A/N: I realize that some of Sheldon and Penny's personalities have been OOC, but that's because some of their actions have never made all that much sense to me. As someone who has spent 23 years of his life in school, having a DO degree and working on his PsyD degree at UCF currently, I have spent hours upon hours kissing the ass of people who are richer than I could ever hope to be. Sheldon would have had to do the same at some point, especially since unlike me, He's been declared as a 'one of a kind' genius. Also, I know this is a fanfic, but there is going to be some science topics covered, I will keep those moments as brief as I can, but part of the story is going to be Sheldon, Luciano, eventually guys like Leonard and Raj having success at their fields.
Penny knew that Sheldon was a busy guy, she had literally met him while he was on a tour of colleges, giving guest lectures. But she had always figured that his life was much calmer when he wasn't on the road, but apparently she was wrong. Sheldon had to attend fundraisers, oversee research grants for undergrads, deal with press releases for his research, contributing to other Physics based research programs and teams, all while also working on his own research and theories with the expectations that he provide groundbreaking results … sooner rather than later from what had been explained to her.
That mean that she was left in the apartment alone for stretches of the past two weeks, allowing her time to think of what Luciano had said to her, his plead not to hurt his friend.
I don't want to hurt Sheldon, he's my friend too
That response got a small nod from Luciano who declined to join them for dinner that day, but she had seen Luciano and Sheldon huddled around on of the whiteboards every Wednesday from 2:15 PM to 5:30 PM. Whatever they were talking about when they were around that board, she didn't understand much of it.
It was a Wednesday, so she was expecting both of the smart guys to be arriving any minute now, thus she had prepared a somewhat late lunch for all three of them. Nothing fancy, just some grilled cheese sandwiches with the bread that had been closest to expiring.
The door opened and they both walked in and she could sense that they had an air of determination about them.
"Penny, pleasure to see you" greeted Sheldon as if he didn't see her in HIS apartment every day
"Hi Penny" added Luciano with a roll of his eyes at the manner of Sheldon speaking, but he looked amused as always at watching Sheldon speak to her.
"Hey Moonpie, hey Lucci" greeted Penny, drawing a chuckle from one of them and a childish glare and muttering from the other, "I made some grill cheese sandwiches"
Sheldon blinked as he walked over to the plate of sandwiches, his eyes narrowing as he inspected the food.
"You used the honey wheat bread, what looks to be a mixture of the white cheddar and Colby jack cheese, rather liberal use of butter on the pan to get it this greasy" analyzed Sheldon before he grabbed one of the still warm sandwiches, already pre-sliced diagonally and bit into it, "Still warm and gooey but not hot, this is a rather acceptable meal Penny"
Penny beamed at what she knew was the highest praise that Sheldon could offer someone's food
"Luciano, you could learn from Penny about providing serviceable food" added Sheldon
"I told you that the Spanish food was going to be too spicy for you" retorted Luciano, "It was real Spanish food, not that crappy Americanized garbage they push out here"
Sheldon was eating his second sandwich while Luciano was writing on the whiteboard when Penny heard the slender man gasp.
Luciano took a step back and gasped as well.
"What just happened?" asked Penny as she looked at the sloppy scribbling all over the board.
"Sheldon is a genius is what happened" said Luciano as he looked at his friend in awe
"My genius is only complimented by your own" commented Sheldon, "Combining Blackbody Radiation and Planck's Law with Stefan-Boltzmann law … wow, just wow"
Penny looked at the large formula that was scrawled across the board, she didn't know what it was, but it had a strange beauty to it.
