Chapter 14

This is a repost of the chapter since for some reason part of the chapter was deleted when I posted it. Thanks to my first reviewers for catching it!

Thanks again to ShAmy4evr for everything, and the long nights of edits she does for our story! She is as much an author on this tale as I and I can't thank her enough.

Remember the angst I warned you about? It's afoot. However, unlike the show, this will be over in one "episode"... cough cough...

Bright and early on Sunday morning Sheldon texted Amy to confirm the time for the date. 6.00PM could not come soon enough for him, and a nice quiet evening alone with her sounded heavenly to Sheldon. As much as he had enjoyed the zoo, and hanging out with the guys during the week, so much social activity had been taxing for him. He hadn't been lying when he had told Amy that he was overwhelmed.

Though Amy had reassured him, he was still worried that his heated kiss had been too forward. In the list of perfect date activities, manhandling your woman was not listed, even from the sage Brotastic. She had been right to react how she had, and Sheldon vowed never to touch her again without permission.

He had no idea why he had lost control so easily, and that fact alone was what was upsetting him the most. It was as if there and then he wanted all the feeling of intimacy that he had long deprived himself of, in case it was taken from him. Kissing her had been the most exhilarating experience he had ever known and he just did not want it to end. He chuckled as he remembered number Three's story about sleeping with Amy when they had first met, their 'magical god damn evening', as he had called it. He realized now that he could completely understand number Two's actions.

However he had to be cautious. He did not think that Amy was ready for that kind of behavior, he also feared that she was not prepared to return his intense feelings for her. Sheldon felt as if he were on a seesaw. On one hand he thought that it was just a matter of time before they would be together. It was fate, or as near as a person who didn't believe in such hokum could accept.

However, each night as he heard the door close when she had gone home after dropping him off from work and a shared cup of tea, the uncertainty would creep in, telling him that he was deluded, a caricature of himself with his wishful thinking. Some nights, those voices seemed so loud that he could almost hear them sniggering in his room.

And these voices echoed now in his head as he got ready for their date. He could hear a thud thud thud behind the taunts as if his heart was beating through his head. He tried to quell the noise, but again he heard thud thud thud. For one brief moment he thought that he actually was crazy, till he realized what it was.

He raced to the door and swung it open to find standing before him a beaming Amy Farrah Fowler. She was comfortably dressed for the evening in a loose cardigan and tight jean skirt. She made no indication that she was upset over his delay at opening the door as she held out a bag of snacks. "Good evening, Sheldon! I brought some snacks for us."

Sheldon let out a breath, and smiled. His fears started to recede in his mind especially after she placed the bag on the counter and pulled out a package of Red Vines proving how well she already knew him. The guys had revealed Sheldon's snack addictions to her after their Star Wars marathon.

Sheldon looked down at her shapely posterior hugged in tight denim. "Oh sweet lord…"

Amy looked over her shoulder to see Sheldon's mouth open, and couldn't help but give him a coy grin.

Then before he could say another word, Amy marched over to him with a determined stare. She grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him down to her. Sheldon barely had time to take a lungful of air before Amy pressed her lips against his with such force he almost had to take a step back. Nonetheless, within seconds, he recovered his footing fully and wrapped his hands around her waist pulling her close to his chest, returning the surprise kiss with enthusiasm. The kiss lasted for only 15 seconds, but it was enough to completely drown out any doubt he had. He pulled back to see Amy looking at his lips and blinking rapidly. She was chewing her lips as she slowly pulled away.

"WOW!" Was all Sheldon could get out.

"Yes... well. I didn't want any awkwardness tonight over kissing and the like, so I thought I would get the tension off the table, so to speak." Amy cleared her throat, "So… Star Trek?"

