Disclaimer: If you recognize it, I don't own it.
A/N: Written a while ago for a challenge on livejournal, but I'm just now getting around to posting it here.
It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.
- Confucius
Penny snuggled closer into Leonard's side, loving how she felt so safe and secure when she was with him. His left arm was wrapped around her, idly playing with her loose hair, and he placed occasional kisses on the top of her head.
"I still can't believe I'm engaged," Penny said, admiring the diamond ring that now adorned her left hand. She slowly tilted her hand from side to side, allowing the light to sparkle off the stone.
"We're engaged," Leonard correctly softly, pulling her slightly closer. "And I can't believe it either."
Penny smiled, thinking of everything they'd gone through to reach this point.
"Do you ever wonder where we might be if we'd never broken up?"
Leonard furrowed his eyebrows.
"Still in Pasadena, I'd assume."
She laughed a little, and shook her head.
"No, I mean, our relationship. We lost over a year. If that hadn't happened, maybe we'd already be married."
Leonard was silent for a minute, and Penny began to worry that she shouldn't have brought up their time apart on the night of their engagement. But he was thoughtful when he finally spoke.
"I don't know what might have been, but I'm glad things happened like they did. Obviously I wasn't happy about it then… but if that's what needed to happen in order to make this possible, where we are now, then I wouldn't have things any other way."
Penny nodded, liking his train of thought.
"Kinda like that Rascal Flatts song, about the broken road."
"Rascal who?"
Penny laughed again.
"I'll play it for you later."
Later. It had taken them a long time to reach this point, but now they had a lifetime together to look forward to. Penny couldn't wait.