The next day Amy heard Sheldon's signature knock at her lab door. "Come in, Sheldon," she said in a strained voice.

He turned the knob and entered. "I came by to see if you wanted to join me and the guys for lunch in the cafeteria."

As he stepped closer to her, he noted she was seated at her desk, eyes downcast. He touched her arm, and she let out a muffled sob.

"Amy, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

She silently handed him her phone. He read through an email from her mother. "Why would your mother think you Photoshopped me in the pictures?" He bent down to her eye level, but she continued to look downward. "Look at me," he commanded softly.

She slowly raised her head to reveal red rimmed eyes. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Don't cry," he pleaded.

She sniffled. "Why doesn't she believe me? Why am I such a disappointment to her? You know what? I'm done with her. If she doesn't believe me, that's her problem. I had such a good time last night. I won't let her negativity ruin it."

"Is there anything I can do to cheer you up?"

She removed her glasses and swiped at her eyes with her index fingers. "I just want to forget about this right now. Do you mind if just the two of us go to lunch?"

Sheldon texted Leonard to inform him of his plans with Amy. They went through the cafeteria line then found a table in a far corner where they could have some privacy.

"Would it help if I met your mother so she can see for herself that I exist?"

"My mother is very intimidating. We'd probably want to meet her in a public place so we could make a quick getaway if needed."

"How about if we Skype her first? If she's still skeptical, I can meet her in person."

Amy agreed. She suggested waiting a few days to cool off so she didn't tell her mother something she'd regret. They decided to make Thursday another date night. Sheldon would take the bus to her apartment where they would have dinner, then they'd Skype her mother.

"Is there anything in particular I should make?"

Sheldon's mouth watered at the thought of another one of Amy's home cooked meals. "My favorite dish is spaghetti with cut up hotdogs. I also love strawberry Quik, the kind made with the powder not the syrup."

"You got it."

xxx

Amy answered her door on Thursday sporting an apron over her date night jumper. "Come in and make yourself comfortable. Dinner is almost ready."

Sheldon stepped in and inhaled the aroma coming from the kitchen then removed a brown box with a gold ribbon from his bag. "I brought you a little something."

"Truffles again! Sheldon, you're spoiling me!"

"I thought it was only fair that I brought you a gift as you're going to all this trouble," he said, gesturing towards the kitchen.

He sat at the small dining room table and watched Amy as she attempted to retrieve a casserole dish from a high shelf. He got up to stand next to her. "Allow me." He reached around her and pulled the dish down with ease.

She placed the spaghetti and sauce in the dish then topped it with the hotdog pieces. "I've never made this before. I hope I did it right."

Amy set the piping hot food on the table along with the pink beverage Sheldon had requested. He dug in and began making appreciative noises. "This is delicious! I would never have guessed it was your first time."

"You can tell me if it's horrible. I'll understand."

"No, really. It's very good. Sheldon Cooper never lies. I would let you know if it was subpar."

After the leftovers were put away and the dishes cleared, Amy gave Sheldon a tour of the rest of her apartment.

"And now for the grand tour. You've already seen the kitchen and living room. I present to you the bathroom, and over here is the bedroom."

He poked his head into each room and closed his eyes, committing each detail to memory. "What would you like to do now?" He asked.

"I downloaded an app on my phone called Table Topics. It generates random conversation starter questions. One person asks the question that pops up on the screen while the other answers. Does that sound okay?"

"I'm willing to try it."

"Great. Let's make a couple of rules. 1) We have to ask every question that comes up, no matter how ridiculous it is.
2) We have to answer each question honestly and explain our answer or expand on it."

"Agreed."

They took their seats on the couch, facing each other. She grabbed her phone and opened the app then tucked her feet underneath her. "I'll start. If you could be reborn into any animal, what would it be?"

"Hmmm... I'd have to go with a koala. They're so cute that they can get away with anything, and I've never heard of anyone hunting koala."

"They are pretty cute and cuddly. Good choice."

Sheldon took the phone. "My turn. What's your most prized possession?"

"That would have to be my harp. My grandma gave it to me for my 12th birthday. She died three months later."

"I'm sorry you lost your Meemaw at such a young age. I lost my Pop Pop when I was five. He was the only person in my family who approved of my interest in the sciences."

They shared stories of their grandparents before moving on to the next question.

"Plane, train, or automobile?" She asked.

"That's an easy one. Definitely train. I told you about my love of trains the first day we met."

He hesitated before asking the next question.

"What's wrong, Dr. Cooper? Cat got your tongue?"

"First kiss?"

She looked him straight in the eye. "You."

"Really? But you've gone on numerous dates before me."

"I have, but I only went out with those men because of the pact."

