Happy May Day! Well friends, we've finally reached the breaking point. Surely Sheldon and Penny will confess their love for one another in a beautiful moment of romantic discovery...right? As always, your kind words and encouragement nourish the muse in my soul😏

"Hey, Sheldon."

She stood at the open door, her hair wet, dressed in a silky robe that was scratchy and clung to her wet skin. She was barefoot, and the air was cold, but somehow managed to hide the quaking inside her belly, and greeted her neighbor and friend with a neutral, fatigued look. He stood in front of her, dressed in a crisp blue robe over plaid pajamas, slippers, and socks, holding a clothes basket that had obviously been hastily filled, its contents piled haphazardly together.

"Hello, Penny." Sheldon also was stoic, as if he had been wrestling with one of his alien creatures all day. "It's laundry night. I was going to offer to gather some of your things for you and wash them."

"You're lying, and it's the one thing you are incapable of doing, so don't even try. Drop it." She nodded towards the basket with a smirk.

"I'd rather not, at least until I state my business, and as that will take longer than the usual pleasantries, may I come in?"

"Sure, Sheldon," she said, backing up and letting him in, her face not betraying her inner stress.

He took precisely two steps into the room as Penny shut the door behind him, his basket still firmly in front of him.

"So, What's up?" she said, still standing. While he would never admit it, he always liked the way she said those words.

He continued, standing up straight. "Penny, I know the last two days have been highly…irregular for us, and I wish to clear the air as to some matters that have come up in the interim."

"You think?" she said, cocking her head in a look of incredulity.

"I do think, but that's not why I have come to you tonight. The things I have to say are very…sensitive, and as such, I have to request that you refrain from any questions or interjections until I have finished addressing all of my items."

"Okay," she said, tilting her head. "Well, don't you at least want to address them sitting down? You can't be comfortable like that."

He stood, looking pensive, then relented. "Very well, I would prefer to sit down." He found a spot on the couch, walking stiffly in front, then, bending at the hip, he leaned forward, slowly bending his knees, and grunting, fell back into a sitting position, resting the basket on his lap.

Penny could not help but smile. "You know you're being ridiculous, right?"

"Penny, you agreed to refrain from any questions until I was finished," he said, folding his arms over the half-filled basket. "If you can hold your peace, I can begin."

"Please, Dr. Cooper, the floor is yours," she said with a smile, sitting down opposite him, waving her hand and nodding her head.

"Thank you, Penny. I will speak to the events of the last 24 hours sequentially, beginning with our game night activities. Let me first of all congratulate you and Amy for soundly defeating Leonard and me in all five games: Pictionary, Where's Waldo, Spinning Math, Wrestling, and of course, the Pie-Eating Challenge. You both were the champions of the evening, and we salute you."

Penny's face visibly softened and her mouth opened, then she looked to Sheldon, who nodded for her to speak. "Amy and I thank you for a well-played game, and salute you as well for being worthy opponents," she said, then added in a much lower tone, "even though you were whipped by two girls."

She bit her lip as he turned a hard glare at her, then nodded apologetically as he continued. "Be that as it may, I also want to recognize that some of my behavior may have been construed as unsportsmanlike, which I now regret and hope that you will accept my sincerest apologies for any untoward behavior."

She blinked her eyes, but she kept her grin as plain as possible, even though she wanted to hug him for his humility. She merely nodded, allowing him to continue.

"Regarding the remark about your eating and drinking habits, I still maintain that you take far too much a cavalier attitude about them, and stress that while you are strong and healthy now, you may find it harder as you mature to continue to "work it off," as you say, and encourage you to practice moderation. That said, I want to apologize if any my remarks were crude or hurtful. You are most certainly not a pig, Penny. Far from it."

Oh my God I want to kiss you right now, she thought, barely containing her awe-struck happiness.

"On a personal note, I do prefer you would not drink so much alcohol, as it only makes you sad and lethargic, and I much prefer you awake, alert, and your normal annoyingly cheerful self."

"Going cold turkey tonight," she said, raising her hand in a promissory gesture.

"Now who's the fabricator of myths?" Sheldon said, giving her a sharp glance.

She got an imperious look of disbelief, then looked at him with lidded eyes. "Continue, Dr. Cooper!"

"Thank you. I also wish to address the wrestling incident."

Now Penny's smile disappeared. Her mind immediately went back to kissing him over and over, and then to the image of her lying on the floor of the elevator as Dream Sheldon ripped the buttons off of her blouse, and how it felt to be on the receiving end of physical advances—even if it was with his mind. Oh my God, no wonder he became so upset, she thought ruefully. The full magnitude of what she had done fell on her shoulders like a weight, and she felt a wave of remorse roll over her.

