Disclaimer: The Big Bang Theory and all characters, plots and creative elements derived from the source material belong exclusively to their respective owners. I own nothing.

"I can see behind your eyes the things that I don't know. If you hide away from me how can our love grow?"

What's On Your Mind– Information Society

"You know you are lucky to have her, it's not the other way around." Bernadette whispered to Sheldon as she stood by the refrigerator before she opened it to search for some bottled water.

Seconds earlier she had observed as Sheldon had poured himself a glass of milk all while being thoroughly engrossed in watching Amy from across the room. Without spilling a drop he placed the glass down on the wooden buffet. He returned the carton to the refrigerator and let the door inch to closure. Not for a second had his eyes left Amy and Bernadette found this habit to be the foremost redeeming value of this aggravating man.

As a microbiologist Bernadette was used to dissecting the most miniscule of details. So it was at their group gatherings that she began to amuse herself by cataloging the exchange of glances and telepathic connections between Sheldon and Amy. She was certain that neither was aware of the PDA's they exchanged which she sometimes felt to be more intimate than the lip-locks Penny displayed with Leonard.

The eye-porn she witnessed had her convinced that they had it bad for one another. Not the dirty sex "bad" that Amy alluded to as a shield to hide her insecurities but the kind of love that Homer would have been proud to write home about. She had mentioned this to no one but when she observed the fact that, even after three years, Sheldon continually suppressed his affections for Amy she feared he was digging a rift that may soon bring on the end of the Shamy.

Pulled from his reverie Sheldon nodded and narrowed his eyes at Bernadette while giving her an affirmative "uhhum" before walking to join Amy and Penny in conversation.

Saturday morning Sheldon and Penny had dropped off Leonard at the airport and visited Raj. Later that morning the girls and Raj had met in Penny's apartment to celebrate the end of the selective mutism that had afflicted Raj until Lucy's departure.

That afternoon Sheldon and Amy had planned to visit the Kidspace Children's Museum because they had added a hands-on exhibit called the Galvin Physic's Forest that they both wanted to explore. This would be the first time they had been alone together since the Dungeons and Dragons evening. They had been so busy with their jobs and Leonard's impending departure that they had only seen each other at group activities. They had managed to text and Skype but neither had broached the subject of that evening and Sheldon had hoped it would remain that way but deep down he affirmed that the closeness he felt towards Amy had grown and there was no way to reboot it to an earlier date. Once the news of Leonard's departure arrived he was even more certain he didn't want to go backwards. Losing Leonard was an eventual probability anyway, he knew someday he would leave to take a wife and raise a family. He came to terms with the fact that these next few months he would be uncomfortable and inconvenienced without his best friend around, but it could not compare to the absolute desolation he would have felt if the one going away had been Amy.

At the Children's Museum Sheldon had a hard time waiting his turn. Since it was a Saturday there were several dozen families and numerous children exploring the exhibits and Sheldon became increasingly frustrated that he couldn't launch bottle rockets or test the transfer of energy using their ball bounce display. Amy made a note that one day they could play hooky from work to spend the day together there. She thrilled at watching Sheldon's hyper joy from the combination of playing with toys and the science that fueled his passion.

Before three p.m. they found a place to sit for a presentation/demonstration on the laws of physics. They were twenty minutes early because Sheldon had insisted that they needed to sit in the front row. While they sat Amy read some museum brochures but Sheldon sat next to her observing all the areas around them fighting the urge to rush and stop kids because they were "doing it wrong" in the interactive areas. He sat watching while silently tapping his heels at a rate of thirty repetitions per minute. It was then that his Vulcan hearing allowed him to overhear two young women discussing the upcoming presentation.

"I'm so nervous, this is my first time. I hope I don't mess up." Said a spectacled brunette wearing jeans and a striped green cardigan over a white tshirt. He surmised that she was in her early twenties with Amy's height, hair length and color but not as shapely. He looked back at Amy, who was engrossed in the brochures, and took her hand in his.

Amy's heart fluttered. She looked up at Sheldon and saw that he was looking and listening to the young ladies.

"Don't worry. Just remember you're talking to little kids and they won't be so judgmental. Just keep them entertained."

"I'm not worried about keeping them entertained. I'm worried about getting the information right."

Sheldon grinned, looked down at Amy's adoring eyes and said

"Amy look that young girl reminds me of a younger you. She's nervous about her presentation. How I hate public speaking. I don't blame her for being anxious."

Amy looked at the presenter and told Sheldon "I actually did work at several science camps with little kids during college. It was great practice for what I'm doing now but at the time I couldn't be convinced that it was no more than a public hazing."

"She's more worried about getting the information correct. Isn't that impressive? A true scientist and what's even better a physicist."

"Sheldon you don't know she's a physicist, she may just be making this presentation today. Why don't you offer to help?" Amy coyly suggested, expecting Sheldon to balk at the idea.

"I think I will." He answered pulling out his wallet to retrieve a calling card. He rose and approached the presenter.

Amy's jaw dropped. Sheldon seemed to have forgotten his speaking phobia to assist this young woman. She smiled at his chivalry and half wished their friends were there to witness this side of Sheldon that was revealed to her from time to time when they were alone on their activities. Of course she knew that if any of the others were anywhere near this would never have happened.

