Author's Note:

This is the end of this particular story. I just want to say how much fun it's been and how much I appreciate everyone's kind words and feedback. It means a lot that you take the time to comment and to read.

To those who leave reviews when they are not signed in: I appreciate every line you leave me, you just don't hear from me because there is no "reply" button. However, I'm listening and I always look forward to hearing from all of you!

I'd like to dedicate this final chapter to BBT Is Great, for being my first ever reviewer for my first story, and for sticking around with kind and thoughtful words. Thank you!

Lesson Seven: Tale as Old as Time

Penny snuck into Sheldon's room early the next morning and crawled under the covers next to him. He cracked open an eye and snaked an arm around her waist.

"How long have you been up?"

"Since you opened the door," he said, sounding groggy.

"Sorry sweetie. It's that damn Vulcan hearing that's really to blame though," she said, ruffling his hair and making him look all scruffy.

He pulled her close and kissed her cheek.

"Did you sleep well Penny?"

"Very. You?"

"Just as well as I usually do."

"So what's up for today?" she asked, tracing the plaid pattern of his pajama top with a fingertip.

"Church, a trip to the cemetery, and then breakfast."

"Been a while since you've visited your dad and Papa, huh?"

"That, and it's a weekly ritual around here. After Papa died, Dad and George started going every week and playing music for him, usually his favorite songs. Sometimes I would go too, but it wasn't long after that I left for Germany."

He paused a moment.

"When Dad died, I stopped going altogether, even though my visits home have been so seldom. George still keeps it up though, and the girls go with him fairly often. I think he'd be very glad if we all went this week."

"Sounds like a plan."

. . .

Penny hadn't been to church since she had left Omaha. The service was nice. It sort of felt like a Sunday morning with her parents.

She had half-expected Sheldon to be all twitchy and scoff at whatever the reverend said, but he was quiet and subdued the whole time. His calm gaze never left the man in the pulpit and his hands were folded politely in his lap.

Penny squeezed his knee affectionately.

. . .

Sheldon had been right. George was very glad to have them along.

"I'm not used to all of this wonderful company!" he said, blushing and scuffling his feet.

MeeMaw swatted him with her sun hat.

"There are only two extra people here this week, baby cakes. Quit being so dramatic!"

"Yes, MeeMaw."

"Watcha singing this week?" Missy asked, smiling fondly at her brother. He had their father's guitar with him; he was bound to pick something really good.

"The only song Daddy and Papa could ever agree on."

He struck up the opening chords to "Mr. Tambourine Man" while Missy and Mrs. Cooper clapped, clearly delighted.

George sang about as well as the rest of the family. He didn't have the greatest voice, but he could carry a pleasant tune. He also had a rich Texas twang, which Penny thought sounded really nice with what he was singing.

He got halfway through the song and then locked eyes with Sheldon. Sheldon nodded and took out the old harmonica he had stashed in his jacket pocket earlier that morning.

Sheldon took over with a harmonica riff while the rest of the family just stared.

They were thrilled, but very surprised.

It had been a long time since Sheldon had done this.

Penny was just shocked he knew what to do with a harmonica. He wasn't terrific, but what he lacked in actual talent he made up for with an excess of soul and enthusiasm.

She wasn't in a relationship with a theoretical physicist; Sheldon was secretly a Renaissance man all along.

Her smile got even wider and his family's eyes got even bigger when he took up the last verse. George, to his credit, never missed a beat as Sheldon began to sing.

"Then take me disappearin' through the smoke rings of my mind; down the foggy ruins of time; far past the frozen leaves, the haunted, frightened trees; out to the windy beach far from the twisted reach of crazy sorrow."

MeeMaw had closed her eyes against a sudden onslaught of tears.

Sheldon took her hand in his.

"Yes, to dance beneath the diamond sky with one hand waving free, silhouetted by the sea, circled by the circus sands, with all memory and fate driven deep beneath the waves. Let me forget about today until tomorrow."

George stepped up next to Sheldon and they took the last chorus together before playing each other off to the end in a frenzy of harmonica and guitar.

When they finished they both got a hug from MeeMaw and Missy.

Mrs. Cooper was looking mistily at them as well.

Penny gave her arm a small squeeze.

. . .

They all went out for a late breakfast and then decided to spend the rest of the day at Mrs. Cooper's.

Penny had been excited to see the other house that Sheldon had grown up in, wondering if it was anything like MeeMaw's. She was disappointed to find that Sheldon's childhood home no longer stood.

When his career had started to take off, the first thing he had done was to buy his parents and siblings a new house with plenty of room for all of them. He had even gotten his dad a new recliner on the occasion.

