Sheldon looked around his office with satisfaction. Technically he would not start his job here at Cal-Tech for another week, but there no sense waiting until the last minute to get things settled. He straightened the diplomas on the wall and then polished away a smudge from one of the frames. A knock on his door drew his attention. "Enter."

The door opened and Leonard stepped inside, followed closely by some strangers. "Hey Sheldon. I thought I would bring a few of your new co-workers by to introduce them. This is Leslie Winkle, Carrie Hendricks and Amelia Spurlock. Leslie works with me. She's an experimental physicist. Carrie is an anthropologist. Amelia is an applied mathematician."

Sheldon nodded to the three women. "Good afternoon."

"I read your paper on your ideas of quantum theory of gravity." Leslie said. "Loop quantum gravity makes more sense."

Sheldon placed his hands behind his back. "If I were a woman ruled by emotion I might agree."

Leslie's eyes narrowed. "Leonard, you said we were getting a genius. Not a dumbass."

Sheldon opened his mouth but another knock on the door interrupted. Howard peered around the corner and smiled. He and Raj walked in and looked around. "So is this were the party is?"

Sheldon frowned. "We are not having a party."

Leonard looked pained as he moved to the guys. "Um, now isn't a great time. Sheldon is just getting to know some of our colleagues."

Howard smirked. "Subtle, Leonard. Very subtle."

Leonard flushed and looked away. Sheldon looked at Leonard with confusion as Howard ushered the women out. Once they were gone he sat down at his desk. "Would someone explain to me what is going on?"

Leonard shrugged. "Just trying to introduce you to some of our colleagues."

Howard rolled his eyes. "So, it's lunch time. Want to join us?"

Sheldon glanced at his watch. "Very well. What are we eating?"

Raj grinned. "Monday is Salisbury steak day in the cafeteria. And they usually have lime jello for dessert."

Howard fidgeted and wiped his palms on his pants. He almost turned and walked away. He gathered his courage and knocked on the door. Charlie opened it up and looked at Howard with amazement. "What do you want?"

Howard looked at the stairwell as if it held his salvation. Instead of bolting he took a deep breath and slumped. "Listen, Leonard is my friend. And for the most part, I like him. Sheldon is just some guy I just met. But Penny, well, she really helped me out a few months back. And she did it for no reason, except I needed help."

Charlie nodded. "Your mom was bad off, right?"

Howard nodded. "She was depressed and it was affecting her health. Penny got in touch with mom's old school chum and arranged for them to reunite. Now mom is living in Florida with her best friend, she's lost over 150 lbs and she's happy. All because of Penny. So, I thought I'd let her know that Leonard is jealous."

Charlie frowned. "The guy with the glasses?"

Howard nodded. "Look, I know you and Penny aren't a couple. But he still thinks you are. That's the only reason he isn't down here 24/7. But he's jealous of Sheldon. He doesn't want them being friends. Today he tried to interest Sheldon in some of the women we work with. I can tell Sheldon and Penny have some history between them. I just wanted to let Penny know, because she helped me, and she's nice."

Charlie looked at Howard for a moment. Then he nodded. "I'll let Penny know."

Howard headed for the stairs but Charlie called to him. "Hey!" Howard looked back at him. "You're an okay guy, Howard. Thanks."

Howard nodded quickly and hurried up the stairs. Charlie watched him go. Penny stepped out beside him and leaned against the door frame. "Told you there was an okay guy under the smarmy pervert act."

Charlie snorted. "You always think there's good in others."

Penny smiled. "I was right, wasn't I?"

Charlie rolled his eyes. "I have to get to work. Bowling tomorrow?"

Penny nodded. "Yeah. I invited Sheldon." Penny looked up at the ceiling. "Maybe I'll invite Howard, too. Bernadette's been asking me to set her up with someone, lately. They might hit it off. I wonder if they have anything in common."

Charlie barked with laughter. "Height."

Penny slapped his arm and headed to the stairs. "You're horrible!"

Penny walked up the stairs to the sound of Charlie's laughter. She paused by Sheldon's door and knocked. He opened it up and smiled immediately. "Hello, Sheldon. I need to speak to Howard, and I was hoping you would walk up with me. It kind of concerns you, as well."

Sheldon stepped into the hall and closed his door. "How was work?"

She shrugged. "I serve cheesecake. It's not exactly world changing work."

Sheldon frowned. "You also do voice work. Isn't that your true vocation?"

Penny smiled. "I wanted to be an actress for a long time, but I'm too average looking. One in a sea of blonds trying to break into movies. But I have a small talent for voice work. And I like it. Especially anime. In fact I went this morning to test for a new tv series. It's for Pet Shop of Horrors. They're going to re-launch the anime series. I hope to land the role of Pon-chan. She's a raccoon that lives at the shop owned by Count D. Most see her in her raccoon form. But D and Chris, a little boy, see her special form, that of a regency era little girl."

