Hang Out

I..I I..I {Drops chapter 25 on table, and runs away}…{turns around} ummm sorry…{closes door so that you can enjoy the next very late chapter}

"Sheldon calm down ok, I'm sure that Priya is," Penny patted his arm, whispered in his ear, and tried to ignore Priya's rolling eyes, "…doing her best." Penny was trying to calm the man-child next to her that was on the verge of groaning. She managed to keep his snarky remarks to a minimum but now he was eager to see things get done. But even she was starting to teeter over the edge of her patience.

When they had begun assessing the situation, Priya was not 100% sure on any of the procedures at all and was taking her time looking through the law book that was currently in her hands; leaving Sheldon frustrated and on the edge of just taking over entirely. They were all sitting around the coffee table Sheldon and Penny on the couch and Priya and Leonard on the other side. Sheldon looked over at his best friend and couldn't for the life of him, figure out what he kept her around for. She was little more than a glorified rolodex at the moment. Flipping and flipping from one page to the other. She must be very skilled at coitus to be of any use to Leonard. He bit his tongue, trying not to express himself freely like he usually would.

"Fine," he nodded towards his living, breathing, Prozac next to him, who was smiling back sympathetically. He looked over at Priya, "take all the time you need Priya." While waiting for the lawyer across from him to finally come up with a solution or plan, he let his mind wonder for a moment.

Penny had stayed by his side all afternoon like she said she would. He looked back at Penny who was fiddling with her fingers and he began to think back to those fleeting moment of their past were he had felt those subtle flutters of his psyche that had wanted to be more than just acquaintances or friends.

He could see her all those years ago standing by his board where she had noticed his work and how he then allowed her to sit in his spot. That had been the first time in 10 years that he had found himself attracted to another person since Angela had left. He could distinctly remember pushing her out of his mind while Leonard and he drove to Kirks apartment not an hour later. Then his control had once again floundered during their first prank war, his resolve crumbled at his feet as they argued-which had always baffled him- he had enjoyed their banter much more than he ought to have. But once again he had made the decision to distance himself from her, but she wouldn't have it, her constant sunny disposition had over and over again shown light in the self-inflicted shadow that was his life.

Sheldon had a fleeting wave of self-deprecation at the moment and couldn't see why he deserved to have had two wonderful women in his life that would care for him the way his Penny and Angela have. It was fleeting because soon he thought- why not? He was after all the best catch in his circle of friends and he was successful in his career and he had the most coveted collection of sci/fi and superhero memorabilia in the immediate area, yes of course he deserved them. Who else?

He took Penny's hand in his and placed them on his thigh as he tried to still the impatience that was evident in the shaking of his leg. He noted the surprise on Penny's face when he did that and stored it in his vault of information to dissect later, but was completely oblivious to the reactions of the others around him at that precise moment; Leonard's uncomfortable stare, Priya's curiosity and the smiles from his daughter and mother. Penny seemed pleased so he refocused onto the task at hand.

He hated having to depend on others, he knew that if you wanted something done right you did it yourself, but he did not want to risk his daughter's custody because of his fervent desire to control the situation. Despite becoming an expert on custody law via the internet he knew that he could not put all his eggs in one basket, even if it was his own. But as Priya had told him before, her expertise was in business law. He had given her extra time to look through all the materials that were laid out neatly across the coffee table, and the fact that she seemed oblivious as to how long she was taking was causing his palms to become sweaty. He let go of Penny's hand and ran his down his thigh and looked over at Lee Ann who was now sitting on a pillow while his mother combed and braided her red hair next to him. He enjoyed seeing them together today. They were instantly comfortable with each other; talking, eating sweets, and laughing. He was getting used to having her around and she seemed to blend right in. He caught her jeweled eyes and she gave him a supportive smile that he returned.

He had to reign in his thoughts before they took a path that was terribly off course of what he had been focused on.

