Posting a little early on Thanksgiving to thank all you readers for everything, also this chapter takes us through this exact time in 2020. (Written ahead of time, by the way. I guess we had a crystal ball. LOL)

I cannot express how much I appreciate all your feedback!

I hope everyone is safe and well!

Amy and Sheldon

Over the next month, after hard-won negotiations, and a few heated arguments about the thermostat setting in relation to the transmission of COVID, Sheldon and Amy relaxed some of their stringent protocols in maintaining the apartment as a "clean room environment." They had taken the visqueen off all the windows by July and Sheldon had resumed his weekly visits to the laundry room of the building, though he still insisted on wearing his old hazmat suit. At least now he could wash their new costumes on a gentle cycle.

They had regular dinners with the gang, via Skype. Amy joked it was like the Brady Bunch, with the different screens. The intellectual salon of 4A progressed and expanded with Amy's addition. She brought a much-needed reasoned voice to the group conversations, especially as she always agreed with Sheldon.

The other members of their gang had relaxed their isolation routines, having in-person meetups with each other on a limited basis; once at Raj's new home for an outside BBQ and another time at a park, all with social distance guidelines. However, Sheldon was adamant that he and Amy could not stop their shelter in place. He had no intention of letting the chaos of the outside world enter their perfect sanctuary. And so, Sheldon and Amy sequestered in the apartment with no physical contact with anyone for months; safe from the raging pandemic outside.

However, all was not perfect in their little world. Amy still worried about her apartment. It had been over 4 months since she had been home and she was concerned about it being overrun by dust bunnies. She also hoped that the electricity was still working as she feared what would welcome her when she opened the ice box of her fridge. But mainly she missed going out with the girls. She had only done so a few times, and they were treasured experiences that she wanted to continue.

But as Sheldon argued. He missed trips to the train store, and if they couldn't even go get a haircut, how could she safely leave the apartment for a girl's night. Amy begrudgingly agreed.

In fact, Amy's hair had grown past her hips and Sheldon's looked like Einstein. Amy refused point-blank to attempt a home cut, after pointing out, that if she missed his hair and cut off his ear there would be a bit of a problem, though she did add that she would be more than happy to attempt to sew it back on. Sheldon reluctantly gave up the argument and embraced his new emo rock star look. Amy smiled inwardly at her success as she loved his flowing locks and included a few of her favorite romance novel plots in their sessions. Sheldon wasn't as intrigued by those plot lines, but he made up for in his own scenarios, including a thrilling session with Princess Leia escaping Jabba the Hutt, being rescued, of course by the dashing, long-haired Han Solo.

So, July merged into August. Amy had long given up on bargaining to leave the apartment and all was harmonious again in their isolation. Then on August 31st Sheldon's bubble was burst when he read that California had issued a "Blueprint for a Safer Economy". The governor had lifted restrictions and some businesses including barbershops were allowed to open. Amy was working at what used to be Leonard's workstation and had been typing away on a new proposal for a grant and as she was in the zone, he hoped that she had not seen the announcement, because he realized that now there was no reason for her to stay with him. In a panic, he disconnected the Wi-Fi in an effort to prevent her from seeing the news.

Amy leaned into her computer frowning, "Sheldon. The internet is down."

"Strange...I wonder if there is some outage." Sheldon fiddled with the router as if shaking it would start it up like an old pickup truck. "Yep, it's out."

Amy swiveled in her chair and crossed her legs. She brought her teacup to her lips and glared at him, "Strange... It's almost as if they don't want people to do their jobs, or have any connection to the outside world. "

"Well... you know those Russian bots, Amy. They have their hands in everything…" Sheldon coughed to stop his twitching and went to the kitchen to start making her lunch. He hoped a fried bacon tomato sandwich would quell her, but the food never could quash the curiosity of Amy Farrah Fowler.

Amy pulled out her phone and fiddled with the screen.

"Whacha doing?" He asked innocently.

"Checking the news to see if there is anything about an internet outage."

Drats. He forgot she could get on the internet on her phone. Sheldon dropped the bread on the cutting board and ran over to Amy. "I'm ... um sure, it's nothing. Just a local thing..." He tried to snatch her phone, but she pulled it back. Sheldon rambled, "I was always complaining about the internet to Leonard. In fact, I tried to get him to pay for high speed. Time Warner Cable is the worst."