They had reached the fifth floor, and Sheldon placed a hand on Penny's arm. "First of all, you are never simply 'average' looking. Second, I refuse to believe you have only a 'small' talent. Third, if they don't hire you, they have missed out on a wonderful opportunity."

Penny blushed and smiled. "Thank you, Sheldon. That means a lot to me."

Sheldon nodded and knocked on 5A. The door opened a moment later and Raj waved.

"Hey, Raj. Is Howard home?" Penny asked. He nodded and stepped back to let them in. Howard and Leonard looked at them. She noticed Leonard's eyes narrow slightly. Penny stepped slightly closer to Sheldon. "Howard, I was wondering if you are busy tomorrow night."

Howard blinked at her owlishly. "Um, no. Why?"

Penny smiled. "Me, Sheldon, Charlie, and a couple of girls I know are going bowling. My friend Bernadette was hoping I could fix her up with someone. She's a microbiology student, and works with me at the Cheesecake Factory. I thought maybe you might like to meet her. I remember your mom said you like roller skating and bowling. So does Bernadette. Interested?"

Howard nodded quickly. "Yeah. That sounds great!"

Leonard looked from Penny to Sheldon and back. "Is there room for one more? I love bowling."

Sheldon stiffened, but Penny grinned widely. "That's a great idea, Leonard. You and Raj can come too. That will even up the teams to four. It can be me and Sheldon vs. Charlie and Amy vs. Howard and Bernadette vs. You and Raj. I mean if you would like to join us, Raj."

Raj shrugged and nodded his head. He had planned on skyping with his parents, but he would rather go bowling.

Leonard moved over to Penny's side. "Oh, well, I was hoping you and I could team up."

Sheldon stiffened but Penny shook her head. "No thanks, Leonard. I'd rather be with Sheldon. Well, I'll see you guys tomorrow, okay? Everyone will meet at my place at 6 and then we'll head on out." Penny took Sheldon's hand and tugged him toward the door. She shut the door behind them and pulled him back down to the fourth floor quickly. Once there, she leaned against his door and burst into laughter.

Sheldon watched her warily. "Are you okay?"

Penny wiped her eyes and nodded. "Sorry, sweetie. Leonard has a crush and he's trying to derail you and I being friends again. I figured the best thing to do was cut him off at the pass. Show him we are already friends and maybe he'll back off."

Sheldon tensed up, trying not to push. "Are we friends again?"

Penny sighed and looked at him carefully. "Sheldon, I know we have some history. History that I'm really not ready to address yet. But I never stopped caring about you. And I think, from the insistent way you won't drop it, that you still care about me."

Sheldon smiled. "I do. You are still my best friend, Penny."

She grinned and moved in to hug him lightly. "Yes. We are friends. Because I missed you horribly. Because I am happy to have you back in my life." Penny winked mischievously. "Because Momma Mary would have my hide if we weren't."

Sheldon laughed lightly. "Forget Mommy's reaction. What about Meemaw's?"

Penny groaned. "Good lord! The horror!"

Sheldon smiled as he watched her. "Penny, I was going to order a pepperoni and olive pizza and watch some Star Trek The Original Series. Would you like to join me?"

She quirked an eyebrow. "Pepperoni and extra mushrooms?"

He countered with "Pepperoni, regular mushrooms and light olives."

Penny smiled. "Deal."

Penny moved in close to Sheldon and murmured, "How long do you think it would take for them to notice if we abandoned the game?"

Sheldon looked around the seats at their party and shook his head wearily. Raj was half drunk. Leonard was alternately glaring at him, and hitting on the other women in what he supposed was an effort to make Penny jealous. Howard and Bernadette was comparing horror stories of their family, trying to out do one another. Amy kept plying Raj with liquor so he could talk to her. Charlie walked over and stood on Sheldon's other side.

"Gonna make a break for it?" he asked.

Sheldon looked down at Penny. She grinned and stood up on tiptoe. "I know where we can find banana milkshakes," she whispered. Sheldon quickly nodded.

"We are about to abandon you," he said to Charlie. Charlie grinned widely and waved them off. He walked over to Leonard and distracted him. Sheldon grabbed Penny's hand and they hurried toward the door.

Penny hailed a cab and leaned in. "Start the meter," she said with an eye roll. She turned to Sheldon who was shaking his head. She reached into her purse and pulled out some wipes. She cleaned off the seat, handle and back before turning to him. "Get in, sweetie."

Sheldon felt a surge of affection for her understanding. She hadn't forgotten his mysophobia. In fact, it seemed like she hadn't forgotten much of anything when it came to him. It made him hopeful that they were on track to being close again. He slid in and Penny hopped in on the other side. She leaned forward and gave the driver their address.

Sheldon frowned. "You mentioned banana milkshakes."

Penny grinned. "I have bananas, chocolate ice cream, real whipped cream and milk."

Sheldon reached out and took her hand in his again. "Deal."