Epilogue - The Circle of Life

Penny and Leonard find themselves back to where it all started on their first date. One last time, I do not own these characters, it has just been my pleasure to bring them to you hopefully for your enjoyment in a tale from a place I call the Lenny Zone. Enjoy!

Penny stood in front of the full length mirror of her bedroom smiling as she put on the second of her earrings. They were a small pair of snowflakes. Normally, she wore them in the winter months so not to confuse anyone. But today was all about anniversaries and special moments for her and Leonard and these earrings were so symbolic of her relationship. She paired them with her heart shaped locket necklace. Two special gifts from her husband at two very difficult times for her in their relationship. Stepping back, she smoothed the blue above-the-knee three quarter length sleeve dress and tried to decide if silver earrings and a gold necklace were really the look she wanted. "Screw it, If some pompous windbag page six columnist has anything to say, they're gonna get an earful from me." Penny was actually stunning in the form fitting dress. She remembered back to when she first wore it to a hospital so Howard could sing Bernadette a song he had written for his wife on one of their anniversaries. It may not fit perfectly right now, it took an extra tug or tuck here and there to get it just right but Leonard would never say those words to her. Before she left the room, Penny made up the bed. It was a sight! Things got a little out of control earlier this morning and then they lingered and enjoyed each other for a second time. She woke first and just couldn't help herself, she had been feeling particularly amorous these past few weeks. Leonard, of course had no complaints. Penny smiled as she thought of what was going to happen in a few hours, she had just a small part in this night's events. Penny recommended the venue, partially because of the date, but mostly because it was the place where she had fallen in love with her husband on that very first day they met. She knew it was a special place for them both, and tonight, she was going to make this place even more special for them.


Leonard stood at the breakfast counter in the kitchen sipping on a bottle of water and nibbling on a muffin, seemingly lost in thought. He was waiting for his wife to make her entrance so they could continue their day together.

Penny made her way down to the kitchen and stood silently in the doorway behind her husband. This was going to be HIS day. A day when he would get some long awaited recognition for all his hard work. She knew all to well the trials Leonard had gone through over the years. There were setbacks in experiments, having to live with Sheldon, two LONG scientific trips away from her when she barely made it through their time apart, and they had almost broken up because she was afraid things were moving too fast. Thankfully the thought of being without him had helped get them back together, she was terrified she might lose him forever to another woman. One of the happiest days of her life was when Leonard asked her out for one his usual romantic dates just as she was going to probably break up with him. After the usual incredibly romantic night and what followed in bed, she vowed to herself never to let him go ever again. It didn't matter that his mother thought he was not a high achieving academic or saw him as an overly sensitive personality. It didn't matter that Sheldon often said he was a sub-par scientist, to her he was perfect. He was so adorable just standing there, fiddling with his food, no doubt waiting for her to make her grand entrance.

This was one of those rare days when Leonard had taken the entire day off. After considering their extracurricular activities this past morning he was seriously considering working more of these impromptu days into his schedule to be home with Penny during the week. He had made sure all the little annoying things about work were taken care of and he was looking forward to spending the weekend with Penny.

Penny finally made her entrance just as Leonard placed a bottle of water out for her and slid the left over Chinese takeout from the night before to her. The look in his eyes as she came in the room was precious. They just lit up with love and he smiled that sweet contented smile that he saved just for her. Shivers shot right up her spine when he mouthed "WOW". Penny shyly looked down for just a second. She needed to lighten the moment or she was going to have to tear his clothes off and that would just set them back. "Thanks Sweetie." She looked over at his plate. "Hmmm, cranberry-orange. Just couldn't bring yourself to get the BANANA-nut muffins couldja?"

Leonard smirked. "You know very well that I stay away from anything banana on Friday the Thirteenth."

Penny giggled as she put a bite of muffin in her mouth. "Yeah, but I don't know why? It's not like you can just blink your eyes and POOF, all this never happened! Besides, who ever heard of slipping on a MUFFIN crumb?"

Leonard smiled. "Pedantic me just won't let it go, covering all the bases so to speak".

Penny's eyes went wide. "Oooooh a SPORTS metaphor! You didn't paint your stomach again didja?"

Leonard wiggled his eyebrows. "You'll just have to wait and see pretty lady".

Penny hummed giving him a wicked grin, she really enjoyed the playful banter they often engaged in. "Who would have thought that it was eleven years ago that I found your asthmatic ass on the ground outside our old apartment building?" She stepped close to her husband and put both hands on his chest. "You're looking very handsome today. Is this some kind of SPECIAL occasion?" She then leaned in for a tender quick kiss loving the way his hands almost magically found their way to her hips.

