Another big thank you to vamplover669 for all her ideas and for putting up with me nagging her with mine.

A week had passed since the party and Amy could notice a difference in how the rest of the school viewed her. Before had you asked someone who Amy Farrah Fowler was they might shrug their shoulders. Some might even tell you there was no one at that school named that. Now you might get that she was the girl who punched Matt Johnson in the face. The girl who dates that really smart kid. The girl who threw that epic party with Missy Cooper. Though how they gotten that idea was anyone's guess.

Amy had been happy at school just being ignored instead of tormented. Now while nowhere close to popular she was accepted for who she was. Amy thought that Sheldon's role in the party had boosted opinion of him as well. Not that he cared about that kind of stuff. Sheldon had formed the opinion early that he was superior to his classmates. That he couldn't be troubled with what they thought of him because what they thought did not matter anyways. Amy wished she could have his attitude. Amy cared though, she cared a lot.

As she walked down the hall alone on her way to her last class of the day someone bumps into her with their hip. She looks up startled, that happening at her old school would signal she was about to be tortured. Instead she sees Missy smiling at her.

"Hey girl! Long time' no see." She says hugging Amy around the shoulder. "How you been?"

"Good." Amy says smiling at her. She was always somewhat dazzled by her beauty. That a girl like her wanted to be nice to her. Even if it was because she was dating her brother. "Sheldon told me you got grounded because of the party. I'm sorry."

"Girl! That party was worth it! Did you hear the one about how you gave Matt a black eye and made him cry?" Missy asks laughing.

"That story has been kind of blown out of proportion hasn't it?" Amy says shyly.

"All the good ones always are."

"Did you hear how you and I threw the party together?" Amy giggles.

"That one is true! Without you there to distract Shelly there would have been no party. " Missy tells her hugging her again. "Which reminds me of something I need to talk to you about." Missy says sounding serious and stopping their walk and pulling her to the side of the hall into a stair alcove.

"What's up?" Amy asks nervous at what Missy has to say and the fast approaching bell to class. Never in her life has she ever been tardy to class. The thought of it is giving her a tummyache.

"As you probably know Valentines is next week." Amy nods her head yes but really it hadn't crossed her mind at all. Her mother thought the holiday was silly and frivolous. In elementary school she used to dread it because she was always the one with the least Valentines.

Then last year a cruel joke had been played on her. A note from a secret admirer had been placed in her locker telling her to meet him at midnight by the swings in her old neighborhood. When she got there she was pelted with water balloons filled with bright red liquid that left her face and body stained for days. It was shortly after that her mother began her quest to move them to Texas.

"I just wanted to let you know that Sheldon probably isn't going to do anything for you." Missy says and Amy shakes her head relieved.

"Oh, I know Sheldon isn't exactly a hearts and flowers kind of boy. I was not expecting him to do anything at all." Amy assures her moving to reach her class on time. As much as Amy would love Sheldon to come into school on February 14th holding a giant teddy bear and a dozen long stemmed roses, she knew that wasn't him. Just having a real boyfriend was enough for her.

"It's more than him not being that kind of boy. Amy did he tell you about when our father died?"

"All I know is it was last year sometime. Sheldon doesn't really like to talk about it." Amy admits. The last time he had said anything about it had been the day he said he loved her.

"It will be a year on February 14th." Missy says tearing up and now it is Amy's turn to hug Missy. The bell rings and Amy is officially late but she doesn't care.

"Come on let's sit down." Amy says leading her into the now empty stairwell and sitting down. "That must of been so hard for everyone. How did he die? Sheldon never told me."

"The death certificate says it was a heart attack. Daddy was a big man, he lived to drink , eat, and carouse. Never met a steak or a whiskey he didn't like. Smoked cigars like a cartoon villain and had the worst temper you've ever seen."

"So natural causes." Amy says and Missy sniffs and starts crying in earnest.

"They say that but I know we all feel responsible. Sheldon especially even though he would never admit to it."

