"There's never one sunrise the same or one sunset the same." ― Claude Debussy

On Thursday morning, Amy woke up to the blaring of her alarm. She reached over to grab her glasses from the nightstand. Suddenly, her phone pinged with an incoming text. She did not even have to check to know who it was. Sheldon had been sending her messages regularly every day since the gala. She knew she had strong feelings for Sheldon, but she wondered if Sheldon understood what she was trying to tell him through the Chopin nocturne the night of the gala. Further yet, she wondered if he requited her feelings. Pushing her thoughts aside, she unlocked her phone.

Sheldon: Good morning, Amy. I trust you slept well. How are you this morning?

Amy: Good morning, Sheldon. I'm well, thank you. And yourself?

Sheldon: I'm having a wonderful morning. Thank you for asking. :)

Amy: I was under the impression you found emoticons tedious.

Sheldon: I'll admit that in most cases, I do find their use rather tiresome. However, when used in appropriate circumstances, I condone their use.

Amy smirked at Sheldon's text.

Amy: What would qualify as an appropriate circumstance?

Sheldon: It would be any moment of extreme emotion you would like the person you're texting to know you're experiencing, but, alas, is unconveyable through words. As a solution, you adeptly choose to use an emoticon, which, because of your carefulness with misuse and overuse, hold significance on the rare occasion you send them.

Amy: Interesting. What "extreme emotion" might you be experiencing right now?

Sheldon: Well, Amy. I thought it was rather obvious. I did use a smiley face emoticon. That typically would indicate elation.

Amy rolled her eyes with a chuckle.

Amy: I apologize, let me reframe that question. Why are you experiencing elation?

Sheldon was in his room texting Amy. As her newest text came in, he became panicked. She was asking why he was happy. He thought it was quite easy to figure it out. They did have a date that evening. Could she have forgotten their date? That would be detrimental, as he had planned it so very well.

Sheldon: Oh, no! Have you forgotten our date this evening?

Amy: Oh, so it's a date?

Sheldon let out the breath he was holding. Her text would indicate she at least remembered they had an evening plan. Now, he would tackle the next issue.

Sheldon: Of course it's a date! How could you have not gotten that vital piece of information?

Amy: Well, we always just said we had plans. In my defense, you never even called it a date.

He thought back to the last week leading up to their date. Amy was right; he had never called it a date. He frowned.

Sheldon: So, do you not want to go on a date with me? :(

Amy: No, no, no! Of course I do. I had assumed it was a date. I just took the opportunity of your bringing it up to make sure.

Sheldon: Oh, okay. Don't scare me like that, please.

Amy: I'm sorry.

Sheldon: It's all right. I suppose I did never call it a date out loud. Well, it's no matter now. I shall pick you up at your apartment at 6:45 P.M. Wear a light sweater; it will be chilly out.

Amy: Okay, Sheldon. I can't wait. :-)

Sheldon: Oh, how cute and anatomically representative! You gave it a little nose! I await our date with anticipation as well, Amy. In case I don't see you at the university today, have a nice day at work! :-D

Amy: You as well. :-D

Sheldon smiled and turned off his phone. He needed to get ready for work.

Amy was in her lab inputting data when her phone rang. Checking who it was, she saw her mother was calling her. She ignored the call and kept working. A few minutes later, the phone rang once more, and, again, Amy ignored it. Amy's patience finally ran out when she heard the phone ringing for the third time. She answered the call.

"Hi," she said curtly.

"Hello, Amelia. How is your morning going?"

"Fine."

"Where are you?"

"Work."

"Please, Amelia, speak in sentences. You're not a child," said Amy's mother with an exasperated sigh.

"I am speaking in sentences, monosyballic sentences," Amy responded.

"I am still your mother, Amelia. Do not disrespect me," she warned.

Amy closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I apologize, Mother. I am busy with work at the moment. Is there anything you need?"

"Well, Rob's birthday is coming up, and the whole family is coming. I would like you to attend. You haven't seen most of them since- well, you know since when."

