Leonard, Howard, and Raj stood in the middle of the room enjoying the snacks. "I hope Sheldon gets here soon, the longer he takes to get ready the more I worry about his costume." Leonard remarked.

Raj grinned. "Oh yes. Remember the one year that he invented his own lightsaber and dressed up as Luke? Only he hadn't tested it, and when he turned it on…"

Howard waved a hand dismissively. "He is fine now; he can use the hand and everything. I'm sure he wouldn't try anything like that again."

Nevertheless, they all stood on tiptoe and craned their heads nervously to the door. All the sudden Howard frowned slightly.

"Leonard, I thought you said Penny wasn't coming?"

He shrugged. "I invited her, but she said she had a date. Why?"

Howard motioned to the door. "Her date must have cancelled, she just walked in."

Leonard looked, but she had vanished. "Are you sure?" He was distracted by Sheldon's head appearing above the crowd, his normally tame hair unusually messy. "Here comes Sheldon."

Penny reached them first. "Hey guys!"

"Hello, Penny." Howard greeted.

"What are you wearing?" Leonard questioned. "You do know that this is supposed to be a costume party, right? And what happened to your date?"

Penny just smiled. "I'm wearing a costume, silly. And he's here somewhere. He's just gone to get us drinks."

All three of the boys' jaws dropped. Raj whispered something into Howard's ear. Howard nodded. "Penny, Raj wants to know if your date is someone who works at the university."

Penny smiled sympathetically. "Why else would I be at your university costume party on a date?"

Leonard gaped, apparently speechless.

Sheldon appeared with two drinks in hand. "Hello!" he greeted his friends. He carefully handed Penny one of them. "One Neuron Neutralizer for my favorite companion."

She smiled at him, trying not to laugh as his comment and their costumes registered on the group. "Thanks, sweetie." She grinned as he draped a casual arm around her shoulder, surprised by how relaxed he was.

Raj gaped and resumed his whispering to Howard. Leonard shook himself out of his stillness, face turning red.

"Um, Penny? I have a stupid question, but… Are you here with…Sheldon?"

Penny smiled mischievously. "Do you see anyone else dressed like the Doctor around here?"

Sheldon's eyes lit up. "Ooooh, I love this song. You know, Penny, the Doctor would say that the music in the 21st century is really underappreciated. This song, for instance…." His voice faded as he grabbed her hand and dragged her through the socializing scientists and on to the dance floor.

Leonard followed their progress, still dumbfounded. "Did you guys see that?"

Howard nodded. Raj cocked his head. "Did you see Penny and Sheldon on a date? And do you see them dancing now? Because I suspect that this is a dream."

Leonard finally moved from confusion into horror. "This isn't a dream, this is a nightmare!"

Penny smirked at the boy's horrified expressions as Sheldon tentatively slid his arms around her as they swayed on the dance floor. She was practically giddy with how well Sheldon was doing. And, not that she was admitting it out loud or anything, but she loved having license to touch him. Just for fun, she ran a hand up his arm. He didn't even appear to notice.

"Penny?"

"What's up, sweetie?"
He glanced at the chandelier above them and she smiled as she saw him consider his answer before he tentatively answered.

"Assuming that that is, indeed, an invitation to tell you my original thought and not a legitimate question as to the location of the chandelier…" he waited for her slight nod of affirmation before continuing. "I find that I am enjoying this ruse immensely. Thank you for agree to participate in this 'practical joke' with me. I would not have been able to pull it off with someone I did not trust to the same extent."

Penny smiled, genuinely touched. "I'm enjoying myself too. And I'm glad that you feel comfortable enough with me to let me into your bubble."

He raised one eyebrow. "To what bubble are you referring?"

She patted his chest. "Don't worry about it, sweetie. Oh! Heads up! Howard and Raj are headed this way."

Sheldon nodded, immediately pulling her slightly closer. Raj and Howard lingered awkwardly behind them, dancing…or at least, she thought they were trying to dance.

Sheldon leaned closer to her. "Do you think we should pretend to be whispering 'sweet nothings' to each other?"

She caught his hands as they were halfway up to make the air quotes on 'sweet nothings'. She laughed flirtatiously, wrapping his arms back around her and pressing up against his chest flirtatiously. "Sheldon, not here!"

Raj froze awkwardly in the middle of an arm flail, face going pale. He exchanged a glance with Howard, then abandoned his space on the dance floor and scurried back to Leonard's side.

Howard, unfortunately, was made of sterner stuff. "Okay, I seriously cannot think of one thing to say that will scare off Howard." Penny hissed, accidentally brushing his ear with her lips.

Sheldon blushed, and she giggled lightly as his hands reflexively gripped the fabric of her dress tightly. "Sorry, sweetie."

He swallowed hard. "Maybe we should get some air? It's hot in here."

He gripped her hand and wove expertly across the dance floor and out into the garden, leaving a slightly stunned Howard behind them.

They spent the rest of the function dancing and talking, amusing themselves not just with the boys' reactions but also the shock of Sheldon's co workers.

Sheldon was shocked to find that he had genuinely enjoyed himself. He was usually so stressed in social situations that he made himself miserable, but having Penny to guide him through social encounters meant that he could actually relax.

Sheldon glanced at his watch and gasped. "Oh! Penny, it's time for us to leave in order to complete the second phase of our plan!"

She grinned at him, only a little nervously. "Already? Wow, okay. Time flies when you are having fun, I suppose. Let me just run to the restroom."

He nodded distractedly, searching his pockets for her car keys. He dug out her phone, wallet, and extra lip gloss before locating her keys at the bottom of his pocket.

Dr. Gablehauser, who was standing nearby, snorted in amusement. "Amazing how many things women need us to carry for them when they dress up, isn't it?"

Sheldon smiled somewhat uneasily. He recognized this as a friendly gesture and guessed that his response was in some subtle way important. He nodded in agreement, stuffing Penny's supplies back into his pocket. "Indeed."

He couldn't think of another comment, but to his relief Penny was suddenly there, smiling proudly up at him as she took his arm.

"It's the price you men pay for us getting all dressed up in impractical clothing." She smiled brightly at Gablehauser, who chuckled good-naturedly.

"Suppose that's fair. Have a good night, Dr. Cooper." He winked at Sheldon as he wandered off in search of another drink.

Sheldon's brow furrowed. "He isn't usually that friendly towards me."

Penny smiled softly. "You know, people like you when you are acting human instead of condescending. Plus, he totally thinks you are getting lucky tonight."

Sheldon sputtered in shock but Penny ignored him, steering him swiftly out the door.
"Come on, sweetie, we've got to get home before the boys do."