Chapter 2
As she sat having a manicure, Amy's thoughts were not on her fingernails, but on the events that had led up to this day. She still couldn't believe how Fate, and a decision to try online dating, had led to her meeting the man she was to marry later that day...
When she'd left the coffee shop that day, with the contact information of this Dr. Sheldon Cooper, a feeling she hadn't felt in a long while popped into her head: Hope. Here was a man who wasn't wanting to slobber all over her, and seemed not to even be seeking any female companionship. He was possessed of a great intellect. That she could tell of him immediately.
Over the next few months, they never saw each other, but were in constant communication via text messages, E-mails, and via Facebook and Twitter. They'd discussed each other's work, touched on each other's interests, Sheldon's interactions with his friends, and exchanged daily pleasantries in general. As she communicated more and more with Sheldon, Amy began to sense that she had truly found a kindred soul in him. She actually found herself looking forward to hearing from Sheldon Lee Cooper every day. Maybe, she thought, she might actually want to see him socially...
One day, a few days after a hypothetical discussion about what kind of offspring they might produce, she received an e-mail from Sheldon, pointing out that his roommate had pointed out to him that communication with their offspring electronically would not be sufficient for proper mental and emotional development. He went on to state that they would need to get to know each other better socially. At this, her heart leapt just a little, and she wondered where THAT sensation came from... Immediately, she e-mailed him back, titling the e-mail "Date With Sheldon Cooper". She listed preferences on restaurants/cuisines/etc, as well as revealing her allergy to avocado.
Amy glanced over at Penny, who was now in the hairstylist's chair, and got a gleaming smile from her friend. Her friendship with Penny, and later with Bernadette as well, had been awkward at first, to say the least. She'd been a little reluctant to strike up a friendship with Penny, as she'd never before had any friends. She had to admit that she'd maybe gone quite overboard in her pursuit of Penny's friendship. Their first meeting was very much the uncomfortable event, to say the least. Penny had picked Sheldon up to drive him to pick her up, and thus to the restaurant for their "date".
As they'd driven to the restaurant, Penny had tried many avenues to strike up conversation. Amy would have just as soon ridden to the restaurant in silence, with her thoughts to keep her company, as she'd done so many times before on her way to work, or whatever errands she'd run. Socialization was a very new concept to her, as her sheltered upbringing hadn't exactly made her any friends. When they'd reached the restaurant, she was pleased when Penny revealed that Sheldon was on his first "official" date. She'd been on several dates herself, in accordance with the agreement with her mother, but this time was different. SHE had found this one. SHE had signed up on that dating service. As she was getting into her 30's, Amy felt that it was past time that the apron strings be cut. She didn't mind being alone, as she found most people in the world annoying due to their lack of intelligence. However, it didn't feel right to be alone forever. She'd cried herself to sleep many a night in her life because of loneliness.
As the evening had progressed with Penny & Sheldon, the discussion of dating had come up, and Sheldon's brilliant mind had proven a little embarrassing for Penny. At first, Amy had merely participated in Sheldon's analysis, contributing from her own experiences and studies. Sheldon's neighbor seemed like a bit of a loose woman, to say the least. Amy's own admission of having participated in that silly study about stimulation of the pleasure centers of the brain seemed to elicit a bit of shock in the perky blonde. Sheldon, however, remained unfazed, as he saw it, as Amy did, as a merely scientific venture. She had later found out why Penny was so shocked.
Sheldon had e-mailed her, upon arriving home, thanking her for a pleasant evening. He went on to explain that he saw a whole new side of her that evening. A surprising part of it was his saying that he no longer wished to pursue their having a child together, as his mother would very much object to any grandchild of hers being born out of wedlock in a lab. She responded by telling him that she was flattered, but, she really had only suggested that hypothetically. He responded back, almost sounding relieved. He also suggested that, thanks to the evening's successful interaction, that, although they would still maintain a boy/friend/girl/friend status, that he would not be opposed to them continuing to see each other socially…..
As Sheldon went through his wedding day checklist, he thought, "How did we get here?" His mind recalled those first Skype sessions, after Leonard had suggested that he and Amy "hang out". He'd thought it a frivolous pursuit at first, but nowadays, he felt sad if he didn't get to speak to Amy every day. She was now an integral part of his life. She'd started out, of course, just as a friend to him, but, there'd been a connection between them from the start. That connection had grown into a friendship that, over the years, eventually blossomed into their romance. Had it really been EIGHT years since that fateful meeting in the coffee shop? Time had certainly flown.
He'd been a different person then. He'd run his world by rigidly-followed rules, agreements, conditions and otherwise, all designed for his benefit. His childhood had been chaotic, to say the least, and he'd decided that his adulthood would NOT be as such. Who cared if it irritated other people, as long as HE was content? He'd never understood some people's inherent need for companionship sometimes. For a time, Amy had agreed with him. Except for each other, at that time, they spent lots of alone time, with just the occasional e-mail, text or Tweet. Amy wasn't his "girlfriend", so what need did he have to spend any time actually in her presence? He was interesting enough on his own. Except for the cost of the rent, he wouldn't have even had Leonard living with him if he didn't need it. Things had certainly changed…...