Another late update for you UK peeps, and sorry about the delay. It took me a while to get this chapter exactly the way I wanted it which I hadn't been expecting. Of course some of the reason it has taken me so long could also be because of a certain highly anticipated game that got released this week. I've been getting my gangsta on! Anyway, this chapter, as promised, is pretty much split equally between the Lenny and Shamy, and after this chapter I do have a good bit more Shamy stuff to focus on. Hope you are all satisfied with how this chapter goes! And do tell me in those reviews!

Oh and, less than a week till the season 7 premiere! Eeeek! :)


Complicated and Comfortable

A tense, long few seconds passed as Leonard stared into Penny's fear filled eyes, trying to figure out just what to say to her. Opening his mouth, he urged himself to speak, but no words would come out. He desperately wanted to say something, anything that would take away that fear in her eyes, but he just didn't know what.

It was such a bittersweet moment. On one hand, this was great news. She had had an epiphany of sorts and one that reiterated her love for him. He saw the relief she felt from finally knowing what had been bothering her, but he couldn't help the twinge of disappointment that came with knowing he still had some time to wait for her to be fully ready to commit to him, knowing that she wouldn't be making any big leaps in their relationship in the near future. And although he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he would stand by her while she got everything together, for reasons he had concluded upon earlier during his restless night, he still wondered how much longer he would actually have to wait. How long would it take her to find out what it was she wanted from life? How many weeks, or months, or years would it take for her to find that thing she was passionate about, besides him? Why couldn't she find that with him as her husband? What did the commitment of marriage have to do with her following her dreams? She could still do that, married or not, he wouldn't ever stop or discourage her from following her dreams and he hoped she didn't think he ever would.

"Leonard?" Penny quietly encouraged, a slight quiver in her voice, his silence becoming a little too much to bear.

Sighing, Leonard sat back in his chair and rubbed his eyes under his glasses for a moment, somehow hoping to ease the ache behind them caused both by tiredness, and from thinking way too much. As he moved his hand from his eyes and fixed his glasses onto his face properly once again, he urged himself to stop thinking and just talk. This wasn't bad, he told himself, her figuring this out was a good thing, and he knew that deep down.

"Penny, I…" Looking down at his hands, he shook his head slowly. "I don't really know what to say... This is a lot to take in first thing in the morning." Looking up at the screen, Leonard tried to smile but couldn't quite manage it, the frown lines on his forehead stubbornly refusing to soften. He sighed and leant forward in the chair, putting his face slightly closer to the screen as he rested his arms on the table. Looking at her intently again, he saw that fear in her once more, and what he was certain were tears in her eyes. He needed to say more. He had to say something because he couldn't stand to see that look in her eyes, all it did was choke him up, and the only way to stop it was to talk. He couldn't reach out and caress her cheek or pull her close to him for comfort like he wished he could. He was unable to kiss her on her lips, or even her forehead, her cheek or eyes, using his lips to kiss those lingering tears away, like he would have had he been with her. All he had were his words, he just had to find them.

Looking into her eyes for a few seconds longer, he smiled, one that was much more loving and sincere than his last attempt. "Honey, I'm so glad you figured this whole thing out. I really am," He nodded, "it's just… well…" Sighing, he looked down at his hands again, "where does this leave us?"

A sick feeling rose up in Penny's stomach, her brow furrowing, "What do you mean?"

Leonard stared for a few more seconds, trying to answer that question in his own head first, before saying the words out loud. "Where do we go from here, Penny? What's next?"

Eyes glazing over in thought, Penny contemplated how to answer. She wasn't sure whether he meant what would happen next specifically with them as a couple, or just a general wondering of what she planned to do about her newfound clarity. She decided to answer the only part she really knew the answer to.

Taking a breath, Penny lifted her laptop and sat it over her crossed legs, doing the only thing possible to get him that bit closer to her. "Honestly sweetie, I'm not really sure. All I know is that this is something I have to do. I just know if I ignore it and forget about it, it will come back and bite us on the ass in the future. It won't go away Leonard, I know it won't." Penny stopped and looked into his eyes as she thought over what to say next. "Honey, I see that fire in your eyes when you are talking about your science stuff and that is something I want too. I want to have some sort of career that gets me that excited, just like yours does, and Amy's, and Bernadette's and… all of you guys. You are all doing something you love and I want that too. I wanna do something I love. I need to."

