A/N: I do not own or make money from the Big Bang Theory

Chapter 27

Penny inspected the strappy shoes Cera had just sat on her counter. "Didn't you just buy these?"

"Oh, no. I bought them two months ago." Cera studied her surroundings, noticing it was tidier than usual.

"Try five weeks-I was there. You have no idea how much money you save me by letting me rotate through your collection. I haven't bought shoes in like three months."

"That's cool. I'm pleased it's helpful."

"You know it really does help…Me and Zack are talking about getting a place that's ours and moving into together, since…you know."

"That sounds cozy. Is he staying with you, now?"

"Yeah, well…we switch back and forth. He lives in the pool house behind his parents, so this is a little more…free. He does make me clean, though. He likes it tidy so 'he can find things'." Penny mimicked Zack.

Cera chuckled "I'm more than familiar with that. Sheldon straightens the patient files and research papers I have on the counter and dining table every time he's over. He organizes them by name and date. And I better not muddle his magazines or Red Vines."

Penny stared at Cera for a long moment. "What's your deal with Sheldon?"

"I don't know what you mean. He's Merritt's dad." Cera sounded too casual.

"He's cleaning your house and keeping stuff there? That sounds serious." Penny was about to add he didn't do serious or relationships, but clearly he did do something.

Cera was bewildered by Penny's assertion. "Well I wouldn't say he was cleaning. Just managing my work clutter. He's always done that. And he doesn't have that much stuff, just little things for when he's over with Merritt."

"Uh-huh, so you only ever talk about Merritt or see him because of Merritt? I remember you said you loved him. That stuff takes a long time to get over. It took, like forever and a lot of stupid mistakes to get over Kurt and he was the biggest asshole there is. And I still…care. I can't imagine having a daily reminder of all that."

"Hmm." Cera acknowledged Penny's statement then took a ragged breath. "The stupid thing is, I like him better now than I did then. While he doesn't have the same…gentlemanly sweetness, he's more…aware. At time's I enjoy him very much and watching him with Merritt is...I just melt. He's so devoted and has such affection…" Cera trailed off, her mouth creating words that her mind and emotions hadn't caught up to.

"Oh." Penny absently patted a shoe. She had seen Sheldon's sweet side, both when he was being a gentleman, and with Merritt; if he stayed that way he would be an amazing guy. Of course he was also nuts, but in a way that worked with Cera. It was no wonder the woman was always conflicted.

"I know it's ridiculous. I mean I already know that he…no, I really don't know. It's all been so inconsistent. I don't know what he thinks, or feels, or what he merely feels obligated to…I know why he likes Amy so much, she's very cut and dry, and has far less baggage than I."

Penny desperately wanted to tell her friend something, anything to encourage her, but couldn't think of a thing.

Penny had barely stepped through the door when she was verbally assaulted by Sheldon.

"You're late! You know how valuable punctuality is and yet you constantly push the boundaries of what is acceptable!" Sheldon was frustrated and taking it out on anyone around him.

"Wow, uh, sorry. Cera just dropped by some shoes. Didn't you see her?" Penny was startled.

"Cera was by? But she did not come here." Sheldon nearly whispered.

On second thought it occurred to Penny that in Cera's state, she wouldn't have stopped in to see Sheldon. Poor woman.

"I take it you haven't agreed to go with her." Leonard looked up from the stacks of food.

"No. But I have apologized…and I sent flowers. Nothing seems to be working. She's still holding this over my head." Sheldon shook his head.

"I told you, you should just go." Leonard handed food to Penny.

Penny accepted shaking her head, "I don't think that's it. She had to pick up Merritt, so she was probably in a hurry. And I don't really think she's all that mad about her parents. Maybe…you just feel guilty about it."

"I, that's not…no." Sheldon spluttered. Why should he feel guilty, he hadn't done anything wrong. He didn't, however, feel like he had done anything right, either.

"…taken over the bedroom. I believe, he views it as his right as the alpha male of the apartment. While I don't mind sharing, I am disturbed by the amount of ashes he leaves in the sheets." Amy regaled Sheldon with anecdotes of her monkey, Rickey.

"Amy Farrah Fowler, that sounds positively appalling." Sheldon physically leaned away from the computer as though he could prevent contamination. "That is unsanitary, unsafe and sounds down right squalid."

"I assure you this arrangement is temporary. We are currently working out the details."