The old trailer that Sheldon had spent his earliest years in had been destroyed in a hurricane a couple of years after that.

He had been immensely grateful at the time that he had procured a more secure domicile for his loved ones.

Sheldon gave Penny the grand tour.

She was pretty impressed with the small music room just off of the parlor, but she was even more surprised when she got to Sheldon's room.

Unlike the boyish room he had at MeeMaw's house, this room seemed more like the Sheldon she had come to know and love.

There were comic books, of course, as well as little models of the solar system, an atom, and the Periodic Table. There were some physics books on the shelf over his desk, as well as some of the awards he had won in college, minus the Stevenson, which was proudly on display in his office back in Pasadena.

Unlike his room back home though, this one was scattered with pictures of his family.

"Do you mind?" Penny asked, gesturing toward a frame.

"Not at all."

Sheldon took a seat in his desk chair and watched as Penny perused the different photographs.

There was one of Sheldon and Missy on their fifth birthday. Missy, her face covered in birthday cake frosting, was kissing a very sullen looking Sheldon on the cheek. Penny laughed.

"I'll have to get a copy of this one!"

Sheldon just gave her a look that said "Not on your life!"

There was Sheldon, graduating from college, with his mom and dad on either side of him.

The last picture that Penny came to gave her pause.

It was a family portrait, probably from a professional studio.

MeeMaw and Papa Cooper were seated in the center, with Mary and George Jr. standing behind them with their hands on their shoulders, beaming. George was sitting front and center of his grandparents, with Missy and Sheldon flanking him.

Everyone looked so happy and carefree. Even Sheldon looked cautiously delighted, with a small smile playing on his lips.

Sheldon came up behind Penny and took the picture down from the shelf.

"That's a really good one, sweetie."

"This one's my favorite," he gave her a fond smile. "This was the last time we all got to take a picture like this, so I find that it has increased sentimental value."

"What do you mean?"

Sheldon took his former seat and Penny sat on the end of his bed.

"A few months after this was taken, Papa got diagnosed with his cancer. From then on, it was just a haze of all of us watching a loved one decline while loving him as much as we could and making him as comfortable as possible. Dad had always been a heavy drinker, but when Papa got sick it got worse, and Dad got mean. Mom stayed with him out of a sense of duty, but I think part of her still loved him. He spent the last ten years of his life almost always drunk."

Sheldon's eyes took on a faraway look.

"There were good days though, like Sundays. He'd sober up for really important things too, like Missy's first date, George's first gig playing at a club, and my graduation. Those days, he was almost the man he used to be."

"Things were mostly bad though, so when he got really sick, none of us were very surprised."

He looked straight into Penny's eyes now.

"Cirrhosis is a very terrible thing to see, Penny."

She squeezed his knee, her throat too thick with emotion to speak.

"I'm not sure we've ever really recovered from everything, but this time that you and I have had here feels like a step in the right direction. I'm not very good with emotional situations, but even I can feel and easement in their heartache. My family is starting to be happy again, I think."

Penny stood and kissed him on the cheek.

She settled onto his lap and they both looked at the picture he was holding for another moment.

Penny finally asked the question that had been on her mind since she had seen him sitting so quietly in church.

"Sheldon, what do you think happens to people after they pass away? Do you think your Papa and your dad still exist in some way?"

Sheldon looked down and took her hand in his, idly tracing the lines in her palm.

"The First Law of Thermodynamics states that energy under normal conditions can neither be created nor destroyed, simply transformed from one type of energy to another. The energy that invigorated my father and grandfather is present in the rest of the universe, so in a sense they are everywhere. They are just different now is all."

His voice got very soft.

"That's why it felt so good to sing today. It may sound odd, but in a way, the whole family was right there."

Penny turned his face toward hers and kissed him soundly.

"Penny, why are you crying?"

She shook her head and gave him a watery smile.

. . .

The rest of their stay passed in a blur of activity.

They went to see George perform with his band at Duke's, the club where they had a weekly gig. George and the band had a standing engagement there as well as at the family restaurant down the road. They also did weddings and other family events, which was enough for George to make a living on. He did the occasional handy man job as well.

Penny had wanted to go to the beach as well, but Sheldon could not be talked into it. Instead, he had convinced them that a day trip to Lake Conroe was in order: they were going fishing there.

The weather was perfect that day and the fish were biting.

Penny had already caught several, so she gave Sheldon the fishing pole and let him take over. He immediately got into a contest with George. Whoever caught the most didn't have to do a thing for dinner. The loser had to prepare the catch, fix supper, and clean up afterward.

Penny would have put money on Sheldon, based on the glint in his eye.