"Okay, I understand that." He said with a nod, his brow only slightly less furrowed. "You want to keep that independence, have that… fulfilment that comes with doing something you love."

"Yeah." Penny nodded, a small smile on her face as her whole body seemed to relax.

Leonard nodded again, but his expression was still thoughtful. "Okay… But I thought you already found that thing you love. You love acting don't you? That's why you came to Pasadena in the first place; to be an actress. That's why you go to all these auditions and those classes. Isn't that what you're passionate about?" He asked, his lack of sleep making his tone more abrupt than he had intended. "And even if it isn't," he continued, "if you say you love me, and you want all that marriage and stuff with me, then why do you have to wait until you figure that out before we do it? What difference does it make? Do you think I will stop you from doing what you love?"

"What?" Penny asked, her eyes wide, "No!"

"Well then why is it so important that you do this before we are married?" He quickly asked, his tone still harsher than he wanted it to be. "You're life doesn't end at marriage, Penny. You can still pursue a career in something you're passionate about, why does that have to play a part in it?"

Penny opened her mouth to speak but words failed her. She didn't know how to answer. She hadn't expected him to become so blunt, he very rarely was. Yet, he had a point, one that she failed to find an argument against. Leonard had always supported her, she knew that. Marriage didn't mean they had to completely settle down and have children right away, she knew that too. And suddenly everything that had made perfect sense to her earlier, seemed even more confusing than it ever had.

Unable to come up with a real answer, Penny simply lifted her shoulders in a shrug and shook her head, her eyes pleading with him to understand that she just hadn't figured it all out yet, even although she had thought she had.

"Penny," Leonard said with a sigh as he sat back in his chair again. He knew where this was going. She had shared what she thought was enough, but wanted to close up as soon as she was pressed on any part that didn't make sense, and maybe, if he hadn't been so irritable from his restless night, or hadn't been thinking about this exact thing earlier, he would have let it go. He would have accepted what she had told him, but right now, he needed to make sense of the parts he didn't understand, after all, he deserved to know the roots of the reasons he was holding out for her. "Honey… That's not good enough." He said in a soft, yet firm tone. Hoping to let her know he wasn't angry or upset, but that he needed the answers she wasn't giving. "Look I know this is hard for you, but these are things you have to answer. Or at least try to answer, if not for me, then for yourself."

Knowing he was right, Penny nodded, and swallowed the lump growing in her throat before it became any more than that. She needed to answer his questions and she had to do it properly, or to the best of her ability at least. Taking in a deep, slightly shaky breath, Penny moved her eyes from his and back to her hands fidgeting beside the keyboard on her laptop. "Okay…" She glanced up, "What do you want me to answer first?" When he gave a casual shrug to show he didn't mind, Penny nodded and took another breath. "Okay… the acting thing… I do love it, Leonard. I really do. I love my classes." She smiled, her eyes twinkling, "I adore being on stage and being in front of a crowd giving a performance. I just hate everything that comes with it." The twinkle in her eyes disappeared after that sentence, as she returned her focus to her hands, her smile also gone. "I'm getting so sick of going to auditions, because every single one I don't get chips away at my confidence and I hate that. And… and that Hollywood lifestyle that I dreamt of having when I came here," She shook her head, her eyes flicking between her hands and him, "I just don't think I want that anymore. I don't want the cameras in my face twenty-four seven. I don't want to have to constantly go to photo-shoots or red carpet events or leave for months for filming. It would be like doing this again… It's too much Leonard." Shaking her head she looked down again. "Too much would change and I don't want it to. I love my life the way it is right now…" Her eyes met his again, "Besides working at The Cheesecake Factory, there isn't a single thing I would change."

Leonard gave a small smile, content in the knowledge that, despite her life being nothing like he imagined she had thought it would be, she was still happy. She loved her life, the majority of it, the way it was. Her career was the only part she was dissatisfied with, and he knew she deserved to feel the same contentment in that as she did the rest of her life, just as he did. "So… what do you want to do then?"