Amy typed out a message as she glared at him, and put her phone away. Sheldon heard a beep. He checked his phone and saw that Amy had sent him a news link to the lifted restrictions. She shook her head, "Sheldon... they've issued new orders. Is that what you didn't want me to see?"

Sheldon quickly scanned the orders looking for any loophole. Then smiled and showed her his phone, "Look... it says here... Limit activities that are known to increase virus spread (like singing, shouting and heavy breathing)." Sheldon smirked as he declared, "You and I have engaged in a lot of heavy breathing. We can't risk giving people the virus due to our intimacy sessions. That's just selfish Amy."

"We could just… you know…stop our sessions?" She curled her mouth to the side to hide her smirk. She'd rather knit rat entrails with 2mm needles.

Sheldon rolled his eyes at her obvious joke. "Not happening."

"Sheldon..." She said calmly, in a voice she used when she was about to make a good point and educate Sheldon on something. He hated that voice because it was always right. Just like now. "I think I can go back to my apartment."

"I see..." He returned to the kitchen to finish lunch.

"I need to check on my things. I don't know if my neighbor has been watering my plants. God knows how much mail might have piled up."

"Right... I understand." Sheldon buttered the bread and started the stove to grill her sandwich. Probably the last sandwich he'd make her. He knew it wasn't rational, but he feared she'd be gone by end of the day, sleeping in her own bed. Their intimacy sessions would be back to virtual. Late-night texts and calls instead of talks before bed. He could handle it. He'd be fine. He was fine when Leonard moved out of the apartment and then moved away. He was fine when Professor Proton died. He'd be fine… Just fine. Sheldon looked down at her sandwich. He had put the uncooked bacon on the bread and put the tomatoes in the toaster. He gave up and sat on at his computer to fix the Wi-Fi. Amy went to the kitchen, he thought to fix her own lunch. Instead, she brought him a glass of Strawberry Quik and placed her hand on his shoulder. He reached up and held it, but he couldn't look at her.

"I know you don't like change." She said with an understanding he'd miss.

"I don't."

He'd miss her knowing exactly what he was thinking. She had been the one thing he could be sure of during this unsure time. He downed the glass of milk like a shot of whiskey for liquid courage. Sheldon wiped his mouth and breathed out before he finally looked up at her. He had to accept change.

She opened her mouth about to say something. Her soft smile and kind eyes nearly broke his heart. He couldn't bear to hear the words he knew were coming so he quickly said, "You can move out tomorrow"

She snapped her hand away. "Move out?" She backed into the counter. "Of course... I understand. I mean… of course. I should get back to my routine. I have the half finish tea cozies… my plants… I have… brains in the freezer. "

Sheldon rose off his chair and reached for her hands, but she went around the island to avoid him. She looked around the apartment as if for an escape, and then ran to the bedroom.

Sheldon ran after her and had the door hit him in the nose. "Amy... Amy ... Amy... "

"I'm getting dressed, please leave me alone."

Sheldon slowly opened the door and poked his nose in, "Amy… you're already dressed… I want to—"

Amy slammed the door again on his face. "I need some privacy. I don't get a second to myself. I just need a minute alone! Is that too much to ask!?"

Amy had snapped at him before for privacy, but not like this.

Sheldon shuffled off to the living room like a slapped kitten. He sat in his spot and looked around the room. Their work was scribbled on every whiteboard in the house. He had left an empty spot on the sideboard for the Nobel. She had placed her books of English romance next to his set of Lord of the Rings. Knitting projects in a basket next to his Lego Death Star. The landing was still set up with the table for the monthly date night with a candle from the previous Thursday. He had made a new reality with her. He didn't want to go back to his old existence. He walked down the hall and stood outside their door. Instead of trying to enter again, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone to text her.

"Can I talk to you?"

"I'm packing. I'm not going to take all these costumes."

"Leave them."

"I'll have the Nancy Drew books I've ordered redelivered to my apartment, but in case they don't change the address in time, please reject the delivery."

"I don't want you to go."

It took a few seconds longer before Amy texted back, "You don't?"

He tapped on the door... ... - .- -.- / .- .. - ... / - .

Amy creaked the door open. She looked up at him. Her eyes were red and her cheeks wet, but she had a half-smile. She sniffled and asked, "You want me to stay with you?"

He tapped against the door: Yes -.- . ...

