Chapter 21
It was a month since Penny broke up with Leonard. He was a smart man but the last thirty days Leonard had no clue what to do for the first time in his life. When those words came out of Penny's mouth it felt like someone had punched him in the gut, metaphorical speaking. He just walked around depressed making Sheldon fearing they would be getting a cat. "Did you ask why she ended the relationship with you?" Sheldon asked while they were trying do some work on their white boards. Sheldon was feeling annoyed that Leonard kept making errors so he gave up and decided to get Leonard back on track.
Leonard slumped into his desk chair. His chin then rested on his fist and sighed, "Yes and her reasoning was she felt like a brudden in my life. I tried reasoning with but her mind was already made up. So I drove her home and respectfully have left her alone since..." Leonard then sighed again.
"Oh good lord!" Sheldon began and began to ramble on how now Leonard can now concentrate on his work and forget Penny and her son. Leonard did not pay attention much but as soon as he heard Penny and Jacob's name he became very upset at his friend. He stood up and tapped Sheldon on the shoulder. Sheldon looked confused as Leonard looked angry.
"You know what? Penny is great and so is her son. Those two were the best things that ever happen to me! I am sorry I am upset but loosing them has made me quite miserable. So I rather you say nothing about either one of them again!" Then he turned around to grab his keys out of the bowl. Sheldon was explaining hself but Leonard did not care. As he was about to storm out and opened the door, Leonard stood a back. There was a woman who he thought he would never see again. "Penny?" Leonard said almost breathless. "What? Why are you here?"
Penny bit her bottom lip for a second, suddenly feeling lost for words. "Looks like you are leaving...Could I join you, you know so maybe we can talk? That is if you want to." She hoped he would so she could explain herself now she had time to think. Leonard wanted to say no, but between the choices he had, Penny was his first choice. Unlike Sheldon who was completely ignoring what was going on right now. Leonard looked between Sheldon and Penny, then shrugged his shoulder's at Penny, "Why not."
They have might walked together down the stairs but a word was said. Until they were outside his aprtment building, "So where do you want to talk?" Leonard asked not sure what else to say. "We could go for a walk. It is quite nice out." Penny suggested but was still unsure how things would go.
Leonard rubbed the back of his neck and looked up at her with his big brown eyes. "Yeah I guess..." He agreed even if he did not like taking walks but it was with Penny. He would do anything with her or for her still even if they were not together. Leonard knew he shouldn't but he wanted Penny to know he still cared. So they began to walk, Penny carried her purse on her shoulder with her arms crossed. Leonard shoved his hands in his pockets as he watched were he was walking. He then turned his head towards Penny with a questionable look. "Hey where is Jacob?"
Penny looked at Leonard with a smile. "Oh my sister and nephew are here for a week. She needed to get away from her husband before she shot him again..." Then Penny had blank stare as Leonard gave her a confused look. She shook her head to get back on track. "He's an ass... They fight...Anyways Jacob is with them. She heard what I did so she got on the first flight here. It was her or my dad. After what my dad told everyone how great you were, my sister could not wait to meet you. But I messed things up pretty good." Penny then looked at Leonard with a symptomatic look.
Leonard saw a bench and asked Penny to come sit down. Once they sat, Leonard leaned forward looking towards the traffic on the street. Penny had her legs crossed and was just staring at Leonard. She looked towards the street once Leonard sat back and let out a huge sigh. "You didn't make a mess of things. I get it. But to be honest, your life could get alot worse and I still would have cared for you and Jacob. I still do."
Penny turned and gave him a big smile and leaned her head on his shoulder. "Why are you so nice to me?"
Leonard suddenly was confused by Penny's affection and her question. He put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer and began to lighten the mood some. "Well I am a nerd. You're hot and gave me a shot. Plus you happen to have one amazing kid. Most women would not have gave me a chance. So yeah I'm going to be nice to you." Leonard confessed to her.
Penny nudged him and looked at him. "Leonard you should hate me. I broke up with you. That was a huge mistake. My dad saying something how great you are means alot. He never says that about any guy. I just really did not want you to have to worry about me or Jacob. Our lives going to get more complicated once Donny get the DNA results back..."
Leonard turned as Penny lifted her head as they both looked at each other. Leonard sat side ways on the bench and frowned at Penny. "Penny, the day met you, I was attracted to you. Probably like many men are. But the moment I met Jacob I was already in. I have not cared one bit how complicated your life becomes. But you have to stop pushing me away and stop thinking what is best for me. My mother did that eighteen years of my life."
"Okay..."She began an held up he hamds up in defense. "So what if I ask you to dinner tonight with myself and my sister, along with Jacob and my nephew?" Penny asked giving Leonard a hopeful look.
Leonard raised an eyebrow, "What does that mean?" Penny rolled her eyes with a smile. "I'm asking you out to dinner in a non date form. More or so for my sister to hee stop wondering why I broke up with you. And I guess, if things go well, maybe give this single mom another shot because her son really misses you." She then grinned ear to ear at Leonard.
