A/N - Thanks for those lovely reviews guys! I'm not sticking to the same idea/story in each little fic here, it's just a collection of random ones inspired by various songs over time. Some of them will have the same theme though, I know I wrote about the break-up period quite a few times. But then again there are a lot of songs about that! This is one of my favorite songs ever, and since it's Monday and I no longer have a Monday fic I felt this would be fitting. Happy Monday! (And yes, I am wearing my Hello Kitty socks today!)
Once in your life you will find someone
Who will turn your world around
Bring you up when you're feeling down
(Heaven, DJ Sammy)
"What's wrong, sweetie?" Penny frowned as she walked into the apartment to find Leonard looking at the laptop screen as though somebody had just punched him. She sat down next to him and linked her hands with his. "Leonard?"
He sighed and used his free hand to rub his eyes beneath his glasses. "Just my mother... she found out my research fell through."
"Oh no," Penny squeezed his hand. "I'm so sorry to hear that."
"Thank you." Leonard gave her a small, sad smile before turning back to the screen. "Of course my mother had a lot to say about how much of a failed scientist I am and that it's embarrassing how unsuccessful I am, considering I'm a Hofstadter and... ugh." He closed his eyes and dropped his head. "She really knows how to make me feel like crap when I need it the least."
"Don't listen to what that woman says." Penny said firmly, placing her hand on his jaw and turning his face gently to look at her. "Your research falling through doesn't make you a failed scientist, or unsuccessful at all. If nobody ever failed then we'd already have all the answers to the universe and people like you would be out of a job. I mean, look at what you've achieved - you worked for Stephen Hawking's team! People write articles praising your work, Leonard. I read those physics magazines and journals, and people are rambling about how amazing and advanced your work is. Look at all the awards you've won and the grants you receive to continue your research. If your mother can't see that, then that is her own problem."
"You read... you read physics publications?" Leonard asked in disbelief.
Penny shrugged. "Yeah. You leave them lying around and I get curious. I get to read about all the awesome things other people say about my amazing, smart, successful boyfriend, and show off to everyone that the genius they're talking about is dating me. I don't know about half the words they use in those articles but I get the gist. I'm proud of you and I love you."
"Really?"
"You don't believe me?"
"I've just never heard anybody say anything like that about me." Leonard smiled at Penny, placing both his hands on her face. "Thank you, Penny."
"It's just the truth." Penny replied shyly. Biting her lip, she looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before leaning in to give him a soft kiss. "I know just how to make my baby feel better about his mother."
