6:

It was half eight and Penny had just finished curling her hair before going out to her birthday party. She stepped away from the mirror to examine her outfit. She was wearing a halter neck black dress that fell to just below her knees, strappy black stilettos that were open to show her freshly painted red toenails. She had left her eyes bare with only mascara and some eyeliner along with some red lipstick. She grabbed her bag and went across the hall.

"Hey guys! Tonight my friends are throwing a birthday party for me and I was wondering if you might want to come?"

"A party?" Howard said excitedly "Will all your hot friends be there? They will right?"

"I think you have forgotten Walowitz that we have plans for this evening." Sheldon scolded from his seat.

"How could I forget?" Howard muttered dryly from his end of the sofa.

"That's fine." She said sadly "I guess I will see you guys tomorrow." She waved at them; Leonard was glaring resentfully at Sheldon, and left to go to the party.

The party was in full swing when she got there and she was greeted by everyone singing happy birthday at the top of her lungs. She smiled happily at them, reminding herself that she didn't need four certain individuals to have fun. However as she scanned the room she noticed four out of place figures sat in a booth towards the back of the room. She ran over to them excitedly.

"What are you guys doing here?" she squealed as she came to a stop before them.

"Well we were under the impression that we were invited." Sheldon remarked dryly from his seat at the far end of the booth.

"Well of course! But I thought you guys had plans tonight?"

"Yeah!" Leonard said beaming "This! We weren't going to miss your birthday!"

"Happy Birthday!" they chorused, and she noted that even Sheldon mumbled it along with them. She gave them all a hug and a kiss on the cheek and then slid into the booth beside Raj.

"Here are your presents!" Howard said and they all produced neatly wrapped packages, she was amused to see that they all had pictures of some sort of superhero on them.

She took Leonards first and was happy to see that it was a Wonder Woman action figure. "Aw geez thanks Leonard! She's great! I used to love Wonder Woman as a kid!"

"Yeah well I thought she kind of resembled you, and it can be kind of a good luck charm for your next audition." He said shyly his cheeks flaming red.

"Me next!" Raj said after he had chugged down his green cocktail and handed her his present. It was a Hello Kitty kite.

"Oh wow honey I didn't think they made these anymore!" even though it was a little strange she found she liked it anyway.

"Well we go kite flying so I thought that you would want to join us if you had your own!" he said while Howard gave him a funny look.

"Aw thank you sweetie!" she said with a smile.

"I think you will like mine." Howards said in what he thought was a seductive tone.

She took the box gingerly and pulled out its contents, a lacy black and pink bra and panties set. She was surprised to see that they were actually quite tasteful, considering what he could have bought her, and so she appreciated his effort to tone it down.

"Thanks Howard, I actually think they aren't too bad. And they are the right size! I'm not sure I want to know how you got that right. Thanks sweetie!" He beamed with pleasure at her reaction, as she had punched him in the face after receiving her last present from him.

Unlike the others Sheldon simply handed her the small square box and nodded at her. It seems that he felt his present needed no introduction as she knew it was from him. She couldn't help but smile as she remembered the last time she received a present from him, and the hug that followed it. She pulled off the comic strip wrapping paper and found a slim black box. She lifted the lid slowly and gasped in surprise. It was a silver necklace with a shooting star pendant with a diamond as the star and the silver tail trailing after it. She looked at him shocked.

"Sheldon it's beautiful, I love it. Thank you." She unclasped it and fastened it around her neck, her fingers stroking it in amazement. She got up from her seat and placed a gentle kiss to his cheek. Just at the moment a hand grabbed her wrist and pulled her backwards, two strong arms wrapping around her waist.

"Kurt!" she exclaimed pulling at the arms around her. "Come on let me go!"

"One dance baby that's all I ask." He said walking to the dance floor and tugging her along with him. She shuddered as he put her arms around his neck and pulled her close, though she could not blame him, for his commanding nature, as it was the very thing that caused her to be attracted to him, his manliness. However she had now found a new definition of manliness and she could not stop her eyes from drifting over to where the guys sat watching the dance floor. Kurt started singing along with the words to her, which never failed to make her laugh and she let him lift her from the floor as she laughed, making their chests collide. Eventually the song ended and she made her way to a couple of her girlfriends that were stood looking bored by the bar.

"Hey girls, why aren't you dancing?"

"Have you seen all the idiots that are here Penny?" Her friend Stacy said running a hand through her dark hair.

"Why don't you ask those guys to dance?" she said pointing at the guys who were roaring with laughter over something, even Sheldon was chuckling to himself.

"Sure!" her friend Jennifer said excitedly "They look fun!" she bounced over dragging Stacy and her other friend Claire over with her. She hoped that the girls took a liking to Leonard, Raj and Howard so that she had an excuse to spend time with Sheldon. She shook her head sadly and left to talk to the rest of her friends and dance a bit more.

