So on the eve on the biggest taping report of the season I will post my little fanatsy of what could be. This what my sincerest hopes of await us tomorrow, this is pure fluff and fantasy so beware. Also I was planning this outcome all along my hand was just forced a little early, I hope you enjoy. I would like to thank my cute little lump of wool Vamplover669 for all her story support.

#thecatisalive

After lunch the rest of the day dragged by for Sheldon, he tried to focus on his work but the synergy he had achieved earlier was gone. He had gotten enough done earlier to account for several days so he felt justified in spending the latter half of his day contemplated things other than the workings of the universe.

He was excited that Amy would be spending the night with him during the week. He would fall asleep next to her, feel her soft soothing warm next to him all night and then in the morning the first thing he would see would be her face. What if he could wake up next to her every morning? They could fix breakfast together, she could drive him to work, he liked being in the car with Amy better than with Leonard. Amy understood that he did not like to listen to music in the car, she liked listening to his amusing factoids. What would it be like if he could have her there every night with him. Then he thinks why couldn't he?

Amy as been pressuring him for years to live together and it has taken him this long to see her point of view. What had his trepidation in the past been? That she was trying to see his bathing suit parts, that they were moving to fast, that he was cared of his feeling for her. Well she was intimately acquainted with the parts his clothes normally covered now. Sheldon was quite comfortable with the pace that they were moving now, and as far as his feelings for her, he had never been so sure of something in his life. It still scared him a little, the depth of feeling he had for her, how one look from her could fill his stomach with butterflies.

What would it be like if she were to move in with him, to have her as his roommate. He remembers her well reasoned argument from a couple of years ago. Where she had laid out how she would be the ideal house mate for him. He could not deny even then that she was right. Amy was the only person he had every met that not only put up with all his little quirks but seemed to enjoy them. What would his mother say though if she found out that he was even contemplating shacking up? Maybe she would not mind so much if something else was done before she moved in.

Sheldon's phone rings and speak off the devil he see that is is his mother, he smiles as he answers the phone. It has been a while since he has spoken to her.

"Hello, Mother."

"Hello baby, its been awhile since we spoke, I figured I would make sure you are still alive and kicking."

"Quite alive and kicking, sorry I have not called you I have been busy."Sheldon says feeling genuinely bad it has been so long since he called her.

"Busy with work, or busy with your girlfriend?" Mary asks pointedly.

"Mother, what do you know?" he asks recognizing her tone and sighing.

"Know, I know nothing, as my son likes to keep me in the dark, however a little birdie told me that ya'll two were getting awfully ahem shall we say 'cozy' as of late." Sheldon could kill Penny what right did she have to tell his mother anything to her about their relationship.

"What exactly has Penny been telling you." Sheldon says angrily

"Now honey don't get your knickers in a twist! I just called her her up because I hadn't heard from you in while and I did not want to bother you if you were busy with some of your science learning." Sheldon rolls his eyes at his mothers ignorance and ignores her comment. "When I her asked if you were busy with your work she said that maybe you had not called because you had been spending a lot more time with Amy. When I asked what ya'll were up too she just told me that I should ask you about it. So that is what I am doing now, asking you about it."

"Mother, you know that Amy is my girlfriend and I have told her that I love her." He begins and his mother cuts him off.

"Yes and you also told me that you are taking it very slow and not to expect wedding bells or grandchildren anywhere in the near future."

"Maybe my opinion on that has been changed." He says gulping, getting ready to admit to his mother the bubble of a thought that had been forming in his mind for awhile. This will be the first he has admitted out loud even to himself.

"Your opinion on what exactly? Grandchildren? Oh please tell me you have not sinned! Is that why you have been spending more tome with Amy because of fornication?" Mary wails and he holds the phone away from his ear. Like she has any ground to stand on when it comes to talk of that after what he witnessed last year. He will not let himself be guilted any longer by a god he does not believe in. Part of him wants to tell her that he had fornicated on his desk not but three hours ago but he restrains himself and instead goes for an evasive tactic and skirts her question.

