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Amy has been asleep for a little over 90 minutes when she's awakened by the guys entering the apartment like a herd of elephants. Sheldon is stroking her hair from her face as she opens her eyes. He looks angry at the intrusion, and maybe a little... sad, worried, troubled, her brain supplies. They came close to having a fight before Sheldon backed down, but unlike her, he's probably been thinking about it the entire time she slept.
"You can go to my old room to sleep," he suggests.
"No," she decides as she removes the blanket. "I have phone calls to make."
"Can I get you anything? Tea, water..." Sheldon offers.
"A stiff drink?" Howard suggests from the island.
"I might actually take you up on that," Amy remarks as she takes the blanket back to the closet.
"Bernie gave us a bottle of strawberry lemonade vodka that's actually really good. Penny mixed it with pink lemonade and that lead to the worst hangover of my life last week," Leonard shares.
"That does sound good," Amy decides.
"I'll mix some up," Raj offers. "I'm so sorry, Amy. How're you doing?"
"I think I'm still in shock," she decides. "I need some liquid courage before I have to call my extended family... and the funeral home... and my mom."
"We're here for you," Howard reassures. "You'll always be one of us."
"Family," Raj adds.
"I'm closer to you and Bernie than I am my own sister," Leonard confesses.
"Thank you," Amy whispers as Sheldon comes over to the island.
Amy immediately reaches for his hand as he stands next to her, which doesn't go unnoticed by the guys. Rather than taking her hand, he wraps his arm around her waist, his hand resting on the small of her back as he lightly rubs, shocking her. She likes the affection he's shown, but, it's so unlike him. He's doing this out of guilt. Don't get used to it, she concludes.
"Penny and Bernie are in a work meeting but they'll be here soon," Leonard shares. "Is there anything we can do, anything you need?"
"No, thank you," Amy softly replies with a grateful smile as her phone rings.
"Here we go," she mirthlessly murmurs as she goes to grab it from the end table and looks at the caller ID. "It's my Mom. Ughhh! Hi, Mom... no, I'm with my friends... yes, Sheldon is defined as my friend... just a friend... no, we're not friends with benefits, but, even if we were, that doesn't concern you!... Because it's my body and my life!... Yes, I still love him!... You know what? I'm not doing this with you! Daddy died today and you're taking your guilt out on me! I'm not your emotional punching bag!" Amy yells into the phone as she ends the call. She keeps her eyes downcast to the floor as tears spring to her eyes. Getting to Amy in 3 steps, her arms are already open to him as she wraps them around Sheldon.
"Why do I let her affect me so much?" Amy wonders.
"It's your mother. That need for her love, approval, acceptance... her attention, even if it's negative... that's ingrained in our genetic coding. The maternal/offspring relationship..." he explains as she cuts him off by placing her finger over his lips.
"I know, Sheldon," she reassures. "It's alright. Thank you for trying."
"Here we are, strawberry lemonades," Raj offers as he brings Amy a glass. "And a virgin for Sheldon... which, I will admit, I thought he would always remain until he met you, Amy."
"What's going on with you two? Are you back together?" Leonard wonders.
"We're going to try to work through it. We're not together... but we're also not not together... it's complicated," Amy answers with a sigh before taking a sip of her drink. "Mmm, that's good. I can barely taste the alcohol."
"Can I have a sip?" Sheldon wonders.
"Um, sure," Amy replies the shock evident in her voice as she hands the cup to him.
"Mmm, that is good," Sheldon hums his approval as he hands it back to her.
Her phone ringing again, she sets the drink on the end table and grabs it, seeing it's the university calling. Excusing herself, she goes to Sheldon's old bedroom to take the call. Sheldon is very fidgety as he stays on the couch, crossing and uncrossing his legs, tapping his fingers against his leg, and checking the time on the microwave every few seconds.
"Go back there," Leonard finally suggests. "She needs the support, even if it's just holding her hand."
"I wouldn't be intruding?" Sheldon asks, worried that he might be trying to be too supportive.
"Amy seems to want you close by," Raj points out. "I don't know how you did it but I think the two of you are going to get through this."
