Chapter 24

Thanks again to ShAmy4evr and to you guys for being the best most patient readers a Fan Fic Author could hope for! FINALLY I am posting again after two trips and a lot of work.

I want to say thank you for giving me the time. You have all been so supportive! Thank so much

A little more Meemaw, cause we all need her! Not all is well in Shamy land, here. but you know I can't take too much angst!

The following morning Sheldon had texted Amy to advise her that Junior would be taking him to work that day. Despite the fact that Meemaw had insisted that she and Junior would be leaving at 6AM sharp, Sheldon had persuaded her to stay a little later so that he could at least show her his work place. Meemaw had told Sheldon that she was fine not visiting his fancy school, but it was all for show. Truth was, Meemaw was elated and wanted pictures of her genius grandson and now, his soon to be bride, to show the ladies at bingo.

However Junior having had a fitful night's sleep, was in no mood to drive the two of them to Caltech at 8:00AM, but as Sheldon pointed out, Junior owed him for interrupting them yesterday and the look on Sheldon's face told Junior he better do what he was told. Not only did Sheldon not want to miss the opportunity to show Meemaw his consummate work, but now that he had friends he wanted to show her off to them. Junior stayed in his truck and slept in an empty parking spot marked, 'Barry Kripke.'

Meemaw felt like royalty as Sheldon escorted her around the University and introduced her to everyone he met, including Dr. Gablehauser who had entered Sheldon's office as he was trying to explain to Meemaw the beauty of the equations on his whiteboard. And as Sheldon was now both literally and figuratively Dr. Gablehauser's blue eyed boy, he had insisted on taking Meemaw on a private tour of the planetarium. However as Sheldon wasn't too sure that Dr. Gablehauser's intentions toward his Meemaw were honorable, he chaperoned them.

The tour finally ended at Amy's lab, and much as Meemaw had been impressed with Sheldon's work it honestly just looked like a bunch of scribbles to her. But Amy's emotions study was something else entirely and it intrigued her. Sheldon was now overjoyed for her to see just how intelligent and well respected Amy was in her own right. However once Meemaw started kibitzing with Eddy over how handsome her grandson was, Sheldon felt it was time to leave and join the group for lunch, though Meemaw decided she wanted to stay in Amy's lab. She had not really had much time that morning to talk to Amy, but she also had some sage advice for Eddy,

"Now you listen here… We had a boy like you at the Wal-Mart in Houston. Handsome boy, good with fitting pants. In fact, Sheldon has all his pants sent from him, saying the lad understood his personal style or some such nonsense. But damn, other than fitting slacks, that boy was as useful as a pogo stick in quicksand. However his heart was good, unfortunately he was always looking for love in the wrong places, but it's hard being the only fruit loop in a bowl of Cheerios, ya know?"

"I know!" Eddy beamed at Meemaw knowing instantly that she was a crafty ol' bird, despite her the folksy exterior.

"Now anyways, what I am trying to say is that you'll find someone. There's a lid for every pot. Never fear." Just like Amy, Eddy had fallen beneath Meemaw's spell, insisting on calling her Abuelita de Oro.

By the afternoon, Meemaw was ready to say her goodbyes but not before she snuck one last conversation with Amy. "Listen, child. You talk to that boy, ya hear? This operation sounds drastic and you are going to need someone to care for you. My Moonpie will do that. Mary raised him right." Meamaw looked at her hands, "Well, for as long as she could…." Her voice trailed off.

Amy put her hand on Meemaw's shoulder in part to comfort her and in part to reassure her that she understood her unspoken pain. Meemaw pained for a child she could never hold again. Amy, in a small way, understood that all too well. But Amy was never one to dwell on her problems. She was tough or so she thought, and more importantly, Amy didn't want her to worry, "I'll be fine! I don't think I need to be taken care of. But I will talk to him. All in good time."

Meemaw shook her head, "A good time has come to tell him now and you know it! But you're stubborn as a mule. You're just like my Mary: Caring on everyone and everything while inside you are broke up, either your head or heart."