"Mother, I my opinion has changed on a lot of things lately. What I was speaking of might come as bit of a shock to you but please refrain from interjecting until I am through."

"Alright I will do my best.."

"I have asked Leonard to move out of the apartment, and he is moving out in the next month or so. I am going to ask Amy to live with me once he as moved out, now before you wail about us shacking up here is the part that might shock you. I am going to ask her to marry me first, I think it is time. We have been together for five years, and I love her, I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

"Sugar! That is wonderful! You know that we all think the world of that girl. She has wrought a change in you that any fool can see. So when are you going to ask her and how, you know that kind of stuff is mighty important to a girl, how you do it could affect her answer." Mary trills, just teasing him, there is no doubt in her mind that that girl is over the moon about her boy. Yet what she said hits Sheldon, as very true, he had not thought of any of that. It was not like him no to have a plan.

"To be honest mother you are the first person I have told. I have not really given much thought into the specifics yet."

"Well honey what ever you decide I am sure it will be wonderful."Mary says

"Thank you Mother, I love you."

"Love you too baby." She says and they disconnect.

Sheldon sits at his desk and stares off into space, feeling on the verge of panic. What he had told his mother was true he was ready to make Amy his wife, he wanted her tied to him in every way. Yet that fact terrified him , there was so much to consider before it happened. There was Leonard and Penny to consider, they had gotten engaged first so didn't social protocols dictate that they marry before he asked Amy? They had not even set a date yet, who knows when they would. Sheldon did not want to wait that long, his mother would be relentless now about it.

He would just have to get them to set their date, then when that was settled he could think about how he would ask Amy. But how could he get them to set their date? Leonard would marry Penny tomorrow if he could it was Penny who was the hitch in the get along. Sheldon would just have to convince Penny that she needed to marry Leonard as soon as possible. He would start his campaign tonight he would think of a well reasoned argument that would get her to set the date. He had Amy coming over tonight though, she would see through him and know why he was trying to get Penny to set the date. He would have to cancel their plans tonight, Amy would understand if he rescheduled them.

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Amy is in her lab, a smile plastered on her face, she can not believe her little ploy had worked. With Sheldon you never knew how he was going to react in any given situation. Amy had figured there was a fifty/fifty chance of him freaking out and locking her out of his office. It had gone better than she even imagined, she still feels tingly where his mouth and hands had touched her. Her phone rings and she looks down at it and sees that she has a message from Sheldon.

Have to cancel plans for tonight, Leonard will take me home. Amy frowns at the message and types back

Every thing okay? I can still take you home even if you don't want me to spend the night tonight. The response is immediate.

I need to speak with Leonard so it is necessary for him to drive me home.

What the? Amy thinks unhappily, she was really looking forward to their little sleep over tonight. Damn him for being so hot and cold all the time. Amy reasons he was probably having a delayed freak out over what had happened in his office earlier. Maybe he was disinfecting his office now and wanted to speak to Leonard about the universities policy on sex at work. Oh god what if he puts in a preemptive call to , Janine Davis to explain the situation? Amy tries to calm down she does not know anything yet.

It is close enough to quitting time that she just packs up her things and leaves. When she gets home she curls up on the couch and tries not to let her spiraling emotions over take her.

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Leonard drives Sheldon home, it feels weird having him in the car on a Thursday. Sheldon has been riding home with Amy almost every Thursday fort he past year. Leonard wonders if there is something wrong between the two of the, Sheldon seems to be acting more nervous than normal.

"Everything alright with you and Amy?" he asks him.

"Oh yes, better than alright." Sheldon affirms

"Then why are you riding home with me?"

"Well, we did have plans together but I had to cancel them."

"Why"

"I needed to speak with you."

"Okay…shoot." Leonard says looking over at him.

"When are you and Penny setting a date to get married?"

"Well, I don't really know we are still weighing all our options right now."

"Would you say it is more her stalling or you?" he asks

"What kind of a question is that?"