"It's going to take a lot of work. We um... there are some trust issues... understandably... surrounding intimacy," he whispers.
"So you are friends with benefits," Howard quietly murmurs, "I owe Bernie a night out while I stay home with Halley."
"We were fighting and it got pretty heated... then, we were kissing and I.. I tried... going down on her as she calls it... and... she... she says that every time I do more than hold her hand, she sees me with Ramona. I don't know how we get past this," he explains.
"Dude, you got to 3rd base. Even if she stopped it, that's further than any of us thought you'd get," Howard praises.
Standing in the hallway out of sight of the guys, Amy listens in as the guys give Sheldon advice. She's not at all surprised that Sheldon is turning to them, however, it does make her a little angry that he's discussing such private details with them. Leaning against the wall, she tilts her head back and closes her eyes as she takes deep calming breaths.
"It's going to take a lot of talking and reassurances that you find her attractive, that you want to be with her, that you only have eyes for her. It's not going to happen overnight, Sheldon. This is going to be the most difficult thing you've ever done, but the payoff... it will be so worth it if you stay the course. It will bring the two of you closer than ever before," Raj encourages.
"Are you familiar with sensate touch?" Leonard wonders.
"I'm not," Sheldon admits.
"It's a technique developed by the sexologists Masters and Johnson. The goal is to explore intimacy, kissing, hugging, talking, and touching, without orgasm being the ultimate goal. At first, the breasts and genitals are off limits. You concentrate instead on what interests you in your partner's body. You do that, only that, for a week straight. Then, they guide your hand to where they want to be touched for a week. The third step is adding breast and genital stimulation, stopping before orgasm. You do step 3 for two weeks. Finally, you proceed to the final step with is intercourse with orgasm. Penny and I used this after she found out I kissed Mandy Chow. It actually works," Leonard explains.
"But how do you do that with Amy going back to Paris?" Raj wonders.
"We talk. We build up to sharing our fantasies and mutual masturbation via Skype," Sheldon decides. " Am I getting my hopes up too much?" he asks the guys.
"Possibly," they all answer.
"Everything alright?" Leonard wonders as he sees Amy appear from around the corner.
"Yes. That was work. I don't have to be back in Paris for 2 weeks," she explains as she returns to her spot next to Sheldon. "The Masters and Johnson study, while interesting, was used for issues with male impotence. Did you know that when Masters started his research, he used prostitutes as his subjects? His data was heavily skewed because many of the women would fake orgasm to make the johns reach climax sooner."
"How do you tell if a woman is faking it?" Raj questions as the door opens.
"That's our secret," Penny responds. "It sounds like we've been missing a great conversation. Ames, I am so sorry, Sweetie. How are you holding up?" she wonders as she comes over to give her bestie a hug.
"I'm alright," she reassures as Bernie decides it's her turn for a hug.
"Tell me you're not getting her drunk," Bernie warns the guys as she spots the bottle of vodka and pitcher of lemonade on the island.
"This is my first and only drink," Amy reassures as she takes another sip. "My grandparents are sitting shiva and it's mandatory that I attend tonight."
"I thought you were raised Catholic?" Sheldon questions.
"I was. My mother is Catholic and my father is Jewish," she explains.
"Can we come pay our respects and support you?" Penny wonders.
"Of course. I'd really appreciate that," Amy immediately responds with a small sad smile. "I need help to keep my mom and me away from each other and my mom away from Sheldon."
"Consider it handled," Bernie reassures as she takes Halley out of the car seat. "Halley is awake and wants to say hello to her favorite Auntie Amy."
"I don't know why you refer to us as Aunts and Uncles when we're not biologically related," Sheldon complains as Bernie hands Halley to Amy.
"It's a title of honor, Sheldon, indicating our close bond. A family isn't just blood," Bernie explains.
Holding the blonde little girl who looks so much like Bernadette, Amy smiles fondly at the baby as Halley reaches for Amy's glasses.
"No, no, those are Auntie's," Amy gently scolds before grabbing Halley's chubby hand and kissing it.
