Amy drove to the conference she would be lecturing at. It was quite a prestigious event and lots of influential people would be there. As she would be required to stay the whole week Amy arranged to have some pamper time for herself and booked some treatments after the days events were over. She wished Penny and Bernadette were there to share the experience but it was actually quite nice having some time to herself.
The lectures during the day, the formal dinners of an evening, and then the socialising required meant Amy had very little contact with Sheldon during her week away. He did text her 'good morning' every morning and 'good night' every evening, but some days she was barely awake enough to reply.
Sheldon found the week a lot harder than Amy. To begin with he was relieved she wasn't around. He rejoiced in the return to his weekly schedule of old. But little things that amused him during the day, such as Leonards poor maths skills, or Howards attempts to appear like he knew science did not seem so funny without Amy to laugh with. He hadn't realised just how much he was in contact with her during the day until she wasn't there at all. He took to wishing her good morning and good night just so he had some contact.
When on 'anything can happen Thursday', Howard and Bernadette decided to go for a romantic dinner and Leonard and Penny decided to go see some silly romantic comedy, Sheldon realised he had no plans. Unless Raj was free then he had no-one to spend the evening with. At one time this would have filled him with joy. He would have loved having the apartment to himself, but tonight he just wished he could talk or Skype with Amy. Calling Raj's office before leaving work Sheldon asked what his friends plans were.
"I was going top call in to the comic book store to see Stuart then we were going to go get some food somewhere. You can come join us if you want too"
"Thank you Raj but no. I think I will go catch up on my reading. I am sure I can find plenty of things to do."
"OK Sheldon, have a good evening."
Sheldon hung up the phone and sat thinking. Taking out his phone he sent Amy a quick text.
"Good afternoon Amy. I hope you have had a pleasant and productive day. I seem to have the apartment to myself this evening and wondered if you wanted to have a Skype chat. Let me know. Sheldon x"
Sighing, knowing he may not hear back from Amy until much later if she was caught up in socialising; Sheldon packed his bag and went to find Leonard for a ride home.
Amy was surprised Sheldon had texted during the day and very pleased he wanted to chat. She was not sure she would have time as she had planned a massage and facial after todays lecture. Deciding she would reply to Sheldon after her facial Amy tucked her phone back into her pocket and made her way back to her room to get changed.
After her massage and facial Amy, still wrapped in the gown provided by the resort, signed on to her laptop and Skype to see if Sheldon was online.
Sheldon's smiling face appeared on her screen almost immediately.
"Amy! Hello. It is nice to see you." Sheldon beamed.
"Hi Sheldon. How come you are there alone? Where is everyone?"
"Oh they all had plans; dates, or nothing I was interested in joining" dismissed Sheldon "I am much happier chatting to you"
"Wow Sheldon, you sound like you have missed me," teased Amy gently, smiling.
"I have Amy. I hadn't realised how much we communicated until you left. I am very much looking forward to your return and wondered if you had had any thoughts as to the dinner date you proposed?"
"No I haven't really had time Sheldon I'm sorry. You can arrange something if you want too though. I really don't mind. I should be back late tomorrow evening so will be free both Saturday and Sunday. Whichever day suits you best is fine with me."
"OK. I will text you when I have made the arrangement." Smiled Sheldon.
"That's great," yawned Amy, "but I am going to have to go Sheldon. This week has left me exhausted with the constant socialising."
"Very well. Goodnight Amy. Safe journey home."
Waving, Amy signed off. She was smiling as she crawled into bed that night.
Sheldon did make plans for the weekend. Thinking Amy may be tired Saturday after her busy week and travelling home, he decided Sunday would be the better day and having checked with both Raj and Penny he booked a table at a nice Italian restaurant quite near to Amys apartment. He sent Amy a text with the details and was quite looking forward to it by the time Sunday evening came around.
Sheldon made sure Leonard was not around when he left the apartment. He had dressed in his black suit Penny had chosen for him and he was sure Leonard would make some comment.
Arriving promptly at Amys door Sheldon knocked and waited.
Amy answered the door looking very different than the last time Sheldon had seen her.
"Amy! What have you done?" Sheldon asked.
"Hello Sheldon! I have had some treatments whist I was away and they showed me how to apply some make-up too. I thought seeing as we were going out it was a good time to try my new skills. Don't you like it?"
"I do Amy. you look different that is all. Nice different though."
Waiting as Amy locked her front door Sheldon reached down and placed a small kiss on her cheek.
"I am really glad you are back Amy."
