Back up Against a Wall

Friday afternoon finally came. In a cute small salon in Studio City, sat Penny and Amy in the salon chairs getting their hair done while Bernie and Emily were relaxing, drying their nails. Penny was the last to get done, because she kept on looking on her phone for pictures of Gretta Garbo. Finally, Amy said, "Are you sure you don't mean Betty Grable? She is more 1940's? Gretta Garbo was popular in the 1920's" Amy was thinking, an aspiring actress should know this, more than anyone else!

"Duh, you're right." She found a picture of Betty Grable wearing a bathing suit, her head looking over her shoulder. "This is what I want! This party is gonna be so fun, I love the idea of a 1940's party and we don't have to wear the stupid super hero clothes. I was going to have to put on that Wonder Woman get up again."

"Save it for Halloween, I think we have to wear Super Hero's get ups."

"OH Crap! Well, this one is more grown up, anyway! Do you have your dress, Amy?"

"Yes, I picked it up from the dry cleaners on the way over here. I hope it's okay. I didn't check it." She was adjusting to her new contacts. The bag had a blue garment. It should be fine… I'm sure it's fine…

"I'm sure it's fine. Don't worry." Penny turned to the man doing her hair, "Here's the picture, can you do that?"

"OH hon, that's perfect. No problem. Now your friend over there," He moved to Amy and looked at her up and down. "You look familiar… Hmmm. I'm loving the whole, granny smart chic but the hair. You need to protect those locks, baby. You need to talk about your hair drying habits. You have thick hair, girl, quit straightening it out. Let it flow more. You'll save time." He was holding Amy's hair out like a dead rat was attached to her head.

"I've worn my hair like this since I was 12."

"Yeah, honey, that's the problem. Watch, when I give you the Lauren Bacall you want, you'll see honey." The man worked his magic on Amy like a sculptor with clay crafting a masterpiece. By the time he was done with a toxic spray of hair product that the EPA would have called a Superfund Site, she looked as sultry as Lauren Bacall ever did. Her brown hair was curled, parted on the side, with a sweep of curl across her brow. She looked at herself in disbelief, unable to recognize the woman in the mirror. Amy liked it, but she still was coughing from the product. The stylist was very proud of his work, "See! 40's Fab! Then he looked at her again, "By the way, Do you I know you from somewhere?"

Amy looked at the man, wishing she had Sheldon's eidetic memory, "No, I don't think so. Do you attend Cal-Tech or UCLA?"

"No, but I know I've seen you." He thought for a minute, and then snapped his fingers, "You were at the gym! I saw you with this tall, skinny hottie. You went to the new pool!"

Amy shifted in her chair. She didn't want the other's to know about her trip to the pool with Sheldon. She didn't think he would like everyone to know his aversion to germs was so strong he had to be in a new pool in order to swim. Also, she liked that she had her secret moments with him. "Yes, he uh… Came with me to the check out the pool. I know Zack."

"Dumb Zack? Oh that boy is yummy eye candy, but damn. The wheel's spinning, but the hamster's dead."

Amy laughed, "That's him to a T." She shifted her eyes away from Penny's confused glare.

"Ames, why would you check out a pool with Sheldon? In West Hollywood of all places?"

Amy thought, Well the deed is done…"I took Sheldon swimming. The pool was new, so he didn't have to worry so much about germs. We had a nice time."

Penny just looked at Amy, with a blank look on her face. She couldn't believe how thoughtful she was to come up with that idea. She always wished she had some insight into how to be romantic. Everyone seemed better than she was at romance, even Captain Clueless had his moments. "WOW! What did he say?"

"He liked it. He even wants a pool in our…" Amy stopped herself, she had said too much.

"In your what?"

"University… he might try it there. Okay, I'm done. Hair looks great… I better go check on that dress, I'm getting nervous now." Amy jumped out of the chair and went to her car. She didn't want to talk about any future plans. She had too many times opened her heart to Penny about her dreams with Sheldon. Penny knew Amy's love for him, and devotion. Despite that, Penny and Leonard still let him get on that train without so much as a phone call before he left. She heard their motivations, but she also knew they didn't think enough of her relationship with Sheldon to call of her. Some days, she didn't want to discuss anything with Penny. She might just look at her nails again, bored with Amy's admissions, exactly like the night she found out that Sheldon had left.

