A/N: Thanks for the reviews. They are food for a writer's soul.

I do not own or make money from The big Bang Theory.

Chapter 3

Cera and Penny had just returned to Penny's apartment when Leonard and Sheldon exited their apartment, discussing the comics they hoped to find once they arrive at Stuart's store. The guy's eyes immediately landed on the woman twirling in circles, long dark blond hair flying with denim and string flapping all around her

"Oh, hey Penny I…uh…I really need to talk with you. Do you have a minute?" Leonard asked squinting uncertainly through his new contacts.

"I guess." replied Penny stepping into her apartment. Leonard quickly stumbled after leaving Cera and Sheldon alone in the hallway.

"Sooo..." started Cera pulling at the hand sanitizer attached to her purse and holding up her hands in a surrender position towards Sheldon. She surprised herself by performing this once familiar act; that her instincts were still to care for him and make him comfortable.

"I don't care for banal chit chat, so please don't feel the need to fill the air with useless prattle." stated Sheldon very matter of factly.

Cera smiled "I will try not prattle then. I do owe you an apology for…for other day. Perhaps we can start over. Cera." she said gesturing towards herself and sounding more confident than she actually felt. Knowing he wouldn't shake, despite the sanitizer she dipped into a curtsy.

"While it is beneficial that you recognized your rude behavior, what you should be apologizing for is traipsing through my home in your bare feet." exclaimed Sheldon, clearly becoming agitated. He had been in this woman presence for only a minute and she was already throwing him off balance. She actually had the nerve to curtsey at him. Only she ever did such a thing. 'A polite greeting without contact and germ exchange,' she would say.

Knock, knock, knock

"Penny and Leonard,"

Knock, knock, knock,

"Penny and Leonard,"

Knock, knock, knock

"Penny and Leonard,"

"Leonard, we are now 6 minutes behind schedule and the hippie is talking to me." Sheldon shouted eyeing Cera warily.

"Just a minute." Came a muffled yet clearly upset shout from Leonard.

"We're late already. You would think the man couldn't keep up with a schedule." huffed Sheldon.

"Leonard, now is not the time to engage in coitus with Penny as you are in a regretful relationship with Raj's sister Priya, but most importantly we are 7 minutes behind schedule." complained a frustrated Sheldon.

"I could... I could take you, give you a ride." Cera heard herself say. She may feel on edge around Sheldon, but she was always going to try to be nice.

Sheldon gave her the once over feeling apprehensive. She was wearing rugged denim and graphic t-shirt of some kind covered by what appeared to be a large colorful doily. He didn't usually ride with strangers and definitely didn't think he could ride with this one. "Honestly woman, do you think I would get into a motor vehicle with you. I imagine you find it acceptable to drive bare footed, goodness knows what sort of disregard you would give an automobile. If I had not witnessed the fact that you know how to operate sanitizer I would think the inside of your vehicle would be in the same state of disrepair as your clothing." Cera knew he would be particular about accepting a ride from someone, but she wasn't quiet expecting…this. Sure he had always been a bit pompous, and blunt, but never quiet this…condescending that bordered of just flat out mean.

"I'm wearing shoes right now," she said gesturing towards her plaid Converse wedges. Sheldon hadn't noticed her shoes for staring at the rest of her ensemble, including her elfin ear cuffs. "My car is clean, it's new, in fact, as is my driving record. I follow all traffic laws and speed limits. My skirt has frayed edges, by the way, because I like the feel of upcycling where old clothing is reimagined into new clothing. Now, do ya want a ride, or don't you?" Cera had no idea why she was actually offering a ride for the second time. Originally she had thought giving Sheldon a ride would be a great time to have a serious discussion with Sheldon, but now she wasn't sure. Her strength was being lost between nerves and irritation.

Sheldon wondered why she offered such a service. He also pondered why the idea of a ride with her intrigued him. He thought he might accept, despite his rule about riding in strange vehicles with strangers, especially since this woman was, well, strange. Before Sheldon could decide between following his hard and fast rule, or his natural curiosity, Penny's door flew open and an angry Leonard stomped through to his apartment, an equally angry Penny at her own door shouting "YOU can assure Priya that YOU will be staying away from ME!"

Sheldon said as he turned to face Cera, looking for an escape from the impending argument, "Cera, I believe I will take you up on that ride. Do you know the location of the Comic Center, I can program the address into your GPS."