"Why he didn't force food and alcohol down his throat." Amy asks curiously. Missy shrugs her shoulders and starts on her story.

"The day he died he had come home early in the morning drunk as a skunk. I yelled at him that if he was going to come home like that he could've at least brought Mama a box of chocolates. Daddy called me a bitch said he didn't need no advice from no uppity whore. Well that got George Jr. All upset and he told Daddy he better apologize to both me and Mama. Daddy pushed him down told him to keep his nose where it belonged. Now Shelly he just kept quiet during all this. So Daddy says we should be like Shelly. Said he never thought he would prefer the pansy son with his nose in a book over his son who insisted on sticking his nose up his ass. Then Amy oh lord…" Missy sobs. Amy can't imagine the story getting worse.

"It's okay Missy." Amy tells her patting her shoulder. "You don't have to finish." But Missy has a determined look on her face this story is going to be told.

"Shelly gets up, throws his book down. Amy I swear until that moment I hadn't noticed how tall he'd gotten. It looked like he was towering over Daddy. Then Shelly he yells "if you insist on ruining your own life I can't stop you. Why do you insist on dragging each of us through the mud with you! This whole family would be better off if when you went to bed to sleep this one off , and you just didn't wake up. I know my life would be better if you didn't."

"Oh no." Amy gasps covering her mouth. Dreading where this story is going.

"Then Shelly storms off to his room. Daddy stomps off to his and mama's room. It gets to be about time for daddy to head out to the bar again and he still ain't up yet. So mama goes to check on him and he ain't breathing." Missy says wiping her eyes. "Mama tried so hard to wake him up but it was just too late. Daddy was gone just like that." She says snapping her fingers.

"I am so sorry Missy, but you have to know it's not your fault. Whether you started a fight with him or not the outcome would've been the same." Amy assures her.

"Shelly he didn't talk again for days,weeks, hell maybe even months, but he didn't cry either. Sat there stony faced at the funeral. In fact I don't think I saw him smile again, until he met you. Amy like it or not you bring something out in him. Something I thought we might never see again." Before Amy can respond she hears a voice behind them.

"Hall passes, please." The teacher says holding out her hand.

"Oh, we don't have any, we are just late to class." Amy explains getting up.

"Class is almost over, so you were skipping your last period?" The teacher asks raising her eyebrows.

"No, not intentionally of course." Amy clarifies but the teacher places her hands on her hips and gives her a look.

"You know I am going to have to give ya'll girls detention." He says and Amy starts to cry. Detention was not something she had ever dreamed of having. Her mother would be so disappointed , she might be grounded for a month.

"Please Mrs. Smith just give it to me! Amy was just trying to help me I swear! She would never skip class on purpose." Missy pleads but just shakes her head.

"I'm sorry , but if I bend the rules for her. Then I bend the rules for everyone. You two come along with me." She says snapping her fingers and Missy and Amy follow her to the office.

"Amy I'm so sorry…" Missy starts.

"I know you didn't but I am still upset." Amy says wiping her eyes. To this point she had blindly followed Missy's lead. The party had almost gotten her in trouble and now she was really going to be in trouble. Amy thought she would be lucky if she was allowed out of the for valentine's day let alone worrying about what if anything Sheldon would do.

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That Thursday Sheldon sits at his desk in his room feeling Amy's absence. Every Thursday since October he has been with her. Not having her with him felt wrong. He hated his sister for getting her in trouble. Why had she been talking to her in a hallway anyway? The absence of Amy was making him feel even more cranky and irritable than he would normally be. Given that he had less than a week until the anniversary of one of the worst days of his life. When George Jr. walks in his room uninvited he is no mood to deal with him.

"What up my brother?" George says holding his hand out to him for Sheldon to high five. Sheldon ignores him and George takes his hand away. "Where is your little girlfriend today? Ain't Thursdays the day she comes over here for ya'll to stare at each other and not talk." Sheldon glares at him.

"I thought you would've heard. Missy coerced Amy into skipping her final period and now she is grounded for two weeks." He says turning back to his papers.

