Again, had to work on this while I had it in my head. And I know, I should be working on The Psychic Vortex Continuum.

The Talent Showcase

Part Three: The Argentine

"Don't dance for the audience; dance for yourself."

Diana Crescent

Penny was going out. She'd survived her first and second semesters. No, she'd thrived, passed them with a success that left her breathless, giddy, and stunned. She'd been complemented by professors for her acting ability. She'd made dozens of new friends. She believed in herself for the first time in a long time.

She had so much energy ready to burst out that she was sure she would explode if she stayed in tonight. She didn't care if it was Thursday. She'd aced her last final today and she didn't have to be in to work until eleven tomorrow. Her manager, at seeing her excitement about school, had given her the night off, provided she worked a double the next day.

*Knock, Knock, Knock*

"Penny."

*Knock, Knock, Knock*

"Penny."

*Knock, Knock, Knock*

"Penny."

She opened the door, lilac colored robe fastened around her tightly. "Moonpie?"

"It's Thursday," he said, frowning a little at her lack of clothing, her face covered in green goop, and her hair in curlers.

"It's Anything Can Happen Thursday."

"Well…yes. We ordered Italian."

Penny bit her lip. "I'm going out."

"You have a date?" Sheldon whispered.

"No. I wanted to go dancing. I'm taking myself dancing," she whispered back.

"That sounds lovely," he replied. "I'll just tell the others you won't be having dinner with us tonight."

"Sheldon?"

"Yes?"

"Do you want to come dancing with me? I'm not going with anyone, and it would be nice to have company."

"We've already ordered the food though…"

"I'm not going to be ready for another hour. I can eat with you guys, and then we could go."

"Will I have to dress for the occasion?"

Penny smiled, feeling her facemask crack a little. "Not if you don't want to."

"What color dress are you wearing?"

"Black."

"I shall dress accordingly."

"Alright. When will the food be here?"

"In approximately forty minutes. Forty-three minuets and seventeen seconds, if Howard maintains the speed limit."

"I'll try to be ready by then."

"I too, shall be ready by then," Sheldon said, going back into the apartment.

Penny smiled and ran into her apartment, throwing off her robe and wiping her facemask off.

IIIIII

Forty minutes later she was putting on her earrings (her only jewelry), and clipping a red Penny Blossom in her hair.

Her dress was modest enough for the streets, but had a wicked slit up the left, front side, going up to a red flower on her hip. She'd put on her bloomers, to be on the safe side. The dark pantyhose added to the effect, and on her feet were real dancing shoes, black high heels with straps.

Sheldon knocked again in his sweet and particular way.

She didn't know when it had become sweet, but knew that it had happened between April of last year and April of this year.

She opened the door, only to stare in shock—though not as quite as much as Howard, Raj, and Leonard were displaying.

Sheldon was wearing a black suit with a red tie, as well as dancing shoes.

Sheldon was just as shocked. He knew Penny was beautiful, but the way the soft fabric clung to her curves and the slit to her hip had him counting primes.

"Are you ready to eat?"

"Yeah. Let me grab my purse."

Sheldon waited for her, and followed her in the apartment, while the boys stood dumbly out in the hall. Sheldon merely raised his eyebrows at them.

They shuffled in awkwardly, and floated on the perfume of Penny's skin. Something floral and sexy.

Penny and Sheldon ate in their usual seats, his on the far left side of the couch, her directly beside him.

It was a difficult task for Sheldon because her practically bare leg was pressed into his, mostly to keep her as far away from a flirty Howard as possible. Her hair was also spun into an elaborate twisted bun at the nape of her neck, allowing her perfume to more freely disperse throughout the room. A fact which definitely did not escape his notice. He wondered briefly if it was new, and if not, why she didn't wear it more often.

"I thought you couldn't dance, Sheldon." Leonard said vaguely, glancing at his roommate.

"I said I don't dance, not that I couldn't. I actually dance quite well," Sheldon said, spinning another bite of spaghetti on his fork.

Penny smiled, slowing eating her lasagna. Of course he did. How could they doubt, after all, he was Sheldon.

"You like quite fetching tonight Penny. Those shoes do great things to your legs," Howard said, eyeing a little more thigh than leg.

"Thank you Howard," she said patiently.

"Do you often go dancing? I should tell you that I can do a mean polka if you're interested."

"I rarely go dancing. And I don't like polka, Howard."

"Well, if you ever want to learn…"

"I know how to polka Howard. I don't like to."

"Oh."

Raj leaned over and whispered in Howard's ear.

"No Raj, I won't teach you how to polka."

Sheldon sat his plate down. "Alright, I think that's enough."

Penny put her own dinner down and stood. "You ready then?"

"Definetly," not.

"Alright. See you guys later!" Penny said, leaving with Sheldon.

"So are they dating?" Raj asked.

"I don't think so. I mean, come on, it's Sheldon," Leonard said, though he seemed unsure.

"You're right. They're just going as friends. That's why she dressed up so nicely," Howard said patronizingly.

"Yeah, and Sheldon doesn't dance," Raj reminded them, eyebrows raised very seriously.