Amy took a deep breath and opened the dry cleaning bag, and gasped. It was the wrong clothes. She got some polyester blue suit with studs that looked like Roy Rodgers wore on the Howdy Doody Hour. She was mortified and quickly called the dry cleaners but they were closed. In a panic, she ran into the salon. "oh no, oh no…."

"What's wrong honey?" Bernie was by Penny who was under the dryer now, and she could see that Amy was positively ashen.

"It's the wrong clothes. I've got some Cowboy outfit! I don't have a dress! What am I going to do? I can't go! I have to cancel."

All three girls were in panic for their friend. Her night was ruined. The hair dresser waved his hand, "Oh honey, don't even worry. I can get you dress… What are you, size 8? Right? Maybe 10?"

"Yes an 8, but I am hard to fit. I have a huge…"

"Oh yeah, I see it, can't miss it! Don't worry. My friend owns a thrift shop in Hollywood that has dresses for old movies and such. He can even get you a dress that Lauren herself might have worn. I'll text him. He can bring it by, we are going out tonight."

"OH you are a god send!" Amy didn't think, she just hugged the man with a bear like grip. He choked out a reply, "Don't worry girl, go get your nails done… Okay, that's good… Honey, gotta breathe now." Amy let go, but was still beaming.

45 minutes later, and not a second too soon, a nice looking young man showed up with a dress that was even better than the blue one. This dress was white, sleeveless, with a plunging neck line that was matched on the back. There was a black strap under the breast line. The dress hugged her body to her hips then flared out. The fabric was loose and flowed like cool cream when she walked. Her shoes matched it perfectly, even better than the blue dress. Amy was not used to her arms and chest being so exposed, but she never felt more pretty in a dress. It was more than costume. She had seen black and white pictures of her grandmother when she was young; beautiful, with a confident stare blazed into the camera. Amy felt she looked like her, and it gave her a sense of pride and new found assurance.

"Amy, holy crap on a cracker! You look stunning! That dress was made for you!"

"Oh man, you look great!" Emily's statement was said with such shock, it almost seemed an insult. She had never seen Amy wear something so revealing. She liked this saucy side of Amy. Emily looked great too. Truth was, all the women looked fabulous. Penny looked the picture of Betty Grable, with flowered dress with large shoulder pads that hung mid calf. Oddly, she was the most conservative of the group. Bernie wore a red halter dress and had her hair done like Marilyn Monroe; she was pushing the time frame of the Party, but everyone was too scared to tell her. Emily's auburn hair was the perfect match to her deep green sweet heart neck gown. The four women just stared at themselves. Bernie broke the groups self admiring daze, "Alright ladies, let's do this!"

Amy chimed in, "Let's take a power before those doll dizzy boys snap their caps, swell?"

"HUH?" Penny couldn't get what Amy normally said, let alone 1940's slang.

"Sorry, too many movies with my Grandma. Let go before the guys get mad!"

"Check! Let's ride!"

Stuart's Party was held at Wil Wheaton's house. It was warm Southern Californian night, not a cloud in the sky; perfect weather for an outdoor party. By the time the ladies got there, the party was in full swing. Literally, there was swing music playing and Wil Wheaton had rented a make shift Dance floor for the lawn. Wil Wheaton met the ladies at the door, "Gorgeous as usual, ladies, come in. Please."

The ladies walked in pairs: Bernadette and Emily, then Penny and Amy. Amy was little nervous; she knew Sheldon wanted to see her in the blue dress. The other three women practically ran to the guys, but Sheldon didn't see her at first. She was pulled to the side by Wil Wheaton.

"Amy! My god, you look… Just amazing!"

"Thank you Wil, and thanks so much for holding this party for Stuart. I think it will really help his career. I heard he already has a signing deal for the next secret comic."

"Yes, it's coming out on Halloween." Wil wasn't looking at Amy's face, just eyeing her like a new IPA, wanting to drink her in, every last drop. Amy didn't notice his wandering eyes, she was scanning the party for Sheldon. She couldn't see because he was another room, looking for her in a blue dress.

