Story of My Life

A/N: here is an update, I hope you like it, and there will be another chapter up very soon. ENJOY!

Penny and Sheldon were sitting on the couch flipping through pictures of Lee Ann that were being passed around, when Howard and Bernadette barged in without knocking, "hey everyone," "hi," Bernadette added after him.

"Hey," "Hello," the gang looked up and greeted the couple coming into the apartment.

Lee Ann snuck up behind Howard from the kitchen where her Mamaw was packing away her goodies. She yelled out, "Hi Uncle Howard!"

"Ahhh!" Howard screamed as he turned around to find Lee Ann shaking her head at him amused.

"Uncle Howard you need to work on that." She raised an eyebrow up at her uncle who was clutching his heart like he couldn't breathe. It was just too easy still to freak him out. She loved it.

Howard caught his breath and with a much steadier voice greeted his honorary niece, "hello Lee Ann. Oh uh Lee Ann this is Bernadette, my fiancée. Bernie this is Sheldon's daughter Lee Ann."

"Hi, nice to meet you, I work at the restaurant with Penny too."

"Nice to meet you too," Lee Ann liked her instantly, she reminded her so much of her friend Brenda that it was just uncanny, except 'Lil'Bit had brown curly hair, not blonde.

"Howie has told me so much about you," Bernadette leaned in a bit further and staged whispered, "I heard you scared the patootie out of him too."

Lee Ann looked up proudly, "yeah, it was an epic bazinga," she started giggling remembering the first day, she met everyone, "he fainted." It will go down as the best Wednesday EVER.

Howard interrupted, "any-way…have any of you guys heard from Raj lately?" He turned around and addressed the rest of the people in the room.

"He called in sick yesterday, but has since ignored my texts, tweets and pokes," Sheldon shook his head and went back to looking at the pictures in his hands.

Priya head popped up also, "yeah, I haven't heard from him either, not since before Thursday," she looked over at Leonard pointedly.

Penny caught on to what Priya was thinking too, "you know I haven't heard from Amy since before their date and we were supposed to have a girl's night tonight. Right Bernadette?"

That was when Leonard caught up and turned to Howard, "what do you think is going on between those two?"

"Isn't it obvious," Sheldon looked up at everyone from his spot, "Amy obviously got him sick with some deadly disease and they are both being quarantined until they are given an all clear and have obvious very little access to the internet, and their cell phones."

"Oh my goodness! Dad, that's horrible, what are going to do?!" Lee Ann yelled out completing believing that every word coming out of her father's mouth was completely plausible.

While everyone else was rolling their eyes Penny was silently giggling. Howard tried to placate the girl standing next to him, "whoa, whoa, whoa, Lee Ann, don't believe a word of what he just said."

"It might be true,"

"it's conceivable," Sheldon and his daughter said in almost unison, back at the gangly engineer.

"Well it's not," he turned his head and said directly in Sheldon's direction, "he texted me earlier and he and Amy are coming over soon to tell us what's up."

Penny gasped loudly, "Bernadette you don't think that Amy and Raj had…um …uh dinner together, do you?" Penny just barely caught herself before she started speaking her thoughts out loud in front of Lee Ann, hoping that she was as naive about innuendos as her father seemed to be. Looking directly at Bernadette raising her eyebrows a few times, she was clearly hoping that she understood the cover-up.

Bernadette was only confused for a second before she caught on, "Dinner? I thought that was what they were doing for their date on Thursday…" but she caught the glimmer in Penny's eyes. "Oh right, diiiinner, yeah. Knowing Amy, she probably was dying to …bake him dessert." She bit her lip to keep from giggling at her own joke about how sexually frustrated Amy was.

Howard spoke up clearly wanting a bit of the joke, "she must really have wanted to …cook then," he tried to control the urge to laugh out loud.

Sheldon looked up from his pictures confused by Howard's tone. He couldn't understand the looks the others were passing around either.

Bernadette spoke softly towards Howard, "oh she's wanted to cookalright but she's never had anyone to cookfor but herself." She covered her mouth up muffling her giggle.

Leonard chose that time to add his two cents in, "yeah, Sheldon sure didn't want to try any of her cooking," he failed to mask his laughter like everyone else, which caused Howard to laugh out loud too.

Sheldon looked up, finally realizing that they were not talking about food at all.

Lee Ann didn't exactly understand what was so funny, but she thought she would play into the joke everyone else was in on and embarrass her dad a little, shrugging her shoulders she spoke up, "that's ok Dad likes Penny's cooking." She then turned and started walking back to her Mamaw who was trying her best to ignore everyone's gasp in the living room by cleaning up the already spotless kitchen.