"Did you guys solve the cosmic microwave oven thing?" asked Penny
"No, Biological interaction with the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is minimal due to its weak intensity compared to other factors like solar radiation and Earth's magnetic field. However, studying the CMB is crucial for understanding the universe's evolution and the formation of stars, planets, and life-supporting environments like Earth. The CMB indirectly contributes to our knowledge of habitable conditions in the universe by helping scientists map its large-scale structure. In terms of astrobiology, studying the CMB allows researchers to estimate when various parts of the universe became habitable and make predictions about potential life-supporting conditions elsewhere in the universe. The ability to understand CMB will play a significant role in shaping our understanding of cosmic conditions and the formation of life-sustaining environments" explained Sheldon
Luciano pointed at the board, "Planck's law describes CMB radiation intensity with no biological or environmental impact. *points to another part of the board* Stefan-Boltzmann law calculates CMB energy density reaching Earth. These equations define CMB radiation properties without indicating significant impact, only serving as a remnant of the Big Bang"
"What does that mean?" asked Penny
"That we just proved the Big Bang Theory might be more than a Theory" said Sheldon
Penny had heard of this big bang theory before and she didn't need them to explain that part to her, but it also gave her an idea of the significance of what was on the board in front of all three of them
"Wow" added Penny
"We did it" said Sheldon to nobody in particular, "We really did it"
Luciano nodded and Penny said, "And to think it was all due to my grill cheeses"
Over the next week, Penny didn't see Sheldon or Luciano at all. It was to be expected because apparently Sheldon Lee Cooper was the best thing to happen to the world since sliced bread was invented.
The Prodigy of Science was what they were calling him, but it didn't matter all that much to her, he was still Sheldon to her. Her tall, lanky, socially naïve friend. And she missed him, not that she would ever admit this to anyone.
It was a boring Friday afternoon when her cell phone rang and Penny flipped the phone open at once and answered it with a polite "Hello"
"Hi, am I speaking with Penelope?" asked a male voice on the other end of the phone
Penny resisted the urge to groan at the use of her full first name, it was so adult.
"This is her" confirmed Penny
"Great, perfect actually" said the man. "Are you free tomorrow? We had a lady drop out of our ad shoot and you were on our list of call backs"
Penny's eyes widen, "Yeah, of course I am available"
"Great, come down to the Convention Center, Lot H, tomorrow. We don't need you to do much other than show up, be clean and be ready to work" said the man, "Bring a pen, we have a lot of paperwork for you to fill out"
The second the line cut off, Penny snapped her phone closed and let out a scream of excitement, this was it. Her first acting gig … she was making her dreams come true and she immediately dialed Sheldon, there was nobody that she wanted to share this news with more.
"Hello, this is Doctor Cooper of CalTech speaking" answered Sheldon
"Sheldon, it's me Penny" said Penny, "I GOT AN ACTING JOB!"
Sheldon winced at the screaming in his ear, "Penny, I shall tolerate this elevated level of noise in deference to prevailing social conventions"
"Whatever you say Moonpie, I am so excited for this" exclaimed Penny
"As you should be Penny" confirmed Sheldon, "You have put more than an adequate amount of effort into achieving this goal, I find myself relishing the fact that you are having the success you desired"
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH" screamed Penny in excitement once more, much to Sheldon's annoyance.
"Once was more than enough, twice is a strike worthy offense, thrice is the ejection of your being from my apartment" warned Sheldon, causing Penny to pout on the other end of the phone.
That night, Sheldon treated Penny to dinner, the two of them being driven around in a town car. Sheldon was wearing a semi-formal outfit, a pair of tailored black pants, a matching black blazer, over a white button up shirt, but there was no tie.
Penny wore a black dress that came down to her mid thigh, a pair of silver sandals that matched her silver clutch purse.
They arrived at a restaurant and Sheldon opened her door, extending his hand to help her out of the car.
"Arnie Morton's?" questioned Penny
"Yes, I hope you like steak, I've heard from members of the university that this is quite the place to eat" replied Sheldon
"That's mighty nice of you to find someplace fancy smancy to celebrate" said Penny as they walked in.
Inside, the lobby opened up in opulent fashion. Plush, leather armchairs in rich hues of burgundy and charcoal lined the walls, where dark woods and gleaming marble met in a seamless dance of elegance. A grand chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, golden light over the polished floors, which echoed the click of designer heels as guests passed through. The reception desk stood like an island of calm amid the quiet bustle, its marble surface gleaming under the gentle glow of the surrounding lights. Freshly arranged flowers scented the air, mingling with the promise of charred meat and fine wine.
