Chapter 4

Fears

Penny was in pain again though this was due to her face aching as she just could not stop smiling.

Her tips had shot up, because of her cheerful demeanor, she had been extra courteous and helpful to her customers an added bonus to the most important fact that Leonard Hofstadter was in love with 'HER'. Other guys had told her they loved her before, but never had they cared enough to leave her breakfast and give her money to help her out, as well Leonard had told her He loved her, and then he had put his love into action for her, Penny's smile grew even wider at that thought, and her beautiful green eyes misted up with happy tears,

In her break, her mind reminisced on the events last night, just being with him was wonderful and the the icing on the cake for her was him staying the night, Spooned behind her tenderly holding her the 'Whole' night "WOW", Penny Thought, "Love is Wonderful", indeed for Penny had discovered something very special indeed.

Although still in the far recesses in her mind she could feel the fear that it could all turn to dust if she lost Leonard, and Penny knew she would not be able to cope with the awful heartache.

Which was why she could barely whisper to him "I love you", terrified if it all came crashing down.

"OK lady spill what's going on?, Hunky guy with sports car and minted to boot, I'll bet judging by that look on your face the entire afternoon?".

"Oh hi Jenny, yes it is a guy but he's not what you would call hunky or macho though", at this Penny went into space remembering how Leonard's powerful arms held her close and her smile grew even wider.

"Earth calling Penny, Hello?, listen girl, I ain't never seen you like this since you came to work here,

what does he do? Stuntman?, the owner of C.B.S.?, Leonardo Di Caprio?, c'mon girl I am running out of names here?".

"His name's Leonard and he's a Physicist, and he's...The one", the last part Penny had gone back into space and just barely whispered, 'The One'. Realizing just what she had whispered Penny's eyes opened wide at her unconscious admission.

"He's a one, what?, stop whispering lady, I can't hear you, So girl let me tell you what I see You've fallen in love big time I've seen that look before and your PT Instructor had better take care of you or he'll answer to me", Jenny declared completely misunderstanding what a Physicist is, and she left to serve a customer before the manager came to encourage her to work.

"He's the One", Penny repeated to herself which only served to heighten her fears of losing Leonard

and leaving her with such enormous pain in her heart that she would be unable to bear, she needed to talk to Leonard but was still afraid she might drive him away.

But events conspired against her, another waitress had gone sick and Penny was asked to do the evening shift as well, and though Leonard had helped with the money she still could not afford to turn work down, and this was the way it went all through the week until the last evening of her cover on Thursday, when to her surprise Leonard came in with Sheldon, Howard and Raj and sat at their usual table, (which was fortunate for Leonard as Sheldon would have no doubt protested that he can't sit at his table, and they would all have had to make their way to 'Big Boy', the burger place.

Penny tripped lightly over to their table and felt the butterflies tickling her tummy,as Leonard gave her his big beaming smile.

"Hi Guys, what can I get you?",she said smiling back at Leonard, which smile quickly faded as she looked at Howard.

"I would like a ranch burger with the lettuce on top of the cheese and the mayo between the cheese and the burger and also I..." , Sheldon began, but was promptly cut off by Penny who told him, "I know Sheldon you have the same damn thing every time you come in here, she said feeling peeved at not being able to talk to Leonard with the three others being with him there.

Howard ordered a non kosher double bacon burger with fries.

"And what can I get you?", Penny asked Rajesh, "Oh yeah I know you need a grasshopper drink first", Penny remembered.

After Penny had left to give their orders including a plain burger for Leonard, and to fetch Raj his drink, Raj turned to Howard and said, "She's so considerate, isn't she?".

Leonard gazing into space absently replied "Yeah, She's the best"

Upon returning with the Drink for Raj, and cokes for the other three, Leonard asked Penny, "Hey we are all having take out in my apartment to ..", "Your Apartment, Really Leonard if you would examine the room mate agreement on page...", at which point Penny had cut Sheldon off by the simple expedient of telling him to shut up, at which point Sheldon in a huff, turned his attention to texting Amy and telling her at length how rude Penny was being this evening"Go on Leonard, you were saying?", yeah well would you like to join us tomorrow night?", he asked hopefully.

Penny's eyes twinkled as she said she'd love to join him tomorrow evening, at which point Howard called Bernadette and invited her too in spite of Sheldon's hard looks in his direction, then he texted Amy and told her how rude Howard was at some length only for it to backfire on him as Amy invited herself too.

And as they ate, Penny agonised at how on earth she was going to raise the subject of her fears with Leonard tomorrow evening.

This tale ends here but continues in...

The Relationship barrier activation.