Amy was early meeting Bernadette and Penny the following evening. She had spent most of her day in the lab and now wished she had gone home first to change. Looking at her watch she knew it wasn't possible though, so she walked across the road to Starbucks. Sitting down and waiting for her friends gave Amy a few minutes to reflect over the past few days. Part of her knew that today she had purposely kept busy so as not to think.

Every time she thought of Sheldon's words she either got very very angry or close to tears.

She had thought they were moving forward. She had thought they had a relationship built on mutual admiration, friendship and trust. But as she replayed Sheldon's words in her head Amy thought Sheldon does not respect me at all!

Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves Amy took another sip of her coffee. She would not let Sheldon ruin today. She would spend time with her bestie, and Bernadette then worry about Sheldon later.

Seeing the girls across the road Amy stood and left the coffee shop. Calling and waving she moved to join her friends. They had arranged this pampering session on their shopping trip. Lucy had not been able to join them today so it was just the three of them. Amy had booked in for a waxing, manicure, pedicure and facial. She hoped the pampering would cheer her up. Well the waxing wouldn't! but Penny had assured her it would be better this time. Amy hoped she was right!

As the girls booked in Penny looked at Amy concerned. "You OK?" she asked quietly. Amy just shrugged. Penny looked to check Bernadette wasn't listening.

"You want to talk?" shaking her head no Amy said "Lets just go have fun."

"OK" Penny agreed, but she decided to keep a close eye on her friend.

Penny had known Sheldon a long time and knew he had genuine feelings for Amy. She also knew he could be a total jerk at times; totally trampling on the feelings of others to make a point or prove he was smart. Amy didn't deserve to be treated like that though.

The girls were booked in for the hair removal first. Amy had figured at least the worse bit would be over and done with that way. She was relieved that she would be in a room on her own but this time the treatment was much less painful and took only half the time.

Penny and Bernadette were waiting for her outside

"Well?" Grinned Penny

"Yes yes you were right, it was much better this time. OK I agree. I agree to come with you again next time."

"Yay! OK my turn." chirped Bernadette and left Penny and Amy alone.

"OK I know you don't want to chat but Amy you can't leave this. You can't let Sheldon put you down like that."

"I know. And I will say something. But in all honesty I was so shocked he had said it. Then angry, then sad! But once his lectures are done then he will find out how I really feel."

"Should you not speak to him before we go?"

"No, I don't want to get in a fight with him before his lectures. They are really important Penny and he has done so well getting ready for them thanks to you."

"Amy how are you going to share a room with a man who you are so cross with? If that was me I'd have gone rodeo on him!"

"I haven't really thought about it like that, the flight out, the room."Amy sighed.

Bernadette came out to join them and with a pat on Amy's knee Penny stood and went in to the treatment room.

"What was that about?" Bernadette asked looking at Amy curiously.

"Me and Sheldon have had a fight. Penny found out and wants me to talk to him. I thought I may be better waiting til after Harvard; but Penny has just pointed out we are sharing a room and it could be awkward."

"Was it a serious argument?" asked Bernadette looking worried.

"It wasn't even really an argument. It was just Sheldon being Sheldon I guess. He said I didn't understand the importance of his work as I was only a neurobiologist."

Bernadette looked stunned "What a jerk! I hope you wiped the floor with him. If Howie ever said that to me..."

Looking at the floor Amy said "I didn't say much at the time, but I did text him to tell him if he ever said something like that again we were done. He tried to come over yesterday but I was at work. I haven't heard from him since."

"Oh Amy. Knowing Sheldon he didn't even mean it how we are all taking it. He is like that with Howie all the time. When Howie confronted him he said he didn't think Howie was bad at his job at all. It's just that Sheldon puts a lot of stock in his IQ points I guess. Stupid but true!"

Amy nodded. "Logically I know that; but Bernie he told me he loved me the other day then he goes and says that. It just hurts." Amy could feel the tears now and scrubbing her eyes said "OK stop. This is a fun day. Lets not let Sheldon ruin it."