"Is Penny the one putting the brakes on planning your impending nuptials or is it you." Not wavering in his question and Leonard relents, honestly he had been wanting to get his fears of his chest for a while and since Sheldon is n a chatty mood he will take advantage of it.

"It is Penny, to tell you the truth I am starting to get a little offended. First it was because of her brother, but he is out of jail now. Then it was because she wanted to wait until she was more settle with her career .But she is doing fine, hell she makes more money than I do. So I guess I will just keep waiting for her until she is ready."

"So if Penny were to commit to a date, then you would get married."

"Yes, why are you asking all of this?"

"No reason." Sheldon says clamming up and looking out of the window.

When they get home Leonard goes to his room to decompress and Sheldon heads over to Penny's apartment knocking on her door and calling her name in three quick successions. She opens the door and smiles widely at him.

"Whats up lover boy?" she asks and he gives her a stern look but ignores her comment, he needs something from her.

"Penny,do you remember when I helped you recover your files on the cloud that you did not want Leonard seeing and you said 'Thanks I owe you one?'" Sheldon asks raising his eyebrows.

"Yes, what do you want." Penny says cautiously,when Sheldon collected on a favor they were often costly.

"Would you please set a date and marry Leonard, I hear June weddings are nice." Sheldon says sitting down.

"Sheldon! What are you talking about." Penny sighs slumping down on her couch.

"You don't like June? Alright, my sister got married in October so that the leaves would be changing in her photographs. Now in Southern California we don't get much of an autumn but if you made it a destination wedding…"

"When Leonard and I set a date it wont be because you are cashing in a favor! Why do you even care anyways?" Penny asks him.

"I care about my friend and he is concerned in your lack of interest in wedding planning."

"He told you that?" Penny asks softly

"After I asked him… yes."

"Sheldon, be honest with me, why is the date of Leonard and my's wedding of such sudden importance to you." Penny asks and Sheldon stares at her weighing his options but he decides to come clean in a round about way.

"If someone was to decide that he wanted to ask his significant other to join him in a state of matrimony. This individual would first have to make sure is friends who were betrothed before him were married before proceeding correct?"

" Why would you think that? Wait oh my god! Oh my god! Does this mean what I think it does? Are you thinking about asking Amy to marry you?" Penny squeals on the verge of hyperventilating, man that must have been some stunt Amy pulled today she thinks.

"The thought has crossed my mind." Sheldon confirms

"Crossed your mind, like when? How often when are you going to do it! Amy is going to be so excited, she is going to flip, you have to tell me everything." Penny rambles, she wants to know everything, she wants to call Amy and tell her.

"There not much to tell at the moment as I need you and Leonard to makes things official before I proceed with Amy." Sheldon tells her impertinently, and it calms Penny down how can he think that.

"Sheldon I told you it is not necessary for me and Leonard to be married before you ask could ask her tomorrow and what me and Leonard are doing would not matter at all. We are taking things at our pace, and you guys are taking things at yours, and I promise there will be no hurt feelings. Even if you were to make it to the altar before us there would be no hard feelings." Penny tells him.

"Can you guarantee the same sentiment from Leonard?"

"Yes Sheldon, everyone will be beyond happy for you and Amy."

"Thank You." He says giving her a small smile.

"Okay just tell me this , when are you going to ring shopping? Do you want me to go with you?"

"Actually , I already have that covered. Oh and by the way I would thank you not to blab to my mother the personal details of my relationship with Amy."

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Amy is determined not to let Sheldon canceling their plans ruin her night. Maybe she and Penny can go get a glass of wine and she can tell her how well her little trick had worked. Well it had worked well until he flipped out and canceled their plans and started being all evasive with her.

There was something wrong,she knew that much she just wished he would confide in her. If she knew why he was freaking out she could calm him down. Amy sighs as she picks up her phone and dials her bestie, Penny picks up but sounds distant.

"Hey"

"Hey, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to go out and get a glass of wine. Something happened with Sheldon today and I want your opinion."

