"You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back."

-Barbara de Angelis

Sheldon rolled out of bed, stretching his long limbs and wiping the sleep away from his eyes. He glanced over to the clock on the nightstand and noticed that he had slept almost all day. It was three in the afternoon, yet he was still exhausted. Not to mention extremely hungry. Slipping into his robe, he walked down the stairs, hearing the distant voices of two women in the kitchen. He guessed that Missy had dropped by, but as he got nearer, he realized that the other woman wasn't his sister. He turned to the hallway and peeked his head into the room, his eyes widened once he saw the blonde facing against him, peeling a batch of potatoes by the sink.

"Penny?" Sheldon spoke, and Penny turned almost immediately. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be in California?"

Penny wiped her hands diligently. She approached him with a wide grin that he returned as well. "I was, but I took the red-eye after you hanged up last night. I gotta tell you, those tickets were really pricey but I was able to afford them so it doesn't matter. Your mother and I decided to grill some hamburgers and make homemade fries. I've heard that you haven't eaten that much."

He moved over to the small table beside Penny and sat down. "What about your acting job?"

"Oh, well I told them the truth. I wanted to be with my friend whose grandmother passed away last night. Even though the acting gig was very important to me, I care for you too much and I didn't like how I was away when you're so down. Missy called me a few days ago and told me that you weren't acting right and I got worried. I came here to help you out, sweetie. Now, do you want anything? I can make some tea if you wish."

Sheldon stared at her before nodding his head and looking down to the tile floor. As Penny prepared his tea, he couldn't help but think when and how he was going to tell her. His feelings for her were overwhelming him and he needed to tell her right away. Even more so now that she had flown to Texas unexpectedly. Sheldon was grateful for her. Though he was surrounded by his family, he knew that Penny would be able to comfort him. But what really struck his mind was that Penny dropped everything she was doing in California just to be with him during such a hard time. He wondered if she lost the job or the producers understood.

Penny leaned her back against the kitchen sink and crossed her arms around her chest with a concerned look on her face. "Is something bothering you?"

"Nothing, and thank you for the hot beverage," Sheldon said, placing his clasped hands on the table as Penny brought him his cup of tea. "Aren't you concerned that you are risking your acting job by being here right now? I appreciate you flying back her on such short notice, but it's interfering with what you have signed up for."

She bowed her head slightly and then took a seat directly across from him. "Sweetie, you don't need to worry about that. I'd rather be here than there under these circumstances. Plus, I can find more gigs in LA. More will come up soon and it would probably be an even bigger role."

Sheldon shot her a smile before diverting his eyes around the room. "Where are Mom and Missy?"

"They're outside right now discussing funeral plans," Penny answered, ending it with a low whisper. "Do you want to talk about it?"

He sat up straighter on the chair. "Meemaw understood me better than anyone else that had come to know me. She realized and accepted my aspirations in becoming a physicist and someday, as a Nobel Prize laureate. She even promised to pay for my education if I had not received the scholarships from different universities. Her confidence in me made me stride harder for what I aim for. She was partly my motivation to be the person who I am now."

"She sounds like a remarkable woman and an important figure in your life."

"She was, and I wished you got to know her better, Penny. Meemaw would have taken a great liking of you instantly."

Penny blushed. "That's sweet."

"I mentioned about you to her as well," Sheldon mumbled. He was met with Penny's gaze and forced himself to choke up the next words. "I told her how you were there for me when I needed someone. Meemaw was more than happy for me to have someone like you in my life. She even compared you to Amy."

Her voice came out soft as she spoke. "What did your Meemaw say?"

It was at this moment that Sheldon needed to tell her all of the thoughts and decisions he had been making inside his head. He was sure of what he wanted in life, having Penny on top of the list along with his Nobel Prize. His palms started to moisten as Penny waited for an answer. He was nervous since it would be the first time for him to confront these feelings that he had buried for so long. This was the real Sheldon, ready to give his one hundred percent truthful confession. If he waited any longer, the chance to finally be with her would slip away and he'd regret it for the rest of his life. His Meemaw did mention that there was the possibility of him loving Penny. How could he know if that statement was actually true if he didn't try?

