"Amy," Sheldon sat on the side of the bed and shook her shoulder gently. "Amy it is time to wake up."
Groaning Amy turned towards his voice and tried to snuggled close, but Sheldon said "we have to leave in three quarters an hour."
"What!" Suddenly wide awake Amy sat up. "Half and hour? How can that be right?"
"Well, we slept for much longer than I anticipated." Sheldon admitted and focusing on him Amy saw he was actually dressed and looked ready to go.
"Sheldon how long have you been up?" She asked in a tone he recognised immediately as dangerous.
"Errr.. you were sound asleep and..."
"Sheldon!"
"OK, I got up an hour ago. I showered and called Meemaw and..."
"Why didn't you wake me!" Amy was now up and scrambling to find some underwear while trying to calculate how long it would take to dry her hair.
"I tried, but each time I tried you said 5 more minutes and you looked so peaceful and..."
"OK OK," Amy dashed past him carrying her outfit and slamming the bathroom door behind her, leaving Sheldon staring at the closed door wondering if now was a good time to point out that her average time for getting ready was in fact 20 minutes so she needn't panic. Her glare though as she had registered his own state of dress and again as she had all but pushed him off the bed to get ready made him reconsider, now moving into the living room area of their suite he considered the words of advise Meemaw had given him.
Always wise in her words Sheldon smiled when he realised this time they were actually unnecessary.
She had told him to savour the moment and the people who smiled for him. While he was a little sad his friends and family were not able to make the trip, he knew without any doubt they would be thinking of him and happy for him today. Meemaw had said Leonard had actually phoned her to talk her through setting up the live feed on the family computer, so he knew they would be able to see the ceremony and share the moment even if not in the room with him.
Flicking through the channels as he waited for Amy to reappear Sheldon wondered if he should have ordered them food before leaving. Who knew how long it would be until they could eat and Amy hadn't even had breakfast. Checking his watch and seeing there was still plenty of time he rang room service and ordered Amy some coffee and pastries. The knot in his stomach told him he would not be able to eat now. Patting his pocket to reassure himself his speech was still safe he began to pace. He could feel his nerves building and briefly considered sneaking some of the miniature bottles out of the mini bar in case he had a panic attack.
Amy appearing suddenly before him though had fears of drunken trouser dropping banished from his thoughts as he stared at her.
"Well say something." She said uncertain of his silence and what it meant.
"You look... perfect." His finished finally moving closer. Once again she stood before him in clothes he was sure he had not seen before. This time a skirt, of similar length to the denim one he had seen on numerous occasions; but the material was a silver grey not unlike his own suit. It had a matching jacket he could see still on the hanger. Her blouse, pale blue, seemed to him to match the tie Penny had given him when he left. Frowning he said, "Did Penny help you pick that?"
She nodded, "and I am guessing she knew exactly what you would be wearing too."
"It is as if she doesn't trust us." He muttered shaking his head.
"Well as much as I would like to disagree we don't have time." Amy moved to get her jacket. "Should the car not be here by now?"
Sheldon looked at his watch again as he resumed pacing. "We still have 15 minutes. I ordered coffee and pastries for you, I figured you may be hungry." He nodded in the direction of the food and was satisfied to see her happily eat a pastry as she carefully sipped the hot drink.
"Sheldon maybe you should eat too."
"I cant. Amy I can feel the nerves building, in fact I was considering drinking some wine when you appeared; but I remember what happened last time and I really don't want to accept the Nobel with my pants round my ankles."
Amy chuckled.
"It's not funny!" Sheldon was indignant. "What if I cant move? I freeze and cannot accept the award. What if I go to speak and nothing comes out?"
"Sheldon calm down." Amy moved to stand in front of him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Standing on her tip toes she placed a quick kiss on his lips before saying "Remember what you have achieved Sheldon, a little acceptance speech is nothing in comparison. And if that doesn't help think of the what the guys at home would say if you mess up!"
"Not helping!" Sheldon snorted, disentangling her arms and ushering her towards the door. He knew she was right though. He would never hear the last of it if he messed up. He could almost hear the laughter and mocking from here.
Looking down as he felt Amy's small hand reach for his he smiled.
Amy was here.
She would be close all the time. He had checked with the organisers when they had confirmed his arrival and this fact along side the gentle squeeze of her fingers told him it would be OK.
