Smoothing down her dress with shaky hands, Penny bit her lip as she observed herself in the mirror. The words third date echoed through her mind, and even though she knew it was lame and it didn't necessarily mean anything anymore, it still made her nervous. And also excited.

Yes, she hung out with Leonard almost every single day, and they were always texting each other. On Monday, they had spent two hours in the library, mostly studying, some of it just talking and laughing. Before they'd parted ways, he'd asked her out on what would be their third official date, and she'd very eagerly said yes, and suggested Wednesday. Yesterday, Tuesday, they'd gone for Frozen Yoghurt after school.

But dates still made her excited and nervous all at once. It was different to just hanging out, or sharing a kiss when they said goodbye to go home. Dates were romantic, moments she shared only with Leonard, and nobody else. She got to dress up and fuss over how she looked, without it being classes as 'vain'. And she was wearing the shawl she had bought with Leonard. She'd carefully picked out her red dress, wanting to wear something memorable. To make whichever other couples would be out on dates tonight jealous of Leonard and her. To make Leonard think wow, she looks amazing, because it was slightly unfair if she was the only one thinking about how amazing he looked all dressed up in a casual suit. Hugs, holding hands and kissing seemed all the more special on dates; there was more intimacy, the connection between them was practically tangible.

Running her hands over her body one final time, Penny deemed herself ready to go. Everything from which moisturizer she used after showering, to what underwear she was wearing, to the purse she was taking with her had been carefully picked out. Slipping her feet into a pair of black ballerina pumps which were decorated with a layer of lace floral patterns over the top, she picked up her purse, taking a deep breath before leaving her room.

"So, we could, uh," Leonard cleared his throat as he drove off from the parking lot, a heavy tension between himself and Penny over the anticipated next moves, "we could go back to my place, if you want."

"Yeah," Penny drummed her fingers on her lap, "yeah, that sounds great."

Suddenly, they both became very conscious of the bag of condoms from Penny's father that Penny had placed in the back of the car earlier. For a majority of the journey, the two of them were silent, occasionally looking at each other, a mixture of anticipation, excitement and nerves.

As they drove up to Leonard's house, his eyes widened. "Oh God."

"What?"

"See that little purple car? And the light in the top window?"

"Yeah."

"That's my sisters car. And that's her room." Leonard sighed, pulling into the driveway. "She said she was staying at her boyfriends tonight!"

Penny couldn't help but feel a wave of disappointment run through her. "Oh."

"Yeah." Half annoyed, half disappointed, Leonard shut the engine off, and they sat there for a while. Despite how nervous he was, after the initial shock of Penny's father explaining what the third date usually meant had worn off, he was actually feeling pretty confident. This was something they were both new at, and she wanted for it to happen, and judging by her reactions to their make-out sessions, he was doing things right.

"So... she's home?" Penny asked, pointlessly.

"Looks like it." Leonard sighed in response. He looked at her apologetically, before leaning in to kiss her gently. Pulling away, he gave her a soft smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's okay. Lets go."

Removing his keys, he stepped out of the car, quickly going round to help Penny out. Locking the car, he took her hand before leading her up to the front door. Opening it slowly, he allowed Penny to go in first before shutting it behind them. Locking it, he turned back around to see Penny frozen to the spot, his sister standing in the hallway with her arms folded.

"Back a little late, aren't we?"

"Umm..." He was too panicked to work out if she was just messing with him or being serious.

Stepping forward, Kate held out a hand to Penny. "Katharine Hofstadter."

"I, umm…uh," Penny's voice came out a high, squeaky stutter, and she extended her hand nervously to shake Kate's. "Umm, I'm... I'm Penny-"

At that moment, Kate burst into a fit of laughter. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry, that was so funny!"

"W-what?"

"I just really wanted to do that!"

"Kate!" Leonard admonished, suddenly coming to his senses. "What the hell! Why would you do that?"

"I'm sorry! That was part of my Big Sister duty!"

"Do you know how much you looked and sounded like mom when you did that?"

"Oh please, mom wouldn't voluntarily shake somebody's hand unless she deemed it a 'suitable social situation' and 'socially respectable' to do so."

"I'm sorry... what?" Penny blinked a few times, confused.

"My sister thought it would be funny to impersonate our mom." Leonard folded his arms over his chest, before turning back to Kate. "I thought you were going to Henry's anyway?"

"I am!" Kate smirked. "Now. I just had a sneaking suspicion that you guys might come back here tonight and I wanted to meet Penny."

"And you thought this was the best way to do it?"

"Leonard, it's okay," Penny assured him, patting his arm lately. "My sister will probably do something similar... worse, maybe, she can be kinda scary..." Tilting her head, she turned back to Kate. "Umm, it's nice to meet you... Katharine?"

