A/N: I'm surprised no one guessed who Amy's butler was. Heres another long chapter :)
"Raj" Sheldon hoarsly whispered as he entered the room.
There was no answer, not even a moan to tell Sheldon to be quiet. Sheldon took this as his room was empty. He turned on the light and like he suspected Raj wasn't in his bunk.
He carefully took off his new suit and hung it over his bunk. He put on his plaid night clothes. He had got them when he traveled through Scotland 3 years ago. They were the official tartan of clan Gordon. That was his meemaws maiden name. He enjoyed learning the history of his family.
He had seen the world just like he said he would. He has learned new things; even if he didn't go to university. He taught people something's. He has even mingled with the upper crust as his family would say. He has done all this but the only thing that seemed to matter was meeting Penny.
He took out his journal which he wrote in everyday at least once. It was where he recorded anything and everything about his day.
Log April 11, 1912 10:25pm.
I have just returned from a non optional social gathering. I was forced to attend by Ms. Penny Lloyd Swift. I wrote of her yesterday. She is the girl, young woman I rescued. She is the reason I haven't written all day as she ambushed me on deck and demanded I go to dinner with her and her fellow 1st class passengers. She blatantly reminded me I had to attend. I then spent my afternoon procuring a suit from Ms. Amelia Farrah Fowler. She is a remarkable and kind woman. Her butler however is a bit of dare I say an ass. He seems to think he is to good for what he does. He should be thankful for being able to live the life he does.
The dinner itself was uneventful. They asked me questions about my life; nothing I wasn't prepared for. It was what happened afterwards that has me confused. I escorted Penny out of the dining room and I offered to make plans with her tomorrow. That is the first thing to allude me; never in my life have I wanted to be so close to someone. That I needed to see them and find out everything about them. Then as we concluded our evening she softly caressed my cheek. My whole body began to burn up. I do not have a fever for I have checked with the infirmary. Another strange symptom I have noticed is that my stomach does something that I can only describe as flipping over and over again. It seems to only happen when I am near Penny. I must look into this further. Penny is…
His notes were interrupted by Raj staggering into the room. Sheldon could tell that Raj was heavily intoxicated. He must of met a woman Sheldon deduced. Raj has this unfortunate curse where he can't speak to woman unless he has some form of alcohol in his body.
"Sheldon there you are. So tell me why you ditched me?" Raj slurred.
"I will tell you in the morning when your body isn't full of boozes." Sheldon closed his journal without finishing his log and settled into bed.
"Whatever dude. I just got some so I don't need your details." Raj smirked as he flopped onto his bunk.
"Wow got some your such a romantic Raj" Sheldon said sarcastically.
"Hey you did sarcasm!" Raj laughed. Ever since he met Sheldon he's been helping Sheldon learn the hidden(only to Sheldon) language of sarcasm. "Besides romance is for the books. Your going to stay a virgin if you don't just let loose."
"My being a virgin has nothing to do with romance or my lack of ability to let loose. I just haven't found a woman who pleased me enough to want to be with her for more then 5 minutes let alone engage in intercourse with her. But I have to say that...". Sheldon was cut off by Raj snoring rather loud. It was for the best since Sheldon disliked talking to drunk Raj. Sheldon switched off the light and fell asleep.
The next morning Sheldon rise to the sound of Rajs moaning. He quickly and quietly got dressed to go to the dining area to bring Raj coffee.
Raj welcomed the steaming cup happily. He took a few sips and looked over at Sheldon who was lying on his bunk thinking. "So you said you would tell me what you did last night. What happened?"
Sheldon scooted himself up into a sitting position. " I was forced to go to dinner with a Ms. Penelope Lloyd Swift."
"Ok you're going to need to start at the beginning" Raj explained. "Who is she?"
Sheldon recounted the events of the past two evenings to Raj. Who sat wide eyed at the end. " So you're seeing her again today?"
"Yes we have made plans to walk the deck."
"Are you sure that's a good idea. Her fiancé might not like that" Raj emphasized the words her fiancé.
"I am aware of that and frankly don't care. Her fiancé is a selfish man who would look down on people but can't because he is so short."
Raj burst into laughter at the statement. "All I'm saying is don't get yourself in trouble."
"I appreciate your concern. I must get going. I told Penny I would meet her at 9. You know how I like to be early." Sheldon exited the room.
"That boys got it bad" Raj mused to himself.
XXXXXX
Penny looked at the clock on her wall it read 8:00. She softly moaned she was not used to rising this early. She pulled herself from her bed and splashed her face with the water from the basin Christy had set up for her.
Peeking out the door she saw no one was up yet. She wanted to dress quickly so she didn't have to tell anyone where she was going.
Christy saw her mistress open her door, she hurried herself over to her. "Morn'n Ms. Penelope" she said.
