Chapter 4.

Chicago

As soon as the clock struck eight, Sheldon raised from the chair, placing his bow tie and stretching his black tuxedo jacket. Luckily for him, he had kept one in the suitcase from the science gala last Friday in New York, and he had time to wash it in the hotel the day before leaving. Ready to pick her up, in their room, as they had agreed, he walked, the way down the long corridor of the wagon, hearing only the sound of his shoes against the red carpet.

The white snow that had covered the windows the last couples of days, was now almost melted, after a long and unusual warm afternoon. He knew what that means, the reviewer had explained it, when they finished clearing the snow left over the tracks, the train would start again, and in a few hours they would arrive to Chicago, the next station, and for him the moment where he would see Amy left their room.

He could only blame himself for that, it was his stupid idea after all, but how would he know that this woman would be everything he ever wanted?. It was a strange feeling, it wasn't like he wouldn't see her again, there would be still six more days ahead sharing the train, but he knows, it would not be the same.

Sheldon waited in front of the green door, looking at his watch, just in time, and turning his gaze back towards the gold engraved number fourteen in front of his eyes, ready to knock, he suddenly feel an aroma filling his nose. It was her perfumed soap, a sweet mix of cherry and vanilla, which Sheldon found it charming.

Will this be really their last night together?. He thought, while his hand waited still in the air for knock. How would he be capable to sleep without the sound of the mattress above him, while Amy turned over and over in her dreams, or her sweet voice in the morning, with her hair still stirred or the sound of the pages while she reads during hours in silent, biting her lips unwittingly. But the hard question was, how would he been able to live for the past 30 years without knowing her? And now, how will be he capable of spend one more day without her?.

Shaking his head at questions he wasn't able to answer now, Sheldon finally knocked at the door, in his peculiar way, three times in a row calling her name and waiting impatiently for her response. On the other side, the sound of a pair of high heels let his heart jump out of his chest. While the door opened slowly, showing the most beautiful creature that Sheldon could ever dream.

Amy's bright and dark green eyes were waiting for him on the other side of the door frame, her lips dark red drawing a smile on her sweet face and her hair pulled up in a cute bun under her right ear, just like the day he met her in the cafeteria.

A long satin red dress fell onto the floor, showing her curves and incredible figure, the heart neckline showed her shoulders and long neck, and a thin black cloak covered her arms, with a pair of gloves in the same color. Sheldon looked over and over at her, unable to return to reality for a couple of more seconds. She was so beautiful and radiant, that he only wanted to bring her inside and kiss every inch of her body.

- "Amy, you look beautiful tonight". His voice was husky and soft, which let her cheeks burn onto her face like never before.

He looked so handsome that she almost felt how her legs trembled like a leaf on her heels. His gaze was dark and penetrating, and his lips soft and tender. His black tuxedo marked his broad shoulders and back, dressed like this was breathtaking, but it was his scent which made her skin stood up, his simple and captivating aroma, that enveloping him and now to her too.

- "Thank you, Sheldon, you look so handsome as well". Amy stepped up to him, feeling how his aroma penetrated each of her senses. "I love your bow tie". She said, touching it gently, and placing it in the right position, seeing as Sheldon swallowed hard at her touch.

- "Thanks, I only wear it on special occasions". Sheldon added, arching his dark eyebrows, and making her bite her lower lip at his intense gaze.

- "Really?". She asked. "Then I must feel flattered".

- "Oh, yes little lady". His smile was so wide that he could almost feel his face hurting. "Shall we?". He said, placing his arm in front of her, so she can intertwine it, and they both walked down the long wagon to the communal room where the gala will take place.

The room was brighter than normally, with all the candles adorning the tables, it was warm and romantic, much more intimate than the restaurant wagon. Tonight, it would only attend the passengers of the wagon seven, in which Sheldon knew, where no infant how could ruin the evening.

The chandeliers in the ceiling illuminate the tables which were set around the room, close to each one of the windows that were completely clean of snow. White and bright tablecloths adorned it with delicate porcelain dishes and a bottle of red wine prepared on each one of them. In the center of the room, a black piano sounded at the hands of the musician who would entertain the evening.

