Title: Batman Cufflinks and Group Hallucinations, Just Like Prom
Author: smolder
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Angel the Series belongs to Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt. Big Bang Theory belongs to Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady. MIB belongs to Lowell Cunningham.

Chapter 4: Batman Cufflinks and Group Hallucinations, Just Like Prom

Penny would freely admit that she loved this sort of thing. Getting to spend time getting all dressed up to go to a fancy party, free nice drinks, maybe dance a little. The type of dancing that didn't involve bumping and grinding or some strange guy trying to feel her up.

The fact that she's going as the date to a whole group of guys doesn't bother her in the slightest. Feels a bit like prom, a whole big group getting all dressed up and awkwardly sharing a car to the school. (The fact that this school was a prestigious college and they work there doing important research doesn't really change the matter.)

She knows now that Leonard and her are way better off not as a couple and is proud that she was able to break things off and still remain good friends. She kinda thinks that one of the reasons their relationship lingered as long as it did is part of her was afraid that without her in as "Leonard's girlfriend" soon enough she wouldn't be allowed in their circle or "landing party" as it was. Which is funny in a way, because she knows that back in high school she wouldn't have given these guys the time of day.

God, how stupid was she.

Her friends now might be utter geeks - and yes Howard is a horndog. And yes, Raj still is insanely proud of himself when he gets one word out in her presence. But, they are geniuses; they challenge her and are always there for her in their awkward (Raj), blundering (Leonard), blunt (Sheldon), caustic (Sheldon, again), sometimes creepy (Howard) ways. With them she isn't afraid to be herself; Junior Rodeo, Hello Kitty, Age of Conan and all.

She could never say that about her previous friends.

Now, between work at the Cheesecake Factory and the occasional try at an acting spot, her time is mostly intertwined with theirs. Halo on Wednesday, old sci-fi movie marathons, laundry on Saturday…..

Penny can't remember the last time her life was this stable.

So here she is on the couch, waiting for her boys to finish getting ready. And wasn't it ironic that the girl was the one that was finished first?

She had already seen Sheldon once, he was wearing what seemed to be the same suit as the night he won The Chancellor's Award. Penny was pretty sure he had destroyed it after his woke up pants-less the morning after his drunken speech, but it wouldn't surprise her if this is an exact duplicate. He probably already labeled it in his head as his optimal attire for formal events or something.

The thought that she helped him pick out something that he will now most likely wear for the rest of his life makes her feel oddly proud. At least a black suit won't go out of style. His only change was a Batman tie, but if you were far away or didn't know Sheldon you could just pretend it was a yellow and black pattern.

He had just run back in his room for the matching Batman cufflinks, which she was not surprised he had, when there was a knock at the door.

She jumped up to answer it expecting Raj or Howard.

That was not who was at the door.

"Hiya, is Sheldon ready?" the woman asked with a tight nervous smile her fingers clutching at the strap of a large leather bag that seems slightly out of place with her gorgeous dress.

For a minute Penny thought her brain exploded. Sheldon had a date? With another person? And this woman? She was beautiful wearing a floor length teal halter dress with a plunging neckline, her hair upswept but with dark curls escaping. And…and she was biting her lip, eyes staring fixedly at the wall. God, Penny knows she can be a spaz sometimes but she didn't mean to just stare at this woman and make her feel uncomfortable.

"Yeah, yeah come on in. He just went in his room, I'm sure he'll be out in a minute."

The woman smiled tightly again and entered the apartment carefully walking a few steps into the living room before stopping, her eyes darting around for a brief second before staring fixedly back on her bag.

Penny simply leaned back against the door and stared. Was she in shock? Had she had a blow to the head and was now hallucinating Sheldon with a girlfriend?

She needed to get better hallucinations.

"Who was at the do-," Leonard stopped mid-sentence and stared.

So, not going crazy. Unless, it was a group hallucination…and she really needed to watch a good romantic comedy to clean out some of that sci-fi movie stuff in her head it was starting to effect her thinking.

The woman's eyes darted over to him. She gave a slight nod, "Dr. Hofstadter."

Leonard swallowed hard, eyes wide "Dr-Dr. Bur…" he stuttered.

Her smile turned surprisingly wicked, "I believe your lunch table and most of the campus prefers to call me "The Hot Mad Scientist of CalTech".

Penny's eyes went wide and she fought down a laugh as she watched Leonard blush and splutter as he tried to come up with a response.

This was, of course, when Sheldon came out of his bedroom.

"I found them with Marvel memorabilia accessories instead of DC. I don't know when I've gotten so disorganized." He tugged at his sleeves triumphantly and looked up noticing the frozen tableau of staring in the room.

Or, knowing Sheldon, not really noticing the awkwardness but that there was a person here that normally wasn't.

"Fred," he walked up to her. "Research I have done into proper protocol when taking a woman to a formal event suggest I should start the evening by telling you that you "look wonderful"". He then looked her over critically, "Regardless of the lack of importance appearance holds, you are aesthetically pleasing by both commonly held western standards and personal preferences."

At his words, the woman, Fred, relaxed and Penny hadn't been aware how tense she had been until she did.

"Thank you. You clean up nice yourself, Sheldon," Fred said with a surprisingly wide genuine smile.

"My hygiene is always impeccable, I have not changed my routine in the slightest," Sheldon responded automatically.

"Now, now, Sheldon," Fred tilted her head playfully, "I know that you know what that phrase means."

All Penny and Leonard could do was watch as they interacted, utterly stunned by this unexpected occurrence.

Leonard seemed completely shocked by the fact that Sheldon had a date. Sheldon with a girl. A woman really, that it seemed was gossiped about quite a bit at their work. Even she remembered hearing something about this woman tasering Howard.

Good on her.

Penny was able to step away from the fact that it was Sheldon for a second though and just see them together. They actually made a very striking couple. All dark hair and eyes, long limbs and sharp angles. Elegant in their formal clothing.

Looking down at her own purple cocktail dress that hit at her knees she bit her lip suddenly feeling very young and immature. Her own previous thoughts about prom seemed even more significant.

Penny knew that she was pretty and sexy, but elegant? It just wasn't quite in the budget.

She came back to the conversation abruptly when she heard Leonard start talking again.

"But I thought we were all going together?" he asked.

"No, you never inquired as to my plans. You simply assumed and I did not correct your ignorance," Sheldon replied swiftly. "Dr. Burkle and I will be going now before Koothrappali and Wolowitz arrive. We will see you at this mandatory pointless sham of a social gathering."

At his side Fred giggled completely unbothered by his scathing honesty. "And on that cheery note…"

Sheldon stared at her uncomprehendingly.

Fred smiled up at him fondly, "Lets go."

"I already said that." They both walked to the door and stopped, staring at her.

Right, she hadn't moved from leaning against the front door watching this Twilight Zone episode unfold before her.

God, again, really brain with the sci-fi stuff. Romantic comedy marathon this weekend.

"Penny," Sheldon said slowly as if talking to a particularly slow child. "I believe you are aware that it is considered polite to remove yourself from the entrance way of a room when others need to walk through it."

She scrambled out of the way, blushing unable to think of her usual response in her stunned state and continued to just listen to them as they left the apartment.

"Who is driving us?"

"J."

"Ah, the man who called me a giant praying mantis."

"J, was just teasin'. Anyway, if K was giving us a ride he would probably ask about your intentions or somethin' silly."

"If he was aware of the mating habits of mantodea in captivity, he would realize that calling one such is not a matter of frivolity…."

Sheldon's voice got dimmer as they got further down the hall.

Leonard and her turned away from the door and stared at each other for a long moment.

"What the frak?"