Chapter 11

Thanks again to ShAmy4evr for sticking me on this crazy ride and editing!

Amy's lonely ride over to Caltech on Monday morning was as tense as waiting for a job interview. It was only after she had put her car in park that she realized she had locked her jaw so tight, it throbbed. It was a habit she was forming and it wasn't good. She should be excited, and for most of the previous night she had been. She had danced around the apartment as she readied herself for bed humming songs from the evening. She brought her flowers into her bedroom and placed them by her bedside table so the aroma could help her sleep, but the night was too exciting to waste on slumber. Her date with Sheldon made her feel euphoric. Just the dance alone would have kept her up late, but the good night kiss was enough to set her ablaze.

The only thing that dampened down the beam of dating delight was a fear in her gut that would not abate. She had an uneasy tension about Sheldon, and she didn't know why. This whirlwind romance seemed to be the stuff of dreams, not of Amy's previous dull life.

As Sheldon had not asked for another date, her self-doubts raised their ugly head and by the end of the night she was battening up the shields and almost talking herself out of wanting to dating him. He seemed so perfect, it scared her. She dared not utter the words destined to be together, but since they were so compatible, it crossed her mind.

However, would he feel the same about dating her on Monday or would a good night's sleep change his mind? One question that did plague her was what exactly was he doing when she overheard him with that blond beauty in the laundry? Penny had assured her on the phone that he was not interested in Alicia. However, it was obvious that Alicia was very interested in him, and who wouldn't be? He had made that woman moan out in pleasure doing something, but what it was Amy longed to know.

As she sat in driver seat of her car with the malaise of thoughts muddling her mind, she heard a rumbling sound next to her that shook her chest. She exited her car to see Sheldon pull up beside her on his motorcycle. He had on a full helmet, black as onyx, and a leather jacket to match. Amy's heart stopped when he put the vehicle in park, kicked down the stand, and lifted off his helmet.

His sable hair was slightly messy and his smile was intoxicating. Amy walked over as Sheldon, still straddling the bike, was pulling off his gloves like a male stripper. His long legs held the bike stationary and Amy blushed as she wondered what it was like to have that much power between one's legs. She shook away the thought and brushed her hair back like a shy school girl approaching the cool kid in the yard. Only this time, the cool kid was just as happy to see her.

"You fixed it!" Amy looked down at the bike. She had seen it before, and had easily memorized the type since the name Kawasaki was the same name of a disease she had studied in college that had neurological complications.

She had only seen him on it briefly that first week as he drove off one night before Amy had had a chance to say hello. He had not seen her, but she had seen him rumbling off the parking lot like a Hell's Angel. Now seeing him so close on the bike was giving Amy some amazing fantasies and the thoughts she had, had nothing to do with angels.

Sheldon beamed, "Oh.. right… Fixed it. Sure." Sheldon cleared his throat, "But you never know, Amy. This ol' bike can stop workin' at a moment's notice! Not very reliable."

Amy looked confused because the bike looked showroom clean, like it had never been ridden.

Sheldon dismounted the bike and grabbed his shoulder bag from the back. Amy couldn't stop staring at him in his leather coat that seemed like a second skin, almost a little small for his well-toned frame. It looked as if his upper body had filled out considerably since he had originally purchased it.

"May I walk you to your lab?"

Amy chewed her lip and curled up a smile, "I'd like that, thank you."

They walked in silence to the lab with neither of them knowing what they should say. Sheldon was mulling over his list of suave attributes he could use to get her to say yes to a second date. Amy was hoping he wasn't having second thoughts on the whole thing.

Amy unlocked her lab and Sheldon followed her into the room. She turned to say thank you, but Sheldon closed the lab door behind him. He was breathing heavily and boring his stare in her eyes. Amy took a step back.

"Amy… "His voice lowered as did his eyes over Amy's mouth. He could see her draw in a short breath. He gulped and said, "I should have asked you something last night. I should have asked…"

Amy was shaken by his proximity. "Sheldon, don't worry about that. Just ask me now."

Sheldon stood as tall as he could, bracing himself in case she knocked him down with the word no.

