A/N Please note, that the characters are not necessarily IC.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction using characters from The Big Bang Theory. I don't own any of the characters.

For half a year now, Leonard and Sheldon, two physicists at Caltech and residents of apartment 4A at 2311 North Los Robles Avenue, Pasadena, California had a new neighbor. A pretty blonde waitress who worked at the Cheesecake Factory. She moved into apartment 4B right across the hall and her name was Penny. In a short space of time Leonard and Penny became friends, while Leonard's roommate Sheldon remained aloof in regard to Penny.

Leonard was on his way to meet his friends Howard and Raj. But he was late. So he hurried down the stairs into the lobby and nearly clashed with Penny, who was just on her way upstairs, after checking her mail.

"Hey!Look out!" Penny yelled at him. She picked up the envelopes and advertising brochures, which had fallen to the ground.

"You look out!," he replied in a fake annoyed tone.

Penny looked daggers at Leonard, but not for long as she quickly slapped on a bright smile. "Hi, Leonard. Did you miss me, sweetie?" she said confidently.

"Not at all. I'm not here for you," he assured her.

"What? Who could be more interesting than me?"

"Hmm. Every other person on this planet?" Leonard laughed.

Penny folded her arms in front of her and raised a brow. "I'm warning you, Hofstadter. Don't go too far."

Leonard looked at her with a smirk on his face. "Well, you started."

"Still, your answer could have been more charming." Penny pouted. "You know what? I give you the opportunity to correct yourself. So, did you miss me, Sweetie?" Penny asked him again.

"And how," he answered theatrically, reaching for his chest with a yearning grimace on his face.

"Now you are exaggerating."

"You're never satisfied, aren't you? You wanted it this way," Leonard said.

"You don't have to exaggerate."

Leonard sighed. "Penny, you floor me."

"Why are you still standing here?"

"Because you are blocking my way," Leonard said. "You are doing this with purpose."

"Of course," Penny said sarcastically. "I have nothing better to do."

"Exactly."

"Why don't you just pass me?"

Leonard chuckled. "That would take hours."

"Oh, really? Penny inclined her head and gave him a smile. "I'm well aware what you want to imply with your remark."

"Oh, okay. What would that be?"

"Well, you think I'm very attractive, but you hide it behind these sarcastic statements."

Leonard had to gulp. She had seen through him. "You're wrong," he said.

Penny turned around and shook her butt. "Ah, c'mon. Admit, that you incessantly stare at my butt and my cleavage. You can't help it."

Leonard had to laugh. "You're quite smug, aren't you?"

"But am I not right?" Penny said with a chuckle. "Why can men never admit something?"

"That's why!"

"Interesting."

Leonard liked to banter with Penny. It was fun. They were definitely more fun than his banter with Sheldon, which were just annoying most of the time. "Nice talking to you, but I have an appointment with Howard and Raj. And I'm so late. Bye Penny."

"Bye Leonard. Have fun."


It was two days later when Leonard came home from work and found Penny standing in front of the entrance of the apartment building, trying to stick a bill to the door. The night before Penny, who also was an aspiring actress, had made a poster advertising a presentation of the musical show 'Rent', in which she had landed the role of Mimi. She fixed it with tape to the right door wing and stepped back a little to examine it. But suddenly the poster broke loose from the door and fell to the ground. Penny wanted to pick it up, but a gust of wind blew it away. "Oh no! Shit!" she cursed.

With wide opened eyes she ran after the poster, when all at once abdominal pain hit her. To make things worse the pain spread into her back as well. Leonard came to meet her and reacted immediately. He managed to got hold of the poster and gleefully looked at Penny, who walked towards him holding her back like an old woman.
I'll wipe that stupid smirk off your face, she thought.

"Why do you grin so stupidly?" Penny asked Leonard.

"You walk like an old woman," Leonard replied.

"Really?"

"Here's your poster." He held it out to Penny.

"Thank you very much," she said poutedly and took the poster.

"Are you on your period, or why are you so bitchy?"

Penny was snubbed. "That's none of your business."

"I'm just saying." Leonard raised his hands defensively. "Are you coming over for diner tomorrow?"

"Sorry, I can't."

"Why not?"

"That's why!"

"Do you have to prepare for your role in this musical show?"

"No, that's not the reason."

"What is the reason?"

Penny fixed the poster to the door again. "I'm not going to tell you," she said.

"Then I'm right with my assumption."

"What assumption?" she asked annoyed.

"Well, that you are on your period."

"Can you speak louder? Not everyone has to know about this." Penny shook her head."God, since when are you so outspoken like Sheldon?"

"There's nothing to it," Leonard said matter-of-factly. "You can talk about it openly."

"But I do not intend to talk openly with you about this. Not with you!"

"I beg your pardon." He raised his hands.

"Oww!" Penny got a cramp.

"What's wrong with you?" Leonard asked worriedly. Penny squirmed with pain and held her stomach. Leonard quickly pulled his phone out of his hoodie. "I call an ambulance. We need to get you to..."