"You and I went out because of the pact," he pointed out.

"That was different. We knew each other beforehand. When you asked if I was okay with you kissing me on our first date, I agreed because it just felt right. I feel comfortable with you," she admitted.

They went through a few more rounds of questions. On Amy's turn, she pressed the 'Ask me anything' button to bring up the next question then stared at the screen but said nothing.

"Remember you have to ask the question no matter how ridiculous it is." He reminded her. "It can't be that bad. What does it say?"

She mumbled something incoherently, avoiding his gaze.

"Give me that." Sheldon tried to wrestle the phone from her. She held it high above her head, but his arms were much longer. Just as his fingers brushed the phone, she quickly dropped her hand and shoved the phone between the couch cushions.

He lunged at her. She squealed as the fingers of his left hand made contact with her ribs and began tickling her. His right hand dug around between the cushions.

She squirmed and giggled as he continued to torment her until his opposite hand lifted the phone up triumphantly. He read the screen then turned ten shades of red and slowly lifted himself off her, realizing what position they were in.

Amy caught her breath and straightened her jumper. "Now that you've seen the question, you have to answer."

"I... Wait, the rule is that you have to ask the question. Are you chicken, Dr. Fowler?"

She sat up straight and squared her shoulders, rising up to the challenge. "Do you sleep in the nude?"

"No," he answered simply.

"Don't forget the second rule. You have to expand on your answer. One word is not sufficient. Do you wear pajamas? Boxers? Briefs?" She asked, bravely.

"Pajamas."

"Top and bottoms?"

"Both, except when I'm sick. My mom would apply Vaporub to my chest. I would only wear bottoms then so my shirt wouldn't get sticky."

"Your mother sounds wonderful." Amy sighed. "Speaking of mothers, I guess we should give mine a call."

Amy stood up and brought her laptop over to the couch. "Ready?" She asked him, her voice shaky.

He squeezed her hand. "It's okay. If she gives you any grief, we can hang up, okay?"

She gave him a small smile. "Okay."

He reached for her hand again and placed it on his knee, covering it with his own.

She angled the laptop to face only her. "I'll move it to include you soon," she promised.

Her mother answered moments after Amy placed the call. "Amy, I'm surprised to hear from you so soon after that prank you tried to pull on me last week."

"Hello to you too, Mother. It was not a prank. Those pictures were not doctored in any way. In fact, I have someone here I want you to meet." She turned the computer so Sheldon appeared with her on the screen.

"Mother, this is Sheldon."

"Hello, Mrs. Fowler. It's nice to meet you."

"Amy, you brought a man into your home! Please tell me you haven't shown him your bedroom."

"Of course she showed me her bedroom. What kind of a tour would it be if I didn't see the whole apartment?"

"Oh, so now you believe that he's real?"

Mrs. Fowler narrowed her eyes. "What are your intentions with my daughter, young man?"

"Amy told me about your pact. We went out to honor her end of the deal."

Mrs. Fowler pursed her lips. "So you're not sleeping together?"

Sheldon looked taken aback.

"Mother!"

Mrs. Fowler gave the man sitting next to her daughter the once over. "I'll take that as a no."

"So do you believe me now?"

Her mother said nothing for the longest time. Amy was about to hang up when she mother finally spoke. "I apologize for not believing you. I will consider your obligation complete this year."

She breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Mother."

They says their goodbyes then ended the call. Amy turned to Sheldon. "We did it! Thank you for all your help." She leaned over to fling her arms around him and kissed his cheek.

"You are most welcome." He looked at his watch. I'd better get going if I want to make the next bus."

She walked him to the door. "Goodnight, Sheldon."

"As this is a date, I believe a goodnight kiss is in order."

Their lips made contact. He pulled her closer as she caressed his back.

"Goodnight, Amy," he said breathlessly then turned to leave.

"Sheldon, wait!"

He turned back toward her. She grabbed her keys. "I'll drive you home."

When they arrived at 2311 North Los Robles Avenue, Amy parked the car and gazed over at the man seated next to her. He gazed back silently. They remained in that position a few minutes before she spoke.

"I know we had our goodnight kiss earlier tonight, but isn't it customary to end the date with a kiss?" She paraphrased him from a week earlier.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and scooted over as far as she could to him. He followed suit. Suddenly her lips were on his, and her hands were running through his hair. He mimicked her actions, threading his fingers through her chocolate-colored locks.

When they stopped to catch their breath, he touched his forehead to hers. "I really should get going. I'm glad I was able to help you fulfill your obligation to your mother. Don't forget we still have another four weeks left of our contract. See you tomorrow."

"Yes, see you tomorrow," she repeated. She waited until he entered his building before pulling away from the curb.