Sheldon was not due into work on Friday. He was already packed; so today his main focus was following Meemaw's recipe to the letter to ensure the red snapper and black bean salad was everything he remembered it being.

Last night after Amy had left Sheldon had emailed the hotel and once again changed the room bookings. He knew Penny would happily sit with Amy on the flight so that shouldn't be a problem. It was not how he had hoped this week would go; but she was still going and for that he was grateful.

So now Sheldon had his case packed and by the door. He had the ingredients for his meal checked off and ready to prepare just before Amy arrived. The fish would no take long to cook so Sheldon set about making the salad and, covering it, placed it in the refrigerator. He had bought a bottle of wine he knew Amy liked and that too was chilling. Deciding he had nothing else he could do Sheldon went and showered. He changed into a pair of dark blue pants, a dark blue thermal, and over the top he put on his red Flash t shirt. Checking the time again Sheldon saw he had an hour before Amy was due to arrive.

Moving to check his emails he saw Gablehauser had wished him good luck and the hotel at Harvard had confirmed they had received his new room requirements and his request could be met. Relieved Sheldon set about finishing the meal preparations. He did not want to over do it with candles in case Amy thought it was too much, but he did want to make it nice so he had bought some flowers from the market and set those in a vase. He laid out the table settings, cutlery and wine glasses, having decided wine may also calm his nerves before the flight.

73~73

Across the hall Amy sat with Penny and Bernadette. Penny was still packing having had to work the lunch time shift.

"You ready for tonight Amy?"Bernadette asked as they sat on Pennys bed drinking wine and watching in amusement as Penny threw her clothes into the case in a haphazard fashion.

"Yes I think so. I told Sheldon how I felt last night. I asked him to rebooked our rooms. Tonight I just want us to be able to be friends."

"Good. At least he knows how you feel. You were right to tell him yesterday and not wait til tonight, at least now you can make friends again, you go have fun and we will see you in a few hours."

The girls waved Amy off and waited for Leonard and Howard to come back with their take away and Raj and Lucy to arrive.

73~73

Sheldon answered the door to Amy's knocking.

"Hi Sheldon" Amy said smiling.

"Good evening Amy. Where are your bags?"

"I have left them at Penny's. I can get them before we leave."

Nodding Sheldon moved to let Amy in and walked to the kitchen, asking "Would you like a glass of wine?"

"Just a small one please. I had a glass at Pennys."

Sheldon poured two glasses, handing one to Amy and putting his next to his place setting. He moved to remove the salad from the fridge and set the bowl in the centre of the table.

"Amy please have a seat, I just need to finish the fish. Dinner should take 5 minutes."

"Is there anything I can do to help?" Amy offered.

"No. It wont take long. Amy, did you mention to Penny you wished to sit with her on the flight?"

"Yes and she was fine. Leonard did not look so impressed but Penny was fine"

"OK, good. I have had confirmation of our room change too." Sheldon said quietly.

"Thank you Sheldon."

Soon the smell of spices and fish filled the air and Amy's mouth began to water.

"It smells delicious Sheldon. Is it a family recipe?"

"Yes, Meemaw sent it too me a few weeks ago after I sent her your chicken recipe. I just hope I do it justice."

Plating up the fish Sheldon placed Amy's plate in front of her. "Help yourself to the salad."

Soon they were both eating in comfortable silence.

"Sheldon this really is amazing. Please pass on my thanks to your Meemaw for letting me share it." Smiling Sheldon nodded. "I will, she will be thrilled you enjoyed it."

Amy helped Sheldon clear away their plates. They washed and dried the dishes and Amy relaxed a little more. It was going to be OK.

"Thank you Sheldon" she said quietly touching his hand.

Sheldon looked at their hands then at Amy's face. "I am sorry Amy, for everything!"

"I know" Amy could see Sheldon really was sincere in his apology. Not wanting to get into a heavy conversation now though, Amy asked "Have you got all you notes for the weekend?"

"Yes, I am taking them in my hand luggage. I have the main lecture notes and the notes I made from my rehearsals."

"Well I guess we had better get this show on the road!" Amy grinned and moved to the door.

"Come on Dr Cooper lets go show those science geeks how its done!" Amy grabbed Sheldon's hand and pulled him towards the door. Following her Sheldon grabbed his case.

"Amy wait I need my bag!" He nodded to the shoulder bag on his chair by his desk. Amy let go of his hand so he could go retrieve it and as he rejoined her she held his hand again and opened the door.

Knocking on Pennys door Amy could hear voices and laughter. "Hey time to go guys," she grinned as Penny opened the door. Penny smiled seeing Amy holding Sheldon's hand but didn't comment. She handed Amy her case and bag then went back to gather her own. They had arranged for cars to take them to the airport so they wouldn't have to drive. The group made there way down stairs chatting excitedly about the week ahead.