Amy's voice cracked when she asked, "Just during the pandemic?"

He pushed open the door and grabbed her by her hand. "I can't think of anyone with whom I would rather spend a global health crisis that will lead to the ultimate collapse of civilization, but no… not just because of the pandemic. You're so independent. You don't need anyone to be happy, Amy. I've been afraid to raise the subject. Afraid you'd say no, but now I have to know, I have to ask…"

He pulled her next to him and held her face so she would look at him, just as he did in their sessions when he wanted to control the situation. At that moment, he wanted to do the same. He wanted to make her stay, lock her in the apartment if he had to. But he knew now that to keep her he had to give her control. He had to be vulnerable. She could unravel him with one word and build him up with another. He spoke, his voice uncertain. "Please stay with me."

Amy put her one hand upon his chest and tapped out, "YES". His heart jumped out of his chest. He drew her into a kiss. Not a date night kiss and not a session kiss. This was new. Just because he wanted it. He had chaos around him. Uncertainty and doubt bled in the streets, but in that room, in her arms, he felt stable and calm.

He molded his mouth to hers, kissing and tasting her as never before. They had a routine. Physical intimacy on session nights and romantic kisses on date night, but this was new. He wanted her, not in a fantasy, not in a timid date night kiss. He wanted Moxie, the first woman he had ever loved, he wanted Amy, the only woman he would ever love.

She was shy at first. It was almost as if the woman who had been tied to bed last week in a full Princess Leia costume had forgotten what it was like to have her clothes removed. But Sheldon was patient. He went at her pace. Cardigan after Cardigan fell to the floor as he slipped off his shoes and undid his belt. He could not stop kissing her as he plucked at her blouse buttons.

Amy's electrified anticipation of his touch fueled his urgency. Thankfully, she undid her own bra, while still kissing him, and they fell onto their bed. Sheldon had been waiting for a special day to gift Amy his genitals and had planned to do this on her birthday in December, but he realized that there was no need for a special day, as it would always be special with Amy.

It could have been the intimacy sessions making each other accustomed to their gentle touch, or the proximity during the lockdown, but when he entered her and they became one, it didn't feel unnatural, as he suspected it might. The charged sensation of merging with her felt better than any session they had played through. Amy screamed out, and he swelled with elation, not just because of the overwhelming feeling, but because he didn't need a fantasy to touch her; no role-playing, no costumes or complicated plot. Just he and Amy.

They collapsed together, in the mid-afternoon, like young lovers out of one of Amy's romance novels. Never in all his days did Sheldon ever think he'd be the one pulling a woman back to bed, begging her to play hooky from work, and stay with him. But she smiled her wicked smile agreeing with him, that practice makes perfect and returned to his arms. Never did he think 'making woo' would be this remarkable, this natural.

Perhaps if he had met Amy another way, a more personal way, he might just have accepted her company as his due, or worse, taken take her presence for granted. However, the pandemic had thrown them together and pushed their already perfect relationship into overdrive. In an alternate universe, Sheldon might have never found her, but he pushed that terrible thought out of his head. There wasn't a universe he wasn't with her.

Impossible.

As Amy nuzzled in the crux of his shoulder and played with the smattering of his chest hair, she wondered how she found herself here. 5 years ago, after a blind date stood her up, she had given up on dating. When she was a young girl without friends, she had feared that she might be too needy, too hungry for a man's touch, a friend's laugh. She'd even joked she might end up in a cult. As she grew older and wiser, she had known she didn't really need anyone to be happy, and she had been right. She didn't. But she had dreamed about a man like Sheldon, someone she could mentally challenge, and more importantly someone who could challenge her intellectually. Someone who was her equal. Now she didn't know she could be this happy, this content. All those years focusing on herself had prepared her for this moment. She just had one thing to learn: How to tell this man no.

Impossible.

#

In the heatwave of early September, temperatures rose to over 108 degrees. Though the cost was exorbitant Sheldon and Amy found bonded safe movers who would pack her whole apartment themselves and bring it all to 4A. As she would not be there personally, she had to supervise virtually via webcam since Sheldon insisted that only the movers contend with the apartment's poor ventilation system.

"I know its heavy, but please use extra packing on the harp… Yes… That's my good fondue pot… I know… No… there wasn't a grandma living here. Yes… Yes. I know it's a toothbrush in the nightstand, but don't put it with the bathroom supplies."

