As the sun came up, filtered rays of light were streaking through his blinds. He felt the light and warmth on his closed eyelids approximately 3.1 seconds before he realized he was still naked, and more than a bit cold. He opened his eyes reluctantly, squinting in the sliver of light. He looked to his right and Amy lay beside him, facing the opposite wall. She was completely cocooned in the pile of blankets and sheets, her chestnut hair spread out over the pillowcase. The soft light enveloped her in a halo, and she looked like an angel. He was quite suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling of love for her that was so deep that he felt his heart constrict. Shivering, he smiled. My Amy is a blanket thief, a very beautiful blanket thief.
Deciding to leave her sleep, he slipped from the bed, and made his way silently to his dresser. After a quick debate, he took out his Saturday pajamas, even though this is Sunday. He reasoned that he never had managed to wear them last night after their tryst, so it would be fine. He felt an unusual warmth spread through him as his mind played through their time together. We engaged in coitus. He closed his eyes briefly, remembering how incredibly close he had felt to her. It had been more than coitus, he realized with a start. What they had shared? That was love-making. He took in a deep breath, floored by the implications of that statement. Feeling the first shades of the too-familiar panic he often felt when looking down the barrel of a loaded gun of change, Sheldon felt his hands tense as he tied his robe and his heart started to pound.
Looking down at Amy, still peacefully asleep and bundled up in his bed- his bed-, he felt his heart rate begin to calm. She always managed to bring him peace. I love Amy, and she loves me. What had happened between them was natural and normal in every way. He had suppressed these feelings of desire for her, and for a more intimate relationship, for far longer than he cared to admit. Finally, having committed to a course of action that had been more than mutually satisfying, he was content. He knew he was irrevocably changed, as was his relationship with Amy. For better or for worse, they had shifted the course of their relationship last night. Yes, for better or for worse. Now? It was time to put Meemaw's ring- currently safely ensconced in the wall safe- to good use. Once she wore his ring, he would feel more secure that they could face whatever would come, together. He wanted to give her everything, and he would start with a ring and his name.
Formulating several options for his proposal, Sheldon moved down the hall and into the kitchen. He looked over into the living room, and it appeared that Raj must have left during the night, as there was no evidence he remained in the apartment. Sighing with relief, Sheldon prepped the kettle and placed it on the burner. The fewer witnesses to he and Amy's night of passion, the better. Perhaps she would be spared his friends' insufferable teasing. Reaching for the tea box, his smile widened. Just as he knew that Amy was not a morning person, he also knew it was Amy's habit in the mornings to enjoy a cup of tea, and he could picture her bleary-eyed and quiet until she enjoyed that first hot sip. Grinning at the image, he shook his head. She's turned me into such a hippy.
Just as the kettle sounded, he heard the door open, and Leonard walked in, looking tired, but still giddy with happiness. Sheldon smiled at his friend. It didn't look like either of them needed a hot beverage this morning.
"Tea?" he asked, lifting the kettle from the burner.
"Yes, that would be great. Do you think we could talk?" A look of concern crossed Leonard's features, his brows joining between his eyes. Such a look made Sheldon realize that whatever his friend wanted to talk about, it may be very serious.
"Yes, of course." Turning, he reached for the mugs. Perhaps he would need that soothing beverage after all.
xxxxx
It was the sound of the kettle that woke her. So loud, ugh. Gripping her wrist, which was throbbing again, Amy rolled. She immediately deduced that she was alone in Sheldon's room. Cradling her wrist with her uninjured hand, she turned tentatively, discovering that Sheldon's side of the bed had already cooled. He must have been up for a while already. The tea, he's making me tea. A smile broke out on her face. Leaning against his pillow, she breathed deep and felt his scent surround her. He always smells so good. Her mind was transported immediately back to the night before: When Sheldon had slipped inside her she had felt surrounded by him. He had been everywhere, all around her, in every cell throughout her body.
Feeling her body responding, she scolded herself and sat up. Last night had been beautiful and perfect, and she couldn't seem to stop smiling. Sheldon had been gentle, and passionate. Her expectations had been low, but he had brought her to peak three times. She hadn't thought it would be possible, and yet,… He was wonderful, in every way. She felt so sexy and new. She couldn't stand the idea of even one more second out of his presence. Sleepily dragging herself from the bed, she grabbed a robe she found hanging on his door, pulling it around her naked body. Tying it tightly, she made her way to the bathroom. A cup of tea with Sheldon sounded like the perfect start to a perfect day.
A moment later, she rounded the corner of the bathroom and found herself in the hallway. She heard Leonard's voice as she soundlessly made her way down the hall.
"The thing is Sheldon, Penny and I are engaged now."
Amy stopped in her tracks. She knew what was coming, and this wasn't a conversation she should interrupt. Penny had told Amy and Bernadette the evening before that she and Leonard would be moving in together. She already knew that they had discussed it and planned to tell Sheldon right away, and that Leonard planned to be a permanent resident of 4B by the following weekend. Amy had forgotten about their conversation between the buzz of the champagne and the buzz of Sheldon she had experienced the night before.
"I know you're engaged, Leonard. Wasn't that the point of the celebration last night?" He poured the water into the tea cups, and loaded them with the tea bags. "You are again, stating the obvious." He rolled his eyes as he handed Leonard a steaming cup.