He looked across at the coffee table and picked up the few handouts that he had printed and the marriage certificate from its protective cover, and tried to form his thought in the most amiable way. He cleared his throat, "Priya, observing the difficulty that you are having in finding anything of use, I was hoping that we could look through all the independent research that I have collected. We wouldn't want you to get a paper cut now would we? I shouldn't have a problem obtaining custody. Also Lee Ann was born within 300 days of the marriage so her paternity shouldn't be a factor, which I'm sure that you know, especially if you take into account the Uniform Parentage Act…"

"That is not what I am currently looking over Sheldon." Priya looked up exasperated. "She's thirteen years old, I am trying to evaluate what sort of financial responsibilities will have accumulated and whether or not her mother's estate will be a factor when you take over as her guardian. I doubt anyone will contest paternity," she offered a pinched smile while she flipped through a few pages. She still was a bit jet lagged, and was starting to grow tired, but she had agreed to help. Despite the fact that Penny stayed in the apartment, even though it was clear that she and Leonard did not want her there, she had been trying to maintain her composure and stay polite towards Sheldon, who was noticeably more pleasant than normal. She stifled a yawn and began writing a few page numbers down while Sheldon continued to tell her how to do her job, pointing to one article or case after another, she wasn't listening but continued to nod her head so that he would finish.

Sheldon, of course, could care less about the money. That he had. He's been working steadily for more than 14yrs of his life, research, teaching, lectures, etc. He would give Hurley ever red cent he could so he could bring Lee Ann home. And the fact that Priya seemed preoccupied by it grated on his nerve, but of course, business lawyers often thought money first people second. He shook his head at himself, here he was after a week and already he was more concerned with the feeling and emotions of his family then he was the facts and figures of the situation. Oh how far he has come in such a short time.

Lee Ann had been watching the adults in front of her shuffling around and she was pretty sure she saw Priya 'ninja-kicking' Penny with her eyes for some reason and Uncle Leonard was trying to ignore it, while her dad didn't seem to notice. Penny looked a little uncomfortable but Lee Ann could clearly see her relax every time that she looked towards her dad or when she brushed up against him, it was like Flirting-101. Her dad kept spacing out but then he was obviously agitated too. He was still talking and going from one stack of papers to another.

It was always funny watching adults in their natural habitat; she rarely got a glimpse at this sort of interaction while at home with the maids and empty house.

While the adults continued to talk over what her dad's best options are and what forms needed to be filled out on Monday at the courthouse, she was enjoying the closeness that she was getting with her Mamaw. She was braiding her hair and was trying to distract her from the adults in front of her by telling little stories in her ear of her raising her dad in Texas.

She felt her Mamaw pat her on the shoulder, "Alright, Lee Ann you're all done, stand up so that I can look at you," she did as told and stood facing her, "don't you look just precious?!" Lee Ann could feel the blush crawling on her cheek, "Sheldon look at her isn't she pretty?" Mary turned her around so that Sheldon could get a good look at his girl.

Sheldon turned from his current conversation with Priya to look at his daughter. It still took him a second to get past how much she resembled her mother. "She is, you look lovely Lee Ann," he smiled up at her and swallowed the feeling that has been wreaking havoc on his composure.

"Thanks," Lee Ann could see the sad but also happy look he put on his face when he said that. The way he could put two contradicting emotions into so few words stunned her for a second but she let it go. She knew that she has been confusing him, and this whole situation was still going to take time to get used to.

Mary took her hand and began walking with her towards Sheldon's room. "Come with me, babygirl." Lee Ann followed and when they got to the door Mary tuned back to her, "I don't know about you but I needed a break from those four, and if we stayed much longer they were gonna start with their 'lagal-nese and lawyerin'" Lee Ann started giggling, her Mamaw had the best idioms she has ever heard. But she agreed with her, once they began talking about court cases and having to file and the fact that he has to serve her grandfather on Monday also was starting to overwhelm her. She was nervous for him but knew he had it all under control.

She followed her Mamaw into the room "is this dad's room?" She waited for Mary to nod her head and then took a quick turn around to see everything, "it's sooo cool." It wasn't a large room, well not nearly as big as her own but it was neat and organized and had some fun stuff displayed, he had the coolest things, "he has HULK HANDS!"

She turned to look back at her grandmother who was digging in her suitcase, but then stood right up shaking her hands away, "oh no not you too, I got enough of that from him over the years, always with the cartoons, aliens and comics," she turned back and grabbed a small photo album from her suitcase and sat on the bed patting the spot next to her, "now come here and sit."

Lee Ann looked back and forth from the neat stuff on her dad's dresser, "but can I just… oh ok," she let it go and went to sit with her Mamaw hoping maybe she can check-out all the fun stuff later.