"So you're free this weekend?" George asks sitting on his bed.

"As free as I ever am." He says not looking up.

"Good, so how about you and I take Stacy Dubrowa and Angel Harding out this weekend. I have been trying to get with Stacy forever. Then she comes up to me and says her friend Angel liked your dancing at the party. So she will go out with me if you go out with Angel." George says wiggling his eyebrows.

"Excuse me?" Sheldon says incredulously.

"I know , I thought your dancing was pretty stupid too. Angel thought it looked romantic though. I should've taken those cotillion classes more seriously."

"Why on earth would I go out with you and those two braindead bimbos." Sheldon snorts.

"Why wouldn't you? I mean before you did not like girls whatever… But now you've cut your teeth with Amy and you can join the big leagues. I mean Angel is a seven but that is good for you going from a four." George says and Sheldon holds up his hand to stop him from talking.

"I am sorry, but what do you mean by seven and four?" Sheldon asks turning to face him.

"You know… Ranking their looks… Stacy is a ten because her body is banging and her hair is natural blonde, Angel is hot but she could lose a few pounds and she is a ginger who dyes her hair blonde, Amy well… I was being nice with the four dude. I mean sure she was maybe a six at the party. When she showed off that booty. Your an ass man I know that much now." George laughs.

"I don't know how you quantify your total score in your ranking system but you are wrong. By any means Amy is a ten, higher than that really if we were to tally it all up. Amy has everything you could ever want in a woman." He says holding up his fingers to tick off his points. " She is brilliant, patient, kind, shares my interests while still retaining her own unique point of view. Going on looks I have never seen a girl as beautiful as her before."

"You got your blinders on buddy! Amy is the first girl who let you get a taste so you think she is hot shit. Trust me there are better flavors out there. Come out with me and I will show you that you can do better than her. "

"Amy is the only girl that I have an desire to taste." Sheldon says holding up quote marks over the word taste and rolling his eyes.

"Suit yourself! Not that you would know what to do with a real woman anyway. Maybe I will try to go seduce Amy show her what a real man is." George says sticking out his tongue and wiggling it suggestively. Before he knows what is happening Sheldon has knocked him flat on the floor. He sits on his chest and pummels him blindly in the face and chest. "Get off me you little shit." George screams trying to knock Sheldon off.

"Take it back!" He screeches wrapping his hands around his throat and throttling him.

"You trying to kill me like you killed Daddy?" George Jr. Chokes out and Sheldon jumps off him and scrambles backwards. Covering his face with his hands.

"Sheldon… I didn't mean… " George says knowing he crossed a line.

"Get out." Sheldon says deadly calm.

"Listen Sheldon I am sorry… Amy is great I was just…" George stammers scared by the anger etched in his normally emotionless brothers face.

"I SAID GET OUT!" He bellows pointing at his door. George gets out and and shuts the door.

Sheldon gets up and lays in his bed trying to quell the emotions swirling around in his head. It gets dark and his mother calls him to dinner and he ignores her. He lays quietly on his bed has he hears his family eating dinner, then watching TV. Finally just as he starts to drift off to sleep his door cracks open.

"I am not hungry, mother." He mumbles not looking up.

"Then don't eat. Get so skinny that you disappear when you turn to the side." Missy says and he sits up and glares at her.

"What do want?" He asks.

"George has a shiner." She says sitting on his bed.

"Oh."he says.

"Says he got it from you." Missy says scooting herself up so she is leaning against his headboard.

"He deserved it." Sheldon says not changing from the fetal position he is in. Curled up facing the opposite wall.

"George agrees and I gave him a purple nurple for good measure." Missy Tells him and he turns and looks at her.

"Why?"

"Amy is my girl! He don't need to be ragging on her." Missy says and he sits up.

"Correction Amy is my girl." He huffs.

"Sheldon ain't no one disputing that George got a black eye for trying."

"Then why are you hanging out with her? Giving her unneeded makeovers, getting her into detention?" Sheldon demands.