"I would hope so." Sheldon was appalled that the woman who shared his distaste for soiled hosiery would bed down with a nicotine riddled primate.

"Sheldon have you given further consideration to testing yourself, along with Merritt?" Amy's changed subjects, sensing Sheldon's discomfort with her current, unfortunate situation.

"No. Merritt was quiet upset after our evening with you. Your line of questioning was invasive, inappropriate and hurt her deeply."

"I had not intended to offend the girl, but what other way would I have of gaining information on her? Perhaps this could be a good lesson on "bucking up" and learning to not be a slave to her emotions?"

"Amy Farrah Fowler, is that how your mother treated you?"

"Of course, and I am at the top of my field, and now, I even have a blooming social life."

"That may be true, but is this not the same woman you complain about and held you back from acclimating with others as a youngster?"

"Well..."

"Then I rest my case. I shall not emulate her, in parenting."

"Very well. It is quiet noble, how much of your precious time you devote to Merritt. I imagined you would be quiet attentive to your offspring. I have decided I would like to assist you as much as possible on your quest into parenthood." Amy feared if she didn't adapt to the current situation she would be replaced by a child…and her mother.

"Thank you for your offer Amy, I shall take it under advisement and inform you should the need for your services arise."

"Hello, Olivia." Sheldon cooed his smoothest voice into the phone.

Cera looked at her phone to verify she was indeed talking to Sheldon. "Oh, uh, hi...is Merritt's phone off again?" Why did he sound weird?

"Uh, no. I was calling to inform you that, I agree to visit your parents Saturday."

"Oh, you…want to go?" Cera was stunned.

"Well, no, but I don't want you to be angry."

"It's Ok. I told you I'm not mad."

"But I want you...and Merritt, to be happy. If my attendance accomplishes that, then so be it. And I thought it may be interesting to discuss your father's comic book collection. You said he had books in addition to what was displayed?"

Cera was thrown by the idea of him considering her happiness. Then again, comic books sounded a more likely reason.

"Alright. I'll pick you up at 10:30 on Saturday."

"I will be ready...even though you won't actually be there."

Cera laughed. "One day, Sheldon, you will learn to stop talking, before you say too much."

"So you're going?" Howard already knew the answer, Bernadette had spoken with Cera the night before.

"It would seem so."

"Man I'd love to get back over there. It was like they had their own Dave and Busters. Did you see the Hot Hoops? I used to be so awesome at that game." Howard stared off imaging himself as a Jewish Michael Jordan.

"Yea, but get you on a court and you can't dribble…or shoot…or run. Perhaps the lowered rim and mesh walls keeping the ball in helped." Raj said sardonically.

Leonard hated he missed it. "Probably wasn't that cool."

"No, it was cool. Though unlike Dave and Busters they didn't really seem to encourage eating or drinking." Raj retorted.

"As well they shouldn't. Between the electronics, priceless comic books and memorabilia, they should have a hand washing station before you enter."

"You go ahead and suggest that to them then, buddy. I can see it now. 'Mr. Daddy of the girl I knocked up, you aren't handling your game room properly. I took the liberty of creating a flow chart…'" Leonard chuckled.

"You may scoff now, but Pat Tollman is very 'cool,' as they say. He was very amenable and magnanimous….He didn't smell like I thought he would, either; there wasn't even a hint of patchouli."

The rest of the guys tried to stifle their laughter.

The brightly colored, tiny blonde threw herself at Sheldon as soon as he stepped into the great room of the expansive house.

"Uh, hello Mrs. …Tollman." Sheldon tried to back away from Cera's mother.

"Mrs. Tollman is Pat's mother, call me Cyn." Cynthia Tollman had on a bright top that flowed down to mid-thigh and ended with her shorts. Upon pulling away from Sheldon, he noticed her shirt was partially sheer and her belly button was visible; something he thought odd for a woman older than his mother.

"Oh, I just knew you would be special, Cera is just so picky. She always went for quality over quantity." Cynthia gushed. With mother and daughter standing side by side he could see that Cera stood a few inches taller than her mother.

"You always thought quantity would help you find quality…Which you know it did." Pat winked at Cyn causing her to giggle. His shirt hung open and he wore a pair of cut off denims and much like Cera and Cyn, he was barefooted. "Hey, man! Nice to see you, again." Pat clapped Sheldon's shoulder as Merritt pulled at her grandfather's other arm.

