Disclaimer: I do not own the big bang theory, or any of the characters, except Olive (sigh).

Chapter Two: Did someone get him drunk again?

Howard takes the stairs two at a time. As he rounds the corner, he notices Leonard standing just outside the open door of 4A, staring, shell-shocked, inside.

"What's so important that you had to-," he comes to a stop beside his friend, a slow look of horror spreading across his face, "what the frack?"

He has noticed a few things at once. First, there is a shiny black box on the coffee table, its lid propped up, and inside a vinyl record spins slowly round and round. He recognises the music as an old Blur song, but he has never liked Blur that much so can't think of the name. Second, Sheldon is in the middle of the room with a pretty girl. And they are dancing.

"Did someone get him drunk again?" He hisses at Leonard.

Behind them, the door to Penny's apartment opens and shuts.

"Leonard," she whines, flouncing across the corridor, "my toaster is broken. Can I use yours?" When he doesn't answer, she follows his line of sight. "Holy crap on a cracker…"

"Oh, Shellybear, I think we have an audience," the pretty girl giggles, grabbing Sheldon's left hand and pulling him to face the assembled group.

"Shellybear?" Howard mouths silently.

"Ah, yes. Olive, this is Howard Wolowitz and Leonard Hofstadter. They work with me at the university," Howard and Leonard both nod in greeting, "and this is Penny. She lives across the hall."

"Nice to meet you," Penny shakes the hand of the girl Sheldon called Olive.

"And you!" Olive says enthusiastically.

Leonard and Howard follow Penny into the apartment, a tad warily. Howard has the uncomfortable feeling of slipping into an alternate reality.

"So how do you two know each other?" Leonard asks, seeming to have regained the power of speech.

"Me and Shelly were together back in the day," Olive grins, "oh, wow, that makes me feel so old! Back in the day." She laughs again. "It's been…must have been at least fourteen years since we saw each other last."

"Olive is moving in," Sheldon announces casually.

"We never discussed that at the roommate meeting," Leonard says feebly.

"Oh, Leonard is your roommate, Shelly?"

"Yes. He doesn't whistle."

"Sheldon, can I talk to you for a minute?" Leonard asks, starting to walk towards his bedroom.

Sheldon follows him inside, and Leonard closes the door behind him.

"What's going on?" He asks.

"I imagine any number of things," Sheldon says thoughtfully, "you'll really have to be more specific Leonard."

"Who's that girl?"

"Her name is Olive Morrison. We knew each other in 1995. She's from Texas. And I love her."

Leonard almost chokes on his own saliva.

XXX

Raj brings Thai food for dinner. Olive's order is exactly the same as Sheldon's, but she still decides she wants one of his onion rings.

"No, put it back!" Leonard gasps.

"Yeah, trust me, I tried to take one of his onion rings once," Penny tells her sincerely, "I ended up being banished."

But it is too late, Sheldon has returned from the kitchen clutching three bottles of mineral water. He passes one to Howard, one to Leonard and keeps one for himself. Penny and Olive already have glasses of diet coke.

"Who took my onion ring?"

"It was Olive." Howard says immediately, shooting her an apologetic look. "Sorry, but I already have two strikes."

"Oh. Alright then," Sheldon says, in a tone Howard can't quite place.

He sits down in his spot and makes no fuss. Olive eats the onion ring and cuddles in close to him, lifting the takeout onto her lap. Sheldon puts his arm around her petite shoulders.

Howard, Raj, Leonard and Penny just stare.

"So, what are we watching?" Olive asks cheerfully, glancing at the TV, which is showing commercials.
"A Star Wars documentary with commentary from George Lucas," Leonard informs her, a kind of longing in his voice, ignoring Penny's exaggerated groan, "do you like Star Wars?"

"Oh yeah," Olive grins, "I love ewoks."

"Ewoks," Sheldon mutters, "I thought your taste was better." But there is nothing serious in his voice.

XXX

The following morning, Penny awakens, bleary-eyed and fuzzy-minded, to the delicious smell of fresh coffee and French toast. She wraps her robe around herself, pulls on a pair of slippers, and stumbles across the hallway clutching her empty coffee mug.

When she opens the door, it is not Sheldon or Leonard standing in the kitchen; it is Olive, expertly flipping pancakes at the stove. She is drowning in Sheldon's robe, brown hair sticking up all over the place, but she looks oddly serene.

"Oh, hey Penny," she grins over her shoulder, "Sheldon warned me you might appear, so I made extra."

"Thanks, Olive," Penny says sincerely, walking over and leaning on the counter island, "so, did you stay the night?"

"Yeah," Olive nods, "you want pancakes, or toast?"

"Come on, that's too hard!" Penny laughs, and Olive laughs with her.

"Both it is," Olive stacks a plate high with toast and pancakes; each one cooked to perfection, and then retrieves a knife and some butter from the fridge.

"So…you and Sheldon, huh?" Penny hates herself for asking, but she just has to.

"Yeah," Olive takes a bite of her own pancake, closing her eyes as she savours, "hey, last night everyone was kind of…quiet. Do the guys not like me?"

"No, nothing like that," Penny assures her, "we were all just…a little surprised. Sheldon doesn't really have girlfriends. At least, he hasn't had one in the time I've lived here. No, that's not right, he sort of had one, but he didn't really know about it…"

"Yeah, I know Shelly can be a little strange, but he's special."

"Oh he's definitely special…" Penny mutters under her breath.

"So, uh, I was thinking of going jogging after breakfast. I usually do, and my running shoes are one of the few things I brought with me. Do you want to come?"

Penny is a little surprised, but if this Olive girl really is going to be moving in with Sheldon, the least she can do is make an effort.

"Sure, I'd love to."

"You know, we could be friends. After all, we already know one thing we have in common."

"What's that?"

"We're both dating guys that we don't understand half the time."

Penny giggles.

"I know. When they start going on about physics, all I can do is try to nod along."

"I just put on a thoughtful expression."

They start swapping stories. By the time Leonard emerges from his room to see what is going on, the mere sight of him sends the girls into fits of hysterical laughter.

Olive feels much happier than she has in a long time.