Chapter 21

Thanks again to ShAmy4evr for Beta reading this chapter.

Now about the Sex Advice for the new couple! Just remember, Shamy is not the ONLY new couple, yes? Besides, who knows everything about everything? I will let you read and find out!

Also, a little long distance Texas for ya'all! Yee haw!

It was past 10 PM by the time Amy finally left for the evening. Sheldon had tried to persuade her to stay the night, but Amy wasn't prepared at all for a stay over. He had suggested that perhaps she could leave an extra set of clothes, a nightgown and toiletries in future for just such an occasion. Sheldon added, "Or no nightgown, that's fine too."

Amy had to grin at the suggestion and agreed to prepare for their next sleep over that weekend. She gave him a kiss that kept him up for most of the night fantasizing about what he would have done if she had agreed to stay. The time on the exercise bar, and the extra soap in the cool shower did help him, but it was going be a long week without Amy. Tuesday was his time with Bert, Wednesday Comic book store, Halo night on Thursday, and Friday, she had dinner plans with her mother.

After another hour of tossing and turning, and realizing that if he was not going to get much rest that night, he got up to work on his project, and by the wee hours of the morning, he had three more white boards filled, and one proposal edited. Across town, Kripke was furiously writing out his proposal with Sheldon's ideas. By 9 AM, Gablehauser had been given two proposals. One that would eventually win a Nobel Prize and one that would bring shame on the author. The question was whose?

Tuesday evening came, and Sheldon wondered what sin he had committed to be subjected to the abomination of a rock show. It was as if the world of science had genuflected at the altar of ignorance and boredom. Guilt had made him say yes to Bert's pleading request for a companion. Guilt over his actions in frightening poor Bert, guilt over his lying to Amy, and the hope that the act of falling on the sword of science, giving up his Cheesecake Factory dinner and precious time with Amy would redeem him and offer him absolution. After 8 hours of Bert cooing over bits and bobs of dust and dirt, Sheldon had had his fill and he just wanted Bert to manumit him of this torture. Sheldon wondered if there was a universe that he would ever be interested in the world of Geology. There was not a chance.

Entering his lonely apartment, the only thing that gave him solace was the knowledge that Amy would pick him up for work in the morning. And their short daily rides would have to be enough to tide him over for the week.

He had called Amy as soon as Bert dropped him off at Los Robles to tell her about this day with Bert and was eager to tell her all about Carneys. However Amy had other ideas and had wanted to hear about the rock show. Amy had been proud of him for not only putting up with a day of pseudo-science, but also the crowds of people that had been there. Hordes of Geologists and Sheldon hadn't punched one of them. Suddenly Sheldon realized that the day with Bert had been the ultimate test of his aversion to stupid people.

"You had me do that on purpose, didn't ya, you clever vixen!"

"Let's just say, your therapy is complete." Amy said softly to Sheldon, "I'm very proud of you, Sheldon. You really are remarkable."

Sheldon swelled up with pride and his smile would not abate, "Thank you, Amy." He thought for a moment, "I don't have to do that again though do I?" He said a little nervously.

"Never. You have nothing to prove. To me or anyone. If you can handle a ride in that clown car of science, so to speak, you can handle anything Sheldon."

"Good, cause I hate clowns..." Sheldon smiled and hung with Amy just as he arrived at home.

Sheldon entered 5A and shook his head in wonder as he said his goodbyes. Now that he was back home he had intended to spend a few more hours before retiring, working on his theory, however before he could start his phone hummed on his desk. He was across the room in a single step, hoping it was Amy. But the accent on the other end told him one thing: It was going to be a long night:

Missy started her interrogation: "Shelly! Why in the hell has it been over week and I haven't heard hide nor hair from you? What's gonna on with that lady friend? When are you comin' home? Are you bringin' her? Did she like the "woman" food? What's the deal with that.. Hold on… Hold on.. Junior wants to say somethin'," Sheldon could hear some muffled sounds and then his brother's deep sigh.

