Chapter 10: Relationships

"So you're saying, if in the depths of despair she throws herself at you and demands you take her right there, right now, you'll just walk away?" - Howard

Penny sighed heavily in peaceful content, the masseuse rubbing at her tense bare back in the most wonderful way.

She had closed her eyes and laid her head on her arms that were folded in front of her. "This is the life," she muttered lazily.

Carly and Bernadette were in the same position on their separate beds, enjoying the feeling of their muscles being deeply massaged.

"I wholeheartedly agree," Bernadette breathed out happily, a dreamy smile on her face.

Carly smiled sleepily, feeling as if she could drift off at any moment. "Me too," she mumbled.

She'd never had a massage before and she was undeniably loving it. Despite being with her boyfriend and going to the convention center, she had to admit this was a better alternative. The never-ending lines they'd have to wait in for an autograph from someone she didn't even know didn't sound like the best time.

"Stupid Leonard," Penny groaned to herself, loud enough for the other two women to hear, but quickly changed into a moan of delight when the masseuse hit a tender spot she had been aching to have massaged.

Carly opened her eyes lazily, confused by the sudden declaration. When she had seen them last, Penny and Leonard had been laughing merrily together, his hands all over in the pool. "What happened?"

Penny opened her eyes to glance at Carly before closing them again, enjoying herself for a moment before answering her. "Well, you both know how mine and Leonard's past is. When we began dating again, we agreed to take it slow. That we didn't want to mess it up this time with sex, but he just keeps pushing for more. Last night, he was trying to get fresh with me and I was too tired. After the plane ride and then following him around all day, then swimming - I just wanted to go to sleep. He got all sensitive like he always does and I got frustrated. I ended up getting out of bed and locking myself in the bathroom to calm down but when I came back out, he was gone."

"Where did he go?" Carly asked in a worried tone.

Penny sighed into her massage. "He spent the night on Raj's couch."

"So you didn't want to have sex with him?" Bernadette questioned her, frowning.

Penny shrugged the best she could while being massaged. "I don't know. I keep trying to put sex off. It's just if we reach that level again, I feel like we'll be taking things too fast, just like last time and it will have the same result. You know what I mean?"

"That's understandable," Carly said. Penny was scared to lose Leonard again. She just wanted to be careful this time so they didn't end up breaking up again.

Penny opened one eye suddenly and looked to Carly before smirking. "Speaking of taking things slow, how is sleeping with Sheldon?"

Her voice was teasing and Carly popped her eyes open at the question, a blush readily taking her cheeks. Her mind immediately went to what had transpired between them before going to sleep. She clenched her thighs together, trying not to look too sexually frustrated. "We aren't sleeping together. We sleep in our own beds, but it's... nice."

Bernadette and Penny exchanged knowing smiles. "Is that it?" Bernadette asked, her voice hinting at disbelief.

Carly closed her eyes, trying to hide her reaction. "If you're asking if we have done anything, all we've done is kiss."

And boy what a kiss it had been, she thought dreamily.

Bernadette and Penny giggled, obviously finding Carly's embarrassment amusing.

"He finally decided to kiss you again, hunh?" Penny asking in interest, knowing that they hadn't since she had been drunk that one night.

Carly took a deep breath and looked back at Penny with a bashful smile, thinking of the kisses they had shared the night before. "Definitely."

The girls laughed at that. Bernadette grinned. "I saw the way he looked at you at the pool. He looked like he was going to fall over."

Carly's heart jumped in her chest at the thought. He had? "Really?"

Bernadette nodded, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh yeah. I was surprised that he either didn't grab you out of the pool and have his way with you right there or run away screaming in terror."

Yeah, that sounded about right, Carly thought in amusement. That must have been why his reaction had been the way it had.

Penny chuckled. "I can't believe that it's Sheldon we're talking about. A few months ago, if someone had told me all of this, I'd think they were insane."

Bernadette nodded with agreement. "For sure. Carly, you've affected him."

Carly hid her face in her arm, embarrassed. She knew it was true but when they brought attention to it like that, it made her feel rather shy.

However, despite the passionate, exciting kisses they had shared, she couldn't forget the sudden cold demeanor after Sheldon had ran to the bathroom.

That morning, he had gotten showered and dressed before she had woken up and had dodged every look she had thrown his way before he had left to go get breakfast.

Even when she had caught up to him later, he hadn't even complained when she told him she was going to be spending the day with the girls instead of with him.

It worried her.

After their massage, the girls went to the nearest mall to grab lunch and shop. Carly tried not to think about the way her boyfriend was acting and enjoyed herself with her friends.

