A/N: I do not own or make money from TBBT.

Chapter 28

"Hey, Babe." Zack walked in and embraced Penny as he eyed Amy sitting on the couch. "I, uh, thought you guys were done."

"Yeah, Bernadette left a little while ago, but Amy here is still chatting away." Penny smiled tightly. She liked hanging out with Amy, but it was time for her to focus on her husband.

"Hello, it is a pleasure to see you again, Zack Johnson. I have far superior stamina to Bernadette, therefore I am better equipped to hang in for the serious girl time." Amy was nearly bouncing with excitement as she shook Zack's hand.

"Did Sheldon get in ok?" Penny handed Zack a beer.

"Oh, yeah, he's good. He-"

"You were with Sheldon?" Amy cut Zack off.

"No, I just picked him up from Cera's." Zack grinned, proud of his buddy. "He actually got a date with her."

"Seriously!?" Penny wasn't sure if she was excited or worried for her friends.

"But Sheldon doesn't wish to be in a romantic relationship with anyone. If he did, certainly he would prefer the company of someone more intelligent, structured and engaging." Amy was certain she could formulate a relationship that was somewhat romantic in nature with Sheldon. She had been dropping hints.

"Amy, they have a history. And Cera's not exactly dumb." Penny had leaned over on to Zack, where he sat perched on a barstool.

"So, he is obligated to this, because of the child? I understand that he does have responsibility for his progeny, but is letting her and her mother to take up so much of his time necessary? Isn't…Isn't this taking it a little far?"

"I don't know if he feels…obligated to date her, but time together is a given since they have Merritt. God, I hope it's not obligation; that could be bad for everybody." Penny shook her head, thinking of the mess Sheldon could make. Penny looked sideways to Amy, she wasn't really sure what to make of her sometimes. She could jump from superior to pitiful in a heartbeat and she wasn't sure what she was supposed to do about it. Penny wanted to do nothing. Preferred not getting into others drama. But she felt she had to.

"They are a family. And you should leave 'em alone." Zack pointedly looked at Amy. "They're both smart people and they both love Merritt, they'll figure it out." He felt totally confident that his two friends cared about each other enough to come out on top together. Just as long as they could keep Sheldon from saying something dumb.

"You're right. I just…Should I talk to Sheldon? I mean, this is not something he needs to… experiment with." Penny was touched that Zack had confidence in her friends, but she didn't. This was Sheldon after all, and Cera didn't seem all that stable, romantically speaking, either

Amy visibly relaxed back into the couch at that statement. Experimentation sounded more plausible than actual courtship. The last month as Sheldon had spent increasing amounts of time with this supposed family, had nearly killed her. Amy's life had changed drastically since Sheldon had come into her life. She couldn't bear to lose him…or the group that had come with him. She needed him. Surely she could convince him that she was vital to the rearing of his child. "Perhaps I should speak with Sheldon as well. He will need my expertise in conducting an experiment."

"Amy, have you thought about going out?" Zack pulled Penny closer and nuzzled behind her ear.

"In what capacity?"

"On a date!" Penny was getting frustrated with Amy's lingering. She had other things she wanted to deal with now. Like the fact Zack's lips were now moving down the back of her neck.

"I hadn't considered. My mother is still under the impression that Sheldon is my beau, though she is concerned that his track record means he will impregnate me."

"Amy! You still haven't...uh, told your mom that it's...uh, fake." Penny was losing coherency as Zack's thumb slid right up under the hem of her shirt. He wasn't usually an exhibitionist, but Penny assumed he was attempting to make Amy leave.

"I don't see the need, until one or the other has a change of status."

"Amy, you gotta let him go." Zack chimed in, his nose in Penny's blonde tresses.

"I'm not certain I follow." Amy stared at the couple, who clearly would rather be alone.

"Well, uh, Sheldon's moving forward with his, mmm, life, socially, you should too. You can still be, ahhh, friends." Zack was whispering in Penny's ear things that made her knees week.

"Oh, I suppose I could make an attempt. Could you assist me with that endeavor, Penny?"