73
Amy brushed the tears off her cheeks as she grinned at the man taking to the stage before her. He had sat through the speeches in a state of nervous tension, but as soon as the speaker began describing Sheldon's work she felt the tension leave him. Hearing talk of physics literally calming him, and as he stood at the sound of his name she was shocked that he paused to bend and kiss her tenderly before climbing the stairs to the platform.
The tears had started then. At the small gesture. They had not stopped when he met her gaze from behind he rostrum as he took out his speech. And now as he spoke of his dreams as a boy, doing experiments with his pop pop, and meeting the best friends he could hope for, all through science, Amy knew without a doubt all his worries had been for nothing.
"...it has not been easy getting here," Sheldon was saying as she refocused on his words, "aside from the terrible turbulence of the flight from the States, I had to battle my own fears and conceits. I almost lost the work I was doing to someone who put money above science. But more worryingly I nearly forfeited my friends, family and the woman I love to prove I knew better than everyone else. While I am grateful to be here to accept this honour, and am thankful the work I have done is appreciated at this level, I know without a group of people back home and the lady sat before me none of it would be happening, so this award is for all of them too."
Amy was shocked. He had not only acknowledge before the whole world he loved her, but he had let his friends and family know how much they meant to him too.
As the applause filled the room she was aware of Sheldon shaking hands with the various dignitaries on the stage. She knew he kept looking to check she was still there and as soon as he could she saw him leave the platform and make his way back through the people trying to speak to him, towards her.
"You were brilliant." she grinned through her tears. Sheldon smiled nodded then bent to kiss her. As he pulled back reluctantly after several long seconds he said "I meant it Amy, every word. I love you and I nearly lost you; the thought of that is far more frightening now than giving any speech. I am sorry the others could not have been here but as long as you are here that is all I care about. I am guessing from all the cameras here that they would have some opportunity to watch the presentation. I did promise Meemaw I would phone straight after the award though."
Amy grinned. "Lets go find a quiet room then, I am sure your mother is dying to talk to you too."
Leaning close to whisper in her ear Sheldon said "Right now I wish we could take this medal, go back to our hotel room and celebrate like we did earlier! As smart and sexy as you look dressed up like that Dr Fowler, I would rather we were alone and naked."
Amy knew her cheeks were flaming red as she grinned shyly and holding his hand let him lead her out of the room.
73
"He did it!" Penny grinned. She was sat defiantly in Sheldon's spot in 4A and grinning at the screen.
"I cant believe he thanked us!" Leonard said, stunned the man he had lived with for all these years, the man who kept his emotions so close to his chest you would be forgiven for thinking he had none, was publicly thanking them in front of a world audience.
"It is because he is in love." Raj gushed, causing Howard to snort and Leonard to roll his eyes.
"No he could be right," Bernadette said elbowing he husband in the ribs. "Lets face it Sheldon has just told the world, and his mother, he loves Amy and then kissed her on TV!"
Leonard chuckled, "I am guessing he was not aware the cameras were still on him! Mary Cooper will not be happy. Sinning in public!"
"Its sweet." Raj sighed.
Penny was still staring at the TV, watching the continuing scene of Sheldon whispering to Amy, seeing Amy blush, that all alongside his speech and the kiss had her chuckling. "They did it!" She crowed.
"Oh come on." Leonard snorted. "We are talking about Sheldon here. And how on earth can you tell from watching them on TV?"
"Yes exactly, this is Sheldon and look at him, touchy feely, kissing in public and causing Amy to blush like a school girl; as you have all said he is different now. I'm telling you they did it!"
As the screen before them changed back to the more formal aspect of the ceremony again, the girls and Raj lost interest and began plotting ways to get the information from Amy, while Leonard and Howard quietly discussed Sheldon's public declaration of thanks.
"He mentioned us by name in his acceptance speech!" Howard mused, "I was included as a friend!"
Leonard grinned, "You do know if Penny is right then any minute now we are likely to have his mother on the phone!"
As if she had heard him the phone started ringing and Leonard jumped muttering, "Well I'm not answering it!"
