A/N: I received a prompt from Sazzieazzie requesting a story where Shamy moves away from Lenny after they hear them talking and laughing at them. This ended up becoming a short multichapter story. I hope you enjoy part 1!
Amy waited patiently outside the Hofstadters' door with a bowl of her famous spinach dip, as her husband locked their apartment. The two couples were getting together for game night, a welcome respite from a grueling work week. Sheldon joined her, hand poised to knock, when laughter resonated from within their friends' walls. Amy grabbed his wrist before his knuckles made contact.
"...she wears them to feel closer to her. I want to feel closer to my grandma too, but I don't go around wearing her granny sweaters. Coupled with those orthopedic shoes, she could pass for a grandma herself. All she's missing is the gray hair."
"And what's the deal with Sheldon's layered t-shirts?" Leonard chimed in.
"I know, right? It's not 2001 anymore. Even worse are those ugly brown shoes! I wouldn't even give those to charity."
"They don't seem to bother Amy, or she'd have tossed them by now."
"Why would they? She wouldn't know fashion if it hit her on the head," Penny snickered.
Amy stormed back across the hall with Sheldon on her heels. "Open the door, please."
Sheldon dug out the key in his pocket and obliged. "Amy, what's wrong?" He asked when they were safe within the confines of their apartment.
Amy set the bowl on the coffee table and plopped on the couch. "You heard them," she sniffled.
"This is why I don't like to arrive early. Had we come at precisely 7 o'clock rather than 6:56, we could have spared ourselves from hearing their jibes."
"That's not the point. They claim to be our best friends, then they make fun of us."
"This isn't the first time they've done it."
"Exactly. They're always making fun of us. Today it's our clothing choices. Last week they laughed right in our faces about Fun with Flags. Even at our wedding, I heard them whispering about how weird the ceremony was."
Sheldon took the seat next to her. "And before we got married, they always ridiculed us regarding our sex life."
"Yes," she agreed, blinking back tears. "I'm done with them."
"Amy, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying that as of this moment, Penny Hofstadter is no longer my best friend or any type of friend at all." No sooner had the words left her mouth than her phone chimed. She checked the display then set it screen-side down on the table. "Speak of the devil," she muttered.
"Aren't you going to respond?"
"Haven't you listened to a word I said? I want nothing more to do with the Hofstadters." Tears blurring her eyes, she reached blindly for the tissue box on the end table.
"Allow me."
Sheldon leaned over her, his chest brushing against hers. Under normal circumstances, she would have taken advantage of the situation, but she was too distraught. Instead she swiped at her tears and blew her nose with the proferred Kleenex then buried her head against her husband's chest.
"Why did they say such cruel things?" She sobbed.
Sheldon ran his hands up and down her back soothingly. "They're probably just jealous."
"I don't think that's the case, but thanks for trying to cheer me up," she sniffled.
Over the course of the next 20 minutes, Amy's phone chimed four times, and each time she ignored the incoming texts from her former bestie. When Sheldon received a text from Leonard, Amy pleaded with him to ingore it. His concern for her was greater than his need for closure, so he grudgingly agreed. Then at 7:30 a knock sounded at the door.
"Did you guys forget about tonight?" Penny called from the other side.
Amy put her finger to her lips. "Shh. Don't answer."
Penny pounded on the door a few more times. "Ames? You okay in there? Sheldon? Hello? I guess they're not home."
Amy sighed in relief at the sound of Penny's retreating footsteps and the door shutting across the hall.
"Did we forgot? What kind of question is that? For 11 years I've been telling that woman I have an eidetic memory."
"Thank you for not saying that aloud when she was here. I can't deal with their fake friendship tonight. I think I'll go to bed."
Sheldon furrowed his brow. "At 7:30? Are you ill?"
"No. I just want to turn off my mind for a few hours to forget their words." She leaned over and pressed her lips to his. "Come to bed whenever you feel ready."
"I'll make you some chamomile tea while you perform your nightly ablutions."
She gave him a tiny smile and a peck on the cheek. "Thanks, Babe. I don't know what I'd do without you."
Following her bedtime routine, Amy crawled into bed and pulled the comforter to her chin. Sheldon came in moments later with a tray. As he set it over her lap, he assessed her puffy eyes and red nose.
"You don't look well. Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
"I'm fine physically. Emotionally not so much."
"Emotional stress is not good for your condition."
"I'll be okay. We'll be okay," she promised, as she stroked the small bump on her belly.
"What else can I do to provide some comfort?" He asked, as he added just the right amount of honey to the mug and stirred.
Amy took a sip and closed her eyes, trying to find joy in this simple pleasure. "Just knowing I can count on you is enough."
Sheldon looked unconvinced and sat next to her as she finished her tea. He swiftly took the tray to the kitchen and returned moments later to find tears streaming down her face again. "Amy, I'm worried about you."
"I'm sorry. I just can't stop thinking about everything they've said about us. What kind of friends do that?"
"Inconsiderate ones. Are you sure there's nothing else I can do?"
"Hold me until I fall asleep?"
"Of course."
Amy flipped onto her side, her back facing him, and curled into a fetal position. Sheldon draped his arm over her side, placing his hand on her belly. Amy rested her hand on his and sighed, as she willed herself to forget she ever had a best friend. Who needed friends when she had her husband and unborn child to love and love her back.