AMY'S POV

Still in her seafoam-colored prom dress, Amy twirled around and around in her apartment. It had been the best night of her life! She had had a real prom, with a real date – not one paid for by her mother. She felt beautiful and special. There had been all her friends, decorations, pictures, dancing … and romance. Never had she imagined that the night could be so romantic! "Yes," she once again wished she could tell her teenage self, "It does get better!"

But, best of all? Love! Sheldon had told her that he loved her! Out of the blue. Totally unexpected. Totally wonderful. Sheldon loves me!

Sure, the night started out rocky. It took so much hard work to get ready. There was shopping for the perfect dress, getting a manicure and pedicure and her hair done, and all that waxing – so much waxing. She had needed to take an analgesic! Boy, how did Penny ever do that for seven proms!? All that work and Sheldon had taken one look at her, freaked out and hidden in his room.

Discouraged, thinking that the prom was over before it even began for her, she had trudged back there to his room. What was his deal this time? With Sheldon, sometimes, who knew? Maybe he'd seen a spider on the wall or her dress had been asymmetrical in some fashion.

She had been going to leave and go to the prom herself. After all, that would be nothing new; in fact, it was still an improvement over her high school prom. But Sheldon emerged from his room and they had had a good talk. Sheldon told her that she looked pretty (her, pretty! This night really was the best) and admitted feeling pressured by the group's expectations about after-prom traditions. What had everybody been telling Sheldon? Surely they knew better than to tease him about such things! No, I guess they always tease him about such things.

Amy was able to say that she didn't want him to feel pressured. Sure, she hoped for more – even Sheldon knew that – but she wanted his comfort more and there didn't have to be any expectations for that evening. Sheldon thanked her.

Then, she decided that she just had to tell him that she loved him. She didn't know why, exactly. He looked so handsome. He had told her that he thought she was pretty. They'd been able to be honest with each other. She had been bottling up her love for so long now and she just wanted to be able to say it to him, even if he didn't say it back.

But…she didn't even have to say it! Sheldon just said that he loved her too! He knew what she was going to say and he said it right back. Oh, what a wonderful night! I love Sheldon. And Sheldon loves me!

She couldn't wait to tell her bestie! Of course, that would have to wait until morning. Now all her friends were off having sex after the prom. Maybe that would be me soon too! Maybe Sheldon and I will start to kiss more, maybe he would touch me…reach second base…kiss me where I've never been kissed before…

Abruptly, Amy stopped spinning around as a realization hit her. The smile dropped off her face. She shook her head and put her hands up to her mouth. What am I thinking? Of course none of those things will happen. This is the man who, when he asked me to be his girlfriend, said that absolutely nothing would change, physically or otherwise. He hates change!

Amy sank down onto her couch, remembering how life was with Sheldon. He "isn't a fan" of handholding. After we kissed on the train, he tried to break up with me – over a table! He yelled at me and ran away for weeks after I suggested being his roommate. Sure, everything was changing and he was overwhelmed by it all, so it wasn't just about me. But I know I was a part of it. He still wanted me out of his room tonight even after he told me he loved me.

Amy frowned as she thought it out more. Sheldon is still getting his life back on track from his trip and all the changes in his work. This could again be the straw that breaks the camel's back. I can't tell anybody that he told me he loves me. I can't make this a big deal at all or expect any kind of progress in our relationship. Our friends would tease him; they would wind him up about coitus being the next step. That will just make mess everything up.

Amy sighed. I love him and I don't want him to freak out and break up with me. I need to be prepared for us to regress a little. I have to be very careful now. I can't ask for anything physical or emotional. I have to be as contained and undemanding as possible. I won't say "I love you" or bring up the topic again. Sheldon is a man who panics and runs. I'll back off. He isn't ready for this.

Amy nodded. She had a plan. It would all work out, as long as she was careful.

SHELDON'S POV

Sheldon looked at himself in the mirror as he slowly untied his bowtie. He had done it – he had told Amy that he loved her. His eyes looked bright and his face was flushed. Maybe I should take my temperature? I could be catching something…or maybe I do have an alien parasite after all.

But he knew better.

He had been very anxious that night. Penny and Leonard had both told him that there were expectations about what one did after the prom. He wasn't ready for any of that. Perhaps Amy expected all that to happen. But….she knew him, right? Surely she wouldn't think he would suddenly and completely give in to his baser urges.

He tried to prepare himself for the prom. He gave himself a pep talk, got his flask of pomegranate juice ready and prepared to pretend that he was an alien in a strange land. However, all of his preparations were for naught when he saw Amy, looking beautiful in that dress. What color was that dress any way? Blue? Green? Maybe Amy could tell him the RGB value.

Upon seeing her, he was immediately overwhelmed. He didn't feel like such a Homo Novus right then – those hormones that Leonard said he didn't have were rushing through his system. And some visions of what could be after the prom suddenly popped into his mind. Sheldon ran to his room.

But Amy came after him, as he has known she would. They talked and he was able to explain so that she wasn't hurt anymore. And he realized something. Yes, Amy hoped for more in their relationship, but she didn't expect more. He could work with that. Expectations came with so much pressure. Without the burden of expectations, he could move forward.

He felt so much better. It had been easy to tell her that he loved her. Of course, he'd known for some time that she loved him. He has also suspected for a long time that he felt the same for her, but had really determined that during his time away. That train trip had helped him realize many things – chiefly that he was more than just "very fond" of Amy. Indeed, he had to be honest to himself during his uninterrupted think time on the train. He liked kissing Amy and actually could imagine being more physically affectionate with her.

Because I told her I loved her, would Amy suddenly want him to be all hippie-dippie? Will we kiss and touch more? Perhaps I could try this second base she keeps talking about? Are we headed to coitus?

Dear Lord! Sheldon started to hyperventilate a little and sat down on his bed. No, I'm safe with Amy. She wouldn't hurt him. On his train trip, he had already decided to grow up, work to embrace some change, and move forward with her. It would be okay; he was not going to panic or run again. And really, it doesn't sound so bad. Maybe not the hippie-dippie stuff or the coitus, but I am interested in the other things.

But how does one go about initiating more physical affection? Do I just do what I want? No, I could never risk that. Do I just write an amendment in the Relationship Agreement? That seems too forward. What if she doesn't agree? And I could never actually write the words down. Sheldon pondered for a few minutes. Wait, I've got it!

I'll let AMY initiate the physical contact. Surely she'll be all lovey-dovey now that she knows I love her. Her ovaries will be squirting so much goofy juice into her system that she won't be able to keep herself from touching me. I'll allow those physical things to happen that I'm comfortable with and I'll shut down the rest. That's perfect – we'll move forward, Amy will initiate to make it easier for me, but I will control it.

Sheldon nodded. He had a plan. It would all work out, as long as he was careful.