Hearing the words, "no no", Halley shakes one finger at Amy, making everyone laugh at her. The baby lets out a happy squeal, not knowing why everyone is laughing.
"She's in a good mood," Howard points out as he smiles over at his daughter who is cuddling into Amy's chest.
"Are there any rituals we need to know about for tonight?" Penny wonders
"Other than sitting on the floor and removing your shoes when you enter the home, no," Howard explains. "There are different circles of mourners. The laws related to mourning are for the closest members of the family; the children, parents, siblings, and spouse. Our job as friends of the daughter of the deceased is to support her and her family. Shiva doesn't actually begin until the morning of burial. Since tomorrow is Shabbat, I presume that will be on Sunday?" Howard questions.
"We're still making arrangements. My mother is trying to make a big to-do of it. Dad would want something simple, just a graveside service. The big debate right now is to bury him as a Jew or a Catholic since he converted in order to marry my mother," Amy explains.
"Ugh, this sounds like more drama than necessary," Bernie sympathizes. "They're pretty much the same, ashes to ashes, dust to dust and all that."
"Can we bring anything?" Penny wonders.
"Did you see that episode of How I Met Your Mother where Marshall's father dies and Robin is the one supplying the mourners with whatever they could possibly need? You can be my vice girls," Amy decides. "A way cooler version of the Spice Girls. This... being able to just relax with all of you... this is nice. I'm glad I'll be here longer."
"Us too, Sweetie. We miss you," Penny replies.
"Excuse me," Amy apologizes as she grabs her phone when it starts ringing once again. "It's my Dad's best friend. I need to take this. Come with me?" she requests of Sheldon as she stands up as she answers, "Saul, hi," they hear as she walks to Sheldon's old room.
Sheldon is just a few steps behind her as she enters and sits on the edge of his bed. He shuts and locks the door for privacy before going to Amy who rests her head in the crook of his shoulder as he wraps his arm around her back, his fingers lightly massaging each disc of her spine. She's being brave, stronger than he could be under the circumstances as she quietly explains what happened. It's not until she says, "I love you too," and disconnects the call that she finally starts crying, heart-wrenching, hysterical sobs that shake her to the core. Quickly laying on the bed, Sheldon brings her into his arms as she cries, tightly holding her.
"I can't... I can't..." she attempts between sobs.
"Shh," he whispers, "I'm here. I won't let you drown," he promises.
Placing her hand behind his head, Amy tilts it down until his lips lightly press against hers in the most tender of kisses before pulling back just a few seconds later and looking into his scared, questioning eyes before pecking his lips again, and then a third time, deepening the kiss and not pulling away. She nibbles on his lip, seeking entry with her tongue and moans into his mouth as he gives her admittance. Kissing seems to have calmed her, he realizes as he slowly moves his lips against hers, letting her take what she needs from him as they're interrupted by knocking on the door.
"Ames? Everything alright?" Penny asks.
"Yes," she reassures as she lays her head on Sheldon's shoulder. "We're talking."
"We're going to order an early dinner. Any requests?" Penny wonders.
"Chinese?" she quietly asks Sheldon who nods in agreement. "Chinese," she repeats louder for Penny. "You know our order."
"By heart," Penny confirms as they hear her walking away.
"I want to try sensate touch during the two weeks I'm here, but, it's also going to take a lot of talking," she requests.
"Come to a therapy session with me," Sheldon requests, "Dr. Cohen might have recommendations for things we can do to rebuild our relationship."
"Alright," Amy agrees. "When is your speech again?"
"Tomorrow morning," he replies, "Gabelhauser said I can spare two hours and since we were never married, I don't get bereavement leave."
"He's a real ball buster, just like my mother," Amy complains. "She's going to try to make a scene with one or both of us."
"I'm there for you," Sheldon reassures. "I deserve to be dressed down for what I've done, but, you don't deserve to be treated this way. You did nothing wrong to warrant this. Hopefully, with enough people around, she won't want to make a scene and we can avoid a confrontation."
"I hope you're right. Kissing... kissing is nice. Can we keep doing that until dinner arrives?" Amy requests.