Again, Penny shrugged. "I'm not sure. That's what I have to figure out…" Looking down at her fidgeting hands, she began to think through her options, "I still want to act. I don't want to give that up, but… I don't know, maybe I'll just stop going to so many auditions, maybe I'll pick and choose which ones I actually think I will have a better chance of getting. You know," She looked up, "Like the play I just got a call-back for, or the odd commercial." She shrugged and looked down. "I don't know… Oh!" She said a second later as she looked back up, a slight twinkle in her eye again as more things came to mind, "I'd love to focus more on college. I've really been enjoying my class, and if I go to fewer auditions I can do that… Maybe I could take a few more classes, depending on how well I done on that exam... Maybe I could get a degree in something if I really put my head down and do it." She shrugged, "I could maybe even… teach?" She said with her head tilted slightly, "What is it they say? 'Those who can't do, teach'?" She smiled, "Maybe I could teach acting." She said with a soft laugh. "I think I've been to enough classes over the past seven years to be able to parrot all that stuff back to the same kind of young, naïve kids that are as desperate for stardom as I used to be." She shrugged again, looking sheepishly back down at her hands. "I don't know. That's just a few ideas I guess."

"Those are good ideas Penny." Leonard said softly.

"Yeah, maybe." She shrugged again and then looked back up as she took in another deep breath. "Leonard," She started, her shoulders slumped and her voice quiet. "I really don't know about the rest. I don't know why I feel the need to do this before we take that next step." She sighed and looked down, "Of course I know that you won't stop me doing what I want… I guess I just… I always saw it that way because of my mom. I always saw marriage as… settling down and… having kids I guess I never really thought of just being married, you know?" She shook her head, "...I don't know. Maybe we can do it sooner…" She looked up, a hint of a smile on her face and a tiny lump beginning to form in her throat. "But not until we are ready. Marriage is… it's too intense for us right now, but… but you're right. Maybe I don't need to have everything figured out completely before we do it, but I'd like to have at least some idea of what I want to do." Seeing

Leonard gave a small, almost sad smile and a nod, before looking to his hands. It wasn't exactly what he had been hoping to hear. She still seemed so confused by it all, and the fact that she felt, even despite her own issues, that they weren't ready for marriage, was disappointing too, even although he sort of knew she was right.

Penny's stomach fell at his expression. She could still see the disappointment that he probably didn't want her to see in his face. He was tired, it was harder for him to hide it and she knew he was still unsure about what she had said. She knew he needed to hear more or else he would simply make up his own conclusions over the parts he was still sceptical of, overthinking every word she had said to the point where it was blown way out of proportion. She had to be clear to him about how she felt, on one thing in particular. "Leonard, sweetie, listen to me." She said with determination, smiling when his tired and confused, but gorgeous brown eyes were focused on her again, "I want to be with you, don't forget that. I told you, I want to be Mrs Hofstadter one day and I will. I just don't want to screw it up by going into it before we're both completely ready..." She let out a sigh, "And I don't think I can be completely ready until I've sorted my career out, at least a little. Please tell me you understand that. I need you to understand, sweetie. This isn't because of you, this is all me and my problems... It's just something I have to do."

Slowly, Leonard nodded, his eyes staying on her, and his frown slowly softening. Eventually, a timid smile crept onto his face, finally content with what he had heard from her. "Okay." He said quietly. "I do understand that… I do. This was just… I dunno, it came as a bit of a surprise I guess. But I get it." He nodded, "I told you on Valentine's Day that this was all on you now, and if this is what it takes to get you to that place where you are comfortable with everything," He smiled, "then I can wait for that."

Penny nodded with him, a grin on her face, as her whole body seemed to relax. "Thank you. And I promise I won't make you wait too long. I'll figure this all out before you get fed up of waiting and leave me for someone less complicated." She smiled, speaking in jest what she was truly afraid of happening.

Letting out a short laugh, Leonard shook his head. "That won't happen. I'm a physicist, Penny, I like complicated." Watching her as she continued to smile at him, a few long moments passed where they both wanted the exact same thing. They both needed the comfort of physical contact from the other.

This conversation had taken a lot out of each of them, Penny becoming more vulnerable to him than she had ever been to anyone and needing the content, safe feeling that came with being held by him, while Leonard simply needed the warmth and the comfort that she gave him. All they craved was one another's embrace; her head nuzzled into his shoulder, letting out soft, rhythmic breaths onto his neck, his arms holding her lower back and shoulder, pulling her as tight as he could to him.