She and Mrs. Cooper went for a walk before rejoining MeeMaw and Missy to watch the boys fish. George was in the lead at the moment, having caught two fish to Sheldon's one.

Sheldon had just begun to wrestle with a suddenly-pulled pole when Penny's phone went off in her pocket.

The screen said it was her agent, Lisa.

"Hello?"

"Hey there Penny! How's it going?" chirped a bubbly voice on the other end.

Penny was reminded once more of why she loved her agent. She was always so…sunny.

"Things are great. How are you?"

"Just terrif!"

Normally, people who shortened words annoyed her, but on Lisa it was just adorable.

"Listen hon, I think I have an offer you're going to just love!"

"Do tell!"

On the dock, George had set aside his own pole and was trying to help a struggling Sheldon reel in whatever beast it was that he had on the end of his line.

"The director from your last show is putting together a huge production of 'Beauty and the Beast.' It's going to be two shows a week for three months, and he wants you to be Belle!"

There was a rushing sound in Penny's ears. This was it, this was her big break!

Grunting sounds were coming from the dock. George had seized Sheldon about the waist and was physically pulling him back from the edge, while Sheldon was still wrestling frantically with his fishing pole.

"So what do you think?"

Penny cleared her throat.

"So, when do rehearsals start?"

There was a delighted squeal on the other end of the phone.

"Penny this is so exciting!"

"I know! I can't wait to start!"

"I only have one more question for you."

"Shoot."

"Well, you guys were such a hit in 'My Fair Lady' that the director is wondering if Sheldon would be able to play the Beast."

The dock was now visibly rocking beneath Sheldon's and George's feet.

"Can I get back to you on that bit? I want to run it by Sheldon."

"Sure! Just so you know, his answer won't affect your part. You're in either way."

Now it was Penny's turn to squeal.

"Thank you so much Lisa!"

"Any time, kid."

Penny hung up and opened her mouth to tell the other ladies the good news.

Just then, the biggest catfish any of them had ever seen leaped out of the water and over the dock.

Sheldon and George stopped struggling for a moment and watched in awe as the fish passed over them in a glittering arc.

Then, almost like a scene out of a cartoon, the fish dropped back down into the water, taking the fishing pole and the slack-jawed brothers along with it.

The women leapt to their feet and ran down to the dock.

Just as Penny was about to jump in after them, the boys surfaced, gasping for air.

George pulled himself up onto the dock and then leant Sheldon a hand. They fell onto their backs, catching their breath.

"Are my boys ok?" Mrs. Cooper fretted.

George gave her an exhausted thumbs-up while Sheldon nodded.

After they had caught their breath, they sat up grinning.

"I think this means I win," Sheldon said, grinning wryly at his older brother.

"No way Shelley! That still only counts as one! You are so preparing dinner."

Penny decided that it was a good moment to butt in.

"I think you're both making dinner because I just got the biggest catch of the day!"

"You weren't in on our wager Penny."

"No, but I did just get offered to play Belle in a three-month run of 'Beauty and the Beast' back home!"

Penny had the breath knocked out of her when everyone jumped at her and tried to hug her at once.

George got to his feet and helped Sheldon up, leaving the ladies to coo over Penny.

"You'll gut and I'll scale Shelley."

. . .

They were sitting down to a picnic dinner of smoked fish and homemade potato salad and bread.

Even though he was outdoors and on a blanket, Sheldon was in heaven. The food was delicious, the company was good, and everyone was so excited over Penny's good news.

"There's one other thing though," Penny said, placing a hand on Sheldon's arm.

He paused with his forkful of potato salad halfway to his mouth.

"What is it?"

"This isn't going to change my position in the show, but the director liked our Eliza and Higgins so much that he's wondering if you'd be available to play the Beast." At Sheldon's dubious look, she quickly added "I know it's a huge commitment, so if you don't want to…"

"May I have some time to think about it?"

"Of course, sweetie."

Shortly thereafter, his mother asked Sheldon is he'd like to take an after-dinner walk.

Sheldon looked over at George—he had intended to help his brother clean up—but George just waved him off with a nonchalant smile.

Sheldon proffered his arm and his mother took it as they walked slowly along the shoreline.

"Are you gonna do it Shelley?"

"I'd like to. Despite my initial misgivings, I loved performing with Penny last time."

"I feel like there's a 'but' coming."

"You're right. I'd like to, but I don't want Penny to get caught in a cycle where she's only seen as part of a duo."

Mary was quiet for a beat.

"I get where you're coming from Shelley, but if you're both really strong individuals, and you are, then being part of a duo isn't going to hurt Penny's career the least little bit."

Sheldon was looking at her curiously.