Amy covered her camera and leaned over to tell Sheldon, "This is ridiculous. I should be there."

"Nonsense! Penny and Leonard say these guys are completely trustworthy. They promised they'd wear masks and gloves. They even helped Bert move into his new girlfriend's house."

"Bert? They guy who sent us the "Geology Rocks" t-shirts as an 'official moving in together present?"

Sheldon forced a smile and said, "Um.. yes…See? Everything will be fine."

Just then Amy heard a crash and snapped her view back to see a box labeled 'glasses' in a crumpled heap at the foot a burly mover. Sheldon shrugged sheepishly and hurried to order Amy new glasses.

During October, the whole gang became addicted to the game Among Us, an online game where a group of people are on a space ship and one person is an imposter who kills the rest of the crew. Sheldon loved being able to kill all his friends but never could master the art of not giving away that he was the imposter nor going through vents which he called unsanitary. Amy, however, for some reason was never suspected and had a winning streak. They had to stop playing when Bernadette's competitive streak became a hazard to Howard who worried she might kill him in real life.

By November, with the uncertainty of the election behind them, and after a 45-minute lecture from Bernadette including a detailed analysis that showed the vaccine trial results Sheldon and Amy agreed that if one was developed, they would volunteer for testing but only so long as they could be more professionally involved in the experiment.

For Thanksgiving, instead of a dry turkey, Sheldon and Amy were thankful for promising results from the first vaccine trials. They had also received some amazing news; their paper which was making the rounds in the Scientific Journals had caught the attention of the Nobel Committee.

That good news left Sheldon struggling to come up with something extra special for her birthday. He had ordered a special costume for their session that night, but he wanted to give her a more personal present as well since she already owned his genitals. So, as was now common practice, he asked Amy for her opinion. However, she just smiled her saucy smile, making him blush, and said she now had everything she had ever wanted. All she really needed was a haircut, which Sheldon agreed to, on the condition that it was given by Penny, that she wear a full hazmat suit and that the apartment be locked down again for a week. Amy agreed. She was looking forward to being able to see her old self in the mirror. But Amy did almost regret that Sheldon would no longer look like her own personal Loki.

When Penny arrived at the apartment, she noticed the Christmas tree. Penny asked, "How did you get him to celebrate Christmas? I had to get a napkin from Leonard Nimoy to get him to not be such a Grinch."

Amy giggled surveying their apartment entirely covered in Christmas decorations, and the very special tree that sported every Science Fiction character that Amy and Sheldon had role-played over their intimacy sessions.

She tossed around her new bob haircut, feeling a breeze on her neck for the first time, and said in a low husky voice, "I have grown such a fondness of Science Fiction. For example… Star Trek… I love the costume that 7of 9 wears."

Amy smiled at Sheldon whose jaw dropped.

Penny laughed through her mask as she carefully clipped Sheldon's hair. "I never would have guessed that you were one of these guys."

"We watch it every week." Amy winked at Sheldon.

"I get bored with those shows," Penny admitted.

Amy shrugged and said as she stared at Sheldon. "Every Sci fi has whimsy. It's just like Christmas, but with presents you can unwrap over and over…" Amy licked the egg nog from her lips, and seductively looked at Sheldon, who was just having the finishing touches to his hair tidied up, "… and over again."

Sheldon threw off the cape Penny had placed over his shoulders and started to push her out of the apartment, "That's it, Penny. Thanks for the hair cut!"

"Wait, I didn't get your neck clean!" Penny said holding her razor as she was shoved towards the door.

Amy called out, "Don't worry!" She smiled at Sheldon, "I'll get it clean."

Sheldon slammed the door, and swooped Amy in his arms. "Oof!"

Sheldon growled into her neck and said in husky voice, "You vixen! You know it's Thursday."

Amy kissed his clean neck, and said, "Thursday… December 17th… My birthday."

Sheldon lifted her off the ground and carried her to the bedroom. "You peeked at your present! You've been very naughty. I might need to implement the punishment." He smacked playfully on her butt.

"HOO!"

For Christmas, Amy arranged a Victorian dinner, including delicious cookies thanks to the recipe provided by Meemaw herself, who thought Amy was the berries, but that could have been the lousy Texan internet connection that kept freezing Meemaw's face on every strained smile. Mary Cooper had sent Sheldon a present that he wanted to open right away, but he refused to show it to Amy. "Just some family trinket."

