Chemical equilibrium or Homeostasis requires a sensor to detect changes in the condition to be regulated, an effector mechanism that can vary that condition; and a negative Feedback connection between the two.
Methodical, logical, careful, meticulous, precise, specific, defined, refined, polished: All these adjectives had to describe the relationship agreement. How could Sheldon have made that agreement over the time he waited for Amy to finish her date with Stuart? It seemed impossible. The drive back to Amy's apartment gave her little time to think of the wording, just the trepidation of undertaking such a monumental task.
Amy returned home that Saturday night with her head spinning. She texted Sheldon told him she was home, and safe. His reply distracted her for the next 3 hours as she struggled to sleep alone in her cold bed.
A—I am home and safe. Just wanted to let you know. Off to bed. Good Night
S—Thank you so much for your message. I am also off to bed as well. However, if I am honest, it will be difficult to sleep knowing you are not in the next room. If I am brutally honest, it will be hard to sleep at all thinking of you. Thank you again for speaking with me tonight. I look forward to next Saturday.
A— As do I. Good night Sheldon
S—Sweet Dreams Amy.
Amy spent most of Sunday working on the agreement. She kept most of the silly provisos for Sheldon's sake. It wasn't as if a Zombie Apocalypse was ever happening or Skynet was online any time soon or at all. Also, she had no qualm selling out the human race for the Dog uprising.
The sections she was struggling with concerned intimacy and the stipulations on date nights. She really should to talk to Sheldon about it, but she wanted to work it out on her own. She had worked up a good strategy for addressing his intimacy issues.
Sheldon had wanted to call her when he woke up in the morning. He forced himself to wait a full 5 hours 27 minutes before he pushed her phone number in his phone. He waited an additional 22 minutes before pressing send. She had stated he couldn't see her before next week. She never said they couldn't talk.
"Good afternoon, Dr. Fowler. Did you sleep well last night?"
"Yes, Sheldon, how is your day?"
"Uneventful. What are you plans for the day?"
"Frankly, I have been working on the relationship agreement all morning. I find it hard to believe you completed this document between the time you asked me to be your girlfriend and the time I got home from my date with Stuart."
Sheldon never wanted to admit he had written the document before her date with Stuart. He had been working on it since they had cuddled on Amy's couch that fateful night Amy so long ago, stamping out the fear to ask her to be his girlfriend. He figured in a few months or so, he would need to do so. Stuart's interest in Amy moved up his time table considerably. He never imagined she would say yes to Stuart. Such a remarkable woman with a lowly curator of picture books seemed the most unlikely coupling. Sheldon reasoned that Amy's need for companionship and generosity must have been the driving forces in her saying yes.
"Sheldon, did you hear me? How could you have made this document in such a short period of time?"
"Would you believe, I'm just that awesome, slick?"
"Not in the slightest." Amy knew when not to push him. "I might be working on this all day."
"I can help you..."
Amy cut him off, "Oh no way. This one is going to be different Sheldon. You'll see. I'll see you next week and we can discuss it."
"See you then Amy."
Finally, at 10:47 PM, she was done. Now all she had to do was wait… and wait… and wait. She hoped the anticipation would help Sheldon's resolve. It wasn't helping Amy at all. She really wanted to see him, however, those 4 months apart were good practice for her waiting. She didn't like it, but she was used to it.
Sheldon was not as patient. He was dying to see Amy and every minute of the day was torture. He spent his time challenging his passion into his new favorite topic. All things Amy. Leonard, Raj and Howard had to spend their lunches with Sheldon hearing about Amy's chancellor award, how she liked her tea, what the benefits of neurobiology were for the society at large. Sheldon wouldn't shut up and it was driving his friend's mad. Sheldon was like love-sick teenager. The guys thought, Saturday couldn't come soon enough, for all their sakes.
Sheldon texted Amy during the week:
S—Hello Dr. Fowler, I trust you slept well?
A—Yes, Dr. Cooper. Although morning came too soon.
