Penny laughed funny while Sheldon was telling how foam had filled Kripke's lab in revenge for his joke with helium. Something funny by itself always became extremely hilarious when it was Sheldon Cooper who narrated it. The girl gripped her stomach, with tears in eyes. Sheldon continued his talk.

- So, the next thing we saw on the computer screen was the distinguished rector and his companions completely covered in foam. Fortunately, it's a totally harmless.

She could not control her laughter and, while was sitting on the edge of the chair, she lost balance. She almost shrieked at the thought that she would fall, and instinctively grabbed Sheldon's arm, which also held her. The physicist was puzzled, looking questioningly. Penny blinked, open-mouthed. But then, to see the face of Sheldon so extremely shocked, she laughed again. The young man shook his head, appealing to his patience.

- Penny, I think you have had enough champagne. - Said, withdrawing her cup.

But the girl clutched the cup, looking at him with a pout.

- Oh, come on, Moonpie, not be a spoilsport. I didn't drink so much ... - protested.

He looked at her as if he was her father and she, the wayward teenage daughter.

- Penny ... - he said. - I will not carry you intoxicated to home. So alcohol is over for tonight.

- Then drink it. - she challenged him with a dangerous glint in eyes.

Sheldon gritted teeth. He hated she did that.

- Nobody is going to drink it.

- Very good. - the girl took the glass and raised it to lips, but before she could take another sip, the young physicist snatched it from her hand. Penny almost pounced on him, in a ridiculous fight. Sheldon swallowed, trying to ignore the ... uncomfortable closeness of the girl and, on impulse, he drank the whole damn champagne before she could reach the cup. He felt as if a fire went down into his stomach.

- Wow! Who would have thought it? - Penny fun mocked him. - Dr. Cooper is able to drink a glass in one gulp ... and no water.

Sheldon glared her. He closed his eyes for a moment. Damn! Alcohol was already affecting his perfect neurons. He felt ... too heat. And seeing a smiling Penny, half leaning on his arm, was not helping at all to eliminate that upset feeling. The girl studied him carefully. The physicist looked suddenly too much stifled for so little champagne. Although, of course, Sheldon was not used to drink alcohol. His cheeks were flushed and his hair just slightly damp. The girl froze when Sheldon, in an involuntary act to alleviate these undesirable effects on his body temperature, unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, with a sigh of relief. Penny's mouth opened in astonishment. Never in her life had she seen a more frighteningly ... sexy and hot view. She could not take her eyes. Sheldon looked at her, feeling himself so intently studied. The girl seemed to be in shock. For a moment, the young physicist was really worried, believing that she was suffering the first effects of a future coma. Of course, he would be dead if he drank like her. His concern was rising to see that the girl was looking at him, but she was not reacting.

- Penny ... Penny! - he took her by the shoulders. She blinked.

- What? - she simply asked, looking at him with wide eyes and her very sincere innocent expression.

Sheldon snorted.

- Not funny. I thought you were suffering an ethylic shock.

The girl smiled in amusement.

- Oh, come on, do you think that with a couple of glasses of champagne will give me an ethylic shock? Do not look at me so. I haven't drunk so much. - she finished with a grimace.

Sheldon shook his head.

- Do you realize that, right now, there is no known person in the immediate environment who is able to drive your vehicle? How are we supposed to get home?

- Did you plan to go back home ... so soon? - the girl blinked.

The young man began to stay dead serious.

- It's two o'clock A.M.

- Did you plan to go back home so soon? - Repeated the girl, in reply.

Sheldon kept looking at her with a bad face.

- Come on, Moonpie, it's Saturday night. - the girl said almost pleadingly. - It's a non-optional social convention not return home before five o'clock on a Saturday night.

- You just made it up right now. - he replied. - Because, as I remember, on more than one occasion you have returned early to home on a Saturday night.

The girl laughed fun.

- Weeell, yes, okay, but that only happens when you have had a bad night. So it is permissible to return home early. - she stared at him. - Are you having a bad night, Moonpie?

Sheldon gritted teeth.

- No one can call me Moonpie but Meemaw.

- I already know it. - she replied. - And that does not answer my question, Moonpie.

The young man felt he could not control the twitch of his eye. He glared her with intense blue eyes.

- I suppose I could find other examples of worse kinds of torture, though curiously, right now I cannot think of any.

Penny laughed.

- Well, believe me, I'm really having fun. - said, her eyes shining, in a burst of candor. Sheldon looked somewhat surprised.

- Is that sarcasm?

The girl shook her head, still smiling.

- No, Sheldon, for once, it isn't. - she gave him a look full of tenderness. - You're full of surprises, Dr. Cooper. I always thought a date with you would be the closest thing to hell on Earth, but ... not at all. It had been a long time since I had such a good night. And I cannot be more grateful, Moonpie. You do not know what it is to feel normal again, after days crying, after days of being stuck at home.

Physicist felt again that unpleasant feeling to perceive her latent pain. He looked at her, but this time without a trace of anger.

- I guess it's okay to go home at five. - said with effort.

