Sheldon was bored. The music was too loud, people were too loud, and when he'd tried to find somewhere quiet to sit when Amy had disappeared off with the girls somewhere, he'd been accosted by some uncle of Emily's, who had spent the past half hour delivering a monologue on hiking, for goodness sake, and was currently explaining, in mind-numbing detail, why a particular brand of boots was better than another one, and had Sheldon been to the Joshua Tree National Park? He and his wife were there only the other weekend…It was taking all of Sheldon's limited patience with lesser minds not to shut the man up, but his mother's instruction that he be 'nice' at a party couldn't be shaken. Hadn't he found out the hard way what happened when he wasn't? Besides, Emily's mother looked to be every bit as fierce as Bernadette, and not one to cross. He glanced up then, mercifully catching Penny's eye. She already looked quite merry, and waved her beer bottle at him as she stumbled over.

'Hi Moonpie!' she called. 'Hey…' Penny continued, glancing across the room to where Amy sat, seemingly engrossed in fiddling with the cuffs on her blouse. 'Get over here an' dance with your girlfriend!'

Sheldon didn't hear Emily's uncle apologising for keeping him from his 'lady friend', and stood up sharply. That wasn't what he planned at all…how was dancing with Amy going to keep his mind off her…but he couldn't take another lecture on hiking gear…

'C'mon, now!' Penny pleaded. 'If you don't ask, someone else will!'

That did it. Headless of exactly what music was playing; Sheldon strode across the room in a couple of steps and planted himself in front of Amy. She looked up, surprised to see a possessive flash in his eyes.

'Where were you?' he asked bluntly.

'In the kitchen, although I fail to see why that should overly concern you,' Amy replied, a little hurt at being largely ignored that evening. Much good these shoes were…

'Oh.' Sheldon looked taken aback at her tone. 'Well, I didn't know. For all I knew you'd tripped in those silly shoes of yours!'

Amy fixed him with a stare. 'No.'

Her gaze, even when it was annoyed, made his heart race and stomach lurch slightly. She looked beautiful, and his own expression softened as he sat down next to her. He looked at her under lowered eyelashes, suddenly sorry at having upset her. She was always so much easier to work out than anyone else.

'Amy…' He paused. Just because he knew now that he should, it still wasn't easy. 'Sorry. A man shouldn't leave his lady alone.'

Amy smiled as he blushed. She knew she was one of a very select number of people to get an apology that easily, and recognised that old fashioned Cotillion training coming out. She took a sharp intake of breath then, as it became apparent there was more to come.

'Miss Amy?' She could also just about hear a little squeak from Bernadette who grabbed at her husband's hand in her excitement. 'May I have this dance?'

Amy's legs felt slightly shaky as she was pulled to her feet, and was led out into the middle of the room. Sheldon felt her hand warm yet dry in his own, and positioned her to face him. He didn't recognise the music that had just started, but was pleased to note it was slow, and gentle, in comparison with the hideous cacophony earlier. He was also pleased at how nice her back felt as he moved his hand round, just above that luscious curve where it melted into her hips. As she stepped closer to him, his eyes caught hers, and fell for her all over again.

He wasn't really listening to the song itself, but Amy was. As it went on, it struck her how appropriate it was to him, telling the tale of some Southern man seducing his woman, the world even…'Black Velvet, and that little boy smile, Black Velvet, with that slow, southern style…a new religion, that'll bring her to your knees…Black Velvet, if you please…'

Sheldon was close to her now, closer than they'd been since before he'd gone away. Instinctively, she stroked her hand along his arm, and then drew both of her own up to reach around his neck, although he was so tall, she was clinging with her fingertips. In reply, she felt both his hands slide to her waist, one joining the other that already held her there, and was pulled in closer still. Amy let out a soft, shaky breath as she became aware of…something…surely not…she couldn't do that, could she? Even as she thought it, she felt him suddenly hotter under her touch, and he glanced away for a moment, shy, but not panicked enough to let her go. A sudden flush burned her too, and it took everything in her power not to pull him down into a kiss. She'd never given him anything other than the briefest of pecks before; for all that she'd meant them to express so much. This kiss wouldn't be like that though. This kiss would be the deep, soul-shattering branding of what was hers that she'd dreamed of…but as the song faded, Amy came back to herself, slowly, and remembered. She had the feeling that Sheldon had too. Although they'd stopped, he still held her, and it was only as he became aware of the amazement of their friends that he realised where he was.

The rest of the gang, called over by an agitated Bernadette, had been amused at first, merry from beers or Emily's retro jello shots, and then they'd fallen silent, and collectively left wondering if it was wrong to be slightly turned on right now…

'Oh my God,' whispered Penny. 'I feel like I just walked in on something…'

'Yeah, me too,' Leonard agreed, taking in the sight that he'd never thought he'd see.

As the evening went on, Sheldon and Amy danced again, holding each other close throughout. Somewhere, they heard Raj, who had since reconsidered his costume, and was dressed as a Ghostbuster, saying 'Hey, Back to the Future soundtrack! That's so cool!' He slid the CD into the player on random, but was somewhat surprised when the first song chosen was rather slower than the contribution by Huey Lewis and the News. He was about to change the track as the first chords of 'Earth Angel', filled the room, but was struck by inspiration as Emily, in her Fitness Instructor costume, caught his eye, and pulled her into a dance. Amy, of course, was in Sheldon's arms already, and she smiled as she remembered the day they'd watched the movie together.

'You know, I never really thought about why Meemaw likes this so much,' Sheldon said then, unable to keep himself from running a hand over her back.

'Oh yeah…this was one of her favourites, right?'

