I'm so sorry for taking THIS long to update, things aren't as well with me right now with some problems and my laptop breaking. My laptop broke a few weeks ago and my devil of a brother took it and now I have none of my files, which means that it will take a whole lot longer to update any of my fics. It's really hard to type on an iPad especially using NOTES since there are no italics or anything.

Now, this is the "big reveal" where EVERYTHING changes. I had originally started this chapter almost a month ago, but as I said, my laptop broke and we moved. I hope that this chapter goes as I had thought regardless of the circumstances I'm in right now and if there are confusions/questions and things lacking in this chapter, I promise to explain it in the next one. I had envisioned this to be kind of 'emotional' but I guess I couldn't get it *sigh*

DISCLAIMER: Sheldon is gravely OC. Any errors, spelling mistakes or whatevers are mine and unintentional as anyone with an iPad knows how hard it is to type without feeling the buttons do not own The Big Bang Theory or the characters just the OCs that are featured here.

On to the story!

"So..."

"So what?"

"How was your trip to Texas? Did the kids like the gifts I picked out for you?"

Sheldon glanced over his shoulder, "It was satisfactory. Graham and Roxy seemed to enjoy the toys, but my brother quickly stored them away saying that I might have been spoiling them." He turned back to his laptop, focusing on what he was searching on.

Leonard nodded, lacing his hands together as he thought of other ways to get the answer he was looking for. "So how did your Meemaw react to Penny?"

"One can say that she likes her," he answered, "Though Meemaw doesn't just judge people on the first meeting, something about not judging a book by its cover. If you ask me, one should judge a book by the author's educational background not by the cover."

Leonard shook his head, "I see... Do you think that Meemaw will get to know her more? I mean, it was their first meeting, and you implied that it will take more than one meeting for her to li-" Sheldon interrupted him by swiveling his chair around to face him, "Leonard are you asking if I have plans of letting Meemaw meet Penny again? Because if that is what you are asking then it's a no. it was not me who invited her, it was mother. And I am positive that her boyfriend will not allow her to go."

"Sheldon are you jealous of James and Penny?" Leonard asked straight fowardly.

"No I am not, but that neanderthal threatened to use violence on me," Sheldon answered, his face emotionless, "I have more important things to deal with than him. He is not worth my time."

"Did he hurt you in any way?" Leonard asked in concern, "cause if he did, he's going to find some unidentified acid burning out half of his car-"

"No he did not. When I was forced to take a vacation about two weeks, three days, 14 hours and 9 minutes ago, Bailey brought me to the set to wait for Penny. Unfortunately, she was in the middle of shooting what seemed like a vital scene for that episode which required me to loiter elsewhere. While I was peacefully minding my own business, he suddenly approached me and started threatening me. He almost punched me, but I was saved by the good director," Sheldon explained, leaning back against his chair as Leonard's eyebrows furrowed, "Why didn't you tell us about it? We could have gotten back at him- he's such an asshole... does Penny know?"

Sheldon shook his head, "I don't think she needs to know this. This will only provoke her to go, as she says, 'junior rodeo' and will further make her believe that I am in need of her assistance." Leonard frowned, "You have to tell her, Sheldon! He's her boyfriend and she should tell that jerk to treat her friends better than that!"

Leonard crossed his arms as Sheldon faced his laptop, "I never did like him at all. I should call the guys to devise a plan against him... maybe a robot that destroys his car? Or rewiring his phone lines so we can spill all of his juicy secrets?"

Sheldon huffed, "Leonard, as I told you no actions are necessary. We have more important things to do than putting up with a neanderthal like him."

"Sheldon, what's wrong with you? The Sheldon I know would even suggest the idea of revenge, not back down and pretend like it didn't happen! Did something happen?"

Sheldon gritted his teeth as he clenched his fists, "I am not backing down and pretending like it didn't happen, I am merely doing the right thing to do. I was unharmed and that is good enough for me, though I would prefer never to set foot on that studio lot ever again," Sheldon lowered his voice, "... and moving out..."

"What do you mean moving out? Sheldon tell me what happened!" Leonard stood up, stomping towards Sheldon's chair, "There's something you're not telling me and I want to know, you can't lie to me!" Sheldon scowled, jerking his arm away from Leonard, "Drat, I underestimated your hearing abilities by comparing it to your eyesight... I have nothing to tell you, Leonard. Nothing happened, I just simply have to face reality, as Chloe said."

The shorter physicist stepped back, "Chloe? What did she say... no, what does she have to do with any of this?!" Sheldon lifted his gaze, "She told me what to do, and I just realized that, though I would deny saying this later, she was right- about everything."

