The Evolution of Shamy

Disclaimer: In no way, shape, or form do I own anything to do with The Big Bang Theory (except DVDs). CBS, Chuck Lorre, and Bill Prady have that honor. I am just a fan.

Chapter 10

It was a Wednesday evening three weeks later. Amy was with Penny, Bernadette and Katherine in Penny's apartment for Girls Night. They had eaten dinner with the boys at Sheldon and Leonard's apartment and then left them for their weekly Halo battle. They had decided on a Girls Night In and were indulging in a romantic comedy marathon and experimenting with beauty masks. After the first movie the masks were done and they switched to painting their nails. Amy watched Katherine paint designs on her toenails and considered how oddly Katherine had been behaving lately. Ever since we went to that club she's been acting very secretive…and happy. When we went to that paint your own pottery place she put hearts all over everything. It's so out of character. Katherine's phone rang and she excused herself to take the call in the hallway.

"What is up with Katherine?" Amy asked Penny and Bernadette.

"Isn't it obvious?" Bernadette replied.

"If it was obvious I wouldn't be asking."

"We think she and Raj might be dating." said Penny.

"I did notice their attraction to each other but what makes you two think they've acted on it?"

"They're being so careful around each other…and they are both so happy. Raj had to take Sheldon's class because he keeps whistling." Penny giggled.

"Howie says Raj refused to go out with him last Saturday and hit the clubs when I was at that baby shower. Howie was a little disappointed that he couldn't bust out his wingman moves." Bernadette contributed. Penny rolled her eyes.

Katherine came back into the apartment with her hair mussed and slightly flushed. "You guys, we need to go across the hall for a bit." she said breathlessly.

"Why?"

Katherine was visibly agitated. "I'll explain once we're over there and everyone is together."

"Just give us a minute to clean up." The girls began taking the cotton balls out from between their toes and Katherine left the apartment.

"What do you think?"

"I refuse to jinx it, just keep your fingers crossed."

"Okay, what's this big announcement?" Penny asked as soon as they walked through the boys' door.

Katherine and Raj were standing to the side of the television. Raj put down his beer bottle and took Katherine's hand as Katherine said "Raj and I are dating."

Penny and Bernadette immediately squealed and ran up to hug them. "Finally!" Bernadette exclaimed.

"You knew? I'm his best friend and I didn't know." Howard said with an accusing look at Raj.

"I'm sorry." Raj apologized.

"I'm sorry too Howard; it was my idea to keep it a secret until we were sure it was serious." Katherine explained.

"You guys are serious?" Leonard asked in shock.

Katherine and Raj looked at each other; Raj brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "Yes, we're serious." he replied. Penny, Bernadette and Amy all sighed.

"I can't believe one of my best friends is dating my ex behind my back." Leonard stormed out and headed for his bedroom.

Katherine looked at Penny. "Do you want to take this one?"

"Oh no, this is your mess, you can clean it up." Penny answered.

Katherine turned to Raj. "Remind me again why we thought it was a good idea to not tell anyone right away?"

"We were trying to avoid drama." Katherine followed Leonard down the apartment's hall. Raj and Howard went out to the exterior hall to work things out leaving Amy, Sheldon, Penny and Bernadette in the living room.

"I don't understand why Howard and Leonard are so upset." Sheldon said with brows furrowed.

"I guess they think Raj and Katherine should have kept their relationship a secret from their friends." Penny suggested.

"It wasn't much of a secret. Their pupils dilated whenever they were within ten feet of each other." Sheldon scoffed.

Penny and Bernadette exchanged glances. "You noticed that?' Bernadette asked.

"Amy mentioned it a few weeks ago and I concurred with her observation."

"Well, not everyone is as observant as you and Amy. Howard and Leonard are hurt that they were excluded from something so important in their friends' lives." Penny explained.

"Katherine didn't tell you three and none of you are upset with her." Sheldon was obviously struggling to understand. Amy thought How can a man with his genius intellect have such trouble understanding interpersonal relationships?

"Girls are different Sheldon. Also the boys are partly upset because they didn't see what was right under their noses. Men can be oblivious to subtle social nuances." Sheldon opened his mouth but Penny continued "You only noticed after Amy pointed it out to you."

Sheldon slowly shook his head. "And y'all scoff at me for preferring virtual interactions." his Texan accent slipped out as it did when he was stressed.

Penny bit back a reply as Katherine came back into the living room followed by Leonard. Raj and Howard returned shortly thereafter. Before anything else could happen, Sheldon demanded a return to routine and insisted that the boys finish their Halo game. Everyone realized, as usual, it would be easier to give in to Sheldon, so the girls returned to Penny's apartment.

After enduring some good natured teasing from the other girls, Katherine suggested that she and Raj go on double dates with the other couples to help smooth things over. Amy, Bernadette and Penny agreed and they decided to go out that weekend. The girls then demanded Katherine tell them how she and Raj go together.

