Easter (varies between March 22nd-April 25th)

"How many times have I told her that she needed to get her engine checked?" Sheldon asked superciliously. "That light has been on for years, Leonard. She should have known this would happen."

Leonard and Priya sighed as they waited for Penny outside the YMCA building. She had called, asking Leonard to pick her up when her car wouldn't start. She had been adamant that she couldn't take the bus home. Raj was ill, and she said calling Bernadette and Howard was absolutely out.

The door opened and Penny peered around the side of it. She looked at the three of them and closed her eyes tight. She looked like she was in pain for a moment. They watched her take a deep breath and then step out. Priya snickered. Leonard gave a deep belly laugh. Sheldon gulped quickly and then pulled off his jacket. He walked forward and held it out.

Penny smiled gratefully up at him. She slipped it on and scrambled into the back seat. Sheldon slipped in beside her and closed the door. Seconds later Leonard and Priya got in. Priya looked back at Penny with a smirk. "Is there an explanation or is it just that you ran out of clean clothes?"

Penny gritted her teeth. "Easter egg hunt for the orphanage. This is my fourth year volunteering."

Leonard looked in the rear view mirror with a smile. "Hungry? We could swing by chik-fil-a."

Priya giggled. "Maybe rent a chick flick to watch while we eat."

Leonard snorted. "There's a petting zoo near the mall. Wanna 'chick' it out?"

Priya shook with laughter. "I'm not too chicken for that. How about you, Penny?"

Sheldon watched Penny silently. She was looking out the side window, arms wrapped around herself tightly. As soon as the car stopped she was out of the vehicle. Sheldon hurried after her, almost running to keep up. She unlocked her door and he was right behind her as she entered. Penny ripped off his jacket and began stripping off the bright yellow baby chick costume. Sheldon grabbed her hands and pulled her around to face him. Tears were streaming down her face. He sighed and pulled her close. "There, there. Sheldon's here."

Penny pushed away from him and hurried back to her bathroom. He heard the shower start at the same time he heard Leonard and Priya come up the stairs, still giggling. He stepped out into the hall. "Leonard, Priya, you have hurt Penny's feelings. You owe her an apology."

Priya snorted and walked into 4A. Leonard watched her go and then turned to Sheldon. "Listen, we were just joking. Penny looked so silly in that bird costume. All those yellow feathers and the yellow tights. She knows we were just joking."

Sheldon shook his head at Leonard. "And you wonder why it didn't work out between you and Penny. You never understood her."

Sheldon turned and re-entered Penny's apartment and closed the door. He put on water for tea and waited until Penny came back out. She was wearing sweats and a tee. She glanced at him for a second before plopping down on the couch.

Sheldon poured the tea and handed her a cup. "Penny, volunteering is a good thing. I am sure the children appreciated it."

Penny smiled slightly. "They do. Especially the really little ones."

Sheldon nodded. "Then do not let narrow minds dissuade you from continuing."

Penny leaned over and bumped her shoulder into his. "Thanks Sheldon. You always know what to say."

He looked over at her. "Sarcasm?"

Penny smiled tenderly. "Not at all."

Sheldon smiled back and turned on the TV. They spent the rest of the afternoon watching Hop, It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, and a bunch of Doctor Who.