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"No, I will not attend"

"Amelia, he is your stepfather," Amy's mother said.

"I do not wish to see that man. I do not care that you remarried him after the divorce with Dad. He will never be my stepfather, not after what he has done," said Amy sternly.

"Oh, Amelia, are you still on that?! He wouldn't hurt a fly. I refuse to believe those lies you've been telling since childhood."

Amy inhaled sharply. "You know very well that is not what I meant. That is besides the point. I gave up long ago on you believing me." She took a deep breath and continued. "Now, I don't know if Aaron would still be here had Robert not done what he did, but I do know that he would have at least lived longer. He was in remission, Mother, so it wasn't the cancer that killed him, and you know it. My brother would've- he would've still been..." Amy couldn't continue, as she tried to hold back the tears her eyes shone with.

"That's nonsense, Amelia. Regardless, I do not even know how you can stand to call him your brother. Aaron was a deliquent."

Amy gasped. She thought out her next words very carefully. "Listen to me. For the past year since you've married Robert, I have tolerated you and kept you in my life under the pretense that you're my mother. Today, you have crossed a line. I will not be attending that man's birthday gathering, and I do not want to hear your voice again. Do not ever badmouth my brother again. He was a much better person than you ever will be. Do not try to contact me. Have a nice life."

Amy didn't even give her mother a chance to respond, hanging up as soon as she uttered the last word. She blocked her mother's number and slumped into her chair.

Amy walked over to Sheldon's and her music room in the basement. They both had been going there often during their breaks, sometimes even showing up at the same time. As she made her way to the room, however, she hoped Sheldon wouldn't be there this time. Earlier, she had been sad, sobbing in her small office connected to her lab. As he break approached, though, her sadness turned into a violent rage. And so, she found herself coming down to the music room for her break in the hopes of sorting through her emotions on the piano. Sheldon didn't know this, as it was a commonly overlooked fact about her, but she actually played many more instruments than the piano, including the harp, viola, and even the violin. As a child, she was a prodigy in science and music, so, with the guidance of her musically talented brother, Amy picked up a multitude of instruments during her childhood. The piano, however, was the instrument she primarily focused on, and she knew just the piece to play for her anger: Liszt's Orage.

Sheldon was having a great day. Penny didn't steal their milk this morning, Leonard drove him to work, Barry Kripke was on vacation, and he had a wonderful evening to look foward to with Amy. Thus, when his break arrived, he decided to go to Amy's and his music room in the basement to channel his happiness through the violin. Music is truly such a great way to amplify one's feelings, thought Sheldon. As he came closer to the room, he could make out some music. Oh, goody, he thought, Amy's here. Perhaps we can play a duet. His hopes were shredded, however, as he opened the door to see Amy's fingers practically smashing the keys to play what he imagined was the angriest piece of music he had ever heard. The piece did not sound ugly, no it was a masterpiece. Instead, it sounded like a very beautiful, but shockingly violent piece. He just stood in the doorway, dumbfounded as Amy continued playing, oblivious to his presence. Her body jumped in time with the piece's vicious octaves. Her fingers bounced on and flew over the keys in a tempestuous rage. If Sheldon, didn't know any better, which he didn't, he would say Amy was angry. How interesting it was that he could never quite grasp other people's feelings, but with Amy's musicality, she just made it so easy, he mused. His attention was called back to thei piece as it began a turbulent cadence. The piece ended with a final staccatissimo. He watched as Amy breathed heavily. She turned towards him, and he could see a bit of sweat dripping down her forehead. She looked absolutely enraged. As her mind registered his presence, however, her face softened.

"How long have you been standing there, Sheldon?" she asked him.

"About three minutes, so I assume for a majority of the piece you were just playing," he answered.

Amy sighed, "Yes, it's about four minutes."

"I have never heard that piece. It seemed a bit... agitated," Sheldon said with caution. If being roomates with his sister for the beginning of his life and neighbors with Penny more recently taught him one thing, it was never to mess with someone so violently furious.

"Well, that is sort of the point. It's Liszt's Orage in c minor. You know, orage as in thunderstorm?"

