Chapter 11: Home

Their last day was full and they had only a few hours before they were to board the plane back to California. So they were attempting to make the best of it. In their own way, of course. Penny had decided to take the girls to a last minute shopping spree at the local mall while they were on the East Coast and the guys were attending a panel at Comic Con.

Because of these contradicting plans, Carly did not have time to speak with Sheldon about why he had been bothered the night before. Although, by morning, he had kissed her like nothing had happened before parting ways.

Soon, they were packed and on the plane, heading back home. Despite not being comfortable on planes, Carly's seat alongside Sheldon, made him feel better - as it had during the flight to Pennsylvania. He held her hand tightly the whole entire time, but Carly found herself falling asleep anyways. Her head had fallen upon his shoulder absently and Sheldon attempted to redirect his attention from the flight to the movie that was being played for them all.

Sheldon sighed soon into, already becoming bored with the terrible movie and took his headphones off of his head. He glanced down at his sleeping girlfriend, cheek upon his shoulder. He couldn't help but smile a little with appreciation. She continued to amaze him with how comfortable he truly was with her. She even made him feel better about flying.

About anything, really.

He still couldn't fathom the fact that he had touched her without clothes on. And nothing terrible had happened. He wasn't particularly fond of getting the hickey, considering the teasing he was given the next day by his friends, but he had enjoyed himself nonetheless. They had truly taken their relationship to another level that on a rational level he wasn't completely comfortable with. But she had this allure that seemed to change his mind in a spur of a moment. Was this what it was like to be physically attracted to someone beyond reason?

He frowned, thinking about what he was doing with her. They were definitely experimenting with each other and getting closer than he had thought he would ever be with someone. What if the next time they were caught up in each other, that they ended up having coitus? How would he feel about that? And oh god... what would his mother think?

He was certain she'd be angry with him. Perhaps, he thought, if their relationship were to progress down the path that already seemed possible, he should speak with his mother soon. Maybe he'd be able to lessen the blow, as it were. However, he knew what she would say as she had been saying it from day one. Intercourse before wedlock was a deep sin in her ignorant eyes. But even though he had never had to worry about such a thing until now, he didn't believe in such ways. Would his mother understand like she had to a fault with all the other things her Christian beliefs disagreed with when it came to his lifestyle?

He didn't want to marry Carly just to appease his mother... or did he? Of course, he liked her more than anyone he had ever met before and was surprisingly sexually attracted to her in an unbelieving way. But did he love her? And could he marry her?

He hadn't even thought that it would come to that... but he supposed he needed to think things through a little more before continuing on.

After saying goodbye to Raj, Howard, and Bernadette, the last four were soon in their own apartments, shaking off the excitement that they had during the last four days. Leonard and Penny had said a rather long goodbye in the hallway that adjoined their apartments while Sheldon made a beeline for his bedroom.

Sheldon sighed happily to himself, truly relieved to be back inside the comforts of his own room, as if he had been tense and uncomfortable the whole time they'd been gone. He immediately began to unpack and neatly place his belongings away in their proper places, but was interrupted by Leonard appearing in his doorway.

"Hey Sheldon, I just wanted to say sorry for making those comments the other day. I didn't mean to make you mad," he told Sheldon, leaning against the door frame after Sheldon turned to look over at him.

Sheldon pursed his lips at the memory, wishing to forget about it all together. They had been awfully vulgar comments depicting his physical relationship with Carly. "No need to apologize. It was true, all the same."

Leonard raised his eyebrows behind his thick black glasses and shifted against the framework, regarding his roommate. "It is?"

Sheldon was beginning to feel uncomfortable, like it normally did when his personal self was being pried into. He nodded curtly. "Yes. Carly and I have had sexual encounters, but no, we have not engaged in coitus."

Leonard refrained from smirking; Raj had been right with his assumptions. "Well, either way Sheldon. I shouldn't have announced it like I did. It wasn't right for me to do."

Sheldon reluctantly nodded. "I agree. Please abstain from doing it again." He then returned back to his suitcase.

Leonard nodded back to him and pushed himself up to stand up straight. "I won't," Leonard said, but couldn't help smirk now that Sheldon's back was turned. "You hound dog you," he mumbled to himself in amusement and then disappeared down the hallway into his bedroom.

Sheldon heard him though, and turned to glare, but Leonard was already gone. But the conversation, no matter how uneasy it was, reminded him of an even worse conversation he needed to have. If things were going to progress with Carly and him, he would have to set some things straight with his mother.

oO0Oo

They had only been gone for four days, but it had felt like forever and going back into work was a drag. Carly had slept hard the night they had returned and she had wanted to sleep the day away as well. But she was unable to, with her shift beginning at eleven. Getting back in the swing of things could be difficult for her, but by five she was back, but ready to go home.

She was surprised, however, when an unexpected visitor appeared at the library.

"Sheldon? Why are you here?" she asked him, grinning up at him with a stack of books in her arms.

Sheldon couldn't help but look down at the books with disgust to her smiling face, making him smile a little in response. "Hi. Leonard's in the car with Penny," he told her with a gesture behind him with his thumb. "I asked him to bring Penny so she can drop your car off at a place that remains to not be spoken of, then Leonard's going to drop us off there. So you can drive us home, of course. I know it's kind of confusing, but I don't drive and I want to surprise you."

Carly stared at him for a moment, before his words caught up in her mind and she brightened at the sentiment. "Oh wow, a surprise! Um, let me go put these away and I'll be right back."

Sheldon nodded and then stood awkwardly in the middle of the library, waiting for her. She hurried to put away the books before grabbing her purse and telling her coworker she was leaving a few minutes early. Soon, she was in the backseat with Sheldon as Leonard drove and Penny was driving her car.

"So, it's a surprise?" Carly asked happily, giving her boyfriend at her side a wide grin.

Sheldon nodded. "Yes, and no. I won't tell you." He smirked down at her, his blue eyes twinkling.

Carly smirked but took his hand. Sheldon glanced down at their fingers and smiled fondly down at them before staring at the window. Carly looked up at Leonard's reflection in the overhead mirror. "Leonard, by chance do you have any idea where we are going?" she asked and heard Sheldon gasp with disbelief. She giggled.

Leonard glanced up at her and grinned. "Yes I do. And I would tell you but Sheldon threatened to become an extremely difficult roommate. He already is, but why risk it?"

Carly laughed and looked up at her boyfriend who smirked. "Sheldon."

He rolled his eyes. "You heard him. He would have told you if it wasn't for my threat."

Carly shook her head at her boyfriend's silliness, wondering what the surprise was.