Yet, it was bothering her and she knew she needed advice. When they paused in Victoria's Secret to browse for a lingerie set for Bernadette- she mentioned needing a new set for her wedding night- Carly drew Penny's attention.

The blond looked down at her from checking out a short and red, satin nightgown. "What's wrong?"

Carly bit her lip and glanced at the little box of miscellaneous underwear next to her in concern. "Last night, after Sheldon and I... when we kissed and all that. He panicked and ran to the bathroom. When he came out, he was like a different person. Kind of... angry almost?"

Penny furrowed her eyebrows. "Angry? Do you think he was just freaking out with how far it got?"

Carly dropped her shoulders. "Probably. It's just that... I don't know what to do now. Should I apologize? Or... I don't know."

Penny tilted her head, a little smile gracing her lips. "I wouldn't apologize. You didn't do anything wrong. This is all new for him. He probably is panicking a little. After he calms down, he'll be fine."

Penny made it sound so easy, but Carly was worried about him. "What if he doesn't calm down? What if he realizes this is all too much and breaks up with me?"

Penny squeezed her shoulder with a sympathetic smile. "Sheldon won't break up with you, honey. No one in this whole world has been able to do what you've done for him, he'd be an idiot to let something like that go."

Carly took a deep breath and nodded. "So you think I should just let him be?"

Penny nodded and released her shoulder. "Definitely. He'll come to you when he's ready. Just be there for him like you always are. It'll work itself out- now hey, do you think Sheldon would like you in this?"

She grabbed a strappy red bra with a matching thong and held it out to Carly, a wicked look on her face and grinning madly.

Carly blushed and rolled her eyes. "He'd die of a heart attack. I think I should just stick to baggy t-shirts and jeans until he calms down."

Penny shrugged with a shoulder and put the lingerie set back on the rack. "Suit yourself."

Bernadette found a cute, white set, and then they were off back to the hotel to catch up with the guys for dinner. Leonard had texted Penny, telling her they were on their way.

When they got to the hotel, the girls dropped off some of the things they'd bought at the mall in their rooms and got ready for dinner. Carly thought about what Penny had said and wondered if she should try to tone it down for him.

She didn't want him to be angry or weird around her. She pulled off her thin t-shirt and grabbed a thicker, looser shirt that she had brought to sleep in. Then, she put jeans on instead of her shorts.

Maybe that would help him. She brushed out her hair and stuck half of her hair up, twisting it at her scalp. She checked herself over in the mirror and then headed down to the hotel restaurant.

She saw them collecting at the entrance and immediately saw Sheldon, looking just as handsome as always. He was wearing a blue Superman t-shirt, a green long sleeve pushed up to his elbows, and khaki pants. He was talking animatedly with Leonard as they waited.

Bernadette met Carly at the side and they both walked over to the guys. Penny followed after, and stood by the girls, avoiding Leonard's gaze. He looked down with a deep frown when she ignored him.

Howard grinned at the girls. "Hey! You girls have a nice time?"

That was when Sheldon turned to see Carly, and she felt her breath catch when their eyes met. He glanced at her appearance and she saw a little look of confusion on his face before looking back at her with an unreadable expression.

Penny nudged her and Carly reluctantly tore her gaze off of Sheldon to look at her. "What's with the change of clothes?" She murmured down to her, glancing at Carly's outfit.

She shrugged and answered, in just as low of a voice. "I thought it might help Sheldon."

Penny rose her eyebrows, a glance in his direction before nodding. "Yeah, maybe it'll work. I dunno though, those are some pretty intense looks he's giving you."

Carly frowned and looked back over at Sheldon who was staring at her intently. Leonard grabbed Sheldon's arm then, getting his attention and he finally looked away.

They were being led by the host to their table. Penny took a deep breath. "Well, let's get this show on the road," she muttered and linked her arm through Carly's- both girls suspecting they may be on their own that night.

They gathered at a large, round table in a corner. Sheldon made a show of wanting Carly to sit next to him, which she was surprised by- as he had been acting weird the whole day. She did do it though, as of course, she wanted to sit by her boyfriend.

Penny on the other hand didn't, and sat herself down next to Carly pointedly as Leonard hesitated by his chair across the table and then sat down, looking miserable.

Howard, Bernadette, and Raj felt out of place by the weird going's on of their friends but didn't mention it, just gave each other a few awkward glances.

They ordered their food, chatted lightly, everything fine- that is until Leonard opened his mouth, pleading with Penny to stop being cold to him, sending Penny into a tense frenzy.