She smiled at him with infinite tenderness. Sometimes she wanted to kill him, and sometimes, as right now, she only wanted to eat him with kisses. She knew she must not to think about that. That damn madness lately seemed to take her into a dangerous quicksand field. Why the hell Sheldon was so ... damn handsome when he wanted to? Well, actually, not that she had noticed the sex-appeal of his eccentric neighbour just yesterday. Since she met him, he seemed really cute. In fact, much more than Howard, Raj ... and yes, even Leonard. She remembered when she was surprised to see his slate full of mathematical formulas. He had felt so pleasantly flattered, that had flirted a bit with her, relying on the blackboard while looking at her from head to toe. But later, things had progressed differently. Leonard took decidedly the way of "trying something with Penny" and Sheldon "trying to endure Penny ". Yes, their differences could not be larger and at first, the fights between them were like the foam reaction on Kripke's lab. But their friendship began to be as intense as their fights. It was extremely surprising. Penny knew that she would never endure Sheldon's things in another person who was not Sheldon, and she knew that he felt the same with her. And in addition to that deep friendship, there were other mysteries, like the intense look he seemed to give only her, the deep trust they had ... She had told him things which had not told anyone else. And concern between them. The girl looked at him. Sheldon never drank from the cup of anyone except from hers. Sheldon never break his routine of sleep, his strict rules, his ban to enter his room, his ban to sit in his spot... Only one person had broken them all and had not suffered the terrible consequences: Penny.

The girl looked at him. She did not know what to do with this big enigma. She had just passed a horrible breakup with Leonard. And she accumulated already too many disappointments with her meager 25 years. Yes, she had really the thought of to direct her attention to guys ... like Sheldon. Actually, the first step was Leonard. Although, obviously, the experimental physicist has in common with theoretical physicist only their apartment, the Caltech and physics. They were very different in everything else. Leonard had much insecurity and was emotionally demanding. Sheldon ... well, she knew that deep down, he had a little sweet heart, but even when people humiliated him, he did not give up ever. He was sensitive, true, but he did not show it ever. In fact, only she knew it.

The young waitress went deep in thought while staring blankly Sheldon.

- Penny, really ... are you okay?

She looked at him.

- Yes, sweetie, do not worry. Just ... We do not have to go back home later if you don't want. - Said almost sad. - I do not want that, by my fault, you can't take your eight hours sleep.

The physicist looked down a moment.

- It's okay ... Penny. In fact ... - he swallowed. - Well, I admit that this is not so unpleasant.

She raised an eyebrow questioningly. Sheldon sighed.

- Okay. Say I'm also enjoying this ... evening.

Again, a huge wave of happiness ran through her. That was another difference between Sheldon and Leonard. Sheldon, of any of his rare ways, always made her feel at ease, really well. On the other hand, Leonard had much more ability to do the opposite. Now she realized that, with Leonard, she always felt overwhelmed, unable to be fine, unable to behave as she really was. She felt bad for comparing them. She did not want to do that, but could not help. He looked at Sheldon, feeling terribly guilty.

- Sheldon I... I do not deserve that you are so ... charming. I do not deserve it. - Said sad.

The young man again felt her pain as his own. He lowered his eyes for a moment and then looked back again.

- Sarcasm?

The girl blinked, perplexed. But looking at him, she saw that he had just said this only for to tease her. Sheldon was giving her a delicious, soft and not customary smile. She returned it. This time, she could not help but kiss him on the cheek. Penny took his arm and rested her head on his shoulder.

- No. - she replied softly.

They stood, sitting next to each other across the table, Penny's head resting on Sheldon's shoulder. The restaurant was almost empty. The only sound was the gentle and mesmerizing music. She closed her eyes, enjoying that magical moment, surrounded by music and the delicious fragrance of Sheldon. She held her breath and dared to entangle her hand with his. Penny felt a chill when she noticed his intense contact and see that he does not shunned. The chill went through both clasped hands and ran over to Sheldon. He felt his heart would eventually collapse if still beating that rampant pace.

- Penny ... - whispered, in a voice so deliciously soft that provoked another chill on the girl.

- What? - she was lost in his blue eyes.

Damn! He was so close ... There was only some endless centimeters between them. She... could not. They were friends ... he was her best friend. But he was not making it anything easy, with that irresistible look. She saw him swallow.

- We should ... go. I imagine that employees want to close and go home.

She sighed and nodded.

- Maybe we should do the same.

Sheldon looked at her.

- I thought you wanted to extend the fun until five o'clock.

She smiled almost involuntarily.

- I think ... we should not. I'm melancholy, half drunk and, as you say, swimming in a soup of estrogen. - she looked at him sadly. - I will not make a mistake ... precisely with you. I have the feeling that, if this continues, I will attack to you in a public place and I will kiss you and hook up with you. -she seemed to realize what she had said and shook her head furiously. - And frankly, I think for this year, I made already enough mistakes.

Sheldon forgot to breathe in the moment that his brain processed the incredible words of the girl. He barely reacted when she got up and started to leave, picking up her coat and purse. No ... He could not have heard right. It must be a ... auditory hallucination. But he could not even ask. She was standing, waiting, and he was quick to follow her. They walked in silence to the car. Sheldon felt his nerves were going to explode. She shook her head.