"The ladies are going to head to the kitchen, so if you want to head on to more interesting lands, you're more than welcome to follow."

Sheldon looked to Cera for direction. If he was here for her, surely he shouldn't leave her. She merely smiled and nodded her head in agreement.

Pat led Sheldon through the great room to the stairwell that Sheldon recalled went down to game room and sunroom that led to pool. When they turned left instead of right Sheldon knew they weren't going to see comic books. Through another great room, kitchen and down two hallways, Pat seemed to talk.

"Cera said you were from the Gulf?"

"Yes, sir. Galveston, Texas."

"I grew up just off the gulf myself. Daphne, Alabama. Forty plus years ago in south Alabama it wasn't unusual to come across illiterate folks and that put a high premium on getting an education and getting out. I was glad to do something else with myself. Your passion was physics, right?" Pat looked over to Sheldon who nodded.

"Mine was the written word, though my family can barely grasp proper English. Of course I do love music, but the ability to communicate and do it well, is just so captivating. That of course did tie in to songwriting, but just the ability to express myself was amazing."

Sheldon began to wonder, if Patrick wasn't taking him to the game room and more comics, where exactly was he leading him? Perhaps to see awards. Sheldon knew he was fond of showing his off, maybe Cera's father was no different.

While usually Sheldon was bored listening to others drone on about themselves, this man was at least…interesting. After another turn and a few statements about Pat's poor childhood, they arrived in a place Sheldon hadn't anticipated-an office. Books lined nearly every wall. Most of it literature, but there were many non-fiction text as well.

"You lost your father when you were young?" Patrick walked over to a white board and cocked his head.

"Yes, I was in Germany when he suffered from an acute myocardial infarction." After a beat Sheldon added "That's a-"

"I paid for Ceridwen's med school. I know it's a heart attack."

"Oh, well, that occurred before I met Olivia." The phrases scrawled on the white board interested Sheldon. He noticed there were groups of rhymes, a list of synonyms, and numbers that looked like timing. Expressing ones thought through song seemed remarkably similar to solving an equation.

"My own father passed when I was in my twenties, before the kids were born. He was up for father of the year twenty-years running." Pat shook his head with a frown.

"You must have had a close relationship." Sheldon picked a neutral response since he was unsure where this conversation was going.

"Oh…right. That was sarcasm. He was a self-absorbed bastard and I'm glad my kids didn't have to deal with him." Pat had been warned about Sheldon's short coming.

"I share a similar sentiment. The times my father tried were far fewer than those he didn't. Though, I do think I would like to gloat, that I did indeed produce progeny. My dad didn't think I'd ever be man enough to get a girl and do so. Mostly because I didn't ever take to the things he considered masculine." Sheldon twanged feeling an odd sense of comraderie with Cera's father.

"Yeah. I wasn't getting up early to hunt, or on any sports teams either. The only thing I learned from my pops, was what not to do. I had to figure everything out on my own." Sheldon nodded in agreement. He watched Patrick erase a phrase from his board only to rewrite it and add a few words. He had done that himself, knowing the act of writing engaged the brain. It was quiet for a few minutes as they milled about in the office before Patrick began talking again.

"…loved providing my children with more than I had, but I didn't want them to lose sight of their roots and being earth bound, even if their heads were in the clouds. Knowing how to handle money, having the right perspective with material things, treating people well are important. God knows I tried to show them reality when I wasn't lost myself. You know, take care of the family. Momma's idea of letting me take care of her was letting me buy her a double wide."

Sheldon imagined his own mother would try to be so humble in the event of a great windfall. She did push away the things he tried to handle and provide for her, but he assumed she was unaccustomed to such care, as his father had not provided properly for the family.

"I knew Ceridwen got it when she went out her own and made it. We didn't get calls for money or hear of any problems. It was hard to let her go though, especially after we lost Galen. She just showed up over in Carolina later-that's where her momma's from…And we got Merritt." Pat drawled out and went silent for a moment.

"Ceridwen, she loves fast…like her momma and she possesses my single mindedness so she loves hard. I can imagine that was overwhelming as a young man. I get it. When I was young, I was easily intimidated by the emotions of the fairer sex, too. It's a lot to handle on your own feelings, let alone someone else's. Throw a family on top of it and it can make you mental.