"Leonard, I'm not talking to you about this right now so just drop it," she warned him, tight-lipped. Carly bit her lip and looked down at her glass of cold water, watching with interest as the condensation dripped to the table.

Leonard huffed and leaned back in his chair. "You never want to talk about it, you just want to yell at me," he complained. Carly too wondered why he had chosen their dinner to argue with her.

Penny glared at him and thankfully Sheldon interjected quickly before the situation could escalate. "Did you know, that there's a psychological disorder called Boanthropy that makes a person believe they're a cow?"

The table went silent and Carly tried not to smile, despite the odd fact he had come up with and the horrible tension at the table. He was the best.

Howard quirked an eyebrow, normally not one to encourage Sheldon's behavior but glad to have the subject off of Penny and Leonard's relationship problems. "What if that person were from India- could you imagine the god complex?" He wisecracked with a smirk and Raj huffed, scowling at his friend.

Their waiter finally returned and gave them their meals, silencing them as they ate. Carly was halfway through her fries when Sheldon finally spoke to her.

"How is your burger?"

Carly looked up at him curiously, seeing his waiting face, and then glanced down at her plate. "It's good," she told him, trying to keep her voice light.

He nodded distractedly but then thought of something. "Mine too, but not as good as the Cheesecake Factory. I'll be glad to be back where everything makes sense."

Carly smiled at him and nodded, understanding. "I'm sure Penny isn't looking forward to the Cheesecake Factory," she laughed and eyed the blonde next to her.

Penny wrinkled her nose. "Not in the slightest. Say, Carly- wanna move here and be roommates?"

She said it as a joke but it took Carly, Sheldon, and Leonard by surprise. She avoided the men's eyes and gave Carly a grin. "Beats Pasadena these days. Got a shit job, barely can afford rent, and my acting career isn't even close to becoming legit. I should just give up while I have the chance."

She sounded miserable and Carly frowned, hating that her normally optimistic friend was looking down at herself. She placed a hand on Penny's shoulder.

"You don't have to work at the Cheesecake Factory, you can get a different job that you'd like more to get you by. Maybe at the mall somewhere?"

Penny shook her head, staring down at her barely touched the plate. "It's whatever. I... I think I'm gonna go lay down. I'm exhausted." She stood up, everyone's eyes on her, and then left without saying another word.

Leonard stood, looking conflicted on if he should follow her or not. Bernadette seemed to take pity on him and rolled her eyes. "Just go!"

Leonard jumped, not expecting the outburst from the small woman, and glanced at them all- before nodding to himself. "You're right. See you tomorrow," he said before taking off after his distraught girlfriend.

Carly frowned, wishing she could have made Penny feel better. Sheldon shifted uncomfortably in his chair, his burger half gone. "She better not quit the Cheesecake Factory- how would we order without her as our waitress?" He was deeply troubled by the thought.

Carly tilted her head. "Wouldn't we just have another waitress?"

He stared back at her, unable to fathom what she had said. "But no one else knows exactly how I have my burger."

Carly sighed and placed a hand on his arm, surprised when he didn't jolt or pull away at the touch. She hesitated at the realization, but then looked up at him with a small smile. "I don't think she will quit for a while so you don't have anything to worry about for now."

Sheldon still looked upset but seemed to let it go for now. She removed her hand and looked over at their other friends who were finishing their meal.

"How are the wedding plans?" She tried to make conversation, trying to steer the night in a different direction.

Bernadette smiled at Howard and then looked to Carly. "It's going great- well, Howie isn't helping really."

He threw his hands up in defense. "Hey, I told you. As long as I am still the groom, I don't care what the wedding is like."

Carly grinned, thinking they were cute together, even if they bickered a lot. Bernadette rolled her eyes at him and turned back to Carly.

"Anyway, I was thinking maybe you and Penny could help me. Penny said she's helped her friends in the past with their weddings so I'm sure she has good ideas."

Carly felt flattered that she was being included in the wedding plans for her friends. "Of course! I'd love to help."

Bernadette grinned, "Great!"

They finished their meals and bid each other goodnight, then headed for their hotel rooms. As she followed Sheldon, Carly hoped that Penny and Leonard were doing all right. She hated seeing them fight. She knew how much they loved each other, it was written on their faces, in every word they spoke- she just wished they could see it.

"Boy was today long," Sheldon noted as he opened their door and walked in. Carly followed suit, thinking the same. She was sort of relieved that the weekend was coming to a close and she could go back to her nice, comfortable bed.