"Right about what, and what lies has she been putting in that head of yours?"

"They are not lies, Leonard, they are the truth that I refused to see," he calmly said.

"Alright, you can call it whatever you want, just tell me what it is about."

"I think it's over between us."

James looked up, his gray eyes piercing through her, "What?"

Penny stood straight, her eyebrows furrowing as she placed her hands firmly at her sides, "This thing, whatever this is, it's over. Well I didn't even say there was something between us..." Penny stepped back as James shot up from his seat, "You're kidding right?"

She slowly shook her head, swallowing as she realized how James towered over her, "I never really agreed to this... it was you who claimed that we were dating. I tried to just go with it, but we really can't be anything other than friends... especially how you treated Sheldon."

James raised his eyebrow, "That tall skinny guy that looks like a praying mantis?"

"See thats exactly what I said- you can't even respect my friend!" Penny exclaimed as she shook her head. James was really the king of jerks, and she was wrong to think that he had the slightest chance of changing his awful attitude.

"Im only saying the truth, I know that you know that he looks like one!"

"And this is why we're over. You just think you're all that, that you're better than everyone here," the blonde huffed, "you're a douchebag, you know that. I honestly regret even playing along with this... bullshit. I don't even like you that way!" Penny gritted her teeth, paying no mind to their other castmates who had gathered around them, "How am I a douchebag? It's not my fault that I am incredibly handsome and talented- I made you famous! If you were never even linked to me youd probably just be some porn star, everyone knows that you're just a slu-"

Slap

*James stepped back as he felt the sting of Penny's hand slapping his cheek, "You have no right to judge me, James. You don't even know me, you're just my arrogant castmate that I unfortunately had to be teamed up with." Penny turned to her side, glancing at the director, "Mr. Flemming, I'd like to take a break for a few days."

The old man nodded, allowing Penny to grab her bag and leave.

"So tell me all about your trip!" Chloe chirped as she plopped down on the chair apposite of Sheldon's. "Why must you always sound so enthusiastic about everything?" Sheldon asked in irritation.

After their flight back to California, Penny had to go to another event causing him to ask Chloe to pick him up from the airport. It was efficient that Chloe was already at a hotel near the airport attending a meeting. "I'm just trying to be nice okay," she hissed as she picked up a menu, "now go and tell me everything that happened before I decide to leave you here and use public transportation."

"It was satisfactory, Junior's children enjoyed my gifts and I was very pleased to see Meemaw again."

Chloe called on a waiter, "And what about Penny? Did they react favorably to her?" Sheldon nodded, taking a sip of his lemonade before answering, "I suppose so, they all fawned over the idea of a 'celebrity' visiting now and then."

The waiter approached their table and got Chloe's order before heading to the kitchen, "Mhm, so you're planning to bring her back there again huh? Well thats good, maybe they'll finally get used to their future daught-" Sheldon slammed his glass down on the table, "Chloe, for the 10th time, I am not interested in her and will never be-" Chloe hld her hand up, quieting him, "Bullshit, Sheldon. I know you very well, which means that I know that you like her. Is it just me or is the legendary Doctor Cooper intimidated by some Brit who thinks he's all that?" Sheldon looked down at his spaghetti, "Im not intimidated by him at all."

Chloe folded her fingers underneath her chin, "then let me guess, you think that evem if you stand up to James, Penny wouldn't choose you. I mean, you've been bullied all your life and James is just another bully so you think that they're not worth wasting your precious time, am I correct?"

Sheldon blinked, he didn't know what to say. What Chloe had said was 90% correct, but he wouldn't admit that, no, he wouldn't. Chloe smirked, "I guess, I am. I would offer you some advice, but since you're as stubborn as a rock, I won't. I can probably tell you right now what you should and shouldn't do and you'd probably think that it's hokum." She looked up as the waiter returned, serving her steak, "With you completely skipping high school you never did learn any social skills," she grabbed a knife and stabbed her steak with it, "I really want to help you, you know. But I know that you'd rather listen to her than me."

"I'll listen, I promise," He said, pleadingly.

Chloe sliced a piece of meat and took a bite of it before raising her eyebrow, "You will?" Sheldon eagerly nodded, "I find my situation both confusing and difficult, I don't know what to do- this has never happened before. I want to revert back to my old ways where I simply didn't care, and human interactions did not interest me at all..." He sighed, "It is as if I am a totally different person."

