A/N: Special thanks for this story goes to gohawks12, who provided professional and psychological insight and an axiom that rang true to me from the moment I read it.

I have no ownership of any of these characters. This story is for entertainment purposes only.

Amy knew it was too good to be true.

A real shot at happiness? That only happened in romance novels and fan fiction. What on Earth was she thinking?

…

Amy reminisced over the last four weeks. They had truly been incredible. What had started as the worst time of her life had changed, literally overnight. Seemingly, the old Sheldon was being replaced by a new, better, Sheldon 2.0. Not that he was perfect – no, far from it. Sheldon still made mistakes when he didn't understand Amy's feelings. She still threw up her hands in despair from time to time.

But Sheldon had learned to recognize that look in Amy's eyes, and was getting better at stopping and asking for her to explain what was bothering her. They had even settled on a code phrase to stop whatever was happening and resolve misunderstandings. "Meemaw's cookies." The words invoked a feeling of peace and safety for them both. Communication had always been a strength for the two of them. Now, it was even better.

The first night they had spent together in his apartment had been amazing. OK, in truth it was the second, but Amy wasn't counting cat naps on the hard floor underneath the blanket fort they had made. The first night they really spent together – where they shared his bed – had been better than all Amy had ever hoped. She had woken slowly that morning, feeling as though she had slept better than in ages. When Amy opened her eyes, she found Sheldon propped up on his forearm, watching her. She smiled sleepily up at him. Sheldon's fingertips brushed Amy's hair gently away from her eyes, then he leaned over and kissed her. Amy found she didn't care about shared morning breath. It was kind of sexy, in a weird way.

"Good morning to you, too." Amy smiled, as she stretched her whole body like a cat. God, I could get used to this, she thought. "What's for breakfast?"

Sheldon looked at her quizzically. "Pancakes. It is Saturday the 26th, after all." Amy could feel her own face fall. Sheldon got up to leave the room, and then suddenly turned around. "Is that OK with you?"

Amy nodded her consent, and Sheldon left to get started. Amy smiled to herself as settled back down into the pillows. So, some things hadn't changed. He was still her overly-scheduled Sheldon. But at least now he showed he was thinking of her and asking her input. That was a start.

Sheldon appeared to have enjoyed their overnight as well, as he suggested an amendment to the Relationship Agreement to include two-night-per-week overnight stays, on Fridays and Saturdays, so as to avoid conflict with work schedules. They would alternate apartments: one weekend, it would be Amy's apartment, the next, Sheldon's. Leonard and Penny were only too happy to oblige them privacy on their weekends at 4A, as Leonard and Penny were slowly moving toward living together permanently in 4B. It was good practice, they reasoned.

Four weeks later, the fact that they still hadn't been physically intimate wasn't even too concerning to Amy. There were mornings Amy woke to find Sheldon's hands had wandered during the night. Amy didn't know if the incidents were accidental or for purpose, and while the first time surprised her, the sensation of his hands on her – even through her pajamas - made her feel wanted and loved. Still, Amy chose not to ask Sheldon about it, for fear of creating extra pressure for him. Amy had promised not to push, and she intended on keeping her promise.

After all, Amy had Sheldon's open admission on that exhausting but wonderful June night that he wanted her, both emotionally and physically. Amy was perfectly willing to wait for him to be consciously ready to move forward.

…

That Saturday morning, four weeks after their reconciliation and first night together, Amy had just finished her shower. Amy dried off and pulled on her robe, securely fastening it about her waist. Amy opened the door and kissed Sheldon lightly on the cheek as she brushed by him on her way out of the bathroom, leaving him to take his shower next. She dressed casually in the bedroom, and strolled into the kitchen. What to make for breakfast? Amy thought. She checked the calendar on the refrigerator, and started on omelets and toast. Amy brought out the eggs from the refrigerator and started to crack the first one into a mixing bowl. Just in time for her hands to be messy, her phone rang. Amy picked up her phone as daintily as she could (without getting egg white over it) and read the caller ID.

Amy never swore. At least, not out loud. Inwardly, however, was a completely different story… Oh, sh…

The caller ID revealed a number all too well-known to Amy. There was no way this would be good. None at all. In adventure gamer's parlance, Amy had 3d6 (three six-sided dice) of un-luck. And she just rolled an 18.

"Hello, Mother," Amy said, as enthusiastically as she could manage.

"Hello, dear," her mother replied. "I hope I didn't wake you?"

"No, Mom. I was just getting ready to make breakfast. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?" Even to Amy's ears, that sounded as phony as a three-dollar-bill. Better tone down the chipper attitude, she thought.

Amy's mother started to give Amy an update on family matters, and Amy knew her mother would likely prattle on for a while. She placed the phone on the countertop, on speaker in order to enable her to continue with breakfast preparations.

That move would prove to be her undoing.

From the back of the apartment, the bedroom door opened. Sheldon called out to Amy from inside her bedroom, "Amy, do you know where my belt got to last night? It's not in my bag."

