Pre Wedding Jitters
Own Nothing
The next morning was as hectic as you could expect. Penny's apartment was small enough with just her in it. This morning, she had the pleasure of the additional company of: Bernadette, Amy, her Mother, and her sister. Being that there was only one bathroom, chaos was the rule of the day.
It all started with the rather loud knocking on her door at the ungodly hour of 8AM. Penny tried her best to quiet the commotion by pulling the pillow that should have had Leonard's head on it over hers.
Sheldon was sitting in apartment 4A sipping on tea, having finished his bowl of cereal one and a half hours ago. He was currently watching a rerun of an original series Star Trek episode fondly thinking back to the events of the evening before when he managed to rub elbows with many of his sci-fi idols without managing to piss any of them off.
The racket he heard outside his door was more than he could handle. Sheldon stood and went to the door opening it to see two females apparently wanting to gain access to apartment 4B. The two women were strikingly similar in appearance except for the fact that the dark hair of the younger woman contrasted that of the blond-ish hair of the older woman. Both women bore an uncanny resemblance to the occupant of apartment 4B. Remembering his introduction to Penny's mother and sister, Sheldon simply held out the spare key to Penny's apartment in the direction of Denise. "I would suggest the use of this key rather than to risk the possibility of rendering one's self incapacitated by the actions of your sister".
Denise turned and took the key from Sheldon as Penny's mother just giggled. "You better do as he says Sweetie, you know what Penny is like before 11AM… wedding or no wedding…." Penny's mother turned to Sheldon. "Thank you Honey… you better get back in your apartment and get Leonard up… these two are going to need all the help they can get today." Just then, Bernadette and Amy came to the top of the stair along with Howard and Raj.
Sheldon looked over at Howard and Raj. "Come gentlemen… we have a groom to prepare".
Denise laughed as she opened the door to Penny's apartment, seeing that the lights were still out and nothing looked like it was disturbed from the night before. "Why don't you guys put on some coffee. Penny's gonna be awful until we get some in her." Bernadette and Amy put down their dresses as Penny's mom found the coffee.
Denise quietly opened the door to Penny's bedroom to see her younger sister lying face down in the middle of the bed with a pillow over her head. Denise sat on the bed and slapped Penny on the behind. "Girl? You need to get up… from the looks of you… we're going to need all the time we can get."
Across in 4A, Raj and Howard followed Sheldon after hearing a retching sound from the bathroom and placed the four Tuxedo's on the couch. Leonard was just making his way out into the living room holding his head when he noticed his friends staring at him.
Raj was first to comment. "Dude… you look terrible".
Howard found the whole scenario amusing. "Buddy… where exactly did you and Penny go off to last night? You didn't look all that bad when you left the Playhouse".
Leonard walked gingerly over to the couch. "Oh… my… GOD… my head is killing me!"
Howard smiled. "Not a problem. We have time to work on this… you go take a shower… Raj? Let's get started."
Leonard did as he was told, getting up and going to take a shower.
Howard walked over to the fridge and pulled out some things. "Let's see… eggs…bacon… ibuprofen… akla seltzer… coffee… electrolyte drink… OOOh annnnnd… I believe… he was drinking…. Tequila…."
Back in 4B, Denise was having too much fun. "Penny… sitting on the side of your bed… holding on to your garbage can is no way to start off your wedding day."
Penny's Mom stood in the doorway between Amy and Bernadette. "Sweetie… what all did you do with Leonard when you left the party last night.?"
Penny looked up with moistening eyes. "I don't know… we went for a ride… and then we pretty much just came back… when I said good night... I got this kind of nervous feeling and then threw up…"
Penny's Mom smiled. "That just nerves, Sweetie, you should have seen me when I married your Dad… I couldn't keep a thing down. Although, come to think of it… Denise might have had something to do with that…"
Denise looked over. "ME? I wasn't even born!"
Penny's Mom looked off... thinking and biting her lower lip. "Yeahhhhh….. anyway…. Not important… Let's get you cleaned up".
Penny and Denise looked over at their mother not quite wanting to put their mother's thoughts together. Penny got up and went to take a shower.
