Technical Difficulties

Cuddles in the Morning

The next morning when Penny awoke, she dimly registered that she was laying across a warm, soft body, and she could feel warm breath against her ear. The chest she was using as a pillow was gently rising and falling, still in a deep sleep.

Now, Penny knew for a fact she had not gone out last night. She had not gotten drunk in a bar, nor had she taken some random man home. In fact, the only man in the apartment was Sheldon.

Sheldon.

Sheldon was in her apartment; had refused to sleep on the sofa. Sheldon was in her bed, cuddled beside her. Penny almost had a heart attack.

Penny, in that moment, didn't think of Amy. She didn't think of the threatening words Amy had given her two nights ago. She didn't think of Leonard and his proposal. Her mind was filled with Sheldon.

Sheldon and his cornflower blue eyes that seemed to look straight into her soul; his innocent yet genius mind that set him apart from so many.

The man himself was stirring. Penny hurriedly shut her eyes, hoping to savour the moment. Sheldon shifted a little. "Irregular heartbeat," he observed. "Fluttering eyelids."

Penny couldn't help it if she kept peeking at him and her heart was going a thousand miles per hour.

"I know you're awake."

"I'm really not." Sheldon laughed a breathy laugh.

"Sarcasm. Hilarious." Penny noticed he hadn't removed his arm from her stomach.

"Morning, Sheldon."

"Good morning Penny. I trust you had a pleasant REM cycle."

"Uhh, yeah, pleasant enough, I guess."

"Penny?"

"Yeah?" She stretched languidly.

"Could you please remove yourself from across me? I need to take a shower."

Penny had thought that he hadn't minded them laying together. Perhaps he hadn't minded. But the germophobe inside rose up and overpowered everything. He had washed vigorously. Penny could tell by his raw arms. "What do you want, Sheldon? French toast?"

"It's Tuesday, Penny!"

"Oh, sure. What's Tuesday then?"

"Oatmeal."

Half an hour later, Penny flopped down on the sofa and flicked the TV on.

"Penny, how can you relax when your apartment is in such a state? It's only Tuesday and already I can see dirty washing!" Sheldon sounded disappointed. Penny felt a little guilty.

"That's not dirty washing, sweetie," she said sheepishly.

"Then what on earth possessed you to fling your possessions around like this?" He gestured wildly.

"I couldn't decide what to wear!" Penny said, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Sheldon shook his head at her. "Honestly, woman." Penny held back a small smile.

It was only seven o clock. Penny knew this because Sheldon had reprimanded (jokingly) for causing him to sleep in and miss Doctor Who.

Seven o clock. This added about four more hours to her day. She started work at two, so that was...seven hours.

"Woah," Penny said aloud.

"What's wrong, Penny?"

Aw, he actually sounded like he cared.

"Nothing. It's just that getting up early adds more time to my day," Penny answered disbelievingly.

Sheldon picked up his box of chocolates from the coffee table. "Chocolate?"

"Sheldon, this isn't another of your absurd attempts to train me, is it?"

"No. I'm just rewarding you for making a correct observation."

"Aww!" Penny smiled. That was as good as a compliment from Sheldon, right? "Thanks, sweetie!"

Of course, getting up at seven had its benefits (seeing Sheldon before he left), but Penny drank a bit more coffee than usual to compensate for lack of sleep. By two o clock she was happy to go to work, having spent the morning picking out several items she could get with her weekly paycheck plus tips.

Penny had a smile on her face as she served customers and was pleased to see heavy tips coming her way. At half past five she was even more pleased to see her four regulars come in. Three of them had plus ones. Penny's smile dropped at little at the sight of Amy and turned upside down at the sight of Priya, but she was happy to see Bernadette. "Hey, guys! What can I get you?"

They all ordered. Priya asked about Leonard ordering a shepherd's pie just to start off a round of lactose-intolerant jokes, which Penny thought was quite cruel.

"Haha yeah okay then...what can I get you?" Penny's laugh was very forced and her teeth were gritted. They all ordered and Penny swept away to the kitchen.

"Here you go," Penny said, balancing four orders on her forearms. She put them in front of the boys. "Yours will be along in a minute," she said, addressing the girls. Penny watched them talk amongst themselves. Amy and Bernadette were laughing together, and Penny felt a small pang of jealousy. Sighing, she pasted a beaming smile on her face and got back to work.

Half an hour later, Penny finally clocked out, feeling exhausted. She nodded to her boss and got into her car. The drive home was uneventful. She unlocked and opened her door, quite ready to collapse on her sofa.

"Evening Penny."

A/N: Thanks to SunnyCitrus10 for the idea of them waking up cuddled together! Thanks for the follows and favourites! Please review! Also, if you guys could review with ideas or word prompts for a situation I could put Penny and Sheldon in, it'd be much appreciated!