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lizwontcryI do plan to post something other than fanfic eventually...but for now...yeah.
Title: The Reverse Crush Conundrum - Chapter Three
Fandom: The Big Bang Theory
Pairing: Sheldon & Penny
Author: Lizwontcry
Rating: This chapter is teen. Past and future chapters are mature.
Summary: Everyone was so focused on Leonard's crush on Penny that her all-consuming crush on Sheldon goes unnoticed. When Sheldon finds out about her feelings, they go on an emotional and physical journey neither of them saw coming.
Disclaimer: I got nothin'.
Chapter one
Chapter two
A few days later, Penny found herself at Leonard and Sheldon's for Thai food night. She and Sheldon hadn't talked much since he left her apartment, and as predicted, it was awkward. They were basically avoiding each other, and it was killing Penny. But he asked her to give him time. Obviously she couldn't wait forever. She liked to think of herself as the kind of girl who wouldn't wait for anyone, really. But she'd wait for him, at least for a while. He was worth it.
While they ate, Penny sat between Leonard and Sheldon on the couch and tried to ignore the intense feeling of wanting to sit on Sheldon's lap, or put her hand on his thigh, or kiss his ear, or do anything that would suggest they were more than 'just friends'. But instead she ate her food and tried to participate in the conversation as much as possible, which wasn't easy since they were, of course, talking about Star Trek. She tried to keep track of their spirited discussion about Captain Picard.
"He cared too much," Howard was saying. "It got in the way of smart decision making. I can name at least five times when he should have made a different decision but didn't because he 'cared' so much."
"You're crazy," Leonard said. "It was because of his empathy that he was a successful captain. He made things happen, you can't deny that."
"I can deny that. He had a lot of weaknesses. Remember when-"
"As the man himself once said, 'It is possible to commit no errors and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life'." Four confused and intrigued heads swung in Penny's direction.
"What you guys are forgetting is that his archaeologist background gave him a much better understanding of the planets they encountered. He could appreciate the landscape and the culture much better than the other captains. That made the lifeforms on those planets respect him. Like Hugh. Because of Hugh, Picard decided not to destroy the Borg and then eventually the Borg destroyed themselves. So I think Picard was the best captain because he really, truly cared."
Apparently she had rendered the boys speechless. They were incapable of coming up with any kind of response for what seemed like years. Finally Leonard said, "Okay, who are you and what did you do with Penny?"
"Penny has been watching a lot of the Next Generation lately," Sheldon said. "Apparently she's been able to pick up on the reasons why Picard is the preeminent captain of the franchise."
Nobody asked why Sheldon knew what Penny was watching in her spare time...he always knew the weirdest things.
To change the subject, Penny started rambling. "Oh, and did you guys see what happened on Jersey Shore? Snooki was all up in Vinny's junk. It was so gross. It's like, how are you ever going to marry Jioni if you can't stop being a slut for five minutes, you know what I mean?" Penny was quite sure nobody knew what she meant. But she had to contribute that to the conversation just to feel like herself again.
The boys stared at her blankly and then continued their Star Trek debate. She tuned them out, way too distracted by Sheldon's thigh grazing hers, and the fact that he felt compelled to contribute Penny's Star Trek viewing habits to the conversation. Like he was proud of himself for knowing, and proud of her for watching. Or something.
Howard started to make a case for why Captain Kirk was the most bad-ass captain of them all. Sheldon and Raj were arguing with him and it was getting loud. Sheldon started to look bored. And just when Penny was sure she needed to make an excuse and get out of there before her hormones exploded all over Sheldon, he leaned over and whispered, "Penny...I have to tell you something that I find hard to admit."
"Really? Go ahead, sweetie, you know you can tell me anything."
He paused for a moment and it looked like he was trying to summon up some courage. She waited patiently. Mostly because she was sure what he was about to say would probably break her heart in some kind of way. He was probably going to tell her that he couldn't continue this charade and she didn't need to wait for him anymore.
"Sometimes...sometimes I can still taste you. Sometimes I can still even feel you. What have you done to me?"
Penny literally stopped breathing. Okay, maybe not literally, but it sure felt like it. Was this real life? In what universe did Sheldon say things like that? Think things like that? Instead of losing her cool, she whispered back, "Oh, yeah? We haven't even begun, sweetie. I can teach you things. You won't ever want to leave my bedroom."
And the way he looked at her after that was carnal and sexy and Penny never hated the other three guys for...for...for existing as much as she did at that moment. She wished she could bite him or...mount him or something. Mark her territory. Instead, Sheldon put his hand on her knee for a brief moment. Never had anything so simple felt so tantalizing and erotic. It shouldn't have turned her on so much. But it did. And she was.
Raj poked Howard and whispered in his ear-apparently he wasn't partaking in alcoholic beverages with his meal. Howard nodded and said, "I'm curious, too. Sheldon, what are you whispering to Penny? Are you the one who gave her all that Picard information just so she could freak us out or something?"
"No, although I agree with what she was saying, I would have presented my argument for Picard in a much more eloquent way." Penny scoffed. She'd make him pay for that later. "Penny was just telling me what she was going to get you for your birthday, Raj. And I was telling her that was a terrible present and you didn't care for such extravagant gifts."
Penny had no idea where that came from, but it amused her anyway.
Raj looked disappointed. He whispered again to Howard, who said, "He wants Penny to know that she should feel free to give him whatever she feels is right. And if she has any extra single girlfriends, he wouldn't object to that, either."
