Chapter 12
Leonard stood in shock as Penny's lips pressed against his. His eyes shot looking at Penny, as her eyes were closed and hands on his cheeks. Leonard eyes then darted over to the table, seeing Rosie grinning ear to ear, Wyatt not looking so happy, and Jacob's hands were over his eyes chuckling.
Penny pulled away slowly, making Leonard gulp hard and felt sweat form on his forehead. "Well?" Penny asked. Leonard only nodded and finished making her breakfast. And Rosie kept smiling at her friend, as Wyatt kept quite. As for Jacob he asked his mom if her and Leonard were her boyfriend? "Where did you learn that word? And do you know what that means?" She asked and signed to her son. He laughed and pointed to Rosie.
Penny made sure Leonard got home safe later that morning and kissed him again. This time Leonard was more relaxed since there was no audience. But once he was inside away from Penny he was a nervous wreck.
As Penny arrived home Wyatt sat her down. "Dad, if this about Leonard and us going on a date, I am an adult woman now I think I know when I'm ready to date again?"
Wyatt rubbed the top of his head, then put his hat back on with a long sigh as he sat across the table from his daughter. "I understand that. Leonard seems like a great guy, very smart too. I am just looking out for you and you can not pull the wool over my eyes anymore Slugger. I just have a feeling you are rushing yourself and not completely ready for a real aadult relationship. But that is me and how I see things. Maybe tonight you will prove me wrong. Dating Leonard will be alot different than Donny, Kurtis, and those other guys you were involved with. And plus I don't want to see you nor Jacob get hurt because you were not ready." Then swallowed hard as he stared at his youngest.
"Dad, it is just one date. I know I like him and he likes me. But who knows what will happen after that. I need to move on somehow with someone, why not Leonard?" Penny asked almost afraid to hear her dad's answer.
"You might be thinking you chose him because he seems safe and smart. But the way you two look at each other, feelings could develop really fast for either one of you and who ever decideds to move quicker in the relationship is going to get hurt bad. So take things slow. Please coming from me. Plus two grandkids is enough for now..." Wyatt laughed as Penny rolled her eyes. But before Penny could say anything else, Rosie was dragging her outside the door for a much needed girls day out before her big date.
Back at Leonard's apartment Raj and Howard were trying to get every detail why he spent the night at Penny's. "Just admitted you struck outand she is feeling sorry for you. That has to be the only logic reason she asked you out." Howard said.
Leonard had enough and kicked those two guys out. He turned to Sheldon, "Do you think I'm over my head going on a date with Penny?" He sulked down into his chair.
Sheldon typed away on his computer, "Yes."
"Wait. What? Why?" Leonard asked confused.
Sheldon turned to him, "The last relationship you had was Joyce Kim and before you met Penny you had many relations with Raj's sister correct?"
Leonard nodded.
"Penny must have dated quit a few men before she became pregnant. Yet stopped when she did. To you since you are below her standards you are safe to her. Nothing more, nothing less. She is what you call out of your league. Leslie Winkle would be more appropriate mate for you. Plus you have to consider the fact if you are a suitable father figure towards her son?" Sheldon tilted his head and gave his roommate a questionable look.
Leonard felt more frustrated and tossed his hands in his hair, "Ahhhh!" He got up looked at Sheldon, "Why did I even ask you? Now instead of being confident now I have no clue what I am doing!" Then he stormed in his room.
Sheldon shook his head, "You could always look at a scientific view point if that would help." He said loud enough for Leonard to hear.
Leonard with his hair a mess amd yet looked like Sheldon was right, he poked his head out and smiled. "You know what you're right?"
Sheldon turned to him with a smile, "I know I am!"
Leonard frowned and shook his head. He then went to his room to plan to explain Schroeder's cat to Penny.
After Leonard came out of the shower and got dressed for the third time over sweating from having anxiety attacks, he was finally on his way to Penny's apartment. Once he arrived an knocked, Penny answered the door. "Wow, you look amazing!" Leonard told her with excitement as she was in a pink cocktail dress and pink flats he was guessing so she didn't seem so tall to him.
Penny blushed as she looked over as Leonard wore a nice grey suit. "You look adorable." She said.
"Um thanks?" He questioned with a frown still not knowing what was going to happen tonight.
"Hey let's talk out here before we go..." Penny said suggesting to go out further in the hallway an shutting the door so he dad could not hear.
Leonard nodded an stepped backwards as Penny looked at him. "Um about tonight..."
Leonard interrupted, with his hands in his pockets, looking up at Penny. "Before you say anything just look at tonight as an open mind and I promise we will have fun."