Sheldon shook his head with a sly smile and rubbed her shoulder, "Oh my sweet vixen, I have so much to teach you." He leaned down and whispered in her ear, "Come on, now. Let's start the movie which by the way, is called STAR WARS!" But he continued to massage her shoulder and run his hands over her back. "Unless you need me to show you what this brilliant neuroscientist taught me about the central nervous system."

"God, you are good student." Amy hadn't moved as he was touching her. Despite her audacious actions and words earlier, she was still tense from anticipation. His impromptu massage was just too good to pass up. She melted into his touch, which encouraged him to continue to rub her shoulders and caress her back.

"Wow, Sheldon you need to take up massage therapy. Is this what you were doing with that blond?"

"Who, Penny? I would never give Penny a massage. Her husky shoulders would take eons to get limber. Let Leonard do that line backer's shoulders." Sheldon continued to rub Amy, but she pulled back and cocked her head as she glared at him.

"No, Sheldon, not Penny... The day we were supposed to have Chinese. You were in the laundry room. I heard you." She glared at him.

Sheldon just smiled, and said with condescension, "Oh, come on now, Amy. You're mistaken. I was never in the laundry room with any blond." He swallowed, but his eyes never left hers.

Amy breathed through her nose, then asked, "So, the woman who lives upstairs. You have never touched her?"

"Nah… Just you and given how tight your back is right now, I have my hands full, huh little lady?"

Amy asked again, "Never touched her?"

"Nope. So do you want to start the movie?"

Sheldon turned quickly to the couch but Amy stood her ground, "You're lying."

Sheldon rolled his eyes, and slumped his shoulders as if the conversation was exhausting him, "Amy, come on. Why would you say that? Let's sit."

Amy waved her hands at Sheldon and shook her head, "No…No. I know you were in the laundry room with her, I heard you. I know she was with you because I heard her moan at the pleasure of your touch. I know this for a fact, and it was confirmed by Penny. She told me that Alicia… that's her name, Penny said she upset you."

"You spoke with Penny about it?" Sheldon licked his lips and continued to stare at Amy with wide eyes that never blinked.

"Yes… I also know that you have never met Bernadette. I spoke to her, and she has NEVER seen you! I had to describe you! I also know you didn't hurt your hand cleaning your mysteriously unreliable bike! That is what I know! What else don't I know Sheldon?"

"NOTHING AMY! I didn't know you had spoken to Penny or I wouldn't have…" Sheldon stopped realizing what he had said as Amy stepped further away from him. .

"OR WHAT? YOU wouldn't have lied to me? Do you think I'm stupid? That you are such a genius that NO ONE WILL FIGURE IT OUT?" Amy's voice was rising as her anger and hurt increased.

Sheldon frowned and walked toward Amy pleading with her, "No, no… It's not about.. Amy please.. Let me talk to you… Please!"

But Amy wouldn't look at him. She was now questioning everything, every word, every touch, each kiss. Was it really all a lie?

Amy paced around the room, with Sheldon following her, trying to explain. Each time he reached out to touch her she would pull her arm away in disgust.

"I am sorry about Bernadette, I thought… I thought I had seen her. It must have been another woman." Sheldon held back his explanation of why he knew about Penny's friend. How could he tell her he had met five copies of himself and not have her think he was crazy? In fact some days, he thought he was crazy.

"How do I know what you say is true? I mean… You lied about that woman, what else Sheldon? What frightens me is that you did it so easily! No rise in heart rate, no tensing of muscles. It's like it's a part of you." Amy stopped and gave him a skeptical glare.

"Amy … please.. I just didn't want to hurt you.." Sheldon was near frantic now.

"Hurt me? Lying to me hurts me! How can I trust you? How can I know you aren't just humoring me? HUH? IS the just a big joke, you liking me?"

"NO Amy of course not!" Sheldon shook his head, exasperated by Amy, but not realizing how much trouble he was in.

"HA! Why should I believe you? You come out of nowhere, like a man from my dreams with your strong arms, blue eyes and high intelligence. You say all these wonderful things, but is it all a joke? You say you like me, but is that really true, or just something to pass the time of day? Will I wake up in a week locked in a sauna with an otter?"