"Well… you gone and done it, haven't ya? I got to deal with all these women folk up in here. They bug me ever' day about your lady love. You best be sendin' off her picture, with a DNA sample, or I'm liable to get strung up… I mean, really… what is gonna on? You guys still datin'? Did it work out after you pitched your fit… What's her name again? Annie? Did you tell Annie how you feel about her yet, or are you too chicken? Lookie here, Shelly, you ain't got time to waste! You may be my younger brother… but lord a mercy… Hold on…" Sheldon heard half a conversation through a mumble of sounds before a younger voice got on the line, one with a crack anytime he spoke too fast and too high, which was often when he was talking to his uncle. Sheldon couldn't get a word in as his nephew rattled off the latest all important news:

"UNCLE! Guess what!? I got the new expansion pack for Mystic Warlords of Ka'ah! It's so awesome! Ancient Greece meets Vampires! My Dionysius Slayer is epic! He turns blood into wine, and starves out the Vampires. OH! And Josh said if I stop makin' eyes at his sister…he'd trade me his Hera Helsing card. UNCLE! It's so awesome… you can totally… Hold on… Oh man!" The boy's voice cracked, "I NEVER GET TO TALK TO UNCLE SHELDON! FINE! Hold on, Uncle…"

Though Missy held her hand over the phone Sheldon could hear every word, "You and your Uncle can talk about that darn card game anytime JAKE!"

Missy's voice returned to the phone speaking softly, as if the tone would get Sheldon to squeal. It did not.

"Now Shelly… tell me more about Annie! Junior said that she was science lady? Like a rocket scientist, like you? Have ya'all… you know…done the deed…" Sheldon thought he heard a slap and it seemed that Missy had dropped the phone. When she got back on the line, her diction was stilted, "Sorry Shelly. It seems that someone else here is waitin'."

The next sound he knew instantly and within a moment it soothed him like no other. The voice that came across the phone was strong as honeyed whiskey and just as sweet.

"Hello Moonpie… how you doin'?"

Sheldon smiled, sank back into his spot and let out a sigh, "Hey there Meemaw. I see you got your hands full."

"Yep… I got these two wiggle-waggling about like a bunch of baby ducks."

"Or a hen house." Sheldon snorted and Meemaw laughed that heartfelt chuckle that he loved so much.

"Yep. Now, you tell me how you're a doing, Moonpie. Tell your ol' Meemaw, now. I ain't gettin' any younger ya know."

Sheldon started to tell his Meemaw about the past few weeks, his meeting Amy, his new friends and his latest theories. And though he thought that he was keeping most of the salacious details to his chest, ol' Meemaw knew how to draw out the facts, and like milk on sponge cake, she just soaked it all up. He didn't think he had spoken for long, but when he finally looked down at his watch, he saw that he had been speaking for over 45 minutes, and all he had really done was tell his grandmother about Amy. She never interrupted, she knew better. Meemaw knew that the best way to open up Sheldon Cooper was to let his mouth run and you'd find bits of gold in his talk. Meemaw heard all she needed to for that night.

"Well, Shelly. Sounds like your doin' just fine. Just fine indeed."

Sheldon couldn't help but smile back into the phone, "I am, Meemaw. I'm happier than I've ever been. It's an odd feelin', being happy. But I just might be getting used to it."

"Good to hear, Shelly. Now you let me get some sleep now. I'll be talkin' to you real soon, baby, okay?"

"Okay… and tell Jake to check the mail, I think he might be gettin' a package from me. Tell him to tell his buddy Josh that he will have to get used to Jake being around his sister. Good night, Meemaw."

"Night, Moonpie. Sleep good."

Sheldon did indeed sleep well that night, but only because he imagined Amy sleeping by his side. He even slept on one side of the bed, to get accustomed to the position. Sheldon woke up at his usual time the next morning and quickly finishing his exercises he went to take his shower. It would be almost two hours before Amy came to pick him up, as again she had suggested that she pick him up outside the apartment block, and he dreaded every lonely moment. He emerged from the shower to a comforting sound and a welcoming smell. There was humming coming from the kitchen and a smell of pastries and cooked bacon. He threw on his robe and treaded down the hall to find Amy Farrah Fowler cooking up a storm in his kitchen… Their kitchen, he hoped to say one day.

"Amy! What a surprise! Did ya use the key I gave you?"

"Yes, and I have one of mine for you." Amy nodded over to a key on his desk that had a Flash Key chain. Sheldon couldn't help but smile, though he did hope that soon they would only need one set of keys.

Amy poured him a cup of coffee. "I know I was just supposed to use it if there was a crisis." Smiling she added, "I know there are no Zombies, though given how you look before coffee I might have to change that supposition." Amy said as he handed Sheldon a steaming cup of his favored drink. He put the mug to his nose, and let the steam and aroma wake him.

"You're spoilin' me, Amy." He took a large drink from his perfectly brewed coffee, "I think I like it."

"I'm not spoiling you. Not yet… as soon as this bacon's done, then you can say it." She skipped over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "I know we agreed for me to pick you up later. I hope that I have not overstepped the mark, but I missed you yesterday." Amy looked down for a moment slightly embarrassed by her brazen actions, but her chin was raised by Sheldon's finger.