Some couples had already occupied a few tables of the center of the room and Sheldon accompanied Amy to one in the back, where as always, they love to sit. Gently, he pushed her chair away to sit her down and walked over to the other chair in front of her with a sweet smile. As he sat and his eyes fixed on her, Amy felt a tingling sensation in her stomach, she was beyond excited about this date, and now, she felt that everything was much better than she could have ever expected.

- "What do you want for drink, Amy?. There's some wine here, but I can order another drink if you want". He offered her, all he wanted for her tonight was it to be special, and for him as well.

This was his first real date ever, since Penny had pointed out more than once, a semi incestuous summer dance with his sister doesn't count as a real date, so yes, tonight was undoubtedly the first and very real first date for Sheldon, and the nerves of that affirmation made a flash of electricity traveled down his spine.

- "Wine sounds great, thank you". She said softly, licking her lips while Sheldon opened the wine bottle and poured the two glasses with it.

- "Here you have". She grabbed it softly, smelling the sweet aroma of the red wine. "We should toast, don't you think?". He added, expecting her reaction.

- "Of course, did you have something in mind, Dr. Cooper?". Sheldon blushed at her words, he had passed the last 15 years of his life listening how people called him for his title, but when the words left her soft lips, always left him breathless.

- "Mmm … For a night to remember". He simply said, raising his glass to which Amy joined with a bright smile.

They both started to drink after the sound of their glasses clinking, savoring the sweet wine on their lips. Amy fixed her gaze on him again, his eyes remained closed while he drank but despite that she could still feel the strong attraction they exerted on her, like a moth to a flame.

Sheldon opened his eyes and placed his glass back onto the table, looking at her sweet face again, as if it was the first time he saw her eyes. Her soft cheeks had a reddish hue and her lips had been darkened for the wine. Sheldon found himself wondering how her lips would taste, if he could drink from them too.

- "I need to tell you, you really look lovely tonight". Sheldon confessed, sipping from his glass again but this time his gaze was fixed on her deeply, after a long sip of the wine, his cheeks felt warm and had a pink color tone. "I may have to resist myself ..."

- "Oh" Amy stammered, "Resist of what?".

- "Of don't tell it, every time I look at you". Amy patted her lips with her fingers, feeling how her heart would jump out of her chest. His gaze remained fixed on her, and all her skin started to goosebump in that second. She felt a lump in her throat, that she tried to fix, filling it with more wine.

For a few seconds both remained in silent, not in an uncomfortable one, they were savoring each other's words and the responses of their bodies to them. The tension of their gazes could be felt in the air, as if a force surrounded them, but perhaps not for all the world, when after a few minutes the waiter broke the silence to take note of their dinner, and both get back from their minds.

The dinner was being exquisite, they both ordered the same, roasted duck with a selection of mushrooms and baked sweet potatoes. The piano music played in the background, and the second bottle of wine have been opened a few minutes ago. They talked without stop during the whole dinner, both felt so comfortable next to each other that the words just flew among them, always with smiles and laughs.

- "And when I finished my PhD, UCLA had everything ready for me to join in their research, I didn't even think about it". Amy frowned. "I left the East Coast and went back to California, and well, the rest you already know from my studies".

- "Well, UCLA it's quite impressive and it's normal that the universities fight to have you there, you're one of the smartest person I've ever met, your mind is privileged". Sheldon said, biting his lower lip at his own words.

- "T- Thank you" Amy stammered, feeling how her cheeks blushed. "Coming from you is quite a compliment, the truth is, when I discovered that you were Dr. Cooper, well, I felt a bit intimidated, you are one of the great scientists of our generation".

- "Thank you but, well, I was, I don't think that teaching makes me win any Nobel prize anymore, on the other hand, your study is impressive, I'm sure that your team and you will get very far with it". Amy smiled at him for his words and trying to read his expression.

Sipping her wine, she thought about all the rare occasions when Sheldon had mentioned his failed study or his work, and always his face had became sadder and the pure bright light in his eyes slowly faded away. She felt a lump in her throat, whatever Sheldon was keeping for him, was consuming him inside, and she knew that feeling, and from her own experience she knew that wasn't good.