"Where would I have the time to find more female friends, you guys? I'm always here."
"While we do appreciate the eye candy you bring to the table, we do often wonder why you are, as you say, always here. Any normal girl would have gotten tired of us a long time ago." Howard said. Leonard gave him a death glare.
"I'm here because I want to be. I like learning stuff from you guys. And sometimes Sheldon gives me chocolate." And orgasms, she thought to herself. "Um, I just remembered I left my oven on. I'll be back in a minute." She gave Sheldon a look, and she went across the hall to her apartment. If he didn't take the hint, she was going to-
"Penny?" Knock. "Penny?" Knock. "Penny?" Knock. He took the hint. She opened the door and there he was. Dorky as ever. And all she wanted to do was throw him against the wall and have her way with him.
But she still didn't want to freak him out. Penny wasn't stupid; she knew that even though Sheldon's hormones were making him feel the way he did, she was sure he wasn't in that place yet. The place where she was. The place where they could have an honest, healthy, physical, trusting relationship. She didn't want to take advantage of his newly found sex drive, so instead of leading him straight into the bedroom, she just waited for what he had to say.
"We just ate dinner and you had Quizno's for lunch. Therefore you'd have no reason to bake anything today. That's why I knew your oven wasn't on."
"Very good, Sheldon. Why do you think I came back here for a moment, then?"
"Maybe because you are also unable to stop thinking about this," he said, and right there against the door, he kissed her. It was long and deep and he bit her lip and she moaned and held on to him with every fiber of her being and she couldn't imagine ever letting go of him, and where did her old annoying friend Sheldon go and why couldn't she stop kissing him-
Finally he pulled away and said, "We should go back. They're going to send a search party out soon."
"Yeah," she said, disappointed that it had to end. Who knows when they'd be back here again.
"Penny?"
"Yeah?" She said again, not able to be any more eloquent than that.
"Thanks." Before she could ask what the hell he was thanking her for, he was gone. Still feeling the kiss lingering on her lips, she followed him across the hall like a puppy. When she sat back down, she looked at him and was glad she wasn't wearing lipstick. However, lack of evidence didn't seem to deter Leonard from looking at both of them suspiciously.
"Now, what was that about?" Leonard asked, getting that unattractive look on his face; the one that suggested Penny had done something wrong. It was one of the reasons why she broke up with him.
"I was concerned. About Penny's oven." Sheldon said. Penny inwardly groaned. He was going to have to get so much better at lying.
"I told him earlier that I was smelling something weird and he thought it was coming from the oven so yeah, that's what happened."
Leonard shook his head but didn't continue this line of questioning. Penny was sure they were all about to get themselves in trouble, in more ways than one.
Howard and Raj left soon after they finished eating. Leonard, Sheldon and Penny sat together and watched a mutually agreed upon viewing of the Good Wife. Sheldon usually hated anything non-science fiction, but he loved him some Alicia Florrick for some unknown reason. Penny just wanted to see what Mr. Big was up to this week.
Leonard was yawning and sinking further and further into the couch. He was obviously tired but didn't seem to want to leave Penny and Sheldon alone. When the Good Wife was over, Leonard glanced at them and said, "Well, it's pretty late..."
"Yes, it is," Sheldon said. Penny nodded.
"Oh. Well. Okay. Good night?"
"Good night," Penny wished to holy hell that he'd shut the fuck up and leave them alone already.
Leonard looked so confused as he walked back to his room. When the door closed, Sheldon took Penny's hand.
"As much as I'd like to come back to your apartment with you, I think it's premature in our...whatever this is to do so. And as you can see, Leonard is quite suspicious of us already. So I think we'll have to postpone our, ahem, experiment, until a later time."
"When?" She asked, feeling pathetic. What was it about him that made her feel so weak in the knees? Leonard never made her feel like that. Hell, no man had.
"I don't know...I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the coitus that occurred on Anything Can Happen Thursday. Time, Penny. Please. Give me time."
"I know, I'm trying. I just..." Want you so bad. Need you so much. "Never mind. Just let me know when you're ready to try again."
"Thank you for understanding." He walked her to the door and gave her a soft kiss with just enough tongue to make sure she'd be thinking about it for days. At least he could kiss her without freaking out. That seemed like a huge step in the right direction.
"Penny?"
"Sheldon?"
"It won't be that long. Something inside of me seems to have shifted. I'm not sure if it's good or bad. At first I thought I was ill, and I went to the doctor and described my symptoms. He laughed at me, Penny. And when I told him about you, he suggested that I wasn't ill and in fact had feelings of-well, you know."
Penny grinned. "You told your doctor about me? You're such a dork."
"Yes, well, even with that being the case, all I know is that I need to touch you again soon or my lifeforce will just simply cease operation. That's what the doctor told me, anyway."
She didn't know what the hell that meant but she was still amazed by his words. And she silently thanked this doctor who, even though she'd never met him, was apparently looking out for her.
"Good, Sheldon. My lifeforce wants your lifeforce to exist as long as possible. Because sooner or later, I want you inside of me again." She smiled at him and then walked inside her apartment and closed the door. This time, she'd be the one to leave him hanging.
Sheldon and Penny went about their daily lives the rest of the week, only bumping into each other once or twice and exchanging the required pleasantries. Penny wanted to give him plenty of room to figure out what he wanted, but she was hoping he'd spend more time with her while he did that. It turned out he wasn't much of a multitasker.