Sheldon handed the girl his card pointed to himself and over at Amy. She waved and smiled. The trio chatted for several minutes before parting. Amy's gentleman cowboy returned after a few minutes and sure enough his drawl had become more pronounced.

"That little lady is named Melanie and she said she would call on me from the audience if she had trouble remembering her presentation. She is most worried about making sure their young minds can understand what she is explaining. She seemed grateful for my offer and expressed that it made her more relaxed. I'll go over some key points on the physics of roller coasters before sending the audience over to build their own at the exhibit. She is actually a marine biology student at Cal State Long Beach. Another young mind lost to a lesser…" Sheldon stopped.

Amy's eyebrows furrowed and her lips pursed. Sheldon quickly identified that he was about to cross into tumultuous territory. He was still considerably inept with nonverbal cues but with Amy he had begun to catalog the landmines.

He tried to save himself by saying "I take it all back. She'll probably get to work with dolphins." He smiled at her, took her hand again and hoped for the best.

"Well Professor Proton Jr., how would you handle such a presentation?"

Whew! Landmine averted. He thought.

"ooooooh. Yes. Of course." He practically squealed in a rising high voice. "You're right Amy. This situation provides an excellent opportunity for me to analyze this from the Professor Proton Jr perspective." As he lost himself in thought he held her hand in both of his and pulled it next to his heart.

Amy felt slightly faint. This hand holding felt like it was his compromise to advance their physical intimacy and she was savoring it like was her last drink of water before entering a desert.

"I've got it! Amy, maybe we can start podcasting a new…" Amy's eyes were closed, she sat comfortably facing the stage but she wasn't sleeping. She looked serene but vulnerable.

He looked from her closed eyes to her lips. Those sweet pink lips look soft and gloss free ready for me. He thought as he lowered his hands to reposition himself on the bench. Amy's eyes quivered open and looked into his momentarily until they heard the presenter speak over the microphone.

He released her hand and they both straightened themselves out by patting down their hair, adjusting their clothes and sitting forward to give the speaker complete attention. It was not until then that they noticed the forum space around them was filled with children and their parents.

On cue Sheldon was introduced. He spoke of gravity, momentum and centripetal force then led the audience away. Amy thought all he needed was a lab coat and a puppet to make it a perfect show. She was impressed by his unprecedented boldness but then assured herself that his ego was being sufficiently stroked by the congregation of eager learners. It was well after five when they left.

After the waitress refilled their water glasses Sheldon and Amy continued eating their entrees. Their conversation was animated as they shared little quips and jokes about their afternoon at the museum and experiences at work during the week. Mostly their topics stayed solidly focused on the ramifications that any inconvenience had on the life of one theoretical physicist.

"AND after I spoke to the cafeteria manager she still insisted that the raspberry jam was just as good as the organic strawberry spread. This is patently false I argued because the taste of just right strawberries is superior to any other berry. Furthermore the seeds completely change the experience. The seeds -Amy"

"I know Sheldon it's one of the first things you shared with me. They stick in between your teeth, burrow into your gums and make you miserable, unable to enjoy their pleasant taste. If you eat them without warning you will not have your toothbrush on you and the discomfort will give you a headache."

"Thank you. Will you write a strongly worded letter to the cafeteria manager to let her know this is an issue that requires her attention? I've already penned mine."

"So what did she say about not having anymore of the organic strawberry spread?"

"She said the company that makes the spread changes their product seasonally. She said I would have to wait until next year. Next year Amy. I think I'll write a letter to the company too. Obviously there are strawberries at the market so why can't I have my spread?"

"You did say it was an organic strawberry spread. So it may be that the farms from which they harvest their strawberries have exhausted their fruit until next year. I actually think it is quite responsible of the company."

"Not if it means I don't get my strawberry spread to put on my frozen yogurt."

"I thought you liked cherries? Don't they have cherries?"

"Yes, but once again they make specific choices to torment me. They continually provide us cherries with stems. Stems Amy. I've already been near death more than once because of their carelessness with the stems."

"Maybe you can try being delightful with the cafeteria manager instead of adversarial. Then you won't feel she's out to torment you."

"She is out to torment me. She said so specifically. 'If it pisses you off Dr. Cooper, I'm all for it' were her precise words. So it's too late for delightful."

"It's never too late for delightful. That's what makes it such a delight."

Sheldon gave Amy his breathy laugh. Then he became lost in her glittery emerald eyes making his skin feel like it was being swept with downy feathers.

He looked away back down at his food trying to kohlinar his sensations. Then his cell phone buzzed with a message.

"Leonard has arrived and he will get his boarding details and expedition itinerary tomorrow. He's calling Penny now."

"Good. Penny can relax at least for tonight" Amy answered. Then after a short pause.

"Sheldon", asked Amy in a calm inquisitive tone.

"Yes", he answered.

"Do you think you would be logically happier if we were just friends?"

At this Sheldon raised his head looked into the air beyond his nose before lifting his eyes to meet hers. He held them there trying to read her expression but it looked calm and unaffected. He in turn had felt all heat leave his body and his stomach drop to his insoles.

A/N You will note that each chapter title will refer to a companion song. Some old school summer tunes makeup this soundtrack.