- "You know Sheldon, I don't know why you left your studies, but teaching is one of the great things you can do". Amy smiled at him.

- "Really, you think so?".

- "Of course, you are opening the mind to hundreds of young people to the world of science, maybe behind your blackboard is the new Einstein or Newton, you should feel proud of your work".

Sheldon sipped his wine, hearing at her sweet words. He was more and more surprised by Amy's intelligence. She was his intellectual equivalent, and a worthy rival to face, that certainly could left him speechless and that was something that didn't happen so often, but not only that, she was also sweet, tender and empathetic, she was really a unique person.

- "Thank you very much Amy, I hadn´t thought it that way" He said, "You are really a remarkable woman, I never met anyone like you before". His voice had deepened and Amy felt how her cheeks burn.

Never before had anyone said anything like that to her, the compliments had been so scarce in her life that she almost didn´t know how to react to them. Without thinking, she raised her glass, and both toasted in silence, with her red face, which Amy tried to hide behind the wine glass.

Sheldon licked his lips to savor the taste of the wine, "You know, I would love to visit your lab when we are back in California, my students would be delighted if I can show them your research from first hand".

Amy almost choked with the wine which was run down her throat in the moment she heard his words. "Visit?" She screamed in her terrified head. It might seemed absurd but not a second Amy had thought that Sheldon wanted to maintain this relationship beyond the train trip, of course she wasn't going to deny his existence but she never thought that he would show any intention of maintaining any more contact with her after seven days, and that statement made everything more real.

- "I'm so sorry, I was too direct, I should never say that, I didn't want to make you uncomfortable at all". Sheldon gave one of his handkerchiefs to Amy to dry her face that had some wine droplets scattered.

- "It's nothing, it just caught me by surprise, I didn't imagine that you would want to keep the contact with me after the trip, normally nobody does". She confessed, passing the soft handkerchief over her mouth, leaving the mark of her red lips on it.

- "Of course I want to, I would be a fool if I didn't". Sheldon blushed. "I meant what I told you before, you are a very special woman, Amy". Sheldon said with his gaze fixed on her bright and deep eyes.

The flame from the candle had almost vanished and the music from the piano sounded soft in their ears, filling the room with a special feeling, some of the passengers had risen from their tables to join the dance in the center of the room and all he could think now was dance with her and touch her soft skin.

Sheldon stared at her, smiling softly. "Amy, would you like to dance with me?". He simply asked, feeling his legs shaking of nerves waiting for her response.

- "Mmm". Amy hummed, biting her lower lip. "I would love to".

He smiled before rising slowly from the table, walking over to her, and placing his hand in front of her to lead her to the dance floor. The second his hands joined, Sheldon felt a burning burst through his body from side to side, and his skin bristled completely.

They both walked towards the center of the room, only listening to the sound of the music that accompanied the agitated beat of their hearts. Gently, Sheldon wrapped his arms around her waist, feeling in his hands the warmth of her skin through the fabric of the soft dress. Leaning down, he captured her eyes, bright and dark, more than ever he had seen them so far. He was so close to her that he almost could feel the smell of wine on her lips. Slowly, both started to move to the sound of the piano.

Amy let her body carry through Sheldon's footsteps, his scent had filled every one of her senses and she felt like a cloud moving through the air, her heart was beating in her ears and her lips trembling. The connection between them felt so strong that it was almost painful. One song led to another, and without stopping, their bodies came closer and closer, feeling the warm of the other.

Amy placed her head on his shoulder, while her arms wrapped around his neck. The feel of his skin, so soft and warm, send a current in her spine. Gently, her fingers began to dance in the skin of his neck, and Sheldon felt how his body could fade at any moment now. His mouth went dry as the smell of her hair invade his nose.

Suddenly the music that was almost a whisper began to sound in their ears, both recognized instantly, and Amy raised her head, looking at his face that had drawn a big and soft smile.

"Chances are, 'cause I wear that silly grin

the moment you come into view;

chances are you think that I'm in love with you".

