They're sat on Penny's couch, ready to discuss the next stage in Sheldon's grand diversification plan.
he's wearing his special purple shirt with the white star for the occasion
He sits up straight, feeling formal and nervous...
"Penny" he coughs, nervously fidgeting. "your tolerance of me seems to have increased to a level where I can address an area of personal development I have an keen interest in - Will you consent to go out on a date with me?
"what, an actual date date date kind of date?"
"yes, as a formal precursor to possibly considering entering a boyfriend slash girlfriend relationship. "
she just stares at him, heart suddenly hammering.
slowly she says "you're serious, aren't you?"
"If I was joking, I'd have ended the question with my traditional 'Bazinga'. Yes, I am serious."
She puts her hand on her chest.
"Wow. are you saying you have actual feelings for me?"
"yes, well, I believe so."
"you believe so? you're not sure?"
"I'm not exactly experienced in this area. I felt an attraction to you and believe you feel something similar to me, so I resolved to explore the matter"
"why didn't you say anything before?
"you'd have said no"
"well, yes... but I didn't know you then"
"Exactly my point, we've both been changing recently. I do usually prefer a state of Homeostasis. as you recall it's a system's ability to regulate its internal environment and maintain a constant condition of properties like pH or temperature. In that state I don't get distracted by new but essentially irrelevant changes in my environment - but when those changes are pleasant I don't mind as much. "
"I was a pleasant change? so... when did you feel this attraction?"
without hesitation he says "it started when you were unpacking your boxes, the day you moved in."
"really? I didn't think you were paying me much attention, it was Leonard who was drooling all over me and making those sad puppy dog eyes"
"Of course I paid attention to you, I just don't show it as much. Your hair was shorter and straighter. you had on the pale blue top with the flower design on the right side. short faded denim shorts, right back pocket ripped. those frankly absurd grey fluffy Ugg boots. From later Google searching the lyrics I learned the music you were listening to 'Smile' by Lily Allen. There were a lot of very nervous introductions, mostly Leonard stuttering. I looked away and concentrated for a full five seconds to fix the moment in my memory, as I thought I'd not be seeing much of you again."
he shrugs "Then I put you from my mind and concentrated on physics."
"Though that night and several times that week you reappeared in my thoughts"
His shoulders slump with regret "I should have said something sooner but I'm not used to acting on emotional reactions. I didn't know what to do. Leonard rushed in, so I resolved to use his relationship as a control group. "
"that's the one where you do nothing just to see what would happen?"
"oh, very good"
she gets a warm glow from his approval. oh no... well, she can't deny it, she does like him.
"At the beginning I assumed you only liked tall muscular stupid men with an arrogant, possessive nature."
"yeah, you met Kurt didn't you"
"But then your time with Leonard disproved that, as he's short, weak, insecure and fairly smart."
She snorts a laugh at 'fairly'
He continues "You like kindness but assertiveness. Leonards whining nature provoked near maternal levels of sympathy but also repeated and evident annoyance "
"Leonard was sweet, just..."
"I think you like Leonard , you miss him, you want him to be happy. That's fine, He can be a friend. But what do you want for yourself?"
She stands, pacing the room. needs to get a little space, catch her breath. "But you came into my bedroom when I broke up with Leonard that time and told me a crazy bedtime story about why you don't like change. Why ask me to go back to Leonard if you wanted me?"
"I'd evaluated things and thought I didn't stand a significant chance. Plus I do care for Leonard, and I do count him as a friend. But what I actually asked you was not to hurt my friend. How you did that was up to you"
she smiles and sits next to him "I did change my shampoo back for you. "
"I know, green apple. thank you for that"
She looks thoughtfully at him. "It's that Schrödinger's cat thing again, isn't it? Until you open the box you'll never know how it'll go." She rubs the back of her neck
"Interesting. You put your hand up to cover the side of your neck when nervous. "
she pulls her hand down "Do I?"
he nods "you do. May I?"
he reaches out and strokes his fingertips down her neck, from the hairline behind her ear
she shivers, but not from cold. Memories from her dreams stir a tight little knot in her stomach.
he takes the back of her head in his hand and pulls her toward him in a kiss, a little clumsy and nowhere near as charged as the orchestra night, but still passionate.
"I have been gathering my courage to do that since we met. I'd give up but You kept coming back to my mind"
"And now you want a relationship with..."
"Emotional, social and physical intimacy."
"Physical" she stutters "Physical intimacy. You mean... "
He sighs "For the record I do indeed have genitals. They're functional and apparently aesthetically pleasing "
"Wow. and how do you know that ?"
"Internet research, plus some youthful fumbling and once being the booby prize in a particularly hurtful sorority initiation challenge. Nothing I care to remember"
"sounds pretty messed up. You sure about this?"
"Penny, You are currently the fourth most important woman in my life. "
"Fourth? "
"yes, after my Mother, Meemaw and My sister. "
"you utter nerd" she falls about laughing "not a bad line up to be 4th in"
"So, will you go out with me? "
"Sure, why not?"
"Good, then I prop.." his plans are cut off as she leans over and kisses him. Muffled exclamations and confusion die down as she climbs into his lap and continues the kiss, then he wraps his arms about her waist and returns it with enthusiasm
