"Hi Ames, just wondered if dinner was still on tonight and if so what time? P x"
Amy groaned when she saw the text message. She had forgotten she had invited everyone to dinner. Grabbing a notepad Amy began to make a shopping list. She had promised them an 'English' meal but she wasn't sure what would be simple and easy to do for 8 people in the relatively short space of time she would have when she got home from work. Checking her watch and realising James should still be up she decided to ring him.
"Hello Amy, I am honoured, Skype yesterday and a phone call today! What can I do for you?"
"Hi James. I need help. I have offered to cook for our group of friends and I wont have much time when I get in. Any suggestions?"
James laughed "Any dietary requirements?"
"Yes one Jew, one lactose intolerant and a Hindu!"
"Blimey! OK well not sure if this would suit either religious or lactose really but 'toad in the hole' is nicely British, cheap and quick, will also freak out the squeamish if you tell them its real toad!" James laughed.
Filling Amy in on the recipe she grinned "That's perfect. Now what was that dessert you made when I came to yours that first time?"
"Eton mess. Also nice and easy. I tell you what, I will email you the recipes so you have an ingredients list. Now tell me has Sheldon calmed down properly? He still seemed grumpy last night!"
"Well he has calmed down with you, with me though I'm not so sure!" James laughed as Amy told James about Sheldon's neck.
"Poor Sheldon! He has my sympathy tell him! Listen Amy I had better go it is late and I need to get up early in the morning, if I am late for work Linda will go nuts, I think she is jealous of me going to LA but she is gunning for me at the moment so I daren't give her any ammunition. Text me to tell me how they liked your toad!"
Laughing Amy bid James goodbye and began to rewrite the shopping list. Deciding to get most of the ingredients at lunch time and drop them at hers rather than after work, Amy fired of an email to all of her friends reminding them that she was cooking and dinner would be casual but British. She would expect them at 7 pm. Grinning she sent Sheldon a text telling him of James suggestion and was surprised when he offered to come help her prepare.
Grinning Amy returned to work.
73~73
Sheldon decided it would be safer to stay in his office today than brave the canteen and the questions about his dress and neck. He was pretty sure Leonard wouldn't say anything but he was not prepared to bet on it and he was sure if Howard got so much as a glimpse at the marks on his neck it would be all over the campus before Sheldon got back to his desk..Deciding to work through lunch he could then leave early and help Amy prepare dinner.
At half 4 Sheldon climbed into Amy's car and they made their way back to her apartment.
"Did the others tease you today?" Amy asked concerned.
"No, I managed to avoid them!" Sheldon grinned. "So is this meal easy to prepare?"
"Yes dead easy; in fact we hardly have to do anything so if you want to shower and change you can just watch TV. I have everything under control."
Sheldon decided he would take Amy up on her offer and gathering his wash stuff made his way to the bathroom. When he came out 20 minutes later he did not look happy.
"What's wrong?" Amy asked but she was pretty sure she knew the answer.
"This!" Sheldon pointed to the bruising on his neck. "Amy I don't have another shirt here, what should I do?"
"Sheldon maybe you just need to face them, it is not as if none of them have been in the same situation I'm sure."
"Have you?" Sheldon asked half curiously half hoping if she had she might have a good solution.
"Well no, I've never had a hickey. To be honest I hadn't realised that's what would happen last night!"
Snorting Sheldon said "its not fair!"
"How about we try covering it in, make-up?"
"Would that work?" he was willing to try anything rather than face Howard's ridicule.
"Come on lets go try." Checking the setting of the oven was OK Amy led Sheldon into the bedroom and sat him down at her dressing table.
"OK take your top of."
"Amy that's what got me into this mess in the first place!"
Amy sniggered. "I am sure I will be able to resist you for a little while, I just don't want to get make-up on your top." she explained.
Nodding at this logic Sheldon removed his top and let Amy apply some green stuff she called 'cover up' then some skin coloured stuff .
"Hey that works!" Sheldon grinned. "Well done Amy!" and grabbing her round the waist pulled her onto his lap.
Giggling Amy wound her arm round his neck as he trailed kisses along her neck.
"So perhaps I should give you a hickey if you've never had one." Sheldon grinned.
"Not tonight you don't! Amy laughed struggling to get up
Snorting Sheldon deposited Amy back on her feet and reached for his tops. Checking his neck again in the mirror Sheldon was satisfied his embarrassment should be spared.
73~73
Dinner went well. Amy took great delight in telling her guests the name of their meal and watch them gingerly poke at it.
"Its just sausages!" Penny laughed, as she finally braved putting a little in her mouth, but the relief was evident in her face.
Once the food had been consumed Amy dragged out her photos from London and soon the group were all chatting and laughing, and planning on places they could take James and Simon when they came to visit.
Leonard and Lucy were the designated drivers for the evening and so the only ones even resembling sober by the end of the evening. Sheldon had allowed himself a couple of glasses of vodka even though he had work tomorrow. He was now waxing lyrical about the Orient Express to poor Lucy who was too polite to tell him she didn't really like trains.
"Sheldon," Howard asked sat on the sofa next to him "what's that on you t shirt? Is it Amy's make-up?"
Pulling his top forward to look Sheldon stopped realising what hi had done.
"Whoa! Sheldon has a hickey!" Howard laughed as groaning, Sheldon hid his face in a cushion. Peeking out he saw everyone staring at his neck, so he jumped up and ran to Amy's room locking himself in.
"Well thanks for that! "Leonard groaned, "Howard what did I say about teasing Sheldon! Amy I'm sorry. Let me take this drunken lot home then if you have managed to prise him out of your room I'll come get him."