She shook her head, "no, just Kate, it's okay. I'll speak to you properly another time, I'll leave you two to it for now. It's great to meet you, Penny."

"Can't believe you did that." Leonard muttered, shaking his head as Kate picked up her overnight bag and car keys.

"Whatever. Like you and Michael didn't do worse when Henry came round." Kate raised her brows at him pointedly, grinning when he came up with no defense. "Aha, thought so. Anyway, you two kids have a nice time."

"We will." Leonard and Penny replied simultaneously, eyes widening and blushing as the words left their mouths.

"Yeah you will!" Kate grinned, pulling open the front door with a laugh. "Ciao!"

Penny turned to look at Leonard with an awkward expression on her face once the door was closed, hugging her shawl around her. "That was... weird. But, uh, your sister seems nice."

"Yeah, she's a delight. Though with Michael, she played the 'Little Sister' card and would follow him and whichever girlfriend it was around the house, it was quite funny. This was not." Leonard rolled his eyes. "Come on, I'll show you round."

Things were less tense and awkward as he showed her around the home. Very spacious and much more modern than Penny's, she noticed the incredible organization along with the same neutral colors in every room. There was one family photograph in the living room, which she had stopped to grin at, pointing out how adorable Leonard was - but that was the only photograph in the house. Until she got a look in Michael's and Kate's bedrooms, everything looked very 'same-y'. Their rooms had photographs and posters, colorful decorations and a more lived-in look, accessorized to their personalities. His parents bedroom he said he never went in and would rather not, which she accepted, since she only ever went in her parents bedroom if they'd asked her to bring in coffee. After her sisters "ordeal" a few years ago, they had all agreed that they were okay with that room being 'unvisitable'.

"And this... is my room." Leonard announced nervously, opening the door to his bedroom.

Stepping in slowly, Penny looked around. It was Leonard to a T. To the right, there was a large bookshelf, filled with comic books, reading books, academic books, figurines, and a few magazines. By the window opposite them was his bed, at the foot of which was a large beanbag. To the left of the room was a closet with its door open and a chest of drawers. On top of these were a television and his games console, with its controllers placed neatly beside it. Along the wall the door was on, was his laundry basket, a small bookshelf that was far less organized than the big one, a shoe rack and an armchair.

"I know, it's really nerdy." Leonard said with a shy shrug, standing by the door.

"No, it's awesome!" Penny exclaimed, going over to the bookshelf to look at his comic books. "Oh my God you have more of these than I have of like, Vogue and Elle Magazine!"

"I kind of collect them."

"And what is this?" Penny asked, going over to his bedside table and picking up an object she'd never seen before in her life, placing her purse down on the floor.

"It's my Bat Signal." Leonard said, shuffling over to her. "I made it."

"You made this? No way."

"Yeah. For a science project. I thought it was pretty cool." He took it from her to show her how it worked, stunned when she actually looked impressed.

"Oh my God, that's awesome. I want one! I can't believe you made that!"

"Well... I can make you one if you like. I mean, I know you're not into the kinda stuff, but if you like it-"

"Yeah, I'd love one! That's so cool. You really are super smart, you know that?"

"I wouldn't say super smart."

"I would." Giggling, she took a step towards him, placing her arms around his neck as his came to rest on her waist. "See? Super smart."

Deciding he may as well carry on with his apparently winning streak, and make the next 'super smart' move, Leonard leaned forward and kissed her. Gently at first, but she responded eagerly; they had both been anticipating this moment all night. Her fingers laced into his hair as her lips parted, deepening the kiss. Heart pounding, he brought one hand into her hair, and the other to her lower back. Pulling away briefly, the looked at each other, foreheads touching, before their lips rejoined.

It was with the strongest reluctance that they had dragged themselves out of his bed. As much as Penny wanted to stay, because once the awkwardness of realizing what they had just done had quickly faded it had been incredibly comfortable and relaxing, she knew that she had to get back home. Even so, she still couldn't keep the smile off of her face.

Turning her head a little, she watched as Leonard pulled his pants back on. Her eyes lingered for a moment on his bare back, biting her lip as she spotted three fingerprint marks on each side that had been left there by her. Quietly, she turned back around and picked up her purse. Checking to make sure he still wasn't looking, she shoved her panties into her purse, put her keys at the top and closed it shut. Tugging at her dress once more, she ran a hand through her hair, before slipping her feet back into her shoes. The bag of condoms she'd placed in her purse earlier remained on his bedside table.

