Watching the equations grow across his whiteboard Sheldon grinned. He had got to work early, forgoing the ride with Leonard in favour of the bus. He had spent a restless night tossing and turning and in the end decided he may as well get up and come into work. Now, as he heard people arriving, he looked at the progress he had made. Recapping his marker he sat down. He had emailed Gablehauser as soon as he had arrived and now saw the reply, confirming his meeting at 9.30. He checked his watch. With 30 minutes before he had to be anywhere he stood and moved back to his board. This is where he belonged!

73~73

"What do you mean he has left already?" Penny demanded hands on her hips.

"Penny I just told you, I got up found a note pinned to the fridge saying he couldn't sleep so had got the bus to work."

"Leonard, I heard from Amy last night. She seemed to think Sheldon was just missing work, but I think there is more too it. Has Sheldon mentioned Amy at all to you?"

"Penny you know we don't really talk about stuff like that!"

Rolling her eyes Penny sat down. "Leonard, Amy is so happy to be back, she is keen to go to work, see her friends, catch up on all she has missed. Sheldon just wants Amy! He travelled half way round the world for her and I don't think he is happy. I think he wants more."

Leonard frowned. "Sheldon? Are you sure?"

"No I'm not sure, I just have this feeling."

"OK, well I will see how he is at work and let you know, but I think Amy could be right Penny."

73~73

"Leonard! Guess what, Gablehauser has agreed to no more lectures! He also said my name was on the top of the list come the next tenure!" Sheldon was bouncing on his toes excitedly.

"That's great Sheldon! So you are OK?"

"Of course I am, did you not hear what I just said?"

"OK, I'm glad, Penny was worried that's all. But I told her Amy would be right."

Sheldon stopped. "Amy was right about what?" he asked quietly.

"Penny was worried you were unhappy, that since you came back you wanted more or something. Amy told her you were just missing work. She was right. Penny will be pleased."

"Hhhmmm" Sheldon turned and walked away.

Frowning Leonard followed him back to his office.

"OK Sheldon did I say something wrong?"

"No Leonard," Sheldon sighed.

"So was Penny right then? Is that why you just went from deliriously happy to walking away with a long face?"

Sheldon sat down and looked at his hands. "Leonard I don't know how I feel. Amy hasn't changed, she is the same person that left 6 months ago. Everything we have built up is good. We have moved forward as everyone told me we should. Why then do I feel like it is not enough?"

"eerrr... Sheldon I'm not good at this stuff... I thought you and Amy were happy?"

"We are. She is doing amazing things with her work, she has friends coming to visit from England. I just feel like we have come home and gone back to how it was before she left."

"You mean you miss the sex!" Leonard sniggered. The look Sheldon gave him had him hastily apologising "OK I'm sorry, sorry. Look Sheldon maybe you should be telling Amy this stuff."

"Yes maybe." Sheldon nodded. Then stood and moved back to his whiteboard effectively dismissing Leonard.

Returning to his own work Leonard quickly called Penny "OK you could be right. He is not happy. I told him to talk to Amy."

"What did he say?" Penny asked surprised Sheldon would open up so readily.

"Just that he feels now they are home things have gone back to how they were before Amy left 6 months ago."

"Poor Sheldon." Penny sighed. "OK thanks for talking to him sweetie, I'll see you tonight."

73~73

Amy was enjoying the attention in the lab the next morning. She showed off her photos, told of her adventures, then quickly brought everyone up to date on the research. Making sure everyone had a copy of the results, and then going to check on the addiction monkeys in the lab Amy found herself back at her desk. She smiled as she looked around. She was glad to be back. Quickly arranging a tentative plan for James to come visit Amy emailed Linda Greensmith her ideas. Then she stood to find what was required of her now.

It was only as she saw everyone else going about their duties Amy realised things here had moved on. Whilst her research had progressed in England the transfer of information meant here in LA things had moved on too.

The rest of the day Amy felt like she was playing catch up. By 5 o'clock her excitement and good mood had faded and it was only a text from Sheldon saying he hoped she had had a good first day that made her smile.

"Hi Sheldon. My first day has been OK. I kind of feel out of the loop. Maybe coming back is going to be harder than I thought."

Sighing she put her phone in her bag and made her way home.

It was about 30 minutes after getting home, just as she was about to step into the shower, that she heard a familiar knocking. Quickly wrapping herself in a towel she went to answer the door.

