Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Big Bang Theory.
The whole table sat, staring at Sheldon with the same shocked face. Then all at once four different voices sounded at the same time.
"What!" Penny said.
"Are you serious?" Leonard asked.
"This can't be happening." Howard said.
"Oh My God!" Bernadette said.
Raj who hadn't had any alcohol just sat there unable to speak.
"I don't understand why everyone is so shocked by this." Sheldon said "we have been together for a while."
"Listen sweetie," Penny started "we all love you and Amy and we really love you two together but this is way too fast."
"What do you mean?" Sheldon asked, confused.
"Well first of all you just started touching her without flinching every time." Penny said "and second you haven't even told her that you love her."
"Well that may be true." Sheldon said "but I was going to tell her when I proposed."
"She just went through a trauma Sheldon." Penny said "I just don't think she is ready for this right now. Tell you love her; let her know that you are serious about this but just hold off on the proposal."
"Is this how you all feel about this?" Sheldon asked, everyone nodding slowly.
"I mean of course ultimately it's your decision." Leonard said "but I do think that you should wait a little longer."
Sheldon picked up his fork and started eating again, letting the conversation run through his head. As much as he had thought about this proposal in his head, he hadn't even considered that it wasn't the right time for Amy. Maybe his friends were right, but he couldn't help but feel like no matter what Amy was the woman he was going to marry.
The six friends headed back up to Amy's room just in time to see the cops leaving her room. Everyone filed in and went to stand on both sides of her bed.
"How did it go?" Sheldon asked "what did they say?"
"It went pretty good," Amy answered "luckily his prints were all over my apartment and one of the neighbors saw him leaving so if they find him they should have no trouble prosecuting him."
"That's good." Sheldon said everyone else nodding in agreement "Amy I need to talk to you about something."
"Okay go ahead." Amy said, clearly taken aback.
"I know I should have been more open with you before, maybe none of this would have happened if you had felt that you could come to me for help," Sheldon started "and I will always regret that."
"Sheldon, this is not your fault." Amy said
"I know, but I will always wonder what would have happened if I had known." Sheldon said "but I have to tell you now, that I want that to change."
"What do you mean?" Amy asked, looking confused.
"I mean that I love you Amy Farrah Fowler." Sheldon said "I love you more than anything, more than I ever thought I could love someone who wasn't my mother of meemaw."
Amy stared at Sheldon for a few seconds before tears started falling from her eyes. Sheldon looked around at all of his friends, clearly confused as to what had her so upset.
"Amy, what's wrong?" Sheldon asked "I didn't want to upset you; I thought this would make you happy."
"It does make me happy." Amy said, wiping her eyes with the tissue that Penny had handed her. "I just don't want you to say it because of what happened, I want you to really mean it and I'm afraid you don't."
"Amy, I do love you." Sheldon said, sitting on the side of her bed and taking her hand in his. "I have loved you for a long time and just haven't known how to express it."
"I love you too Sheldon." Amy said, tears still coming from her eyes. "I am so sorry that I didn't tell you."
"I know." Sheldon said, pulling Amy into a hug and holding her as she cried.
Amy couldn't seem to stop the tears that kept falling from her eyes, so she just let herself cry into Sheldon's shoulder. Their friends slowly left the room, wanting to give the couple their privacy. Sheldon held Amy for about five minutes before she started to calm down enough to talk.
"Amy what's wrong?" Sheldon asked clearly concerned "are you in pain."
"It's not that" Amy said, trying to compose herself "I just don't understand how you can love me so much and my own father hates me enough to try to kill me."
"Oh Amy" Sheldon said, his heart breaking for her "I am so sorry."
"It's okay; it's not your fault." Amy said "and hopefully it's over now."
"Oh you don't have to worry about that." Sheldon said, a look of anger flashing across his face "he will never touch you again, I will make sure of that."
Sheldon pulled Amy into another embrace and held her for a few minutes, kissing her forehead. Leonard poked his head back in the room and after seeing Sheldon wave him inside, he came into the room.
"I just wanted to make sure everything was okay." Leonard said
"Everything is fine." Amy answered "actually I am a little tired, I think I will take a nap. Sheldon why don't you let Leonard take you home for a while, go home and have dinner and then come back this evening."
"I don't want to leave you alone." Sheldon insisted "I don't mind staying."
"No really." Amy said "I could use a little alone time, the nurses are just a call button away. It will only be for a few hours."
"Well if you are sure." Sheldon said, looking unsure himself "I guess it would be nice to sit in my spot for a little bit."
"Good." Amy said, smiling at him "go home and enjoy your spot, I will see you in a few hours."
"I love you." Sheldon said, bending down to give her a kiss.
"I love you too." Amy said
Sheldon and Leonard left the room together and went down to the waiting room to find everyone else. Once they found their friends, they explained to everyone that Amy wanted to be alone for a while and that they would all come back after dinner. Everyone separated into different cars, Sheldon going with Leonard and Penny while Raj, Howard and Bernadette left in her car.
"Penny," Sheldon said, getting her attention "thank you for your advice, I think you were right."
"About what sweetie?" Penny asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear him say it.
"Amy wasn't ready for me to propose." Sheldon said "I am glad you talked me out of it."
"It's not that I don't think you should ever propose." Penny said.
"I know." Sheldon said "Don't worry I have every intention of proposing eventually."