AN: A number of you have noticed that the chapters have been fairly short recently, I apologize, but I've always found that sometimes less is more, and in scenes with content such as the last two chapters, I don't know about the rest of you, but I skip over the unnecessary stuff to get to the good parts myself, so that is how I write it.. Just the good parts! I'm glad you all are enjoying this story, and thanks for all the reviews!

CH

Sheldon was pleased.

His reading had certainly been valuable, though his powers of observation had proved to be his most valuable asset. Taking note instantly of what pleased her, and what didn't, and which moves had pleased her the most, had shortened the length of time required to bring her to orgasim.

He'd read in online cosmo that it took an average of 22 minutes.

He'd accomplished it in far less.

Though he had to concede that the online magazine was hardly a reputable source of data, and that even if it was an accurate representation, that is was still only an average... Curses.

On top of that, one would presume that the first encounter of such between two persons, such as him and Penny, would be more stimulating simply because it is new. Perhaps over time, the length of time needed...

He felt her hand touch his face, and jerked back to awareness, blinking rapidly.

He ran his finger up her side, vividly remembering the first time he'd ever done so... She had been hurt, and he'd had to dress her..

He'd done ok with the shirt.. Peeked, as all hero's must, but it hadn't effected him too much... At that moment anyways.. It may have haunted his sleep for oh... 12.5 weeks after, but who was counting?

It had been the shorts that were the difficult part..

The soup tattoo on her rear had been startling, and as she had insisted on being turned away from him, (shorts without underwear, Really!) he'd been able to open his eyes for a few minutes. Once her feet were in, he'd thought the easy part was next.. But pulling shorts up damp skin... Extremely difficult at the best of times.. When you are supposed to have your eyes closed but instead have them staring at a deviously placed soup tattoo, it's nearly impossible.

He'd had to put his thumbs on her skin, and slide them up that way.. His thumbs dragging up her legs, her hips.. Her breathing had hitched, and that is when he had had to mentally take a step back.. His touch had affected her..

Touching her had affected him..

He was supposed to be immune to this..

It had left him a flustered mess.. Oh he'd blamed it on having to drive, of course, but in reality..

They'd come so far since then..

Better friends.. And then, suddenly, FINALLY, lovers...

Though they had not yet actually had coitus, he had read enough articles stating that "oral sex IS a form of sex" to realise that they had gone past the point of just...

He didn't even know what to call it, what they had been before.

He didn't know what to call them now.

He was her boyfriend.

Her lover?

Did she love him?

Did he love her?

How would he know?

Should he ask?

Penny lifted his chin in her hand, and stared into his eyes anxiously. "Sheldon?"

"Yes Penny?"

"What are you thinking about?"

"Everything." He stated simply.

"Could you.. ah, simplify?" She wrinkled her nose.

"Penny, what do people do.. After they've done, what we've done?" He responded slowly. "Do they.. change?"

She raised an eyebrow and pushed him over so she could rest her head on his chest. "Like, clothes?"

"No."

She looked thoughtful, he couldn't see it, but he knew, he could tell from the way her cheek moved on his stomach.. He had to smile.

"A little bit." SHe finally answered. "And at the same time.. No."

He nodded.

Somehow, it made perfect sense.

THey would change.. Yet stay the same..

Reassuring..

"So." Penny asked a minute later. "What did you think of, uh, tonights activities?"

She held her breath.

Would he ever want to repeat them again?

"Enjoyable." was his reply. "I find myself anticipating our third date."

She raised her head to look at him, grinning. "Oh?"

"Yes," he nodded. "Would brunch be considered a date?"

"I have to work in the morning." She reminded him. "How about dinner?"

"Agreed."

She leaned forward and kissed him gently on the mouth.

He responded quickly, his hands catching in her hair...