Leonard looked into those sparkling green eyes. "Well lets see? First, there's a gathering of pretty prominent Physicists. Something about some newfangled guidance system."

Penny put a finger to her mouth. "I hear they're gonna give the guy that came up with the idea some kinda prize or something".

Leonard nodded. "Plaque actually. I hear he is also up for a promotion of some kind. Gonna give a little talk too. Are you sure you're up for that? You know how you get at these things. Although Howard will be there, you could always fall asleep on his shoulder. Just like old times."

Penny slapped his shoulder. "Bernadette probably wouldn't like that all that much. Besides I got some sleep last night, I went to bed early in preparation."

Leonard rolled his eyes. "Yeah that's all true except you got up extra early this morning and then..."

Penny chuckled. "Never mind what happened this morning and I didn't hear you complaining. It was all good preparation. Let's leave it at that. Besides, I've heard of the guy being honored tonight. I went to some lunch and learn sci-ency talks at the University. He's VERY sexy."

Leonard laughed. "You know, there's actually a rumor going on around that you have been seen around the labs at lunch time and then some VERY questionable noises after the doors are locked. Do I have to be worried?"

Penny looked sympathetically back and gave her husband a side hug and a peck on the cheek. "Aw, not really, not after this morning and certainly not if you keep up with the internet thing".

Leonard smiled. "Okay then, we better get going."


Penny glanced over at her husband as he drove to the meeting. She smiled. After all this time, he still held the steering wheel firmly at ten and two. "Who decided that this shindig should be held all the way out in Santa Monica?"

Leonard shrugged. "I remember when you used to think this was just a short drive. Now you think its ALL the WAY out there? I'm just going where I was told. It IS a little coincidental that we're driving to Santa Monica on Friday the Thirteenth though. At the Lowes no less."

Penny took hold of Leonard's right hand with her left. "Do you remember that first time? How it felt?"

Leonard stroked Penny's ring finger, brushing his thumb across her engagement ring and wedding band. "If you mean the drive out here? I was terrified. I simply couldn't believe you wanted to continue that date... especially after what happened with Kurt." A wicked smile came across his face. "Now If you mean the sex..."

Penny rolled her eyes and nudged Leonard's shoulder. "The ride Leonard, the ride. First of all, it was BECAUSE of Kurt that we even came out here to begin with. If he didn't ruin our date at Rosalie's, we wouldn't have been at the beach and hit by the wave and then stayed in the Hotel... and... " Penny thought back to that first night losing herself in her thoughts. Suddenly she was brought back to the conversation by a curious look on Leonard's face. "And you shouldn't have been terrified to begin with. I asked you..., its not like I was gonna dump you."

Leonard smirked. "Well, the odds were clearly set against me, and I say that while taking into consideration a LARGE sample size. But, you didn't know what would have happened either. I read that stuff about Sagittarius women while we were AT the Italian restaurant, before the beach or the wave..."

Penny giggled. "You're right Romeo, I didn't know for sure what would have happened. You could have taken me under one of the elm trees by the duck pond."

Leonard looked over. "I have three words for you... men's rest room!"

Penny smiled thinking back. "Fair point".


It wasn't long before they arrived at the Lowes Hotel. Penny immediately took Leonard's hand and went around to the back of the Hotel before they checked in, over to the pool deck that looked out onto the sand and the Pacific Ocean. "It's still so Beautiful". She never lost her amazement for the ocean, even after being in California for so many years, it was just SO different from being back in Nebraska.

Leonard sat in a chair taking off his shoes, socks and rolling up his pants while Penny just stared out into the open water. "Yeah, well, it isn't exactly going anywhere any time soon." He then walked up beside her. "Give me your heels." Penny turned and smiled widely as she took off her shoes. Leonard placed them by the edge of the patio and took his wife's hand and stepped into the sand.

Penny immediately twisted her feet, burying herself up to her ankles in the warm sand. "I love you so much"! They then walked down near the shore making sure not to get close to the water. They had a meeting to go to and couldn't risk getting knocked over by a wave.


After a short walk, they returned to the Hotel and went up to the reservation desk. Leonard was holding their shoes in one hand and Penny in the other. Leonard thought the clerk looked vaguely familiar somehow. There were a few stares as the barefoot couple came up to the desk until one person said in not so silent a voice. "That's Penelope Hofstadter!"

