When Amy and I arrived at the Cheesecake Factory, Penny's colleague led us to the waitresses' changing room where we found Penny lying on a couch.

"Penny, can you hear me? " Amy said in a soft voice, kneeling next to her.

Penny lifted her head with difficulty and saw Amy's face next to hers "Hello Amy! What are you doing here?" She sat up on the couch slowly, helped by Amy "Oh yes, I remember, I asked Kelly to call you." She put her hand on the back of her head, wincing "Don't worry, I am fine. I did not feel like driving home, that's all."

"That's alright, Penny, you did the right thing, that's what besties are for. Come on." Then staring at me "Sheldon, please, can you help us?" I came closer and gave my hand to Penny so she could stand up easier.

"Sheldon? What are you doing here?" Penny seemed confused.

"Hey Penny. Let's go now, please."

She grasped both our arms and got up. Amy guided her outside while I opened the doors for them. When we reached the car, Amy asked me to sit down at the back with Penny to keep an eye on her. Within seconds, she put her head on my shoulder and fell asleep. I did not move, scared it might wake her up, but she was sleeping pretty deep already. Actually, she slept all the way to the apartment building. After Amy parked her car in front of the building, she turned to check on us. She grinned when she saw Penny with her head on me. "Well, should I be jealous, Sheldon?"

I frowned "Amy, really, do you think it is the best moment to joke around? Help me get her out of here please!"

Penny somehow managed to get out of the car and climb the four flights of stairs with Amy's help. Once we all reached the fourth floor, I proposed to Penny to come and sleep in Leonard's bedroom. She agreed, so we all got inside my apartment. As Amy and Penny headed directly for Leonard's bedroom, I went to the bathroom first to grab a towel and a bucket, which I put next to Leonard's bed. I picked a tee shirt out of Leonard's top drawer, handed it to Penny and left the room. I started to tidy up the living room and pack the Nintendo console up again. I left the box on the coffee table, as Amy came back.

"She fell asleep in two seconds." Amy walked through the living room "I have to go now, it is late. " She stopped at the door and turned towards me "Goodnight Sheldon. Thanks for tonight, and thanks for taking care of Penny. I'll text you in the morning."

I got closer to her, facing her "I will. Actually Amy thank you for the lovely evening. I really appreciated it. Everything up to the phone call. Especially the last part. We should try that again some other time."

She looked at me in the eyes and said softly "Yes we should, definitely" Then opening the door "Goodnight Sheldon!"

"Goodnight Amy! Drive safely."

It had been a very good evening indeed. Staying at home, with her, having a pizza, ice cream, and playing a video game together was all I needed to relax after a tough week. That… and the kiss. Actually, the kisses. Both of them were fascinating. The first one, when I found her lips, and could taste how sweet they were. And the second one, initiated by her, even more enjoyable. I closed my eyes as I remembered these moments. Gosh, what is going on with me? It's like I am becoming a hippie. I slept very well that night, thinking about that lovely evening.

I woke up at 6.30 as usual and after showering and dressing, I went to the kitchen to prepare my breakfast, when I heard Penny's voice.

"Good morning Sheldon! " she was on the couch, in Leonard's tee shirt.

"Good morning Penny! How are you this morning?" I asked, trying not to sound too judgmental.

"I am fine thank you. Well, except a major headache. By the way Sheldon, do you have some painkillers please?"

"Sure" I fetched her a glass of water then went to the bathroom, coming back with painkillers.

"Thanks Sweetie!"

"Do you want some coffee and toasts?"

"Yes please."

Going back to the kitchen, I said "I must admit Penny that I was surprised to see you here, awake so early"

"Leonard is calling at 8.30am, I just wanted to allow myself some time to wake up properly and freshen up. Thanks for letting me stay here last night Sheldon. And thanks for your help and Amy's."

"You are welcome Penny."

"I am sorry I bothered you during date night Sheldon, but as it was late, I thought Amy had already left. I hope I did not interrupt anything…."

"No, don't worry" I replied, trying to sound detached "Amy was just about to leave as the phone rang."

"What is this thing?" she asked, pointing at the box on the coffee table.

"Oh, that is a video game console. Amy and I played a game together yesterday night."

"Amy played a video game?" Penny sounded stunned "she never wants to play video games."

"Well, she did yesterday." I did not want to talk about it either. Both her coffee and my tea were ready. I poured it, and collected the toasts, which I brought on the coffee table. "do you want butter, peanut butter, jam?"

"No thanks, just toasts."

I reluctantly asked her as I was sitting down on my spot next to her "Penny, did your condition last night have anything to do with Leonard being away?"

She stared at me "A little Sheldon. So far, since he left, I have managed to get busy every evening, either with you, with the gang, or with the girls. But yesterday, you and Amy were on a date, Bernadette and Howard were having dinner at her parents and Raj said he had plans, and none of my other friends were available. I felt so lonely, I did not want to go home and be alone there. So after work, I stayed at the bar, and I may have drunk a little too much." Now she was looking at her mug "I miss him Sheldon, and yesterday, I realized I don't like being alone like that."

