Chapter 5: A Midnight Kiss

[Chapter 5]

Amy was at home, in her kitchen, trying to eat something. After a long day at work, she deserved to be able to relax and have a bite to eat. Especially after this nightmare with Sheldon. She took down some mashed potato powder from the cupboard and looked at it. Did she want mashed potatoes? Hmmm…. Her fingers skimmed along the shelves. She still couldn't believe that Sheldon could be so insensitive. After all they'd been through, he'd do this? He hadn't even called since their fight. After getting back together 2 weeks ago, they'd promised to reevaluate their relationships, try to work for and with each other. And he'd been mean. He'd criticized her paper, her pride and joy, tore it down in front of her friends. Amy was angry. She wasn't too ready to forgive him yet. She sat down on the couch, and switched on the TV. She wasn't in the mood for eating – perhaps later. A knock on the door startled her out of her reverie, and she stood up to answer. Her scowl immediately morphed into a smile when she saw Penny. "Hey, Penny! What is up?"

Penny grinned at her. "How about a girl's night out? Bernadette will meet us at the Cheesecake Factory for a little drink tonight!"

Amy smiled. "Let me get my bag. Be back in 2!"

Penny was driving, and Amy sat in the passenger seat. They'd been talking about anything but Sheldon and Amy; fashion, Penny's job, Amy's job, Leonard, Stuart, anything. Their topic had moved to Amy's lab rats when Penny made a right turn instead of a left. Amy turned and looked out the window. This was the wrong way! She turned to her friend. "Penny, we're going the wrong way." Penny ignored her and kept driving, putting more weight on the pedal as she did so. The car shot forward and continued to accelerate. Amy was shouting now. "PENNY! WE'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY! PLUS, WE ARE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT!" Penny came to a sudden stop. They were outside the comic book store, Penny cool and collected, and Amy dazed and slightly ruffled. Penny turned and grinned at her.

"We changed girl's night to here." Amy frowned at her.

"I don't want to go to the comic book store. There's only creepy guys and there's no drinks!"

"Just come in. I want to show you something."

Sheldon and the others were crouching. As soon as they heard Penny's car pull up outside the store, he shouted 'LIGHTS!' and they'd turned off the lights and hidden in the shadows. He heard Amy and Penny coming up the walk to the door. He crouched next to the door, his pulse racing. This was his moment to make things up after their fight. He heard the door. Amy and Penny stepped in. Time slowed down, as the lights flicked on (manned by their handy engineer Howard) and they all yelled 'SURPRISE!' Penny was grinning, but Sheldon focused his eyes upon Amy. She was wearing her usual sweater – skirt combination, but Sheldon thought that she was particularly lovely. But he wasn't going to tell her that. Amy's mouth was open in shock, as she scanned the room. A large banner said 'HAPPY 32nd BIRTHDAY AMY!' (Amy was 3 years younger than Sheldon). The room was festooned with grey balloons, grey streamers, and grey roses, and for some reason, a few life – sized cardboard cutouts of King Arthur, hero of the Arthurian epics. The usual array of comic book racks and bins had been pushed to the side, and a big table (complete with a plastic gray table cloth) dominated the center. It was covered with Szechuan Palace takeout cartons and catering platters, and in the middle of the table, a giant, sticky grey birthday cake with the words 'Happy Birthday Amy!' in pink icing sat. Amy was marveling at the site, and Sheldon smiled, inwardly smug at her reaction. He beckoned to her. "Come on, Amy Farrah Fowler. Let's eat." Amy smiled and he took her hand.

After the Chinese food had been consumed (well, most of it – Stuart got so nervous talking to one of Amy's scientist friends that he had to go out aback and throw up), the 'happy birthdays' sung and said, and the cake cut and eaten, it was time for gifts. Sheldon had saved his gift for last. After opening up everyone's gifts, all eyes turned to Sheldon. Suddenly, he didn't want to show everybody what he'd gotten Amy. "Thank you for the gifts, friends." And he made to get up.

Penny stopped him. "Whoa, there, Mr. Spock. What about your gift for Amy?" Amy was looking at him expectantly, and Sheldon started feeling self – conscious.

"Penny, you know very well that I don't believe in gift – giving. Isn't the gift of me, and this party enough?" Penny frowned.

"But – "

"No buts. Amy, come with me. I want to show you something."

Amy looked disappointed. Did she actually believe that he wasn't going to get her a gift? Although it was clear that she was unwilling, she got up and accompanied Sheldon to the back of the comic book store. In a burst of gentlemanly emotion, Sheldon even held the door for her. They stepped out back. It was twilight, and, as the light streaked the heavens and the sun sank below the mountains, Sheldon could feel a chill in the air. Sheldon never liked being cold. But here, with Amy, he almost didn't mind. Almost.

He turned to Amy. "I have a gift for you."

Amy frowned. "I thought you didn't have one for me."

He gave her a crocodile grin. "I didn't want to be around them when I gave it to you. You know, I do have a reputation to uphold."

He gently pulled out a long, thin box from his pocket, and handed it silently to her. He felt that saying something would ruin the moment. Amy carefully pried it open, and broke into a big smile. She looked up at him. "It's… it's… beautiful, Sheldon." Inside the box was a silver necklace, with a small, round pendant. On the pendant was a half – moon and 3 stars. On the other side of the pendant were the words 'Shoot for the stars'.

Sheldon smiled. "I'm sorry for being so rude. I read your paper – it's quite good." He wanted to add for a biology paper at the end of his sentence, but Penny had dissuaded him from doing so. Amy looked up at him. And then Sheldon sort of forgot what happened. He was almost 100% sure that they'd kissed. And it was the best kiss they'd ever had, full of passion. Sheldon felt a little guilty, however. Even though Amy was happy, there was still something else…

[SPOILER ENDING]

{Do NOT read if you are going unspoiled!}

The party was over, and, after cleaning up, they'd driven back to Sheldon's apartment. Amy had donned her new necklace, and Sheldon thought she was quite pretty. After returning to the apartment, Penny and Leonard left for late night drinks, leaving Sheldon and Amy quite alone. Sheldon's guilt still remained. After talking a little, kissing a bit more, and an unsuccessful attempt to convince Amy to watch late – night Star Wars, she got up to leave, declaring that it was late and that she had work the next day. Sheldon was a little sad. He'd liked the fact that she was here, and wasn't sure if he should ask her to stay.

He didn't. They said their good – byes at the door. As Sheldon shut his front door, he couldn't bear the guilt any longer. Still facing the closed door, he pulled a soft, blue box from his pocket, and opened it. Inside sat a perfect, silver engagement ring with a row of white diamonds, at what Sheldon had deduced to be Amy's ring size. "Good Lord." Sheldon said out loud. He was now speaking to the room. "Why didn't I propose tonight? It should've been so easy – Amy Farrah Fowler… Will you marry me?"

FIN

(Catch my next story – 'The Glow – Sheldon's Ring', a one – chapter short on how Sheldon picked the ring he did for Amy.)

(Shameless self – promotion: Want more Shamy fanfics? Find updates on my tumblr, .com)