Sheldon was still in bed when Amy woke. She felt well rested and happy. She also felt a whole lot of hope for the first time in a while. It had taken some time, but Amy truly believed that Sheldon was fixing their relationship. Or that they were fixing it together.

Amy slipped out of bed to get ready for work, so it was Sheldon's turn to wake up alone. For a moment, he was worried it was just a dream that she had slept in his bed. Then it was clear that someone else had been there, so he smiled to himself.

Sheldon closed his eyes and stayed lying on his bed. He decided to take the time alone to reorganize his thoughts and feelings. He realized that he hadn't even been nervous when he had gotten into bed with Amy the previous night. Sheldon was mad that he had let his anxiety stop him for so long because once he started pushing himself, it wasn't nearly as hard as it should have been. Then again, none of this was new. It was like the proverbial bicycle. He just had to pick it up and start again, but none of it was forgotten.

Amy was surprised when Sheldon was still in bed asleep when she walked past his room to go into her own. She walked in and bent down to shake him when his eyes popped open and she jumped back a little.

"I thought you were still sleeping," she explained hastily.

"I was just thinking. Sometimes it's easier if I can block out other stimuli," Sheldon explained.

"Well, Leonard is going to be here soon, so you might want to start getting ready. That is unless you want me to drive you again," Amy said.

"No. I'll hurry, but I was wondering if you would mind if I brought you lunch today. I won't stay long, but I thought we could have lunch together like the old days," Sheldon said.

"I'd like that. I skipped lunch yesterday so I could get home to you, but I wouldn't have to do that if you come see me," Amy said with a smile. "But how are you going to get to UCLA?"

"Leonard or the bus," Sheldon said with a shrug. Then he looked concerned as he said, "Please don't skip lunch for me ever again."

Amy was touched that he said that because Sheldon wasn't known for being selfless. She watched as he gathered some of his things and left the room. Then she went to go make them a quick breakfast before setting off to work.

Just as he promised, Sheldon showed up at her lab right at noon with a bag of food big enough for the two of them. It was two sandwiches, two cups of soup, and the thing that surprised Amy the most was an apple cobbler for them to share. He also greeted Amy with a kiss, and a giggle escaped her lips.

Sheldon rolled his eyes, but smiled a little bit too as he put out the food. They ate together quietly in the lab. Twice, someone came in to ask Amy a question before backing out of the lab, apologizing. Amy thought that was strange because it never used to bother anyone if she was having lunch with Sheldon in her lab. They were sitting closer than they used to, but they weren't touching or doing anything inappropriate. They were barely even talking. Mostly they were enjoying the quiet time together and looking at each other in the eyes.

At 12:30 Sheldon checked his watch. "I suppose I should let you get back to work. Thank you for letting me come by today. I've missed this. Now, I would kiss you, but neither of us have brushed our teeth. May I propose a hug instead?"

Amy smiled. "I'd like that." They stood and Sheldon wrapped his long arms around Amy's shoulders while she squeezed his middle. She held the hug a little too long, but it still felt like it wasn't long enough.

Then he packed all of the trash back up and walked out of her lab. A few moments later, one of the lab techs came in to ask the question she came in for earlier. "Sorry about that. You were obviously having a romantic lunch with your boyfriend," she said with a wink.

"Why do you say that?" Amy asked.

"If that wasn't your boyfriend, he should be. He is clearly in love with you. It looked like you are in love with him too," the tech said.

"Oh, he is my boyfriend. I was just wondering what led you to that conclusion because you seemed to come to it very quickly without us actually even in physical contact with each other."

"I guess I've always been good at reading people, but you guys were pretty obvious. It doesn't take a genius of your level to see two people staring at each other like that and see that there is something real there. Anyway, I had a question about this procedure sheet," the tech started.

Amy answered her questions before going back to work, but Sheldon crept into her thoughts every so often during the course of the day.

It was late when Amy got home again, but it was easier to take since Sheldon had come to see her. She wasn't even sure if he would be home from the Cheesecake Factory when she got in. He was, and he had even brought her back her usual order.

"Hopefully, you'll be able to join us next week. Everyone seemed disappointed that you weren't there," Sheldon said.

"Thanks, Sheldon," Amy said giving him an impromptu hug. He put his hand on her back to return the hug. Then he pushed her food at her and went to change for bed. They were supposed to be alternating between the two rooms until they decided which one they wanted to sleep in permanently. Amy didn't mind which one they slept in, as long as they slept together.

"Let's sleep in your room again," Amy said when Sheldon came back out. "It makes me happy to get to sleep there again. I mean, as long as you are there with me. I don't want to sleep there alone again."

"You won't have to," Sheldon said.

By the end of the week, they were both completely comfortable sleeping in Sheldon's bed again. Friday morning, Amy woke up with Sheldon wrapped around her. He'd been slowly coming back to her. They weren't really kissing beyond a peck here or there, but he could put his arms around her again and that wasn't nothing.

