It had been a few months since Leonard proposed to Penny and everything seemed to be going really well for the gang. It was the holiday season, so everyone was getting ready to celebrate. Penny, Amy, and Bernadette were all busy planning the upcoming wedding and boys were busy playing their video games and reading their comic books. Everything seemed to be falling into place.
Still, Sheldon could help but feel like something was missing. He couldn't put his finger on it. He had asked Amy to move in with him, to which she happily agreed. They had been living together in harmony for quite some time now, but Sheldon still felt like something was off. He couldn't figure out why he could not allow himself to just be happy with the way things were. It was obvious that Amy was happy with their current living arrangements. Sheldon did his best to try and keep his mind off of the subject while he was with his friends.
"SHELDON!" Leonard, Raj, and Howard all yelled in unison. Sheldon jumped and snapped back to reality.
"What?!" Sheldon yelled back.
"Finally, he's back to Earth," Howard said sarcastically.
"Sheldon, it's your turn," Leonard said as he pointed to the Settlers of Catan board.
"What has been going on with you lately?" Raj asked with concern in his voice.
"Whatever do you mean?" Sheldon asked.
"Dude, you've been zoning out a lot lately," Raj answered.
"I have not," Sheldon retorted.
"You kinda have been," Leonard said.
"I suppose I have been a little distracted lately," Sheldon finally conceded.
"So, what's up? Anything that you want to talk about?" Howard asked.
Just then, it hit Sheldon like a ton of bricks. He knew what had been eating at him these last few months and he knew exactly when it started. He wasn't sure what it was about Howard's question that sparked this sudden epiphany, but he was glad that it did.
"I want to marry Amy," Sheldon said calmly.
"Seriously, dude?! That's great!" Raj said excitedly.
"When did you decide this?" Leonard asked.
"The night that you purposed to Penny. But, after that night, I never really thought about it again because Amy and I don't have the kind of relationship," Sheldon answered.
"Don't start with this 'relationship of the mind' crap again," Leonard groaned.
"You love her and she obviously loves you if she hasn't killed you in your sleep yet," Howard said sarcastically.
Sheldon knew that they were right. There was not a reason that he could think of to not marry Amy at this point. She was clearly his intellectual equal and their children would obviously have good genes.
"Dude, just ask her," Raj said.
"I don't know the first thing about asking someone to marry me," Sheldon said.
"Don't worry, we'll help," Leonard replied.
The boys planned for days how Sheldon would ask Amy to marry him. Raj, being the one that is the most in touch with his feminine side, suggested that Sheldon take Amy on a horse-drawn carriage ride around the city, give Amy a dozen roses and write her a poem about how much his life is better because she is in it.
"Dude, seriously?" was all Howard could say to Raj's suggestion.
"It's really romantic!" Raj said defensively.
"Raj, I'm not doing that," Sheldon said flatly.
The boys continued to plan endlessly until they finally devised a plan that even Amy Farrah Fowler could say no to. Although Sheldon was nervous, he was quite proud of himself for going through with everything. Something inside of him told him that this was the right step.
The night came that the boys have been planning for finally came. Everything was in place and they all hoped that tonight would go flawlessly. The boys had all asked their ladies for a night out on the town. however, none of them told the girls what was really going on. They knew that the girls could never keep the secret.
The entire gang went out for dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, a place that has been a staple in their lives over the last few years. Sheldon knew that it was the perfect spot to start off the night because of how many memories the place held.
"This is so much fun. What made you guys want to plan all of this tonight?" Penny asked.
"Yeah, especially on such sort notice?" Bernadette added.
"Nothing really. We were all just sitting around, thinking about how much we love our ladies and decided to take them out," Howard replied. How was quite proud of himself for how smooth he sounded.
"Well, I think it's wonderful," Amy said as she smiled at Sheldon. Something told her that he was up to something.
After dinner, the boys decided that it was the perfect time to go for a walk around the city. Despite how cold it was outside, no one minded, especially Amy. As they walked further, Leonard, Howard, and Raj all began to slow down and their respective ladies followed suit, leaving only Amy and Sheldon in front. Penny looked and Leonard, who just smiled at her, and suddenly she knew exactly what was going on.
It was a beautiful night out. Snow was falling and holiday spirit was in the air. It seemed like a magical evening where anything could happen. Amy and Sheldon were walking in the park, looking at all the lights that had been put up for season. It was a simple date, yet so perfect to Amy. She was with the man she loved.
"Sheldon, this evening was lovely. Thank you," Amy said, grabbing Sheldon's hand. Sheldon smiled and gave her a gentle kiss to which she reciprocated.
"Amy, I have to tell you something," Sheldon said.
"What is it, Sheldon?" Amy asked. Her heart started racing. She was nervous. She had no idea what this could be about.
"Amy, I care a great deal about you. In fact, I love you. You've changed my life. You've changed me. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. I want to give you something." Sheldon stepped back and reached into his pocket and pulled a ring out of his pocket.
Amy gasped at the sight of what was in front of her. There stood he only man she had ever loved, with the most gorgeous ring she had ever seen.
"Sheldon..." was all she could whisper. Before she knew it, Sheldon was down on one knee.
"Amy, if I were able to prove String Theory and win the Nobel Prize, I still would not be as happy as I am right now, right here, with you. Will you marry me?" Sheldon said.
"Yes," Amy said breathlessly. She put her hand over her mouth and tried to choke back tears and Sheldon flashed her his famous grin, got up, and put the ring on her finger.
Amy heard all of her friends clapping and shouting from a distance, which finally snapped her back to reality. She turned around and was greeted by Penny, who was trying to hold back tears of her own. The boys all surrounded Sheldon and congratulated him on his accomplishment.
When all of the excitement was over, the gang all walked to the car to call it a night. Penny and Leonard were at in the back, walking hand and hand.
"How did you help him pull this off?" Penny asked.
"We actually didn't help all the much. The whole park thing was his idea," Leonard responded.
"Really? What about what he said to Amy? Did Raj help him come up with that?" Penny asked.
"Nope. That was all Sheldon," Leonard said.
"Who knew Sheldon was such a romantic at heart?" Penny said as she nodded her head.
Leonard agreed and they continued to walk back to the car. Leonard wasn't sure where Sheldon had got the words to say to Amy, but he knew that they were sincere. If anyone were going to go the distance, it was bound to be Sheldon and Amy.