A/N: Thank you for reading! And the feed back is wonderful.

I don't own The Big Bang Theory

Chapter 7

Fortunately for Cera her week had been too busy to concern herself with her upcoming meeting with Sheldon. Merritt had been sick Sunday and Monday, so Cera spent her time tending to her, Soft Kitty and all. Eventually she had to call Connie to watch Merritt on Monday afternoon while she worked. Tuesday and Wednesday were both 12 hour shifts at work. Today she had spent an hour and a half at Merritt's school discussing her 'educational options,' which was a half an hour more than she had planned for.

Due to the time spent at The Waverly School, where Merritt attended, she was now late to drop off shoes for Penny.

"Hey! I thought you'd forgotten me. Whoa, what are you wearing?" Penny asked eyeing Cera's outfit. She was unprepared for the professional appearance of her typically eclectic friend. Cera was adorned with a navy, knee length pencil skirt with large teal polka dots. She had topped it with a teal scoop-neck, button up blouse with elbow length sleeves. She was wearing simple teal flats and her long hair was pulled into neat chignon at the nape of her neck. "Did you have to go to court?"

"No, of course not. I've just been to work and The Waverly School. But mostly it seems the world has been using me as an experiment proving the second law of thermodynamics." Cera explained as she walked over to Penny's counter and perched on a chair containing two sweaters. She sat a box and a paper bag on Penny's counter.

"You were doing experiments on a what?" Despite Penny's surprise at Cera's clothing, her speech and demeanor had been shifting for a few weeks now. It was if Cera had become more comfortable and settled into herself around Penny, so Penny wasn't too surprised with this terminology coming from her.

"The second law of thermodynamics. In a normal thermodynamic process, there is an increase in the amount of the entropies of the participating systems."

"Oh…ah…entropy" Penny tried to remember when Sheldon had called her apartment entropy, "mess, the mess gets bigger…when you…do something."

"Yep, pretty much. In anything done the chance for things to go wrong is unlimited. It's been a DAY, but it's done now and I have the shoes." Cera slid a white shoe box with black print across the top across the counter. "They should match that new cobalt blue dress of yours."

"Oh, Wow! Is that the Manolo's? I can't believe you are letting me borrow these!" Penny squealed pulling out the heeled blue swirly strapped sandals. "You are just soo nice. Too nice."

"Oh, hun, I don't think anyone can be too nice. I just do what feels right to me. I am setting an example for a young lady you know." Cera stated.

"And she is awesome. I was so surprised to see you last night. And really you did not have to leave that much tip. I appreciate it, but you don't have to."

"Well, Merritt thought you were awesome, too. I got used to leaving big tips when she was small and made big messes. Big mess should get big tips. I was surprised she agreed to The Cheesecake Factory last night. Her initial desire was Mexican food and usually when she wants something there is no diverting her, but she was agreeable." Cera said smiling at the thought of her daughter.

"So, what's in the bag?" Penny gestured to the bag.

"Oh, yeah. Do you like limes? The citrus trees behind my parents' house are ripe. I'm the only one who eats and uses the limes so we've got a bit of a surplus. I've already got nearly a dozen at home…and I've made a ton of vanilla lime body scrub, so I don't need these…they're organic. There is also some vanilla lime scrub in there. I made it."

"Uh, sure." Penny said taking the bag. "I use them in drinks sometimes. Sheldon likes them in his diet coke and a girl can always use some skincare." Cera nodded, she remember he liked limes in his Diet Coke because prior to her, he used lemons.

"Oh I have your dry cleaning and your vitamins from Granny's Health Food. The receipt for your water is in the bag." Penny said gesturing to a dry cleaning bag hanging from the back of her door. There was a paper bag whose handle was laced over the hanger for the clothes. "So you said you were at Waverly School. Isn't that like a private school or something?" she asked.

"Yes, the school I have Merritt enrolled in. She's bored in her class, talking too much, basically being disruptive. She didn't have this problem in her last school because I had her moved up a grade. Waverly doesn't want to do that, unless I allow her to undergo an IQ test." Cera stated as she looked over her clothes. Nodding in approval she pulled her shimmery navy handbag that was edged in a gunmetal chain from her shoulder.