"Shh" Penelope shushed putting her finger to her lips. Christy didn't understand why but she instantly complied. Penelope ushered her quickly into the room.
"I need to get ready. I am spending the day on deck." Penny thought the less she said the better. She didn't want to have Christy lie for her.
Christy rushed over to get a dress. She pulled out a light rose colored lace dress. Penny smiled at the choice. Once the dress was fastened ; Christy began work on Penny's hair.
Penny would rather have her hair down. She missed the times when it wasn't frowned upon. She was just to old for that now. She didn't think she was old. She was still young and wanted to be young for as long as possible except she couldn't. Her hair wasn't that long she had cut it to her shoulders after her parents died. She liked the length so she kept it up. She was told by many woman that they were jealous of her hair since it had a natural wave to it.
Christy knew that Penny didn't like her hair up so she twisted it into a low bun. She even left strands out to hang around her face. Adding a bit of rouge to her cheeks and Penny was ready. The time was now 8:40.
Penny smiled at herself. She loved how she looked and how she felt. Penny thanked Christy "if anyone asks where I am tell them I am walking the deck and will be back later."
Christy nodded in understanding. She smiled when her mistress left. She was happy that Penelope is happy.
XXXX
Sheldon waited by the door facing the water. He was anxious to see Penny again. He wanted to know what it was that made him feel the way he did. Did it have a name? So many questions that he couldn't find answers too.
The smoke stack whistled on the hour. Sheldon turned when he heard the door. There was Penny smiling. The sun caught her blonde hair and it made a golden aura around her.
"Good morning Penny. I hope you slept well." Sheldon said as he walked over.
"Yes thank you."
It was only awkward for a moment. They (Sheldon) decided it would be best if they walked clockwise around the ship.
"So tell me about yourself Sheldon. I know your from Gavelston, even though I don't know where that is. I know you play chess, are an artist, a train enthusiast and that's really all. Like what kind of art do you do?" Penny glanced over at Sheldon.
"Well Gavelston is in east Texas. I left home at the age of 15. I've traveled all over the world mostly Europe. But I did find myself in Morocco only for a day though. I enjoy science especially physics. I like how something that's been around forever is still changing. I read about it in one of my brothers university books. There was a whole topic on Madame Curie. My dream is to become a scientist and solve the mysteries of the world. Either that or run my own train company. As for my art it is to just make a quick dollar. I draw mostly landscapes but I have drawn people."
"You've been to more places then I have" Penny noted.
Sheldon turned his head to Penny "it's your turn to tell me about yourself. I know you are engaged and have a sister. I don't know much farther then that. Where are you from? What are your likes, dislikes?"
"Well I am from Bridgeport Connecticut. I have my one sister Bernadette. We used to be close until our parents died 2 years ago when I was 18 in a car crash. The damn thing wouldn't stop and they crashed into a tree. Anyway she thinks she is doing what is right but it is just driving us apart. I have many likes. I love to work with my hands. I also like to draw but it is just simple work." Penny sighed " I want to be something more then someone's wife. Why can't I be like you. Be brave enough to leave everything you know and travel the world to follow your dreams."
"What are your dreams?" Sheldon asked as they slowly turned a corner.
"I don't know. I want to work though. I want to use my hands get dirty." A man was using a moving camera filming the ship. Penny ran over "I even want to be a moving picture star." She did some poises for the man who smiled at her.
Sheldon softly chuckled. Penny came back over to him after thanking the man. They walked quietly for a moment. "I'm just sick of having to please everyone but myself" she sighed again.
Sheldon perked up. "Sick you say? I have a song for when your sick."
"Oh I don't mean actual sick such as a fever. More of it makes me sad and frustrated."
Sheldon furrowed his brow and thought. Then said " well sad and frustrated can be a type of sick."
Penny laughed " alright what is the sick song?"
"My mother used to sing it 'soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur. Happy kitty, sleepy kitty. Purr, purr, purr.' I sing it when I'm homesick or feeling alone."
"I love it. I'm going to be singing it from now on." They walked a bit more in silence when Penny spoke again. "You were close with your mother?"
"Yes I was to an extent. I was much closer with my meemaw. She understood that I was a bit different and my need to leave home."
"Why did you?" Penny asked but clarified when she saw Sheldons confused look. " I mean why did you leave home?"
"My family was poor and could only have one of my siblings, myself included, to go to university. Since I am the youngest I was not allowed to go. My older brother George went. He never liked learning unlike myself. I spoke of my outrage to my father who made the decision. I told him it was unfair and it should be me who was going off to school. He told me his decision was final and if I thought I could make better ones then I could leave. I was told if I left I would never be welcomed into his house again. I didn't care so I left that night."
