The following week Amy was disappointed to receive no further tweets from 'LittleMothsSurprise'.

She was 99% sure it was Sheldon and had hoped he would give her some idea as to what was happening in his life, he had started the account after all.

By Friday she was a mix of frustrated and depressed. The thought of girls night even was not holding much appeal, especially as she could not stop thinking of Sheldon at 4A.

By the time lunch time came around Amy was poised to cancel girls night altogether, maybe she would stay late at work, then she could get the work finished without interruption and more importantly not have to listen to her friends talk about the men in their lives.

As she sat now looking at her very uninspiring sandwich, with its wilting salad on the side, she was delighted to see her phone light up telling her she had a call.

"Amy, hi! Listen I know we are meant to be coming to yours tonight but can you come to the cheesecake factory instead. I have to work until 10. I am working bar though so free drinks."

Amy smiled. Maybe that wouldn't be so bad. "Is Bernie coming?"

"No," Penny laughed, "because Howard is spending the night with the guys Bernie has been put on Mrs Wolowitz duty! She has to go to diner then take her to her aqua aerobics class!"

"Poor Bernie!" Amy grinned. "OK then bestie you have a deal. I will see you tonight at 7."

73

Sheldon was tired. He had worked non stop all week and for some reason Ramona had barely left his side. On Wednesday she had even spent the day at Caltech, supposedly to check things were on schedule with Gablehauser, but Sheldon had a feeling she was really just keeping an eye on him.

Today though, Friday, he had managed to convince her what with lectures, then a meeting with the rest of the physics department, he would be pretty tied up all day. Reluctantly she had left him in Caltech car-park and, he noticed, waited until he was inside the building before driving away.

Was she expecting him to go somewhere else? It didn't make sense, Sheldon thought. All week she had quizzed him. Who had he spoken to? Who called who? Had he seen anyone when running? It was as if she was keeping him away from people on purpose but she had assured him all along he was free to leave; so he really couldn't understand what she was suddenly so nervous about.

But tonight he would have a night free of questions, just Chinese food, video games and the company of his friends. As tired as he was Sheldon was excited.

At lunch he went in search of Leonard to check they were indeed having Chinese for dinner.

"Don't worry," Leonard grinned, "I placed the order already. In fact when I placed your order for tangerine chicken they were so excited I think you have a real chance of them getting the order right tonight!"

"Excellent" Sheldon nodded. "So will we be leaving at 5?"

"Sure, but we thought we would go to the comic book store first."

"Why? Its Friday. Friday is vintage video game night not comic book night."

"I know Sheldon, we just thought you might like to go say hi to Stuart. But we don't have too."

"No, that's fine. If you have made plans..."

Grinning Leonard nodded satisfied. "OK then. I will come get you at 5."

73

Following his friends up the stairs to his former apartment, comic book store bag in his hand, Sheldon felt content. As he waited for Leonard to unlock the door he couldn't help let his gaze fall on the apartment opposite. It was strange being back here, but as his ears strained to hear noise from the other apartment he realised he had hoped Penny would use tonight's events to have a girls night.

"Is Penny working?" He asked as casually as he could.

Balancing his own bag plus the Chinese food Leonard finally got he key in to he door as he shook his head and answered. "Yes. She was meant to be having a girls night at Amy's but Bernie cried off."

"Why?"

"Well I think she actually drew the short straw to be honest. As Howard was coming here Bernie had to take care of Mrs Wolowitz."

"Oh."

Leonard stopped and looked at Sheldon. "Amy is meeting her at the cheesecake factory I think. They were not going to be aver there anyway."

Sheldon shrugged and not replying made his way past Leonard into the apartment. As he slowly into his spot on the sofa he smiled. "Ahhh!" he sighed.

"Missed it?" Leonard grinned.

Sheldon sighed then refocusing said, "No I have just had a long day."

"If you say so buddy!" Leonard laughed. Bringing the food to the table he said sheepishly "I may have been a little overoptimistic about your chicken."

As Sheldon looked into his container he couldn't help but smile. "I guess it wouldn't have been normal Friday night if they got it right!" As Sheldon and Leonard began to eat the door opened and Raj and Howard came in.

"You started without us!" Raj stated indignantly.

"It is 8.04 Raj. We should have started playing video games 4 minutes ago."

"I thought you had abandoned that schedule." Howard grinned.

"Howard we all need to eat, the need for a timetable ensures we a do not starve and b fit in eating, comfort breaks and a suitable amount of game playing to ensure we are all happy."

Grinning Howard nodded. "It's good to have you back buddy!"

73

The noise from the living room, shouting and gun fire, echoed into the hall outside and as Amy guided a drunken Penny towards her door she couldn't help unknowingly mirror Sheldon's early glance at the door opposite. Finally getting the door open and Penny over to the sofa Amy moved to fill the kettle and begin to make Penny some coffee. "I am not sure how I was drinking the free drinks yet you are drunk." Amy mused.

"Cos you had food." Penny mumbled.