"Amy, since, um… my hypothesis was correct, I was wondering if you'd agree to… I mean. Maybe we should."

Amy stopped his ramblings, "You want another date?"

"Yes." Sheldon said quickly taking a deep breath and holding it. His eyes wide waiting, but he didn't have to wait long.

Amy smiled, "I'd like that Sheldon. I was wondering why you didn't ask me last night." The weight had lifted from Amy's shoulders as she floated over to her lab table to drop off her bag.

She looked back and saw Sheldon release a sigh and relax as he said jovially, "BroTastic said…"

Amy shook her head, and again interrupted him, "Sheldon please. I think you should not get your advice from the internet. Besides, who knows who this Bro person is?"

Sheldon thought about it, "You're right. Given Wolowitz's track record with people on the internet, that is sound advice, Dr. Fowler."

Amy just chucked, "I don't even want to know, if it's Howard, it has to be bad."

Suddenly, Sheldon's eyes lit up as he realized she had agreed to a second date with him. He had only known her two weeks, and he already had another date! He would like to rub that in the face of number Two who had taken a year and half, that is if he ever got the chance. "So Amy…" Sheldon raised his brows and lowered his voice to a sultry tone, "Is the date tonight?"

Amy shook her head disbelief. If she had ever believed she would have a date with a man on Saturday, while another waited at her door, then another date the next night with a promise for more, she would have checked herself into Bellevue. It was just as likely as becoming a botanist. Still, she was not ready for another date. Not yet. Two dates in one weekend was enough for now. She wasn't Alicia after all.

"No… Not tonight, next weekend maybe. But Sheldon, I have to ask, why did you wait till I was out with Stuart before asking me? Why not last week if you were interested?"

Sheldon walked over and leaned against her wall, "Because I am god damn idiot, that's why. I should have asked you the moment I met you. I took it for granted you'd be there for me, no matter what I did. I made a credulous assumption that you would be mine. That I didn't have to ask. I thought it was just supposed to happen. I canceled our lunch date, went out with the guys on Wednesday night, then there was the Star Wars marathon, all times when we should have been together. All the while, I thought I had nothing to worry about, that you'd be there for me." Sheldon walked to her, put his helmet on the counter and held out his hand, which she took timidly, still trying to process what he had just said.

Sheldon let out a little laugh and said, "I knew a guy who made that mistake. He assumed his woman would always love him, no matter what insane thing he did. He applied to go to Mars without telling her, he tried to get another woman to fall in love with him as a lark. He said terrible things to her, and then blamed her for being too sensitive. He didn't understand what he had done wrong. He never expected her to be upset or was too self-absorbed to notice. Never once did he ever tell her she was beautiful. Hell, it was years before he even kissed her..."

Amy shrugged her shoulders, "Sounds bad, but maybe he just wasn't ready?"

Sheldon just shook his head in disbelief and held onto her hand weaving his fingers through hers, "Even in this reality you have the patience of a saint." Amy tilted her head in confusion, but she didn't have time to say a word before Sheldon moved closer to her, and Amy backed up against the counter of her lab table, "I won't make that mistake again, Amy. I don't know how well I will do at the whole dating thing, but one thing I won't do again is take you for granted."

At that moment Amy wanted nothing more than to reach out and hold him. Instead she grabbed his other hand, and smiled. "That's a huge thing Sheldon. If you can do that, you'll have, as you say, the whole dating thing worked out. You could publish a book!"

Sheldon sucked in his upper lip, "Oh, I got plenty of books…" He looked her up and down and grinned, "So, like how many dates are we talking about here?"

"Before what?"

Sheldon held back rolling his eyes. This woman was smart enough to know this. He shouldn't have to spell it out. "Before we are pair bonded Amy!"

Amy wasn't expecting such a commitment schedule within 2 minutes of agreeing to a second date, "Oh dear…I don't know…We don't even know how we feel about each other or if that will happen."

Sheldon just grinned at her, and stepped closer as he lowered his tone. "Well, I know EXACTLY how I feel. When that happens… and it will happen, Amy… What're your expectations?" His accent alone was causing Amy to lose cognitive function.

