Chapter 4: An interview and talking things out.

"Ugh! I cannot wear something like this!" Penny exclaimed looking in the mirror.

"Why not? You look great!" Bernadette countered.

"I look too much like-"

"PRIYA!" Bernadette and Amy said it together.

"Maybe if the suit wasn't that dark grey color?" Amy asked.

"Yeah. You need to try something beige. I never saw her wear beige. And maybe a suit with a skirt instead of pants. Do you think she had some horrible scars on her legs? We knew her for almost a year-Never saw her legs" Bernadette was laughing now. The other two joined in giggling.

The day after the library event Penny had called Bernadette and Amy to go shopping with her. She wanted to have something "professional" to wear for her interview with Elyse.

Mid-way through the Sunday afternoon, they found something that just fit the bill; and it was beige to boot. Penny tried it on with a blue blouse. Both friends agreed. "This was the one."

Together Amy and Bernadette planned to make the purchase for Penny as a good-luck gift. They also were not sure about the state of her finances and thought she could use the help. Penny cried and said "thank you, thank you both" and hugged her two friends.

Monday morning arrived. She was unnaturally calm and confident. She had slept remarkably well the night before. She woke only once during the night-again with the night sweats that had been interrupting her sleep for the last three weeks. She had the physical scheduled later that day after her interview at the library. Hopefully she would find a cause.

She had showered early and was waiting in her robe until it was time to get dressed and leave. Her phone buzzed with a text notification. She picked it up and smiled brightly. It was from Leonard.

Good morning! Just wanted to wish you luck, even though you don't really need it. You will do great, I'm sure! Give me a call later on to tell me all about it. I'll be thinking of you all day ;) x

She quickly typed back a reply.

After a message like that I can't fail! Thanks sweetie. I'll call you tonight! XX

She rested her head on the arm of the loveseat and smiled.

10:15 and she was ready. She looked at herself in the mirror and had to admit the beige suit looked great. Especially with the blue blouse. Leonard liked blue on her. She thought of the blue t-shirt with cap sleeves and flowers done the left side. She wore it the day they met and was hanging in her closet. She would keep it always. Shaking her head to snap her out of her day dream, she got up, gathered her purse, keys and cell phone. It was time to go.

She had arrived early at the library and walked slowly toward the building. She introduced herself to the young woman sitting at the reception desk in the library's office wing. She showed Penny to a small conference room and was told Elyse would be there presently. A short time later, Elyse entered and greeted her brightly.

"So good to see you again Penny. I hope you weren't waiting long."

"Not long at all Ms. Anderson. Thank you so much for the opportunity to speak with you."

"Penny. We kind of know each other. It would be too awkward for you to call me Ms. Anderson. In fact none of the other candidates did."

"I'm sorry Elyse. I just didn't want to sound too familiar. I also guess I'm a little nervous."

"Why don't we just relax and talk like old friends, alright?"

"Alright" Penny said smiling.

Elyse began and explained the position. They were looking for someone on an entry level. They didn't even really care about prior job history. The thought was they could take someone 'fresh' and mold them into what they wanted.

The job at first would be mainly in the children's department. She would work on furthering the programs in place and also assist the director, Elyse, in developing new programs going forward. Penny listened earnestly as Elyse went through the various responsibilities. Penny felt quite at ease with her. They seemed to get along very well.

After the outline and explanation of the position and expectations associated therewith, Elyse asked Penny if she had any questions. They spent the next thirty minutes on this. Elyse thought that Penny brought up a lot of good points and asked some great questions and had a few valid concerns. Elyse smiled. Raj was right. This woman had a good head on her shoulders and a lot of common sense. She had to admit, her mind was nearly made up.

They finished up with the interview and Elyse showed Penny to the reception area and her secretary, Glynnis, the young woman Penny had spoken with on her arrival. Penny and Elyse shook hands warmly. "We have one other party to interview, hopefully tomorrow and then should be able to make a final decision by the end of the week." Penny nodded.