"You haven't eaten?" Amy frowned. Opening the fridge then various cupboards she said "You have no food! How do you survive with no food?"

"Leonard feeds me! Leonard loves me!"

"Yes I know he does." Amy muttered rolling her eyes. She did not want to have to go across the hall to see if they had food, so grabbing the phone she ordered pizza, then taking the coffee to Penny she said, "Come on drink this. Food will be here soon."

Sitting up straighter Penny said "Thanks bestie."

"So are the guys definitely staying over all night?" Amy asked, trying to make the enquiry casual while calculating having to open the door for pizza deliveries as Sheldon, Raj and Howard exited the apartment opposite.

"Yeah. They had sleeping bags and everything." Penny sniggered. "I swear if I didn't know they were geniuses I would have my doubts."

Amy smiled knowing exactly what penny meant, yet even with all that had happened between her and Sheldon she knew she still missed his talk of star wars or his latest comic book purchase. The enthusiasm he brought to the things he loved which she had so fervently hoped would one day include her too. Standing, as if to physically move away from the thoughts dragging her down, she went to fetch some water, that Penny did at least seem to be well stocked in, and was more than grateful for the knock at the door signalling the arrival of food.

As she opened the door, money in hand she was surprised that the delivery guy was staring backwards at 4A.

"Hi" she smiled, drawing his attention to her for the first time.

"Oh hi, I had this address but we normally have this order for across the hall."

"No you have it right." Amy assured him. Not wanting to stand in the doorway any longer than necessary she handed over the money before going back inside.

The rest of the evening was, Amy thought, thankfully uneventful. Penny ate and they watched the notebook. Then realising how late it was Amy agreed to stay over. There was no point going home anyway she thought ruefully, I wont get any work done now.

73

"Sheldon I thought the idea of having an all night gaming session was we played all night!" Leonard pointed out.

"Yes I know but I keep thinking of my bed and my room and..."

"And you want to sleep in there. OK, but then you have to get up and make us french toast in the morning!"

Ignoring the gleeful laughter and agreeing comments from his other two friends Sheldon nodded without comment.

"You will?" Leonard confirmed surprised Sheldon had agreed so readily.

"Yes. I haven't had french toast in the longest time and it really is not a punishment especially if I get to sleep in my bed too!"

So cheerfully making his way back down the hallway to his room Sheldon stood for a few minutes in the doorway. He had with him his Friday night pyjamas and tomorrows clothes, all in his backpack so the empty wardrobes didn't faze him. As he gazed at the framed superhero's on his wall and the boxes of neatly stored comic books Sheldon smiled.

He had missed his room. It was only now, sat on the edge of his bed, that he realised just how much.

Grabbing the bag he hastily made his way to the bathroom and washing and changing he went back to his room and climbed into bed. How had he thought a plain room was more restful? The familiar belongings were like friends themselves. Laying back and closing his eyes Sheldon reflected on the evening. He had really enjoyed it. The gentle teasing of his friends, the game playing and the food seemed so far away from the life he had been leading lately. The only things that had been niggling at him was the thought that he heard Amy and Penny. He knew Penny had been working and he was pretty sure, from what the others had said, that even if they had girls night now Amy never came here.

Was he just fantasising about hearing her voice because being here reminded him of what he had missed? Now in the dark he let himself remember once more how close Amy and himself had got. Was he missing that too?

If he was honest he knew for certain he missed her friendship, that was something he could not hide, but the intimacy?

Yes he did he realised. He missed seeing her smile which made her eyes sparkle. He missed the little touches she gave him as if checking he was close and he missed the nights when it was just the two of them and he was able to let go of the inhibitions that had bound him so tightly for many years. Yes they may have been taking things slow by other peoples standards, but for him the kissing and touching were things he treasured.

As sleep overtook him he thought of Meemaw's words once more and wondered if she was right. Had he taken a risk for his career so big he had lost Amy forever?

73

"Penny!" Amy shook the sleeping blonde gently.

"Ames what?" Penny grumbled.

"I'm going home. I need to get some work done and I want to avoid the guys."

Mumbling Penny rolled over.

"There is cold pizza in the fridge," Amy said "and drink water today!"

Another mumble was all she was offered, so gathering her things Amy left the apartment quietly. She needed a shower and clean clothes. She had slept in a night shirt of Pennys, but putting on yesterdays clothes was not something she relished and the thought of a hot shower, some cereal and coffee seemed much more inviting than cold pizza and water which was all Penny had to offer.

As she reached the bottom flight of stairs Amy silently said a grateful prayer for having managed to avoid Sheldon. Getting into her car and driving away she did not notice Ramona pull up behind. She didn't see the look of angry realisation that Amy had just left Los Robles too.

73

He had lied! Ramona could not believe she had let this happen. Why had she not kept a closer watch on the girlfriend? Knowing things were very close to slipping away from her Ramona decided she needed to make sure this did not happen again.

73

A/N: Thank you for the continued support in this story! The reviews are much less scary now ;-)

Ali x