Amy froze, whisk in hand. Her face lost all color. She closed her eyes in prayer to a deity she hoped beyond hope actually existed. Oh, please, don't let her have heard that, please, please…

"Amy? Whose voice was that in the background?"

Amy knew she was done. There was no sense in trying to get out of this one. Her head dropped in defeat. Her voice softened and lowered in volume.

"It's Sheldon, Mom." Oh, Heaven…Here it comes… Amy thought.

"At 7:30 in the morning? What in the world is he doing there that early?"

"Well…" Amy threw her head backward as she tried to think of a way to explain this to her mother that wouldn't end in high drama, but nothing workable would come forward in her brain. Each new idea was worse than the previous one. Amy was ready to fake feeling ill (which really wouldn't have been too much of a stretch at that point) when Sheldon called back from her bedroom, "Never mind; I found it."

Oh, in the name of all that is holy, what did I do to deserve this? Amy anguished, her eyes rolling back and her chest tightening at the thought of what was to come.

"Amy Farrah Fowler, am I to understand that Sheldon is there because he spent the night last night?" Amy's mother demanded.

I must have done something horrid in a past life, Amy reasoned inwardly. Maybe mass murder. That's the only thing that would qualify me for this punishment…

"OK, Mom. There's no reason to get upset. Let's discuss this rationally. We're both adults here…" Amy started.

"Don't 'OK, Mom' me! Are you still hanging on to some ill-advised hope? I've argued and begged and pleaded with you until I'm blue in the face, trying to get you to understand that anyone who would say such horrible things to your mother the first time he met me wasn't worth your time or notice…"

"Mother! You were the one who pushed for me to date in the first place! The George Foreman Grill agreement, remember? I just thought if you heard what you seemed to want to hear, you'd finally leave me alone about it. I told you years ago that I made it up. Sheldon only went along with it because I asked him to…"

It was in that particular moment Sheldon came down the hallway. He stopped at the end of the hall when he saw Amy cover her face with both hands, shaking her head sadly from side to side. Sheldon cocked his head to one side, wondering what was bothering Amy.

Amy moved her hands to massage her temples with her fingertips and closed her eyes. "Mom, listen…"

"No, you listen," her mother interrupted. "I will not stand idly by while you attach yourself to this… I don't even know what to call it! A relationship? I know what you told me about that call. Sheldon was a 'friend' helping you in a 'difficult situation.' I can't see how anything has changed over the last five years at all!

So are you actually together as a couple, or was there an 'agreement' to maintain separation between you in spite of sharing your bed? There's been no discussion of specific long-range plans, certainly no engagement ring! And how long has it been… what... at least five years, I think. How have you sat still while so little progress has been made? How much longer are you going to be willing to put up with this? Patience will only take you so far, Amy!"

Tears started down Amy's face. Sheldon finally understood what was happening in front of him. He picked up the phone and took it back off the speaker setting.

"Mrs. Fowler? Good morning, it's Sheldon Cooper… Yes, ma'am. I absolutely agree that we need to get together to talk… 6:00 tonight? ... Sounds perfect. Where would you like to meet? ... I'll check with Amy, but if she agrees we'll see you there… I'll send you a text and let you know… You have a good day, also."

A low "beep" issued from the phone as Sheldon hung up. He circled the end of the kitchen counter, and took one very distraught Amy into his arms.

"It's going to be OK. We're going to go over to your mother's house. We'll have dinner and we'll all talk," he told her.

Amy looked at him as though he had suddenly sprouted a second head. "You really don't know her at all, do you? My mother is an attorney, Sheldon. She argues professionally. Worse than that, she enjoys it. She set her opinion on you five years ago. And that's all my fault.

When she's decided on something, there is very little that will make her change her mind. I didn't want to tell her about what happened between us over the last two months, because sometimes it's just too hard to talk to her…"

Amy's tears seemed to flow in a cascade. She buried her head into Sheldon's shoulder, finally allowing the sobs to come. Sheldon held Amy as tight as he could without restricting her breathing. Amy could feel his love seeping into her, as he gently kissed the top of her head and then rested his chin there. She started to calm down a little.

Sheldon relaxed his arms somewhat. "As for what has happened between us since May, that's only her business if you want it to be. I am happy with where things are for now, and it won't bother me if you tell her or not. I'm leaving that decision up to you.

Amy, you need to know that you have never made nor will ever make me do anything I don't want to do. I made that Skype call with you to your mother that afternoon all these years ago. I knew what I was doing, even if I didn't foresee this outcome at that time." Sheldon stated.

"But... I… should have," Amy cried out, in between broken sobs. "I have thirty-two years of experience with her!"

"Oh, Amy." Sheldon sighed, and once more held her tightly against his chest. "We'll get through this together. I promise."

We'll see, Amy thought. She was none too optimistic.

Next: Sheldon and Amy get ready to face her mother... and Sheldon meets her Dad.

Thank you for reading, and for leaving feedback if you choose.