About an hour later she finally made it off the dance floor and headed back to talk to the guys only to find Raj sat on his own looking very upset.

"Honey what's the matter? Where are the other guys?"

Raj lifted his head and looked at her though heavy lidded eyes; with five empty cocktail glasses in front of him she knew that he was very drunk by this point.

"They hooked up with those girls" he said dejectedly taking her beer bottle off her and drinking what was left of its contents.

"What? All of them?" she exclaimed her eyes scanning the room frantically for them. She spotted Howard making out with a very drunk Jennifer in the middle of the dance floor while she swayed along with the beat, Leonard and Stacy were talking by the bar but when Leonard saw Penny looking he stood on his tip toes to kiss the tall brunette, she seemed surprised at first but responded enthusiastically. That meant Sheldon was with Claire. She hugged Raj goodbye and pushed him towards a blonde girl she knew had a fairly laid back attitude to guys and dashed towards the fire escape which was slightly ajar. She stepped though just in time to see Claire wrap her arms around Sheldon. She gasped and her hand flew to the necklace as she watched their faces growing closer until their lips joined. She let go of the door in surprise and it slammed shut causing the pair to break apart.

"Penny!" Claire said happily "you were right! These guys are great!" she looped her arm around his arm and beamed up at him, yet Sheldon didn't take his eyes off Penny, guilt leaking into his dark blue eyes.

"See I told you!" Penny said cheerfully, ignoring Sheldon and the tears that were threatening to overcome her. "I know a good one when I see one."

Claire smiled and kissed Sheldon on the cheek and snuggled up against him.

"So I take it you guys are having a good time then?" she forced out whilst desperately wanting to run away.

"This evening has been nothing but pleasant." Sheldon said nodding stiffly.

"Good!" she almost shouted, her eyes stinging and her smile feeling bigger by the second. "Well I can see that I interrupted something so I will leave you guys to it!"

"Thanks Penny! Sheldon and I were just about to get better acquainted." Claire said while wiggling her eyebrows. Penny felt completely nauseated and her eyesight began to get blurry, she realised her tears were showing so she turned away and opened the door to get back inside.

"Ok guys you two have fun!" she said waving over her shoulder as she made her way inside.

She made her way back to Raj who was sat at the booth with the blonde girl, who listened intently as her told her of the many wonders of India. She sat beside them unnoticed before her sniffles became uncontrollable and she began to sob. Raj jumped at least a foot in the air in surprise as he hadn't realised she was there.

"Penny? What's the matter?" he asked worriedly and she could do nothing but cry. Ignoring the protests of the blonde he was with Raj put his arms around her comfortingly and stroked her hair while she cried. Ten minutes later she calmed herself down and pulled herself away from him.

"I'm sorry Raj I don't know what came over me." She said wiping her eyes with the back of her hands.

"It's ok Penny" he said with a small laugh "Do you want to dance?" he said just as a rather upbeat song came on.

"You know, I think that would be a great idea." She said taking his hand and together they walked onto the dance floor. Raj was obviously trying to make her laugh as he was doing some very strange dance moves, pulling funny faces the entire time. She laughed loudly and joined in and in no time the two of them were singing the lyrics as loud as they could and falling into fits of giggles when either of them messed up. By the end of the song they were exhausted and they collapsed back into their booth. They were joined after a moment by Stacy followed by a very moody looking Leonard.

"Hey guys!" she said giggling.

"Hi." Leonard said scowling at her. He must be angry that she didn't react when he tried to make her jealous.

"Wow that looked fun!" Stacy said eyeing up Raj who smiled back proudly.

"I am the master at goofy dancing." He said in a deep voice and he puffed his chest out making Penny and Stacy giggle and Leonard roll his eyes with a small reluctant smile. Howard stomped up to the booth and slid in on the other side of Raj, an injured look on his face alongside a very pink looking handprint on his cheek.

"That is what you get for being too "hands on" with girls Howard." Penny said sternly.

"I know, I know" he grumbled "But you can't blame a guy for trying!" he said with a sly smile.

They all laughed at him and Penny went to get him a cold drink to hold against his cheek.

They spent half an hour just chatting and drinking, with Stacy occasionally dragging Leonard to the dance floor when a slow song came on. A shadow fell across their table.

"Mind if we join?" Claire said as her and Sheldon stood at the end of the table.

"Sure, no problem!" Leonard said and he scooted over to make room for them. Raj looked at Penny as she stiffened when they sat opposite her. Her mouth was still in a smile but she could feel the edges failing the longer she tried to keep it there. Raj saw this and placed his arm around her shoulders while he told the story of Howard breaking the toilet of the space shuttle, causing the entire table to be shaking with laughter. Leonard seemed outraged as she let Raj keep his arm around her, but for some reason she knew that it was just Raj being a good friend, and not all the elaborate, and most likely explicit, stories Leonard seemed to be picturing. Penny knew she needed to get out of there, as she couldn't keep watching Claire putting her hands all over Sheldon without making some sort of scene, which was something she definitely wanted to avoid so she slid out the booth.

