A/N: I apologize for how long this took to post, the real world has kept me very busy and was aggravated by writer's block. Thanks to the Mods at the Paradox (Sheldon/Penny) Forum on Live Journal. Their prompts helped get me back to this story and push out this chapter.

Penny looked at the contract, she had to hand it to him, he sure knew how to write a contract. Simple, clear and concise, well, except for one missing line; and she'd bet his Leonard Nimoy napkin it was on purpose. "You need to make one change." She looked Sheldon dead in the eye. "Put in there that you aren't allowed to be snide and condescending."

He paused and looked at her. She noticed that, well it was worth a try. "I had rather hoped you would have not noticed that omission. It will make my task more difficult, but I shall rise to the challenge. Did you note the clause on contacting my mother?"

"Yes, I can live with that, she can settle our disputes, but we both have to be there for any call about an argument."

"That is acceptable, while I make changes, here is the first book I'd like you to read." She looked at the cover, it said The Goal, by Eliyahu M. Goldratt.

"What's this?"

Sheldon looked at her while he typed, "It is a primer on the manufacturing process written as a novel. The author uses the characters to illustrate the 'Theory of Constraints'; the time and space restrictions upon the manufacturing process." Sheldon gestured toward Penny's apartment and the ingredients for Penny Blossoms. "Considering the state of your apartment, it struck me as the logical place to start."

Penny looked at him, ok, 187 IQ or not where does he get this stuff? "Ok, I'll read it, that thing ready for us to sign?"

"Yes, don't forget to initial where it is highlighted."

Penny was surprised by the book, while it wasn't a great novel, it helped her begin to understand what she was trying to do. She began to get her assembly process in order and was surprised by the how quickly she could get the blossoms made.

As the weeks passed, they settled into a comfortable rhythm. Sheldon fed her a steady diet of reading assignments. He insisted that she broaden her reading. Some books, a lot of internet business articles, but he also threw in blogs, news, business, and opinion websites and even the odd court case. He quietly shared his Cal Tech account so she could access paid sites. She was really surprised at the extent of his interests. She thought of him as a physics nerd, but he was well rounded in current events, science, science fiction and the classics. His only true blind spots were popular culture and literature, she wondered if Sheldon Cooper had read any novels aside from science fiction or Children's books that had been published after the First World War.

He would question, argue and debate with her about what she read. He seemed to enjoy playing the Devil's Advocate. He would figure out her opinion and set himself against her, forcing her to take a position and defend it. It was refreshing for her, she found herself rethinking her opinions, not so much changing them but rather, discovering the ability to describe the reasons behind her gut reactions and argue the point. Sheldon had mastery of facts and figures, derived from his intelligence and phenomenal memory. Penny understood the relationship between emotion and actions, and she had an inherent appreciation for common sense. She found herself looking forward to discussing and arguing with him. In its own way, it made her feel more alive.

"Why are we watching this movie? I told you, I've read Shakespeare! You are not introducing new material to me."

"Sheldon." Penny looked at him in exasperation, "Reading Shakespeare is like tasting a color. The guy wrote PLAYS, you need to SEE them. That's the only way to appreciate them properly." She looked at him square in the eye, arms folded with her "you'll do as I say and like it" face on.

Sheldon sullenly sat down. He pouted through the first half of the movie, but as the film went on he looked over at her, and grudgingly began to admit to himself she was right. Watching the actors bring the words to life turned Shakespeare into a living presence, and was more enjoyable than reading the plays.

At the end of the movie, he simply turned to her, "I was in error, thank you."

Penny tried as hard as she could to keep the smile off of her face.

*****

Penny slowly began to take Sheldon out into the larger world. She took him when she went shopping; she forced him to engage in small talk (no science or science fiction references allowed) while waiting in line at the movies or at restaurants. It was at the movie theater she found another obstacle.

"Sheldon, sit down!"

"Here? But the acoustics are inferior!"

"Sheldon, so help me…" Penny stopped and took in a deep breath. In a quiet but determined voice she looked dead in his eyes. "You need to stop. I got news for you, even with a 187 IQ, you WILL learn some manners. Look around, do you see all these people? Who do you think you are to go around and bother them by making noises? They just want to sit down and enjoy a movie! You are being rude! Here are two seats, they are perfectly fine, they don't have to be perfect! There are other people here and we are going to sit down and just enjoy the movie!"

Sheldon looked at her and silently sat down in his seat and faced the screen. Penny grabbed the bridge of her nose and rubbed it. Dear Lord, how can one person be so damned confusing.

After a short time, she heard a noise next to her, she looked up and saw Sheldon quietly clearing his throat. "Penny?"

"Yes Sheldon?"

"I would like to offer my apologies to you. You were correct, evidently I am being rather selfish."

They both settled into a rhythm. Their normal routine with Leonard, Raj, and Howard was increasingly buttressed by separate events. Penny didn't even really notice that she had gradually stopped dating. It was comfortable, and all was right in the world until Raj stopped her in the hallway and spoke to her.

She liked him, she always had, even though it took a couple of shots to get him ot speak to he, ever since their disastrous "date" he had been nothing but kind. Silent, but kind. That Raj was evidently sober when he spoke to her was mind boggling. But it was what he said that really floored her.

"Penny, do you realize you are now in a relationship with Sheldon?"