A.N. - So I got the troll reviewer that everyone's been talking about and it made my day, seriously. Needless to say, Mr. Troll, your half-hearted efforts made me laugh, not want to stop writing, because I've seen what you've written on others' fictions as well and I wonder: did you copy and paste from a script or did you have your little sister write it? Anyway, that's all I'll say on the matter because I have to get back to my story. I've included some of the premise for this coming Thursday's episode, minus the part where he comes up with the formula by luck because in my opinion, that's just retarded. (I've discounted last week's episode where Amy works at Cal-Tech because that really wouldn't mesh with my story, seeing as how in my story she's already broken up with Sheldon.) Enjoy!

P.S. - Sorry folks, but I don't know much about physics or higher level science, so I can't go into the process of the formula for the element. Just make up a bunch of sciency mumbo jumbo in your head lol.

Invitation

The weeks went by quicker than Penny had anticipated. She was recovering well, thanks to her friends' support. She'd even made fast friends with Kari, who was embraced by the group of girls easily, for she was fun to talk to. Kari happened to be a legal secretary, but she also did a lot of cosplay and she loved comic books and anime. She and Leonard were getting along swimmingly, and Penny was proud of him that he hadn't tried to have sex with her yet. When Penny asked him about it, he'd flushed a tad, but answered that he didn't want to make the same mistakes he'd been making in relationships, which was rushing the intimacy part. Penny was also proud of herself too, for she'd been alcohol free for almost three months straight. Even Sheldon had congratulated her on that one. They'd spent a lot of time together, due to her injury, and she noticed that they touched a lot more often now. They had turned Tuesday evening into their movie night, where it was just the two of them sitting on the couch, eating snacks, and giving their opinions about the movie they were watching. She would lean on him, and though he would huff at her when she did this, he never told her to move. And if it was a particularly scary movie, she would cling to his arm and try to hide her eyes. Once when she did this, he moved the arm she was clinging to, only to drape it around her shoulders while he murmured, "There, there, Sheldon's here." The weird, and awesome, thing about it, was that Penny was content with the minimal contact, considering that she had pretty much figured out that she had feelings for the guy. She also didn't want to make the same mistakes she had when she was younger by rushing the physicality of a budding relationship. And she was pretty sure that's what was going on here.

As far as Sheldon was concerned, he also found the new closeness with Penny something that he enjoyed. It was a strange and interesting process to him, how he reacted to her presence. He kept detailed notes on it as if he were working out physics equations. Even more surprising to him was the fact that his work at the university had improved over the weeks. He felt less stressed, knowing that if he had a particularly rough day that he could go home and talk to Penny about it. Sure, she still irritated him on many an occasion, but he also found himself embracing the challenges she threw his way. It was the middle of September, and Sheldon had just come back from lunch. He glanced at his work on the whiteboard, when suddenly he gasped and darted back out of his office. He rushed to Leonard's office and knocked furiously.

"Sheldon?" Leonard asked confused. "What's going on? You look as if you'd had one too many energy drinks."

"I need you to come with me, quickly!"

"Are you in trouble?"

"No, but I really need you to corroborate something for me. Please, Leonard?"

Leonard had been about to ask if it could wait, but when Sheldon said please, he found himself nodding his head. "Alright, alright, I'm coming." As they entered Sheldon's office, Leonard asked, "So what do you want me to corroborate?"

"Just look at my work and tell me if you see what I see."

Leonard's curiosity was peaked by that point, so he glanced at the whiteboard. Then, he saw it and he gasped and whirled around swiftly. "Sheldon!" he said reverently, "You've discovered a new element!"

Sheldon's face broke out into a grin as he said, "I thought so, but I wanted to make sure."

"Do you know what this means?"

"It means that I can name it."

Leonard snorted, saying, "No, beyond that. You have to go to the board with this, you realize?"

"Of course I do." Sheldon hesitated before asking, "Leonard, I'd like you to be a part of this, if you want."

"What? But this is it, Sheldon, your big break. Hell, you might even get that Noble Prize you've been talking about. And you want to share the credit?"

"Well, when I realized what I'd done, I also knew something else. Someone is going to have to synthesize this new element, Leonard, and my first choice would be you."

Leonard found himself tearing up and then he did something that would likely get him a strike. He hugged Sheldon. "Did I ever tell you that I told Gablehauser what really happened at the Arctic? I didn't realize the ramifications of what I'd done until Penny had a serious talk with me. I'm really sorry about that, and I'm honored that you'd include me on this. I promise I won't mess up."

Sheldon was uncomfortable with Leonard hugging him, but he disentangled himself from the small man and said, "I appreciate you telling Gablehauser the truth. I'm sure your work will be exemplary."

Leonard gave Sheldon a funny look, then laughed and said, "Man. Penny's really made us grow up, hasn't she?"

"She does seem to have a positive effect on people, yes."

And it was at that moment that Leonard knew. The moments over the years that he had chalked up as just the way Penny and Sheldon were to each other, added with the closeness he'd observed between them this last month now coalesced in his mind with crystal clarity. "You like her," he whispered in awe.

"Of course I like her, she's my friend." But Sheldon's cheeks went red.

"No, you like her more than a friend. Maybe you always have," Leonard mused. "Geez, Sheldon, why didn't you say anything?"

Sheldon sighed as he lowered his defenses. "I didn't know."

