The room was filled with thick, awkward tension. Penny was sat on the armchair, nervously tapping her fingers on her knee. Sheldon sat on his spot, staring at her. His expression appeared emotionless but every now and then Penny thought she saw pure malice in his eyes. Leonard fluttered about in the kitchen, making a hot beverage for all of them. The tension did not change as Leonard reentered and handed out the mugs. He sat on the couch, but not as close to Sheldon as he usually did now. That made Sheldon tense up even more.
"So…"
Penny cleared her throat, "I've been… away."
Sheldon snorted, "Obviously."
Penny glared, "I had a reason."
"A reason?" Leonard's voice was loud, shocking Penny, "You had a reason for leaving us, leaving me, all alone without telling us? I would love to hear that reason."
Penny's mouth was agape. Leonard never seemed so confident in his words before. Sheldon gently moved his hand closer to Leonard, his pinky finger gently resting on Leonard's thigh.
"I… just couldn't stay here anymore. I moved here to try to make a name for myself, but everything was going wrong. Then you came along, and I started feeling these feelings that I've never felt before. It scared me."
"So you just left? You could've told me. We could've talked it out."
Sheldon tensed at his words. It sounded like Leonard still had feelings for Penny, but he could not. He was with Sheldon now. They… loved? Did they love each other? Would Leonard leave him now that Penny was back? His hand moved closer to Leonard, more of the fingers resting on Leonard's thigh.
Penny looked at the mug in her hands, "I know. I was wrong and I'm sorry. I know I made the worst choice. It took me so long to realize that I left one of the most important things in my life behind. I left my friends, my… my family, and I left you. It took me long, too long to realize that and I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
The air was thick. It was almost hard to breathe. Sheldon stared at Leonard, and was worried to see him hanging onto Penny's every word. His eyes were shining, and every few moments he swallowed. Then Penny said the words that made his heart stutter.
"But don't you see? That's why I came back. I learned my lesson. I want… to try again. This time, I promise I won't run away without a word. I promise that if there's anything wrong I'll come and talk it out. I know now, that right here is what I want. What I need. Please… can we try again?"
The room was silent for a few moments. Then Leonard stood. Sheldon panicked. This was it. This was where Leonard left him. He sealed himself off, not ready for the heartbreak.
Leonard inhaled deeply, "Penny. I'm glad you're back. I really am. When you left… I was heartbroken. It was one of the worst days of my life. For a little while, I honestly could not see what to do after that. I managed to though, with help. A lot of help, but Penny. I can't. I'm really sorry, but I can't. Not after that. I'm still really… raw after that."
Penny leaped onto the small bit of hope, "But maybe one day?"
Leonard began to freak out. He had feeling for Penny, but he had feelings for Sheldon. "I… can't. I just can't." He hurried to his and Sheldon's room and slammed the door. He slumped down on the bed and hid his head in his hands. He was emotionally tired and felt like he needed to cry. Right now, all he wanted was to sleep.
…
Sheldon watched Leonard go, not missing the eyes that were filling with tears. He wanted nothing more than to follow after him, but first was the matter of Penny. He stared at her and offered no words.
Penny shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, "I should go."
"You should."
Penny glanced at him, noting something… different in his tone. She brushed it off and stood, "I'm staying at a hotel close by. If it's alright I'll come by tomorrow and talk to Leonard again. There is a lot of damage that I need to make up for."
Sheldon said nothing as he walked with her to the door. He opened it for her, but she still had one last thing to say.
"It is really nice to see you again, Sheldon."
Sheldon put a false smile on his face, "Likewise."
Finally, finally, she was gone.
Sheldon hurried to his bedroom and his eyes immediately went to Leonard's curled form. He curled around Leonard and pulled him close to his chest. Leonard turned and pressed his face under Sheldon's chin. He gripped onto his t-shirt until his knuckles turned white.
"Leonard, if you need to, you can cry."
That broke the dam. Leonard pressed himself closer and the tears began to fall. The sobs were silent and quick. Sheldon stroked his hair through the whole ordeal and soon Leonard came back to himself.
"Thank you."
Sheldon smiled softly at him, "I am here for you."
Leonard snuggled in and frowned at the wet spot on Sheldon's shirt, "Sorry about that."
"It is no matter. The shirt is not important."
"Thank you… again."
Sheldon smiled, but it did not last long. He feared Leonard would leave him and that fear made him hold Leonard tight. Very tight.
Leonard grunted at the bone-crushing embrace, "Shelly, are you ok?"
"Will you leave me for Penny?"
Leonard froze. His emotions running torment through him. Who did he care for more? He had loved Penny since he first laid eyes on her. He had loved her through everything, and his love for Sheldon was only recent. Would he leave? Should he? He gazed up into Sheldon's face, who was refusing him eye contact. Sheldon was always there for him.
And, quite suddenly, he had his answer.
He leaned up and placed a gentle kiss on Sheldon's cheek, "I will not leave you. No matter what Penny says. I do not love her anymore."
Sheldon grinned and leaned down to place a gently, loving kiss on Leonard's lips. Together, the two fell asleep, ready to take on their problems in the morning. For now, they were happy to just take comfort in each other.
