A Collection of Shenny Oneshots
Disclaimer: I do not own The Big Bang Theory, nor any recognisable characters or settings, the only thing I can lay claim to is the writing of these stories themselves.
Warnings: None in this chapter
Pairings: Sheldon and Penny
Word Count: 2,595
A/N Hey guys, I apologise for the late submission of this chapter, however, I can promise that I will get days 6 and 7 up by tomorrow evening. It is currently half 12 in the morning here so I will leave you with day 5 for now. I hope you continue to read these oneshots and I will get the rest posted as soon as possible!
Stargazing
Penny was proud of herself. More so than she had ever felt before. She had managed to recall some of the facts that Sheldon had taught her about the solar system and the planets, though when she was going to use that information and why she had asked Sheldon to teach her about that particular topic still eludes her.
Sheldon had, for lack of a better phase, decided to sporadically test her recollection by slotting in seemingly random questions about space and 'topics she should have learnt about in grade school' his own words; much to the confusion of their friends. Surprisingly, she had gotten most of the correct and her wackadoodle of a next-door neighbour had even complimented her. Something which spark a warmth in her chest.
It had been a typical Wednesday, Penny had dropped Sheldon off at the comic bookstore after the guys had left without him, yet again, for reasons they refused to share with the blonde waitress. She then decided to stay over and watch as the boys engaged each other in a rather intense game of Halo, with Sheldon's team (Leonard) coming out on top. She cannot divulge what actually happened during their multiple matches and battles as she had found her eyes being drawn, against her will, to the skilful way Sheldon's fingers maned the controls. They moved with a fluidity which sparked her loins in awakening, something she was deeply embarrassed and shocked about.
Like she thought a typical Wednesday evening, well with all the seemingly random trivia questions posed by Sheldon, that is. Until he had paused the game mid battle, extracting various shouts of disbelief and rage from his fellow nerds. Turning to face his only female friend, Sheldon clears his throat and speaks slowly, the corner of his mouth twitching with nerves.
"Penny."
She pulls her thoughts away from his long, slim fingers to gaze into his intense blue eyes, a slight flush rushing through her veins.
"Yes, Sweetie."
"The Leonid meteor shower is tomorrow."
She raises her eyesborw in question, wondering why he was bringing this up with her of all people in the middle of Halo night.
"The what?"
"The Leonids. Otherwise known as Leo, named after their radiance in the constellation, Leo. It is a prolific meteor shower associated with the comet Tempel-Tuttle. They grace our skies every 33 years at this time, an event caused due to the Earth moving through the meteoroids stream of particles emitted from passages of previous comets. Normally comprised of solid particles ejected by said comet as frozen gases evaporate under the heat of the sun – "
"As fascinating as that sounds, Sweetie. Why are you telling me this?"
Sheldon freezes, his body going tense depicting to his rising nerves as he turns fully in his seat to look at Penny, his own eyebrows raising in a look to say 'are you evening listening to me?' She rolls her eyes in response patiently waiting for him to answer her.
"Well, Penny. Due to your rising interesting in the planets, the solar system and stars and also deducing from your previous mentions of participating in the mass cultural delusion that the sun's apparent position relative to arbitrarily defined constellations at the time of your birth somehow affects your personality. I assumed you would be interested in viewing this rare scientific phenomenon."
The room is silent after Sheldon's rather lengthy explanation. The boys' mouths hang open in disbelief at the words coming form their friend, a man they regard as a robot, with no inclination towards other peoples likes, dislikes and interests.
"Are you asking me to watch the Leonid meteor shower with you Sheldon?"
Penny asks slowly, not quite believing if she had understood his words correctly, even if she does admit to getting better at translating his 'sheldoness' into simpler words.
"That is what I said."
The silence continues as Leonard, Howard and Rajesh continue to stare at Sheldon, whose face is blank and emotionless, his gaze fixated on Penny who smiles brightly at the taller man, she leans forward to give him a quick hug, mindful of his aversion to physical contact. Though she is surprised to not feel him tense up or move away.
"Awww, Sweetie. I would love to."
"Good."
And with that said, Sheldon turns his attention back to the game, the sounds of firearms being emptied and reloaded, along with buildings exploding filling the room once more. Penny can't help but sigh happily leaning over slowly in order to gently rest her head against Sheldon's shoulder, snuggling in closer when he doesn't scold her or tell her to move.
