Cheers for reviews and follows
If anybody has read any of my stories, you will know I like to include a bit of angst and this chapter will be no exception!
On Monday, Amy made a start on packing up her things, she had already collected lots of boxes and had filled several with clothes, she was in the middle of packing one with books when she received a message from Faisal with an invitation, she thought about it for a while and then decided to go to Caltech and surprise Sheldon and talk about the invitation
Amy arrived at Caltech at 1pm and went straight to Sheldon's office and was about to knock when she could hear him talking and from his tone he didn't sound happy, she waited and listened
"She's moving forward too quickly, I feel like I am being railroaded into just going with her plans" said Sheldon
Amy couldn't hear the reply properly but whatever it was made Sheldon annoyed
"I know she's her own person and shouldn't have to wait for me, but she went ahead and did it anyway, I am feeling pressure again and it's not fair" said Sheldon
Amy had heard enough, she knocked on the door and walked in, Sheldon looked up in surprise from his laptop where he was talking to somebody and quickly closed the laptop
"Hi Sheldon, who were you talking to?
"My mother"
"I see and you were using that time to complain about me I take it?
"No Amy I am just expressing my thoughts on our future" replied Sheldon standing up in agitation
"For the record, I am not railroading you into anything, I told you that from the start, I am doing this for me Sheldon and if you can't or won't see that then it's your problem, goodbye"
Amy turned around and stormed out of the office and slammed the door, she was already suspicious that Sheldon wasn't really accepting of her plans but now this just confirmed it, she drove home still annoyed and ignoring Sheldon's calls, packed up the rest of her bedroom belongings quickly, her anger making her go quicker, she had a call from the decorators saying the house was finished around 5pm so loaded some of her boxes into the car and went over to the house to see it
The last decorator was still at the house, so Amy thanked him and let him out after he said he would be by in the morning to check that nothing else needed doing, her phone kept ringing with calls from Sheldon but she decided he could wait for now, she decided to stay at the house for the night and ordered a takeaway for herself, however when she heard the door knock, it wasn't the takeaway but Sheldon, Leonard and Penny
"How did you even know I would be here? Asked Amy
"You weren't at home and judging by the state of the place, we figured you would be here" replied Sheldon
"You let yourself in?
"Well yes, you have been ignoring my calls all day Amy" replied Sheldon
"There was a reason for that and I still don't want to talk about it" replied Amy nodding to Leonard and Penny and attempting to shut the door
"Well we are going to talk" insisted Sheldon putting his foot in the door to block it
"Why? So you can tell me what a terrible mistake I am making or that I am forcing you into living with me?
"Amy just let him talk" said Penny trying to be helpful
"Typical, always on Sheldon's side the pair of you"
"There is no side Amy" said Leonard
"Sheldon go home with Leonard and I will talk to Amy" said Penny guiding Sheldon and Leonard back to his car
"But I need to speak to Amy" said Sheldon over his shoulder looking anxiously at Amy
"Now is not the right time, learn to spot the signs Sheldon" replied Penny
Amy watched while Sheldon reluctantly got in the car and Leonard drove off and Penny came in and followed Amy to the bedroom where she was organising her closet
"Amy, Sheldon told me what he said and I believe he is sorry"
"Sorry because I heard what he said, he was only speaking the truth and I don't know why I am surprised to be honest" replied Amy
"It's probably still a shock to him" started Penny
"He seemed fine over the weekend, in fact he seemed very happy so I don't know where this is coming from" replied Amy deciding to give up on the closet and go through to the lounge where Penny followed her
"Maybe he's had time to think about it"
"You know all I wanted to do was do something for myself for a change, throughout our relationship I've had to go at his pace and when he went off, I just decided that is not how the relationship should be, there should be some equalness but there wasn't, I am just bringing my future plans ahead" said Amy as there was another dock knock
Amy went to answer it and found the takeaway there, Penny hovered awkwardly while Amy are her food and eventually left having got nowhere with Amy, Amy finished off unpacking the few items she had brought with her and somehow managed to have a peaceful nights sleep and was getting ready to go back to her apartment the next morning when Sheldon showed up again, Amy let him in and he followed her through to the dining room
"Aren't you going to be late for work?
