Trying to fit in.

Penny and Leonard find themselves in awkward situations that they can only get out of by relying on each other. I make no claim to owning Penny or Leonard. I just enjoy putting them in situations that the writers will not.

It was time to start Lamaze classes. Penny was entered into a class that had women that barely looked like they were showing at all. Everyone was introducing themselves, there were some typical power couples, Ken and Barbie types, others were a young girl with an older guy, a second marriage couple and a couple that looked like they were barely old enough to even think of having a baby. Penny immediately thought of what might have happened to her when she was in High School... more than once. She reached over and took Leonard's hand and immediately received a reassuring smile from him. It amazed her once more that even without thinking, or trying, he always could make her feel better by saying or doing the one thing she needed.

The others were just average couples. When it came to their turn, and feeling a bit self conscious about how big she was compared to some of them, especially the Barbie types, Penny was not shy at all to let the class know that she was carrying twins. The reaction from the other mothers immediately put Penny at ease.

The first class was not at all what Leonard had expected. Instead of learning breathing exercises, something he was assured they would learn later, the couples found themselves on the floor doing yoga. Thankful that there were plenty of other guys that couldn't balance on one foot, he was really going to have to be convinced that rolling around on the floor was somehow associated with giving birth.

In the car ride home, Leonard turned to his wife. "What was all THAT about?"

Penny immediately broke her silence and let out the laugh she was holding in. "Leonard, those were very basic Yoga positions. They relax you. You would have been better prepared if you actually joined me at home when I asked you".

Leonard shook his head. "There were at least six of us that were not in the least bit... relaxed."

Penny giggled. "Yeah, well at least those guys helped THEIR partner get up."

Leonard sighed. "Yeah, thank you for that. Was it weird at all for you? Like you didn't really belong there?"

Penny shrugged. "I guess, a little. I mean, look at those other women. some were so perfect... and tiny... then you look at me and I'm just not like them."

Getting home was not a problem, Leonard admitted he could do better and Penny agreed to help him. She was way ahead of the other mothers in the class exercises, with a little work, she was sure she could get Leonard to a place he wouldn't feel so out of place with the yoga. And Leonard reassured her that she was not different, or out of place, she was special because she was carrying twins.

Later that night, Penny called Leonard into their bedroom. She stood by the dresser tugging on the bra to her orange bikini. It was time to take the monthly photograph.

Leonard came into the room and immediately leaned on the door frame. What he saw was a ever growing, very beautiful pregnant woman seeming to position her breasts into a shrinking garment. That said nothing of the bottoms of the bathing suit. From the back, it was easy to see that one existed, but from the front, things were becoming a bit more ambiguous, and the ties on the sides and behind Penny's neck were becoming farther apart.

Penny looked up. "What"?

Leonard smiled as he pulled out his phone. "You look beautiful"!

Penny rolled her eyes. "I look HUGE! Now, take the picture"!

Leonard stood straight. "Turn in profile."

After she was satisfied her husband didn't sneak a picture of her ass, Penny sat on the bed. "Okay, now that that's over with, come here."

Leonard stood looking at his wife. "Um, for what?"

Penny smiled. "You need to work on your yoga, it's either here or on the floor in the living room. Either way, take off your pants. You need to be able to bend easier."

Leonard put on his problem solving look. "OHhhh... I see where this is going."

Penny giggled. "That depends on how good you do with the yoga, but I like that you are motivated". She watched as Leonard stripped down to a t-shirt, boxers and socks. Then chewed on her bottom lip as he climbed onto the bed.

Penny scooched around facing away from her husband. "First, sit back to back with me." Leonard did as he was asked. Penny took a deep breath. "This is supposed to be good for back pain. Lean against me." She then leaned back, pushing Leonard forward stretching out his spine.

Leonard groaned. "Oh, that felt good. So now let me do it to you." He then leaned back, pushing Penny forward. She hummed enjoying the feeling of stretching with the help of her husband.

Penny put both hands down on the bed. "Okay, sit facing me with the soles of your feet touching and then hold my hands". They both sat looking at their partner. Penny leaned back, pulling Leonard to her, then let him do the same to her.

Leonard sighed easily. "This feels SO good!"

Penny smiled. "I know right? These exercises are supposed to relax you, well, me really, but you too if you help me." They continued to see saw back and forth inching closer to each other as they pulled deeper into their exercise.

