Chapter 2

I own nothing in respect of TBBT

"Okay Sheldon, now we're gonna be here a while - "

"Penny, I told you that as long as I don't need to transact business I find State and Federal offices ideal places to relax. The sound of rubber stamp on paper, the hum of the copier, the smell of ozone from the terminals, social interaction taking place within defined limits - I tell you, they should consider opening these places as vacation spots."

Sheldon finally found a chair that met the criteria regarding sun glare, draughts etc. "Honestly, I can feel my cares just drifting away."

"Well ... long as you're enjoying yourself."

Penny went back to where Leonard was waiting. "Sheldon okay?"

"Yeah, he's cool. And I bought Green Lantern and your Gameboy with Tetris loaded just in case."

Leonard ummed. "Maybe we should have brought Donkey Kong. Sheldon goes through Tetris in about five minutes - "

"Leonard, this isn't Sheldon's day out - remember?"

They both shared a look and then turned to the form on the counter. "You want to flip a coin?"

"Nope, I asked you, so I get to go first." snickered Penny, reaching for the pen and beginning to fill in the 'Person A' section. Tongue-tip protruding like always she carefully block-printed -

MULDER, PENELOPE ANNE, her address and D.O.B - 11/29/1985 and finally her parents details.

Leonard smiled, remembering when Penny had told him her last name.

"Mulder? Seriously?"

"Yeah, seriously - what's the big deal?"

"The X-Files! Agent Fox Mulder!"

"Sweetie, that Chinese I stuck in my 'fridgerator and forgot 'bout is nearest I've been to an alien life form - okay? Now calm down - sheesh, good job my names not Organa - "

Penny slid the form back across, "Okay Person B, your turn." and being Penny managing to get in a quick hand squeeze.

HOFSTADTER, LEONARD LEAKEY, address as above, D.O.B 04/29/1980. Leonard gave his mother's address in New Jersey. His parents had divorced (nice of you to tell me mom) and he had no idea which people in what part of the globe his father was currently studying.

"Okay, that's done. You - "

"Gottit right here sweetie." she said, handing him a plastic document sleeve which Sheldon had given them earlier, "I know how much Leonard perspires in moments of emotion - this is so the clerk receives a legible document and not a ball of pulp drenched in lactate, urea and minerals."

Sheldon was running through his Nobel acceptance, "In closing it's customary to thank those who have been of aided ones contribution to science. This however will not be necessary as the whole is of course my own un-aided work - "

"Hey, Death Star calling Grand Moff Sheldon - "

"Is that it? Do we have to go now?"

"Not yet buddy, there's an hour wait." said Leonard, sitting down with Penny and linking hands.

Sheldon barely registered when they got called up - he was composing some (not too) effusive footnotes for 'You're Welcome Mankind' - when they came back, Penny carefully tucking the envelope into her bag between her snowflake and the spare inhaler she always carried.

"You know, I could marry you both as soon as we get home - you'd be permanently pair-bonded in time to watch The Mentalist. "

"That's real sweet of you Sheldon, but we're gonna wait 'till everyone can make it - "

"Well, if you change your minds Mrs. Gunderson's available as a witness. I heard her telling the building manager yesterday that she's been starved of entertainment since her cable went out - "

"Sheldon, it's fine. Honestly. Anyhow, you need time to practice - "

"Practice? Leonard, you know I speak Klingon flawlessly. In fact I think it would be an idea if you both had the basics - "

"Sheldon, I speak Klingon too - "

" - and I barfed up that chicken dumpling last time I tried. "

"Leonard, you have at best conversational Klingon, and Penny, you have insufficient control of your glottis. No, I think if you both had some knowledge the spoken word you'd really be able to appreciate my speech - it'll make you cry."

Penny dug Leonard's ribs as they headed for the elevator. "I thought you were fluent in this stuff?"

"W-e-e-lll, I get by. I mean if we were going to Qo'noS I could get us a hotel room, make a dinner reservation, that kind of thing."

"Didn't that place blow up? Nice honeymoon pick sweetie - "

"That was Praxis - Qo'noS just has extremes of weather."

"Well, last time I talked to mom she said it was seventy-two degrees - you want me to call again and ask if we can honeymoon with them?"