A/N: I know I promised Colorado next, but this idea sprang to my head while writing. They will be on the train in this chapter. I am going to rate this chapter M just to be safe. They progress nicely in this chapter. So enjoy.

As always I own nothing.

In Williams, they decided maybe they should get a room and rest since the train didn't leave until 3:30am. They had dinner at a local diner and then settled into a room near the train station. It wasn't an ideal hotel room but it would work for one night.

"So you never told me what you thought about my idea for staying in string theory." He said to Amy as they settled into bed that night.

"I have told you before I will support you in whatever you want to do. I supported your decision to go against the table, I supported you when you decided to quit string theory and now I will support whatever decision you make as far as string theory. If you choose to stay with it, we will still be working together. If you choose another field and have to leave Caltech, I will be there for you."

"What happens if I have to transfer to another state?"

"Is that something you are thinking about doing?"

"No not at all. I was just thinking about what would happen to us if I am left with no other choice."

"Well, I think we can cross that bridge if it gets there." She said to him. "I don't think I would like it but I am sure we would make something work. I don't want to be the reason you stay somewhere you hate."

"The problem is I don't hate Caltech, I am just really confused."

"This is the reason we are doing this trip, right? We will work this out together."

"I guess you're right. We have 3 more weeks to work this out. I am getting tired and we are only going to get a few hours of sleep as it is. I think it is time to turn in." He pulled her in close to him.

"Goodnight Sheldon" She said to him as she snuggled in to him.

He leaned in and gave her a kiss goodnight. "Goodnight Amy."

They woke up at about 2:30 and each quickly used the shower and got dressed. They arrived at the train station at about 3:15 in plenty of time to make the 3:30 train. As they were both still tired they went to their cabin and pulled the bed out. They fell asleep pretty quickly. They woke up around 8:30 and both were pretty hungry. They made their way to the food car on the train and had a nice breakfast together.

As the train was not scheduled to arrive in New Mexico until 4:50pm, they made their way back to their room after breakfast.

"What shall we do now?" Amy asked him.

"I have some movies downloaded on my computer plus this train has free Wi-Fi we could always watch something on Netflix or Amazon."

"I suppose we can find something we will both enjoy. What do you have downloaded?"

"Mostly Star Trek and Star Wars."

"Now you know I don't want to watch those movies. And besides you've seen them hundreds of times. Why don't we see what is on Netflix."

"Agreed. I don't want you to be bored." He quickly pulled up Netflix on his computer and saw that they had both Firefly and Buffy the Vampire Slayer streaming.

"Would you be interested in either of these choices?" He asked her showing her what he found.

"Penny told me Leonard had her watching Buffy a while ago and she didn't care for it, but Bernadette thought it was great. She and Howard watched it together. Let's watch it."

"Okay I will set up episode 1 then."

Amy sat down in the middle of the bed. Sheldon sat down next to her and put his arm around her. She cuddled in to him and they relaxed as they watched the first episode.

"What did you think?" Sheldon asked her after the episode was over.

"It was good. I can see why Bernadette likes it. I can also understand why Penny didn't like it. This isn't her cup of tea."

"She likes the hippy dippy romance stories more."

"There's nothing wrong with a romance every now and then. You enjoyed the movie Her last year."

"That's because it was about a man who fell in love with his phone. Not really romantic per say. Raj did that years ago and I thought it was brilliant."

"You think it is brilliant to fall in love with an inanimate object?" She looked angry. Had he not told her he loved her the day before?

"Um…" He knew he was in trouble but he wasn't sure how to get out of it. It could be a long rest of the journey if he said the wrong thing. "I said I thought it was brilliant, at the time. Now I can see there is no appeal to it when one falls in love with a real person."

"Good answer Dr. Cooper." She leaned over and kissed him. He kissed her back. Soon he deepened the kiss and ran his tongue along her bottom lip. She opened her mouth to receive his tongue and they kissed like that for a while. He then began to explore with his hands and ran his hands up and down her arms before finally settling on her breasts. He squeezed them gently at first which elicited a moan from Amy.

"I love you." He said to her as he began kissing her neck and nibbled on her ear.

"I love you too." She said and he kissed her strongly on the lips.

They were exploring each other. He kissed her neck, her ears. She ran her hands up and down his chest and back. It was an amazing feeling for both of them. Sheldon then decided he needed to try more. He slowly began to unbutton the buttons on her cardigan and quickly devoid her of the garment. Once that was off he slowly lifted her blouse over her head threw it to the floor. He wanted to feel more of her and he felt she was wearing too many layers.

"Why do you wear so many clothes?" He asked her.

"I like the clothes I wear. You have never complained before." She answered him with a laugh.

"That's because I hadn't thought about taking them off before." He said to her.

"Well I will say I think you have done a fine job getting them off."

"I do excel in everything I do."

He then rid her of her bra and looked at her in the flesh. She felt a little self-conscious about laying there with nothing on.