Amy thought about waking him up. She knew from experience that he wouldn't let her go unless he was awake. If she moved, he would just pull her in tighter. Still, she couldn't bring herself to wake him. They could stay in bed all day and she wouldn't wake him to release her. She'd missed this. She'd craved it. Even if she didn't realize exactly how fully until that moment.

About fifteen minutes later, Amy knew Sheldon was starting to wake up because he snuggled into her a little and then she watched as his eyes fluttered open. He smiled sleepily and hugged her tighter before finally releasing her.

Amy still lay there staring at Sheldon for a few moments more. She wished him a good morning and he did the same, but neither of them got out of bed.

"Should we just stay here all day?" Amy asked.

"No. We have to go to work. If you get behind again, you'll have to stay late again next week. Plus we have to go to dinner at Wolowitz's."

"I'm finally caught up enough at work that I don't have to stay late, and I can't even spend the night with you. I miss our friends, but I finally feel like we are getting back to something I recognize," Amy said.

"Tomorrow," Sheldon promised.

Amy came to pick Sheldon up from work to take him to Howard and Bernadette's new house. It was next door to Howard's mother, but Amy thought it was a big win for Bernie just to not to have to live with Mrs. Wolowitz. Ever since the couple had decided to try to start a family, Howard had wanted to move into an actual house instead of a larger apartment.

"Do we need to buy them something?" Sheldon asked when they were on the way.

"I stopped and bought a bottle of wine and a dessert. I don't think it's a real housewarming party, so I hope that it's enough," Amy told him. They were both not knowledgeable enough on social convention to know the exact protocol, but hoped they were close enough to the mark that they could get a pass.

Amy parked in front of the house and Sheldon grabbed the things out of the backseat. The group didn't get to hang out together as much as they used to. Amy almost missed having everyone at 4A every night for bad take out and video games she didn't play. Sheldon knocked three times and called for the Wolowitz's before putting his arm around Amy's waist while they waited for someone to answer the door.

"Howie! People are starting to get here! Get the door!" Bernadette yelled from inside the house.

"I'm already on my way!" Howard yelled back.

Howard opened the door and ushered them in. He explained that Sheldon and Amy were the first ones there as Sheldon handed over the items that they had brought. Sheldon didn't like gift giving, so he wanted rid of the stuff in his hands as soon as he could.

Howard gave them a short tour of the new house before leading them to the kitchen to say hi to Bernadette while she finished up dinner. Amy offered to stay and help, but Bernie sent her to the living room with the guys. She was nearly done making dinner anyway.

The doorbell rang and Howard went to let Raj in. Before they could all sit down, Leonard and Penny had arrived.

Howard went to show the house to the newcomers, but Amy and Sheldon decided to stay in the living room. Amy went to go sit down next to Sheldon, but he pulled her onto his lap instead. Then he wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear that he loved her. Then they just looked into each other's eyes for a moment. That was how they were when everyone came back into the living room.

Everyone stood stock still and stared at them. Sheldon even heard Penny gasp. He wondered what was wrong, so he moved his head to look past Amy at the group.

"Is dinner ready?" he asked.

"Not quite yet," Howard answered first. The group looked at each other and then just moved to sit down in the living room. Amy decided to stay on Sheldon's lap because there wasn't enough room for everyone to sit down otherwise. She also liked having the excuse to stay there.

"So, how is work going?" Penny asked Amy.

"Stressful, but I'm finally going to be able to start coming home at a normal hour again," Amy told her.

"So, you'll be able to join us for dinner on Tuesday and girls' nights again?" Penny asked.

"Hopefully. If Sheldon is willing to let me go," Amy said, sweetly.

Bernadette came out of the kitchen to let everyone know that dinner was ready, so she and Howard led the group to the dining room. Sheldon heard the others whispering. He turned around and said, "I love her. I can touch her if I like."

"We're just not used to it," Penny said. "It's cute to see you two all lovey dovey together."

"We are not 'lovey dovey,'" Sheldon said stiffly.

"Sweetie, you two are the definition of lovey dovey. We've never seen this side of either of you, but that doesn't mean we don't like it. You're just mad because it's proof that Sheldon Cooper is a human being."

"Maybe it's just proof that Amy is more than human," Sheldon countered.

"Whatever. I'm just glad that you both seem happy," Leonard said before he pushed Penny toward the table. He didn't want to sit through an argument about Sheldon's love life. The whole thing creeped him out even though he was happy for his best friend.

Bernadette and Howard brought out the food. Sheldon didn't know if he trusted the food, but decided to not make a scene. He made up a plate for Amy before getting food for himself. Amy loved when he did that. For a man without a lot of social graces, he could be incredibly sweet.

They talked about Penny's audition for a soap opera job, and how she and Leonard were getting used to being married. They talked about Raj's new girlfriend who was too busy with her job to meet them, but promised to come by the next time they were gathering. They talked about whether or not Wolowitz was serious about going back to school to finally get his doctorate. Amy had really missed her friends, but she as also glad that they had stopped bringing attention to her and Sheldon's relationship. She didn't want anymore pressure from them no matter how well meaning they were.

"That was a lot of fun, but I can't wait to go to bed," Amy said when they were in the car alone together.

"Me neither," Sheldon said.