Leonard found himself being distracted by the fact that on every other pull, he had his face getting closer and closer to Penny's breasts. Penny could easily see that there was a "Look" on his face when they sat up just before she found herself pulled into his chest. As she looked down, she could easily see why. There was a tell tale bulge in his boxers that was growing. On one particularly deep pull, "Alvin" poked his head out of Leonard's shorts. A smile came across Penny's face and she released one hand, quickly reaching behind herself and releasing the bra tie, and discarding the small garment. Leonard did not miss a beat and was now enjoying the efforts Penny was making to bring him closer to her bare breasts. A benefit for her was watching "Alvin" make a grand entrance through the opening in Leonard's boxers. Penny then released her husband's hands and caressed his little friend as he reached for her breasts. It took little time for Penny to roll to her side with Leonard falling in behind her.

The next morning found Penny still wrapped in Leonard's arm, only he was not asleep. He was softly, slowly rubbing her belly. Penny smiled to herself and wanted to drift back off to sleep until Leonard stopped and just held his hand on her belly. All of a sudden, there was a sharp poke to the palm of his hand. Leonard reflexively pulled his hand back and half sat up. "What was THAT?"

Penny rolled onto her back and then started to slowly rub her own belly. "Someone clearly didn't want you to stop rubbing them".

Leonard sat up fully gazing down at his wife's growing bump. "H... how long has that been happening?"

Penny smiled as she took Leonard's hand and placed it back on her belly, holding it in place. "Just a little while... I wanted it to be a surprise for you".

Leonard lay back down next to his wife. "Well, it sure was". After a short while there was another bump from inside Penny's bump. Leonard gasped slightly. "Wow..." He just leaned over and kissed the mother of his children and then lay his head on her belly. Penny smiled and ran her fingers through his hair.

After falling to sleep again for a short while just as they were, Leonard got out of bed and covered his wife who sleepily took the covers and pulled them closer to herself while scooting back into the warm spot vacated by her husband.

Leonard stood in the kitchen in his robe with a cup of coffee and a cranberry/orange muffin. Penny came down the hall wrapped in her long yellow robe and fluffy slippers. She smiled as she took her cup of half-caf. She put a kiss on his cheek and sat at the breakfast island. "Thanks Sweetie, you are so great letting me sleep in". She then took a bite of his muffin.

Leonard took a sip of his coffee. "It looks like you're comfortably in for the morning."

Penny got off the stool she was sitting on and stepped toward the open space by the coffee table. "Yeah... but first... yoga."

Leonard watched as Penny stepped out of her slippers and placed her robe on Leonard's chair. What he now saw was Penny, barefoot, with what he assumed was some sort of sports bra and pregnancy yoga pants that ended at just below her knees. "Well, THAT'S not what I was expecting."

Penny looked back at her husband as she placed a yoga mat on the floor. "Sweetie, not every time I do yoga is going to be in a bikini that doesn't even fit anymore."

Leonard shrugged. "Too bad, it was a good look".

Penny giggled. "Before or after I took it off"? Leonard just smiled widely. Penny rolled her eyes. Come over here and help me". She then placed a second yoga mat on the floor.

Leonard raised his eyebrows. "I see where this is going..."

Penny put her hands on her hips. " LEONARD!"

Leonard came over and stood on his mat, dropping his robe onto the couch, standing in his t-shirt, socks and boxers. "Okay, what do we do now?"

Penny's concentration wavered as she looked at her husband in one of her favorite outfits. She blinked her eyes and shook her head. "Just hold my hand until I balance... it's a little more difficult these days."

Leonard looked at his wife. "Well, you do have a disproportionate weight distribution as compared to your optimal balance point." The look he received from his wife was deafeningly silent. "So... hold your hand... okay..."

Penny smiled. "Good." She held out her hand for support and stood on one foot, placing the other on the side of her knee. Once she got her balance, she took her hand back and let out a breath as she put her palms together in front of her chest. She looked over. "C'mon... your turn..."

Leonard did his best, wobbling recklessly until he seemed to get into control. "See? I can do this."

Penny smiled and shifted her weight slowly holding her arms out before her as she bent at the waist and stretched her free leg out behind her. Letting out another breath. "Very good, keep going..."

Leonard tried his best, failing at the attempt, falling onto the couch with a stumble. "Darn..."