'Yeah…I guess it was 'cause she said one time it was playing the moment she met my Pop Pop…'

'Well, music can often be linked to a memory,' Amy murmured. 'You can see it on brain scans…'

Sheldon smiled. 'You can? That reminds me…what happened to my brain scans, Dr Fowler? You know I love looking at brain scans!'

'All in good time,' Amy replied. 'They'll form part of your report…' She wasn't really thinking about that now though. Listening to the music, so close to the man she loved, it dawned on Amy that they were really part of a continuum, one that included a young girl working in a Galveston diner looking up from the counter one day as a GI walked in, at some point in the mid-50s, smart in his uniform, black hair closely cropped under his cap. The daughter born sometime later, as a result of that meeting, grew up to have children of her own, one of which gazed down at her right now, and she was so glad, in that moment, that a young sailor in port had decided to eat in that very diner that day…

The rest of the evening passed in a warm daze for both of them, no longer bothered by the noise or the crowds. As soon as she stepped through her door that night, Amy collapsed onto the couch, exhausted both from dancing and strict suppression of every instinct that was crying out to pull that man in with her and give him anything he'd ever wanted. Sheldon had made Penny take her home, and walked her back to her apartment, lingering by the door frame. He stared down at the floor, as if making an effort not to look in her eyes, because this time, he wouldn't stop if he did.

'Are your feet OK?' he'd asked then, his concern and accent showing in his voice. 'Shouldn't go wearin' shoes like that…'

'No,' Amy agreed, and slipped them off gratefully. She seemed even smaller next to him now she was brought down to her normal height. Small, cute, needing to be kissed…how was it she could tempt him beyond measure?

'Sure glad you didn't drink tonight,' Sheldon continued. 'One drive on a Learner's Permit is enough…wouldn't want you back in the Emergency Room from trippin' on those heels…they looked nice though.' That last bit was said almost in a whisper.

'They did?'

'Yeah.' All of you did.

'Well, I'm glad I made an exception,' Amy smiled up at him shyly. 'Proper orthopaedic support should always be a consideration though…'

'I'm glad you agree.' What's under your skirt this time? It's driving me mad…

'Thank you for walking me back…'

'A gentleman always takes a lady to her door…' Ask me in, I wouldn't say no…it'd scare me, but I wouldn't say no…

Amy blushed. How was it that this man made her feel like she was 14 again, like he was a boy she stared at in class, who she dreamed of constantly, whose name she doodled in her notebook, hidden inside, never to be seen? She'd done all that, and felt now as she had then, all those years ago, but couldn't have imagined this man holding her, kissing her, loving her back. As the years went by, she'd got to the point where she couldn't have imagined loving him. Hurt and disappointment had locked her heart down so tightly by the time they met that she couldn't have believed it would ever be opened…but it was. Neither of them had expected anything from that first meeting, the one Sheldon had reminded her of that night on the roof, neither would have believed they could feel anything approximate to love for another…but they did.

She took a deep breath, needing to focus. 'Well…it's late, and I really should get some sleep…got bags to pack in the morning…'

Sheldon nodded silently, not quite daring himself to speak just now. His had been packed all week, and he'd been thinking, dreaming, of being with her in every waking moment.

'Yeah,' he managed then. 'You know, you shouldn't leave things to the last minute…I packed as soon as I got home Monday…' Because I was so excited…

'Oh, the majority is done.' Her voice was warm, husky. 'Just a few little things.'

'What things?' Have the girls taken her shopping again? She doesn't need that stuff though…

She was smiling again, as if she knew what he was thinking about.

'Wait and see.'

'Oh, AMY!' She knew waiting to find out would drive him crazy, and with that, she'd bid him goodnight, and shortly after, collapsed on the couch, emotions running wild.

The following Monday began early for Sheldon. He'd woken up at five, unable to go back to sleep. She'd danced with him again, in his dreams. Danced with him and taken him home that night, instead of leaving him alone. He sighed as he remembered, lying back and not even trying to resist as his hand slipped lower...

'You know, you could come in,' Amy murmured, flashing him a glance that burned deep inside.

'Maybe I will,' he'd replied, stepping over the threshold behind her. She'd bent down then, to pick something up, baring the stocking tops he'd felt through her skirt all evening, and straining the skirt itself over her beautiful curves. He had his arms around her before she'd fully straightened up, and pulled her into a kiss. It was hungry, urgent, but not enough. He wanted her on her back, and grabbing her by the hand, led her into her room. Suddenly her clothing seemed to be everywhere, blouse torn from her breasts, skirt pulled from her thighs…and then the jade eyed Vixen was staring at him, a naughty smile playing on her lips as she reached around and unclipped her silky bra and dropped it to the floor.

He made to lead her over to the bed, but she shook her head. 'Remember that song?' she asked then. 'That first one we danced to tonight?'

Sheldon nodded. Of course he did. She smiled again, clad in nothing but black knickers, stockings and suspenders, and keeping her eyes fixed on his all the time, sunk down in front of him.

'…a new religion, that'll bring her to your knees, Black Velvet, if you please…' He knew what she wanted, what he wanted, and unbuckled his belt hastily, sliding the zip down over himself. Her hand snaked up then, and eased him out, stroking her fingers over him, before moving closer, and darting her tongue out…Her lips were soft, warm and her tongue continued to taste and pull him in deeper, increasing the exquisite sensation. His hands were in her hair, pushing her in further still. He couldn't hold it…any minute…now...

He really couldn't hold it, and the ducks got more than their fair share that morning. Such an 'active' morning should have worn him out by the time Amy arrived at ten, ready to take them to Santa Monica, but seeing her only made him want her more…He patted his jacket as they left, checking the present he'd bought her was still there, and imagined her wearing it. With nothing else.