"Of course. Just, uh, not now."

"Ok, glad that's handled. Can I have some alone time with wifey."

"Oh, of course." Amy slipped out the door unnoticed by the newlyweds.


Sheldon was going to dump the whole bag of shirts into his hamper, but he found himself just holding them instead. It seemed improbable that she had kept these for so many years. It hardly seemed to be the behavior of the woman he assumed her to be. He had spent so many years, assuming she had quickly moved on to another that he never considered she would keep a memento of their time together.

It had been a revelatory time for him, when he'd had the arrangement with Cera. He had found the plan to be successful, until Cera drew to close. The investment of time, once a week, for a brain boosting relaxant. He'd learned more about his own body and his tolerance for others, or lack thereof, in those three months than he had before in his life, or much since.

Sheldon wasn't certain what had bothered him more about coitus. The contamination, the inconvenience or the fact during the process he couldn't worry about the mess, or…anything else for that matter.

Coitus had been the ultimate expression of selfishness. He had never felt the need to consume another person before, but that sensation was there and became stronger each time. Sheldon wasn't certain if it was Cera explicitly, or just the sensation. Some days he had been sure it was one and some days it had been the other.

The thought of wanting to find out had scared him. What if it had been merely the firing of chemicals and it didn't matter who? Would he become like some many men before him, like his father, and chase sensation? Or would he have found himself in a relationship that would have compromised all of his pursuits up to that point? Neither of those situations was acceptable to him, so it was one piece of information he was happy not to have.

Sheldon tossed the shirts, along with his ruminations, in the hamper. He was a highly gifted researcher in the field of particle physics, not a philanderer. He had no need to dwell on such sentiments or physical pursuits. Though, he had always been resistant to the melodramatic posturing of the masses, the turmoil always seemed to find him.

He had been blindsided by Cera. Sheldon had no idea she had feelings for him or how deep they had run. If she had been hinting at it, he had missed it. Even after making her declaration Sheldon still didn't completely understand what it meant. When it came to women feeling affection towards him, Sheldon was clueless and was ok with it. It had started when he was in Germany and carried on to Cera. Ramona was professional, but it could have been personal. Now even Amy, a woman he thought was above such inanities, was becoming glaringly obvious as well.

Sheldon hadn't intended to invite Cera out on what could be perceived as a date, but he supposed it was a good thing. He could finally get some answers to the quandary that was the structure of their interactions. They had long since become a confusing amalgam of varying relationship types. He wasn't sure if they ought to resume the relationship they once had, or pull back into a more formal arrangement of co-parents. Surprisingly, he felt he would be more comfortable with the former than being relegated into the latter. He definitely needed examine all the angles before tomorrow's dinner.

On his mental white board, Sheldon made a list. Cera's negatives- she was always late; her cooking was dangerous, though adequate; she had a relaxed attitude from her hippy parents; her lack of footwear was appalling; she played a percussive instrument, occasionally...and not very well.

Cera's positives-She was intelligent; though he was unsure how much because she was humble. Which was another benefit; she wasn't in a constant power struggle with him. She was confident. Her rearing of their child to date was more than adequate.

Information to note-Her medical expertise would prove to be beneficial, she was aesthetically pleasing, she was bright and active like the comics and video games he cherished. And she didn't mind those hobbies, either.

Cera had never pushed him to dumb down his genius for the masses, never pushed social awareness. Though he was lacking in empathy, he was aware she possessed it and was even able to see her use it effectively with Merritt. Sheldon had always been fond of that aspect of Cera, as it was behavior that wasn't pity or appeasement, like others displayed towards him.

These attributes added up to… what? Nothing new…but something he didn't have the data to decipher ten years ago. Through his new relationships, he had learned to see people as a whole and not just for what they could do for him or what they wanted from him. While he had always been aware of what makes him unhappy and uncomfortable until these new people pointed out, he never took time to consider that in others.

