Women's Friendship Day (3rd Sunday in September)
A noise at the lab door drew Amy's attention. She was stunned to see Penny watching her sadly. "What do you want?" she asked harshly.
Penny shrugged her shoulders. "A lot. To apologize. To make sure you are okay. To ask you to forgive Sheldon." Penny looked at Amy pleadingly. "To beg you to be his friend again. He misses your friendship so much."
Amy looked at her with disbelief. "You came here just to rub my nose in it?"
Penny stepped forward and shook her head. "Please, Amy. I'm sorry if I'm not doing this right. I know you hate me and I am sorry for my part in hurting you. You didn't deserve that. Whatever his actions, Sheldon was only trying to not hurt you. He values your friendship. He misses your talks and I don't like seeing him so sad."
Amy was feeling a bit confused. Was she trying to get her and Sheldon back together, or was she just here to gloat? "I don't know what you want, or why you are doing this…"
"I want us to be friends," Penny said softly. "Me and you."
Amy's jaw dropped and she couldn't think of anything to say.
Penny sat down gingerly on a stool. "I'll be completely honest with you. I want us to be friends because if you and I can get along, maybe you and Sheldon can be friends again. I love him, Amy. More than anything in the world. I just want him to be happy."
Amy stared at her for several seconds. "You really do love him, don't you. This wasn't just some way to hurt me, was it?"
Penny shook her head. "I would have walked away and never seen him again, Amy. I thought he wanted you. I only ever wanted him to be happy."
Amy thought about her own feelings. She knew she didn't love Sheldon. But he had been her very first boyfriend. He had been the first man to ever take any sort of interest in her. But the physical attraction simple hadn't been there, no matter how hard she tried. She looked at Penny, taking note of the sincerity and hope in the beautiful blonde's eyes. "You really want us to be friends?" Amy asked with wonder.
Penny nodded immediately. "Please, can you just think about it? Today is Women's Friendship Day. I was hoping you would agree to join me, Priya, and Bernadette for lunch."
Slowly Amy stood and shrugged out of her lab coat. She smiled cautiously and nodded. "I will give it a chance. I, too, have missed Sheldon's friendship. I have also missed having the company of others. It gets lonely all by myself."
Penny smiled gently. "I know how that can be." The two women moved out into the corridor and walked side by side. "Amy?" Penny said softly. "Thank you for this. I really am grateful."
Amy smiled shyly. "I am as well."
Sheldon ignored Leonard, Raj and Howard as they argued about which Iron Man suit was the best designed. Tonight was the 6th week since Penny had moved in. She had insisted on no sex. She said neither of them was going to rush into this, and truthfully, she was right. He, especially, was still adjusting to the attraction he felt for Penny, and the intimacy that entailed. Tonight, though, he was determined to move them forward. He had worked it all out. He was certain he could slowly ease them where he wanted them to go. They had gotten rid of his smaller bed and were using her larger queen-size one. Tonight he wanted to begin a slow program of assimilation, starting with what his extensive research called "heavy petting".
When they reached the fourth floor they could hear music coming from 4A. Curiously Leonard opened the door and the men stepped inside. They froze at the tableau before them. Penny and Amy were dancing a tango apparently, while Priya and Bernadette were twirling around the floor attempting to fox trot. The women were laughing loudly and dancing around happily. Sheldon watched with hopeful amazement as his ex-girlfriend and his current girlfriend appeared to be not only getting along, but also enjoying each other's company.
Penny dipped Amy with a giggle and looked up. "Sheldon!" she called out happily. She pulled Amy back up to her feet quickly.
Amy smiled at Penny and then walked over to Sheldon. "Hello, Sheldon. It is good to see you again."
Sheldon nodded hesitantly. "Hello, Amy. I must admit, I did not anticipate such an amicable greeting when next we met."
She looked back at the three women watching them. "You can thank Penny for that. She came to see me this morning. We had an enlightening discussion and then a very pleasant lunch. Priya mentioned that there was an office party next weekend at her law offices. Which led us to discussing the many types of dancing. Penny and Priya then suggested we all go some night. Somehow that led us to coming back here and practicing."
She turned back to Sheldon. "I owe you an apology. I understand your predicament now. Sheldon, I would like to resume the friendship portion of our relationship. As long as it doesn't interfere with my friendship with Penny, that is." Amy gave him a warm smile and Sheldon relaxed with relief.
He returned the smile and nodded. "I would like that." He walked over to Penny and smiled down at her. "You did this for me, didn't you?"
Penny grinned. "At first. But I have to admit, after actually spending time together, I like Amy. She's quirky. I like quirky."
Sheldon blushed. "Somehow, I don't think you are just talking about Amy."
"That's because you're a genius," Penny laughed.
Priya slipped an arm around Leonard. "All that dancing has made me hungry. Anyone else up for Chinese?"
Raj nodded quickly and offered an arm to Amy. She blushed prettily and took it. Howard kissed Bernadette's cheek and they entwined their hands. Sheldon looked at Penny and she grinned. "I'm starving. How about you, Moon Pie?"
He sighed internally, resigning himself to waiting hours before they could be alone. "I have no objection to eating early."
Penny grabbed her purse and the group headed out the door. Sheldon grabbed Penny's hand and held her back a moment. He disliked public displays of affection so as soon as the others were out the door, he bent and kissed her softly. Penny returned the kiss and wrapped her arms around his waist. Sheldon smiled and lead her out of the apartment. "Penny, only Meemaw can call me that."