Leonard nodded hesitantly, absorbing his annoyance, and took the mug from his friend. He took a big gulp of the hot liquid, bracing himself for Sheldon's reaction. "The thing is, Sheldon. Now that we are officially engaged, we are going to move in together."
"Well, that is logical. No problem, I can make the required changes to the Roommate Agreement. There's already a pretty large Penny-centric section. We will just add an addendum."
Amy rolled her eyes. Sometimes, Sheldon could be so dense. She took a deep breath, waiting for Leonard to drop the hard news. She hoped Sheldon wouldn't take the news too poorly.
"No, Sheldon. I mean, you don't need to change the Roommate Agreement to include Penny. We need to dissolve the Roommate Agreement. I'm moving into her apartment. This week."
Sheldon looked at Leonard, apparently flabbergasted by this news. His face spoke volumes. The beat of silence that followed Leonard's statement grew into an uncomfortable tension. As the seconds stretched to a minute, with no reply from Sheldon, Amy held her breath. She could hear Leonard shifting his weight back and forth from foot to foot. Her ears attuned to Sheldon, she could actually hear the hard breaths coming from him now. After a long inhalation, she heard his voice, quiet, with staid determination.
"I see. And how long have you and Penny been discussing this? What am I to do with your room and where will you keep all your belongings? They certainly won't all fit in Penny's apartment. I must say, I'm dismayed and disappointed. What exactly am I to do now?" He felt his breath clogging in his lungs. Leonard. Penny. Leaving him. Moving. This weekend. THIS weekend.
"Sheldon, don't freak out. I mean, you had to know this was coming. We've been talking about this for a long time, and with the engagement… You didn't actually think we would move in here with you?" Amy could hear the frustration in Leonard's voice, but she was more concerned about Sheldon: She could hear him gulping in air, like he was choking. He was definitely in full-panic mode. Should she go out there? Comfort him? Leonard had continued on, his voice rushed, and his tone aggravated. "Quit acting like this is the end of the world. It's not like we are leaving the country. We are going next door for now! And you have Amy." She had just taken a step forward, but at the mention of her name, she froze.
"Amy? Amy? Really Leonard? Do you think that you can just assume that Amy can take your place? I can't live with Amy. She's not my roommate. I just… I can't!" Amy was much more than a roommate. She couldn't just move in, not without him asking her to marry him first. Couldn't Leonard see? Was he ready to live with Amy? Shoving that worry aside, Sheldon lashed out, angry at his friend for not abiding by the agreement. "You, sir, are in serious violation of the roommate agreement. You know I require at least 8 weeks' notice before termination!"
In the hallway, Amy reached up to cover her mouth to keep herself from crying out. She felt as though she had been physically assaulted. He didn't want to live with her? He STILL didn't want to live with her, even after…. last night? She felt the tears fill up her eyes, and her breath had been stolen from her. She had thought last night meant something to Sheldon. It meant everything to her. Maybe he regretted it? Maybe he thought the whole thing was a drunken mistake? Maybe he felt she had taken advantage of him? Maybe he was too afraid to tell her that now that they had consummated their relationship, that he knew he didn't want to be with her anymore? Is this why she had woken up alone? Had she pushed him too fast? He couldn't wait to get away from her? Had he been sitting in the kitchen, preparing a hot beverage to soften the blow when he told her that having reached its inevitable conclusion of physical intimacy, he had determined that there was nothing left, and therefore, this four-year experiment was over? As her tears burned at the back of her throat, Amy put her head in her hands. When would she ever be enough?
Meanwhile, it was clear their discussion had escalated, as Leonard was now yelling. "Sheldon, you are such a child! When you're ready to talk about this like grownups, you'll know where to find me. I'm going to Me and Penny's apartment and getting away from you." Amy was desperately trying to calm her breathing so that she wouldn't be heard. It was clear that Leonard had stormed across the apartment and slammed the door shut.
"Leonard! We are not done talking about this! You don't understand, I just can't let Amy move in here right now!" Sheldon called, his voice raised. Amy heard him likewise move across the apartment and out the door.
She turned and rushed to Leonard's room, where all her things were. She didn't have much time. She dressed in a rush and threw all of her belongings in her duffle bag. She had to get out of here. She couldn't bear looking into his eyes and seeing regret. She left Sheldon's robe sitting on his unmade bed, took her duffel and shut the door to his room. She made her way across apartment 4A and looking back, she gasped as she was again overwhelmed with sadness. She thought she might now understand the phrase "broken heart" because her heart was pounding so hard in her chest, she had to lift her hand to press against the pain centered there. Her eyes drifting to Sheldon's spot, she released a cry that echoed in the silence of the apartment. Had last night been the last time she would ever sit there, next to him, sharing secret looks and smiles? Overcome with sorrow, she turned and fled, the apartment door slamming in her wake. She ran blindly down the four flights of stairs and to her car. Jumping in, she shoved her items onto the passenger seat, turned the ignition on, and pulled out as cars honked and screeched all around her. Tears burned her cheeks and her sobs filled the vehicle. What was she going to do? Break up with Sheldon? Let him go? He was so perfect for her, how could she live without him? She didn't understand why this was happening. This was supposed to be their perfect day.
After driving a few miles, she found she could no longer see through the tears swarming her eyes. Pulling to the side of the road, she laid her head upon the wheel and allowed herself to break.
So much for perfection.