"Alright, well I think I am going to go home now. Thanks for coming everyone! It's been the best birthday ever!" she picked up her bag and turned to leave.

"I'll come with you Penny." Raj said and she nodded, happy that she didn't have to be alone in the cab.

They both waved to everyone and went out the front to catch a cab home. They didn't speak to each other until they were inside the cab, and then Raj turned to look at her.

"You have a crush on Sheldon don't you?"

She froze.

"What?" she cried "Are you crazy? Who would like Sheldon?"

"You." He said with a smug smile.

Damn. Well she had walked right in to that one.

"No I don't. Where's the proof?" she said stubbornly.

"Well for one thing you burst into tears after seeing him with that gorgeous red head in there."

"She is not Gorgeous!" Penny snarled "So what if she has perfect hair, and blue eyes, and a body to die for? Her personality sucks!"

"Yeah," Raj said sarcastically, "because guys don't care at all about looks."

"Damned straight!"

"Hmm," he pondered "Then why do you always spend so much time on your looks if guys don't care about them?"

Stupid scientist.

"Ok so maybe they do, but I would have thought that Sheldon would not be as superficial!"

"So you do like him."

"Aw crap!" she cursed.

"I knew it!" he cried triumphantly "How long have you liked him?"

"I don't know for sure, I just realised that that's what I'd been feeling since you guys came back." She said giving in.

"Wow, someone normal actually likes Sheldon."` Raj said chuckling "Who would have thought this day would come?"

"You better not tell anyone!" she said punching him in the arm.

"I won't, I won't!" he said laughing loudly. Then he stopped. "Does he know?"

She nodded reluctantly.

"That idiot! What does he think he is doing going off with that other girl at your birthday party? And to think I thought that guy was smart."

"Thanks Raj. You're a good friend." He smiled widely at her. "So come on! I told you a secret and a pretty embarrassing one at that! It's your turn to tell me who you like!"

He blanched. "I can't tell you that Penny."

"Aw come on! I like Sheldon, who could be worse than Sheldon?"

"Howard."

"Yeah ok I guess Howard would be worse, but still! I won't tell anyone I promise! Tell me!"

"I just did." He said uncomfortably, avoiding her gaze.

"You like Howard?" she said and he squirmed in his seat. "I would never have guessed."

"Good!" he said "That's how I need it to be! If my parents or anyone at the university or Howard ever found out I don't know what I would do!" he buried his face in his hands.

"Honey!" she cried in surprise "Don't worry I won't tell anyone I promise! It's not as bad as you think, Howard is a great guy when he wants to be, and he's always been a good friend to you!" his shoulders began to shake "Hey, hey, hey don't cry!" she said pulling him to her, her eyes watering as she watched her friend fall to pieces.

"I just had to tell someone." He cried "For years I have hidden it from everyone, I just can't do it anymore!"

"You can trust me ok sweetie?" she said soothingly "You can talk to me about it whenever you need to. I will always be here for you, ok?"

He nodded and rubbed at his eyes, reminding her of a small child.

"I knew I could trust you Penny, I always thought that if I ever had the guts to tell someone that it would be you."

She hugged him close "Well I won't tell anyone honey, not ever."

The cab pulled up to her apartment and she payed the money while Raj sorted himself out. By the time she turned to face him again he was back to normal.

"You gonna be ok sweetie?" She asked.

"Yeah I'll be fine, thanks Penny."

"Good." She smiled and gave him a hug before turning towards her apartment. "Hey!" she said as something occurred to her "If you're gay, why can't you talk to women without a drink?"

His expression turned bashful. "Well women always made me nervous, even as a child. It's not that I can't, it's that I won't. I guess even at that age I always preferred guys." He chuckled, trying to make a joke about it.

"Whoa" she said laughing "I thought it would be something like that, because I always found it strange that you couldn't talk to women and yet you always talked perfectly to your mother."

He blanched. Then burst into laughter. "You're right!" he cackled "How could three scientists not figure out in six years, what you figured out in one video call!"

"I guess they just aren't good with people like I am." She said with a wink. "This means I want you to talk to me from now on though!"

He looked uncomfortable. "Penny..." he started.

"No!" she said sternly. "You can just say that we got close after tonight and you are more comfortable with me now, which in a way is the truth. That way you can get away with talking to me. You can't rely on alcohol forever"

His face softened into a smile. "You're a good person Penny."

"You know it!" she joked and they exchanged goodbyes and she went up to her apartment. It was as she was unlocking her door she noticed that there was a long present leaning up the wall beside the door. She opened it puzzled and smiled sadly when she realised what it was. The shiny baseball bat had a pink ribbon tied to the handle and a note attached that said you will always be protected.