"Speaking of which, how were the panels and signings?" She asked him, walking over to her bed to take off her shoes.

Sheldon grinned at the memory. "Superb! I honestly wish you could have come with us. I still can't believe you chose to get a massage over meeting Stan Lee. That's just-" he shuddered. "Unimaginable."

Carly rolled her eyes and slid her shoes to the side before sitting up, looking at him as he grabbed his pajamas from his suitcase.

"It was nice actually. I mean, super awkward at first, but it... it was relaxing. Oh, we went to the mall afterward and-" she stopped and reached for the small bag that she had laid on her bed before going to dinner. She stood and held it out for him. "I got you something."

Sheldon tensed, glancing down at the bag in distaste. "But I didn't get you anything."

Carly shook her head and shook the bag a little. "It's nothing fancy or anything, I just thought of you when I saw it."

He frowned and reluctantly took the bag from her. He opened it and peered down, his eyes squinting. "Is this..." he paused, pulling the small keychain out of the bag. "A Batman keychain?"

Carly colored, wondering if he already had one. She bit her lip and then released it, awkwardly shifting on her feet. "I know it's not like, limited edition or anything, but I know that we watched Batman the first time we hung out together and I just thought... it's stupid isn't it?"

Sheldon stared down at the little keychain, his mouth parting as he thought over her words and the meaning behind it. "No, it's... I love it. It's a good memory. You turned down Stuart that day." He looked up at her then, a smile curving his lips. "Thank you."

The emotion behind his words made her stomach flop and she smiled meekly. "Of course," she shrugged, relieved that he accepted it.

"However I do need to give you something-" he broke off and turned to his bag, holding the keychain in one hand in a tight grip. Digging through his belongings, Carly frowned in confusion. Had he bought her something?

He suddenly stood and crossed the room back to her, before holding out a small Batman plushie. "I bought it for myself but- I want you to have it."

Carly swallowed and looked down at the soft Batman staring up at her. She gingerly took it, a grin gracing her features. "Thank you, Sheldon, you didn't have to." She cuddled the plushie to her chest fondly.

He shook his head. "I wanted to," he told her earnestly.

She wanted to kiss him, but she held herself back. He was finally himself again and she wanted to hold onto the moment as long as she could.

He didn't remove his gaze from her and she wondered what he was thinking. She tilted her head, matching his stare evenly, curiously.

Slowly, hesitantly, he approached her and she kept herself still, unsure of what he was planning. He didn't even look certain about it, but he closed the gap between them, the plushie in her arm squishing between their bodies.

She craned her head up to him in question, her heart racing in her chest at the sudden proximity. Was he going to kiss her again? God, she hoped so. With him this close, she could barely stand to hold herself back.

He put his hands on her waist, holding her to him, and then slowly, gently, he leaned down and took her mouth with his, never breaking eye contact until their lips met.

She sighed into the kiss, missing it and craving it immensely. She used her free arm to slide up between them and wrap around his neck as best as she could with his height, and held him close to her, not wanting to ever let go.

His lips moved, caressed, prodded at hers and they opened their mouths simultaneously to allow each other the access they desperately needed.

Sheldon made a slight "mmm" sound as her tongue slid along his and he held her tighter, wrapping his arms around her now and practically picking her up to keep her there. It was so hot.

She kissed back with just as much fire as her body felt, wanting to taste every inch of him and needing every part of him.

But then it ended and he abruptly broke apart, much to her dismay. Their breathing was heavy between them and she slowly opened her glazed over eyes to look up into his, mystified by him. His were dark, with emotion and desire and it sent a bolt of electricity from her heart down her body.

She licked her lips, unsure what he was going to do next, half expecting him to pull away from her again. But he didn't.

"I'm sorry."

She frowned, not understanding why he would apologize. "For what?" She asked, her voice raspy and breathless.

Instead of answering, he grabbed her by the back of her head, pulling her in for another kiss, and this time- it was like the sun itself. The Batman plushie fell to the ground and he crushed her body back to him, his arm around her. She clutched onto his shoulders, willing herself to match his advances, needing him just as much as he wanted her.

At some point, they had spun around and begun backtracking, before falling onto one of the beds, she wasn't sure who's, and found herself underneath him as he ravished her mouth.

Addicted to the effect he had on her, she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him to her, needing him and everything he was willing to give her.

He held himself up with one elbow while the other hand her her hair, tangling his fingers in it. His mouth moved over her mouth, to the side of it, and then down her jaw, surprising her further when his mouth became hot on her neck. She gasped as the assault on her skin warmed every part of her body in white-hot passion.

