"Hello?"

"Mary? This is Wyatt. How are you doing?"

"Hi, Wyatt. I'm fine. How are you doing?"

"I'm good. Listen, I was calling because I was wondering if you'd let Sheldon stay with me and Penny during the school year. I know you weren't too thrilled with the idea of him living in the dorms, and since Professor Pembroke retired over the summer, …"

"I'd love to! And I'm sure Shelly will be thrilled! Thank you, Wyatt. This is very generous of you."

"Not at all, Mary. I like the kid. Besides, if we go by last year, he'll be here all the time anyway. I've got a spare room, right across the hall from Penny. My son used to use it when he visited. I'll get it ready for him."

"I'm mighty grateful, Wyatt. Thank you."

"Thank you, Mary. This will mean a lot to Penny."

"How's she doing, anyway?"

*sigh* "She's in New York. Julie sent for her early. I spoke with her last night. She's ready to come home."

"I'm sorry, Wyatt."

"Julie tries. I'll give her credit for that. She just don't know how to relate to Penny. She keeps wanting a little princess who wears pink taffeta and talks about boys. She has no idea what to do with one who likes fishing, camping and talks about lizards."

"Penny's almost 11. There's plenty of time before she discovers boys."

"Don't remind me. Well, I better get. I still have some work to get done. Bye, Mary."

"Bye, Wyatt. Take care."

Sheldon sat on the bed in HIS room. He could hardly believe it when Mommy had told him he would be staying with Mr. Wyatt and Penny. He looked around the room carefully. The twin bed was comfortable. The walls were freshly painted blue. There was a dresser and a small desk with a lamp and rolling chair. The closet was small, but now empty of the boxes he remembered seeing in here once. And there was a computer. Mr. Wyatt said he got it from one of the graduating students. It was linked into the school's system, just like the ones in the library. He could do all his school work here if he wanted.

Mommy appeared in the doorway. "Getting settled in, Shelly?"

He smiled. "I have already unpacked and put everything away, Mommy." He looked at the shelf over the desk and the one over the bed. "Mommy, do you think I could bring a few things from home?"

She nodded and came over to sit beside him. "Penny's mom called. They've landed at the airport. Penny will be here soon."

Sheldon grinned. "Does she know I'm here yet?"

Mary shook her head. "Wyatt thought that would be a surprise. Shall we go wait for her? It won't be long."

Sheldon and Mary waited in the living room. 8 minutes later a taxi pulled up and Wyatt stepped off the porch. Penny came racing out of the car and flung herself into his arms. A slim, blonde woman stepped out more sedately. She walked over and spoke quietly to Wyatt. Sheldon saw the smile leave Penny's face and she laid her head on her dad's shoulder.

He didn't wait any longer. He opened the door and stepped out onto the porch. Mary was right behind him. Penny looked up at the sound of the door and squealed. She wiggled and Wyatt set her down. She raced up the porch and hugged him tight. Sheldon grinned and hugged her back.

"Julie, I'd like you to meet Mary and Sheldon Cooper. They've become very good friends to me and Penny. Mary, Sheldon, this is Penny's mom, Julia."

Sheldon looked up to say hello, but the woman was staring at Wyatt angrily.

"I don't think this is such a good idea," she said in a low voice. "This boy is a lot older than Penelope. What happens when he hits puberty?"

Wyatt looked at Julie and sighed. "We've discussed this many times already, Jules. Sheldon is only 13. He's a great kid. He's Penny's best friend. If you don't like it, I understand. But do not think for one minute you have a say in this."

Julie gasped and drew back. After a minute she turned to Penny. "Come give your Mother a hug, Penelope."

Penny scooted over and gave her a quick hug, before moving back to grab Sheldon's hand. They all watched Julie turn and walk away without another word. When the taxi was gone, they all headed into the house. Wyatt poured the kids some juice and got him and Mary a cup of coffee.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Wyatt. I did not mean to upset Mrs. Queen." Sheldon said softly.

Penny had scooted her chair over to be right beside Sheldon. "Momma is always upset," she mumbled. "And it's always about me."

Wyatt reached over and ruffled her curls. "No, sweetie. She just has her own idea of how things should be, and she gets frustrated when it isn't that way. Now, go unpack and we'll all go out for pizza."

Mary sipped her coffee and watched the kids rush off. "Wyatt, are you concerned about the kids?"

He looked up with surprise. "No. I'm not. I know Sheldon would never do anything to hurt Penny. I know Sheldon is an honest, dependable, trustworthy kid. In a few years, when he does discover girls, I have no doubt he'll be a true gentleman. He doesn't have it in him to be any other way."

Mary smiled with relief. She had wondered a few times what would happen when Sheldon grew up and Penny was still a child. She could only pray that whatever changed, they would both still be happy.

For Sheldon college was both a blessing and a curse. He was learning so much. He soaked up every bit of knowledge he could. But students and professors saw him as an interloper. He didn't fit in with them due to his age, and the fact that he was smarter than most of them. The only ones who didn't treat him weirdly were Professor Hill and Martin Duncan, another student in Chemistry III.