Penny had considered using a stage name like "Penny Lane" when she started to get small parts in commercials and guest appearances on TV shows, but decided against it. She considered getting married to Leonard the best life decision she had ever made and she wanted the whole world to know how proud of him she was. Besides, Penelope Hofstadter was WAY more sophisticated than Penny Lane.

Suddenly there was a small commotion and a crowd started to gather. Penny had landed a leading part in a new sit-com on TV the year before and was now one of the hottest interviews in Hollywood. Her show was rated the number one new show for the last season and had just been renewed for three more. She was nominated for and won a People's Choice award for Leading Actress in a comedy, and this past weekend, Penny was featured in Parade Magazine giving an interview about the struggles of her young career and her home life, her animal activism, and being married to an up and coming scientific genius. Apparently her husband had made some world wide news with a development he came up with while working with Stephen Hawking. The scientific community was all abuzz. There was even talk of a Nobel Prize nomination for another of his projects.

While Penny signed some autographs, Leonard checked them into their room. He had specifically asked for the same room they had on their first trip together to Santa Monica when he was told this was the venue for the presentation. The Clerk handed Leonard a receipt to sign. "Dr. Hofstadter..., it is so nice to have you and Mrs. Hofstadter with us today."

Leonard noticed the name on the badge of the clerk. Yes, he was older, and decidedly heavier, but Leonard was almost positive it was the same clerk from their first visit. Leonard smiled seeing that the clerk was also coming to the same conclusion. "Yes it is." He then turned and tapped Penny on the shoulder. She signed one more autograph and then put her arm around Leonard's waist smiling at the clerk before they made their way to the elevator on their way up to their room.


Once in their room, Penny crossed to the balcony, opened the curtain and walked out. Leonard came up from behind her and put his hands on her hips. A chuckle easily came from her lips as she leaned back into him. "Easy there Lover, we'll have plenty of time for that later. Right now I need to freshen up and fix my makeup. I gotta look good for the crowd tonight. And my man".

Leonard put his head down on Penny's shoulder looking out to the ocean. "I would say the crowd will be VERY pleased to see you, judging from the small ruckus you caused in the lobby just now."

Penny turned her head and kissed him. "This night is not about me Sweetie, you have to remember that. But the staring and remarks WERE a lot different than they were that first time".


Hours later, Leonard closed the door to the room as Penny flopped down onto the bed. It was a long night with the scientific community letting it's hair down so to speak. The increased press coverage because of Penny just made things that much more interesting. Leonard came to the balcony and opened the curtains to let the view of the night sky into the room. Picking up a bottle from the coffee table in front of the pull out sofa, he smiled. "A bottle of Champagne from Raj. I'll bet he sent one to Howard and Sheldon too".

Penny sat up holding the plaque Leonard was presented. "Applied Physics Assistant Chair"... is that like a little kiddie chair off to the side in your Boss's office?"

Leonard laughed. "Very funny. With all the work the University has been getting because of the collaboration with the Hawking Group, NASA and the Military, there is too much work for Gabelhouser, so they made a sub division of the Physics Department and it comes with tenure. Sheldon was so pissed."

Penny smiled. "I'm very proud of you. It's nice that they are finally recognizing how really fantastic you are... and without having to "put out" to get any new equipment either. Don't think for a minute I didn't see Mrs. Latham in the crowd. And then that announcement about the official Nobel nomination with Howard and Sheldon for that perpetual guidance thingy... WOW"!

Leonard blushed. He never really knew just how to take a compliment. He had so little experience with them throughout his life, first with his mother and then living with Sheldon. "To be fair, it was Sheldon's math and Howard's proof of concept, so..."

Penny stood and put her arms around Leonard's neck. "Sweetie, without the actual concept, there would be no math for Sheldon and nothing for Howard to prove, so stop minimizing your accomplishments." She then kissed him passionately. When the kiss ended, she looked him in the eye. "But if you insist on giving credit and exposure away, it was Bernadette and me that wrapped those pipe thingies when you went to get more solder." A grin came across her face before she stuck out her tongue.

Leonard leaned her back onto the bed. "I think you have had quite enough exposure for the evening. I would say there were more media here tonight to get a glimpse at you than any of the stuffy old academics."

Penny giggled. "Yeah, I'd like to say I'm sorry about all that, but... nah!... I still get a bit of a charge out of it". She then sat up and turned her back to her husband. "Undo me?"

Leonard slid the zipper down Penny's back and she pulled her arms out of the sleeves. Leonard followed by unclasping his wife's bra only to watch her quickly shed the garment then grasp her own breasts and massage them. Penny sighed. "God. it feels so good to get out of that bra. You have no idea what we women have to put up with to look good for our men." She turned to see the goofiest look on Leonard as she sat there naked from the waist up. She rolled her eyes. "Really, Leonard?"