The main dining room was a study in refined opulence. Tables were scattered across the room, each draped in crisp white linens, while small flickering candles bathed them in a warm, intimate glow. The chairs, upholstered in buttery leather and framed in dark mahogany, invited guests to settle in for a long evening, the softness of the fabric a subtle contrast to the sleek lines of the polished wooden tables. Overhead, pendant lights, their bases crafted from brushed brass, cast a soft, diffused light, while elegant sconces adorned the walls, their shadows adding texture to the room. The walls themselves were a mix of polished wood paneling and exposed brick, sleek and modern yet grounded in tradition. Art, mostly contemporary but tasteful, hung here and there, lending a gallery-like feel to the space.
And then there was the bar, an opulent display of craftsmanship and indulgence. Stools, covered in rich leather, lined a marble counter that seemed to stretch on forever, inviting patrons to linger over a meticulously crafted cocktail or a glass of vintage wine. Behind the counter, backlit shelves displayed rows of spirits, each bottle carefully chosen, their labels glistening in the low light like jewels waiting to be discovered. Just beyond, an impressive wine wall dominated the room—a showcase of hundreds of bottles, floor-to-ceiling, curated for only the most discerning of palates.
Penny took it all in, it felt like something out of a movie. This was the nicest place that she had ever been to in her life, and it was happening because the boy next to her wanted to celebrate her. She glanced at Sheldon who was stepping forward to talk to the smiling receptionist, whispering something that she couldn't hear.
Sheldon … he was something else, she had never met a guy who simply cared about her in the purest of terms. There was no alterative motive, there was no secret plot to get into her pants. Sheldon really just cared about her, really just wanted her to have success, really just wanted to celebrate her.
And for what might have been the first time in her life, she felt that way about someone else. Sheldon was a naïve, innocent boy in a world full of harsh realities, manipulative people, and a rather shallow pond in terms of dating … trust her, she knew as well as anyone. Although that could be just because Nebraska didn't have the best options for a productive dating … at least for her in her own opinion.
It might be hard to imagine, but Penny couldn't help but think that if she had a boyfriend who was one-tenth as supportive as Sheldon, she would be a lot happier … a boyfriend like Sheldon
You know who is a lot like Sheldon?
Sheldon Lee Motherfucking Cooper
Penny blinked and suddenly she was examining Sheldon in a whole new light, the tall slender young man had a different aura about him. His confidence was evident, his knowledge was attractive, his gentle assurances and overall belief in her made her grow a little warm and fuzzy in her stomach.
Was Sheldon Cooper the guy for her?
Penny honestly didn't know the answer, mostly because she hadn't thought about it much before. Sheldon had just been her best friend and nothing more in her mind up until this point. However, who else would go so far for her? Who else would believe in her more than her own parents?
As Penny followed Sheldon to their seat in a tucked away corner of the restaurant, not hidden away per say but more intimate and private. It was clear that Sheldon wanted to celebrate with it just being the two of them.
"I must say Penny, I find myself rather excited for you" claimed Sheldon as they sat down
"Thank you sweetie" replied Penny, Check one for Sheldon
"People and society tend to look down on people like us, but I believe it is because they're not like us because they are not like us, Penny. We're dreamers!" stated Sheldon, "Society can sometimes criticize people with big dreams due to fear of change or failure, envy, cultural norms, scarcity mindset, and the belief that big dreamers are unrealistic or lack failures of others and social conformity play a role, as well as the fear of being left behind and misunderstanding the vision of instincts and society's focus on immediate success can also lead to discouragement of big dreams"
He paused for a moment and Penny waited for him, hanging onto his every word as if it was the best thing she had ever heard before.
"And that is why this moment is so special for you and I, for us" continued Sheldon, "Because for all the hoohaw that society wants to spit at you and I, we did it anyway, We didn't just dream Penny, we made reality"
I might be falling for Sheldon Lee Cooper … and I have no regrets