"Is this correct?" Penny asked after completing a math's question. She and Leonard were sitting in her bedroom during a tutoring session. Leonard looked at the answer.

"The answer is 5/2. Not the number you got" Leonard corrected.

"Oh no!" Penny said. "I thought I did it right."

"Let me see your working." Leonard said. He looked at the several lines worth of maths and looked for a mistake.

"Oh!" Leonard said when he saw the mistake.

"Oh, what?" Penny asked. "What is my mistake?"

"Penny, what is 4 times 2?" Leonard asked.

"Umm… eight." She said after thinking.

"Well you seemed to think it was 6." He informed. Penny saw this and sighed.

"In my mind I must've added 4 and 2." She said. "Damn, how stupid do I feel now."

"It is good that your method is correct." Leonard said. "That is what the teacher will give the most marks on."

"I know." she said but still looked defeated.

"Speaking of marks, did you get your science test back?" Leonard asked. Penny had a science test on physics the week before and had spent a lot of time with Leonard making sure she knew everything.

"No." she said. "We're getting the grade tomorrow. Just what I need on Valentine's Day, right?"

"It should be a good result." Leonard re-assured "You seemed to know most of it when we were studying."

"I know! But I feel like I messed up one of the questions!" She said. She visibly wanted to change the topic so she went with the first thing that came to mind. "Hey, I should show you what I bought Kurt for Valentine's Day."

"Seriously? Me?" Leonard questioned.

"Look at this." Penny grabbed a football and showed it to him.

"Is this good?" Leonard asked.

"Of course. It is a special kind. Cost me an afternoon's pay from work." She explained.

Leonard shrugged. "I guess this is a fine present. Not an area that I'm knowledgeable in to trust though…"

"What about you? Did you follow all my advice and plans for Priya?" she asked.

Leonard nodded. "Everything is already. I just have to drive her to the restaurant tomorrow evening."

"If I were on a date with a guy who planned this I wouldn't even bother waiting to have sex." Penny said. "We'd be doing it right on the salad bar."

Leonard gave a disgusted expression. "Not where I was heading with this date." He said. "And I don't think it is that good."

"Okay it isn't that good" Penny said. "But if she hasn't done anything sexual before dessert then I'd be surprised."

#

Valentine's Day

"Is Alfred Hofstadter here?" Leonard asked.

The woman at reception shook her head. "He isn't in. Would you like me to inform him of something once he arrives?"

Leonard shook his head "I'd like to see him. I'm his son." Leonard showed his school ID card which had his last name on it. Talking to a receptionist in an office building was something he wasn't very familiar with doing. It felt more adult than expected.

The woman nodded. "Okay. Wait over on those seats." She pointed to a waiting area. "I'll tell him when you arrive."

Leonard sat and waited for a long time. He kept noticing the receptionist glancing over to him, to see if he was still there.

"Hello Patricia." Leonard heard a familiar voice say. He looked and saw his father walking in.

"Hello Alfred." She responded. "There is someone here to see you." She gestured over to where Leonard was sitting. Alfred turned and saw him. He gave a confused look and walked over.

"Leonard? What are you doing here?"

"I came to visit you." He explained. "It has been a week since you stormed out of the house and I haven't seen you…"

"We can continue talking in my office." He interrupted. "Follow me."

Leonard walked with his father to his office. He had never seen this place of work but he knew it was smaller than his workplace in New Jersey. He had taken whatever job he could find as Leonard's mother's saw her career, and job at Caltech, to be more important. The two walked in and Alfred shut the door.

"You should be at school." He said to Leonard. "Won't you be late?"

Leonard shrugged. "I hoped you would call the school and tell them I will be late. You know, given the circumstances."

Alfred didn't argue. "I'll do that. But what did you want to talk to me about."

Leonard felt a twinge of awkwardness. He never had to talk to his father this way before. "Well you've been gone for a week and I was wondering when you were returning. I hope that you are going to be returning. Right?"

Alfred sighed. "I'm sorry Leonard." He apologised. "I've tried with my relationship but nothing works. The book is the 'deal-breaker'. I will not be returning to Beverly until she stops it."

"Well… Mother won't stop the book." Leonard said bluntly. "But… we still want you around."

