Sorry for the wait, but I'm really proud of this chapter! :)

Chapter 20

It was just a simple green dress; one she knew matched her eyes perfectly. It was nothing extravagant or reveling, like one of the dresses she had packed, but Penny knew that cut and style of the dress would show off her best assets and make her look beautiful. The question was, though, would Sheldon even notice? Would he even notice that she had dressed up for him, or would he just think it was just Penny being Penny?

But she didn't dwell on that as she bought the dress, which was pretty cheap and didn't take as much of her spending money she thought it would. It made buying it even better, and Penny knew she would never regret the purchase. Not even if Sheldon didn't notice.

After the purchase, Penny continued to window shop, even though she knew she had bought all that she needed that day. The nice day, and the fact that she was actually shopping in Germany had almost made her forget about Leonard's call, earlier. Almost.

Who the hell did he think he was? Already assuming I wanted to go home? Really? It pissed her off all over, again. Leonard claimed to know her, but with that phone call, he had shown that he didn't. He had only done it to make himself feel better, Penny knew. Before they had gone to Germany together, Penny and Sheldon had been spending a lot of time together and that was clearly making Leonard jealous.

There was a time she may have considered dating Leonard, especially over the months the boys had been in the Arctic, but when they came back and the truth of what they had done to Sheldon, had quickly changed her mind. Penny knew that she really only had considered dating Leonard because he made her feel good, he told her she was pretty. But there had to be more to a relationship than that. She was sick of being in relationships like that. Penny was more than just her looks, and she wished people say it. She may not be very smart, but she wasn't dumb. She liked to play video games, could kick everyone's ass at Halo every time, except fro Sheldon's. She aspired to be an actress and one day would like to write a screenplay.

That was Penny.

It was close to four when she finally made it back to the hotel. She hadn't eaten since she had woken up that morning and now, she was starving. However, she knew that they would be going out a little while after Sheldon returned and decided to not anything until it was time for dinner.

So, she flicked on the TV and saw, to her dismay, that only two of the channels were in English and nothing interesting was on them. Turning the TV, she stood and stretched. What else was there to do? She had already done a bit of sight-seeing, which hadn't been as enjoyable as when Sheldon had been with her. She missed his know-it-all self.

Penny was actually thinking of visiting him at the University, but knew that this wasn't like his job in California. She couldn't just appear at his office with lunch. Here, he was an honored guest and was probably being kept busy with various things throughout the day. Maybe if she ever got the chance to talk to Dr. Mueller, she could surprise Sheldon one day. But until then, she was stuck in the hotel room, watching the time slowly past by. Penny never thought she would be bored in Germany.

~S~P~

Penny jolted awake when she heard the sound of someone opening the hotel door. Sitting up, she peered over the top of the couch just in time to see Sheldon walk through the door and shut it after himself. His eyes went right to her and he smiled, a genuine smile, like he had missed her while he was off doing science stuff.

"Hello, Penny," he greeted walking over to the edge of the couch. "How was your day?" Polite as ever.

"Great!"

Sheldon looked her up and down and Penny knew that he was looking at her slightly disheveled appearance. "I hope you did not sleep the day away, Penny. Heidelberg has many things to offer and the inside of this hotel room is not one of those things."

Penny couldn't help but smile as she swung her legs until her feet touched the floor and stood up. "Don't worry, Sheldon. I didn't sleep the day away. I did some sight-seeing and a little bit of shopping, too. I just fell asleep waiting for you to get back."

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I would like to take a shower and change before we go out to eat."

Penny stretched. "I need to change, too." The green dress was lying on her bed, begging to be worn and she couldn't wait to put it on. Luckily, she had even brought a pair of shoes from her collection at home that would go with the dress perfectly.

"All right. So, should we plan on meeting right here in thirty minutes?"

Penny rolled her eyes. Of course, he would have to plan when they would meet, but she supposed he wouldn't be Sheldon if he didn't. "You got it. You're lucky I took my shower earlier today, or you would be waiting more than thirty minutes."

Sheldon smiled. "I know, Penny. I would have adjusted, accordingly, though."

"I know you would have, sweetie. Now, shoo. Go take your shower so we can get going. I'm starving!"

Sheldon, smartly, decided not to remark on that and retreated into his bedroom, closing the door softly behind him.

Penny went to her own room and began her preparations for the night. She knew that, even though she would be dressing nicely, Sheldon would not be taking her somewhere overly fancy...or overly romantic, so there was no need to do her hair in some elaborate style. Instead, she pulled a little of her gold locks to the side and clipped it in place with a silver clip she had brought along. Her makeup would be light and in no time, she was ready to put the dress and shoes on.

Penny walked into the living room with four minutes to spare. Sheldon would be shocked to see her waiting for him. It would probably be the only time that would be the case. She couldn't wait to see the look on his face once he stepped from his room.

However, Penny was the one with the shocked face once Sheldon opened the door and stepped out. Gone were the mismatched shirts and plaid pants. They had been replaced by a blue, plaid button up shirt (that matched his eyes, Penny couldn't help but notice) and a pair of black dress slacks.

"You actually match, Sheldon!" Penny stood and got a better look at her friend.

"I figured since we would be staying a different country for some time, and going to eat in a nice restaurant, I would change the way I dress. For now. I'll still be dressing the same when I go to the University and of course, when we arrive back home, as well."

Penny didn't want to think about returning to Pasadena. That was another world to her, now. Germany was like a dream. Here she didn't have to work at her crappy waitressing job and didn't have to worry about how she would pay the next month's rent. Here, she was able to spend time with Sheldon. Her best friend and the man she-

"Penny, are you ready to go?" He offered her an arm, like they were in some old movie. "And by the way, Penny, I think you look absolutely beautiful."

