"What do you mean you are moving this weekend? You have only just found the house and you have not interviewed any prospective replacements yet."
"Yes well I had wanted to talk to you about that." Leonard said watching as Sheldon stood glaring at him from the kitchen. "Come sit down."
"Why? What has happened?"
"We have found a replacement Sheldon. The reason we have got a moving date so soon is because the sellers had already moved and the house was empty."
"What do you mean you have found a replacement? You said I could be in on the interviews so it is not possible that you have found a replacement."
"Its Amy." Leonard said watching carefully for Sheldon's reaction. Penny had told him Sheldon would be pleased, it was what he wanted after all, but years of experience had taught Leonard to expect the unexpected when it came to Dr Sheldon Cooper.
"I am not sure I understand." Sheldon said slowly. "She said she would not move here, that her staying was for a few days only. She was going to look at apartments with Penny…."
"Yes, she could not find an apartment in her price range in a location that made sense."
"Did she go to more than one realtor? This is LA. Leonard, houses are on the market all the time; the speed you managed to abandon me is proof of that."
"I thought you would be pleased." Leonard pointed out gently.
"Well I am pleased if Amy is pleased. However if you are leaving her here to suit your accommodation needs it will be me that has to deal with her and her mood swings."
"What mood swings? Sheldon this is Amy. The Amy you have spent the last few days plotting to get in across the hall. Look on it as good fortune and smile."
"I have not been plotting! My lists were merely ideas to make sure she knew things between us were OK now, as friends. Has she made this decision because she thinks I will hound her if she doesn't? She knows I am not moving in with you and Penny? That I am staying here and will therefore be her neighbour?" Sheldon questioned suddenly fearing Amy would accuse him of tricking her.
"Yes! Sheldon please relax!" Leonard shouted. "Look buddy it will be just like having Penny across the hall, Amy has just begun a shoe collection to rival Pennys and as quick as Penny is taking clothes out of the closet Amy seems to be restocking it."
"I liked her old clothes and shoes!" Sheldon muttered. Then to Leonard he asked "Did she mention me?"
"Yeah she said she would give you a ride to work."
"Hmm… I don't know. She drives so fast now…"
"Well I am not coming to get you so its that or the bus!" Leonard stated firmly. "She did say 'if you were going in at the same time' which I thought was odd but I was more relieved she had agreed to be honest. I thought you would be too."
"Do you think I should suggest a neighbour agreement so we can put on paper the -"
"No Sheldon!" Leonard interrupted quickly before Sheldon began drafting up some strange policy for Amy to sign. "Look, why didn't we have a little get together tomorrow night, call it a leaving party and house warming all in one, you can talk to Amy then in a nice informal setting."
"I don't like parties and it will be our last chance we get to go to get comic books after work."
"Sheldon I will still be at work every day, still go to the cheesecake factory and the comic book store, we have been over this, I am going to invite the others anyway. You do what you want."
73
"So is Sheldon not coming over?" Raj asked as he twirled his straw in the bright pink cocktail he was drinking.
"He said he would be over later after he had eaten his pizza."
"Leonard I told you to tell him I had food!"
"Yes I know and I passed on the message. He replied that you had already disrupted his life enough with your haircuts and living arrangements, and he was not prepared to let you run riot on his bowel movements too!"
Penny winced and shrugged. "So Ames, how does it feel now all our stuff is gone? Does it feeling more like home?"
"Well to be honest this just feels like another girls night!"
"Hey!" Raj protested but seeing the raised eyebrows of the girls shrugged and carried on drinking.
"I guess it will take a while to get used too." Amy continued before Howard interrupted.
"Or a couple of car journeys taking Sheldon to work, that will cure the party feeling!
As if on cue the door opened and Sheldon appeared.
"Hey buddy, glad you could make it." Leonard grinned hoping his ex room-mates sonic hearing had not heard Howard's comment.
"Its hardly a surprise Leonard, your wife threatened physical harm if I failed to show."
Sheldon moved to grab himself a bottle of water from the fridge exclaiming "wow! I have never seen so much food in your fridge Penny!"
