"I need you to go with me to Texas next weekend as my girlfriend."

"As your girlfriend?" Amy asked, confused.

"I-I mean as my pretend girlfriend," Sheldon said. God, he stammered a lot lately, he thought.

"Oh," Amy replied as she closed the door of her office. "While I'd be gladly pretending to be your girlfriend, I don't understand why I have to go to Texas with you." It was true, she did not mind if she had to pretend to be his girlfriend. In fact, she considered asking him to pretend as his boyfriend in front of her mother to free herself from those tedious annual dates as well as her mother's sneaky attempts in setting her up every once in a while. However, she had a reservation since they only met a couple weeks ago, they even still called each other with their last names and titles.

"I followed the advice you gave me yesterday and told my mother that I have a girlfriend. Unfortunately, she saw right through me and said I have to bring my 'girlfriend' to my cousin's wedding next weekend in Texas otherwise she will invite Vanessa to be my plus one. And I have to behave nicely to her even though I don't know her at all!" Sheldon groaned.

"Who's Vanessa?" Amy asked.

"That's the name of the girl my mother wants me to meet," he replied. "Can you believe it? Even her name sounds ridiculous," Sheldon scoffed.

"I think that's a little unfair, you don't know her yet. There might be a reason your mother tries to set you up with her."

"Ugh, you are so kind," Sheldon said. Amy was not sure if she should be offended or flattered by his words. "And I know the reason—she thought I'm incapable of finding a mate so she feels the need to intervene with my life," Sheldon added.

"Are you though?" Amy asked carefully. She personally thought Sheldon was a brilliant scientist and an amazing person, she was certain any woman would be lucky to be his mate. Although she could also understand that most people might not got him right away.

"I don't need to. I have no intention to be pair bonded ever," Sheldon replied. "What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Do you have any intention to be pair bonded with someone?" he asked slowly.

"I find the notion of romantic love to be an unnecessary cultural construct that adds no value to human relationships," she replied. "But as a scientist, I'm always open to any possibility."

"Doctor Fowler, that's the most pragmatic thing I have ever heard," Sheldon said.

Amy visibly blushed and for a moment no one said anything and they just gazed into each other's eyes. Anyone who saw them at that moment would definitely told them to get a room.

Sheldon suddenly realized his surroundings. He cleared his throat and asked, "So, will you go with me to Texas?"

"Can I ask why me?"

"Well, when my mother said that she didn't believe I have a girlfriend and only made things up, I got panicked and blurted out your name as my girlfriend. I'm sorry but you were the first person that came to my mind." Sheldon did not admit that most of the times, Amy was the first person that had come on his mind lately.

"But don't you have any other female friends?"

"I only have two female friends other than you; one of them is married and the other is engaged. My mother knows them both as well."

Amy's heart fluttered at his statement. "We're friends?"

"Well, I should think so. Although we met through a project just a couple weeks ago, I enjoy spending times with you very much. And not only for the project, I feel like I can talk to you about everything and we always have stimulating conversation. You are definitely more than just an acquaintance and colleague to me."

"I enjoy spending times with you, too," Amy admitted.

"Good," he smiled at her. "Now, if you agree, please, clear your schedule next weekend and I will book the flights immediately. Oh, and don't worry, I will cover all your travel expenses."

Amy thought for a while.

"I will agree on one condition," she said.


Sheldon adjusted himself on the couch trying to find the perfect position. It usually took him some time to adjust to a new place, but Amy's apartment was not bad. She kept everything clean and in order. It did not take long for him to find his preferred seat in her living room. Sheldon looked around the room and nodded approvingly.

"I have yoo-hoo. Do you want some?" Amy called from her kitchen.

Sheldon beamed at her, "It's hard to say no to yoo-hoo. The name literally beckons."

She smiled back at him and poured him a glass before handing it to him.

"Make yourself comfortable. I'm going to freshen up a little," Amy said as she went to her bathroom.

Sheldon enjoyed his drink in silence while waiting for Amy. He took his cell phone out of his pocket as he felt it vibrated. It was an incoming call from Leonard.

"Hello, Leonard. Thank goodness you called. I must inform you that I don't need you to drive me home today," Sheldon said.

"And it just occurred to you to tell me now? Why didn't you tell me earlier? I've waited in front of your office for almost an hour!" Leonard replied.

"Well, now you know," Sheldon said casually.

"Arrgh! You're unbelievable. I'm going home now and you have to find a way to go home by yourself tonight," Leonard said before disconnecting the call.

"Well, that's rude," Sheldon commented.

"What's wrong?"

Sheldon looked up and saw that Amy had come out of the bathroom.

"It's Leonard, my roommate. He's just being ridiculous as usual. Say, you will drive me home later, right?"

"Of course," Amy replied.

"Good."

"Should we start now?" Amy asked.

"Very well," he replied.

Amy went to her bedroom to get her laptop and placed it on her coffee table. She sat herself on the couch next to Sheldon, not too close but not too far either.

"Are you ready?" she asked.

Sheldon nodded. Amy typed something on her laptop. A moment later, a familiar Skype tone was heard through the room and not long after, a face of a middle-aged woman appeared on the screen.

"Hello, Mother," Amy greeted the woman on the screen.

"Hello, Amy," the woman greeted back. "Is it true what you texted me this afternoon? Do you really have a boyfriend now? Is he real? You don't make him up like the last time, do you?" she inquired straight away.

"Yes, Mother. This Sheldon Cooper. He's a physicist in Caltech," Amy said, adjusting the laptop to include Sheldon on the screen. "We met at work."

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Fowler," Sheldon said, waving his hand awkwardly.

"It's nice to meet you, too, Sheldon. I honestly didn't believe Amy when she told me she had a boyfriend," Mrs. Fowler said.

"I assure you I am quite real and I'm having regular intercourse with your daughter," he said.

"What?" Mrs. Fowler said. She looked surprised while Amy nodded slightly.

"Oh, yes. We're like wild animals in heat. It's a wonder neither of us has been hurt," Sheldon continued.

"Amy, what is he saying?" Mrs. Fowler asked, looking at her daughter in horror.

"You wanted me to have a boyfriend, Mother. Well, here he is. Have to sign off now. My hunger for Sheldon is stirring in my loins," Amy said flatly.

"Oh, yes, it's time for me to make love to your daughter's vagina," Sheldon added.

They both ignored the screamed of Mrs. Fowler as Amy ended the Skype.

"Thank you, Doctor Cooper, that went very well," Amy said to Sheldon.

"You're welcome. Although, at this point, I think we need to cease all the formalities and call each other by the first name. It can be a practice for when we go to Texas."

"Well, in that case, thank you, Sheldon."

"You're welcome, Amy."

They smiled at each other, wondering how a simple act as calling each other by the first name could make their stomachs felt funny and their hearts fluttered.