Instead of sitting around and waiting, though, she went out with the girls almost every night, worked out every day, wrote a few chapters of her novel...it turned out sexual frustration was an excellent motivator for productivity. She desperately wanted to talk to Bernadette and Amy about what was happening with Sheldon, but Bernadette was so excited about her upcoming wedding to Howard that she couldn't shut up about it. As for Amy...Penny had no idea how Amy would take the news. Amy wanted so badly for Sheldon to give into her physical wishes, but he barely even tolerated cuddling, and here he was making out with Penny whenever she could get him alone. She was pretty sure that this particular confession would have to wait a few months. Or years.
Penny found herself looking forward to Saturday more than what was bearable. Saturday was laundry night. She was a little depressed that laundry was her biggest thrill of the week, but she always did laundry with Sheldon. So Penny had to think to herself, he couldn't avoid laundry day, could he? It was like the most important day of the week for him.
It turns out he couldn't. At 8:15 sharp, there were the knocks and the Penny Penny Pennys as usual. She opened the door with a ridiculously happy smile and said, "Hey, sweetie. Let's do it."
They walked down to the tiny laundry room together. Penny wanted to hold hands or something, but one step at a time.
"So what did you do today?" Sheldon asked as he dumped his whites in a washer. "I myself watched almost an entire season of Doctor Who while I wrote a paper on particle theory for an upcoming seminar. It was a very satisfying day."
Penny blinked. "Well, that sounds...awesome. Today was pretty much all about GTL."
"What is that? Some kind of recreational drug I haven't heard about yet?"
"Gym. Tan. Laundry."
"I see. You spent a lot of time in germ factories today. I guess we both have our definitions of fun." He looked somewhat disgusted. Penny guessed she wasn't going to be getting any after the laundry was done. He was such a friggin' weirdo. Good thing he was so adorable. And so damn good in bed.
Speaking of which...
"So do you have any plans for tomorrow night?" He tried to ask casually.
"Nope. I'm working the after-church shift and after that, Amy has a date and Bernadette is doing wedding stuff, so I was just going to hang out, maybe do some writing."
"Really? Who is Amy dating?"
She couldn't help but feel a tiny pang of jealousy in his curious question.
"I'll give you one guess. He's creepy and he likes comic books."
"Well, that describes a number of the socially awkward misfits I like to call my friends, Penny. You'll have to elaborate."
"Stuart. She's going out with Stuart. I personally don't see the appeal but she's a kooky girl. Why? Jealous?"
"Of course I'm not jealous. I have a high IQ and I'm going to have a Nobel Prize someday. The only thing Stuart has to look forward to is moving out of his mother's basement. No, Amy can do whatever she likes, we no longer have a relationship agreement. But why I asked about your plans is because...I wanted to ask you out on a date."
Penny smiled. It was not a small smile. It was a huge, all-encompassing smile that hurt her face. It was so big, it even made Sheldon grin.
"Really? I mean-really?"
"Well, it isn't my idea of a swell time or anything, but I know normal social conventions are important to you."
Penny exhaled. He was so utterly impossible. And yet so effing charming all at the same time. What was she going to do with him?
"Sheldon Cooper, I would love to go on a date with you. What time will you pick me up? And by that I mean when am I going to drive us to wherever we're going?"
"I will come collect you at 7:00, if that's agreeable. We'll go to dinner. And then we'll see what happens after that."
"After that? And what exactly do you mean by that, Dr. Cooper?"
He thought about it for a second. She could tell he was trying to figure out if she was asking literally what he meant by that, or if she was just being flirtatious. It was so interesting to watch his mind work.
"I don't know. I guess we'll both have to be surprised." Well, it wasn't the sexiest answer but he was trying.
In the name of flirty banter (and just to mess with him a little), she took her sexiest black bra and panties from her laundry basket and said, "Good thing I'm washing these, then," and winked at him. He turned a bright shade of pink and she laughed.
"Come here," he said. She obeyed, and he kissed her chastely and discretely put a warm hand under her shirt and squeezed. "You tease me, I tease you." He grinned, and then escaped out of the laundry room. Penny couldn't help but laugh. This was one weird relationship they were making for themselves. They either avoided each other completely or groped each other in the laundry room. Penny wasn't sure what the hell was going on, but she was looking forward to finding out.
Penny took a long time getting dressed for this date. She finally decided on a fairly short skirt and a black form-fitting, cleavage-showing top. It wasn't that she wanted Sheldon to find her sexy; she already knew he was attracted to her. Mostly, she just wanted this to feel like a real date. Not just an excursion with the guy who lived across the hall. If they were going to do this, she wanted it to feel like they were doing it. Well, it made sense in her head, anyway.
When Sheldon came to collect her, she opened her door nervously and peeked out. He was looking hot in his black suit and she wanted to skip dinner altogether.
"Is Leonard home?"
"No, he and Raj went to a bar to engage in frivolous mating games. He actually wanted me to come, could you believe that?"
"He should know you better than that by now," Penny agreed.
"I believe it is standard for me to tell you that you look very nice this evening," he said, avoiding her eyes.
"It's only a standard if you, in fact, think that I look very nice," she said, messing with him again. It was always going to be fun to mess with Sheldon.
He sighed. "Yes, I do find that you are looking quite attractive. Especially in comparison to the tank tops and sweats you normally wear around me."
She swatted him lightly on the arm and said, "That's so charming, sweetie. And come on, you love my sweats."