"Its not my fridge now, its Amy's" Penny grinned. "Although if I thought I could sneak it and all the food out to our new place I would!"
Smirking Sheldon moved to where Howard and Raj were sitting. "I suppose now Leonard is moving it means you will no longer be attending games night across the hall?"
Howard frowned. "Well we are not attending tonight because we are here but I for one assumed Leonard would need and appreciate an escape route from the day to day drudgery of married life."
"HEY!" Came the joint voices of penny and Bernadette to Howard's announcement.
"I myself," Howard continued as if he had not been interrupted "will be coming to ensure my beautiful wife is able to spend time with her friends also."
"Nice try Howard," Amy laughed, "but girls nights wont be here, at least not on week days I'm afraid. I am going to be at work until midnight most nights."
"You are?" Sheldon frowned "Why?"
"New project" Amy grinned. "I am going to be working split days."
Sheldon frowned not replying. Penny wanting to ease the tension she could feel building said "Well that's OK, Howard, Leonard and Raj can come here after work and girls night can be at ours. Then on nights Amy can join we will either have it here or at mine."
"So you wont be going to dinner at the cheesecake factory on a Tuesday?" Sheldon asked as if Penny hadn't spoken.
"No. At the moment my shifts look like I will be in work from 8.30 til 10.30 then 5.30 until midnight. This will be for the next month then we will review."
"What exactly are you doing?" Raj asked curiously.
"Well, you know Ricky is at Caltech now. He has until now been isolated but the idea is to introduce him back into the social group. Ricky is slightly stubborn," Amy continued and hearing Sheldon snort and say "That monkey was an ass!" she grinned and nodded, "Exactly! and it seems time hasn't improved his social skills. My job is to help integrate him."
"By why at night?" Penny asked curiously.
"Well during the day it seems Ricky sits and watches quite calm and happy, but at night when everyone leaves he has been causing all sorts of trouble."
"So basically you are his minder." Sheldon interjected.
Amy shrugged, Sheldon's putting down of her work touching a nerve. "No more so than Leonard has been yours for the past 10 years!"
At the stifled sniggers from Howard and Raj Sheldon stood up. "Leonard convinced me not to make a neighbour agreement for you to sign tonight. But I am warning you the first sign I see of that creature in this apartment building and I will report you!" Storming back across the hall Sheldon slammed the door to 4a behind him.
"Well that went well!" Howard grinned.
Amy sighed. "Maybe this is not such a good idea after all."
"Amy it will be fine," Howard grinned. "Come on we all know how Sheldon is with change. Give him a few days and things will settle down."
73
Amy looked at herself in the mirror. She felt nervous and it was not just because it was her first proper day on the job. She hadn't seen Sheldon since he had stormed out two nights ago, although she had heard him coming and going. She had never formally arranged a time to take him to work and now as she gathered her things and checked her watch she knew she could put it off no longer.
Locking her door she turned to face 4a. She hadn't heard him leave already and she knew his normal time for leaving was approaching. Taking a breath she knocked and waited.
Nothing.
Knocking again Amy wondered if she had in fact missed him leave. It was only as she knocked a third and what she intended to be final time did she hear movement inside.
"Sheldon, I am leaving for work. If you want a ride I suggest you come now." Then turning she began to walk toward the stairs.
She paused as she heard the door open and then continued at the sound of the door being locked and footsteps following her.
"I wasn't sure you would want to give me a ride." Sheldon said quietly.
"I said I would and I am here aren't I?"
"Yes. Thank you." Following Amy to her car Sheldon shifted his bag off his shoulders and onto his lap as he folded himself into the car. Watching Amy out of the corner of his eye he saw her smile at the sound of the powerful engine starting. This time prepared for what lay ahead Sheldon held on to his seat, eyes closed.
"Are you really that scared? I am not going above the speed limit!" Amy grinned as she pulled to a stop at lights.
"It just feels faster closer to the ground." Sheldon muttered.
Amy sang along to the radio the rest of the journey and by the time they were pulling into the parking lot at Caltech Sheldon realised his grip on the seat was not quite so tight and he had not even minded the fact Amy had driven a route not on his approved list.