Did Amy have a list of expectations for a boyfriend? Sure. What red blooded girl with a diary, Bryan Adams CD's and nothing but time one summer DID NOT have a list? Every girl has a list and future wedding plans mapped out. Amy had written her list as a lonely teenager, and quickly threw it in a hope chest covered in dust.

Though Amy never had time for a boyfriend, she knew, from her cousins, and the numerous hours watching Romantic comedies, that giving men a list of expectations is the quickest way to lose them. There was NO way she was letting this fish back in the pond. "Um… well. I guess that you will be attentive, caring." She could see Sheldon's mind ticking off a list and she was spooked, "Um… Can't we just wing it?"

"WING IT?" Sheldon's wide eyes and ear piercing screech told her that perhaps Sheldon was not like other men.

Sheldon took a deep breath and Amy cut him off, "Or we can have some things outlined."

Sheldon let out a deep breath, "Okay… Good… So um… Like what?" Sheldon just wanted a list so he wouldn't screw things up. He wanted to scream at her, "GIVE ME A DAMN LIST, WOMAN!"

"I don't know. What do you suggest?"

"What if you get sick again like you did on Friday night when we were supposed have Chinese? Do I take care of you?" Sheldon's eyes were darting around calculating all the possibilities and contingences he would need to predict in order to be in a relationship and not screw it up.

Amy stammered remembering she had not really been sick, but she could now admit she was love sick over Sheldon and that blond bimbo, "You don't have to nurse maid me…"

Sheldon stopped and stood up straight like his bones were made of steel, "I think there should be some clause that you can't go out on dates with other men."

"Well… Sheldon… that would be a given and the reverse is true… but there is no need to codify…"

Sheldon continued to ramble, "And do we go to family events together? How often do we date? Is there a time limit? Do we have to…" Sheldon was starting to hyperventilate at this point.

Amy put her finger on Sheldon's mouth and breathed out with a warm air with a hint of lemon that hit Sheldon's nose. "Shhh." She must have had lemon tea that morning. Sheldon breathed it all in.

Amy let her finger run down his lips and then gave him a half smile, "If you need to write something down, then more power to ya! I like to know what to expect, as do you, yes?"

"Oh, yes little lady, I sure do! I am so glad you feel that way, Amy!"

Amy smiled and tapped his chest with a comforting pat, "Well, we can discuss it at our date… Next Saturday at the…umm" Amy thought for a moment then announced, "at the …. Zoo!"

Sheldon slumped down, "Aw.. Amy…Is the Zoo good enough? We were going to that anyway. Is that really a date?" Sheldon was quickly out of his depth.

Before he could say more, Amy chimed in cheerfully. "Of course it is! Oh and dinner too, but I will cook. So… it's a date?"

Sheldon beamed, "It's a date!"

He smiled, grabbed his helmet and turned to leave but stopped quickly and turned around, "Um… Amy. You are still picking me up for work tomorrow, right?"

"Yes… Wait…" Amy thought for a moment, "Sheldon, your bike works."

He smiled and held up his helmet, "I know…it does… for now…but I'd rather go with you." He reached out and grabbed her hand. "Will ya come fetch me?"

Amy shook her head with a smile, "Of course, Sheldon. We won't change our routine..."

Sheldon released a huge sigh big enough to deflate his worries, "Oh Amy, I certainly hope we do. Thank you!"

Renewed with hope, he lifted her hand to his mouth lowered his face towards it and gave her soft kiss on the top while his eyes watched her every move.

Though his head was bent over her hand, she could see his upturned haunting blue eyes. Those eyes and the slight touch caused her to take in a jagged breath. After he had kissed her hand, she could see a smirk curl up on the side of his mouth that was just as alluring as his short kiss.

She let out a slight sigh, she was speechless, frozen by his romantic gesture, but smiling, yes definitely smiling.

Sheldon stood up straight and released her hand, which remained in the air for moment longer than necessary. He grinned, bid good day to her as she leaned back and supported herself at the counter.