Anything-can-happen-Thursday.
A day which used to be, and still is most of the time, the bane of Dr Sheldon Lee Cooper's existence, a disturbance in his rigidly planned weekly schedule. A day only allowed once every month usually to allow Leonard, Howard and Raj a chance to 'hit the town' and pick up inebriated, vulnerable women who were willing to sleep with almost anyone in that state. He had hated it. The consistent timing of everything in his life including when he went to the bathroom being thrown due to his friend's desperation to perform coitus with random women.
However, this month, he was a willing participant in Anything-can-happen-Thursdays, as tonight he had made plans to go up to the roof and watch the Leonid meteor shower with Penny. Acting on the advice he had given her the other night, he was going to act on his feelings and speak from the heart, as Penny had phrased it.
His hands are sweating profusely as he makes his way across the hallway to stand outside her apartment door, he takes a deep calming breath before raising his left hand to carry out his sequenced knocking.
*Knock knock knock*
"Penny."
*Knock knock knock*
"Penny."
*Knock knock knock*
"Penny."
As soon as he had finished the door of apartment 4B opened to reveal his blonde neighbour, a large smile stretching across her face as she spies his form standing in her doorway.
"Hey, Sweetie."
"Hello Penny."
He returns cordially. Nodding his head in greeting, he takes a couple of steps back when Penny steps out of her apartment, locking the door behind herself before she turns back to face him. Taking in his apparel as she does and coming to a pause when she sees a wicker picnic basket hanging from his fingers. She raises an eyebrow at him aa she gestures to the basket.
"It is Anything-can-happen-Thursday, Penny. I thought we could enjoy a small picnic while we watch the shower this evening, if you are not adverse to the idea."
She shakes her head, giggling at him.
"No Sheldon, I am not averse to having a picnic with you."
"Oh good. Shall we proceed."
Sheldon smiles down at her gesturing for her to take the lead up the stairs and to the roof, which she does with a bright smile of her own. She climbs the stairs hastily and the scientist cannot help but roll his eyes at her obvious excitement, whether it is completely due to the anticipation of witnessing such a cosmic rarity or some other reason.
Upon arriving on the roof, Sheldon immediately unfolds the tartan blanket he had folded up on top of the basket and places it on the floor for the two of them to sit down on and if he seats himself a little closer to Penny than he usually would she doesn't comment. Beginning to take out the different finger foods he had placed inside the wicker basket, Penny can feel her eyes widen at the spread. She spies sandwiches, small tarts, a bowl of salad and other delicacies.
"Wow, Sheldon this all looks amazing."
"Thank you, Penny. I am glad that I managed to get it all baked in time for the Shower this evening."
Penny sat frozen for a split second, her brain taking its time to process the information he had just offered her.
"Wait. You made all of this?"
"I have just said that, Penny."
"I didn't know you could cook."
Sheldon inclines his head once, leaning back on his arms as he tilts his head up to the sky, his eyes bright reflecting the light from the moon.
"My mother thought is prudent for a gentleman to know how to cook."
"Well, you did good, Moonpie."
Sheldon glances down at the blonde waitress only to find her mouth filled with pastry, he eyes closed shut in what he assumed to be pleasure at the taste. His tongue darts out to wet his suddenly dry lips as he watches transfixed as he throat constricts as she swallows.
"Only Meemaw can call me Moonpie."
He responds with the only thing his brain could think of as he continues to watch her covertly out the corner of his eye. He watches as her eyes slowly slide open, her head tilting back as she, like himself, turns her focus to the night sky, just in time to see the first bright light shooting across the sky.
"Oh wow."
His heart speeds up at her breathless whisper and his eyes flicker back to study her face, the features a perfect rendition of child-like wonder and awe.
"It is so beautiful."
He nods along with her thoughts, watching as light after light shoots across the sky, a cosmic stream of combustible matter flashing through the atmosphere thousand of kilometres above their heads and yet he sees nothing more beautiful than the mesmerised woman by his side.
"Thank you for inviting me to join you Sweetie, this is fascinating."
"I am glad you like it, Penny."
The two descend into silence as they continue to watch the streams of light dancing and racing across the night sky, occasionally releasing sharp gasps and noises of amazement as they pick their way through the food laid out before them. Every now and again, Sheldon found his eyes being drawn to Penny by an outward force, his blue eyes trailing her body, her face so expressive, muscles relaxed completely as she stares up at the light show. He takes a deep breath, trying to build up the courage to get out what he needed to.