"Tell me, do you watch many Lauren Bacall movies, because you are the picture of her tonight." Wil whisked by the hand and pulled her into the living room. He kept her hand while leading her against a wall. Amy was backing up, not wanting to be rude, but confused by Wil's advances.

"Yes, well, I did watch a lot of old movies with my Grandmother." Her back hit the wall, "I need to find Sheldon."

Wil licked his lips, "That fool should have never let you go!" He was just about to dive into Amy for an unwelcome kiss, when he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. A strong large hand attached to a tall, plaid clad steel eyed Texan who was breathing through his nose like a bull.

"I didn't." Amy's face lit up and Sheldon focused on her for a second with a grin before rearming his gaze for death strike. He pushed WIl out of the way with not only his body, but with a glare that could melt rock. Wil Wheaton had turned to stone, petrified by Sheldon's overprotective gaze. Sheldon eyed him back to the wall until he heard a thud of the masher back against wall. He held out his elbow for Amy to take it. She blushed and looked down, pulling her hair behind her ear. Sheldon called back to a slack jawed Wil Wheaton, "Why would I ever let her go?"

"I thought those two broke up!" Wil yelled out back to Sheldon, " Someone needs to update his Twitter more!"

Amy looked up at Sheldon who was leading her outside for some fresh air. "Thank you, Sheldon. I don't know what got into him. He never acted that way with me before."

After Sheldon got her a safe distance away from the party's host, he turned and looked at Amy, "Then he is a fool. I look at you with that hungry glare, no matter what you wear. But tonight, you do look…" Sheldon eyed her up and down, "particularly alluring. What happened to the blue dress?"

"Dry Cleaner error!"

Sheldon laughed, "You too? They lost the matching pants to my suit. I had to wear these black ones and my black shirt. At least I have my jacket." He looked at her again, with new eyes, " You must be making me soft. A year ago, I would still be fighting with the man who could barely understand me about the value of good tracking methods."

"Well, most people can barely understand you, Dr. Cooper. Besides, I might let you lose on my dry cleaner. I had to get this dress last minute."

"As much as I was looking forward to seeing you in person in that dress, this one is just…" Sheldon eyed her again up and down. " You look…" Sheldon was so bad at compliments, he knew he going to screw it up. He just said the first word that popped into his head. " Greek."

"Greek?" She furled her brow.

"Yes, you look like a Greek goddess."

"OH well, thanks, I think. You look great."

"I feel ridiculous. I mean, no matching plaid pants? Come on!"

"You look like a sexy plaid ninja!" She whispered to him, " If it weren't for the relationship agreement on public displays of affection, I would kiss the whistle off of you ." Amy looked up at Sheldon with her luminous eyes. He noticed she wasn't wearing her glasses. The light of dance floor was dancing off her face with no glare back at him. She had put her hands together which made her breast display the most tempting cleavage. Sheldon swallowed hard while he eyed her up and down.

Sheldon said in a low husky growl, "I don't whistle." Sheldon really wished all the people around would get zapped into a different dimension so he could kiss his vixen.

Amy played with his black tie, "Really, it's quite easy…" She moved closer to him, pulling him down with tie, "You just put your lips together…" Amy pulled Sheldon down to whisper in his ear, "and blow."

Sheldon turned his head and almost met her lips, he whispered to her, "We need to renegotiate a few items in the agreement, I think." He pulled away from her so he could see her in full view. "Definitely time to renegotiate."

"I look forward to it, Dr. Cooper." Amy turned away to walk to the bar.

Sheldon whispered as he watched Amy walk away, "I knew I should have brought my Ipad with the agreement. Stupid Leonard, not letting me bring my bag!" Amy's back to him now. The back of the dress dipped down as much as the front. He needed to stay close to her tonight. He wasn't sure which side of her he had guard more, the front or the back.

Amy was at the bar and ordered a virgin Cuba Libre. "Make it two." Sheldon was right beside her. "You know, Dr. Fowler, I really like it that you don't feel the need to drink at every social gathering. It is refreshing."

