AN: Thanks so much for the reviews and the patience everyone, I've just got back from a long holiday, and now I'm getting back to writing! Hope you enjoy!

CH

The first morning went well. Mary Cooper rose at her normal waking hour and once dressed, made her way downstairs to the kitchen, expecting to make breakfast for those still sleeping.

But they weren't. Through the back window, she could clearly see her son and his roommate/friend sitting on the back deck reading through a news paper. He had the Science and Technology, and she the Arts and Entertainment section. Between them on the table was a small pot of tea, two cups filled with the steaming liquid, and a tall tower of what appeared to be french toast.

"Up early this morning are we?" She asked, opening the door.

"No." Her son replied, folding his section closed and laying it on the top of the rest of the newspaper. "We normally arise at this hour on Saturday. We must be on the road by eight to get to the farmers market on time."

"Oh?" Her eyes shifted between the two of them. "You two make a habit of going to the farmers market?"

Sheldon sighed, but before he could open his mouth to launch into a lengthy explanation of his new routines, Penny swallowed the food in her mouth and laid her newspaper down.

"I already told you Sheldon, I can go alone, you and your mom should have a nice visit." Penny smiled at them both.

"You can't go alone!" Sheldon exclaimed, "We need several things Penny, I had anticipated requiring all of our bags and baskets this morning."

Mary Cooper sat down between them and began helping herself to the french toast, which was her favourite. "We could all go." She suggested. The prospect of seeing her son willingly heading to a farmers market was intriguing, and if this was the way God was seeing fit to make him a normal human being than so be it. She would have to let her prayer circle know.

Sheldon eyed his mother suspiciously. "Fine. But I get to choose the vegetables."

His mother nodded slightly. "I understand."

"Good." He beamed, helping himself to more french toast. "We leave in half an hour so eat up."

His mother eyed him as she ate. He was looking better, his frame filled out slightly. Still thinner than a coat rack of course, but at least now it was a coat rack with coats on it. His cheeks had a bit more colour to them, and his eyes sparkled, enhanced by the blue shirt he was wearing on top of the orange one, sleeves as ever pushed to the elbows.

Penny was looking good too, she noticed. Hair pulled back in a simple pony tail, less make-up, she was a bit thinner but it looked more like she had simply converted certain soft spots into muscle, rather than dieting. Indeed, her appetite seemed good, and she was glowing with good health.

The yard was immaculate, as was the house, lived in of course, but tidy. Perhaps she hadn't needed to rush down here after all. God was taking care of things, forgive her for doubting. The news that Sheldon had purchased a house and moved out of his apartment, and that Penny -the caregiver- had moved in with him had her imagining the worst. She'd come prepared to coax him back to sanity, and give Penny's ministrations the motherly backup that had always been required before.

Leonard had apparently allowed her to think the worst. Perhaps he didn't know. She'd seen no signs of Leonard on her tour through the previous evening upon her arrival. A small question had given her the knowledge that Sheldon and Penny didn't see much of the other guys anymore but Raj, except on weekends and the occasional night when neither Howard nor Leonard had dates. Leonard had said something the same, but over the phone and knowing her son she had imagined Sheldon sulking in his house, resisting any other sort of change.

But here he was, tying up the newspaper and putting plates back on the tray, while Penny scooped up te cups and the teapot and made her way inside to begin rinsing the dishes and loading the dishwasher. It was fairly obvious that this was something either did without thinking about it too much.

Mary now began to set her sights a little higher. She wasn't needed to coax him into life, but perhaps... She eyed the way the two worked in harmony. Perhaps, romance? She wandered to the car to wait, pulling out her cell phone. The prayer circle would need to work hard on this one.