She immediately went to her phone and texted Penny.

Hey Penny, it's Amy. I have a SECOND date with Sheldon.

Penny wrote back: I KNEW IT! I'm a Genius!

Amy shook her head and smiled at how many geniuses she'd run into lately. She wrote: Anyway would you go Jeans shopping with me?

Penny texted back within 10 seconds: Oh hell yeah.

Amy hadn't noticed that her intern Eddy had not only been watching the whole thing from the booth, but was now reading her texts over her shoulder. His voice startled Amy.

"Oh, honey. Make sure you get some tight ones that hug your ass." Eddy snickered at her as she jumped back in alarm and covered her phone.

"EDDY! Where's Gladys?" Amy was flummoxed by her nosy assistant.

"Oh she's in the back. By the way, she owes me twenty bucks. I knew it would only be two weeks before you were purring like a kitten over that beef cake." Eddy skipped off back to the booth with Amy glaring at his head.

It had become routine now for Amy and Sheldon to lunch with the guys. At the lunch table the guys would have to suffer headaches as they endured the rapid exchange of information going back forth between the couple. Added to their conversations today was the longer than needed eye contact, during which the boys felt like they were watching geeky foreplay. It was during one of their more protracted dreamy stares that Leonard suggested:

"Hey Sheldon, remember the other week, Amy got us Thai food."

"Two weeks ago, exactly. The first day I found her. Better than a coffee shop or a dirty sock…" Sheldon smiled at Amy, who blinked in confusion, but the look he gave her made her mind go blank. She blushed and looked down at her food, chalking up his strange phrase to some unknown Texan saying.

Leonard rolled his eyes at Sheldon's obvious flirt, but he had an agenda, "Doncha think we owe her for dinner?" Leonard winked at Sheldon who didn't catch his hint at first. Finally Sheldon thought he understood. Sheldon had told Leonard before lunch that their second date was not until Saturday and that he wished he could spend more time with her. Leonard was helping him with Amy, or so he thought.

Sheldon smiled at Leonard, "Why yes, Leonard. We are in her debt, and it's only fair and proper that I return the favor. As a Southern Gentleman, it's my…" But Leonard cut him off, there was method to his madness. He just wanted a chance to see Penny again. It was a long shot, but one he would take gladly. So before Sheldon could extend an invitation to Amy for a nice private meal, Leonard jumped back into the conversation and interrupted Sheldon's speech as well as his longing stares at a blushing Amy.

"I'm so glad you said that! I'll grab the Thai food, and we will all meet over at your guy's place!" Leonard said looking at Amy for confirmation but she was cut off by Raj.

"Oh goody, I'll bring the peanut sauce. Martha Stewart has this recipe… Far superior to the sludge they give you at Exotic Thai."

Sheldon was about to say who invited you, but then Howard popped into the conversation with an eye roll, and an exasperated reply, "Oh great, and I'll bring my epi pen, and prayer book for you all when you sit Shiva at my grave. I can't eat peanuts!"

Leonard screeched out, "Who says I'm going to Exotic Thai? That's in Burbank! That will take too much time. I was going to Thai the Knot on Colorado."

"Thai the Knot? Do you want us all to get die a culinary death from over use of lemon grass? I thought you wanted to impress Penny, not kill her with free food from a subpar menu…." As Raj bantered back and forth with Leonard about the best Thai restaurants and the like, Sheldon was boiling at the exchange. He cut off the conversation with a loud slam on the lunch table.

"Who in the hell invited all you people, and what the hell has Penny got to do with all of this!"

The three guys were silenced and in shock. Sheldon was about to bellow out again, but for some reason he shut his mouth and a smile bloomed on his lips.

The group hadn't seen Amy's hand reach for his thigh under the table and hold it. However they did see Amy lean over and whisper in his ear that it would be good therapy to have a group on Sheldon's home turf and that perhaps Leonard was hoping that Penny would come too. Sheldon looked over at Leonard's pleading eyes and slumped down in defeat.