Alfred took a deep breath. "You've never gone through a relationship fading over time. Not yet anyways." He said. "I can't expect you to understand this but I can't stand by happily as your mother spills family embarrassments and lies."

"Isn't there anything you can do?" Leonard asked. "Can you do something legally? We are your children and don't want…"

Alfred put his hands to his head and looked defeated. "When I was younger I signed something saying she could do it. I'm sorry Leonard. I can't stand myself when I think about it. I was a busy young scientist who only saw the logic in it. I wasn't a father yet."

Leonard saw his disappointment with himself and decided to change the topic to avoid any awkwardness. "But it is Valentine's Day! You can't be alone today!" he said. "Even I have a date."

Alfred's eyes opened in realisation. "I completely forgot! That is sad…" he admitted. "Did you know that your mother and I had our first date on Valentine's Day?"

Leonard shook his head. "That doesn't sound like mother…"

"That is because I suggested it." He said. "She went along with it."

Leonard couldn't help but give a small laugh. "That makes sense."

"Leonard, I know you came here to convince me to come back but…" Alfred paused to think. "But I just can't. I can't be with her whilst she does this. It is taking a stand."

"But do you have to take a stand without me or Michael?" Leonard questioned.

"You are right Leonard." He said. "Usually when this happens I'm not away for long. I guess I was stuck in a routine. I promise to keep in contact with you."

Leonard gave a small smile. "Great."

"I think you should head off to school as I have a meeting soon." He said whilst and glanced at his watch. "I am staying at room 3a of the same hotel you sprained your arm in. Do you remember that?"

"I do." Leonard nodded. His cast was about a week away from being taken off.

"I'll call the school and you can go." He said. "Do you have a lift?"

"I drove myself."

"Oh, and good luck on your date tonight." He said "You must have something planned."

"I do have something planned." He said. "But I just need everything to according to plan."

#

"Oh, Leonard won't want to go."

"Why not?"

"Umm… well…." Howard tried to think of a reason. Leonard noticed the two talking about something as he walked into school but decided he needed to get to his locker first.

"Oh, there he is now." Raj saw him. "I'll go and ask him." He and Howard walked up to Leonard.

"Hey Raj. Hey Howard." Leonard greeted. He was mildly annoyed his walk had been interrupted but didn't show it.

"Why are you strolling into school now?" Raj asked. "It is morning break."

"I had to do something important." He explained. "Long story. Anyways why do I have the honour of your presence." He said with sarcasm.

"I am planning a singles gathering for tonight as it is Valentine's Day." Raj explained. "And as far as I know both you and Howard are single."

"I'll be attending but I definitely understand if you don't." Howard said, hinting at Leonard having a girlfriend.

"I'm sorry but I have to help my father tonight." Leonard lied. He had come up with a lie in case Raj asked about his plans. "He and my mother are living separately right now."

"Oh, I'm sorry dude." Raj said. "If you need anyone to help…"

"It is okay." Leonard interrupted before the lie could become anything more.

"Anyways, who else do you think is single?" Raj asked. "I asked some of the other people in our advanced class. And some people I know from temple and the comic book store."

"Sheldon Cooper." Leonard said.

"If you think I would invite Sheldon to a social gathering, think again." Raj said. "And he isn't single. He has Amy."

Leonard shook his head. "Not for the party. I mean, Sheldon Cooper is walking towards us right now."

The three turned and saw Sheldon walk up to the group. "My Vulcan hearing heard something about inviting me to a social situation. Is this true?"

"Well in fact it is but it was for not…."

"What social gathering? Comic-con?" Sheldon asked.

"Raj and I are having a singles party tonight for Valentine's Day." He explained.

"Oh the word party makes my brain cry." Sheldon said.

"It is more of a social gathering then a party." Howard said. "Everyone who would like a party would have a Valentine's date." He joked.

"Oh. In that case can I bring Amy?" Sheldon asked. "I believe given her recent trauma she needs a small amount of social interaction. I'd like to think myself tolerant of her situation even if I have to endure social anxieties with her."

"Did you hear the theme of the event?" Raj asked rhetorically. "Single's party!"

"Oh, I did. As I said before I have Vulcan hearing." He explained. "And we both fit the criteria. Neither of us are romantically involved with someone."

"So is Sheldon invited then?" Leonard couldn't help but smirk. Howard and Raj gave an awkward look at each other.