On New Year's Eve, Amy had managed to negotiate with Sheldon that he would consider leaving the apartment once the new infection rate was less than 10 cases per day. By mid-April, it was 3, and they were all in Georgia. The government officially declared the pandemic over, but Sheldon was not so optimistic.

After three vaccinations, four Antibody tests, and one hard won battle over mask requirements, Sheldon eventually agreed to leave the apartment. Their heated argument led to an even more impassioned make-out session which Sheldon hoped would take Amy's mind off the notion of breaking quarantine, that did not work, so finally he acquiesced.

Their first trip outside in twelve months was to the comic book store at which Amy happily dropped Sheldon, and told him that she was meeting the girls at the Hot Crossed Buns club. Sheldon reminded her not to fill up on cake, she didn't correct him.

#

On an unusually cold day for California in May, Amy sped through the streets of Eagle Rock to retrieve her phone. She had been unable to find it that morning and thought she must have she must have dropped it after her night out with the girls. Sheldon could not resist giving a stern lecture on keeping track of her things to which she kindly told him to stuff it.

She had used her "find your phone app" to locate it and oddly, the phone was located in a coffee shop. Some kind stranger must have found it and dropped it there.

She collected her phone from the attendant, who looked familiar, but Amy couldn't place her. As soon as she had had her phone, it buzzed an incoming text from an unknown. She looked at the message:

"Hello lost phone. This is the Good Samaritan who found you. I hope it has found its original owner and has not been kept by the unfriendly coffee barista with the unfortunate name."

Amy looked over at the girl struggling with making a latte, and read her name tag: Demona.

Amy texted back with a big smile, "Yes. Thank you for rescuing me from a horrible fate."

The phone buzzed again: "It's so nice when someone does an unexpected good deed, that it seems as if a simple thank you just doesn't seem enough."

Amy smiled as she thought back to the first day she had communicated with Sheldon. She was fairly certain that the texts were from him.

"No, it doesn't. As a matter of fact, the last time I was lost, a kindly stranger found it and returned me to my grateful owner."

"That wasn't after a wedding was it?"

"Why yes… it was." Amy giggled and hunted around for a familiar face, but she was alone, except for Demona and her incessant gun popping.

"So, you might be averse to weddings given your sordid history."

She texted back furiously, "While I don't object to the concept of a wedding, I am baffled by the notion of one that takes place at a bowling alley."

Amy poked her head outside to see if she could see anyone, but still no one was around. Though she felt she knew the answer, she still had to ask just to see what he would say, "Who is this?"

"You can call me Marsupialophile."

Amy smile grew ever wider, and she wrote back as fast as her hands could type. "You may call me Moxie."

"Hello, Moxie. Back to the topic of weddings. If you were to attend one, say not in a bowling alley, which is loud and has terrible food, would you reconsider your original assessment?"

"I'd have to know the person first."

Amy looked up when the bell rang on the door. Sheldon entered the shop. He didn't say a word, but typed on his phone and hit send. His devilish smirk nearly dropped Amy to her knees. She didn't want to break her gaze, but looked down for a moment to see what he had typed.

"Hello. I'm Sheldon Cooper.

"Hello, Sheldon. I'm Amy Farrah Fowler."

He had finally mastered typing while not looking at the keyboard. As his fingers worked over the phone he stepped closer to her. He hit send and pulled in his thin lips. His almond eyes nearly eclipsed his face.

Amy held her breath and read his message. "Now that we are acquainted. May I ask you a question?"

Amy didn't type, she held her phone to her chest and nodded, unable to take her eyes off him. Sheldon typed out a message and hit send.

"Will you marry me?"

Sheldon pulled a small box out of his pocket and before he could get down on one knee, Amy threw her phone down and jumped into his arms. When she had finished peppering him with kisses, he finally was able to speak.

"You didn't answer! Amy! Demona is looking! Amy…"

Well, folks! That's it! I hope you like the tale of Shamy. I have an epilogue for this story and spoiler alert, it ties to one of my other stories. Hehehe.

I really want to thank everyone for the wonderful reviews and feedback on this story. I had been away from Fan fiction for so long, I thought no one might read one of my stories again. You guys proved me wrong. Thanks again for your support, your reviews and just being so great!

Love you guys!