SHARED SOLITUDE PART TWO

Penny looked into the mirror, putting the finishing touches to her make up "Why are you doing this?"She asked the pretty girl in the mirror. She shook her head . He'll be there that's why. He'll be at your birthday party.

Things were slowly getting back to normal since her break up with Leonard. They had started talking again; she had started going over for Halo and movie nights. The infamous 'break up party to end all break up party's' had ended suddenly the day after Sheldon had blown up at Leonard. She had been in her apartment and had still heard Sheldon yelling at Leonard which was something Sheldon never did.

It had been the day the Sheldon had stood in her doorway holding a tub of ice cream. They had talked for hours or she had talked for hours. It was the first time she had been able to open her heart and to have someone listen. She talked about missing her family, her crappy job, about men or man-meaning Leonard. Sheldon just sat next to her eating his ice cream and handing her tissues whenever the tears started. She knew nothing she was saying was of the slightest interest to Sheldon but he stayed. It was his way of saying he was there for her.

After Penny had stopped talking, they had just sat then without any warning Sheldon had stood up and walked to the door.

"This has to stop Penny" and with that he was gone.

Then the yelling started over in 4A and, by the sound of it, it was mostly Sheldon doing the yelling.

She and Leonard were talking again. it had been his idea for the birthday party, but Penny had the feeling this was Leonard's way of attempting to get back with her.

But things between Leonard and Sheldon were still somehow, off Leonard was always surly around Sheldon and would snigger when Sheldon was talking.

Knock 'knock' knock

"Penny"

Knock' knock' knock

"Penny"

Knock' knock' knock

"Penny"

Penny opened the door to a smiling Sheldon- he only seemed to smile for her now.

"Hi sweetie! Forget something?"

"Penny I have an eidetic mem…"

"Yes Sheldon I remember 'eidetic memory' I was just funning with you" she said smiling.

"I only saw you an hour ago so what do you want?" Sheldon had helped her set the things out for the party in his apartment only an hour before.

"Only Leonard would let you set up your own party!" Sheldon said with a very sarcastic smile.

"Penny I wanted to give you this" it was a small gift box,

"Thank you, Sheldon but I thought you weren't in to this entire gift giving thing"

"I do as a rule disapprove of the whole, as you would say, 'gift giving thing' but, in your case, I'll make an exception".

"Wow Sheldon" before Penny could finish there was a knock on the door.

"That will be Leonard. He was constantly asking me when I was going out. I feel he is trying to curry favour with you again"

"Sheldon, now play nice" Penny opened the door to a very excited Leonard

"Hi Penny, I wanted to give you my gift before the party".

"Gee, thanks Leonard. Come on in. I think you already know Sheldon?" She laughed at her little joke. The two roommates seemed confused.

"Sheldon! What the hell are you doing here? You said you were going out".

Sheldon rolled his eyes and gave Leonard his best sarcastic smile "Leonard, I am out"

Penny started to open Leonard's gift "If you guys aren't nice, you're not getting cake," She lifted the lid of the box and held up the gift. "Oh wow! Leonard, a sweater. Thank you"

Sheldon tried to hide his smile . When had Leonard ever seen Penny wear something like that.

Penny put the sweater on the table "Ok boys, let's party"

As Penny walked out the door, Leonard looked at Penny then the sweater and lastly at Sheldon who shook his head and said to him, "Women." Trying not to laugh was killing Sheldon.

As the night went on, the party seemed to grow. Penny's friends from work had turned up and Howard was desperately trying to hit on each and every one. while Raj was now a very happy drunk and was sitting in a chair with an equality drunk girl on his lap who was trying to suck his face off.

Sheldon had looked on grinning as Penny and Leonard had played a game of cat and mouse all night, Leonard was desperate to corner Penny so she would thank him for her gift.

Even if she did hate it thought Sheldon.

Just as it seemed Leonard had won and had Penny cornered, Sheldon took her arm "Penny could I have a word please"

"Oh sure sweetie" Penny said smiling

"Sheldon what the hell!" Leonard fumed.

"Ok! Leonard Penny likes the sweater happy now"

Sheldon took Penny's hand and lead her out into the hallway

"Sheldon we can't just leave the party"

"Why not"

"We just! oh!' what the hell, where are we going"

"The roof"

As Penny and Sheldon sat in their spot on the roof, Sheldon turned to Penny. "You never did open my gift"

"God No! it's here" Penny took the small gift box out of her pocket. Inside was a pendant and chain- the pendant had a single bright green emerald in the centre.

"It's the same colour I see when I look into your eyes"

"Oh my god, Sheldon! It's gorgeous"

They sat in their spot holding hands while in 4A Howard was becoming even more desperate after seeing Raj head for Leonard's bedroom with a girl still stuck to his face, and Leonard just sat telling anyone who would listen how much life sucked.

A year later on Penny's birthday Penny and Sheldon had a very private party on the roof. Sheldon again gave Penny a small gift box but this time inside was a silver engagement ring set with a one bright-green emerald.

The sound of the traffic in the street below could be heard on the roof but all Sheldon could hear was Penny softy saying "yes"