A/N: I really wanted to get this update out today and I succeeded! Today is the birth anniversary of my favorite poet e.e. cummings (he is the author of the poem Penny handed to Leonard before the biopsy in Chapter 8), born on October 14, 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Thank you so much for continuing to read this story. I know the subject matter is tough, but it will get better, I promise. My main purpose was to show love and friendship under the most trying times. Thanks to all who have reviewed, followed and made this a favorite. It is appreciated more than you know. I own nothing that has anything to do with The Big Bang Theory.

Chapter 10: The news, and other things, delivered.

They were waiting in the outer office for the doctor to arrive. His assistant had called at 8:00 that morning to let them know the results would be in by 11:00. If they could come in to see him then, he would review everything with them. They left nearly immediately, stopped for coffee and bagels. It was now 10:45.

Penny was much more calm, outwardly, then Leonard. He kept standing up and walking to the doorway of the office to look down the corridor, either way. He wasn't sure what he was looking for. He just needed something to do other than sit there.

Finally she stood up and grabbed him by the shoulders and said "baby, come sit with me and hold my hand. No use in getting yourself all worked up." He nodded, followed her and sat down.

Dr. Gray breezed in at 10:58. He greeted them saying "good morning! Give me three minutes to get settled and I'll bring you right in." He shook both their hands and went into his office, shutting the door behind him.

Just then a young man dressed in scrubs entered the outer office with a large envelope under his arm. He nodded at the couple, knocked softly on the door and entered. Three minutes later he came out of the office, closed the door, nodded at them once again and disappeared out of the outer office door.

It was another ten minutes before Dr. Gray reappeared. "Thank you for your patience. A busy morning so far. Please. Come in." He stood beside the door and ushered them in. They each took a seat in front of the desk. Penny held Leonard's hand in a vice-like grip.

He gathered up parts of a file that had been spread out on his desk. "Alright. It looks like we have two malignancies here."

Silence.

Leonard went to speak first, but he was failing to produce any words. Finally, "wha-what course do you suggest?"

"Because both samples showed cancerous cells, I think it best for us to purse chemotherapy." Leonard nodded and turned toward her. She was extremely pale and had a vacant look on her face. She turned her head slowly toward him. She looked like a lost little girl. He knelt down in front of her and held her in his arms. She finally responded, putting her arms around his neck.

He expected her to fall apart, but taking a few deep breaths, she cleared her throat, withdrew her arms from around him, but keeping her hand on his arm as he sat again, commenced to question the doctor.

"When do you think we-I should begin treatment?" was her first question. He notice that the color had returned to her face. No tears, just a determination.

"I would say the sooner, the better-either by the end of this week or the beginning of next."

Looking at Leonard, she nodded her agreement. "Okay. You tell me where and when." Nodding and issuing a huge sigh that had her raising and lowering her shoulders, she said "Let's do it."

Dr. Gray gave Penny the name of an oncologist he recommended. It was the same Doctor that had analyzed the biopsy and made the diagnosis. Dr. Gray also gave her the name of several other oncologists in case she wanted to make a different choice. Whenever that was Dr. Gray said, she would need to make an appointment with whoever she chose so some additional tests could be done and the process explained to her.

As the appointment was over, Penny and Leonard rose to take their leave. Dr. Gray walked around the desk and took both of Penny's hands in his.

"Penny, I know that this is a lot to take in this morning. I want you to know that I will be involved with whichever oncologist you choose. She nodded her understanding as Dr. Gray looked between her and Leonard. He continued: "You are a young woman and other than this diagnosis you are in very, very good health. There is no reason to expect anything but a positive outcome."

Penny and Leonard thanked him profusely. Penny gave him a hug, Leonard shook his hand. They left the office and walked in silence back to Leonard's car in the lot.

She broke down while sitting in the car. Leonard was ready. He had waited a few moments before starting the car. He held her for about five minutes.

"Okay. I'm done now. I'm not going to let that happen again-except maybe for when we speak with my parents." She said it matter-of-factly as she wiped her eyes with a tissue Leonard had handed her.

"I don't think I'm up for another emotional time like we had Friday. Would it be awful to make some calls instead of having a bunch of people over. I really don't want another 'event' right now" she said softly.

"I think that would be fine and I know no one will mind at all. I can make the calls for you-"

"No" she interrupted him. "I'll do it." She had her phone out and clicked on Bernadette's name.

After she had made the fifth call (she wanted to tell each friend separately, even the couples), she sat quietly, turned away from Leonard and looked out the window. Each friend expressed their sorrow at the news. They all shed tears over the phone, except for Sheldon. His voice trembled and he got off the phone as soon as he could manage it. She would speak with him face to face later.

She sat quietly, turned away from Leonard looking out the window. He took her hand and caressed her thumb with his. It was at this point that she had noticed that the car had stopped. He had driven her to the beach.

"Were at the beach" she said turning toward him with a smile at last.

"C'mon. Why don't we walk for a bit." He kissed her hand and got out of the vehicle, making his way to her door. Opening it, he held out his hand to help her out. Sitting on the hood of the car, he took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his pant legs. She took off her flip-flops and also rolled up her jeans. She handed him her footwear and he put both pair in the back seat, locked the door and took her hand to lead her down toward the water.

She dropped his hand and took his arm. She rested her head on his shoulder, saying "this is just the thing. Thank you Leonard."

They walked back and forth along the shore talking about everything, even her sickness. After about an hour he noticed she was getting tired. He asked if she wanted to head back. She nodded her head and said "yes."