"But wouldn't that be a good thing?" Penny asked not understanding the problem.

"I know she's advanced, any teachers that work with her can see the same. I don't need a number. She would be stuck with whatever number the test comes up with. And it really doesn't mean anything. Those test are two dimensional and really don't give you the whole picture." Cera explained opening up her wallet to pull out three bills.

"That would only a problem if she didn't do well though, right? You do think she would do well, don'tcha?"Penny said as Cera put the money in her hand. "Wait, what is this for?"

"It's because you saved me a couple of hours and used your gas, for me. Thanks. So anyway, I mean she might not test well. What if she finds it stressful or she is tired that day." Cera asked concernedly paying no attention to Penny's shocked look.

"I really can't accept this." Penny said as she put the fifty dollars in her pocket. When Cera made no further move or mention regarding the money Penny finally asked, "Does she test bad?"

Cera ignored the money and lifelong grammar lessons from her father, resisting the urge to correct her, "Not usually no. But-" Cera was cut short by a knock at the door.

Knock, knock, knock

"Penny?"

Knock, knock, knock

"Penny?"

Knock, knock, knock

"Penny?"

"Oh, dear Lord." muttered Cera standing up from the bar chair.

"Whadup MoonPie?" Penny said flinging the door open. Cera whipped her head around stunned at Penny's greeting. That was MeeMaws endearment for him. Nobody can call him MoonPie, but MeeMaw.

"Penny, you know, no one can call me MoonPie but MeeMaw." At that moment Sheldon caught sight of the well-dressed Cera. Without removing his eyes from her he stammered, "I…ahem…I apologize Penny. I didn't realize you were entertaining a guest."

"Oh, I'm not. She was just dropping of these shoes. See." Penny held up the blue suede sandals. There was no need to mention the exchange of errands and money. He'd just have to wonder when she didn't record anything on his DVR this month, since her bill would be paid.

"Penny, I'm hardly interested in your footwear. I merely wanted to know if you will be joining us for pizza." During his response to Penny he glanced back toward Cera, stunned at the change in her appearance.

"Sweetie, I know you want me to come over, but with Leonard and Priya, I just don't think it's a good idea. Besides, I was gonna go out tonight and I was gonna wear these shoooesss." Penny finished in a sing song tone. "But hey, maybe you can help Cera."

"What!?" was the first thing Cera said since Sheldon had arrived. She snapped her head around and glared at Penny. What could Penny possibly think she needed his help for?

"Her daughter's school will only let her skip a grade if she has her IQ tested." Penny explained.

"You have progeny?...Fascinating. Did you need help setting her up to have her IQ tested? You really shouldn't let just anyone administer that test." explained Sheldon. He was slightly thrown off by this new information. Their group typically didn't socialize with peers that were parents. Cera hardly looked like anyone's mother, well not typically. At this moment she did. At this moment she looked as though she could have a degree and work a normal nine to five job instead of playing her guitar on the corner. She almost looked like…

"Uh, no, no I don't. I really would prefer for her not to take one. At least not right now. Maybe later, when she's in middle school." Cera was hoping this would dissuade Sheldon from this discussion-at least for now.

"Now why would you want to keep her from reaching her full potential? Do you perhaps feel she is not truly advanced?" Sheldon asked confused as to why anyone who suspected their child of higher intelligence would not want to document that fact and help their knowledge flourish. He found that despite her appearance, she still sounded a bit like a hippie. Looks can be deceiving after all.

"She is advanced, but no, she's not genius. And I don't want her defined by some…number that really doesn't mean anything."

"Doesn't mean anything? Clearly you are unaware about the importance of a higher intelligence and the ability to prove it. If you find that you daughter is advanced it is your duty as a parent to discover her level of intellect and strive to provide her with stimulation that will help her to reach her full potential."

"My duty as a-are you questioning my parenting?" Cera said incredulously giving Sheldon a stern glare though it was lost of him.

