The Music Metamorphosis

Summary: Penny and Sheldon's friendship is transforming into something neither of them expected or understand. Each stage of the developing relationship is found in a randomly chosen song that coincidentally – or, in accordance with the law of large numbers - fit perfectly.

Song: "In My Life" – The Beatles

I will never forget that moment. Sheldon always brags about his memory and how it is impossible for him to forget a single moment. But in a lifetime of disappointment, I don't want to remember a single moment but this one.

I sat on my couch in my apartment, crying because I was PMSing, I had failed another audition, and I was terribly lonely. I didn't have many girlfriends any more, since I had ignored them while dating Leonard. I just felt so helpless. I had been crying for about an hour, with no real end in sight

Until I heard that familiar knock.

"Come in, Sheldon," I sniffled, trying to wipe my eyes.

"Penny," he huffed, looking flustered and his chest heaving, as if he had just run a mile.

"Sheldon? You okay, sweetie?" I started to rise from the couch, but he waved at me. It was then that I noticed his other hand was behind his back.

"No, no – you sit. I'm fine."

He made his way over to the couch and sat next to me.

"Sheldon, that isn't your spot."

He ignored the statement, and looked me in the eye, his right hand still behind his back. "Why were you crying?"

"I – I don't want to talk about it."

He nodded. "I suppose it doesn't matter either way. I overheard you, and I don't like it when you're upset. So I got you this."

He handed me a single red rose, the green plastic wrapped around it slightly crinkled and the flower in full bloom.

I accepted the gift, my tears drying and a smile forming on my lips. "How did you get this? Did Leonard drive you?"

"No! I ran," he said simply, his tone offended.

"You ran?" I asked, shocked.

"To the grocery store. The roses at the gas station three blocks away were unacceptable and close to drying out."

"Oh."

I leaned on him then, nestling closer to him. I still don't know why I did it. Sheldon had never been comforting, empathetic or sincere with me before. But there was something sweet about him at that moment – his hair mussed, his breathing still a little heavy, and his eyes silently searching mine for some sign that I was still upset. I just knew, instinctively, that I wanted to be closer to him.

"Thank you."

He didn't say a word, just shocked me further by awkwardly wrapping his arm around me. I smothered a contented sigh when I felt him jerkily and tentatively kiss my head, the action making him seem so much more human and vulnerable.

"I don't like to see – or hear, in this case – you upset, Penny. It causes me distress to know that you are crying, and that there is no one hear to comfort you. I am not socially adept, and I am unaware of how to express my emotions in a way that would convey them accurately. But you are my closest friend, my best friend, and I never want you to feel like you have no one. You have me."

"Thank you. For everything. For caring."

"You're welcome."