A little something for Miss Koum on her birthday!
To Kelley: LJ has informed me that it is to be your birthday on the 23rd, so here is a present for you!!! (It's something I promised you awhile back! ^^) This is a short fic based on your "Sheldon Cooper in Risky Business" fan art. :)
"Just Take Those Old Records off the Shelf"
December 23, 2012: 8 am
Sheldon rolled over and slammed down on the off button of his alarm clock. He wasn't really looking forward to today. Instead of going to work like every other rational person in the country, he was going to be staying home with Penny today.
According to Penny, it was supposed to be the day that the world was going to end.
According to the REST of the world, that theory had been disproven in 2010.
Penny was not the rest of the world however. She had told Sheldon that while she was not entirely certain that the end was coming, she wanted to make sure she spent the whole day by his side, just in case.
He'd never say it out loud, but if it WAS to be the end of the world, he'd rather stay at home with Penny as well.
11 am
Penny bounded into the apartment with her usual enthusiasm.
"You ready to get started Sheldon?"
They were spending the day watching all of the movies that Penny had always wanted to see, but had never gotten to. It was the only activity on Penny's Bucket List that Sheldon had approved of and quite frankly the only one they really had time for.
Sheldon handed her a large bowl of popcorn before sitting down with his own bowl.
"Now I'm ready. What have you got for me first?"
"Spaceballs."
Sheldon shot her an incredulous look.
"REALLY? It takes a potential APOCALYPSE to make you want to watch what is perhaps one of the funniest films of all time?"
Penny shrugged, smirking up at him.
Sheldon just shook his head in amazement and hit "play" on the remote.
1pm
Penny forced him to watch "Breakfast at Tiffany's" next. He objected strongly at first, but found he rather liked the story, as well as Mancini's score.
Holly reminded him very much of Penny, always trying to be free as a bird, but caging herself in in the process.
She cried a little at the end, which alarmed him.
"Aren't you happy that Paul stayed with Holly?"
"Well, yeah, that's why I'm crying," she sniffed.
"Oh."
He shifted awkwardly in his spot and then patted her shoulder.
"There there."
3:30 pm
Penny was getting antsy.
"Nothing's happening Sheldon."
"Do you actually WANT something to happen?"
"No!" she cried, looking slightly panicked. "It's just...the waiting is killing me, you know?"
"No, I don't know," he sighed. "Penny, you do know that this is not the end, right? We're still going to be here tomorrow."
She bit her lip.
"I hope so."
"Now, hand me the phone."
"Why?"
"I'm ordering you your favorite dinner."
"How come?"
There was a short pause.
"Just in case," he whispered.
Penny handed him the phone and placed a quick kiss to his cheek.
Sheldon's face was beet red as he dialed.
7pm
They had long ago abandoned the movies, in favor of some of Sheldon's preferred activities. Penny had felt bad about hogging a possibly last day on Earth all to herself.
They were playing Halo, Sheldon having expressed a desire to beat her before he no longer had the chance, not that he was worried or anything.
It looked like that wish was not to come true as Penny fragged him...again.
10:45 pm
They had given up on Halo and settled in to watch the evening news.
The anchorman was discussing the "apocalypse," and how it didn't seem likely at this point.
"Maybe...maybe it was a hoax after all," Penny finally conceded.
"I've been telling you so for the last two years Penny."
"I know sweetie," she bit her lip. "But I'm not gonna feel totally secure until after midnight, when this day is officially over."
"Do you have any Christmas Eve plans, Penny?"
"No, I didn't do anything for this year, just in case. Why?"
Sheldon looked down at her, where she had snuggled up against his side. For the last year or so, this had been her "spot" whenever she came over to be with her boys.
He flushed a little, but plunged on.
"I'd like to cook you Christmas Eve dinner, if you would like me to."
"You want me to bring over little hot dogs?" she grinned up at him.
"Yes please," he beamed.
11:50 pm
"Only ten minutes to go. Are you feeling better now, Penny?"
"Very much."
Penny sat up and looked him straight in the eye.
"Sheldon, if this really was the end of the world, is there anything that you would regret not happening?"
"I haven't won a Nobel yet," he said quietly.
Penny bit her lip, letting the enormity of the statement sink in. If it had really all ended, what would all the work have been for?
She shook her head vehemently.
Everything, that's what for. His life would have been a worthy one, no matter what.
She put her hand on his knee and returned her eyes to his.
"Sheldon, you and I both know that it's gonna be yours someday and that I am going to be in the front row when you get it, crying my eyes out because I'm so proud of you."
"Thank you Penny."
"What I mean is, is there anything that you've always wanted to do, that you would want to do if this were really the end of all things?"
He pondered this for a moment.
"Well, there is one thing that I have always wanted to try, but have never gotten to."
"What is it?"
He leaned down and whispered into her ear.
"Really? You mean to tell me that you are 31 years old, and you've NEVER done that?!"
"Shocking, I know."
He paused another moment.
"Penny...would you like to do it with me?"
She flashed him a wicked grin.
"You got an extra dress shirt I could borrow?"
11:55 pm
The familiar opening chords of a classic rock song blasted out of the speakers of Leonard's stereo that the boys kept on the bookcase.
Sheldon came sliding into the room, wearing nothing but a dress shirt, his under garments, and white socks.
Penny slid into the living room as well, hot on his trail.
They both began to belt out the song at the top of their lungs and dance.
"Just take those old records off the shelf! I'll sit and listen to them by myself! Today's music ain't got the same soul! I LIKE THAT OLD TIME ROCK AND ROLL!!!!"
They were still dancing all over the apartment when Leonard and the others showed up at the door, having returned from a night of partying.
The three men said nothing; they just silently shut the door and went to spend the night at Raj's place.
The End
Happy Birthday Kelley! :D