A/N: Thank you for reading. I love the feedback. Italics are flashbacks. Flashbacks are not in chronological order, just as the characters recall them.

Chapter 4

Saturday evening Cera found herself getting ready for a girls' night in with Penny. She wore her long sleeve T that said 'Vulcan on the streets Klingon in the sheets' because she liked how the blue of the shirt made her eyes look. The shirt was long, past her bum, so she wrapped a belt around it and paired it with a flared, black and white stripped skirt that ended a few inches above her knees. Since the temperature was still under 65 degrees, Cera decide shoes would be a good idea and went with a pair of strappy denim wedges to give her an extra four inches. She tied her long hair up in a low bun behind her left ear, she just needed a little lip gloss and mascara and she would be good to go.

Cera had hoped, while she was at Penny's, she could catch Sheldon and plan a time to talk. She went over and over what to say in her head. After one last look in the mirror she realized she may have subconsciously dressed for him. Not that he had ever really noticed her appearance; except of course, for the one time he did.

As the hostess led Sheldon and Cera to their table at Sheldon's preferred steakhouse, Cera could tell something was bothering him. As Sheldon sat down quietly, he stared at her with a ponderous look on his face. After a minute of silence she began to grow anxious.

"Sheldon, are you ok? Did something happen in the bathroom?" Cera asked her voice full of concern.

"The bathroom?" Sheldon repeated sounding confused. "Oh, the bathroom, no nothing unexpected occurred. It was cleaner than I expected. I only used half my Purell bottle to bring it up to a usable standard this time. I do hate using public restrooms. I shouldn't have indulged in that extra Mountain Dew earlier. Though it hit the spot, as they say, it did come at a price." He finished off his tirade about the bathroom, his eyes never leaving her face.

"Then what's the matter? Do I have something on my face?" Cera asked patting her face in concern.

"Your, your face, no. There is nothing on your face. Nothing at all." Sheldon said nervously.

"Are you sure? Your twitch is going off." Cera asked while checking herself in the back of a spoon, smirking at Sheldon.

"No, no. It's just I noticed that, well, when I returned from the restroom I noticed you conversing with a strange gentleman who was…leering at you."

"That's whats wrong with my face? A guy was talking to me? He was just returning my badge. I had dropped it." answered Cera, feeling confused.

"But he called you 'Olivia.'" Noted Sheldon.

"Because my name is on my badge." Explained Cera in a soft tone that belayed her frustration.

"Yes, but how was he certain that you were indeed 'Olivia Tollman?'" Sheldon said trying to keep the exasperation out of his voice. He wasn't he even sure why the sight had bothered him so, or the reason why Olivia suddenly looked different.

"Have you never seen my badge Sheldon? It, like most badges, has my name and picture on it." Cera explained handing Sheldon the seemingly offensive object for further inspection.

"Yes well, I hope you washed it and your hands after it has been on both the floor and in that man's hands. As well as whatever he handed you before we were seated." Sheldon said irritably after returning her badge and applying more hand sanitizer.

"Oh, is that was this about, that guy giving me his phone number?" Cera said softly.

"Is that what occurred…Hmph, it seems as though lately whenever we go out men are leering at you or making excuses to talk to you. This happens frequently when I'm out with Missy, but I expect better of our outings. Why do you think this is occurring? Is there nothing you can do? I mean Missy is-Oh dear," Sheldon explained in full rant mode until suddenly everything became clear. "You're attractive." Sheldon stated in an unsure tone.

"I, uh, I guess, I've, I've been told I was." Cera said suddenly feeling awkward and shy. Why was he saying that? In the four years since she had met Sheldon and the three months since they had started hanging out regularly the only physical attribute of hers that he had ever seem to notice was she was her 'below average stature.' and even then it was for a joke. And she was ok with that. She didn't care if guys looked at her, it wasn't like she wanted them to look at her. And now Sheldon was suddenly noticing her, this was just…weird.

"Yes, you are. You hold to western standard of beauty, even if your height is below average, though some men seem not to mind that." Sheldon stated as though he was explaining pi, something simple he was fully knowledgeable of, but bored with.

"Wha…?" Cera squeaked out not sure how to respond to Sheldon's statement.

Mistaking Cera's response for confusion, Sheldon continued to elaborate on her appearance. "The glasses you wear, though they have a heavy frame that give you a distinct 'cat eye' look, it doesn't detract from your eyes."

