Penny's Pov.

I was sat on a couch sewing what looked like a kids Halloween costume. That was the first indicator that I was dreaming. I don't sew, well, nothing more complicated than a button on a shirt, or occasionally stitching up a snag in the fabric. I glanced down at my left hand and saw a diamond ring on my ring finger. Ok this was a new dream. I was hoping my beloved was one Mister Johnny Depp, or maybe Brad Pitt, I'd let this dream run its course. Well it's not like I could stop it anyway. It was so clear, like I was looking at the world through someone else's eyes.

"Mo-m-m-m-m!" A child cried out in a furious tone. I found myself running towards the sound. By the back door stood a mud covered child, he was about seven at a guess. Tall for his age with curly blonde hair, his lip was bloody, and he looked seconds away from tears. My maternal instincts forced me to run over and hug the boy, crouching down so I was at his level (strange I didn't think I had maternal instincts).

"Oh sweetie what happened?" I asked the child, as I looked into his eyes I noticed that his eyes, they were a mix of green and light brown. He had a serious face and high cheek bones. He would be handsome when he was all grown up.

"He tried to take my laser off me" Something twigged at the back of my mind but I couldn't deal with that now. There was a shivering child in front of me and he had to be taken care of. I stood slowly and took his hand, leading him upstairs to the bathroom. The house was beautifully decorated; it was definitely to my taste. It was suspiciously tidy though, maybe I had a cleaner in this future dream life.

"Why did you take your laser outside when you knew he always takes your things?" I asked my child, although it wasn't me asking, rather future dream me, who seemed to understand the situation. Future me seemed pretty patient, like she wasn't surprised by what had happened to her son.

For a moment my son looked at me as I took his dirty slightly blood stained clothes from him. There was something slightly condescending in that look. I started to turn the taps to run a bath.

"Mother I took my laser out because Billy has been taking my things." I looked at the child now glaring defiantly out the bathroom window, where we could both hear the children's' laughter below.

"Honey, we've talked about this you can't try to blow up every kid that picks on you"

"I know, I know if I did I'd have to create a blast that would wipe out all but a handful of the High school. It's not my fault they have inferior minds!" He cried trying to make me understand. There was no need I understood, a little too clearly. That was what worried me.

"You're smarter than them, that's obvious, but most people don't appreciate being told that. Also you have to show that big brain of yours by being the bigger man. Do not retaliate. Right now they are big enough to squish you. In the future when you're taller and more successful, and they're working at Wall mart that can be your revenge. Ok?"

"But mom Batman wouldn't just take it!"

"Batman wouldn't go around acting like Doctor Doom!" I replied exasperated, waiting for the inevitable corrections. "Yes I know Doctor Doom is from Fantastic Four but he's the best example of your behaviour". The boy looked shocked for a second as he sat down in the hot bath.

"You could have compared me to Firefly" the kid mumbled as I put shampoo in his hair, trying to work it through the tangles. "He's at least from the Batman Comics.

"Firefly was a pyromaniac" I noted as I carefully loaded my hands with hypo allergenic soap and began trying to clean my troublesome child. "Also he had a flamethrower not a laser beam, and he hasn't been in the comics since the nineteen fifties". My son smiled at me then, glancing up at me he said "I love you mom" It was one of the happiest moments of my life. Part of me was sad this was a dream, it felt like a great life. I wondered absently how the hell I knew about comic book characters from the nineteen fifties but I'm sure by the time I had a seven year old the guys across the hall would have thoroughly geek-afied me.

"I love you too James" Huh looks like the kid had a name. I continued to bath him as he told me all about his afternoon exploits.

"You know I'm going to have to tell your father about this" I scolded gently.

"Aww mom he's gonna be mad" James complained.

"I hope so, you did try to fry the neighbour kids." James giggled as he played with his Aquaman figure, making him swim through the bubbles.

"He'll be mad I got the circuits wrong, not because I tried to zap Billy" I rolled my eyes, somehow I knew the boy was right. "I shouldn't have taken it out without testing it first".

I smiled at the serious look on his young face and once again I was reminded of someone familiar. I helped him into his Superman PJ's and hugged him. He hugged me back without question. I must be the kind of mom who always hugs their kids. I wondered what his father was like, I wouldn't have to wait long.

