Ok, so firstly, I am aware that the timing is a bit off- Penny moved into the apartment block in 2008. But for the sake of factual perfection, this is the way it needed to be. So, sorry for the slight inaccuracy. Also, sorry for not updating this fic for a while. It's definitely my most promising fic on here so I want to do a good job. So read, review and enjoy.
Based on the song: "Fall for You" by Secondhand Serenade. I don't own that, or the characters (besides the ones I invented).
EDIT: This is a repost. I decided after publishing that I wasn't entirely happy with it. So, sorry for the unfairness of giving you a subpar fic. My bad.
The best thing about tonight's that we're not fighting
Could it be that we have been this way before
I know you don't think that I am trying
I know you're wearing thin down to the core
"Sheldon, what on earth are you doing?" Leonard stood in the doorway of the apartment, looking at Sheldon as he hurriedly shoved things into plastic crates and haphazardly closed the lids on them. "Is that my telescope?!"
"Yes. And to answer the previous question that you posed Leonard, I am taking Penny to Alaska for a few days."
"Alaska? Bit far away for a weekend vacation don't you think?" Leonard scoffed. "And why do you need my telescope?"
"First off Leonard, I am taking Molly's advice and using the universe to my advantage. Secondly, you left your telescope here when you moved out, and according to our roommate's contract: Section 4, part 3, subsection 5: "any objects left behind in the event of a removal of one's self from the apartment are subject to a three month holding period and any time thereafter the ownership of the object passes to the roommate left behind." So, really, it's my telescope."
Leonard stood in the doorway, crossing his arms and pursing his lips in the entirely Leonard like way, which caused Sheldon to sigh, and again, stop what he was doing.
"I'm taking Penny to see the aurora borealis and the Quadrantid meteor shower. I proposed to her under the Bradfield comet on May 3rd 2004 so it would appear that we have a history under the cosmos. I'm hoping that trend continues." He bent and began packing two blankets into a small waterproof bag. He crossed the room and pulled a few books off the bookshelf and tucked something into the sleeve of his shirt. Leonard was certain that he spotted a small velvet box being tucked into the blankets bag as Sheldon hurriedly packed it.
"Ok, well that's great. But why did you want me to come around?"
"I need to invoke the social paradigm between two friends called the favour."
Leonard said nothing, but nodded for Sheldon to continue.
"I would like to borrow the SUV that you have recently acquired and to enquire whether you and..." Sheldon swallowed hard and fought the tic that was forming behind his left eye, "Leslie could watch over Marie until we return."
"You would leave Marie with me and Leslie?" Disbelief coloured Leonard's voice.
"As much as I despise leaving my impressionable daughter with that woman..." He shuddered. "When I consider the alternatives of Wolowitz or Koothrapali, it makes that woman seem like a saint."
"Gee thanks Sheldon."
"Sarcasm?"
"You got it. Where is she anyway?"
"She's with Penny. They should be here any moment."
It was awkward between the two for a few minutes as Leonard stood stiffly in the doorway of the place where he had once lived. Sheldon continued to run around in a panic, quickly packing more and more things into boxes.
It was even more awkward when the woman he used to date showed up.
"Hey Penny." He smiled at her as she stepped into the doorway of the apartment. She smiled back warmly. Leonard sighed in relief. Leonard bent down to Marie's height. "Hey Marie. You all ready to go?"
"Hi Uncle Leonard. Yes please." She turned to hug Penny tightly, shrugging away when Penny enveloped her in kisses. She ran across the room and quickly hugged Sheldon.
"I wish I could go and see all those things with you, daddy."
"One day princess." He smiled. She beamed back at him and ran across the room, her Dora the Explorer backpack bobbing on her back and grabbed onto Leonard's hand, dragging him into the hall. Leonard looked pointedly at Sheldon and left the SUV keys on the small table by the door. Penny looked at the keys and then Sheldon. She raised her eyebrow at him before she was overcome by a fit of giggles. Goosebumps erupted along his arms as he saw her smiling at him, her eyes sparkling.
It left Penny and Sheldon truly alone for the first time since Omaha.
But hold your breath
Because tonight will be the night
That I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
You're impossible to find
"Way to give me a surprise sweetie. Sit me behind a steering wheel and give me a GPS which keeps telling me I'm doing fantastic at driving in a straight line. "
"I believe the idea of a surprise is the notion that you aren't aware of what is coming. Therefore I must insist that this will be a surprise. And, you will know all when we arrive." He looked out the window, smiling smugly.
"And where are we going? The north pole?" She glared.
"Oh please, after the atrocious experience I had up there, I doubt I'll ever visit there again." He stared her in the eyes, full of seriousness.
Penny smiled as she realised she had at least one place to go to get away from Sheldon's idiosyncrasies.