"I like you better out of them," he muttered. She laughed, trying to hide her shock that he actually said those words out loud.
In the car, she tried to listen to the Guns N' Roses CD that was permanently stuck in her CD player, but Sheldon kept turning it off so they could play car games. Someday she'd make him listen to the CD that she'd rocked out to on so many occasions. Maybe after she got her engine checked.
When Sheldon finally paused to take a breath from his relentless car games, Penny said, "Oh, I meant to tell you, I had that interview at the university. Dr. Carter was so nice and we really got along. She said she'll call me this week about the job."
"Oh, yes, she told me. She was, in fact, quite impressed with you, even though you possess almost no experience for such a position. There's a learning curve, though, and I think with your new found confidence in writing, you'll pick it up quickly."
She was always trying to figure out if she should be flattered or offended by the things he said to her.
"Yeah, it sounded like it wouldn't be hard to figure out. Thanks again for the opportunity. I appreciate your faith in me."
He looked at her, looking so serious and so handsome. "I want you to do well in your life, Penny. I'm sorry if it doesn't come across that way. For the record, I think you're smart and creative and attractive and you deserve to be happy. And we both know working at the Cheesecake Factory isn't going to make you happy."
And then her heart melted all over everything and made a huge giant disgusting mess.
"Thank you, sweetie. You don't know what that means to me. I'm not just saying this because you just said all those amazing things, but I want you to know...I want you to know that I think you're brilliant. And so handsome. And you're going to win that Nobel Prize in the next couple of years. I have complete faith in you."
"Well, all that goes without saying, but thank you." He reached over and caressed her arm for just a brief moment and gave her an adoring look that she'd probably always remember. He could be brave and shy and mysterious all he wanted, but the look and the touch gave him away. Sheldon Cooper was crazy about her. In his own way, granted, but crazy about her nonetheless.
At the Mexican food restaurant that they were both way too overdressed for, Penny ordered a martini with extra olives. Sheldon ordered a strawberry margarita, much to her surprise.
"You don't drink, Sheldon. What's up?"
He sighed. "I know you like it when I tell you what I'm 'feeling', Penny, so I'll tell you. I'm nervous. My palms are sweating. My heart is racing. And I've read alcohol helps out in these awkward situations."
Penny was almost offended but she had to admit that it was kind of awkward. They didn't really go out to eat by themselves much, especially not since he'd met Amy.
"I get it. Thanks for your honesty. I have to say, it's really nice to hang out with you, you know, one on one. We haven't gotten to see each other much over the past couple of years, what with you and Amy and Leonard and I. Isn't this nice?"
"It is nice, yes. We do have a certain rapport that I've never had with anyone else. But Penny...well, never mind."
"Oh, come on, like I'm going to let you get away with that. You can tell me what's on your mind. I won't judge you. Much."
"Well, in light of this recent endeavor we find ourselves participating in, doesn't it ever worry you that...ahem...we have nothing in common?"
Penny's heart sank. She knew he had to be thinking something like that somewhere in that big brain of his. It just kind of sucked to know she was right.
"I wouldn't say nothing, sweetie. Let's see, we both like French toast. We enjoy a fondness for sitting on our asses and watching TV for long periods of time. Age of Conan. We both hate Howard Wolowitz."
Sheldon nodded. "That is one thing we can definitely agree on."
"And...I know one of your secrets."
He suddenly looked nervous, like he was hiding something under his bed and she just found out.
"I have no secrets, Penny. I challenge you to come up with one secret. It will be impossible."
"It's not impossible. I know what it is. You like country music."
Sheldon gasped and looked horrified. Penny laughed.
"Oh, come on, honey. It's no big deal. You're from Texas, I'm from Nebraska. Neither of us could escape country music growing up in our hick towns. Embrace it. I have."
"So you came to this conclusion just based on where I grew up? That's terrible evidence, Penny. You would not be a good scientist."
"I have empirical evidence, actually. I saw your Garth Brooks CD. I won't reveal where I found it but I know it exists. And it's okay. I love Garth Brooks. I've seen him live five times!"
"Twice," he whispered. "I've seen him twice. My sister loves him more than she loves Jesus."
Penny laughed. "See? We have that in common. Now eat your rice and beans."
They ate in silence. Comfortable silence.
"Penny?"
"Sheldon?"
"You're not worried that aside from our mutual hatred for Howard Wolowitz, country music, certain sweet foods and a computer game that we both enjoy playing in our leisure time, we don't have anything else in common?"
Penny sighs. "Yes, of course I worry about that. We are very different people. But if you have feelings for me-and you damn well know I have feelings for you-then you have to be willing to try to open your mind. Before I met you guys, I'd never seen a single episode of Star Trek. Now I'm practically writing Next Generation fanfic."
"It's easier for you to change. You're not so set in your ways. You don't need everything as organized as I do. What am I supposed to do?"
"You mean I'm not as anal as you are. I'm not trying to change you, Sheldon. I would never do that. I just want you to be able to compromise."
"That's hard for me," he admitted.
"I know it is. We'll do it together, though, okay? And if it doesn't work out, at least we tried."
"I can agree to that. Of course, later, when we've had a fight that makes you blame everything on this moment that we're having right now, I'm going to blame my acquiescing to the fact that I am slightly inebriated."
Sometimes, usually when she wanted to kill him the most, he looked like a vulnerable little boy.
But two hours later in her bedroom, he looked the exact opposite.