"I missed you as well, Amy and to be clear: You have not overstepped. You're perfect. Just perfect." Sheldon put his coffee on the counter, and wrapped his arms around her. As the bacon sizzled in the forgotten pan, Sheldon gave Amy the kiss he wished he could have given her last night. Softly, he brushed his lips against hers, tasting her by sucking on her bottom lip with his kiss. He pulled back only for a moment to see her eyes, and check if she was real. He leaned in again, gently slipping his tongue across hers, and then again as he savored her hands curled around his shoulder blades.

The aromatic black coffee that lingered on his breath was like a jolt to her system as well and it was only the smell of carbonized bacon that broke their heated morning kiss. Amy rushed to the smoking pan and pulled it off the stove.

"See what you do to me? Now go get ready before I ruin more of your surprise breakfast, and you take back your key." Amy put the pan in the sink and began to rinse and clean it. But before she could finish, Sheldon came up behind Amy, wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned into her neck.

"It's your key, Amy. It can be your house key… if you want."

Amy spun around with a soapy hands and surprised dropped jaw, "Sheldon… are you asking me…"

Sheldon gulped when he saw her face and worried that perhaps he had overstepped the mark himself, he quickly backtracked, before he made another erroneous assumption, "I would love that, Amy, but I know it's too soon. I am not askin', okay?"

Amy smiled, "Okay, I understand. Go get dressed, before I rip that thin robe off you. I need to make a note: you are far too tempting in the morning." She spun around and finished her task, but little did Sheldon know that her answer would have been 'yes'.

After a non-burnt breakfast, wonderful conversation on the drive and a quick kiss in the parking lot, Sheldon skipped toward his office. Work that Wednesday flew by, for which Sheldon was thankful. It was new comic book night, and he wanted to get a present for his nephew. At the comic book store, Sheldon purchased a special card for his nephew: Hera Helsing, plus a few expansion packs for good measure. It was hard to believe that this boy was the same little guy with chubby wrists he had coo'd over years ago. Now Jake is making eyes at girls, playing card games and having friends. Soon, he would be going to college and Sheldon knew from his extensive research that college was expensive. The future always came sooner than expected, even if time was a constant it seemed it was constantly getting away from him.

The guys were surprised his purchases for the evening were such bantam buys compared to his usual wallet busting bag.

Howard asked first, "Sheldon, what gives? You are buying light tonight."

"Gentleman, it occurred to me that I need curtail my recent spending spree. Future plans may require a large amount of capital, and I have dipped too far into my savings as of late. Although, I must admit, my comic book collection is a valuable asset, but I doubt Harvard will take my Flash issue 23 for tuition exchange."

"You planning on college? Sheldon, you already have three degrees! I think you're good. Don't be greedy dude."

"NOT ME!" Sheldon stopped short of telling them any more of his plans to save for his future offspring. Over the years, Sheldon's modest Cal Tech salary had been invested wisely and had done well enough that he had been able to send his sister and nephew a small amount every month as well as saving something to help with Jakes' education. It was not until recent weeks that Sheldon had actually felt the need to buy things for himself. However, if he ever needed to purchase a home for himself and Amy, or pay college fees for their genius progeny, he would need to start saving more soon.

"Ya'all should be thinkin' of the future. Especially you, Wolowitz." Sheldon noticed that Howard looked away from him at that comment, but he couldn't read his facial expression. "What's gonna on, Howard? Don't tell me you already spent your future offspring's' college money on robot women?"

"NO! Anyway, it would seem that a robot woman is likely to be my only option for a mate." Howard slumped down, losing three inches in height which he could ill afford.

Sheldon leaned back and crossed his arms, "Alrighty, what is gonna on? I practically gift wrapped that girl for you. You can't have screwed it up this soon?" Sheldon looked to Raj for confirmation.

Raj chimed in, "Yes… yes he can…"

Leonard rolled his eyes and dropped the bomb, "Howard and Bernadette had a date on Saturday, and things got heated. Howard was nervous and let's just say… No one was kneeling before Zod."

"A Superman reference? I hardly think that given his prowess, the man of Steel is a good allusion." Sheldon looked to Howard whose head was in his hands. "Wait, what about after our victory at paintball? Didn't you fix this already?"

Howard blew out a breath that puffed out his cheeks and admitted to the group the lie he had been telling himself, "I'm… taking it slow… you know… homeostatis."