"You are beautiful." He said to her and set out to explore her again. This time he went right in to her breasts and fondled them. Her nipples turned instantly hard and she let out an exasperated moan. He kissed down her neck and then put her left breast in his mouth. He never expected to feel like this. He was just exploring but everything felt right. She arched up into him as he began to tighten below the waist. He ground into her as she reached up to rid him of his shirt. They were lost in the moment when a chime from Sheldon's computer indicated someone was trying to get a hold of them through Skype.

"Ignore it." He said to her and continued his exploration.

It rang again after 5 minutes and they ignored it again. But when it rang a third time, Amy stopped him.

"Whoever it is, really wants to get in touch with you." She said. "You should probably answer it."

"Do I have to? I was quite enjoying myself." He frowned. The computer went off for the 4th time. "Put your shirt back on. I don't want whoever it is to see you like that." He kissed her and grabbed his shirt. He saw that the call was coming from Leonard's computer.

"It's Leonard, can't we ignore him and call him back later." He said to her as she was getting her clothes on correctly.

"It must be important or he wouldn't keep calling. Oh I hope everyone is alright back home."

"I guess you're right, I will answer it." He opened the call.

"This better be good Leonard, Amy and I were in the middle of.." It was a good thing he didn't get a chance to finish his sentence when he heard the voice and saw the face of the person on the other line.

"Sheldon Lee Cooper you better have a good explanation as to why you ran away from home!" He heard the voice of his mother yelling at him.

Amy quickly hid from view as she was still disheveled from their make-out session. Sheldon was a bit frazzled as well.

"Don't hide dear I know you're there with him as well." She said to Amy.

"Mom, what are you doing in my apartment?" He asked her. "I didn't know you were coming to Pasadena."

"Well I thought I would surprise you. But when I got here, I ran into Penny who tells me you have run away with your girlfriend because you don't like the changes going on in your life."

"I didn't run away from the changes, I ran away to think." He tried to explain to her.

"That isn't a good reason either. Shelly I know you don't like change but you need to grow up a little bit. Running away is not the answer. And I find out you took your girlfriend with you. Are you two sinning?"

"Are you really asking me that? After what I saw you doing in Texas? I am not answering that as it is none of anyone's business if we are."

"I believe it is my business."

"No mom, it isn't. I am a grown man with a job. I live 1600 miles away from you. It is not your concern if I choose to engage in coitus with my girlfriend." Amy was blushing. He was defending his relationship with her to his mother. She never loved him more than right then. "And again I say, after what you and I talked about in April I would think you wouldn't judge so harshly."

"Perhaps you are right" She said to him. "But that still doesn't explain why you ran away."

"As I said a bit earlier, I needed time to think. The university has told me that I must continue with string theory. At the time, I wanted to quit. I wanted to study Inflationary Cosmology, but they wouldn't let me. Leonard said he wants me to move into the apartment across the hall so he can live with Penny now that they are engaged. Amy wanted me to…" He stopped his thought on that then said. He had almost revealed that he had run partially because of her statement about moving in together. He didn't want his mother to think she was pushing him into something he wasn't ready for. He wasn't sure how she would take a woman pushing to live with her boyfriend. "And then I found out the comic book store burned down. The changes were too much. I couldn't handle them. I left the comic book store and ran to the train station. I called Amy from the station after I realized I had been stupid about some of the things I said to her during a fight we had. I then asked her to join me on this trip. We are working through these issues together."

"When will you be coming home and where are you right now?'

"We are scheduled to be away for another 3 and a half weeks. We will be home sometime near the end of June. Amy's next study begins at the beginning of July. I have been granted a two month sabbatical. We are right now on our way to Colorado. We don't know where we are going from there. But we are happy and I would appreciate it if everyone could stay out of our business right now. I thought the group understood." He said looking at Penny in the background.

"But Sheldon…" She made to interrupt him.

"Mom, I don't mean to be disrespectful, but that includes you too. I need this time with Amy to make some decisions about my life. I hope you can understand that. I will call you when we arrive at our next destination and I will keep in touch with you. But please don't tell me what I can and cannot do. I am not a child anymore."

"Well I see you have made up your mind. I guess I can't tell you to come home. Please make sure you keep in touch with everyone. Penny tells me they are all worried about you. I love you Shelly."

"I love you too mom. I will call you when we arrive in Colorado. I will keep you up to date with our location as well. If you don't mind, can I have a word with Penny for a moment."

"Of course, I will just put my bags in your room." She left the room.

"Hi Sheldon, sorry I had to call, your mom was insistent that I get in touch with you right away."

"Why do I not believe she came there on her own accord? Did Leonard call her again?"

"No believe me, she just showed up here this morning. Leonard is at work. I was just leaving my apartment when she came over. She said she was here to surprise you like you did back in April. I told her you went away. She didn't understand and then I had to tell her the truth. I am really sorry we interrupted you."

"It is okay Penny. I know how my mother can be. Would you like to talk to Amy before we hang up?"

"Sure."

