Leonard's research findings had been a great success. The team's core member's names were circulated around for the Nobel Prize and this generated quite the buzz. Leonard being one of them had become a celebrity of sort for sometime. Penny had come to the attention of the media as she had been with Leonard at most of the events and people had started noticing her in California. It wasn't long before she had been scrutinized thoroughly. Her big break had finally come as she was offered a significant character in an upcoming sci-fi flick.
Penny had been over the moon when she had heard from the studio about the audition call. She had gone there thinking that she would have to compete against others. But when she had got there, it had been more like a single tryout for a particular scene and she was the only there for her part. She had impressed the casting team and they had basically told her that they would send somebody to her home with a formal contract.
The following week had amazing for Penny as the formal announcement her casting was made, she had started getting calls from all the major talent management firms in LA. Leonard and her had sat through hours of meetings for her to finalize her agent and a publicist. The agency had even offered a manager and PA for her but she had refused as Leonard had been managing her schedule and helping her through various tasks and she wanted it to remain that way until it was getting way too much to handle for them.
She had become comfortable being dependent on him she had thought but realized that she had always been dependent on him since the day they became friends, and he had always been there to take of care of her when she had needed him, with or without her asking, but it was the first time she had become completely comfortable with it. Often when they used to not date, she would feel guilty of taking advantage of him, when he used to help her with stuff going out of his way to do so. Now it felt like it was a natural thing to do. If she needed anything Leonard would do and vice versa, they were a team.
As the date to the start of filming had gone closer Penny had become extremely excited. The anticipation had started growing as biggest Hollywood names had become part of the project as the male lead and the director. She had the excitement of a teenager when she had met the stars during one of the script readings. Her behaviour matched the Penny that had come to Pasadena to follow her dreams and all the calmness that her relationship with Leonard had brought about her was gone.
It was two days before the filming had to start and she was telling Leonard excitedly about the events of the day. She had been trying to act out a part of the reading to him when his phone started ringing. He ignored it smiling towards her and gesturing to continue.
'So what do you think' she asked after completing it.
'it was… good' he said looking deep in thought.
'only good… I have to be better than good do you know who I m working with… nothing below the best will do.' She was getting all worked up.
'honestly… I think you need to calm down a bit' he said.
'I m calm' she replied defiantly.
'no, no I meant that…. I think you need a calmer portrayal for your character' he said.
'what'
'you are playing a researcher that is working to save millions of people from a gruesome death….'
' but she is not supposed to be gloomy and have hope '
' yeah but an overexcited teenager is not expected either'
'you think I acted like a teenager?'
'you are supposed to be young… but' he was cut off by his phone ringing again. This time he picked it up recognizing the number. He raised his hand to apologize for taking the call as he spoke on his phone.
'what was that about?' she asked as he put his phone away.
'there is conference in NY the day after which was supposed to be headed by hawking but he is cancelled due to his health at the last moment and they are asking me to do it.' He said.
'wow… replacing hawking that is big…. Wait you said it was the day after' she asked
'yeah' he said absent-mindedly.
'don't think about it… you should go… I ll be fine' she said
'mm…hmmm' he was still thinking about a plan in his head.
'Any case it is going to be a closed door shooting and with all the paparazzi trying to get a piece of the filming the security will be really tight. They might not even allow you in.' she said.
He knew that was a lie she could get him in if she really wanted and that had been the plan also up till now. But he thought to not argue as he was already planning for arrangements to be done the next day. She hugged him good night as she asked him to go pack for his journey tomorrow and went to bed herself.
The next morning she woke up thinking she could manage it without Leonard but as the day wore on the nervous energy started building and she became more and more flustered. She thought she would meet Leonard in the afternoon before he left and went over to his apartment only to find out from Sheldon that he had left early this morning for some meeting in order to plan for tomorrow and said he would not be coming back home today. Sheldon thought it was odd that penny didn't know about it as he thought he was busy with her for some of her work. She had to explain Sheldon about the phone call and the conference and had to deal with Sheldon's barbs about him being overlooked as the one to replace hawking and Leonard not telling him about the conference.
She was furious at Leonard now. He had left without saying goodbye. He didn't tell Sheldon about the conference and left her to deal with him. But mostly because she needed him and he was not there.
She woke up in the morning flustered. She had nightmares one was about being unable to speak as soon as filming begins as she stood frozen like Raj trying opening her mouth but unable get any syllables out. Another one had her have a meltdown right in the middle of filming and being thrown out of the set by security.
As she entered the studio she was a bag of nerves. As her make up and hair were done the excitement and fear had hit a crescendo and she was sure she was sure she was going to pass out if something didn't calm her down.
Just as she had got into her costume there was a knock on her door.
'who is it' she asked
'mam the new science consultant wants to have a word with you' he said
'okay I ll be there in a minute.' She said
She carefully got up took one look in the mirror to check her appearance, satisfied she went out the door trying to remember the details Leonard had told her about the underlying science in the scene.
As soon as she turned the corner she saw him smiling at her. She was shocked and relieved to see him standing there as she was rooted to the spot. Stunned by his surprise. She could her nerves easing up as he walked over to her and kissed her lightly on the cheek careful not to ruin her make up.
'what… how… what about the conference' she asked.
'it is still happening… just I m here' he said non-chalantly.
'without anyone heading it?'
' no I actually recommended one of the other team member to replace me as I was unavailable due to prior commitments.' He said
'you didn't have any prior commitments' she said.
'I did… the biggest commitment I had made to myself… to be with you always… and it was way… way prior to their phone call' he said smiling
She was trying to fight tears that were coming to her eyes now.
'How did you get in here?'
'ohh… you are speaking to the new science consultant for the movie'
'what' she exclaimed
'yeah… I offered my services yesterday and they couldn't refuse bringing on a known scientist on board' he said
'so that's what you were upto yesterday'
'yeah… I figured this way I could be at all your shoots… officially…. I couldn't stand being away from you for all these days' he replied
Tears were flowing down her face freely now.
'thank you for always being there for me' she said hugging him tightly.
He held her caressing her back gently as she stopped her gentle sobs. He moved her from their embrace to look at her.
' your make up is ruined'
'ohh'
'but I guess now I can do this' he said as he locked their lips in a passionate kiss.
'still nervous' he asked as they broke up.
'not at all' she said.
She went back to get her make up fixed. Soon the filming started and Leonard sat there watching her. Just knowing he would be there made her relax as the shoot went smoothly.
When the shoot was over for the day she came over to where Leonard was sitting and asked
'so did I behave like a teenager out there?' she asked
' no you were perfect' he replied as wrapped his arms around her waist.
She went in to change back out of her costume and make up. When she came out she saw Leonard engaged in a heated conversation with a crew member over a star trek trivia. She came over smiling and listening to their conversation half-minded, amazed she could still make sense of the conversation. She realized how much had changed she had first come out here to be an actress. She had so many dreams. But none of her wildest dreams would have told her the way her life had panned out. Now she was close to fulfilling her long lost dream of becoming an actress and none of it would have been possible without him. She would have either lost all hope and given up. Or would have fallen for some other jerk like Kurt and let him ruin her life once again.
'shall we leave' Leonard asked
'yeah' she said slightly jerkily as she bought back by Leonard's voice
She got up from her seat and moving closer to him.
'Sometimes I think how lucky I am ' she said
'that you got the movie?'
'That I met you and you fell in love with me'
A/N: review... review... review that's all i ask... good, bad or ugly all kinds are welcome... it motivates me to write more. so again
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