Baby it's cold outside.

:Blizzard:

She was just crossing the lounge when she saw him. He was standing near the window, shaking like a leaf. She paused for a moment and wondered if she should say something to him. Nebraska hospitality dictated she should, but she had spent the last 5 years in Pasadena, California, and there she had learned quickly that you minded your own business.

Penelope sighed. Poor guy looked so lost and forlorn. She walked over and stood beside him, looking out the window, like he was.

"Hi. I'm Penelope. Penelope Queen. What's your name?" she asked casually. Better to test the waters and see if he even wanted to talk.

He glanced at her for a second and then blushed. She smiled, it was kind of cute. She looked him over covertly. At least 6 foot tall, a bit on the lean side, graceful hands, and loveliest eyes she had ever seen on a guy.

"Doctor Sheldon Cooper," he mumbled.

"So where you off to," she asked.

"Home to Galveston, Texas," he said with a sigh. "Just finished shipping my things from California. I should have been home by now, but this storm diverted my plane."

She nodded. "I'm headed for Pasadena, myself. Just got through visiting my family and now I'm supposed to be going home. This little snow squall diverted my plane too." She looked out the window at the thick curtain of flakes. "Well, the shuttles are ready to take us to the hotels. You coming?"

Sheldon shook his head. "I was unable to secure a room. They went fairly quickly."

Penelope was not one given to impulse, usually. However, there was something about this guy that called out to her. Maybe the loneliness in his eyes, or the tight way he held himself. Like he was flinching from the world. Slowly she slipped her hand into his. He looked at her with startled eyes, so she smiled reassuringly. She turned and pulled him along with her toward the lobby where they would find the buses waiting.

Sheldon waited for the panic to set in, but it eluded him. Instead he followed her, as if it was commonplace. She was beautiful, but beauty had never swayed him before. She spoke softly, sensitively, as if she knew him. They entered the line for the transports, and she squeezed his hand gently. Sheldon faced forward shyly. What was she doing? What was he doing?

They boarded the second bus and took a seat in the middle. She gave him the window seat, seeming to instinctively know he would be uncomfortable with people brushing past him in the aisle. She spent the 15 minute drive watching him calmly. He wanted to ask her why she had brought him along.

Once they disembarked she took his hand again. Together they walked inside and waited in line. When they reached the desk she gave her name and the clerk handed her a key card. They bypassed the elevators and walked up to the second floor. They found room 211 easily enough and she opened the door. Sheldon's eyes were immediately drawn to the full size bed. The only bed.

Penelope shut the door and hung her coat up. She set her purse on the small vanity and turned to Sheldon. He looked like a deer in the headlights. She smile softly and reached out to unbutton his coat. He watched her carefully, a mixture of curiosity, confusion and fear. She hung his coat up beside hers and took his hand again. She led him to the bed and he sat on the edge. Then she walked around to the other side and sat down. She untied her boots and slipped them off. Sheldon followed her lead and soon the two of them were sitting side by side, backs against the headboard. They talked for hours about nothing in particular. Movies they had seen, books they had read, their families. She told him about her job as restaurant manager. He told her about the sabotaged his 'friends' had done to his work which is why he had moved back to Galveston. It was nearing midnight when Penelope started to yawn. She scooted down in the bed and pulled the blanket up over them.

"Come on, sweetie. We're both tired. Let's get some sleep."

He hated sleeping in his clothes, but she was right. He was tired. He glanced over at her and found her watching him carefully. Her hand came up and smoothed his hair back from his face. He had the sudden urge to tangle his fingers in her gold locks.

Tentatively he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. Penelope melted against him instantly. Her hands were soft and silky against his skin. His five o'clock shadow was scratchy against her breast. Mouths and tongue moved in unison. Limbs entwined under the blanket. His long fingers pressed hard into the flesh of her hips when she rose up over him. Her nails scored long red lines down his back when he pressed her into the mattress.

She snuggled closer and laid her head on his shoulder. Soon she was asleep. Sheldon watched her for a long time. He was surprised when she started to snore lightly. He grinned. Not so perfect after all. With that last thought he too fell asleep.

They were woken up by a call from the front desk at 8am. The runways were clear and their flights would be leaving within the hour. They took turns with the shower and then silently walked back down to the hotel lobby to await the bus. Sheldon glanced down at their intertwined hands and blushed. What was happening to him? He had always been above carnal desires.

Penelope felt her heart grow heavier as they neared the airport. She didn't want this, whatever it was, to end. The bus dropped them off and they made their way to the departure gates. They reached his first. Sheldon stopped and looked down into her bright hazel eyes.

There was so much he wanted to say. After a moment he bent his head and pressed his lips to hers gently. "Thank you," he whispered. Then he turned and walked away.

She watched him walk through the gate and disappear. "Thank you," she whispered back.

For wolfofsheep who said I should surprise her.