement.

This chapter was really challenging to write. But, no worries, we will right this ship!

Thanks again for the the reviews, follows, and favorites! I really appreciate it!