"I am extremely baffled that you opened up to me, Dr. I-am-a-robot," Chloe remarked, "Isn't this quite the development? I suppose that there is a possibility that you will listen to me, but the question is, are you really willing to listen to me?"

Sheldon nodded again.

"It's fairly simple, to be honest," she started, "you don't need to be a genius to do it. You need to leave the apartment. Didn't Penny tell that James guy that her roommate was Amy, and not you? Give her what she wants, and you'll be able to go back to the 'old you.'"

"But thats apartment has been my home for years, that is big change... I don't think I'll be able to do that."

Chloe furrowed her eyebrows, "Sheldon, think about it like this, if you stay there with her, that horrible feeling you're getting won't leave. You'll always think about what she's doing and what she's going to do with that James guy. You'll enable yourself to wallow and engage in things that you swore you'd never engage in," she took another bite of steak before continuing, "or... You can kick her out and pretend nothing ever happened."

He stared at her for a moment, "I don't wanna kick her out, she has-"

"Nowhere to go? No money?" Chloe asked, "Sheldon it's been a year and a half, she's starring in a hit TV show that has been syndicated years ago, she's not gonna worry about anything anymore. You've got to stop treating her like she can't stand on her own two feet, she can, and she will."

"But I don't wanna lose her," Sheldon quietly said. Chloe shook her head, "you're not gonna lose her, you're just gonna let her move on with her life. You heard her tell James everything, this is what she wants, this will make her happy."

"Are you sure?" Chloe crossed her arms and leaned back against her chair, "trust me, I know what to do. I would have taken psychology if my mother and father didn't badger me on taking anything but that."

"Penny come on, we have to talk this out, do it for the show!"

Penny continued to make her way to the parking lot as James chased after her. She really couldn't believe how much of a hypocrite James was. Just ten minutes ago James had repeatedly bragged about how he made her famous and even if she breaks up with him he'd still be more popular than her. Now he was chasing her throughout the lot begging her to rethink everything.

It was true that she really didn't like him, but it isn't a lie that she didn't try. Maybe what she told Missy about choosing James over Sheldon wasn't true. Regardless of how Sheldon was such a pain in the ass, he would never be like James, ever. James was worst than all of her boyfriends plus fifteen of Kurt combined.

"This will ruin your reputation, I'm America's leading man!" James called out, "they'd think that you cheated on me, and will forever give you negative reviews!"

Penny turned around. "What reputation? You're not America's leading man, you're not even American! Let them think what them want to they want to think, I never cheated on you." She narrowed her eyes before continuing her walk to her car, "I never even liked you."

The British man ran a hand through his tousled hair, his face tensing then suddenly relaxing. "Penny, this will ruin our show." He started, "think about it, the reason why more people are watching is because we are dating, and technically, Geoffrey and Gen are too. It's wonderful PR and what you're about to do will kill and destroy it before it even reaches it's peak."

The blonde rolled her eyes and placed her hands on her hips. It was pathetic how he kept on using 'reputations' as the only reason why they shouldn't break up. Like her, he too, had only seen this as an imaginary fling. Which was what separated her from him, she tried, he didn't. That was the reason why she really should stop this, everything was just pretend.

"One question, James, and I'll make up my mind." She didn't want this to be dramatic as it seemed, but it was the only way for her to decide. He was right about the reputation and stuff, but she could easily build a new one, celebrity or not.

James looked up, "what is it? I'll answer anything to save this."

"Did you even try to like me? To love me?"

She watched as his face turned blank before a small smile formed on his lips, "come on, Penny. You're drop dead gorgeous, and you're like sex on legs, why wouldn't I not even try to have feelings for you?"

She slowly shook her head, grabbing her keys from her pocket and unlocking her car. "It was fun while it lasted, James. Shame how you didn't realize that playing pretend was never really worth it," she shrugged before getting into the front seat. I felt great to finally be free from all the lies, it gave her conscience something to shut up about. She strapped her seatbelt on and adjusted her rear view mirror and saw James emotionlessly standing behind the car.

He was probably wondering why she was ruining her career.

She thought about everything but that.

. . .

Penny smiled as she reached the apartment. Everything was great during the ride; the radio station she was listening to played her all time favorite songs, there was no traffic- at all- and the parking soot that was always occupied was finally as free as she currently was.

She happily whistled as she walked inside the apartment, walking straight to the mailboxes where Leonard stood. He was counting his mail when she stood beside him, reaching for their box, "Sheldon doesn't like whistling, remember?"

She glanced at him as she pulled out a handful of envelopes, "but I'm really happy right now, so I guess he'll make an exception." He raised an eyebrow at her then shrugged, returning his gaze to his mail, "I don't think he will. Knowing Sheldon, he'll probably follow his rules as strictly as he can," Leonard closed his mailbox, "no exceptions."

