WARNING: Long-Ass (ish) AN about why I was away for like five months, skip it if you want, but I just wanna explain to guests that keep leaving stuff asking me to update, because I have a legit reason for not doing so. Hopefully I can get some sort of freaking thing going where I update once a week, hopefully more, because I've really missed writing FF.

The week after I stopped updating this, my great grandmother, who was one of my only surviving relatives, who I was also extremely close to, broke her hip after falling down her stairs. After surgery, she was in and out of IC a lot, because she didn't seem to be doing any better, but eventually she was starting to recover. I was visiting all that I could, so along with work and education, I didn't really do much else. A month ago, when I updated this, she was due to come home in two weeks, but she died last week, so yea, I didn't really feel like it. There might be a slight lack of updates over the next few weeks due to a funeral, but maybe not, we'll see!

Done, with morbid stuff outta the way, hopefully I can get this train-wreck back on track a bit.

Oh, this is going to go up to an M sooner or later, for smut, so uh, if you're young, Im going to write a separate chapter for that, so you don't have to read M stuff if you don't want to, but so that way you don't miss out on the story! Just thought I'd let you know.

Let me know what you think, if you like. feedback for this has been amazing so far, can't thank you all enough for sticking with it for so long, and if you still are, well then you're pretty awesome. And it makes me feel flattered that you enjoy this.


8 - Movin' On Over You.

Weeks passed. Leonard still hadn't returned, nor had he replied to Penny's one sentence text. Stella and he had decided that it'd be best if Leonard cut all ties with her for the foreseeable future. Although reluctant at first, Leonard had begrudgingly agreed, she knew what she was doing afterall, right?

One thing that Leonard had thought he'd noticed was that Stella had done what appeared to be flirting with him. Being a novice to the world of dating, the gentle knee taps, slaps on the shoulder after Leonard told a rude joke (He'd relished in someone finally getting one, ecstatic that he didn't have to see the bemused and bored look on Sheldon's face after he'd told one to him.), the sweet and harmonic laughs she'd give him when he said something nice. Sure, it could've been pity, but it sure as Hell didn't seem like it.

One breezy Tuesday morning, Leonard walked through the cool, brisk, Autumnal weather. He thought back to times when he and Penny had done the same thing, she'd always chase after leaves that blew across the landscape, excited and frustrated as she was always just out of reach, her childlike behaviour was one of the best parts of Penny, as well as the more sultry, mature sides of her. The innocence of her being never failed to astound him, though, and it never would. It was strange to Leonard, that he could be at a point already, where instead of wanting to go into a bout of hysteria over think about Penny, he could smile about her, and all the little things she used to do, which he never appreciated until after she was gone. He regretted a lot of things in his relationship with her, but Stella, she helped so much with getting over her, accepting that she was gone, and being ok with it. She was with Sheldon now, and he had to accept that he cared about her, and that he'd take care of her. It took Leonard time; it was hard, what had seemed like pure hatred had seethed through him over Sheldon and his betrayal. Leonard was finally through with moping, and it felt good, he'd decided.

And so today, he was going to show her just how much he had moved on, Leonard was going to ask Stella out on a date. Nothing fancy, just dinner, that way it seemed casual, at least if she shot him down, she could see how much progress he'd made.


Penny sighed as she clocked back in for her first shift. The ache was still heavy from where Leonard was no longer around, but it wasn't as prominent all the time. He'd never replied to her, the text was sent out of desperation, but even Sheldon didn't take Leonard leaving seriously, everyone thought it was just a cry for attention, it may've been one of the reasons why he left.

With a heavy heart she looked over to Leonard's old table, to see it was occupied by 3 patrons, large, beefy guys. Penny sighed as she realised she was the only waitress on orders for fifteen minutes, the rest of them were on the bar. She'd have to serve these Neanderthals, there was no way round it, and she just hoped they tipped well.

'Hi! I'm Penny and today I'll be your server, can I get you anything to drink, or maybe something to eat?!' Penny plastered all the fake cheer on that she could muster, and although she wasn't sure if it seemed convincing, she hoped they'd buy it.

'If you're not available, I think a Bud and some garlic bread to start would just about suffice.'

He grinned almost maniacally at her.

Penny grimaced inwardly at the feeble attempt, but forced a jutted laugh his way. She looked to the guy next to him, and nodded slightly, indicating that she wanted him to relay onto her his wishes.

'I'll have what stupid next to me is having, but throw in some fries too.'

At least he didn't try being rude to her, turning to the last guy opposite dumb and dumber, she noticed that he was looking vacantly at the menu, she'd been doing that a lot over the last month, although, she was pretty sure she had her local Indian's menu completely memorised.

She coughed gently, and was taken aback when he spoke, there was no overly cocky accent, and he seemed almost nervous.

'Um, just orange juice for me please.'

'Uh, sure, coming right up?'

She was baffled, that a guy so quiet was with these two asshats, but then again, who cared, she penned through the order to the kitchen, and stared aimlessly off into space. She didn't realise that tonight things were going to finally take a turn.

'Um, can I get a pale ale, please?'

It was that guy again, she looked over to his friends, they were deeply engrossed in conversation, laughing open-mouthed, peanuts flowing everywhere.

She must have been staring because he coughed gently to bring her back, as she was about to mumble out an apology, he spoke.

'I'm really sorry about those two, they thought it'd be a good idea to bring me out tonight, they're not that bad when you get to know them really.'

'Mind me asking why you're here? There are far better places to go if you're looking to get away from things.'

'Well, my girlfriend of three years ended things with me over a phone call today, and despite their best efforts, there was no way they were getting me to a club. So we settled for here.'

'What a great compromise.' Penny said dryly.

She didn't expect him to laugh.

'You're funny, thank you.' He said, as she passed him a beer, not quite sure which he was thanking her for.

'No problem, so how'd you make up an excuse to get away from your caveman friends? Oh wait, that's wrong of me, I'm sorry Sir.'

He laughed again, what was it with his laugh? It was infectious.

'No not at all, and please, don't call me Sir, I'm 25, I don't wanna be known as such a formal name.'

'Ok Sailor,' She chimed, 'What do you want me to call you?'

'I'm Boo, nice to meet you.' He said with a genuine smile.

'Well Boo, you can call me Penny.' She said with an outstretched hand.

After he'd taken it and dropped it, he smiled at the bar, before looking back up.

'They told me to come hit on you, over and over, they wouldn't stop, so I caved, and used it as an excuse to just get away from them.'

From nowhere, words came out of her mouth that she'd not even thought about.

'So, why don't you?' Penny said, almost nervously.