36 – The Omaha Potential Conjugation

After everybody headed home following Pizza Night Penney realized it had been a while since she'd spoken to her mother.

"Hi, mom."

"Hello, dear. Have they caught him yet?"

"Sorry, mom. No. But the police and my friends have stopped him from doing pretty much anything."

"Your father told me about the pictures of you."

"Those are pretty much gone."

"One of the customers at the diner said something about seeing them. He was teasing me about it and my manager ended up throwing him out."

"Don't say anything but he'll have a little surprise in a few days when his computer stops working. It'll probably cost him some money."

"You know, I've gotten a couple of funny looks from some people. One of the neighbors grumbled that we owe him a new computer. Is that what might have happened to them?"

"Maybe. The kid that Hernly made do stuff for him planted a little something in all the files. They might see me naked at first but a few days later they won't see anything at all and the pictures of me will completely disappear."

"Well, I'm sorry you have to go through that at all. And it's all my fault."

"Mom, it isn't. Hernly was a creep and he fooled a lot of people."

"But I didn't see it and I thought he loved me."

"He took advantage of you when you were vulnerable. Please stop thinking about him. I really don't blame you and I'm going to come out of this just fine. How's dad?"

"Your father has been incredible. He's wants to be sure I'm safe. But it's not in a smothering kind of way. It's really sweet. He even bought me my own shotgun with beanbag rounds just in case Paul Hernly comes around."

"Is he still coming around on Tuesday nights."

"He comes by every night I work and escorts me home to your aunt's house."

"Have there been any more dates?"

"Kind of."

"What do you mean?"

"I stayed over at the farm last night."

"Really? Mom, did you and dad…?"

"Yes."

"That's great."

"We're not ready to be back together yet but I think, I hope, we're getting there."

"Well, take your time. You know you guys love each other. The rest will come."

"Speaking of that, how are things with you and your sweetie?"

"Well, despite all the crap that's been happening things are going pretty well. I'm giving up my apartment and moving in with him. And not as roommates. I hope that doesn't bother you."

"Penny, I'm in no position to judge. And I know how much you love him and your father tells me that he gave Sheldon permission to court you so I'm fairly certain that things are going in the right direction. Are you happy?"

"I think so. With all of this other stuff going on…"

"Be sure, dear."

"We both know it's been a really stressful time and that we've been forced to do things faster than either of us would like. That's why we're going to get some help."

"What kind of help?"

"We're looking at therapists, individually and as a couple. We just want to be sure that we deal with what's been happening and don't find ourselves freaking out down the road. My friend, Nora, has been really helpful."

"I don't remember hearing that name before."

"Nora is the detective that's been handling my, our case. We really clicked and Sheldon and I both really like her. We've been spending a lot of time together. She's even staying across the hall at the hotel and when we move back she's going to move into my apartment."

"That sounds very nice."

"Mom?"

"Sounds like you need to ask me something. Spit it out."

"I spoke to Sheldon's mom last night and she wants us to get married and we're not ready. We will. Eventually. But not now. And maybe not soon."

"Honey, I know how you are when someone tries to make you do something you aren't ready or willing to do. How's Sheldon with this?"

"He agrees with me but he's always kind of been a mama's boy. If she pushes he'll go along with it."

"When all this nonsense is over would you like me to speak to Sheldon's mother, you know mother-to-mother?"

"Would you? I mean, I know she likes me and she knows I love Sheldon and he loves me, but we really need to do this at our own speed, both of us."

"I understand. Just let me know when you think it's the right time."

"Thanks, mom. Oh yeah, I really like my new job in the costume shop. I think it might turn into something."

"Penny, I know you have the drive and the smarts to be successful at whatever you end up deciding to do. And I like that you're at least doing something related to where you'd like to be. How's your writing going?"

'Classes start up again in a couple of weeks. That script I was working on is kind of just laying there, kind of because the story is still happening. Hopefully once we move back things'll slow down."

"Honey, you can't assume the time will open up. If it's important to you you have to make the time, even if it's only a few minutes every day."

"You're right. Listen, it's late and I gotta go. Sheldon and I still have some stuff to go over before bed."

"Give him a kiss for me, honey. And really, don't worry. Everything will work out."

"Bye, mom."

Penny walked over to Sheldon and kissed him on the cheek and then on the lips.

"What was that?"

"Well, the first one was from my mom. The other one was from me. And, oh yeah, we got mail from the insurance company."

Penny went over to her bag and pulled out the two envelopes.

"I figured we should open them together."

"All right."

Penny opened her envelope, looked at the check and fell back on the couch.

"Sheldon, I've never had this much money in my life. Did you tell them everything I owned was made of gold?"

"Penny, that is the fair value for replacing a lifetime of possessions. Do you believe you will be able to adequately replace your losses?"

"And then some. Sheldon, if I got this much I can't imagine what you got."

"Penny, I am well aware of the value of my possessions and I regularly checked various websites and updated the policy when the value increased. I am satisfied that I will be able to replace those items I wish to replace and purchase other items as well."

"Don't you want to replace everything?"

"Much of what I owned was purchased with the consideration that I was living with Leonard who shared a similar enjoyment of a number of fandoms. I don't wish to impress that upon you. Though some of the items I have strong feelings for will be replaced I would prefer that we make major decorative decisions together."

"Sheldon, you wouldn't be you without all of your statues and action figures and toys displayed. As long as you let me put out a few care bears and Hello Kitty tchotchkes and photographs and stuff I'll be happy.

"I think I'll be satisfied with purchasing a couple of display cases and filling them. Stuart has already got a list of the items I wish replaced. That will be adequate."

"Sheldon, if you don't buy the toys I will."

"That's acceptable."

"So tomorrow is our first "Embrace the Chaos" Day. What are your plans?"

"I plan to spend the morning at the University now that I will not be cleaning up chocolate pudding. Tomorrow afternoon I have arranged for Leonard's possessions to be packed up and moved to storage. I will supervise. He left no detailed instructions for their disposition so I will wing it, as they say."

"Way to embrace the chaos, sweetie. I'm due at work around ten and my boss wants to have lunch. I have a feeling I won't be going back to The Cheesecake Factory when it reopens."

"I believe that to be a positive development, however…"

"I will be sure to instruct our new waitress on the proper care and feeding of Sheldon Cooper."

"Thank you. Though the hotel does an adequate job…"

"I know. Homeostasis.

Meanwhile, just outside Omaha.

"I knew there couldn't be that many Mary Coopers in Galveston."

"Hello. Is this Mary Cooper, Sheldon's mother? It is? This is Penny's mother. I'm sorry to bother you so late but I believe we have an engagement and a wedding to start planning."