Sheldon still felt Amy's hand on his thigh. He grasped it and held on as he looked at her smile. He couldn't resist her or that smile, even if it cost him precious alone time with her. He leaned over to whisper in Amy's ear, while letting his lip glaze over her lobe, "Who am I to fight true love?"

Her blush matched his red Flash shirt.

Raj shook his head, and said to Howard, "Okay… I get it now. The whisper thing… that is annoying…"

Sheldon looked back the group and said calmly. "Okay… you can come… But bring your own chairs cause I only got two, and let me tell ya, six guys in that room can get crowded."

Amy snapped a look at Sheldon who had stated that he had never had visitors before, so how could he know what six people in apartment looked like? But Sheldon's next demand on his visitors curtailed her thoughts, "Oh and Leonard, you have to invite Penny."

Leonard tried to look shocked, "WHAAT! I can't invite her! It was just supposed to be…"

Sheldon cut him off, "Oh stuff it Leonard, it was the only reason you wanted to have dinner. You cannot con a con man, boy."

Sheldon was now fully aware of the real reason behind Leonard's suggestion and insisted that he phone Penny after lunch and extend an invitation. Perhaps he could be a matchmaker after all he thought.

"Leonard… I have the upmost confidence in your ability to woo Penny. She will succumb to your naïve yet, adorably simplistic charms. It's just a matter of time."

Howard leaned over and asked with a leer, "Do I have a chance with the fair Penny… what's her name?'

Sheldon shook his head and smiled, "Not in any universe, pal. Sorry. Another is for you. Have no fear."

Howard leaned back and said smugly, "See! The smartest guy at the table says I can get a gal! I really like your new boyfriend, Amy!"

Amy found Howard's shins and kicked them, "We still have to go on a second date!"

Sheldon just smiled, and said quietly, "Remember what I just said you to, Amy. Don't fight it."

Amy looked down at her meal and tried to hide her renewed blush remembering what he had whispered to her before: "Who am I to fight true love?" She may not fight it, but she could never believe it.

The rest of lunch was pleasant enough. Sheldon educated the group on Thai culinary customs, which Amy thought were fascinating, but the rest of the group were not so impressed. The lunch was over far too quickly for Sheldon's taste.

Sheldon wanted to prove he was a Southern Gentleman, so after his angry outburst over dinner invitations, and to extend Amy's company as long as possible, he walked her back to her lab. Waiting at her door, was a large, burly blond man holding what appeared to be a crystal. This confused Sheldon but the look of exasperation on Amy's face was more befuddling.

The man ignored Sheldon and looked only at Amy with an innocent smile. "Hello Amy. I found another example of rainbow tourmaline that I wanted to show you."

"Oh, thank you Bert. That is very nice." Amy looked at the rock and smiled sweetly at him, but she kept her hands to the sides.

"It's for you." Bert handed Amy the rock, and she took it to inspect.

"Well, thank you."

Sheldon's nose flared out like a bull, "What does a Dr. of Neurobiology need with tourmaline? Is she going to heat it and use it to draw out ash from pipes. Amy's not Dutch!"

Bert was oblivious to Sheldon's rage, "Oh I heard about that!" He turned to Amy and said sweetly to educate her, "It's because tourmaline can be electrically charged when heated. It gets…"

Sheldon cut him off, "Amy doesn't give a damn about pyro-electricity or reverse polarity! She studies brains."

"I know all about reversed polarity of tourmaline, and the Dutch habits of using the crystal, Gentleman, please…" She rolled her eyes at Sheldon who swallowed and looked away.

"Well it's pretty." Bert shrugged his shoulders.

Amy finally was able to say something to end the conversation. "It is Bert. I will put it with the others. Have to work now! Good bye!" Amy smiled and turned to enter her lab quickly.

Amy knew that Bert had a little crush on her, and though there was no way she would date him, neither could she ever have hurt him, but she did try to discourage him. However despite this he remained undeterred and for the past three weeks had been showing up for her study and then at other times would bring her all sorts of samples from the Geology lab. A corner of Amy's lab was now starting to look like a Rock Show.