Penny smiled, "I like that idea." Then the walked togehter to her elevator and began their date. Leonard got in the driver side after helping Penny in the passenger side, she asked after some awkward silence, "So what do you have planned for tonight?"
Leonard tapped his fingers on the stearing wheel feeling nervous that Penny might judge where they might go. "Well I thought we go have a nice dinner and the other half is a surprise. Hey have you ever heard of the multiverse theory?" He wanted to make sure Penny would remember this night looking at her nervously.
Penny shook her head, "No."
Leonard smiled as he drove down the boulevard, "Good! Okay well the multiverse is a hypothetical group of multiple universes including the universe in which we live. Together, these universes comprise everything that exists..." Leonard explained this to Penny for the next ten mintues.
Penny felt in awe because somehow Leonard made her think about things deeper about everything. "Wow, so you are saying even though there is no proof of this but a possibility there our more of you and me out there somewhere living completely lives?" She asked with wonder.
"Yeah, you know there might be a universe where you and me could not know each other at all or maybe one we have known each other for years. There might be one where you are living your dream as an actress. Or one I might not even be an experimental physicist. We may never know or we will." Leonard was smiling, happy that Penny seemed interested what he had to tell her. Before they knew it though they arrived at the restaurant.
After they were sitted and handed a menu, Penny knew exactly what she was craving, so she put her menu down. She waited for Leonard to finish. As he was, Penny decided to ask him a few things. "Hey, so why do you think I finally wanted to go on a date with you?"
Leonard felt off guard almost spitting out his water making Penny chuckle. "Well honestly I don't know. But as I was getting ready for our date the more I thought about it I came up with some good reasonings. Do you want to them?"
Penny nodded with a smile, "Yeah sure!"
"Okay..." Leonard let out a small breath as he fidgeted with his fingers. "Okay one: I am a physicist right so I can figure things out for ourselves. I mean, I spend all day working on things I don't exactly understand with the end results of trying to understand it better. I'm a physicists and I love solving puzzles. Two:.." He held up two fingers. "I'm good with being patient and separating fact from opinions. Honesty and rationality tends to be a common trait you'll find, and that lends well to strong relationships built on trust and communication. So am I right?" Leonard gave Penny a hopeful look.
She nodded again with smile, "Yeah those are good why I would have decided to go on a date with you. Or just maybe I am ready for an adult relationship with a guy who is smart, shows he cares about me, and someone who loves my son. Is that a good enough for you?"
Leonard reached out and took Penny's hands into his, "Yeah they are but my reasonings are pretty incredible too..."
"I didn't say I disagree but I'm glad you are here with me...So why did you finally want to go out with me even though I made you turn fifty shades of red kissing you in front of my dad, son, and roommate?" Penny asked still holding hands with Leonard.
"That did surprise me. Because that was very bold and something I would have never done. But Penny yeah at first it was based on your looks. Because in my own opinion you are one of the most gorgeous women I have ever met. But as I got to know you, I just wanted to get to know you better. You have became one great friend and I can not wait to know you even better. I know you have not had an adult relationship but had to become a adult too soon. I want to be your first adult boyfriend and we can experience new things together. But if we need to go slow I am willing to do that. Is that okay?" Leonard worried he brought up the boyfriend word and waited.
"Are you asking if we can be boyfriend and girlfriend?" Penny asked teasing Leonard.
"If you are okay with that? And with Jacob also." Leonard felt more anxious than before as he felt sweat dripping down his forehead.
Penny couldn't help noticed how cute Leonard was looking right now. "Oh I know Jacob will not have a problem, but as for me.. I absolutely have no problem with that." She leaned down and kissed Leonard's knuckles.
So that night they made their relationship official and enjoyed their dinner. As the evening went on Leonard took Penny to Topanga State Park. The evening was warm but there was a slight chill to the wind to the clear night. Leonard asked Penny to stand by the passenger door as he went to the trunk, he took a blanket out and wrapped it around Penny. Then went back to the trunk and grabbed another blanket and his telescope. Penny followed Leonard about for five mintues. Leonard told her this was the perfect spot. He laid down the blanket and asked Penny to sit. So she did as she watched Leonard set up his telescope and read some papers. After a few mintues Leonard asked Penny to come see. Penny could not imagian stars could be so romantic but they were. She looked away from the telescope and looked at her new boyfriend and took the nap of his shirt. She pulled Leonard closer and kissed him hard.
For the next hour they just sat on the blanket enjoying themselves stargazing. Penny kept her head on Leonard's shoulder as he told her what consolation which one was which by the paper Raj gave him earlier. Penny could have not thought of a more romantic night. Leonard was completely different from the boys back home, thinking a romantic night was mudding in a truck, trying to tip a cow, and having sex in back of a pickup truck.