A/N: Let me first apologize to my faithful readers for how late-coming the sequel to "My Fair Penny" has been! I'm back in school again and I have hardly any time to sleep, never mind indulge, sadly. However, I AM working on it, and I promise you will all get it! This story is just a sweet little something for Valentine's Day. I figured I'd start now, so hopefully it will be finished by then. I hope you all enjoy it! Any feedback is much appreciated.

Chapter One: Love's Philosophy

The first of the envelopes appeared one Saturday night, not too long before Valentine's Day. Penny had just returned to her place from doing laundry with Sheldon.

It had been a weird laundry night. For one thing, Sheldon had been the one who had kept the conversation going. It was usually her. She figured she was just tired. She had broken up with Leonard a few months before because she had realized that she had feelings for his whack a doodle roommate. Not that Sheldon noticed. Not that she'd every say anything either. It really was like dealing with a frightened baby deer. She just hoped that eventually he'd come to her.

The weirdest part of the evening though, had been what Sheldon was talking to her about. He had kept asking her about books, of all things. Sure, she knew he liked to read, but not literature. He usually stuck to scientific stuff and comics. Tonight, he had been talking about his new interest in Jane Austen, and had wanted to know Penny's thoughts on that great lady's works (she loved them of course. What kind of self-respecting girl wouldn't?).

She shook her head.

Lord only knows what he's up to know.

All she knew was that it looked like she would be spending this Valentine's Day alone, something she definitely wasn't used to.

Then she saw the envelope. It was sitting on top of the stack of mail that she had tossed on the coffee table earlier before hurrying downstairs for laundry night. She hadn't noticed it in her haste.

Her name was on the front, on a printed label. That was all. She opened it up and took out a sheaf of paper. It too was typed and, she noticed as she glanced over it quickly, unsigned. Curious, she read:

Dear Penny,

More than anything, I have wanted to tell you how I feel about you. I've been admiring you from afar for so long. To my chagrin though, I have found my own words and bungled attempts to be inadequate. I have turned to the greats for their assistance in conveying the depth of my regard for you. I hope this note finds you well.

"Love's Philosophy"

The fountains mingle with the river,

And the rivers with the ocean;

The winds of heaven mix forever

With a sweet emotion;

Nothing in the world is single;

All things by a law divine

In another being's mingle—

Why not I with thine?

See, the mountains kiss high heaven,

And the waves clasp one another;

No sister flower could be forgiven

If it disdained its brother;

And the sunlight clasps the earth,

And the moonbeams kiss the sea—

What are all these kissings worth,

If thou kiss not me?

--Percy SHELLEY

Penny folded up the note and clasped it to her chest, cheeks pink. She felt just like one of the girls in the stories she loved so much.

Maybe this Valentine's Day won't be such a bust after all.