Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Sequel to Comic-con, Marriage and a Bloodthirsty Tiger

He sat at his desk and looked over the list in his hand again. He knew it already, not just because of his eidetic memory, but because he had read it 37 times already. It was logical. It was well-thought out. It was carefully planned. He sighed. It was risky. Despite the fact they had been dating for 9 months, he still found himself often surprised by Penny's reactions. What if she didn't like it? If she said no, would it damage their relationship? Then again, what if she said yes? What if she loved the idea? He read it for the 38th time.

Our combined salaries are more than adequate for the endeavor.

It is a good investment for the future.

Only one flight of stairs.

Centralized location for both jobs.

Three bedrooms provides plenty of space in the event family visits or we have progeny.

Large fenced in backyard for Higgs the demonic feline. (He should probably erase that last part.)

The study is large enough to accommodate two desks easily so they have ample work space.

Sheldon looked at the photos and map the realtor had given him. It was perfect. A beautiful brick two story home. Sheldon looked over at the open box on his desk. A princess cut diamond with oval cut emeralds set on either side on a white gold band. Why was he more nervous about asking her to buy a house than asking her to marry him? He sighed in exasperation. He knows this is what he wants. He wants to marry her. He wants them to have a home of their own. He's fairly certain she does also. Now he just has to ask her. Sheldon stood resolutely. He placed the ring in his pocket and gathered the papers together. There was just two things left to do before he spoke to Penny.

What a day, she thought as she pulled into the parking lot of the grocery store. She was going to make spaghetti tonight and she needed hot dogs and garlic bread. Mr. Takei was in New York, but she was needed here. His editor kept wanting to make changes to his new manuscript, Brad was sick and she was filling his manger role temporarily. Plus, she really like Brad and George, so she wanted to make absolutely certain Brad was getting over his flu so George wouldn't worrying himself sick over his husband.

She was just leaving the store when she saw it. She knew Sheldon would say it was pure hokum. He would snort and say she had imagined it. She knew though, with absolute certainty, that it was meant for him. Slowly she set the grocery bags down and reached for it. "Come here, baby. Come to your new momma."

He was working on her laptop, upgrading a few programs when someone knocked on the door. Sheldon frowned since they were not expecting company tonight. He most definitely did not want company tonight. He looked out the peep hole but all he could see was blonde hair. He opened it and smiled. Penny's arms were wrapped around three large paper bags. He took two of them and she shifted quickly to clutch at her coat and the remaining bag.

"Hey, sweetie," she said with a warm smile. "How was work?"

"My work is moving along at an acceptable pace." Sheldon set the bags on the counter and turned. He frowned when he saw Penny had set the other bag by the door. She was still clutching her coat awkwardly and nibbling her lip. He knew that look. She had something to say that she wasn't sure he would like.

"Penny, what is it? I can see you have something on your mind." He felt a moments panic. Had she discovered his plans? Was she unhappy about it? He watched in trepidation as she slowly opened her coat and reached inside. Beautiful brown eyes, a glossy red coat, perked up ears. He fell in love immediately.

Penny watched as he reached out one long fingered hand and stroked the puppy's soft head. His eyes were wide with wonder. The puppy stretched it's head toward Sheldon and he picked it up and drew it to his chest. She saw his lips pull up into a tiny smile, and he ruffled the fur under it's ear. The puppy relaxed against him and yawned. She wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye. She had been worried he might not like it. She knew he liked cats, well except poor sweet Higgs, but she also knew he liked looking at the puppies in the pet shop window they passed on the way to the comic book store.

"Penny, where did she come from?" he asked. His eyes were bright. "Is she yours?"

Penny shook her head. "No, honey. She's yours. I saw her at the grocery store. A man was trying to find homes for his Chow's pups. The other two were white, but as soon as I saw this one, I knew she was perfect. Do you like her? Really like her?"