Cera just gaped at the sudden acceptance and then scrambled to catch up to him. They walked down the stairs and settled into Cera's Jeep in silence. By the time Cera had pulled out onto Los Robles she was ready to break the silence, so she turned on the radio. Cera was a ball of nerves, she wasn't sure how to start this conversation. She also was unsure of the silence from Sheldon side of the Jeep, he used to have something interesting to say. The instrumental jazz were the only sounds between them.

"Must we listen to this noise? It's chaotic and lacks the intellectual structure that is classical music." complained Sheldon, turning off the radio. The melodic sounds of piano, bass, and drums were just too familiar and too much for him right now. He needed them to stop. He needed this to stop. Why had he accepted this ride? Why did this woman bother him so?

Cera whipped head towards Sheldon, wide eyed with surprised at the grievance. For a time jazz was all she had listened to in the car or at home and he had never objected to it before. He had been amused that her love of jazz had come from a Peanuts cartoon. While Sheldon had confessed it wasn't his favorite, he had acknowledged it represented creativity and talent. He had always seemed to find it at least tolerable and at times enjoyable. "But it's uhh, its heart and, and imagination…" she stammered out a moment later.

Sheldon gave a snort of derision, but before he could speak Cera interjected, "Has jazz always bothered you or has it done something to offend you recently?"

"I wouldn't say it bothers me, per se, I've never wasted my time giving any thought to it, and it is definitely an improvement over that drivel Penny forces upon me, but I am really in no mood to have such an assault on my ears at this moment." replied Sheldon not wanting the reminder of a hundred other car rides.

Cera was thankful the Comic Center was so close and the ride was little more than five minutes.

Every eye turned toward Sheldon and Cera as they stepped into The Comic Center. Both newcomers dismissed this and Sheldon stepped away quickly- Cera's presence was becoming increasingly...familiar and uncomfortable.

"Hi, can I help you?" Cera was greeted by Stuart.

"Oh sure. I need twenty-three please." Cera replied in a chirpy voice.

"Uh, twenty-three. Sure, sure. Twenty-three of what?" replied Stuart eager to help, but confused by the statement.

"Hmmm, comic books, silly." answered Cera with a goofy grin taking in all the store had to offer.

She was feeling out of her depth here and the less comfortable she felt in a situation the quieter and stranger she became. Her brother called it the quirky blond defense. She knew she sounded like an eccentric twit most of time, lately. But it couldn't be helped, she was terrified of being herself and being rejected by anybody, for any reason.

"Anything in particular or do you just want the first ones I can grab?" asked Stuart staring at his store's sudden feminine anomaly.

"Yes!? I, I'm looking for the latest of some particular comics for kids under 12. I'd like three Marvel Runaways, three Marvel Adventures: Super Heroes, and Marvel Adventures: Spider Man, three Justice League and two Spider-man Loves Mary Jane. The other eight just give me the latest of anything acceptable to kids under 15." Cera said trying to come up with a list.

"Great, OK, but that's, um, only twenty-two." stumbled out Stuart.

"Oh, and one Amelia Rules!" finished off Cera. While the other twenty-two were for work, this one was for Merritt. Amelia Rules was her favorite.

Howard and Raj strolled in as Cera was completing her order. The duo took in the rare sight of a woman in the Comic Center.

"Leonard called looking for you. He thought we had picked you up." Howard said as he walked towards Sheldon.

"I procured a ride from one of Penny's…acquaintances." Sheldon answered cutting his eyes towards Cera.

"Would that be the lovely flower child that Stuart is chatting up?" Howard questioned eyeballing Cera appreciatively.

"Dude, it must be working because she's buying more than he's probably sold all-eep." Raj became silent as he noticed the woman approach.

Cera turned and saw the group that was now with Sheldon. She was glad to see Sheldon with friends, she wasn't sure he had ever had any besides her, not that he ever gave her that specific title. While she was beginning to feel weary of the strain she felt because of current company she put on her most genuine smile and approached them. She was going to stay positive and happy and spread it as best she could. Otherwise she was going to drown in the darkness this situation was causing her to feel.

"Hello again Sheldon. Thank you for inviting me, I found lots of nice stuff...Are you pleased with your findings? I see you have people to spend your fun time with. Are these your friends?" Cera spoke softly hoping to share her tranquility, thin though it was, and not offend anyone.