If Sheldon was honest with himself, and he always endeavored to be, he was very fond of Cera. It was an all-encompassing…affection that was unique to her. Sheldon felt a bit faint at this revelation. This feeling, this sensation of…falling in love was not an event to be celebrated; rather, it was a catastrophe of cataclysmic proportions. It was not dissimilar to an earthquake – the actual foundation upon which his life had been built had ruptured. His once stable and explicable life had degenerated into a scene of constant emotional upheaval and unruly impulses to take actions which were at best, irresponsible, and at worst, demented.

Sheldon needed to get more information. Since this was an area that eluded him he needed it to be simple and from someone who had somewhat successfully navigated a relationship. Leonard was out, he was as effectual as a dish rag. Penny, though married, was still new to navigating that level of commitment. Koothrappali was pitifully romantic, but unable to speak to women. To Sheldon's disappointment, Wolowitz was the only solution he could come up with. He was a good friend to Cera and was engaged to be married. While that in no way made him an expert, it did give him the upper hand over Sheldon. Sheldon made a note to call him first thing in the morning.


"If this goes well, tell Cera, your most treasured acquaintance helped and you can name your next kid after me." Howard stood in the living room of 4A giving Sheldon a tutorial.

Sheldon's eye bugged at the thought. Leonard snickered from the kitchen.

"Kidding, kidding. Actually, if this doesn't work, you never saw me. That is one Momma, I don't want mad at me."

Sheldon pinned him with a glare. "Are you finished yet?"

Carrying on as though he didn't hear Sheldon, Howard tugged at his shirt. "Now, I find when I go out I like to wear something that flatters my manly physique."

"Wolowitz, I have no plans of ever purchasing a dickie."

"Suit yourself. But really, you may want to rethink those plaid pants."

"I will take that under advisement." Sheldon didn't think his wardrobe had ever bothered Cera, but then again, they hadn't ever been out on a date before. While agreeing Howard may be on to something, he decided he would not be taking his clothing advice from him.

"Good, now you want to pay her compliments, but Cera isn't gonna take anything that isn't sincere."

"Agreed, do you have any advice on things of which I am not already aware?"

"Oh, we're just getting started." Howard grinned mischievously.

"Do you really think all this is necessary?" Sheldon questioned Penny as she dug through his closet.

"Well, yeah. I mean, you want this to be special don't you?"

"Do I?" Sheldon was wondering when he lost control of this occurrence. He was pretty certain he had just wanted to consume food in close proximity to Cera, as they discussed a variety of topics.

"Well, you're the one who said you need to dress up for Cera. That's what people normally do for dates…Isn't this a date?" Penny pulled out his black blazer.

"It has begun to seem that way." Sheldon accepted it, but huffed at the mess Penny was creating.

"What do you mean seem? Don't you want it to be?" Penny handed Sheldon a pair of jeans she had never seen him in.

"I…I suppose I wouldn't find it objectionable." He gave the denim a dubious look, but took them anyway.

"I suggest you figure that out before you see Cera. She doesn't need to be screwed with. Not by you. Let me know when you are ready to go." Penny left him in the quiet to dress and consider exactly what he was doing.

Upon opening the door Cera could tell two things. One, Sheldon didn't dress himself, and two, this was more than just eating together. Her Def Leppard T and blue skirt felt more casual than she had anticipated, the heeled Converse doing little to add to the effect.

"What are you wearing?" Cera was stunned by how good Sheldon looked. She had always been aware, but he never put this type of effort into his appearance. Cera let out nervous laughter. "The last time I saw you in jeans you were cutting Meemaw's grass." This, however, wasn't a young man in gloves, goggles and mask grudgingly mowing the lawn. The blazer over a button up and tie just further confused her.

"This isn't you. Hun the first time I met you, you were pulling this off as fast as you could." Cera tugged at the bottom of his tie. "You, of course, can wear it if you wish, and that's fine, but it's not for me."

"Perhaps you are far more pragmatic than I have given you credit for." Sheldon pulled his coat off, followed by the tie. Not only was the removal a relief from an apparel stand point, it relieved him that Cera didn't require him to be the kind of man that dressed as such. It pleased him that to her, unlike so many friends and coworkers, he had always been the man he was meant to be.