Their eyes locked, and without saying a single word, they expressed all that want, and all that hurt that came with not being able to have what they craved in that one look. In that moment, Penny wished she had kept the whole content of this conversation for when he had returned. She wished she had waited so that this moment wouldn't have been so bad. She would have been able to lie in his arms and feel that reassurance that he loved her, and that he would wait, despite the tiny voice inside her that constantly doubted it. She wouldn't have had that ache that she does now, that familiar pang in her chest that came with knowing she couldn't have what she wanted just yet, a pang that he knew all too well too.

As Leonard saw a few tears glaze over her eyes and felt his own throat tighten at the mere sight of them, he broke their stare to look down briefly at the coffee cup sitting on the table beside him. He knew she was feeling the same craving and disappointment, as him and it was at that moment he decided not to bring up what Paul had mentioned to him about any future trips he may be asked to attend, until he was back with her and able to use more than his words to make her feel at ease. This feeling was too much to bear, and he wouldn't consciously inflict it on her, or himself, again.

Looking back into her eyes, forcing himself to think of happier thoughts to take that pain away, he found himself grinning as his mind fleeted over words she had previously spoken, ones that took that ache away in a flash.

With a slight tilt of her head and a confused smile she asked, "What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing." Leonard replied with a chuckle and a quick shake of his head.

"Leonard!" She frowned, although her smile was still present. "Tell me, what is it?"

"It's nothing, really." He replied, his grin widening even although he tried to stop it, while she tilted her head downwards and stared until he caved. "Really, it's nothing, it's just…" He shrugged and looked into the distance, "Mrs Hofstadter." He chuckled and looked back at her. "It's weird hearing that out loud. And even weirder hearing you say it." He smiled and chuckled again, "You've never said it before. I've never said it before… Not out loud anyway."

"You haven't?" She asked with a mischievous smile, and he shook his head, "Oh, so it's just our 'smart and beautiful' babies you talk about out loud then?"

Leonards jaw dropped. "Whaaat?" He frowned, shaking his head in his best attempt to pretend he had no idea what she was talking about. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Narrowing her eyes and tilting her head, Penny gave a knowing smile, "Cut the crap Hofstadter. Sheldon told me." She grinned, "I mean, I knew you had a crush on me when I first moved in, but talking about babies right away?" She shook her head, "That's a little creepy Leonard."

Chuckling, Leonard shook his head. "Alright, I said it. Why did he tell you?" He frowned, "And it's not creepy it's…" He looked off in thought for a second, a small smile eventually curling onto his mouth. "Romantic."

"Yeah okay," Penny replied with a short laugh as she rolled her eyes, "Whatever you say. And I can't remember really why he told me… I asked when I moved into the apartment and somehow he got on to that, you know how Sheldon can be with his little speeches and the tangents he goes off on from the simplest of things."

"Yeah." Leonard nodded, deciding not to ask why she was even asking that question in the first place. "I miss that you know. It's weird," He said, becoming a little solemn again, "but I really do."

Penny's heart melted when she saw the sad look on his face, and then smiled as she thought of how to take his thoughts away from missing his friend. "You want me to say it again?" She asked, her eyebrow raised and he raised one back in confusion. "Mrs Hofstadter." She said then smiled when his confusion disappeared, and she gave a small grin before raising her eyebrow slightly again, speaking this time in a much softer voice, "Mrs Penny Hofstadter."

With a shudder, Leonard nodded, his mouth becoming instantly dry and his heart rate picking up again. "I like that." He said and cleared his throat while Penny giggled and scrunched her nose up at him. "I really like that."

"I like it too." She said and after a few seconds, she glanced down at her hands and then back up to him, "So, we're okay?" She asked, her hands wringing a little in front of her.

With a small smile and a tilt of his head, Leonard softly replied, "Of course we are. You aren't getting rid of me that easily."


As the credits rolled on the first episode of 'Firefly', another show Amy had decided she just wasn't interested in, Amy found herself stretching up and yawning. To her, this show was no different than all the other space stuff that Sheldon and the guys enjoyed and she honestly wondered how they could even differentiate between them all, because she certainly couldn't.