"Penny?"
Penny hums quietly to show that she is listening, her attention still locked on the meteor shower and yet, Sheldon remains silent, not wishing to talk to the women if she isn't paying attention to him. He wants to make sure that she can see his sincerity. Know that what he is about to say is the truth.
"Penny?"
Turning her gaze to study the man next to herself catching the slight quivering in his tone signifying to his rising nerves. Turning her full attention towards the scientist, Penny smiles gently trying to calm him down enough so he can tell her what he wants to.
"What is it, Sweetie?"
He takes a deep breath, the skin at his eyebrow twitching a little as he meets her gaze, determination shining deep in his eyes.
"Do you remember what you told me two days ago?"
"About what?"
"You told me that in order to get my feelings across to the woman I am infatuated with I must talk from my heart."
"Oh, right."
"Yes. I thought of taking your advice as something I need to do."
Penny's shoulders slump slightly, not enough she thinks for Sheldon, the guy who is so oblivious to other people's feelings, yet he does. His eyes narrowing at the minute action, trying to calculate why his friend is acting in such a strange, stranger for Penny, manner.
"Good for you, Sweetie."
"Yes, well…"
Sheldon pauses, his words stuttering in his throat as his nerves begin to build once more as the time for him to confess draws near. He glances down at his hands which are twisting together in his lap before releasing a long breath and forcing himself to meet Penny's inquisitive gaze once more.
"Penny. You have been a constant source of chaos in my strict regime for many years now and I have to say that, at first, I found your spontaneity, unpredictability and boisterous behaviour to be a undesired distraction. However, I can now confess that I have come to, not only rely on your seemingly unstructured way of life but enjoy your presence in my life. I have found myself planning around your instalment in my schedule, something I have not done for anyone before. Penny, I have found myself attempting to make sense and rationalise some strange feelings that I have never felt the need to dwell on before. All of which manifest solely in your presence."
Sheldon takes a deep breath feeling his cheeks and face heating up slowly as he shifts uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes now focusing on the blanket just in front of his feet.
"Sweetie?"
Penny's voice stutters, her eyes tearing up and her breath catching in her chest as she stares at her neighbour, her best friend and wacky scientist. Her heart stuttering.
"I find myself wanting to spend more time with you, Penny. To touch you and talk to you all the time, I enjoy our Saturday night Laundry and our arguments. I didn't understand why I had an aversion to yours and Leonard's relationship, but it made me feel angry and sad. When you inevitably broke up, I was happy, but I didn't know why. I like it when you sing Soft Kitty to me and look after me when I am sick and when you drive me to work and the comic bookstore. So, I would like to propose a paradigm shift."
Sheldon finally lifts his gaze, only to stiffen in alarm when he spies the tears streaming down Penny's cheeks, one of her hands covering her mouth as she looks at him with wide shining eyes. He jerks backwards a little, unsure if he has said something wrong and whether he should apologise to her or not.
"What's this proposal, Sweetie?"
Clearing his throat, Sheldon slowly holds his hand out to his blonde neightbour, wiggling his fingers in invitation when she merely stares at his outstretched hand confused. She reaches her own hand out cautiously, her eyes flickering between the appendix and his bright blue eyes, slipping her hand into his, she is pleasantly surprised when he flips his hand around, interlacing their fingers together.
"I wish to propose a shift in our relationship. An establishment of a deeper relationship. I do not wish to remain just friends with you, Penny."
"Are you sure you understand what you are asking, Sheldon?"
"Of course, I do, Penny. I wish to enter into a romantic relationship with you. If that is what you also want?"
And Penny is stunned when he asks her about what she wants, not just demands or instructs her to be his girlfriend. Something she hadn't thought he was capable of. She squeezes his hand gently in her own, smiling a watery smile at him and he quickly returns the expression.
"I would love to be your girlfriend, Sweetie."
"Oh good."
Sheldon turns to glance up at the sky, the Leonid meteor shower still going on above their heads and he couldn't have thought of a more perfect moment than this. He gently lies down on top the blanket, tugging Penny down to lie beside him, their hands still intertwined as they simply enjoy each other's company as they settle into their new relationship.