"He said he loved you!" squealed Penny coming up behind Amy.

Amy nodded. "but that doesn't matter now... can we just change the subject, please."

Penny and Bernadette exchanged an amazed look but nodding agreed.

The 3 girls spent a fun few hours choosing nail colour and having facials. On leaving Amy felt much better.

"Thanks guys. You don't know how much better I feel. Why don't you both come back to mine and we can continue this girly fun with wine and pizza!"

Grinning the others agreed.

73~73

He was flying to Harvard tomorrow. Sheldon looked at the case on his bedroom floor and realised that it was really happening.

These past few weeks of rehearsing had become part of a new routine and one that was less threatening than he had thought. But tomorrow he was flying across the country and would have to stand in front of other physicists and deliver his lectures.

Today he had received a timetable from the Harvard faculty that gave him his timetable and the list of other lecturers. The list of names was quite impressive and Sheldon could see why everyone had been so impressed when he had been invited. It wasn't just physics either. The whole of science was being represented and it would draw an international crowd.

None of this did anything to ease Sheldon's nerves.

Putting his newly washed and ironed clothes into his case and checking his list to make sure he hadn't forgotten anything Sheldon sat on the end of his bed. He needed to talk to Amy. Yesterday he had been angry at her reaction and then, after talking to Penny and finding Amy not in, he realised this could be more serious than he had first thought. And now, now he just wasn't sure what to do.

He had a feeling this was one time he couldn't go to Penny for advise. Leaving his room Sheldon found Leonard at his computer.

"Leonard I have a problem."

Leonard groaned. "What Sheldon?"

"I have upset Amy. And from a brief discussion with Penny I think I have upset her bad. I don't know what to do?"

"What have you done?" Leonard was almost scared to ask, but part of him was curious as Penny hadn't said anything at all and that must mean it was bad.

"I made a comment. I... oh I think I was misunderstood... I said... I said she didn't understand how important my work was because she was only a neurobiologist."

Groaning Leonard looked at his friend in amazement "Sheldon! Surely even you can see why she would be upset! Amy is not only your girlfriend but a respected and highly published neurobiologist. Did you not learn anything from Howard's '7 labours'? You need to think before you speak. People take what you say to heart and lets face it Sheldon, Amy is the best thing to ever happened to you. You need to make this right!"

"How though Leonard? I don't think a bunch of flowers or even a tiara will cut it this time!"

"I'm sorry Sheldon, I really don't know what to say. You need to apologise and you need to make it sincere and mean every damn word. If you don't... well who knows"

Going back to his room Sheldon sat on his bed and opened the laptop he had retrieved from his desk.

To: Amy Farrah Fowler

From: Sheldon Cooper

Amy I need to see you. Are you available to meet tonight?

Sheldon

x

After sending of a couple more emails to Harvard and Caltech Sheldon closed his laptop and lay back on his bed. He needed to put this right.

Hearing his phone beep in the other room Sheldon got of his bed to go retrieve it. Seeing it was Amy he returned to his room before opening the message.

"Sheldon. I can not meet you tonight as I am spending the evening with Penny and Bernadette. I will see you tomorrow afternoon. I am assuming everyone is still meeting at yours for a meal?"

Having forgotten he had promised to cook for Amy Sheldon groaned. "Leonard! Can you take me to the store. I need food."

"Sheldon you have just had pizza!"

"Not for now Leonard, for Amy, for tomorrow."

"OK but I am not sure cooking a meal will be enough you know."

Grabbing his bag and jacket Sheldon moved to the door.

"No Leonard this is not part of an apology. This is me trying not to make it worse. I had promised to cook for Amy tomorrow before we fly. I had forgotten!"

"Well lets go." Patting Sheldon on the shoulder Leonard was just glad it was Sheldon in this mess not him!

Sat in the car on the way back from buying his groceries Sheldon sent Amy a reply

"I will see you tomorrow at about 5 then? We shall be having red snapper and black bean salad. I hope that is OK? We will all leave here at 7.30 to go to the airport."