Mary smiled down at her granddaughter and opened up the album up to the first pages, "this is what I wanted to show you," she pointed at the first couple of pictures, "this was your dad and your aunt Missy when they were little and here is your uncle Jr." It was a picture of the kids in the living room playing with some toys, Jr. was watching television-football game- but was waving at the camera, and Missy was sitting on the floor with a doll in her hand brushing the hair. Her dad was actually standing tinkering with an erector set, kicking Missy things out of his way with his foot.

Lee Ann couldn't help but smile at it all, there was her dad wearing a bright yellow shirt with orange-blue plaid shorts, his hair the same, "ahhh, dad looks the same; I guess he was always tall. Uncle Jr. looks a lot like him, but scruffy with the longer hair. Ooohhhh Aunt Missy is so pretty, love her dress." She looked on at another picture and saw a couple of school shots of them, and one of Missy twirling around. Then she saw one of everyone outside gathered around a lump on the ground and her Aunt Missy looked upset, Uncle Jr. was laughing but her dad was on the porch reading a comic book by himself. There was someone else though that she didn't recognize in the photo, a tall man in jeans and a button-up blue work shirt with a rifle hanging over his arm. He kind of looked like her dad if he was older, heavier, and had a deep tan with facial hair. "Who is this?" she pointed at him asking her Mamaw for clarification.

"Oh well that is your grandpa George, God rest his soul, he had just got done shootin' a hawk that had made off with your aunt Missy's new Chihuahua, bless his little heart."

Lee Ann gasped at the absurdity of a hawk having to digest a puppy, they usually only hunt for small rodents. "He took the puppy?! That poor hawk and puppy…it must have been very small. That is so sad …and weird."

"Oh, it happens all the time," Mary just waved it off, "Missy was really upset too, we had a memorial and everything in the back yard and sent him off to doggy heaven," she went back and turned the next page.

Lee Ann kept looking through pictures and listening to whatever stories her Mamaw told her and before she knew it they had went through the whole album.

Mary put the book to the side and turned towards Lee Ann, "babygirl, I know that all this is going on really fast and all of a sudden, but I want you to know that if you ever need anythin you can come to me, ok." She patted Lee Ann on the hand and held back all the other things that she wanted to tell her, but knew could wait.

Lee Ann has never had a grandmother and for her to be so nice and warm towards her just made it that much more special, "thanks Mamaw, that means a lot." She could feel those darn tears coming but she sniffed them away.

"Oh baby, come here," Mary opened up her arms for her to wrap around Lee Ann, "I only wish that I had gotten to watch you grow, but you're here now and you have made me very happy."

Lee Ann fought back the tears and hugged her grandmother extra tight, "Thanks Mamaw." Still holding on she looked over her grandmother's shoulder and saw her dad's fish tank, "Oh. My. Goodness! Dad has glow-in-the-dark fish!"

"Ok, now when you go to her grandfather's office on Monday to serve him the papers and to inform him that you have filed, you won't need a lawyer present and once his lawyers have the paperwork they will be able to contact me. So you are all set." Priya was worn out by Sheldon's constant interruptions and 'helpful' hints to help her do her job. But nonetheless she walked him through everything and couldn't find too many roadblocks in his way. Unless Lee Ann's grandfather files for child support for the past two years, he shouldn't have a problem getting his daughter back. But in the back of Priya's mind she still was unsure if this was the wisest thing for Sheldon to do.

"Thank you Priya," Sheldon began to stack up the piles of paperwork and neatly lay them inside his hanging files that he had boxed next to him, he was somewhat relieved that this ordeal with Priya was over. He could have saved himself the time by doing things himself but he wouldn't have her backing support in case something went wrong.

"You're welcome Sheldon. Can I ask you a question?" Priya waited for Sheldon to look back up at her.

"I suppose," he finished what he was doing and sat back down while Priya began.

She cleared her throat, and could see she had everyone's attention, including Penny's and Leonard's, "are you sure you can handle all this? What I mean is raising a daughter alone is quite a lot of responsibility, not to mention the financial stress and the constant attention that she will need, I'm just wondering if this is in her best interest..."

