What is this? Two chapters in one week? I'm already working on Ch. 12 so keep those reviews coming!

Once again, me no own, you no sue.

Late Wednesday afternoon Penny entered the apartment building stopping to get her mail. She had gone to an early morning audition and had picked up her last check afterwards. The money was barely enough for rent and groceries for the next two months. She hoped that she'd find something soon, but if not it was time to start begging for her old job back.

Lugging her tired body up the stairs she felt utterly defeated. Leonard had ruined everything with his plan to essentially elope. Her career was in shambles, she had nothing to fall back on and above all she was alone. As she neared the fourth floor, she felt her heart speed up like it had for the last day and a half whenever she thought about what remained behind 4A. Maybe not completely alone.

Penny considered knocking on the door as she passed. She even came up with excuses, but none of them sounded realistic. Instead, she moved past to her own door. Once inside she took off her shoes and pushed them to the side of the door. For some reason she was constantly keeping the apartment unusually clean.

"Some reason", she mocked herself out loud. She knew very well why. Because some part of her was waiting for Dr. Whack-a-doodle to drop by and notice.

She quickly changed into shorts and began making a batch of spaghetti sans meatballs since she was all out. So it was more of a tomato pasta than anything.

Yup, it was time to start rethinking her career options if she wanted to survive the summer. As she waited for the noodles to boil she turned on her TV and pulled up Netflix. In the recently watched section was Doctor Who. She debated for a minute and finally hit play. She'd watch a few episodes then get to bed and catch an early casting call.

Between finishing her spaghetti and "The Satan Pit" she was in love with David Tennant. He was smart, savvy and, dare she say it, a "little bit foxy." Then there was Rose, who she had liked before, but the way they played off one another she just wanted them to end up together.

She felt herself dozing off and checked the clock; 1 am! Geeze. She needed to go to bed.

As soon as she hit the mattress however she was wide awake. Maybe it was the romance she had just seen between The Doctor and Rose, but her thoughts drifted to her more carnal needs. There would be a big dry spell coming and she didn't do well with those. Though she was her own best lover, there was only so long that could satisfy her.

Naturally, her thoughts wandered across the hall. How would her Texan physicist react if she waltzed in? She thought of the way he'd kissed her, how quickly he'd caught on.

The voice of reason piped up interrupting her fantasy. There were more risks here than she was acknowledging. For one, Sheldon may be a fast learner, but he was definitely not an expert in relationships. She remembered their discussion about friends with benefits and cringed.

Rolling onto her side she considered the other option, then stopped. NO. There were no other options. There was no way she could be in a relationship with Sheldon. He was just too much. She couldn't deal with all of that all of the time… Could she?

She ran multiple scenarios. He was constantly scolding her for her lack of intelligence. Then again, he had been patient in teaching her multiple things, though "patient" was used loosely. He got very exasperated very often, and so did she, it would never work... Unless she found some way to fix that. After all there was one variable she wasn't considering.

Penny imagined Sheldon getting annoyed with her and she with him, their bickering leading into the bedroom and then onto the bed in a very hot makeup session. She had met a few Texan girls who were always bragging about their lovers back home. She was more than curious.

Her mind kept running different arguments until she began to fall asleep. Her dreams were filled with blue boxes and tall physicists.

Sheldon sat in his apartment letting the sounds from the game on his laptop fill the silence around him. The only reason he was up so late was because he was enjoying himself. It had nothing to do with the feeling of vulnerability his empty apartment gave him. Nor did it have to do with the faint feminine scent that lingered on his bed things. It was simply an enveloping game which he didn't want to leave.

Several times he considered getting up and crossing the hall, but he had stopped himself. He was a grown man. He could handle being alone, after all he'd done it most of his life. There was no need to convey otherwise.

A cluster of beasts attacked his character and his health bar never recovered. Sheldor was dead for the umpteenth time that night. He made an annoyed sound and removed his headphones signing off in frustration.

Sheldon's mind came up with several very colorful phrases, but he didn't let them out. Mental training allowed him to suppress the words effortlessly in case his mother was ever near enough to hear them. His phone buzzed as if on cue and the caller ID revealed his mother's home number.

"Hello mother, to what do I owe the pleasure of this late night phone call?"

"I couldn't sleep and I reckon it's because neither can you."

"Mother, I highly doubt that your insomnia is due to some sort of maternal psychic bond or any other such superstitious nonsense."

"A mother's intuition is never wrong Shelly. Now what's on your mind?"

"Nothing is on my mind, you called me," he averted.

"Mmmhmm," he could hear the annoyance in that sound. "Well, you never call your dear old mother to fill her in on your life, so humor me. How was your week?"

Sheldon sighed knowing there was no way around it he tried to speak quickly so she'd miss the fine details. He told her about Leonard leaving, Amy's termination of their relationship agreement and the happenings within his department.

"Well, Shelly it's no surprise you can't sleep. I'm surprised you didn't jump on a train and run on back here."

"I considered it," he admitted.

"You know my door's always open – provided you knock," she added warningly. "You'll bounce back though darlin', you always do. The lord provides, honey, never forget that. He'll always find a way."

"Mother, no offense, but I've had enough vague spiritual encouragement to last me a decade in the last week alone."

"Well, too bad, it's all I've got," she snapped over the phone. There was a pause while she moved to the next topic. "So you haven't said, where's Penny during all this? I don't think she's the type to move following someone else's dreams…"

At the mention of the blonde, Sheldon felt a pang of fear. He couldn't tell his mother the truth, nor could he lie. The woman had been picking apart his tall tales since before he had built his first computer. He opted for elusiveness.

"Penny stayed behind, though she is now unemployed."

"And single, poor girl," his mother noted almost nonchalantly.

"Mother, don't." Though his mother was attempting to convey that she was concerned, he knew the way her mind worked. Especially since his sister had just had a child. No doubt his mother was fixating on his own lack of progeny.

"'Don't' what? I'm just saying that girl needs a friend right now and I raised you better than to turn a blind eye to those in need."

"I haven't turned a 'blind eye', I offered her a hot beverage and invited her over to watch television tomorrow night."

"Oh, good, make sure you don't rush anything. Maybe you can invite her to the Fourth of July barbeque," there was an excited pang in her voice.

"Mother, the entire time I was with Amy Farrah Fowler you didn't once offer an invitation to any sort of family situation. Why would you extend one to my neighbor?"

He heard her falter and begin shuffling things before answering, "Well, y'know, Shelly Amy is a nice girl and I've always liked her."

"However?" he predicted.

"However, the two of you were about as exciting as a mashed potato sandwich."

Sheldon was torn between agreeing with her and feeling hurt. Instead of dwelling, he continued his questions.

"So then why ask about Penny?"

"Sheldon Lee, a mother knows a lot more than she tells. You just focus on being nice to that neighbor girl of yours and remember, hot will cool if greedy will let it, so be patient. I gotta get to bed Shelly, momma loves you."

"Love you too," he said and heard the line disconnect with a chime. He couldn't tell if he felt better or worse, but the conversation certainly left him exhausted.

Sheldon stood and walked through the apartment to his bedroom, ignoring the empty room next to his. Movers would be here Monday to retrieve the remaining boxes and disassembled furniture according to the email he had received. Other than that he hadn't heard from the man he had once considered a best friend.

Once he was finished with his nightly routine and clad in his plaid pajamas his thoughts drifted across the hall. As he turned over wondering why on earth he still hadn't washed his comforter or pillowcases the scent of feminine soap assaulted him and lured him into a REM cycle.

Short filler chapter, but it's leading to the next chapter. Ready for the 'M' rating content?