Title: The Reverse Crush Conundrum - Chapter Three
Fandom: The Big Bang Theory
Pairing: Sheldon & Penny
Author: Lizwontcry
Rating: This chapter is teen. Past and future chapters are mature.
Summary: Everyone was so focused on Leonard's crush on Penny that her all-consuming crush on Sheldon goes unnoticed. When Sheldon finds out about her feelings, they go on an emotional and physical journey neither of them saw coming.
Disclaimer: I got nothin'.
Chapter one
Chapter two
A few days later, Penny found herself at Leonard and Sheldon's for Thai food night. She and Sheldon hadn't talked much since he left her apartment, and as predicted, it was awkward. They were basically avoiding each other, and it was killing Penny. But he asked her to give him time. Obviously she couldn't wait forever. She liked to think of herself as the kind of girl who wouldn't wait for anyone, really. But she'd wait for him, at least for a while. He was worth it.
While they ate, Penny sat between Leonard and Sheldon on the couch and tried to ignore the intense feeling of wanting to sit on Sheldon's lap, or put her hand on his thigh, or kiss his ear, or do anything that would suggest they were more than 'just friends'. But instead she ate her food and tried to participate in the conversation as much as possible, which wasn't easy since they were, of course, talking about Star Trek. She tried to keep track of their spirited discussion about Captain Picard.
"He cared too much," Howard was saying. "It got in the way of smart decision making. I can name at least five times when he should have made a different decision but didn't because he 'cared' so much."
"You're crazy," Leonard said. "It was because of his empathy that he was a successful captain. He made things happen, you can't deny that."
"I can deny that. He had a lot of weaknesses. Remember when-"
"As the man himself once said, 'It is possible to commit no errors and still lose. That is not a weakness. That is life'." Four confused and intrigued heads swung in Penny's direction.
"What you guys are forgetting is that his archaeologist background gave him a much better understanding of the planets they encountered. He could appreciate the landscape and the culture much better than the other captains. That made the lifeforms on those planets respect him. Like Hugh. Because of Hugh, Picard decided not to destroy the Borg and then eventually the Borg destroyed themselves. So I think Picard was the best captain because he really, truly cared."
Apparently she had rendered the boys speechless. They were incapable of coming up with any kind of response for what seemed like years. Finally Leonard said, "Okay, who are you and what did you do with Penny?"
"Penny has been watching a lot of the Next Generation lately," Sheldon said. "Apparently she's been able to pick up on the reasons why Picard is the preeminent captain of the franchise."
Nobody asked why Sheldon knew what Penny was watching in her spare time...he always knew the weirdest things.
To change the subject, Penny started rambling. "Oh, and did you guys see what happened on Jersey Shore? Snooki was all up in Vinny's junk. It was so gross. It's like, how are you ever going to marry Jioni if you can't stop being a slut for five minutes, you know what I mean?" Penny was quite sure nobody knew what she meant. But she had to contribute that to the conversation just to feel like herself again.
The boys stared at her blankly and then continued their Star Trek debate. She tuned them out, way too distracted by Sheldon's thigh grazing hers, and the fact that he felt compelled to contribute Penny's Star Trek viewing habits to the conversation. Like he was proud of himself for knowing, and proud of her for watching. Or something.
Howard started to make a case for why Captain Kirk was the most bad-ass captain of them all. Sheldon and Raj were arguing with him and it was getting loud. Sheldon started to look bored. And just when Penny was sure she needed to make an excuse and get out of there before her hormones exploded all over Sheldon, he leaned over and whispered, "Penny...I have to tell you something that I find hard to admit."
"Really? Go ahead, sweetie, you know you can tell me anything."
He paused for a moment and it looked like he was trying to summon up some courage. She waited patiently. Mostly because she was sure what he was about to say would probably break her heart in some kind of way. He was probably going to tell her that he couldn't continue this charade and she didn't need to wait for him anymore.
"Sometimes...sometimes I can still taste you. Sometimes I can still even feel you. What have you done to me?"
Penny literally stopped breathing. Okay, maybe not literally, but it sure felt like it. Was this real life? In what universe did Sheldon say things like that? Think things like that? Instead of losing her cool, she whispered back, "Oh, yeah? We haven't even begun, sweetie. I can teach you things. You won't ever want to leave my bedroom."
And the way he looked at her after that was carnal and sexy and Penny never hated the other three guys for...for...for existing as much as she did at that moment. She wished she could bite him or...mount him or something. Mark her territory. Instead, Sheldon put his hand on her knee for a brief moment. Never had anything so simple felt so tantalizing and erotic. It shouldn't have turned her on so much. But it did. And she was.
Raj poked Howard and whispered in his ear-apparently he wasn't partaking in alcoholic beverages with his meal. Howard nodded and said, "I'm curious, too. Sheldon, what are you whispering to Penny? Are you the one who gave her all that Picard information just so she could freak us out or something?"
"No, although I agree with what she was saying, I would have presented my argument for Picard in a much more eloquent way." Penny scoffed. She'd make him pay for that later. "Penny was just telling me what she was going to get you for your birthday, Raj. And I was telling her that was a terrible present and you didn't care for such extravagant gifts."
Penny had no idea where that came from, but it amused her anyway.
Raj looked disappointed. He whispered again to Howard, who said, "He wants Penny to know that she should feel free to give him whatever she feels is right. And if she has any extra single girlfriends, he wouldn't object to that, either."
