Penny was just finishing up a phone conversation with her sister when she heard Leonard using his key to unlock their apartment door. She said her good-byes as quickly as she could, but not before Leonard came in. "Okay Sis, I love you. Tell Mom I love her. Bye."
Leonard placed his messenger bag down on the coffee table, along with the take-out he had picked up on the way home. "I've overheard a few conversations with your sister," he said, "but I don't think you've ever ended one that way before. It's usually giggling or insults. Is everything alright?"
"Everything's fine," Penny replied quickly, "Just girl talk about the engagement and stuff."
"Okay, Dokay," Leonard drawled. "I'm sure if there is something you feel I should know, you'll tell me when you're ready. I've learned better than to push too much now."
"Okay, well," Penny hunted for a way to change the subject, her eyes settling on the take-out boxes Leonard was unpacking. "Let's eat so I can shower and change before the girls get here."
Penny emerged from the bedroom wearing a low cut black dress featuring gravity-defying cleavage. Leonard admired the future Mrs. Hofstadter from his seat on the couch where he had been absent mindedly flipping through TV channels. He gave a low whistle. "Should I be worried?" he jokingly asked.
"This," said Penny, waggling her left hand at him to indicate her engagement ring, "Would imply no."
"And the ring isn't going to cramp your style?" Leonard asked as he got up. "You might have to pay for your own drinks!"
"In this dress? You've got to be kidding! Besides, Bernie has worn a wedding ring for a while now, and guys never stopped buying," Penny answered. "I thought you'd be over at Sheldon's already. Afraid I wouldn't stop over to say good-bye?"
"Maybe I just prefer not having onlookers making crude jokes when we do this," Leonard said as he grabbed Penny by the waist and gave her a deep kiss which she accepted eagerly.
"Nope, you definitely have nothing to worry about," Penny said as they pulled apart, recalling his earlier comment. "Except for the crude jokes, if you don't wipe that lipstick off!" she added with a smirk.
Leonard and Penny made their way across the hall just in time to meet Amy and Bernadette as they came out of 4A to get Penny. The girls greeted each other, Amy strangely only acknowledging her "bestie" with a perfunctory "Hello, Penny," before heading down the stairs. Penny exchanged a glance with Bernadette as they followed her down.
When Leonard entered Sheldon's apartment, Raj and Howard were cueing up Halo on the X-Box while Sheldon donned his gaming gloves. Leonard crossed to the kitchen to help himself to a bottle of water before taking a seat in the big chair he still thought of as his when he was over for gaming or other gatherings.
"So, have you put out an ad for a new roommate yet?" Leonard asked Sheldon as the two of them picked up their controllers. "Cuz I know a couple grad students who may be interested."
"Grad students? Really, Leonard? Look how long it took me to mold you into a suitable conduit for my will. The time required to repeat that task with a grad student could be multiplied tenfold," Sheldon said with derision.
"Never mind, I could go to prison for cruel and unusual punishment if I sent one of them to live with you," Leonard said. "What about Amy? She certainly seemed eager to move in here before."
"I haven't asked her, and I fervently hope she doesn't bring it up."
"Still can't refute her logical arguments about its merits, eh?" Leonard chuckled. A facial twitch and a quiet "No" was Sheldon's only response.
"Hey dude," Raj now jumped in, sensing the roommate conversation was at an end. "What's up with Penny? I've texted her like, a ton of ideas I have for your wedding, and she hasn't answered any of them."
"Oh for...Come on, Raj, we've been engaged for less than a week! We haven't even talked about setting a date yet. I'm sure Penny has lots of other things on her mind, so how about giving this a rest for a while," Leonard replied testily.
"While we are on the subject of your fiancé," Sheldon said, "there is something I wish to bring up, for Amy's sake. She has been noticeably upset these past few days. She keeps going on about not being maid of honor or something equally silly. It is having a detrimental effect on our usually stimulating discussions. Could you please speak with Penny? I simply can not deal with Amy in her present state."
"Are you sure it's not because you haven't asked her to be your new roomie?" Howard interjected. "I hadn't considered it, but no. I'm certain Penny is to blame."
"Uh-uh," Leonard replied, putting his controller down and rubbing his temples. "I'm not going there. It's up to Penny who she wants to be her maid of honor. If you want to take it up with her, be my guest." At this, Sheldon's facial tic returned.