I am doing my best to get back to reviewing all your reviews because I get such a bright smile from what you guys and gals have to say! I'm HONORED by your words.

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"Sheldon, come on."

"I refuse to discuss this with you, Leonard."

Sheldon was making dinner and his roommate was following him around like a lost puppy.

"You're acting like…you're not acting like yourself."

"I am certain my behaviors have in no way changed. I still adhere to my schedules, go to work, partake in social activities, eat. What is it that you think you are perceiving in my behaviors?" Sheldon put his food on a plate, preparing to walk to the couch and ignore Leonard's next words.

"You're depressed."

"Not so."

"You barely talk to us when we do hang out. You don't find pleasure in your regular shows—"

"How would you know what I find pleasure in, Leonard?" Sheldon gave him a stern look before sitting down.

"After seven years…you know."

Sheldon rolled his eyes and started to eat his food, though he couldn't actually taste it.

"You know, being with someone is really fulfilling. I was in a horrible state when Penny and I broke up but finding Priya has—"

"Really, Leonard?" Sheldon put his plate down at the mention on Priya—actually at the mention of Penny.

"It's not the distraction you think it is. I think your depression and missing what you had with Penny is more of a painful distraction and—"

"Stop trying to get in my head." That was all Sheldon said as he got up and stomped off to his room.

"Stubborn ass," Leonard mumbled, lifting his phone.

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Another day of work. Another morning shower. Another teeth brushing, shaving, and hair combing routine.

Sheldon slipped his shoes on and he was just about out the door when his cell phone rang. Leonard grabbed his bag and stepped out in the hallway to wait for his roommate.

Sheldon checked his phone, surprised his mother was calling him so early.

"Hi, Mom."

"Hey, sweetie," she started in her loving, patient, Texan twang. "How ya doin'?"

"I'm fine. I'm about to go to work."

"Oh, I won't be long. I just wanted to see how you were doin'."

"…Fine."

"Really?"

"Mom, is everything okay?"

"Sheldon, sweetie. Listen, I just wanted to tell ya that I'm real proud of you, and this new research thingy you're doin'—"

Sheldon packed the rest of his books in bag and corrected her about the research but was cut off.

"And I know you're gonna do great things with it Shelly Bean…"

Sheldon waited for his mother to get to the point but didn't dare tell her to do so.

"Ya know, Shelly," she continued, seeming to go in a completely different direction. "One thing I love about ya is your drive. And your honesty. And your passion."

"Thank you. But that's three things." Sheldon opened the door but Leonard was focused on rereading something in his hand, not paying any attention to Sheldon. He closed the door again.

"And ya say what's on your mind," she concluded, somewhat pointedly.

Not exactly, thought Sheldon. He really wanted to tell his mother that he felt she was wasting his time with this run around conversation, but she would whip his behind through the phone.

He tapped his foot and bit his lip (to keep from piping in), listening.

She seemed to pause for a moment. "And baby, I'm gonna say what's on my mind now, too. I couldn't go on another minute without callin' ya." She continued almost immediately. "You have no problems lettin' people know whatcha think about 'em, especially if ya don't like 'em. And hatred is a slippery slope, baby. It really is."

"I don't hate anyone. Where is this coming from?"

"No, no, now listen to me. Hatred is a slippery slope because it lends the Devil a door to your soul—"

"Mom."

"Sheldon." He felt her tense up over the phone. "When you always tell people ya hate 'em, ya forget to tell people when ya love 'em."

"What…?"

"I know you're havin' a little relationship with that Penny."

"Leonard had no right to call you," Sheldon replied, almost knowing Penny wouldn't have had that conversation with his mother. "And I didn't tell him I loved her. She's a friend."

"Oh, now you don't be gettin' all mad at him. Now I've gotten to know that girl and while I don't agree with many of her life choices, she seems to be smitten with you, accordin' to Leonard. And you just keep pushin' her away."

"I have been afforded an incredible opportunity, mother. I almost didn't receive the honor because of Penny. I have to focus. This could change my career, my life."

"Nonsense. If ya didn't get it, Penny wouldn't have been to blame. Ya don't credit your successes to others, so don't credit your failures."

"I don't fail."

"Not in all things."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

She sighed. "Sheldon. Does she treat ya good?"

"Well."

"Well, what?"

"No, the proper word is…never mind. Yes, she does." After a tiny consideration, he corrected himself. "Did."

"What are you afraid of, baby?"

Sheldon didn't answer.

"Ya know, a woman like that can have her pick of men—and has." Her tone sounded slightly judgmental, though still loving. "She found a good one in you."

Sheldon's eyes rolled to the ceiling and his heart sank.

"You do know you're a good one, dontcha Shelly? I raised ya right despite everythin' else."

Sheldon nodded sadly, reluctantly, knowing his mother couldn't see but somehow had a feeling she probably knew he was.

"Somehow she sees passed that…wonderful, blessed…" He could tell she was searching for the right words. "Personality of yours, and all your needs and, ya know…whatever it is that makes you, you."

He wasn't sure what she meant by that.

"Mom, I have to go to work," he choked out.

"Baby?" He waited her words out, swallowing the lump in his throat. "Love isn't gonna change the man you are."

His mouth dropped opened, wondering how the hell she always knew what he was thinking.

"It's gonna make you a better man."

He nodded again, this time accompanied with, "Okay."

"I love you, Shelly Bean."

"I love you, too, Mom."

"Oh, and Shelly?"

"Yea, Mom?"

"Ya'll aren't practicing sin are ya?"

Sheldon looked around the room, finding something to stare at while he came up with an answer.

"Mom," he shot back in a scolding tone that was supposed to read as 'how-could-you-ask-such-a-thing-of-your-beloved-wonderful-innocent-son'?

She sighed heavily. "Don't you be lyin' to me, Sheldon."

"I didn't say—"

"I wasn't born yesterday and I know that Penny all too well."

"It wasn't her—" He covered his mouth immediately with his hand and grimaced at his words, wanting to crawl into a hole and die for having this conversation with his mother.

He heard her gasp, but wondered if it was out of disappointment or genuine shock. "I'll pray for you."

"Please don't." He didn't need his mother's prayer group all knowing his indiscretions.

After a long pause, she continued with a fair amount of resignation in her voice. "Don't worry, baby." Another tiny pause. "I'm prayin' you get your head outta your backside. Go 'head. Get on to work. We'll talk later."

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Yes, my updates will probably only be a chapter at a time since there are a little less than before, but as frequent as possible. Please review. This story is my baby. :)