Martin was a freshman, and only 16. They often teamed up for projects. It was Martin who introduced Sheldon to Star Trek. He fell in love with the show immediately. Penny was finally old enough for the Junior Rodeo classes, so on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons when she was learning to ride and rope, he and Martin would do some work and watch Star Trek. Mondays and Wednesdays, he and Penny would roller skate, ride bikes, or play games. Every Friday Mommy or Meemaw would come up and get him just like last year. Only now, they would sometimes take Penny back with them. For Sheldon and Penny it was perfect. Like having two families. Or maybe just a whole one.

Penny flexed her fingers in the gloves and waited eagerly for her turn. Someone stepped up beside her and she looked over to find Megan standing nearby. She was four years older than Penny. So far, Megan was sitting in third place, so if Penny wanted to place, hers was the time to beat.

"Who's the dork in the stands?" she said with a sneer. The other girls with Megan snickered. Penny looked up into the stands and saw her dad and Sheldon sitting right in the center. Sheldon was wearing his usual comic book shirt over a long sleeved thermal and brown corduroys.

Penny struggled to keep her temper under control. "That's Sheldon. He's the smartest guy in the world," she said, looking at Megan. "So watch what you say."

Megan looked down her nose at Penny. "I'll do what I want, and don't you forget it, pipsqueak."

The announcer walked over at that moment and tapped Penny's shoulder. "You're up. Head into the chute."

Penny reined in her temper and stalked over. She'd show that cackling hen and her little harpy friends. No one messed with a Queen OR a Cooper! She straddled the mare and focused all of her attention on the job at hand. Rope the calf. Take down the calf. Tie up the calf with the piggin' string. In under 9.4 seconds. The buzzer sounded and Penny began twirling the lasso.

She raised her hands and looked up. 8.9 seconds.

She cut the picture and article from the paper and put it in her scrapbook. She was smiling widely, the 3rd place medal around her neck. Beside her was Sheldon, looked proudly down at her.

Sheldon leaned against the gate house reading the letter again, even though he didn't need to. He had an eidetic memory and would never forget it, even if he tried. Excitement coursed through him, followed closely by dismay. It was a never-ending loop of emotions. The bus pulled up and Penny bounced off a couple of seconds later.

At twelve years old, she was still thin, but now her frame carried some lean muscle from three years of junior rodeo, softball and her newest favorite activity. She dropped the skateboard and slung her backpack over one arm.

"Pads," Sheldon said sternly. Penny rolled her eyes and sat on the board. She pulled the knee and elbow pads from the backpack and put them on. Sheldon grinned at the mulish look she gave him, and stuck out his tongue, causing her to laugh.

She stood and pushed off on her board. She kept an even momentum, allowing Sheldon to keep up with her. "Guess what happened today."

Sheldon quirked an eye. "Penny, without more information, I am unable to form an adequate hypothesis. It would be simpler if you just tell me what happened, since there are an infinite number of things I can guess, and still not be correct."

Penny giggled and stopped her board. "The school announced the Honeysuckle Court. I was named! I'll be on the parade float, and at the Spring Dance, I'll be one of the girls who leads the first dance!"

Sheldon smiled slightly. "You? Miss Slugger?"

Penny slapped his arm and gasped. "Hey! Be nice! It's a big deal! Almost as big a deal as that Ph.D. you got last year, Mr. Snooty!"

Sheldon sat down on the bench and grabbed Penny's hand. He pulled her down beside him and sighed. "Penny, I also have news. But it's not going to make you as happy as yours did."

She turned on the bench and faced him. Even though Sheldon was not quite 15, he towered over her. Her smiled disappeared slowly. "Shel? What's happened? Is everyone okay? Did something happen back home?"

Sheldon shook his head and handed Penny the letter. She opened it slowly and read it. After a minute she handed it back. He watched her carefully. He wasn't good at reading people. It was a talent that eluded him. Except when it came to Penny. She was an open book to him. Joy, then anger, then pain flashed through her eyes.

He watched her close her eyes tight and swallow whatever she had been about to say. When she opened them back up, he saw resignation. She handed him back the letter. "This is a big honor, isn't it?" she asked.

Sheldon nodded. "To be asked to lecture in Germany is a very big honor. My work has been recognized by some of the biggest minds as noteworthy. This is an important step forward for my career."

Penny threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. Sheldon blushed and looked down. "Then we need to hurry home and get to work," she said.

Sheldon looked at her with confusion. "What do you mean?"

Penny smiled and brushed away the tears trying to form. "If my best friend in the world is going to go halfway across the world and not come back for 2 years, I'm going to throw him the grandest, biggest, most elaborate party ever! I have to go call Momma Mary!"

Sheldon froze with dread. No. She wouldn't! He watched Penny stand and push off on her board. Soon she was speeding along the sidewalk toward home. Sheldon stood and took off.

"Penelope Rene Queen! Don't you dare!"

As you can tell from their changing ages, a lot of time has passed in this chapter. I know some want to know every little detail of the last 2-2.5 years, but I felt it just bogged down the story.