Sheldon Swifties LIX: "The X-Advisors…"
Summary: Like my Immortal Beloved bits in my Buffyverse stories, these are fragments and short bits, some longer…Just to fiddle with ideas, possibly forming longer tales later.
Disclaimer: All is Chuck's…
Part IX…
Pressed by President Siebert to rejoin his entourage making the rounds and finding it difficult to continue with Stein and his daughter again in proximity, Dr. Francis had decided to make the best of the situation, leaving his subject anxious…Even a bit frantic…To hear more…
Famed physicist he might be, but he had profited by his psychological and humanities electives in undergraduate and graduate school as well as by the hard-learnt and dearly bought experiences of life…
Cruel it might be to perhaps jeopardize poor Dr. Fowler's happiness…But she was, after all, the granddaughter of Margaret Fowler…Who therefore should not only know enough human psychology to guard her heart but was a connection to the woman whose pain would most hurt Stein, for whom she'd remained the love of his life long after such youthful notions had faded from many a besotted young student's heart, including his own.
And hurting Francis N. Stein…His dear ole friend…And his daughter, the two white whales of his existence…In every way possible…Was now the driving passion of Xavier Francis. A passion that had engulfed all others including his love for Science, and perhaps even…
No…Not quite…Despite the bitterness and pain…Nothing, not even his hatred of Stein could quench his love for his own Margaret…
Anyway…The girl might as well learn the harsh realities of life sooner rather than later, after all…He offering a supportively kind smile to Amy as he joined Siebert to greet more alumni, nonchalant glance at Stein.
…..
"Amy! Amy?!" Raj, with Lucy beside him, had found Amy, a bit disconsolate and bewildered, at the edge of Siebert's now rather extensive cloud of faculty, alumni, and eager students seeking to be remembered by the lesser and greater gods of Cal Tech…
Hmmn? She eyed Rajesh blankly…He eyed her stricken face…Never more beautiful or haunting…A chiseled perfection, flawless…Framed by her, for once, carefully styled hair…
Krishna, how could I never have seen what Sheldon Cooper of all men saw in this woman?
But Fate is sometimes kind enough to make us blind for our own good, thank all the gods…He smiled at Lucy.
"Amy?…Are you are all right?" Lucy spoke up, concerned.
"I…Sure…" she nodded. "Busy night…" vague wave of hand… "And Sheldon…"
It can't be true…Sheldon couldn't keep anything from me…He'd never conceal anything from me…After all, Dr. Francis was just warning me, not telling me…Anything.
And we're engaged…He said yes…No, it's just jitters. It's been too grand an evening, the greatest of my life and this is the inevitable come down to earth, complete with my usual insecurities. Get a grip, as Gran would say…
He said to trust him…And he meant in more than a mere song…And I do, Ido…She closed her eyes…I believe in Sheldon Cooper…I always have and always will. Ever since the first day I saw him, on that train with Charlotte…He and his Meemaw…
Eleven years old…And the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen…
"Amy?" Raj a bit anxious now…
"I'm fine…" she looked at Raj… "Is anything wrong? Is Sheldon ok?"
"Yes, he's fine. Leonard's got him home. But there's wonderful news, Amy…"
"Really? On top of our engagements? Are you two?" she beamed…"Or is Bernadette pregnant?"
"Uh, no…It's just that…Leonard accepted Penny's proposal…I guess the last one she made?"
"Oh. Well, she already told us that, didn't she?" Amy stared. "She's been saying she was his fiancée all evening."
"Well, I don't think it actually was quite the done deal until now…" Raj, shrugging. "But now it's definite…Amy, isn't it terrific news? And what a damned relief after all the emotional roller coaster…" sigh.
"I always expected it…" she smiled. "Penny was insecure about his feelings but Sheldon and I felt Leonard would be up to any challenge she set. Still, it is good to have it finally confirmed…Since it means a double wedding." Eager beam…
"After Sheldon asks you properly, girl…" Raj, frowning. "I know you'll take it as you can get it but you deserve the amenities and he is damned well going to provide them as long as Rajesh Koothrapali has anything to say about it." Firm nod. Lucy, smiling, nodding as well.