He smiled. "What? They're my breast friends! Can they come out and play?"

Penny stood up and shimmied out of her dress and went over to the closet pulling out two white plush robes and tossing one at Leonard. "Only if I get to play balls!" She then went into the bathroom.


Returning from her short respite from the playful banter with her husband after the banquet honoring the most thoughtful, caring, deserving man she knew, he was nowhere to be found. His CLOTHES were strewn about, but there was no Leonard. Remembering back to that fateful night years ago, Penny made her way to the balcony. To her delight, she found her lover looking out onto the dark ocean.

From their room, they could see the waning party down on the patio surrounding the pool. Leonard was the focus of the gathering with a short detour involving Howard and Sheldon, but to be sure, Penny was the STAR of the party. There were invading media types that were stealing Leonard's "science thunder" for the glitz and glamour of nearby TV Land or Hollywood. They would think nothing of hiding in trees or behind bushes to get compromising photos of any stars they could embarrass. There were even helicopters flying around. Unfortunately, Penny was the only one of those types they were interested in, driven by the need to get something they could peddle to the nearest paper or internet outlet. That's why they left the party when they did. Penny didn't want to ruin it for anyone else. Especially Howard, Sheldon and Leonard. Penny sighed. "I'm SO sorry".

Leonard moved to stand behind his wife and held her. "There's nothing to be sorry for. This is something we will have to deal with. You're a big deal now. You let Howard and Sheldon have their time, and I would want to be nowhere else but here with you." Penny turned to him and took his face between her hands and kissed him. Both their loosely tied robes opened and they stepped closer together, Penny lifting one shapely leg up to Leonard's hip just as camera flashes went off. Penny turned quickly as a helicopter passed by, flashes going off as it passed. It was just a few seconds before Penny found herself being pulled back into the room.

Penny quickly paced back and forth. "OH... NO...NO... no...no... This can't be happening."

Leonard tried to calm her. "Penny, don't get all worked up over it. They probably didn't get anything they can use. And even if they did, you're a married woman and you were here with ME... your husband. There are plenty of witnesses and pictures all night that prove just that. None of them show any problems between us, in fact, there were probably a few that weren't all that much worse than what they just shot. The most they got is a shot of a very sexy woman caught in an embrace with her husband. Besides, if anything, this will just pique the interest of your fans and probably bring more interest and exposure for your show. This was well within the parameters of your character's persona. And you DID imply that we had an active extracurricular life at home in that interview."

Penny stood staring at her husband with a confused look on her face. "All I said was that we wanted kids... sometime in the future..."

Leonard shrugged "There is still only one way to get to that end". He then walked over to the bed and dropped his robe. Penny looked on with wide eyes. Leonard smiled. "What? I'm not going to sleep in that robe and neither are you, so come to bed". He then crawled under the covers and patted the mattress next to him.

Penny looked at Leonard and threw her hands into the air. "What the HELL, I have one last surprise for ya though. I was waiting for a special moment, so this will just have to do." Penny dropped her robe and got under the covers with her husband. She got the same shiver of anticipation at getting closer to him as she did all those years before. After tonight, things would never be the same again. But instead of worrying about the future, she was full of hope and excitement.

Leonard looked at her expectantly. "A surprise?" Penny leaned in and whispered into his ear. Leonard's eyes went absolutely wide with white showing completely around. He had the biggest smile as he pulled her in for a hug. "Are you sure?"

Penny giggled uncontrollably. "Yeah, that's why that dress was so tight. Haven't you noticed a little extra in the boobage area? You certainly spend enough time there. Maybe that kiddie assistant chair should go in YOUR office instead." She looked into Leonard's eyes. "So mister big shot Scientist. What do you want to do now? I'll bet there's a channel showing The Lord of the Rings or something"

Penny giggled as Leonard leaned over and passionately kissed his wife gently fondling the left side of her chest and intertwining their legs. He then moved to find that sensitive spot on her neck below her left ear. She sighed as she closed her eyes taking in the experience. "Yeah, that's what I thought".

A/N: There you have it. What started out as an ominous day, with all the bad signs of Friday the Thirteenth, turned into the LUCKIEST day of their lives. This was a really fun chapter to write. I tried to get across just how comfortable they really are between each other. It may come across as cutting remarks sometimes, but there is really nothing but playful banter and love at the center of their relationship. I hope you have enjoyed it as much as I have.