"I'm sorry." she now understood why he didn't want to be like his father. "But it was a brave thing to do. How many siblings do you have?"
"With myself included there are 3 of us. My older brother George and my sister who happens to be my twin, Melissa, but everyone calls her Missy. As for brave maybe. I may have traveled the world but I never got the proper education I told my father I would get on my own."
"You have learned more in your travels then a person could in a school. I just know it." Penny smiled she could sense he didn't believe it but it was true.
"How did you meet Leonard?" Sheldon asked bring the topic back to Penny.
"Well Bernadette introduced us, not that she knew him well. She read about how successful he is and decided that we should marry. It is out of necessity you see our father gambled all our fortune away. We had no idea until he died. Anyway Bernadette used the last of our family's money and came to England to meet Leonard. He was here on business. He proposed the following day. We've been engaged for six months." Penny couldn't even fake a smile nor did she try.
"Do you love him?"
"Excuse me?" Penny suddenly got defensive.
"It is a simple question. I don't quite understand what the emotion feels like but I know you're supposed to love the person you are marrying."
"Do I love Leonard? That's very personal" Penny stammered.
"Not any more personal then what we've already told each other" Sheldon quipped.
"Well I'm not going to answer" Penny defied.
Sheldon shrugged " very well your lack of an answer gave me one."
Penny frowned at him which made him frown back. " Did I say something wrong?" he asked nervously.
That statement made Penny frown more " you really don't understand do you?"
"Unfortunately no. I am able to comprehend almost everything except human emotion. That and sarcasm. My friend Raj is helping me learn. You should meet him."
"I would like that" Penny smiled at Sheldon again. She was falling for him. She could tell by the butterflies in her stomach and how she just wanted to be near him. He looked so handsome with his blue shirt on. It brought out his blue eyes; which were the bluest Penny had ever saw.
"How is tonight? There will be a party of sorts downstairs."
"How am I supposed to get out of my dinner?"
"You don't have too. Just leave right after. I will meet you outside so I can escort you down."
Penny thought it over then said " that will be acceptable."
The whistle blew for the fourth time since they started their walk. They had walked around the deck twice. As they turned the bend Penny saw Christy running to her.
"Is everything well Christy?" Penny asked with concern.
"Yes. It's just Leonard he is looking for you. He's even sent Mr. Howard looking. He wants you to join him for lunch." Christy glanced over at Sheldon.
"Howard? I must go before he finds me. Thank you Christy for telling me. I will be right there." Christy left. "I have to go but I will see you tonight."
"I understand. I will meet you by the entrance to the grand staircase." it was happening to him again. His palms were all wet with sweat. His heart rate was at a rapid pace. What was it? Penny left a confused Sheldon alone.
He turned and began to walk in the opposite way that Penny went. He began to calculate what everything meant when he collided with someone. Lucky for him it was only Amelia.
"I apologize Ms Farrah Fowler. I wasn't paying attention. Normally I'm very good at using my other senses when I'm deep in thought.
"No harm done my boy. What seems to be troubling you?" She gestured for Sheldon to join her which he did.
"Well I cant explain the symptoms I'm having lately."
"Maybe I can assist you. What are your symptoms?"
"For starters I have an upset stomach. But not in an ill way it just is constantly flipping. My palms are excessively sweaty. My heart rate is rapid and finally my body temperature is rising. Yet I have no fever."
"Does this happen all the time or only just at certain moments?" Amelia inquired.
"Only certain moments." Sheldon said after a pause.
"Are these moments when you're around someone? Say a certain young lady?"
Sheldon blushed " yes".
Amelia laughed. "Sheldon I have a diagnosis."
"What?" Sheldon eagerly asked.
"You're in love."
"Love?" Sheldon furrowed his brow in deep thought calculating all his symptoms. "That's it? This is what it feels like to be in love?"
"In the beginning. I felt that way about my late husband. You go from that feeling to wanting nothing else except to be with that person forever. To be the one they come too when their upset. Knowing that if you were ever separated it would be like you lost a part of yourself." She was speaking out of memory. She softly shook her head and looked at Sheldon. " I'd advice you to tell this woman how you feel."
"I can't do that" Sheldon looked down.
"Why not?"
"She doesn't feel the same way I do."
"How can you be so sure? If you don't tell her you will never know either way. I find that to be a much worse punishment then being rejected. To have to live with all the what if questions."
"No. It's just complicated." Sheldon was angry at himself for falling in love with another mans fiancé.
"Love is seldom not complicated Sheldon." She patted his arm and walked away.
a/n: I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. There are somethings that Sheldon normally says on the show that he can't say in this such as REM sleep since that phrase wasn't coined until the 50's. also sadly I can't call him moonpie because those won't be invented for another 17 years. I might sneek it in I don't know yet. Anyway till the next time.