Hello, everyone! I know it's been over a year since I've updated this but what a CRAZY year it's been. I still don't know if I will update regularly but I will try my best! Thank you all for sticking with me so far. :)

Chapter 10

Things come in threes played through Penny's head constantly as she went through her shifts at the restaurant and when she signed papers for Captain Marvel and when she did laundry.

First, she had won tickets to see some of her favorite actors on the red carpet. She had been picked out of thousands who had entered.

Second, she had landed her dream job and was actually playing the lead in a Marvel movie. She had been chosen out of several actresses, one even having an Oscar.

Now, what was the third thing going to be?

"Penny?" Sheldon's voice brought her out of her thoughts. Looking around, she saw that she was sitting on one of the washers. Sheldon stood in the doorway with his laundry basket at his hip.

"Yes? Am I sitting on your washer or something?" She knew she wasn't but liked to tease.

"No. You just looked as if something was on your mind. A truly ridiculous statement. Nothing can really be on one's mind. But I digress." He placed his basket on the only table and began sorting his clothes into the washers.

"So, a little less than two weeks until the premiere. Are you excited?"

Sheldon's focus did not move from his clothes but he did answer. "Of course. I will get to see Stan Lee and see a highly anticipated movie before all of my peers. I may even get to sit next to Iron Man as I view it."

"Not if I beat you to the seat first!"

"Penny, the man does have two sides."

Penny feigned a sniffle. "Are you actually willing to share?"

Sheldon gave her a look and didn't say anything.

"His wife will probably be on the other side," Penny said and glanced down at her nails. "So I can sit on your lap. That way we'll both get to sit next to Tony Stark."

There was a squawk and the sound of a basket hitting the floor. Penny glanced up to see Sheldon leaning down to pick up the remainder of his clothes but was shocked (and pleased) to see how red his face had gotten.

Things came in threes and she was really hoping that the third good thing would have something to do with Sheldon.

It hadn't been hard for Sheldon to request time off for the upcoming trip to New York. In fact, the higher ups of his job seemed to be delighted he was finally taking a vacation. Sheldon had found it odd. Wouldn't they be opposite that his brilliant mind wasn't being put to use for over a week?

And the PowerPoint he had made to convince them to give him time off in case they had said no was no useless. He was never getting that hour and a half back.

Sheldon walked back to his office and was surprised to find Raj inside. (Though he had thought he locked it. Hmm). At least Raj wasn't spinning in his desk chair like he had caught Howard doing last week (and promptly gave him a strike for).

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Sarcasm, of course. Though Raj was one of the few people he tolerated while at work. Since he actually did it.

"I just wanted to come by for a little talk," the other man responded.

"Normally, one knocks on the other's door when they want to talk. Not wait in their office, uninvited." Sheldon gave Raj a look, who rolled his eyes and left the small room. Seconds later there was a knock on the outside of the door. The Indian man stared at Sheldon with a deadpan face the whole time.

"Who is it?" Two could play this game.

"Dr. Rajesh Koothrapali," Raj answered with a barely there twitch of his mouth. "May I have a word with you, Dr. Cooper?"

Raj played right along and Sheldon couldn't help the upturn of his mouth in a smile. But he quickly turned his back and began reorganizing his desk. "You may come in, Dr. Koothrapali. Please close the door." He didn't turn back around until he heard the door close.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Sheldon repeated the question while he walked around his desk to sit down. He gestured for Raj to take a seat, as well.

"It's not a professional conversation," Raj said. "So can we stop with the formalities?"

"I suppose," Sheldon sighed though he really wasn't upset about it. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Penny," Raj answered simply.

Sheldon startled but quickly composed himself. "What about Penny? And why couldn't this have waited until after work?"

Raj shrugged. "I figured this would be more private."

This was true. Leonard wouldn't be hanging around Sheldon's office like he did at the apartment where even the smallest mention of Penny brought him running. Sheldon commended Raj's foresight and told him as much.