"I will go and pick us up some lunch in the dining car." He said to her.

"Okay" She answered him and he gave her a kiss. This did not go unnoticed by Penny.

Amy came over to the computer. "Hey bestie."

"Did I just see Sheldon kiss you?"

"Yes, but you knew we did that now so why should it surprise you?"

"I guess I am surprised he allowed me to see it. How are you guys doing?"

"We are great! Sheldon thinks he has made a decision about string theory and we are progressing nicely on intimate issues. And he told me he loves me!"

"He said what?!" She was flabbergasted. Sheldon always talked about not being like other people. He was a Homo Novus. He was immune to the hippy dippy feelings others had.

"It took me by surprise too. I knew he had feelings but I never thought he would tell me he loved me."

"I am so happy for you. And Amy, I am sorry we didn't call you when we found Sheldon the other night. I know now it was selfish of us. We should have told you."

"I can't stay mad at you for long anyway, but I do appreciate the apology. It did hurt to think you didn't care enough to tell me. But as you can see it has worked out for the best."

"I guess it did. I should let you go." But just as she was about to hang up, Mary Cooper came back out of the room. She had heard from the room that Sheldon was finished talking to Penny and now Amy was on the line.

"Do you mind if I have a word with Amy?" She said to Penny before she hung up.

"It's okay." Amy said. "Hello Mrs. Cooper, how are you?"

"I'm fine and you need to call me Mary. I want to talk to you about what I heard Sheldon say when he was telling me his reasons behind leaving. He may not think I noticed but he clearly said your name as part of the reason. What happened between you two?"

"I would rather you not know, if that is okay. I think it is between Sheldon and I. All you need to know is we have worked out our fight."

"Now dear, if you were one of the reasons he ran away, I am curious as to why he would invite you."

"I don't think I was part of the reason, I said something to him, he didn't need to hear at the moment I said it and we fought about it. It isn't a big deal and we haven't even mentioned it since that night."

"What did you say to him?"

"Mom, did I not ask you not 10 minutes ago to stay out of my relationship with Amy?" Amy hadn't heard him come back in the room. "And I leave the room for a few minutes and hear you accusing my girlfriend of being part of the reason I ran away. I am hanging up now mom. We will call you when we get to Denver." With that he disconnected the call.

"Sheldon, that was a little rude!" She said to him.

"No what was rude was my mom not listening to my request to stay out of our business. Why does she think she can control me like that? I am 34 years old. I have a good paying job. I have my own apartment. I have friends. I am not 11 anymore. She doesn't have to come to my rescue like she used to do. I wish she would understand that." He was really angry.

"I understand what you are saying. My mom tried to control me my whole life too. She constantly made me feel like I was doing something wrong. I think that is why I never made any friends. I was afraid they would not meet my mother's approval. Then she made me start dating. She wanted me to be happy with a man, like she was with my father. But she didn't understand that I didn't need anyone in my life. She just pushed and pushed and pushed. That is why when we started hanging out as friends I decided to introduce you as my boyfriend. I needed her to get off my back. I was happy with my life. She didn't understand it."

Sheldon hugged her. It was the first time she had really opened up about what her mother was like. When he posed as her boyfriend, she never fully explained why she had wanted him to do it. All she said was so that I won't have to go out once a year to meet her obligations. She had never told him she was pushed into finding a suitable mate. She was more like him than she thought. She had an overprotective mother just like he did.

"How did you get her to understand?" He asked her.

"She still doesn't. I don't think she believes me when I tell her we are still dating. She has only met you that one time. I used to go out once a year just so I could use her George Forman grill, but I bought my own a couple of years ago. I don't have to meet that obligation anymore. She has on more than one occasion brought a new guy to meet me when I have been to her house for dinner. My father has told her to stop. He believes me when I say I am dating someone, but she doesn't. It's just like Armand the miniature horse breeder again."

"I'm sorry." He said to her. "It's my fault she doesn't believe you. Every time you ask me to meet them, I come up with an excuse. I wasn't ready for that kind of a commitment. I thought the first time would be enough. I am really sorry. When we get back to Pasadena, I will come and meet your parents, I promise you that." He smiled at her.

"When you say things like that to me, I know why I love you so much."

"Well I love you too." And then he kissed her.

The rest of the ride to New Mexico was uneventful. They watched some more of Buffy while cuddling on the bed. They kissed a bit more, but nothing progressed to the level it had been on when they were interrupted earlier in the day. They arrived at the train station in New Mexico and immediately boarded the next train which was scheduled to leave 20 minutes later.

They didn't have a room on the next train as it was only a 4 hour ride. They found seats that met Sheldon's approval and signed back onto the computer. They watched another couple episodes of Buffy before they arrived in Denver.

They found the hotel which was only a few blocks from the train station and checked in. They were so tired from the events of the day, they fell asleep quickly in each other's arms.

A/N: Next chapter will be Colorado, but maybe an appearance by another mother? I don't think Mary can stay out of it...we will see.