"Amy… please… you're not making sense!" Sheldon put his hand on Amy's arm, grasping what he could of her wool sweater but he could only clutch it for a second before she had moved again.

"NO Sheldon! It is you who don't make sense! How can a man like you be interested in me! You have blond actresses falling all over you, so why should you be interested in me? What did Alicia say about me? Ah…Yes… That I was mousey and did not deserve you. Is that what you think? Did you have a quiet chuckle that your 'mousey' girlfriend could not even make out with you without having a panic attack? For years I have avoided romantic notions and then you come along. You talk marriage and love, and like a fool I let my guard down, and you make me want them more than anything! Why do you tease me like that? How cruel can you be?"

"Amy… I just want to explain... Damn it Amy, stop it please!" He reached for her again, she turned her body away from him, but this time he held onto her arm with a tight grip.

Amy didn't hear a word, as she continued voicing her thoughts, "I knew it was too much to hope, I knew it. I should have known better… I should know…" Amy pulled her arm away. The same arm that the girls who said they were her 'friends' had held while the boys laughed and pulled down her skirt. It was the same arm that nearly broke when she was running away from the girls who laughed at her gorilla hands. It was the same arm that man had held as he told her he wasn't interested in her at all, and he just kissed her to shut her up. She always trusted and it bit her back every time. She thought she would have learned her lesson by now.

"Amy…I try not to lie, I do… I just don't want to hurt you. I… love you!"

Amy stopped and turned around as if he had slapped her, "Yesterday when you said that, you said you misspoke, now you say it again? Which statement do I believe Sheldon? Which is the truth? I don't even know… I mean… Did you really need help getting your job? Or those books, huh? Where are all those books I helped you with? What really happened with Bert? With Penny's ex-boyfriend? That is how you hurt your hand, isn't it? Did you break his nose? I knew it was you!"

"He was going to kill Leonard! I just defended him, I'm sorry. I didn't want you think less of me for fightin'" He hung his head, but Amy had no sympathy.

"I can't believe it…" Amy's mind was reeling through every negative thought she had had over the last two weeks, "Are you doing this as a bet with Howard? To see how far you can get me with me? Am I a bet? Just a joke to you guys? Are you really not interested in the goddess living next door to you? Are you blind? Do you even like Neil Diamond?"

"Amy please…"

Amy shook her head, and crossed her arms to cover her chest, "No.. I can't do this…"

"Amy…"

"I can't be with a man who I can't trust." Amy grabbed her purse and threw it over her shoulder.

"No… Amy… NO!"

"I'm sorry Sheldon, but I can't be your girlfriend anymore."

Amy held onto the strap for strength and reached for the door. She heard foot steps behind her, but she opened the door anyway, only to have is slammed shut by a large arm over her shoulder bracing against the door.

"Please. Just a moment, Amy." Sheldon was breathless, and with a dry raw throat, he begged her again, "Please… Don't go… Please… I lie so you will be with me. I lie so I won't lose you. Please don't make it real. Please."

Amy dropped her head between her shoulders knowing she couldn't take another step. Not because of him, but her own feelings. She sighed, and dropped her hand from the handle. She turned around and saw Sheldon's reddened face. Tears had not fallen yet, but that was only because he hadn't fully processed the impending pain. His hand was still against the door.

Amy stepped closer to him and he kept on looking at her, silently begging her to stay. His almond shaped eyes had drooped down and held back an unknown sorrow growing in his heart. He couldn't let her go.

His lip started to quake, "If you give me a moment. I swear, I will… I just…" Sheldon voiced cracked and shook with a tearless cry. He had ruined it all, and now he waited for Amy to decide if he was worth it enough to stay.

Amy dropped her purse and leaned into him, holding him to her.

