TheDarkestShinobi: At this point, I'm tired of the 50 shades of bull going on, so if you'd prefer to read that than go ahead. I'm not stopping you. I care about consent. I won't force you to do anything, so go! In fact, my inner goddess sighs with relief knowing that every person leaving increases the quality of my readers. I bite my lip as I continue writing because I want to stop healthy relationships to turn into abuse with billionaires. Le sigh. Give me a break. Go! Go read the trash and leave me out of it!

To my more sensible readers: sorry about that. I hope you enjoy the story! Sorry about the delays, it is fellowship season and mummy needs some money.

Fun Fact: This scene with the lingerie was actually the second I wrote in this story!

Start:

"Sheldon?" Amy wakes up to the most relaxing feeling of Sheldon running his fingers along her thigh. "Are we spooning?" She smiles as he kisses her shoulder while using his hand to grip her hip.

"We are." She turns in his arms and his eyes focus on the hickey on her neck. How animalistic of them.

"You were asleep by the time I got out of the shower last night." Amy snuggles closer and smiles at the feel of Sheldon's penis hard against her. "I didn't get to say thank you."

"We don't have time," Sheldon protests weakly as Amy slowly brings her hand over it.

"It's Sunday, Sheldon, and you don't go to church." He closes his eye as she moves faster and brings his lips to the mark on her neck.

"Amy," he moans and she closes her own at the sound, knowing even without Sheldon's memory that she'd remember that for a long time,

"Just let me do this for you, right now, please." Sheldon is powerless against his little vixen so he nods as he breathes her in,

"Good girl, Amy. Oh. You're such a good girl."

…

Wear red

Amy looks at the phone for a few minutes before frowning. Her red skirt and her red sweater were in the laundry, Sheldon must have seen that yesterday and is telling her to do it. She bites her lips as she remembers one red garment she has. After their activities this weekend she actually feels confident enough to wear it. Sheldon had been away at a conference and Amy, bored on date night, went to the mall. It wasn't as exciting for her as it would have been with someone else so in a moment of wanting she walked into the store.

Past

Lacy underwear and bras decorated the walls, there were nightgowns and robes made of nearly nothing and outfits that showed more than they hid. Amy felt flushed just looking at the things on display. A young woman walked up to her with a smile.

"Can I help you?"

"Just looking." She responded but couldn't be moved from her spot.

"First time?" the woman asked and she nodded; her throat dry. She wouldn't look good in anything here. "Boyfriend?"

"He's away at a conference." The woman nodded.

"So a surprise then, do you own any?"

"No." Amy cleared her throat and moved to back away. "I actually wouldn't look good in any of this." She looked down "I shouldn't be here."

"Hey," the other smiled as she grabbed Amy's hand. "The beauty of it is that it is on display here, but it is something only the two of you would see." She let her thumb run a soothing pattern over Amy's hand. "Come on in, just look." Amy walked in, looking up at the pictures that decorated the wall. "All these pictures are of customers." Amy locked onto one of a dark overweight woman with short black hair. She has white lace on with red string and her hands covering her nipples. She's staring back with an easy confident smile.

"I wish I had that much confidence." The woman shrugged.

"Not everyone does, I'm Laura by the way."

"Amy. You said customers?" Laura nodded. Amy felt exposed as she glanced at the other women and their smiles or smirks, some were biting their lip. "I've never bought anything like this before." She confessed.

"What a great time to start," Laura took Amy's bag and placed it behind the register. "Now, you don't have to buy anything, you don't have to do anything." Amy let out a breath. "See if there is anything you like."

Amy walked around for 30 minutes, some things caught her eyes but she didn't grab them, embarrassment stopped her. No, she was going to leave. She walked to the counter to see Laura frown.

"Nothing?" She shook her head.

"Nothing that would look good on me."

"Are you sure?" Amy looked down and Laura came out from behind the counter. "No one is in here," she looked around, "and I won't look if you don't want me to, leave your undies on, grab some and try them on in the back." She winked "I bet you'll find something."