Sheldon could feel his cheeks start to redden when everyone turned to look his way, but then Penny, completely unashamed, grabbed his hand and held it out obviously in her lap with a smug smile on her face, ignoring his stunned look.

Bernadette was the first to notice the new development, "What?! When did this happen?" She was shocked and looked at Penny who chose to keep her mouth quiet, but smiled wider showing teeth. The short, busty blonde couldn't hold her excitement, "Finally!"

Howard looked shocked back at their joined hands then at Leonard, who was trying, but failing, to keep his face straight instead of the grimace he had, and then back at Bernadette.

"Oh, what? It was only a matter of time before this," she waved her tiny hands between the two on the couch, "happened."

Lee Ann smiled back from the kitchen island, "you saw it too huh, I knew the first day I saw them together. Hard to miss actually." She looked over at her grandmother who was being rather quiet, and smiled up at her.

Mary bent down and whispered in Lee Ann's ear, "I think they just needed a little push don't you?" Lee Ann nodded back up at her.

Leonard chose that moment to cover up his souring mood before Priya noticed and spoke up getting back on topic, "uh when did Raj say that they were going to be here?"

At that moment Raj swung open the front door, "Hello Peeps!"

Amy followed behind him with a large smile on her face holding his hand. "Hello everyone."

The room erupted in hellos and then Priya spoke up first, "Rajesh you're speaking out loud; kind of early to be drinking don't you think?"

"I'm not drunk Priya," Raj said proudly then looked over at Amy.

"No he isn't inebriated; he is no longer a slave to his selective muteism." She smiled up at him.

But before anyone could express their congratulations or ask their questions Lee Ann beat them to it running up to Raj, "Oh wow! That's so great Uncle Raj." She gave him a sideways hug.

"Thanks Lee Ann. Oh Lee Ann, I don't think you two have met yet, this is Amy Farrah…Koothropali." And with that the living room erupted.

"Oh my God! Raj, what the hell?"

"You two were supposed to go to dinner at Szechuan Palace not get married, what happened?"

"Oooh Rajesh, I am so telling Mummy and Daddy!"

"Amy, why didn't you tell us?"

"Before everyone has a coronary why don't you all sit down and we'll tell you about the series of events that led to this on Thursday." Amy gestured to everyone to sit down. Just as she was about to go into detail about their date Lee Ann could hear the tell-tell sign of Joe's phone and she cringed inside knowing what was coming.

And before Amy had a chance to start with the story Joe interrupted Lee Ann's good mood. "Lee Ann, that was Mrs. Patterson, we need to leave, or you are going to be late for dinner," Joe stood up and began walking towards the door.

Howard looked up at Lee Ann, "who is that?" He hadn't noticed the large man in the apartment at all.

"Oh, that's Joe, he's like a ninja sometimes and just pops up, and he's my grandfather's driver." Lee Ann took a deep breath and pouted towards the big guy standing by the door, "can't we stay just a little longer I want to hear what happened."

"Are you done black-mailing me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Today." She blurted out without thinking, "I mean …yes?" and knew that the look he had on his face now was not a good one, and hung her head a little.

Joe took a deep breath and tried to be calm, "let's go Lee Ann, I'll give you a minute to say goodbye." He stepped outside and left her mopping in the apartment.

Lee Ann didn't want to leave, but knew that she didn't really have a choice. She looked around the room, and it killed her to see the sad look on her dad's face. "This isn't fair." She mumbled under her breath then walked towards the kitchen to her Mamaw who was fighting back a tear and was holding up her bag of goodies.

"Here you go baby-girl, now you have my number and you call me anytime you want, ok." She bent down and pulled Lee Ann into a tight hug, "I'll see you soon, don't worry." Lee Ann looked up nodding her head.

"Ok, see you later Mamaw." Then she walked slowly towards the others who were all waiting in the living room, she gave a quick hug to Leonard, and an awkward one to Priya who was still sitting down, then she walked over to Howard and Bernadette giving them both one as well. Raj was standing by the couch sad that he only got to see her for a few minutes, "bye Uncle Raj," she gave him a hug.

"Bye, Lee Ann," he couldn't wait for Sheldon to get her full time, he liked her a lot. She was sweet and was just so enthusiastic. She walked over to Amy, "um bye Aunt(?) Amy." She was a little uncertain if it was okay to call her that but she was married to her uncle.