"Hmmph, while I am amazed that a person such as yourself is able to enjoy all that the Comic Center has to offer, I didn't invite you. I simply allowed you to drive me here. I have not found anything terribly interesting yet. As for my 'friends' they do have some positive attributes, but frequently I find them dull minded and taxing." mumbled Sheldon.

"You choose to view your friends through a negative lens?" Cera questioned. Though Sheldon was frequently awkward socially and had little experience with friends, she was shocked he would be so unpleasant. "You should choose a happy lens to see your friends. Always choose happy." While Cera agreed with the sentiment of what she said, she can't believe the words that are falling out her mouth. Thinking perhaps changing tactics would sound better she decided to ask for an introduction. "May I meet dull minded and taxing?"

"Cera, this Howard Wolowitz, who has a girlfriend." Sheldon said indicating the brightly dressed guy who was grinning at her lasciviously.

"What it be groovy fox?!" Howard said attempting hippie slang in his most smarmy voice.

"Hello Howard, who has a girlfriend. It be, a groovy day!" replied Cera smiling brightly, mimicking him.

"Tell me about your lovely." requested Cera hoping to shift Howards focus to something more pleasant.

"Oh! Uh, Bernie?! Oh she's great. Beautiful, blonde, brilliant." Howard said with a besotted grin.

"Aww, you're blushing and using alliteration, it's love isn't it?" said Cera noting the sincerity and affection in Howard's eyes as he described his beloved.

"Uh, Yeah." Howard sighed with a shy grin startled by the question.

"Then you would be?" Asked Cera, turning her attention to the Indian in the sweater vest.

"Cera, this is Rajesh Koothrapali. He suffers from the anxiety disorder known as selective mutism when he is confronted with females so he won't be answering any of your questions." stated Sheldon in a superior tone.

"Hi Rajesh." Cera waved and grinned brightly at the other newcomer. Raj merely grinned and nodded.

"Your eyes are quiet expressive. Besides, I bet you hear a lot more." Replied Cera with a soft smile.

Raj just smiled happily at her and nodded sheepishly.

"People don't always need words from knowledge, sometimes they need the wisdom of an ear that listens." Cera said dreamily.

Raj leaned in and whispered to Howard. "Raj says he likes your poncho."

"Thank you, it's made from old t-shirts. I cut them into strips and then knotted into a big web. Like macramé." Cera replied, stretching her wrap out so that the knotting was more obvious.

Howard relayed Raj's reply "He said the colors are becoming on you and that-No, I am not saying that to her. She's friends with Penny and may know how to go Junior Rodeo on our asses too." Howard said turning to speak to Raj instead being a translator. Raj whispered a counter in Howard's ear to which Howard replied "I agree she looks more like lover than a fighter, but do you really want to find out if it's the latter? I'd ask if you were drunk, but if you were, you would be offensive to her in person."

Cera stared at the duo wide eyed for several long beats before she smiled brightly and let out a light, happy laugh. "Ohhh, I needed a good laugh." She said trying to catch her breath. "I bet you say that to all the girls in the comic book store. How can you call that dull?" Cera asked turning towards Sheldon still chuckling. Raj and Howard just shrugged at each other. She choose to treat their awkward coarseness with laughter rather than annoyance, she knew they didn't mean it, and they were funny.

"It's quiet easy when they carry on in this crude manner, ad nauseam. That's also what makes them taxing. However, it's typically Howard who chooses to be lewd." replied Sheldon glaring at Howard and Raj.

"Hmmm. I see what you mean, I suppose…it could be tedious to be flattered like that too often." Cera said softly with a smile stepping closer to Sheldon. "Do you need me to return you?"

"No, I'll ride back home with Leonard, he should be here in short order." Sheldon stammered, backing away from her since she seemed dead set on invading his personal space. Cera noticed Sheldon's retreat, so she stopped and looked him in the eye and gave the odd statement, "Then we will talk soon, make the most of your day and please be happy." Then she turned and disappeared through the front door with her purchases.

"Where did Penny find Luna Lovegood?" Howard asked after Cera left the store.

Sheldon just shrugged noncommittally, too stunned to speak. Leaving a warm tightness in his chest. Wherever Penny found her, he hoped she'd take her back, and soon. She was causing him physical and mental distress.