"Maybe you should call Amy, Penny, talk to her instead of me; you know I am not comfortable in social situations." I was beginning to feel very uncomfortable indeed "But you are not alone."

"Thanks Sweetie." She took a sip of her coffee "I have to say you are getting better at social situations as a matter of fact." She stared at me again and grabbed my hand. "You have changed in 7 years Sheldon. Especially this past year. And I like it. I like Amy's influence on you." She let go of my hand.

"Maybe"

I think Penny is right. Amy has changed me in so many ways. I used to focus only on myself. But since I met Amy, I realize there is nothing more enjoyable than making someone else happy. Well, I mean making Amy happy. I love it when I can make her smile. I can definitely relate to Penny's current predicament too, as I don't know how I'd feel if Amy were to go away even for a short period. I guess I would feel lost, like Penny has since Leonard left. I can understand how she feels, so I won't judge her for what she did yesterday. And that is another sentiment I thought I would never feel: empathy.

Then I got up from the couch "Penny, I have to prepare myself to go to work, Kripke will be here very soon. You know where the keys are, stay as long as you need to. And please say hi to Leonard from me."

"Okay, I will, thanks Sweetie." Looking at me grabbing my mug and plate "Sheldon, I'll do the wash up, don't worry, go get ready."

Penny had just finished her breakfast as I made my way out of the apartment. Kripke was waiting for me outside in his car. He had been working for the whole evening on our project and wanted to show me his results as soon as we arrived. We spent the whole morning in my office. Surprisingly, Barry was so focused on work that he did not even ask me for details on my alleged night of love. Which was fine by me.

As Kripke left my office for lunch break, Amy sent me a text to see if I was available for a skype session. I told her I was so she called me straightaway.

"Hello Sheldon!" Amy welcomed me with a smile.

"Hi Amy! How are you? Not too tired after last night?"

"No, actually I am fine. And except for the last part, and going to bed quite late, the evening had been quite relaxing." She said softly. "What about you? And Penny? "

"I am fine, thanks. Amy, about Penny: could you please call her today? I think she needs to talk to a friend. We talked a bit this morning, but as I told her, I don't think I am the person she should talk to. She feels a bit depressed about Leonard being away, and I think she drank yesterday because she felt lonely."

"Okay, thanks Sheldon, I thought it might be so, I was about to call her later today anyways."

At that exact moment, I heard my phone ring. I checked and it was my mother.

"Amy, sorry, can I call you back later? My mother is calling; I have to take the call."

"Sure Sheldon, we can talk later. I'll call Penny in the meantime to check if everything is alright." She hung up.

"Allo mum!" I said as I pick up the phone.

"Allo Shelly." Then she paused.

"Mummy, what is going on? You sound strange"

"Shelly, I am calling you because Meemaw is at the hospital. She passed out last night after dinner. I called for an ambulance. Now she is at the hospital in Houston. She is in a coma."

I could not articulate a word. Meemaw. Nothing was supposed to happen to Meemaw. Never.

"Shelly, I know it is hard for you to learn that over the phone. But I had to keep you updated. Are you alright?" I could not say a word yet "Shelly, I'd like you to come, the doctors don't know what might happen. Do you think you can fly today?"

"Errr…. "I pulled myself together "Mum, let me check the flights, I'll try my best. I keep you updated as soon as I know." I paused, closing my eyes "Mum, tell me, she will be okay, right?"

"I don't know Shelly-bean, this is pretty serious. I have to go back there now. Keep me updated about your flight. I love you Shelly!"

"I love you mum. Please tell Meemaw her moonpie loves her."

I was in shock. I sat down. Then I checked on my computer when there were flights for Houston leaving today. There was one at 5pm from LAX. I booked it, sent a text to my mother with all the details and then I called Amy.

She answered immediately "Sheldon I know what is going on, I was on the phone with Penny when she received a text message from your mother. Are you alright?"

"I, no, actually, I am very worried. Mum says Meemaw is in a coma and that I should hurry, the doctors don't know what will happen" my voice was trembling, I could feel the tears about to leave my eyes "I just booked a flight for today. Amy, can you drive me to LAX please? The flight is at 5pm."

"Sure Sheldon, I am on my way. Wait for me in your office, I'll come and meet you there in an hour." She hung up.

I called Kripke to tell him I could not work with him this afternoon, and probably for a few days. Then I called President Siebert. He understood my predicament and told me to take as many days off as I needed. When Koothrappali and Wolowitz came by, wondering why I did not meet them for lunch, I told them too. They asked how they could help me, but I told them that I was fine, and that Amy already volunteered to help me. They left, telling me again they were there for me if I needed them. Then, alone in my office, I broke down in tears, slumped over my desk. I stayed like that until Amy arrived.