- Relax, Sheldon, I will not pounce on you in the middle of the road. - said in a tone between sad and acid. - You can rest easy, because your friendship means a lot to me and this can with this damn temporary insanity. Don't worry, in a few days I will return to my normal state in which you are not attractive for me at all.

Sheldon swallowed. That would be very reassuring if it could replace the words " in a few days " by " in a few seconds ". Not it was heard a word along the way back home. Penny felt herself mortally ashamed for saying such things to the poor physicist. Damn alcohol! Damn scatterbrain! It was clear that her brain was so pathetic that she could not fall more far. She felt so bad that she even can't dared to apologize. Meanwhile, Sheldon were paralized in the passenger seat, not knowing why he must worry about more: the fact that Penny was driving under influence of alcohol, or the fact that being locked in a car with an unstable and hormonal Penny. His heart was beating faster and faster in his chest, feeling a horrible end. Despite that, he looked at her again. The girl looked sad; she had not opened her mouth. She would not even dare to look at him, keeping her eyes fixed stubbornly on the street. That made his fear dissapeared a bit. He kept looking at her, helplessly. Sheldon felt something too weird. For one thing, this girl terrified him, and for other hand, he cared… for her. It was the most illogical situation he had ever seen.

Finally, they reached their destination. Sheldon opened the doorway and started up the stairs, again in silence. They stopped at the fourth floor. Penny froze and finally dared to look at him.

- Thanks for tonight, Sheldon. - said. - And ... I'm so desperately sorry... - she lowered her head, painfully shy. - Sorry, alcohol and me at two o'clock not a good combination. Unless you're a numbskull who just wants to get me drunk to get me into bed and leave to the next morning. - said with bitter irony.

Sheldon looked at her.

- Don't worry, Penny. - the young physicist also felt too shy. - The brain can have quite unexpected reactions due to drugs. And, if you want a tip, only depends of you that brainless guys continue entering or not on your life. Surely if you do not drink alcohol, more than one of them would end in the hospital for trying to ... cross the line.

Penny could not help smiling. How could he always make her laugh, even when she didn't want? She shook her head.

- The problem is that I am interesting for them... only when I drink alcohol.

- That's because we are talking about brainless guys. - he replied.

Penny smiled wearily.

- No, Sheldon. That's because I'm so pathetic that nobody thinks I'm interesting when I'm sober. Not even the brainless guys.

Sheldon stared looking at her.

- I assure that you are much more interesting when you're sober. In that case, you're much faster when you give a reply in a discussion and that's always exciting.

Penny looked at him surprised.

- W ... What?

Sheldon swallowed.

- You ... you're interesting, Penny. A lot.

The girl thought she was drunker than she imagined. Otherwise, it could not be possible that Sheldon had said ... this. Or maybe ... Was he who was drunk?

- Sheldon, are you drunk?

This time it was he who had to smile.

- It is possible. Or drunk, or stoned, or dizzy by the way you drive.

She gave him her typical disapproving look, but ended up smiling. She approached him.

- Good night, Moonpie.

She tried to give a good night kiss on his cheek, but none of them moved properly for it. Sheldon turned to look at her and her lips ended up in contact with his mouth, instead his cheek. Penny thought her heart stopped, feeling the delicious softness of his lips. It was just a touch, but enough for lost their breath completely. They separated, feeling immensely ashamed.

- I ... I ... sorry, Sheldon.

The girl ran to the door of her apartment and tried to open it, but she was so nervous that keys slipped from her hand. Sheldon came and picked them up. He handed over keys to the girl. Again a unbearable shiver ran when their hands touched. This time, Sheldon felt that an unknown part of himself took control of the situation. He approached the girl slowly. Penny let out a gasp and stepped back, but the closed door cut her off. The young girl watched breathlessly that he didn't stop. He was so close ... He watched her from his height, through her, and burned her with a blue fire look, as if she were an attractive scientific experiment. Sheldon put with infinite tenderness the palm of his right hand on the girl's soft cheek.

- Sh ... Shel...

She could not finish. He gently lifted her chin and caught her lips with his, kissing her with such immense sweetness that Penny felt faint. He held her against his chest as she poisoned him with her lips, preventing him from thinking. Slowly, the kiss was tearing their breath, their souls, their hearts. Penny felt die of pleasure and happiness. That was really a kiss ... Oh yeah! It seemed that for centuries she was not feeling in that way during a kiss. Indeed, never before had she felt so, nobody had done all... with a simple kiss. Penny bit his lower lip gently, caressing it with her tongue. Intensity began to be alarming. Suddenly, Sheldon moved away from her, as if he had regained lost consciousness. He looked horrified at the girl, to who he had cornered against the door of her apartment. Automatically, he released her.

- I ... I ... - for the first time in his life, Sheldon Cooper was speechless. - I'm ... sorry.

Penny froze while Sheldon ran toward his door, opened it and disappeared behind it. The girl could not help but feel the delicious tingling on lips. She put a hand to her mouth, as if she doubted what had really happened. No, it was not a dream. Her damn dreams were never so ... amazing.