Amy was a little shocked to hear that term of endearment, being an only child she never expected to hear it, but she like it more then she thought that she would. "Oh well bye, Lee Ann." She gave her a smile and an awkward hug; Lee Ann seemed to be a hugger. "Oooh we will need to schedule in time for us to do some bonding rituals that I have always wanted to try…"

"Amy, I think she is a little young for some of those bonding exercises, but I'm sure you can hook her up to those brain scan things later." Penny gave a quick smile to her and steered Lee Ann away from the in depth rituals that she probably had in mind.

"Oh alright, I'm sure that we will be spending a ton of time together in the near future. Have a good-evening Lee Ann." Amy could already see it in her head, all the opportunities to study the young girl's brain and her social development.

Looking up at Penny the young girl didn't realize what that meant, "What does she mean by rituals?"

"Nothing sweetie," she bent down to Lee Ann's ear and whispered, "I'll tell you later."

Lee Ann turned to see her dad walking towards her with her green bag in hand. He bent down to Penny's ear, "thank you, brain scans are fine but could you keep her from suggesting anything involving dancing around nude in the moonlight please."

Penny smiled back at him, "of course." She thought it was sweet that he wanted to protect his girl and she pecked him on the cheek before he stood up, and tried to ignore the audible gasp from the group behind them.

Ignoring the stares they were getting from Raj and Amy they followed behind Lee Ann. Penny was stopped briefly at the door, "ugh Bestie, did we miss something?" Amy looked at Penny.

"Ughhhh, ask Sheldon's mom, oh and don't say anything about Thursday until we get back." She didn't wait for an answer and walked out into the hallway with Lee Ann and Sheldon, but she could hear the start of Bernadette's gossip with Amy as they bombarded Mrs. Cooper. Penny was hoping that Amy's relationship with Raj will keep her from feeling betrayed. She was counting on it actually.

Once they closed the door to the apartment Lee Ann turns and wraps her hands tightly around her dad's middle, "I don't want to go," she looks up into the torn look on his face. "Story of my life," she just wanted to stay.

Sheldon bent down slightly to squeeze her back, "do not despair, I'll have you soon, you'll see." He didn't want to let her go either but it was best. When she pulled back he could see the tears that were threatening to fall from her eyes. "Now don't cry, I'll call you tonight, ok," he waited for her to nod her head and then let her go so that she could say goodbye to Penny too.

"Penny will you tell me what happens with Uncle Raj?" she gave her a hug and then looked up at her.

Penny was sniffing back her own emotions after watching Sheldon and Lee Ann, "of course I will, call me later and I'll let you know how in the world those two ended up hitched, ok sweetie." Lee Ann nodded then grabbed her green bag and put it on her shoulder, "ok, bye." She waved back then followed Joe down the four flights of stairs.

As Sheldon watched her walk away he tried to swallow the empty feeling that was settling in the middle of his chest. Penny tried to pull his attention down to her, "hey, it's okay, honey." She grabbed his hand and tugged on him til he was looking at her, "like you said, you'll have her soon." When he didn't respond but remained forlorn she squeezed his hand, "Do you want to talk about it?"

He took a deep breath and tried to hide his emotions, closing his eyes so that he could try to suppress the sadness he saw in his daughter's eyes. "No, I'll be fine," but of course Penny could see right through his guise.

"Sheldon, bend down a little please," he did as told and was pulled farther down by Penny's hand on his shoulders. She pecked him gently on the lips. And as she leaned in a second time much slower, he was better able to anticipate her actions and was able to gently kiss her back. He gently eased into the feeling of Penny's comforting warmth in front of him. She guided his hand that was in hers to her waist and was pleased when he caught the hint and laid his other hand on her waist as well, and pulled her closer. After a few seconds she realized that she was on her tip toes as Sheldon was supporting her weight. She pulled away slowly and was pleased to see a dazed look on Sheldon's face. She pulled him back down into a tight hug, "there, do you feel a bit better?" She held on and could hear him sniff a little and sigh deeply.

"I suppose I do. I am just…tired of watching her walk away, and from having to let her go." He pressed his lips together as he relaxed and tried to fill the emptiness in his chest with the tenderness and affection coming from Penny in his arms. He took another deep breath realizing that he just shared his feeling with Penny, "was that just for a distraction?" He stood up and cocked his eyebrow at her. He let go of her waist grabbing hold of her hand and began walking back towards the door to his apartment.

"Yes and no, I want you to talk to me and tell me how you are feeling plus remember you still owe me for this morning." She smiled back up at him, as they walked back into the apartment. "But you still owe me a real date."

A/N: I know that I'm letting too much time stretch between updates but you all know how life is, but I won't give up. Next is Raj's and Amy's story, it's more like a bonus chapter though.

Please read and review please!