A/N: Wow, never knew this plot bunny would have this much love. Thank you to all the readers and the Guests who left reviews and to all my regulars - you're all the best! I can't keep taking screenshots of them on my Tumblr, but I appreciate the love. Please continue giving me feedback. I hope you support this story until the end.
When Sheldon got back to California, everything was already set in place. The University finally let him change his field of study with some concessions. They even promoted him to Jr Professor. He's pursuing Dark Matter from now on.
Leonard and Penny agreed to keep the status quo. Leonard remains his roommate. Penny retains her apartment. She gets to come over whenever she likes.
Stuart was still waiting on that insurance money and unsure when he'll be able to open his comic bookshop. But all in good time, Sheldon thought. Soon he'll be having his New Comic Book Nights every Wednesday again.
Everything's how it's supposed to be. This is his perfect world. Well, as perfect as he can make it because there's this thing...
Thousands of emails and text messages. Hours and hours logged over Skype, over the phone, and FaceTime. Pages after pages of his journals with mentions of her name. There was even a contract. And photos, too - her alone, her with all of his friends, her with him. And wait, was it him in that photo smiling? Years of memories were wiped from his mind. And yet here's the proof, properly documented, filed, and labeled Amy Farrah Fowler.
"Hey buddy, are you alright in there?" Leonard called from the other side of Sheldon's bedroom door. It's the first weekend they're all together again. Raj, Howard, and Bernadette are coming over for dinner later.
"I'm okay," Sheldon called back. He waited until the lighter footsteps of his best friend faded away before looking back at all the mementos spread over his bed. The more he looks at them, the more they feel unreal, like they belong to someone else - another time, another life, another person. He also has a nagging suspicion that all these are digitized, too. Closing his eyes, he rubbed his temples willing to make his mind remember. It's not the first time today that he asked the same question, "Why can't I remember you?"
"I thought she's your friend, why doesn't she ever come over?" Sheldon asked Penny for the nth time that day. Everyone gathered around the living room couch for dinner.
"She's probably busy," Penny replied right back. They've had this conversation so many times and she's getting tired of it. "And I told you, Amy's moving to Boston soon. Moving can be tedious."
She saw him tilt his head a little, while his right hand was busy pushing his food around his plate.
"Alright," he said.
Alright is what Sheldon says when he wants to talk more about something in a conversation that's already over.
Penny takes a deep breath and tries to assure him, "Sheldon, the doctor says there's nothing wrong with your brain. Your scans are good, your test results are all good. You remember the most important things, even from when you're young. Losing memory of Amy is an anomaly, even the doctors confirm this. And they also don't know the cause or how to get the memories back. But they assured you, they assured us so many times, it doesn't mean your brain is disintegrating or it's an onset of a degenerative disease. Even Beverly assured you of these things." Penny has delivered the same speech so many times. Amy made sure she'll be able to recite them even during sleep. Leonard told her he may have heard her say 'degenerative' several times a few nights ago.
"Okay," he said, still playing with his food.
Okay is what Sheldon says when he's not fully convinced. To which Penny only ever has one reply, "Let it rest, Sheldon."
When she convinced Leonard to let this man go all those months ago, she never could've imagined the person that would come back. He's as sharp as ever, as neurotic as the day she knew him, practically the same man. But Penny would sometimes look at him and think, here's a man walking around feeling like he's lost something but can never figure out what or why or how. That must be so confusing. She's been scheming with Bernadette ever since she learned about his memory loss, about how they're going to get the ShAmy back together but in the end, decided against it. It's not her business, Amy also says so.
'She's not busy', is what Sheldon wanted to tell Penny. Amy came back to California weeks ago. He checks in her apartment whenever he could coming from his doctor's appointments. Most days, he knows she's in CalTech. And when she's home, she doesn't look busy at all. He knows this because, well…
He's frightened, alright? The fact that his entire memory of a person he's supposed to be very close to getting wiped out overnight terrifies him on so many levels.
What if hers is just the first of the many memories he's about to lose? What if he loses memory of himself, of the work he's dedicated most of his life to, his friends who'd he relied upon all these years? His mother? His Meemaw? That's the reason he's got to watch Amy a lot. He has to retrieve his memory of her so he can confirm that he's not about to lose the most important asset he ever has.
'Yeah, right', his mind taunted. While all those fears are valid, what he's looking forward to the most every time he sees her is the rush.
The rush started that day when he first saw her coming into his hospital room, a cup of green jello in her hands. She's in her sensible shoes, a tight skirt, and several layered tops. She's got a very prominent nose, but it was the eyes behind the utilitarian glasses that made him look more times than he cared to admit. She smiled and those eyes sparkled and his mind went blank.