Bernadette grinned wickedly. "You've has been holding out on us long enough. Tell us everything."

"I thought you two had it all figured out. What is there to tell?" Katherine tried to weasel out of it.

"We only guessed that you two liked each other. We want details!" Penny demanded. Amy and Bernadette both nodded eagerly.

Katherine knew there was no avoiding it. "If I must, I must. You remember the costume party..."**

At the conclusion of Katherine's story, Amy sighed. "That is so romantic."

"Yeah." Bernadette said dreamily.

"Who'd have thought Raj had it in him?" Penny shook her head.

Amy sank back against the couch. The tale had held her enthralled, but Katherine's happiness made her own frustration and discontent with her relationship with Sheldon more pronounced.

"What's wrong bestie?" Penny had noticed Amy's mood change.

"You are all in happy relationships now, and Sheldon and I are stuck in the platonic zone."

"That is what you said you wanted when you met in that coffee shop." Bernadette pointed out.

"That was a year ago! And I had no idea that Sheldon would wreck such havoc on my hormones. I've burnt out three electric toothbrushes in the last four months." Penny choked on her wine.

"Amy, there are a lot of other fish in the sea. Maybe you need to investigate your options." Katherine suggested cautiously.

"I don't want options! I want Dr. Sheldon Cooper!"

"Amy, it's like Bonnie Raitt says, 'You can't make the heart feel something it won't.' You can't make Sheldon want to… be with you… that way." Penny could hardly finish the sentence, the idea of Dr. Whackadoodle engaging in coitus…Ick! she thought.

"I think Sheldon does feel romantic about her, he just doesn't know it." Katherine said thoughtfully "Remember when he karate chopped Leonard after he and Amy went to that wedding?"

"He did?" Amy hadn't known that.

"Oh yeah." Penny said "And he told Leonard 'She is not for you.'"

"And he didn't freak out that time you got drunk and kissed him." Bernadette added.

Amy felt hopeful "So what should I do to get him to realize his feelings for me."

"Well, maybe the double date on Sunday with Raj and I will help. You know, get him in a romantic setting…I'll talk to Raj and get him to set a good example." Katherine offered.

"What if it doesn't work?" Amy was skeptical.

Penny's eyes narrowed "If the easy way doesn't work, then we try the hard way."

"What do you mean?" Amy was wary Penny has that Junior Rodeo look on her face.

"I mean, if Sheldon keeps insisting that you are not his girlfriend then he can't object to you dating other guys." Penny said emphatically.

"I don't want…" Amy began.

Penny cut her off. "I know Amy, but Sheldon is very possessive, seeing you with other men should make a difference in how he sees you. If he hit his best friend over you…" she raised an eyebrow.

Amy remembered a similar conversation with Katherine several weeks ago; she hadn't been ready to take that step at that time but there had been absolutely no progress in the relationship since then. She looked at Katherine and Bernadette. They were nodding in agreement. "I don't usually approve of playing games, but with Sheldon, I think drastic measures are in order." Bernadette said.

"How would I get these dates? I don't exactly have men beating down my door."

"We'll fix you up!" Penny said brightly.

"Yeah, there are plenty of single guys at the lab."

"There are several in the English and History departments too."

"I don't know…" Amy was torn. Theoretically she was willing to do whatever it took to get Sheldon, but dating other men to make him jealous seemed so juvenile, not to mention risky.

"Amy, do you have a better idea?" Penny said sternly.

Amy sighed and reluctantly said "No."

Penny's expression became sympathetic "Amy, you don't have to decide right now. Wait until after the date; it might just work and your problem will be solved."

At home that night, Amy reflected on the evening's events while getting ready for bed. Discussing her problems with her friends had made her feel a lot better and having a plan made her feel more optimistic about her chances with Sheldon. Penny is right she thought Sheldon is extremely possessive and territorial, all my research supports that. His spot, his room, his personal space…if he thinks of me as "His Amy" seeing me with other men should definitely upset him. I'm just not sure his reaction will be to ask me to be his girlfriend. Hmm, reaction…What was it Katherine said "You need to figure out what action by you will get the reaction you want from Sheldon" I would never have thought of applying Newton's Third Law that way but… Amy grabbed a pen and paper from her nightstand drawer With the data I've collected I can probably predict Sheldon's likely responses... maybe I can figure out a way to channel Sheldon's reactions in the direction I want them to go. Amy began writing a list of countering strategies. After an hour, she was satisfied that she had a solid foundation to build on. As she turned off her bedside lamp and took off her glasses she thought Sheldon Cooper, I have not yet begun to fight.

**If you are interested in how Katherine and Raj got together, as well as just what prompted them to confess to their friends please refer to my story The Verbal Variant

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