Climbing out he smiled. "Thank you for the ride."
"Not so bad was it?" Amy asked with a grin, then more seriously, "I am sorry I cant take you home too. But Leonard called yesterday and said he was planning on going to the comic book store so would be able to drop you home later."
"Yes he called me too." Sheldon nodded.
"OK, well I guess I will see you tomorrow morning." Amy waved and walked toward the biology building. Watching her go Sheldon felt frustrated. He had lain awake half the night cursing himself for leaving the party early but trying to think of ways to tell Amy he was pleased she was across the hall; instead he had not mentioned storming off and had spent most of the journey with his eyes tight shut. Now as he watched her walk away part of him wanted to chase her to say sorry and the other half wanted to run and hide.
Walking slowly towards his office he figured he had 24 hours to compose himself.
"So how was the ride in this morning?" Raj asked Sheldon at lunchtime. It was just the two of them as Howard and Leonard were meeting Bernie and Penny for lunch across town.
"OK." Sheldon muttered.
"Did you apologise for running off?"
"No." Sheldon shrugged.
"Sheldon, Amy is trying you know."
"Yes I know and so am I. Look Raj this is not easy for either of us. I am sure I will get used to her being across the hall soon."
"Well from what she was saying you wont see much of her anyway of she is working so late."
"No." Sheldon looked up. "It is strange not having someone come in and raid the milk or coffee. In fact I hadn't realised just how frequently Penny barged in until she was gone."
"It will take time Sheldon but I am sure the peace and quiet will be welcome. You were always complaining about how noisy Leonard and Penny were."
Nodding Sheldon continued with his lunch. Raj was right the quiet should be welcome yet all he felt now was alone. He stood to return his tray and plate agreeing to meet Raj later and made his way back to his office. Raj was right it would just take time.
At home Amy was having trouble adjusting too. It was bright and sunny outside and there was no way she was going to be able to sleep. She had spent the weekend trying to adjust her body clock, staying up later and not staying in bed late but now as she lay looking at the ceiling she wondered if she would have been better staying at work. Getting up she decided to go for a drive. The quiet of the apartment taunting her and the knowledge all her friends were busy meant girly chats and shopping trips were out too. An hour later grinning, singing along to the radio and enjoying the speed of her car on the open road, Amy began to let her mind wander to this mornings journey to work. It had been awkward but she should have expected that, maybe tomorrow she would suggest a game to play to distract Sheldon from the new car and give them a focus point. Satisfied she turned the car back in the direction of home singing happily.
73
It was half past midnight and Amy crept up the final flight of stairs. She knew the slightest noise might wake Sheldon and she was too tired to face a lecture. Opening her apartment door silently she stepped inside turned on the light and threw her bag and keys on the table. It was as she made her way towards the kitchen she saw it. Covered in foil was a plate with a note on top.
Amy, I thought you may have been too busy to eat if that retched monkey was misbehaving. The food should only need heating for a couple of minutes and not be too heavy to cause bad dreams. Thank you for the lift today. I will see you in the morning.
S
Smiling and lifting the foil Amy saw a plate of what looked like perfectly cooked chicken and a salad. Placing the chicken on to a dish to heat Amy went to the fridge to get herself some water then carried her food to the table. Sheldon had never cooked for her before. She had sometimes made him spaghetti and if he had baked bread he always made extra for her but never a meal. They always had take out. The chicken as she tasted it melted on her tongue and she knew this must be a family recipe. The spices were like nothing she had tasted from shop bought chicken and the fact there were clearly no avocados in the salad and he had used her favourite dressing told her he had made this specially for her. Grinning Amy was tempted to text him but it was so late. Early even, she groaned at the time and knew getting up tomorrow would be hard. Washing her empty plate Amy made her way to the bedroom. She couldn't believe Sheldon had been so thoughtful. She fell asleep smiling.
Groaning at the sound of the alarm Amy practically fell out of bed. Standing under the shower she was just thankful she only had a few hours in work to hand over the data from the previous evening. Grabbing some clothes Amy made her way to the door. Opening it she jumped a little to see Sheldon stood waiting.