She saved him when she spoke, her voice was low and warm, so concerned even while she says she's glad to see he's finally awake.
He briefly thought she's a disoriented patient who wandered down the hall and walked into someone else's room but when she called his name, this rush shot through his head, then spread all over his body, and finally honed in on his heart. And the worst thing is he liked it.
He liked it very, very much.
This rush, it's become an inexplicable craving.
It's the reason he stays up but pretends to be asleep all those nights, anticipating her visits.
These days, it comes when he encounters anything related to her. And with the way he's been going through the tangible reminder of her all day, the rush intensifies until it becomes a persistent hum that flows through his veins.
He has to know more about this rush. And the only way to do that is to know her.
Maybe she'd be willing to do him a favor?
"What do you mean 'No'?" Sheldon couldn't be more baffled by what she said.
"No means no," Amy said, crossing her arms in front of her chest. He wished she wouldn't do that because that made his eyes go places he knew they shouldn't because they're having this most important conversation.
He finally decided to go to her apartment and talk her into this favor. Maybe staying overnight - on her bed - with fewer clothes on - is over the top but a guy has to do everything to get his memory back right?
"But we were friends first, Penny and the guys told me. In honor of that friendship, couldn't you do this for me as a favor?"
Amy just looked at him.
He tried again, "Proposal, we conduct our relationship as per our contract like I never left and the crash never happened up until the time I've regained all my memories."
Maybe he didn't say it right. He didn't say it right by the way Amy's jaw tightened. He's seriously doubting there's nothing wrong with his mind now.
"See Amy, this is the only way we'll know I'm not slowly descending to mental infirmity. As a brain scientist wouldn't you be willing to save one of the most gifted minds of our generation?"
Amy's eyes screwed shut and her shallow breaths got him more and more worried by the second.
"Amy," he appealed once more.
Amy couldn't believe her ears. It's too early in the day to have this crazy conversation. But Sheldon didn't come here as an ex-boyfriend. This is a person who hasn't carried the weight of their relationship in the last three years. He's not tainted by whatever hurt he may have inflicted on her, intentional or not. He's just someone asking for a favor, worried that he may be losing his mind, the one thing that he's most proud of. And if the situation were reversed, before a needle to her head, maybe she'll consider the same thing.
She decided she has to be a lot smarter now. This is the man she's fallen in love with, never mind if it was unrequited. It's going to be so hard to be around him for sure. But for the sake of their friendship, she'll do it.
"Counter proposal," she started.
She can see him holding his breath.
"We assume a girl/friend, boy/friend status, you tell me as soon as you get your memories back and you terminate the Relationship Agreement no questions asked."
"How about this, we continue our relationship as an experiment to get my memories back, you get two Sheldon-free days a week, and a fond footnote on my memoir."
"We're still broken up and I'll help as best as I can to get your memories back, final offer." She saw him deflate a bit.
"Can I at least make a list of things I'd like us to do together, you know, to get my memories back?"
"Fine," she said, giving in.
"Good," he said, finally wearing that adorable, little smile. "Thank you, Dr. Fowler."
"You're welcome, Dr. Cooper," she said while her mind whispered, 'What have I done?'
"Wait, so that means you get to stay here?" Penny couldn't help the excitement that seeped in her voice when she interrupted Amy. It seems that her Bestie has just finished processing their conversation about her research that happened exactly 15 minutes ago. She'll never get to finish the deal she struck with Sheldon now that she has to backtrack.
"Yes," the brunette confirmed. She missed hanging out with her friends. Even Bernie came to visit her lab today.
Penny squealed, hugging her tightly, "I don't know what happened, but I'm so glad it did!"
Amy wasn't so sure that she shares her Bestie's feelings. She's looking forward to moving.
"It's just a change of plans. They want me to do research here," she says nonchalantly.
"So what happens now?" Bernie asked.
"I don't know, but Sam's going to have to move back here. I need to work with him here at CalTech."
"Move back?" the blondes asked at the same time.
"Yeah," she confirmed, moving towards the stack of papers that needed sorting. She got to tell her interns about that.
"You go way back?" Bernie tried to hide her interest but she's failing.
"Way, way back," she smiled at them.
Penny couldn't hide it anymore and demanded, "Tell us!"
Amy shrugged it off, "Why don't you ask him yourself?" as she nodded towards the man who just stepped into the room.
This story has turned into something else since the last time I checked my drafts, now I'm just winging it. Please, please leave me a review. xoxo