I apologize for this being short and feeling a little rushed. I think this story is quickly winding down. *sniff*

Chapter Thirty-Eight

It had taken Penny a while to fall asleep that night. Not because she was uncomfortable or tired (in fact, she was exhausted) but because of who was in her bed. She couldn't believe Sheldon had agreed to sleep over. It had shocked and pleasantly surprised her.

Now, he was lying on his back on the right side of the bed with his eyes closed in sleep. "Penny, will you quit staring at me and go to bed." Or so she had thought. With a giggle and a sorry, Penny laid down and stared at the ceiling. Still she was unable to sleep, but at least she wasn't watching Sheldon, anymore.

However, before she knew it, she was blinking awake the next morning to movement underneath her. Looking down, all she saw was plaid. Soft plaid. The plaid of pajamas. Glancing up, she saw that Sheldon was looking at her with an unreadable expression. She sat up. "Oh, I'm sorry, Sheldon," she said. "I meant to stay on my side all night."

"It's quite all right, Penny. I found myself enjoying having you so near." He sat up and glanced at the pink clock on her side of the bed. "But I am afraid I should be going. Meemaw will be here in an hour to pick me up and I need to get ready." He climbed from the bed and stretched. Penny did the same.

"I can cook breakfast for you in your apartment while you get ready. Unless you're getting something with your Meemaw."

"That would be fine. She and my mother had planned on getting some breakfast together. So, if you don't mind making something, Penny, I'll be grateful."

"Great! Give me a few minutes to change and I'll be over!" She went on her toes and kissed him on the cheek, not wanting to kiss him until she had brushed her teeth.

"I'll see you, then." With one last smile, he left her room and her apartment.

Penny didn't start to get dressed right away. Instead, she flopped back on her bed. I can't believe I had a man in my bed and we didn't have sex. It felt good to just be held and not expected to do anything more. Why couldn't Sheldon have been her first boyfriend? There would have been no more after him.

I love him...

Fifteen minutes later, she was in Sheldon and Leonard's kitchen whipping up a batch of waffles, which was one of the few things she knew how to make without destroying anything. Leonard had shuffled in and sat on the couch when he heard noises coming from the kitchen. "How many waffles do you want, Leonard?" She called over her shoulder at the half-asleep man.

"Uh...two?"

"All right, two waffles coming up!" Sheldon was still in the shower, so she decided she'd feed Leonard first since he was there.

After pouring batter in the waffle pan and waiting a few minutes, she dumped the finished waffles on a plate and slid it on the counter. Leonard was already there with syrup and a fork. "I started the coffee machine," he said before taking a bite. "I know how much you need it."

Truthfully, she didn't need it. She was more awake than she had ever felt in the morning. But she loved coffee, so she wanted it. "Thank you!" She chirped and went back to making more batter. Sheldon would be out soon.

"You seem awfully happy for it being this early," Leonard observed from over his waffles. "If I didn't know Sheldon, I would have thought that you got-"

"Laid last night," Penny finished. "No, I didn't. But Sheldon stayed the night and I got the best sleep of my life." She wasn't angry at what Leonard had implied because this time, there wasn't an underlying layer of disappointment and judgement. He was teasing her, like a friend.

"So, he wasn't sleeping like a vampire?"

"Not really. And he even let me curl up to him." She hummed happily as she placed more batter in the pan. Behind her, she could hear Leonard sputtering.

"Really?" He asked and wiped his mouth.

"Yep. I was just as surprised as you. I woke up this morning wrapped around him and he didn't even tell me off for invading his space as he slept."

"He must really love you, then." The mood went from teasing to extremely serious. Penny turned to face Leonard, who was watching her.

"Do you really think so?"

"I've never seen him act this way around anyone else and it's clear that he cares for you. Very much. So, yes, I really do think Sheldon loves you."

Tears shimmered in Penny's eyes. Happy tears. "Leonard, I love him, too."

Unbeknownst to them, Sheldon had finished his shower and was about to step from his bedroom, fully dressed, when he heard the conversation between his friend and girlfriend. He didn't even think winning a Nobel would make him this happy.

After finishing his breakfast, Leonard shuffled to the bathroom to take a shower. Howard and Raj would be over in a few minutes to decide what they would do for the day. Sheldon and Penny were still sitting at the counter, eating.

"Do you like them?" Penny asked, after finishing her first waffle and poured syrup on her second.