"Sure," Sheldon agrees as he cups her cheek in his hand and returns her smile as his lips brush against hers.
He's becoming aroused, Sheldon realizes fifteen minutes into continuous making out with Amy. They haven't come up for air yet as he takes another breath through his nose. She snakes her hand under his t-shirt, her fingers tickling his abdomen as she draws random patterns; hearts, squiggly lines, circles. He pulls her closer to him as she becomes more demanding in her kisses and caresses her hip moving back to her delectable ass as she wraps her leg around his thigh, gasping when she feels his erection pressing into her.
"Um... I think we need to stop," she whispers as they finally break the kiss and she pulls away from him, rolling onto her back.
"What... what happened?" he whispers, confused. It seemed they were fine.
"You're... very aroused, and it... while it's nice to know I can do that to you... I don't... I'm not ready for more," she explains. "For right now, kissing is as far as I can go."
"It's alright. Um... that was... nice," he whispers, sharing a smile with her as someone knocks on the door again.
"The guys just went to pick up dinner. They'll be back in a few minutes," Bernie yells through the door.
"We'll be right out," Amy replies.
"I um... I'm going to be a few minutes," he whispers, blushing.
"Alright," she agrees, pecking his lips one last time, "but don't be too long or I'll eat your pot stickers."
"You can have a potsticker for part of your egg roll?" Sheldon offers.
"Deal," Amy quickly agrees, trying not to think about all the meals she shared with Dave where they had the same deal.
Getting out of bed, she smooths her hair down and straightens her blouse before opening the door and quickly hitting the lock button as she shuts it behind her.
He's rock hard, almost reaching the point of needing release as he closes his eyes and takes deep breaths through his mouth. He'd do anything for her, but how far does he let it go? Each kiss, each touch, is affecting him too, physically, but more importantly, mentally. Does he have the right to tell her no? Can he, knowing his rejection will hurt her even more than he already has? Or, should he just continue to remain silent, giving her as much as she needs from him? That seems his best, and only, if he's being honest, option. She left her phone on the bed, he realizes when it rings again. The caller ID says "Mom." He's still too aroused to take the phone to her so he texts Penny, asking her to pass the message to Amy. A few minutes later, Amy's lightly knocking on the door, which Sheldon quickly opens.
Amy takes a quick glance at Sheldon's pants as she enters. He's still aroused.
"Do you need to take care of that?" she wonders.
"Um... yes, but with everybody in the living room... I can't. Plus, the mess..." he explains.
"I um... I stole a condom from the bathroom. You can release into that and then I'll make the excuse that I need to get something I left in your safe so you can throw it away in your trash. You'll just need to carry it in your pocket from here to your apartment."
"Would you... stay and kiss me?" he whispers.
"I'd love to," she replies.
He removes his pants and underwear, neatly folding them and setting them at the foot of the bed as Amy holds out the condom to him. His hands are shaking as he tries to open the foil wrapper, finally getting it on the third try. Removing the red lubricated condom from the wrapper, he rolls it down his shaft and pinches the tip to remove air before going to lay on the bed. Amy lays on her side next to him, neither moving to kiss, nerves taking over. He feels himself starting to lose his erection, much to his relief, as it softens and lays limp on his thigh.
"Nerves?" Amy whispers.
"Yeah," he admits. "We've never masturbated in front of each other and with the current status of our relationship... is this... kissing... too much too quickly?"
"You can say no too. I know that the idea of consent usually correlates to a woman giving permission, but it's mutual, Sheldon. It's okay for you to say no to me."
"But if I reject you... after what I've done..."
"We're working through it. Tell me why rather than just saying no, alright? If I have an explanation, it will help lessen the sting. Honesty. That's how we get through this. Trust, honesty and communication."
"Okay. Call your mom so we can go eat. What um... what should I wear?"
"Do you still have the black shirt you wore to the Chancellor's award dinner? You look very dashing in that. That shirt and your khaki pants would be appropriate."
"Okay," he agrees.
"Sheldon..." she stops him as he dresses, "nice ass," she flirts as she nervously bites her lip, making him blush.