The Indian looked startled at the praise but took it with a nod of his head. "Thank you."

"So what about Penny do you wish to talk about?"

"Well, actually I want to talk about you and Penny?"

"What about us?" This turn of events surprised him.

"You have feelings for her."

It was said so simply that Sheldon was actually speechless.

"I know I'm the only person you can talk to about this. Leonard is still hung up on her and frankly, Howard would use this information against you. So I'm here to offer my services. I will help the two of you get together."

All intelligent thought left Sheldon, which was a magnificent feat. "Uh...what?"

"I'm not blind. I may be mute around half the population but I am an excellent observer. You have feelings for Penny."

Sheldon composed himself a little. "I'm afraid you have it all wrong, Raj. Penny is my best friend. That is all."

Raj sighed. "Dude, let's just make it easy for the both of us. Just admit that you like her and then, we can get on with the plan on how to get you two together. Which honestly won't be that hard." Raj leaned back in the chair. "Since you're going to New York together and there's also the fact that she has feelings for you, too."

Sheldon wished Raj spoke this much about his work.

And normally, he was able to process information pretty quickly but processing the fact that Penny had feelings for him was taking a little longer. How did Raj know that? Had he asked her? If not, what were the signs? Had he missed something in his observations?

Raj, sensing the internal dilemma of his friend, started to clap his hands to get Sheldon's attention. It worked, if only to receive an irritated glare. "Now that you're back with me. Let's plan."

Sheldon's eyes narrowed. "Why are you doing this? Normally, you side with Howard when it comes to dealing with me."

Raj shrugged. "You're still my friend and you're in love. I'm a romantic at heart."

"Leonard was in love with her, too. Did you sit him down to 'plan', too? Because if you did, clearly your plans didn't work and your success rate is too low for me to enlist your help."

Raj sighed, rubbed his temples and thought, not for the first time, why had he decided to help this man. "I didn't plan with Leonard. I think we all knew it was doomed from the start. So my track record is flawless."

"By flawless, you must mean, untried."

"Do you want my help or not?" Raj asked, exasperated.

"I'm still thinking it over." When Raj stood to leave, Sheldon quickly amended, "Yes, Raj. I would like your assistance."

"Good." Raj sat back down. "And we've already accomplished step one of my plan."

"How did we accomplish that?"

"Step one was having you admit your feelings for Penny."

Sheldon opened his mouth to protest but Raj quickly beat him to it.

"Earlier you said that Leonard was in love with you, too. You don't make grammatical errors so that was your way of saying you are in love with her." Raj couldn't help but smile smugly.

Sheldon sighed, resigned. "You are right. I suppose all evidence points to the fact that I do seem to have feelings for Penny. Which is something I vowed not to do. Things like 'feelings' and 'relationships' tend to get in the way of science."

"Say that to all of the successful scientists you have spouses," Raj shot back.

"Touche," Sheldon admitted reluctantly. "All right. Tell me your plan."

"Okay," Raj said, bracing himself. "All you have to do is admit your feelings for Penny while you are in New York."

Sheldon stared at his friend, waiting for the 'just kidding' because this was obviously a joke. That was it? Even he could have come up with that and he knew he lacked social skills. "That is your...plan?"

"Well...it's more like getting you from point A to point B."

"With nothing in between to help me get there," Sheldon deadpanned.

"I haven't thought of the details, yet."

"Then, why did you come here?"

"Because you leave in a week and I was hoping you'd give some input!" Raj argued.

Sheldon sighed for the hundredth time in the past fifteen minutes. "Very well. We will spend the rest of our work day coming up with a 'plan'. This is not how I would normally like to spend my time but confessing my feelings to Penny has quickly become a top priority."

Raj grinned and clapped his hands excitedly. "Great. Let's get started!"

Not too happy with this chapter but I'm glad I was able to get something out before the new year. Thank you all for reading!