Hello lovelies! While we wait for Shenny to get their ish together here's a short chapter catching up with Amy.

Don't own the people in the places with the things. Shhh go read and review.

Amy sat alone at a small bistro next to her work staring at but not seeing her menu. Her normally spectacled face was bare except for a bit of flavored lip gloss she had bought on a whim. She was now wondering if it was too obvious and waiting for Dr. Kumal to meet her was exacerbating her doubts. They had only texted that day, him letting her know that he would meet her there at lunch.

She glanced at her watch noting it was now nearly 12:45p and she had taken her break at 12:30p. Her foot started tapping as her waiter appeared.

"Can I get you anything besides the tea, ma'am?"

"Do you have alcoholic beverages?" she asked in desperation.

"Uh, no ma'am…"

"Then I'll wait for my –" she hesitated as the word 'date' almost escaped her lips. "uh, my colleague, thank you."

The waiter disappeared nodding and Amy looked around again. Just as she did she noticed a lab coated figure approaching the counter. Her heart fluttered hard and she fought to suppress it. It was Dr. Kumal, he said something to the cashier that made the girl smile broadly. A stab of jealousy filled her. The woman was an unnatural redhead with bright blue eyes. As she watched Dr. Kumal laid a hand over hers before smiling again and walking over.

Amy tried to suppress the nausea she was currently experiencing. It was nothing, just a simple gesture one that was completely natural, but her emotions quickly made her irrational.

Dr. Kumal sat down and Amy looked up. Her focus was drawn to his eyes.

"Hello, Amy, might I say you look quite nice today," his accent was much more pronounced than usual, but she ignored that because his eyes shone brightly in the midday sun. It could be due to her own hormonal responses, but she knew it was because of his contacts refracting the light. He wasn't wearing glasses.

"Hi." Was all that Amy could get out. Could he be mirroring her attempts?

The waiter was back.

"I'll have the tomato soup and grilled cheese," Kumal said curtly. Amy panicked, the meal sounded good, was it what she wanted? Would getting the same be transparent? They both watched as she deliberated. Her brain went blank.

"Um, "there was a pause and before a panic attack could set in, Kumal saved her by asking the waiter to come back.

"Amy are you all right?" he looked genuinely concerned. Why was she so anxious?

"Yes, sorry, I just had a large breakfast and was unsure of what to get," she had done nothing of the sort but it was all she had. In truth, she had studied the menu for a solid 15 minutes, but didn't know a single thing that was on it.

"Well, I'm sure something light would suffice, maybe a salad with added protein?"

Amy nodded, "Yes that sounds excellent that's exactly what I'll get." Her tone sounded robotic instead of flirtatious. Good heavens, what was going on? It was nearly as bad as when Penny had introduced her to her meaty friend.

To her relief the waiter noticed her and came back. "Have you decided, miss?"

"Yes, I'll have your apple walnut salad please."

"Of course, I'll be right back."

Sighing in relief now that the debacle that should not have been a debacle was over, she smiled at Kumal. He smiled back and she was ecstatic.

"So, now that food is out of the way, Amy. How was your day in the lab so far?"

"Wonderful, I've just sent a proposal to the department regarding new interns, the last ones weren't quite up to the standards I was hoping, but I'm hoping they can find some at another university."

"Ugh, I know what you mean! I had an intern fry my lab computer with her Starbucks drink!"

The conversation continued about work and then home and they compared horror stories about their over protective mothers. After the check arrived Amy checked her watch, sad to see their time at an end.

"Amy, I wanted to ask," Kumal began and Amy noticed his accent was thicker again. It indicated he was nervous and in turn it made her veins hum in anticipation. "There's a symposium at Berkeley next weekend. Would you … would you attend as my guest? It's only a half-day and I have plenty of flyer miles, so you – it would be free, I mean if you wanted to."

Amy felt the world sway slightly and she replied slowly, hoping she wouldn't wake up. "Yes, of course, I think it would be lots of fun." She didn't even ask what the symposium was on, it could be about the effects of paint on dry surfaces and she would go.

"Excellent!" He said a little too loudly, covering it with a sudden cough.

Amy turned her head, pretending not to notice, as the redheaded hostess brought over a small black to-go container. Amy looked down, they had no left overs. Her heart filled with dread as she realized it might be a ploy. Maybe she was bringing over her number or something more lurid. She saw Kumal get even more nervous, and was quite surprised that the waitress put the box in front of her.

"For you ma'am, a gift from your gentleman friend," she smiled and walked away.

"You got me – a gift?"

He nodded and shook his head one after the other. "It's nothing, just a joke, y'know, how we were talking the other day, I wanted to get it – I thought you might like it."

Amy grinned and opened the box. Inside was the oxytocin necklace he had sent her a picture of. It was thoughtful and she lifted it up tenderly.

"This is so…" words failed her again and she opted for, "meaningful. Thank you."

Amy held it up to put it on trying to push her hair back.

"Here, let me assist you!" Kumal said, standing to get behind her. As he moved her hair and moved around her Amy felt her skin grow sensitive. When his hands brushed the nape of her neck she felt it travel straight through her producing the very chemical she wore on her neck. "There."

Amy felt brave all of a sudden and she let that adrenaline carry her to her feet. She turned to face Kumal, meeting his gaze with her own.

"Thank you," She said with a little more feeling before wrapping her arms around his neck in a hug. His arms slipped around her returning the embrace. It lasted only a second longer than it should have, but Amy was pleased she moved away before he did. Meeting his gaze again she found his hands still on her waist as he chanced a split second look at the necklace hanging between her collar and her sweater. His eyes darted back up nervously and she smiled.

Her watch beep twice softly and she reluctantly moved away. "Well I suppose we should get back."

Kumal cleared his throat and followed her, "Yes, I suppose your right."

They left the restaurant and headed towards their building, both blinking in the sun, wishing they had their glasses to shield them from harmful UV rays. Neither said as much. Conversation shifted to chemical strands and their different shapes. At the light, Amy bumped slightly into Kumal by accident and when their hands brushed, he took her palm into his.

Work went by a little faster the rest of the day.

A/N I'll try to have the next chapter at (HOLY CRAP) 400 followers! Woo!