Sometimes, perfection isn't so great.

:Scars:

They sat in the car and double checked the address. They knew they were in the right place, but they were worried. How would she react to seeing them? It had been three years. Each man thought back to that night.

Raj

It had seemed like a harmless experiment. Set up the laser bots on the roof and operate them via remote control. They could duel each other and the bot left standing would be declared winner. He sighed sadly. They should have warned her. They should have made a sign, or locked the door, or …or something! Anything!

Howard

It was his that did it. He knew that beyond a shadow of a doubt. The others blamed themselves, also. But it was his bot that fired the shot. He closed his eyes tight. He still saw it at night when he tried to sleep. The way her body crumbled to the ground. He still remembered her screams.

Leonard

It had been his idea from the beginning. He had been so eager to play with the new lasers he had built. He had disregarded everything he had ever learned about safety. He had brushed aside all protocol in his enthusiasm. How could he have been so stupid?

Sheldon

He had never understood emotions. It was his greatest shortcoming. But he understood grief. Grief that he had harmed her. Grief that he had lost her. Grief that nothing he did or said would ever compensate for the pain and harm he had caused. His guilt had caused him to lash out at her. Calling her vain and superficial because she grieved for her appearance. The next day she was gone.

No word, no warning. Just gone. She left everything behind. She just emptied her bank account and disappeared. They had searched for her ever since. Her parents would not help them. She let no clues. She never registered a car, or account in her name. She was completely off the grid. Then they caught a break, finally. An overheard remark between a waitress at the Cheesecake Factory and Penny's former boyfriend Zack had led them here. The house was registered to an Elizabeth Forrester. Her sister's middle name and her grandmother's maiden name.

Sheldon adjusted his messenger bag strap and opened his door. The others scrambled to follow. Sheldon took a deep breath and began walking up the path. It was set way out in the country, little more than a dirt path for a road. The tiny cottage was neat and cozy looking. Heavy curtains blocked out the windows. Sheldon ascended the steps while the others stopped beside the rose bushes.

He raised his hand to knock, but the door opened a few inches. Sheldon stared into her deep green eye with hope and elation. He had found her. After a moment she disappeared from view. The door remained open, though. After a few seconds Sheldon pushed it open and stepped inside. The others hurried to follow. The hallway was empty, but they could hear the sounds of water running to the right. They followed the sound and saw her. She was standing in front of a sink, filling a tea pot.

Her hair was longer, past her hips, almost halfway down her thighs. The brace on her left leg stood out sharply against her pale skin. She turned and set the kettle on the stove before turning to face them. From the corner of his eyes he could see the others cringe. He didn't. He had known what to expect as much as they did. He felt the same pain they did. But he had never valued her for her looks. The loss of her aesthetic appeal meant little to him.

Instead he took off his messenger bag and laid it on the table. He walked over, doing his best to ignore the way she shied from him. Slowly he raised his arms and slid them around her, placing his hands on her back to draw her close. Her body was rigid in his embrace. Sheldon bent his head and kissed the scars that snaked from under the eye patch.

"I have missed you so much," he whispered into her ear.

Tentatively she relaxed a fraction. "Why?"

Sheldon pulled back and looked at her fully. She immediately dropped her eyes, but he placed his hand on her jaw and drew her face back up to his gaze. "I was wrong to lash out at you. I was so upset that you didn't see what a special, wonderful person you truly are. I only wanted you to look past your appearance, like I do, to the beautiful, loving person inside. Please don't hide from me. No one could care for you more than I do."

He sensed, rather than heard the others exit the room. He was grateful they were giving him and Penny space. She looked at him with a cynical expression.

"I don't need or want your pity, Sheldon. Whatever it is you came here for, forgiveness, closure, whatever, you got it. Just leave me in peace."

"No."

She looked at him with a hint of that old anger he knew so well. "What?"

"No," he repeated calmly. "I came here for you. I'm not leaving without what I came for."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked timidly. Sheldon hated that sound. She was a queen, dammit! She was his warrior woman! She shouldn't sound so small!

Sheldon took a deep breath and calmed his temper. "It means that I have spent three years looking for you. I have spent three years filled with pain, and grief and self-hatred because I caused you to leave. I am not about to spend one more minute without you in my life. Whether we're in Pasadena, Omaha, Timbuktu or here in Seattle, I go where you go."

Penny brushed away the tear that spilled down her cheek. "I don't understand," she whispered.

Sheldon smiled softly. A lot of things had changed in three years. He lowered his head and caught her lips with his. Gently he kissed her, coaxing a response. When she relaxed against him fully, he released her mouth. "It means, I love you. It took me losing you to realize it. I love you and I'm not letting you go."

The wonder in her face was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Penny brought her hands up to his chest shyly. "I've loved you for a long time," she admitted cautiously. "Is this an illusion, Sheldon? Another dream I'll wake up from?"

He gathered her close and kissed her again. "We're really here, Penny. This is you and me. Not a dream, but a chance. A chance at something really good."

Penny wrapped her arms around him tight and kissed him back passionately.

There would be time enough later for the others to speak with her. For now, though, it was only the two of them. Two imperfect people, connected by a perfect love.