Sheldon eyed up Bert and remembered where he had heard his voice before: Amy's studies. He was prowling around his woman like a fox near a hen coop. Sheldon sized him up. He could take him, but unlike Stuart, it would take much more than just one hit. Sheldon could tell by Amy's reaction that there was little to worry about, that this Bert was not a threat. He was just a simple harmless pest however there were still boundaries and Sheldon knew from his time in Texas how to get rid pests.

Later that evening, the entire group had gathered at Sheldon's apartment. It was an uneasy evening at first, with Leonard's bumbling of Penny's invitation and the glaring lack of seating that even with his explicit instructions to bring chairs with them, resulted in everyone, but Amy, Penny and himself sitting on the floor. Amy was going to sit on the computer desk chair, but was stopped by Sheldon, insisting that she take the armchair next to his. He did not care where anyone else sat, it was their fault for not listening to his instructions.

Sheldon was uneasy with so many people in his apartment but his time with the counsel of Sheldons had given him much-needed experience. And by the end of the evening, Penny was laughing so much, that wine came out her nose, Leonard was delighted and Amy was beaming with such a wide smile, it hurt her face. Even Raj and Howard had had a terrific time, especially Raj who had one light beer too many.

They had played Pictionary, which Penny and Leonard had won hands down over Howard and Raj who had been bickering like an old married couple, and thanks to Sheldon's lack of drawing skills. Sheldon was not a happy loser, but the round of trivial pursuit helped his ego recover. When the gang left, Amy stayed behind for a few minutes to help Sheldon clean up.

As she was wiping the counter, she looked over at Sheldon who had a dreamy smile on his face, "I am very proud of you Sheldon. Having all these people in your home, that is a huge step! And I heard you are going to the comic book store again?"

"Yes, I think it will be a new routine for me, and Leonard is not unpleasant. I am getting back to doing things I used to enjoy. Comic books were such a large part of my life. My PopPop used to take me when I was very young. Though he knew I could read at an early age, didn't know how well. He thought the comic books were a good way for a three-year-old to get started."

"I thought that they were just picture books, I had no idea they symbolized such a connection for you." Amy suddenly felt guilty for having dismissed his hobby as a juvenile obsession.

"We all need hero's Amy." Sheldon smiled and watched her as she carefully cleaned the counters and the kitchen island.

"I know your aversion to people has been ingrained for a long time, but you seem to be doing very well!" Amy was also thrilled that she was expanding her group of friends. Penny had invited Amy to a girls' night with an old friend from work who was now a microbiologist at a pharmaceutical company. They were even going clothing shopping for jeans together. Amy had never had any female friends and she felt she had hit the lottery.

"Yes, I knew the guys would be good friends. I just didn't know it would be so much work…" Sheldon let out a sigh, and threw away the bottles of beer Raj put away over the course of the evening.

Sheldon was also fairly pleased with himself that he had been able to tolerate the mob. Since meeting Amy, he had been considerably better with tolerating people. He still had an aversion to crowds, but small groups were much easier to navigate. The congress of Sheldons had been good practice after all.

Sheldon chuckled, "Hopefully, your friendship with Penny and Bernadette won't be so much work, huh Amy?"

Amy stopped cleaning, "Who is Bernadette?"

"Penny's friend…" Sheldon stopped himself to censor his knowledge. He knew Howard's wife's name from the congress, but had forgotten that in this reality he hadn't met her yet. "I think I met her once in the elevator when she visited Penny. Anyway, poor Raj can drink, huh?" Sheldon kept his eyes away from her, hoping that lie would just go away.

Amy went back to cleaning, "Yes… though he no longer has selective mutism, I think he still gets nervous around unknown women, and I think it's a way for him to cope. I told him to get a dog or something."

Watching her move around his kitchen as if it were her own, reminded him of the question that had been rumbling through his mind all night and was now bursting to the surface.

"Amy. I would like to ask your opinion on something, I hope you will have an open mind."

"Of course, Sheldon." Amy paused her work and gave Sheldon her complete attention.

"When is your apartment lease up?"