"Actually, he is over here right now and we are having a nice little chat, so as much as I would love to Ames I have to stay here and deal with this. I promise we will go out tomorrow okay?"

"Fine, goodnight." Amy says and disconnects before Penny can respond.

Now she is really upset, it is just like him to go running to Penny with his problems and not even consider telling her. Amy knows that he told her that she owned him heart body and soul, but it did not feel like that sometimes. Sheldon still even after all they had been through did not feel comfortable enough to confide in her first. Even if it was something about her, she wants to know so they can work through it together. Will he ever feel as comfortable around her as he does with Penny? Amy decides just to call it a night and gets ready for bed, sinking into her quilts before eight o clock. Amy falls into a deep troubled sleep filled with nightmares.

In one she walks into Sheldon's office wearing the trench coat, but he is not alone. Laying splayed out on his desk is his old assistant Alex and his head his buried between her legs. When she screams he lifts his head up and smiles at her with an evil smile.

In another she is all alone in a giant empty house, she hears voices but she can not find anyone. She runs up and down hallways calling out for trying to find someone, but she knows she is truly alone.

Amy wakes up in a cold sweat, she looks at her clock and sees that it is only four o clock in the morning. Amy knows that sleep is going to be evading her the rest of the night she she just gets up and pads into her kitchen with cup of tea on her mind. Idly Amy picks up her phone and sees that she has a couple of new texts.

Sorry, I could not go out tonight, Please do not be worried, if I could tell you what was going on I would, just trust me, that everything is better than fine. That is from Penny, then there is one from Sheldon.

Missed you tonight, I was looking forward to our sleepover, Sheldon was the one who canceled it in the first place, Amy texts him back.

Me too, I sleep better with you,less nightmares. Then she sets her phone down and goes to get her tea things out when she hears her phone vibrating. Curious she goes to pick it up and sees it is Sheldon again, what is he doing up so late, or so early?

I have never slept so well as when you are by my side. Amy smiles in spite of herself and texts back

Obviously, are you up late or early?

Late, couldn't sleep, you?

Early, bad dreams, and early bedtime.

Too much on my mind

Work? Are you stuck again? That would be a reasonable excuse, it had looked like some serious math on his white board when she was in there. Of course that did not explain Penny's involvement.

No a certain bespectacled brunette has been invading my every thought.

Then why did you cancel our date.

I had a situation I had to take care of…I have a radical idea, can you keep an open mind.

Of course.

I say you come over here now, and then we play hooky from work tomorrow.

Oh My, you are feeling naughty tonight? Has Sheldon Cooper ever played hooky.

No, but you make me want to do a lot of things that Sheldon Cooper has never done.

Alright, as long as you promise that this is not just a booty call.

Booty call? Explain?

That you are not just inviting me over this late at night for the sole purpose of sexual intercourse.

I can't promise that an offer wont be proffered upon your arrival, but right now I just want you here next to me. Amy bites her lip, what this man did to her. One moment she was shedding tears over him,the next she was was wrapping a trench coat around herself and driving twenty minutes in her nightie so she could be with him.

Amy arrives at his apartment at four thirty in the morning, she feels silly walking up his stairs dressed like this holding her over night bag. It is almost like a reverse of the walk of shame, anyone looking her might guess her purpose in being her. Amy does not even have to knock on his door the minute she walks up and raises her hand he opens the door. Amy gives him a curious look and she shrugs his shoulders.

"I have been looking through the peephole waiting for you to arrive." He says gabbing her hand and pulling her inside.

"Anxious are we?" she teases and he pulls her close to him and kisses her deeply.

"Very." He admits breaking away and pulling her towards his bedroom. They get in bed and Amy things he is going to pounce on her with the hungry look he is got. Instead he pulls her gently against his chest and cradles her there, the feeling is soothing and soon Amy feels herself getting sleepy again.

"I might fall asleep again, I did not get good rest earlier." She murmurs against his chest.

"Me too, I am finding it harder and harder to sleep without you here." Sheldon says sleepily yawning.

