Forehead Kiss
"You're the best."
Sheldon felt a tightening in his chest that he was sure was purely psychosomatic, but felt more like his heart would suddenly leap from his body. He considered putting his arm around her but that would mean moving her. Then he realized she really had fallen asleep this time.
Oh lord, he thought.
He tapped her on the shoulder three times. "Penny."
Tap tap tap. "Penny."
Tap tap tap. "Penny."
She turned again and buried her face in his shoulder, inhaling deeply. She scrunched her eyes and then blinked them open. They were an intensely bright green and Sheldon's breath caught in his throat. He swallowed and tried again.
"Go to bed, Penny."
She shook her head and whispered, "Don't wanna. It's lonely over there." More open in her exhaustion than she would ever be normally.
That tightening in Sheldon's chest increased along with his heartbeat. He'd had no idea she was lonely.
"I'll be right back."
She moved her head so he could get up but then lay her head on the striped pillow in Sheldon's spot, pulling her feet up with her.
Sheldon went to the linen closet and got the spare pillow and blanket and when he retuned she was fast asleep again. Carefully, he raised her head and switched pillows. She'd wake up with a crick in her neck if she used the throw pillow. Then he covered her with the blanket and tucked it in around her.
After he turned the overhead light off he turned on his desk lamp so she could see where she was if she woke up in the middle of the night.
Penny snuggled deeper into the pillow and a lock of hair fell over her face. Sheldon knelt down and brushed it back, placing a kiss on her forehead.
She hummed and Sheldon swallowed again, his face softening and a corner of his lips quirking up.
"Sleep well, Penny."