Sheldon had to roll his eyes, "I think you have done enough, "Slow" for one evening. Okay, Wolowitz… I will give you some advice I heard long ago about pleasing women, but this is the last I will speak of it. Not something I like to banter around, but since you are a new couple… I feel the need to impart my knowledge."

Howard was grateful for all the help he could get.

Sheldon told the group in painstaking detail how a woman likes to pleasured, including different positions, the motions of the thrusts and especially foreplay. Sheldon treated the whole affair with a laissez-faire attitude and seemed nonplussed by his audience's drooling over every salacious detail.

"There is an angle you can hit the woman's supposed "G-Spot" if you tilt her at an angle of 16.5 degrees by lifting her hips. Your romantic oscillations will need to reach the right level of hertz. Most beds bounce at a few hertz, but depending on your amorous level, this could be increased. Remember, the resonance frequency will be roughly 1/(the square root of 2) or about 0.7 times slower when you are connected by your swim suit parts." Sheldon wondered whether to get a tablet out so that he could diagram the technique, but the boys seemed to understand. However he had to add a clarifying statement, "These calculations will need to be adjusted based on height, so your basic Euclidian geometry training will get a workout, to be sure. Given Howard went to MIT, I'm not surprised he's been having difficulty."

Leonard couldn't hold back his laugh, "I doubt MIT would have prepared Howard for sex!"

Howard had to agree, "That's for sure."

Raj beamed, "Hey! Who would have thought that being good at math would make us sex gods!"

Sheldon just snorted with derision, and continued his oration, including a foray into women's erogenous zones and something about the right arc calculation of a pendulum swing to achieve orgasm. However, Sheldon became lost in the analogy and went off on a tangent about Galileo's discovery during a church service that the pendulum swing of a chandelier shows that for small amplitudes, the period and frequency are unaffected by the amplitude.

And despite the brief digression into the period of oscillation, by the end of his lecture, the entire comic book store was straining to hear all the spicy techniques.

He finished off the lecture, "…and after you are done, don't just dismount her like a horse. Remember the goal of coitus is not just your pleasure, which is an added bonus, but also you need to make sure that she too is satisfied. Got it?"

All three men's mouths had been gapping open for the last 10 minutes. Finally Leonard spoke, "HOLY sex advice, Dr. Ruth! How long did it take for you to learn that?"

Raj was just as impressed, "Yeah, dude! You must have been a beast at Rice!"

Sheldon cleared up the confusion and with a shrug as he admitted, "Nah, I've never had coitus."

"Never had… Wait.. How do you know so much about women? Like all the advice you've been giving us?" Howard was confused by Sheldon's uncharacteristic silence.

Sheldon looked at Leonard who glared at him over his glasses. He could see Sheldon's deer in the headlights look and stepped in to help him, "He doesn't have to have sex to know about women. I'm sure he researched it."

Sheldon nodded, "Yes. Research. Besides, all that I just said I learned from my father's 16th birthday present to me."

"Your father gave you a sex book for your 16th birthday?"

"No…not a book. A blond named Bippsie. I paid her off not to touch me, but we had two hours on the clock and for some reason, she didn't want to help me with my Lego's. So, she told me all about her profession, though I have paraphrased some of her explanations for your somewhat more innocent ears, and I gave her some pointers for her algebra exam." Sheldon smiled remembering that on his 17th birthday, his father had brought Bippsie back and they had spent the evening working through her application for beauty school instead of whatever his father was watching on the loud porno video playing in the living room.

Howard just shook his head, "Your dad gave you a hooker for your 16th birthday?" Howard couldn't believe it, "My god! You had the best dad in the whole world!"

Sheldon snorted, "Hardly."

Howard shook his head, "At least he was there. Teaching you how to shoot rifles, telling you about football, getting you women. My dad left without a word. Bad father is better than none."

Sheldon thought about that for a moment as he remembered Amy's comments about how his father probably did care about his children, but just did not know how to show it. "Maybe… maybe you're right." He quickly straightened up and added before he became too emotional, "Point of the advice is this: Make her a priority and everything will be fine."

Howard smiled, "You're right, I think I will call Bernie up later."

The guys finished the night with a takeout and a lively debate on the new Star Wars film and the franchise in general, with Sheldon trying his best to circumvent any reference to Episode Four.

The next morning Sheldon was disappointed to receive a text from Amy telling him that she was running late and would meet him outside the apartment building rather than upstairs for their usual tea and chat before work. However he tried to put on a happy face for Amy when she arrived.

"Good Morning, Amy Farrah Fowler." he gave her a big grin and cheerful hello when he got into the car. However he noticed that though she smiled in return, she seemed a bit distracted.

