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Part Two: Anticipation

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Sheldon was running across the hallway, calling Leonard's name repetitively.

"Leonard. Leonard. Leonard. Leonard. Leonard . . ."

By the time Sheldon reached his own apartment, Leonard was stumbling out of his bedroom in his robe, pushing his glasses up his nose. Sheldon slammed the door behind himself and backed up against it like a prison escapee caught in a searchlight. At the sight of Leonard, he perked up.

"Oh good. You're awake."

Leonard sighed heavily. "Yes. Good."

Sheldon walked away from the door over to the kitchen where Leonard began making coffee. "You know it's rather late to be ingesting caffeine."

"I have a feeling it's going to be a long night," replied Leonard, filling the coffee pot. "Now what is your problem?"

"It's Penny."

"Sheldon, I really don't want to give you relationship advice. Especially not about Penny."

"But I really need your help. Something terrible has happened."

Leonard raised his eyebrows. "Oh dear Lord. She didn't . . . finally make you a man, did she?"

Sheldon gave him a confused look. "I'm already a man, Leonard."

"According to some. I meant, did she . . . did the two of you . . .eh?"

Sheldon only gave him a blank stare.

Leonard paused, filling his coffee cup, then gave a heavy, deep, soul wracking sigh that shook him to the bone. He was going to say something he never in his darkest, most fearful nightmares ever imagined he would say. "Sheldon, did you and Penny participate in coitus?"

Sheldon looked genuinely shocked. "What? No! No, no, no, no, no. She simply told me she loved me."

Coffee spurted out of Leonard's mouth like a fountain. "What?"

"Penny. She said, 'I love you.' 'I' referring to her, and 'you' referring to me."

Wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his robe, Leonard was only able to stare at his friend in shock. "She told you she loved you?"

"Yes, Leonard, I've established that twice now." Sheldon was losing patience. Suddenly, a realization hit him and a look of horror crossed his face. "Do you think she said it because she was expecting coitus?"

"No, Sheldon, girls don't do that." Leonard paused. "Boys do that."

"I find your statement outdated and sexist. There is no logical reason a woman wouldn't be able to manipulate a man's feelings in pursuit of sexual gratification."

"Ah, yes, Sheldon the feminist." Leonard sighed, yet again, and sank into the chair in the living room. "All right. Sit down."

Sheldon sat in his corner of the couch. "I never understood how sitting was conducive to talking. Penny does the same thing whenever she wants to talk. 'Sit, Sheldon.' What matter is it if I'm standing or sitting? Ridiculous."

"You're changing the subject, Sheldon."

Sheldon squirmed, avoiding Leonard's gaze.

"So she told you she loved you, which I still can't believe. And then you said?"

"'Thank you.'"

"And then?"

"'Excuse me.'"

"And then?"

"And then I came over here."

Leonard threw his hands up in the air in frustration. "You mean she said it just now?"

"Well, not now. It's probably been a good ten minutes."

"I can't believe you! You have to go back over there and tell her you love her!"

Sheldon gave him a look of bewilderment. "Why would I do that?"

"You do love her, don't you?"

Sheldon thought about this. "I don't know. I love my mother. I love my spot. I love Battlestar Galactica. I've never felt the way I do about those things that I do about Penny."

Leonard was rubbing his forehead now, squinching his eyes together in exasperation. "I mean, Sheldon, are you in love with Penny? It's a completely different love than the one you have for your mother." Leonard couldn't help but smirk a little as he added, "I hope."

Sheldon cocked his head to the side. "That is a very good question. I have no idea. I'll have to do some research."

And with that, Sheldon was across the room, typing furiously on his computer.

Leonard wanted to stop him. Correct him. But he honestly couldn't think of a single thing to say. He was a little angry, of course, that Penny could tell Sheldon she loved him but had never been able to say it to Leonard himself. One more piece of proof that she truly did want to be with Sheldon more than she had ever wanted Leonard.

How depressing.

He fought the urge to be selfish and mean and give Sheldon bad advice. Sheldon would have to figure this out on his own, somehow.

As Leonard dumped the rest of his coffee into the sink, he wondered how in the world Sheldon was going to research love.

Whatever the results were, it would be fun to watch.