Sheldon stood before her, bag across his chest and holding a take out pizza.

"I thought if you had had a tough day you may not feel like cooking." he smiled.

Amy burst into tears.

"Oh dear lord!" Sheldon shut the door behind him, shifted the pizza box to one hand and guided a towel clad Amy to the sofa.

"Amy my desire when I came here was not to make you cry, why do I always seem to make you cry? I wanted to make sure you were OK as the tone of your text suggested work had been tough. I thought bringing dinner would afford us some time together and I could ensure you were OK."

"Sheldon I am crying because I am happy to see you. I am crying because you cared enough to check on me and bought me food."

Sheldon just shook his head.

"I take it you were about to shower? Why don't you go do that and I will get your dinner ready, perhaps some calming tea?"

Nodding and sniffing Amy moved back to her bedroom.

Gathering the mugs and tea things Sheldon plated up some pizza, made the tea and then sat waiting. When Amy did not return Sheldon opened her bedroom door. The shower was still running so he knocked on the door.

"Amy dinner is ready!"

No response. Sheldon opened the door and heard Amy still crying.

"Amy?" looking round for a towel Sheldon called Amy's name again so she knew he was there before reaching for the shower door. Turning of the water Sheldon wrapped the towel around Amy and pulled her out of the shower. Folding her into his arms he held her close and stroked her back.

"Amy, dinner is ready. You need to come eat and then rest." Reaching for a face cloth Sheldon gently wiped her tears then wrapped her dressing gown that was hanging on the door around her. Holding her hand he took her back to the table and sat her down. He placed his own food down next to hers and drew his chair close.

"Amy, why are you so upset?"

"Because I have been stupid Sheldon! I have been so stupid."

Sheldon frowned. "What exactly happened at work today?"

"Nothing. That's the whole point. I went back, everyone was pleased to see me, they looked at my photos, listened to my stories then went back to work. Sheldon I didn't even have a job to get on with. My research was in London and now I have come back to find that research is being duplicated here, exactly as I envisaged but without me!"

"So maybe you need to move it forward. Amy you can do this! Get James out here and move this whole thing forward. The people at your work would not be doing what they are doing if it wasn't for you so now keep that going. Why not see if you can build those hospital links you spoke about?"

Sniffing Amy nodded. "Thank you Sheldon. I have been so keen to get back to work, see my friends, I haven't been fair to you yet you are here looking after me."

"Amy we are in a relationship, as Penny has been keen to point out to me on many an occasion it is not just about you caring for me. So make sure to tell her that!" he grinned.

Drinking her tea and eating her pizza Amy began to feel better.

"Sheldon can you stay tonight? I know it is a work day but I would love you to stay."

Sheldon thought for a minute. "I don't have any clothes" he frowned.

"I will make sure you have enough time to get home in the morning. I will drive you to work if you don't want Leonard knowing." Amy suggested remembering their previous avoidance of the others knowing.

"Its not that Amy, it is just unexpected. I would love to stay. I have missed you. Missed talking to you, missed you just being there." Sheldon hastened to add in case Amy, like Leonard, thought he was just referring to sex.

"I know Sheldon, I'm sorry. You tried to tell me the other night and I was not listening. Penny picked up on it and I shrugged her off too. Please stay Sheldon, I need you here tonight."

Smiling Sheldon nodded. "I'd love to stay!"

73~73

Having eaten Amy changed into her pyjamas as Sheldon cleared away their plates. Returning she found him sat on the sofa flicking through the photos she had printed off for him.

"I like this one." he said and showed her the photos of the two of them glaring at James, behind the camera. It had been at the end of his 'photo shoot' and they had both clearly had enough. Laughing Amy said "yes I emailed this to him! He replied he had got our best side!"

Laughing Sheldon carried on looking at the photos, he came to the ones of Cambridge Amy had taken on her first trip. He laughed out loud of the photo of Hawking and snuggle bunny. "I still cant believe you took that thing with you to meet Hawking!"

"Hey! That 'thing' as you call it kept me going when I first moved to England. I took it to work, to bed and on every one of my trips. It was my way of feeling you were with me!"

"So where is it now?" Sheldon glanced around.

"In my bed!" Amy grinned

"Well as I stated in London, if you expect me to share your bed it has to leave!"

"For you I will remove it." Amy grinned. "Now tell me how your day went, you have listened to me moan on."