Amy handed a drink to Sheldon with 3 napkins, they walked to a table by the dance floor. "I'm driving. I would never drink and drive without adequate time to digest the alcohol. Moreover, I don't want my memory impaired tonight." Amy left out why that was an important factor. " Besides, I knew you wouldn't be drinking, and I didn't want you to feel like the odd man out."

"Oh, Amy don't worry about me. I'm used to being the only one doesn't feel the need to sacrifice precious brain cells on the altar of a good time."

" I've missed some good times due to alcohol. It's a fickle bitch."

"Amen, sister." They clinked their plastic glasses. Sheldon watched Amy sip her drink. Her throat bobbed up and down as the liquid ran down her. Sheldon loved how her brown curls rested on her clavicle and bounced off her shoulders when she moved. Her neck was glistening from her delicate silver necklace. He moved his eyes down her neck to her chest. Her dress was very low cut and wide. Sheldon could see the side of her breast and also the curve underneath it. If they were alone, he would have been thrilled. However, at this party, he wished she brought a very large cardigan.

"Are you cold? If you are, you can wear my jacket."

"No, I'm fine. How long have you been here? Have you seen Stuart? I can't see him."

Sheldon moved his chair to block the view of Amy from the table next to them filled with comic book guys. He opened his jacket in an odd way to create a barrier to gawking eyes. They jacket was too small to have any effect. Sheldon caught Captain Sweat pants taking a double take on Amy, and Dale was gawking too.

"Stuart's in the dining room, talking to the comic book agents. He has deal for the next one. He will be working on two series at once. "

"That's wonderful! We should go say congratulations."

Sheldon didn't want Amy to get any congratulations hugs from Stuart. He eyed the dance floor filled with a smattering of people. He took a deep breath, and swallowed. Man's gotta do, what a man's gotta do.

"I was hoping we could dance."

Amy choked on her drink, "Dance? You hate dancing. I wasn't that drunk that I don't remember we had to strong arm you the last time."

"Yes, well. It is shame to waste my obvious good talents. Also, you cut quite the rug yourself, little lady."

"My Grandma taught me. We used to dance around the kitchen to all kinds of music. She was a hoot."

Sheldon got an idea, "Hold on." He started to walk away. Stopped thought for minute, came back to the table and put his jacket on Amy's shoulders, covering her up. "Hold this for me." Then he left to talk to the DJ.

Amy smiled at Sheldon's jealous side. He was very possessive of her, but she liked it as long as he didn't go too far. He wasn't used to her getting unwanted attention and neither was she. The plaid jacket did not work the warding spell it should have. Amy had to turn down four hungry men's offers to dance before Sheldon came back.

"Boy, the wolves are out tonight. I think your jacket made me more attractive to them." She handed the jacket back to Sheldon, who wished she'd kept it on.

"You can't get more attractive. That's like saying more infinity. It's a mathematical impossibility."

Amy sighed, and smiled. He always had a way of saying the sweetest things when he wasn't put on the spot or expected to.

Sheldon continued, "However, The wolves have good taste, I'll give them that. There's another factor too. Not that you're not a catch, but look at the women to men ratio here. Stuart always calls Wil Wheaton's parties a sausage fest…" Sheldon's eyes grew wide on his own words."Oh, that was inappropriate to say to a lady, forgive me."

" You are forgiven, and that was funny… Sausage fest… ha!" Amy tipped her head back and giggled. Sheldon loved her neck line. God you're so beautiful.

Amy caught Sheldon hooded blue eyes roaming over her. You look amazing in all black, even more sleek and sexy, if that is possible. Amy drew in a staggered breath while she was staring at his blue eyes. Then she heard a familiar trumpet sound and her attention was drawn to the dance floor. "Is that Glow Worm? Mill Bros?"

Sheldon stood up and offered his hand to Amy, "Yes it is. May I have this dance, miss?"

"Sortenly, you Ducky shincracker!"

Sheldon looked so confused. "Sorry, its forties slang. I would love too!"

Sheldon lead Amy to the dance floor. She held up her dress with one hand that was holding Sheldon's and the other hand she put on his shoulder. They started a slow swing dance. Sheldon was able to finally touch Amy. He put his hands on her waist. When the part of the song called for him to hold her, he held her close enough to his body he could feel her breath on his neck. Amy was loving the dancing trip down memory lane. Now she had new memory for the song, with the man she loved.