"Meemaw… I don't want him to worry about me. I just don't want him to see me weak." Amy held her hands on her lap, feeling weaker than ever.

It was nothing Meemaw hadn't seen before. "That's what Mary used to say…" Meemaw's voice trembled a little as she spoke about her daughter. "There was this one time; Mary had to make 75 cupcakes for the church. Some bake sale or somptin, anyway, she twisted her ankle comin' out the Winn Dixie grocery store. You know that woman went home, baked all them cupcakes came back and stood on that foot for three hours. It wasn't till Shelly told her that her foot had too many pies or something…"

"2 pi R?" Amy asked, not sure if she meant the formula for a circumference of circle or not.

"That's it! Anyways, point is…ain't no shame in needing help."

"I know…" Amy looked down, away from Meemaw's penetrating gaze.

"But I think it's not so much that you are afraid to seem weak, more that you fear it will change what he thinks of you."

Amy just cracked a strained smile as some of her armour melted "I'll try and speak to him this week. I'll try…" Amy blinked a few times and forced a smile. She knew it could be a game changer, and Amy liked how the game was at this moment. She feared she could lose him forever, and that scared her more than anything. Meemaw could see that clear as day. It was the real truth behind her reluctance to tell him about the surgery. That was the truth; spoken in the thick Texas drawl she couldn't ignore. Dealing with that particular truth, however, Amy was an expert in ignoring.

"Like I said, ain't no shame in needing help, but more important is starting off a relationship with honesty, ya know?" Meemaw placed a hand on Amy's shoulder. She could see the pain over the decision was still weighing on her like a lead blanket. "Listen here. I know what's it like living with a hard man, but sometimes, there got one less bull in the pen. My Moonpie can be stubborn, hard to handle and general pain in the back side, but his heart is always been in the right place. He just needs a good woman to show him how to use it. Can you do that? It ain't easy... Lemma tell ya... it won't be sweetness and light all the time, but it's worth it. He's worth it."

Without a second thought, Amy answered, "I know he is."Amy gave Meemaw a bone crushing hug as she said goodbye, but she thought about what she said for the rest of the day. It was almost past 5 o'clock when Sheldon came in to her lab to collect her for Thai dinner with the group.

"I'm glad I had some extra time with Meemaw, Sheldon. She's a wonderful woman."

"She sure is. Too bad Junior was so grumpy, but I think his 6 hour nap helped." Sheldon had add, "He's always grumpy when he comes to California though. " Sheldon remembered the trip he came to visit him and he was brooding the whole time.

As Sheldon held the door for Amy he asked, "You ready for dinner? Leonard is hosting Thai night at his new apartment, but we need to stop by and get your things for the week." Sheldon stopped suddenly and turned to face her fearfully, "Ya didn't forget our experiment, did ya Amy?" Sheldon licked his lips with a shy vulnerability that always made Amy quiver.

"I didn't forget. As a matter of fact I have my suitcase in the car." Amy gave a wink to Sheldon, who was now grinning and returning his smile she added, "We can go straight to the apartment."

"Straight home, ya mean. I do love your preparedness! But we need to go shopping first. I ain't having you sitting on no cold floor." Sheldon gave a quick look around and then kissed Amy on the forehead before he grabbed her hand and almost skipped to the car.

The couple dropped Amy's bags off at Sheldon's apartment before making their way to 5A. Leonard's new apartment was almost as Spartan as Sheldon's had been a few weeks ago. He had a milk carton for a table, an Uhaul box for a dresser and one lone computer chair in which Penny was seated like a Queen at court. Sheldon had remembered his first foray into hosting his friends in 4A and had had the forethought to purchase some lawn chairs for himself and Amy on their way home, while the rest of the group sat on the floor munching on Thai food out of cardboard boxes however no one seemed to mind the arrangements.