He opened his mouth, but didn't know how to speak his mind. It was almost as if the nervousness caught up to him and took away the words in his mouth. He debated back and forth between two opening remarks. It was a challenge to figure out how to start explaining himself. Instead of speaking, Sheldon excused himself for a moment and rushed upstairs to his bedroom. Tearing the page he wrote on last night, he dashed madly back down and into the kitchen where Penny was still waiting. He clutched the piece of paper in his hands as Penny slowly stood up from her seat. Taking a couple of steps forward, Sheldon extended his shaking arms in order to give her the torn-out page from his notebook.

"This is for you," Sheldon said and Penny carefully took the paper away from his grasp. He fought the urge to bite his nails, anticipating Penny's reaction to the words he put down on his journal. He watched her reading it silently to herself and checked for any changes in her facial expressions. When Penny reached the end, Sheldon could see a bit of tears forming in the corner of her eyes as she put her hand over her mouth and looked at him. "That is the best way I could explain myself-"

He couldn't finish his sentence, not with Penny leaning close to his body and her lips pressed against his.

Penny watched as a flustered Sheldon held out his hands towards her, offering a page from a notebook. It was almost a page full and written in his neat handwriting with a black-inked pen. The first thing she felt as she began reading was sorrow, fighting against the urge to cry even though she hadn't read the rest of it yet. Meemaw and Sheldon clearly shared an unbreakable bond, and she knew that despite Sheldon being devastated by the loss of someone so influential to him, he would pull through and remember all the good things about his Meemaw.

The last words Meemaw spoke to me were "I hope you two find what you need. I also have the sense that what she's feeling is what you are feeling, too." I know she's encouraging me to do what's best for me, and what's best for me right now is to be with Penny.

Her face didn't show anything, but Penny's insides warmed up. She couldn't stop going over the last part of the first paragraph, and she knew that Sheldon probably noted to himself that her eyes were beginning to water. She was touched by what he had written and couldn't believe that it was actually there. She was exhausted because her flight and wondered if this was a hallucination, but she refused to believe that and continued on reading.

At this point, I'm willing to alter my routines and schedule to make time for Penny. I have the urge to keep her by my side and spend as much time with her.

She knew his intolerance for change after he explained the idea of homeostasis and him needing to have everything the way he had planned. Sheldon was now willing to change things for her, and she couldn't ask for anything more. Penny wanted to stop and just kiss him right then and there, but she was too intrigue to not finish. Her fingertips gripped on the paper tighter and she proceeded mouthing the words as she encountered them.

Maybe I am indeed in love with Penny. I've never experienced love before so therefore, I am not a hundred percent sure. But if this truly what love is, then yes.

Love? Penny was stunned and those damn butterflies invaded her stomach again. It was like reading one of those love letters she used to get in seventh grade but this one was different. This was coming from a man that she cared about her a lot and could actually see a future with. Her heart was beating fast and her mouth slowly opened. The final sentence got to her the most, and she had a hard time trying not to burst into tears of joy.

Science does not give me compassion or total happiness. Numbers and equations only gives me the sense of achievement, but it doesn't make me feel loved, safe, appreciated, accepted, and understood. After meeting Penny, I have learned, felt, experienced more things than before and there's no doubt that there would be even more to discover once I pursue a relationship with the Nebraskan blonde that made a difference in my life.

Lowering the page down, her green eyes locked with Sheldon's blue ones. Her hand went over to her mouth as the tears were about to fall down to her cheeks. "That is the best way I could explain myself-"

Never in her life had she wanted to kiss a man so much. A kiss that would be unforgettable and powerful. She cut his sentence off by taking a big step forward and leaned up to his face before gently placing her lips on his, savoring the feeling of finally kissing Sheldon Cooper.