Amy tried on a blue bra, she didn't like the way it makes her neck look. The green nighty made her thighs look terrible. She was washed out by the yellow set. As soon as she tries on the black set she sits on the floor and tries to hide her tears.

"Amy?" Laura comes around knocking on the door. "Anything work?" Amy opens the door angrily and steps out. Her breasts are flattened against her chest and unattractively spilling out the side.

"No, I can't do this." She sees Laura shake her head.

"It's the clothes' fault, not yours." Laura insisted before taking a step back and looking Amy up and down.

"What?" Amy asked as she brought her arms up to cover herself.

"Can I make a suggestion?" Amy looked away but nodded. "Let me measure your size?" Amy nodded again and the woman was quick before she disappeared. Amy listened to her talk to another customer before coming back.

"Amy," she called and passed a small bundle to Amy.

The first is a black and green corset; Amy fumbled with the clips and strings for ten minutes before she gave up on it. The orange bra looked great and Amy smiled for the first time since she got here. She twists one way and the other, but she likes it. The blue shorts made her butt look great and the black straps looked nice, she bounced a few times with a giggle. The purple set looked great, but she didn't like the color so she dropped it to the floor to gab the last two. The underwear and bra were clearly a set, red and black lace in a pattern. She held it out in front of her before blushing.

"You done?" She heard Laura and opened the door again. "You look amazing!" she exclaimed as she saw Amy in the red.

"You think so?" Amy smiled hearing the compliment and Laura smiled back; this was the part she loved. Finding the right outfit was the key. "I liked a few other pieces too." She turned back to see the mess she left. "Oh, sorry about this."

"Take your items out; Martha can ring you up while I clean this."

Present

Amy kneels by her bed and reaches under it to pull out a red and yellow bag. She bites her lip as she reaches in and pulls out the orange bra and the red one, she also pulls out the red panties before putting the rest away. She pulls the tags off as she stands and her fingers thrum against her side nervously but Sheldon desires her, surely he'd like her in this. She holds a hand against the bite mark on her neck and takes a deep breath. For some reason it brings her confidence; physical proof of her relationship with Sheldon.

She lets out the breath as she looks at herself in the mirror. She smiles because she really does think she looks good in this. She pulls her hair over her shoulder before tossing it back. Finally she ruffles it and likes it. She giggles.

"This is going to lead to phone sex before work isn't it?" She winks to herself before taking a picture, and another, and a third. She deletes two and sends one before running to get dressed. She's going to be late if she keeps this up.

Sheldon finishes his breakfast before his phone buzzes with a text from Amy. He smiles as he lifts the phone up to his face to pull up the picture. Leonard walks into the living room.

"Ready, Sheldon?" Sheldon stares as his throat dries. He didn't know Amy had-even own-red-

Red

His phone crashes to the ground and he lets out a strangled pant.

"Shit, Sheldon." Leonard is beside him in a second. "Are you okay?" Sheldon can't find any words so he nods. Leonard doesn't believe him. "You wanna stay home, buddy?"

"No," Sheldon finally says, "no, I'm good." He places a hand on Leonard's shoulder and pats him. Leonard narrows his eyes and bends down to pick up the phone.

"It's broke." Sheldon took in the shattered screen with a grimace.

"Text Amy for me, tell her my phone broke but you'll be dropping me off there later."

"Okay?" Leonard hands Sheldon the shattered phone and they leave right after.

"Broken?" Amy questions as she closes the door to her car. She shrugs as she puts it away. She can take him to get a new one tonight if he wants her too. Her phone buzzes again and she opens the door as she checks it.

Lunch?

It's from Penny. She hasn't seen Penny since she ran away the other night and doesn't feel like talking to her now, but she couldn't avoid her forever.

Sure, I'll order Chinese.

When Penny shows up for lunch, she's wearing a cute blue top with skinny jeans that cause all the guys in the lab to take a second look. Amy shakes her head as she holds up the Chinese.

"Before we eat, I have to apologize." Amy places it back on the table and folds her hands up. "We've been making fun of Sheldon for years because he's, you know," Penny sighs and holds her hand to her head, "I'm doing it again." She takes a breath. "Sheldon is smart, super smart, he's caring and loyal and protective. He's also quirky. We all got used to making fun of Sheldon because of those quirks and because he isn't slow to insult us back." Amy looks down. "You kinda got dragged into that when you dated him, and the truth is we didn't know how to process Sheldon liking you because he doesn't really like people."