Though the group was all a twitter about Meemaw's visit and Amy's first motor cycle ride, the main topic of conversation was Raj's new girlfriend thanks to his rhapsodizing over her virtually non-stop. Raj's despondency over Leonard's abandonment of him to be near his flaxen haired goddess had been short-lived since his meeting with Yvette.

In fact Raj had actually helped Leonard move his few possessions to his new apartment over the weekend so that he could have Sunday alone with his new brown haired lover. Howard had been too busy to help with the move. Since his date with Bernadette had gone so well, they had arranged to spend the weekend together. The couple were getting along so well that they were almost close to moving in together themselves.

As the group chatted away, Leonard moved to the kitchen to get some drinks from the fridge. Looking around the room, he watched his friends glow with a light that only new love could emit and he couldn't help but smile. It seemed that in the course of just a few weeks each of the guys had gone from confirmed bachelors to nearly married. Penny seeing his shiny eyes and wistful look joined him.

"Leonard, what's going on? Did Raj spoil one of your shows again?"

"NO! But he better keep his mouth shut till I get my cable set up!" Surveying the scene again he whispered to Penny, "It's just… the guys and I have been lonely nerds for so long we would even get into debates over who among us would die alone first. Even Sheldon was a hermit for years."

"I know. I almost called the fire department when he didn't come out of his apartment for three months straight. I would have bet on Sheldon dying alone and cat eating him, if he had any."

Leonard shook his head and smiled as he added with a chuckle, "Well, I didn't know him then, but Howard won by the way."

Penny looked at Howard across the room as she remembered their first meeting at the Cheesecake Factory, "I can believe that."

"But now, look at us! I had a date with the most beautiful woman in the world and she didn't even mind when I ordered frozen yogurt… Did I tell you that what we ate was not technically yogurt, because it didn't have enough live acidophilus cultures. It was really just iced milk with carrageenan added for thickness."

"Yes, you did sweetie, right after I gave you some."

Leonard stopped talking for a moment and winced remembering his date with Penny. He had been so eager to please her that he had taken a bite of her yogurt without thinking. "Let's not talk about that…" Penny curled up her nose thinking of her lactose intolerant date.

"Now look at us! It's as if Sheldon is a lucky charm, or something."

Penny looked at Sheldon who was pontificating about the history of the fork as Amy beamed with admiration at his every word. Howard and Bernadette were so overly cute with each other that Penny thought she would need an insulin shot from sweetness overload. Even Raj, who though Yvette had had to work a late shift at the veterinary clinic was glowing like a pulsar

Penny, who had only known the guys and Amy for a few weeks, could never have imagined that she would have such a group of friends. She had lived next to Sheldon for eight years and had not even had a peep from him, so how could he take credit for bringing everyone together? Penny thought that it was Amy who was the lucky charm, not Sheldon.

She saw that for some reason, Leonard had a strange admiration and patience for Sheldon that Penny didn't quite understand but what that told her was that Leonard was a genuinely giving and loving man; qualities she had found lacking in her former dates, and she was almost sure that it wasn't 35, 39 or even 40 no matter what Sheldon had said. Leonard was the first man she had dated that she actually worried about whether she was good enough for him. But when she thought about how Leonard would give her that sweet smile and peer over his glasses at her, she knew she wanted to be good enough. Penny shook her head maybe she could be insulin inducing sweet as well.

Penny leaned over and kissed Leonard on cheek. She pulled back and smiled, "Well I think that you are the social glue that holds the little group, Leonard. That and Amy. I'll tell ya, the first time I saw my neighbor smile in 8 years was the day I met them in the elevator. And now…" Penny put her arms around Leonard, who blushed, but returned her affectionate gesture, "Now, I got reason to smile in the elevator too." Penny planted another kiss on Leonard, only to be interrupted by a noise like a wounded beagle.

"Ahhh… That's too sweet! Isn't that sweet!?" Bernadette squealed from the across the room, but Howard just shook his head and commented, "God, can you believe these guys!? Get a room!"

