Chapter 10

Sheldon came to with a start.

"Tea?"

He gripped the mug tightly and took a grateful gulp. "Oh Penny, thank you. I'm sorry. I must have dozed off, quite unlike me. I had the strangest dream." He drained the rest of his mug quickly. "Anyhow, we have some things to discuss. In addition I would like to make a sort of demonstration, if you will. Now, to get right-" Sheldon's words trailed off as he saw the paper Penny was holding out to him. An ultrasound.

"Sheldon, sweetie, that wasn't a dream."

Sheldon tried to stay focused on the ultrasound he was look at, but the thing refused to hold still. Penny reached out and stilled his trembling hands. Oh. That's why. He looked up to see the apprehension in her eyes. Oh no, she thinks I'm discontent with the situation. She thinks this is her fault.

Sheldon leaned forward and kissed Penny deeply. "Penny, this isn't your fault. It's definitely more my fault than yours. You have to listen to me now. First, we did not engage in coitus. If we had, you certainly wouldn't have been dragging me kicking and screaming into it." They both blushed at the admittance. "Second, I was not lying to you with my "alien ramblings" as you so eloquently put it." He gave Penny a sharp look when she opened her mouth to speak. She closed her mouth again with a sigh, resigned to hear him out at least. "Penny, I will skip straight to the demonstration as my explanations have proved fruitless. Now, do not… 'freak out'."

Penny rolled her eyes and leaned back against the couch cushions. This demonstration should at least be entertaining after the all the hype. Sheldon eyed her apprehensively and then pointed to a candle nearby. Penny watched it levitate a foot into the air, her eyes going wide and her gaze shifting to Sheldon. He seemed to study her to be sure she wasn't going to to collapse in shock before pointing to an empty vase. She watched as it lifted as well. She stood to her feet and watched as he pointed to various areas of the room, items lifting noiselessly all around her. She spun slowly in a circle and then fixed her gaze on Sheldon, her eyes narrowing.

"You let Howard into my apartment to set up some magic prank, Sheldon?! I swear if he was in my underwear drawer, I'll go Nebraska on BOTH your asses!" She stopped as Sheldon's eyebrow lifted and he gestured to the vase. She watched as it floated toward her. She ran her hands all around it before plucking it out of the air. "Proves nothing. You could be using 'electronica magnetecism forces' for all I know."

Sheldon's brow furrowed and the objects started finding their places around the room. He took the face from her and tossed it behind him. She watched in fascination as it floated back to its spot. "Electromagnetism, Penny."

"I know, I know, sometimes it's just hard to resist riling you up," she grumbled, not seeing the amused smirk that graced his face. Her eyes misted. He had gone to so much trouble to maintain the illusion that nothing had happened that day. He was so determined that she not feel guilt for actions she may not have had any control over. "Oh Sheldon, this is sweet of you, really. I know you're trying to help me, but-"

Sheldon huffed. He grabbed her wrist and tilted his head at her with a pointed stare.

tting through? Penny?

Penny jumped. His lips weren't moving. She put her free hand to one ear in the realization that she wasn't technically hearing Sheldon at all.

Of course you're not hearing me, Penny. We are conversing through the manipulation of neural impulses.

Penny's eyes widened. It was almost as if he were in her head. This was crazy.

It's not crazy, Penny. I informed you already that I am a subspecies of humanity. There are hundreds of such subspecies spread throughout the galaxy to ensure the species' survival. Some cultures are aware of their ancestry. Yours is not. Mine is. We have developed along lines of mental acuity and the transference of neural waves into physical forces.

"Am I having an alien baby then?"

Penny, I'm not an alien. Well, technically, I suppose I am indeed an alien by your cultural definition as I am from a different planet. However, a comparison of genetic material would leave your scientists hard-pressed to pinpoint where any measurable differences might be found.

Penny pulled Sheldon down to the couch and stared blankly in front of her.

"Penny, I can't hear you anymore."

"Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry. My mind just… turned off."

"Penny, you didn't force yourself on me. My people have the ability to perform a genetic transference with another willing individual. A simple touch will start a process within the endocrine system that will mold them into yet more suitable mates and ready them for the eventuality of forming a family unit, which is accomplished through… traditional human means. That at least seems to be a universally retained biological consistency. The members of this union retain their individuality, but end up much more compatible. The fact that we can communicate telepathically indicates that such is already happening in our case. In past experiences with varied subspecies, this has proven to have strange consequences. In some, anyone touched, regardless of affection levels involved, would become hopelessly obsessed with their "partner". In a very unfortunate case, an unintentional transference was deemed an attempt at mind control and an act of war. We had to abandon further contact with that world and the exchange of scientific knowledge was sorely missed. Back to our situation, I was avoiding you then because I had no way of knowing how your subspecies would react to this transfer of genetic material. Somehow, your body incorporated the genetic material that my body provided you, inexplicably impregnating you."

Penny let the new information settle over her. Sheldon really was an alien. She was carrying some kind of hybrid-human-baby. Her body could possibly be undergoing changes to make her a better partner for Sheldon. She found this mildly insulting, no matter if Sheldon had any control over the situation or not. Then she had a dawning realization.

"Sheldon Lee Cooper! Do you mean to tell me that I am carrying your hybrid-alien-child and we didn't even get to have sex first?!"