"Amy, hurry up we will be late!" Sheldon paced around Amy's apartment in frustration.
"Sheldon calm down. We don't have to be at the comic book store for 2 hours!"
"But I want to arrive before the others." Sheldon whined.
"Why?" Amy appeared out of her bedroom door dressed in the blouse and skirt she had shown him several weeks previously, her hair pulled into a tight bun on top of her head.
"Because," Sheldon frowned, "after you sent Penny the picture of us I had a message from Leonard. It seems he decided not to tell Howard or Raj, he wants to be there to see their faces when they see you walk in. I want to make sure we are there first to avoid such fuss."
"Me? You mean us? And being there before them will not stop that occurring, you know that."
"No Amy, I mean you. It seems I was not alone in my assessment of this look you insist on wearing. Penny and Leonard seem to think it is my idea, even though I have assured them it isn't. Leonard said I am 'living out my fantasies through your costume' and I dread to think what Howard will say... I need you to put them straight Amy!"
Amy grinned. "Sheldon, they are teasing you. I have already told Penny, Bernadette and Emily I chose my own costume."
"Well maybe that is true, but I want to be there early to ensure this competition is taken seriously, in the spirit it was intended. Then I intend to win and wipe the smirks of their faces."
Amy, chuckling, patted his arm. "Well I am nearly finished so why not make us both some tea. It will calm you."
"Amy have you not heard a word I said! I want to leave as soon as possible, not sit around here making pointless chit chat, drinking tea!"
"OK, OK." Amy pulled the lab coat off the hanger and pulled it on. Buttoning it up to the top she twirled. "So? Do I pass inspection?"
Sheldon watched her spin and tried to keep his eyes firmly attached to her face which was now grinning at him expectantly, rather than the snug fit of the lab coat on her hips and butt. "Well?" She asked again.
Sheldon cleared his throat then nodded. "Yes, very good. You look just like the drawings." He turned away, missing her disappointed expression, desperate to get out of the apartment so he could be in a room full of people.
As they walked down the stairs together Amy asked "Why are you not in costume?"
"Because I thought it would look a little odd for you to be driving across town with a monkey as a passenger."
"Oh I have done it before." Amy grinned at him.
"Yes, but not a 6ft monkey!" Sheldon smiled back. As they drew nearer to Stewart's store Sheldon felt himself relax. He had to admit he was looking forward to seeing the faces of his friends too, all be it for different reasons to Leonard. But see the dawning realisation they had lost was a thought he wished he could capture. Maybe he would ask someone to take a photo!
As Amy had predicated the store was empty when they arrived. They peered through the window and could see Stewart laying on the sofa at the back of the store. Banging on the door Sheldon muttered under his breath until a dishevelled Stewart opened the door to let them in.
"Stewart," Sheldon scoffed, "why on earth are you not ready? See," he glared at Amy "this is why we need to be here early!" Amy rolled her eyes but said nothing as Sheldon continued. "Surely you will be putting more effort into your appearance than that?" He waved a dismissive hand at Stewart, dressed in his normal t shirt and jeans.
Stewart looked at Sheldon. "You are hardly dressed up yourself." He muttered defensively before adding, "but I have my suit upstairs. I am not going to be in costume."
"Well you guests are arriving so you need to go get ready."
Stewart looked to Amy for support but her shrug told him there would be no arguing with Sheldon in this mood. Turning away Stewart knew he may as well go get ready as stand and listen to Sheldon moaning. Folding the blanket he had been napping under he watched with some relief as Sheldon pulled his costume out the suit carrier and was calling instruction to Amy as he made his way to the rest room to change. Once he was locked in Stewart asked "Why is he so edgy? His idea is first rate. I cannot see Gavin choosing anyone else."
"You know Sheldon," Amy smiled fondly. "He likes things to be done right and today he is competing against his friends so…"
"Oh they have withdrawn." Stewart said casually.
"What!" Amy gasped. "Why?"
"Leonard withdrew first then the others, they seemed to think Sheldon had it in the bag and as they could not agree on a team project they decided to withdraw. Howard was trying to persuade Bernadette to still enter as a couple when I was unceremoniously chucked out last night, but he was not having much success."
"Sheldon is not going to like this." Amy frowned.
"Sheldon is not going to like what?" Came a voice behind her causing her to jump. As she turned and saw him in full costume Amy grinned. "Perfect Sheldon! You look perfect."
"Yes yes, I know that, now what am I not going to like?"
"It seems," Amy said slowly, "that Leonard, Howard and Raj have withdrawn."
Sheldon, his face covered by the costume, did not answer immediately and Amy, concerned he may be upset stroked his arm. "Stewart has plenty of other entrants though don't you?" She asked half pleading.
"Oh yes." Stewart grinned. "In fact this competition has drawn quite a following."
"Sheldon?" Amy was feeling quite disconcerted by his silence having expected him to be livid at what she assumed he would perceive as his friends letting him down.
