A/N: In the last chapter, there was a typo. What was supposed to say 'black bean variant' has decided to clump together as one word, even though it wasn't like that on the original Word document? Haha, just to clear that up! :)

..

Amy arrived home and slumped on her couch, her head in her hands.

"How humiliating." She sighed to herself.

Picking up her phone, she checked the time and realised that Sheldon had text her.

Amy, I wish you didn't have to leave so promptly. Please be assured that your impulsive action did not, to use Leonard's term; 'freak me out' or offend me. I propose that we pretend that never happened and resume with our relationship as normal. Sheldon.

Amy groaned. "Typical!"

She was about to throw her phone down, but she really needed to talk to someone.

Penny would have finished work by now.

Amy dialled Penny's number and waited for her friend to answer.

"Hi Ames! I just finished work, what's up?"

"Hi Penny. I was just wondering if you were free to talk for a while, but if you have just finished work, I can wait until you get home if you want to call me back." Amy replied.

"Hold on sweetie, I'll drive over to you." Penny said, and ended the call.

Amy didn't expect Penny to come round after her shift, but she was grateful all the same.

She tidied up her appearance a bit, and waited for her friend to arrive.

When Penny turned up, she took a seat on Amy's couch.

"Would you like something to drink?" Amy offered.

"No thanks. So what's wrong? You sound upset." Penny asked, turning to face Amy as she took a seat.

"I practically jumped on Sheldon earlier…Not like that; we were watching a horror movie and the ghost jumped out, I got scared and ended up half on Sheldon's lap, my arms wrapped around him and my face in his neck." Amy explained.

Penny grimaced. "Oh…And he freaked out?"

"No…I did."

"You did? Why?"

Amy sighed. "Because I knew he'd get weird about it and I didn't want to scare him off. Although, he has since text me explaining that this wasn't the case…"

Penny cocked her head to one side. "What's really going on, Amy?"

"What do you mean?"

"You seem upset, and surely this isn't the thing that's upsetting you so much?"

"I am a little upset." Amy confessed.

Penny scooted closer and put her arm around Amy's shoulders. "What's troubling you?" She asked.

Amy shook her head. "I love him, Penny. I know it's stupid of me because he will never return the feelings, and he will never touch me like a lover."

Penny bit her lip, recalling the personal conversation that she and Leonard had had with Sheldon once. "You know, I wouldn't be so sure of that…"

"Why not?" Amy frowned.

"Well…Sheldon said he's working on things and sees himself having a physical relationship with you…But please, please don't tell him I told you this. He'll kill me…Or give me another strike!" Penny replied.

"You have my word." Amy promised. "But I'm sorry Penny; I just can't see it happening."

"Let him try…Let him prove himself to you Amy." Penny said, gently.

"Penny, it's been almost three years and he's yet to initiate any sort of contact…Well, apart from the spanking, but there's only so many times I can convince myself that he did that with any intention other than punishment." Amy responded, sadly. She took a breath. "He said he wants to pretend that what happened earlier never happened, and that we resume our relationship as normal."

Penny rolled her eyes. "That old chestnut, huh?"

"Exactly." Amy confirmed. "I'm tired of re-starting or resuming as normal every time something happens. I'm tired of not being able to tell my boyfriend that I love him, and I'm tired of knowing that he will never be attracted to me in any way other than intellect!" Amy broke down into tears, covering her face with her hands.

Penny hugged her friend tight and stroked her hair, pained at seeing her so upset.

She didn't know what to say or do.

If she had it her way, she would march over there and tell that lanky bastard to get a grip, but she knew that wouldn't help.

"I can talk to him if you want me to?" Penny offered. "I'll try not to yell at him."

Amy shook her head. "I appreciate it Penny, but I wouldn't want to drive a wedge between you and Sheldon."

Penny snorted. "Are you kidding? Sheldon drives the wedge between me and Sheldon!" She laughed, "This is nothing new, and I hate seeing my best friend upset."

Amy considered Penny's offer. "Can you get through to him?" She whispered.

"I can try, sweetie." Penny nodded.

Amy smiled and thanked her.

"I'll go do it now before I go home to bed." Penny said. "I'll text you and tell you what happens."

Penny got to her feet and hurried to the door to exit Amy's apartment.

"Thank you Penny, I really appreciate this." Amy smiled, gratefully.

..

Penny arrived back at her apartment block, stopping outside 4A and knocking.

She waited.

Sheldon answered. "Hello Penny. Leonard, Penny's here!" He called.

"Actually it's you I came to talk to." Penny replied.

Sheldon frowned. "Oh…Well come in. How can I help you?"

"It's not me you need to be helping." Penny replied, folding her arms.

At that moment, Leonard emerged by the doorway.

"Hey beautiful." He greeted, kissing Penny on the lips.

"Hey handsome!" Penny returned the kiss.

"When you two are done with your unnecessary saliva exchange, Penny would like to speak to me." Sheldon rolled his eyes.

"Okay, that's what I need to talk to you about." Penny said, sighing impatiently. "Amy is distraught."

"She is? Why? Should I go see her?" Sheldon got to his feet to grab his windbreaker.

"No…She's distraught about what happened tonight."

"But I didn't do anything!" Sheldon protested.

"It's about the text you sent her." Penny replied. "You upset her."

"I do not understand this at all; how could I possibly upset her? I was not rude or aggressive in any way. I merely said that I am not offended or freaked out by her getting frightened and impulsively cuddling me."

"Sheldon, you asked her to forget that it happened and to resume your relationship as it was. You keep doing that to her!"

"Again, I don't understand…"

Penny rolled her eyes. "Sheldon…Amy has been your girlfriend for almost three years now, and you will barely touch her. She has needs and desires, and I know that you do, too!"

Sheldon widened his eyes. "I most certainly do not!"

"And I know that you love her back." Penny added. "Stop denying your girlfriend, and yourself, of simple things. Cuddling and kissing is nothing. I understand you being worried about sex, and that's fine, but please Sheldon. Try with Amy…Try to be physical with her. If not, you might lose her."

Sheldon blinked and looked at the floor.

"You know how hard it is for me." He said, quietly. "But I will try."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Penny smiled at him, and then turned to Leonard.

"Are we still on for dinner tomorrow?" She asked.

"Yes, and I'm taking you somewhere romantic!" Leonard grinned, taking Penny's waist and kissing her on the lips.

Sheldon observed them silently.

It didn't look too hard…Although the kiss would mean touching someone else's lips and possibly contracting something.

He gave himself a mental shake and made his way out of the room, pausing at the step.

"Penny?"

"Yes Sheldon?"

He took a deep breath. "Before…When you said 'I know you love her back', what exactly did you mean by that?"

Penny shrugged. "I meant I know you love Amy back."

"Back? Does Amy… love me?"

The blonde waitress bit her lip and raised her eyebrows. "What do you think?"