"Good morning Sheldon. Sorry I am late."

After a short silence, Sheldon started to worry that this was not like their usual car rides. "Are you ok, your mother has not been hassling you again has she. I know our conversation was a little brief but I thought she was quite taken with me, after all I am a delight."

Amy's smile was a bit brighter. "Yes you are that, Sheldon. No it is not my mother, just stuff on my mind at the moment." Then changing the subject she added, "By the way, I have a lot of work to get through this morning so I won't be able to meet you for lunch as usual."

Sheldon could not hide his disappointment at this news, but he knew that she had been working hard to complete her report for the study and did not want to add any more pressure to her already heavy workload.

"I understand, but you know that I will miss seeing you, especially as this is Halo night, and Leonard will be driving me home."

By now they had arrived at the University, "I'll miss you too, but I'm sure you will have a great night anyway." After another quick kiss in the parking lot, Sheldon made his way slowly to his office unaware of the frown that was forming on his face.

However, Sheldon was soon lost in his work and without Amy coming to collect him, he lost track of time. It was only his phone buzzing, telling him he had a text from Leonard that he realized he was late for lunch. As he approached the guys sitting at the table in the canteen, he was just in time to hear Howard babbling to Leonard and Raj that he had rung Bernadette when he had got home last night and she had agreed to see him tonight.

Sheldon nearly dropped his tray as he wailed, "HOWARD, TONIGHT IS HALO NIGHT."

Leonard whispered to Sheldon as he dropped down in his chair, "All the help he can get remember?"

"Fine… fine…" Sheldon groused. This day just seemed to be getting worse. No early morning tea and chat with Amy who had also been unusually quiet on the way to work. He had been late for lunch because Amy had not collected him, and Amy would not even be joining him for what remained of his lunch time.

Sheldon suddenly had a bright idea, and without saying anything to the others he rang Amy to see if she wanted to be the fourth for their Halo match.

"Oh Sheldon. I really don't want to play silly computer games!" Amy took a breath and then said, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, Amy…" Sheldon wasn't accustomed to hearing the usual affable Amy Farrah Fowler sounding so flustered, "Amy, I know you don't think video games are beneficial… "

"More like a complete waste of time Sheldon."

Sheldon was undeterred, "Yes… yes.. but the Texas A&M 2010 study…"

"Hold up, you mean the one by Ferguson?"

Sheldon hearing the smile in her voice responded eagerly, "Yes… you know it?"'

"I do." Since Amy had started her new research, she could never resist any study about emotions, and was pleased that Sheldon seemed to know them all.

"Also, the 2014 study at University College in London showed that there is a direct correlation between hours playing games, and recovery from work stress. Or you could listen to ocean sounds. Specifically, the sounds of the tides, but that might lead to a discussion on Galileo's calculations on the osculation of tides, but we are still at work, and that is some saucy talk for the middle of the day." Sheldon's voice was winning the battle before it had begun, "Please, Amy. I miss ya…"

Amy let out a sigh, "Okay Sheldon. You got me with science and your math talk, you clever man. I'll come."

Amy agreed to play, as long as she could bring her electrodes and strap all the boys up so that she could measure their responses.

"Yeah bring your electrodes… not a problem." Overjoyed, Sheldon acquiesced to her demands, again without asking Raj and Leonard, who just sighed in resignation, as they were well used to Amy's unabashed need to strap everyone up to her EEG.

Amy had missed lunch with the boys because she had had to call her insurance yet again and she needed privacy for the call. However, she mostly needed strength. It was supposed to routine surgery, but Amy knew there was nothing routine about it.

"Hello, um… this is Amy Farrah Fowler… I am calling because I received my referral this morning…. Yes, with Dr. Blair…Yes…It's elective… Why can't I schedule the surgery? An ultrasound? Why? Before the surgery? Okay… Fine… Okay… Thank you." Amy took out her calendar and flipped through the pages. "No, I can't do it then. No, that doesn't work either. Do you have any dates for July? No, not near the Fourth…I will have to call you back about that date. Yes. I can get someone to take me home…" Amy put her head in her hand. "No… I don't have a husband, does that matter? Fine…Goodbye."

Gladys came in the room once Amy was off the phone, "Did ya call?"

Amy pushed back in her chair, and crossed her arms over her chest, "Yes, they tried to give me a hard time about it being too young to have this done. The nerve of them. It's my body!"

Gladys just shook her head, "I know, the insurance run around. They just don't want to get sued."

Amy took a deep breath, "Gladys… Can you take me?"

"Of course, Dr. Fowler. I'd be happy to."