"I backed away a few times, when the passion for Cyn…the kids, turned into an obsession. I felt like I was exchanging one of my passions for another and I was losing my first love-my education and the craft that came from it."

"Obsession?" Sheldon looked startled by the strong word, though he had heard it many times in reference to his own work.

"I know it sounds bad, but I'm a man old enough to call things as they are, instead of pretending. I went out and found someone who I didn't have to be passionate about, but did have a passion that matched mine...which unfortunately at the time had blurred to just being me. Finding women that just wanted to possess me and push me further into myself, even in the name of my profession, wasn't actually good for me…or the kids."

Sheldon was uncomfortable hearing such personal information from this man, who was a stranger. Though the subject of his life's work was different, the narrative sounded familiar. He listened intently hoping it may provide some advantage to the inter-working of Cera and even Merritt. This method had proven useful in his dealings with Leonard, as Beverly had provided a wealth of information on his roommate's behavior.

"…Merritt talks about you all the time. Even now, though she's pissed with you." Pat responded to Sheldon's surprised look, "Yeah, I know about the issue with your girlfriend and pretty much everything else. I'm close to my daughter and she tells me everything. I even know how you are in bed, though I wish I didn't. Actually…I learned that from my Cyn. But good for you." Pat winked at Sheldon, who was turning red and had quit breathing.

"That's my girls, though. They're very passionate and run very hot or really cold. But it keeps you on toes and is always interesting. I mean, how stimulating is tepid water?"

Sheldon wasn't certain if they were talking about Merritt's anger or his experiences in the bedroom, but the mention of tepid water brought to mind his first meeting with Amy. There was much less uncertainty with her, though that seemed to be changing as well. "What if one didn't want to be stimulated?"

"Then I'd say they were living a very uninspired life...inspiration does not exist in a vacuum...metaphorically speaking."

Sheldon considered this statement. As much as he had tried to insulate himself from outside forces his best work came after pushing himself into the outside world. From using a human white board, to bussing tables, to swimming in a ball pit, all experiences led to some interesting breakthroughs. Both professionally and personally.

"You care for Cera though. Crazy passion and all."

"Uh, well, I, that's...not…quantifiable...uh-." Sheldon blushed. He wasn't sure he did feel that way, but he had known for a long time, longer than we wanted to admit, that he didn't feel nothing. Kohlinar had long since stopped working where Cera was concerned.

Pat smirked at him "You may protest, but you're here, aren't you?"

"It was logical that I spend a Saturday with my daughter and her mother, even if I had to accept your invitation."

"And her mother, huh?" Pat chuckled. "Let me give you some advice. Find happy together. To do so you must be in constant communication. Not your happy, not hers. Both. Sometimes your needs and wants will come first, sometimes hers, but always in balance. Your brilliant-learn her likes and dislikes. If you don't know, it never hurts to ask. Any woman worth having would do the same for you. But always together." Patrick left Sheldon to follow him back the through the maze of the spacious house.

Sheldon began to ask who Pat was referencing and to retort he didn't have time to waste studying a woman, but he came up short. The actions Pat suggested didn't seem specifically romantic, but could work in many relational situations. It seemed natural with Merritt. The interactions he had with Cera she wouldn't really let get out of balance. Perhaps that was why even Leonard always threw the word fair around.

When Sheldon arrived in the kitchen with Patrick, he noticed all the women at work on the food. It pleased him that they all had on food gloves.

"We wore gloves for you, daddy." Merritt threw her hands in the air to show Sheldon. He was intrigued, even his own family resisted indulging his need for cleanliness and security.

"It really is a superb way of preventing contamination." Cynthia added. Cera rolled her eyes, just one more high maintenance behavior for her mother.

"Yeah, superb. We'll be sure and get you several boxes, hun." Patrick popped a cherry tomato in his mouth.

Sheldon leaned closer and murmured "Sarcasm?"

"Oh, yeah. But if it makes her happy and doesn't hurt me, it's not a big deal." Pat lifted a tray of food.

Sheldon considered that as he followed Pat to the pool with a cooler.

Pat was flipping meat on the grill as Sheldon was rubbing sunscreen on Merritt's face. He was glad his daughter was wearing a swimsuit with shorts and a top that had SPF built in. One couldn't be too careful when it came to sun protection.

