CH

"So," Penny said, as soon as the tux clad waiter at the ritzy french eatery left them alone, "this discovery that we are celebrating in high style, is it Noble Prize worthy?"

Sheldon breathed out a laugh and discretely checked that the napkin was freshly laundered before placing it in his lap and turning his attention to the silver. He'd vetted this place every year in anticipation of one day holding a Noble Prize reception there, but it didn't hurt to make sure they were keeping up their standards all the same. Satisfied that the silver was immaculate he smiled brightly at Penny. "No, unless it's a very slow year in the field of science. It is however of great importance."

Penny watched him as the waiter came back and went through the wine ritual before departing again. Sheldon was vibrating with excitement. "Have you proved String Theory?" She guessed.

"No." Sheldon leaned in and said in a hushed voice. "But almost as good." He paused for dramatic effect, "I have disproved loop theory!"

"You've made the Winkle girl redundant?"

"Well," Sheldon thought for a minute, "I suppose so, but she's a bright enough girl, now that she can't waste her time on the wrong model of the universe, who knows what she might achieve." He declared magnanimously. "The possibilities are endless, the dimensions of life as we know it..."

She interrupted him by putting her hand on his arm briefly and then raising her glass. "Here is saying goodbye to loop theory and all of the hokum that goes with it!"

He smiled and raised his glass of sparkling water with spirit. "Yes!"

Their glasses clinked, and they watched each other over the rims of their cups as they drank before turning to the waiter, who was once again there with brown leather menus. They ordered, and then settled down to enjoy the meal.

"Your mother phoned today." Penny mentioned, "She was clearing out the attic and wondered if you wanted her to keep your christening dress, your little league participation medal, your death ray, or your mind control helmet."

"Yes."

"To which?"

"All of it. I suppose she could just send it here, we've got an attic too you know."

"So you intend on having children one day then?" Penny quizzed.

"Progeny, yes." Sheldon nodded quickly. "My life's work will not amount to much if there is no one to continue it."

"Sheldon, you can't predict that your children will be as smart as you, or if they are, what they are going to want to study." She pointed out, stabbing the air with her fork for emphasis.

He frowned and cut into his steak. "By my calculations, if I have between four and six offspring, at least two will have some aspect of my intelligence, and if I start them when they are young, one will grow up to consider theoretical physics the perfect spot for their mind."

"Four to six! You're going to have that many kids?"

"Well, if the first two are geniuses than there is no point in having more, although the prospect of having a whole paintball team of geniuses does appeal." His eyes raised to hers again. "Don't you want kids Penny?"

"Well yes," She stammered. "I had always thought maybe three, I like kids. But Sheldon, what if none of them inherit your brains?"

He scowled. "They will."

Penny shook her head and laughed suddenly. Here they were, discussing kids like an old married couple. He was probably right, his kids would be smart even if they only inherited half his mental ability, and good looking too, with huge blue eyes and silky brown hair and impish smiles...

Sheldon looked up to see what Penny was laughing at and caught her gaze on him, her green eyes sparkling and her cheeks slightly flushed. "What?"

"I was just thinking that you're right. You should have lots of offspring, the world is going to need all the help it can get." She smiled gently, still imagining a line up of mini-Sheldons.

"Exactly." Sheldon nodded. " I'm glad you brought this up Penny, you realise you are 27 now."

"So?" She frowned, the minis vanishing.

"With approximately two years between children, we have less than a year to make arrangements."

"What do you mean, less than a year? Lots of women over 40 conceive!"

"Women over 40 have a 5 % percent chance of conceiving, even with IVF." He corrected, "And as you already stated, my mother would not be thrilled with a lab fertilization."

"Don't you think you're skipping some steps?" Penny went back to the original statement.

"Leonard says we are practically dating already, and my mother likes you." He blinked at her. "What else is there?"

Pleased that his mother liked her, Penny had to think for a minute to recall her initial objection. "We aren't dating though, we haven't had sex, we aren't married, and... Do you really want me to be the mother of your children?"

"Penny," he replied dryly, "You're the only woman I'm not related to that I can bear to have touch me, except Amy, and she is engaged to a sheik, and lacking in the necessary attributes to be a good mother for my children."

"Ah.." Penny smiled knowingly. "This is about the Pecan pie, isn't it?"

"Of course." He bent over his food again.

"A year huh?"

"Yes, approximately."

"You do realize what goes into the making of children, right?" Penny's eyebrows had risen again.

"Of course. Are you accepting?"

Penny blinked. He was serious? "Can I think about it?"

"I can allow you six weeks to think about it, I have scheduled the courting to begin as late as Halloween."

"Thank you." Six weeks to contemplate spending the rest of her life with Sheldon? Her bed? A life time of immaculate bathrooms and pristine sheets ironed by long slim hands, of watching big blue eyes over the morning coffee?

"Penny?"

"Yes?"

"I think you would be a wonderful mother."