Penny groaned as Leonard started walking up the stairs, causing her to quickly close their mailbox and run after him. "Hey, I thought that we had a truce? Why are you so whiny all of a sudden?" Leonard paused as he reached the second floor, slowly turning to face her, "I'm not mad at you, but you will be mad at someone."

She narrowed her eyes, "you're not making any sense."

Leonard continued walking and she continued following him, "I don't know what I should tell you anymore. This wasn't caused by any of us... It's someone else that told him to do this." Penny grabbed his arm as she stepped on the fourth floor landing, "what are you talking about?"

Leonard clenched his jaw as he stepped back and revealed a hallway filled with boxes. "What the hell?" She murmured as she approached the boxes. Each had a different label, comic books, games, toys etc. She knew that handwriting, but she didn't know what everything meant. She gave him a confused look as he searched for his keys in his pocket, "I think you should go inside now. I shouldn't be meddling with any of this."

Leonard gave her a nod then he entered his apartment. He really wanted to see how Penny and Sheldon would deal with this. He really couldn't blame Sheldon for this, this was all Chloe's doing. She had poisoned his mind on what to do, without even considering other options. Well, it's also cause of Sheldon aka mister-i-don't-care-for-human-relations-but-I'll-g et-jealous-when-you-go-out-with-someone-else. They repeatedly told him to tell Penny how he really feels but no, he just had to be Sheldon. But maybe, just maybe, things would work out... he could dream.

. . .

"Sheldon... what are you doing?"

Sheldon was in the middle of packing his clothes when Penny entered his room. He slowly stood up, dusted the imaginary dust off of his pants, and faced her, his face as blank as ever. "I am packing." He stared at her for a few seconds before returning to packing his clothes, "No one is allowed in my room, Penny. You know that."

"Why are you packing..." she softly said glancing at the sight of his almost empty room, "whats with the boxes... is this for a trip or... what?"

Sheldon stood, lifting the box, "I'm moving out, if it isn't obvious enough." She quickly ran after him as he walked towards the living room, "Sheldon, April Fools is over. Wh-what are you doing?"

He took a deep breath and placed the box on top of the coffee table. "I told you, I'm moving out. While I have not found a new apartment I shall be living with Raj. I will leave the keys with you and will process the transfer of contract later."

"Sheldon, I don't understand why-"

"Why, what? Why I'm moving out?"

She nodded and he continued, "My personal advisor told me that I should move out and let you be. S-they told me that you would prefer me to move out so that you may, as they say, have your trysts with James," he picked up the box, "I'm only getting in the way of your relationship if I'm here, isn't that right?"

The blonde shook her head, "No, i never said I wanted any of that- who told you all of those? Sheldon if I wanted you out then I would have moved, wouldn't i?"

The physicist shrugged, "I don't know your life."

"Sheldon who are you gonna listen to, some shady person who probably is just messing with you head," she pointed to herself, "or me? Your roommate for over a year? You know me more than I know myself, Sheldon."

"No, Penny, I don't know you," he told her, "I don't know anything about you anymore."

Penny groaned, "what is your problem, Sheldon? Just tell me and I'll do everything I can to fix it!"

Sheldon blinked, furrowing his eyebrow. "You're my problem, Penny. It's you."

"What?" She choked as she stepped back. That was probably her word of the day, 'what' cause nothing was making sense. "What do you mean that I'm your problem? I-I didn't do anything."

"I'm sorry but I have to leave, Penny."

Tears started to form at the corner of her eyes, she didn't want him to leave- that was the exact opposite. She wanted him to stay with for as long as he could, in translation, she loved him. Something she would probably admit to others but never to herself or Sheldon. Like what she told Missy and the others, even though she wants to be with Sheldon, she can't, because it will be complicated and Sheldon is practically socially retarded. And she'd want things that he couldn't give her and he'd be focused in his science-y crap and nothing would work, but she does hope that it would.

She was just afraid, afraid that her 'imaginary' relationship with Sheldon would crash and burn like all of her past relationships. That she would be too good and be not good enough. That it wouldn't work out due to all of their differences and how crazy Sheldon was. She was scared that Sheldon would realize that he was too good her and that she wasn't perfect. Most of her boyfriends just saw her as this trophy girl that was beautiful and that was it. She knew that Sheldon didn't see her that way but it was still scary to think about everything that could go wrong in their relationship. She was scared because she felt that this relationship was the one that she had always waited for and that she might ruin it. She was a coward.