"No, no!" Penny said soothingly. "It's okay! It's just abdominal pain, that sometimes comes with my period. It's nothing serious. It's just annoying."

"Why don't you take a pill against the pain?"

Penny suddenly became quite pale. "They do not help," she replied.

"But there are special pills for menstrual cramps."

"They do not help," she said indignantly.

"Okay, if you say that."

"Listen, I don't want to argue with you about my menstrual cramps, okay?"

"Okay! What about a hot-water bag?" Leonard suggested.

"I don't have time for this. I have to go to work in thirty minutes. I have the late shift today."

"Then call in sick."

"No, I can't do this. I need the money."

"But look at yourself. You can hardly stand upright."

"Yeah, yeah." Penny stopped him with a wave of her hand. "Do you have chocolate?"

"Chocolate?" Leonard asked incredulously.

"Yes," she yelled. Cold sweat formed on her forehead.

"You know, I'm lactose-intolerant."

"Right. Dammit!"

"Oh, wait. As chance would have it, I have a candy bar in my pocket, that Raj actually gave me for Sheldon." Leonard took a Butterfinger out of his left pocket, and before he knew what was happening Penny tore the bar from his hand."Hey, what the hell?"

Penny ripped the wrapping open, pushed the bar into her mouth in one piece and groaned while gobbling the bar with her eyes closed. Leonard watched her amused. Apparently she felt munchies for chocolate when she had her period. That was an intimate detail he knew about her now. It kind of made him happy. Of course, he wasn't happy that she was in pain, but now he knew why she was so irritated and cranky on some certain days. Because she had her period. "There's chocolate in the corner of your mouth," he noted. Penny appreciatively wiped the chocolate away with her tongue. "I could get you more chocolate!" Leonard said.

Penny hopefully looked at Leonard. "Really?"

"Of course. I prove it to you. Wait here!" Leonard went to the gas station across of the street. When he came back after a few minutes he jubilantly held up a Snickers.

Penny looked at him in surprise. Is this really happening right now? He's so cute. "I don't like these," Penny said bluntly.

"What?" Leonard looked at her bewildered.

"I only like Milky Way," she said with a pout.

"But you also had the Butterfinger."

"That was an exception," Penny told him.

"They have no Milky Way's at the gas station."

"Shit!" Penny bursted into tears and crouched down. She quickly covered her face with her hands, since she didn't want him to see her crying.

Leonard looked at her with concern and contemplated. "Go back to your apartment and wait there. I'll get Milky Way's for you."

"Yes?" Penny looked up at him pleadingly.

Suddenly Leonard had the urge to take her into his arms, to stroke her stomach, to comfort her. "Yes. I'll be right back." Leonard climbed in his car and drove to the nearest supermarket. He hurried to the confectionery and looked for Milky Way bars. He smiled when he spotted them and without much thinking he grabbed all bars that were on the shelf. He rushed to the checkstand, paid the chocolate and drove back to the apartment building. He ran up the stairs and into Penny's apartment without knocking. Penny sat on her turqouise sofa and held her aching stomach.

"Here," he said breathlessly, laid the Milky Way bars on the table in front of her and took out his inhaler to prevent an asthma attack.

Penny stared at the mountain of candy bars. "Wow! I can't believe it. You probably bought all Milky Way bars that were available."

"Yes, I was ruthless. But only because of you!"

Penny had to laugh. Leonard stared at her. Her laughter was so charming and so beautiful. Penny jumped up from the sofa and hugged Leonard impetuously. "Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You are the best." Leonard felt Penny's breasts as she pressed against him and he began to sweat in a strange way. Penny suddenly backed away. "Umm...hormones," she said shyly.

"Of course," Leonard said grinning which prompted Penny to blush heavily.

Their eyes met and they looked deeply into each other's eyes. It was the first time that this happened. Penny turned away in confusion and quickly grabbed one of the chocolate bars on the table. Leonard was silent. He wasn't able to move. Everything was spinning in his head. Suddenly he said, "Be careful, or a bee could fly into your sweet mouth."

"What?" Penny's eyes opened wide in astonishment.

"Umm...I mean, because of the chocolate. Umm...Chocolate attracts bees. Nevermind." he stammered. "Okay, I go now. You have to get ready for your late shift."

"Yes."

"Bye."

"Bye. And thank you for the chocolate."

"You're welcome."

"But it won't change anything," Penny told him.

Leonard grinned. "You still think I'm a dopey nerd."

Penny had a bright smile on her face. "Exactly. I can't stand you."

"Same here." He smirked and left Penny's apartment.

Penny closed the door and watched him through the peephole of her apartment door as he walked over to 4A. She startled, when Leonard suddenly stopped, turned around and looked in the direction of her apartment door. He couldn't see her, but she could see Leonard smiling. It was such an adorable smile combined with a dreamy expression on his face. It hit her through the peephole right into her heart. Penny quickly turned away and wondered why he smiled that way. Her abdominal pain was completely gone, but now she felt something else in her stomach. It felt like butterflies.