By the time they arrived back at Monterey Street, she was asleep. Parking, he jostled her gently. She opened her eyes and said "hey you." He smiled and said "we're home. Let's get you into bed."

"Oh Doctor Hofstadter" she said sleepily, yet playfully, but did not argue as he got her into the house and tucked her into bed for a nap.

He puttered around downstairs, trying to make as little noise as possible. He went silently to the second floor to retrieve his lap top. He was going to check emails from work.

Nearly two hours later, it was nearly 4:45, he heard noises from the bedroom upstairs. He trotted up to see if she needed help.

They bumped into each other in the hallway outside the bedroom. She was wearing one of his t-shirts, making him smile. She looked down, then back up at him "Oh. Yeah. I'm sorry. You don't mind do you?"

"Of course not. Trust me when I tell you that my t-shirts look much, much better on you than they do on me."

"Right answer Romeo" she said laughing. She took him by the hand and led him down the stairs.

Letting go of his hand and leaving him in the living room, she headed toward the kitchen. Over her shoulder, she called to him "I'm getting some water, do you want anything?"

"No. I'm good he said in response.

She returned to the living room and sat next to him on the couch. She placed her bottle of water on a coaster on the coffee table and put her hand on his thigh. He quickly covered her hand with his. She searched his eyes and said "We need to call my parents." He nodded in agreement. "Will you talk to them with me?" Again, he nodded. "Good." She leaned into him and gave him a deep kiss, with more than a little passion. Surprised, he returned the kiss, just as enthusiastically.

"Before we call them, can we talk about some things?"

"Of course anything. What is it?" He replied sitting forward now.

"I was awake for a little while upstairs and did a lot of thinking and have made some decisions."

"Great! Tell me about them."

"First I'm going to tell them I'm not going back to The Cheesecake Factory." He nodded and smiled, replying "I'm glad." he said, smiling harder. "I know about time, right?" she answered, also with a smile.

"Next, I'm going to ask Elyse if I can start and maybe work on some sort of reduced schedule at the library while we figure out how the treatments will work out and what effect they are going to have on me." He looked at her with a furrowed brow, squeezing her hand that was on his thigh. She squeezed his leg back.

Seeing the look on his face and knowing what he was thinking she said, "I was doing some reading the other night on-line. Cancer treatments have different effects on different people, so we won't really know until they begin, or even just after how I'll be feeling."

He returned, "I read the same thing. Penny, I don't want you to push yourself with working during the-during the time you're receiving chemo. You know you don't have to work at all, don't you?"

"I know Leonard, but I want to if I can. I don't want to be home looking at the walls and just waiting. If I can work, I'm going to." She said this with her new found determination. "Elyse already mentioned that they would work with me on any kind of schedule I need to." As an after thought she said "I wonder how much Raj had to do with that." Leonard nodded his agreement. "More than a little, I think."

She was quiet for a few moments. "The last thing is the most important. This is something that I've been thinking of for the longest time. Since before you came back from the Hawking expedition." Before he could respond, she put her finger on his lips. Taking a deep breathe, she said to herself "here goes."

"Marry me."

His head jerked back and he looked deeply into her eyes to see if it was true. If it was the illness speaking. Whether she was asking out of fear.

She took his hand and brought it to her cheek. She held it there with her eyes closed.

"I mean it. Marry me."

He slid closer to her and removing his hand from hers, he wrapped her in his arms; noticing again for the umpteenth time over the last week how thin she was getting.

"Penny" he said softly pulling back to look at her. Her eyes were searching his once again. Looking for her answer.

"You know that I'll be here for you. That I will do anything for you." She nodded. And replied

"Then Marry me. If you love me. Marry me."

"I don't want you to do anything that you'll regret" he said quietly. Her brow was now furrowed.

"Look. When you beat this thing" he continued " you might not want the same things that you think you want right now. I don't want to be the one to hold you if-well if you don't want to be held."

"First, you" she interrupted him.

"I'm not beating anything. We're going to beat this. Together. You and me. And when this thing" she grabbed at her body. Under her arm. At her back; her chest. She was crying

"When this thing is dead, we'll have killed it." Now softer "We'll have killed it together. We'll have killed it together because our love Leonard; our love is stronger than anything. I'm not going anywhere. Not without you. I want to be held. I want you to hold me. Hold me forever. Hold me forever Leonard. Don't let me go."

He finally smiled. When he did, her face lit up for the first time in days. "You will, won't you? Won't you Leonard; you'll marry me?"

"I will."

At those two words she exploded with joy. Leaping off the couch and dancing around the living room. She then returned to his arms and wrapping herself around him, getting as close to him as possible while standing in the middle of the room, she whispered "let's do it as soon as possible. Let's go somewhere and not tell anyone and just get married. We'll find a justice of the peace and a nice old couple to be witnesses and we'll just get married."

He laughed at her and said "anything you want."

"Well right now I want and need you." She began to undress him and led him to the couch; her lips never leaving his.

Over an hour later, she got up from the couch and gave him a look somewhere between the most wicked leer that had ever been aimed at him and the sweetest smile, filled with love. She stood looking at him for a few seconds, then started to get dressed.

It was even later now, nearing 7:00. They had a small dinner of mesquite chicken and beans. Together they had begun to clear the dishes, placing them in the dishwasher. They then sat at the kitchen table, taking out her phone and placing it on the table, she held his hand and said "are you ready?"

"I am" he answered. She picked up her phone and hit the contact labeled 'Home/Neb'. The phone on the table was on speaker. Ringing three times, a man answered. Penny greeted him with "Hi daddy. It's me and I'm here with Leonard. Is momma there?"