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.
Author's Note: TBBT just HAS to do something special for the Star Wars release, right? So I figured I had better, too. Let's see where the real fans are: keep track of how many Star Wars references you find.
It was almost time. Months, no nearly a year and a half of waiting, followed by 14 hours sitting on the sidewalk, and it was finally here. Today they would see the new Star Wars movie. Sheldon, Leonard, Raj and Howard were beside themselves with anticipation. Now all that remained was to pack up the folding chairs, stash them back in the car, check over their costumes one final time, and be joined by the ladies, who had ludicrously declared they were not spending an entire day sitting outside the theater just to make sure they had their first pick of seats for a movie they already had tickets to.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
2 WEEKS EARLIER
"No, absolutely not."
"But Peeeennnnnnyyyyyy..." Leonard whined.
"I'm with Leonard, camping outside the theater before a big release is part of the experience!" Howard offered, casting a sidelong glance at his wife, knowing this would never in a million years work.
"Howie, you can be with Leonard all you want, us girls are going to sleep in, go to brunch then meet you at the theater before the movie starts. Right, ladies?"
They all quickly agreed.
"You're all party poopers," Raj declared morosely.
"So, does that mean no costumes, either?" Sheldon looked disappointed. If all the women were coming along at the risk of one of them talking over the movie making him miss a line (he was sure it would be Koothrapali's creepy girlfriend), the least they could do was look the part.
"Oh, hell no," Penny replied. Bernadette and Emily nodded vehemently. Amy gave no reply, something no one noticed. Her mind was going a mile a minute, formulating a plan. But would she have enough time?
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
PRESENT DAY
Raj and Howard were just returning from depositing all the guys' folding chairs in the car when Emily, Bernie and Penny arrived, sauntering up to them casually in line as if everyone behind them hadn't been waiting more than half the day. Leonard adjusted his Luke Skywalker authentic replica lightsaber and gave a sheepish grin to the couple guys in line immediately behind them. Luckily for them, though, those 2 guys happened to be Captain Sweatpants and Dale from the comic book store, and both were too busy jealously gawking at the lovely ladies joining the costumed men at the head of the line to protest.
"Howard, have you been out here for 14 hours wearing that?" Emily asked curiously. Howard shifted awkwardly in his bulky Stormtrooper costume.
He shook his head, "Nah, I put it on when we dropped off the chairs." He pointedly avoided Sheldon's gaze while he spoke.
"The rest of us have taken our roles more seriously, however, and have been in costume the entire time I'll have you know," Sheldon puffed his chest out in pride, looking every bit as smug and confident as his alter ego Han Solo. It had been embarrassing to be seen with Wolowitz in street clothes all day when the rest of the line was appropriately dressed. Of course now there were three uncostumed women here making them stand out again. Wait, three? "Where is Amy?"
"She left early from brunch, she said she had a hair appointment, then she'd meet us here," Penny answered with a shrug. Sheldon was confused. Amy got her hair trimmed exactly every six weeks, and had just done so two weeks ago. Had she lied to the girls? Why would she do that? Where could she be? Who could she be with?
"Sure, hair appointment..." Howard smirked. "Is that like when a girl says she has to wash her hair to avoid a date? She's not even Sheldon's girlfriend now and she's standing him up? At least our women showed up." Howard knew he was being mean, but Sheldon had been an ass to him all day because he wasn't wearing his costume yet, and sometimes old habits die hard.
A deep voice full of sarcasm came from behind them just then, putting Howard in his place: "Aren't you a little short for a Stormtrooper?" Sheldon's breath caught in his throat. He knew that voice, but to hear it saying that... He slowly turned to see the speaker and his heart actually stopped beating. There stood Princess Leia herself, speaking with Amy's voice. The costume was the wrong one for the line she had spoken but he couldn't have cared less at that moment. There were no cinnamon roll buns, no bunchy white tunic. No, this was Leia in all her simple royal splendor. Her hair was intricately braided and wrapped at the back of her head, a long braid falling past her waist. Her off-white dress hugged her frame lightly, silver belt defining her feminine waist before the dress flared over rounded hips and fell to the floor where it afforded a peek of sensible, low-heeled silver shoes. Her graceful forearms, so rarely seen in her usual attire, were exposed by the gauzy sleeves when she moved and a simple silver bangle called attention to the delicate size of her wrists. The look was finished with a large chunky silver necklace, laying across the expanse of pale chest left bare by the scooped neckline, displaying just a hint of cleavage. Unless you were as tall of Sheldon, in which case, there was a bit more. She was beautiful, regal, covered as always, and sexy as hell. Oh mercy. Sheldon gulped.
"Ames, you look ah-mazing!" Penny gushed.
"Wow, those are SOME hair extensions" Bernadette chirped.
"No wonder you had to go to the salon, that looks fantastic!" Emily added.
Sheldon still hadn't spoken. Amy turned to look at him, hoping he'd be pleased. She had done this for him. She knew how much he enjoyed it when people got into character and he had seem genuinely disappointed when the girls had declared they were not wearing costumes. It was important to him, so it would be important to her. She wanted to show him. Did he understand?