"If I didn't, Penny, I would not be eating it."

"True." She nudged him in the side. "Well, I'm glad. I can make them for you, again. You know, when you don't have an already scheduled breakfast day."

"Sounds good to me. But you must allow me to return the favor." He looked at her and smiled. "it is only fair, right?"

"Yes, that would be nice." Penny couldn't wait for the day where she would wake up to the smell of breakfast being cooked in her kitchen. Her mouth almost started watering, even though she still had food to eat on her plate.

When they were finished, Sheldon took their empty plates and put them in the sink. "I'll wash, since you cooked."

"I'll dry!" She grabbed a towel and stood next to Sheldon, beaming. For some reason, she just felt so happy.

Once the last dish was dried and put away, someone knocked on the door. Sheldon smiled and wiped his hands on a towel. "That must be Meemaw. Perfect timing, as usual." He bent down and kissed Penny on the mouth before heading to the door to open it.

"You ready, Moonpie?" Meemaw asked when she opened the door. "We have a lot to do in such a short time!" She grabbed her grandson's arm and yanked him through the door, surprisingly very strong for her age and size.

"Bye, Penny, honey! I'll see you later!"

Everything had happened so fast, Penny just blinked her eyes in surprise. Sheldon and Meemaw had been there one second and now, they were gone. "Hmm," she said to herself. "I wonder what they're going to be doing."

Meemaw led Sheldon outside and to his surprise, she walked to the back of the building where the parking lot was. "I know how much you dislike riding in cabs, Moonpie," she said over her shoulder. "So, I rented a car."

They stopped beside a very clean and shiny black car. The interior of the vehicle were spotless. The car had to be brand new. "The man at the rental place assured me that I was taking this car on it's maiden drive."

"But, can you sti-?"

"Of course, I can still drive," she said with a smile. "I'm not that old." She pressed a button on the keyring in her hand and the doors were unlocked.

Sheldon, ever the gentleman, opened the door for his Meemaw before walking around the car to his own seat. After putting on his seatbelt, he turned to his Meemaw. "Where will we be going?" He asked.

"To the mall," Meemaw said and started the car. "I trust you know how to get there."

"Of course. But why the mall?" Sheldon tried not to let his disappointment show. The mall was one of his least favorite places to go, with all the people and all the germs. Why did his Meemaw want to go to a place like that?

"I'm sure the mall has a few jewelery places. Right?" She glanced his way before pulling out into the street.

"Yes. Do you plan on buying yourself something?" The only pieces of jewelry Sheldon had ever seen his Meemaw wear were simple earrings, a cross necklace and her wedding ring.

"I think you know why we're going there, Moonpie."

He did. He just didn't want to think about it. Already his palms began to sweat, which made him extremely uncomfortable and wishing he had brought some wipes with him. He never got nervous! But thinking about why Meemaw was taking him to a jewelry store made his heart beat in overtime.

"Do you think I'm ready, Meemaw?" He asked, voice timid.

"I don't expect you to do anything right away, honey. You still have time to get to know her. But, yes. I think you're ready."

There were four different jewelry stores in the mall. Each had their own unique style of engagement rings. "We only have about three hours," Meemaw said once they walked into the large building. "Our plan leaves in a little over five hours and you know how long it takes to get through security and all that." She waved a hand and rolled her eyes.

"All right." That meant Sheldon only had three hours to find the perfect ring for Penny.

"Shall we start looking?"

"Yes."

Sheldon found the perfect ring in an hour and a half in the second store they visited. The band of the ring was a delicate silver and the diamond wasn't huge and gaudy. It was just right. Everything about it was just right. Penny would love it. Hopefully.

"Now, all you have to do is ask the question," Meemaw said gleefully as they walked from the store. "I am so happy for you."

"Penny and I have been together for a very short time, but we have known each other for years. She was there for me during my darkest time and I...love her. With all of that, I think I am going to wait a little while before I ask." He looked down at his grandmother. "Is that all right?"

"Of course, honey." She squeezed his arm affectionately. "I only wished to do this now because I wanted to be the one who did it with you, Moonpie."

"Thank you, Meemaw. It means a lot to me."

She beamed up at him, eyes slightly watery before she blinked them back. "And you better tell me the minute- no, the second!- you are able to after you have asked Penny or I will not be happy with you Sheldon Lee Cooper."

"Don't worry, Meemaw. You'll be the first to know, I promise."