"Think of it like a really good marriage. Together, you make something incredible, but you're both strong enough and amazing enough to stand on your own. You're only a duo because you choose to be; you like the collaboration; it makes you happy."

She smiled up at her son and patted his cheek.

"Now when are you going to marry this girl?"

Sheldon squawked while his mother laughed delightedly.

. . .

It was Friday night, their last one in Galveston. They'd be getting on the train back to Pasadena the following morning.

Sheldon had decided to accommodate his plans for Penny to include his family.

He and George had set up a table behind MeeMaw's house while Penny and Missy strung up the golden lights that Sheldon had purchased.

MeeMaw and Mrs. Cooper prepared a mix of everyone's favorites that included Missy and Sheldon's pulled pork, Penny's roasted potatoes, MeeMaw's Caesar salad, and Mrs. Cooper's corn chowder, and George's chocolate cake.

Just as they were about to dig into dessert, Sheldon tapped the side of his glass of root beer with his fork.

"I'd just like to say a few words."

He looked around the table at each of them in turn before finally resting his eyes on Penny and taking her hand in his.

"I am not good with open displays of emotion, but I feel that there has been a lot of love shared at this table tonight and in the last twelve days and seven hours."

He took a deep breath.

"Penny, before you came along, a lot of things in my life were broken and bruised: my family, my home…me. But just knowing you has changed my life for the better, and this time that you've been here with all of us has rekindled a lot of what we used to have, what we can still have."

There was a murmuring of approval around the table.

"I love you, Penny, and I want to have many more experiences like this one. To answer your question of the other day: I will do the show with you when we get back to Pasadena."

Penny was blubbering by this point.

"Really?"

"Yes. We make a formidable stage duo, if I do say so myself."

Mrs. Cooper clapped her hands together delightedly.

"I will always be glad for overhearing your horrible singing on the staircase that night."

Penny punched him playfully on the arm.

Sheldon raised his glass.

"To voice lessons."

The others raised their own glasses as well.

"To voice lessons!" they echoed.

. . .

It was well after midnight when Penny felt someone gently shaking her awake. She made to swat the offender away, but stopped when she heard an indignant yelp.

She bolted upright.

"Sheldon? What's wrong?"

"Nothing!" he said, still holding his hands up in a defensive posture. "I'm sorry I startled you, but I have a surprise."

"Sheldon, we have to be up in four hours. Can't this wait until then?"

"No."

She sighed and got out of bed. He wouldn't be surprising her with anything this late at night if it wasn't important.

"You may want to don a robe and slippers. It's chilly outside."

"Okay."

He took her hand and led her downstairs and outside.

The golden lights were still glowing, but not so brightly as to interfere with the starlight bathing the backyard. Sheldon had set up an old record player inside the gazebo.

"Sweetie, what're you up to?"

"Well, I had originally planned to tell you of my feelings this evening with an elaborate romantic gesture."

"I see," she said, quirking an eyebrow at him.

He shuffled his feet, feeling a bit sheepish.

"I figured…well, I did purchase the lights and the record…"

He grinned shyly at Penny.

She ran up to him and threw her arms around him.

"I love you," she breathed.

Sheldon put a record on. An instrumental version of "Beauty and the Beast" began to play as the couple danced on the lawn.

On the train the following morning, after a quick breakfast and some tearful goodbyes, Sheldon would be thinking about the speech he had made at dinner that night.

He would repeat his toast to voice lessons in six months' time when he asked Penny to move in with him.

It would also be what he toasted to at their engagement party the following year.

For the moment though, he simply enjoyed the feeling of having Penny in his arms as they swayed together beneath the twinkling lights.

The End

Bonus Author's Note: I thought it would be fun to put together a playlist for this fic, so here you are. I hope you enjoy these songs as much as I have!

"My Fair Sheldon"

1. "Merry-go-round of Life," Joe Hisaishi

2. "Embassy Waltz," "My Fair Lady" Soundtrack

3. "Sing, Sing, Sing," "Swing Kids" Soundtrack

4. "Dancing Cheek to Cheek," Frank Sinatra

5. "Mr. Zoot Suit," The Flying Neutrinos

6. "Baby It's Cold Outside," Johnny Mercer and Margaret Whiting

7. "As Time Goes By," "Casablanca" Soundtrack

8. "Mr. Tambourine Man," Bob Dylan

9. "Beauty and the Beast," piano version

Bonus tracks:

"My Heart Stood Still," Ella Fitzgerald

"Something's Gotta Give," Pat Suzuki

"You Came a Long Way from St. Louis," Will Bradley and Ray McKinley

"I've Told Every Little Star," Freddy Martin and Merv Griffin

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