"Oh Amy I am not sure why you are so shocked." Sheldon's slightly muffled voice seemed calm. "I knew once the women had pulled out then chaos would rule; without my calming influence in their group it was obvious nothing would be agreed. Now we have to keep our focus Amy. Just because your gal pals will be here does not mean you can break character and chat in corners. We have to remain focused. The competition is just hotting up. Now while Stewart goes to get ready we need to get our plan sorted."
Considering himself dismissed Stewart went to get changed. He was glad Amy had broken the news to Sheldon and relieved he seemed to have taken it so well. If things went according to plan the resulting publicity from the competition would mean good things for the store and if Gavin was as impressed in person as he had seemed on the phone with Sheldon's idea then maybe his store could be the birth place of a new marvel character! Excited Stewart put on the suit Bernadette had persuaded him to wear.
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"Do you think he bought it?" Raj asked nervously. Howard had come up with the plan after Leonard had told them of the picture Amy had sent Penny. Convincing Stewart they had pulled out had gone well, the tricky part they all knew was whether Sheldon believed Stewart.
"I think kicking him out and making him sleep on the sofa at the store was a bit extreme," Leonard admitted "but I do think we could win!"
Well Stewart will now report, in all honesty as far as he is concerned, that we have withdrawn. He has no idea of our master plan!" Howard smirked. "Now the women are happy to attend because they are not in costume so when we arrive we can fill them in and then wipe the smug smile off Sheldon face!"
"You really think us going as ourselves will work?" It was Leonard's turn to sound sceptical this time.
"Leonard," Howard sighed. "As a teenager what would you have thought of three guys who excelled in their chosen fields of science and engineering, one of whom I might add being a bona fide astronaut! all of them with a stunning woman on their arm and a love of comic books!?"
Leonard's smile grew. "I'd have thought they were fictional!"
"Exactly my point, fictional superheroes! Sheldon thinks he is so clever dressing Amy up in her work clothes but we have gone one better."
"Then lets get ready." Raj grinned excitedly.
"Raj we are ready," Leonard rolled his eyes. "We are going as us!"
"Oh no!" Raj shook his head "if I am going as me I am going as the thinnest version of me I can be, and that means black pants and my new sweater vest." As he dashed to the door he called back "I will be ready in approximately 20 – 45 minutes!"
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"Why do they look so happy?" Sheldon frowned as he watched his friends enter.
"I don't know." Amy muttered "But Penny and Bernadette look less than impressed so I am guessing something is not as it seems." Moving to go talk to her friends she was shocked when she felt Sheldon grab her wrist and pull her tight to his side.
"Oh no, leave them. I know what they are doing. And they wont win!"
"Sheldon you are making no sense! And as much as this masterful side is strangely appealing I am not sure it is in character for Ricky!" She was almost disappointed when Sheldon immediately dropped her wrist
"They are trying to win." Sheldon murmured. "They think they can beat us!"
"Sheldon you heard Stewart they have withdrawn."
"Look at their faces Amy. They told Stewart that to fool us. They have not withdrawn they have entered as themselves!"
Looking towards the group now standing registering at the cash desk Amy chuckled. "They really did not understand the point did they!"
"Of course not. This is Howard's doing!" Sheldon agreed. "They saw your costume and nothing more. Oh this is good. It will make seeing their faces as we win so much more satisfying!"
Amy caught Penny's eye from across the room and grinned when her bestie mouthed "you look amazing!"
Knowing Sheldon was right, and seeing how Penny and Bernadette had obviously been tricked in to attending, Amy stood calmly next to Sheldon waiting for the competition to begin.
"I don't understand why he is not looking more worried." Raj whispered as they lined up to be judged.
"Its Sheldon," Howard shrugged. "Remember the physics bowl competition nothing would get in the way of his ego then and he hasn't changed."
"Oh I don't know," Penny grinned. "Looking at the way those guys from Marvel have been swarming all over both Amy and Sheldon all afternoon I think he has every right to look smug."
The collective whoop from Amy and Stewart and groan from Raj, Howard and Leonard had Penny laughing as she finally made her way to hug her friend.
"Amy you looked great! I am so pleased you won!"
"Yes well your husband is not looking so thrilled." Sheldon interrupted.
"Yes well he should have listened to me. And you for that matter. I told him this was not about teenage boy fantasies but about children. He wouldn't listen. You should have seen their faces when the judge told them they were in last place because their 'concept' was simply too far fetched to be believable!"
"Oh it is OK Penny. I had Stewart's photographer friend take a photo of that very moment! I will send you a copy." With that he pulled Amy towards the door.
"Sheldon! What is wrong now. We have to collect the prize."
"No we don't. I spoke with Gavin and he is emailing me details of the comic book deal. I need to change Amy then eat. I am hungry!"
"You don't want to go with the others? We could go to the cheesecake factory. You could spend the evening enjoying your victory."
"No. I want to go home change then order pizza."
"OK." Amy shrugged. She tried to hide the disappointment in her voice as she said. "I will drive you home then."
"Oh no. We are not going to mine. There we will only be interrupted. We will go to yours. I have a change of clothes in my bag. Then we can plan our trip to the zoo."
Knowing her grin was wide Amy didn't care. "OK lets go!"
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