Mr. Peabody, Sherman and Penny

Chapter Seventeen: A Date With Destiny

Sherman took a deep breath.

'I'm going to do it this time.' He thought. 'I'm going to ask Penny out on a date.'

Sherman had held an attraction toward Penny for a long time, even when she was just a bully to him. Those feelings had only grown stronger over the course of their friendship, culminating with their performance as Romeo and Juliet. He had found it increasingly difficult to hide his feelings from Penny, fearing that it could ruin his friendship with her. After New Year's Eve, he made a resolution to tell her before Valentine's Day.

He had just arrived at Penny's home, ready to make his confession.

"Hi, Sherman." Penny's mother, Patty answered the door. "You're here to see Penny, right?"

"Right." Sherman nodded.

"She's in her room." Patty declared.

"Thanks, Mrs. Peterson." Sherman smiled.

As Sherman reached Penny's room, he noticed that the door was open. As he peeked inside, he saw Penny brushing her hair. He stopped in his tracks, admiring the sight of her golden, flowing locks. Penny then noticed him reflected in her mirror.

"Oh, hi, Sherman." She turned.

"H-hi, Penny!" Sherman snapped out of his thrall. "How's it going?"

"It's okay." Penny smiled. "You?"

"Well, I, uh, wanted to ask you something..." Sherman said awkwardly.

"What is it?" Penny asked.

"I... er..." Sherman stuttered. "...Forget it. It's nothing."

"Are you sure?" Penny frowned. "You can ask me anything, Sherman."

"It'll keep." Sherman shrugged.

"Okay." Penny sighed. "While you're here, you wanna play a board game?"

"Why not?" Sherman smiled.

They played one of their favourite games, Sherman hiding his disappointment at himself. Later on, he returned home, sitting on the living room couch with a protracted sigh.

"Something wrong, Sherman?" Mr. Peabody asked shrewdly.

"No." Sherman said tersely.

"Sherman..." Mr. Peabody urged.

"Okay." Sherman sighed. "I wanted to ask Penny on a date today."

"Ohh, how adorable." Mr. Peabody smiled.

"But I couldn't do it!" Sherman groaned. "I just... couldn't get the words out! What is wrong with me?!"

"Nothing's wrong with you, Sherman." Mr. Peabody declared. "It's natural to feel some apprehension at such a leap in a relationship."

"What should I do, Mr. Peabody?" Sherman asked.

"I'm afraid this isn't my best subject." Mr. Peabody admitted. "I have read much about romance, but have never experienced it myself."

"Great." Sherman sighed.

"But I am certain of one thing." Mr. Peabody smiled. "If your feelings for Penny are true, you must voice them."

"But, what if... you know, she doesn't feel the same way?" Sherman asked, as the terrible thought suddenly came to mind.

"Oh, I have an inkling she does." Mr. Peabody smirked. "She did ask you to the dance at the end of the last school year."

"As friends." Sherman pointed out.

"Really?" Mr. Peabody chuckled. "And what about that kiss she gave you afterwards?"

"Well, uh..." Sherman blushed.

"You can do this, Sherman." Mr. Peabody declared. "Stop listening to the doubt in your mind, and go for it. That's what I did when I found you."

"It was?" Sherman asked.

"Yes, indeed." Mr. Peabody nodded. "As I prepared to adopt you, there was a nagging doubt in my head about whether or not I was suited to be a parent. If I had listened to that doubt, you wouldn't be here right now."

"Wow." Sherman grinned. "Okay, I'll do it. Next time I see Penny, I'll tell her."

"Atta boy." Mr. Peabody ruffled Sherman's hair. "Now, go wash up for dinner. We're having sloppy Joes tonight."

"Oh, boy!" Sherman cheered.

After school the next day, Sherman once again travelled to Penny's home.

"Hey, Sherman." Penny smiled.

"Hi, Penny." Sherman said quietly.

"Is something wrong, Sherman?" Penny asked. "You've got that look on your face again..."

"Well... the thing is..." Sherman shuffled nervously. "I kinda, sorta, wanted to say... that I... like you."

"Of course you do." Penny chuckled. "We're friends."

"No, I mean I... like-like you." Sherman churned out.

"Oh." Penny stiffened. "I see."

"Truth is, I've felt this way for a long time." Sherman confessed. "I couldn't keep it in any longer. I just had to tell you."

Penny stood perfectly still, her face impassive.

"...Penny?" Sherman asked, worried. "I know it's kinda a shock..."

"Took you long enough." Penny grinned.

"Wait, you knew?" Sherman frowned. "For how long?"

"Oh, long enough." Penny giggled. "And since we're being honest, I like-like you too, Sherman."

"You do?" Sherman smiled.

"Yeah." Penny nodded. "That's why I asked you to the dance. I only used the 'as friends' thing as an excuse."

"Guess Mr. Peabody was right... again." Sherman sighed. "So... you wanna... go on a date sometime?"

"I'd love to." Penny hugged Sherman.

"We can go to the fair on Saturday." Sherman suggested, as he hugged her back. "Have a nice walk. Get some cotton candy. Ride the ferris wheel."

"Sounds great." Penny chuckled, releasing him. "But for now, we can just hang out, and have fun, like we always do."

"Gladly." Sherman smiled.

Sherman and Penny busied them with another board game. As they gathered the pieces, their hands touched, prompting a blush and giggle from both of them. When Sherman left, Penny planted a quick kiss on his cheek.