Only Sheldon remained quiet. He held tightly to Amy's hand scared to let her go in case she didn't come back.

73~73

The airport was busy and check-in took a while. Once through they say at a bar and waited for their flight to be called. Sheldon still had hold of Amy's hand. He knew he would have to let go once on the plane as her seat was in front of his. He could feel his nerves building and wished he was at home playing vintage video games.

As their flight was called Amy dropped Sheldon's hand and, grabbing Penny's, moved ahead of him to get in line. Soon they were all settled and the pre flight process complete. Sheldon was sat next to Leonard; Penny and Amy in front of them. Sheldon gripped tightly to the arm rests and closed his eyes. He hated flying!

Once in the air Sheldon let out the breath he was holding. "You OK there buddy?" Leonard asked seeing the tension in Sheldon's face.

"Yes thank you." Sheldon replied stiffly.

When they were in the air and the seat belt lights had been turned off, Leonard leant over to the girls in front. "Hey Amy can we swap for a while? I think you will have a more calming affect on Sheldon here and if he doesn't calm down soon he may explode!"

Turning in her seat Amy was surprised to see the pallor of Sheldon's face and the death grip he had on the arm rest.

"Sure." Amy stood and climbed over Penny. Waiting for Leonard to move Amy then climbed over Sheldon and settled herself by the window.

"Would you not like to sit here so you can look out?" she asked. Sheldon just shook his head. He wasn't sure he was happy with Amy witnessing his discomfort.

"Do you want to play counter-factuals?" she tried again. Again Sheldon just shook his head.

Sighing Amy turned to look out of the window. It was going to be a long flight. Sheldon tried the deep breathing exercises Penny had taught him and could feel the tension ease a little. He looked down and realised Amy was holding his hand again, he hadn't even noticed. Turning his palm to face hers he gave her hand a squeeze.

"I hadn't realised you were this scared of flying."

"I am not scared of flying Amy, I am scared of crashing!"

Amused, Amy turned more to look at Sheldon. "It's safer here than in a car. You will be fine!"

"hmm"

"So tell me Sheldon, how did you get Mahmut Gazi Yaşargil to agree to go to dinner?"

Sheldon grinned. "Well I knew it was unusual for him to be at one of these things and I knew you would want to meet him if you could. So I asked for a contact number from Harvard and I called him and told him my girlfriend was a neurobiologist who would like to meet him. He didn't seem impressed, so I told him who I was and he still didn't seem impressed! I told him about your research. He asked if I was talking about Dr Fowler, and then it was actually he who suggested dinner!"

Amy looked at Sheldon. with her mouth hanging open. "He knew who I was?"

"Oh yes! He had read your last paper evidently and was most impressed!"

Squealing, Amy threw herself across the seat at Sheldon. and kissed him.

Sheldon was momentarily stunned. Then realising what Amy was doing he moved his arms around to hug her close and kissed her back. Hearing sniggering from across the aisle Sheldon pulled back and glared at Howard. "Grow up" he growled and pulled Amy close.

Fear of flying forgotten for the moment, Sheldon. felt Amy snuggle into his shoulder and closing his eyes he sent up a silent 'thank you' that Yaşargil appreciated and recognised Amy's talent even when her own boyfriend was too stupid too!

"Sheldon." said Amy her head still against his shoulder, "What if I cant answer his questions? What if I take one look at him and freeze! He is so high up in my field why would he know my name?"

Repeating out lout the words he had thought just moments before Sheldon turned Amy so she was looking straight at him

"Because Amy, he can recognise your talent even when your stupid boyfriend cant!"

Amy's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you Sheldon.!" and this time her kiss was tender rather than excited. Sheldon closed his eyes and holding Amy close, kissed her right back.

73~73

The flight was a long one and the group slept for some of it; but it was still dark when they landed and they were all tired and achy as they waited for there luggage. It was freezing cold outside and Amy realised the LA clothing she had dressed in for the flight was really not suitable! Shiveringly Amy moved closer to Sheldon.

"I feel like putting on every item in my case just to keep warm!" she muttered. Sheldon sniggered. Outside they found the cars sent for them by the university and climbing in they were soon at the hotel.

Their rooms, which had been changed several times, where now no longer all on the same floor. Amy and Sheldon had double rooms that were inter linking and on the top floor. Raj and Lucy also had double rooms, but were on the ground floor. The others were sharing; Penny and Leonard and Howard and Bernadette and they were each given suites.

"Wow Sheldon! This is so cool" grinned Penny, now wide awake and wanting to explore.

Howard was dragging Bernadette off, an evil grin on his face; while Sheldon just wanted sleep.

Tugging his and Amy's cases behind him he followed her to the lift. He carried her bag into her room and checked she had everything she needed. Once in his room Sheldon pulled on his Friday night pyjamas, he knew it was now Saturday morning but it still felt like Friday night, and was soon fast asleep.