There were only a few things that had kept her up during the episode, and that was the rather handsome male lead that kept her attention, as well as the very noticeable closeness that she and Sheldon shared whilst the episode was on. She had noticed, not even half an hour into the programme, that instead of sitting directly in the middle spot, she was almost barely on it at all, the majority of her weight sitting, quite comfortably, in the crack between the two cushions. Her leg wasn't merely touching his, it was practically pressed up against it, and he hadn't moved away from it. This touch hadn't registered in the part of his brain that would usually have freaked out at what he would call 'unnecessary physical contact'. Just like it hadn't registered any real meaning behind that key he had given her.

Sheldon of old wouldn't have found such a gesture easy to take, and he certainly wouldn't have been the one to bring it up in the first place. Giving her a key, in the past, would have sent alarm bells off in his mind, and she wondered what had changed now that stopped them from going off both then, and now, with the fact that one side of her body was almost stuck to his. She was sure she would be able to understand it properly if she had the chance to cut open his brain and poke around, but she, obviously, couldn't do that.

Amy knew it wouldn't be too hard to come up with a conclusion to his changing behaviour; after all, she always prided herself on knowing Sheldon better than anyone. She had been like him once. She had been opposed to touch and afraid of intimacy, so she understood where he was coming from, but she had quickly changed. The influence of the best friends that she hadn't had growing up, taking her through all the experiences that she missed; sleepovers, girls nights out, shopping trips, bitching sessions and talk about boys and boyfriends, had helped her through her social awkwardness, making her more 'normal'. Sheldon had changed her too. Having that man in her life that had never been there before, having that boyfriend to go on dates with, to share evenings with and one that really understood and cared for her, was something that also contributed to how much she had changed since they had met. Meeting him, that tall, sickly pale, yet quirky and endearing character with thin, yet kissable lips and shining blue eyes, had made her want all of that stuff she had never wanted before. He had helped change her, and maybe it was her that was changing him in the same way, it was just taking much longer. That was understandable, she thought. He was more stubborn than her, and so much less willing to change. Homeostasis was something he was vehemently fond of, which only made the fact that he was trying to change it, even more significant.

As scenes that she didn't understand flashed before her, Sheldon beside her smiled and looked hopefully over to her every so often for what she liked to think was him wondering if she was enjoying the show as much as he was. Each time he looked, she looked back at him and gave him a smile of reassurance, one that she knew he couldn't see through. He was too preoccupied with the excitement of watching his show, which gave her mind time to wander more, and it always came back to that key. Even when she tried to think of something else, maybe of what she would do the next day or the dreaded fact that she was sure there was a train convention coming up that it was her turn to take Sheldon to, her mind always came back to that key.

It was such a simple gesture, and she could see why he didn't really understand the significance of it. Penny had gotten a key to their apartment not long after she had moved in, just like she had gotten one for theirs, but that was different. They were neighbours, looking out for one another's safety, she and Sheldon weren't. As much as he tried to put it down to the fact that he didn't trust Penny, Amy knew there had to be more to it, even if he didn't see it himself. Penny had had a key to that apartment for years, and until now he hadn't shown any real doubt in her ability to look after it or provide assistance should he need it. Maybe the fact that Leonard was gone had made him a little more insecure, knowing that only he and Penny actually had a key to their apartment, but she still thought it unlikely. Leonard had been gone for almost three months, it was a little odd that he would only be having these concerns now. Maybe he had always had them though and he had simply let the idea slip from his mind until now, she thought. But that was unlikely and deep down she knew it. Sheldon was like an elephant, he never forgot. He may delay, or purposely postpone, but he never forgot. Which led her to believe the only reason he brought it up now, was because he was finally comfortable with the idea, even if he may not see it as that himself.

He was comfortable with her having a means to enter his home should she need to. He was comfortable with sitting literally side by side with her. Although she knew he didn't see it like she did, having that key meant he was telling her, subconsciously or not, that she could come and go as she pleased. She has a key, there's no need to knock on that door she can simply walk in, anytime. She wondered for a second what his reaction would be to that. She was sure he wouldn't appreciate it, but wondered if it would only be a temporary shock, one that would subside and she really could end up just coming and going as she pleased.