Even Sheldon knew Howard's comment was ridiculous and joined the conversation with haughty condemnation, "Howard, your advice to Penny and Leonard reminds me of the fable by Aesop of the young crab and his mother. When the mother chastised her young for not walking straight, the little crab answered, 'Show me how to walk, mother so I may learn.' The mother was unable to do so."

Howard snorted, "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well, the moral is don't tell others how to act unless you can set an example, but…" Sheldon was interrupted by Amy who loved Sheldon's infinite knowledge and how he liked to share this with his friends.

"Didn't HG wells say, 'Moral indignation is jealousy with a halo?'"

Sheldon almost dropped his fork at her quote from one of his favorite writers of all time. Ignoring Howard and the others he only had eyes for Amy as he smiled at her. The rest of the world could stop, and he would still be spinning around her, orbiting her every word as she pulled at him with a gravity of intellectual rapport and love. He cherished how she understood him better than anyone had ever done before.

Amy blushed at Sheldon's piercing gaze and hastily added to hide her confusion, "Well, your analogy was perfect. I couldn't think of a better example."

"I bet ya could. You're brilliant."

"No, you're brilliant…" Amy's blushes continued to glow.

Sheldon tried to feign modesty, but it was impossible for him, "Well… that's true… after all I'm brilliant enough to have got you to…"

Howard chimed in and blurted out, "HEY! I hate to interrupt the mutual admiration society, but I think I may just have been insulted!"

Bernadette leaned over and rubbed Howard's cheek, "That's okay. You can be a little devilish with me anytime. No halo required! " Howard let out a little giggle and reached over to kiss Bernadette. It was at that point Leonard yelled from the kitchen:

"OH, GET A ROOM!" Leonard grinned at Penny, who put her hand for him to give him a high Five.

After dinner, Sheldon announced to the group that he and Amy were going to leave to go home. To their apartment. Together. He couldn't contain his happiness and Amy was just as joyful.

Amy had told the girls about the trial live in, and they had planned a girl's night on Wednesday to get an update, when the boys went to the comic store.

Sheldon and Amy said their goodbyes, and made the short trip down the stairs to the apartment. Sheldon took Amy's case from where they had dropped it before going to Leonard's and was eagerly unpacking it, storing her clothes in the two dresser drawers he had cleaned out for that purpose.

Amy tried to stop him "Sheldon, you didn't have to put all your stuff away. I'm only staying a week. I don't want to disrupt your life too much."

Sheldon just shook his head and said with a slight frown, "The disruption will come next week, when you leave." But he smiled as he added, "For now, I want you think of this as your home."

Amy couldn't say much more other than a meek thank you as she gathered her nightgown and went to the bathroom to brush her teeth and change. Even though they had spent other nights together, and the initial nervousness of their first time sex was over, Amy felt that somehow this was different, and she was a little anxious. She didn't know what to expect, or how Sheldon would feel about her roaming around his home. He had lived alone for so long and she knew what it was like to spend each night with the sound of your own breath.

Sheldon turned down the house, and hearing Amy leave the bathroom took the opportunity to clean his teeth. It was a hot summer night so he left off his pajamas and decided to sleep only in his boxers. As readied himself for bed he wondered if it would be too presumptuous to assume that Amy and he would have sex on the first night of their week together, but if she was willing, he was sure that he would be able to rise to the challenge. However as he entered the bedroom and saw her in bed, sitting up with her glasses removed, wearing a nervous smile, a thin cotton nightgown and looking as sweet as nectar, he knew all he wanted for this night was just to hold her. He removed his robe, and climbed into bed. Sheldon scooted down the bed and moved closer to Amy who immediately relaxed and molded herself to his body, laying her head on his chest.

They were both exhausted from the harried weekend, and within moments, the hints of talc and his warm silky hard body was enough to soothe her asleep. Sheldon fell asleep a few minutes later as he lightly played with her empty ring finger, and wondered.