"Actually, that's not true, you were once aware that I was exceedingly practical…for a female." Cera smiled and winked. She felt far more comfortable now that Sheldon wasn't so overdressed.

After quick consideration, Sheldon gave her a small smile. "Yes, I did, didn't I?"

"May I ask, why?"

"Why I found you practical?" Sheldon looked her as though she had lost her mind.

"No. Why the change in wardrobe?"

"Is this not customary on a date?" Sheldon looked down at himself in contemplation.

"Oh well, this is…not a date? And you've watched too many romcoms if you think there is a customary for such a thing…and that a tie is it."

Sheldon felt slightly let down. His companions had lead him to believe it could be a date. After Penny had told him to 'figure it out' he had made accommodations, both physical and mental, for this to be a date.

"So…if you had to wear a coat where's all the colors?" It had been rare for Cera to see Sheldon in any less than four different colors at one time.

"Penny thought the black coat would be more visually appealing to you."

"You're visually appealing without anything." Cera blushed at her statement, but knew Sheldon wouldn't read anything into anyway. She walked to the garage door. "Shall we?"

After getting situated in Cera's Jeep in silence, she finally broke the silence. "So you wanted this to be a date? But you…don't date."

"I have been on a date, Olivia. This would be my third, as I previously went on a date as a favor to Raj, in exchange for signed Hulk hands, and with Amy Farrah Fowler. Penny accompanied us. I asked her to accompany me tonight but, she said we needed time alone together."

"Why would we need Penny?" Cera glanced over at Sheldon.

"I have never been on a date…alone before." Sheldon stared out the window for that admission. Though he knew it was nonsense, he felt self-conscious, Cera had much more dating experience than himself.

"Hun, we've eaten together alone a hundred times." Cera thought she heard trepidation in his voice, but it seemed so unlike him. Sheldon's only acknowledgement was a slight nod. The remainder of the ride was silent. Sheldon had agreed to go to a new restaurant for the occasion, but Cera didn't want him to be distracted by the unknown so she talked him into The Cheesecake Factory.

After being seated, Sheldon concentrating on the place setting in front of him spoke, "In 1957 Bubble Wrap was accidentally invented due to the air pockets left after sealing to two shower curtains together. It was originally pushed as three-dimensional wallpaper, but it was unsuccessful. It wasn't until four years later that it was discovered to be an exceptional packing material. Their first client was IBM. It was used to the pack the IBM 1401."

"I, uh, no I did not know that." While that was interesting, it wasn't what Cera thought they ought to discuss. She would be patient though, Sheldon would get there eventually.

"May I ride with you when you retrieve Merritt from your parents tomorrow?" Sheldon glanced up at Cera quickly. He wasn't sure what else to discuss since this, wasn't a date. The question and conversations that he had prepared, were more romantic in nature than he felt comfortable with now.

"Of course…Daddy probably wouldn't mind seeing you again, anyway. I think he enjoyed talking to you. You're more grounded and…practical than Branden and me, your upbringing being more similar to his own."

"Oh…Momma finds you tolerable as well. Even if she is now far too fascinated with your family for all our own good. She asks about you occasionally…after she speaks to Merritt of course." Sheldon gave a slight smile.

After placing their order Cera responded, "I find that surprising."

"You are surprised that momma is happy to have a grandchild by the person she has seen be the most reliable to me. Who also happens to be the progeny of two of her non-religious idols?"

"I didn't realize….Your mom…she said you were troubled when we stopped, uh seeing each other. Why were you upset?" Cera rearranged her flatware for the seventh time.

"Your…absence was not always…convenient." This romance related question had been expected, though they weren't on the date Sheldon had anticipated.

"Not convenient? Then why trouble yourself? Don't…don't misunderstand, I'm glad you didn't beguile me any longer, but I don't understand."

"I was what some may consider selfish when we began, when I encouraged further contact, and I was selfish when I ended it. I did want to continue. I just didn't need to. It seemed frivolous therefore I chose to do without so I wouldn't be distracted. To allow myself to become a besotted fool was unbecoming to a scientist of my caliber."