"Yes, that certainly does make sense, given how you were playing. May I ask the reason for your.. uhm.. thunderstorm?"

He saw Amy's eyebrows burrow and her eyes squint. He knew she was considering whether or not she should tell him what plagued her. "My mother," she answered with finality.

"Your mother?"

"That is correct," she said.

"And what did your mother do?"

"It's a long story. Perhaps I will tell you someday. For now, all you need to know is that I have cut off all contact with her, likely for the rest of my life."

Sheldon silently wondered if her mother had truly done something so bad that Amy chose to shut her out of her life permanently, or if Amy was simply employing the use of hyberbole to emphasize her anger. Choosing to ask his question in the most agreeable of ways, Sheldon asked, "Is that a hyberbole, or are you actually never speaking to her again?"

Amy sighed. "I obviously can't control if I will ever run into her again, or if she will try to contact me and I will have to send her off, but no, it's not a hyberbole."

"You actually won't see her again?"

"Not if I can help it."

Sheldon analyzed her. She looked more upset than angry now. Perhaps playing out her rage had helped her. He walked over to her and sat next to her on the piano bench. Gently, he encompassed his arms around her. "I don't know what your mother did, but I am here for you. I will always be here for you."

He felt Amy fall into his embrace. "Thank you, Sheldon. I will always be here for you, too."

"If you would like to, we can reschedule our date. I wouldn't want it to be overshadowed by your sorrow."

She looked at him and said, "No, I want to go. I am not sad. I was a bit sad and angry before, but I played it all out through the music. Also, I've seen this coming for a while now. Today was simply the last straw, so I grieved this over a long time ago. Besides, seeing you has lifted my spirits." She smiled at him.

Sheldon wondered for a moment if she was faking her smile, but when he saw the sparkle in her eyes, he knew she wasn't feigning happiness.

"Okay. Then, we'll go. Now, our break is almost over. May I walk you back to your lab?"

"Oh, Sheldon, that really isn't necessary," said Amy.

"Sorry, let me rephrase that: I will walk you back to your lab now." He got up, grabbed her hand, gave her a playful grin, and lead her out the door. Amy laughed as they made their way back up to the main level.

Amy was getting ready for her date with Sheldon. She chose to wear a forest green dress that ended just above her knee with a thin white cardigan over it. The dress was flowy and cinched at the waist. It also had a printed pattern of little white flowers on the fabric. Amy put on her glasses and lightly curled the tips of her hair, placing a small green barrette on one side.

Amy considered her outfit. Before becoming a full blown concert pianist, Amy's outfits typically consisted of thick wool tights, long skirts, bulky cardigans, and orthopedic shoes. She only ever dressed up for her concerts back then, which were rare compared to the frequency of them during the two years when her main occupation was being a classical musician. Due to the frequency of events along with often being in the public eye, Amy had been advised to update her clothes. She kept her conservative style, but her clothes were more elegant and feminine now. She was content with her current wardrobe.

Amy jumped out of her thoughts as she heard her phone chime. It was a text from an unknown number.

Unknown: Hiya, Ames! How r u? Have fun on ur date! ;)

Amy was confused at first, but the nickname told her who it was. Still, she had to confirm.

Amy: Who is this?

Penny: Oh sry! I forgot you don't have my number recorded! It's Penny. I got ur # from Shelly :)

Amy smiled. Sheldon would not appreciate being called Shelly.

Amy: Hi, Penny. I'm doing well, thank you. How about yourself? Thank you for your wish of fun on my date.

Penny: Omg, u text just like Sheldon. I am soooo digging the Shamy!

Amy's brows furrowed in confusion.

Amy: Shamy?

Penny: Sheldon + Amy = Shamy! So cute right?!

Amy was not amused, but she figured if she was to be friends with Penny, she would have to compromise.

Amy: Sure.

Penny: U still coming to girl's night tmrw with me and Bernie?

Amy: Yes, I am. I look foward to it.