Sheldon stared at Penny in amazement. How had it taken him so long to realize she was perfection? He slid his hand into her hair and pulled her to his lips. Almost immediately he heard a soft hissing from the arm chair. What surprised the both of them was when the puppy gave a tiny growl. They looked down to see the pup glaring at the cat.

"Oh oh," said Penny. "Looks like we may have a problem." She took the puppy and set him on the chair beside Higgs. "Best thing to do is let them growl and hiss to get it out of their system now."

Sheldon fidgeted anxiously. He didn't want his pup harmed by the cat. Cautiously they eyed one another. Then the cat reached out one paw to bop the puppy who rolled over immediately and licked the cat. Higgs looked disgusted and stood up to wander away. In a flash the puppy was by Sheldon's feet placing itself between Higgs and Sheldon.

Penny laughed. It was perfect! Higgs just sauntered of toward the bedroom. Sheldon bent and picked up his pup and grinned widely. "Did you see that, Penny? She is trying to defend me!"

Penny reached out and stroked the puppy's back. "She sure was, Sheldon. So I take it she's a keeper?"

Sheldon twisted his torso to pull the puppy away from Penny. "You weren't thinking of taking her back, were you? Because you cannot do that!"

Penny kissed him quickly. "I absolutely was not thinking that, honey. Now you sit and think of a name while I go wash up and start supper." She glanced back before she left the room to see Sheldon on the sofa speaking quietly to the pup, his face soft and loving.

He knew immediately what her name was. So, as Penny showered he told the little bundle of fur his plans for the night. How he was going to show Penny the house and tell her all the pros (and maybe the cons) of buying it. How he would get on one knee to ask her to marry him. How he had come home early and called her dad to tell him his intentions. How he had called his Meemaw to tell her he was going to ask Penny to marry him. He knew their families were waiting by the phone to hear her answer. He smiled down at Diana. He was even more sure of Penny's answer now.

Penny smiled all through dinner. Sheldon was so obviously excited about the puppy. He kept up a steady stream of conversation. Puppy training, what he would need to buy for her, getting her the appropriate shots and check up. Penny had shown him the doggie bed and soft canned food she had already purchased, along with a leather collar and tag that just needed to be engraved. She carried their plates to the kitchen and turned to gather their glasses when Sheldon walked over to her and dropped to one knee. He pulled the small box from his pocket and opened it up. Penny's heart leapt into her throat.

"Penny, I have never wanted or needed a companion in my life. Until I met you. You challenge me, you push me, you care for me, you influence me. I cannot imagine spending even one more day of my life without you in it. I want to go to sleep with you in my arms and wake with you beside me. Spaghetti dinners, Halo, prank wars, laundry night. I need you for every aspect of my life. Will you marry me?"

Penny dropped down in front of him and flung her arms around his neck tightly. "Oh god, Sheldon! Yes! Yes! Yes!"

It was an act of whimsy on his part. He couldn't resist teasing his family when he called to tell them Penny had accepted. "Momma, I have great news!"

Mary Cooper squealed. "She said yes!"

Sheldon smiled at Penny mischievously. They had already done this to her dad. "Penny came hone from work and informed me we were expanding our household, momma. Now we must plan for another mouth to feed."

He heard the phone drop an his mom let out a very unchristian remark. "Sheldon Lee Cooper! Are you trying to tell me you went and knocked up that pretty little thing?"

He grinned widely. "Momma, how could you think that? I just thought you'd like to know Penny bought me a puppy." Penny stifled a giggle a Mary let out another swear. "Oh, and she said yes, too."

Missy took the phone from their mother who had slumped into her chair in exasperation. "Momma really should have had you tested a second time. Only a crazy man would tease her that way."

Sheldon and Penny smiled as Missy and Meemaw both congratulated them and made them promise to visit very soon.

Later, as they lay in bed Sheldon showed her the plans for the house. He was pleased she only had a few questions before she smiled and told him she loved it. He felt contentment settle over him. He held her close and drifted off to sleep after one last glance at the pets curled up together in the doggie bed.