Howard reached for the phone. "Hello?" He answered tentatively. Grinning he said "Amy hey! Yes we saw, we are all here." Darting to move away from his wife and Penny both trying to grab the phone from him he continued, "Sheldon must be relieved. To complete the speech with his pants still on is an achievement!" He sniggered at her response before saying "Oh, Penny wanted me to ask if you and Sheldon were having sex now?"
Pennys squawks of indignation, his wife's shouts of "Howie!" alongside Raj and Leonard cackling with laughter almost caused Howard to miss the momentary lapse on Amy's end. Her stuttered "Well, … I err don't think that is …." caused Howard to grin and throw the phone at Penny saying "you nailed it!"
"Amy?" Penny asked now stunned at the casual way Howard had announced she was right, "Is everything OK sweetie?"
"Yes Penny everything is fine. I had called to check you had been able to watch, but from the crass and absurd questioning from Howard I am assuming I have my answer, even though I am confused how watching the ceremony could lead you to this conclusion."
"Yes we saw. And Sheldon did really well, we are all very proud of him." Penny said soothingly, detecting Amy was not happy. "Has he spoken to his family yet?"
"He is on to his mother now, it would seem from the stuttering coming from him she is under the same impression as Howard, I have no idea why."
"Amy the cameras were on you," Penny explained gently, "when Sheldon came off stage, we saw him whisper and you blush and the kiss..."
"It was soooo romantic." Raj shouted out.
"Oh boy." Amy whispered her eyes catching Sheldon's in sympathetic understanding. "Well I had better go. We need to return to the reception. We will see you in a few days." Disconnecting the call Amy turned to see Sheldon doing the same and meeting her gaze he said "What did they see?"
"Penny said the cameras stayed on you when you left the stage, they saw you whisper and kiss me."
"That must be what my mother saw also. She was saying now I had a prize it did not make sinning OK. That God has eyes everywhere. I was confused, but it makes sense now."
"We should be grateful they didn't hear what you whispered!" Amy grinned, causing Sheldon to take a step closer to her and pull her against him. "I meant it too. Lets get out there and shake hands; the quicker we get out there and get the social niceties over with the quicker we can get back to the hotel room."
73
"Was it rude do you think, us leaving so early? They looked shocked." Amy asked as she followed Sheldon back into their hotel.
"Who cares. I don't know anyone there and have no desire to spend any more time shaking hands than I have done already. It was nice that so many people seemed interested in my work though. Some even said they would ask Gablehauser if I could go lecture."
"Would you like that?" Amy asked a little surprised he seemed so happy at the prospect.
"No not at all!" Sheldon snorted "But you can bet your life Kripke has never been asked, and that very fact alone is enough to make the offer good. No I have no intention of leaving Caltech. I mean why would I? Now I am guaranteed a bigger office, as much time on the lasers as I need and the satisfaction of knowing whatever happens now I got a Nobel first."
Shaking her head at his logic, but happy the Sheldon she had fallen in love with was back and happy, Amy waited as he opened the door to their room before asking "So now your mother knows, or suspects, we have become more intimate, does this mean it changes things?"
"Why would it?" Sheldon asked genuinely puzzled. "When we get home I see life returning to normal, work and meals with friends alongside, I hope, many more date nights! Having achieved my goal does not mean my work will stop; but coming here with you means there are new areas of my life I want to continue.
My mother has accused and suspected me of all sorts over the years, all unfounded; OK she maybe right this time but I see no reason for that to stop us." Sheldon was now walking Amy toward the bed and as he spoke flicking the buttons of her blouse open as he watched her closely. "I should warn you however she was threatening a visit on our return. As I see it we have a few days before we need to travel home and face the questions and teasing of our friends and the accusations from my mother. I suggest we use that time wisely." and with a twist of his body Sheldon toppled Amy backwards onto the bed.
Amy grinned as she fell backward. "Cast in the roll of bad girl again. Life with you is certainly never boring Dr Cooper!"
~73~
A/N: So I am going to leave them there... happy and in love and just as the ShAmy should be ;-)
Thank you so much for reading this story. It took far longer to get to the end than I anticipated due to life demanding my attention far too often; but we got there in the end!
I hope if I write another story one day to learn from this though and maybe not publish until I have the story written so as not to make everyone wait so long!
So once again a big thank you for your patience, reviews and encouragement and hopefully we will do it all again one day ;-)
Ali x
~73~