He drove her back to her house, all awkwardness from earlier gone as they sang along to the radio. They shared a gentle kiss goodbye, and he watched as Penny walked up to her house, waiting to make sure that she got in safely.

Pulling her keys out quickly and unlocking the door, Penny turned to give him a quick wave goodbye before stepping inside. Tip-toeing as quietly as she could to the kitchen, she ran herself a glass of water before making her way to her bedroom.

She almost screamed when her mother appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

"Jesus, mom!" Penny held her hand to her chest.

"Getting back a little late, aren't we?" Meryl raised her brows, smirking.

"I... I..." Penny faltered. "I, uh…"

"Uh-huh. I, I, I what?" Meryl laughed quietly, shaking her head slightly in amusement.

Penny blushed. "God, you're so nosy! Can't I get back a little later than usual without getting the third degree?"

"A little later than usual?" Meryl grinned. "Sweetheart, you are way later than usual, and you hair is all messed up at the back."

Glaring at her mother for a while, Penny furrowed her brow. "Shut up. I'm going to bed."

"You mean you're going back to bed. Your bed."

"Ugh, fine, whatever, I'm going to sleep!" Penny got out, flustered, before storming up the hallway to her room.

"I just booked you an appointment with the doctor." Meryl said, looking up from her breakfast as Penny walked in to grab the lunch she had made earlier before leaving.

"What? Why?" Penny paused, shoving the plastic box into her bag.

"You need to go on the pill."

"I hate you." Penny muttered, cheeks red, but still didn't leave. "When?"

"Friday after school."

"Fine."

"Have a nice day at school!" Meryl called, grinning, as Penny turned on her heel to leave.

Rolling her eyes, Penny shook her head as she pulled her jacket on and stepped outside, just as Kim's car pulled up by the road. Picking up her pace, Penny got into the small car quickly and did up her seatbelt. "Hey," Penny yawned, as Kim began to drive off.

"Hey, sleepy. How was your date with Leonard last night?"

"It was... pretty damn awesome, actually."

When she didn't elaborate, Kim shot her a glare. "Seriously, that's all you're going to tell me? A+ grades in Creative Writing and Literature and that's all you can come up with? Best friends for a gazillion years and that's all I get?"

"Alright." Penny smirked, biting her lip. "We went back to his place and I met his sister. Leonard showed me around his house." She paused, raising her brows. "And then we had sex."

"What?" Kim slammed on the brakes, causing Penny to jolt forwards and hit her head on the roof of the small car, and the car to stall.

"Jesus fucking Christ, Kim!" Penny scowled, holding a hand up to her forehead. "I'm going to have to get a fringe to cover up the bruise that's going to leave!"

"Don't you think you should tell me that kind of stuff when the car is stationary?" Kim exclaimed, restarting the car.

"Oh, I'm sorry, were you not the one who just got annoyed because I didn't tell you enough?"

"Yes, but I wasn't expecting that. And don't get a fringe, it won't suit you. You'll look like a cheap country singer."

"Whatever. And thank you, for that compliment, after I had a fringe for three years."

"You're welcome. Okay, since my heart attack is now calming down... how was it?"

"It was... great. Amazing."

"And..."

"And that's all you're getting."

"Alright, alright, fine." Kim grinned as she parked her car in the school parking lot. "Aww, you make me so happy."

"Why?" Penny pulled a face, raising her brow.

"Am I not allowed to be happy for you now?"

"Oh. Yeah, you can be happy for me." Penny grinned.

"Is that why you're so tired today?" Kim wiggled her eyebrows, before stepping out of the car.

Getting out and pulling her bag over shoulder, Penny stuck her tongue out at Kim. "Ha, ha. No, we were just texting afterwards so I went to sleep late."

"Why didn't you just stay at his?"

"Umm, have you forgotten about my parents?"

"Oh yeah…" Kim nodded, as they began a slow walk up to the main school building.

"Anyway, mom knows. Naturally she's being completely nosy and won't leave me alone about it." Penny scoffed. "And Dad gave Leonard a bag of condoms but if he finds out anything actually happened I'm going to have to live with the chickens or something."

"He what?" Kim's eyes widened, and she burst out laughing.

"It's not funny! It was so embarrassing! I mean, useful, but, like, really Dad? Ugh."

"I kind of want to give your dad a high-five."

"Please don't. Don't encourage him. Seriously. Anyway, he's going to be in denial for about… you know, until I'm fifty, so… that's fun."

"Oh come on, he's not stupid, he probably knows."

"Yeah, but you know what he's like."

Kim looked at Penny sympathetically, but smiled all the same. "He'll come around to the idea of it."

"Hope so. I'll see where we stand in thirty four years time." Penny rolled her eyes.