"Glynnis will have you fill out an application, that will include your contact information and some references for us to follow up with. Then you'll be all set."

"Thank you again for taking the time to speak with me Elyse. I enjoyed our talk."

"As did I Penny. We will be in touch soon". The shook hands again in a farewell. Elyse looked directly into Penny's eyes, nodded and turned and went back into her office.

Penny walked quickly to her car. She unlocked the door threw her purse onto the front seat and hopped in. She gripped the steering wheel breathed in deeply and screamed "YES! YES! YES!" She then shook her head and smiled, started the car and drove off toward her doctor's appointment.

Later, she sat in 4B. In the dark, alone. With a lot on her mind. The only light came from her cell phone. She had it opened to her contacts, scrolling through her friends. She had them pose for pictures waiving. That way when her phone rang, or if she called them, their picture would appear as if they were already saying "hello". She thought it was incredibly cute.

Alphabetically, Sheldon's picture was the first of her close friends. His arms were crossed and his head was tilted. One finger was lifted-his concession of a wave.

Next was Amy's photo. It featured a broad grin and a quickly (and blurred) waving hand. She could almost hear her saying "hi Bestie!" enthusiastically.

She skipped over what would be the next contact and came to Raj. Instead of a wave he gave his "two thumbs up" with a smirk.

Bernadette had her finger pointing at a dimple with a cute little finger-wave; Howard gave a simple salute.

Her best friends saying "hello".

She scrolled up to the one she skipped. This one was different. It wasn't just a picture of him. It was a picture of them. They were sitting on the stairs going up to the 5th floor just outside the door to her apartment. His arm was around her shoulders, gripping her near her bicep. She was wearing a black blazer and black jeans with a pale green v-neck t-shirt. He had a teal Henley shirt on. Several buttons were undone (so sexy, she sighed) and his sleeves were pushed up his forearms. He wore jeans with holes in the knees. Her left arm was wrapped around his right knee. Her right hand gripped her left. It was millimeters away from his right hand. She remembered just before Howard snapped the picture his forefinger was caressing her knuckle. She was leaning into him, her head against the side of his face. She wore a look of pure bliss.

She caressed him on the screen. Her finger then drifted down and pressed "call".

It rang three times before he picked up. "Hey" he said.

"Hi" she replied. "I'm not calling too late am I?"

"Never. You know that."

"Thanks."

"Well, how did it go with Elyse?"

"It went so well Leonard. It seems like it will be so fun and interesting. I would be working a lot with children." She got enthused all over again. "I'd be working with Elyse a lot at first then as time went along and if I do alright, I'm sure, they would be leaving me alone to maybe even start some programs on my own."

"When will you know?" he asked, sharing her enthusiasm.

"It may be a soon as Wednesday. They have one more person to interview and then they will be making their decision. I think there are four of us in the running."

"Hey" she said, continuing her excitement. I bought a suit. You should have seen me!"

"Well tell me about it. Draw me a picture."

She smiled broadly and said, "well it was beige and it had a skirt, NOT slacks, like-well not slacks.

He chortled, because he knew exactly what-and who she was alluding to.

"I heard that, you" she said playfully. "Now stop it!"

"What. I didn't say anything" he said in mock horror.

"Anyway" she continued. "The skirt wasn't too short or too long-know what I mean?" She didn't wait for a reply. "It had a cute 'kick-pleat' in the back, and well-it looked real nice on me if I do say so myself."

"I'm sorry I missed it."

She took a chance and said "I, um. I still have it on."

Silence.

"Leonard. I miss you so much." She didn't give him a chance to answer.

"I miss you. I miss seeing you every day. I miss the way you tease me. I miss the way I can make you smile. I miss your smell. I miss having dinner with you. I miss how you make me laugh. I miss how you look at me." Her voice was getting hoarse. He knew she was crying.

