Author's Note: Thank you all so much for your lovely reviews! They worked! I'm all better and there's a new chapter for you! Huzzah! Thanks to The Sunday Wife for being my lovely beta! And virtual cookies for everyone who reviewed! I love you all! Here's the latest:

Sheldon took his time as he walked into Caltech. It had been a week since Penny had agreed to date him and he was enjoying it. They spent more than the usual time together now and they texted each other constantly.

They still hadn't told Leonard or the guys. Penny had decided on that and he was okay with it. It was like it was his own secret treasure, something only he knew about and he liked it.

Sheldon sent her flowers yesterday. He remembered her saying how much she liked flowers, but how they were always so expensive. So Sheldon called the flower store up the street and ordered a large bouquet. He didn't really know why he felt compelled to do this. Maybe it was just to see Penny smile after.

The flowers arrived the next day and Sheldon was nervous. What if she didn't like these flowers? What if they were all wrong? What if the store messed up the order?

Sheldon was pacing the living room when Leonard walked in.

"Huh," Leonard sighed, "Someone just sent Penny flowers. Is she dating again?" Sheldon sat at his computer abruptly, looking away from Leonard.

"How should I know? Am I Penny's keeper?" He asked. Leonard sighed and threw his jacket on the couch.

"No," He whined, "But you have been spending a lot of time with her lately, did she say anything to you?" Sheldon leaned back in his chair.

"She did say that she has been seeing someone lately." Sheldon replied, technically not lying, "But I don't see why you care so much, you're dating Priya now. Move on Leonard." Leonard lifted an eyebrow in Sheldon's direction, wondering at his demanding tone. He shrugged.

"Your right," Leonard said, "And if Penny's seeing someone else, then I can tell Priya to stop worrying. She wants me to see Penny less, so this will make it easier!" Leonard nodded having convinced himself.

"Good." Sheldon said, getting up. "Did you check the mail?" Leonard shook his head as he headed towards the kitchen.

"Nope."

"Alright, I'm going to go check the mail." Sheldon grabbed the keys out of the bowl and then exited the apartment. If he was quick with the mail he could see more of Penny. He hurried down the stairs and over to the mailboxes. He grabbed all the mail and then rushed back up the stairs.

Knock knock knock. "Penny." Sheldon said in hushed tones, so Leonard wouldn't hear.

Knock knock knock. "Penny."

Knock knock knock. "Penny."

The door opened and Penny smiled up at Sheldon.

There's my wonderful boyfriend. "Hey, Moonpie, come on in." She opened the door wider and he moved into her small apartment.

"Penny, only meemaw—"

"…calls you moonpie, I know." She finished as she wrapped her arms around his neck and brought her lips to his. Sheldon was shocked for a moment but then allowed himself to relax. He closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of her lips against his. All too soon it was over and he looked down on her.

That was better than I thought it would be, he heard Penny think. Sheldon felt a small bit a pride knowing that it was a good for her as it was for him.

"Thank you for the flowers," She said. Sheldon smiled.

"Peony's for Penny." He said. Oh my gosh, that is adorable.

"That's what they're called?" She asked, grinning up at him. Sheldon nodded.

"Yes, The Peony is named after Paeon, who was a student of the greek god Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing. Asclepius became jealous of Paeon and was going to hurt him, but Zeus took pity on Peaon and turned him into a Peony before Asclepius could hurt him. Peony's have medicinal powers, being used in the Chinese dynasty's for convulsions." Oh my dear sweet wack-a-doodle.

Penny walked over to the flowers and smelled the large pink blooms.

"Well, they are absolutely beautiful." Penny said looking up at him. Sheldon watched her breath in the scent of the Peonies and it struck him how happy he was. He hadn't been this happy in a while.

"I have to go, Leonard thinks that I went to get the mail. Which I did, but I also stopped here." Oh Sheldon, can't tell a lie to save your life.

"Alright," Penny smiled. She wrapped her arms around him and this time he didn't hesitate to do the same.

"Tonight is Halo night." Sheldon reminded her. Penny looked up at him and smiled.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Moonpie.

Sheldon replayed that scene in his mind as he walked into work. He had never been in a relationship like this before. But even though previously he had been against any sort of romantic attachment, he was coming to find he enjoyed it immensely.

He enjoyed Penny's smile when he said something she didn't understand, he liked that she was the last person he texted at night and the first in the morning, he liked the thoughts that swam around in her head. He liked how sometimes she thought something naughty and her face got all red.

Sheldon stopped walking.

He could read Penny's thoughts.

This thought had never bothered him before but now he had to stop and think.

Was reading Penny's thoughts an unfair advantage? Would he even be in this relationship if he couldn't read her thoughts?

Sheldon started walking again.

He needed to do some serious thinking about this.

Sheldon got to his office and locked the door behind him.

He cleaned off a whiteboard and stood in front of it thoughtfully. After just a moment he started writing furiously.

After almost 3 hours, Sheldon capped his marker and sat down staring at the three whiteboards in front of him, their white surfaces crowded with black writing.

He sighed.

After all this thinking, three things were now apparent to Sheldon.

One. The only reason his relationship with Penny had started was because he could hear thoughts.

He'd heard Penny's thought about him and he'd heard his mother's thoughts, which made him tell her about his false feelings for Penny, which in turn made him ask Penny to date him.

But even before all that, Sheldon could hear Penny thinking about how upset she was with being alone and with Leonard dating Priya. He didn't tell her those things because he knew what she was thinking. He didn't offer to help because she he knew she needed it. He did it because…

Two. Sheldon loved Penny. Reading thoughts might have been the reason the relationship started, but the reason it continued was because Sheldon wanted it to.

He enjoyed being with Penny. He liked waking up thinking about her. He enjoyed her smile as they passed each other in the hall. He liked how when none of the guys were looking she would blow him a kiss.

It was juvenile, the way he felt and acted around her. But he didn't care.

He loved Penny.

But what if she found out about his powers? That the only reason their relationship existed was because of his powers? Sheldon knew she would be hurt. She might even infer that he didn't care about her at all. Which was ridiculous. But still, if he wanted to continue with their relationship…

Three. Sheldon had to get rid of his powers.

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