The next morning, Sheldon was pleasantly awoken by the feel of Amy's backside rubbing against him as she moaned herself awake. Her short nightgown had moved up to her waist during the night, and the only fabric now separating the evidence of his attraction to her was his boxers and her underwear.

"How did you sleep, Amy?" But Sheldon didn't wait for her answer, as he jumped in with, "Not so bad having a roommate. I bet you're much easier to live with than Leonard." Sheldon pulled her closer to him for a moment and gave her a quick kiss before bouncing out of bed to start his day and hide his raging arousal. He felt that he had to get some semblance of control fearing that Amy would think that the only reason he wanted her to stay was so that they could be sex bunnies for the week. As much as Sheldon and his body would love that, more than anything, he wanted Amy to feel comfortable.

Little did he know that Amy was in a similar predicament. Laying back in the bed she stretched out like a cat, then curled back up with Sheldon's pillow thinking how wonderful it would be to have this feeling every day: A warm bed, a loving body to wake up to every morning and the feeling that she belonged to someone. It was a novel sensation, and one that she didn't want to jeopardize by seeming too eager.

Amy was having a hard keeping her hands off him as just the sight of him had started her craving for his touch, so she decided to keep herself occupied by preparing breakfast. As Sheldon rushed off to start his morning routine she got out of bed, threw on her robe and went the kitchen to start the coffee she knew Sheldon would be craving. After she had started her quick batch of banana muffins, she took the last banana for herself. She didn't want Sheldon to think she was a raging sex maniac, but emerging from the kitchen and seeing him exercising on his bar, she almost didn't mind the label.

Sheldon was attempting to alleve his sexual frustration with each pull at the bar, but it wasn't working. In fact, he was unaware that his raging libido was only serving to infect his unknown audience.

Sheldon was pulling himself up on the bar and with every grunt, his toned back flexed and molded around his frame. He looked like undulating creamy velvet. As she ate her banana, she watched him strain every alluring muscle and the things that she did to that banana would have made her mother blush. Hearing her let out a HOO, Sheldon hopped off the bar to find her licking her lips and Amy ran off in an effort to escape his sweaty alluring gaze and to wipe the banana off her chin.

Not only was the morning taut with sexual tension it was awkward and clumsy. During their weekend sleepovers, they were like silent seasoned dancers, as if they knew the other's routine instinctively. However this morning was a mess. While Sheldon showered, Amy finished preparing breakfast, but Sheldon had expected oatmeal, not banana muffins. While Sheldon dressed, Amy showered, but Amy took too long drying her hair, and Sheldon wanted to clean the bathroom before they left for work.

Sheldon kept checking his watch, and Amy glared at him with a look that would have incinerated him if he had bothered to look up from his watch to see her flaming green eyes. These death stares were intermixed with a painful longing just to jump back into bed. Each one mistook their sexual frustration with the situation as vexation with the other. The ride down the elevator was silent and the journey to work proved to be too long for Amy's taste. It was only when they arrived at the parking lot did the mood lighten as Sheldon leaned over to give Amy a gentle kiss on the cheek.

Smiling at her he let his lips linger a while longer. Amy moved toward him and tucking her body under his arm, she turned her head to give him an equally short kiss, and then another. The smiles they gave each other melted the tension. Sheldon knew that it would be difficult to get used another in his home and that it would inevitably affect his routine, but even with all the tension of the morning he could think of no one he rather have by his side.

"I think starting the day kissing you would be far better than leaving it till now when I can't do anything about it."

"You're right. Our timing today has been terrible. I just hope that this week won't ruin anything…" Amy said but Sheldon shook his head and cut off her worries.

"Not possible. This is just the first day, and we can think of ways to fix our timing… well… your timing."

Sheldon held his rib after Amy gave him a rough nudge and a teasing wink. There was no doubt in his mind that Amy would continue to be his roommate. He just needed to convince her and get her to hurry up with that hair of hers.