"Looking forward to Saturday." She smiled.

"Me too." Sherman returned the favour.

Once he returned home, Sherman ran to meet Mr. Peabody.

"So, how'd it go?" Mr. Peabody asked.

"I did it!" Sherman cheered. "I told Penny how I feel, and guess what? She feels the same way! We're going to the fair together on Saturday."

"Congratulations, Sherman." Mr. Peabody chuckled. "Your very first date..."

"Wait, do I have to do anything special?" Sherman asked suddenly. "Should I get Penny flowers, or chocolates? Kiss her hand? Put my coat over a puddle for her to walk on?"

"All you have to do is be yourself." Mr. Peabody declared. "Penny clearly likes you for who you are, not who you think you should be."

"If you say so, Mr. Peabody." Sherman nodded.

"I know so, Sherman." Mr. Peabody smiled, brimming with pride over the latest milestone his son had achieved.

On Saturday, Sherman and Penny met outside the apartment building where Sherman and Mr. Peabody's penthouse rested upon. The mid-January weather dictated their wearing warm coats and jackets.

"Ready?" Penny smiled.

"Oh, yeah." Sherman nodded.

Mr. Peabody drove them to the fair in his moped.

"You two have fun." He smiled. "I'll pick you up here in precisely two hours."

"Thanks, Mr. Peabody." Penny waved.

As Sherman and Penny walked into the fair, Penny took Sherman's hand in her own. Sherman blushed, and gave Penny's hand a little squeeze.

"What should we try first?" Penny asked.

"You can pick." Sherman declared.

"My, what a gentleman." Penny judged Sherman playfully. "Okay, let's try... the coaster!"

"You read my mind." Sherman grinned.

After enjoying the fair's medium-sized rollercoaster, Sherman and Penny tried every other attraction in turn. During this time, they ran into Abby and Jill.

"Hey, girls." Penny smiled. "Enjoying the fair?"

"You know it." Jill nodded.

"Hey, what's the hand-holding?" Abby suddenly noticed. "Wait, are you two on an actual...?"

"Yep." Sherman shrugged.

"Well, it's about time." Abby snorted. "I was starting to get impatient with you two!"

"Seriously?" Sherman gaped. "Did everyone know about it?"

"Pretty much." Jill shrugged. "Good to see you two finally made it."

"Thanks, Jill." Penny grinned. "Just try not to spread it around so much."

"I won't." Jill chuckled.

"I make no such promises." Abby deadpanned. "Come on, Jills. Let's leave the lovebirds alone."

"Huh, that wasn't so bad." Sherman shrugged. "I was worried it might be a little awkward, but it's fine."

"I knew nobody would make too big a deal of it." Penny declared. "Now, where were we?"

"I think we were heading to the ferris wheel." Sherman smiled.

"Good call." Penny nodded. "We could use a little privacy."

Joining the line for the wheel, they patiently waited their turn. Eventually, they were able to board one of carriages, which lifted them up over the fair.

"Hey, I can see the penthouse from here!" Sherman pointed.

"Yeah, it's quite a view." Penny smiled. "...Thanks, Sherman."

"Thanks?" Sherman asked. "For what?"

"For... everything, I guess." Penny shrugged. "For being my friend, for this date, for the whole crazy, incredible ride I've been on since we met."

"Oh, that." Sherman grinned, kissing her on the cheek. "You're welcome."

"I wish this moment could last forever." Penny sighed, gazing at Sherman.

"Me, too." Sherman gazed back. "You have really pretty eyes, by the way."

"Yours aren't so bad either." Penny smiled.

Despite their fond wish, the moment didn't last forever. The carriage returned to the bottom, and the couple disembarked. They then stopped at the concessions stand, where they purchased some hot chocolate (and had a good laugh at the frothy moustaches they got from drinking it). Soon after, they returned to where Mr. Peabody had dropped them off, meeting him as he returned to bring them home.

"So, how was it?" Mr. Peabody asked.

"Pretty fantastic." Sherman exclaimed.

"No argument here." Penny grinned.

The moped brought them back to the apartment building.

"Thanks again, Sherman." Penny smiled. "I had a great time."

"Me, too." Sherman grinned.

"I can give you a lift to your house if you'd like, Penny." Mr. Peabody offered.

"That'd be great, Mr. Peabody." Penny nodded.

"Hold on." Sherman suddenly took Penny's hand. "Just one more thing..."

Placing his other hand on Penny's shoulder, Sherman leaned in and kissed her on the lips.

"Wow." Penny smiled.

"Yeah." Sherman whispered. "Wow."

"I hate to spoil the moment, but there's no time like the present." Mr. Peabody said warmly. "Come along, Penny."

"Bye, Sherman." Penny said as she climbed into the sidecar. "Can't wait for the next date."

"Me neither." Sherman chuckled. "See you soon!"

As Mr. Peabody drove Penny away, Sherman's heart felt as if it was going to explode with happiness. He had finally gone on a date with the girl of his dreams. It seemed as if his life was now complete. Everything was perfect, and it was going to stay like that. He didn't need a time machine to know what a wonderful future he would have. With a father like Mr. Peabody, and a girlfriend like Penny, Sherman couldn't dream of a better life than this.

The End.

(Mr. Peabody & Sherman and all associated characters are the property of DreamWorks Animation.)