"Because I like her! She is a sweet girl who has turned my twin brother human again! As far as the detention goes I was trying to help you."

"I fail to see that."

"Sheldon, next week is valentine's Day."

"How could I forget?" He huffs

"Girls ...well they expect things out of their boyfriends on that day. I just did not want her thinking you ignored her because you didn't like her."

"Ignore her?" He asks stunned sitting up and crossing his legs.

"Shelly I know next week will be hard for you. I know you weren't a big fan of the day even before daddy died. All that extra hugging and kissing always kind of skeeves you out. But I also know you love this girl. I didn't want her to be upset about things that were out of your control. Your her first boyfriend, she might have romanticized what the day would bring. "

"What did you tell her?" He asks curiously.

"About the day daddy died.. I can see why you like her she is a good listener. I've never told anyone about that day."

"Nor have I." He admits hanging his head. "Missy tell me what do girls expect on Valentine's day?"

"Sheldon I told you I explained to her why you wouldn't be doing anything for her."

"But it is some sort of social convention that a large fuss is made on this day between couples yes?"

"Yes...but Shelly you don't have to."

"Like you said Missy I love this girl, so tell me what to do." Missy is shocked she never expected this from him. Amy had some powerful spell over her brother.

"If I'd known I could speak to you rationally I could of saved Amy a bit of trouble."

"Why didn't you just try to talk to me in the first place."

"Shelly honey, you ain't always been the easiest person to talk to." Missy tells him wrapping her arm around his shoulder surprised when he lets her.

"I suppose not." He admits. "So you were telling me about valentines customs?" He asks shirking away from her.

"Well there is flowers…"

"Bouquet of severed plant genitals ...got it…" Missy rolls her eyes at him but plows on.

"Box of chocolates…"

"Yuck, I hate those boxes you think you are going to get something good then bam! Coconut! Even the ones with the helpful diagram can be deceiving."

"You know what Shelly? So far you have done a pretty darn good job of wooing this girl with your own unique style. Something tells me Amy ain't your typical girl anyways. So I am sure whatever you do for her will knock her socks off." Missy says and he smiles at her.

"Excellent… You can leave now." He says getting up and going to his desk.

"Love you too Shelly." She sighs leaving the room.

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The punishment from the school for skipping her last class had been one detention after school. The punishment from her mother had been two weeks of complete lock down. No phone, no Thursday's at Sheldon's, no TV. She was even making her do extra homework to make up for the class she missed. Even though she had just missed her one elective creative writing and they had a sub that day who let them watch movies anyways.

The only good thing about the punishment was that Sheldon was more doting in school than ever. It had been a week and he had figured out a way to escort her either to or from every class. He even kissed her in front of everyone when it was time for them to part ways at the end of the day. She still had not spoken to him about what Missy had told her. The school hallways were not really the place to have a conversation of so much gravity. Also Amy felt it really was Sheldon's story to tell. Missy had kind of crossed a line telling her. If he wanted her to know he would let her know.

Now it was Friday, valentine's day, the day that had started this fiasco in the first place. Even though Missy had warned her that Sheldon would not be doing anything. A little part of her wondered if maybe he had made her say that. That in actuality he was planning something huge and he wanted her to be surprised.

No such luck though as she sees him walk up to her empty handed in the morning. Throughout the day a secret part of her hoped he had at least sent her a candygram. The student council had set up a fundraiser where for a dollar they would deliver a box of sweethearts and a message to whomever you choose. It seemed like only the popular kids had participated as no candygrams were being delivered to any of her classes. Then her heart leapt when during her last class a boy dressed like cupid popped in and delivered her a valentine. Excited Amy reads the note which reveals it is from Missy. It says sorry for getting you in detention sweetheart. Amy laughs pleased that she at least she got one valentine.

When she gets home she fixes herself dinner and goes to her room. When her mother comes home she comes inside her room and stares at her with her arms crossed. Amy thinks it is because she is wearing Missy's batman shirt and pajama bottoms instead of her usual nightgown.