The next song was faster, and the couple kept dancing. They were joined by Howard and Bernie. Amy's dress wasn't the most ideal for the type of dancing she was doing. She had to hold it up numerous times higher than Sheldon was comfortable with given their captive audience. "Do you want to sit down, Sheldon?"

"Not yet." He eyed the DJ with a intense stare. The DJ nodded and and announced the next song: "A very insistent man requested this song; so grab your honeys' and get to the lovin."

The violin started playing with a haunting tune. Sheldon looked down and then over his brow. "One more dance?"

"Absolutely."

Sheldon knew the song well. His Meamaw and PopPop would dance to it in the kitchen when he was young. Meamaw would be cooking and Sheldon was at the kitchen table, watching her. PopPop would come in after he put on the song and twirl her, "I just want to dance with my best girl."

"Hey now, I'll nevr' get this done with all your carrying on. Go on now…" But she didn't pull away. He would spin her and hug her from behind, giving her a little kiss on the cheek. Sheldon was so young, he didn't understand how much those too loved each other, but he felt it. Now, he recognized it again, in the arms of his best girl.

The powerful female vocal of Etta James reverberated in the speakers with a quaking love soaked lyric:

At last my love has come along
My lonely days are over and life is like a song

Sheldon let out a deep breath he didn't know he had held. Amy's eyes were locked with his. He slowly moved his hand from his back to her waist. Her hand was gripping his shoulder, while their other's were weaved together.

At Last the skies above are blue

At the word blue, Amy let out a huge sigh and looked even deeper at Sheldon. Their mutual gaze was blazing with heat, naked with lust and love. He felt a shiver down his front, pulsing his blood to the rest of his body. They were within inches of each other. She could feel his breath on her forehead. He was leading the dance excruciatingly slow, barely moving her. His hand was on her back again, rubbing his thumb on her skin.

My heart was wrapped up in clovers the night I looked at you
I found a dream that I can speak to
A dream that I can call my own
I found a thrill to press my cheek to

Sheldon pulled her next to him, putting his cheek to hers, his mouth was so near her ear, she could feel his lips on her lobe, the slightest touch.

A thrill I've never known

Sheldon pulled back and spun Amy around, causing her dress to flare out. She let out a gasp and a wide smile. Just what he wanted to see for the next line of the song.

You smiled and then the spell was cast

Sheldon bent his knee slightly and placed his hand back on her lower back. Amy wrapped her arm around his neck and let her down for a dip. Their eyes were locked together as much as their bodies wanted to, saying everything they desired with a simple look. They didn't notice they were only ones on the dance floor. It had been cleared for them.

And here we are in Heaven

Sheldon pulled her back up slowly. Her hair flipped to her back to expose her décolletage. He held their hands to her chest. He could feel her bare skin on his hand. She was flush from the dip, her mouth gaped open with her eyes give him the Emerald stare that was only for him.

For you are mine at last

Sheldon didn't care who was looking, what agreement had been signed or how much trouble he was going to be in, he had to kiss her. Now more than ever. He leaned his head down, and pushed his lips against hers with a butterfly soft touch at first then more intense. They two dancers only broke free when they heard the cat calls from the audience. Sheldon straightened up, and pulled a way from Amy; embarrassed. Amy took his hand and lead him off the floor to their table, avoiding any calls to kiss him again by their busy body friends.

Sheldon sat down, his hand in his lap, "I'm sorry. I was completely inappropriate and shouldn't have…"

"That was completely appropriate and the best kiss I've ever had." She squeezed his hand. She could tell he was still worried, "Let's agree to put in the agreement that if you sweep me off my feet like that again, we can kiss in public? Okay? Retroactive to 10 minute ago."

Sheldon smirked at Amy, "You goin' back in time, now darlin'"

"I wish. I wish I was caught in a time loop."

"If we could do that , we could also just rewrite the time…"

"Not those times. Not one line! Don't you dare!" She winked at him, and tried to get up.

Sheldon grabbed her hand, "Amy Farrah Fowler, if you keep quoting River Song, we are going to have to have a different kind of agreement. " He had a hungry stare accompanying his coy smirk.

