"So you are saying you don't want to go as a team?" Leonard frowned. "That you agree to our original idea?"
"Yes Leonard. I am not sure how else I can say it to make you understand."
"And Amy has agreed? She will be your partner?"
"Yes! Look it is really not that hard a concept to follow. You and Penny, Howard and Bernadette, Raj and Emily, and me and Amy."
"Like old times!" Raj grinned.
"No, not like old times. Amy and I are not a couple in the conventional sense." Sheldon sighed, "is this really so hard to understand?"
"So you are saying," Howard grinned evilly "she is a girl who is your friend but she is not your girlfriend!"
"I don't know why I waste my time!" Sheldon glared at his grinning friends. "I have passed on the information. Do with it what you want." Sheldon stood up from his spot and stormed down the hall to his room.
"Now what do we do?" Raj asked staring after Sheldon.
"We go thank Amy!" Howard grinned jumping up and heading for the door. Slowly the others followed him and standing outside in the hallway waited for Amy to answer.
"Hi." Amy smiled. "If you are looking for Sheldon he is not here, in fact no-one is here."
"No we were looking for you!" Howard grinned then leant forward and kissed Amy's cheek. "We wanted to thank you for whatever it is you did to get Sheldon to change his mind."
"I am not sure why you are so happy," Amy grinned. "You do know he intends to win."
"Yes well as long as we are spared the dictatorial path to that victory I am happy." Howard acknowledged.
"You really agreed?" Leonard looked at Amy concerned. "He didn't force you, trick you?"
"Leonard, Sheldon did not even ask me… it was my idea. I hurt him, and he has been kind enough to care for me this past week. I left him, yet he has given up his time with his friends to make sure I was OK. The least I can do is offer to accompany him to an event of his choosing for an evening."
"OK, yes. Sorry!" Raj muttered, backing away at the fierce tone Amy was suddenly using.
As they hastily retreated down the stairs Howard pondered "You have to hand it to Sheldon, we thought he was plotting some crazy scheme that would drive Amy away when the whole time he has managed to somehow convince her he is some kind of hero."
Nodding all slightly bemused the men made there way back to Leonard's. "You do realise," Leonard sighed gazing at Howard "now we have to come up with something that not only will impress the judges but also the women will wear."
"No Leonard now we have to come up with something to beat Sheldon!"
73
Sheldon looked at the drawings on the table. He had so many ideas. He had trouble getting to sleep after talking with Amy the night before; his mind full of characters and the possibility of seeing a creation of his own making make the printed pages of a comic book. Now however as he gazed at the various ideas before him he frowned, Amy would not like any of them. Flashbacks to the last time they had attempted to go as a couple made him cringe. There was no way he was going as 'raggedy' anything to this competition and as he could not see Amy happy to be any of the ideas he had thought of so far he would have to think again. Deciding he would function better after some food Sheldon made his way to the kitchen to prepare some lunch. But even on a full stomach he could not think of any superhero that would fit into whatever romantic fantasy Amy would approve of and his own ides of how a super hero should look. With a sigh Sheldon sat back on his spot and turned on the TV, his only comfort was the knowledge his friends would be in an equally awkward position.
It was the theme music marking the end of the show that woke him with a start. Realising he had fallen asleep Sheldon gathered up his designs and placed them on his desk. Normally he would be coming back from their Saturday trip the park and sorting his laundry ready to pre soak. Seeing no reason that particular routine needed altering too Sheldon went to his room and was soon happily sorting laundry. Comforted by the mundane chore Sheldon let his mind wander and reflect on how much had changed in a week. He was beginning to get used to Leonard not being in the apartment, and Amy had made the transition as his chauffeur driving him to work seamless. He had even enjoyed his evening cooking sessions and while he would not admit it to his friends, he was going to try substituting some of his take out menus for the meals he had cooked Amy.
Gathering the rest of his washing equipment Sheldon made his way out of the apartment and down to the basement.
"Amy!" He stopped shocked just inside the door. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Hi." Amy smiled. "I am nearly finished and will be out of your way. I know you have a routine and I don't intend disrupting it, I just had so much to do this week, work has kind of put me behind on my domestic chores."
Sheldon moved to the washer and began carefully placing his clothes into the machine. Once satisfied the correct amount of detergent was applied he started the machine and turned to face Amy. She was, he saw, folding her clothes and almost finished. "This must be an inconvenience for you," Sheldon said "you were used to having your own washing machine."
Amy smiled, "not really, for the past year I have got used to using laundromats so this is actually more convenient."
Sheldon just nodded. They had not spoken about her time away. He had not asked any questions, even of Penny, because the mere fact she was not with him hurt so much, but now his curiosity got the better of him.
"Did you like New York?"