"I took the morning off, this is more important don't you think? Asked Sheldon
"If you say so"
"Amy I know you are mad at me, do you want to break up?
"Of course not, but you need to accept that I am doing this for me, not to railroad you into anything and if you cant accept that then maybe we should"
"No break ups but maybe I could just move in here with you then" suggested Sheldon to Amy's wide eyed look
""No way" said Amy immediately
"Why?
"Because you made a big thing about wanting to live on your own and I am giving you that freedom to do so, if anything as per usual, I am being the more accommodating of us, in fact I want you to live on your own, you never have done so properly and I think you will enjoy it and appreciate it" replied Amy
"My mother thinks I should spend time living on my own as well"
"There you go then, it's not just me" replied Amy
"She also invited you to Texas for Christmas"
"Ah that might be where we have a problem because it's likely that I won't be here for Christmas"
"What do you mean?
"Caltech is closed at Christmas and I want to continue working so Faisal suggested I go over there to work as they don't celebrate Christmas and after the way you have been, I am very much considering going" replied Amy
"How long for?
"Just a week and I should let you know now that I have a week away at the beginning of October to talk at Harvard and Princeton and most likely one other to be confirmed" replied Amy
"And you're still going to Saudi next summer?
"Yes I told you I was, we don't need to live in each others pockets Sheldon, we can be just as happy giving each other space"
"I don't think I can come, not for two months anyway, I need to focus on work here"
"That's fine Sheldon" replied Amy
"Your not tricking me are you?
"About?
"You moving here and not pressuring me?
"Sheldon we have been over this, I am doing this for me, if and when you are ready and I say give it no less than 6 months then you can move in, you never know you might like living on your own"
"Fine" replied Sheldon shortly and clearly not happy on the matter
"If you have something else to say, just spit it out Sheldon" Amy waited a moment and then got up from the table and started walking towards the front door
"Where are you going?
"Back to my apartment to finish packing, I can't spend all day massaging your precious ego Sheldon, do you want a lift back to Los Robles?
"No I will come with you, I can say I am working from home" replied Sheldon
"Fine, come on then" Amy waited for Sheldon to leave and locked up
The drive back to Glendale was tense and Amy had a surprise when she arrived at her apartment to find Leonard and Penny already there and loading boxes
"What's going on? Asked Amy
"We wanted to help and more hands are better than just one person" replied Penny shoving some DVDs into a box
"Thank you" replied Amy
"Did you two sort things out? Asked Leonard
"No but that's nothing new" replied Amy sinking down on to the sofa wearily
"Amy's gallivanting off to Saudi for Christmas" said Sheldon
"To work Sheldon, not to have fun" said Amy glaring at him
Sheldon withered slightly at the glare but went to the kitchen and started boxing up her plates and cups, Amy watched him for a moment feeling confused that he was helping and confused that he was helping even though he wasn't happy about her moving, shrugging she went to the large cupboard next to the bathroom and collected all her towels and sheets and dumped them in another box
"Amy did you want a hand taking your computer desk out? Asked Leonard
"Thank you Leonard, I was going to save that until last though"
"Sheldon and I can take it between us and put it in my car now" replied Leonard
"Go ahead and have you both taken the day off to help me out here?
"Yes it was Sheldon's idea, that's why he came to your new place first" replied Leonard
Amy watched while Leonard and Sheldon manoeuvred her desk out of the apartment and carried on packing various things up, by the end of the day everything was in boxes ready to be driven over to the house, with three cars packed with boxes it was just about enough, Amy was planning on going back to the apartment the next day to give it a proper clean, with only the sofa and armchairs and dining table left, the lounge was looking very bare
It was after 8pm by the time all the boxes had been unloaded and taken into the house, Amy was exhausted and wanted to be left alone, Leonard and Penny took the hint and left but Sheldon decided to stay much to Amy's annoyance
"Tell me why you were so lovey dovey at the weekend with all the kissing and now you are not happy, explain it to me Sheldon because I don't understand"
"Because I enjoyed the weekend and we didn't get much time for kissing in Saudi" replied Sheldon
"I see and what exactly do you want out of this relationship Sheldon? The last time I mentioned anything about us living together, you spoke back sarcastically to me and then stormed out, is that what this is about?