"It went well" Sheldon grinned "Gablehauser has agreed no more lectures! I am on a short list for tenure and my work went well. I hadn't realised how much I had missed even the likes of Kripke. That didn't last long though! It was satisfying to see his face when Gablehauser interrupted him at lunch to say he had heard from Cambridge who had thanked him for sending me! I wish James had captured that look!" Sheldon snorted.

Grinning Amy nodded "I can see James and Kripke not exactly getting on!"

"Amy, tomorrow, can we go to my apartment after Leonard has left." Sheldon asked changing the subject and causing Amy to look up at him.

"Of course we can, I said that." Amy reassured him.

"No, not because I don't want him to know I have stayed here, I have already sent him a text to that affect. No I just wondered, and I don't want you to feel I am pushing you, but I thought if you wanted you could put a bag together of essentials to leave at mine, and I could leave a similar bag here. Amy I like when you stay at mine, I have told Leonard you have my permission to be in my room. I just want you to feel comfortable there."

Amy could feel tears well in her eyes again. Blinking them away she nodded, not quite trusting her self to speak.

"Good. Then if it is OK with you I will go shower. And you can go change. If you expect me to sleep in nothing do not expect to lie next to me like that!"

73~73

When Sheldon returned to the bedroom a towel wrapped round his waist Amy was already in bed. She was covered by the bedding with only her bedside light giving off a glow.

Dropping his towel Sheldon climbed in beside her. Pulling her into his chest Sheldon hugged her tight.

"I missed this!" he whispered kissing the top of her head.

"Me too. "Amy replied. Burying her face into his neck she breathed in the clean smell of him and smiled. "Thanks for coming over tonight Sheldon, you have no idea how much I needed to see you."

"I'm glad. Now you need to get some sleep."

"Really?" Amy sounded more than a little disappointed.

"Yes Amy really. Just because you have lured me naked to your bed doesn't mean anything, now sleep, you are exhausted."

Sighing Amy said "Good night Sheldon."

"Good night Amy."

73~73

Both Sheldon and Amy fell asleep almost immediately, it was about 4 am that Sheldon awoke. He got out of bed and went to the kitchen to fetch himself a glass of water, on returning to the bedroom he put his glass beside his bed and stood looking at Amy. She had turned over and was now on his side of the bed, the covers almost kicked off her so her bare back and bottom were on view. Sighing Sheldon sat on the edge of the bed and swung his legs up. He closed his eyes. He knew he would struggle to get back to sleep, especially now he had the vision of Amy laying next to him. Turning onto his left side Sheldon had his back to Amy. He could feel Amy's breath on his back but tried to ignore it. He suddenly became aware of Amy's phone lighting up. Leaning over to turn it off Sheldon saw it was James calling.

Getting up, taking the phone with him Sheldon got into the living room before answering the phone in a whisper.

"James, it is 4am! Why are you calling." Sheldon's tone was not exactly warm.

"Hey Sheldon! Sorry have I woken you? I cant get used to the time difference. I just wanted to say hi to Amy, I miss her."

"Well she is asleep and I am not waking her!"

"Hey cheer up, it could have been worse I could have called and interrupted you mid … !" James let his sentence drift off, the implication clear.

Muttering Sheldon said "I will tell her you called James, good night!" Hanging up Sheldon placed Amy's phone on the kitchen counter, not convinced James wouldn't call back. Returning to the bed room Sheldon sank back onto the bed.

"Hey, where'd you go?" Amy muttered half asleep.

"Ssshhh "Sheldon soothed. He pulled Amy's arm across his waist and held her hand flat to his stomach and closed his eyes. He was drifting between sleep and wake when he became aware of Amy's hand tracing circles on his stomach. Putting his hand back over hers he was surprised when he felt her move closer, her breasts pressing against his back. He could tell from her breathing she was still asleep, but evidently even sleepy Amy was set to torment him tonight.

Keeping her hands trapped Sheldon shifted forward slightly. She didn't follow, relaxing Sheldon closed his eyes again and he too fell into sleep. He was awoken an hour later by Amy's hand, free from his own once again, tracing circles on his stomach, he could tell she was awake now as her movements were much more purposeful and she was pressed the entire length of his back, her legs curled into the back of his.

"Hey" she whispered "I was hoping you would wake up!"