Amy walked out of the little mirrored room and was about to go back to work when her phone rang again. The caller ID told her it was going to a long conversation: Mother

"Yes…" Amy rolled her eyes to Gladys as she listened to her mother reconfirm for the third time that she was coming for dinner the next day.

No sooner had she finished that call then she had Sheldon's call. Eventually Amy took a deep breath, brushed back her hair and donned her lab coat. She worked the rest of the day on her study and only looked up when she heard Sheldon's voice there to meet her to go home. She was quiet for most of the ride to the apartment, but her smile slowly returned as she whipped up a batch of brownies in Sheldon's kitchen while he enthusiastically explained the rules of the game of Halo. By the time the boys and the pizza arrived and they had all settled down for battle, Amy seemed to be back to normal.

The boys were impressed with Amy's prowess with the controller but the biggest hit of the night were the brownies she had baked, that and the fact that for some reason Amy had forgotten to bring her electrodes. Even Penny decided to join as soon as she heard that homemade brownies were being served as well as free pizza. Between bites, and blows to the enemy, Sheldon watched his girlfriend decimate the field with pride. More than once he had to point out to the group that his girlfriend was playing video games AND she could bake like Betty Crocker. Finally, the evening drew to a close, and the boys bid their goodbyes, with Amy staying a few extra minutes after to say her private goodbye to Sheldon.

"Thank you Sheldon. I needed that today."

"Anything you want to discuss? Something happened at work?" Sheldon furrowed his brow as he had a terrible thought, "Kripke didn't send you any texts, did he?"

"No… no. I just got a letter today. Something I was waiting for, and..." Amy voiced trailed off as she remembered the conversation she had with her mother:

"Amy… You did you get the approval for the surgery? I need to make my summer plans, dear, and I can't book the cruise if I have to take you to the doctor's office."

"Never mind mother, Gladys said she would take me."

Amy's mother was surprised, "Can't Sheldon take you?"

"No mother… he can't." Amy just rolled her eyes wishing she could get off the phone soon.

"Didn't you tell him about your surgery, Amy? You need to tell him. He might change his mind about you if he finds out you're… not… Well, let's just say, complete. I think time is running out."

Amy got up off the chair in her office in a huff and went to the mirrored room for privacy, "No, and it's none of your concern. I think Sheldon will be just fine with the news, and I will tell him when I am ready. Not before. I just need more time." .

Amy tried to dispel the memory, grabbing Sheldon by his shoulders pulled him down for a kiss. Taking advantaged of his gapped mouth she dove her tongue to taste every last sweet remnant of brownie off his tempting thin lips. She wrapped her arms around Sheldon's broad shoulders and held him a little tighter than normal. Sheldon fell into her heated kiss willingly, soaking up every brush of her soft lips and enjoying every lick of her tongue. Amy's urgent touch relaxed when Sheldon's hands cupped her face to hold her, telling her with just a simple touch that everything was going to be okay.

"You know you could stay, Amy. I'd love it if you did." Sheldon whispered, but Amy let out a sigh that told him she was going to say no. He didn't wait for her answer as he held her tighter. "I know you can't though… It's okay…"

Driving home, Amy tried to put the conversation with her mother and the implications of the letter behind her. She had had a wonderful evening, an even better good night kiss. The only thing Amy wanted to think about was her date with Sheldon on Saturday and savor the hints of chocolate still on her lips.

Sheldon was in the same state, unaware how much the evening had soothed Amy's soul. Friday would be a long and lonely evening, but he just had to wait till Saturday to spend time with her again and after their passionate kiss goodbye on this evening, Sheldon knew things were heating up between them. He debated about telling her about the congress of Sheldons, but felt that he just needed more time, not knowing that time was running out.

When Amy arrived at Los Robles on Friday morning, she could tell that Sheldon hadn't had much sleep as every white board in his house was brimming with formulas and figures in different shades of color. The white color of the boards were in stark contrast to the dark circles under his eyes reinforcing her belief that he must have stayed up most of the night after she had left. Without a word, she fixed a pot of coffee and started to make pancakes.

As she handed him his coffee, she asked with concern, "Sheldon, do you want to postpone our date Saturday? We can just do it next weekend. You need to sleep."

"Never! There is no way in hell I am canceling our date!" Sheldon caught his words, and licked his lips as he looked down. Amy didn't mention how his tongue was now a lovely shade of blue. He must have been sucking on the blueberry flavored markers again; a secret habit she knew Sheldon had. She smiled at his agile blue tongue and listened to the rest of his comment.