"What?" She asks.

"So did you boyfriend do anything for you today." She asks.

" Even if he had wanted to he couldn't, I am grounded remember mother?" Amy snipes.

"Watch your attitude young lady! Being grounded wouldn't stop him from bringing you something to school."

"I thought you were not a fan on the holiday?" Amy asks and her mother shrugs.

"I just thought your first boyfriend would of made some sort of a fuss. Enough of that ,how about we go to the music room and have a mother daughter sing along tonight?" She says excited. Amy used to love sing along nights. Mother would play piano ,she would play her harp and they would play their favorite hymns. Today the thought of being locked in a room with mother listening to her high falsetto warble "Are we washed in his blood?" sounds like abject torture.

"No thank you." Amy tells her.

"Amy you used to love sing along night." Her mother says clearly disappointed.

"I just kind of grew out of it." Amy tells her going back to the book she was reading. Her mother leaves and Amy engrosses herself in her book while she hears her mother playing a melancholy tune downstairs. It gets late and her mother is still working her way through the saddest hymns she knows. Peggy Fowler was the queen of passive aggressive punishments. When she hears a tap on her glass startled she goes to her window. Sheldon is standing on the ground below carrying what looks like a basket.

"Is your mother asleep?" He calls up and she shakes her head.

"No but I can sneak you in. Go around to the back of the house and I will let you in the kitchen then go up the back staircase while I distract my mother." Amy yells down and watches Sheldon walks around the back of the house. Amy runs down the stairs two at a time and flies into the kitchen. Amy opens the door for Sheldon and gives him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Hello." He says.

"Hi." Amy says beaming at him.

"Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,

Calling for you and for me;

See, on the portals He's waiting and watching,

Watching for you and for me." Her mother sings in a wavering voice that makes Sheldon cringe.

"Is that your mother?" He whispers and Amy nods. "I can see why she plays the organ and doesn't direct the choir." He says peering around the corner making Amy giggle.

"Amy is that you?" He mother calls from the music room and Amy shoos Sheldon up the stairs.

"Yes mother.", Amy says walking into the room and kissing her on the cheek. "I just came down to apologize for my sass and to tell you goodnight."

"My, it is getting late isn't it?" Her mother says staring dreamily at the grandfather clock as it chimes ten o'clock. "I think I will turn in as well. Good night dear." She says patting her hand and wandering off towards her downstairs bedroom.

Amy runs back up the stairs and when she opens the door to her bedroom she sees Sheldon has set up an indoor picnic. The lamp is turned off but she can see enough from tbe light coming from her bedroom window. There is a blue blanket spread on the floor with what looks like a small loaf of bread, a jar of butter, and two Dr. Peppers. Beside him on the floor is something that looks like an UFO.

"What's all this!" She asks happily.

"It's valentine's day, in my research of romantic dates picnic under the stars came up frequently. The idea of actually eating on the dirt at night was distasteful but I thought this was a close approximation. Sorry it is not more but it had to be what I could sneak from the kitchen and light enough to carry across three blocks." He explains.

"It is perfect!" Amy coos sitting beside him. "What's this?" She asks patting the little UFO.

"This is the under the stars part." He says switching it on and suddenly a starry sky is being projected on the ceiling.

"Oh! That is amazing." She says leaning against his shoulder and looking up.

"It also does the solar system." He says demonstrating by flicking a switch. "But starry sky is more fitting right now." He says switching it back they sit there looking up at the ceiling for a minute before Sheldon asks. "You want some bread?"

"Sure." She says and he cuts her a thick slice and spreads some butter on it and hands it too her. Amy takes a bite and it is sine if the best bread she has ever tasted. "This is so good." She says her mouth full. "Where did you get it?"

"I made it." He tells her eating his slice and opening a Dr. Pepper and handing it to her.

"You made it?" She asks shocked.

"Sour dough bread, Meemaws recipe."

"I didn't know you could cook." Amy asks drinking her soda.

