Tiara

Amy settled into bed. It was late, but she didn't feel the least bit tired. Still, she knew she had to try to sleep if she wanted to be at all functional the next day. So, she plugged in her phone, placed her glasses on the nightstand, and then lastly, reluctantly took off her tiara, setting it next to her glasses before switching off her light.

I have a tiara!

It was the first time she'd taken it off since Penny placed it on her head earlier that night. It had earned her a few strange looks from the people in the cars stopped beside her at red lights on the drive home, and from the neighbor she ran into in the elevator, but that may have had more to do with the crazy smile she couldn't seem to get rid of. As her eyes adjusted to the dark, Amy rolled onto her side to face it. Even in the dim light, the tiara seemed to shine.

My boyfriend gave me a tiara!

Oh, how she wished her 13-year-old self could see her now. Highly educated, a thriving career, newly published, a circle of friends, and a handsome boyfriend who's now spoiling her with gifts. Could it get any better? Amy hugged one of her pillows and nestled deeper into her blankets. Maybe if said boyfriend was in bed beside her . . . She replayed the quick kiss she'd given him in her head, glad that she now had a solid memory of how his lips felt on hers. She also recalled the way his hands felt on her back when he returned her hug, and how for several wonderful seconds they had been pressed chest to chest. A tiny thrill moved through her body. Maybe it was better he wasn't there with her now, she'd be liable to die of satisfaction.

With a contented sigh, she closed her eyes and prepared to drift off, hopefully to dreams of Sheldon and the perfect gift he bestowed on her.

Amy's eyes popped open again just a few seconds later.

Sheldon gave her a gift.

A gift.

Penny had once explained Sheldon's gift-giving aversion to her. It was after she had known him for almost a year and realized he never once mentioned his birthday. When she asked her bestie about it, Penny told her all about how none of them knew when it was, and then warned her not to get him anything. Amy was well-aware that Sheldon saw gifts as an obligation, a required reciprocity. One gift demanded another of commensurate value.

And he had just given her an expensive piece of jewelry.

The perma-smile she wore all evening finally vanished.

How much was this going to cost her? Was she going to have to search eBay first thing in the morning for rare collectables? Buy out half the train store? Arrange for one of the Star Wars/Trek/whatever actors to have dinner with him? Get him his own Nobel Prize medal?

At some point in the middle of her fretting, Amy nodded off. When she woke up the next morning, she decided to just wait and see how things played out.

The next time she saw Sheldon, she expected him to be all twitchy and weird, but he wasn't. They talked about work as usual. She watched him for any signs of discomfort or aggravation, but by his standards he was normal. And the time after that he was still normal. And the time after that. And the time after that. Even when their next date night came around, he exhibited his typical behavior. Not once did he mention the tiara.

Later, when she was back in her apartment, she took out the tiara to contemplate it again. Perhaps this situation fell outside of the usual gift-giving parameters. After all, it wasn't a birthday, anniversary, Christmas, Valentine's Day, or other similar occasion. Amy knew he got it for her to say he was sorry.

So maybe that was it.

Her forgiveness was the reciprocation. Her good favor was worth the price of the tiara.

Amy held it up to the light and rotated it, watching the diamonds sparkle for a few moments before she placed it on her head once again and admired herself in the mirror. That crazy smile was back.

It seemed too good to be true, but it was the only explanation she could think of. Maybe to Sheldon, she was the gift.

Author's Note:

Since the last chapter was mostly Sheldon, I thought I'd focus more on Amy this time. She is precious and I love her. That's really it.

If you're reading my other Shamy fic, I'm working on chapter 3 but I'm not happy with it yet. Hopefully this tides you over. I want to say that's definitely what I'll be posting next, but there's a distinct possibility I might have another chapter ready here first. Whatever happens is going to be a surprise for us all. If you're not reading my other fic, then don't worry about any of this.

Thanks, guys! Stay excellent!