He started rambling, "Amy… I got those books from the around the university and a retiring entomologist because I wanted you to come up to the apartment. I did need help with my job, I can show you the emails. My bike has worked since the first week, but I love spending time with you, so I said it was broken. I touched that woman in the laundry on that spot on her back just to shut her up and she made such a fuss, I told her that she must be lousy actress and she needed more lessons. And she said… while your mousy girlfriend doesn't deserve you. I let into her, Amy, I mean I really let her have it. I thought you didn't know what she said, and I didn't want her venom to hurt you."

His voice was cracking but he had to get it all out, "I told Bert exactly what I would do with all those rocks if he bothered you again. He didn't take it well, but I never touched him. I did punch out that guy in the parking lot for scaring Leonard. I don't like Penny, she's for Leonard. You are mine, Amy, not her. At least I hope you are..." He had to stop talking for a moment and catch his breath. Amy held onto him, and brushed her hand down his head to his neck.

He straightened up and released her, all except her hand, "And I am sorry, but I don't like Neil Diamond.

Amy let out a short laugh and broke the tension. She held back her own tears and bought him to the couch by his hand, "Not even a little bit?" She smirked.

"Not even at all. I'm sorry." He watched her reactions, but she was calm, almost nurturing him. He slumped down on his spot and confessed softly. "You know… I didn't used to lie like this. My momma would have my hide."

They sat quietly for a few moments to let Sheldon catch his breath. Amy held his hand and waited and then asked tenderly, "Why do you lie Sheldon? Most of those things, you could have told me. Even Neil Diamond!"

"It's just a defense mechanism, I guess. I got so worried I would screw things up with you. I didn't want you to know how needy I was, how scared, how angry. I just wanted to be what I thought you wanted. I lied so I could be that man."

"I don't need a fantasy man, Sheldon. I need an honest one so that I know that all of this isn't fake. You couldn't possibly understand. "Amy put her head down to hide her face with her hair, but Sheldon brushed it back so he could see her.

"I do understand, Amy. When I first met you, I thought, how on God's green earth did this happen? A woman like you, kind sweet, beautiful and smart as a whip and she is talking to me? But there you were, covered in coffee on the floor." He let out a short chuckle as the remembered her face.

Amy returned his smile, "Remind me to send you the dry cleaning bill."

"The best part was, I didn't run away. I wanted to. I even called my brother about it. That was why I didn't see you those days the first week. I had already fallen for you, and I didn't think I deserved you or that any of this would be possible."

"Truthfully, I felt overwhelmed meeting you as well."

Sheldon ran his hand down her face, and smiled. He swallowed and said, "I half expect this to be some kind of drug induced fantasy, but I've never taken drugs, so I better check that new coffee I've been drinking." The smile fell from Sheldon's face as he stared at Amy for moment before speaking again, "I just didn't want anything to mess this up especially some worthless home wrecker wanna be actress."

Amy sat up a little and pulled back her hair, "You lied to me so easily, Sheldon, it scared me and frankly, it still does. Did you always lie so much, or am I special? Too trusting."

Sheldon gave a half smile, "Well, you are special, but not in that way. I love that you are trusting, Amy. It shows you are not jaded, even though some of your stories about bullying make mine look tame. I didn't lie to you because I thought I could get away with it more easily. In fact, the opposite is true. Truth is, I lied a lot growing up, like a dog on a rug. I lied about everything. I don't know when it started….But I remember the first time I should have lied like it was yesterday." Sheldon looked down at his open hands, but soon Amy's hands filled them as she encouraged him to tell her the truth.

"When was that, Sheldon? Tell me."

Galveston, 1991

I was putting away my graduation cap and gown after a long tedious ceremony. George Jr had long since retreated into his room to call his girlfriend and Missy was playing with dolls or some such thing. I never knew what she did. Graduating High School at the age of 11 was supposed to be a happy occasion, but all I could remember was momma's rage. She was furious that daddy didn't show. It was around 10PM and daddy still hadn't come home. Momma was frantic and ready to castrate him.