"I asked Braden to come over, but he had plans with his buddy Wil, today. Elliott, too." Pat called from the grill.

"Wil Wheaton?" Sheldon was attempting to get the sunscreen off of his hands with a handy wipe.

"Yeah. Good kid. He's really held up under the lights. Kept his head on. Balanced his public image with having a life that was his. He was great for the kids. They all grew up in this surreal atmosphere, but managed to stay kind of grounded, together." Pat lowered the lid on the grill.

"You should have invited him over, too." Cera carried a fruit and veggie tray and set it on the table. Putting her hands on her hips, she studied the spread.

Sheldon was prepared to retort they shouldn't have, but was brought up short by the sight Cera in a swimsuit. Her black one piece made the image of a prism with light and its refraction stand out. He had of course seen more of her, but seeing this much, in the presence of her family seemed incredibly intimate.

"Are you displaying your appreciation for Huygens–Fresnel Principle or for the rock and roll band, Pink Floyd?"

"Pink Floyd, of course, though I do enjoy bending light." Cera winked at Sheldon. He blushed at her attention, but enjoyed it none the less. He appreciated that she displayed the things she loved on her clothing. Most of his friends acted as though they were beyond being a fans anymore.

"Ceridwen, I still don't know why you won't wear a bikini. You still have the body for it; Merritt didn't do that much damage." Cynthia brought up the rear with large sunglasses and an even bigger hat, but carrying nothing.

"Hmm, maybe, but I prefer to keep my stretch marks to myself." Cera glanced up at her mother and shook her head.

Sheldon wondered at what point she would have had a rapid weight gain or loss that would cause striae distensae, "Why would you…oh." Until her pregnancy occurred to him. He blushed at the thought of having a hand in such an alteration on her body. He shook his head to clear it.

He hadn't really considered the physical implications of a pregnancy prior to that statement. It was over and passed so it had seemed unnecessary to think on it. Apparently the effects lingered, aside from the obvious-Merritt. The thought plagued him for the rest of the evening.

He was surprised how pleasant the whole experience was. Sheldon could tell from his extensive internet education, that Merritt was clearly an exceptional swimmer. He was also able finally see her in action on the family's baby grand; where he also proved his abilities, causing Merritt to squeal in delight. Before the night closed Sheldon was at last shown Pat's priceless comic book collection; that made Sheldon squeal in delight.

The following week was busy and their schedules didn't coincide, so Sheldon saw very little of Merritt. Cera agreed to cook dinner Friday evening for the three of them so they could catch up.

The dinner had been amiable until, in a fit of excitement Merritt knocked over her glass of chocolate milk. Unfortunately, most of it landed in Sheldon's lap.

"I'm so sorry daddy!" Merritt clasped her hands across her mouth, with tears in her eyes.

Sheldon flailed his hand in disgust and took a deep breath, "It's merely milk. I'm sure it will wash out, but it'd be best to do it soon."

Merritt was nearly in tears shifting from one foot to the other.

"Honey, why don't you go up and shower and get ready for bed. Daddy and I can clean this up."

"I'm so sorry." Merritt sobbed again before heading to the stairs.

"It's just milk, I will be alright." Sheldon said more to comfort himself as he was covered in milk from his abdomen down, one hand dripping.

"Olivia, I need a shower. I'm the one covered in milk." Sheldon was already scrubbing his hands at the kitchen sink, his voice going up in exasperation.

"I guess you can use my shower." Cera sopped the milk off the table with a paper towel, while Sheldon scrubbed his hands and arms.

"Oh, thank the Lord." Sheldon took a few quick steps towards the stairs then stopped dead. "Where is your shower?"

"Oh, yeah." Cera washed her hands then showed Sheldon to her room in the hall opposite the stairs.

"What will I wear? You don't expected me to put soiled clothing on after I'm clean."

"I... I have some things." Cera swallowed hard.

Sheldon cautiously entered Cera's room looking around. She had pictures of Merritt from varying stages of life, everywhere. Cera opened the bottom drawer and rummaged around me for a moment before pulling out a black pair of sweat pants.

"They'll be a little loose in the waist, but they should be long enough."

Sheldon felt offended, she wanted him to wear another man's pants?!

"Well, it's all I have. They're Braden's. They actually ended up here the same way, except I think it was grape juice at that time."

Sheldon felt slightly embarrassed for having voiced that out loud. Of course anything Cera would have would be sanitary and not from a previous suitor.

