Penny wandered down to steerage to find Sheldon. To her surprise he wasn't in the common area where he liked to play chess with Raj. Millie however was there.
When Millie saw Penny walk in she jumped out of her mothers lap, who was reading her a story.
"Penny! I'm so happy to see you." She wrapped her arms around Pennys waist. "Oh I've missed you. Sheldon said I might not see you today and that made me so sad." Millie spoke so fast Penny was afraid she would forget to breath.
Penny laughed as she embraced Millie back. "I have missed you as well, even though I just saw you yesterday."
"Well that was so long ago" Millie sighed which made Penny laugh. "I apologize for upsetting you. I never wish to make you sad." Penny led Millie to an empty chair and sat with her. Penny looked into Millies eyes and saw the hope that was inside her, for a new better life.
"Guess what Penny!" Millie interrupts Pennys thoughts.
"What Millie?" Penny asked full of interest.
"I'm part of Sheldons family now. He said so this morning after I beat him at checkers 6 times!" Millie smiled proudly.
"Sheldon is very lucky to have an amazing girl like you in his family. Do happen to know where he is? I need to speak with him." Penny asked.
Millie frowned thinking "I don't know after our games he went to talk to Mr. Raj. Penny are you part of Sheldons family?"
Penny thought quietly for a moment "technically no I am not, but I like to think that I am. Like you."
"Maybe if I become a part of your family we can be a family together." Millie said excitedly.
"Yes I believe we can be. What are you doing with your mama?" Penny asked.
"Mama is reading me a story, while teaching me to read. I can almost read the whole story by myself." Millie boasted up her chest a bit as she spoke.
"What are you reading?" Penny wondered, knowing how it delighted Millie to tell her.
"The tale of Peter Rabbit. It is one of my favorites."
"What are your other favorites?" Penny could talk to Millie all day; she would find Sheldon later.
"Well mama can't get a lot of books so we only have one other and that's The Wonderful Wizard of OZ. Have you read it?" Millie asked wide eyed.
Penny gasped "have I read it? Why it is my favorite story. I read it all the time when I was younger, in fact I just read it the other day. Such a magical story. I love Dorothy, who do you like?"
"I like Glinda because she is beautiful like you." Millie was so excited, she loved having something in common with Penny.
"Thank you sweetie. You're beautiful as well, always remember that" Penny told Millie.
"I love you Penny" Millie said suddenly as she hugged Penny.
"I..I.."Penny was stunned for a second. With joyful tears she replied "I love you Millie."
Penny sat with Millie for a while longer, when she left it was already 12:30. she headed back upstairs on her mission to find Sheldon. Lost in her thoughts she bumped into someone.
"Penny?" an accented voice asked.
Penny looked up and saw Raj. On an impulse Penny hugged him. "Raj am I glad to see you. I need to find Sheldon it is very important. Do you know where I can find him?"
Not having had anything to drink Raj wasn't able to speak to her. He only nodded that he knew.
Penny furrowed her brow at how annoying this was. "Well where is he?"
Raj shrugged and took a deep inhale. Mustering all the courage he had he quickly whispered "On first class deck. He snuck back onto your area."
Penny thought while though Raj was odd he was also a good man. "Thank you Raj."
"Saubhagya" Raj called after Penny.
Penny headed toward the closet stairwell. Racing up thinking how was she going to find him. Reaching top deck she looked left towards the bow and right towards the stern. She closed her eyes and told her feet where to go. Her shoes never let her down. Pulling her shawl tighter she turned left toward the bow.
Sitting on a bench was Sheldon writing formulas in his journal. He slammed his pencil down "My word this is unbelievable" he said to himself.
"What is unbelievable", a soft familiar voice asked?
Sheldon looked up from his work. "Penny", he said half surprised – half relieved. "What are you doing here?"
"Well first of all this is my part of the ship, so I could ask you the same thing." She laughed. The sun hitting her golden hair surrounding her in the light. "However I was looking for you Sheldon. I thought about what you said; I don't want to do any of this alone. I want to do it with you. I am stronger when I'm with you.
Sheldon smiled, "I am stronger when I'm with you. Please sit." He jestured next to him.
Penny sat as close to him as possible without being in his lap. "What is that?" Penny asked pointing at his journal.
"Oh it's just a formula showing that light propagates at a speed independent of the speed of its source." Sheldon said proudly. "No where has this been discovered and me a poor farm boy from Texas did."
"Of course you did; you are so smart. You can accomplish anything." Penny kissed his cheek. Which made him turn towards her. Gazing into each others eyes. Each knowing what the other was going to do.
Leaning their heads together their lips touched. Penny grabbed Sheldons hand who didn't flinch at her touch. Pulling away for air keeping their foreheads touching, " I love you Sheldon" "and I love you Penny." Sheldon whispered as he kissed her once again.
"Sheldon I'm done with Leonard. I am done with people telling me how I need to live my life." Penny said. "I want you to do something for me."
Sheldon sat a bit straighter "I'm very pleased that you are taking control of your life. I am willing to do anything. What is it that you are looking for me to do?"
"I want to show you and Leonard that my body, heart and soul belong to you. I want you to draw me." Penny undid her purse.
"Penny I draw landscapes, not people. I'm not sure if I can do it." Sheldon was speaking fast and nervous.
"You have drawn some people before, I know you can do it. I want you to draw me with this." She pulls out her emerald ring out of her bag. Sheldon took it and examined it. "Only this."
Sheldon shook; his Texas twang coming out more prominatley now "you mean you are going to be naked. I…I…" Sheldon looked down at his feet "I've never seen a woman naked before."
"That makes this more special. Please Sheldon will you do it?" Penny rubbed his arm and kissed his cheek.
"If it will make you happy then I will."
Penny smiled and kissed his lips once more. She look over to the bow they were so close. "Sheldon come with me." She got up and headed over to the bow that was roped off. Sheldon pointed this out to her "Penny this area is roped off passengers are not allowed onto the bow." Penny was already heading towards the front "Sheldon it's ok to break a few rules come on."
"What have I gotten myself into" Sheldon muttered. He joined Penny at the front, "the view is amazing, I was here with Raj on the day we set sail. If you really want to experience it step up here." He pointed to the railing. Penny shook her head "oh no remember the last time I climbed on the railing I almost fell into the ocean."
Sheldon took her hand "yes I remember, it was the greatest day for me because I got to meet you. I won't let anything happen to you I promise." Penny looked at him and she knew that he meant it. "Ok I'll do it." Sheldon instructed her to close her eyes he helped her lift her foot onto the railing when both feet were steady "open your eyes." He held onto her waist.
Penny's eyes fluttered open she looked out into the ocean "oh my God. This is incredible. Oh Sheldon, its like I can take on the world, go where ever I want."
"Well where do you want to go?" Sheldon asked whisperd in her ear.
"I want to go to OZ" Penny said. "Then we shall go to OZ," Sheldon replied. Penny smiled and kissed him again.
XXXXX
"Captian another ice warning. This is the second one today. Came in around 1:42. what are your orders?" Chief officer Wilde said.
Captain Smith turned to Bruce Ismay who he was speaking with on the bridge. "Sir?"
"We have a deadline Captain, do not slow down this ship." Ismay turned and left.
"Stay on course sailor. If another ice warning comes in" Captain Smith said as he followed Ismay out of the bridge.
"Doesn't it seem foolish to not take these ice warnings seriously?" Fourth officer Boxwell asked Wilde.
"It is not for us to pass judgement on the Captains orders, besides we are the strongest ship in the world. Now stay at your post until you are relieved officer." Wilde replied.
"Yes sir" Boxwell turned back to his post.