Early Saturday Morning

Penny's alarm went off quietly at first then several seconds later was louder, then louder still. She leaned over to hit the snooze and remembered suddenly why she had set it for this Saturday morning.

"Arrgh", Penny moaned as she sat up and turned the alarm off. She slid out of bed and grabbed her long yellow robe to put on over her pink shorts and blue camisole she had been sleeping in. Penny was going to try to "bump in to" Leonard as he left this morning. Since about a week after Howard had went into space, every Saturday and Sunday Leonard was leaving the apartment early in the morning. He was always back every day about noon but was very quiet about what he was doing.

Penny had caught him coming back last week with a large gym bag and walking very stiffly. She could still remember the exchange in the hall.

"Hey you"

"Oh hi Penny, I thought you were working the lunch shift today?"

"Nope I traded and have the dinner shift."

Leonard had looked a little crest fallen but nodded at her, "I guess you won't be here for dinner then. We could go out to lunch just let me get a shower."

Penny had caught a distinct odor on Leonard that day. It was familiar to her but she couldn't quite place it. He was a little sweaty but the smell was something else it was in her memory but she couldn't quite nail it down.

They had gone to lunch at the little deli on Colorado Blvd. they both liked. When they returned they'd shared a long kiss in the hallway and Penny had went in to get ready for her shift. She could have invited him in. There had been time for a quickie but things were still strained from the last time. Weird again she thought, of all the places and times to propose.

Penny crept to the door and put her ear to it listening for the door to 4A to open. She had her laundry basket by the door to carry out for the chance encounter. Penny heard the door across the hall open then grabbed the laundry and opened hers.

Leonard was just stepping out he looked up almost startled to see Penny. He was dressed in his usual a pair of brown cords, green hoody shirt under his light brown jacket. The new pair of tennis shoes he'd got when he'd accidentally shot a hole in the last pair. He was showered and groomed. There was the large gym bag over his shoulder.

"Hey Penny you're up early"

Penny stepped into the hallway with the laundry basket under her arm, "Trying to turn over a new leaf, getting my stuff done early today so I have the rest of the day free. Where are you off to?"

She could tell Leonard was searching for an answer. Penny saw him fidget for a second as he thought it over.

"Oh I have a morning class I've been taking on the weekends." He patted the gym bag on his shoulder, "at the gym at the university."

Penny walked over to the stairs and they started down together.

"Leonard Hoftstader are you working out, aerobics or spinning or something?"

Leonard stuttered for a second, "Yeah a spinning class just trying to get in better shape."

"Don't you get dizzy?"

"Well a little yeah"

"Oh"

They were at the first floor landing now. Penny knew he was lying of course. Leonard had no idea spinning was riding a stationary bike. They stopped and faced each other for a moment. Penny could see he was uncomfortable. Leonard always was when he lied unlike her he really wasn't very good at it. Penny leaned over and kissed his cheek. She could smell his shampoo and deodorant on him clean and fresh.

"I'll see you this afternoon then maybe we can do something I've got the night off."

Leonard brightened up at that, "Sounds great see you then"

Penny went around the corner to the basement stairs and waited for Leonard to leave. She turned around and headed back up stairs. Penny wasn't sure what Leonard was up to but she would be there waiting for him when he came home. She planned on getting closer this time and really getting a good whiff.

Late Morning

Penny walked into apartment 4A without knocking as usual, just peeking around the door. Sheldon was sitting in his spot on the couch watching some strange Anime on the TV. Penny had on her black stretch pants today with a long blue shirt and flats. Sheldon had not even looked up.

"Hello Penny, I see you still shun the social nicety of knocking."

Penny smirked as she walked over and sat on the other end of the couch, "Whatcha watching?"

"It's called Time Priestesses and is about over. But more to the point what are you doing here? Leonard's not home, there's no food on the table so why are you here?"

Penny fidgeted for a moment on the couch then decided to go with a partial truth.

"I'm just waiting for Leonard to get home. What's he been doing on Saturday and Sunday mornings?"

Sheldon did turn and look at her this time, "I'm sure I don't know but Leonard is rather predictable just look at his calendar."

Penny got up and went to Leonard's desk and sat before his laptop. She logged on using his password and pulled up his calendar. Penny was shocked to see each Saturday and Sunday morning had a name from 8 to 11, Amy Winston. Was Leonard Hoftstader cheating on her? Penny was having a hard time getting her head around that when the door to 4A started to open.

Penny quickly closed the laptop and stood to face the door doing her best not to look guilty. Leonard walked in and saw her then smiled.

"Hey Penny did you get all your stuff done today?"

"Hey you, yeah I was just waiting for my boyfriend to get home. How was your class?"

Leonard looked uncomfortable again, "It went really well actually thanks. Let me get a shower and then we can walk around old town for a while and get lunch."

Penny stepped over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him, "Sounds great come get me when you're ready."

Penny went back into her apartment and stood looking around. She suddenly realized it was a mess. The laundry basket from this morning was on the floor by the door. Penny had really just come back to her apartment and lay in bed this morning wondering what Leonard was hiding.

She started to straighten the room up picking up her clothes and putting the dishes in the kitchen. It had to look like she had done something this morning. Penny was actually breaking a sweat when the knock on her door came. She started for the door seeing the laundry basket still beside it. Thinking quickly she kicked it to one side and grabbed her purse. Penny opened the door to a freshly showered Leonard and stepped out.

"Okay let's go."

Leonard looked a touch shocked again, "You're ready?"

"Yep, new leaf an all I'm be on time Penny now."