"It was OK," she shrugged. "To be honest I did not see much of it. I lived a fair distance from work so may days were spent commuting or working."
"You did not go put, sightseeing? With friends?"
Amy shook her head. "I didn't really make new friends." she admitted slowly. "I kept myself to myself. I thought I needed time alone and then, when I got over that, I realised I had pretty much isolated myself to the point of no return. My work colleagues were nice and tried to make me feel welcome but I shunned them when I first arrived and I guess there is only so many times you try."
Sheldon was silent. He had assumed she had spent the whole year out making a new, better life for herself what she was telling him now was so different than the life he had assumed she led in her absence. "Your work, you were able to make good progress?"
Amy grinned and Sheldon felt a sigh of relief pass through him as he saw her eyes light up.
"Oh yes, it is strange how on the one hand the isolation made me thoroughly miserable but on the other gave me a whole new outlook on life. My work went very well and my findings have been accepted and look like they may be published. And now I am back I am returning to an area of my work I thought I wanted to leave behind yet I find my love for it renewed."
Nodding Sheldon smiled. "I am glad. Not that you were miserable" he added hastily, "I didn't mean that. I meant I am glad you have found the love for your work again, although" he chuckled "how anyone could love that monkey is beyond me!"
Amy nodded "Yes I know he was a pain but I am telling you Sheldon he is so smart. I was having trouble before I left. My conscious was forcing me to question my work. The ethics behind animal testing..."
"Amy we are scientists, it is what we do."
"You don't force animals to become chain smokers then make them go through he pains of withdrawal." Amy sighed, "anyway my new work is much more neurological intelligence and it seems Rickey is about to be the star of the show, he is so clever."
"Well I am glad the mad hours you are being forced to work are paying off at least." Sheldon conceded. "Are you sticking to your routine at the weekend too?"
"Yes it made sense, so I have been asleep half the day which is why I have fallen behind in my chores. But I am done now, she grinned picking up her basket. I will leave you in peace."
Finding himself suddenly alone Sheldon pondered on Amy's words. He was truly happy she had made progress in her work. He had not, he now thought, realised she had been having these doubts about her job. He had always been so vocal in his own displeasure when facing any kind of situation he was unhappy with he had assumed if Amy was unhappy she would have said something. She had after all had been quick enough to tell him her thoughts on….
Sheldon paused. The realisation Amy never complained, had always been there as his support never sharing her own problems hit him hard. He had thought everything had been so perfect. Maybe for him it had been but now he began to question just how happy Amy had really been.
As he waited for his laundry to finish Sheldon thought back to their date nights. He had set the schedule. He had offered a list of possible activities and even if they stayed in to watch a DVD or went to watch a movie he had been the one to decide what they watched. Sure Amy had made token protest but he realised now how little she had actually complained. Taking out his washing and beginning to fold he thought about Amy's relationships in their circle of friends. Penny had been the central figure in Amy's eyes, Sheldon knew this and had thought how lucky they were to have made friends outside of the science world as well as within; but now he wondered if her friendship with Penny was her search for this new identity she seemed so determined to find now.
Climbing back up the stairs to his apartment Sheldon thought back to Amy's face as she had described her success in New York and her renewed love of her field. This was one area he secretly envied. He had found success. The success he thought would make him feel whole, yet the certificate he had received was not on display for all to see at work or home but in his desk drawer. The medal and accompanying letters of congratulation also out of sight; and if he was honest mainly unread. Having placed his washing away Sheldon sat in his spot. For the past year they had both been miserable but Amy it seemed had found a way forward. Maybe he should do the same. Looking at the costume designs he had abandoned earlier Sheldon frowned. He was no nearer to coming up with a compromise and now the need to find something Amy would truly enjoy seemed more important than ever. Standing and grabbing his jacket and keys Sheldon left the apartment.
73
Amy groaned, sitting up she looked at her bedside clock. It was 8am. Why was he knocking fit to wake the dead at 8am on Sunday morning. Slipping her feet into slippers and dragging her dressing gown closed around her Amy stomped to the door. Opening it she snapped. "What Sheldon?"
"Oh good your up!" Sheldon grinned side steeping the glowering Amy and moving towards the sofa. Placing his armful of drawings onto the coffee table he turned to face her.
"You are not dressed?"
"No I am not dressed. It is Sunday morning I was asleep!"
"Oh…. You said you were sticking to your work schedule," Sheldon said a little more defensively now as he began to tune into to the less than welcoming expression on Amy's face. "Normally we would be leaving for work now so I assumed…."
"Yes you assumed incorrectly though" Amy muttered. Moving to the kettle she pulled down 2 mugs. As she completed the job of making them tea Sheldon sat nervously on the sofa. This had seemed a good idea 10 minutes ago but now sensing more than a little hostility from Amy he was seriously considering retreating and maybe texting her his ideas. But as Amy placed tea in front of him she smiled and Sheldon felt himself relax a little.
