Penny as a hired cosplayer was too much fun to resist writing. I let a few male friends decide who she would be. Ideas included Lara Croft, Jill Valentine, Seven of Nine, and Rikku from Final Fantasy X. However, the moment Jesse said Kos-Mos, there was a collective masculine groan and I knew we had a winner.

She smiled and posed and tried not to think about all the grabby, pervy hands that kept finding their way to her butt. She fluffed her blue hair and turned to see who was next. Four guys stood near the platform. One was rubbing his hands together fervently. He quickly stepped up and slipped a hand down low on her back. She looked down at him imperiously.

"Aren't the Borg supposed to be emotionless cyborgs?" she asked tiredly.

He grinned wider. "You know the great thing about cyborgs? We never get tired." He wiggled his eyebrows up and down and scooted in closer. "Say, want to get a drink after this? I'm Howard, by the way."

Penny smiled for the photographer. Then she slapped his hand away and growled. "I'm not interested. Now, go away."

The creepy guy was replaced with a very intoxicated Klingon. "Hello. You are stunning!" His accent was thick, but she was able to make out the words.

"Thanks," she said as she smiled for the camera again.

He looked at her with a huge grin and waved his grasshopper a bit. "I'm from India. I'm rich. Do you like me?"

Penny suppressed a giggle. The drunk ones were usually harmless, and this one was like a little puppy trying to please. "You need some coffee, sweetie. Have fun."

Next came a be speckled Captain Kirk. Or was it the other one? The British guy. Either way this one was staring at her like he discovered a cure for cancer. "Hi."

She smiled slightly. "Hi."

His grin got wider. "Hi."

Penny sighed under her breath. "Yeah. Okay, smile for the camera."

Penny twitched as his hand grazed over her hip three times. Finally she gave him a tiny push off the platform and turned to the last guy in the group. He was tall and had piercing blue eyes. He held himself stiffly. Penny sighed and moved closer. This type needed to be coaxed into loosening up for a good pic. She grabbed his arm and slipped it around her waist. Then she smiled up at his surprised eyes and winked.

"Smile, sweetie. It'll make a better picture."

He looked down at her strangely. "You're eyes are green. KOS-MOS has red eyes."

Penny shrugged. "The contacts stung. I had to take them out. Are you complaining?" She really hoped not. She'd have to put them back in then and she didn't want to wear them anymore.

Slowly he shook his head. "Your eyes are fine." He suddenly blushed and Penny smiled. She heard the click of the camera and slowly pulled away from him.

"Thanks," she said a bit breathlessly. She was finding it hard to look away from his eyes. They were intense. He nodded shyly and walked away. A couple of little kids hopped up and after a second she shook herself out of her musings and continued the job she was being paid for.

She opened a bottle of water and slipped into the shadows of the bar. She was determined to spend her lunch hour alone, without fan boys drooling all over her. She saw three of the group of four from earlier walking by, so she stepped back further and bumped into someone. She turned quickly and saw the tall guy from earlier. His Data costume blended into the curtains and she hadn't noticed him earlier.

"Sorry," Penny murmured. "I didn't mean to bump you."

"I apologize," he said softly. "I should have alerted you to my presence."

Penny had been about to move away, but she paused. "Why didn't you?"

She watched with fascination as a blush rode up his cheeks. He opened his mouth a couple of times but no words came out. Penny's skin heated up and she licked her lips. She moved a step closer, leaving only an inch of space between them.

"You are very cute," she smiled. "I'm Penny."

He swallowed hard and fidgeted. "I'm Sheldon." His voice was soft, unsure. "You are very cute, too."

Penny took a chance and pressed her lips to his gently. He moaned softly and tentatively kissed her back. Penny grinned against his mouth and closed the space between them. Her hands slipped around his back and clutched at his shoulders. His gripped her hips tightly.

They kissed for several minutes before he pulled away. "Wait. I …I can't do this. Not like this. I don't know you."

Penny was touched by his innocent expression. Penny looked around and snagged a napkin. She grabbed a pen and scribbled her name and number on it. "Sheldon, I don't usually do this. In fact, I never do this. But this is my number. Call me. Maybe we could talk, get to know each other." She smiled softly. "I'd really like it if you did."

Sheldon stared at her wide eyed. "I ..I think I would like that, too."

She kissed him again, softly and walked away.

Penny was unpacking her boxes in her new apartment when her phone rang. "Hello?"

"Penny? It's Sheldon. From the convention in San Diego."

Penny smiled widely. "Hi! I was afraid you weren't going to call me after all."

He cleared his throat. "I am sorry it took me so long. I am not one to act on impulse. I spent the last two weeks debating on whether to call or not."

Penny smiled. "What made you decide to call?"

Sheldon sighed. "I liked that you understood my trepidation. And I liked your kiss." He cleared his throat. "I was hoping maybe we could chat online. It would be nice to actually see you as we spoke."

Penny grinned and did a little hopping jig. "I'd like that a lot." They exchanged information and agreed to speak that evening. Penny went back to unpacking with a wide smile.

A couple of hours later she was going through some old papers when she heard noises in the hall. She looked out her door and froze. Four guys were standing there, looking at her with surprise.

One, creepy guy with a Beatles haircut stepped closer. "You're the girl from Comic-Con! KOS-MOS!"

She nodded vaguely, her eyes on the tall man standing in the back. He looked as stunned as she did.

"Hi," said the guy with glasses.

Penny shyly smiled at Sheldon. Slowly he pushed his way to the front of the group. "Hello, Sheldon. Small world."

Sheldon paused a moment and then smiled. He stepped right up to her and buried his hands in her hair and kissed her. She heard three shocked gasps behind him, but ignored them. She was too busy wrapping her arms around his waist. When they finally broke apart, his friends were gone from the hallway, and the door across the hall was open.

Sheldon reached back and shut her door. "Welcome to the building," he said before pulling her close again.