"That sounds fine. See you tomorrow."

Sheldon sighed. Turning to Leonard he said "Do you think you could go to Pennys tomorrow about 5? I want some time with Amy before we fly. I will buy you all dinner but please, can you just eat it there?"

"OK Sheldon I will talk to Penny."

73~73

"Amy, Sheldon hasn't invited us to dinner tomorrow. Are you sure it is not just you he is cooking for?" Penny asked having seen Sheldon's text

"I just assumed..." Amy looked at her friends. "Oh great! Now what do I do?"

"Amy go talk to him tonight. If you clear the air now at least tomorrows meal wont be awkward. You cant keep putting it off."

Nodding Amy knew they were right.

"Will you stay here? I might need support if this goes bad?" Amy looked so nervous.

Penny grinned. "I tell you what; we will all drive over and Bernie and me will wait at mine. Then, and I am sure this wont happen, but you only have to come across the hall if you need us!"

"OK" Amy sighed. Pulling out her phone she sent Sheldon another text

"Coming over now"

73~73

"Oh dear lord" Sheldon shouted.

"Leonard, Amy is coming now. I am not ready now! What should I do?"

"Calm down Sheldon. I will go visit Penny, give you guys some space."

Sheldon began pacing. Earlier he had wanted to see Amy and now he was just scared.

A knock on the door signalled her arrival. Leonard went to let her in but left straight away.

Sheldon looked at Amy and Amy looked at Sheldon.

"Can I get you a beverage?" Sheldon asked stiffly.

"Tea, please"

Amy moved to sit on the sofa. She clasped and unclasped her hands nervously. As Sheldon placed her tea on the table in front of her she smiled her thanks.

"Amy I am sorry! I know I was insensitive. I have no excuse. I want you to know I love you and I do not want to loose you."

Amy looked at Sheldon. "Sheldon are you apologising because you are scared I will leave you?"

Sheldon nodded.

Closing her eyes Amy took a deep breath. "You really really hurt me Sheldon. I am going to be very honest now. This week ahead meant a great deal to me. Right now, as I sit here, I don't want to go. I am not sure how I am going to spend 6 or so hours on a plane with you let alone share a hotel room.

You say you apologised so I wouldn't leave. Well guess what Sheldon, that was the wrong answer! I want you to apologise because you meant it. I want you to be sorry because you appreciate my career as much as I appreciate yours."

"Amy of course I meant it! If it wasn't for you I would not even be going to Harvard this weekend. I know what you have done for me. If I get up on that stage I will look out and see my friends. My friends that you persuaded to go for me. I will be dressed in clothes that wont make me stand out for the wrong reasons. They were clothes chosen by you. I will deliver 3 lectures that you have made me focus on, and because of that have led me to make new discoveries. None of these things would have been possible if it wasn't for you.

I don't know if you will like this or not but I wanted to thank you and show you I truly appreciated what you had done for me. So although I can understand if you don't want to sit on the plane with me or share a room with me, please come Amy. On Sunday night I have arranged for us to have a meal with one of the visiting dignitaries. I found out today that the Mahmut Gazi Yaşargil was attending the event. He is coming out of retirement to present a one off question and answer session. It is invitation only. I have arranged for you to attend and have dinner with him afterwards. Amy I really am sorry."

"Can I set some ground rules please?" Amy asked

"Of course." Sheldon said hopefully.

"Number 1: I sit with Penny and Bernadette on the flight.

Number 2: I have a room of my own.

I am really touched you have arranged the meeting Sheldon. Yaşargil is one of the greatest neurosurgeons of the twentieth century, but me and you Sheldon, I need a little time to get back to where we were. I do love you Sheldon. But right now liking you is more of a problem."

"Thank you Amy" Sheldon said quietly. "I will ensure all your requests are met."

"Thank you. OK I am going to go. I said I would spend the evening with Penny and Bernadette and I have left them to come here. I will see you tomorrow for dinner."

Amy left her tea untouched as she stood and walked to the door, leaving Sheldon sat on the sofa watching her go.

73~73