Her eyes began to droop, and Penny lay back down, quickly falling back into a deep sleep.


Penny woke with a start, her eyes wide and her stomach rebelling against her. She stood; quickly throwing back the blanket that covered her, and looked around, confused. She was in the guys' apartment…?

Her stomach lurched again, and all questions about her whereabouts were pushed to the side as she stumbled towards the bathroom, hand over her mouth. She just made it to the toilet, spilling what little food she had consumed into the porcelain bowl. She had just finished heaving when the door opened, admitting Sheldon in his green tartan pyjamas and matching robe, a towel slung over one arm.

"Penny? What are you doing in our bathroom? It is 7 o'clock in the morning. I use the bathroom at-"

Penny's stomach suddenly demanded more attention, and she turned her head back into the bowl, heaving.

She had expected Sheldon to run from the room (as he usually did at the first sign of illness) and so was very shocked when she felt a cold flannel being placed against her forehead and her hair being held back.

Spitting the last of the foul taste from her mouth, Penny turned her head to look at her neighbour. He was crouching on the balls of his feet, holding her hair away from her face awkwardly with one hand. He let her hair drop back into place, and rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet.

"Why didn't you run, like you normally do?"

He shrugged, and Penny started again.

"Sheldon I just threw up and you barely even flinched!"

"Morning sickness, though referred to as such, is not an actual illness. It is not contagious and therefore there was no reason for me to leave – though I admit that it was not a pleasant experience watching you vomit."

"Wasn't that nice for me either Moonpie." Penny muttered, leaning back against the wall.

"Penny, I told you. The four of us are going to help you with this; if it means holding your hair when you are projecting your latest meal from your stomach, well… so be it. And don't call me that."

Penny stared at him again, and seemed about to say something when the door opened.

"Sheldon, what's wrong? It's nearly 7:23 and you aren't out y-"

Leonard opened the door, one hand covering his eyes in case his friend was, indeed, out of the tub.

"I have not yet managed to have my daily shower. Penny has been suffering from a bout of morning sickness."

Leonard removed his hand, and looked at the scene before him.

Sheldon was crouching on the floor beside Penny, damp flannel in hand. Penny was leaning tiredly against the wall, and gave a weak wave to Leonard, who moved to help her up slowly.

"How are you?" he asked as Sheldon stood, once again towering over them with his impressive height.

Penny shrugged. "I've been worse, but I've sure as hell been better."

"Understandable." Sheldon said, moving to pull his towel from the rack where he had draped it. "Though I am sure you will be fine now that the worst of it has passed. Leonard, find her the bowl labelled 'vomit' just in case. I'm sorry to cut this little meeting short, but if it is quite alright I would like to have my shower now." Penny and Leonard did not move, and Sheldon rolled his eyes, ushering them towards the door. "Without spectators, if possible."

Penny smiled and shrugged. "Nothing I haven't seen before Moonpie."

Leonard chuckled at the look on Sheldon's face, but didn't say anything.

Sheldon glared at his laughing friends. With a 'Don't call me that' directed at Penny, and a 'you will find the 'vomit' bowl is located on the bottom shelf of the third cupboard along' to Leonard; he shut the door.

The sounds of the shower turning on could be heard as Sheldon finally carried through his daily routine.

24 minutes behind schedule.


Penny was sitting in Sheldon's spot, the (empty) 'vomit' bowl on the table in front of her. Leonard was making them some breakfast, and he brought it over to her before sitting beside her.

Penny was halfway through her buttered toast before she noticed that Leonard was unusually quiet.

"You ok sweetie?" she asked, and Leonard jumped.

"Huh? Yes, yes, I'm fine…"

He didn't meet her eyes.

"But?"

He smiled briefly at her, not used to people being able to read him so easily.

"But… I want to know. Who the father is… and also..." he trailed off, blushing a bit.

"You want to know why I wouldn't go out with you."

It wasn't a question.

He nodded.

"We are not meant to be together, Leonard. You're a smart guy, why can't you see that? It's too awkward, too… forced. True, there was attraction there… but I think- it was just-"

She sighed, unable to find the words she wanted.

"It wouldn't work, Leonard. It just wouldn't. Can't you trust me on this?"

She grabbed his hand, and made him met her eyes.

He looked at her for a moment, and sighed, squeezing her hand gently.

"Ok. Ok. I trust your opinion. Maybe you're right."

Penny smiled in relief.

"Of course I am."

Penny had thought that she had nearly gotten away with it until Leonard nudged her gently.

"But you still haven't answered my question. Who's the dad?"

Penny didn't meet his eyes, and Leonard spoke quickly, trying to convince her to tell him what he wanted to know.

"Ok, I get that you don't want to tell me…but can I just ask – is it someone I know? Is it Mike? Or Kert? Oh hell, it's Kurt..."

"What? No, it's not Kert! Or Mike! Jesus, Leonard! Can't we just leave this alone?! Please?"

Penny stood and walked quickly out the door, closing it behind her firmly. She stalked into her apartment, closed the door, and turned, leaning back against it. She slid down with a groan to sit on the floor with her eyes shut.

She knew that, eventually, Leonard would realise what had made her leave his apartment so hastily. He was a smart guy, as she had said. He would soon notice that she had not answered his query, merely negated two of his theories.

Because Yes.

Penny put her hands on her forearms, squeezing her eyes shut against the tears that once again threatened to fall.

Leonard did know the father.