"I have questioned nothing of the sort. As I am not well acquainted with you, I don't know your daughter, nor I have I ever seen the two of you interact; so I lack the data to make such a pronouncement. I'm merely pointing out that if she is indeed exceptional she is going to need more training than an average elementary class can provide. Certainly you aren't making this decision based on your feelings alone. How does your husband feel about her IQ?" Why was this woman being so difficult, Sheldon wondered? He was merely trying to get an accurate count for dinner and now he was pulled into an outlandish conversation with someone who was barely an acquaintance about her offspring that wasn't even exceptional.

"I'm a single mother." Cera stated glaring at Sheldon. "You don't marry someone you don't even want around you, do you?" slipped out, with venom, before she could stop it. She didn't realize she still felt that angry about it. This was really not the time or place. Damn Penny and her helpfulness. Cera wanted to do this on Saturday, where he was comfortable. Alone.

"I...uh, no I suppose one doesn't." Sheldon spluttered confused and a bit intimidated by what felt like a personal attack. Clearly she had some residual psychological issues from a previous paramour and was transferring her issues on to him. No matter. This was a simple problem with an easy solution and then she could be out of his way again. "Uh, ah, no matter about that. Is the fact that you need the test score to have your daughter properly educated not cause enough for her to take them? Where do you have her enrolled?"

"I have her enrolled at The Waverly School. IQ testing wasn't necessary at her last school. Her grades were enough to move her up a grade. Waverly promised me they were a dynamic school and could keep up with advanced students, but it still isn't enough for her. But the test just seems like I am giving into someone else's curiosity, not that it is necessarily pertinent."

"That is not a valid reason. All test are to satisfy someone else's curiosity. They are designed to inform a group or individuals how much is known and potential on any given subject."

Penny was sure an IQ test couldn't be that bad, everyone she knew that had taken them, scored highly and become very successful. If Merritt was really smart surely Sheldon could help Cera do what was necessary to move her up. "She said those test were two dimensional and don't present a whole picture." Penny said reminding them she was there.

"Well she isn't incorrect in that. IQ test are limited and I suppose in that way can also be limiting. That is why I have stated that my IQ cannot be measured, but it does at least provide a base line from which to work."

"Yes, but what if you are being held back by a faulty number. What if you could be working at a 220 level, but because you and everyone you have encountered believes you to be 187, you are operating at a lower capacity. It is just a label for others to put on you. It makes you work within their parameters. Are you any different because of the number?"

"Yes! It's the difference between "Are you crazy?" and being the most intelligent person in the building. It is the difference between staring at a wall in kindergarten out of stupidity and staring at a wall in boredom, because you have surpassed everyone else in class, including the teacher. The number as you so basely put it, is the difference. It is the evidence, to everyone, what that difference is. Clearly you've not suffered any ill effect due to your intelligence so I wouldn't expect you to comprehend the need for such documentation….You should have her tested." Sheldon stated irritably. Obviously this woman had no regard for those with higher intelligence.

"You don't know what I have or have not suffered because of my intelligence. I have taken an IQ test and I do know my score, but I do not tell others and I do not want to be treated different because of it. It shouldn't matter if my IQ is 85 or 160. There are plenty of high scoring individuals that have done nothing and even more average people who have achieved greatness." Cera raised her voice because really, she knew he was right. She just was afraid of Merritt being labeled. But she did want to ensure that nobody ever gave her a negative label either. The thought that Sheldon had to grow up with jibes like 'That boy ain't right' broke her heart and she would never subject Merritt to such a thing.

"No, I don't have any knowledge of your intelligence, nor is that the point. The issue is whether or not your child is in an academic setting that that helps her to thrive. You owe it to your daughter to have her tested and placed where she can flourish."

"But…it'll make her different. I don't want her to change…Or, for others treat her differently. An IQ number is not something to build an ego or an insecurity around." Cera said feeling tears rise.

"If she is advanced, I imagine she has already noticed that she stands out among her peers. Have her take the test, tell her the general range so she won't as you say 'define herself by her number' and when she becomes mature enough to process the information give her the official number…I would have my progeny tested." Sheldon stated smugly.

Cera felt her heart squeeze. Sheldon came to such an easy conclusion while making it seem like an imperative to have Merritt tested. It would be his desire as a parent, as a father-if he knew this choice were his. God, why did he have to sound like a reasonable parent? She felt as if she could not deny him this. Cera knew she would be seeking to have Merritt tested the next morning.

