Many thanks for the reviews
It was Tuesday evening by the time Sheldon arrived in Riyadh, Amy had wanted to go to the airport with Faisal to collect him, but Faisal reminded Amy of the countries unmarried couples policy and she agreed to wait back at the palace, Amy was waiting on her balcony and finally saw them arriving and went down to greet Sheldon
"Hi Sheldon" said Amy waving shyly at him
"Amy" replied Sheldon nodding at her having been warned of the policy of no physical contact between unmarried couples in public
"Sheldon come with me to your apartment, Amy go and wait by the pool house and I will talk to you both properly then" said Faisal
Amy did as she was told and watched while Faisal's assistants helped to get Sheldon's luggage out of the car and then made her way to the pool area, Sheldon arrived with Faisal some 15 minutes later and after ordering drinks for everybody explained the rules regarding the unmarried couple policy
"As a very public figure in this country we need to be seen abiding by the rules, we as a family have never had a pubic scandal and you will be chaperoned at all times, we may allow for an exception but we need to be careful"
"How can Sheldon and I talk in privacy then? Asked Amy
"You can talk in private out here, I am sorry Amy but its just policy, we can make sure the servants are nearby but not close enough to hear what's going on, are you both ok with that? Asked Faisal looking to them both
"Yes, we are happy to respect your custom" replied Amy
"I am happy too, I heard that there are some expat unmarried couples living together here though? Asked Sheldon
"Yes it's true but its illegal and if discovered they will be deported immediately, this is why I am telling you this" replied Faisal
"We understand" replied Amy
"Good, now I will leave you two to talk, Abdul will be the other side of the pool as your chaperone and if you want to go for a walk around the grounds, he will follow you at a discreet distance" said Faisal downing his drink and getting up
"Thank you again for allowing me to come" said Sheldon
"Not a problem, dinner will be served in one hour so please join us in the dining room, you will be well received" replied Faisal shaking their hands and disappearing
"So, Sheldon how are you feeling now that you are here? Asked Amy
"Fine, I know it probably looks like I am running away from everything again but your invitation came at the right time" replied Sheldon
"Well to be fair it was Faisal who suggested it and it wasn't the first time either" replied Amy taking a sip of her drink
"It wasn't? When was the first time?
"Just after I arrived, Faisal guessed why I had come here so quickly and asked whether you would want to come but you were not the only one that needed to think at the time but I am glad you accepted this invitation" replied Amy smiling at him
"I am aware that I was pretty rude to you at your suggestion of living together"
"Well yes you were, but I was more annoyed and upset over not being told that you had gone, I am over it now though" replied Amy
"I though travelling around the states on a train would help me to forget, but all it did was take me further away from all the things I will have to deal with" replied Sheldon sighing heavily and fanning his face
"Look it's pretty hot, why don't we go inside where there is air conditioning" suggested Amy waving Abdul over
"Yes Amy?
"Is there a room we can use to escape the heat?
"Yes, follow me please" replied Abdul
Abdul after speaking in his radio, took them to a large lounge that was air conditioned and currently empty, he sat discreetly in a chair far away from them
"So where did you go on the train? Asked Amy
"Pretty much everywhere, I spent most of the time with Erik and last week we travelled across Canada and ended up in Vancouver, that was when I discovered your key in my bag and I just wanted to get to Texas, spend some time with my mother and get back to your apartment as quickly as possible"
"Was Erik helpful?
"I know what you mean but we didn't discuss any of what has been happening, before we left Vancouver we made a plan to travel back to LA from Seattle but I don't think that's going to happen now"
"Why not?
"Because I am here for three weeks before I have to go home and return to work"
"You could always extend your leave, speak to Siebert and see what he says" replied Amy
"I might just do that, but not tonight" replied Sheldon as Abduls radio started up
"Ok dinner is almost ready, please follow me to the dining room" said Abdul
"Look we can talk more tomorrow, I have rearranged my lecture for the following day to spend all day with you if that is what you would like? Asked Amy as they followed Abdul down the hall
"Yes I would like that"
Amy nodded and they reached the dining room where the silence was replaced with the noise of the children and the assembled family, Amy introduced Sheldon to Maya, Nadia and Ghaydia
"These lovely ladies are Faisal's wives" said Amy
"Nice to meet you all" replied Sheldon shaking their hands
Faisal allowed Amy and Sheldon to sit together at the table and dinner was soon served, it was a long evening for Sheldon who hadn't accustomed to the heat and was tired, once it was dark and cool enough, he and Amy took a stroll around the grounds, with Abdul following them and they both walked Amy back to her apartment
"Goodnight Amy" said Sheldon hovering by her door
"Goodnight Sheldon, Abdul will Sheldon be able to join me for breakfast on the balcony tomorrow? Asked Amy
"I am not sure, let me ask Faisal" replied Abdul
"No need to ask, as long as somebody is around you can dine together" said Faisal from behind them
"Thank you" replied Amy giving Faisal a double cheek kiss and then the same for Abdul who was surprised at the contact but smiled at her
"Go on both of you, you have five minutes alone" urged Faisal
"No we can't, what about the rules? Asked Amy
"Nobody but us four will know, Abdul is very discreet and would know better than to cross the royal family" replied Faisal in a joking but very serious way
"Amy I am not sure" said Sheldon hesitating
"Then I will come in with you" said Faisal ushering them in and closing the door
"Now what" wondered Amy out loud
"I will go to the kitchen and like I said you have five minutes alone" replied Faisal doing just that
"Seeing as we are alone, there is something that you probably need more than anything" said Amy
"What's that? Asked Sheldon
"This"
Amy stepped forward and took Sheldon in her arms and hugged him, he hesitated but wrapped his arms around her body and felt happier than he had in a long time, Faisal who once the five minutes were up entered the lounge but stopped himself from interrupting the hug, he was pleased at his suggestion of bringing Sheldon here and the happiness on their faces
"Ok you two need to break that off, this is an exception and something you both needed and as long as nobody objects, then I may allow this again and Abdul as my longest serving servant, I can trust that Abdul wont say anything"
"And if he does? Asked Amy
"Then he knows the consequences" replied Faisal looking grim
"Capital punishment? Queried Amy
Faisal's silence on the reply said it all and she thanked him for dinner and arranged to meet with Sheldon for breakfast the next morning, she watched Sheldon follow Faisal to his apartment which was next door to hers and then went to bed although she and Sheldon exchanged a series of text messages until they both fell asleep
The next chapter will have more of Sheldon and Amy in Saudi and more serious talk of their relationship