"Where would I have the time to find more female friends, you guys? I'm always here."
"While we do appreciate the eye candy you bring to the table, we do often wonder why you are, as you say, always here. Any normal girl would have gotten tired of us a long time ago." Howard said. Leonard gave him a death glare.
"I'm here because I want to be. I like learning stuff from you guys. And sometimes Sheldon gives me chocolate." And orgasms, she thought to herself. "Um, I just remembered I left my oven on. I'll be back in a minute." She gave Sheldon a look, and she went across the hall to her apartment. If he didn't take the hint, she was going to-
"Penny?" Knock. "Penny?" Knock. "Penny?" Knock. He took the hint. She opened the door and there he was. Dorky as ever. And all she wanted to do was throw him against the wall and have her way with him.
But she still didn't want to freak him out. Penny wasn't stupid; she knew that even though Sheldon's hormones were making him feel the way he did, she was sure he wasn't in that place yet. The place where she was. The place where they could have an honest, healthy, physical, trusting relationship. She didn't want to take advantage of his newly found sex drive, so instead of leading him straight into the bedroom, she just waited for what he had to say.
"We just ate dinner and you had Quizno's for lunch. Therefore you'd have no reason to bake anything today. That's why I knew your oven wasn't on."
"Very good, Sheldon. Why do you think I came back here for a moment, then?"
"Maybe because you are also unable to stop thinking about this," he said, and right there against the door, he kissed her. It was long and deep and he bit her lip and she moaned and held on to him with every fiber of her being and she couldn't imagine ever letting go of him, and where did her old annoying friend Sheldon go and why couldn't she stop kissing him-
Finally he pulled away and said, "We should go back. They're going to send a search party out soon."
"Yeah," she said, disappointed that it had to end. Who knows when they'd be back here again.
"Penny?"
"Yeah?" She said again, not able to be any more eloquent than that.
"Thanks." Before she could ask what the hell he was thanking her for, he was gone. Still feeling the kiss lingering on her lips, she followed him across the hall like a puppy. When she sat back down, she looked at him and was glad she wasn't wearing lipstick. However, lack of evidence didn't seem to deter Leonard from looking at both of them suspiciously.
"Now, what was that about?" Leonard asked, getting that unattractive look on his face; the one that suggested Penny had done something wrong. It was one of the reasons why she broke up with him.
"I was concerned. About Penny's oven." Sheldon said. Penny inwardly groaned. He was going to have to get so much better at lying.
"I told him earlier that I was smelling something weird and he thought it was coming from the oven so yeah, that's what happened."
Leonard shook his head but didn't continue this line of questioning. Penny was sure they were all about to get themselves in trouble, in more ways than one.
Howard and Raj left soon after they finished eating. Leonard, Sheldon and Penny sat together and watched a mutually agreed upon viewing of the Good Wife. Sheldon usually hated anything non-science fiction, but he loved him some Alicia Florrick for some unknown reason. Penny just wanted to see what Mr. Big was up to this week.
Leonard was yawning and sinking further and further into the couch. He was obviously tired but didn't seem to want to leave Penny and Sheldon alone. When the Good Wife was over, Leonard glanced at them and said, "Well, it's pretty late..."
"Yes, it is," Sheldon said. Penny nodded.
"Oh. Well. Okay. Good night?"
"Good night," Penny wished to holy hell that he'd shut the fuck up and leave them alone already.
Leonard looked so confused as he walked back to his room. When the door closed, Sheldon took Penny's hand.
"As much as I'd like to come back to your apartment with you, I think it's premature in our...whatever this is to do so. And as you can see, Leonard is quite suspicious of us already. So I think we'll have to postpone our, ahem, experiment, until a later time."
"When?" She asked, feeling pathetic. What was it about him that made her feel so weak in the knees? Leonard never made her feel like that. Hell, no man had.
"I don't know...I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the coitus that occurred on Anything Can Happen Thursday. Time, Penny. Please. Give me time."
"I know, I'm trying. I just..." Want you so bad. Need you so much. "Never mind. Just let me know when you're ready to try again."
"Thank you for understanding." He walked her to the door and gave her a soft kiss with just enough tongue to make sure she'd be thinking about it for days. At least he could kiss her without freaking out. That seemed like a huge step in the right direction.
"Penny?"
"Sheldon?"
"It won't be that long. Something inside of me seems to have shifted. I'm not sure if it's good or bad. At first I thought I was ill, and I went to the doctor and described my symptoms. He laughed at me, Penny. And when I told him about you, he suggested that I wasn't ill and in fact had feelings of-well, you know."
Penny grinned. "You told your doctor about me? You're such a dork."
"Yes, well, even with that being the case, all I know is that I need to touch you again soon or my lifeforce will just simply cease operation. That's what the doctor told me, anyway."
She didn't know what the hell that meant but she was still amazed by his words. And she silently thanked this doctor who, even though she'd never met him, was apparently looking out for her.
"Good, Sheldon. My lifeforce wants your lifeforce to exist as long as possible. Because sooner or later, I want you inside of me again." She smiled at him and then walked inside her apartment and closed the door. This time, she'd be the one to leave him hanging.
Sheldon and Penny went about their daily lives the rest of the week, only bumping into each other once or twice and exchanging the required pleasantries. Penny wanted to give him plenty of room to figure out what he wanted, but she was hoping he'd spend more time with her while he did that. It turned out he wasn't much of a multitasker.