Sitting in his office, Sheldon relived the morning events and remembering Amy's words of concern in the car earlier, he realized that something needed to be done to convince Amy that being his roommate was a brilliant idea. So instead of working, he outlined a schedule for them, including shower time. By combining their shower time, Sheldon reasoned that they would save at least 16 minutes on their morning routine.

Amy was thrilled with the suggestion, but less than happy that he had not had the discretion not to suggest the new showering arrangements till they were alone, rather than at lunch with the guys and their snickers.

Even so, Amy was elated that Sheldon was working on the problem rather than running from it. It was lesson she could have used to learn herself. The fact that he recognized their mornings needed to be better planned and had come up with a plan to fix it was romantic to her. The schedule and detailed new shower arrangement reignited the sexual tension of the morning and it was a long wait till the end of the day.

Tuesday night was the weekly Cheesecake Factory, and after work, Sheldon came up with what he felt was a brilliant idea. Remembering how elated she had been over the motorcycle ride, he suggested that they to go back to the apartment so they could ride the motorcycle to dinner instead of her driving.

Amy jumped at the idea, and the minute they got back to the apartment she quickly changed to her jeans and leather coat and off they went down Colorado Avenue like a couple of motor heads. However once at the restaurant Sheldon was in no mood for food that night, unless it was Amy that was on the menu. The group was too busy making loving eyes at each other to notice that Sheldon spent the whole dinner just watching Amy. Every time she looked up, he was staring at her, speaking to her with his eyes, and his message was not for public consumption. In turn, the motorcycle ride seemed to have fueled Amy's raging hunger, but not for food. She ordered a quick dinner and finally before anyone had ordered dessert, she gave Sheldon a look that told him she was ready to leave. She had a different desert in mind.

Once they were back at Los Robles, the unusually long ride in the elevator only increased the building tension between the couple as did the stubborn door that Sheldon finally opened. However after it closed, there was nothing to keep them apart, as Sheldon grabbed Amy in a searing kiss that lacked any attempt at delicacy. The sexual tension that had started that morning and had built up during the day, plus the hungry glances that they had exchanged in the cheesecake factory erupted, and the memory of their unrequited coitus before Meemaw interrupted only powered their torrid desire.

The first thing flung on the floor was the leather coats. Amy threw hers on the beige chair, but missed. Sheldon didn't notice as he was too busy hopping around trying to kick off his boots, while he kept his lips attached to Amy. Her blouse was nearly ripped off by the time they reached the hallway, and only by bracing himself against the wall for a brief moment was Sheldon able to keep from falling over when she pulled off her shirts. Amy didn't need anything to brace herself against as she caressed Sheldon's chest and his exposed back. Every muscle group on his torso was amped by his yearning to feel her moan under his touch. He was bound by his own pulsing desire surging through him. He nearly threw her against the wall, but had enough sense to get her to the bedroom, but only just. By the time Sheldon's bedroom door had been kicked open, all Amy had on only was her bra, her tight jeans, and Sheldon only had his jeans on as well.

However once the door banged open and they entered the room, Sheldon slowed his movements down so that he could savor the view. With one hand, he held onto Amy's waist and the other he braced against the bed, lowering her body to the mattress. Sheldon stood up and mapped out the trail he was about to kiss as he undid his jeans and let them fall to floor. Sheldon knelt on the bed, undid her tight jeans and slowly peeled them down her legs kissing each inch of the newly exposed skin. He tossed the tempting clothing behind him, and resumed his ascension up Amy's body. He lingered over her hips, licking and nibbling on her bones, causing Amy to let a giggle escape her, but it wasn't from nervousness. She knew exactly what she wanted.

Not wanting to miss the view of Sheldon's muscles flexing and arching especially his shoulders, Amy sat up on her elbows with her head arched down to watch as Sheldon shifted his mouth to her ribs, over her bra, finding the clasp with his teeth. He easily snapped open the fastener, and with a pop, Amy was nearly exposed to him. Gently pushing her back down, he gave a sly grin as he glided his tongue over her nipples, and nibbling on her just enough to cause minute moans.