Cera's thoughts were broken through by Sheldon. "What advancements has she displayed that has caused you to consider her above her classmates?"

"Oh, uh, well, when she was in the first grade she came home in tears with a yellow light-the traffic light system was how they indicated the behavior and progress for the day." Cera explained "The note written on her light sheet said she had misbehaved and been 'mouthy.' It didn't sound like her so when I asked she explained that it was because of her spelling test and that all of her words were wrong even though they were right. It sounded odd to me so, naturally I called the teacher the next day and asked about this. The teacher explained to me that she premade spelling test slips and handed them out to the students so they couldn't cheat. She told me that after calling the first word Merritt finished her spelling test before the second word was called. When the teacher asked Merritt about it, Merritt told the teacher she knew her words and 'the words were going too slow.' That upset the teacher so Merritt was put in to timeout, and except for the first word, all the words were marked as wrong for not being in the right order even though they were all spelled correctly."

"That event alone does not mark a gifted child." Sheldon pointed out even though it certainly didn't sound average; not that he would tell Cera that.

"She is frequently reminded to show her work in math to prove how she found the answer. The answers are easy to her. She is able to determine correct answer without even putting pen to paper. All the extra work to prove what she already knows is nearly confusing to her. Granted its middle school math, not calculus, but it's still beyond her age. There are many instances since she started speaking, in full sentences I might add, that I can come up with. I'm not saying she is a super genius, she isn't going to be, but she is not just the average kid."

"Well, teachers in a typical class are rarely equipped with time or resources to handle children that fall above or below the average. That is why it is imperative that a parent ensure the adequate tutelage of their children. The earlier, the better. Any decent parent would do what was necessary for the future of their progeny. Especially one that was suspected remarkable, you, however, seem to be preventing her from advancement for reasons that are only relevant to you."

"Hey that's not fair. Cera is a good mom. Merritt is happy and fun. You should meet her." Penny broke in before Sheldon could offend Cera any further.

Cera felt overwhelmed. Sheldon was questioning her as a parent and Penny is inviting Sheldon to meet Merritt. She needed to clear her head. And then get out of here. Cera leaned her head over onto Penny's bar. Cera's head immediately shot back up. 'Uhhh, it sticky!' was the thought that cleared her head of the frustration of a moment ago.

"That was probably not a wise move considering Penny's unsanitary habits. I imagine your forehead is now crawling with viral and bacterial contaminants."

"Hey! I cleaned, last…sometime. I'm busy!" Penny exclaimed.

Leaning in for a closer to look, as if to verify the germy assault "You even have what I assume are crumbs and two grains of rice on your sinciput. I hope you have a sanitizing wipe."

Ten inches from Cera's face Sheldon was able to take in the details of her face that, to this point, he had ignored. Her nose was small, smaller than Oliva's, slightly, and she had a small thin scar down the left side. He also noticed she had a thin two inch scar across her labiomental crease parallel to her lips. Sheldon was curious how she had sustained those injuries, but before he could ask Cera cocked her head sideways drawing his sight from her chin up to her eyes. The blue of her eyes, so familiar. Something turned in his stomach. He gasped because suddenly his lungs weren't getting enough oxygen.

"Here you go sorry about that." Penny said waving a wash cloth in front of their faces. The image Sheldon was seeing had faded just as quickly as it appeared. Cera reached for the wash cloth, thankful for the reprieve from being studied so intently. She wiped her forehead quickly laying the washcloth on the counter. "Thank You, Penny." She said gathering her purse, walking to the door.

With her hand resting on the door knob, without turning around she stated "I'll…I'll see you Saturday…Sheldon." And promptly left. She couldn't bear to stay there being scrutinized by Sheldon. He had seem so wide eyed and curious. Last time he had held her gaze it was with anger and loathing.

Both Penny and Sheldon stared at the closed door Cera had just walked through. "Oh, do you think she was mad about the counter?" Penny asked concerned about her friend's quick departure.

"I can't imagine anyone coming into contact with that counter not being angry. Not to mention potentially harmed by the pathogens upon it. I, myself feel the need to return home and disinfect." With that Sheldon retreated as well, trying to shake the illusion he had just seen.