Sheldon froze for a mere second, unsure of what to do after being caught off-guard. His eyes were wide opened with surprise while Penny's were closed tightly, cupping the sides of his face with her hands. Her cheeks were flushed and it seemed that his was turning the same way. It wasn't too long until he shut his own eyes and slowly melted into the kiss.

He was glad that his phobia of germs didn't win this time, and he had no problem when she wound her arms around his neck while he placed his hands on her hips. Sheldon could feel the warmth radiating from her body and enjoyed every moment of her closeness. With Penny's close proximity, the sweet smell of her green-apple shampoo and the taste of her strawberry chap stick made Sheldon's knees weak.

He felt her soft warm tongue swipe across his bottom lip, eliciting a quiet mewl from him. He didn't push her away. No. He wouldn't dare to. In fact, he liked the sensation of it. He was getting the hang of kissing Penny, and this was the first time when a kiss lasted more than ten seconds for him. Her lips were soft and full, and they seemed to fit perfectly into his.

Sheldon ignored all of the possible consequences that may follow. Instead, he embraced the chance he decided to take with her, to be something even more.

The sound of the back door opening and closing caused him to lose focus. The gasp emitted behind them made Penny pull away and turn her head back, seeing Mary and Missy giggling to themselves. Her mouth formed into a shy smile before stepping an inch backwards, her cheeks blushing madly. Sheldon wasn't anything different. His face was flushed and his lips were slightly swollen, feeling a bit embarrassed after getting walked in at this particular moment. "Hello, Mother. Missy," Sheldon acknowledge as the two women exchanged looks.

"I'm guessing we're interrupting something important here," Missy said with a coy smile. "Shelly, would you like to explain what's happening?"

Sheldon looked over to a snickering Penny, causing him to grin. "You can infer from what you have witnessed. No need for any explanations here."

Mary approached them. "I've been hoping to see that smile of yours after last night. Meemaw wouldn't appreciate you carrying around a frown all day."

"How are you doing about that, Mom?" Sheldon asked as he pulled a chair out and gestured her to take a seat.

"I'm holding up, Shelly. I like to think that Momma is in heaven with Jesus and finally reunited with your Pop-pop. It's comforting to know that she is not in any pain and now looking down at us," Mary answered, placing her hand on top of Sheldon's. She glanced between her son and Penny, thinking about the conversation she had with Sheldon during the last time she visited him in California. "I want you to take good care of Penny, dear. She's a keeper and you two seem to be happy together."

"Thank you, Mrs. Cooper," Penny spoke.

"Please, hun, call me Mary. Now, I would like to bring up a point here for Shelly. I accept your relationship and fully support your choices, but I have one concern. Missy told me back there that you are still romantically involved with Amy, and I would like to know how you are going to handle this once you fly back home."

Sheldon lowered his stance. He was reminded of his current girlfriend and their loveless relationship, but he already knew how to deal with her. Although it would make him feel bad for upsetting her and breaking her heart, he had to do this in order to pursue a relationship with Penny with no strings attached. Amy deserved someone who loves her and can give her what she wants, and Sheldon was sure that there were men out there willing to do those things. "I am planning on terminating our Relationship Agreement as soon as we arrive."

"Shelly, I hope everything works out for y'all," Missy said. "Everyone deserves to be with someone they love, and it's good to see you with Penny."

"Thank you," Sheldon and Penny responded, almost simultaneously.

They spoke for a few more minutes before continuing on with preparing for lunch. As Sheldon and Penny made freshly-squeeze lemonade together on the kitchen table, Mary knew that her son had finally found that one person he would be comfortable settling down with. She smiled as she imagined her future grandchildren wondering how their parents met each other, and she would tell them the story of how her son almost passed away only to be saved by the woman he had grown to love overtime.

A/N:

Twenty nine chapters into the story, Sheldon and Penny finally kiss! Thank you for reading and the next chapter will be up in a few more days. Have a nice day!