Last Chapter. I'm sooo terribly nervous for this. I don't want it to be anti-climactic, or too corny or you know. Nerveeeeeeeeeees, I almost don't even want to post this because I'm scared. BUT I MUST. There's a epilogue, it's mostly written, if I'm not lazy, I'll edit it and post it on today. Anyways, I hope you like this.

I do not own the Big Bang Theory.

ENJOY!


His mother his kisses his cheeks, she doesn't have the decency to wipe off the lipstick afterwards. So Sheldon walks on stage with the three fuchsia coloured lips on his face. He does his speech that way, and smiles for the cameras that way. Afterwards, Sheldon's too tired to be angry at his mother, instead, he thinks about how Penny would love that, and he lets the thought of sending her some of the photo's float around his head for a while. He lets his mom and Mewmaw have a copy before throwing them all out.


"The youngest to win the Stevenson's award!" Dr. Stark laughs, "And you said that year off wasn't a good idea."

He wants to tell him that he owes his prestigious award to Cole and his special brownies, he doesn't want to admit that Dr. Stark was right.


"Shelly, mom wants to know if you lost any weight." Missy's voice is wheezy, suffering from the flu that is going around back home. When she sneezes, Sheldon's suddenly glad that he's half way around the world.

"No, I gained 2.5 pounds."

She coughs, hacking up mucus. He has the urge to tell her to call him back later, when she isn't sick. "It probably ain't from getting fat, you got taller didn't you?"

He's about to respond when she interrupts him, her words urgent. "Look, Sheldon, momma told me not to tell you this. It might upset you, but I think you should know."

"What is it Missy?"

"Penny and her family moved. Tommy got into some trouble, and they're taking him back to Omaha, being closer with family...they think that might help him."

He's been gone for five months, and Sheldon hasn't heard a word about her, sure he's thought of her, but no concrete information. Any chance of seeing her again seems to fly out the window. He wants so badly to believe everything she said that night, but he doesn't trust her words. He's a scientist after all, he needs proof.


For a while it seems that the world is set up so that Sheldon can never forget about Penny. Logically, Sheldon knows it's impossible for him to forget about her, but he'd rather not have every yellow flower bring back memories that are far beyond his reach. So Sheldon starts to move around a lot, he never stays somewhere too long, if he gets used to the routine he'll have less things to distract him. Instead every year or so, he goes to a different country, he learns a different language, he learns to deal with always, always missing her.


He's 22 when he decides to stay settled in one place. He moves to California, and he doesn't know why. He wonders if it's because of the University he's offered to work in, or if it's because he's sick of having to learn the different transit systems. He's made great strides into the science community and people except great things from him, and Sheldon can say that he's happy because he is.

It's all Sheldon has wanted since he was a kid, he knows that he can do something that can change the world, and he knows he can make a difference. He knows that his life is on track, and he knows that he's happy. Except, sometimes, sometimes when someone talks about the stars, he's reminded of the one he got for Penny. He's given up on her, he knows that he shouldn't but Sheldon's sick of waiting for something, he's sick of feeling empty.

He doesn't have a new country to explore, a new language to learn, a new place to get used to. So he makes a strict routine, he carves himself a strict life. He accounts for every hour in every day.

He's at the university nearly a week before he finds out that Leonard, Raj and Howard all work there. Raj had went back to India for a while, Howard went to MIT and he's never really figured out where Leonard went to school for. The three of them had kept in contact and had hoped to work in the same area. It was just lucky that they ended up in the same place.

After that Sheldon and Leonard move in together, for convenience, almost a year goes by before he realizes that Leonard actually spoils him. He drives him to work, and the comic book store and gets his take out properly, almost a year goes by before he realizes that Leonard is his best friend.

They're walking up the stairs since the elevator has been broken since they first moved into the building. They're walking and talking about nothing in particular, Sheldon heads straight for his apartment, but Leonard stops short.

"Holy crap," he mutters.

"What is it Leonard-"

And then it's Sheldon's turn to stop short.

She looks the same almost, just older, and a little taller. Her hair is shorter, blonder, but still the same. She's taking things out of a box in front of her, and humming to a song on the radio. Sheldon's mind starts to swim, he isn't sure if he wants to laugh or cry, or just leave. A million thoughts run through his mind, he doesn't know what to feel because Sheldon had given up on her years and years ago.

"Hello." Sheldon blurts out awkwardly. Even after all this time he still can't control what he says around her. Green eyes stare back at him with the same expression that he's had memorized since he was 15.

"Hi." She breathes out.

And Sheldon realizes that he's never given up hope, not ever, not really.


Be very very nice, I warned that I'm no good with endings. Review...or actually don't. I'm sorta scared. NO I lied, REVIEW!