She looked at him with tender eyes. "Sheldon, I'm so—"

"Please, Penny, allow me to speak. First, there is no need to apologize, as I have already released you from the guilt of the offense by forgiving you. But, I do feel it is important that I discuss my..." he swallowed, then continued. "…My feelings about the incident. Penny, you know that physical contact with others is something that I have only recently begun to acquaint myself with, and that I take great care to never touch or allow myself to be touched in any way that could be unsanitary, unsafe, or inappropriate."

Her eyes welled up as she nodded her understanding.

"Penny, you are much more than just a neighbor to me." His eyes took on a softness she had never seen before. "You are my friend. And, as such, I have allowed you to touch me in ways that few other people have been able to. I…deeply value our friendship, and…I ask that you please do not touch me in that way."

The tears were rolling down her cheeks now. "Oh my God, Sheldon…you have my word, Sweetie. Never again." She broke down, her face red with regret.

He looked at her silently for moment. "Well," he started, closing his eyes begrudgingly. "I suppose never is a strong word, as expecting you to refrain from touching me in perpetuity would be unrealistic if not impossible, so…"

She perked up a little and interrupted, "…so how about this: No more wrestling, no more kisses. And no more hugs unless you give permission?"

He pondered her words. "That is acceptable," he answered, seemingly unfazed by Penny's shower of emotion. She grinned as he leaned over to the end table, retrieving a tissue.

"You have mucus coming out of your nostril," he said, extending the tissue to her.

"Oh? Sorry, sorry!" she said, taking it and blowing her nose. "I hope you're finished, because I don't think I can take any more 'items.'"

"I only have one more, and it is probably the most difficult item to discuss," he said, looking down at his hands.

"Don't, Sheldon," she said, sniffling as he waved her hand. "It's okay, let's just pretend it never happened."

"How can you say that when I haven't even stated what it was?" he asked, a slightly perturbed look in his eyes.

"The…underwear thing. You don't even have to discuss it," she said, wiping her eyes and gathered her composure. "We're adults, we've all seen it. I came in unannounced, like usual, and caught you with your pants down. You've seen me in the shower, remember? No big deal. End of discussion. Now, how about some pizza?" She stood up, an overabundant smile on her face.

"Penny!" he said, looking at her with the kind of look that made her stop dead in her tracks. It was a look of resolution and fortitude, that of a man with something important to say from deep within.

She sat down, looked over to him expectantly, and nodded her head. "Yes, Sheldon?"

He drew in a breath, and began. "It goes without saying that everything said this evening can never be spoken of outside this apartment. I trust that my confidence in you is sound, do you agree?"

She reached over and took his hand in both of hers, and swallowed hard. "Sheldon, the fact that you even want to talk to me means so much. Yes, this whole conversation goes with me to my grave."

"Even in the case of a zombie epidemic, in which you would be resurrected as a mindless, lifeless, flesh-eating monster?" He asked this is with the same look of strength and certitude.

"Uh…yes, yes, Sweetie. You have my permission to chop of my head before I can utter a word."

"Very well. Penny, the members of our social group, including yourself, have often joked erroneously that I am asexual, that I lack, as you say, balls. You say I am not a real boy, let alone a fully formed and virile adult, and that I haven't achieved puberty. Of course, all of these remarks are patently absurd and completely unfounded. I am indeed a fully matured adult homo novus, with fully functional reproductive organs."

"Sheldon, you left no doubt of that today," she said, then sensed his sensitivity to the remark and gestured locking a key on her lips.

"Yes, and I am truly sorry you had to see that. But getting back to my point, I was not that concerned about these swipes at my anatomical development, as I would have actually preferred it if they were true. Because as you well know, my life is dedicated to the discipline of theoretical physics. Focusing any more energy than absolutely necessary on one's physical needs was a waste of precious time and resources that could be focused on study, research, and problem solving. You may have all thought you were making fun of me, but in reality, I would gladly have been the butt of the joke if it meant I could solve the Higgs Boson issue or prove String Theory."

"Oh my God," Penny began sniffing back her tears again. "Sheldon…I love you."

He stopped, blinking his eyes in genuine surprise. "Well that was unnecessary. I was merely explaining how I feel about this whole physiological issue and…"

"It's completely unnecessary and foolish." She took his hand to her cheek and closed her eyes, rubbing it on her cheek. She smiled, and looked at him, "And I know I'm totally off-base by doing this, but if I did what I really want to do to you right now, you would never speak to me again." She took the back of his hand and placed her lips on it, gently pecking it, and then placed it on her knee, running her thumb against his knuckles.

He was genuinely stupefied, unable to continue, and began stammering.

"I need…I need to go now. I need to rest...to get my REM sleep. Yes, I need to…."

