Chapter 21

Penny texted Leonard on the way back to the apartment, much to the chagrin of Sheldon who was convinced they were going to die before they got to Los Robles.

Leonard was home, waiting for them. Sheldon loved seeing his friend standing in the apartment. It was almost like he hadn't left. Leonard went in for a timid hug. To his surprise, Sheldon didn't flinch. He pulled Leonard in and started crying uncontrollably. Leonard just rubbed his back, telling him he'd be okay. It's okay buddy, don't worry.

Over Sheldon's shoulder, he was mouthing to Penny:

What the hell?

Penny shrugged, coming in for hug too.

Finally, Sheldon stopped, pulled away and slumped on his spot. His eyes were red from crying, glazed and staring out in the room, but he was breathing normally.

Leonard at in his chair next to him. He knew about the plan, about the coffee shop, but he didn't know how it went. He didn't have to ask, the proof was sitting in his spot, glazed over. Sheldon's shoulders said it. It did not go well.

"Hey buddy, can you talk about it? How bad was it?" Leonard didn't want to push Sheldon.

"It was bad, Leonard, pretty bad…." He trailed off. Then he breathed in a huge sigh and got his composure back. "However, all is not lost. We are still friends. I can work with that."

"What are you going to do?"

"I have no idea..." Sheldon was looking back on his behavior at Amy's house. He was pretty good at taking care of her when she was sick. He learned how from years of his mother taking care of him. But to show her he loves her? That's a whole other kettle of fish..

Sheldon had expected Amy to jump back in his arms. He was the brilliant Dr Sheldon Lee Cooper after all. He didn't have to work hard to get her the last time. The hard part of their relationship was maintaining it. Now, he had to convince her he was a good suitor AND then keep up with the relationship. Sheldon didn't have the first clue how to get a woman.

"Well, first off, I need to learn how to woo women. That is where you come in.."

"Me, what the hell do I know about women?"

"Leonard, if you can convince Penny to marry you, despite all you obvious faults, you must know something. SO… as Penny loves to say, Spill!"

"Well… Huh… Let me see… You need to show her you care about her. You think about her when she is not there. "

"Okay, I can work with that. I can make a log of every time I think of her and copy on it. I can use Google Calendar and…"

Leonard cut him off. "No Sheldon, this isn't a time to methodical. It needs to be from the heart."

"Well, that is "from the heart". I love Google Calendar, and Amy loves logs. Must be a biology thing."

"Okay, okay. Just don't make a science experiment okay.. It has be more… I don't know… personal.. you know.." Actually Leonard didn't know either. He thought about Penny all the time, but it was in little ways, like when he is shopping, he picks out her favorite ice cream or when he working, he tries to think of some experiment he could show her.

"FINE…." Sheldon breathed out, this was going to be harder than he thought. "What else you got?"

"Well, you could do something nice for her, that she is not expecting. Like a surprise"

"Oh, no I hate surprises! Are you sure women like that kind of thing?"

Penny's turn: " Yes, yes they do. Especially when they don't expect it. Remember when Leonard bought me the car? No you don't have to get Amy a CAR, or really any kind of gift. It is the thought behind the present that matters, not the present."

"Oh boy." That is going to take Sheldon sometime to think about. His wheels were already turning…

"Okay, I can catalog her sheet music by genre, organize her closets. Howard and Bernadette liked that..."

"No no Genius, you need to surprise Amy with something SHE would like, not you. QUIT thinking Sheldon and think Amy!" Penny snapped.

Leonard was more kind, "Listen Sheldon, being romantic isn't something that comes easy to most people..: He eyed Penny who put her head down. "But the easiest way is to have something that you are really going to have to work on... Empathy."

"Good lord, more hippy feelings. Look, I like Amy and we belong together, shouldn't that be enough, she is a smart woman, why can't she see that." Sheldon crossed his arms over his chest. This was proving to be more difficult than he originally planned.

"Just think like Amy, what would she like. And do that for her, nothing too big. Use that memory of yours and think back to every time she said she liked something. Your brain sometimes gets in the way of romance. This time, use to your advantage." Leonard was hoping waxing Sheldon's ego would snap him out of it. It worked, he thought. Sheldon uncrossed his arms and looked like his was salvaging his memory banks for Amy related moments.

"The biggest thing, Sheldon, is that you have to show you are attracted to her."

"Yeah good luck, here Pal." Penny added.

"Hey, I am attracted to Amy! She is brilliant. Her mind is so much like mine. Her command of the lexicon is matched only by my own. Her argument style is faultless. She is methodical, organized, I don't have to tell you how she can rip apart a person's so… so…."

"Okay, earth to Sheldon… Down there boy. You need to SHOW her! You know what that means? You are going to have to get physical."

"Yes yes yes, she smart, but do you think she is pretty?"

"Amy doesn't care about stuff like that, she is a scientist, not a screaming boy band groupie. And besides, she is my girlfriend, well, was... of course I do, what kind of question is that?" Sheldon was shocked at the implication.

"Does she know you think she's pretty or physically attractive? Like at all? I don't think you have ever said she was, or showed her. That's no good buddy. If you like her, you have to show her."

"I know that.. I just… don't know…. How… Really, I am mean I do, KNOW HOW…, I don't want to talk about this with you!" Sheldon was squirming.

"Fine, Sheldon you don't have to talk about it. But when the times comes, you better be… Up … for the challenge…" Penny snickered. She loved making Sheldon blush.

Leonard saved him, " Look Sheldon, I know physical contact is hard on you, and it is an uncomfortable topic. You probably are not going to have worry about that for a while, given how mad Amy is right now. But buddy, it is going to come up. Are you sure this is what you want? If you are friends with Amy, isn't that enough?"

Sheldon sat up and looked out straight in the room and really thought about what Leonard said. He could just be her friend, nothing more. But no, he wanted more from her. He was attracted to her, he just pushed it aside out of fear his urges would take over life, his mind.

Now, given the choice, he would choose to have her, in all ways. He wanted more. What a turn of events! Just a while ago, it was Amy saying she wanted more during the D&D game. He didn't understand it then. Why would she want more?

He was working on being more intimate, but he really didn't think he wanted it. Not till that Train kiss did he realize he was ready. Funny how now he is one who want more… Twist of fate.

Finally Sheldon answered, " No Leonard, it not enough. I've been afraid to move forward with Amy in the past for various reasons. However, I am ready now. I want more from her. I want her in all ways, always." Sheldon put his head back…" I just hope it's not too late."

Leonard sat back too. He was worried. Amy was pretty hurt by Sheldon. He wasn't confidant that they could recover. Penny was; much to Leonard's surprise. Who knew she could be such a romantic?

"Well, buddy. It is steep hill you need to climb. I will help you as much as I can, but the truth is, it's up to Amy. She needs to be ready too. For the longest time, she was the one pining for you. I think she is done with that now. It's your turn and I hate to tell you, it's going hurt if she turns you down. Like nothing you ever hurt from before. And no amount of cats will make up for it…"

"I'm already hurting Leonard. I am broken as if every bone is made of glass shards. I feel like I am missing part of my soul and I don't understand it. I am holding on to the knowledge that however broken I feel, I would be worse without her at all. It is worth the risk. She is worth the possible pain."

Sheldon's mind was wandering now. He had to plan, he had to think. Without saying another word, he got off the couch and went to his room. Lying in his bed he planned his day tomorrow. The Fight for Fowler had just begun.