They went to the park and sat on the bench facing the pond, talking and feeding the ducks.
"What food did you like best before you stopped eating?" he asked.
"I don't know." Mimi said. "Maybe mac and cheese? Ice cream?"
"But that doesn't mean I want them for lunch." She said quickly. Cholesterol and sugar? No thank you…
"Hmm." Sheldon said. "But I'm your guardian now, and I get to decide what you eat and don't."
When it was near lunch time, they went back to the apartment to eat.
Sheldon sat Mimi on the couch. "What are we having?" Mimi asked.
"It's a secret." Sheldon said. He went over to Mimi and blindfolded her.
"Wait, what?" Mimi said.
Sheldon took the tray for Mimi from under the kitchen island. He had prepared tiny portions of Mimi's favorite food – some mac and cheese, an éclair cut into quarters, a tiny cup of ice cream – and took it to her.
"Now, it's time for lunch." Sheldon said, sitting in his usual spot next to her. He had been planning this for quite a while now. "I'll feed you something and you can guess what it is."
"Ok." Mimi said. She didn't sound too sure. But Sheldon was her guardian, and she didn't want to be stuck in that hospital a day longer!
"Now open." Sheldon said.
Sheldon put one hand on Mimi's shoulder (which still felt too bony to him!) and fed her some macaroni and cheese.
"What is it?" Sheldon asked as Mimi ate. She seemed a little reluctant at first, but then she broke out laughing.
"It's mac and cheese, oh my gosh!" She said.
"How does that feel?" Sheldon asked.
"Oh, it's good." Mimi said.
"Good." Sheldon said. "I brought you a reasonable portion – I used exactly half of what Betty Croaker told me to. And you're going to eat it all up."
"Fine." Mimi said. Sheldon fed her each forkful, and Mimi ate it all up.
"That's my girl." Sheldon said. "Ok, guess what's next."
He picked up one of the pieces of the éclair and put it into Mimi's open mouth. Her lips brushed against his fingers as she closed it.
"I know you loved them." Sheldon said, grinning.
Mimi chewed her way through the éclair. "It's cream." She said. "Wait."
"Eclairs from Europane bakery, 345 E Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91101!" Sheldon and Mimi shouted at the same time.
"Oh my gosh I can't believe you got these!" Mimi said. "Is this really the one I like? The one with raspberry icing and meringue drops?"
"I believe so." Sheldon said.
"Oh wow." Mimi said.
"Wait, it's not done yet." Sheldon said.
"What? But I'm full!" Mimi protested.
"It's almost over." Sheldon said. He fed her rest of the pastry, and the ice cream.
"Now how was that meal?" he asked.
"Thank you." Mimi said. She raised her hand to take the blindfold off, but Sheldon caught her hands, and before Mimi could protest, swiftly put his lips against hers. Mimi was surprised at first, but realizing what had happened, reached out to put her hands around Sheldon's neck and kissed him properly.
Sheldon pulled the blindfold off Mimi's face after pulling back.
"Wow, Sheldon." Mimi said.
"I don't know how I did it." Sheldon said. His heart was thumping, his face was flushed, but no, it wasn't alien parasites.
"Mimi, I love you." Sheldon said. Mimi looked at him. "I am sorry again for leaving you."
Mimi looked at him sadly. "I love you too, Sheldon." She finally said. He finally heard those words he had never heard before. He had wondered how they felt, and they felt… nice. Strangely warm and comforting. Sheldon put the tray away, and they curled up on the couch with the TV on.
"Promise me you'll never leave me like that again." Mimi said.
Sheldon lay a kiss on the top of Mimi's head for an answer. If that was what he had to do, it could be managed.
They watched a movie, and Mimi fell asleep in Sheldon's arms on his couch, before returning to the hospital the next day. Sheldon made her promise she will eat well so as to be released from hospitalization in two weeks. If that was the price she had to pay to see Sheldon? Well, she was into it.