"Sorry, Amy… it's just… It is that I'm lookin' forward to Saturday, and I don't want to cancel. As I am not seeing you tonight, I'll work late, and I can sleep in on Saturday. I will get this all done and we can still have our weekend." He sipped his coffee and smiled at Amy over the rim, "You are staying with me, right?"

"Yes Sheldon. I would love that." Amy nudged him playfully, "I'll even sleep in the living room again."

Sheldon gave her a side grin, "I think we can do better than that." He kissed her on the forehead and smiled, "Good. It's all settled."

Amy reached up wondering if she now had blue on her forehead, "I think you need to brush your teeth Sheldon. Then I will fix you REAL blueberry pancakes to cure that craving you have for these markers okay?" Amy gave him a playful wink and started to put blueberries in the batter as Sheldon ran off to the bathroom.

After his exercises and shower, Sheldon sat down to perfect pancakes. She really was spoiling him and he loved every minute of it. He suggested that on Saturday she should bring her laundry so that they could do it together on Sunday, since Saturday was now "Amy's Day". In fact, he had now included "Amy's Day" as a special day in the relationship agreement along with May the forth. Laundry night was now bumped to Sunday. Amy agreed, not realizing that Sheldon's alternative reason. He had already cleaned out a drawer for her, in hopeful anticipation.

After a quick breakfast, the couple played a game in the car that energized Sheldon's mind, igniting an idea for his research. On a lark, Amy and he tried to figure out which material would be the best for making bubbles if the world glycerin supply was used up. This simple question made Sheldon think of alternate universes leaking into our own, like bubbles meeting and blending. He spent the rest of the car ride silent and thinking through his idea. Once or twice Amy glanced at her silent companion, but did not comment as she could tell that his mind was now completely elsewhere spinning it's beautiful intricate webs of science. After a brief kiss goodbye Sheldon, rushed off to his office to get his idea on his boards. He skipped lunch. Amy had joined the others and had explained that she did not think that he would want to be interrupted today. However after 8 hours his concentration was broken by a rap at the door. He thought that it was Amy come to say good bye, unfortunately it was Gablehauser, who entered Sheldon's office without invitation. Unlike his previous appearance in that room, Gablehauser now appeared glum as he gave Sheldon a sheepish grin.

"Dr. Gablehauser, what brings you here?" Sheldon knew exactly why he was there, but he hadn't expected the news that Kripke had got the grant so soon.

Gablehauser braced for the inevitable backlash that would be Dr. Sheldon Cooper's anger. It was his fault, he should never have raised Cooper's hopes. But who would have thought that Barry Kripke of all people would have come up with such a good proposal. Now he had to break the news gently or his star physicist would run off in a fit of pique.

"Well, Dr. Cooper, I have a little bit of bad news, and I thought that I should be the one to tell you."

Sheldon tried to act surprised, but he was pulling in his bottom lip not to smile, "Oh dear, is this about the MacArthur grant?

"Yes. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gotten your hopes up, but it seems that they went with Kripke's idea. Something about detecting slow monopoles at the North Pole."

Sheldon turned away from Gablehauser so he could hide his grin, "That sounds familiar. In fact, I did have that idea, but I didn't think it wouldn't work, so I gave up on it." He said in a strained voice as he tried to control his laughter.

Gablehauser ignored what he felt to be a snide comment from Sheldon as he could tell from his voice and rigid back that he was quite upset. "Well we will find out as Kripke is being sent to the North Pole to do the experiment this month!"

"Kripke is going?" Sheldon nearly choked "To the North Pole?" He had never expected that they would send him to the do the proposal. "For how long?"

"Three Months! He seems that he is less than thrilled, and suggested that you should go instead… Something about it being your idea...In fact, I was going to ask if you wanted to accompany…" Though it was evident that Sheldon was upset, Gablehauser was just grateful that he had been able to control his temper and not hit out at his boards as he had done in the past, and looking over to Sheldon's white board and gasped.

Gablehauser was no physics genius, but he could see that Sheldon was onto some paradigm shifting work that might just prove multi-dimensional theory. Gablehauser approached the board and pointed to a formula in particular that was as close as anyone had come to a grand unified theory, "Is that… Did you just?"

Sheldon shook his head, and moved to block his work from Gablehauser, "Not yet… But I'm close. See this is the part that I want to do for the experiment, but I don't need to go to a frozen wasteland to prove it. I just need access to the Planck telescope maps. If we look at the Foreground-cleaned Planck maps between 100 and 545 GHz, we might find a baryon to photon ratio is a factor of 65 larger than this universe." Sheldon's eyes lit with excitement that was contagious as he added with a smile, "A little conversation I had explaining sex positions and Hertz gave me this idea."