She closed the door behind her as she walked by him to the stairs. Penny looked back to see Leonard just shaking his head and following.

Dinner Time

Penny sat on the chair from the kitchen next to Leonard's and picked at her Thai chicken. Amy was next to Sheldon on the couch then Bernadette beside her. Raj was seated on another kitchen chair beside the couch. Penny suddenly missed Howard realizing the seventh member of the group was in space.

She looked over at Leonard who was intently eating his chicken and rice. He had that same old familiar smell on him again when she'd hugged him today. A mixture of sweat, soap, and leather, but there was something else also a really familiar smell to her. Their afternoon in old town had been fun. They held hands and walked around. Leonard had bought her ice cream even though he couldn't have any. He had even waited patiently as she'd tried on several pair of shoes. They'd kissed several times throughout the day both comfortable with each other, the strain and weirdness of the last few weeks finally easing.

Penny would be pretty content with the way things were if it weren't for a Miss Amy Winston hanging out there. She finished her chicken and looked over at Amy and Bernadette who were both done as well. Maybe they could help her sort it all out.

"Hey ladies who's up for a glass of wine at my place?"

Both Bernadette and Amy smiled and nodded. Penny touched Leonard's arm and gave him a small leer.

"You can come over a little later."

Maybe that would keep him home tomorrow morning.

Girl Talk

Penny sat on the couch and watched as her two friends drank the white wine she'd opened. She was sipping her own wine down pretty quickly. They had made small talk for a bit. Amy was sure she was making great strides with Sheldon. Bernadette was missing Howard but at least got to video chat with him each day.

Penny looked from one to the other.

"Well things are getting back to normal with me and Leonard at least I think. He's up to something though."

Penny shared with her friends what she had found out so far. Amy of course immediately went into spy mode.

"Let's follow him tomorrow. We'll use my car he's never even been in it. We'll catch him in the act and see who this Amy Winston is."

Bernadette nodded but had reservations, "It could just be his personal trainer maybe he's just trying to get in shape like he said."

Penny shook her head, "Leonard hates the gym he always has."

The plan was decided upon even if Penny would have to forgo sleeping with him tonight.

Early Sunday Morning

Penny awoke to the alarm part of her really regretting not having Leonard stay over the night before. Even though she'd decided against it earlier that night they had still ended up in bed. Leonard had gone back to his place at almost one in the morning. The sex had been awesome as it always was with them. Penny thought about the natural connection they somehow had found after a rather awkward first time. He had stayed and cuddled with her for a long time afterward last night. In the end it had been his idea to go back to his own apartment. He had even mentioned he had his class in the morning. Penny was pretty sure he wasn't having an affair now not after last night.

She was up and dressed right away putting her hair in a ponytail then a baseball hat to disguise herself. Penny checked the hall and made sure he wasn't leaving before she hurried down the stairs. Amy was parked across the street with Bernadette in the back. Penny got in the passenger seat next to Amy. They all hunkered down a little and waited for Leonard to emerge.

Leonard came out the front door with his gym bag over his shoulder and headed to his car. Amy started her car and they followed Leonard out onto the road. Penny wished she were driving Amy was a little too cautious and respectful of the traffic laws. The first thing she was sure about was that he wasn't going toward Caltech. Leonard had gotten on the freeway heading toward Burbank finally exiting near Sherman Oaks. They followed him into the Hollywood Hills until he turned off. Amy pulled the car up to the small drive he had turned down.

The sign beside the road put a lot of things in place for Penny.

Amy read it out loud, "Winston Riding Academy"

Penny had it now the smell that she could remember and not place. It was horses, the smell of saddle soap, leather and horses.

Penny looked over at Amy smiling, "Leonard is taking riding lessons?"

Bernadette in the back seat chimed in, "And Amy Winston looks to be about 60 from the picture on their website."

Penny sat back then looked at both her friends, "But what does he have planned, is this a new date for us or what."

Amy turned the car around and headed back down the road, "Well it will be easy enough to find out if he has something planned. He's a physicist he'll have an essay book with all the details on his desk let's look."

Mid-Morning Apartment 4A

Sheldon again was sitting in his spot when Penny opened the door followed by Amy and Bernadette.

"Well hello ladies"

He seemed slightly miffed still in his pajamas, empty cereal bowl on the table. They could hear the theme music for the ending of Dr. Who coming from the TV. Penny looked over at Amy and raised her eyebrows.

Amy smiled back, "I got this. Sheldon do you want to go by the train store then get lunch today."

Sheldon was suddenly giddy, "Oh that sounds like a wonderful plan just let me get in the shower."

Sheldon was up like his favorite character the Flash and heading down the hallway.

Penny sat down at Leonard's desk. There were half a dozen or so essay books stacked to one side and Penny began sorting through them. The first two were experiments with lasers and optics. The third one though was titled, "The Right Way".

Penny opened the book with her friends staring over her shoulder it just had a list:

Learn to ride
Make the date when she has two days off
Pick up flowers
Picnic Basket
Wine
Don't forget the ring
Go for a ride together
Have the picnic
Ask after you're both done eating
Hope she says yes

Amy was first to speak, "He's going to ask you to marry him again."

Bernadette pointed at the list, "But he's pretty serious about it this time, a romantic horseback ride and picnic. Even flowers and wine what are you going to do Penny?"

Penny looked up at both her friends with tears in her eyes, "Say yes of course"

There you have it, should I choose to discalim this of course you all know I would never claim something that is not mine to be mine. The thought was mine, the language and pace was mine, just have a problem owning the characters.

Enjoy, review, tell me what you think. I'm leaving this one open, could use another chapter if it stikes me

SOK