Author's Note:

Guess who got an idea for a fic based on a Christmas episode the day after Christmas!

But in my defense, The Holiday Summation isn't really that Christmas-y, and I don't even mention Christmas in this fic. So I think it's probably fine? Yeah, it's fine. It'll have to be. Stark read this over and said it was (thank you, Stark).

Please enjoy this small final update for 2023. I hope you all have a safe and happy new year and I'll see you again in 2024!

Rebellious

Sheldon cracked one eye open when he heard the soft click of the latch on his bedroom door. He waited until his surprise midnight visitor stepped inside and closed the door again behind her before saying anything.

"You're not supposed to be in here."

Amy padded lightly over to him like he hadn't spoken.

"I thought you wanted to be rebellious," she whispered as she pulled back the covers and slipped into his bed.

"Not that rebellious," he responded, but he was already turning towards her on the narrow mattress, welcoming her in.

His mother had put them up in separate bedrooms for their holiday stay, even though apparently she already knew they were living together and accepted it. There was, of course, a difference between accepting something was happening a few states away and allowing that same thing to happen under her roof. He knew to expect this and thought it wouldn't make much difference, but lying down in his childhood bed alone that evening had filled him with an ache he couldn't explain. Alone, just like his mother assumed. Now that Amy was next to him, though, that ache was easing.

It was strange. He was mad at Amy just a few hours ago. Amy and her managing of situations. But a lot had happened since then and it seemed like she was back on his side.

"How is your ear?" she asked.

"Sore," he answered. The throbbing pain from the new piercing had mostly faded, but it still hurt if he put too much pressure on it. He felt Amy shifting to sit up, then the tantalizing brush of her lips along the edge of said ear.

"Amy!" he gasped, squirming away as much as he could without falling to the floor. She chuckled softly but settled down, lying on her back with her head on his pillow, and despite everything he found himself turning back towards her warmth again.

"You know, I always did love a bad boy," Amy said.

"In the morning I'll tell you about the time I tried to order yellow cake uranium," he said, letting his eyes fall closed and a sigh escape from his chest.

"You missed me," she said. It wasn't a question.

"I did not miss you."

"Then why are you practically on top of me?"

Without realizing it, he had moved partially over her, draping one arm and one leg across her body, pinning her in place. His head lined up beside hers on the pillow.

"It's a small bed."

"Uh-huh."

Neither one of them moved. They just breathed together in the dark.

"Should we set an alarm so I can sneak back to my room before your mother gets up?" Amy asked, already sounding half asleep.

"No."

"What if she catches us like this?"

"Let her catch us, it would serve her right," he said, suddenly rebellious again. "She can see how alone I am."

"But won't she drag us to church to repent our sins?" Amy shifted a little under him, emphasizing their compromising position.

"That's going to happen either way," Sheldon pointed out. "We might as well be comfortable in the meantime."