Penny giggled. "Hey... language! Try this. it's called warrior one." Penny stood with both feet on the mat, one arm stretched out in front. one behind with one leg slightly bent at the knee. Leonard followed her form. She then bent backwards. "Okay, now warrior two". Leonard easily followed. Penny smiled giggling and then suddenly stopped. "Oh!"

Leonard stood up. "What? Are you okay?"

Penny stood up holding her back and then brought her hands around to her belly. "Yeah... nothing to worry about". Let's do an easy one. It's called downward dog. You just put both hands on the ground and stick your butt in the air. Leonard was hesitant but followed his directions.

Once in place Leonard smiled over at his wife noticing she was grimacing. "What"?!

Penny squeezed her eyes shut. "I can't move..."

Leonard started to breathe faster. "Is it your back? Is it the babies?"

Penny tried to breathe. "I don't know!" Leonard stood up and quickly paced. He grabbed her by the waist and tried to lift her up. Penny gasped. "No, no, no, no... stop that!"

Leonard pulled his hands back. "Okay, okay, don't panic... I'll sit just under you, bent over a little... you put your hands on my back and slowly walk your way up my back like a ramp." He knelt way down and wedged his way between Penny's arms. Penny moved her hands to his lower back and shuffled forward, moving her hands up a few inches.

Penny continued until her hands were on his shoulders. "Better... Now what?"

Leonard thought quickly. "Just hold on". He then moved one leg then the other so he was squatting. "I'm going to slowly stand up. You just hold on".

Everything was going fine until Leonard suddenly stopped. Penny was getting worried. "Leonard, move please!"

Leonard was sort of standing with his hands on his thighs. "Can't..."

Penny looked around. "Well, we can't stay like THIS!"

Leonard agreed. "Okay... I'll move to the left to the couch. When we get close enough, you fall over... but be careful." Penny nodded and Leonard shimmied over to the couch. When Penny felt the couch, she let go and fell to her left onto the soft cushions of the couch. Leonard then fell forward and crawled to his chair, clawing his way to sitting up.

Penny rolled onto her back on the couch. "Are you okay?"

Leonard sat up. "What the HELL was that?"

Penny rubbed her belly softly. "I think I was having a contraction. I didn't want to move. My belly is a little tight".

Leonard stood up quickly. "WHAT?!... Argggg". He then sat down.

Penny twisted her head to look at her husband. "I'm okay now, probably just one of those Braxton-Hick thingies we were reading about. If nothing happens in another ten minutes we should be okay." They waited pretty much in silence.

Penny sat up and saw Leonard leaning back with his eyes closed. "Sweetie? One of the things to do with those Braxtons is to take a warm bath. Do you want to share?" She then got up and took Leonard's hand guiding him to the bathroom.

Leonard shuffled into the bathroom with one hand on his back, the other being led by his wife. He filled the tub with very warm water. Not too hot, but definitely warmer than usual. Penny wanted to let her husband get in first as she was a little concerned about the heat of the water. Leonard saw the concern on her face. He leaned down and took a small round object out of the bath. "Penny, it's fine. Look, the water is only about 100 degrees." The confusion on her face only worsened. Leonard shrugged. "It's Sheldon's bath thermometer, he left it here saying Amy had some hippy dippy ideas about indeterminate bath water temperatures."

Penny smiled as she watched Leonard slowly lower himself into the filling tub as she added bubble bath. Seeing him settle and sigh in relief, she quickly joined him and sank under the suds as she leaned back into his hold. It wasn't long before Penny completely relaxed with the help of the soft massaging of her husband's hands on her belly. When the water temperature started to cool, the couple finished their bath and dressed comfortably for the day.

Sitting on the couch, her feet up on a pillow with a warm bowl of soup, and a grilled cheese sandwich, Penny turned. "Thank you for all the attention, but when are you going to go to the Doctor and have your back checked out? That was a little awkward, the two of us stuck like that."

Leonard took a bite of his ham sandwich. "It just proves that when we work together, we can always work it out no matter what. And I have an appointment Wednesday. I'm sure its nothing. I probably just pulled something at yoga class."

Penny sighed. "Leonard, those exercises were ALL pretty basic and simple, they wouldn't have us doing anything that could PULL anything. There was a room full of pregnant women".

Leonard smiled. "See? I'm an overachiever ". Penny just rolled her eyes.