It exhausted her, all of that thinking, especially since she was already pretty tired to begin with. When she had yawned at the end of the first episode, it had been with relief, thinking that she could finally go home, but then she remembered that they had agreed upon watching two episodes, something that was only confirmed when Sheldon stood up and headed to his television to change the disc.

Amy audibly groaned, much louder than she had meant to, and Sheldon instantly turned around, a look of concern on his face.

"Is something wrong?" He asked as he took the disc from its case.

Amy considered her options, wondering if Sheldon would really be okay with her wanting to cut short their evening, especially since they were doing something that he loved. She didn't want to leave, the comfortable closeness they were sharing was something she adored, but she was sure if she stayed she wouldn't be able to keep her eyes open, and even if she did her mind would begin to think way too much again. But she really didn't want to leave. She enjoyed spending time with Sheldon, especially when it was calm and relaxed like it was now. There was no pressure on either of them. In his mind, they were simply enjoying a programme together, and that allowed him to relax so much that the slight intimacy they shared during it, just didn't seem like a big deal, which didn't happen very often.

"Didn't you like it?" Sheldon pressed.

"No, no. I did like it." Amy replied then smiled, her mind instantly made up. She could sit through one more, she just had to stop thinking so much and allow herself to relax as much as him, maybe she could even force herself to try and get into this programme, she had barely given it a chance after all. "Please, put the next one on."

With those words, Sheldon gave a small smile and placed the disc in the tray before coming to sit back down in his spot. Amy watched him the whole time, unable to keep her eyes off of him, the dimly lit room making him seem more handsome than he ever had. When he had sat down, Amy had found herself moving away slightly, before carefully shifting back to where she had been, without so much as a flinch from him. As he pressed the buttons on the remote, Amy lifted her feet up to rest beside her, allowing her to become a little more comfortable and willing to watch another hour or so of space fighting.

But instead of doing as she had said she would and focus on the television, her mind once again wandered, but this time not because of that key. They were sitting so close together that every time he shifted his weight or moved any part of his body, she felt that movement like electricity shooting through her. They were almost snuggled up, she quickly realized. Her body was tilted ever so slightly in his direction, her bent knee softly touching against leg. Her hands were in her lap, but her shoulder was pressed against his arm, her head mere inches from his shoulder. They were so close she could feel him breathing, and as she looked up at him, she could see the small freckles on his cheek and neck, despite the dim light. Her heart began to race, and due to how close they were she wondered if he knew.

She was overcome with a desire, but not one to kiss him like she often felt, her weariness only made her want to lay her head on his shoulder, and the fact that they had been so at ease with one another lately made her feel, for the first time, that she probably could do it and he wouldn't freak out. Slowly, Amy turned to the television as she began to lower her head, hoping not to surprise him with her movement. Her whole body was tense for those first few seconds after her head met his shoulder, awaiting the abrupt reaction she expected, but never came. She had felt his head move in her direction, and she could almost see the rolling of his eyes that she was sure he gave when he saw what she had done, but he didn't protest against it, and she smiled triumphantly as her whole body relaxed.

This was nice, she thought. Slightly uncomfortable because of his bony shoulder, but nice nonetheless. It certainly made the programme much more bearable and as she glanced at his hand sitting on his lap and hers mere inches from it, she decided to push her luck. If he was getting to watch a programme he enjoyed, but she hated, then she was going to do what she had to do to find the same enjoyment. So just as slowly and carefully as she had moved her head, she watched as her left hand crept across the space between them and tucked itself under his hand, intertwining her fingers with his.

At first, she felt his hand stiffen and his head move, probably giving the same expression as earlier, but this time, she also felt a sigh and him slightly shaking his head, probably as he wondered why women always felt the need to have such unnecessary contact, but once again he didn't protest against it. She sort of knew he wouldn't, hand holding was something he was bound to be becoming accustomed to, yet it still gave her a happy satisfaction every time she completed the movement without any hesitation from him. Smiling again when his fingers held her hand just as hers held his, Amy found herself no longer interested in trying to watch that programme, or caring about what that key did or didn't mean, all she wanted to do in her blissfully relaxed state, was sleep.