"Please don't go," she sniffed, "I can change."

"It's not exactly you," he admitted as he shifted his weight, "there's more to that... But I have no obligation to tell you anything." Penny quickly stood directly in front of him, her arms blocking his path, "*move, Penny." She shook her head, wiping her tears on her arm, "tell me the truth, Sheldon. You can't lie to me, and you won't lie to yourself."

Silence filled the room as Sheldon tilted his chin upwards, resisting the urge to just push her out of the way. He hated how she knew that he was hiding something. He hated how she irritated him so much. He hated how annoying she was when she wanted something. He hated how she wasn't always here anymore. He hated how she didn't serve him his burger anymore. He hated how she always spent time with James. He hated how everyone talked about her and James. He hated how she probably thinks of what she and James could do together. He hated how she was with James and not him.

And that was exactly what he said.

*With an irritated huff, Sheldon dropped the box filled with clothes on the floor and faced her. "I hate how you don't serve me my bacon cheeseburger anymore. I hate how you don't drive me anywhere anymore. I hate how you're never around here anymore. I hate how you're always with James and not here anymore- I hate how it's always James and nothing about me anymore- I hate everything about it!"

Penny's eyes widened as he watched Sheldon explode with anger in front of her. She couldn't believe everything that he had said and how everything sounds so childish. "Sheldon... are you jealous of me and James?" He stared at her with his eyes wide.

Penny got her answer when she realized that he didn't correct her, at all.

"James and I," she started to say as she tried to keep a smile from forming on her lips, "it was all for show. It was for good PR for the show, and nothing more... Sheldon do you have feelings for me?"

Another moment of silence.

"I am not experienced nor trained in this field of relationships, therefore I may not know the right words to say," Sheldon slowly told her, "and this is the first time in my life that I have been put into a situation like this. I fear that due to my lack of knowledge in relationships that you would not accept me as I have never thought of 'love' as a necessity in life, but somehow with you I find myself yearning for it."

"Yes or no, Sheldon."

"I'm not denying it," he looked down at the box still cradled in his arms. Penny shook her head, "No, tell me if you have feelings for me or not."

"Yes, I do." He murmured.

"Yes I do?" She repeated questioningly.

"Yes, I do have feelings for you!" Sheldon quickly yelled, narrowing her eyes at her.

"Does this mean that the great Sheldon Cooper is ready for a romantic relationship?" Penny teased, a playful smirk appearing on her face as she slowly grabbed the box from his hands, placing it down on the coffee table, "Mister-I-am-above-human-relationships-and-practic ally-everyone is actually in love?"

"You're ruining the moment, Penny." Sheldon said in annoyance.

Penny giggled as she stepped towards him, wrapping her arms around him. "I can't believe you know what a 'moment' is. Aren't I a proud girlfriend?" Her expression dropped, "Am I your girlfriend?" Sheldon tilted his head from one side to the other, "I suppose a relationship agreement will assure you that you are?"

"Wait, I should also have a say in that agreement- it's a bit unfair that it's only me who has to follow your rules. I should have my own too." Sheldon nodded as Penny tiptoed to level her face with his, "So I guess that you're my boyfriend now?"

"I suppose so."

"What are the both of you waiting for? Go and kiss already!" Leonard whined from the doorway. "Still haven't seen you two kiss."

Penny quickly stepped back while Sheldon cleared his throat. "Hello, Leonard," he looked around the room then at Penny, "it appears as if I am no longer moving."

*this was rushed and i didn't care to change it

*does this remind any of you of the chapter in The Baser Urge Manifestation where Penny blocks Sheldon? No? Just me? Okay...

*this whole scene will be re-used in my fic called "Babysitting" but just a disclaimer I wrote that scene first before I started this so yes, I stole my own idea.

I'm gonna put up a series oneshots and the first chapter of my 'Babysitting' fic soon. I'm only updating that fic again after I finish The Baser Urge Manifestation, which is soon. And that oneshot will have two sequels that I will also be working on.

Oh and I just read the taping report for the season finale, and I can't believe how it's kinda similar to the Summer Paradigm Shift with Leonard leaving for the summer and whatnot. My aunt was all like, "I hope that there are at least a couple of episodes where it shows how Penny deals with Sheldon while Leonard is gone, that would be hilarious!" No, she isn't a shenny shipper, but I think everyone, shenny or not, knows that Sheldon and Penny scenes are always brilliant.

I am so sure that there are gonna be LOADS of fics here that will be about Sheldon and Penny's summer together.

Bring it on.