"But you do now." Leonard looked at his friend with a new fondness, knowing that even if Sheldon had known about his attraction to Penny, he never would have acted on it out of loyalty to Leonard. Leonard had moved past his crazy infatuation with the blonde waitress, and he needed Sheldon to know that. After all, everyone deserved to be as happy as he was. "You can date her you know."

"But I thought that it was against social protocol to date a friend's ex-girlfriend."

"Normally, yes. But this is a special circumstance, as it were. I'm really happy with Kari. I think that eventually, I'm going to marry her. You deserve someone who will make you happy too, and if Penny's that woman, then you should pursue her. Look, I have to get back to work myself, but just think about it seriously, Sheldon. Besides, I think she feels the same way about you."

Meanwhile, at the apartment, Penny answered a knock on the door. Her leg was almost healed by now. She had been doing a lot of muscle exercises. "Oh, hey Wil. What are you doing here?"

The actor smiled and replied, "Sheldon called earlier and asked me to check up on you."

"Aww how sweet of him. Would you like to come in?"

"Sure, thank you." He sat down, letting her get him a glass of tea, when he decided to just ask her. "So are you two going out yet?"

"What?" Penny asked, almost dropping the glass.

"You and Sheldon. Are you dating now?"

Penny tried to laugh it off, replying, "No, no, we're just friends. He's been nice enough to let me stay here while I recover."

"Uh huh." And as she sat down, he fixed her with a stare which dared her to lie to him. "Come on, tell me the truth. Do you like him?"

"Where is this question coming from? I didn't know you were so concerned with Sheldon's love life. I mean, it wasn't that long ago that you guys were practically enemies."

"Well, I felt bad for how crappy I'd been treating him. He made me realize that I'd been taking my fans for granted. And once I got to know him without all the drama, I found out he's a really good friend too, even though he's weird as all get out."

Penny laughed, saying, "Yeah, that's Sheldon all right." She hesitated, fidgeting, then decided she might as well talk to someone. "Alright, yeah, I like him. But no one, and I mean NO ONE can know, okay?"

"Why keep it a secret?"

"Have you met Sheldon? But seriously, I was dating Leonard for a long time and it might cause some tension if I suddenly start dating his roommate. Not to mention that I'm not sure Amy would take it all that well either, despite the fact that she's currently with Raj."

"Look, let me give you a bit of advice, alright? One, you shouldn't worry about what everyone else will think and feel. If you really like Sheldon, what does it matter what others think about it? Two, I don't think it will be such a surprise if you two start dating."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's pretty obvious that you both like each other. I mean, I don't hang out with you guys very often and even I can see it."

"You think Sheldon likes me back?" Penny asked, blushing.

"Yeah, I definitely think so. Now, the question is, are you going to approach him about it, or are you going to wait for him to make the first move?"

"Hmm, well, I think that even Sheldon knows that I'm a big ol' five," she answered, grinning.

"Good, because I have the perfect idea for you."

When Sheldon got home from work, he heard voices on the other side of the door. "Hello Penny and Wil," he said when he walked in.

"Hey Sheldon," Penny smiled at him and he found his stomach twisting in happiness.

"Sheldon, I was just telling Penny that I'm going to be having a Halloween party and that you all are invited."

"Why thank you, Wil. That will be a refreshing change from going to the comic book store."

"I should think so," Wil laughed. "Well, I'd better be going. I can put all of you down as coming then?"

"Yes, absolutely."

"Great! I'll see you both around," he said, leaving.

"You know who you should go as, Sheldon?" Penny asked, just like she and Will had planned.

"Well I haven't given it much thought yet, as Will just now told us about the party."

"No, silly, I was going to give you a suggestion."

"Oh, I see. Very well, who do you suggest?"

"You should be Indiana Jones since you like him so much."

She could practically see the moment the idea attached to his mind and his face lit up. "That's actually an excellent idea, Penny!" He paced around the room, excited by the thought. "Yes, perhaps I can get Leonard to be Sallah, Raj as the Monkey Man, and Howard can be Dr. Belloq. Oh, it's perfect!"

"You should probably let them pick out who they'd like to be," she suggested.

"You're right as usual. Very well, they can be whoever they'd like, as long as it's a character within the Indiana Jones universe." Penny chuckled, but figured she'd at least gotten him to agree to let the guys choose their own characters. "Now that we've gotten that business out of the way, I have the most exciting news."

"What's that, sweetie?"

"I discovered a new element today at work!"

"An element is like oxygen and stuff, right?"

"Yes, Penny, very good."

"Wow, that's great!" she ran up and hugged him and he found himself enjoying her hug much more than Leonard's earlier one.

"It is great, isn't it?" he asked, grinning from ear to ear. "I'll need to take my notes to the University Board in order to start the process of making my find official, but I'm sure they'll find no issues with my work. Also, as I'm sure they'll want to make a sample of the element, I'm including Leonard in the process."

"That's really generous of you, Sheldon. I'm proud of you."

"And I'm proud of your attempt to better your education, Penny. I know that many of us have treated you as a lesser mind because of your lack of schooling, but you have helped us in so many ways in which education has no bearing."

Tears began to form in Penny's eyes as she replied, "Wow, Sheldon, that's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. Thank you. You have no idea how much that means to me, and for you to have said it."

It was at that moment that both realized that they were still hugging. They broke apart, blushing. "Well, I'd better order our dinner for us, or we're gonna be starving soon," Penny said hastily.

"Yes, of course," Sheldon stated, but his mind was going over the feeling of her in his arms and the fact that he hadn't wanted to let her go any time soon.