Leonard came out of the shower, not feeling much better, but at least cleaner. He looked at the breakfeast counter and couldn't quite believe what he saw. A shot of tequila complete with lime wedge… A plate full of bacon and eggs… a glass of water with Alka-Seltzer tablets… ibuprofen tablets with an electrolyte drink… A cup of black coffee… and some dry toast. "What the Hell is all THIS?"
Howard looked over. "Hangover relief… Hair of the Dog… Greasy Breakfast… Sodium Bicarb… Pain killer… Electrolyte replacement… coffee and dry toast to calm your stomach…."
Leonard turned to Raj and Howard… "You're both NUTS!"
Sheldon looked over. "Actually, Leonard… there might be some truth to some of this…" Sheldon walked over to scan the array. "Hair of the proverbial dog... You were, after all, drinking Tequila... although I sincerely doubt more acid in the form of the lime wedge will be of any help at all.. and the greasy food is just WRONG."
Leonard looked up at his roommate rubbing his temples with his fingers. "Sheldon ? ..."
Sheldon continued. "Moving on... however... Rehydration with electrolytes and pain killer for the headache… Sodium bicarbonate and dry toast to settle your undoubtedly tumultuous stomach… and a nice hot beverage to take away any anxiety you may have from the realization that you are entering into a lifelong commitment with the admittedly "out of your league" woman you have been chasing after for the past eight years knowing full well that you have absolutely nothing in common aside from your on again off again roller coaster of a relationship."
Leonard looked at his roommate. "Thank You SHELDON!" Leonard then took the ibuprofen, drank it down with the electrolyte drink after tossing in the Alka-Seltzer. He then grabbed the toast and cup of coffee and went off to his bedroom.
Penny emerged out of the shower in her robe to be met by her family and friends drinking coffee. Normally, this would be a slice of heaven for Penny, but today, just the smell of the coffee was giving her fits. She made her way to the couch. "Please just some tea with honey... Where's Daddy?"
Penny's Mom smiled from the kitchen. "He's back at the hotel keepin an eye on Kenny... as good as that boy has got... he's still a bit of a flight risk. Dad will meet us at the church... don't you worry".
Bernadette poured some hot water in a mug and brought it over to her friend. "Penny… what is the problem? Are you having second thoughts? Pre wedding jitters is pretty common".
Penny tried to smile as she took the mug. "I don't know what it is… ever since we booked the Athenaaaa…uumm place… I've been so nervous…."
Denise sat next to her sister. "Sweetie… you can back out you know…"
Penny got a little angry. "How can you say that! Leonard is the best thing that has happened to me in like… EVER… I love him!"
Penny's Mom sat in the chair. "Honey… we know that you love him… but do you want to marry him?"
In Leonard's room, Leonard had started to get himself ready for what was supposed to be the happiest day of his life. He was going to get married to the most beautiful woman he ever knew, and someone that he had fantasized about from the very first day they met.
Leonard looked into the mirror as he combed his hair. He had let it grow just a bit because Penny had said time and time again that she loved to twirl her fingers in the soft curls that gathered at his neck. He thought back to the day they met and the tale she had told them of her life back in Omaha and of her breakup with the last person that she said she loved. Leonard thought of how different he was compared to Kurt. Kurt was tall and muscular and undoubtedly good in bed. Those were always traits that Penny had looked for in the men that she had dated. She once described the men she dated … "the ones with the hair, and the body… and Money"…
Leonard looked at his reflection. Well, he didn't have "the body", or tons of money, although, he was far from destitute... He made pretty good money depending on which grants were funded. Thankfully, he was very good at writing and getting grant money, especially after the Hawking Expedition. Penny did like his hair though, and as far as he could tell, she was more than happy with how things went in the bedroom.
Leonard smiled as he thought of Penny, she was so sincere. She always tried to come off as tough. Let there be no mistake, there were times when she was downright terrifying. Leonard could see through her though. Even when she tried to be tough, he could always see that she had a tender side and always really just wanted to help her friends.
