Chapter 35 Together in Paris

Sorry I never had time for a proper disclaimer when I started this last night. We'll go with something interesting I suppose. I of course have no ownership in TBBT and no wish to or desire to cause them pain, injury, booboos, rug burns, laceration, carpal tunnel, or hurt feelings in any way. Should anything I write cause the above effects I disavow all knowledge of this disclaimer or any other I have written and will blame it on Chuck my alternate personality, and Fred could have got involved also. Yes you Fred, put the knife down Fred. Thank you.

Three Couples Kinda

Three couples and one small child were sitting at the table in the main dining room of the Hotel Athenee. There were five PhDs, one lawyer and a 2 year old. The waiters wondered about the grouping. These waiters unlike others at the street cafes frequented by tourists where extremely cheerful and friendly. They did know this about the group. They were staying in three of the 4 best suites in the hotel. Only the best suite remained empty and its occupants were arriving today. The group had ordered various items for breakfast. The tall man and the young boy that was obviously his son were having Oatmeal. The boy's mother was having eggs, toast and potatoes. The very thin short man and his petite blond haired wife were sharing a fruit platter and croissants. The Indian couple who appeared to have had a tiff this morning were drinking coffee. She was having soft boiled eggs and toast points. He was having steak and eggs. She had clearly been displeased.

They were seated around the round table with the mother next to the little blond lady. Then the very thin short man and beside him the Indian gentleman. The Indian woman was between her husband and the tall man. The young boy was in a high chair between the tall man and the boy's mother. All of the waiters spoke English and were listening in.

"Bernie how did Penny finally get back with Leonard, tell me what happened."

Bernie put her juice down and looked at the mother, "Amy it was like something out of a romance novel. She read the interview he'd given that said he was living back in the apartment and that he still loved her. She got in her car at the studio and came right over."

Amy took another bite of her food and a sip of coffee. "She just went over and jumped him, that's my Bestie."

Bernie smirked, "No she told me they didn't sleep together until Christmas a couple of days later. But she told me it was magic, like they'd never been apart for 12 years. They still both loved each other though they are both very different now"

"How are they different?" Amy was chewing on her toast and dipping it in her egg yolks.

"Well take Leonard for example. He's very sophisticated now. He dresses very well, knows fine food and wine. He has his little daughter Lisel who he dotes on. He's told Howie and me all about different places in Europe. Then Penny has a beautiful home with two dogs and a screwy little cat. She has to hide her identity in public. She is even more self-assured than she ever was. She is a star Amy but still the same old Penny at home. They are both different but the same."

Amy shook head and continued eating. "I guess I'll get to see for myself at dinner tonight or we could wait for them to get here in the lobby."

The waiters noticed the Indian woman was listening intently to this conversation. Her husband though was busy talking to the short thin man, "Howard how is Leonard affording all this?"

Howard took a bite of his croissant talking while he chewed, "Oh he's loaded Raj. He ended up with loads of money coming in from patents he produced at CERN and Oxford. The man's wine cellar is worth more than my car. He's still the same old Leonard though good heart through and through."

"Do you think he might find a spot for an old friend at Caltech? I'd really like to come back to Pasadena."

"Well maybe but have you ever talked to him about what happened between you and Penny? Leonard is a real up front kind of guy, even more than he used to be."

Raj just nodded his head up and down and took another bite of his steak.

The tall man was helping the child eat. He had already finished his oatmeal so he was feeding the small boy a spoonful at a time ignoring the rest of the conversation. Raj looked over at his old colleague and friend. "What are you working on these days Sheldon?" Amy got a stricken look on her face and looked over at her husband. Sheldon looked up with that little grin on his face "Nothing actually." He went back to feeding his son. Both Howard and Raj just stared at him with their mouths open.

Entering Paris

Penny was staring out the window of the compartment as the city came into view. She touched Lisel who was beside her. "Look honey it's Paris" Lisel looked up from her book at the city. "It's a very big place mommy, look at the big tower." Penny moved Lisel up onto her lap putting her chin on Lisel's head as they looked out. "It's called the Eiffel Tower honey, I'm sure daddy knows all about it." Leonard looked up from the other seat and started to tell them the history of the structure. Penny listened for second or two and just smiled at him.

They had both awoke early that morning to make love one more time before leaving Geneva. They knew they'd be back but the moment was too important to pass up. They had breakfast in the suite, packed up and been delivered to the station by Klaus 30 minutes before the train left. Leonard had shook Klaus's hand and talked to him in German for several minutes before all their luggage was loaded up by the attendant. Klaus had waved at Penny and Lisel then was back in the car and gone.

The train was a new MagLev its ride very smooth and fast. Leonard said it had no wheels and hovered above the track. Penny hadn't ridden on many trains in her life but this was the quietest she had ever been on. Leonard told them both that he would show them how it worked when they got back home to California. The scenery as they traveled into the Alps had been beautiful. Leonard had watched with them until they were into the fields of France.

Penny was looking out the window with Lisel again as they went by a familiar site to Penny. It was different but even from a distance she could tell what it was. "Is that Disney Paris Leonard?"