"You know that's not true." She defends "he does like you and he's impacted all of you the way you impact him."

"Not like you do." Penny puts her hands on the table. "He will apologize to you and for you, he listens when you talk; he holds your hand and lets you touch him. It's all big stuff and I know it took years for you to get there. You are the only one that's tried." Amy absentmindedly rests her hand on her neck over the mark. It somehow feels warmer to her, must be physiological. Interesting.

"And?"

"And you're relationship with Sheldon isn't a joke." Amy's eyes get wide as she leans in. "You guys are honest with each other, brutally honest, and you don't play with each other's emotions. You are always on the same page and don't let much come in between you. You're both quirky and it's cool. You guys accept each other and the rest of us would be lucky to have that."

"Thank you, Penny. It really does mean a lot to me."

"Now, on to food."

Amy smiles, and the bridge is rebuilt.

Sheldon cannot think about anything but red. His phone is broken but his memory is intact and every time he closes his eyes he sees her, the flush on her face and her rumpled hair. He sees her smooth skin and her gems hidden by red and black lace. She's wearing it right now, for him. He lets himself relax into the image, focusing on things that he missed the first time that his memory caught, like her toes clenching the carpet in a cute display of nervousness. Her smile is closer to a laugh than anything else. She is happy in it. He's made her smile and the thought makes him smile.

She's at work right now. Is she thinking of him? Does she know how much trouble she's being? Distracting him at work of all places! He opens his eyes and looks to his whiteboard, but the red markers remind him of her lips and the black is the lace. He wants to draw his name on her; he wants to tattoo it to her skin with his lips. He smiles.

"Dr. Cooper?" he looks to the door to spot Dr. Gablelhauser. He motions to the other seat across from him.

"You seem happy, you must not be aware of my news." Sheldon tilts his head as he laces his fingers together. Lace. Black and red lace on her skin.

"Which is?"

"You're up for tenure." Sheldon pulls his head back. "I've sent word out for the letters."

"Ah." He doesn't know what else to say. The other nods and taps his desk. "Now, you don't have anything to worry about for papers, if there was a university record you'd have it." Sheldon gives three quick breaths as he laughs. "No, it's true. For funding, you have been on top of your game and even had the Artic expedition." Sheldon looks away now, "which is why I'm here."

"You don't need to rub it in my face." Sheldon snaps and Dr. Gablehauser frowns.

"Not trying to do that. The committee will bring it up and discuss it. They may ask you about it again, just be prepared."

"I will be."

"The other issue is students. You haven't graduated that many."

"I've graduated 7 masters and 4 all the way to Ph.D. That's quite the number of students." Dr. Gablehauser looks surprised. "I did have students the past couple of years, but due to conflicts of interest I let them go." He can clearly remember a few overreaching students. "Now, I've been here a decent amount of time," Sheldon continues, "I should have been up for tenure a while ago." Sheldon crosses his arms. "And I can assure you the rest of my career is flawless."

"Just the few incidents?" Gablehauser crosses his arms. "The Artic Expedition, resigning and coming back to the same university in a week, your bouts with Kripe?" Sheldon looks away.

"I'm sure it doesn't make up for my students, of which I'm taking a new one, NSF just started funding a student for her Ph.D., my funding or my papers. Not to mention the work I've done with peers in and out of this university. " Sheldon leans back in his chair. "I'm not too worried about my tenure other than the incident, but it's too late to change anything."

"I just came to warn you." Sheldon closes his eyes and sees her, he knows she'd nudge him to say thank you so he does. Dr. Gabelhauser looks shocked as he stands and makes his way out of the office.

Tenure.

He smiles as he leans back in his chair, the day just keeps getting better. He runs his eyes over his whiteboard again, but all he sees is red and black and Amy.

TDS: more plot than anything else in this chapter and in the next few. Thoughts on MY story are always welcome and appreciated!