Big Beep is back!

I wanted to apologize to everyone for going two months without an update. I've been struggling with depression, and writing for this show became extra difficult. I don't know why, because the show had nothing to do with how I was feeling, but I was still having to force myself to act excited about it a lot of the time, and I didn't want to write when I was feeling lackluster about it, because I felt that would be reflected in the story, and that's not fair to readers. So I waited. But tonight, the urge to write struck me, and this time, when I tried to apply my energy to this story, the plot bunnies listened and I was able to do it. I did have to shorten my plans for this next chapter (Shamy date will be the next update) to make the task seem less overwhelming, but I assure you, updates will be more frequent now.

Thanks to everyone who is still following this story. I both applaud and graciously thank your patience.

"I don't understand," Sheldon said. "You found an actual human person, on the internet, that you believe to be my soul mate? Excuse me while I snort in derision and toss my hands in the air."

Penny jumped out of the way as Sheldon flung his arms.

"But it's true!" Raj said excitedly. He remembered Penny's close proximity and squeaked, putting his hands over his mouth.

"I'm just gonna go inside," Penny said, slipping back into her apartment and shutting the door. She thought about going to her room to read her new magazine, but pressed her ear up against the door instead.

"We put all your vital information into this dating site, answered all their questions just like you would, and they found a match for you!" Raj continued. "Her name is Amy Farrah Fowler."

"Please," Sheldon said, sounding annoyed. "Even assuming you could answer any question the way I would, the algorithms used by matchmaking sites are complete hokum."

"And that's exactly the answer we gave to the question, what is your attitude towards online dating!" Howard said. "Word for word!"

"Howard wanted to write mumbo jumbo, but I said no, our Sheldon would say hokum."

Raj's confidant, proud tone made Penny smile, then raise an eyebrow, surprised at how quickly Leonard's friends were growing on her. Howard came on too strong, Raj was the most socially anxious person she'd ever met, and Sheldon was just…strange, then Leonard was still a little too sure about him and her for Penny to be completely comfortable, but she genuinely enjoyed being in close proximity to these people. She'd never had a problem getting along with people, but this was…different.

Leonard might be different in a good way.

She'd spoken those words to Sheldon just moments before. Now they made her smile. This whole situation was different from what she was used to...but so was living on her own, without Kurt. Maybe a fresh start was really that - changing herself and the people she associated with. A new trail, like when she and her sister would ride their horses on land they'd never ridden on before. This could be even better than that memory - she highly doubted her new friends and un-mapped lifestyle would cause her father to yell at her about destroying Mr. Knust's winter wheat.

"She doesn't have a TiMER either," Howard was saying, jolting Penny back into the conversation. "So she really could be your soul mate!"

"I hardly think that's a valid argument. Millions of people have chosen to not get TiMERs. The fact that you have run into one of them makes her no more compatible with me than with either of you."

"Dontcha think since she doesn't have one for the same reason you do, that makes you two compatible?" Penny said through the door.

There was a silence, and some shuffling. Then came Howard's annoyed voice. "I don't know if you can talk now!"

"Sheldon," Leonard said, "can I talk to you for a moment?"

"For a moment?" Sheldon said, looking up from his computer. "I suppose I have a moment. Wolowitz and Koothrapali are dragging me to some coffee shop to meet a girl."

"How did they get you to…" Leonard waved his hands. "Never mind, I don't want to know, anyway, it's about Penny."

"Then I probably don't know the answer. Go ask her herself, the woman is very chatty." Sheldon shook his head. "Also, she eavesdrops on private conversations."

"Anyway," Leonard said, pulling up his chair. "We went out last night, and it was…fun. A little awkward, but we talked, we laughed, I banged my head, you know, first date stuff."

"I actually don't know first date stuff. It's one of the few areas that I have no knowledge in. I could Google some lists of typical dating rituals, if you like. I believe you're supposed to hold the coitus until date three."

"That's not my question."

"Hoo boy, you and Penny are both chatterboxes today," Sheldon said, closing his laptop and facing Leonard. "Proceed."

"I…I don't know what to do now," Leonard said. "Do I ask her out again? Would that seem like pressure? Would not asking her seem like I was disinterested? How do we move things along and be able to determine if there's really something there."

Sheldon didn't blink. "Schrödinger's Cat."

Leonard leaned back ever so slightly. "Wow, that's brilliant."

Sheldon shrugged. "It's what I do."

"I'm coming!" Penny said in response to the rapid knocking at her door. "Leonard!" She said in surprise. "Hi."

"Hi," He said. "Can I come in?"

Penny took a step back and to the side. "Sure. What's up?"

"We had fun last night, right?" Leonard said. "I mean, you didn't hate it, until I got hurt?"

"No," Penny said. "It was kinda nice."

"But look, I don't want to waste your time, and I know you've had your doubts, and I just feel like we really need to figure out if this can go anywhere."

"I agree," Penny said, nodding, slightly confused as to where he was going.

"So…" Leonard cocked his head. "Have you ever heard of Schrödinger's Cat?"

Penny's eyebrows shot up. "Actually, I've heard far too much about Schrödinger's Cat."

Leonard looked surprised by this, as if he had an explanation at hand that he wasn't expecting to not need. He gave a quick little nod, said something – good? Okay? Penny didn't know, just saw him stepping toward her, his hand going up to her face, and his lips landing on hers.

Penny didn't know how long the kiss lasted, nor did she remember inching closer to him or placing her hands on his shoulders and taking some of the material in her left hand and squeezing it, but when he ended the kiss, there she was. She opened her eyes and started at him, startled, unprepared, then took in a breath and let it out, understanding what Sheldon had meant.

"Okay," she said, nodding. "The cat's alive."

He smiled back at her, and she felt some of that fear creep back, nudging at the feeling the kiss had given her, threatening to push it away and make her do the same to him. Fighting against it, she put her hands on his face and kissed him again. His hands moved to her waist as she deepened the kiss, asking him to respond in kind. When he did, she sighed into his mouth and held his face more firmly between her hands.

This time, when it ended, they each took a step back, as if they'd both touched an electric fence and jumped away from the shock. They stared at each other for a long moment, then Leonard cleared his throat. "Do you wanna maybe…go for a drive…tomorrow?"

"A drive!" Penny said, clearing her throat. "Yeah, I…I know how to drive."

"Or a walk," Leonard said.

"I can…I can walk too," Penny said, putting her thumbs through her back belt loops.

"Movie, restaurant…" Leonard said, seeming to feel the need to keep speaking.

"The drive sounds wonderful," Penny said. "I work the lunch shift tomorrow."

"I'll pick you up?"

"I…" Penny shrugged. "Okay, yeah. Sure."

He smiled. "I'll see you then. And if we run out of things to talk about, I can give you the details on this date Sheldon's going on."

"He's actually going?" Penny said. "How'd they convince him to…" she trailed off and cocked her head. "Actually, don't tell me, I don't wanna know."