Again and again Penny had told Cheryl, her colleague at the Cheesecake Factory, that she wouldn't get involved with a new man. She would made a fool of herself, if she wouldn't stick to her word. For now Penny had enough of men and wanted to enjoy her single life instead. During their break at the late shift they sat down in the employees' lunch room.

"You're pretty mean to Leonard!" Cheryl said.

"He needs that, believe me!" Penny countered.

"And it seems you need that too. From the stories you tell me about him it looks like he's as mean as you."

Penny rolled with her eyes. "As if he knew what I need."

"Then you don't know what he needs as well."

"I don't want to know what he needs."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

"You like him," Cheryl said with a mischievous grin.

Penny shook her head. "Not at all!"

"I see," Cheryl said, with narrowed eyes.

"If you say so." Penny shrugged.

Cheryl had to laugh. "He's cute, isn't he?"

"No idea! Haven't noticed that," Penny said and gave a bored yawn.

"You don't say! But he's different than your ex-boyfriend Kurt."

"Well, yes, he is..."

Cheryl raised a brow. "Yes?"

Penny began to feel uncomfortable. "I have no idea. He bugs me."

"Because he can counter your teasing."

Penny snorted scornfully. "He can't keep up with me."

"Of course not." Cheryl said sarcastically. "You like it, when he counters you. Admit it."

"Forget it!" Penny exclaimed. "I'm not interested in him. Not today and not in a hundred years. I'm fed up with men for now. He can go hang."

"Alrighty!" Cheryl chuckled, leaned back on her chair and took a sip of water.

"I stick to my decision." Penny said in a stern voice. "No men!"

"Hey, decisions can be changed."

Now Penny became angry. "Can we talk about something else?"

Cheryl sighed. "You're a quite complicated case. Is it possible that you are afraid of a new relationship because of your experience with those other guys?"

Penny finally gave in to Cheryl's persistence. "Fine. Yes, I'm afraid. I don't want to be heartbroken again. My heart was broken so many times. All my exes cheated on me. I have so many flaws and foibles, that after a while they couldn't stand me. And in the end only sex remained, and even that became boring so they all cheated on me. I'm a basket case." She uttered a sigh.

Cheryl dissented. "Don't say that. That's not true, and you know it. All your exes were idiots and more important, none of your exes didn't really love you. Believe me, someone who truly loves you, will love you the way you are. With all your flaws and foibles. This is true love. Unconditional love."

Penny looked at Cheryl. "It's hard for me to believe that. I'm just scared of being hurt again."

"I know." Cheryl laid a hand on Penny's arm. "Again. Do you like Leonard?"

"I guess so."

"Ah! Now we come to the point," Cheryl said grinning.

"I told you this in confidence. Don't you dare to tell anyone about this," Penny said sternly.

"I'll keep it for myself, I promise." Cheryl affirmed and gave her a warm smile. "Hey, I'm your friend."

Penny smiled back. "Thank you."

"Do you have feelings for him?"

Penny shrugged. "I don't know. I'm just confused."

Chery nodded sympathetically. "Yes, I noticed that. You are very inattentive at work."

Oh god, everyone is noticing it. I have to get my shit together, Penny thought.


While Penny had her late shift at the Cheesecake Factory, Leonard sat on his desk in 4A and looked over some physics related things on his computer. He was about to get something to drink, when his phone rang. He looked at the screen and saw it was his younger brother Michael.

"Hi, Michael."

"Hi, Leonard."

They talked a while about their work and some trivial stuff, when Michael brought up the inevitable. "What's love doing?"

Leonard groaned.

"What? It's just a simple question."

Leonard swayed uncomfortably in his chair. "I'm not interested at the moment," he stammered.

"In love?" Michael had to laugh.

"Exactly!"

"Come on! There must be someone."

"Okay, there might be someone," Leonard admitted.

"I knew it. What's her name?" Michael urged him to reveal some details. "C'mon, brother. Talk to me."

"Her name is Penny."

"What is she like?"

"Annoying!"

Michael had to laugh again. "Alrighty! What does she think about you?"

"Penny can't stand me."

"I suppose you can't stand her too."

"That's right!"

"Okay. It's as clear as day."

"What is as clear as day?"

"You love her and she loves you! You don't want to admit it to yourself, because you are afraid. And Penny doesn't want to admit it to herself too, because she is afraid as well! What do you think about my theory?"

"What is she afraid of?"

"What are you afraid of?"

After they ended the call, Leonard was deep in thought. Michael was right. What was he afraid of? Afraid of getting turned down by Penny? He had feelings for Penny. Strong feelings. Romantic feelings. Somehow he had to tell Penny how he felt for her. But how? He was afraid, indeed. Afraid of getting turned down, of getting hurt when Penny wouldn't reciprocate his feelings. Still deep in thought he finally went to bed.

To be continued...