This is another short chapter, but it is a chapter! I hope you all enjoy and thank you for being patient with me!

Chapter 17

Penny practically pressed her nose to every shopping window they passed. Each one contained something she wanted. Shoes, purses, clothes. How come she couldn't be rich? Then, she wouldn't have to spend her days wanting. Stepping back from the latest window, she sighed longingly and walked beside Sheldon to the next one.

"Really, Penny, if you wish to buy something all you need to do is go inside." Surprisingly, Sheldon had been patient with her as they walked down the line of shops. Their progress had been slow and there was still a whole other side to walk.

"I would, if I had the money to buy everything I wanted," Penny said. "Right now, I have enough for a few souvenirs for the guys, but I haven't found the perfect things to get, yet."

"Ah, I see. But, Penny, you do know that this can be considered as a vacation of sorts for you, right?" Together they walked slowly down the sidewalk and Sheldon held his hands behind his back and looked down at Penny as he spoke.

"I suppose, I do."

"Then, that means, since it is your vacation, you may do whatever you like. You do not have to buy anything for our friends back home. Use your money on yourself while you are here. You may never get the chance to do so, again."

Penny stopped walking. "You know what, Sheldon. You're right!"

"Of course, I am," he said, smugly.

Without another word, Penny grabbed Sheldon's hand and tugged him into the nearest shop. Sheldon immediately started wondering if he should regret what he had said.

Despite having being out shopping for several hours, Penny and Sheldon returned to their hotel room with only one shopping bag. It contained a pair of shoes Penny swore went perfectly with one of the dresses she had brought. Of course, Sheldon knew nothing of fashion and what shoes went with what, so he said nothing as she made the purchase. However, he did comment on the height of the heel and warned Penny to the dangers of wearing something so high.

Penny ignored him, like usual.

Penny walked to her room and threw the bag containing her purchase on the bed before going to her suitcase and pulling out something more comfortable to wear. The day had been amazing, but now, she was feeling the effects of having barely any sleep and all she wanted to do was curl up somewhere and relax.

Sheldon had suggested ordering room service, so that it would save them the hassle of going out to get something, and Penny readily agreed. Lunch had seemed so long ago and her belly was protesting its emptiness.

"Tomorrow is my first day lecturing at the University, so you will be on your own for several hours," Sheldon said when she walked back into the living room in a pair of comfortable sweats and a tank top. He was sitting on the couch, on the left cushion, just as he did at his apartment.

"I think I'll manage." Penny plopped down next to him and smiled when she jostled Sheldon slightly. Instead of glaring and saying something rude, he just ignored it. Sheldon rarely ignored things. "I'll probably sleep in a bit."

"Ah, yes, you and your sleeping in until eleven," he replied with a slight smile.

"I think after today, I deserve a bit of sleep." To prove her point, she yawned loudly. "See? Planes and trains are not that comfortable to sleep in, you know."

"I agree with you there." A knock sounded at their door and Sheldon stood. "That would be our meal. I hope you don't mind that I ordered for you, Penny."

"Of course not." Penny leaned back on the couch and propped her feet on the coffee table in front of it, which was something Sheldon would not approve of once he turned around. "I know you know what I like and don't like, sweetie. Just like I know those things about you."

Sheldon opened the door and allowed the steward to wheel their meal into the room. With a smile, he picked up both silver platters and headed for the table and chairs located behind the couch, but Sheldon stopped him.

"We'll be eating our dinner on the couch, sir."

The man didn't even blink and changed direction to where Penny sat. She slid her feet of the table and the steward placed their meal on it. Whatever Sheldon ordered for them, it smelled delicious.

"Thank you," she said.

"Yes, thank you." Sheldon tipped the man and without another word, he left the room.

"Well," Sheldon joined her on the couch and smiled. "Dinner is served."

Howard settled into Sheldon's spot and made sure to rub his butt all over it. It really was the best seat in the apartment. He settled into it even more and placed his feet on the coffee table, which would have totally earned him a strike if Sheldon had been there.

On the table, sat various types of food. None of which were the ones normally eaten on a Sunday night. Howard, Raj and Leonard were taking full advantage of having no Sheldon around.

"You know, I'm glad I wasn't picked to go to Germany," said Leonard from his armchair. "I'm having more of a vacation, now, than I would have if I were with him. I feel sorry for Penny, though. I don't think she realized what she was getting into when she said she'd go."

"She's probably trying to catch a plane back to the US," said Howard with a smile. Leonard and Howard laughed. Raj remained quiet.

Sheldon got on his nerves, just as he did with everyone, but lately he had noticed how close he and Penny had gotten. Raj doubted that Penny was regretting her decision to go with the physicist. Since he could not speak in front of Penny, he had taken to observing her, instead. The way she acted around Sheldon had changed in the past several months and if Raj didn't know any better, he could have sworn that Penny was developing feelings for Sheldon.

Raj gathered up his garbage and walked over to the garbage can beside the refrigerator. A water bottle soared through the air, hit the can and fell behind it.

"Dammit, so close!" Howard cursed. "Raj, buddy, can you throw that away for me?"

The Indian man mumbled to himself and moved the garbage, so that he could get the bottle. Shockingly, the bottle wasn't the only thing back there. There were three tiny scraps of paper. With Sheldon being Sheldon, Raj was surprised to see them there.

He picked them and saw that they were folded. Just like the slips of paper Sheldon had in that hat when he picked who would be going to Germany with him... Raj thought.

Curious, he decided to open them, to see who had been forgotten to be thrown away and his eyes widened. On each scrap of paper ,written in Sheldon's meticulous hand, was the name Penny.

Yes, I know, things are still going a bit slow, but hopefully it will all pick up in the next few chapters!

Thank you all who are still sticking with this and reading it! You have no idea how much I appreciate it! :)