A/N: I don't own any of the Big Bang Theory characters and I am not making any money from writing this.
Please forgive any minor spelling or grammar mistakes, English is not my native language.
I apologize due to a late update, but I was really busy. Well, better late than never, right?
Raj woke up pretty early that morning and immediately went to check his profile on Internet dating service. His fingers were literally shaking while he was typing on his computer and his heart skipped a beat once he saw his dating profile. He smiled, seeing that he had already gotten several comments. He decided to read them before going to work.
#
Leonard woke up earlier than usual that morning, with a smile on his face. He had, without a doubt, the most beautiful dream in his life. He didn't even remember what was it about, but he knew that, while he was dreaming it, he was feeling... amazing. It was only then that he realized how... new that whole thing was for him. Penny would rarely show any sign of affection toward him other than physical intimacy, and when she would, it would usually be a slip up or when she was drunk and would only come off as awkward. But, what she said to him last night... that was intentional, and honest, and it was making him feel delighted and concerned in the same time. And, if it had such an effect on him, who knows how Penny felt after what she said. What if she isn't ready? I want to trust her, but...
Leonard sighed and crawled out of the bed. He decided to make a breakfast for himself and Penny and act casual, like nothing happened, and not bring it up until she does. He still wasn't sure that is the right thing to do, but he didn't want to take a risk. He was waiting for Penny to decide to engage in a serious relationship with him for years, after all.
He started making a breakfast and his mind soon drifted onto the fantasies about hiim and Penny, being married, with children, Penny being a successfull actress... he often had those fantasies, especially after sleeping with Penny and waking up in her apartment, while making breakfast for both of them, but he eventually learned to suppress them, since they would usually be interrupted by a sudden realization that all those things are far from happening in real life, the way his and Penny's relationship was going. But now, they were back, with the feeling of sweet anticipation and hope.
As soon as she woke up, Penny felt some strange discomfort, like she did something last night, something that she will regret. She just started thinking that she did nothing wrong...
And then she remembered, all of it, and her stomach sinked.
But that was not the usual discomfort and fear of consequences, the one she would have after walking up after drunken parties, often in someone elses's bed. That was more of a knowledge that she made the right decision and that it will bring her a lot of good in further future, but will cause her lots of problems and changes in the closer one. That was a fear of not doing it good enough, fear of disappointing herself and others. That was a fear of not succeeding in what she decided to do, what she announced to do yesterday, fear of hurting herself, and, even more importantly, the man she loved.
Love... What is that feeling exactly, that feeling that two person can feel toward each other at the same time, so strong that they will change the ways they used to behaive and thought in order to make each other happy? Can we feel it toward more than one person and stop feeling it? Or we can only love one person, forever, and everything we felt before wasn't actually love?
She crawled out of bed, used a bathroom and took a shower. She put on her T-shirt and shorts and went into the kitchen. Leonard already made a breakfast and was sitting at the table, eating. He smiled at her.
"Good morning, honey."
She smiled too, still not quite comfortable with making an eye contact with him. "Good morning, sweetie."
She sat at the table and started eating. They were eating in silence for some time, until...
"Leonard... I really meant it", Penny said, feeling, all of the sudden, a weight falling off from her chest. "What I said last night. I'm not saying that it will be easy, but I will do my best."
"I know that you will", Leonard said once more and smiled at her warmly. And some more of the weight fell off from Penny's chest.
#
It was getting late and Amy was getting ready to leave. Sheldon had finally gotten better and she finished taking care of him. In the same time, she was both happy that Sheldon is no longer sick since she will no longer have ti take care of him, and sad because she actually felt good with taking care of him, since they were at least intimate on some level, like when she was sick a year ago.
Sheldon walked with Amy toward the apartment door and looked her in the eyes after she opened them.
"Well, Amy Farrah Fowler, I have to command you", he said, making her blush. "You did a good job with taking care of me. I hope it will never happen again, because strugling with disease that wanted to take over my body was absolutely horrifying."
"But... it was nice on some levels... right?"
Sheldon looked confused. "I don't see how being sick is nice. You took good care of me, and I am sure that you have taken an immense delight in spending more time with an exceptional person like me, but that's about it."
"Would you mind... kissing me? Once? As a reward?"
Sheldon blushed a little, but remained calm. "I don't see why. Taking care of me while I am sick is written in our Relationship Agreement, with no rewards stated. I didn't get any reward while taking care for you while you were sick. Also, I have just gotten better: do you really think risking to get sick again is a good idea?"
"Then... spank me?"
"That would be a punishment, Amy. I think you should go now."
Amy's face fell. She felt almost soul-crushed. She hoped that this experience will bring them closer, that they will become more intimate, but obviously Sheldon had no intention of doing that. But still, she forced a smile and then left. As much as she was afraid to actually push Sheldon toward physical intimacy, fearing to loose him or scare him out of it, she wondered: is it really worth it?
A/N: I know that this chapter was short but the next one will be much longer,finally the surprise will be revealed, Penny will celebrate her birthday, and some things will finally be resolved.
