When Zoe awoke the next morning it was a bit past her usual wake up time, but she was always good at adjusting to such things. And after the ordeal that was last night she was in need of an extra hour or too. She had been very frightened in the moment. Looking back, it was indeed a rational reaction, considering a large, drunken and jealous man had rousted her from her warm bed in the middle of night and was carrying her away from her screaming mother, that was…mildly disturbing. She would get over it though; right now she was concerned about her mother. While she was a strong, incredibly capable and confident woman, as well as an able caregiver, Zoe couldn't imagine the spectrum of emotions she was going through. Zoe, while more aware of her emotions then her father, was not like her mother. Zoe knew that Penny felt everything very deeply and her emotions were never surface. Zoe could not imagine how exhausting that would be. Furthermore, she knew that she would now be feeling anger, regret, sadness, fear, uncertainty, and, probably worst of all, guilt.

Her mother was always there for her, no matter what. She would be a poor excuse for a child genius if she didn't help her mother in her time of need. But when Zoe opened the door, she found someone had already beaten her to it. Her mother was standing in the kitchen next to her father, and they both seemed so perfectly content. They weren't chatting, or laughing, but they were toeing and frowing about the kitchen and around each other in perfect rhythm as they prepared breakfast.

Zoe had known for a long time, before Penny even met Jake and before Zoe had met her real father that Penny would never love another man like she did him. They had a "connection", if one believes in that sort of thing.

Zoe watched them for a few more seconds before opening the door.

"Good morning beautiful," greeted Penny. Sheldon turned around to see Zoe then looked back at Penny, who had not even turned around. He supposed it was true; mother's had eyes on the back of their head. Sheldon watched as Zoe gave Penny the once over, making certain that she was in a stable state. He recognized that look; he had been looking at Penny that way all morning. Not because Penny was floundering, but, rather, she seemed to be a little too alright. While he was happy that she was not weeping, he did not want her to crack under the pressure and to find her crouched over a loom, or a glow in the dark fish…that would crazy. He settled on allowing her to enjoy the calm for now, there would be plenty of turmoil to come, he would enjoy it to.

"We're making pancake," said Penny happily.

"Yes I can see that," said Zoe. "But it's scrambled egg day."

"Nooo," said Sheldon, shaking his head. "It's pancake day. It's been pancake day since I was 6 years old."

"Well it's been scrambled egg day since I was 3," said Zoe.

"That was 3 years ago hardly a considerable amount of time."

"Fine," said Zoe. "I can be mature and settle for pancake."

"Of course you will," said Sheldon. "The only other option would be to starve."

Zoe accepted the plate of pancakes from Sheldon with a smile before going to the table.

"Real mature," said Penny teasingly to Sheldon. "Picking on a 6-year-old."

"She needs to the lesson now," said Sheldon. "You don't always get what you want."

Penny laughed and shook her head as she passed him a plate.

"Eat your pancakes," she said.

Sheldon obeyed, joining Zoe at the table.

"She's bossy in the kitchen," said Zoe quietly to Sheldon.

"I have to be," said Penny. "Because somebody can't be within 10 feet of a kitchen without giving an opinion."

"Does she mean you or me," asked Sheldon. Zoe pointed to him, mouth filled with pancakes.

Penny soon joined them at the table. After a few minutes of small talk, Zoe broached the subject of what had occurred last night.

"Tell me mommy," said Zoe. "What is our plan?"

"Plan?"

"Yes, plan. I have nothing here. Are we returning home soon? Will Jake be present? What will our future relationship be with him?

Before Penny could speak, Sheldon cut in.

"I took the liberty of purchasing an outfit for each of you this morning so you have something to wear until we could retrieve your things. Today Penny will be returning to your house with escorts to retrieve some of your things. And you both will stay with me until all this is settled." He then looked at Penny who had not been completely aware of this either when she did not interrupt he assumed she was okay with the plan. Zoe then looked at Penny for the rest of the plan.

"As far as our future relationship with Jake, tell me what you would like Zoe?"

Zoe thought for a moment.

"Well, while I seem to have had at one point some daughterly affection for him, most of my attachment was due to the fact that you seemed to love him. But given the circumstances, the adultery and brutalization, not to mention the attempted kidnapping, I have no strong desire to continue a relationship with him."

