A/N: This is a sequel to The Cohabitation Experiment. If you haven't read it, just know that Amy now lives with Sheldon in his room and they love each other. I guess that's it. I've been wanting to start this story for a while, so here goes nothing.

Leonard picked up the last box of his belongings to take it across the hall. Sheldon refused to help. He complained that everything was too heavy and that's why he wouldn't help his friend move, but everyone knew that it was because Sheldon felt betrayed.

"Sheldon, you have Amy now. She'll help you when I can't, and I'll even draft a Neighbor Agreement or a Friendship Agreement with you soon. I'll just be across the hall if you need anything," Leonard offered before he left the apartment. He certainly wasn't leaving it for the last time. It was bigger and the guys didn't like spending time at Penny's as much. He would be back for video game nights and dinners and as much as he hated to admit it, Sheldon was his best friend. They wouldn't lose that just because Penny had finally proposed marriage.

Sheldon just huffed in response. Leonard wasn't sure what Sheldon expected. Amy had been living with them for almost a whole month already. Did Sheldon think Penny was going to move in with them too? Four people in that apartment would be just too much. It was hard enough having three of them share the bathroom and there was no way that Penny would adhere to a bathroom schedule. They were all adults and they were all friends. It would work out much better if they were neighbors for the time being.

Of course, Sheldon's main problem was that he didn't like change. That was probably why his relationship with Amy hadn't progressed at all despite the fact that they lived in the same bedroom. Everyone could see Amy's frustration with the situation. She wouldn't push Sheldon, but it was obvious that she hoped for more when she moved in. Maybe not marriage exactly, but at least a more physical relationship.

Leonard just shrugged and left with his last box. Penny took it from him and kissed him when he reached her door. They were each wearing shiny engagement rings on their fingers. Penny bought Leonard one when she proposed and the Leonard took her to the jewelry store to get her own the next day. His was a simple gold band that was not unlike the ring from The Lord of the Rings, and hers was a more classically styled engagement ring with as big a diamond as Leonard could afford.

They were both gooey and happy and Sheldon hated it. He was happy with Amy, and he wasn't so selfish that he didn't want Leonard and Penny to be happy. He just couldn't understand why Leonard had to move out for that to happen.

Amy sat next to him and put her hand on his leg, but Sheldon pulled away from her. She didn't say anything and pulled her hand back to her own lap. He usually found her presence comforting, but he wanted to be alone. Amy tried to be understanding, so she got up and got Sheldon some hot chocolate with seven marshmallows. He took it from her with a nod and a thank you.

They usually went to bed at the same time, but Amy got tired of waiting for Sheldon when bedtime came and went. She asked him if he was okay and he assured her that he was, so she went to bed without him. It had been the first time she fell asleep not curled into Sheldon's side in over a month. It was hard to fall asleep without him, but she eventually drifted off.

Sheldon wasn't there when she woke up either. Amy pulled on her robe and went out to the living room. He was asleep on the couch. He had come into their room at some point after she had fallen asleep and gotten his pajamas from the dresser. He'd also gotten a pillow and blanket from the closet. It was obvious that it wasn't an accident that he'd slept out there.

Amy was hurt. She didn't know if she should wake him up or not, but she wanted answers. He had fought her so hard for her not to move in until the day that he suddenly wanted her to live with him. This was something else entirely. Since that first night together, he always liked sharing a bed with her. She was just just staring at him when he started stirring and woke up.

"What's going on, Sheldon? You didn't come to bed and slept out here on the couch instead? I know you're upset about Leonard, but did I do something?" Amy asked.

"You didn't do anything. I went in to go to bed and you were there asleep and I just couldn't do it. I don't know why. It was easier to just come out here to sleep," Sheldon said.

"Do you still love me, Sheldon?" Amy asked. It was a question that she both needed to hear the answer to and couldn't stand knowing the answer if it was the wrong one.

"Yes. I love you. I don't think anything can change that," Sheldon said simply. He didn't know what was going on, but it was suddenly as difficult to touch Amy as it was to touch anyone else. He still knew that he loved her, that he couldn't live without her, but there was a wall there. He couldn't figure himself out, let alone give her an explanation for his behavior. All he could do was hope that she would be patient and that she would wait for him to get back to where he should be. Where he'd been a few days before.

Amy was near tears. He was acting so... so much like Sheldon. At least the Sheldon she used to know. The one who complained about holding her hand at the movies. The one who wouldn't kiss her. Maybe it was just Leonard leaving. He would be okay again in a few days. Amy knew that Sheldon didn't like change and this was probably the biggest change in his life in the last decade, other than her. It was always easier to feel love than abandonment. Sheldon would be okay once he realized that Leonard hadn't really left him.

"I'm going to get ready for work. Then I'm going move some of my things into Leonard's old room. I'll be staying in there for the time being," Amy said without giving Sheldon a chance to respond.

Sheldon sat there on the couch, terrified that he was ruining things with Amy, but unsure how to fix them. Maybe she understood. Maybe that's why she was giving him space. She didn't say anything to him when she left for work and he was in the kitchen making his breakfast.

Sheldon realized that he didn't know how he was getting to work, so he got dressed and knocked across the hall. When Leonard answered, Sheldon asked, "Can you drive me to work? Amy left already."

"Yeah. I was just about to come over and get you. I'll keep driving you to work, Sheldon."

"You will?"

"You are still my friend, and we work at the same place and we live across the hall. Like I told you yesterday, you can even write up some sort of friendship agreement if it will make you feel better. This is going to work out, buddy. You'll see."

Leonard drove Sheldon to and home from work, and that weekend they did write up a Friendship Agreement between the two of them. Some of Leonard's responsibilities changed, but he still had to drive Sheldon to work unless he have him 24 hours notice. They still were going to have video game nights, and Leonard still had to bring Sheldon dinner at least one night a week. There were several more odds and ends that were tied up, but Sheldon was feeling much better about Leonard living across the hall instead of in 4A.

He still couldn't touch Amy as easily has he once could. When he was feeling good about the situation with Leonard again, he tried to put his hand on Amy's knee. She took it as a good sign and snuggled into his side a little bit. Instead, Sheldon panicked and got up to get something to drink. Amy didn't try to touch him again after that. As Leonard's and Sheldon's relationship went back to normal, Amy realized that their problems must have more to do with her than Leonard's moving out. She just didn't understand what it might be.

By the end of the week, Amy was living in Leonard's old room all the time. She thought about moving out, but her old apartment had been rented to someone else already. Living there was as good as living anywhere else.

That was the thing; she was sure that Sheldon still loved her. She could see it in his eyes when he spoke to her or when he did little things to take care of her. He also told her that he loved her regularly. He enjoyed it when she said it back, but still wasn't at all comfortable touching her. Sheldon would occasionally put an arm around Amy or even give her a quick kiss, but she could tell that he wasn't comfortable with it. Eventually, she stopped trying to touch him and only responded halfheartedly when he made attempts. It wasn't enjoyable when he clearly wasn't into it.

There was a wedge in their relationship, and Amy was at a complete and utter loss how to fix it. She still hoped time might fix things between them because she felt like she was losing Sheldon.