"But it's Sheldon."

Howard and Raj merely nodded and went on eating. Leonard did have a really good point.

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Penny sat next to Sheldon at their table, watching the other couples dance to a polka.

"Go figure," she said quietly, sipping on her iced tea.

Sheldon was staring at her drink with something akin to shock. "I have noticed something."

"What's that Moonpie?"

"You have ceased to consume alcoholic beverages lately. I was wondering why that was."

Penny blushed, not really wanting him to know the reason. "Well…" You don't drink, Sheldon, and I wanted to try and be the kind of woman you might want, even if I'll never be smart like you. "I guess I just don't see the point in drinking anymore. Besides, I didn't come here to get drunk. I came here to dance. Not only that, one of us has to be the designated driver, and as you don't drive…"

Sheldon merely nodded, smiling faintly at her explanation. "I'm very proud of you Penny. You've managed to kick a very serious habit. I commend you for it."

"Thanks, Sheldon."

A waltz started up, and a tall, broad shouldered man walked up to her and asked her to dance. She glanced at Sheldon, who nodded that it was fine with him.

Penny went to the floor with the gentleman, wishing it was her Moonpie. Somehow between last October and now he'd become her Moonpie. That was something she didn't ever want him to find out.

Sheldon watched as Penny kept the correct form and time with her partner. She was lovely on a dance floor, almost as if she'd always been on one.

Penny allowed herself to be lead through the waltz with this man, but couldn't really lose herself in the music. Honestly, she'd rather sit and watch with Sheldon than be lead through a dance with Robert Downey Jr. And if that wasn't saying something she didn't know what would.

The next waltz started and she declined the offer, walking back to her scientist. If he ever found out about that one, she'd die.

Sheldon complimented her technical ability when she got back.

"How did you learn how to dance, Moonpie?"

"My mother thought it would be a good way to keep me from building death rays and robots when I was twelve."

"I'm guessing you had just built a robot."

"No, I'd conducted my experimentation with stairs and my father broke his clavicle."

Penny snorted. "So you took dance?"

"Yes, for about a year. I took ballroom dancing."

Penny smiled, thinking of the twelve-year-old who must have wanted so much to build a time machine to get out of that one.

"Where did you learn to dance?" Sheldon asked softly.

"I started taking ballet and jazz when I was three. When I was nine, my sister got married. Everyone had to learn how to waltz. I decided I wanted to stay in ballroom lessons, and took them until I left Omaha."

The second waltz had ended and a small accordion started playing. A tango was announced, and Penny eyed her table partner. "Do you know how to tango, Sheldon?"

"I do indeed."

"Would you like to tango with me?"

Sheldon briefly wondered if there were a double entendre in there, but then he wasn't good with those sorts of things. So he simply smiled and stood.

Penny sighed. She didn't figure he'd get the double meaning, but it really shouldn't have surprised her. Sarcasm was still giving him hell. Sexual innuendo probably wasn't something he'd ever dreamed of trying to pick up.

They walked out to the dance floor, the music picking up a piano, a violin, and a couple of muted trumpets.

Penny eyed him as they stood apart, slowly circling one another. Penny held out her hand. Sheldon grabbed it and pulled her forcefully to him. His other hand found her waist, while her other found his shoulder.

He started leading her backward while holding her close. He swept her into a twist, her feet twisting through his, his feet moving hers. He swept her swiftly, and surely, up into a small lift. She twisted her hips, their legs lifting in a playful cat and mouse.

The music deepened, as a snare drum was added, and she lifted her leg to his shoulder. Sheldon spun her effortlessly, his strength marveling her.

The both sunk to the floor, his right leg stretched out between hers. She slowly brought her leg around his, and back to her body as they crept upward. She turned away, but he grabbed her, bringing her back to his body. He took them both forward again, her head turned backward to look at him. He spun her three times, quickly, and she was again facing him. Her leg hooked around his waist, and he moved backward, stretching her forward. She flung her leg out to the side, and their hips and feet were twisting again, several steps to the side. Her legs twined into his and he spun her effortlessly as the music came to a close.

Around them, everyone began clapping. They hadn't noticed that they were alone on the floor, with an audience, until now.

Penny and Sheldon both blushed at the attention. Penny migrated quickly into his arms, which closed around her protectively.

"Let's go sit back down," he said.

Penny nodded into his shoulder, and let him lead her back to their table.

No one else asked her to dance that night. She and Sheldon didn't stop holding hands either.

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"How was dancing?" Leonard asked, pausing the Halo match when Sheldon came in much later that night.

"Excellent. Penny is a very talented dancer."

"Really?" Raj asked, somewhat surprised that Sheldon would give such a nice complement.

"Indeed. Her waltz was perfect, and her tango was exquisite," he said, walking to his bedroom, glad they couldn't see him blushing. "Goodnight all."

Raj, Howard, and Leonard all watched him leave, before looking at each other.

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Review please.

I'm not a dancer, so I don't know all the technical names. I have, however, been watching tango videos on youtube all morning in order to describe the dance.