Thank you again for such lovely comments! please keep commenting, it makes me feel like I am doing something right! sorry for the lack of science in these, but i'm really not great at science! thanks again! you guys have been great! :) xx
The next day:
Penny woke up before Leonard again, just like she did before he left. She wasn't used to waking up at 9 on a Saturday, yet here she was! Her subconscious mind had told her to wake up so that she could get these few moments with him before he woke. She just stared at him. He's distinct features. She loved everything about him. She started to tap out his heartbeat again. She didn't know why she did this, it felt soothing- or maybe it was just habit! Either way, it would always relax her and send her back to sleep.
About an hour later, she heard Leonard stirring and quickly looked up at him. His eyes caught hers, and they just stared at each other. "Morning" she whispered quietly to him, the smile still on their faces from the night before. "God, I forgot how beautiful you look in the mornings" he replied, pulling her in closer. He knew how to make her smile. She wrapped her fingers round the curls in his hair, still not being able to get over that fact that this wasn't a dream, Leonard was really there. She had never felt so happy in her life, she didn't want to move, but Mother Nature took its toll, so she had to. When she was done, she headed into the kitchen and saw him making scrambled eggs on toast. Her smile grew wider and she walked up to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Have I ever told you that I love you?" she said, trying to hold back the giggles. Leonard started to laugh, "You may have mentioned it once or twice" he giggled, but it really made him erupt in Goosebumps every time she said those 3 magic words. She smiled, putting her nose in the nock of his neck, breathing in the intoxicating masculine smell that was distinctly his. She was so happy that he was home.
After breakfast, they got dressed and sat in the living room on Penny's laptop. They joked, surfed and messed about for most of the morning until Penny started getting hungry. They got up and made themselves some salad, still sitting as close together as possible, not wanting to leave each others side. They stayed like this for most of the afternoon until Leonard finally spoke. "Maybe tonight, we should go over to my apartment to see the guys, I should really say a proper hello to them, and it will give you a chance to see the girls." Penny's heart sank a little, she just wanted to spend a few more days in of the arms of the man she loved, but she agreed. She thought it might be a good idea to talk to the girls about her feelings, and whether or not she should propose.
Around 6 o clock, they headed over to Leonards apartment, and were immediately greeted by hugs and questions. "How was your trip? Did you have fun on the boat?" Howard asked, Leonard replied and started to tell him about aspects of the trip until he noticed that Sheldon wasn't stood up with everyone else, yet sat in his spot looking at the ceiling. Leonard walked over to him, noticing that he was upset, and asked him what was wrong. Sheldon said nothing, but they both knew what was bothering him. Sheldon was jealous of Leonard going away on a ground breaking trip, Sheldon had told Penny this and of course she had told Leonard- she kept no secrets from him. It was silent for a few minutes, until Leonard said that they should eat. Penny curled up with her man as she ate; the conversations came easy, as they always did, she was just happy to be with him. They stayed like this for about half an hour until the guys started talking about science and his trip. Penny had had enough so her and the girls decided to go back to her apartment. She kissed Leonard goodbye, as she and the girls went over to hers and straight for the wine.
The girls stared talking about how happy they were that Leonard was home and Penny told them about her surprise and how much that meant to her. They continuously gasped and cooed at the story- finding it very romantic. Amy and Bernadette were just happy that she was herself again. Penny started to mention a proposal. "I think I'm ready to ask Leonard to marry me, it feels right, and I love him so much" she said. The girls sat there, not knowing what to say, they hadn't ever known Penny to have feelings like this before. "That's so adorable" Bernadette said eventually, "our little Penny's all grown up" she said with a smile on her face, causing Penny to blush. "Bestie, I can see how happy you are, but don't do it just yet, wait for things to get back to normal first then try, the last thing you want is for things to become all awkward and strange between you two," Amy said, still in a bit of shock over what she had told them. "I guess your right", Penny sighed, now feeling quite relaxed that she had told them, all she had to do was let things get back to normal, then she can ask him. For now she could just sit back and make the most of him…
A few hours later, Amy and Bernadette went home with Raj and Howard, and Leonard went into Penny's apartment with a pile of clothes. "What are you doing?" Penny asked, and she looked up from her magazine. "um... clothes..." Leonard replied curiously. "Well I can see that, but why are you bringing them here?" She asked giving him a playful look. "Oh, well I still have a few more days off work, so I thought I could bring a spare change of clothes, as I don't think I will be leaving here any time soon!" he said with a grin on his face. Penny smiled, she was going to ask him to get some spare clothes at some point, but she never thought that he would think of that! it was times like this where she found more ways to love him. she loved him more than anything, and she knew that he loved her too, this was it now- she was in it for the long hall! "well..." she finally said, "you could have always worn some of my clothes?" she said, trying not to laugh. "ooh yeaah, i'll get right on that!" he replied laughing. she couldn't help it, the giggles kept coming. She stood up and kissed him passionately and then smiled against his lips. "I' m so happy that you are home Leonard" she whispered. "Me too" he replied quietly, like they were in their own little world, just the two of them together, forever.