I wanted to calm her down, "Momma, don't worry, he is only 5.7 miles away. He'll be home soon." I didn't realize what I had said till momma turned toward me with a confused, hurtful look.

"Baby… Do you know where daddy is?"

I did of course, he was out with that lady he had visited last Saturday. Daddy had told Momma he was taking me fishing to celebrate my graduation, but we ended up at her door before going fishing. Daddy told me to stay in the car for a few moments, and when he came out she followed him. She had the stench of some sickeningly sweet perfume. She gave me a sloppy kiss on my cheek and a cheap action figure for my graduation. As Daddy got back in the car I heard her whisper to him, about spending a longer time together on Friday. I didn't think that Daddy realized I had heard what she had said. He told me not to tell Momma about the visit, as the blond was an old friend and cos she was not a church goer, Momma did not like her. However I was glad that he was going to miss my graduation because I knew that he and Momma would only end up arguing as they always did.

"Baby, please tell me. I need to know." She ran her hand over my face and cupped my jaw. I had to tell her.

"I think he's with that smelly blond woman. She lives at 504 Post Hitch Lane. Its only 5.7 miles, however, if you take the highway, the cross Muller road…"

"That's okay baby… I know the way. You go to sleep now, I'll be back soon."

"Momma, I can't sleep without you in the house. And George always sneaks off with his girlfriend."

"Shelly, don't you worry about George Jr. He'll be here and Missy too. I will be back soon, just read your books. Read this one on the strings. You like that one, doncha baby?"

Momma handed me the String Theory book the bully had pummeled me with the week before. I sat back on the bed and watched her as she blew a kiss to me. Then she closed the door and I heard her car screech out of the driveway.

I couldn't sleep. Between that book and waiting on momma. It was 2:37 in the morning before I finally heard the door open. I rushed out of my room to find daddy. He was stumbling around the room, lookin' for the light switch. I turned it on and walked over to him, looking behind him. She wasn't there.

"Shelly! My Shelly boy! Well, if it aint my boy genius! Come here, son. I got you something for your graduation!" I walked closer to daddy. He reeked of that sick, sweet smell. I could see his shirt was all undone and he had blond hairs on his shoulder.

"Here boy, come on now." Daddy pulled me near him and then reached in his coat pocket and pulled out a brown bottle. "I got ya beer, son! Now you are a man! Good on ya.." He tapped my shoulder and stumbled through the room.

"Where's momma?"

"How the hell should I know? Probably at church, let's pray she pulls that stick out her ass." Daddy went to his chair and slumped down.

"Where's momma? She went to look for you!"

"Well, she didn't find me, did she?" Daddy smiled through his stained tobacco teeth. Then his eyes narrowed on me. He could barely focus, but all his attention was on me. "Wait… did you tell you momma where I was tonight?"

I didn't want to say, I just asked again, louder, "Where's momma?"

"God damnit Shelly! You couldn't lie could you? You had to go on and tell your fucking mother everything! Christ! She's out there tonight cause of you, Shelly! She'd be home if for once in your life had you had just kept your fuckin mouth shut. God Damnit!" Daddy reached for the phone, but before he could stumble to reach it, it was ringing. I hoped it was momma, but I was wrong. I could hear the man on the receiver:

"Mr. Cooper… is this Mr. George Cooper?"

"Yes…" Daddy tried to sit up and sound sober.

"Sir…This is the Galveston Police. There seems to have been a fatal accident involving… one… Mary Cooper.. Is that your wife?"

"Yes…"

"Sir… you need to get County Medical center. She didn't make it, sir"

Daddy dropped the phone without saying another word. The man on the other end of the line was still talking, but dad didn't hear him. He just stared off into space.