"What are you going to do about that then?" Amy asks snuggling into him deeper her eyes growing heavy.

"Something…" She thinks he mumbles as they both drift off into sleep.

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Sheldon calls into work in the morning and tells them that he is not feeling well. Amy does the same slightly worrying that the both of them calling out on the same day will raise alarms, but since that are not in the same department it should not matter. When Leonard comes out of his bedroom he looks at the oddly still in their pajamas making french toast.

" Amy when did you get here?" he asks her curiously.

"This morning around four thirty." she tells him handing him a plate of food.

"It was a booty call." Sheldon sniggers and Amy slaps him playfully..

"I don't remember any booty? Do you? It was a snuggle bunny call." She tells him winking at him and he gives her a shy smile.

"Uggh you guys are so sweet you are giving this french toast a run for its money." Leonard groans hastily eating his food."Aren't you guys going to work today?"

"No we are playing hooky." Sheldon tells him waggling his eyebrows.

"Oh really you are just going to blow off work today?" Leonard asks impressed.

"Yes." Sheldon affirms.

"You too Amy , you're just going to blow off work and hang around in your pajamas all day?" Leonard asks shocked that two usually such responsible scientists are going to have such a irresponsible day.

"Oh no, not in our pajamas all day, no we still have to take our shower." Sheldon tells him and the way he looks suggestively at Amy is more than Leonard can take.

"Alright, on that note I will be going to work now,thanks for the french toast Amy."

"You are welcome." Amy says taking his plate and Leonard head out of the door then pops back in momentarily.

"I am going to text you before I get home… and can you make a valiant effort to have clothes on when I get back?" Leonard pleads holding his two hands up begging.

"We can't promise anything." Amy says to Leonard retreating back.

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The day passes quickly for them and they enjoy each other company immensely. They watch movies and play games, one particularly amusing game of strip counter factuals. At four Sheldon suggest they get out of the apartment for awhile and stretch their legs. Amy heartily agrees and they walk hand in hand down Los Robles. It truly has been the perfect day and Amy does not think any other day could ever top this one. The day they played hooky together will be forever etched in the annals of her memories as the best day ever. They come to a stop at her car and he looks at her and asks:

"Fancy a drive my dear?"

"Sure where do you want to go?" Amy asks getting out her keys and Sheldon takes them from her.

"Mind if I drive?" he asks and my shakes her head no, she has been nagging him to get more practice n for awhile . Usually getting him behind the wheel was like pulling teeth.

"Not at all." Amy says as she gets into the passenger seat, it feels weird being a passenger in her own car especially with Sheldon at the helm. They drive in companionable silence for awhile each lost in their own thoughts when Sheldon startles her by breaking the silence..

"Here we are." He says pulling into a parking space and Amy looks up, it is the same coffee shop they met at five years they met at a coffee shop when neither of them could stand the taste of it.

"Feeling nostalgic are we?" Amy asks as they exit the car and head inside the shop.

"You could say that." Sheldon says smiling at her and it melts her heart, what is he after,he already has more than enough brownie points at the moment after today. Sheldon stops in front of on of the small tables and looks at her, then he moves her backwards a few paces and drops his hands to his sides. His breathing gets heavy and he almost looks like he is on the verge of a panic attack.

"Sheldon whats going on?" Amy asks concerned.

"Amy Five years ago I was forced into this shop by Howard and Raj. They told me that they had found be the woman that had been scientifically chosen to be my perfect mate.I told them they wee crazy, that was exhausted by their constant tomfoolery. Then I met you,and my life has never been better since. You make me feel things differently, you make me think about things differently, you have changed my perspective on the world and my world has never been better. " Then he sinks onto one knee and pulls a ring out of his jacket pocket.

"Oh my, oh gosh." Amy breathes steadying herself on the table close to passing out.

"Amy Farrah Fowler, I believe I would like to alter the paradigm of our relationship and as kyou to become my wife." Amy just blindly nods her head tears flooding her vision.

"Yes."