"So you did like…sex?" Cera felt her stomach flip, but didn't dare assume he meant he had any feelings for her.

"For the first time…the only time really, I identified with my own physicality. With everything else I have attempted to keep my physical state pleasingly neutral and non-confining, so that it doesn't take up time and effort. Coitus altered that. I had always known that intercourse, in addition to being physically pleasurable, was supposed to be an emotionally evocative experience, that is part of the reason that I chose to abstain, but I didn't expect it to leave me as exposed as it did."

"You were…exposed?" Cera was stunned, Sheldon was talking emotions?

"Yes, there were many times that I exposed something to you that under normal circumstances I would have concealed." Howard had instructed him to be forthcoming with his feelings, and while Sheldon normally resisted such hippie like-behavior, he agreed it was right with Cera.

"I…uh, like what?"

"Olivia, I shared my comic collection, my family, and bestowed my wisdom on you. You think that wasn't exposed?"

"I didn't realize that was…outstanding behavior for you. I'm sorry I didn't see." Cera wasn't sure if she was understanding him correctly or not, but she didn't want to read into anything.

"Well, that's not exactly surprising."

"That right there," Cera pointed at Sheldon. "Is why I couldn't ever see anything sweet or soft from you. Everything was gilded with disdain. I couldn't even ever be sure if you liked me. By the end I wasn't even sure I liked myself." Cera stated matter of factly.

"You had a negative reaction to our liaison?"

"Of course I did!" Cera surprised herself with her elevated voice. Sheldon was merely seeking information, not being callous. "But I had unhealthy ideas about relationships long before you. That was the appeal of the arrangement. There was intimacy while simultaneously keeping you at arm's length." Cera stopped as their food was delivered, thankfully to Sheldon's specifications.

"That was the same reason I had for constructing our association as I did. Are you insinuating I have unhealthy ideas about relationships? "

"No, I wouldn't suggest such. I'm only speaking for me. I-" Cera felt since Sheldon had laid himself out, she should do the same. Putting the past to rest and keeping communication open would be the best way to raise a child. "I connected with you like no one before and I don't mean just sex. That's the reason I felt the way I did. Why I said what I did."

"Is that your objection to this being a date, our previous association?" Sheldon questioned.

"That's a reason, but mostly dating is a temporary state and that isn't something I want for Merritt."

"Oh, having never really considered dating, I wasn't mindful of it being a temporary state, but I suppose I see your point. As a trial period for further commitment it could go either of two ways, matrimony or separation. Are you opposed to the two?" Sheldon finally got his burger assembled to his liking and took a bite.

"No I'm not opposed, in a general sense, but for Merritt, I really wouldn't want us to do anything that would affect her."

"But you do agree it would be best if we were united as parents?"

"I do, I just don't want to do anything to cause stress or divide us, as parents."

"Wouldn't the two of us spending time alone together, improve our rapport and therefore our capacity for parenting?" Sheldon needed Cera to see his way. While he could have gone through life alone, he couldn't turn away, now having knowledge of parenthood and the sense of pride and devotion it brought. He liked being Merritt's father, but Merritt without her mother was incomplete.

"Spending time alone together doesn't necessarily make a date or a couple. If that were the case, we were together long ago, which we both know, we weren't. And compelling romance because a child is still a bad idea."

"I am aware that a romantic component is required to make an outing a date. It's not as if all of our outings were without such flights of fancy. I did tell you that you were attractive." Sheldon rearranged his plate again as he was too nervous to actually eat much.

"I, uh, once. And it wasn't delivered as a compliment." Cera tugged at her hair in exasperation.

"As a non-couple, that accolade should have been more than sufficient."

"Huh, how often are papers published, research done, experiments run just to repeat and remind of the same thing? And I'm supposed to cherish an offhand comment in an odd conversation?"

"Positive sentiments need to be repeated to be proven true?" Sheldon found this to be an odd behavior, but could understand the need to be validated more than once.

"Well, yeah. Kinda."

"'Kinda' isn't exactly a ringing endorsement for standard romantic behavior."