"No of course not, maybe I am overreacting somewhat"
"I'd say so" replied Amy
"Maybe I feel jealous that you are getting so much attention work wise"
"So you decide to take it out on me and try to make me feel bad about what I am doing?
"Maybe" started Sheldon
"No maybe about it, Sheldon you need to grow up and realise that not everybody is here for your sake, learn to deal with things better, go home and I will see you for date night tomorrow" replied Amy leading Sheldon to the front door
"We are still going on date night then?
"Yes but you need to snap out of this attitude Sheldon, I am not here to be your verbal punch bag, not ever" replied Amy
"Come to my apartment and I will cook for you" suggested Sheldon
"Fine I will be there at 630 if that's ok?
"Sure" replied Sheldon reluctantly leaving the house and trudging slowly down the driveway, he turned to look back at Amy but she had already gone inside
Amy sighed heavily after closing the door, she wasn't going to let Sheldon's jealously issues unsettle her, she was up early the next day and had a productive day cleaning the apartment, she wasn't due to give the key back until Saturday but with everything done, she went down to the landlords office and gave the key back there and then and drove over to her new house to have a shower and get ready for her date with Sheldon
Amy arrived dead on time, she knocked rather than walking in straight in and Sheldon opened the door wearing his grey suit, Amy was wearing a black skirt and a pink blouse, Sheldon let her in and greeted her with a kiss which Amy sidestepped so he only got her cheek and Sheldon led her to the lounge area, Amy noticed the lights were dimmed and the bench had been set up with dinner things and two candles in the middle and Sheldon presented Amy with a bouquet of flowers which she accepted
"Thank you Sheldon, these are beautiful" said Amy sniffing them and placing them in a vase that Sheldon provided
"Would you like a drink?
"What do you have?
"I bought wine if you wanted it? Or I have water and juices?
"Just water, I am off alcohol for now, it doesn't appeal to me anymore" replied Amy
"Sure, oh I made roast chicken if you like that? Sheldon collected some water from the fridge and brought to Amy and joined her on the sofa
"Yes of course"
"It will be ready soon, meanwhile we need to talk, I want to increase the intimacy parameters"
"Well right now I don't feel like increasing anything Sheldon, why do you want to increase them all of a sudden?
"Because I know it's what you want and I am trying"
"When you are ready you will know it Sheldon, what we did at the weekend was more than fine, there is no need to rush" replied Amy
"I did like kissing you Amy, I am trying hard as I said" said Sheldon
Sheldon started putting his arm around Amy, she wriggled away and sat forward to take a sip of water, leaving Sheldon confused, he waited for her to sit back but she stayed where she was and turned to him
"In fact I want us to go back a few steps, Sheldon I don't think you realise just how not ready you are for more intimacy, the last couple of days have shown me that with your attitude towards my decisions"
"I can't go back a few steps Amy, I am ready for more, maybe not coitus just yet but definitely more intimacy, look" Sheldon took Amy's hand and guided it to his lap where he placed her hand on his erection
"Yes I can see and feel Sheldon" replied Amy taking her hand away
"You were so keen before" commented Sheldon looking put out
"As I said that was before you upset me and made everything about you"
"Amy I am sorry, I was being insensitive" replied Sheldon quickly
Amy looked at him surprised and suspicious at this admission, Sheldon wasn't one for apologising so quickly
"Look I want more intimacy with you but I have held back because you were not ready, I am still going to hold back until I know for sure Sheldon, which is why we are going to refrain from any tonight"
"If that is what you would like" replied Sheldon as the over timer went off
Dinner was a lot more pleasant as they chatted about Sheldon's work and Amy explained her plans for her week away, she even started being less annoyed with him and at the end of the night he walked Amy down to her car and politely kissed her cheek and waved until her car had disappeared
Next chapter will immediately follow