Instead of sitting around and waiting, though, she went out with the girls almost every night, worked out every day, wrote a few chapters of her novel...it turned out sexual frustration was an excellent motivator for productivity. She desperately wanted to talk to Bernadette and Amy about what was happening with Sheldon, but Bernadette was so excited about her upcoming wedding to Howard that she couldn't shut up about it. As for Amy...Penny had no idea how Amy would take the news. Amy wanted so badly for Sheldon to give into her physical wishes, but he barely even tolerated cuddling, and here he was making out with Penny whenever she could get him alone. She was pretty sure that this particular confession would have to wait a few months. Or years.
Penny found herself looking forward to Saturday more than what was bearable. Saturday was laundry night. She was a little depressed that laundry was her biggest thrill of the week, but she always did laundry with Sheldon. So Penny had to think to herself, he couldn't avoid laundry day, could he? It was like the most important day of the week for him.
It turns out he couldn't. At 8:15 sharp, there were the knocks and the Penny Penny Pennys as usual. She opened the door with a ridiculously happy smile and said, "Hey, sweetie. Let's do it."
They walked down to the tiny laundry room together. Penny wanted to hold hands or something, but one step at a time.
"So what did you do today?" Sheldon asked as he dumped his whites in a washer. "I myself watched almost an entire season of Doctor Who while I wrote a paper on particle theory for an upcoming seminar. It was a very satisfying day."
Penny blinked. "Well, that sounds...awesome. Today was pretty much all about GTL."
"What is that? Some kind of recreational drug I haven't heard about yet?"
"Gym. Tan. Laundry."
"I see. You spent a lot of time in germ factories today. I guess we both have our definitions of fun." He looked somewhat disgusted. Penny guessed she wasn't going to be getting any after the laundry was done. He was such a friggin' weirdo. Good thing he was so adorable. And so damn good in bed.
Speaking of which...
"So do you have any plans for tomorrow night?" He tried to ask casually.
"Nope. I'm working the after-church shift and after that, Amy has a date and Bernadette is doing wedding stuff, so I was just going to hang out, maybe do some writing."
"Really? Who is Amy dating?"
She couldn't help but feel a tiny pang of jealousy in his curious question.
"I'll give you one guess. He's creepy and he likes comic books."
"Well, that describes a number of the socially awkward misfits I like to call my friends, Penny. You'll have to elaborate."
"Stuart. She's going out with Stuart. I personally don't see the appeal but she's a kooky girl. Why? Jealous?"
"Of course I'm not jealous. I have a high IQ and I'm going to have a Nobel Prize someday. The only thing Stuart has to look forward to is moving out of his mother's basement. No, Amy can do whatever she likes, we no longer have a relationship agreement. But why I asked about your plans is because...I wanted to ask you out on a date."
Penny smiled. It was not a small smile. It was a huge, all-encompassing smile that hurt her face. It was so big, it even made Sheldon grin.
"Really? I mean-really?"
"Well, it isn't my idea of a swell time or anything, but I know normal social conventions are important to you."
Penny exhaled. He was so utterly impossible. And yet so effing charming all at the same time. What was she going to do with him?
"Sheldon Cooper, I would love to go on a date with you. What time will you pick me up? And by that I mean when am I going to drive us to wherever we're going?"
"I will come collect you at 7:00, if that's agreeable. We'll go to dinner. And then we'll see what happens after that."
"After that? And what exactly do you mean by that, Dr. Cooper?"
He thought about it for a second. She could tell he was trying to figure out if she was asking literally what he meant by that, or if she was just being flirtatious. It was so interesting to watch his mind work.
"I don't know. I guess we'll both have to be surprised." Well, it wasn't the sexiest answer but he was trying.
In the name of flirty banter (and just to mess with him a little), she took her sexiest black bra and panties from her laundry basket and said, "Good thing I'm washing these, then," and winked at him. He turned a bright shade of pink and she laughed.
"Come here," he said. She obeyed, and he kissed her chastely and discretely put a warm hand under her shirt and squeezed. "You tease me, I tease you." He grinned, and then escaped out of the laundry room. Penny couldn't help but laugh. This was one weird relationship they were making for themselves. They either avoided each other completely or groped each other in the laundry room. Penny wasn't sure what the hell was going on, but she was looking forward to finding out.
Penny took a long time getting dressed for this date. She finally decided on a fairly short skirt and a black form-fitting, cleavage-showing top. It wasn't that she wanted Sheldon to find her sexy; she already knew he was attracted to her. Mostly, she just wanted this to feel like a real date. Not just an excursion with the guy who lived across the hall. If they were going to do this, she wanted it to feel like they were doing it. Well, it made sense in her head, anyway.
When Sheldon came to collect her, she opened her door nervously and peeked out. He was looking hot in his black suit and she wanted to skip dinner altogether.
"Is Leonard home?"
"No, he and Raj went to a bar to engage in frivolous mating games. He actually wanted me to come, could you believe that?"
"He should know you better than that by now," Penny agreed.
"I believe it is standard for me to tell you that you look very nice this evening," he said, avoiding her eyes.
"It's only a standard if you, in fact, think that I look very nice," she said, messing with him again. It was always going to be fun to mess with Sheldon.
He sighed. "Yes, I do find that you are looking quite attractive. Especially in comparison to the tank tops and sweats you normally wear around me."
She swatted him lightly on the arm and said, "That's so charming, sweetie. And come on, you love my sweats."