- "You recognize it, right?". He whispered softly to her. Still dancing, he moved one of his hands up from her body, until he connect it with her hand, making her turn on herself, gently, and returning her to her initial position.

Amy let a soft laugh escaped from her lips as she flipped, back to his gaze, she felt his eyes darker and more dilated, the blue was so intense that it was consuming her.

- "Of course" She said, "I still could hear you singing on the piano…". Amy licked her lips, and tried her best to steady herself. "You have an amazing voice".

Sheldon leaned his head nearly against hers, bringing his lips closer to her ear. "You still owe me a song, miss". He whispered softly, making Amy's whole body melt like cream in summer. Without turning away from her, Sheldon began to sing the lyrics of the song, and Amy felt the touch of his lips, brushing against her ear, soft, like silk, and a tingling started in her stomach and ended in goosebumps over her whole body.

"In the magic of moonlight,

when I sigh "hold me close, dear"

chances are you believe

the stars that fill the sky are in my eyes".

Amy closed her eyes, feeling the warm breath of Sheldon on her ear, and the soft touch oh his hands which were sliding over her red dress, grabbing her waist. Amy knew that her heart couldn't beat stronger than in this moment, feeling how he pressed his hands against her body, tightly, pulling her closer to him, feeling her breasts against his chest.

Their bodies were still dancing, so close that they seemed like one person, slowly, Sheldon raised one of his hands to cup her soft chin, raising her face until their eyes connected. Amy smiled up to him, seeing how he was biting his lower lip, she swallowed hard, trying to calm her breathing. Gently, he lowered his lips to her cheeks, feeling her soft skin so close that he could almost taste her. "Amy ...". He whispered, but it came out like a moan, pulling her closer, and flushing their bodies against each other.

- "Mmm". Amy moaned, unable to say any word, her head was spinning and her mind has only one thought, how his lips would taste, she wanted to explore them, every inch of them.

Slowly, Sheldon closed his eyes, smiling, before leaning down to kiss her succulent lips, to taste the sweet treat that she was. Approaching gently, only a few inches from her, Sheldon felt a sudden move on his feet, which made them pulled away from each other, almost out of breath and with their eyes screaming of exasperation.

The lamps at the ceiling began to swing, and the sound of the whistle with the rattle of the rails brought them back to reality.

- "The train has started again". One of the passengers exclaimed, while the rest shouted joyfully at the news and clapping their hands.

Sheldon and Amy stared at each other, the world around had just appeared before them, and they stood in silence in the center of the room, separated only by a few inches, but with their bodies still shaking from the shock of sensations they had almost experienced.

Amy walked towards him, brushing her cheek with her hand, softly. She could still feel the touch of his hand on her skin. "It looks like we're on our way to California again". She said, licking her lips, and trying to calm her breathe, but she felt so shaken against him.

- "It seems like that, yes, they are good news". Sheldon affirmed, but his face didn't say the same. Slowly, he looked around, the music had stopped, and the passengers started to walk back into their rooms cheerfully. The moment had passed, it had vanished, like smoke between his fingers. "It's a little late, you should probably want to rest, I'll accompany you to the room".

Amy didn't know what to do or say, the deception had invaded her body, and her skin now felt cold, all she wanted was to cry out in despair, let all her rage for what wasn't happening to come out of her body, but all she did was nodding at him, and let her body lead her to their room in silence.

Already in the darkness of the room, Amy dropped her head on the pillow of her bed. After a long and hot shower, she took off all her makeup and got into bed with her hair still wet on her nightgown. All she wanted was for the night to end, to close her eyes and that a new day bring her something new, something different.

- "Amy?". Sheldon whispered from the bottom bunk, making her open her eyes again and feeling how her breathing stopped.

- "Uhum". Amy hummed, releasing a deep sigh that was keeping.

- "Thanks for the date, it was a night I will never forget". Sheldon said softly, "I hope your new roommate will be a nice woman and you could spend a great week, Amy".

- "Thank you, Sheldon". Amy simply said, closing her eyes with the sound of his last words in her head, that tasted as a bitter farewell.

