To Comic-con, Marriage and A Bloodthirsty Tiger

Sequel to Caught off Guard

Two years go he would have thrown a fit. Made even called the F.B.I. He most definitely would not be standing on the fire escape with a butterfly net, a slice of bacon and his Stormtrooper helmet. Penny was crying, Bernadette was making meowing noises, Gail was yelling instructions and Steve, who was lucky to be short, was rolling on the couch laughing. Sheldon tuned them all out as best he could and focused on the small orange bundle across from him. He stretched his arm out as far a he could and carefully maneuvered the net closer. He waved the bacon in the air and watched with satisfaction as the miniscule kitten leaned it's head out further toward the food. When he judged it was distracted enough by the food he swiped the net across the transformer on the telephone pole beside the building and scooped it up. Cheers erupted from behind him and he stepped back into the apartment.

Penny almost knocked him over to grab the animal. The women gathered around and cooed and sighed. Sheldon walked to the kitchen and washed his hands thoroughly. He turned back to see the Penny approaching with the little bundle clutched to her chest. Normally Sheldon liked cats. They were easy to care for, and soothing to be around. Except this one.

"Thank you, honey! You know how much Higgs means to me!" Sheldon rolled his eyes at the innocuous name for the odious animal. Trust Penny to name that devil after the god particle. He looked down into the slanted yellow eyes that glared back at him. That cat was evil. It hated him. Actually it hated everyone except Penny. It would tolerate others for a few moments as long as none of them tried to touch it. But it really hated Sheldon. Higgs would lay in wait for Sheldon to walk by and then dart out to bite his feet. It would hiss at him whenever he kissed Penny. Sheldon was sure it deliberately shed on his side of the couch.

Penny looked over her shoulder at something Gail said and he stuck his tongue out at the cat. She turned and gave him a quick kiss before walking back to the girls. Steve stifled a burst of laughter as he joined Sheldon by the sink. "Only a man deeply in love would save that little ball of hell."

Sheldon smiled. "Penny loves it. It loves Penny." He looked sideway at Steve mischievously. "Of course if it manages to become attached to Bernadette next weekend while she's cat sitting and refuses to come home, I won't be too heart broken." Steve laughed and clapped him on the back.

Penny slid in beside Sheldon and hugged him again. "I want to thank you again, Sheldon. I know you and Higgs don't really get along very well, but I love him so much. I'd be devastated if anything happened to him."

He smiled against her hair. "I love you, Penny. There is nothing I won't do for you. Even rescue that vicious tiger from a telephone pole he was stupid enough to jump onto from an open window. Like a dumb animal. With no sense. And possibly a death wish." Sheldon looked her in the eyes. "Penny, your cat is a moron."

Everyone burst out laughing as Penny tried to pout.

Oh how she owed him for this. We're talking big time. He'd make her let him name their first born. Maybe their second born also. And she could never use that nickname again. In fact , he'd make her call him Sheldon The Great. Cookies! She would have to make him dozens of cookies for every holiday, even Columbus Day. Those fabulous chocolate sugar cookies she makes!

Sheldon glared down at the sand covered hem of his slacks. He could not believe he was barefoot. On a public beach where lord knows what germs, pathogens and bacteria were at that very moment crawling into his pores. He shot a glare at the beautiful bride as she hugged Meemaw. Oh, yes. She would pay for this.

A soft hand slid around his waist and he looked down at Penny. Instantly his scowl turned into a smile. She looked over at Missy with a wistful gaze.

"She makes such a beautiful bride," Penny sighed. Sheldon glared at his twin once more. Penny laughed beside him. "Honey, it's your sister's wedding day. Stop trying to blow up her head with your vulcan mind powers."

Sheldon looks down at Penny in exasperation. "Vulcan? Really, Penny? It's like you never watched Scanners at all."

"All I'm saying, Sheldon is that it's a beautiful day, spent watching your sister marry the man she loves. Stop thinking about germs and enjoy." Penny hid her smile by taking a sip of her drink.

Sheldon glared at her now. She smirked and leaned up on her toes. Sheldon's expression softened as he leaned down for a kiss. Penny pulled away and whispered in his ear. "Play nice with your sister, and maybe I'll play nice tonight."