Next door Amy unpacked all her clothes, and got ready for bed. Her mind was still in a whirl from the news that Mahmut Gazi Yaşargil wanted to meet her! It had been really considerate of Sheldon to arrange, and it had also sounded like he had been impressed by Yaşargil knowing her name. Maybe he wouldn't dismiss her work so easily in future after all! Amy fell asleep smiling.

73~73

Amy was woken the next morning by Sheldon knocking on their connecting door. She was disorientated to begin with and it took her a while to realise where she was and where the knocking was coming form. Opening the door she found Sheldon all dressed and eager to start the day.

"Good morning Amy! You don't appear to be ready for breakfast." Sheldon frowned as he looked down at Amy still in her new nightdress. Sheldon blushed as he looked at her. "Shall I come back?"

"No, just give me a few minutes." Amy sat back down on the end of her bed and rubbed her eyes. "I'm not awake yet!"

Sheldon wasn't quite sure what to do. When Amy had worn her night clothes before in his company she had been wearing pyjamas. This morning though she had on a nightdress that while covering her up still hinted at what lay beneath in a way her pyjamas certainly hadn't. The white cotton was delicately highlighted with embroidery ,and as it fell to her knees Sheldon could see a fair amount of leg as Amy sat on the bed.

"I'm sorry Sheldon. I know we had agreed to meet for breakfast at 8. I should have been ready. Why don't you go meet the others and I will grab something later."

"Amy why don't I order room service. That way you don't have to rush and we can still have breakfast together."

"That would be lovely Sheldon if you don't mind. Will you let the others know as they will be waiting for us."

"OK. I will go next door while you shower and change, and order food and call Leonard."

Amy stood slowly and smiled sleepily at Sheldon. "Don't forget to order coffee, I think I will need it"

73~73

When Sheldon. returned to his room he phoned down to room service and ordered breakfast for 2. He then sent Leonard a text saying him and Amy had decided not to eat downstairs. They would meet with the others however for lunch.

Returning to Amy's room Sheldon stopped dead in the doorway. Amy was now not wearing her night dress but was stood with just a towel wrapped around her body while she dried her hair. Spluttering Sheldon back up quickly, he had not taken his eyes of Amy however, and crashed his back into the door. Yelping in pain and shock Sheldon spun on his heels and fled to his own room.

Hearing the door slam Amy stood and turned round grasping the towel to her. There was no one there which must mean Sheldon had seen her and fled. Not sure if to be amused or embarrassed Amy quickly grabbed her clothes and moved back to the bathroom to finish dressing.

73~73

Sheldon sat on his bed breathing deeply. Seeing Amy in her night dress had been a shock but seeing her just in a towel had caused a bodily reaction Sheldon was having trouble calming.

Amy usually had on many layers, yet in the space of an hour Sheldon had seen more of her flesh than in all the time they had known each other. Even when she was sick and he had bathed her and rubbed her chest she had been covered or his eyes had been diverted. Now he had and image of her slender body burned into his memory.

The many layers hid her small waist and rounded hips and breasts. Sheldon sighed. Maybe he needed another shower himself!

This thought was abruptly stopped by Amy knocking.

"Sheldon I am decent now!" she called as she opened the door.

"Oh boy" Sheldon muttered as he looked up. Amy stood before him in blue jeans, black flat ballet pump shoes, a red blouse and navy cardigan. The jeans hugged her hips in ways her normal skirts never did.

"Are you OK?" Amy asked, seeing Sheldon staring at her with a dazed expression on his face.

Nodding, Sheldon stood slowly hoping his arousal wasn't evident. He too had on jeans. These were the jeans Amy had persuaded him to buy on there shopping trip. He had on his batman t shirt over a roll-neck thermal also in black.

"Food should be here in a minute" Sheldon said. "It will be delivered to your room." Sheldon now wished he had had it delivered here t his own room, so he could stay sitting and try to get some control over his body.

Following Amy back to her room Sheldon realised the next few days were going to be a real test!

73~73

Amy knew Sheldon had seen her in her towel as soon as she had heard the door slam. What had surprised her though was when she found him in his room and seen he was obviously aroused. She had also noticed he was trying to ignore it so she did too.

As the food was delivered and they ate, Amy chatted about the day ahead. Asking Sheldon when he needed to be at his lecture and when he had arranged to meet the others. As she talked she could see Sheldon relaxing. They had a few hours before they were due to meet the others so Sheldon suggested they take a walk around the campass and see what other science lectures were being held. Agreeing, Amy tidied away their food, placing it outside the door, then locking her room from the inside and grabbing her coat she followed Sheldon into his room so he could get his belongings.

Both wrapped up against the cold weather Amy checked she had her room key and then followed Sheldon to the door.

They had a big day ahead of them and Amy was excited!