"I suppose they will do. I still don't have a shirt to wear." He hoped she would hurry up. His skin was crawling and he starting to smell the warming milk.

"Yeah." She said slowly twisting her mouth. She walked over to what Sheldon assumed was her closet and disappeared inside. After a moment she popped her head out "I, uh, I can't reach. Would you help me, please?"

Sheldon gave a weary sigh "I suppose it's my lot in life to constantly assist the vertically challenged."

Cera was concerned she'd asked too much of him. Their interactions had been awkward at best and she was surprised that he had held up to this mess as well as he had. She turned, worried he was exasperated with her and worse the whole situation only to see he was smiling at her. She laughed in relief.

"Oh, the burdens of being tall." Cera giggled as she pointed to a plastic bin on the top shelf above her clothes. Sheldon pulled the bin down and carried it over to her bed.

"Thank you."

"It really wasn't difficult, though I am concerned for the amount of footwear you own while you choose to go barefoot."

"You know I'm keeping filth out of my house by not walking around in shoes that have been all over the place. But that's not what I meant. I was thanking you, for keeping cool after the spill. Merritt is always upset when she makes a mistake, and she really doesn't want to upset you. She's, uh, afraid you're going to...disappear." Cera explained as she popped the lid off the bin.

Sheldon considered what she had said. He had kept 'cool'? He hadn't even realized. It was more instinctual than purposeful. He just knew Merritt didn't mean to make a mess, she was a child. He was an awkward clumsy child, too, and he would never treat her in the manner that he was. What he was concerned with, was that she thought he wasn't going to stay around for her. He would have to find some way to reassure her.

Cera pulled a vacuum bag from the bin. "They went in fresh, but well, it's been a while. We'll find something else, if they aren't acceptable. Take them with you."

Out of the vacuum bag Cera pulled three rolls, red, blue and green. She handed them over. "They almost went into storage, I didn't bring everything with me. In case, you, uh, didn't want us, uh, around. I don't know why I brought them. Heck, I, uh, I don't…don't know why I kept them. I was going to give them to Merritt, I guess."

Sheldon unrolled them and looked them over. They were his shirts. The backups he bought to be left at Cera's. They looked clean, he sniffed, still smelled of detergent. "This is suitable" he croaked.

"Good I'll get you a towel and wash cloth. You can use my shower; it was scrubbed three days ago."

"This is, um, acceptable." Sheldon was feeling out of his depth and unable to look over at Cera.

"Ok, I'm going to go check on Merritt. If you lay your clothes outside the door I'll collect them and wash them for you."

"Olivia! They need to be sorted, you can't wash them together!" Sheldon exclaimed.

And there it is, Cera thought. Taking a deep breath she started "I don't have anything to sort them with Sheldon. We could put them in a grocery bag and you can them home and clean them yourself. That leaves you the problem of taking home clothes that are curdling. And that would also leave you going home in those clothes. At one point you refused to go home in clothes different from what you left in.

"Or you can go home in the other and leave those with me to wash properly. As I have no laundry schedule and Merritt and I make laundry much quicker than you, they would be washed much sooner, or you can just let me wash them now and you can wait in those clothes for bit."

"Uh, you may wash them." Cera raised her eyebrows at Sheldon. "Thank you, Olivia." He added.

"You're Welcome." Cera chirped then bounced away.

He gathered the change of clothes and hovered over the different shirts. He wouldn't wear the blue Star Wars shirt. He had left in that. He grabbed red instead and headed for the shower.

The last time Sheldon was in Cera's shower he thinking of ways to rid himself of her. Now, he was trying to think of ways to ensure Merritt and by extension Cera, that he had no plans of leaving. Actually Cera wasn't an extension of Merritt. She was a woman in her own right and always had been. Independent of Merritt, they did have enjoyable interactions and aligned in ways he didn't with any other woman.

He wasn't certain what to make of all this. Normally he would dismiss such thoughts, but they could have an impact on his daughter. Sheldon required more information and some outside input to process these interpersonal revelations.

After tucking in Merrit, both Sheldon and Cera settled into the living room, flipping through channels.

"It would be best that I call Penny for a ride, so we don't have to disturb Merritt's REM sleep."