He stood up, releasing his grip on the basket, and it tumbled to the floor, emptying its contents on Penny's carpet. His eyes shot downward, and Penny looked at his pants. On his crotch, he had placed a small pillow, and stuffed it in his shorts like a protective cup.

Penny fought with every muscle of her being not to smile. It took everything in her not to ask, "Is that a pillow in your pants, or are you happy to see me?" She didn't want to laugh at him, but laugh with him, to break the tension, to do something to show him that it was alright, and she was flattered that he felt this way.

Then it hit her. Is Sheldon actually…into me? Did I make him do that?

Sheldon was nervously inching towards the door. "Sorry, sorry…I have to go. I will pick up my basket later…or have Leonard pick it up later…"

"No. No! No! No!" She was surprised at the urgency in her voice, but she ran to the door and blocked it, preventing Sheldon from exiting. "Now, I have an item I'd like to discuss, and I ask that you extend the same courtesy to me that I have given you. Can I trust you?"

"Y-yes, Penny, of course," he stammered, stopping in front of the door, his hands crossed over his groin.

"Please sit down, I want to talk to you face to face," she said, motioning to the couch. They both sat down quietly, and Penny swallowed, and spoke with a slightly hoarse voice, barely above a whisper.

"Did I scare you when I said I loved you?" she asked, looking at him with big eyes.

Sheldon sat, his hands crossed in front of him. "It was unexpected, to say the least. I…I have never been told that by a friend before."

"Really?" she said, her expression wide with emotion. "Amy never told you she loved you? Is that not in your Relationship Agreement?"

"Part of the benefit of having the Agreement is never having to say it, unless one wishes to propose that an emotional attachment clause in the event that the Relationship progresses to a deep enough level that such declarations would be deemed appropriate," he recited in his usual straightforward manner.

"Oh, Sheldon," she shook her head, her mouth edged in a slight grin. "Sheldon, what I meant was…was that I…love having you in my life. I love everything about you. Your weird habits, your routines, the way that you carry yourself…I mean, it drives me insane sometimes, but…you're really the most amazing man I've ever known."

Sheldon leaned back, surprised. "Well, I must say that the feeling is mutual. I…love having you in my life as well. I have grown quite fond of you, in spite of all your considerable shortcomings, I truly have come to enjoy your company, your personality, and your friendship. You're a real peach, Penny."

She sighed, and a warm smile came over her reddened face as she took his hand in hers. "You're making me blush, Dr. Cooper."

"Well, what do you know, I'm a real Casanova, aren't I?" he snickered with big dimpled cheeks. "Girlfriend," he guffawed awkwardly, waving his hand in an off-hand way,

"If I was your girlfriend, you wouldn't need that damn pillow," she said, the heat rising in her cheeks, her eyes narrowing. "Can I ask you a really, really personal question?" She leaned up on her knees, drawing closer to his face.

"O-only if you don't c-come any closer," he said, his face morphing into a look of angst. He clenched his hands over his groin.

"Did I make you hard?" she stopped, looking at him intensely.

"Y-you always make it hard…" he gulped "…To focus my mind on anything but…your big, googly eyes."

"Googly, huh?" she said, pursing her lips and regarding him with warily. "You really know how to charm a girl. Answer the question!" She said, her face zooming in six inches closer.

"Well, it wasn't you that caused my penis to become erect, if that's what you're asking!" He said, now drawing his hands to his chest and cowering slightly. "It was caused by hormonal secretions as a result of my physiological urge to mate."

"Sheldon," she said, leaning back slightly. "You don't get 'mating urges' and 'hormonal secretions' because it's your time of the month. Something got your motor running, as a friend, I wanna know—was it me, Amy, that green chick from the new Star Trek movie, who?"

"It wasn't you…" he squeaked out, his face twitching. "It was a Klingon…"

"AHA!" she said, clapping her hands and sitting back. "I knew it! I…" she caught herself. "HOLY SHIT ON A SHINGLE! Is that why you called me a Klingon hussy?" Her face was wide open in shock.

"I—I really need to go now," he started to get up and pick his clothes off of the floor. "I've said far too much. I've really got to g—"

He turned towards Penny and stopped, his eyes wide and his mouth agape.

"Sheldon, wait," she got up, and walked toward the door.

He lifted a finger slowly towards her. "Penny…your…"

She looked down. Her robe had come open, her right breast completely visible.

Now it was her turn to stammer. "Oh-oh my God, Sheldon…I…"

He began to whimper, and ran to the door, still looking at Penny, but quaking with awkward fear. He opened the door clumsily and bolted out.

She stood there, looking at the door, then her chest. She turned and walked slowly, in a daze. She kicked something on the floor, then bent down to pick it up.

It was one of Sheldon's socks. Light blue with dark blue stripes.

She ran a hand to her face, her head shaking.

"Oh my God…what have I done?"