He seemed to have forgotten everything he had worked so hard to keep and had lost control, giving up to just pure sexual instinct. A man wanting a woman.

He moved her hair away from her neck, needing better access then worked his way back up, kissing her long and hard at a bruisingly fast rate.

She could barely keep up.

To her shock, his hips rocked into her and she gasped again at the evidence of his arousal prodding at her. He panted against her mouth, his hand beginning to shake near her head on the bed.

Feeling a tremor run through him, she realized he was struggling with himself. She was mad with want for him but she didn't want him to doing anything that he wasn't ready for.

With great difficulty, she slid her hands down to his chest and gently pushed, to which he pulled away from her mouth to look down at her with hooded, drunk eyes.

"Sheldon," she said, their breaths mingling together as she tried to reason with herself that this was the best thing to do. "Y-You don't have to do this."

Sheldon shuddered and he dropped his head to her shoulder, making her worry about him. After a moment's pause, he finally spoke to her in a choked voice. "I don't know what I'm doing, Carly," he confessed, sounding wounded. "Everything I've ever fought against is being tested."

Carly bit her lip, sad that he was going through so much and it was because of her. She moved a hand to reach his hair, holding his face to her to try to comfort him. "I know, I know... I'm sorry. This is all my fault."

Sheldon shook his head slightly in her grasp, against her shoulder. "Not completely. I should have better control over my... urges. I shouldn't want to-it's wrong, Carly. Isn't it wrong?"

Carly frowned, not understanding why he thought it all was wrong. "Of course it's not wrong. We like each other a whole lot and are attracted to each other. Doing this kind of stuff... it's natural."

Sheldon's breathing slowed at their conversation and he took a deep breath. "Then why does it feel wrong?"

Carly didn't know why it felt wrong to him. It felt so right to her. "I'm not sure. Is it because we are moving too fast?"

Sheldon was silent for a moment so she assumed he was thinking it over. "Maybe... but when I see you, I can't think properly. When I see you- you take over my mind and no matter how hard I try to fight it, I can't. Not with you."

Even though all of it was bothering him, she felt elated that he felt that way towards her. Simply because that was how she felt about him. "Sheldon? Hey, look at me."

He hesitantly lifted his head and she dropped her hand from his hair to his shoulder, giving him a sincere, vulnerable side of her. He looked scared. "I know it's not wrong Sheldon because... when I look at you, I lose control too. I've never felt this way about someone before, not until you. You're all I think about, all I care about, and the only one I would ever want to do this with."

Her words visibly moved him and his eyes that held so much anxiety changed to his obvious adoration of her. She was relieved that her words had been able to comfort him. She smiled softly up at him.

"Let's stop for now and just get some sleep. We have a long plane ride," she murmured, running her hands over his shoulders.

Sheldon drew a ragged breath in and then let it out, a sudden struggle overwhelming his features. "I'm sorry Carly, I know how difficult I am."

Carly's heart broke at the sound of his voice. He had been told that his whole life and she could see how it had made him self-conscious. He didn't normally show it but she could tell, clear as day as she gazed up at him.

"Don't ever apologize for being yourself," she told him, emphasizing how strong she felt about it. "You're perfect. Don't forget... everything we are doing- it's my first time too and it terrifies me."

Sheldon glanced down at her neck, then back up to her eyes. "Really? You seem so sure of yourself."

She shook her head, swallowing down her insecurities over the situation. "I've only had one boyfriend before, in college, but we didn't do any of this. I- I didn't want to. Not with him."

Sheldon frowned in confusion, even though it was obvious that he didn't like thinking about her with anyone else. "Why not?"

She shrugged a shoulder, over it now. "It didn't feel right, plus I found out later that he was seeing my supposed friend behind my back. So it's a good thing I didn't."

Sheldon grimaced. "That is abhorrent."

Carly bit her lip, appreciating his sympathy. "Yeah it was and it stuck with me for a long time, but it doesn't matter now. I have great friends and an amazing boyfriend." When she referred to him, she gave him a sheepish smile.

He smirked a little. "I'm glad you think so."

Carly couldn't imagine thinking anything different. "I always will."

Sheldon's eyes held warmth as he smiled and before she knew it, he was leaning back down to her and pressed his lips to hers in a slow, passionate kiss that told her exactly how he felt about her.

She shuddered against him and wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back with everything she had and holding him to her.

She knew that as long as she had him, she could wait any amount of time to further their intimacy. He'd be worth the wait.