"I'm sorry Amy, I really did think you would be awake."
"Its OK. I guess you could have knocked at 6!" Sheldon's slightly flushed face and sheepish nod told Amy he had considered it. "So what was so urgent?"
"I have our costume sorted!"
"You have made them already?" Amy was shocked.
"No no. I haven't started sewing yet, not until I had your approval. But the idea, well it just came to me. Last night after doing my washing I went to see Stewart. I got some more details on his friend, the artist. Amy I found out that the comic books they are hoping to create are being aimed at a younger market, children. The artist, Gavin, he wants a new character to appeal to children. So I thought of Ricky!"
Amy frowned. "Ricky? My Ricky?"
"Yes! Its perfect. When we spoke yesterday you told me you had discovered how clever Ricky is. Well maybe you and Ricky could be the characters. That way if you want too you only have to wear your lab clothes. We can make me a monkey outfit to look like Ricky and then we could go as the scientist and monkey superheroes."
Amy grinned, "That does sound cute Sheldon but I was thinking you were going to go for more of a batman and robin type theme."
"Yes and that's my point. That's what everyone will do. In fact I am sure like me most of Stewart customers did not read much past comic competition!"
Amy's grin widened "Well I think you are right certainly in the case of our friends. Penny was moaning only last night that Leonard's idea of a costume for her was like all his fantasies in one costume."
Sheldon nodded. "So you agree. We make science and Ricky the super heroes?"
"Yes I agree." Amy put down the cup she had been nursing and reached for the papers Sheldon had placed on the table. She gasped as she looked at the drawing. "Sheldon these are really good… did you do them?"
Sheldon blushed. "Yes, I was excited once I had spoken to Stewart. He seemed to think my idea was a good one. He suggested I write a draft story to go with out costumes."
"Well," Amy shifted the drawing around moving the ones of Ricky to the front. "You have made some obvious errors, but that is to be expected, we can rectify them easily enough and make sure they do not appear in the costume."
Sheldon frowned "What errors? I don't make errors so it is hardly to be expected!"
"The proportions are all wrong for a start …"
"He is a super hero Amy, that's the point of course I know monkeys are not that size really!"
Amy shook her head "No Sheldon I mean the dimensions, Rickys tail needs to be much longer, as do his legs. The arms are not too bad but his ears are wrong too…" grabbing a pencil and ignoring Sheldon's squeals of protest Amy began to draw over Sheldon's original designs until she sat back smiling.
"See…"
Sheldon glared at his work. "Amy they took me a long time to do."
"Yes and they were a great start Sheldon but you want them to be correct don't you? You don't want people pointing out the errors."
"I suppose. Will you help me make the costume?"
"Of course!" Amy grinned genuinely excited about the project now. "I could wear my new boots!" Amy grinned. "Penny said white knee high boots were impractical but they will be perfect with a lab coat."
Sheldon rolled his eyes as he watched Amy dash to her bedroom to retrieve clothes she thought might be suitable. When she hadn't returned after 15 minutes Sheldon stood to investigate what she was up too. What he saw before him as he entered her room had him blinking and swallowing, at a loss for words.
Amy stood before him in the boots she had described. She had not done them justice though, high heeled and shiny they came to just above her knee. Her lab coat, Sheldon was assuming this was a spare as it was in her closet not at work, was buttoned up but he could see no evidence of her clothing underneath.
"err.. Amy have you got clothes on under that." He gulped. Amy turned form studying the outfit to grin at him. "Yes of course, one of the new skirts I bought with Penny and a blouse but I like that you cant tell…"
"Well I am not so sure," Sheldon continued frowning "this is for an audience of children Amy. Not just the Howard Wolowitz brigade!"
Amy shrugged. "I like it. And believe me from what Penny described of Leonard's design I am well covered!" Then slipping of the lab coat and unzipping the boots Sheldon got a full view of the skirt and top as Amy began searching for some shoes. His gaze only pulling back to her face when she asked "You ready?"
"Err.. yes… I mean for what?"
"To go buy material! Come on Sheldon. We cant waste time you know the others will be wanting to go all out to beat you know they know we are teaming up."
Following Amy out of the door he let her excited chatter wash over him as the drove. He had not thought this through. He had expected her to be pleased sure, but maybe just less reluctant than the all out excited that she appeared now. As she continued to talk about the type of fake fur they needed, the correct shades and how she could just picture the faces of their friends when they won Sheldon closed his eyes. All he could picture was Amy in that lab coat and boots…
This was going to be harder than he thought.
73
A/N: So first my apologies for the long delay. Thank you to everyone still reading and for all of the kind reviews and messages so far. Ali x