Sheldon was relieved to hear this, and hoped Penny shared Zoe's feelings. She was looking at her daughter; Sheldon once again saw the same heartbreaking guilt in her eyes.

"Good," said Penny. "Because I plan for any immediate interactions with him to be divorce proceedings."

Zoe nodded, satisfied with this.

"I'm sorry Zoe," said Penny, sadly. "I'm sorry this happened. I was so stupid. I did think I loved him and I thought he loved us but I was wrong and I'm sorry that you had to pay for that."

Penny's eyes had filled with tears as she spoke. Zoe reached across the table and held Penny's hand, looking at her with sympathetic blue eyes.

"Mommy," said Zoe. "I'm okay. You have performed admirably. From what I hear about these things, many women who have controlling and abusive husbands find themselves unable to leave, putting not only themselves but their children in danger. You went junior rodeo on his ass…"

Penny attempted a scolding look at Zoe for her language but her laugh made that difficult. Sheldon was relieved Zoe's words had calmed Penny; he had no desire to see Penny cry on account of that brute anymore.

XXX

"So you did not tell me that "escorts" meant Leonard, Howard and Raj," said Zoe as she and Sheldon walked to an open area in the park, both with kite's in hand.

"Who else?"

"I don't know, I was just imagining someone more imposing I suppose."

"I have the utmost faith in them, and perhaps too much faith in the hope that Jake is smart enough to stay away from her…this spot is good."

Zoe nodded and examined her kit.

"So we fight with these?"

"In theory," he answered. "Right now I'll just show you some of the basics. Leonard has always been a mediocre partner and I've been looking for a replacement.

Zoe nodded. Soon enough their kites were soaring above the park, with Sheldon giving her the occasionally tip on how to make her kite tip and turn. They flew in silent tranquility for a moment before it was interrupted.

"Are you certain you all right," he asked her awkwardly, he was not good at this.

Zoe looked at him.

"Surprisingly, yes. I understand I should be going through a period of emotional distress at losing my father figure. I suppose for the past few months you have been my father. It makes it less difficult of a transition I think. Jake was fine but I don't know that he ever understood me. He enjoyed the novelty of having a genius daughter but I don't think it was ideal."

Sheldon nodded, of course he did. Jake was the type of man who would love having a pet like Zoe to show off.

"And your mother, how will she be?"

"She'll be fine. She, of course, will be hit hard by this. She is an incredibly capable and able woman, but being abandoned by two men in the past few years cannot do much for self-esteem or trust issues, but she will bounce back."

Sheldon noted the way she brushed over his separation of Penny. There was no malice or judgment, just a plain statement of fact. Zoe observed Sheldon for a moment.

"She never stopped you know,' said Zoe. "Not really."

"What are you talking about?"

"Loving you," said Zoe, giving her kite a flick. "She cried over you because she missed you, she did even when she was with Jake. My middle name is Lee, she encouraged my love off physics, she liked seeing you in me, I think."

Sheldon nodded, unsure of what to say. Zoe was like him in that she was bracingly honest.

"Just give her time daddy," she said with a smile. "She'll come around."

She whipped her kite around his and gave a quick tug, cutting his string and sending his kite fluttering to the ground.

XXX

Sheldon was surprised by how quickly Zoe and Penny became a part of his routine. They were there when he awoke, when he came back from work, they ate dinner together, watched TV together, played game, hung out with Raj, Leonard and Howard, and Sheldon felt no impending doom, no sensation of wall closing in, no suffocation. In fact, it seemed so natural, why hadn't he been doing this all along?

For Penny's part, she was shocked and touched at Sheldon's entire response to their presence. When she returned from her home with just a few suitcases, he insisted that she return to get more of hers and Zoe's things. When she returned back to the apartment, she found that Sheldon had turned his study into a room for Zoe. Her mattress, her things, her books were all there

"I know she's particular about where things are so I'll leave arrangement to her. We can move another mattress in here if you'd like…we should probably look into getting a bed for Zoe…or you may have my bed until other arrangements can be made."

Penny smiled and told him the couch was just fine. He looked skeptical and muttered something about lumbar support but left it at that.

Of all the situations Penny pictured herself a few months ago; this was not at the top. They were almost like a little family, a weird quirky family made up of geniuses and her.