Penny felt her face start to heat up. When had been the last time a man had made her blush? Not for a long while. It felt good. It made her feel like she was more than she had been back in California.

~S~P~

The restaurant that went to was not within walking distance from the hotel, so they had to take a cab to get there. Of course, everything was in German. Even the menus. And Penny hadn't brought her German-English dictionary along, so Sheldon decided that he would have to sit close so that he could tell her all of the different choices. He was so close; she could feel his breath on her shoulder when he turned to look at her.

Penny didn't mind. At all.

Once they made their choices, Sheldon didn't scoot away. Instead, he stayed close and they talked in low voices like everyone else at the restaurant. Penny couldn't remember being on a more romantic dinner and this one wasn't even met to mean anything. Or had it? Surely Sheldon didn't have feelings for her. Despite all of annoying tendencies, he could still be the perfect gentleman and that was all this was, now. Sheldon being the perfect gentleman to her.

"So, how was your first day?" She asked, hoping that it would get her mind off of the confusing thoughts swirling around in her head.

"It was...all right."

The hesitation got Penny, immediately.

"What happened?" If someone had done something bad to Sheldon, she would go up there tomorrow morning and kick their asses.

"The lectures went as well as I hoped they would, but it seems my Arctic Expedition is still being talked about among the students." He bowed his head and he clenched his fists around his fork.

A surge of anger for what Leonard, Howard and Raj had done coursed through Penny. It wasn't until, now, that she fully understand what their little 'prank' had done to Sheldon and his career. He was an amazing scientist, the smartest person she had ever met and now, he would always have that blemish on his record. There would be no getting rid of it...and no hiding from it, either.

"I'm sorry, Sheldon." She placed a hand on his shoulder, glad that he didn't shrug it off. "I am so sorry."

"It's quite all right, Penny." He straightened. "It's not your fault and as I recall, you were the only one who comforted me in that time of grief. I greatly appreciated it."

"That's what friends do, Sheldon. They're there for each other."

"You go far and beyond what a friend does, and I am glad for it." He smiled at her, a smile with only a hint of sadness. "Now, enough of that. We are both in a lovely country. Let's not bring things from the past to our dinner."

"Agreed. But, if you ever need to talk...about anything. I'm here." She covered her hand with his and looked him straight in his blue eyes. "Don't forget. You are a brilliant man, Sheldon." And I love you.

~S~P~

The rest of their evening went by fast. Too fast for Penny. She and Sheldon had been having such a good time, and she had even gotten him to laugh a few times. Not his breathy laugh, either. But a low chuckle that did something to Penny's stomach every time she heard it. So, she vowed to hear it more often.

"I had a lovely evening, Penny," Sheldon said when they made it back to their hotel room. It wasn't that late, but Sheldon's first day at the University seemed to be taking its toll on him. His eyes drooped and in the elevator, he started to yawn.

"I had a lovely time, too, Sheldon." She smiled. "Maybe...we could do something like that when we get back home? Go out to dinner. Just the two of us." She bit her lip, hoping that he wouldn't think she was proposing they go on a date, even though that was what she was doing, and refuse.

"I think that would be...fun." The word sounded a little odd coming from Sheldon's mouth, since he was saying about something that didn't involve video games or comic books.

"Great!" She beamed. "Well, I should let you get to bed. You have another full day tomorrow, don't you?"

"Actually, I have only two lectures in the morning and then, I will have the rest of the day off. After lunch would you like to visit the Heidelberg Castle? I did tell you that I planned a whole day around it, but if you don't want to go, then I can always change the plans." The Sheldon of California would not have been willing to change his plans for anything.

"Of course I still want to go to the castle! I've been looking forward to it all day, actually."

"Perfect." He looked pleased. "I should return to the hotel around 12:30. We will eat, and then, we can go. Should we plan on leaving around 1:30?"

"Sure," Penny said. Anytime would have been fine with her, as long as they were able to go. "I'll order room service before you get here, so that you can come back and eat. How does that sound?"

"Sounds good, Penny, and I'll let you decide what we should eat."

"But how will I know if it's something you'll like or don't like?"

Sheldon clasped his hands behind his back. "Penny, I believe you know what I like to eat."

"Yeah, in California! German food is a little different than a Barbeque Bacon Cheeseburger, with everything on the side."

"I trust you, Penny."

Those four words had Penny's heart racing. Since the Arctic Incident, Sheldon had been reluctant to trust, anyone, and she knew she still didn't trust the guys fully, yet. Probably never would. And even though, she hadn't had anything to do with the Arctic, it still felt good to hear that he trusted her.

"Okay, I'll get something we'll both like, then."

"Good. Now, I must go to bed. I have an early start tomorrow."

"Okay." Penny stepped closer. Yesterday, she had given him a hug, today she felt brave. Going up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. Dangerously close to the corner of his mouth. Sheldon didn't even jump back and when she sank back to her feet, he didn't even move to wipe it off. Instead, he looked stunned.

"Goodnight, Sheldon." With one last smile, she turned and walked back to her room. A few seconds later, she heard 'Goodnight, Penny.'

~S~P~

Raj knew Sheldon had been lying about the pieces of paper. All of the pieces had Penny's name on them...and Raj wasn't upset about it. Of the three of them, he knew he tolerated Sheldon the most and wouldn't have minded a trip to Germany. But for the past few months, he had observed the little thing that had been going on between Sheldon and Penny and was glad that they would get the chance to, maybe, explore it while they were on their trip.

Leonard wasn't in Germany.

Raj sat in his chair in his office and instead of doing work, wondered if there was anything he could do that would help Penny and Sheldon get together.

Thank for all of you who are still sticking with this story. It really means a lot! :D