"I guess if Sheldon really wants to endure our social gathering then, yes, he is invited." Raj said but sounded like he didn't want to. "It is at Howard's house. 7pm start."

Sheldon nodded. "Okay then." He said. "But to tangent to the reason I came up to you, Leonard, Gablehauser said you weren't in science class this morning and he wanted to speak to you. He said if I saw you, to tell you to see him."

"Why?" Leonard asked.

"I didn't care enough to ask." Sheldon said. "I'll walk away now. Good day to you all." He then walked away from the three.

"Great. Our party will suck." Raj complained.

"It is a singles party. It was gonna suck anyway." Howard rebutted. "And now we can blame it on Sheldon." He gave a small laugh.

#

After going to his locker Leonard went to Gablehauser's classroom where he resided. He knocked on the door.

"Come in." he heard Gablehauser say. He opened the door and saw Gablehauser at his desk. "Hello Leonard."

Leonard walked up to the desk Gablehauser was at.

"You wanted to see me?" Leonard said like it was a question.

"Look at this." Gablehauser handed him several pieces of paper stapled together. It was a science test and had Penny's name on it.

"Why am I looking at this?" Leonard asked.

"Look at the grade."

"I think this Penny's business." Leonard said awkwardly.

"This is important, Leonard." He said.

Leonard sighed and looked. It had an 'A' on it.

"Penny got an A!" he exclaimed. "Wow!"

"You look surprised." He said. "If she didn't mess up the last question it would have been an A+"

"So what am I doing here?" Leonard asked.

"She told me you were tutoring her." He explained. "And her grades have dramatically improved since then."

"She has worked really hard since I started tutoring her." Leonard explained.

"I just wonder if you took a page from Sheldon's book and helped her a little too much." Gablehauser hinted at something.

Leonard shook his head. "She didn't cheat! I would never help someone cheat!"

"It is just that I've never seen grades from Penny like this." he said. "So I apologise if I have interrogated you. I just wanted to make sure nothing crafty was going on."

"Oh, nothing like that." Leonard insisted.

"Thank you Leonard." He said. "And hopefully you will be in the next science class."

"You should. I just wasn't there this morning as I had a family commitment." He said, not wanting to explain that he went to visit his father who left due to a disagreement with his mother.

#

Amy saw that Bernadette's bedroom door was opened. She walked up to it and knocked. Bernadette was at her desk, writing down something for her homework. She turned and saw Amy.

"Hello Amy." She said.

"Can I borrow that lipstick again?" Amy asked, referring to the lipstick she used when she and Sheldon went to the 'Science Of The Brain' talk at Caltech.

"So you liked make-up?" Bernadette said with a sly smile.

"I'm undecided about my opinions on make-up." She said "So I'm going to try it again."

"Then maybe you should try some blush or eye shadow." Bernadette said. "I have a lot of stuff I use for special occasions."

"No thank you." She shook her head. "The lipstick will be enough."

Bernadette nodded and stood up. She walked over to her make-up supplies which were on a nearby shelf and grabbed the lipstick. She handed it to Amy.

"So what are you and Sheldon doing tonight?" she asked.

Amy looked surprised. "I never mentioned Sheldon and I doing anything."

"I just assumed." She explained. "It only made sense that you wanted make-up to meet up with your boyfriend."

"I wish you wouldn't call him my boyfriend." Amy said. "It is weird. We are not romantic."

"You go on dates…"

"We talk and then participate in whatever activity we planned." Amy said. "No unsanitary exchanges of bodily fluids."

"Not everyone is intimate straight away." Bernadette said. "And I doubt Sheldon would be. Doesn't mean he isn't…"

"We are going to a singles party." Amy interrupted. "Sheldon invited me to it. If he invited me to a singles party, then he must assume I am single."

Bernadette gave a thoughtful look. "A singles party? I'm single!"

"That is true." Amy said. "Sheldon told me Howard and Raj are organising it."

Bernadette rolled her eyes. "Not them."

"Maybe you should come." Amy said. "I would feel more comfortable if I had more people I liked there. I would like for you to attend."

"Really?"

"I'm not going to force you." Amy said. "But, like many people, I have an opinion."

Bernadette nodded. "I can get ready quickly. When is it?"