With an agility he didn't know he had, he removed the last of their clothes, his mouth never leaving her skin. Sheldon repositioned himself between her legs and pressed himself against her. Amy pulled him towards her and closed her eyes as his mouth engulfed her with a kiss that held the memory and taste of every kiss he had ever given her. Amy wrapped her arms around him, drew him even closer to her so that it seemed that not a surface of their skin wasn't fused. She sunk into the mattress as he sunk into her. They both fell into the feeling of complete abandon to every doubt.

He had only one thought, one goal, one need: make this feeling between them last forever. He did. Completely.

The next morning, Sheldon and Amy were twisted around each other like taffy. The previous night they had spent hours exploring each other and neither were in a mood to break apart just yet. Sheldon needed a shower and to start his exercises, but lounging with Amy around him was a much more pleasant way to start the day. Also, as promised, he gave her a kiss to set the tone for the day, which was so much better than yesterday. Amy curled around his torso and relaxed instantly.

Amy finally spoke, "I bet you want a shower."

"I do, but I was taught…as any Southern gentleman who's worth his salt knows, a lady should always come first."

"Well I must say you've proven that adage in other ways." Sheldon didn't get the reference till he saw the cheeky smirk on Amy's face then his proud grin was his only reply. Amy peeled herself off her favorite talc scented pillow and said, "I would love a shower. Do you mind if we start our shower now?"

"Not at all. Your robe is on the door. WAY over there…" Sheldon snickered to himself.

"You are going to get some view of me, aren't ya?"

"Yep." Sheldon crossed his hand behind his head and tilted his head up for a better view however, Amy had other ideas.

"Mind fetching it for me." Amy batted her eyes at Sheldon who couldn't resist her. Amy sat up on the bed so she could enjoy the view of Sheldon's naked torso as he walked to the door to get her robe.

The morning routine had to be brisk as the combined shower had actually taken 15 minutes longer than Sheldon had allotted in his schedule, not to mention the additional minutes they had spent snuggling before they even got to the shower. This morning, however, the time disruptions didn't seem to bother Sheldon as much. The afterglow of his intense shower with Amy kept him in a hazy good mood for all of breakfast. It had only been two days with Amy, but Sheldon was already addicted, and he was already trying to think of ways to persuade Amy to stay longer.

Those other Sheldon's who had their Amy's were on track with their lives. Even over sexed Sheldon Three couldn't get the smile off his face. Two and Five had a such a calm demeanor that it was almost unnerving to Sheldon. He felt the only way that his life would be complete is if he had everything he was denied and he felt Amy was the key. The sooner they moved in together the better.

Sheldon was never one to be patient. In fact, when he wanted something, there was nothing that would get in his way. Though his father had tried to beat his bull headed nature out of him, secretly he always admired Sheldon's doggedness. Some would call it stubborn, others could call it rash or obstinate, but whatever the name it went by, Sheldon's father knew that if Sheldon wanted anything bad enough, he would do anything to achieve it. Sheldon wanted more than anything to have Amy with him forever and he didn't understand her hesitance or any reason to wait for anything in his life again.

"See how much easier this is, Amy? You didn't have to drive all that way." Sheldon said with a nonchalant grin as they got into her car.

Amy knew how his mind worked and didn't want to move things too fast. "You're right, however, I think your schedule is still a bit off. I could be a distraction."

"Oh, there's no doubt you are a distraction, little lady." Sheldon smirked and added, "But a good one…"

"Well. I do enjoy staying with you. Maybe we can see how it goes, and possibly add more days later?" Amy asked with a coy grin, but Sheldon was already planning on many more.

"Oh most definitely. Now, how about we play a car game!"

Amy perked up, "That's sounds like fun."

Sheldon thought for a moment, and said, "Let's do 'Questions'. We will ask each other questions back and forth for as long as we can, or before we get to work, whichever comes first. First person to say a statement the other gets a point."