Blushing slightly Amy smiled. "Me too Sheldon."
The couple walked down the stairs holding hands. Amy was surprised when Sheldon said they didn't need to drive.
"I booked a table at a restaurant round the corner. I thought you may be tired and if you wanted we could now have a glass of wine with our meal."
"Sheldon that is really sweet of you!" Amy said, shocked Sheldon would even consider this.
"Well I will confess it was Penny who suggested the restaurant and made the point in the first place but it made good sense!"
Opening the door to the restaurant for her, Sheldon gave his name and guided Amy to their table.
The meal passed quickly. Sheldon had asked Amy if she wanted wine and had even had a glass himself. They chatted about their respective weeks, Amy doing most of the talking for once, telling Sheldon about the various people she had met and the contacts she had made.
By the time the bill came at the end of the meal Amy realised it was a good job she had Sheldon to guide her as the wine seemed to have gone to her head. Sheldon placed his arm around her waist and they walked back to Amy's apartment.
"Sheldon how are you going to get home? I cant drive you! I hadn't thought" Amy groaned.
"Its OK Amy. Penny has agreed she will come collect me when I am ready. She was only watching a DVD with Leonard and I think knowing Penny she will want any gossip you have to offer!"
Smiling Amy opened her door and Sheldon followed her in.
Guiding Amy to her sofa Sheldon moved to the kitchen. He filled the kettle with water and waited for it to boil before adding it to the cups with waiting teabags.
Amy watched him silently, amazed at the change that seemed to have come over him in her absence.
Carrying the cups to the table in front of the sofa Sheldon placed them down then lowered himself next to Amy.
"Amy I missed you whilst you were away" he said quietly. "I didn't think I would but I really did"
Grinning Amy replied "I'm glad" and feeling brave because of the wine she had consumed Amy leant up and kissed him
It was a quick kiss on the lips and she pulled away almost immediately, but Sheldon moved a hand up to the back of her head and lowering his head kissed her back. This time the kiss was longer and again it was Amy who pulled away.
Looking into Sheldon eyes Amy said "I thought we were taking things slow?"
"We were, we are..." he hesitated "I like kissing you though"
Amy grinned. "I like kissing you too Sheldon." And at the same time they closed the gap and their lips met.
As Sheldon shifted slightly Amy wrapped her arms around his waist but not breaking the contact of their lips. It was Amy who gasped nervously opening her mouth a little as she did so, and taking this as a sign of encouragement Sheldon gently pulled her lower lip between his.
Amy groaned and Sheldon lifted his head blinking.
"Sheldon I think we should stop" Amy said shyly. "Maybe you should ring Penny."
Nodding, but not saying anything, Sheldon moved back and pulled his phone out of his pocket.
"Hey Penny. I am ready to return home now." Sheldon said.
Not looking at Sheldon Amy picked up her tea from the table with shaking fingers.
By the time Penny arrived the pair had composed themselves and had made plans for another date with Amy agreeing to meet Sheldon after work at the cheesecake factory on Tuesday.
Sheldon did not give Penny a chance to grill Amy on her trip when she arrived. He gave Amy a chaste kiss on the lips and hustled Penny out to the car calling over his shoulder to Amy that he would text her the following day.
Amy returned to the sofa and sat thinking about the kiss. Then grinning got up and got ready for bed.
In the car Penny asked Sheldon if he had had a pleasant evening.
"Yes thank you Penny" was his only reply.
"Come on Sheldon give! You know Amy will tell me anyway" grinned Penny.
"It was a most enjoyable evening Penny. Amy will concur I am sure."
"Well I thought you too had added a good night kiss to your agreement. If what I witnessed was the best you can do you had better up your game!" teased Penny.
"I thought you were going to desist from teasing me" muttered Sheldon, staring straight ahead and hoping Penny didn't notice his twitching eye and flushed cheeks.
"Are you blushing Sheldon?" laughed Penny as she parked the car.
"No!" squeaked Sheldon. "Thank you for the ride Penny." and not waiting for her or a reply Sheldon shot out of the car and up the stairs leaving a bemused Penny behind.
"OK Amy, Sheldon just ran away from me! What happened tonight?" texted Penny as she slowly climbed the stairs.
Immediately Amy responded "Oh bestie, I think Sheldon missed me! I had to put a stop to our kissing session! Boy does he learn fast!"
Chuckling Penny returned to her own apartment and got ready for bed, she could not however resist sending Sheldon a text before she fell asleep.
"Got a text from Amy. Way to go Sheldon ;-)"
Sheldon did not reply!