"I was going to leave in five minutes. I just needed the make-up." She explained. "I asked your dad to drive me."

"I'll get ready." She said. "You play with the lipstick whilst you wait."

#

"We need to leave Dad!" Bernadette shouted five minutes later. Amy was secretly impressed at how quickly she had gotten ready. To be fair, Bernadette didn't wear as many layers as her.

Bernadette's father walked to the two of them. "I need to talk to Amy in private." He said. He then handed Bernadette the car keys. "Go and get the car out of the garage."

Bernadette looked at her father curiously. "What is it?"

"Bernadette, I need to talk to Amy." Mike said sternly. Bernadette nodded and left the two.

"What do you want to talk about Mr. Rostenkowski?" Amy questioned.

"I was just on the phone with someone from the station." He explained. "He said they've contacted your father."

Amy's eyes opened in surprise. "What?"

"Your father seems to be undecided about being your guardian." He continued "But he wants to see you."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Amy questioned. "That is such a short time. I… I… I…" Amy was speechless. She hadn't seen him for many years. And the next day she was going to see him. Amy was smart but was finding it difficult to comprehend this information. Bernadette's father saw this.

"I understand if you don't want to go out anymore." He said. "I just thought you should know about this as soon as you should."

Amy gave a fake smile. "No, it is okay." She said. "And Sheldon is expecting me there. It would be tardy to bail out right now."

"You sure?" he asked again.

"Yes." Amy gave another fake smile.

"Okay. Let's go then." Bernadette's father said. The two walked out of the home but Amy was hardly concentrating on anything around her though. She could hardly believe that she would see her father the next day.

#

Leonard drove up to where he was picking Priya up for their date. It was away from her home and her work. She didn't want anyone who could tell her family anything to see. Leonard couldn't help but run the date through his head once again. Gablehauser's interrogation did make him think of how smart Penny actually was in comparison to the image she liked to put across, so surely this date that they organised together would work? And the present Penny helped him choose to?

And this would possibly be the third time he and Priya would attempt to have sex. The first time was when he lied about having contacts in and sprained his arm. The second was when her parents went away and Howard walked in on them. Valentine's Day would be the perfect date for him to lose his virginity and for him and Priya to have their first time. And people did say third time lucky. But he was also reminded of something Penny had said once during one of their earlier tutoring session.

"Three strikes and you're out." Penny said.

"Huh?"

"It is a baseball thing." She explained. "But people say it in normal chats sometimes."

"Oh, right." Leonard said. "Of course I know that. But why bring it up?"

"This is the third time I've tried to do this quadratics question." Penny said. "That is kinda sad. It would prove how bad I am at maths."

And Penny succeeded in getting that question right on the third try. But would Leonard be as lucky on his date with Priya?

He saw Priya in a nice dress outside of the car. Leonard got out the car and made sure she saw him. She walked over and he opened the car door to let her in.

"Thank you Leonard." She said.

"No problems." Leonard gave a smile. He got back in the car.

"So where are we going. You told me to dress nice so I assume it is…"

"You look very pretty Priya." Leonard said the first thing on his mind. He heard a nervousness in his voice "Nice dress."

"Thanks." Priya sounded unsure of the situation.

"Let's go." Leonard started the car. "Let the Valentine's Day date begin."

"Okay." Priya gave a small smile but still seemed unsure.

Leonard took a deep breath. He already felt like Priya had noticed his nervousness. He just hoped he'd be able to make it through the night.

What do you think of this chapter? This Valentine's Day 'scenario' will be over two chapters. I know this may seem a bit 'Part 1' where I have to set-up 'Part 2' but the next chapter should have some exciting and story-changing moments that'll make it worth it. Next chapter will have the singles gathering and the LeonardxPriya date. Penny will also be in somewhere in there too but I'm not spoiling how.

Thank you all for reading. My college schedule has been very busy which is why this is shorter, and maybe less well written, then the previous chapters. If you liked, please favourite and follow on here or on tumblr(clintcooper). Also review if you wish to leave any feedback or would like to make any predictions or comments about the plot. I know in a previous chapter I apologised for not going along with predictions but that was just to make sure people knew I wasn't purposely changing the plot so it would go for or against what someone reviewed. And I was never aiming that at one particular reviewer.

Thank you all again.

Clint Cooper.