Leonard felt amused as he tried to get Penny to confess her real reasoning, "Are you sure his mom doesn't miss me at all. You know a short ashmatic scientist..." His look was smug.
"Fine, okay! Are you happy to hear that. Leonard I miss you. I get it if you would not want to be with me again. But I will take being friends if we can work on that? But Jacob really does miss his best friend. You are good for him and some kind of normalcy. Which he will need once Donny comes into the picture."
Leonard thought for a moment and knew he would be in a relationship with Penny in a heartbeat again. But yet also knew it probably would not be the best. He could work for a friendship with her once again. "You know what we can work on being friends. So tonight just dinner as friends and plus I to see Jacob. Oh yeah and hear good stories of younger Penny from your sister..."
Penny squinted her eyes at him as Leonard just gave her another smug smile.
That evening, Leonard showed up to tue restaurant finding Penny and Jacob easily. He guessed the burnett woman sitting across from her was her sister and the young boy who looked older than Jacob, was Penny's nephew. Leonard took a deep breath as his nerves were calmed down, then made his way to the table. Penny's sister, Wendy, gave Leonard a big hug as he was not surprised. He already knew Penny came from a very loving family. As for Penny's nephew, R.J., which was short for Randell Junior who was ten, greeted Leonard with a high five. Penny gave him a gentle smile as Jacob crawled out of his booster seat and wrapped his arms around Leonard. Leonard felt tears form but held them back as Jacob refused to let go of him. Leonard looked at Penny who now gave him a sypamathic look and mouthed, "I'm sorry." to him. Leonard mouthed back, "It's okay," as he sat down and Jacob sat on his lap and began to sign fast to Leonard. Leonard could not understand so he had to tell Jacob to slow down.
As dinner was ate, Leonard learned that Wendy was ten years older than Penny and married her highschool sweetheart. Which they were married the same night her water broke. It was a little too much information for Leonard's ears and never seen a ten year old boy turn different shades of red so quick. Also during dinner, Wendy accidentally blurted out that Penny was about to drop out of school.
"Why?" Leonard asked looking at her quickly.
"I don't think its for me. Classes are harder than I thought and owning a business is something I don't have a dream for anymore..." Penny confessed feeling embarrassed. She hated to admit to Leonard since he already his life planned out financially and had job he went to college for.
Leonard tiltled his head and took Penny's free hand and squeezed it. "Then what is it you have a passion for?"
Penny felt more embarrassed since it seemed silly now since she had done it for the longest time. But she said it, "Acting..."
Leonard and Wendy both suggested to find some other classes a few days a week. Then Leonard offered to help her find the best acting class in the area because that is what friends are for. Wendy knew better though. She could tell there was more than just friendship and her sister was so blind to break up with him.
Later that evening they were all joined at Penny's apartment. Leonard was hesitant at first but Wendy convinced him to come by drinking once the boys went to bed. Leonard was not much of a drinker but what Wendy told him that Penny pours out her trye feelings when she was drunk. It made things sound interesting. But before they began to drink Wendy pulled Penny aside as Leonard decided to show R.J. and Jacob some homemade science experiments. Wendy and Penny sat from the couch as they watched Leonard bond with the boys. "Wow, I've only known Leonard for a few hours and he has already spent more with R.J. than his own father... You know you found a great guy there." Wendy gave her baby sister a smug look.
Penny turned and frowned at her, "Yeah I know and yes even breaking up with him and not talking to him for a month he is still want to be involved. I know I am a fool." She then looked back at Leonard and the kids. The smile on her son's face and nephew's made her wish there was an actual time machine out there that Leonard once mentioned about a show or a tv show. She couldn't remember but at least she could go back and never ended with Leonard.
The look Leonard gave he back wished she could start drinking now the tequila her sister bought earlier.
But the next thing Penny knew kids were in bed, tequila shots were poured, and Leonard sharing a lime with her. Penny had woken up to her head pounding and the time reading four in the morning. She happened to look to her left and saw a very naked Leonard next to her. "Oh God!" She whispered loudly to herself. Penny quietly snuck out of bed noticing she was also very naked. She hurried put on her robe and got a glance in her trash can that sex did take place. Three times apparently. "Oh God!" She said again feeling panic arise. She tied her robe and snuck out to the living room hoping her sister had answers.
But when she did, there was Wendy passed out on the couch. So she went to the kitchen and started making coffee since a long day was ahead. Penny then made her way to the bathroom to get something for her hangover. But as she did she bumped into Leonard. They looked at each other both feeling awkward. "Hi." they said to each other as Leonard looked down and Penny sucked in her bottom lip as she looked Leonard up and down. They began trying to explain themselves, but before any explanation was said, their lips were connected, hands all over each other, and Penny was pulling Leonard back into her room for a round four.