Reference to and dialogue from: 'The Flaming Spittoon Acquisition'

xTBBTx

Penny opened her mailbox and retrieved her letters and flyers. As she sorted through them she was surprised to find a letter addressed to her in a familiar hand. She closed her box and shoved the rest of her mail in her purse and proceeded to open the letter as she climbed the stairs.

Several times Penny came to a halt as she processed what she was reading.

"Un-boleevable," she mumbled and then quickened her steps until she got to her floor. Without fanfare she opened the door to 4A where Sheldon and Leonard were cleaning up after a night of Halo.

"Sheldon," Penny said. "My apartment. Now." She spun on her heel and left.

"Do I want to know?" chuckled Leonard.

"Don't ask me," Sheldon shrugged. "Perhaps Penny's menstrual cycle has come early."

The lanky physicist crossed the hallway to Penny's open door.

Knock Knock Knock "Penny."

Across the room Penny watched and waited.

Knock Knock Knock "Penny."

Knock Knock Knock "Penny."

"Come in," she said and he obliged. "Okay," she said and held out the letter. "What's this?"

"I thought it was obvious," he replied evenly.

"'You can't keep your apartment organized. I label all my possessions.' 'You're off-key when you sing me Soft Kitty. I can play the piano, theramin and recorder.' 'You talk with your mouth full. I use five napkins when I eat.'" Penny gave a crooked smile. "Not exactly flattering."

"It wasn't meant to be flattering," said Sheldon. "They're observations."

"Go on."

He clasped his hands behind his back. "You see I was thinking about our paradigm. We balance each other out. For instance, I've provided guidance and organization and you reply with nonsense and chaos." Sheldon's eyes flashed to Penny's amused expression. "Together we are an equilibrium and it's therefore to our benefit to continue this in a more formalized relationship."

"Wait, let me get this straight: you love me but we're not going out?"

"Well, we didn't file the proper paperwork." Penny snorted. "Now may I continue?"

"By all means," she said with a smirk.

"To this end, I propose that we enter into a Relationship Agreement which will enhance rather than override our existing Friendship Agreement. For instance, I wouldn't object to us not referring to each other as 'just friends'."

"Well that's big of you."

"Relationships aren't without sacrifice and compromise," he said matter-of-factly.

"Well," Penny said as she looked over the letter. "You've kinda got the sentiment even if the execution's off." She folded the paper. "Your proposal is logical and sound."

"Of course," Sheldon replied with a smug smile.

"Well I suppose that only leaves you asking me out," she said, her smile impish.

"I already have."

"No, what I have is a proposal. I want the feeling and the asking," she said firmly albeit amiable.

"Alright," said Sheldon. "I look forward to seeing you more than the conclusion to a two-part Doctor Who. I value your friendship more than my Flash 123. I trust you to have my back when we play paintball. You're my preferred Halo partner. I drove a motor vehicle for you."

"Okay, I get it Sheldon," Penny chuckled.

"You accepted me when others would push me away," he said seriously.

"Their loss is my gain," she replied.

"Good." He cleared his throat. "Now, I'll have to simplify some of the language but—"

"The asking, Sheldon."

"Oh for Heaven's sake," he said with an eye roll.

Penny smiled sweetly. Sheldon took a deep breath, clearly unimpressed.

"Penny," he said slowly. "Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yup."

"I'll go write up the Agreement."

"I can add things to it too," said Penny.

"Agreed," nodded Sheldon.

"Thanks Moonpie."

He frowned. "Don't call me Moonpie."

"Compromise, Sheldon." He glared. She grinned. "You gonna tell me why your Meemaw calls you that?"

"Never," he said stiffly.

"Maybe I should call your mother and ask," she teased.

Sheldon pursed his lips. "Is this the type of treatment I can expect in a relationship?"

"It's worse," Penny winked.

"Wonderful," he said sarcastically as he exited the apartment.

"Penny girl, what have you gotten yourself into?" the Nebraskan chuckled.

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A/N: And I must leave it here if for no other reason than I haven't really seen enough of seasons 5-7 to incorporate them into the story. Perhaps I'll bite the bullet and go over them so I can add to this story. After all, the hard part is over and Sheldon and Penny are together. For safety's sake I'll label this story as 'complete'.

Regardless, I hope you agree with me that these early episodes are amazing—and that they could have been written in such a way that romantic Shenny could happen without losing the interesting plot lines and punch lines. For those who are disillusioned with the current show I say don't forget what brought you here to read (and write!) fan fiction—your love for the characters. Each writer in Shenny fiction offers an alternative to what's currently on the air, allowing Sheldon and Penny to freely flow together as they did in the early seasons.

And for those who say that the Shenny just isn't possible I'd like to point out that there are an infinite number of universes out there with an infinite number of Sheldons and Pennys. This story is but one of them. Thank you for reading and for your reviews. *Lynn