Penny: Yay! I'll see you then, Ames. Good luck on ur date! ;D

Amy: Thank you. Have a nice evening.

Amy thought for a moment and decided to throw in an emoticon, as Penny seemed quite fond of them.

Amy: :)

Amy locked her phone and slipped it in her small bag. Just as she finished putting on her last earring, she heard Sheldon knocking at the door.

Sheldon had picked up Amy fifteen minutes prior and was speechless when she opened the door. Her green dress served to bring out the green of her eyes, and her glasses framed her emerald orbs. Looking at her outfit, Sheldon realized that while it was very feminine and cute, it was also very conservative. Thinking back to all the outfits she had worn since he first laid eyes on her, he realized none of them showed off the outline of her figure in the slightest. Only her concert gowns showed a bit more, but they were flowy a lot of the time, and when they were not flowly, they were long. She never showed both silhouette and skin at the same time. He decided he liked this little mystery about her.

Now, the pair were arriving at their destination. Amy had asked where they were going, but Sheldon told her, "You'll see."

The car pulled up to the beach.

"Sheldon, what are we doing here? I thought you hated the beach."

"Well, Amy, it seems that your presence causes me to take pleasure in things I wouldn't have before."

Amy smiled, "I feel the same, Sheldon."

Sheldon led her to a small, abandoned dock. He laid down the same picnic blanket from their first date and said simply, "We can watch the sunset." He realized his words paralleled the words he told her their first date. Amy seemed to realize it as well, giving him a shy smile.

Sheldon took out some food he had placed in containers in his bag. He had also packed plates and utensils, along with the picnic blasket he had already laid out.

He saw Amy's questioning look and said, "It's my Meemaw's recipe. You'll have to meet her some time. She will love you, I'm sure."

"I would love to."

They sat down under the dimming sun and began to eat. They talked animatedly about science and music and anything in between. As they finished eating, the sun began to set.

They were now sitting with their feet hanging off the edge of the dock, shoulder to shoulder.

"I love watching sunsets with you, Amy," Sheldon said after a few moments of silence.

"Me, too."

They looked into each other's eyes, slowing inching closer under the dying sun.

"Be my girlfriend," Sheldon whispered, only inches away from her face.

"Yes," Amy breathed out.

Their lips met once more during the sunset.

As they separated, Sheldon chuckled, "Sunsets are becoming a trademark in our relationship."

"They really are, but I don't think I will ever get bored of watching the sunset with you." Amy smiled at him.

"Good," said Sheldon. He knew he would never get bored of watching the sunset with her, as his eidetic memory allowed him to notice the differences in each sunset. Amy, however, did not possess an eidetic memory, so he had wondered if she felt the same.

Sheldon smiled at her and reached for her hand.

Their shoulders were touching, and their hands were clasped together as they watched the sun fall under the horizon line.

"'There's never one sunrise the same or one sunset the same,'" quoted Amy suddenly.

Sheldon immediately understood. "Debussy."

Amy looked into his eyes once more and nodded. "It seems Debussy quotes are also becoming a trademark in our relationship."

Sheldon planted a kiss on her cheek and both returned their attention to the spectacle in the sky.

AN: This is the longest chapter yet! I wanted to make up for the short chapter previous to this one. Thank you to shamymaniac for the idea to incorporate cute little texts into the chapter. I think it added a nice touch.

What really happened to Amy's brother?

Who's Robert?

Will she ever tell Sheldon about any of this?

Up until now, the story has been mainly romance, but I did add angst as a genre. So, here's some angst! ( Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about Sheldon's backstory. He might have some angst too later on ;) )

Once again, I appreciate reviews and suggestions. Thank you!

Edit: This chapter has been edited. It was brought to my attention that I messed up the names of the characters brought in this chapter. Just to clarify, Aaron is Amy's borther. In the original published chapter, he had been referred to as another name as well, but it was just a typo. I had forgotten to fix that sentence when I changed Aaron's name in the first draft. As for "Bob," again it is a typo. I meant to write "Rob," and Robert is the same person as Rob; it's just a nickname. I apologize for the confusion.