"hi." he smiled
"Hi! I'm not late am I?"
"No. But I thought seeing as you are being kind enough to give me a ride being ready is the least I can do."
Nodding Amy followed Sheldon down the stairs. "Thank you so much for dinner." she smiled.
"You liked it?"
"It was delicious."
"You were not mad?"
"Why would I be mad that you cooked for me."
"Raj said it was inappropriate to let myself into your apartment without asking."
"Oh. It actually hadn't occurred to me to look at it like that," Amy admitted.
"So you don't mind?"
"It was a lovely surprise and I doubt I would have eaten at all if you had not left it so no I don't mind. Thank you."
Nodding satisfied Sheldon said "Good." Then looking at her closely he said "You look tired Amy. I don't think shifts is a good idea."
"I am only tired because I didn't sleep yesterday. I went for a drive instead." she grinned. "But don't worry I am definitely sleeping today."
Amy was relieved to note Sheldon kept his eyes open the whole journey and as he got out of the car he asked "Why did you drive a different way today?"
"Pardon?" Amy frowned.
"Yesterday you came a different route. It was most time efficient, I just wondered why you felt the need to change it."
Amy glanced at her watch. "We are not late are we?"
"No today's route was time efficient too I was just curious."
Amy smiled. "New things Sheldon! I am trying new things. New car, new apartment, new job, new clothes and each day a new route."
Sheldon shook his head. "I am not sure I understand," he admitted. "Or maybe," he looked at the floor "I hadn't realised you were so unhappy with how things were before." Without waiting for her response he threw his bag across his chest said thank for the lift and made for the physics building.
"I hadn't either." Amy whispered at his retreating back. A sudden wave of sadness washed over her. Had she been so sad with her life she needed now to change every aspect?
Entering the lab Amy smiled at the students all busy inputting the data she had collated the previous evening. Making her way through to where Ricky was currently living Amy grinned as her colleague held up her finger to her lips and pointed. Ricky, usually so full of life and mischief was sound asleep. Beckoning Amy to the sound proof observation room she grinned.
"What did you do to him last night Amy? He has been asleep all night and even the sound of the others being fed didn't wake him."
Amy smiled. "Good. I read over Rickys notes and decided as he was so young maybe he was just bored during the day and not burning up enough energy. So when the others were locked in the den for the night I went into the enclosure and hid lots of toys and rewards. Ricky is smart, smarter than I gave him credit for to be honest and I would in time like to check his word level understanding. He spent the night playing and hunting for food."
"Well I am thinking if we can keep this up then slowly adjust the timings so he is on the same schedule as the others this may not take as long as we feared."
Nodding satisfied, Amy went back out to check her notes were understood before finding a free desk and sitting down to write up the observations from this morning. If things went as they hoped maybe her timetable would be more normal before the month was out after all.
73
"Amy! We haven't heard from you all week." Penny cried as she saw her friend enter the restaurant Friday evening.
"I know I'm sorry bestie. I did warn you this could happen."
"I know, we were worried that's all. Sheldon said you were OK but its great to see for ourselves."
"Well I have the night off thankfully as some of the students volunteered to take the weekend shifts and I was not going to turn them down. Sheldon mentioned this morning you were working here and he was meeting Leonard and the others at your so I thought I would join you."
"Great! Bernie is on her way and I only have half hour left of my shift. Why don't you have a drink while we wait for her and then we can grab some food."
So Amy settled on the stool and listened as her friend caught her up on all the gossip.
"-I told Leonard there was no way he was turning the basement into a games room but he pointed out I had turned the spare bedroom into a walk in closet so I had no say in the matter, and to be fair when the others come round them being in the basement means I don't need to listen to them bickering all night!"
"Have they been round much?"
"Yeah a fair bit, well Howard and Raj seem to have moved in. They said it was to help with the games room but I am not so sure. Sheldon a few times but not for long. Not sure what he has been up too but he has been leaving ours early and is very secretive about it."
Amy had her suspicions but did not want to say anything until she was sure so she asked "Are they all paint-balling this weekend?"
