Author's Note: Thank you to everyone for your awesome reviews! I couldn't do it without you! Also, I apologize for the formatting errors, for some reason when I go to publish the story all the italics are taken out and I have to put them back in, and I miss some spots. So sorry about that. Hopefully this chapter is better. Anyways, thanks to The_Sunday_Wife, your awesome. I owe you many virtual gifts. Enjoy!

"Shelly, honey." His mother started in a deep drawl, "How are you doing?" Oh this laundry is heavy.

"I'm doing fine, mommy." Sheldon said, it annoyed him to know that only some of her attention was on this phone call. She called him, she should at least be paying attention.

"How is Leonard doing?" She asked. Now add the detergent…

"Fine. He and Penny broke up and now he's dating Raj's sister Priya. Raj is not happy." Sheldon sighed and leaned back in his chair. He really did have better things to do that discuss the banalities of his roommates life with his mother.

Penny's single? "So how is Penny doing with that?" Mary asked with a different tone. Sheldon frowned.

"She's less upset over Leonard being with Priya then I thought she would be. She's more upset with the fact that she is now alone and feels like her life is going nowhere. She has low self-esteem. I've taken it upon myself to help her do better in her life. Unlike myself she needs someone to tell her she's doing a good job, I don't understand this need, but I acknowledge it." Oh praise the Lord! Sheldon frowned.

"Well that's very nice of you Shelly to help her with her problems." Please don't screw this up. I really like Penny. She's sweet and funny and normal. And she seems to like Sheldon.

Sheldon's frown deepened. Like? What?

"Well it is important to have those you surround yourself with be the best they can be so they don't drag you down." He said. Oh dear, why do I even get my hopes up. Jesus knows this boy'll never realize he has feelings for Penny. Oh but she'd be so good for him! He needs someone like her in his life.

Sheldon shook his head. He did not have feelings for Penny. Why did she think that? And he did not need her.

Oh, poor Shelly. He'll be alone for the rest of his life if he doesn't change. I wonder if he knows that?

"We've been having an enjoyable time together." Sheldon blurted. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to tell his mother this.

"Really?"

"Yes, a few nights ago she came over and we had dinner together, then we went back to her apartment…" Jesus Christ. "…we cleaned and organized for several hours. She needed to live in a cleaner area, it will make her feel better." Of course, cleaning and organizing. She sounded exasperated to Sheldon.

"And tonight is laundry night." He added.

"Why is that important?" His mother asked.

"Penny and I do our laundry together on Saturday nights. I'm going to show her the correct way to wash her clothes. She just puts all her clothing in one load. It's economical on water, but its doing awful things to her wardrobe." Aww, he really is cute when he gets excited like this.

"Shelly, I'm going to ask you a question and you have to tell me the truth." Sheldon hesitated. He never like to agree to things if he didn't have the particulars.

"Alright."

"Do you like Penny?" Please say yes, please say yes, please say yes, please say yes, please say-

"Yes." He blurted again. Praise the lord! Glory hallelujah! I have to tell his sister! This is amazing!

Sheldon hadn't heard his mother this happy in a long time. He couldn't bring himself to explain that he liked Penny as a friend…

"Oh Shelly, I'm glad. She's a very nice girl and the way you talk about her…well…I knew something would happen." He talks about her all the time, brings her up in every conversation, now I know why!

"Have you asked her out yet?" Sheldon paused before he realized this last part had been spoken aloud. He was regretting very much not telling his mother the truth. Knowing his mother she would not drop this until he told her they were either dating or that Penny had a different partner.

But he couldn't tell her that. She liked Penny and she was so happy. He didn't want either of those things to change.

"Not yet." He finally replied.

"Will you?" He heard her saying a silent prayer.

"Yes," He leaned forward and placed his head in his hands, suppressing a groan, "Tonight." He added. Oh Mary mother of Jesus, thank you!

"Oh Shelly, I'm happy for you." I am going to spend the whole night praying.

"Prayer is unessesary mother. She will either accept or reject me based on her knowledge of me, not a miracle from the Lord. I have to go."

She sounded confused when she answered and he realized he had once again answered something she didn't say. "Oh okay honey, call me tomorrow to let me know what she says." I can't believe this, I can't believe it. It's a miracle.

"Goodbye Mother." He said closing his cell phone and laying it on the table. He sighed.

He had wanted to make his mother happy. So he had told her a lie. One he could foresee no immediate resolution for.

He had told her that he had feelings for Penny and she wasn't surprised (well not about the feelings, more about him admitting them). He was surprised at how easy it was to lie about it, he didn't even twitch.

What did that mean? He needed to do more research.

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