"Oh, yeah." Cera was glad Sheldon had thought of a solution to problem she had overlooked. Sheldon sitting there in one of those shirts, had really deflated her. She was reminded that this was all obligation and pride in progeny-she was just a means to an end.

"…Well, I'm waiting for Zack, but if you give me a minute I could call and see if he can swing by a get you." Penny really didn't want deal with Sheldon, but this at least sounded like a legitimate issue.

"That would be much appreciated...thank you, Penny." Sheldon added as an afterthought, pleasing Penny.

As they waited for Zack, Sheldon attempted to find level ground.

"What do you suppose would be-"

"Sorry? I didn't catch that?" Cera clicked off the TV.

"Oh, I…Maybe we should…could we, may we have dinner one evening?"

"Oh, sure let me know when I'll make sure we're available." Cera shrugged and pointed the remote at the TV once more.

"No, I mean you. Just you." Sheldon blurted out before she could turn the TV on.

"Oh, Uh…Ok." Cera studied Sheldon trying to determine his reasoning.

"Tomorrow would be ideal. If that is not enough time to plan, next weekend could be optimal, so as to not disrupt our work week schedules."

"Uh…Yeah, sure. I'll see if I can get someone to watch Merritt." Cera agreed hesitantly and was thankful when Zack's knock came.

Zack caught Cera up in a bear hug when he came in. Sheldon rolled his eyes. He really did detest public displays of affection. Even though they weren't really in public, he was sure that this embrace had exceeded decency in length. She never hugged him like that in greeting. Well she had previously, but he always admonished her for such contact.

"Hey! You seemed stressed Wednesday, you're better now, right?" Zack patted her much shorter head, as had become his custom in dealing with Cera.

"Oh, yeah, I just had a patient return quicker than I like. I think we got her sorted, though." Sheldon felt better knowing there was a reason for the embrace, but felt unsettled that he hadn't been aware anything was amiss for which she could need comfort.

"Good. Too bad, Merritt's in bed, she owes me a knuckle sandwich." Zack chuckled. "Nice pants. You been working out?" He directed at Sheldon.

"She's violent to you?" Sheldon ignored the pants remark and went wide eyed. What was this man teaching his daughter?

"They're just playing, Sheldon…Your clothes should be done, though." Cera dashed down the stairs, to the garage.

"Oh. You remembered low heat, right?" Sheldon called after her "High heat compromises-"

"I'm aware of your laundry procedure Sheldon!" Cera yelled up the stairs.

"Wow, so you guys are like, washing clothes together. That's cool. I wash Penny's clothes, too, or else she has everything shoved into the washer. Got tired of ink from her work pens getting on my jeans." Zack pointed to an ink blot above his knee and Sheldon cringed.

Sheldon went to change in Cera's half bath, as soon as she returned with his clothes. He attempted to hand the blue, Star Wars shirt back to her.

"I told you to take them home."

"But I've worn it. It's unclean."

"Then just, uh, throw it out. I'm not washing it, again." Cera mumbled, backing away from the offending article.

"But-" Sheldon couldn't tell what emotion Cera's face expressed, but he was pretty certain it wasn't positive so he dropped the conversation and stuffed the shirt in the bag with the others. He would wash them all again later, anyhow.

"Are you ready neighbor?" Zack grinned at Sheldon.

Sheldon raised his eyebrow at being referred to as neighbor, but merely stepped to the door.

"I'll call you in the morning, about tomorrow." Cera grasped the door handle as the guys walked out.

"I will look forward to your call then." Shedon nodded and got into Zack's car.

"Big plans tomorrow?" Zack asked.

"No. Cera and I are merely having dinner together, without Merritt." Sheldon checked that the tension on the seat belt was sufficient.

"Way to go man!"

"Is dinner cause for celebration?" Sheldon looked bewildered.

"Well, you got a date with her didn't you?"

"I…no. It's merely a dinner between-"

"People that do each other's laundry and have a kid." It was Zack's turn to look bewildered.

Sheldon opened his mouth but found, he had no retort. Those facts were true, and he didn't specify this wasn't a date, so perhaps she did agree to a date. Things were so much less complicated in front of his whiteboard.

The car was silent for the rest of the ride. Sheldon was trying to calculate at which point he had passed through an Einstein-Rosen Bridge, because life had become increasingly surreal. He was carrying coitus clothes home in a bag, riding home with his 'neighbor', who was Penny's husband, and possibly going on a date.