"My glasses?" Cera questioned touching them as though she thought they might have gone. At this moment a waitress showed to take their order. Cera gracefully ordered a very specific and exact meal, to be prepared with gloves to a particular temperature. After the waitress agreed to the conditions of a meal that was frequently ordered, Cera turned and sweetly asked Sheldon "Would you like the same?" hoping that it would expedite Sheldon's process and keep the waitress in their good graces for the evening.

"That sounds acceptable Olivia, I think I will have an identical meal. Prepared the same of course." Sheldon agreed, pleased that his…peer saw the excellence of his preferred meal and its specific preparation.

"Though blue eyes are a mutation, they are widely regarded as the more attractive of hues." Sheldon continued, "Mathematically speaking you are fairly proportionate, though your bottom end does seem a bit on the full side. Once again, some men don't mind that, some even prefer it." Sheldon explained and then added, "Or so I hear." with a small twitch. Sheldon didn't know why he was explaining this to her, but like any knowledge he obtained, he felt compelled to share. Even if he did feel uncomfortable admitting he had noticed such things in his…acquaintance.

"You think my…" Cera started to complain. Was he calling her butt big? While she felt odd about the possibility of Sheldon ogling her, she didn't want him having unflattering thought about her person either.

Sheldon kept on as though he didn't hear her. "I am no expert on clothing, nor do I wish to be, but you seem to pick clothing that is practical and a nice display of your new found expertise while simultaneously being feminine, stylish and quiet colorful. I suppose you always dress in that manner in case you are called in?" Cera looked down quizzically at her purple satin blouse and grey skirt that was accented with silver pinstripes and stopped just above the knee. Her shoes, of course were purple as well, though the heels were not as tall as she would like.

Sheldon continued on, "Your hair, even though, it is nearly as short as mine it still has a feminine look about it. I suppose it is stylish as I've seen other gals with similar cuts. Short dark hair says careful, thoughtful and dedicated to precision. Though you could be more fun, but you might not know it." He finished with a breathy laugh.

"What's so funny? What do you mean I could be more fun?" Cera exclaimed getting agitated with Sheldon's dissection of her physical appearance.

"Blondes. Blondes have more fun and they are dumb, at least that's the exaggerated common cultural view. That trait is also suspected to be a gene mutation." Sheldon finally concluded his diatribe about Cera's physicalities.

After a few moments of silence Cera was finally able to gather her thoughts and speak. "So according to your observation I am a short woman with a big butt who is passably attractive?"

"That is what I said, is it not? Though you have exaggerated some of the facts." Sheldon replied huffily, he did hate repeating himself. And he certainly didn't want to repeat any of this conversation.

"So 'you' think I'm attractive? How long have you thought so?" Cera questioned slowly and cautiously.

Dear Lord, thought Sheldon, this seemed like some of the inane conversations he had with Missy and his momma alike. These questions never seem to have correct answers and ridiculous as they were, were more difficult than physics. "No, well, I mean, yes. I mean- beauty is based on symmetry. Symmetry is a provable mathematical fact and as a man with eyes I can't help but observe said fact, in yourself. As for how long, I just now have come to that conclusion. It seemed prudent to understand the reason for the reaction of men around you at any given time. I first noticed when you coerced me into going to that bar and grill to play billiards a few weeks ago. I have since studied your features and compared them to what I know to be aesthetically pleasing."

"O-K, thank you for…um, noticing, I guess. You are, uh, attractive as well." Cera stammered out. This was odd-he was her buddy. Her boyishly cute buddy, but her buddy none the less. "And you know as well as I do you weren't coerced into anything"

"Oh, is this like gift giving, do we need reciprocate statements that could be perceived as compliments as well? Is the recognition of my attributes just a social nicety in exchange for the recognition of your own?" Sheldon queried confused as to why she would make such a statement. He certainly knew her claim was an exaggeration. He spent his childhood being awkward, clumsy, skinny and having each of those attributes pointed out in varying colorful expressions. Not that he cared one way or another. Girl's attraction to him (a laughable occurrence) or his attraction to them (unnecessary and avoided) were at the bottom of list of things he concerned himself with.

"Well, reciprocity is not necessary in giving out compliments, I was just trying to balance out the awkward." Cera said laughing. "I thought you were kinda cute when we first met in Germany. You have amazing blue eyes. The eight inches you've grown in the interim hasn't hurt either." Cera finished, certain she was blushing furiously and able to seem the bloom of Sheldon's embarrassment as well.

