The men had excused themselves for brandy and a cigar in the lounge. Not once during dinner did Leonard speak to Penelope. The only person who did was Amelia that brief moment. Penelope was left alone with her thoughts 'no one cares about me. Will they even notice if I wasn't here anymore?'

Penelope wanted, no needed to escape. She excused herself. She didn't want to be alone but if she had to listen to these woman talk about worthless things for one more minute she would get sick all over herself.

She went back to her room at least Christy would be there. She closed her door " Christy" she called out. No reply. "Christy?" Penelope called again. Still nothing; Christy was still at dinner in steerage with the other maids. "Urg" Penelope sighed in frustration.

She tried to undo her dress herself but she couldn't reach. She stood in front of the mirror looking at herself; her blood boiling in anger and despair. Her skin crawling with disgust. She screamed. She ripped off her necklace and earrings. Yanked her hair down. She wanted to stop all her feelings, her senses she just wanted it to end.

She hated who she'd become. Who she was supposed to be. She couldn't breathe in her own body. She ran from her room, down the corridor and out onto deck. If she could just make it to the stern. She shoved past people tears streaming down her face. Mad at her mother for dying. Her father for gambling all their money away. Bernadette for caring so much about her own status that she couldn't see how unhappy she really is. Leonard for not being the one she loved. And lastly herself for allowing all this to happen. She ran and ran finally reaching the end of the ship. She fell against the railing sobbing. The dark ocean looked like the greatest escape. Her sobs softened as she lifted herself over the railing.

XXXX

Sheldon was counting how many constellations he saw when heard someone crying run past him. He sat up to see a flash of yellow hair fly by.

He followed the woman to the stern. Not caring on why she was crying but just to make sure she was safe. He watched her climb over the railing. 'Oh dear' Sheldon thought. 'She's going to jump.' The woman turned her head for a quick second and Sheldon recognized her as the beautiful woman haunting his thoughts. Sheldon had to be delicate here; if he spooked her she might fall; but if he wasted time she would jump.

He carefully walked closer " don't do it."

She turned and shouted "stay back."

Sheldon shook his head "no. Let me pull you over. What are you doing anyway?"

"fishing" she replied sarcastically.

Sheldon looked confused "but you don't even have a pole."

"ahh" Penelope screamed. " God. I'm not fishing... Please go away."

"if you're not doing something why would you say it?" Sheldon didn't understand.

She ignored his question. "Go away. If you don't I'll jump."

"No you won't" Sheldon simply said. Letting go of their previous exchange and taking another step closer.

"What? Great another person who thinks they know me. I don't need any more people like that in my life now go away." She gripped the railings tighter.

Taking one more step Sheldon looked at her. "I never said I know you. It's just if you seriously wanted to do it. You would have done it already."

"Why are you still here?" Penelope asked. Her nerves were coming back but she had to do this. "Go away."

"Im sorry but I can't. You see I'm involved now whether either if us like it or not. It is non optional for me to assist you. My mother raised me right. So if jump in I'll have to jump in after you."

"You're crazy. The fall alone would kill you." Penelope eyed the dark water before turning back to her so called rescuer.

"First I'm not crazy. My mother had a doctor look at me when I was younger. And with all due respect I'm not hanging off the back of a ship. Second I'm more concerned with how cold the water is rather then the fall."

Penelope didn't think of that "how cold?"

"Far below freezing. It's so cold you can't even swim your muscles freeze. You could even breath in water but be unable to spit it out and drown. Even if you changed your mind."

Penelope shuddered. She needed to do this. This was the plan wasn't it? " please go away your facts are annoying me."

" we'll too put it plainly in away you'll understand; it's like being stabbed all over your body."

"I knew what you meant. I just wanted you to stop talking." Penelope snapped.

Sheldon swayed a bit " oh. Well like I mentioned I am now morally and socially obligated to assist you. But perhaps you can find it in your heart to change your mind and let me off the hook." Sheldon held out his hand.

Penelope turned her head to look at the man. His blue eyes were intense but kind and she knew if she did jump he would follow.

She wrapped her arm around to take his open hand. Then came her next one.

"I'm Sheldon Lee Cooper" he smiled. Penelope got a good look at his well worn clothes. His purple button down was faded, his suspenders stretched that they could snap at any moment then his pants were a plain khaki but on him it looked right.