Their last night together, her last hope for something to happen and after the magical evening they had, the reality had hit Amy as a big rock. She was was used to disappointments but the pain choked her, and in the silence of the night, tears started to slid down her face, until the dream succumbed in her, leaving her to rest, at least, for a few more hours.

Amy wakes up to the sound of the whistle in her ears. Slowly she rose from her bed, peeking down and founding Sheldon´s bed was neatly done and empty. Descending from the bunk, she took a look out of the window, the snow had melted completely and they had arrived in Chicago, where dozens of passengers roamed restlessly on the platforms.

Turning her head back towards the door, she heard the murmur of suitcases and people walking through the corridors. It was still very early, but she wanted to have everything ready before they came to pick up her luggage. Quickly, she picked up the clothes she had already prepared for the day and walked to the bathroom to change herself.

Looking at herself in the mirror, she saw how her hair was scrambled and stand up in all directions, last night she wasn't in the mood to comb it or even dry it before falling on the bed. Two dark lines were visible under her swollen eyes, she must have been crying for hours, and hoping that Sheldon didn't heard her.

After applying some more makeup than normally to cover her dark circles, Amy came out of the bathroom, trying to change her mood with a smile. She wore one of her favourite suits, and now her hair was straightened falling down her shoulders. It's was a dark olive suit with a skirt that fitted onto her hips, a thick black stockings stretched her legs over a pair of low black heels. Slowly, she opened the door of the bathroom as her red lips stood wide open when she saw Sheldon sitting on the sofa in the room, with a couple of cups in his hands and his bright and charming smile.

- "Good morning Amy, you look lovely". Sheldon said smiling, he seemed genuinely happy that morning, and Amy wondered if it was because of her departure.

- "Oh, Good morning, you have been an early riser today".

- "Yes, well, I wanted to make sure that your company was adequate, so I went to talk to the revisor at first time this morning". Sheldon said, beginning to blush.

- "It was not necessary, but I really appreciate it". Amy approached to the sofa while talking and take a place next to him.

- "You will be pleased to know that she is a young woman of around your age, from Omaha, and her final stop is also Pasadena". He began to say, when he notice he still had both cups in his hands. "By the way, I brought you some tea".

Amy picked up the still hot cup in her cold hands and took a small sip. "Thank you very much, with the mess of packing again I didn't know if I'll have time for some breakfast". She confessed, sipping again the hot tea.

- "Nonsense, I'll help you pack, so we will be ready within an hour, and then we can go for some good scrambled eggs". He said with a bright smile.

- "I will say no, but I really want some scrambled eggs, you read my mind, Sheldon". She smiled back to him, and both drank the rest of their teas in silent.

As he promised, Sheldon began to help Amy to pack her belongings, they both started commenting between laughs the anecdotes of the last days locked in the room, so many things had happened that it didn't seem true that it had only been three days. Sheldon started to pack her books, which were scattered around the room, almost all were first editions and they were so neat and perfect conserved that Sheldon felt a chill run through his body. "She is so perfect". He whispered, hoping Amy wouldn't hear him.

.

Closing one of the old biology books, Sheldon peaked with the corner of his eye at Amy, who was folding one of her soft jerseys in perfection. Her hands slid over the fabric, and a warm feeling ran down his spine, as he remembered her fingers dancing on his neck during their dance. He still could smell the sweet wine, and the dark color of her eyes which were fixed on him. He never saw that shadow of green before, so deeply, that he could lost in them, and that in fact, for a few seconds, he did.

Amy felt Sheldon's intense gaze fixed on her, shyly she glared at him, connecting their looks for a few seconds until he lowered it again. She didn't know whether to mention it or not, but it was clear that there was something they both wanted to say but didn't know how. If she could only understand what was happening to her, but how to explain a feeling that she had never experienced before? How to explain the reactions of her body to his smile or how her whole body burned up with the smell of his scent?.

Half an hour later Amy's belongings were neatly packed and ready to be picked up by the revisor. She checked the bathroom one more time while Sheldon left the heavy bookcase near the door, looking at her with a soft smile.

