Wooing A Friend

They were friends. They supported each other in their own way. They relied on one another more than on their other friends. When one was sick, injured or upset, the other would play nursemaid. Usually with tea, encouragement (of a sort) and comforting rounds of Soft Kitty. They fought with each other often. Usually it was because they were so uneven on the social and academic scales, that they rarely understood one another. But heaven help anyone who hurt one of them.

He carried the two tea cups over to the coffee table and silently handed her a fresh handful of tissues. He sat down beside her and got comfortable. He held out his right arm and she settled under it. Almost immediately her tears soaked through his two shirts. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and rested his cheek on her head.

"There, there," he assured her softly. "Sheldon's here."

Penny hiccuped a couple of times and did her best to stem the flow of tears. "Why aren't you more upset?" she asked sorrowfully. "My boyfriend, your roommate, got drunk and slept with your equally drunk girlfriend, who happens to be my friend!"

Sheldon shrugged. "I am upset," he admitted to her. "Amy and I have been in a relationship for a very long time. I have devoted a great deal of time and effort to my relationship with her. But I would be lying if I said I loved her, Penny. I do care for her. But my emotions are not deeply involved. I am sorry you are so hurt, though. I know you love Leonard to some degree. Although I believe you will find it is more your pride than your heart that is hurt."

Penny reached over and threaded the fingers of her right hand into his left. "I love him, sweetie. Maybe not as much as he wanted me to, but I did love him. What is wrong with me?" she whispered. Sheldon felt his stomach twist at the pain in her voice. "Kurt, Mike, Leonard. Almost every guy I've ever let into my heart has cheated on me. Why? What am I doing wrong? Why is it so hard for me to have a good relationship?"

Sheldon shrugged slightly, not wanting to disrupt their position. "I am no expert in relationships, Penny. In all honesty, I cannot count Bernadette as more than a treasured acquaintance, so you and Amy are the only two women in my life. Apart from my family, of course."

They were both silent for a few minutes. Penny's tears dried up and she relaxed into Sheldon's chest. Penny nibbled on her bottom lip. An idea was forming in her mind, and she wasn't sure if she should rip it out before it grew or if she should tend it, and let it take root. Before she could think it through, Sheldon cleared his throat and gave her shoulder a gentle push to separate them.

Penny looked up at him. He had a strange look on his face, one she had never seen before. It was almost as if he was nervous. Penny could only think of two times Sheldon had been nervous. Meeting Stan Lee and meeting Stephen Hawking. Why would he look that way now?

Sheldon took a deep breath and turned to face Penny. "Penny, something has occurred to me that has the potential to be either very good or very bad. I am uncertain of your reaction though." He licked his lips nervously and suddenly she knew he was thinking the same thing she was. They had one of those moments when they were in perfect accord.

"Me and you," she said steadily. "The two of us as a couple."

Sheldon nodded slowly, studying her closely. "I find the idea of being alone again unsavory," he said. "But I also find the notion of dating any of the women I know uncomfortable. Except for you. You and I are friends. Possibly best friends. I know I can trust you, and you know you can trust me. Over the years, I have reached a level of comfort with you that I have never had with anyone else except my Meemaw. Most relationships start with much less in their favor."

Penny's mind spun for a moment before she thought of the one huge obstacle that would prevent them from ever being more than friends. Slowly she shook her head, cringing internally at the flash of hurt her movement placed in Sheldon's eyes. "Sheldon, I adore you. But I wouldn't be happy in a platonic relationship. I know you view sex as unnecessary and appallingly unhygienic, but I like it. I like kissing, and touching. I like the physicality."

Sheldon's brow furrowed as he thought about what she was saying. "Is that the only obstacle?" he asked. "Is my disinterest in sexual congress the only thing that prevents you from being in a relationship with me?"

She ran a hand through her hair and nodded slowly. "Well, I guess so. I mean, yeah, we're close already. We would never cheat on each other. We both know what each other…."

Penny's words were cut off by the sudden press of Sheldon's lips to her own. She squeaked against his lips, but Sheldon was undeterred. He shifted sideways and grabbed Penny's knees. He pulled her closer and laid her back on the small sofa, his mouth still on hers.

The moment she felt him cup her breast, all thoughts of concern or uncertainty fled. Her arms wrapped around his back, drawing him closer. Penny moaned softly as Sheldon's mouth slipped across her cheek and down to her collar.

Her eyes shot open as Sheldon's hand reached between them to cup her intimately. "Wai… wait! Sheldon!"

He rose up above her, his eyes like blue fire. Sheldon kept his eyes on hers as he tugged her little shorts down swiftly. Penny couldn't look away. Not when his dexterous fingers explored her folds. Not when two fingers slipped inside her. Not even when he flicked her sensitive nerve bundle lightly. It wasn't until her orgasm burst over her and she screamed out his name that she was able to close her eyes.

They snapped back open a moment later when she heard the sound of a zipper being lowered. Sheldon looked embarrassed.

"I am just relieving pressure," he said softly. Penny looked down his chest to the large bulge in his chinos. She grinned and licked her lips. Sheldon's eyes went wide. "Penny, I do not believe I am ready for coitus. I just wanted to reassure you that I was willing and capable of providing you with physicality."

Penny sat up, pushing Sheldon back against the arm of the sofa. She rose up onto her knees and kissed him softly. "I thought you were all about reciprocity," she murmured into his ear as she snaked her hand into his pants.

Sheldon tensed at her first touch, but his deep groan of pleasure encouraged her to continue. She pulled him free of the confines of his pants and began to stroke him firmly. Sheldon held perfectly still, and Penny was beginning to wonder if she had misinterpreted his groan when his hot breath washed over her ear.

"Faster," he begged. "So close!"

Penny grinned and grabbed a handful of tissues to hold over him. A couple more seconds and Sheldon captured her lips fiercely. He moaned her name into her mouth as he came.

For several heartbeats neither of them moved. Then they slowly parted and restored their clothes to order. Sheldon stood and carried their cold tea over to the sink. When he turned he found Penny watching him worriedly. He took a moment to compose himself and walked over to her.

"Penny, I am not quite ready to 'go all the way' as they say, but I am not opposed to moving in that direction with you. Will you consent to entering a relationship with me?"

Penny stood and walked over. "You know Leonard and Amy are going to be upset. They'll think we're doing this to get revenge. No one is going to be very understanding."

Sheldon nodded. " I know. But I would still like to date you."

Penny grinned and wrapped her arms around him in a loose hug. "Good. Because I want to date you, too."

They stood there for a long time, just holding each other. Finally Sheldon cleared his throat. "Penny, should we tell the others now, or wait a few days?"

Penny drew him over to the sofa and pulled him down beside her. She snuggled up close to him and turned on the DVD of Star Trek she had borrowed from Sheldon. "Later. For now, let's just cuddle."

Sheldon grinned shyly and pulled her flush against his side. "That would be acceptable," he murmured.