The Goddess of Wisdom

Own just a few characters, none that matter to anyone by me.

Leonard and Penny sat quietly outside the arrival gate. Leonard was very quiet, holding Penny's hand and rubbing the top of her hand with his thumb.

Penny looked over. "Sweetie… are you okay? You seem a little nervous."

Leonard half smiled. "Well… this will be the first time I have really spoken to Pence since I left her with Colin."

Penny put her hand on his knee and tried to make eye contact. "Is that a problem? Is there something you need to tell me… or her?"

Leonard stood and paced a little. "How did you feel when you first saw Leon when you just went to New York?"

Penny looked up. "To tell you the truth… I was really nervous… but I had the girls with me and I had the shoot to take care of."

Leonard sat down again. "See… I'm just a little nervous… we never got to really talk about the information Brian was taking from her file… and I never told her why I was leaving… I don't even really know if she WAS hitting on me… I don't even know why she's coming here… she never really said why, she just asked if I would pick her up."

Penny held his cheek in one hand. "I thought she got together with Colin?"

Leonard shrugged. "There was the one time… when the data was taken from her file… I just don't know… maybe it worked out and maybe it didn't."

Penny thought for a minute. "I tell you what… Maybe it was not such a good idea for me to come with you… why don't we just see if she wants to get a bite to eat or rest. Take her to her HOTELLLL to drop off her stuff, we don't need to put Sheldon out again by having her traipsing around the apartment again in her perfect hair and stuff and then we all go to the apartment and you drop me off at home. That way, you can be alone with her and just talk…"

Just then, Pence came walking through the security gate. She had the biggest smile on her face and made a bee line over to where she saw Leonard, walking right past Penny to give Leonard a big, and for Penny, much too long hug. "Darling…. It's so good to see you again".

Penny stood and just watched. She fiddled with her engagement ring, turning it so the diamond was in toward the palm of her hand. Leonard could see the scowl on Penny's face.

Leonard pushed Pence away slightly and turned to Penny. "Pence… you remember Penny…"

Pence put a smile on her face. "Oh… yes of course… I'm so sorry my dear girl…" Pence held out her hand.

Penny looked down and then lifted her right hand for a handshake.

Leonard started to speak. "Pence… Penny and I…"

Suddenly there was a little commotion over by the gate that took their attention. Colin came through the arrival gate just as a toddler broke away from his mother and ran in front of Colin attempting to get to his Grammy as she stood looking for her family. Colin twisted and turned trying to miss the child and accomplished that task just before he lost his balance and went sprawling onto the floor.

Penny gasped. "Oh My god… are you okay?" She ran over and helped Colin to his feet as Pence stood laughing as she held onto Leonard's arm. Penny brushed Colin off and helped him pick up his luggage. Colin was embarrassed enough without the laughter and scowled just a bit in the direction of Pence, noticing that she had a hold of Leonard's arm.

Pence finally unwound herself from Leonard, much to the delight of Penny, and patted Colin on the shoulder. "Darling… are you all right?"

Leonard came over also and shook Colin's hand. "Good to see you again… Pence didn't tell me you were coming also…"

Colin smiled at Leonard and Penny. "Well, Pencey tends to neglect details like that every now and again. Shall we be off? I'm sure these people were amused at the floor show."

The four went down to Leonard's car and made their way toward Pasadena. Leonard turned slightly toward the back seat. "Would anyone like to get a bite to eat? Or just go to the Hotel?"

Pence and Colin got into the back seat and Penny sat next to Leonard in the front. The walk to the car was fairly quick and the conversation centered on assuring Colin not having to feel embarrassed about his mishap. After all, it's not like he was going to see any of the other people again.

Pence leaned forward and held Leonard's shoulder, a move that was not unnoticed by Penny. "Darling… I was hoping that we could pop by your University and show Colin here your Lab…"

Colin chimed in. "That would be fantastic… I would love to see the array of lasers that you have set up that made you think of the protocol for the expedition. That is if it's not too much trouble for your lovely companion…" Pence frowned just a bit, something Penny had seen out of the corner of her eye.

Leonard looked into the mirror to catch Colin's gaze. "I'm so sorry… Colin… this is Penny…"

Colin smiled widely. "Pleased to meet you".

Penny smiled brightly. Leonard noticed but thought it was one of the smiles Penny could wear at any time whether she was sincere or not. "It's really nice to meet you too… Leonard ALWAYS spoke so highly of ALL the people he worked with." Penny was dripping with sarcasm as she managed to give a slightly icy look to Leonard. She also noted that Leonard made no attempt to tell Colin that she was his fiancée.

Leonard pulled up and parked outside the Physics building and brought everyone to this lab. Penny walked behind as Leonard told Pence and Colin about the different departments and what they were currently involved in. Colin was very impressed at the number of projects being worked on. He wondered about being able to take a tour of the University.

Penny noticed that Colin had yawned just as they arrived at Leonard's lab. "Colin Sweetie… would you like to get a cup of coffee?"

Colin smiled. "That would be lovely. Leonard… do you have a pot in your lab?"

Penny knew Leonard had a small pot he used sometimes when she would visit so they wouldn't have to interrupt his "work" when she was there. "Baby… I'll take Colin to the cafeteria and get some for all of us, while you catch up with Pence". Penny gave a stare to Leonard.

Leonard noticed the look he was being given and smiled. "That would be great".