"I'm sorry about Priya…" Amy eyed him. "You know, I'm sure, we never thought she was good for Leonard, always trying to change him and quench that open, loving heart of his to some sort of awful social respectability but I know you hoped…" she smiled wanly…Patting his arm.
"She threw away a pearl in Leonard and she will regret it, one day…If she doesn't now…" he sighed. "But, that's fate, dudette…A true bitch." Warm beam… "Thanks, Amy. You are the kindest person I know and the best friend…And I only pray Sheldon Cooper measures up to even half what you deserve. Come on, lets go help Penny over the shock…I think she still can't believe it. She's running around introducing herself as 'Penny Hofstadter' all over the place." Grin…
"Right…" nod…Frowning as she stumbled a little…
The price of fashion, I suppose…Though thank God Sheldon thinks high heels are a form of insane torture created by the fashionista Inquisition.
Though, damn, I do look so good in these puppies…She eyed herself passing by a mirrored wall.
Who'd've ever believed Sheldon was actually listening when Penny did shoe talk?
….
"Well…" Leonard benignly eyed Sheldon in bed… "Jammies on, teeth brushed…Is our tummy settling down now?"
"Yes, thank you Leonard." Sheldon nodded. "Can we call Amy and have her sing 'Soft Kitty' now?"
"No." cool stare. "You're not deserving of 'Soft Kitty' and you damned well know why." Frown.
"Aw, why not? I'm sick…And engaged." Shrewd look… "Amy will be mad at you." Narrow sidelong glance. "And you don't want Amy Farrah Fowler mad at you…"
"We'll see." Leonard, coolly. "After I tell her what I know whom she ends up being mad at…"
"No! Leonard!" Sheldon, bolting up right in bed, startling him. "You can't! Please, don't! Besides…" shrewd look again, calming… "You don't know anything…"
"I know…Enough…" hard stare.
"I was only thirteen, Leonard…Amy wasn't even in my frame of reference then…Most human beings weren't, actually."
"I believe that…" Leonard, calmly. "So, you want to tell me what happened. Or do you prefer to tell Amy, without my advice?"
Chuckle… "Your 'advice'…Oh, wait…" Sudden blink… "You mean Penny's advice. Hmmn…" Pondering…Narrow look… "She might give it to me anyway, if I get to her first…"
Heh…Knight takes smugly pontificating archbishop…
"Not now that we're engaged…" Leonard countered. "And when she knows Amy is going to be hurt…"
Damn the other archbishop threatens queen…
Mom always told me religion would get me in the end…
"Eh, why would Penny hesitate to speak to me cause you're engaged…And I'm faster than you…"
"I have a car, Sheldon…" Leonard noted.
"I mean at smart phone, sir…I can be on the horn to Penny while you're still trying to find your glasses to find the phone you so foolishly set down…Somewhere…" smug folding of arms.
Rook to king, check…
"Damn you…" Leonard groaned. "Why did I believe you when you said my glasses were making you dizzy again, seeing yourself in them?"
"Well, that was true…" Sheldon noted, smugly triumphant now…
"But…" Leonard…Pulling out the big gun… "It's the social convention that engaged people speak to their fiancées before giving advice. And while Penny has been a bit of the rebel…She's now…Engaged."
Dang! Did not see that, knight takes rook, places my king in check!
"You didn't have time to sign anything…"
Desperate attempt to bluff threaten opposing king…
"Penny? Sign something? Besides a new credit card?" Leonard, quietly triumphant.
Dang, he's right…She's totally of the verbal bartering school…Checkmate…
"Oh, all right…I'll tell you everything…" sigh. "I already tole Meemaw anyway…And confession is good for the soul, she says."
"Oh, definitely…She's so right…Good for her, good for Meemaw…" Leonard nodded blandly, eagerly taking seat by the bed.
"I want to call Amy first…I need my dose of 'Soft Kitty' before I do this…" Sheldon insisted.
"She may never sing it to me again, if she finds out…" low sigh…