"I'm sorry but what are you suggesting?" Sheldon was confused as to what she was talking about and wasn't sure how to respond, he was fighting with himself not to give her a strike and ask her to leave. "She is my daughter. Are you telling me it would be better to leave her with her grandfather?"

"No! No, I think it is very honorable of you to want to take care of her, I just, well I was just wondering how you were going to handle taking care of another person, when you yourself rely so heavily on others. I'm just thinking of what is best for her, I mean that I know that it is hard…" she could see Sheldon's face start to pinch and knew that she needed to correct herself before he got more upset.

"He's not alone Priya, he has me," Penny spoke up at that moment not liking how Priya was getting Sheldon upset, not to mention how she was getting her upset. She grabbed his hand and told him, with her eyes, to calm down, even though she would love to see him blow up at Priya. "It's not like he's doing it by himself."

"Yeah, Priya it's not like he will be alone, he has us too, right?" Leonard patted her on the arm and gave a conciliator smile towards Sheldon, who was trying to not take Priya seriously, "We'll be there for him, won't we?" He smiled back at Priya.

"Uhhh…oh um sure he does." Priya patted him back and tried to ignore the look she was getting from Penny. She didn't want to admit to not wanting to have to share responsibility for Lee Ann. She liked the girl but she didn't want to have to be at Sheldon's every beckoned call every time he needed a ride or a babysitter. "I was just trying to see what he planned on doing once he got custody."

"Well once she is with me, I can assure you that I will have everything under control. I have taken any and all variables into consideration."

"oh well, that's good then." Priya smiled back at him and tried to cut the little tension that was still in the air.

"Dad," Lee Ann called from the hallway, all smiles and bounce, unknowingly breaking the tension in the room. She sat down on the arm of the couch and leaned in towards her father who was smiling back, "this is very important. Where …did you get …the glow-in-the-dark fish?" She bit her lips and sat with wide eyes as she waited for an answer.

Sheldon loved that she was so easily excited over the small things in his life. He leaned forward almost touching his forehead to hers, "I …made them that way." He sat back and raised his eyebrow smugly.

Lee Ann couldn't help the huge smile on her face, "dad if I haven't said it before I'll say it now. You are awesome," she stood back up and went to the kitchen to grab a cookie, leaving the four adults looking on.

Penny loved seeing Sheldon and Lee Ann together; it caused all the warm fuzzy feelings inside her to overflow. "Priya, I'm sure they will be fine." She stood up and made her way to the kitchen to grab a cookie with Lee Ann.

Sheldon was watching Lee Ann and Penny from the kitchen. Penny was getting her a soda and was joking with her. He enjoyed watching them interact; they had formed some sort of friendship almost instantly when they met and it was forcing him to see a bigger picture of everyday occurrences similar to this one in their future. He kept watching them but was forced to break from his gaze by Leonard.

"Sheldon, I know what you're thinking, don't do it." Sheldon looked over at him clearly not understanding his interruption. Leonard turned his head to the kitchen and then back to speak softly back to Sheldon, "I know that you two are dating or…whatever it is, but don't think you can just substitute Penny in for Lee Ann's mother, it isn't fair to Penny."

Sheldon was stunned by that remark. He would never impose such a thing on her. He thought back to what all Penny had said about helping him and wanting to be there for him and Lee Ann. Those were her choices. He would gladly take on a life with Lee Ann alone but clearly Leonard does not see that he is not the one asking Penny for anything but it is Penny who wishes to be a part of his life and that now includes Lee Ann. She would only ever make it better. There is no one that can replace Angela to Lee Ann, he knew that. Penny was not a replacement she was a friend to them both, the very best friend.

He leaned forward and spoke very clearly to Leonard, "you obviously do not know what I am thinking unless you have developed telekinesis, Leonard. Would I ever eat a Twizzler instead of Red Vines? …How about sitting in a seat that wasn't ideal? …Or accept 2nd place when I know I deserve 1st?" of course Leonard could not answer those questions so he went on. "Leonard you know as well as I do, unlike others I know, that I have never settled for a substitution," he stood up and started walking towards the kitchen, to his daughter and his Penny.

A/N: I know it's been a while…a long while. I really don't have an excuse except that life got in the way.

I will try harder to stay on top of this story because I still love it and am still working on how to finish it. :) its not my best chapter but good things are coming. I hope I haven't lost all my readers and like always please review at the end. :)