I didn't understand. Didn't make it where? I asked him again, "Where's momma? It's not that difficult a question. She was looking for you. Did she find you? Did you see her? Where is she, daddy?"

He glared at me like I had cut him, but his bloodshot eyes couldn't focus on me. He just slowly blinked and swayed with drink.

He said nothing. By this time, Missy and George Jr. were up and staring at my dad. George went to the phone and picked it up. I could hear him talking to the police man, but I didn't care what he said, I just wanted to know where momma was. Even Missy asked daddy where she was, but he ignored her too.

I asked again, this time louder, "Where's momma?"

He just looked at me. Blank and emotionless. I asked again. And again… And again..

"Where's momma? Where's momma? Where's momma? Where's momma? Where's momma? Where's momma? Where's momma? Where's momma? Where's momma"

Next thing I felt was sting against my face and the taste of metal in my mouth. Daddy struck me so hard with the back of his hand, his wedding ring scraped across my cheek. I stopped talking and said nothing. He looked at me in horror, I think it was the blood coming off my lip.

"Oh god, Shelly… I … Oh god…I'm…." Daddy grabbed me, and held me tight. He started to cry and shake. I didn't cry, or anything, just stiffened up, like crinoline. I just wanted to get away from him. I didn't want that stink on me. I didn't want his tears on me. I didn't want to smell his breath or hear anything. I just wanted to know where my momma was.

All he could finally say was, "She's gone, son. She's gone…"

Sheldon finished his story and leaned back into the couch. "That doesn't explain my actions. I … I don't know why I told you that story. I never told anyone that. I really don't know why."

Amy put her left arm around Sheldon's waist and leaned into his chest, as Sheldon kept hold of her right hand "Maybe you needed to at the moment."

"I should have lied to her, Amy. It's was my fault she was out there. I told her where to go, and I couldn't keep my damn yap shut."

"That's your father's guilt talking, not reality. He had a dose of displaced anger, and I bet it wasn't just that one time was it?"

Sheldon's head bowed, and answered quietly, "No, it wasn't."

Amy could feel him start to shake and felt one tear fall on her hand, then another. Sheldon's voice was small when he spoke, cracking, and shattered, "Why couldn't I lie then, Amy? I should have. She wasn't meant to be out there, I was the only one who told her."

Sheldon thought back to all the Sheldons who still had their mothers. Did they have the same thing happen? Were they able to tell her not to go? Or were their father's sober that graduation night. He would never know, but it didn't matter. The pain was fresh again and reminded him of his biggest regret.

Amy was confused by his statement, but continued to hold him. "I did that. I told her… I told her…" Sheldon started to tremble. Amy sat up and pulled him closer to her, his head rested on her shoulder as he cried for the first time over his mother's death. All the times his Meemaw said it was okay to cry, he didn't. All the folks at the funeral who just held him and cried, he never reacted. He shut down and pushed it all away. Afraid that crying would make it real. At that moment on the couch with Amy, it was as real as ever but he finally felt safe enough to cry.

Amy said nothing, she just continued to hold him in her arms as he sobbed. After a while, the shaking subsided and he started to breathe normally, but he kept a tight grip on Amy who never let him go. Eventually he raised his head and glanced down to her as she tilted her head up to meet his eyes.

"I'm sorry for my outburst Amy. I haven't thought about that day for a while."

As Sheldon pulled away, finally releasing his grip of iron, Amy smiled "I think that is what you want to believe, but I think that day has never left you and haunts you every day as does how your father handled it."

"He tried to make up for it for a while. He felt guilty too I guess. He quit drinking for about two years and made me stay home so we could all be together. He wanted to keep the family as she would have, he even made us all go to church." Sheldon snorted out the next sentence, "How the hell would he know what she would have done, huh? He never listened to her when she was alive."

Amy handed Sheldon a tissue. "What did he do?"

