It's Valentine's Day! Well, next week, but a little thing called the Olympics happens to be in the way. I'm happy to take a little break and focus on the love lives of some nerds.

Amy and Sheldon go over the relationship contract. Sheldon is supposed to have come up with a pet name for her, but his suggestions are - rather unromantic. However, the big issue is the upcoming holiday. Amy suggests a romantic getaway, which Sheldon nixes immediately. He's stuck, though - the trip is booked, and the Rostenkowski-Wolowitzes are going with them. Amy has gone over all the arrangements, catering to Sheldon's every eccentricity, and yet he still whines that it sounds terrible. She plays her trump card - she's booked a romantic dinner on a vintage train. Sheldon is so thrilled, he almost hugs her. Opening credits.

Over the umpteenth takeout dinner of the week, everyone discusses their Valetine's plans. Penny and Leonard plan to spend a quiet weekend at home, where they will insult each other with aplomb. Sheldon is eager describing the pocket watch he wants to wear on the train. Raj also has plans (to Penny's undisguised shock, though it turns out he's just going to do some research), and wants Penny and Leonard to keep Cinnamon while he's busy.

The big night arrives, and Sheldon's dancing with excitement. Leonard's got the dog, and a ridiculously long list of instructions for her care. Penny arrives with chocolates and flowers. He in turn surprises her with tickets to the Lakers - and a caveat that she doesn't have to take him. Leonard suggests having sex on Sheldon's spot as an act of defiance, but that's too weird for Penny, so they take it to the bedroom. Have fun, kids.

On the train, Sheldon annoys the staff with highly technical questions. I get the feeling I'd do the same thing in a film-related place, so he gets a pass on this one. His fellow diners are rather embarrassed. However, there happens to be a train enthusiast sitting behind them, and he and Sheldon quickly get talking. Howard threatens to jump off the train.

Leonard and Penny emerge from the bedroom to find that Cinnamon has eaten all the chocolates. They dash off to the vet's, hoping they won't to explain to Raj how they killed his little friend.

Sheldon has left the table and moved to sit with the train enthusiast, where they avidly discuss locomotive history. Amy is exasperated. Howard and Bernadette watch with amusement, until they realize how distressed Amy's getting. Bernadette decides to do something. She walks over to Sheldon and tells him exactly what's what. Sheldon agrees that he's being rude - so he returns, and brings the enthusiast with him.

Cinnamon is hauled to an overly serious veterinarian, who cannot fathom why Penny and Leonard dare to smile when the dog is sick. Raj has been summoned, hysterical and blaming everyone in sight while promising the vet that no expense will be spared. Even the vet is taken aback. It looks like the dog will be fine after some treatment, fortunately, but Penny and Leonard might have to watch their backs for a while.

Sheldon and his new friend have totally destroyed the mood. Amy is crushed. The guy suggests that they visit the engine room, which you can apparently do if you ask nicely. They depart, much to everyone's combined annoyance and relief.

Raj chews out his friends for almost killing the dog. They try to apologize, but it doesn't help. Luckily, the dog is well on the way to recovery. The vet, getting friendlier by the minute, allows him to visit her. They'll be dating by the end of the episode, I'm sure. Of course, Penny points this out.

Howard and Bernadette try to comfort Amy. Bernadette points out that Howard is much different from when she met him, citing his trip to space as her work. Nice. Remember, people, you can date jerks all the time, because they totally change!

Apparently visiting a sick dog takes a long time, because Raj and the vet are away for a while. Penny and Leonard speculate as to the cause. They return with Cinnamon in hand. She's recovered and ready to go home. Everyone breathes a sigh of relief, especially the vet when she hears that Penny and Leonard don't have any pets of their own.

The Wolowitz-Rostenkowskis kiss and mutter sweet things, while Amy looks like she swallowed a lemon. Sheldon returns from his excellent adventure. He has also invited the conductor to come back to the inn and play the banjo. Fed up, Amy drags him from the dining car. He goes with her, and brings his friend. Once the "third rail" is chased away, Amy and Sheldon have a huge argument. She blames him for being unromantic, he blames her for tricking him into a getaway he thought would be fun. This culminates in Sheldon sarcastically detailing all the things he could do that are romantic, such as staring in her eyes - and kissing her, which he does. For eleven seconds. Sustained. That's right, folks, you heard it here. Sheldon and Amy made out.

They break apart, stunned. Amy is so overcome that she isn't even disappointed when Sheldon wants to go to the engine room - though she is surprised when he invites her along.

Raj babies his sick dog, then reads over the list of symptoms the vet told him to watch out for. Of course, it isn't a list of symptoms at all. Yvette the vet has thanked him for spending Valentine's Day with her, and given him her phone number. Raj is overjoyed, remarking to the dog that he should have poisoned her months ago.

Sheldon returns from his trip, and recounts all the details to Leonard. His friend is surprised by the lack of detail, and asks him what the highlight was. Sheldon smirks and mutters something about "collecting additional data". Ooh la la!

So, I get the feeling that this episode was more of a "transition" than anything, with the exception of the kiss, which was truly a milestone in the relationship. Somehow I doubt there will be much physicality in the coming weeks, however. For Leonard and Penny, it was another day at the races, but for Raj, we've got many new doors opening. Maybe for once he'll finally stop being the perpetually single friend, otherwise known as "The Ted". It was a fun episode, but not particularly earth-shattering. Once we come back from the Games, it will be interesting to see what else this season has to offer.

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