Sheldon closed the door of his office just as Leonard came to pick him.

"Do you need a ride home?" Leonard asked.

"It's not necessary, Amy will drive me. I thought it would be awkward for her if I don't escort her to my place, especially for the first time," Sheldon replied.

"Very well. I will pick up the food on my way home. What should I order for her?"

"The same as me. Here," Sheldon pulled out his wallet and gave Leonard some money. "It's for Amy and me."

"Wow, look at you! Paying for your girlfriend's share. What a gentleman," Leonard teased. "I'll see you at home then," Leonard said, quickly leaving him.

Sheldon rolled his eyes before walking to Amy's lab.

He thought back to their plan on pretending to be his girlfriend. One of the important things was to get to know his friends. They had agreed to pretend and act as boyfriend-girlfriend even in front of his friends. Her mother knew about his circle of friends, including the ups and downs of Leonard's and Penny's relationship, they even planned to invite her to their wedding. He could not risk should one of his friends blab to his mother. It should be a practice for them to see if their ruse would work. Besides, his mother would suspect something if Amy did not know about the gang and never met them.

"I'm sorry, I still need to clean this place. Can you wait ten minutes?" Amy said when he arrived at her lab.

"Sure," he said. He sat to his preferred seat in her lab. Just like her apartment, her lab was exceptionally neat and clean. Sheldon had no problem spending time and working there since he knew she always cleaned and tidying the place every day.

"I have to be honest, I'm a little nervous," Amy said as she cleaned her table.

"Why?"

"Because I'm going to meet your friends," she admitted.

"There's nothing to be nervous about. I have told you everything about them."

"That's different than meeting them in person. I don't have any friends, I don't know what to expect."

"You're my friend and you have done a great job so far," Sheldon poked her shoulder with his finger.

Amy looked at her shoes trying to hide the blush. When she looked up, Sheldon was intensely watching her.

"Amy, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. We can cancel the plan. I will talk to my mother and hope for the best," Sheldon said softly, internally hoping that Amy would not get cold feet. He was sure that there was no way he could talk out of it with his mother.

"No, no. I have promised to help you, so I will do it. Besides, you have helped me as well," Amy said, not noticing Sheldon's sigh of relief.

She continued her task with Sheldon watched her every movement. He thought Amy looked so graceful and natural he could not take his eyes off of her. He involuntarily gulped when Amy took off her lab coat, it was like watching his very own private show. He quickly shook off the thought.

"Shall we go now?" Amy asked, fixing her hair.

Sheldon only managed to nod in response.

The drive to Los Robles was quiet and uneventful. As Amy parked in front of his apartment building, Sheldon noticed she took a deep breath.

"If I'm this nervous when I'm about to meet your friends, how am I going to feel when I have to meet your family?" she asked.

"You're going to be great," Sheldon said, brushing his hand slightly on hers. He was surprised that he did not oppose to such action. He knew Amy had washed her hand thoroughly, and he thought that Amy's hand was soft and even wondered how holding it in his would feel.

A smile escaped Amy's lips at the contact.

"I'm ready if you are," he said, he did not want to push her.

Amy nodded. They both got out of the car and entered the building.


Sheldon thought tonight's dinner with the gang ran smoothly. Although, it started a little awkward. First, there was a problem of seating arrangement. It was only logical that Amy sat next to him since they were trying to show the gang that they were pair bonded, also it would be easier for them to secretly communicate if necessary. He had to make Howard moved for that, fortunately he only grumbled a little then took the seat beside Bernadette next to the couch.

Next, the uneasy feeling as the other guys were watching Amy and him as if they were some circus performers. Every time he talked or interacted with Amy, the gang would temporarily stop their activities to stare at them. He finally scolded them when Amy was in the bathroom and they told him that they just could not believe to live the day when Sheldon Cooper had a girlfriend. Sheldon ignored the remarks about him having a girlfriend and just told them to stop making Amy uncomfortable and be nice to her.

The gang started to treat Sheldon and Amy normally after that. They included her in the conversation and although they seemed to be taken aback at her blatant statement and replies at first, they felt she was tolerable. They found that it was like talking to Sheldon, but she was more adapt to social interactions and she patiently explained to Sheldon all the jokes and sarcasm the gang made. They thought she must be a saint—no one talked to Sheldon with that patient. Penny and Bernadette even invited her for the next girls' night, which she declined at first because she did not consume alcohol but then agreed to, once they explained that the drinking was optional, not mandatory.

"So, what do you think about Amy?" Sheldon asked the gang after he walked Amy to her car since she had to go home early. The gang hid their surprise when he offered to walk her downstairs, they never saw him that attentive to anyone. Sheldon reasoned that he needed to talk with Amy but truthfully, he also wanted to make sure Amy got to her car safely.

"Sweetie, since when do you care what other people think?" Penny asked back.

"I don't, but I want to know what you think about us." Sheldon had to know if his friends were convinced of their pretend relationship.

"I think she's weird, but not weirder than you," Howard snickered.

Bernadette glared at him. "I think she's interesting and smart," she said to Sheldon.

"She is! Did you know, when she was 14, she severed the webbing between her own toes?" Sheldon said enthusiastically.

"Um, no?" Bernadette replied, frowning.

"She did! She performed surgery on her own feet with nothing but nitrous oxide from cans of whipped cream as anesthesia. Isn't that interesting?"

"I change my answer. She is as weird as you," Howard said.

Sheldon glared at him

"I think it's good that she could keep up with you. You guys are suited for each other," Leonard said, trying to calm Sheldon. After all, Leonard did think that Amy was similar to Sheldon and while he thought she was as weird as Sheldon, he could not help but felt happy for his friend.

"Thank you, Leonard. Now I'm confident to bring her to Texas with me next weekend," Sheldon said, relieved that they believed in his ruse.

"You're already going to introduce her to your family?" Penny asked. "Isn't it a little too fast?"

"So?" Sheldon said.

"I've known you for years and I didn't even know you have any intention to date anyone," Penny said. "How long have you been dating her anyway?"

"Amy Farrah Fowler is a remarkable woman. It doesn't matter how long I've known her, the fact remains the same," Sheldon said. He did not really answer Penny's question, he was merely stating the fact. It was what Amy had taught her. He told Amy one night that his biggest issue was having to lie. Somehow, his face was betraying him when he lied and he could not control it. She told him to avoid the question and simply stating a related fact which might look like an answer but not really. This way, his brain would not regard the action as lying so his face would not twitch.

The gang was shocked for a moment. It was seldom of him to speak so highly of someone.

"If you are sure, then you should bring her," Leonard finally said.

"I really do," Sheldon said. He really thought Amy was remarkable.

"It's so romantic," Raj squeaked with teary eyes.