"Like what?"

"Spoilers." He winked at her.

"Who's the vixen now, Dr. Cooper?" He laughed and got up with her holding her hand as they walked. "Thank for you for the perfect dance. I love it. Every moment."

"See, we didn't have to sacrifice any brain cells to have a good time."

"No, we didn't." Amy was watching her friends dance and have a great time. She went with Sheldon to find Stuart and give their congratulations. Luckily, no hugs were exchanged, just heartly hand shakes. Even Sheldon shook his hand. He had Purell in the pocket, just in case. There could be worse things than knowing a comic book artist….

After a short time filled with general small talk and avoidance of WIl Wheaton, the dancing stopped because they needed to clear the stage for Stuart and his announcements.

Stuart looked nervous and had a hard time with so many eyes upon him.

"I just want to say. Thank you to everyone and to WIl for hosting this great party."

Stuart looked down and took a deep breath, "This year, I'll tell ya. It started off as the worse year of my life. I didn't think I could get any lower. Then my store burned down and… Well I found a new low. I never even had a taste of happy before. I didn't even know the flavor, it was so foreign to me. But then I met a wonderful woman who supported and encouraged me. She gave me a new strength because she saw more in me than I did." Sheldon looked at Amy when he heard Stuart's words. He understood completely what the artist was saying. Finally, he had something in common with Stuart Bloom.

Stuart continued, " She is a great friend, and I want to say thank you to Mrs. Wolotwitz."

Howard yelled out, "That's my ma!" Applause. Then Stuart continued, "Also, I want to say thanks to Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler. She supported my idea this summer and that unwavering support and the confidence it provided, gave birth to my new comic: DN-Ape. Which you all will get a copy of as a thank you gift for coming. Thanks so much to Amy and all the folks here who helped me."

Stuart starting getting emotional his voice was cracking, "I can't tell you what it means to have the life I always wanted. Sometimes now, I feel like I'm in another's man's body, living my dream. But then, I see myself in the mirror, ya know, and I'm like: It's me. This is my life now. And I can just say, Wow.. Just wow!"Stuart sniffed the air to gain back some composure, "Anyway, thank you all. We are going to set up the Karaoke machine. I know Dale wants to sing some Sinatra and Howard has requested a song. Signup sheets are here, by the bar. Let's get Cra—zzy!"

A loud round of applause rung out along with some hooting and yells from Penny and Bernie. Sheldon wasn't looking at anyone but Amy. She caught his gaze and small content smile. Sheldon smiled at Amy. He didn't know how much she helped Stuart before he came home from his train trip; Amy kept it quiet, or Sheldon didn't ask, he wasn't sure. Lately though, he had been talking to Stuart more and found out how supportive Amy was. Sheldon wasn't jealous of Stuart romantic intentions with Amy. He was more envious of her unconditional support of him.

Before he left last May, he had that kind of support from her. Then, upon his return, he broke up with Amy in an idiotic move to keep his life focused on Science and his routine. During the time they lived together as friends, he felt a deep empty void. That cavern in his heart was once filled with Amy's unwavering support of him. She had an orthodox faith in him that preached he could do anything, be anything, he ever wanted. She saw in him qualities he didn't recognize. When he broke up with her, he threw that away and destroyed her faith in him, and subsequently, he lost faith in himself. But, she held onto a candle of hope that we was worth saving. Sheldon still didn't have clue how he got her back. But he was never going to let her go again. Ever.

There were so many emotions running through Sheldon every time he looked at her. Some he knew, others he didn't recognize. All he knew was he was not longer lost. She found him, at last.

Amy looked over at Sheldon, searching his eyes for hidden meaning. She knew what he wanted to say.

I love you too, Sheldon.

A/N A big thank you to Crabcakes for a suggestion for song in this chapter. I hoped you guys liked the song! Look up Etta James, At last. and re read the dance again.

Also, look up Glow worm by the Mills Bros.

If you want to know what Amy's dress looks like, I changed my profile pic to the dress that Lauren Bacall wore.

I got the idea for this chapter by looking at Mayim Bialik's glamour spread in a WATCH! Magazine. She looks so good in Retro clothes. Amazing. I just love her.