"No. This weekend they are costume making!"
"They are? Why?"
"Stewart! He has a competition on at the store. He has a new resident artist, something to do with the local art college and a new comic book manufacturer. To be honest I don't always listen but I think it is something about best new character gets featured in some new comic."
"Wow! I am guessing that's big." Amy agreed.
"You would think this was bigger than their careers the way they have been arguing. The guys wanted to go as couples but Sheldon wanted to go as a team, said that way if they won they would all feature, the others were kind of forced to agree as Sheldon was the only one without a partner. He said he could enter alone and beat them anyway but this started a whole new argument so they agreed to go as a team.
Leonard is not convinced Sheldon wont enter alone anyway, he says that's why Sheldon has been leaving early. To work on his costume."
Amy shook her head. "I don't think he has."
"You don't? Why?"
"Because, and please don't mention this in front of him Penny or to the others in case they tease him, but I think maybe the reason he has been leaving you early is he has been cooking for me."
"He has?"
"Yes. Every night I have come home and there has been a freshly prepared meal."
"Sheldon doesn't like cooking."
"I know. He said when I asked him that it was to thank me for giving him a ride to work." Amy could feel her cheeks blushing and new she was being silly but she couldn't help it.
"Well who knew." Penny pondered gazing at her friend and smiling at the obvious delight Sheldon had given her so simply. "Dr Cooper is working his way to your heart through your stomach!" she grinned.
"Penny please. Don't say anything and I could be wrong."
"Yeah we both know you are not wrong, and having tasted his banana bread I know if his cooking is as good as his baking you would be mad to jeopardise a free meal! Look I wont say anything if you do something for me. If you get a chance see if Sheldon is really OK about this costume thing."
Nodding Amy agreed. The rest of the night was spent laughing and drinking with her friends. She got home at just before 11pm and as she climbed the last flight of stairs she saw the door to Sheldon's apartment shutting. Assuming he had just got home ahead of her Amy was surprised to see another plate on her counter. Fried chicken! She knew this was a childhood favourite of his and not stopping to think Amy went across the hall and knocked.
"Amy! You are home early."
"Hi, I was with Penny and Bernadette, I didn't have to work tonight. Look I wanted to thank you for the meals Sheldon. Why don't you come and eat the chicken with me now."
"Amy I don't know its kind of late."
"I know but its the weekend and it is your favourite right?"
Sheldon grinned "It is. Wait there." He returned to his kitchen and picked up some more chicken and corn bread then followed Amy across the hall.
Flicking through the TV channels Amy found a documentary on space and soon they were sat happily spotting errors and composing a letter to the makers of the programme.
"I have enjoyed tonight." Amy smiled pouring Sheldon some more juice and grabbing herself some water.
"You must have missed Penny while you were away." Sheldon agreed.
"Well yes, but I meant I enjoyed this Sheldon. Us talking and eating together it was nice."
"Yes it was." Sheldon smiled.
"Penny was telling me about some costume competition you guys are entering. Sounds fun."
"Yes well it would be if we could agree on a concept." Sheldon muttered. "I am beginning to think I would have been better entering alone."
"You don't want to enter as a team? Penny said it was your idea."
"Well yes it was, but the others want to enter as pairs and I can see that by excluding Penny and Bernadette Howard and Leonard will loose focus and nothing will get done. Raj is not so bad, he said any couples costume with Emily would probably be too terrifying to enter anyway."
Amy grinned, "yes she hasn't changed I noticed that. Well why don't we enter as a couple. That way you can please the others and I can repay you for feeding me this past week."
"Amy the meals were a thank you for the rides."
"You cooked for Leonard like that?" Amy grinned.
"No but that was different."
"Maybe but my offer is there, as long as I get to approve my costume before I wear it."
Sheldon's smile told Amy all she needed to know. "That's great Amy! I will text the others first thing in the morning and have sketches with you by Sunday evening." Standing and gathering the dishes he had brought over Sheldon continued. "I had better go I have a busy weekend ahead now." And with a wave he was gone leaving Amy staring after him with a smile.
73