Disclaimer: I own nothing of The Big Bang Theory or the characters I'm writing about. Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady are the geniuses responsible for the greatness of TBBT and The Shamy. This work is intended only as an homage to our favorite couple, whatever their current relationship status.
Sheldon looked up from his laptop in surprise at the knock on his office door; he wasn't expecting anyone. "Come in," he called out, slightly annoyed at being disturbed just when he finally seemed to be finding some focus on the paper he had been trying to write for weeks. His demeanor changed, however, when the door swung open to reveal a certain bespectacled brunette holding a bag of food and wearing a smile that made his stomach flip flop. "Hello, Amy. To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?" He rose to his feet as she entered the room like any good southern gentleman should. She closed the door behind her. Oops, force of habit. Nothing private about our lunch dates anymore, I guess.
"Sheldon you hate surprises. Let's call it an unplanned lunch date. Uh, unplanned lunch." She held out the bag she was carrying. "Is now an ok time for you to eat?"
"Oh, is that sushi from Spinfish?" he asked gleefully. It was Sheldon's favorite sushi restaurant, but Amy knew Leonard grumbled about driving there very often as he thought Sushi Ichi was just as good and was far closer.
"Yes, it is. I wanted to thank you for being so nice the other night when I had to work late, and I know Leonard can be frustratingly unaccommodating when it comes to sushi selection, so I thought I'd pick some up for you for lunch."
"Well that was very thoughtful, thank you Dr. Fowler!" Sheldon's grin was reward enough for Amy, though she'd be lying if she said she didn't wish for a more personal kind of thanks. Stop it Dr. Fowler, that way lies madness. She stepped to his desk and set the bag down. "Well, enjoy your lunch, Dr. Cooper" she smiled, turning to leave the office.
"Wait, you're not staying to eat lunch with me?" Sheldon's voice sounded hurt. "Did you not get sushi for yourself?"
"Oh, um, I did," she gripped the bag containing her own lunch. "I just didn't want to assume you would want to eat lunch with me…I thought you might be busy." Or just not want to spend too much time with me, she thought. Sheldon's insistence on being her friend without being more, coupled with the longing looks she had noticed from the corner of her eye a few times, plus his caring behavior, was throwing her completely for a loop. She had no idea what was going on.
"Amy, your company is most welcome at any time of the day." Or night…that traitorous part of his mind he had been trying to ignore piped up yet again. Good heavens, hush up now, he admonished, noting again that his internal monologue had taken on a Texas twang more and more recently. He sighed internally. This was so difficult, if only he could just...Stop it Dr. Cooper, that way lies madness.
"Amy?" As he came back to himself, he realized Amy had not turned around; she was still facing his door.
"You…framed…you put up my covers?" her voice was surprised, incredulous even.
"What?" He was surprised by the change of topic.
"You framed my Neuron covers…" There, on the wall near his door, was a twin photo frame that held not only the cover of Neuron from years ago when he had disregarded her work before buying her a tiara as apology, but her latest Neuron cover, prominently displaying her name. A cover that had come out a mere two months ago, well after she had left him. And…Amy let out a long breath through pursed lips and swallowed thickly, blinking hard before turning around to face him.
Sheldon met her eyes and they merely stared at each other for a long moment, each trying to master their own thoughts.
"Well, sure, it makes it easier to boast how brilliant my girl – my good friend Amy is." Sheldon's eyes widened in alarm as he spoke, hoping she hadn't heard his slip. Of course she had. She dropped her head to studiously inspect the floor, yet he saw her cheeks blossom in a becoming blush before she looked back up, avoiding his eyes. "So…lunch?" she asked with feigned brightness.
"Yes, lunch" Sheldon replied, with equally feigned calmness, reaching for the bag on his desk and motioning toward the empty chair across his desk for her to sit.
Neither of them mentioned the other frame on the wall just to the right of the Neuron covers. It was positioned so that the door when open, as it usually was when others visited Sheldon's office, would cover it, yet it would be visible to him as he sat alone in his office with the door closed as was his habit. This second frame contained their photo from prom.