Both companions were thankful when their meals were delivered and they were delivered from their odd conversation.

Sheldon never mentioned her appearance again. The memory of that conversation made Cera feel self-conscious, so that she had adorned herself in something she knew he would find eye catching. Assuming of course, he still liked Star Trek.

Knock, knock, knock, knock

Cera kicked three pairs of shoes out of the way, trying to dismiss thought of a redundant knock before answering the door. "Braden, Thanks for, uh, picking up Merritt and watching her for the night."

"Bet and I don't mind, really. You know I've always been nuts about her. And Erin loves having her big cousin around." Braden look around as he stepped over the shoes. "It was busy week, huh?"

"That's the perks of being the new hire. I get all the long hours. How did you know?" asked a confused Cera stepping aside quickly so as to not be run over by her seven year old niece, Erin, as she ran to Merritt's bedroom.

"I can tell by the six shoes in front of the door, the three coffee mugs and huge pile of papers on your counter and the basket of folded laundry that didn't get put away by your couch. Oh, and Barbies, lots of Barbies. You only get this way when you have long shifts at work. You know Connie would come help if you asked."

"Maybe I don't want someone cleaning up behind me. I can do it and Merritt's…learning to…pick up. And you know I don't like wearing shoes in the house so the door is where I leave them. I'll put a pair on when I leave and so will Merritt and then there won't be so many shoes."

"God, you are just like mom." Braden said as he laughed, "I sure missed you."

"I know it's great being closer again, isn't it." Cera giggled as she grinned.

"Yea, it is...but you still haven't done what you promised you would when you moved."

"Like what? I don't know what you're talking about." Cera said suddenly looking serious and too innocent.

"Just stop. Playing dumb has never suited you. You know what I'm talking about." His voice lowering to keep their conversation confidential. "Ceridwen, dad and Elliott and I can't continue to be the only men in Merritt's life. It's not fair to us, it's not fair to her."

"Bra-"

"No, I'm not finished. I know you were hurt, you came home a mess and haven't wanted to talk about it since. And I get that, but for God's sake stop punishing Merritt for it."

"I'm n-"

"You are. I know you're not doing it on purpose, but it affects her. You said and I quote "He's out there somewhere." So now that you are here-handle it. It's been four months, you are settled in. No more excuses."

"You don't under-" Cera started.

"I don't know if you are more afraid this guy is gonna reject her or accept her, but you gotta do something while she's still young. Whatever this dude chooses is on him. You can't change it, but you gotta give him a chance, give Merritt a chance. You've got to tell him. "

"I will." Cera said softly and after a beat softly added "I've seen him."

"You have? He's here?" Braden replied incredulously. "As in, around L.A.?"

"Yea."

"I didn't realize you meant 'out there' was here. Did you meet him here? I thought you were in Texas then."

"Humph, I met him a looong way from here." She muttered turning to walk to Merritt's room. Now was definitely not the time to get into this. "Merritt, Erin come on, UB is ready to go."

"Yea?!" Replied a bright eyed Merritt as she bounced out of her room.

"Yes ma'am." Stated a stern Cera.

"Yes ma'am…I'm gonna miss you." Merritt gave a corrected reply as she wrapped her arms around her mother's waist.

"I'm gonna miss you too li'l one. Don't let UB talk you into setting fire to anything or playing defibrillator tag." Cera answers back with a chuckle.

"Defribulater Tag?!" questioned Merritt in an excited tone mispronouncing the name of the electrical heart stimulator. Her mom and UB always had the best stories.

"Yea, your Uncle Braden and Uncle Galen thought it would be fun to make Laser tag 'more interactive' so they rewired the sensors to give a shock instead of just vibrating. They just didn't count on me being smaller than them and getting a stronger shock because of it."

"Hey now. That was more than twenty years ago. And I was following Galen's instructions, so it was his fault…But I'm glad you found it so stimulating." Braden laughed.

"You are so cheesy! And nice, blaming someone who isn't hear to blame it on you in return." Cera said as she rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Bye, be goooood." replied Braden walking out the door.

"Bye, I love you baby. And Erin. Oh and you're ok too, Braden." said a more relaxed Cera before she shut the door to finish getting ready before dashing out.