"I like you better out of them," he muttered. She laughed, trying to hide her shock that he actually said those words out loud.
In the car, she tried to listen to the Guns N' Roses CD that was permanently stuck in her CD player, but Sheldon kept turning it off so they could play car games. Someday she'd make him listen to the CD that she'd rocked out to on so many occasions. Maybe after she got her engine checked.
When Sheldon finally paused to take a breath from his relentless car games, Penny said, "Oh, I meant to tell you, I had that interview at the university. Dr. Carter was so nice and we really got along. She said she'll call me this week about the job."
"Oh, yes, she told me. She was, in fact, quite impressed with you, even though you possess almost no experience for such a position. There's a learning curve, though, and I think with your new found confidence in writing, you'll pick it up quickly."
She was always trying to figure out if she should be flattered or offended by the things he said to her.
"Yeah, it sounded like it wouldn't be hard to figure out. Thanks again for the opportunity. I appreciate your faith in me."
He looked at her, looking so serious and so handsome. "I want you to do well in your life, Penny. I'm sorry if it doesn't come across that way. For the record, I think you're smart and creative and attractive and you deserve to be happy. And we both know working at the Cheesecake Factory isn't going to make you happy."
And then her heart melted all over everything and made a huge giant disgusting mess.
"Thank you, sweetie. You don't know what that means to me. I'm not just saying this because you just said all those amazing things, but I want you to know...I want you to know that I think you're brilliant. And so handsome. And you're going to win that Nobel Prize in the next couple of years. I have complete faith in you."
"Well, all that goes without saying, but thank you." He reached over and caressed her arm for just a brief moment and gave her an adoring look that she'd probably always remember. He could be brave and shy and mysterious all he wanted, but the look and the touch gave him away. Sheldon Cooper was crazy about her. In his own way, granted, but crazy about her nonetheless.
At the Mexican food restaurant that they were both way too overdressed for, Penny ordered a martini with extra olives. Sheldon ordered a strawberry margarita, much to her surprise.
"You don't drink, Sheldon. What's up?"
He sighed. "I know you like it when I tell you what I'm 'feeling', Penny, so I'll tell you. I'm nervous. My palms are sweating. My heart is racing. And I've read alcohol helps out in these awkward situations."
Penny was almost offended but she had to admit that it was kind of awkward. They didn't really go out to eat by themselves much, especially not since he'd met Amy.
"I get it. Thanks for your honesty. I have to say, it's really nice to hang out with you, you know, one on one. We haven't gotten to see each other much over the past couple of years, what with you and Amy and Leonard and I. Isn't this nice?"
"It is nice, yes. We do have a certain rapport that I've never had with anyone else. But Penny...well, never mind."
"Oh, come on, like I'm going to let you get away with that. You can tell me what's on your mind. I won't judge you. Much."
"Well, in light of this recent endeavor we find ourselves participating in, doesn't it ever worry you that...ahem...we have nothing in common?"
Penny's heart sank. She knew he had to be thinking something like that somewhere in that big brain of his. It just kind of sucked to know she was right.
"I wouldn't say nothing, sweetie. Let's see, we both like French toast. We enjoy a fondness for sitting on our asses and watching TV for long periods of time. Age of Conan. We both hate Howard Wolowitz."
Sheldon nodded. "That is one thing we can definitely agree on."
"And...I know one of your secrets."
He suddenly looked nervous, like he was hiding something under his bed and she just found out.
"I have no secrets, Penny. I challenge you to come up with one secret. It will be impossible."
"It's not impossible. I know what it is. You like country music."
Sheldon gasped and looked horrified. Penny laughed.
"Oh, come on, honey. It's no big deal. You're from Texas, I'm from Nebraska. Neither of us could escape country music growing up in our hick towns. Embrace it. I have."
"So you came to this conclusion just based on where I grew up? That's terrible evidence, Penny. You would not be a good scientist."
"I have empirical evidence, actually. I saw your Garth Brooks CD. I won't reveal where I found it but I know it exists. And it's okay. I love Garth Brooks. I've seen him live five times!"
"Twice," he whispered. "I've seen him twice. My sister loves him more than she loves Jesus."
Penny laughed. "See? We have that in common. Now eat your rice and beans."
They ate in silence. Comfortable silence.
"Penny?"
"Sheldon?"
"You're not worried that aside from our mutual hatred for Howard Wolowitz, country music, certain sweet foods and a computer game that we both enjoy playing in our leisure time, we don't have anything else in common?"
Penny sighs. "Yes, of course I worry about that. We are very different people. But if you have feelings for me-and you damn well know I have feelings for you-then you have to be willing to try to open your mind. Before I met you guys, I'd never seen a single episode of Star Trek. Now I'm practically writing Next Generation fanfic."
"It's easier for you to change. You're not so set in your ways. You don't need everything as organized as I do. What am I supposed to do?"
"You mean I'm not as anal as you are. I'm not trying to change you, Sheldon. I would never do that. I just want you to be able to compromise."
"That's hard for me," he admitted.
"I know it is. We'll do it together, though, okay? And if it doesn't work out, at least we tried."
"I can agree to that. Of course, later, when we've had a fight that makes you blame everything on this moment that we're having right now, I'm going to blame my acquiescing to the fact that I am slightly inebriated."
Sometimes, usually when she wanted to kill him the most, he looked like a vulnerable little boy.
But two hours later in her bedroom, he looked the exact opposite.