"He started all kinds of crap with us. He made Missy continue to have dance lessons because she was clumsy and awkward. She is tall like me, and wasn't very lady like, according to dear ol' dad. George Junior was put in football, even though he sucked at it, all because Dad wanted him to get a scholarship like I did. He stopped my dance lessons, not manly enough, and instead I had to start exercising and boxing so the bullies would back off. Did he care what WE wanted? NO! It was all what he thought we should do. Selfish bastard... "

Amy let out a sigh and in a calm voice she asked him more about his father, "That sobriety didn't last did it?"

"No… I knew it wouldn't too. His true nature was shown through that empty glass like a microscope lens." Sheldon swallowed and said with a bitter tone, "Alcoholics are the most selfish people around. They think they are smarter than everyone else in the room too. When you put that bottle to your mouth, you are sober and you made that decision to drink on your own. You know what the hell you are doing and do you care how it will affect the people around you? No. Do you see the confusion on the faces of the people around you? No. All you see is that bottle."

Amy placed her hand his and said with a smile, "Sheldon, I think your father didn't know how to be a dad, let alone a single parent. It was thrust upon him and everything he made you and your siblings do was out of fear. Afraid his son would not get into college, afraid his daughter would be laughed at, or his youngest son would teased and beat up. His fear drove him to make bad decisions, but the intent was there. He cared for you; he just didn't know how to show it. He was afraid of screwing it up."

Sheldon narrowed his eyes as he thought for a moment, then he let out a chuckle, "Boy, does that sound familiar." He reached up and placed his hand on Amy's face. She closed her eyes and leaned into it.

Sheldon pulled her closer to him and wrapped his arms around her. She nuzzled onto his warm chest and let out a sigh. His chest was so inviting, like a firm pillow doused in pheromones. She could rest in his arms like this for hours and not even notice. In fact, she did.

After such an exhaustive evening the couple fell asleep on the couch together. Around 3 AM, Sheldon woke up with Amy still cuddled to his breast. He combed her hair with his fingers and thought over the things she had said to him.

Amy stirred awake, shocked that she had fallen asleep. She darted off Sheldon's chest with a start, "Oh dear, I am sorry. I just…" Sheldon didn't listen to her, he just drew her back on his chest and released a sigh.

"Best sleep I've had in weeks." Sheldon looked down at her smiling up at him, "Wanna get some more?"

"Sure, but I need to wake up and head toward home around 6." She let out a yawn, "I need clothes."

"Next sleep over, bring an extra set, okay?"

"Okay… and a night gown."

Amy kicked off her shoes, and swung her feet on the couch to become more comfortable. Sheldon slumped down so they could lie prone. He smiled as he remembered something. "Um… Amy… when we were fighting, you said that you wouldn't be my girlfriend anymore."

Amy smiled and nuzzled even closer to her warm bedfellow, "Yes… Yes I did."

Sheldon gulped and asked, "Point of inquiry, doesn't that statement imply you WERE my girlfriend?"

"It would seem so." Amy rubbed her hand over his firm chest and pectoral muscles and let out a sigh.

Sheldon shifted his weight and slid down the couch further while he brought Amy with him. They were lying on the couch together, wrapped up in each other like a double helix. He was tracing outlines on her back with his hand in a mindless pattern as he crafted his words.

Sheldon cleared his throat and asked, "So… um… can you be classified as that… um… again, or did I irrevocably harm my chances of the privilege of being Amy Farrah Fowler's main squeeze?" He smirked at her and gave her squeeze for added affect.

She nudged him and looked up with a bright smile, "Well, when you put it like that, I guess the honor is yours. Now hush, I need more beauty sleep, if that is okay?"

"It's perfect Amy. Just perfect." Sheldon let out a yawn, "But the last thing you need is more beauty sleep… There is just so much a man can take, woman!" He fell back asleep within minutes.

A/N: Phew.. we made it through the angst... or did we? dun dun dun... Amy still doesn't know about the congress of Sheldons! Oh my!