Leonard was sitting at his desk reading through the latest high-temperature superconductivity results, when Sheldon emerged from the direction of the bedrooms. When he saw that Leonard was busy on his laptop, he attempted to tiptoe towards his spot unnoticed.

"Sheldon!" Leonard announced, as if he had sensed him approaching.

Freezing at the mention of his name, he looked over. "I don't want any trouble," he said.

"There won't be any, I don't want to talk," said Leonard, dismissively. He closed the laptop and walked over to the armchair, making himself comfortable.

Keeping one eye on him at all times, Sheldon slowly lowered himself on to his spot. He reached for the remote and flicked to the Syfy channel. Leonard was sitting with his arms crossed and a slightly grim expression on his face. They didn't speak for a minute or two.

"So! what the hell is going on?" he finally asked.

"I thought you didn't want to talk," Sheldon said, startled.

"Okay, I've changed my mind," he said, "…are you dating Penny now, or what?"

"No… not officially."

"What does that mean?"

"It means, we are not dating presently."

'Huh," said Leonard, he then focused his attention back on the TV, deep in thought. "Why is that then?" he blurted out suddenly.

Sheldon paused and then said, "Leonard I know you must detest me right now. What can I do?"

"Stop dating Penny."

"I'm not dating Penny…yet. So, I can't stop until I start…"

"Sheldon!" said Leonard impatiently. "If you're not dating her, then what is happening? I deserve to know!"

"Yes, you do. I have decided that given the circumstances, it would be prudent for me to embark on a courtship period. If all goes to plan, we will sign the Relationship Agreement in three months time."

"Huh," said Leonard again, but this time his tone was different. Sheldon wished he could interpret the change but at least Leonard seemed more relaxed now.

The following morning when Penny opened the door to leave for work, she was surprised to see a single red rose on her doorstep. She picked it up and brought it to her nose, to take in it's aroma. It was such a beautiful specimen, bright scarlet and perfectly formed. She carefully placed it in a vase before leaving for work. As she climbed into the car, she felt a sudden rush of happiness wash over her. This was so different, this feeling. It was unburdened and free.

Reaching for her phone, she was about to text Sheldon to thank him, when she remembered his words 'accept gifts' and 'resist me'. She paused for a second and then returned the phone back in her bag, hoping she was doing the right thing.

That lunchtime, Leonard raced to the cafeteria hoping to find Raj and Howard before Sheldon got there. They often arrived before he and Sheldon these days and true to form, both of them were seated already.

"Guys," Leonard said rushing over and sitting down.

"Hey bro," said Raj.

"Hi Leonard," said Howard. "How's things in the freakathon?"

"The what?"

"The alternative dimension that is Sheldon and Penny," he said.

"Yeah, well about that. He told me last night, they won't be dating for three months," he said looking pleased.

"Cold feet already?" said Howard.

"Yeah, it looks like Penny is slowly coming to her senses."

"Well, at least you don't have to worry about them ever consummating," said Howard. He puts on his best Sheldon impression. "No Penny, coitus is a disagreeable, unsavory endeavor we will never partake in. It causes your brain cells to shrink and heaven knows you need everyone you have!"

The guys chuckled.

"Just one thing before Sheldon arrives, I was wondering if you guys could keep your ear to the ground for me?"

"You want us to spy on them," said Raj looking shocked.

"Noooo, just keep me posted if you hear anything," he said. "This thing will fizzle out, I just want to know where it's at."

"To give it a push?" said Howard teasingly.

"No, it won't need it."

"Sure," Howard said, "I've already got Bernadette on side."

"Great thanks," Leonard said. "Amy's onboard as well. I texted her last night and told her I would help her get Sheldon back. She has taken to it with real enthusiasm. Maybe a little too much," he smiled.

"How's that?" Raj asked.

"She's started calling herself 'The Operative'."

Late that evening Penny heard a light flutter outside her door. She waited for his knocks, but they didn't come. Instead, a sheet of paper slowly appeared from underneath the door. She smiled. What is he doing this time? She thought, walking over and picking up the page. It was folded in two and written in Sheldon's hand was a short paragraph of text, which began, "The circumpolar boreal of…"

Penny's eyes flick over the page quickly and back again. Realizing she could only understands a few words of it, she sighed. "Oh Sheldon, what is this?" Deciding to search the internet, she was about to get her laptop when there was a knock at the door. A normal type of knock, so it wasn't him. She pinned the note to her fridge, with a magnet and went to answer it.

It was Bernadette.

"Hi Bernie"

"Hi Penny," said Bernadette in a motherly tone "I just thought I'd stop by, see how you are doing." Penny had been expecting this little chat, ever since that fateful night when everyone had found out about her and Sheldon. The time had obviously arrived.