"What I miss most is your touch. The way you hold me after we make love. I miss your hands on me."

"I miss you too Penny." he said softly.

"What are we going to do Leonard? What'll I do?"

"You can let me love you."

"We need to talk."

"Do you want me to come there?"

"I don't think we need to share things with people just yet."

He wondered at that reply and said "How about the coffee shop on Colorado?"

"It's 8:30 now. See you at 9:15? Is that enough time for you to drive over here?"

"More than enough."

She hit "end call" and put the phone in her purse.

"I have to figure out how I'm going to tell him" she said to herself out loud.

She was waiting for him when he arrived at the coffee shop. She waived when she saw him come in. He walked over to her. She stood up slowly and gingerly.

"Are you alright?" There was great concern on his face and in his voice.

"Oh, yeah, yeah. It's just my back again. I'm fine. Really."

They hugged. She pulled back and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"I've got some green tea here. Can I get you something?"

"Why don't you sit down and relax. I'll go get something." He started to walk toward the front counter. He turned suddenly and looked at her standing in front of him.

"You're right. That suit is fantastic!" he exclaimed.

She curtseyed and with her arms spread wide as she twirled around. He laughed, then went to get his coffee.

They chit-chatted for awhile. She filled him in more as to what happened in the interview and what she expected if she was to make a change in her career. He listened attentively.

"It sounds like you've made up your mind if you receive an offer."

"Not to jinx myself, but I think I have" she said smiling. He returned the smile warmly.

She then turned serious. "Leonard." she stopped and took in a deep breath and started again. "Leonard, I need you in my life." Her expression was blank. He couldn't read her.

"This is the last time I want to talk about this" she said. Her voice was shaking. She reached out for his hand. She caressed his thumb with hers.

"What happened when you were away, I-well I need to know that you respect me. On some level, I understand in a way. I think you were probably proud and wanted to-" tears were in her eyes. In his as well.

"-you wanted to show me off. But Leonard you are not like that. I know it in my heart of hearts that you aren't. I don't know if you were drunk, or-I just don't know. Look at me. Tell me that you love me and that something like that will never, ever happen again. If you tell me, I'll believe it and we will never speak of it again."

"Penny. You are my life. You are the beginning and the end for me. There is nothing else-no one else has ever inhabited me here" his hand went to the middle of his chest, over his heart. "You have to know that. You have to know how much I love you. You are everything to me. I lost myself out there. You are my compass and without you there I-"

She jumped up and threw her arms around him, kissing him deeply.

"I love you Leonard Hofstadter". She tapped his lip with her finger, sitting in his lap in the middle of a coffee shop with a host of people looking at them. Penny sheepishly looked around, cleared her throat and slid off his lap returning to her chair, but moved it as close as she possibly could next to his.

She grabbed her purse and got out her phone. She slid the bar to unlock it and hit contacts and scrolled as she had earlier. When she got to the picture of the two of them sitting on the stairs, she held it up to him saying "remember this?"

"I do." he answered smiling. "My favorite."

"Mine too. I sent it to Howard in a text. I asked him to make me some copies in larger sizes. I want to hang it on the wall in my bedroom. Would that be alright?"

"A big picture of me and you hanging on the wall in your bedroom? That is definitely alright."

They sat there a bit longer. She finally said "so I had an appointment with a doctor today after the interview."

A/N: So I caved a little here. I hope this explains things a little.

I was listening to the song "Mercury" by Rod Picott and the great Amanda Shires and heard the line "your hands on me" and had to fit it in here. Kind of neat to tell you the obscure places things are found. I'll try to do it more (if you care, if you don't just say "enough with the wacked out references already").

Thank you all so much for the reviews follows and things of that sort. They are very much appreciated, so keep them coming. It is 11:03 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on the east coast of the U.S. That means less than nine days to go to the season 7 premiere. What better time to say I own absolutely nothing to do with The Big Bang Theory. Thank you all!