He ran out of the room after her and took her arm before she made it to the living room.
Back in his bedroom he took her hand and placed the locket back where it belonged.
"No this is yours."
"Sheldon I can't your Mee Maw-"
"Amy, be quiet. I gave this to you because my Mee Maw told me to give it to the girl who made me happiest. You are that girl, you will always be that girl and no matter what happens between us, this locket will stay with you."
Amy let out a few tears and Sheldon wiped them from her face.
"You've always said that you hate seeing people cry."
"Yes well, things have changed. I know-" Sheldon took a deep breath. "I know Richard is good for you, he'll give you what I just…I just can't. But we're friends, best friends, aren't we Amy?"
Sheldon looked down at Amy and she smiled sweetly. "Always."
"Hey Shelbot! I need to use the can! Get out!" Penny laughed out her words slurred.
Sheldon sighed and shook his head "Penny you broad shouldered wench this is not the restroom.
"Oh."
Amy laughed and took the locket in both hands and put it back on.
"Thank you Sheldon, I think I should be getting home, but thank you for this, for tonight… for everything."
She was about to leave when he pulled on her sleeve. " I know it's not costmary but could I ….um…could we share a friendly embrace."
She smiled to the floor and nodded. They stood there amidst his comics and his posters, his star trek sheets and the light of the moon filtering in the dark.
It ended as quickly as it started and as she waved a small goodbye, Sheldon felt lonelier then he ever had.
The ride to Amy's was fast and quiet. Richard snoring softly in the passenger side, in all fairness she told him not to challenge Raj alas, the clear victor was not the man smiling in his sleep.
She was glad he was asleep though, she didn't think she could muffle the sound of her heart or loosen the knot in her throat long enough to speak. She liked Richard, she was going to do right by him and return the locket, he deserved to have her fully but….Sheldon.
A bolt of pain shot into her chest and she breathed in to control it, looking sideways to the slumbering man next to her. She couldn't help but smile whilst looking at him. To a lot of people he might appear perfect, but she knew the truth. He was a foster kid jumping from home to home as a kid, worked three jobs to make it through medical school, and when the guy loved…he loved, he gave everything he had to it. He loved his foster parents and his sisters and brothers, the ones that at the young age of 16 he'd finally learned to accept. He was broken and Amy knew that despite it all he forged on ahead and that only made her like and respect him even more.
But….Sheldon.
He kept popping into her mind, and each time she felt heat in her face and those damn metaphorical butterflies in the pit of her stomach. She was in love with him. She wasn't stupid or blind, she knew those feelings wouldn't go away any time soon…maybe never. But he said it himself, he couldn't give her what she needed.
Amy felt tears falling from her eyes and a small gasp of pain escaped her.
Fingers interlaced hers and startled she looked down at Richard who was half awake and somberly smiling at her.
"He break your heart again?"
Amy stopped at a red light and felt sad and embarrassed to have him look at her in that moment. Fresh tears started to fall but more for Richard than for Sheldon, he deserved better. She was no better.
"Shh… don't cry." He said wiping away the stains from her face.
"I'm here and I'm not going anywhere…you need time to fully heal, and I understand that. No rush…" He smiled goofily.
Amy cried and laughed at the same time and choked out. "I'll get better …I promise. I will love you….it's impossible not to."
Richard sighed happily and leaned back on his chair while Amy drove on. " One day the will be out of that sentence but for now…well….I'm happy."
Despite it all today she was best friends with Sheldon Cooper, had amazing loving besties, the love of a guy like Richard Anderson. All in all …she was happy.