- "As I told you, easy peasy". Sheldon winked at her. "What about those scrambled eggs now?".

- "I'm thinking that ... maybe it's better that I leave now, I would like to meet my new roommate and the truth is, I don't have much appetite right now, thanks for helping me anyway, It has been very thoughtful of you".

- "Oh". Sheldon exclaimed. "Of course, It was my pleasure, and well … breakfast time has passed anyway". He said looking at his watch, trying not to show the disappointment which ran through his body. "Then, it's time to say goodbye, I guess".

- "Dr. Cooper". She stepped up to him. "It has been a pleasure to spend these days with you". Both were only a few inches from the other, and a current invaded their bodies as a thunder. She leaned softly, kissing his cheek, and feeling his warm skin in her lips.

- "The pleasure has been mine Dr. Fowler". Sheldon bits his lips "It has certainly been a few days to remember". She smiled and nodded. "I never thought I will miss a snowbound". He confessed, leaving her speechless.

Amy looked at him, feeling her heart stop. Her chest fluttered and she hardly could contain her smile which lit up on her face. Trying her best to act composed as could be possible, Amy stepped up to him again, bringing her body against him, until they chests touched lightly.

- "So, goodbye, Sheldon". She whispered with a soft and low voice, waiting for his response. Her whole body was screaming `kiss me´, she wanted and needed his soft and warm lips, she needs to feel his body against her and to know that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.

Sheldon felt as he would pass out, as all his blood left his head at this moment and all he could see was her sensual lips, just a few inches from his face, so red and soft, that it seemed like a wonderful treat. Her eyes were dilated as he never had seen them before and his hands were trembling. It was a torture how his head screamed desperate to brush her lips with his own. `kiss her now, you brilliant fool´. His head repeated over and over, as his body got closer to her, seeing as she bites her lower lip at the expecting of his moves.

- "Goodbye, Amy". His voice had deepened, and Amy savoured the taste of it. Lowering his head slowly, his trembling hands took control of him, and ridiculously, they crashed into her body, pulling them apart and leaving it ready to shake it with her.

Amy's smile faded right away, looking at his steady hand in the air. Letting out a sigh from her lips, almost as a soft laugh, she shaked his hand, unable to understand what was happening now, she turned her body towards the door. Nodded to him as she turned to leave, feeling her eyes full of tears and a lump in her throat.

Sheldon closed the door behind him, supporting his body against it, dropping all his weight and feeling how stupid and fool he had been for not kissing her. All he wanted was to touch her lips, to feel her skin and taste her sweet scent, and then, he wasn't able to do it. "Why couldn't he?". His head screamed. "Why he has to do everything so difficult and complicated?". Amy was the purest and most incredible being he had ever meet in his entire life, nobody had made him feel anything like this. Every second of his day was full of thoughts about her, about the color of her eyes, her soft and velvet face, her body and mind, she was all, she was everything he could ever imagine and now she was gone, and probably she was to humiliated to even talk to him again for the rest of the trip.

Running his hands over his face, Sheldon leaned his head against the door, his eyes filled with warm tears, feeling a couple of soft knocks rebound against it, He jumped up from the floor and slowly, turned his body back to it. He wait a few second waiting for a new knock, just to be sure it wasn't his mind playing with him, but then, another soft knock echoed in the room, making his heart and mind to stop. Slowly, he opened the door, finding Amy there, at the other side of the door frame, with her brights eyes staring at him and her soft lips waiting for him.

- "I think I forgot something". She groaned softly, walking over to him, without even waiting for his answer.

- "Oh yes, you did". He says, grabbing her strongly by the waist, and leaning her against the wall with a passionately kiss that shut down all their thoughts.

Thank you so much for reading, I hope you liked this chapter, it has been a long way for them but finally they have kissed, you dont know how much I expected to write this scene. What do you think will happen now?.

Thanks for your reviews and messages, you really dont know how happy you make me. A big thanks, as always, to my beta Linda, for her always support! You rock, babe!

Song:

Johnny Mathis - Chances are (1956) * I recommend listening to it while reading the scene *