Sheldon spent the next two days watching Penny closely. He was astonished by what he discovered. Penny was often by his side. She sat beside him on the couch. When he moved to his desk to do some work, Penny moved to the kitchen table. When Howard began annoying him about his refusal to go with them to an inferior theater, Penny was quick to defend him. When he started getting frustrated with Leonard whining over Leslie ending their affair, she immediately suggested a trip to the train store. When he and Missy got into an argument over her using his shampoo, Penny bought him a brand new bottle and then reminded him that Missy was leaving in 36 hours so he should really try to forgive and forget. She managed to get 5 tickets to the art house show and invited Sheldon, Raj and Anya along. The evening was fun, more so than he had anticipated. Especially when Penny cried during Funny Face and leaned on his shoulder for comfort.

Penny still flirted good naturedly with Missy, teased with Raj and Howard, and discussed her new project with Bernadette and Anya. But she never strayed far from him. Sheldon began to think that maybe Missy was right. Maybe there really was cause for hope. Sheldon closed the program on his laptop he had been keeping notes in. Now, to really test his theory.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Who's the awesomest?" Penny called out from the other side of the door.

"Penny." He called, with a sigh.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Who's the fantastic-est?" she asked again in a sing-song voice.

"Penny." he said, frowning at Missy as she giggled.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Who's the perfect-est?"

"Penny," he growled, with a roll of his eyes.

Penny opened the door with a wide smile. "Hey there, baby bear. Ready to go?"

Sheldon stepped back so Penny could move out into the hallway. "Penny, awesomest, fantastic-est and perfect-est are not real words. You obviously need that dictionary."

Penny winked at him and swatted his bottom as she moved past him. "Just don't forget what I said I would do if you bought me one, BMG." She linked her arm through Missy's and the two women headed down the stairs.

Sheldon blushed and hurried to follow them. "Penny! You smacked me! That's has earned you another strike!"

Penny laughed good-naturedly. "How many does that make me now?"

"19," he grumbled. "Not that you ever pay any attention to them."

Missy looked back at him. "What were the other 18 for?" Penny snorted as he began listing them off.

"Stealing milk on May 8th, taping a picture of grumpy cat to my laptop on May27th, spilling ice cream on the couch June 9th, signing my name to a petition to allow a large party in the building on June 10th, stealing my laundry detergent on June 11th, sneaking into my bedroom on June 12th, taping a picture of grumpy cat to my forehead on June 12th, taping another picture of grumpy cat to the bathroom mirror with a picture of me beside it on June 12th, a third picture on the back of my spot on June 12th…"

"That was a good day," Penny reminisced with a smile. "Actually, that was a good week."

Sheldon ignored her and kept talking. "…eating the last egg roll, for which I had called dibs on June 23rd, rolling through a stop sign, endangering my life, on July 2nd, more milk stealing on July 20th, forgetting Halo night and going dancing instead on July 30th, eating my last three oreos on August 11th, talking on her phone while Doctor Who was playing on August 17th, licking the remote so I wouldn't change the channel from Hairspray on October 9th, and she received two for drawing little bunnies on my white board on October 16th."

Penny pouted. "Those were cute little bunnies!"

Missy couldn't help laughing harder as Sheldon huffed. "You used my equations as part of your drawings! I had to start all over, Penny!"

Penny paused by her car door and blew him a kiss over the hood of the car. "Just keeping you on your toes, sugar." Penny slipped into the car, and Missy looked at him knowingly. Sheldon couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

The drive to the airport was filled with light bickering as Penny disputed every charge Sheldon made against her, and he defended each strike. When it came time for Missy to board, Penny and Sheldon had both hugged her. She left with a deeper appreciation for her brother and new found friend in Penny. She also had sore ribs from laughing at the two of them so much.

Penny led the way across the garage to where she had parked. "I don't care how many strikes you give me, Sheldon. I'm not taking your class."

Sheldon watched her hips sway in front of him and swallowed hard. "Penny, the longer you put it off, the longer the class will be."

Penny grinned at him over her shoulder. "Sweetie, you have two options. You can either keep giving me strikes forever, or you can just figure out that I've got to be me. Forgive and forget."

He climbed into the front passenger seat and buckled up. He took a steadying breath and made his first attempt at seducing Penny. He reached over and rubbed his thumb across her cheek. Penny looked at him in surprise.

"I am incapable of forgetting but I forgive you for being a pest," he said casually, dropping his hand back to his lap. ""You can't help it if you're just a silly girl."

Penny's eyes narrowed and she shoved her surprise out of her mind. "Silly girl?"

Sheldon nodded as if nothing was wrong. "I attribute it to your bohemian, hippie lifestyle. You just have no concept of decorum."

Penny's jaw dropped and she turned sideways in the car. "I can't believe you said that!"

Sheldon took his opportunity and leaned toward her again quickly. This time he kissed her lips. Just a brief peck. Nothing special. Yet it sent a tingle through his body and it discombobulated Penny completely. He grinned widely and counted to eight before her eyes focused on him again. She seemed to have forgotten what she was about to say.

"Why did you do that?" she asked finally. Her voice was soft, a bit wary.

Sheldon shrugged and looked at her innocently. "Is that no longer an acceptable part of our friendship? You kiss me often."

Penny nibbled on her lower lip. "No, no, it's fine. It's jut that you've never done it before."

Sheldon changed topics. "Penny, it is Wednesday. You have to work this evening. We should really get back."

After a couple more seconds Penny nodded and turned around. She started the car and pulled out of the space. Soon Sheldon had them discussing the upcoming Vegas trip Leonard wanted to take. One step at a time, he reminded himself.