Chapter 52
Penny and Leonard were back out in the living room at 3 PM, both with little shy smiles on their faces. What they didn't know was that Bernadette and Howard had decided to shower together also, and after realizing the Penny had taken another nap, they decided to take a nap too, however they didn't sleep. So now everyone was in a lazy mood, in sweats or jeans, wanting to just lay around and mindlessly do nothing at all.
"You guys want to watch a movie? I brought a couple of Penny's favorites over, when I packed her bags." Leonard told them.
Penny brightened up, "Which ones?" she asked, and Leonard ran down the list. "Oh, the Jennifer Aniston one." both girls said, laughing.
Leonard quickly got the movie and gave it to Howard, who put it in his DVD player, for them all to see. Bernadette walked over to her kitchen, to start the popcorn popping, and got them all ice teas, with Leonard's help. By the time they started the movie, there were big bowls of popcorn and drinks to keep them satisfied during the whole movie.
The movie was almost two hours long and by the time the first half hour was over, both girls were cuddled up to their men. There was sort of a magic in Howard's and Bernadette's living room that afternoon, two couples madly in love, with their others, just holding each other and being content. A little after an hour, Penny was stretched out along the couch, covered in a blanket, her head on a pillow on Leonard's lap, while he rubbed her back. Bernadette was in Howard's lap on a side chair, curled up with her head on his shoulder, watching the movie. Both girls had tissues handy because every so often a scene would make them cry, which confused the hell out of the guys. The movie ended with both girls sniffling and the guys both rubbing their backs to soothe them.
Penny turned her head to look up at Leonard from her pillow, "I'm hungry."
The way she said it made Leonard chuckle, "Is this one of these strange, I'm pregnant, I need food, things?" he asked.
"Maybe…..baby wants pizza." Penny said with a smile.
An hour later, everyone started to watch a Sandra Bullock movie while eating pizza and drinking more ice tea. Penny had her own pizza since she was the only one that wanted almost every topping they had on her pizza, which made everyone else want to gag. Their third movie ended a little after 10 PM and they had basically spent the whole day just being lazy and doing nothing, so they all agreed that the day was a big success. They had had cookies and hot beverages during the third movie, so now that it was over, Penny had a full belly and was a little tired again. In addition, Penny was now curled up in Leonard's lap, with her head on his shoulder, rubbing her nose and lips against his face.
"I'm a little tired now, do you mind if we go to bed?" she asked Leonard
"No, I'm a little tired too, and I have to get up early for work tomorrow." Leonard responded without thinking.
The room got very quiet, Penny had forgotten he had to go back to work, she had been with him almost every second of the last two days and one night, so knowing now he was going to leave her tomorrow, was a shock to her. She sat there just looking at him, unable to think of anything to say that would make it better. It got worse, as she stared at him, she felt helpless, and couldn't keep the tears from forming in her eyes and running down her checks.
Leonard realized what a mistake he just made, how could he be so stupid, they should have talked about this sooner. The tears coming down her face, were killing him, he didn't know what to do, he had to go in tomorrow. If it had been just a normal week, he could just take the week off on vacation, but tomorrow he had meetings with the department head, the university president and some of the board members to discuss his project. He maybe could come home early, but he had to go in tomorrow morning.
Howard and Bernadette were watching their two friends trying to deal with a deeply emotional situation between them and the pain was so evident on their faces. Penny's biggest side effect of her pregnancy was definitely how emotional she was acting, every feeling was so strong in her, she had trouble coping sometimes. She had just got Leonard back, she found out she was pregnant and now they were planning a marriage and family, all in 48 hours, her reluctance for him to leave her right now was understandable. Leonard was hurting because she was hurting, he loved her too much to hurt her, and he would do anything for her, which made his decisions questionable when they concerned her.
"I'm going to stay home tomorrow with Penny, so Leonard, don't worry she won't be alone." Bernadette told Leonard, it was the only solution that would work. She felt Howard give her a little squeeze and look, which she just nodded back to him.
"You sure? I mean you have a job too." Leonard asked, but he hoped she could do it, because he couldn't think of anything else to do.
"I have no meetings scheduled tomorrow and I have a bunch of reports, I have to read, that I can read at home, so I'm not really missing work." Bernadette told him. She could see the relief on Leonard's face and Penny nodded, while he wiped her tears.