There was a bump downstairs. The front door opened and closed. Faint footsteps clicked on the floorboards heading towards the kitchen the fridge door opened and closed and I heard a carton hit the counter as my son and I walked down the stairs. I saw the back of his head first, he was tall and slim, with short brown hair.

"Dad!" James said hugging his father. He wasn't Johnny Depp, although that I kind of expected. He turned to smile at me, a genuine smile. What I wasn't expecting was the man standing in front of me, cheekbones that matched my sons, red Flash T-shirt that was all too familiar. Dr Sheldon Cooper PHD. My husband. . .

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I woke up then. Oh my god. I ran into the bathroom, nearly stumbling over a pile of washing, Sheldon wouldn't approve of the mess I thought to myself and I started giggling hysterically. I washed my face and looked in the mirror, not too bad. I was in my usual house shorts and a turquoise tank top. I must have drifted off after my shift. It was Thai night and soon enough Sheldon would be at my door with my order. Sure enough...

Knock, knock, knock, "Penny" Knock, knock, knock, "Penny" Knock, knock, knock, "Penny"

I stood and walked over to the door and glanced at the floor.

"Its Thai night, are you joining us?" It wasn't really a question. Not with Sheldon. If it was part of routine it had to be followed, and at some point, don't ask me when I had become part of his life, and apparently one of his friends. After that whole thing with Kripke it turned out I was valued above Raj, who knows why. I decided not to fight my discomfort, and followed Sheldon to his apartment, when I looked up he had his brows furrowed in concentration, looking at me. I smiled and said "Come on Sheldon before I get your spot" He scowled and walking into the apartment before me.

The TV was on it was Doctor who, must be a DVD I thought to myself, it was never on, on Thai night. I mentally shook myself, I was starting to get like Sheldon.

"Do dreams mean anything?" I asked, figuring that if anyone had a logical explanation for my dream it would be the four lovable nerds in front of me.

"Sure, why fair Penny? Dreaming about me?" Wolowitz asked raising his eyebrows suggestively. I rolled my eyes.

"What was the dream about?" Leonard asked. Trying to ignore his friend, who every now and then verged into creepy territory.

"Oh nothing major it was just kind of realistic that's all" I didn't really want to get into it, especially with Sheldon in the room. Raj was whispering in Howard's ear, as usual. I wished he could get over his issues but I knew it would be a long time.

"He says, "dreams focus on our thoughts and emotions, and speculate that dreams deal with immediate concerns in our lives, such as unfinished business, or concerns we can't handle during the day" Howard translated Raj's mumblings.

"Or" Leonard added "dreams teach us things about ourselves that we are unaware of"

"Hope not" I muttered under my breath. Sheldon gave me an odd look then. I was as usual sat next to Sheldon on the couch.

"Aristotle wrote in his "Parva Naturalia," over 2,200 years ago, of a connection between dreams, waking experiences, and emotional needs." Howard added. That was a pretty astute sentiment from him. "So if you had a sex dream it could mean you need to get some action" He smiled at me a little too creepily.

"Howard even if Penny had a dream involving coitus, she would not be here telling us" Sheldon added looking despairing of his friend.

"So if I dreamed I had a kid?"

"Well it could mean your sub-conscious is telling you that you are at your optimal time for procreating". Sheldon stated logically. Sometimes I wanted to shake him, just to see if he had emotions. He looked over at me and for a second it looked like he was blushing.

Leonard smiled and noted kindly, that "it could just mean you're missing something in your life"

"or some people believe that dreams are precognitive" Raj added then glanced down at the beer Howard had switched for his soda, looking horrified. I smiled. Poor Raj.

We carried on eating our Thai food and watched Doctor Who almost in silence. It was an episode called "Blink" where weeping angels were killing people but they could only move when you weren't looking. A scary episode, but not as scary as the idea that dreams were portents of the future.

My dream was his fault. If certain events hadn't taken place the previous evening I never would have dreamed about Sheldon Cooper, not like that.

Next Time: You find out just what happened to make Sheldon blush and Penny Dream. And I might include Sheldon's dream in the next chapter too.

Sorry this chapter was kinda short. This is my first foray into writing prose for a TV show Fanfiction.