I've been slowly getting back into the fandom. Not the show, though. No, it's kind of dead to me. But I've been rereading some amazing fanfiction and its making me love this couple even more! :)

Chapter 21

Sheldon didn't move to his room right away. Instead, he felt like his feet were glued to the carpet as he watched Penny sashay away into her own room after kissing him on the cheek. Sheldon knew Penny was a very affectionate person and in the few years they had been friends, he began to expect her touches. Sometimes, he even anticipated them. Kisses were another matter. The human mouth was a cesspool of many different types of germs and Sheldon made sure no one's mouth ever get near his person. Except for Penny. Tonight hadn't been the first time Penny had kissed his cheek, but it had been the first time her lips had almost touched his.

What would he have done if Penny had kissed him on the mouth? The thought nearly caused his brain to short circuit and his heart rate to accelerate. Was he getting sick now or was this how he would always react to Penny's proximity, or even just thinking about Penny's proximity? Oh, good Lord. There was no way this could be healthy. How did Leonard, Raj and Howard deal with the multiple females they became attracted to each week? Sheldon was having a difficult time dealing with just the one.

With a final look at Penny's closed door, Sheldon walked into his own room and shut the door softly. On the table by his bed sat a journal. His Germany Journal as he called it. Inside, he recorded his events of the day while he was in Germany. Underneath today's events. Sheldon wrote:

Penny kissed me on the cheek before retiring for the night. I enjoyed it immensely and wish that it will happen, again, in the foreseeable future.

After that, he quickly changed into his Tuesday night pajamas, slipped under the covers and went to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day of lectures and then, he and Penny would be off to the Heidelberg castle. For once, Sheldon found himself looking forward more to a day walking around with Penny than his lectures of his work.

What was the world coming to?

Sheldon reminded himself to look up the protocols for when the apocalypse happened, because surely the world must be ending, soon.

P~S

Penny pressed her ear to the door once she had shut it after kissing Sheldon. She was sure she would hear him shriek and run to the bathroom, but she didn't. Instead, she just heard him sigh after awhile and then walk to his own room. Maybe she had broken him.

Oh, God.

Penny didn't know what she would with herself if she had broken him. But he had seemed to be acting a little different while they were here. Maybe it was because they were in a different country and all of his daily routines were thrown out the window. Penny was surprised that he hadn't demanded to have his burger, tonight. She was glad, though, not because she didn't know where to get a barbeque bacon cheeseburger, but because this was her chance to try new things out in a new country and he was letting her. Which was a large step for Sheldon?

Once she heard Sheldon's door softly closed, Penny stepped away from the door and began to undress. She was reluctant to take off the dress that had made her feel beautiful for Sheldon. He had even told her so. Normally, he didn't take notice to those things. Penny could have dressed in just a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and Sheldon wouldn't have batted an eye. Penny was Penny, no matter what she wore. But he went out of his way (and probably comfort zone) to tell her that she looked beautiful.

Penny slid under the covers, exhaustion settling in, even though she hadn't done much that day besides shop, sleep and eat. She reached for the phone to check for messages. Her family in Nebraska knew about her trip to Germany and her mother had called, skeptical, that she was going with one of her neighbors. The 'crazy one' she had called him, but Penny quickly reassured her that Sheldon wasn't crazy and that she knew she would have a wonderful time with him, which was something she probably wouldn't have said a few years ago.

She quickly answered her mother and sister's texts, telling her that she was having a great time. There was also an apology text from Leonard, but she ignored it. She was still mad at him and not ready to forgive. There was also a text from Raj, which surprised her. They never really texted before, despite Raj being unable to speak with her.

How is spending time in Germany with Sheldon? :)

The smile face was probably added so Penny didn't think he was trying to be an asshole. He really wanted to know how things were going. She smiled. Raj could be such a sweetie when he wasn't drunk.

It's been great! :) tomorrow he's taking Queen P to a real castle!

Penny set the phone down on the table beside her bed and turned on her side to get ready for sleep, but jumped when her phone went off. It was another text from Raj. She forgot that it was only around two in the afternoon there and not eleven.

Awesome! Your idea or his?

His. He planned a whole day for it! :)

This time she set the phone down on her chest and anticipated the next time it vibrated. If Raj wanted to talk, or text, while not being an asshole, then she would continue to reply back to him until she could no longer keep her eyes open. She did think it was weird, though, that he was messaging her, at all.

Doesn't sound like Sheldon. He's actually doing something for another person?

Hey! He does that a lot, actually!

When it concerns you

What is that supposed to mean?

Oh nothing...

Rajesh Koothrapalli, if I knew you would talk to me on the phone I would call your ass up right now!

No need to use the full name. I was just curious. ;)

Penny narrowed her eyes at the small screen. Something was up. She typed up a quick reply.

What's going on?

Nothing. I just wanted to know how you and Sheldon were doing. Now I should let you get to sleep though.

This conversation isn't over and if I have Howard texting me next, then I DEFINITELY know something is going on.

Don't worry he won't. He won't even know we had this conversation. Goodnight.

This had to Penny's weirdest text conversation and encounter with the Indian man. Ever. If only he would talk to her if she called, because she would be getting to the bottom of whatever was going on right at that moment.

Goodnight Raj. Thanks for the text.

No problem. Have fun with Sheldon! :)

Penny officially put that conversation down as one of the weirdest ones she's had with one of the boys, including Sheldon. Maybe when they got back to the States, Penny would buy some beers and invite Raj over for a little chat.