XXX

Sheldon jumped when Penny stormed into the apartment. Her face was angry , her entire body shaking.

"Penny…you're home late…"

"Jake is such an asshole," she said through gritted teeth throwing her purse onto the couch and sitting.

Sheldon nodded calmly.

"I agree."

"Is Zoe in bed?"

"Yes…she was quite worn out. We took her paint balling today."

"She's a good shot," said Penny with a smile. Sheldon nodded in agreement, set his markers down and then sat next to her.

"Would you like to discuss what is upsetting you?"

"No," she said angrily, but he knew it was not toward him.

"Very well then," he said, making a move to stand.

"Do you know what that bastard is trying to pull?"

"Oh..." Sheldon sat back down she was so hard to keep up with.

"Something like alienation of affection…."

"Forgive me but isn't he the one who cheated on you?"

She nodded.

"I know but he's saying I cheated with you and that's what drove him to it."

"That's nonsense."

"I know, my lawyer says that it's pretty weak but he's…he is saying he wants Zoe. He's going to try and take her. I didn't even want him to get visitation rights at all, what if he…"

"Penny," said Sheldon, nipping the thought in the bud. "You're lawyer is right. Do not let this scare you…"

"Sheldon he's vicious, he'll say and do anything, make up anything and pay anyone…"

"Penny you've hired an excellent lawyer, you are Zoe's blood relative giving you a significant upper hand."

"I know…I'm being silly, he just…he scared me and I'm so mad."

Her voice rose at the end. She was frustrated. Sheldon couldn't blame her. The entire situation was frustrating. If he had just not been an idiot six years ago they would've been spared all of this nonsense.

"I'm sorry Sheldon," she said wearily. "I know I'm being moody and difficult."

"That is absurd. You are handling an amazing amount of pressure with grace and poise."

She smiled her thanks but didn't say anything. She was upset, whether it would happen or not, the risk of losing Zoe at all had wreaked havoc on her already frayed nerves.

"Penny," said Sheldon, seeing that she was not completely at ease. "I promise you, no one is going to take our…your child from you Penny."

Penny looked at him, her green eyes bore into him. She knew he was not in the habit of making promises he couldn't keep and she knew that if Sheldon Cooper said something it was true.

"Thank you," she said softly.

Sheldon nodded. The two sat on the couch in silence, neither of them certain how to proceed. Sheldon then slapped his knees awkwardly and stood.

"All righty," he said. "I suppose we both need rest. I'll leave you to that."

Sheldon saw the look in her eyes, the look Zoe had given him over and over again when he dropped her off, disappointment.

"Okay," she said, her voice reflecting her disappointment. "Good night Sheldon."

Sheldon stopped his trek to his room and turned back around. Penny looked at him; he stood awkwardly in the middle of the living room.

"Penny," he said cautiously. "I don't want you to misinterpret my actions as any attempt to take advantage of your emotionally compromised state in the hopes of achieving coitus." Penny laughed softly. "But you are welcome to share my bed width me tonight if you wish. If I remember correctly, and I do, when you are upset being alone never helps, you prefer a friendly presence. So if you desire companionship you may share my bed with me."

Penny smiled softly and shook her head in amusement. He was so different but still so…him. It was throwing her through so many loops.

"Okay," she said. Her voice answered before her brain had told her too. She was busy pondering the ups and downs to this, how complicated it could make things, but the fact was she wanted to. She didn't want sex; she just wanted to be close to him. She had missed him so much it hurt and she never thought she would have another chance.

Sheldon nodded. The two separated in order to change into their bed clothes. When Penny entered his room, she found Sheldon pulling down the blankets on her side of the bed, or what had always been her side before.

He motioned her over. Penny obeyed and sat down on the bed. Sheldon carefully and meticulously began to tuck her in, like he had done when she had been hurt, and a few times when she had been sick. She had to bite back tears as he tenderly pulled the blankets around her and made sure she was comfortable.

Then he moved around the bed and lay down in bed next to her. He moved carefully, clearly nervous. Penny almost laughed, he had acted this way the first time they had shared a bed together all those years ago, it was like sharing a bed with a wood board.

After a few moments, Sheldon felt himself begin to calm down, and it wasn't until he was almost asleep that he noticed why, the soft circular motion of Penny's thumb over the top of his clenched hand.