"Penelope Lloyd Swift" she smiled back. Sheldon wasn't well versed when it came to emotions but he noticed the pain in her eyes.

"If it doesn't offend you miss; I'd like to call you Penny."

Penelope smiled her insides felt warm as he called her that. "Penny no one has ever called me that. Yes you may call me that."

Penelope began to climb back over she was almost there when her foot got caught on her dress. She slipped. "Ahh. Please help me. Pull me up. Ahh" she screamed.

"Oh dear Lord" Sheldon reacted fast. He pulled with all his might and slowly lifted her. " It's alright. I've got you. Come on,here we go." He helped her re-climb the railing. Penny fell into his arms crying as he laid her on the floor.

Her screams had attracted some crewmen. They weren't to please to find a lowly 3rd class passenger hovering over a trembling 1st class woman. Sheldon was put into handcuffs while they waited for Leonard.

Leonard stormed over to Penny who was sitting on a bench wrapped in a blanket shivering with fright. "Are you alright Penelope?"

Penny nodded. She didn't want to hear the name Penelope anymore only Penny. Though on the other hand she didn't want Leonard calling her Penny either.

Leonard turned towards Sheldon, who toward over Leonard, " and what do you think you were doing touching my fiancé?" Leonard was disgusted that he had to even speak to this creature.

Even though society dictated that Sheldon at least lower his eyes when speaking to an elite citizen, he didn't. Sheldon looked Leonard right in the eyes as he spoke " I simply pulled her back over after she fell."

Leonard grew an even deeper hatred for the person in front if him since Sheldon saw no fear in speaking with him. He turned towards his fiancé " Is that true? You fell?"

Penny stood up "Yes. This is all my fault I was looking at the stars and leaned over to far. If this young man wasn't near by I would have fallen and drowned."

"Stupid girl" Leonard mumbled but Sheldon heard him. He thought Leonard didn't deserve Penny if he was going to call her names. Leonard turned to the crewman who held Sheldon captive " you may release him."

Howard was watching and listening as he walked over to Sheldon. "Where did you say you were when you heard her scream?"

"I didn't but I was lying on this bench." he pointed to where Penny was sitting.

"Hmm that's not very close to the stern. Interesting how quickly you got there when the crewman didn't."

Sheldon rubbed his wrists where the handcuffs were. There was no point in lying, but he didn't have to say the whole truth. " I have really good hearing and I'm a fast runner." Howard didn't excuse himself he just left, which Sheldon was used to and it didn't bother him. Howard was going to keep an eye on Sheldon.

Leonard had thanked the crewmen, but not Sheldon, and led Penelope back to their suite. Penny glanced back but Sheldon was already gone. She never got to thank him.

"Penelope oh my goodness! Are you alright? Leonard told me you fell off the ship. I was so worried." Bernadette thrust her arms around her sister.

"I'm fine. A little shaken but I am fine. I am ready for bed however." She turned towards Leonard " Leonard don't you think we should thank or reward that young man for saving my life?"

Leonard squinted " didn't I say thank you before on deck?"

"No" she crossed her arms then in crossed them. " The least we can do is invite him to dine with us tomorrow evening."

"Dinner?" Leonard fiddled with his paper work on his desk. " I would think he would feel uncomfortable don't you?"

Penny was standing her ground "no I think he will be fine. We don't have to tell anyone he is steerage. He'll just join us for one meal and you'll be able to forget all about him" she chose her words carefully. "He did after all save my life."

"He's from steerage?" Bernadette began with distaste in her voice but was stopped by Penelope's hand.

Leonard sighed "Very well. Howard will invite him for us."

"No I will" Penny said quickly. Realizing the stares she continued "I mean he did save my life. It is only fitting that I be the one to invite him as a thank you."

"Very well" Leonard said displeased. He was planning on just telling her that he refused the invite and that be the end. "You may find him tomorrow but stay on our part of the ship."

Penny smiled and gave Leonard a small peck on the cheek "Goodnight."

She shed her dress and put on her night gown. Her body still tingled from Sheldon's touch. Closing her eyes she saw his blue eyes staring back at her.

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. They finally meet. I want to thank you for all your reviews and your alerts. I'm glad people are thinking I am keeping them in character. Sheldon is a fun challenge to write sometimes. As always please review. Ps. I hope it wasn't too much like the movie for anyone.