Amy brightened up, "Oh like the movie, "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Yes? Have you seen it?"

"No."

"HA! Statement! Point Fowler."

Sheldon growled at Amy, "That's not fair. Are we starting now?"

"Do you want to start?"

"Haven't we already?" Amy winked at him.

"Was it pleasant to stay over?"

"Could I have had a better sleep?" Amy smiled.

"Wouldn't it be easier to drive to work if you didn't have to start in Glendale?"

"Wouldn't you get sick of someone in your home all the time?"

"Could you get tired of the person you love next to you every night?"

Amy fought to answer with 'Never'. She stopped at the red light and looked at Sheldon with a smile, "Can I answer no, and not lose?"

Sheldon smiled in victory, "Can you deny that we are better together than apart?"

"Can I answer no, and not lose?" Amy said again.

"Sorry, a repeat. Point Cooper." Sheldon smirked at Amy who glared at him. "Would you be interested in making this arrangement permanent?"

Amy shook her head with a laugh, "Are you asking me to move in with you?"

"Would you say yes if I did?"

Amy gave him a stern look, but with a wink. She knew the first day was tense and feared a repeat of that day would cause him to second guess their whole relationship. It was silly of course, but Amy was cautious with her new love. She wouldn't do anything that would harm it, even if it meant delaying her own desires. Little did she know that the delay would cause more harm. "Will you ask me after our trial period?"

"Okay!" Sheldon smiled that she had all but agreed to move in, but then realized his error in the game. "Drats."

Amy snickered, "Statement! HA! Point Fowler…" Amy had one more concern about the living arrangements, "Now…If we move in together, do you realize what my mother would say?"

Sheldon shrugged, "Would she be more comfortable if we were married?"

Amy stopped the car in the middle of the street. It was good there were no cars behind her. She turned to Sheldon with wide eyes, "Are you asking me to marry you?" The question did not shock her, as much as the presentation.

"Would you say yes if I did?"

"Can… I have a drink of water?" Amy took one hand off the wheel and took a large drink of her water bottle from her lunch bag. Sheldon held his breath till she had two hands on the wheel again.

Sheldon swallowed the lump in his throat and said with a low voice that rumbled in Amy ears, "Can I ask you a question?"

Amy didn't answer. She just held onto the steering wheel with a grip so tight, her knuckles were white. She blinked a few times as she looked down and then gazed up to Sheldon with anticipation. She never expected to be asked for her hand in marriage in the middle of the road within weeks of meeting a man, though she had to admit that by now she knew they were unconventional. When a car behind blared their horn, Amy realized they had to move and pulled the car to the side of the street. "Can you ask me in a second?" She looked at Sheldon after the put the car in park.

Sheldon too was thankful to be out of the middle of road. He drew in large gasp of air and asked, "Will you go to Texas with me for the Fourth of July weekend?" Sheldon pulled in his bottom lip waiting for the answer he hoped for. He had it all planned out. He and Amy would go to Texas, and as the lights flickered over the bay, Sheldon would go on one knee and ask for the honor of being her husband. It wasn't as bad as an onion ring, nor was it as unique as Neil Diamond crooning the proposal to Amy, but it was romantic. Even Junior had agreed that it was good spot for a proposal. He asked him about it when they had their talk.

Sheldon waited with a big smile that started to drop as the seconds ticked on.

It wasn't the question that Amy had planned on answering, but she was thankful he hadn't asked her to marry him in the middle of the street. A vacation in Texas sounded heavenly, and Amy knew it would be magical. It was only two weeks away, but, of all days to ask her to go, it was the same time as her surgery. She could only answer one thing:

"No." Amy saw Sheldon's jaw drop and added quickly to soften the blow, "Point Cooper."

Sheldon snorted, and crossed his arms over his chest, "Hardly."

A/N: Hope it was worth the wait! One more chapter... maybe...

Thank you again!