Gablehauser blushed up with confusion and worry, "I don't think that should be including in the paper, Dr. Cooper. Mrs. Davis is busy enough as it is."

"Of course. Besides, hertz is just one factor. I just need a little time. I can prove multi-dimensions exist. I know it. I can't be going off to the snowy Alps to drink hot chocolate in June!"

Gablehauser was impressed, "Oh Dr. Cooper, you aren't going anywhere. Sorry. No Geneva for you, yet! Not yet Cooper! "

"Ahh… that's too bad…but I got sneaky suspicion my next trip to Geneva will be for another reason."

"You keep on this path, and I think it will be Dr. Cooper." Sheldon's boss slapped him on the shoulder, and said with a large grin, "Good to have you back, Cooper!" Sheldon tried to smile at his boss as he turned the white board away from the door so that no one else could see his work. Gablehauser strolled out of Sheldon's office and went straight back to his own to call the board.

Gablehauser kicked his feet up onto his desk and smiled as he said into the phone, "Cooper could get CalTech another Nobel after all. Told you we shouldn't have tried to fire him!"

Friday evening had been a grueling one for Amy, who had to contend with hours of her mother's grilling her over Sheldon and their status. When she had let it slip that she was thinking that the relationship would be moving forward, her mother wouldn't let one thing go: When was she going to tell Sheldon about her surgery. Amy avoided the question and the conversation like a professional lawyer but her mother's final comment about Amy's appearance and her ability to hold onto a man forced her to cut the evening short, and she left without saying goodbye.

Amy drove home with the Bush song, "Glycerine" blasting from the car speakers. As line, "It must be your skin I'm sinking in…It must be for real 'cause now I can feel." Echoed in her mind, Amy pondered on how much she needed Sheldon, and was it too much. He blew the loneliness away, and at times he seemed to be the only person who really understood her. Another line from the song rung in her ears for the rest of the car ride from Orange County:

I'm never alone
I'm alone all the time
Are you at one or do you lie?

By the time Amy returned to her cold apartment, she was emotionally exhausted and spent the rest of the evening soaking in a warm bath thinking of her date tomorrow.

She gathered all her laundry, laid out her outfit and packed her overnight bag before falling asleep cuddling a pillow. Tomorrow, she would have the real thing, but for tonight, talking to 280 thread count cotton cushion as if it were her boyfriend would have to be comfort enough for the evening.

Saturday felt like a holiday to Sheldon. In fact, in honor of "Amy's Day" he was wearing his best clothes for their date.

On time as usual, Sheldon heard her familiar knock and his heart jumped in his chest. He opened the door with a smile that melted to a jaw drop when he saw Amy Farrah Fowler standing before him it the tightest pair of blue jeans he had ever seen. She watched his eyes glaze over her hips and thighs, and she couldn't help but curl up the side of her mouth as she followed his hungry eyes roaming over her like no man had ever before.

Sheldon finally croaked out some words, "Amy! You really got some jeans?"

Amy noticed Sheldon was dressed in his black slacks that fit him like a dream and a new striped button up shirt. She felt a twinge of regret that she hadn't warned him about her attire but the look on his face was worth it , "Yes. I told you I would someday..."

Sheldon gave her a piercing gaze, and nearly swallowed his throat with a huge gulp, "Remember how you said you wanted to surprise me… Well, little lady… You just did."

"Good…" Amy hid her smirk and walked into the apartment as Sheldon had been too stunned to make the invitation. Sheldon continued to eye her up and down as he held the door for her. Sweet lord… He thought, watching her stride past him. He remembered Number Three's story of meeting Amy in the theater when she wore tight jeans and thought to himself, 'no wonder he gave her Leonard's seat. Dear god, I'd give her everything.'

Amy strolled toward the beige chair and sat against the arm, while crossing her legs. "I hope I can still get the ride you promised."

Sheldon was still holding onto the door handle of the apartment for strength, "Oh yes… that's for sure." Sheldon watched her as she now moved toward the refrigerator. She looked over her shoulder to see Sheldon was still at the door. "I'll give ya a ride…"

A/N: Okay... a hint of angst. More importantly, next time, we finally get to see the rest of the date: Sheldon on his Motorcycle, Amy in Jeans, and justification for the rating change. Strap on a pair, folks!

PS Thanks for being patient with me on this story. I hope you are enjoying the slow ride. I know Amy will enjoy the ride next time! TEEHEE!