Cera choked on her drink. This conversation was going very differently than she expected. She just wasn't sure if he was speaking of romance in terms of what was or what is. "I don't think romance is a rote thing that can be standardized. It's just one person expressing how special they think someone else is, in their own unique way, because they want to."

"As a highly gifted researcher in the field of particle physics, I understand everything, but I fear the nuances of courting are evading me. I've gotten a lot of conflicting information on how to proceed with a romantic liaison." Sheldon looked distressed by his lack of knowledge.

"You've thought about all this?" Cera stopped eating and focused solely on Sheldon.

"Of course I have. You know I like to be fully prepared for any and all decisions. I had even begun to consider such a move eleven years ago, but I was loathe to have you alter or distract me. Science is, of course, my first love." Sheldon offered a tentative smile at his confession.

"You misunderstood me, then. I never wanted to detract from anything that was…you. I just wanted to be a support and enhancement to you. Like you were to me."

"I didn't...I don't think I'm capable of supporting anyone in that manner, or that I'd want to. I suppose the care for one's progeny is different as it just feels like a given with Merritt, but with you…" Sheldon trailed off certain he wasn't articulating himself adequately.

"But you did! I know you didn't know it, but you were a salve on one the most emotional years of my life to that point. Just letters from you, helped lessen the hole that was left from Galen. And then you single handedly propped me up during the most difficult year of my career."

"Oh...I hadn't considered that's what was occurring. I just knew at the rate you were going you weren't going to be a very effective physician." Sheldon winced, Howard had warned him not to disparage her career or family.

"And you were right, I wouldn't have been." Cera laughed at Sheldon's blunt honesty.

Sheldon was taken aback by her jovial reaction. He had violated a guideline and still she laughed, though he supposed it was rare when she was truly upset with him. Only when it came to their sexual interactions did she seem to become incensed. He felt he may have deserved her previous exasperation with his handling of his disregard in the machinations of a relationship. He wasn't sure he could handle one now. "I'm not particularly social or romantic. I've never cared to be, but I could try."

Cera laughed out loud at him again. "You act like we haven't known each other half our lives. You are much less introverted than you once were. And you don't realize it, but you have moments. Don't be anything else."

Sheldon assumed since it wasn't possible for him to be anything else, she was just paying him a compliment for who he was. He wasn't really certain how to respond to the sentiment that so rarely came from others, so he decided to shift the evening. Sheldon was trying to come up with a grand gesture to move things along, as Howard had suggested. "Oh…could this be a date if I serenaded you? While I imagine I could successfully write a song for you, I don't believe it could effectively express my thought and….feelings for you."

This admission of feelings was much clearer to Cera, though, still not enough to convince her to risk her heart, sanity and the stability of Merritt. Still the thought made her chuckle. "I don't know that's more like my dad's thing. It works and is sweet because he is using one of his assets to express himself on an intimate matter. It would be like if you wrote an equation about me. You would be using your assets as a personal expression."

"Oh…well I've done that. I once created two charts, an equation and a new theorem to prove that you were a distraction and I should discontinue our alliance."

"Oh." Cera's mouth fell open and stared at him wide eyed. Maybe she had misread this entire evening.

"They all failed. The work proved incalculable, and as a practical it hasn't worked out at all. So I suppose you could say that I proved that, if we were willing, this could work out to both our benefit." Sheldon shifted self-consciously in his chair. Since Cera had decided they would not date, it altered his timeline, but did not alter his goal.

"I, uh, but you don't want to be tied down, don't need to be tied down. You're tearing the mask off of nature and staring at the face of God." Cera threw his own arguments, from long ago, at him. While she wanted this, she wanted to be especially sure this wasn't going to end badly.

"Do you think me unable to schedule in both?" Sheldon looked at Cera quizzically. For someone who just claimed to know him so well, she acted as though they were strangers sometimes.

"Well, I think you could. You can do anything, I just didn't think you would want to."

"I believe I ought to. It would be doable. Merritt would take up roughly the same amount of time, if there was a formalized relationship between ourselves. And you would take up far less. I would no longer have concerns about you. I would know that you are content and safe." Sheldon had a smug look of finality, as though he had just resolved and implemented the solution to the world's problems.

