Part Four

"Sheldon! Where have you been? We've been looking for you everywhere!" Leonard asked, his tone suggesting that he was angry.

"I do have a phone, Leonard. You could have called and asked about my whereabouts."

They had not thought about that. Well, actually they had, but had never voiced the thought out loud. Truthfully Howard hadn't wanted to call, the less interaction with Sheldon the better. Leonard had thought if it as well, but at the mention of Penny and he had forgotten about it. He still decided to go on the defensive.

"Well, all of this could have been avoided if you had told me where you were going in the first place!"

"If you most know I was on the roof watching the fireworks, but that does not mean I have to tell you where I am every minute of the day. I am not a child!"

"But-"

He was interrupted by a knock on the door and Penny walked into the apartment. She looked back and forth between Sheldon and Leonard. The former stood ramrod straight, fists clenched and face angry.

"Did I come at the wrong time?" She pointed a look at the tall physicist, asking with her eyes if he was okay.

He barely nodded and visibly softened, unclenching his fists.

"Ah, my cheesecake goddess you have come just in time." Howard sidled up to her with a smarmy smile and eyebrow waggle.

Leonard and Sheldon glared at him and Penny just choose to ignore him and took her seat on the middle cushion of the couch. Right next to Sheldon's spot.

"So, boys, what movie are we watching tonight?"

"Well, it is the Fourth of July, Penny," Sheldon said taking his seat. "So it would not require much thought to guess what movie we will be viewing this evening."

She gave him a blank look.

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Independence Day, Penny!"

"Oh!" She brightened. "I love that movie!"

"Really?" piped up Leonard from his spot in the armchair.

"Yep! I really like Will Smith in it."

He smiled. "That's great. Sheldon insists we watch this every fourth."

"It kinda makes sense, actually. Why not watch Independence Day on independence day!"

"Thank you, Penny. I have watched this movie every fourth of July since it's debut in 1996. It is what you would call tradition for me to be watching it now."

"So are we ready to start?" asked Howard from his seat on the floor by the table, Raj had taken the spot on Penny's right with a smile. "Bring on the aliens!"

Leonard was about to hit play, when Penny spoke.

"Wait! Can we turn the lights off? I like watching it in the dark, it makes it more scaring."

Actually she had no preferences on whether it was light or dark. She turned to Sheldon and smiled and winked at him before the room was plunged into darkness.


Penny found herself curled up against Sheldon's side. He had not put his arm around her like he had earlier, but he also hadn't pushed her away either. This was a good sign and it reassured her she hadn't dreamt the whole thing on the roof.

This whole thing with Sheldon came as a surprise. Not the feelings she had for him(she's had them for awhile now) but the fact that he had feelings for her. He didn't do feelings or emotions or touching yet here he was letting her cuddle up next to him.

No one noticed, well except Raj. He had turned to her and given her thumbs up before turning back to the TV. She couldn't help but smile.

Of the three guys she was glad Raj knew about the two of them. Howard would freak out and probably tease Sheldon mercilessly and Leonard… she didn't want to know how he would react. She knew, though, that she would have to find out. They would have to tell him sooner or later.

She preferred later.


All too soon the movie ended and Penny had to detach herself from Sheldon's side before the lights turned. She had even managed to give him a peck on the cheek before the room was flooded with light.

She had to blink a few times so her eyes could adjust, then stood up and stretched.

"Well, guys, it's late and I have an early shift tomorrow. I should probably call it a night." She headed for the door.

"I'll walk you back," Leonard said eagerly.

Crap!

"Um…okay. Night everyone." She looked one last time at Sheldon and then her and Leonard were gone.

Howard got up and headed towards the bathroom and the room was silent. Until Raj spoke.

"Sheldon!"

He turned and faced the Indian man. "Yes, Raj?"

"Look, Penny forgot something."

Sheldon looked down at her now vacated seat and sure enough there sat her phone. Knowing she never went anywhere without it he couldn't help but smile.

"Clever, Penny, very clever."


"I had fun tonight, Penny." Leonard said with a smile once they reached her door. This was weird seeing as she had barely spoken to him all night and all they had done was watch a movie.

She had to force hers. "Yea, it was great hanging with you guys."

"Yea." He paused.

She knew he was about to say something else and she knew she was probably not like what he was going to say either.

"I should go to bed now. Goodnight, Leonard." With one last smile she was in her apartment with the door closed.


"Where are you going now?" asked Leonard when Sheldon opened the door to their apartment and set foot into the hallway.

"Penny, left her cell phone on our couch. I'm returning it to her and then scold her on her forgetfulness."

"Have fun with that, Sheldon." He went into the apartment, looking slightly dejected and closed the door.

Sheldon went to Penny's door and did his signature knock.

*Knock knock knock*

"Penny!"

*Knock knock knock*

"Penny!"

*Knock knock knock*

"Penny!"

She opened the door with a smile. "Hello, sweetie."

"You forgot this." He handed her her cell phone. "In our apartment."

"Aw, thank you."

"I can't help but think that you left it there on purpose."

She put her phone in her pocket and put her arms around his neck and pulled him close. He didn't protest.

"Of course I did. How else was I supposed to get my good-night kiss?"


A/N I think there is going to be one more part after this! I hope you all are enjoying it so far!