When the credits once again rolled on another episode of 'Firefly', Sheldon turned his gaze from the television to Amy beside him, hoping to see the same excitement from her as he felt now, that show really was one of a kind, he would be surprised if Amy didn't love it as much as he did, she had to. But when he turned and saw her eyes closed as she peacefully slept, he shook his head in contempt. He knew that letting her rest her head on him had been a bad idea. He should have fought past the part of him that quite enjoyed it, the same part that had enjoyed that hug they had shared, and now, he wished he had. Not only had she missed out on a brilliant episode, but he now had to figure out what to do with her. Should he wake her up? Should he leave her there? He didn't really want to wake her, yet how was he going to get up if she was both leaning on him and holding on to him at the same time, he would have to wake her.

Timidly, Sheldon shook his shoulder in his best attempt to make some movement that would wake her up. "Amy." He said in a whisper, wondering with a frown just after it why he was even whispering if his goal was to wake her up.

After another shrug of his shoulder, Amy slowly woke, her eyes squinting as they adjusted to the little light in the room. "What…" She groggily said as she sat up and fixed her glasses, "What happened?"

"You fell asleep." Sheldon chastised. "You said you liked this programme."

"Oh, yeah, I do." She cleared her throat as she sat up properly and let out a yawn. "I'm just tired, that's all. I should probably go..."

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Sheldon asked, his brow furrowed in concern. "You are obviously tired, and driving whilst tired is just as bad as driving under the influence of alcohol."

Amy shook her head, "I'm fine. Anyway, there isn't really another option is there. I drove here, now I have to drive back."

Sheldon looked off in thought for a few moments. "You could take a cab."

"Then my car would be left here and I would have no way of getting the both of us to work tomorrow." She sighed as she stood up, smoothing down her skirt and fixing her cardigan. "I'll be fine Sheldon, but thank you for the concern." She smiled.

"Hm, well, you are my girlfriend." He shrugged, "And I don't want you getting yourself into an accident because your reaction time is greatly reduced, however," He said, waving his hand, "I cannot stop you from driving, so if you must then please make sure you inform me when you are safely back at your apartment."

Amy smiled at Sheldon's unique brand of concern and stretched out her muscles before putting on her shoulder bag. "I will make sure to text you as soon as I'm home." She smiled again as Sheldon nodded and stood up to escort her to the door. "This was nice Sheldon." She said as she approached the door.

"I agree, although I don't see how you did considering you fell asleep during it." He said with a glare, "But you can make up for that on our next viewing."

"Our next viewing?" She groaned as Sheldon opened the door.

"Yes, we still have another twelve to watch."

"Really?" She groaned again and Sheldon simply smiled and nodded. "Great." She sarcastically mumbled as she made her way out of the apartment. "Goodbye Sheldon."

"Goodbye Amy, and please, drive safely." He said with a smile that was returned, before she turned and made her way down the steps.

Once she had turned the corner, Sheldon closed the door and headed inside to clear up the mess left over. As he put away the snacks from the coffee table, he told himself not to bother putting them out next time, since neither of them even touched them. Once the snacks were gone, he checked his phone. He hadn't heard it beep, and he knew there was no chance Amy would have made it home already, but still he checked. Upon seeing that she hadn't yet arrived, he continued with his nightly routine. He turned off the television and his laptop that had been sitting on standby. He went to the bathroom to wash up and got into his pyjamas, checking his phone almost obsessively every few minutes to see if the text had arrived.

Once settled in bed, he began to wonder if the worst had happened. If those delayed reactions that he knew she would have, had caused some sort of accident. He should have forced the issue more, he told himself. He shouldn't have let her drive. Maybe she could have even stayed the night, not in his bed of course, but she could have had Leonard's. His stomach began to churn, his heartbeat picking up as he continued to tell himself that he shouldn't have let her drive home in her tired state, and then with a furious buzz, his phone went off beside him. He quickly grabbed it from the beside table and checked the text on it, his whole body relaxing as soon as he saw the few words written on his screen.

Hello Sheldon, just letting you know I got home. Goodnight.

He let out a breath he hadn't known he was holding and allowed a small smile to creep onto his face before typing a quick text in return.

I'm glad to hear it, thank you. Goodnight.

As soon as the text was sent, Sheldon settled back down, drifting off to sleep only a few minutes later.