One look at his eyes told her he did. And it told her a lot more.
Sheldon was completely out of control. The last time he had seen so much of her alluring skin he had had a panic attack. The feeling this time was only slightly different. This time he didn't feel panicked, exactly, he felt...needy. His mind was racing, his heart was pounding, his...body...was responding and he couldn't get a handle on any of it. To everyone else he just looked shocked, but Amy read it all. Well, most of it. Her own thought processes stalled at the point she saw his eyes rove from her braided crown, across every inch of her body to her silver clad toes and back up. Twice. Hoo.
Their intense gaze was broken when Raj stepped between them. He was in perfect Lando Calrissian form, and didn't miss his chance, declaring to Amy "You look absolutely beautiful. You truly belong with us here among the clouds."
"Thank you." Amy replied with appropriate coolness.
Sheldon stepped back in between her and Raj, spitting his retort over his shoulder. "Koothrapali, pay attention to your own woman and her lack of inventive dress. Leave Amy alone."
Your own woman? Amy's heart skipped a beat. It almost felt like Sheldon was calling her his woman. Of course in her heart she was, but he wouldn't admit it now. Right? Still, that had been kind of rude to Raj, and even Emily.
She leveled her gaze at Sheldon again. "You certainly have a way with people."
Sheldon smirked, before a thought chilled him to the bone. That was another quote. Did she have more Star Wars quotes up her sleeve? Could he handle that? He cleared his throat. He still hadn't spoken to her. Their eyes, however, spoke volumes.
Who are you?
Someone who loves you.
He had to say something.
"Amy, you look very...authentic." He smiled at her, breathing deep to steady his voice. "I never imagined you would dress up."
"Well, I guess you don't know everything about women yet," she winked at him before turning to respond to Leonard's compliment of her costume. Dear heavens, yes she did know more quotes. He was in trouble.
"I got a bad feeling about this." he mumbled to himself.
Amy, in fact, had been studying. Unintentionally at first. In fact, she had watch all 3 original Star Wars movies a few times during their breakup. Just because she missed Sheldon and it made her feel closer to him. Especially the last month or so before their aquarium date when knew she wanted him back but wasn't sure where to begin. Even when he first made her watch Star Wars so long ago and she hadn't really enjoyed it she had appreciated the dynamic of Han and Leia, and she admired Leia's strong personality, so her selection was a no-brainer. She knew even without the aid of his eidetic memory that Sheldon would have had every line of the movies memorized, and she thought her being able to play along would please him. She had no idea how much.
At long last, it happened. The theater doors opened and they were allowed to enter. Sheldon practically ran into the theater, grabbing her hand to pull her along too giddy to even consider his actions. Amy went willingly, naturally. "Now I know where the acoustic sweet spot for this theater is typically, but given the fact that it will be a full house tonight, and with the distribution of costume materials I witnessed in line outside I've calculated that tonight it should be right...about...here," Sheldon exclaimed plopping down in a seat 2 rows further back and a few seats to the left of his usual spot. Amy fell into the spot next to him, noticing their hands were still joined.
"I hope you know what you're doing." Her eyes were on their joined hands.
"Yeah, me too."
A moment later, as their friends joined them in the row, he dropped her hand.
Their eyes, however, were locked until the previews began.
2 hours and 16 minutes. Every centimeter of Sheldon's body was on edge. His mind was electrified at getting to finally watch the movie, his senses were overwhelmed with Amy's closeness, his imagination was in overdrive thanks to her costume - I can imagine quite a bit. The fact that their hands had touched 11 times reaching for popcorn, and that she had snuck in Red Vines for him, remembering that this theater didn't carry them, didn't help.
After the movie the guys had planned to go back to 4A and dissect every second of the film until the wee hours of the morning. The ladies were heading to Howard and Bernadette's to have a slumber party and avoid that conversation at all costs.
The three couples embraced outside the theater. Sheldon and Amy stood off to the side, shifting uncomfortably as the others kissed for varying amounts of time.
"Well, your Highness, I guess this is it." It was easier for Sheldon to stay in character. Then he didn't have to think about the things he really wanted to say.
"That's right." Amy knew what he was doing. She would give him the space to do it.
She turned to head towards her car, knowing the girls would follow when they were done.
"Amy?" She turned back around to look at him.
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
They were still looking at each other when the girls came to her side.
I love you.
I know.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
As the men walked towards the cars, Leonard joined in on the game, but he was actually glad to finally get a moment to talk to his best friend. He knew what Sheldon had been through and could only imagine what this new "friendship" was doing to him. He wanted to make sure he was alright.
"So, what do you think of her, Han?" he asked, smiling.
"I'm tryin' not to, kid." Sheldon sighed in return. Easier said than done.
-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
The ladies stayed standing on the sidewalk. "Wow, that was intense."
"Yeah did you see how he looked at her, like all night?"
The other 3 girls watched Sheldon's retreating back with wonder.
Amy whispered to herself, "It's not over yet."
A/N: I thought it would be fun to move the story along AND have a little homage to Star Wars. So? How many references did you get?
There were 18 lines from the original franchise. Did you catch them all?