Leonard again looked out the window, "Yes it is we could go if you like." Penny shook her head, "Lisel first Disneyland should be the original". Penny wondered why Lisel had not spoken up. She looked down and saw that Lisel had fallen asleep. Penny shifted her so her head was on a pillow in her lap and her feet out on the seat. She stroked her hair and watched the city get closer by the second.

Click Clack Click Click Click

The train pulled into Gare De Lyon Station in Paris. Penny woke Lisel very gently. She sat up and looked out the window. "So many people mommy, where are they all going?" Penny just smiled, "Each person is on a journey just like us, some to see friends and family, others to work or vacation." Lisel looked some more. "Do you think anyone else is here to get married?"

Penny hugged her, "I'm sure there is honey"

Penny suddenly saw the group of press photographers and TV crews down the platform. She had to fight not going into her serious bitch mode. Leonard had caught the look on her face though. She looked over at him, "The press is here." Leonard looked stunned. She could understand they had been very careful about having things booked under the trust from Switzerland. All of their friends knew to be discrete about whose wedding they were going to. She was racking her brain when the press outside started going crazy. They were snapping pictures and jockeying for positions, but not toward their train but the one on the opposite track. Penny, Leonard and Lisel watched as a man and women exited the train. They were heavily clothed and with the press in the way impossible to tell who they were. The press followed and hounded them down the platform.

Penny let out an audible sigh of relief. Leonard was still watching them leave his mouth agape. "I guess some real celebrities showed up", Penny said with a laugh. Leonard looked over very serious, "I feel so bad for them to get swarmed like that, wonder who they were? Don't think the press hasn't been sniffing around for you either. My lawyer emailed last week that they had even received a few calls this week from both the European and American entertainment media."

"What did they do?" Penny was actually very relaxed now. She had started to get her and Lisel's stuff into her large shoulder bag. "They referred them back to Josh in the states like you suggested." Penny got Lisel's coat on and then her own.

"Well let's get going then." Penny started for the compartment door holding Lisel's hand as Leonard slid into his coat and grabbed his bag. They left the train onto the platform. Leonard had stopped and spoke with the conductor in French for a moment and then was at their side. The platform was noisy with the rush of people and the hum of trains as they slide into or out of the station. The station itself was beautiful, a very old piece of architecture with a lot of modern upgrades. Lisel was staring about in wonder, as her parents walked her toward the baggage area.

When they arrived there was a man holding a sign with the name Hoftstader on it. Leonard walked up with the girls and said "Bonjour". Leonard proceeded to talk to the man for several seconds, a man behind with a trolley waited patiently. They waited for the luggage that Leonard pointed out and the other man loaded on the trolley. Leonard leaned over to Penny, "This is our driver Charles, and he speaks English also. We have a car waiting upstairs. Oh and the people on the platform were Prince Harry and his new wife. So you've been upstaged by Royalty."

Penny nodded at Charles she was still holding Lisel's hand or she would have offered it to him. She smiled instead which Charles returned blushing slightly. They followed him to a large Mercedes limousine and were soon speeding toward their hotel.

Sisterhood of a Sort

The doormen at the Hotel Athenee glanced back at the two women sitting just inside the door in the lobby. They'd been there for at least an hour, obviously waiting for someone's arrival. The Mercedes pulled up to the entrance. The first doorman immediately opening the door to the car and the other opened the door to the hotel. The first doorman let out a small breath when the beautiful blonde lady took his hand and exited the car. She turned around and took her daughters hand to help her out. The gentleman was smaller in stature than the doorman, he smiled and said thank you before following the lady and girl.

The doorman holding the door felt more than saw the two women who had been inside rush by.

"Bestie you're here." Amy was hugging Penny tightly. Leonard had reached over and took Lisel's hand so Penny could return the hug. Bernadette touched Penny's hand and leaned over to kiss Leonard on the cheek. She then squatted down and gave Lisel's a big hug. "How have you been sweetie did you have a good Christmas?"

Lisel was smiling a huge grin at her, "Oh yes Aunt Bernie it was wonderful, is Uncle Howard here?" Bernadette looked over to Leonard and smiled. "He's here honey visiting with some old friends of his and your father." Bernadette finally noticed the two outfits that Lisel and Penny had on matched. Lisel had on a white skirt with blue stockings and a lighter blue top you could see under her coat. Penny's skirt was the same blue color as Lisel's stockings, her top white. There shoes were the same color of blue leather though Lisel's were flats and Pennies a low heel. Penny and Amy finally separated. Bernadette smiled at Penny, "Well look at you two you're just so cute in your outfits." Lisel spoke up right away, "Mommy and I got them in Geneva while daddy was getting dirty." Bernadette looked questioningly at Leonard, Penny laughed and Leonard gave her a rueful look. Penny put her arms around both her friends, "Let's go get checked in and we can start catching up."

They are all there now except for Lena and Horst who will be there in the morning. He had a collider run to oversee today. Any other surprise visitors, I'll have to check the book and see.

Reviews really are essential folks I'd love to know if I'm boring you yet, I can always kill someone off if that happens. There will be a picture of the train station on the blog today.

Macy very nice piece today, it made me smile. I needed it.