Sheldon was broken out of his reverie by a sharp rapping on the door. Ah, she's here. He smiled as he went to open the door, an easy, endearing smile, not the monstrous facial contortions he attempted to appease his friends. "hello Penny. How are you on this lovely Friday evening?"
"Oh my God, what a nightmare! Thank God it's over! Oooh, I'm hungry. What are we having tonight?" Penny ranted as she plopped herself on the sofa, narrowly missing Sheldon's spot by millimetres. Sheldon noted this, and his smile deepened. She knew all on her own. Goody! Of course, she was seated too far into his personal space for comfort, but he didn't mind.
"It's Friday, we always have Indian food on Fridays. Leonard will soon be back with dinner. Penny, you know that!" Penny giggled. "of course I know that, Moonpie. I just wanted to hear you say it."
Sheldon frowned. He and Penny had certainly grown closer since Christmas-- the Leonard Nimoy gift of life was responsible for catalysing that-- but he hadn't expected her to grow so comfortable calling him 'Moonpie'. Even more surprising was how much he liked to hear her call him that. He never favored pet names. Certainly he tolerated them from Missy, his mother knew sense enough to never attempt a 'Shelly' on him. Grammy was different, he knew that, and was the only one he allowed Moonpie. So why did Penny elicit a surge of serotonin when she uttered that ridiculous name? "Oh, Penny, I have a question."
"I'm not surprised. Shoot." she pursed her lips in anticipation of a question she knew she wouldn't understand, let alone be able to answer.
"do you like Blink 182?" he rushed it out before he lost his nerve. Good Lord, why was he so nervous? It was only Penny, after all.
"What? Um, of course, yes I love Blink 182. Why?" she was fidgeting now, confused. How does he even know they exist? She wondered as she watched him walk to the desktop, pick up a pristine envelope, and bring it over to her, handing it to her timidly, like a school-boy handing in homework he thought the teacher wouldn't like. Her eyes widened in amazement. "Sheldon, you got me VIP tickets to the Blink 182 concert, and backstage passes! How did you even know I wanted to go?" without thinking, she pulled him into a hug, realising too late that this was Sheldon, Mr. I-don't-do-emotions. Surprisingly, she noticed that he was reluctant to end the hug, almost sad when she let go. Was she imagining this? Get a grip Penny. Before either one of them could say a word, Leonard, Howard, and Raj stormed into the apartment, arguing audibly over something so trivial they were beginning to forget what it was. They came to an abrupt halt when they noticed the pair looking awkwardly around the room, at everyone, but each other.