He didn't really know why he was always so afraid he would lose her. Penny was one of the most loyal people he knew. She was always looking for the good in someone. That was why she ended up hurt sometimes, like the day she paid Kurt's fines so he would stay out of jail. Or when she thought he changed and invited him to her Halloween party. Penny was just honest, and good. She never judged him or his friends. Okay… maybe she judged Howard once or twice, but she also saw the good in him, or she wouldn't have introduced him to Bernadette. And then there were all the times she put up with Sheldon… She complained, but never once did she not support him. Well, maybe the time he put all her clothes on the telephone wire… and maybe the time she left him on the curb when he was supposed to find a way to work and bothered her about her check engine light…
There was really very little not to love about Penny and he did love her so very much. He was devastated every time she went out with another guy, especially when she broke up with him because she thought she wasn't smart enough for him. He was terribly lonely for her when he was away in the North Sea and then there was this summer… when Penny went to New York. Every time they were apart, it was like there was a piece of him missing.
The two happiest days of his life so far were when she finally told him she loved him. Sure it was unexpected, and awkward… but it was just like Penny… it was real. The second day was when they spent the time at Wyatt's cabin talking and then she asked him to marry her…
Now? Both of those days were going to be eclipsed… Today was their wedding Day.
Penny was shocked and felt paralyzed by her Mother's words… How could she ask such a question… Penny simply could not believe anyone would ask her that…
The room started to go completely quiet for her. She could see the girls moving around, it seemed like they were moving slower and all the sounds were muffled. It was like Penny was separating from everything else.
Penny looked into the mirror. She didn't see herself looking back. All she could see was Leonard's apartment. Leonard must have just come in with their dinner… only… it looked like the Leonard from years ago… he was so cute… all snoodled up in his hoodie and jacket. His hair was a little shorter… not like it was now… the curls she loved were not there.
All of a sudden, their door opened and she came in… judging from her hair, it wasn't so long after they met… The guys sat and started to pass out the food. Penny looked on the scene, instead of focusing on Leonard, she looked more intently at herself. She sat in the wooden chair that was next to Leonard's. She could have sat anywhere… but she looked like she was determined to sit next to Leonard. Nobody seemed to notice. She smiled sweetly at Leonard as he gave her her food and then bit her lower lip and stared at him for a while as he handed out the others. She let out a sigh and then quickly looked away to the others as she noticed Leonard looking her way.
Penny blinked and the scene changed to her entering the building lobby and noticing Leonard at the mail boxes reaching up to his box. Penny immediately noticed that she was looking at Leonard's backside with the goofiest grin on her face. If that wasn't bad enough, she noticed that she purposefully walked up the stairs letting Leonard ahead of her just so she could get a better look at his ass. Somehow, she thought she should be ashamed, but wasn't. It just brought a smile to her face.
Penny then thought back to their first date… not the Schrodinger date… the one where Leonard made those excuses for the guys not being there. She could see them both sitting at the table… he looked so nervous. She could see herself just smiling and listening to Leonard explaining how that olive stayed in the glass. When Leonard started to explain it, Penny could feel her heart skip a beat. He seemed so excited by it. He seemed so confident in his explanation and she could see that he wanted to continue. She could feel herself being calmed by the smooth confident words. She wanted to lean in and just kiss him…. But that dammed olive just fell out of the glass onto the floor and ruined it.
Penny saw more images of her and Leonard. She saw Leonard leading his team at the physics bowl, she saw herself turning and checking Leonard out as he tried on clothes with her in his bedroom even though she said she wouldn't. She saw Leonard giving his lecture on super solids before she fell asleep on Howard's shoulder and Sheldon barging in and getting into that stupid fight. Each time, Penny saw that she was paying attention to Leonard like she would when she was a girl back in high school.
It became pretty apparent to her that she was physically attracted to Leonard from the very start. She just never noticed it before. Then Penny thought back to all those times that Leonard helped her out. It didn't matter if it was just with a stuck computer or helping with some boneheaded relationship she found herself in. It could have been something as simple as getting coffee in the morning… sometimes, she wasn't really out… she just went over to the guys apartment so she could get her morning Leonard fix. If she was lucky, he would be in his robe.
Then Leonard pressed his lips to hers on that fateful Schrodinger date… from that point forward, she was his… she was just so afraid to admit it.
Penny came back to the here and now. The girls were rushing around, Denise and her Mother were helping with Penny's hair.
Yes… she was sure… she loved him… If anyone could see anything else, they were absolutely crazy. Today was the day she was going to marry Leonard and she couldn't wait.
A/N Howard and Raj's attempt at Hangover cures are actually on the internet... go figure...