"Don't worry, he can stay here, I'll take him to work tomorrow."
73~73
"Sheldon they have gone you can come out now" Amy banged on the bedroom door.
No reply.
Rattling the handle Amy began to get cross.
"Sheldon Cooper, open the door, you are behaving like a child!"
Nothing.
Sighing Amy returned to the kitchen and poured herself a large vodka. She had had a nice night, the meal had gone well and while not extravagant had suited the evening. She picked up her phone and took a picture of the empty serving dish then sent it to James.
"All gone!"
She wondered if James was already at work.
"Hi Amy glad it went down well! You yanks must have some good taste! ;-) Hope Sheldon's neck is better today, tell him Simon said cover stick make-up works!"
Laughing Amy replied "They freaked at name but soon got over it! Sheldon is currently sulking as others saw his neck! Has locked himself in bedroom. Big kid! I am sat drinking his vodka, serves him right!"
"Go kiss and make up, drinking alone is never good! Talk soon x"
Putting the phone down Amy smiled, James was right she should stop drinking and try persuading Sheldon to come out. As she stood up Sheldon came out of the bedroom holding his phone.
"I thought that was my vodka!"
"James is a snitch!" Amy muttered. Pouring Sheldon a drink she held it out. "Feeling better?"
"Not really but there is nothing I can do so..."
"Come sit here with me." Patting the seat beside her Amy smiled "Sheldon do you think when James comes it might be a good idea if you and I stayed here?"
"Why? I thought we had sorted the arrangements?"
"We had, its just, well your neck! If that is the result of one night..."
"Amy I am sure we can restrain ourselves for the duration of their visit and I am sure there will be occasions where Leonard is not in the room next door also."
Shrugging Amy said "Up to you I just thought it was an idea."
"Not necessary. Now one thing we do need to sort out is us visiting my mother. She called again today while I was at work. She is threatening to come here! Amy I do not want that!"
"OK, well why don't we go for a long weekend, leave work early on Friday and fly back Sunday night."
"I suppose,"
"It was your idea to go! I am just offering you a date" Amy pointed out.
"I know, and you are right a weekend visit would be short enough to satisfy mother, let you meet Meemaw while not giving Missy enough time to lead you astray!"
"Well just let me know, if I need to arrange to finish early I will need notice."
"Amy, you are aware when you meet mother she will start talking about grandchildren. I am afraid even someone as flighty as Missy has not been spared the lecture."
"Well what do you want me to say Sheldon. 'Hello Mrs Cooper, yes I love your son but no I don't want his babies!?"
"Amy don't be like that. I just thought I should warn you."
"I tell you what Sheldon, perhaps we need to discuss it ourselves again before we discuss it with anyone else. But not tonight. Tonight intend to drink this vodka, clear up the mess and then sleep!"
Nodding Sheldon stood and began moving dishes to the kitchen.
Amy closed her eyes. Listening to Sheldon bustling about she was glad he was there. She could not believe how comfortable she felt having him in her space, it didn't feel anywhere near as intrusive as she had feared it might. Standing slowly she put her half finished drink on the table and moved to the sink, wrapping her arms around Sheldon's waist from behind and kissing his neck.
"Leave the neck alone woman! You are banned from my neck area!"
"Really? T hats a shame you have always enjoyed it in the past!"
Flicking a dish cloth at her Sheldon said "Come on dry" and returned to his washing. Soon they had all the dishes cleaned and out away. Taking the bottle of vodka back to the table Sheldon sat down next to Amy.
"If I have a hang over tomorrow you will be required to care for me!"
"Perhaps we should stop drinking and go to bed." Amy suggested seeing it was nearly 11. Nodding Sheldon stood and held out his hand together they moved to the bedroom, Sheldon going to the bathroom first to change while Amy got out her night clothes; then she went to change and found Sheldon in bed on her return. Snuggling in next to him Amy lay her head on his chest.
"Thanks for your help tonight. And I am sorry about your neck!"
"That's OK Amy, I enjoyed the evening."
Kissing the top of her head Sheldon closed his e yes. Soon they were both asleep.
73~73
Amy wasn't sure how long the alarm had been going off when she woke up. Blearily lifting one eye open she groaned as the sunlight hit her. "Oh god!"
She turned to look at Sheldon who was curled in a ball his head half under his pillow. Looking at the clock Amy saw it was already 7.30.
"Sheldon" she whispered shaking his shoulder gently."Sheldon wake up!"
"Shush" Sheldon muttered.
"Sheldon!" Amy shook him harder "We are late come on!"
Amy couldn't hear his reply this time but getting out of bed herself she made her way to the kitchen and drank a glass of water before pouring another one to take some painkillers.
How much had they drank last night?
Filling a glass for Sheldon and taking the pain killers with her, Amy returned to the bedroom and sat beside him on the bed.
"Sheldon come on drink this water and take these, it'll make you feel better!"
It was some time later the pair were up, washed, dressed and functioning.
"Amy I didn't do anything stupid did I? Last night I mean." Sheldon was very sheepish sat in the passenger seat of Amy's car.
"No Sheldon, we didn't really drink that much until everyone had left then we started talking about visiting your mother" Sheldon's groan interrupted Amy
"Please tell me I didn't call my mother while drunk!"
"No Sheldon you didn't, in fact you seemed fine, I think we just crashed!"
Nodding, reassured Sheldon said "Thank you for taking care of me Amy, I don't like that feeling and you didn't laugh at me like Penny and Leonard did."
"Sheldon I felt just as bad, and there was nothing to laugh at. Now come on we are already late. I will call you later Sheldon to see how you are." then waiting just long enough to make sure Sheldon was safely inside Amy drove to work.
73~73