S—Funny, I have notice the opposite effect of time lately. It seems to be slower. Thank you Einstein for making waiting for things a good opportunity for a lesson in Physics.
A—Sheldon, you would find anything a good opportunity for a lesson in Physics.
S—Correct as always.
As soon as Sheldon was done communicating with Amy, he turned to his white board. 5 hours passed and he barely noticed the time till Leonard came to take him home. His white board was filled with some promising work; the most work he had accomplished in 6 months. Leonard was astounded at his progress and a little impressed.
"Wow Sheldon, looks like your back in the saddle again!"
"I never left the saddle, Leonard, just let the horse take a break for a while." All the talk about how Amy was distracting him from science was forgotten. The evidence was as plain as the equations in front of him on his board.
"Anyhow, Thai food night, let go."
Sheldon was in a good mood, but he was a little on edge. Leonard knew why: he was having withdrawal symptoms. He needed an Amy fix.
As the week rolled on, Sheldon mood grew progressively worse. By the time Wednesday Halo night rolled around, Sheldon mood was sour as a lemon. After some close calls that almost had Sheldon committing "killtroscity" on the group in real life, the gang sought help. The guys begged Amy to see Sheldon for Lunch and she relented.
Amy had already had the habit of having lunch with the guys during Sheldon's absence. Now it was he who was the outsider. Sheldon wanted to have lunch with Amy, but knew he'd have to share her company with the other guys. Thankfully, she agreed to meet for lunch in the Canteen, neutral ground. She wanted to wait till the weekend, but she was dying to see him as well. It was a small compromise she allowed until their conversation on Saturday.
Sheldon loved how his friends and Amy got along; they seemed to grow closer during his absence. Her quick wit kept Wolowitz on his toes, she was always a welcome contributor to conversation and she usually backed him up in any argument that didn't have to deal with Sci Fi or comics. An unwelcome guest interrupted their pleasant lunch:
"CWooper… and Wloosers! Who is the lwolvely wady? Bwarry Kripke, my dear. " Kripke does a fake bow and tries to grab Amy's hand for a kiss before she quickly pulls away. Sheldon was ready to throw a tray at him.
"Kripke, kindly grace us with your absence."
"Not till you tell me who the wovely wady is, Cwooper. "
"I am Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler."
"THE Girlfriend?" Kripke gave a few raised eyebrows to Sheldon, indicating his unfortunate memory of their imaginary coital escapades. Amy caught on right away, she was no fool; also Penny had told her about Sheldon's blatant lie. Amy understood that the reason Sheldon bragged about his imaginary sexual conquests: He latent sexual desire and need to be considered an Alpha Male.
"I thought you two bwroke up? She was too much woman for you huh, Cwooper? Or did you beg her to take you back." Turning to Amy now, " I can help you out, wittle wady, if you are in need a real man."
Sheldon wanted to grab Kripke by the throat and put his head into one of Leonard's laser experiments, hoping his smug face would melt off before he utter another word to Amy. Just before he was about to pounce in a green-skinned rage fit, he felt something that instantly turned off his rage. Five soft finger tips on his knee; just the slightest touch. He followed the sensation from Amy's hand to her face and saw the subtle wink she gave him before she turned her ire to Kripke.
"Oh, that's where you're wrong, Kripke. I have all the man I can handle now. It was I who begged Sheldon to take me back. I became too insistent on sex and was overwhelming him with my constant coital demands. He had to cut me off to control my urges."
"Wait, he broke up with you because you wanted too much sex? That doesn't make sense." Kripke was as confused as Raj, Howard and Leonard. Sheldon just stared at Kripke and not wanting to look at Amy and give the lie away.
"Well, 5 times a night is a bit much, I admit. I was like a starving man at a buffet. But now, I'm learning to control my hunger for him."
"Your hunger?" Kripke throat closed up with envy.
Amy rose to the leave the table, "Yes, and if I behave and do what I am told, I get dessert. " She turned to Sheldon and winked at him. "See you this weekend, I will wait, as you requested. "
Amy also waved good-bye to the 3 other guppy-faced men at the table who watched her sashay away.