"I excel at everything I try my hand in. It is whether I feel like doing it that's the problem." Admits and they eat the rest of their snack in silence. When they are done he carefully packs away the utensils and the butter. "Shall we lay down and gaze at the stars?" He asks.

"Yes." Amy agrees and they lay on their backs gazing up at the ceiling. The projected stars make the room glow faintly blue. Sheldon grabs Amy's hand and its large solid warmth encircles her small hand. "Thank you, this is so much better than my last valentine's day." She sighs, then she feels immediately guilty. His last valentine's had been so much worse. "I'm sorry." She says sheepishly wondering if he knows what Missy told her.

"What happened last year?" He asks and she tells him the whole story while staring up at the ceiling and squeezing his hand. When she gets to the part at the park the tears come and she can't help it. Sheldon squeezes her hand back and turns to look at her. "I know Missy told you what happened to me. That still sounds worse." He tells her and she turns to look at his face. It wasn't worse but she appreciates the support.

"I'm sorry, I am crying. Some are happy tears that at least now I have you." She admits smiling at him weakly. Then they just stare at each other for a long time. Amy can't ever remember looking into anyones else's eyes. Certainly not the way she was looking into his right now. Even in the semi-dark of the room she can see the brilliant blue color, so intelligent and warm.

"Has anyone ever told you that you are beautiful?" He asks softly stroking her face. And she shakes her head.

"Only you. Just now." She admits.

"Well you are." He tells her leaning in close to her lips. Amy pulls him in the rest of the way and kisses him. Not allowing him to break away like the last time he was in her bedroom. Sheldon kisses her softly small pecks on her mouth, her nose, her neck. Amy's hands feel the itch to touch his bare skin again and work their way up his shirts. He surprises her by pulling his shirts over his head then going back for her mouth.

Amy wishes she could turn on the light and examine every inch of his newly exposed skin. She runs her hands up and down his back feeling each muscle. As his tongue explores her mouth and his hands inch their way her shirt. Her first instinct is to pull his hands away. The new sensation of his hands on the skin of her back and belly is overwhelming.

"Is this okay?" He whispers in her ear. And just that little act of him asking takes away her fear. She shakes her head yes and his hands move upwards brushing lightly over her still covered breasts. Amy is torn between wanting more and thinking it is going to far when he stops.

"Are you okay?" She asks him and he nods.

"I think we should stop now. Or I might not be able to stop myself." He admits panting slightly.

"I'm not ready for that." Amy admits snuggling into his bare chest.

"Nor am I, however that does remind me. I forgot to give you your present." He says sitting up and reaching into his basket and pulling out a black box.

"Sheldon! You didn't have to do that. I thought this was the present. I did'nt get you anything." Amy says flustered.

"It is kind of a present for both of us." He says opening the box inside are two silver rings one cut for a man and one for a woman. "These are promise rings. I am promising myself to you. When we both are ready. The ring is supposed to serve as a reminder that I belong to you. Not that I need one but it is symbolic."

"The other one is me promising myself to you?" She asks him and he nods.

"After our conversation at church, it got me thinking about it. Amy do you promise yourself to me?" He asks hopefully and Amy kisses him in answer. Knocking him back onto the floor with her ardor. He breaks away from her and smiles. "That wasn't clear… Was that a…"

"It's a yes Sheldon." She says happily and he grabs the box and slides the ring on the hand opposite of her engagement finger. Amy grabs his hand and slides his ring on his finger. "So you are my intended now." Amy giggles liking the old fashioned sound of it.

"Yes." He agrees then he looks serious. "Amy it is getting late."

"Oh I understand, you have to go. Thank you for the best valentines ever." She says kissing him again.

"No , actually I was wondering if you minded if I slept here tonight? I have never slept so well as the night I slept with you. Also I really don't want to be alone tonight." He admits shyly

"Of course." Amy says snuggling against his chest and he pulls the blanket off her bed snd wraps it around them.

"Goodnight Amy." He whispers kissing the top of her head.

Thank you again for all the reviews and love this story has gotten! You keep reading I will keep writing.