"Come in," she said.

Bernadette sat down on the couch, while Penny made them some drinks. "Coffee okay?"

"Sure."

"So how are you?" Bernadette asked.

"Great."

"… and Sheldon?"

Penny placed the cups down. Then she sat down and said, "I'm sorry about that night. Leonard wasn't supposed to find out like that. I was going to tell him after everyone left. It all went horribly wrong."

"It was unfortunate," Bernadette said. "but I'm more surprised you want to start a relationship with Sheldon."

"Well, if you had told me a month ago that I would be doing this, I would have thought you were taking those pills Howards mother is always on." she said.

She smiled, "So what changed?

"Nothing, not for me anyway. It was Sheldon."

Bernadette looked at her knowingly, "I think there were signs with you also," she said.

"You do?"

"Not anything the boys would pick up on, but I always wondered why you put up with so much from him. No one else does, except Amy."

"I felt protective of him, like a little brother."

"Yeah but if my little brother spoke to me that way, he would have got a swift kick in the pants. I can tell you."

Penny laughed and thought about it for a moment. She had been really lenient on Sheldon. No other guy could ever have got away with being so rude. Yes, she was protective but she had also secretly found him… cute. She'd wanted him to notice her.

"Well maybe it's because Leonard tolerates him even more than I do," she said.

"Yes, but it's obvious why Leonard does that."

"Is it?" said Penny. She had never been able to work out that one out.

"Sheldon is everything Leonard's mother wants. The son she would have chosen."

"Yes he is, but wouldn't that make it worse between them?"

"Leonard has no confidence in himself. Seeing Sheldon, the very pinnacle of what his mother thinks is success, unable to deal with basis everyday life must have its rewards."

"You mean it makes him feel better about himself? I never thought of it like that."

"Still the fact remains that Leonard is more socially advanced than Sheldon," she said. "Which leads me to ask, are you really sure about this?"

"Yes, I'm pretty sure. The thought of going back to Leonard a second time fills me with dread. I wish I didn't feel this way because he's not a bad guy but there was something unspoken between me and Sheldon. Something that can only be felt. We are taking it slow though. We're trying a courtship period. Look, he sent me a rose," Penny said gesturing to the vase on her coffee table, hoping that Bernadette would be convinced.

"He did?" Bernadette said.

"Hmm, I think his mother may have had an influence there," she Penny smiling.

"He also sent me this," she said, walking to the fridge and retrieving Sheldon's note, "but I don't have a clue what it means."

Bernadette glanced at the page in Penny's hand and said, "Oh Penny, he sends you a note you can't even read. Is this man really for you?" she asked as delicately as she could.

Penny felt a doubt creeping into her soul, which she didn't want to consider. She wasn't smart enough for this brilliant man. She can't even understand a simple note.

"Can you take a look at it for me?" Penny asked pleadingly.

"Sure…" Bernadette said. She took the page from Penny and began to read. As she did so, her expression changed from neutral, to surprise, to shock.

"What is it?" Penny asked.

Bernadette paused and then said, "I-I think, it's a poem."

"A poem?"

"In a manner of speaking…" she said.

"Translate it for me, please."

"I'll have to improvise, but I'll try…" said Bernadette.

"The circumpolar boreal of Ursa Major in quadrant NQ2 contrast your eyes," she read.

"What about my eyes?" Penny asked.

Bernadette hesitated. "Well I guess it could mean... your eyes are like a billion stars."

Penny let out a breath.

"Auditory or sensorimotor response of absolute tone cognizance contrast your voice."

Bernadette thought about this one for a few seconds, "Your voice is like …. a perfect song."

Penny felt a lump catch in the back of her throat, "Carry on" she asked.

"Instantaneous kinematic equations contrast your ever prevailing tendency," Bernadette said.

"Your effect is infinity positive… it could also mean energizing, or both?"

Penny felt the tears well up in her eyes, as she waited for the next line to come.

"Betwixt azure and perdition, I venerate you," she said. "That one is easy… between heaven and hell, I long for you."

"You are, as Higgs to supersymmetry. Your vassal, Dr Sheldon Cooper." Bernadette finished, lowering the page down slowly, with an astounded expression.

Penny was now choked up with tears, "W-what d-does that last part mean?" she asked.

"Well, the Higgs Boson results at CERN are altering the validity of the current supersymmetry theory, so at a guess…"

"Yes?"

"You changed my world? Your servant. Dr Sheldon Cooper."

Bernadette's eyes had now welled up with tears too. "Oh Penny," she whimpered. "Don't listen to me, true love should never be denied," she said.

The two women fell into an hug.