Chapter 9

Penny swung the door open to find Sheldon with a slight smirk on his face. She tried to memorize his look in case she never saw it again and cocked her head to invite him in, not trusting her voice lest it betray her emotional state. She stepped aside, shutting the door behind him after he entered.

"Penny, as you have refused to sign any contracts I have set forward or to take my explanation at face value, you left me in the awkward situation of being unable to provide you with the support that I suspect you may need. However, my superiors have given me leave to demonstrate certain aspects of our neural physiology so that we can move forward in this matter."

Penny stared at him, trying to figure out why he was back onto that alien story again. Then she sighed. Of course she knew why. Now she knew.

"Sheldon, stop there. I know what this is about."

"Penny, Penny, Penny. I find it inconceivable that you could infer the truth of the matter from the little I was able to-"

"SHELDON!"

Sheldon blinked and sat suddenly on the couch.

"Thank you." Exasperated, she sat next to him and reached for his hand. As soon as her fingers grazed his, however, she jerked them back. "I know what happened that day I blacked out." She watched as Sheldon's eyes widened. "I know that I… took advantage of you. I don't know how I managed it without remembering what happened, but I know it sure didn't happen the other way around. I made you push through boundaries you weren't ready for and now you're coming up with crazy stories to keep it from happening again." Penny burst into tears. "I don't know why I let this happen. I didn't want to push you into anything. I never wanted that! Sheldon, I'm so sorry."

Sheldon was flabbergasted. Where could she possibly get the idea that such a thing had happened? "Penny, no such thing happened. That day, you collapsed and I simply-"

"Sheldon, don't try to cover it up anymore. I know it's true. I haven't had sex in months, Sheldon! At least half a year! We certainly haven't had sex since that first day, whether I remember it or not. It's the only explanation."

Sheldon leveled a measured gaze on Penny. "Explanation for what exactly? Just what could possibly be explained away by imaginary coitus, hm?"

"Sheldon… I'm… I'm pregnant."

Pregnant?! That's most certainly not how babies are made, you silly woman. He released his breathy laugh and patted Penny on the hand, but suddenly his eyes widened.

"Subspecies variations! Oh dear Lord!"

Penny watched as Sheldon fainted bonelessly against her couch.

"Well. That seems about right."

She stood up to put the kettle on for tea. He'd probably want chamomile.