At a loss for words Cera merely stared at Sheldon. She hadn't considered Sheldon might think of her at all, let alone enough to find her time consuming. The fact that it was concern for her well-being was astonishing. "What…exactly is doable?"

"Our union, of course. We can discuss the parameters later. Unless of course you need them now."

"Now when you say union, you mean-."

"Oh, marriage. You have pointed out that dating would be temporary and breaking apart is not acceptable. So the alternative is matrimony."

"I already told you that I don't want to marry for Merritt's sake."

"Merritt is a key component in any relationship you have so she cannot be completely removed from your reasoning. As I pointed out, my relationship Merritt would be changed very little, my relationship with you is what would undergo the most alteration. It would also prevent any interference from any other suitors."

"Suitors? So, you just don't want me to involve myself with another?"

"Of course I don't. I need you to be mindful of who Merritt is exposed to…and I don't think I could bear it." Sheldon was studying his plate. While he felt confident this was the best move for them as a family, he felt unsure about the vulnerability he was showing.

"Why?" Cera croaked. "Why couldn't you bear it?" It seemed as though Sheldon kept insinuating feelings for her, but she needed to be sure.

"I'm afraid you taking up with a lesser man would incite a long suppressed reaction in myself. I had believed myself to be above such primitive emotions as jealousy, you however have caused me to realize otherwise. And while it is true, I have put aside my interest in the opposite sex and concentrated on science, I find that your presence erodes my resolve on that front as well. Quite simply I desire you and want to keep you in my protection." Sheldon heaved a deep breathe before continuing. "Why waste time to proving what we already know? We have similar interest, the pursuits we don't share are easy enough to acclimate to. Our combination would not detract from a work day and would be a compliment to home life. We are already aware that we possess what is commonly referred to as 'chemistry'."

"So, Merritt aside, you want to be with me?" Cera braced her hands on the table. Sheldon's admission made her feel lightheaded.

"That is what I stated."

"Oh." For so long Cera hadn't even entertained the idea of Sheldon being part of their family, being part of her, but in a matter of months they had gone from strangers to possibly…engaged? It was baffling.

"Since you stated you wouldn't marry me for Merritt, I assume you would marry for other reasons. Are those reasons not sufficient, Olivia?" Sheldon began to fidget as he waited for her to respond. The longer she delayed the worse he felt. No wonder Leonard was so jumpy around women, he was constantly laying himself out bear for women to reject. Sheldon had only been this transparent to one woman, and he certainly wouldn't ever want to repeat it.

"Those are definitely commitment worthy reasons, but are you sure about this? I mean you had protested-"

"Olivia, I am well aware of what I have previously stated. I believe my protestations were part denial and part frustration. I have had time in the years past and since learning about Merritt to discover the true depth of my thoughts and feelings about you and I choose to make this commitment."

Unable to contain her happiness and relief, Cera was out her chair and encircling Sheldon before he was able to process what was happening. Sheldon patted her back awkwardly as she leaned over him and sobbed into his neck. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised, she always was an impulsive and affectionate woman. He would just have to bring up guidelines for public displays of affection later. For now he just had to determine the meaning of this embrace.

"Is this consent to my proposal?" Sheldon was starting to squirm with discomfort, but tried to breathe through the panic. He knew this contact was important to her and if he was honest, germs aside, he didn't mind her proximity.

"I…Yeah." Cera pulled back just long enough to make eye contact with Sheldon as she answered, then resumed her place around his neck.

"You may state your feelings for me again. In fact, I encourage it, because they are reciprocated."

"Genuinely?" Cera pulled back and placed her hand on Sheldon's cheek to see his face as he answered.

"Yes. I appreciate and have a tremendous affection for you." Sheldon didn't twitch, until Cera leaned forward for a kiss. He was relieved when the kiss landed on his cheek…at least until she had thoroughly brushed.

"Excellent. I love you, too…Which is why I'll be back for a real kiss…after I've brushed." Cera winked and returned to her seat.