"Damn Cwooper. You're a beast! Come see me later and give me details! Wlater Woosers!" Kripke made a hasty retreat.
After Kripke left, the guys just stared at Sheldon, hoping he would explain Amy's confession. They wanted details as much as Kripke. He gave nothing away except a smirk and kept on playing with salad. Saturday couldn't come soon enough.
Friday night Vintage game night couldn't end soon enough. Besides the patience inducing level on "Link to the Past, Tower of Hera", there was Sheldon, commenting on every point in the game. By the end of the night, the guys wanted to drop Sheldon off in Hyrule and leave him there. Raj quietly texted Amy, begging her to call Sheldon. It didn't take too much convincing, she was going to call him anyway to thank him for the unexpected surprize she found in her lab. A box of brownies with a card that stated, "Dessert is served."
After one phone call from Amy, Sheldon mood improved.
"Hello, Amy Farrah Fowler. How are you this evening?'
"I am well Sheldon. I wanted to thank you for the surprise today. It was most unexpected. I dont know how you got anyone to deliver brownies to the lab, but they were wonderful. Very cute card too, Sheldon."
"Well, I wanted to thank you for lunch yesterday, in more ways than one." He was nervous now, as he went into the kitchen to avoid his guest ears, "I probably should talk to you about Kripke and some things I have told him."
"Yes, Sheldon, I am aware of your deceptions. You are aware that sometimes constructed lies are masking our true desires?"
"I'll leave the psychology to you Brain monkeys. Frankly, I was quite impressed with your handling of Kripke yesterday afternoon." He whispered the next thought, "Although, I think your comments may have piqued his interest than deterred him... and he is not the only one. "
Amy didn't catch his hint. "Well, the boys will have to get the details from you. As the alpha male of your group, I thought it was important for you to maintain your superiority. My little ruse should keep Kripke guessing for a while. Changing the subject, I am looking forward to our meeting this weekend. "
"As am I. What do you think about having dinner here, then we can have our discussion. "
"That's wonderful, do you want me pick up dinner?"
"No I will cook."
With that, the eavesdroppers in the room dropped the controller and stared at him. Howard mouthed to Leonard, "He knows how to cook?!"
"Wow, Sheldon that would be wonderful. If your cooking is anything like your sourdough bread, I should be in for a treat."
"Let's hope so. How about 5:00 pm?"
"Okay, see you then Dr. Cooper."
"Good Night, Dr. Fowler."
After he hung up, the silly grin on his face couldn't be ignored.
"So, Sheldon… Since when do you cook?"
"Since always. I told you, I excel at everything. I just wont waste my talents on you miscreants."
Howard quickly added, "Given your mood lately, we would all be poisoned unless we came dressed in tights and a cardigan. Raj may be up for it, but I'm not okay with that."
Finally, Saturday came. Sheldon had everything ready: His mother's fried chicken, homemade biscuits and cobbler. The wafting aromas filled the apartment with smells of his home. Unfortunately, the smell drifted to the apartment next door as well. It was everything he had to keep Penny was sampling all the food before Amy showed up.
Sheldon felt he was channeling his mother, "You go on now, get on outta here, shoo…that's not for you."
"WOW, Sheldon this smells amazing. Save me leftovers."
"Never, I don't believe in leftovers. Now GET!" He snapped his towel at her.
"Alright, Shellybean. I'll go. I know how excited you are to see Amy."
"I find myself in unfamiliar territory. I don't know what she's put into the new agreement. I'm usually the one in control of these things."
"Well, sweetie, sometimes letting go is the best way to get what you want. Don't worry, Amy will listen to you. The important thing is that you are back together." While Sheldon was distracted with his thoughts, Penny grabbed a biscuit and made a quick retreat, "Good luck!"
Now Sheldon just had to wait for Amy. 4 minutes and 53 seconds.
Author's Notes: Thank everyone so much for your reviews. It really keeps me going. I just live for the feedback, I really do.
There will be just a few more chapters in this story and then a sequel story that will be rated M for obvious reasons.