"Amy" he groaned, unable to resist pressing into her hand. He felt her kiss the back of his neck and turned in her arms so he was facing her.

Holding her hand back to his stomach he said "I have been awake what feels like half the night with you playing with my stomach."

"Did you get up?" she asked remembering talking to him vaguely.

"Yes, I got water then James phoned! I told him to go away!"

Amy laughed, "Oh he wont have liked that! What did you do with my phone?" she leant over him looking for it; prepared to send James a quick text.

"I left it in the other room. I thought he may try calling back, he seemed to find it amusing." Sheldon snorted. Sheldon pulled Amy on top of him wrapping his arms around her back resting his hands on the small of her back.

Wriggling Amy grinned as she felt Sheldon harden against her belly. "Mmmmmm,"she grinned

Laughing Sheldon said, "And there was I thinking you were tired and needed rest!"

"No I need this! It has been too long." Pulling back so she could reach her hand between them Amy stroked his length.

"That's nice" Sheldon whispered, closing his eyes as he felt Amy's fingers trace him. He resisted moving, letting her explore him until he felt the sensations building. Stopping her hand with his own he said "I don't want to finish like that."

Sitting up he kissed her mouth quickly before flipping her over and moving down her body.

"Sheldon, top draw... condoms.." Amy gasped as she felt his tongue move down her stomach.

Looking up at her Sheldon could see the need in her face he knew would be mirrored on his own. He moved back up and reaching for the draw pulled out a condom. Quickly covering himself Sheldon moved back over Amy, placing himself at her entrance he pushed forward slowly. Amy moaned and lifted her legs; wrapping them around his back pulling him deeper causing his to gasp at the sensation. Resisting the urge to immediately start pumping into her Sheldon pulled out almost all the way. Keeping his eyes locked with Amy's he moved forward again slowly.

"Oh god Sheldon that feels good!" Amy gasped.

Moaning his agreement Sheldon lowered his head and sucked her nipple into his mouth. He felt her squeeze him as she thrust her hips forward, half in surprise half pure desire. Sucking gently Sheldon moved to the other breast increasing the speed of his thrusts.

"Sheldon, so close..." Amy gasped holding his head to her breast. Feeling his own orgasm approaching Sheldon raised his head to Amy's mouth then thrust hard into her. With a cry Amy felt her orgasm wash over her. Keeping her legs tightly round Sheldon's waist she put her hands on his butt and squeezed. His own cry soon following her own as he felt himself spill into the condom.

Rolling to his side gasping Sheldon turned his head. "I could wake up like that every morning!" he grinned. Smiling dreamily Amy nodded. "You definitely need to sort that bag out to have your stuff here." Patting his butt she grinned "Mind you I like you better like this than in many layers of pyjamas!"

Laughing Sheldon rolled out of bed and made his way to the bathroom to dispense of the condom and to wash. Giving Sheldon his bathroom time Amy went to make tea. She was surprised it was only 7 am. She smiled to herself as she prepared cereal, laid the breakfast things on the table and then swapped with Sheldon so she could get ready whilst he ate breakfast. Within an hour they were in her car driving to Los Robles avenue. Amy went up the stairs with Sheldon. She carried an overnight bag that Sheldon took from her and placed on his bed as he pulled out a rucksack and began filling it with underwear, a couple of changes of clothes and his emergency pyjamas.

"Hey I told you you don't need those." Amy grinned nodding at the pyjamas.

"Amy I refuse to abandon all my routines just for your entertainment!" Sheldon snorted.

Then turning he grabbed Amy's bag and began pulling out her underwear; placing it into a drawer.

Amy was amazed that Sheldon seemed so comfortable making room for her like this. Only a year ago he would have freaked at her setting foot in the room and now he was giving her drawer and wardrobe space. Hanging her clothes next to his own he turned back.

"OK. I will leave my bag with you if that is OK and you can take it home with you tonight."

Returning to the car Amy drove Sheldon to work.

"Are you feeling OK about today?" he asked a note of concern evident in his voice.

"Yes Sheldon, thank you. You were right, I need to move this forward it is up to me. Also you staying last night helped loads. Will you come over tonight?"

"Amy it is Cheesecake Factory night. Why don't you join us and we will see what happens after that." Nodding Amy leant over and kissed Sheldon gently.

"Thanks for last night Sheldon!"

With a wave Sheldon climbed out of his car and made his way towards his office.

73~73