Amy almost dropped the towel, "Um… my landlord wants me to sign a six months lease again… um why Sheldon?" She took a deep swallow and locked eyes on him. He seemed as cool as ever.

"Well, Leonard has asked to move in here and it may not seem as crazy as it sounds. I heard he can be a taxing roommate, but not completely intolerable." Sheldon looked away and thought out loud, "I just need to get a thermostat with fixed settings."

"I think that is a great idea to have Leonard as a roommate. You could really get accustomed to people and create a social circle. I know that he can be very kind and patient."

"Yes. I love that in people." Sheldon's mouth curled up on the side and his eyes bore into her for a long second before he added, "I think he believes courting Penny will be aided by close proximity. He doesn't realize it would aided more if he would stop his constant bumbling, don't you agree?"

Amy's was only half listening to him, "Oh… yes.. well. What does that have to do with my apartment?"

"Well, I wouldn't want him to move in too close to when you do. That would be awkward when we have to kick him out."

Amy dropped the towel. She quickly picked it up to find Sheldon watching her every move. He appeared to not be joking, but Amy couldn't be sure. It had only been a two weeks since she had met him and she was not yet fully familiar with his facial expressions or body language.

"Sheldon! Don't be silly! Why would I move in here?"

"Well, you will have to eventually. I mean once we are married, living with Leonard will be difficult…"

Amy's jaw dropped and she held onto the counter, "Sheldon.. Are you asking me to marry you?"

Sheldon let out a chuckle, and waved his hands, "Oh hell no! When I ask you it won't be over the kitchen counter while you're using Windex. No sirree little lady. It will be special. You'll see." He winked at her but Amy was still slack jawed. "I heard of a guy who proposed with an onion ring. I'm not that stupid, Amy." He shook his head and laughed.

However Amy wasn't laughing, but was instead stammering, she said. "Sheldon… it's only been two weeks... That's all we've known each other. We haven't even had a second date and you are talking about marriage?"

Sheldon stood up and cocked his head to the side. He was on uncertain ground, "Um… I guess when you put it like that…I'm not ready for that either, truth be told. However I like to plan ahead. It's what I do!" He shrugged his shoulders and went back to gathering the trash.

Amy didn't know what to say as she continued to clean in silence. After they were done, Sheldon walked Amy down to her car. She had kept her head down the entire time, mulling over his words and plans. Sheldon was oblivious to her confusion.

"I am looking forward to our date, Amy." He smiled and brushed an errant strand of hair off her face. Amy pulled away slightly, but then relaxed as she felt his fingers glide down her jaw to her chin to lift it.

He could see her confused eyes, and finally he frowned. "What did I do?"

"Nothing Sheldon… you're fine." Amy looked away from him and scrambled for her keys. Sheldon stopped her hands and held them.

"Nope… I know I fuc…. screwed up. I shouldn't have asked about Leonard? Or you didn't want all the company? I messed up somehow. I know it." Sheldon sucked in his bottom lip and looked at the ground.

Amy placed her hand on Sheldon's cheek, "Sheldon… talking about marriage when we haven't gone on more than one date is a little premature, that's all. You just alarmed me."

"Oh… Well… I just thought…" Sheldon looked around the parking lot as if the cars suddenly fascinated him. Amy used her hand and brought his face back. She smiled at his worried brow and ran her fingers over it to try and smooth it out. He swallowed and said softly, "I made an assumption again, forgive me."

"Nothing to forgive, Sheldon. I love planning ahead, believe me." Amy rubbed his cheek and pulled her hand back slowly. "Hold those thoughts for the future, okay. I'm not planning on going anywhere." Amy lifted up on her tip toes and placed a kiss on Sheldon's cheek.

Sheldon held onto her waist as she kissed him. He could smell her hair in the slight Pasadena summer air. It had that hint of fruit he loved, but still could not place. Her lips were soft as petals on his skin. He wanted to turn his head to capture her mouth, but he was frozen, simply enjoying the moment. By the time she had pulled away, smiled and entered her car, Sheldon was finally able to move. He held his hand on his cheek and tried to wave goodbye.