Sheldon's body reacted instantly. Although they had still not had actual coitus, Penny had been very happy to teach him other things. Things he had been very happy to learn, and liked to practice as often as possible. At first he thought maybe she was teasing him by withholding intercourse, but he eventually realized just how much effort she was putting into building their relationship slowly. She went to bed unsatisfied more often than he did, because she always insisted on him getting the full benefits of their time together.

He pulled her against him and kissed her deeply. He didn't even mind that they were in front of his family. All that mattered was that Penny was in his arms.

Leonard was surprised to see Sheldon sitting at the kitchen table when he got home from work. They were little more than strangers now. In fact, about the only thing they shared anymore was an address.

"Hello, Leonard. I need to speak with you," Sheldon said calmly.

Leonard tried to glare at him, but he couldn't. He was tired. The entire situation was a mess, a mess he had made himself. "You want me to move out, don't you?" Leonard asked matter-of-factly.

Sheldon shook his head. "On the contrary, I have no such request. I am content to leave our living arrangements as they are. I wish to speak to you about Comic-con. As you know we have attended every year as a group. You will need to remove me from your travel and activity equations. As it was your turn to secure rooms this year I felt it necessary to inform you I will not need one this year."

Leonard sighed. "Sheldon, I know things have gotten pretty bad between us, but you don't have to forego Comic-con. You can still go with us, if you want. Howard, Raj and I, well, we miss you."

Sheldon looked at Leonard in surprise. "I will not be missing Comic-con. I will be going with Penny and a couple of our friends. Since I will be traveling with them now, it was my duty to inform you of my plans."

Leonard felt a surge of jealousy. "So you and Penny are still getting along, then?" He wanted to hate the way Sheldon's eyes softened at her name. He wanted to hate the way he smiled as he thought about her. Mostly though, he just felt a sense of loss. In one act of anger and spite he had lost his best friend and the woman he loved.

Sheldon nodded. "We are progressing well."

Leonard tried to think of something else to say, but he couldn't. The bond between them was too broken to be repaired. It had taken him a long time to realize how much damage his actions had done. He had tried to rationalize it, bury it, ignore it, but in the end, he had to admit he had almost destroyed Sheldon's career, definitely destroyed their friendship, and there was no fixing that.

He had spent the afternoon browsing through the vendors displays with Stuart, who he had run into while checking in. Gail and Amanda had opted for the Usagi Yojimbo panel. He hadn't seen Penny since they had checked in. She was working, taking notes and running errands for Mr. Takei while he met with fans and talked to backers about his newest project. They would meet up in their room at 7pm for dinner. Sheldon was nervous, but also excited. Tonight they would spend their first full night together. They had been dating for 5 months.

It had been almost a year since his world changed completely. Now, here in San Diego, he and Penny would take the next step in their relationship. He had friends who understood him. His job was finally secure. People were starting to take his work seriously again.

At 6: 30 he said his goodbyes to their friends and headed to their room. He wanted to be there when Penny got back. He reached the 7th floor and walked down the hall. He unlocked his door and stepped inside. The lights were dimmed. Penny was standing beside a small table in a stunning red dress. It was the lace and silk one she had worn the night of the university gala. Sheldon's pulse sped up and he felt a bit flushed.

"I took the liberty of ordering for us both," she said as she moved toward him. "Thai cashew chicken breast for you, and mushroom chicken for me." Sheldon's mouth was dry and all he could do was nod. Penny took his arm and lead him to the table. He held out a chair for her, and then seated himself.

Penny smiled internally at his dazed expression. "So, how is the convention so far, honey?

Sheldon gathered his thoughts and told her about the two panels he had attended and the various vendors he had walked by. She told him about the autograph signing Mr. Takei had sat for and the people she had met. They chatted over casual things through dessert, a lava cake topped with rich cream. At precisely 8pm a knock on the door signaled a waiter had arrived to take away their dishes.

Soon they were alone again. Penny slid her ipod into the speakers she had placed by the bed. Soon Sarah Brightman's Deliver Me filled the air. Sheldon wrapped her in his arms and they swayed around the small space. Penny curled an arm around his neck, drawing him down. Their lips were hungry for each other. Penny's hands slid his shirts over his head as he drew down the zipper of her dress. It pooled around her feet, revealing her naked body. He caressed her breasts as she unbuckled his pants and pushed them off his hips. They both knew it was the perfect time for this. Sheldon picked her up and carried her to the bed. He laid her down and slid in beside her. He captured her lips again as his hand caressed her hip.

"I love you," he whispered against her lips.

"I love you too," she answered before drawing him close.