Pence smiled. "Tea for me please… Darling… Earl Gray…"

Penny immediately wrapped her arm around Colin's and walked him toward the cafeteria.

Once inside the lab, Leonard turned and smiled at Pence. "So… anything new going on at Cambridge?" He hoped the quiver in his voice was not so noticeable.

Pence wound her arm around his. "Oh… you know how it is… all those stuffy old academics.."

Leonard looked down at Pence's arm around his and awkwardly moved away. "Pence… I'm really sorry for the way things happened when I left you before the lecture in Aberdeen…."

Pence moved toward him causing Leonard to back up into one of the benches. "I Must say, it was quite a surprise to see Colin at the door".

Leonard could feel a little sweat forming at his temples. "Pence… there was a reason… "

Pence moved closer again causing Leonard to move sideways. "I would hope there would be Darling… especially after that ghastly drive."

Leonard walked to a more open part of the lab. "Look… Pence… it had to do with Penny…" Pence turned to give Leonard her full attention. At the same time, Penny and Colin had come to just outside the door to where they could not be seen by Pence or Leonard.

Leonard continued. "Pence… I'm sorry if I hurt you in any way… it's just that we were colleagues… and that was great and all… but that was all it was…"

Pence crossed her arms. "Leonard… Darling… there's something you should know…"

Leonard held up a hand. "Pence… please let me finish… You're great… you're smart… and you're pretty… and funny… but we were just colleagues…. More than colleagues… friends really… it's just that you could never have been more with me… I had to leave because I needed to find Penny… we were in a not so happy place… and I had to find her and talk to her and fix what was going wrong… and some of that might have been what was going on between you and me…"

Penny stood absolutely still listening. Colin had taken the coffee tray from her hands.

Leonard continued. "Pence… I had no time to explain it to you… I had to leave so quickly… I felt that if I didn't, I would have lost her… I couldn't let that happen… I love her… I always have… from the first day we met… she means the world to me… everything was slipping away, and the longer I stayed in England… the worse things were getting… I needed to find her and just fix things… nothing was more important to me… "

Pence reached out to Leonard. "Darling it's really okay".

Leonard looked up. "There's something else you need to know… we're engaged… "

Pence stepped closer as Penny stepped into the room behind them. "Leonard, Darling, I think that it's lovely that you found someone. I was hoping that you were happy back here in the States, because I have something to tell you also". Leonard just looked up".

Pence smiled. "That bugger Colin… that you left at my door step? He really isn't so bad after all… We've been seeing each other and we're quite content".

Penny looked over at Colin. He just shrugged and smiled.

Penny immediately spoke. "Coffee's here". She then walked over to Leonard and wrapped an arm around his waist and leaned into him smiling."

Pence took her tea from Colin and struck a similar pose. "Congratulations my Darlings. Penny dear, I understand now why you asked for Dr. Hawking's assistance".

Leonard looked confused. "You asked Dr. Hawking for help?"

Penny smiled. "Not important Sweetie… What do you say we go for that tour of the campus?"

Leonard led everyone back to his car and they climbed in. Somehow, this time, everything seemed so much more comfortable. After driving around campus, for a while, they drove by a Mediterranean styled building. Pence commented. "That building is exquisite".

Leonard smiled. "That's the Athenaeum. It's a very exclusive club here on campus. It refers to buildings dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena… the goddess of wisdom."

Pence smiled. "Very good Leonard. We have a famous one of these also in London. It was established by Sir Walter Scott and Thomas Moore sometime around early 1800". That's actually why Dr. Hawking sent me here."

Leonard had already stopped the car. "Why would Dr. Hawking send you to the Athenaeum in Pasadena?"

Pence smiled. "Because that lovely fiancée of yours asked if there was anything he could do to secure the premises for a party of some sort".

Leonard turned to look at Penny. Penny smiled. "Sweetie… you always said this place was so beautiful… but you said it was exclusive and it's all booked up… and it was just for members… I was just wondering if maybe Dr. Hawking wrote a letter… maybe they could let us get married here? I mean... the church is just up the road…"

Leonard was still confused. "How did you know Dr. Hawking was a member?"

Penny smiled. "I didn't… but when I read about it on line… they said there was that old place in London and you know… smart guys belong to it… so I took a chance…"

Leonard looked absolutely stunned. "Penny… this would be fantastic. It's so beautiful… Have you ever seen it?"

Penny shook her head. "Just in pictures".

Pence smiled. "Well… let's see what we can find out?" The four friends went into the establishment, armed with a request from the London Athenaeum's prestigious member.

They were met by one of the hostesses who ushered Pence and Colin back to talk to the manager. Penny and Leonard were brought around the grounds and rooms by another hostess explaining the history of the building.

Penny and Leonard were left alone walking the grounds when Penny turned to Leonard and put both hands around his neck. Leonard instinctively put his hands to her hips. "Sweetie… I heard what you said to Pence back in your lab." Penny's eyes went down to look at Leonard's chest, avoiding looking into his eyes. "I'm so sorry I put you through all that". Tears started to burn in her eyes.

Leonard lifted her chin with one hand to look into her eyes, wiping away a tear with his thumb. "Penny… none of that matters anymore. We're past all that… and we're stronger for it… we're engaged!..." Leonard had the widest smile and a truly brilliant sparkle in his eye. "And that's despite all the "help" from our friends… we are going to have the most beautiful and special wedding".

Penny immediately pulled Leonard in for a kiss, wanting nothing more than to spend the rest of her life with him.