"We've been driving for hours. How much longer? "She pouted. Sheldon looked out the window again, although the motion was moot as all he could see was his reflection in the darkened window, and smiled. In anyone else, such an obvious display of immaturity would have driven him insane. But within him it flooded memories of him and Penny laying in her bed, her pouting at him as he went to get up and leave for work. Her saying goodbye at the door as she wished him a good day...
The GPS on the dashboard announced their arrival in just under half an hour and Sheldon settled back into his seat. Penny smiled. She had never seen him so relaxed while driving with her. The absence of the "Check Engine" light on the dashboard must have been an assurance for him.
This is not what I intended
I always swore to you I'd never fall apart
You always thought that I was stronger
I may have failed but I have loved you from the start
Oh, But hold your breathe
Because tonight will be the night
That I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
It's impossible
So breathe in so deep
Breathe me in
I'm yours to keep
And hold on to your words
Cause talk is cheap
And remember me tonight
When you're asleep
It was getting well towards midnight when they arrived in the clearing. Penny kept the engine running, using the headlights to light the area. She might have been Junior Rodeo tough, but the idea of being in the dark in the forest still gave her the wiggens.
"You brought me to a clearing a thousand miles away from where we live? What, are you going to murder me?" She suspiciously looked in his direction. He didn't answer her, just continued empting the back of the SUV.
She closed the door silently behind her and stepped into the middle of the clearing. Pine trees surrounded her and the grass flattened beneath her feet with an icy crunch. The crispy January air made her shiver beneath her only thin jumper that Sheldon had insisted that she wear. Behind her, Sheldon was deftly removing the crates from the back of the SUV.
"Do you need help sweetie?" Penny asked as she stared at the dark sky. The moon was absent and the stars were sparkling especially brightly.
"No thankyou Penny." Sheldon muttered. After arranging the boxes just so, he glanced in Penny's direction as he began to assemble the tent.
Penny was sat alone when she saw the first flash of colour. It lit up the sky with the most amazing wisps of colour. Green, then merging into blue and purple. She smiled as she realised what was going on. Sheldon was just putting the finishing touches on the tent when she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Her lips reached up to touch his gently but firmly. His lips moved against hers with purpose and meaning and her knees began to shake, just like they did when they began dating. She pulled away before she got too enveloped in the moment and went to the supplies. Pulling out a bag of firewood, she set off to the middle of the clearing. Sheldon was still standing in the spot she had left him but after a moment, he shook his head and started unpacking the blankets and pillows for inside the tent.
After a few minutes, he took out a bag of marshmallows and wandered over to Penny who was just getting the beginnings of a fire started.
Placing a blanket close to the fire, he sat down and gestured for her to join him. Spearing a couple of marshmallows onto two sticks, he handed one to her. Gently rotating the stick in the warm glow of the fire, he spared a glance at Penny and wrapped his spare arm around her waist. She smiled at him then looked at the sky as the colours danced across the darkened heavens.
Because tonight will be the night
That I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
Sheldon woke suddenly as Penny moved in her sleep. She lay across his chest and pulled him closer to her. Her skin felt smooth against his.
She sniffed slightly and he wondered if that was because of her old sleep habit or because she was cold. Slowly, he removed himself from under her and found his pants in the corner of the tent. Placing them on, he pulled on the old parka he had used in the arctic and went out to the supplies inside the truck. Pulling out a few blankets, he reached further into the small bag and removed a small velvet box. Placing it in his pocket, he closed everything up and set off back to the tent. But when he looked back in the tent, she wasn't there.
Panicking, he looked around and saw her sitting by the flickering light of the fire. He carefully placed the blankets around her shoulders and kissed the top of her head. She looked up and saw him. He quickly went to sit beside her and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. Smiling, she leant against his chest and could hear his heart beating quickly.
Looking up, she could see the little points of light falling to earth. They mingled into the colours of the aurora and made celestial fireworks in the sky.
"You were holding out on me." She whispered as she stared at the cosmic wonder.
"Surprise." Sheldon whispered back. He kissed her forehead, let go of her shoulders and helped her into a more sitting position.
He reached into his pocket and withdrew a small box. Penny smiled and shook her head slightly. "Sheldon." She said, her voice low with warning.
He opened the box to reveal a small commitment ring. The small stones in the ring made a small carving of a comet and its tail. Penny could feel the tears forming and bit back the feeling in her throat.
"Not quite an engagement ring, as we are taking it slowly. But think of it as a promise for it to be different this time."
Penny giggled as he slid the ring onto her right hand.
"Oh, honey." She sighed. "It's perfect."
Their lips met gently as the aurora and meteors continued above them.
Tonight will be the night
That I will fall for you
Over again
Don't make me change my mind
Or I won't live to see another day
I swear it's true
Because a girl like you is impossible to find
You're impossible to find