Connecting her phone to the charger, she placed it back on the table. This time if it vibrated, she'd want until the morning to answer. Right now, she was exhausted and needed sleep so that she was well rested for their trip to the castle tomorrow.

S~P

Sheldon woke up before his alarm by three minutes, putting him in a good mood, knowing that the rest of the day should go by smoothly. Well, at the least, he would be on time. He slipped from the bed and made his way to the bathroom to take his morning shower. When he exited his room, twenty minutes later, Sheldon was surprised to see Penny curled up on the couch, still in her robe, hands wrapped around a steaming cup of coffee.

"Morning, Sheldon," she smiled warmly. "I couldn't sleep, so I got up and ordered us some breakfast." She gestured to the silver platter in front of her. "I hope you like French toast."

Sheldon opened his mouth, but Penny held up a finger.

"Don't you dare say its oatmeal day or something. We're in a different country and your routines can be point to the side for at least this week."

"I was just going to say, thank you Penny."

Penny looked like she was about to keep arguing, but then realized what Sheldon had said. "Oh. You're welcome, sweetie. Now, come over and eat!" She patted the cushion next to her and took another large sip of her coffee.

"I got you some orange juice, too, since I'm never giving you coffee, again." She winked and he rolled his eyes before carefully dishing out his breakfast. It was still of acceptable temperature and figured that she had gotten up around the same time he did to order the food.

"Thank you, again, Penny," he said. "Do you see, now, why I trust you to order our lunch later? You know what I like and what I don't like."

"It's only because I'm your waitress." Penny tried to wave off his compliment, not used to getting very many from him.

"No," he said, voice soft. "It is because you're my best friend."

Penny took another sip of her coffee and blinked her eyes, hoping that Sheldon hadn't noticed that the statement had brought tears to her eyes. When they had first met, she had never thought he would say those words to her.

"You're my best friend, too, Sheldon. You have been for awhile, now."

"Leonard gave up his right to that position a long time ago." Sheldon was meticulously cutting his French toast into perfect squares. "I hope you do not think that you took his spot because I needed someone to fill it." This time he looked at Penny.

God, those eyes. Focus, Penny!

"You have proven yourself multiple times over the years of your loyalty to me." Sheldon winced. "My apologies, that sounded as if I lorded over you in some way. I ju-"

"I know what you meant, sweetie." Penny placed a hand on his shoulder and smiled, warmly.

Sheldon didn't say anything, but returned her smile and resumed eating his breakfast. When he was finished, he gathered all of the dishes, including Penny's empty coffee cup, and placed them on the cart to be picked up later. He slipped his messenger bag over his head and glanced at his watch. He would not have to leave for another five minutes.

"So, what will you do while I'm gone, Penny?"

Penny shrugged. "Honestly, I'll probably go back to bed for a little bit. Then, I'll get ready and order our lunch. Nothing exciting. I'm saving all of my energy for when you get back."

"Ah, yes. The Castle. I am quite looking forward to our outing. So much so that I hope my lectures go by quickly." Sheldon's eyes widened, surprised that he had actually said that aloud. Glancing at Penny, he saw that she was just as surprised.

"Really?" She asked and stood up.

"You know that I cannot lie, Penny. Did my face twitch when I spoke?"

"No." She still looked a bit skeptical.

"I am very much looking forward to spending another day with you." No twitches or tics. What he had said was absolutely, 100% true.

Penny smiled wide, wider than he had ever seen her smile. "I am, too. This whole trip has been amazing so far, and I am so glad that I was lucky enough to be picked to come with."

"I am, too. Spending time in Germany with Howard would have proven to be a terrible experience and Leonard would annoy me very quickly with his whining and pining for you. Raj would not have been a bad choice, but I am glad that you were the name I pulled."

Something in Penny's expression made Sheldon think he had said something wrong. Quickly, he went over the entire conversation in his head and couldn't figure out what it could be.

"You said Leonard would pine for me?" Penny crossed her arms. "I thought he was over that since, you know, I nearly kicked his ass for what they did to you in the Arctic and rejected him."

"Oh, Penny." Sheldon rolled his eyes. "You will forever be the prize Leonard wants to win. Nothing will change that, unfortunately. Consider yourself lucky that you do not share the same living space as him."

It irritated Sheldon to no end whenever Leonard brought up the subject of Penny and made it seem like he deserved to have her, like she was merely an object to be obtained. Sheldon knew Penny was worth much more than that, but somehow he kept his mouth shut on the matter and allowed Leonard to whine, which Sheldon knew was very generous of him considering the things that Leonard and the rest of the guys did to him just for a laugh.

"He called me yesterday." Penny sat back down on the couch with a huff. "And asked if I was ready to come home, yet."

Sheldon looked slightly alarmed. "You're not. Right, Penny?"

"Of course not, Sheldon. Heck, if I could, I would spend more than a week here with you."

"Truly?"

"Truly," she smiled. "Shouldn't you be on your way, sweetie? I don't mean to kick you out or anything, I just know that you like to be on time."

Sheldon looked down at his watch and saw that he was five minutes late in leaving the hotel. "Oh, good Lord!" He nearly ran to the door.

"Good luck, Sheldon!" Penny called, looking at him from the back of the couch. "I'll see you later."

"Thank you, Penny. And I will see you later." He gave her one last smile and was out the door.

Don't hate me! I fully intended for this to be the castle chapter, but then it started getting longer than I expected, so I decided to save it for the next chapter. At least, now I can research it more!

Thanks for reading!