"Thank you, Bernadette." Leonard told her, she had become such a good friend since she joined their little group, he loved her as a person. "Thank you."
Everyone got up to go to bed and Leonard again helped Penny get ready, however there was still a little tension between them. Penny didn't say much, but she kept looking at him, staring at him, he felt she was looking into his soul. When they got in bed she positioned herself in a way that she laying with her head on his chest and her arms around him, in a very possessive way, which made him think they needed to talk.
"Penny, honey, is it still bothering you, I have to go to work tomorrow." Leonard asked her.
'Yes it is killing me.' Penny thought, but she couldn't tell him that because he would stay with her. "I'm sorry Leonard, it just, we were apart so long, and I'm pregnant, so I just don't want to let you go. I feel safe when you are around, and I don't care about the rest of the world, when you're with me. I know I'm silly, but I can't help feeling this way." she told him.
"Baby, you're not silly. I'm sorry, if it was any other time, I would just take time off and not leave you're side, but with all that has happened, I have to go in. I will try and get some time off, I promise." he told her.
"I know honey, I understand, it just hard, you know." Penny told him, "Everything is different now, you know. You said we are a family and I feel that way too, so, I don't know, I guess I'm just all hormonal, Sweetie." Penny was quiet for a few seconds.
Leonard was smiling, he loved her so much, she was so adorable, talking, like him, about them being a family. He really didn't want to leave her tomorrow, he didn't want to leave her ever, they had been together so much the last 36 hours and he had loved every minute of it. Leonard just wished they could have a few weeks together right now, he just wanted to spend the next couple of weeks by her side for every minute and take care of her.
"Leonard, you go to work, I'll be Ok. I need to act like an adult now, I'm fine and besides Bernadette will be with me tomorrow so I won't be too lonely." Penny finally told him.
"Ok, love-bug, I will really try to get home early." Leonard responded, then he put a kiss on her head.
Penny scooted up so she was face to face with him and put her lips to his. She loved kissing him so much and whenever she was this close to him, she couldn't help but kiss him. The kiss lasted a little while, and when they broke, Penny was a little breathless, she always desired him and this time was no different. "Honey, when this is over, and we can go home, you're going to move in with me, right?"
Leonard smiled again, the thought had never crossed his mind, he was not thinking that far ahead. "You sure you want me? I mean we never discussed this before and well I thought you didn't want to move that fast." he told her.
Penny put her head on his chest again and stared laughing, then she squeezed him as tightly as she could. Penny then took his hand and put it on her tummy. "Sweetie, we never discussed little Hofstadter here either, I think we are way past moving too fast, don't you." she told him, still chuckling.
Leonard felt so stupid, too fast, what an idiot he was. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking." he told her apologetically.
Penny snuggled closer to him. "Honey, I don't know if I could sleep without you anymore, and I am already having trouble adjusting to you just leaving me for work, so I definitely want you living with me. Leonard, I love being with you. I am always happy when I'm with you, and if we are getting married, you better get use to me being around all the time." Penny said, with a little chuckle.
Leonard smiled. "All the time!" he teased her.
Penny laughed, "Yes, all the time and you better get use to liking it." she told him, then pinched him to make the point.
"Ouch! Ok, all the time and I promise to like it." he said submissively.
Penny got comfortable on him and he rubbed her back, putting her asleep within minutes. Leonard laid there smiling to himself, and he fell asleep minutes later.
The alarm clock surprised them both, since they were both deep in sleep and so comfortable in each others arms. Leonard wanted to throw it across the room, he was so mad, that it woke up Penny, because that was the last thing he wanted to do this morning. He couldn't see her face, because her head was on his chest, but he could feel her slight movements and knew she was now wide awake.
Penny was trying not to cry, she didn't want him to go, she wanted him to stay in bed with her. Her senses were so acute, she could smell the manly musky smell of him, again it made her desire him. She wanted to just kiss him and hold him and never let him go. She knew her hormones were controlling her, but it was still unfair, why couldn't she have him to herself longer.
Leonard knew he had to move, because she wouldn't, he could tell by her fingers running along his skin, that she wasn't voluntarily going to let him go. However, the thought of pushing her away, so he could get up, was almost something he wasn't capable of doing right now. He just wanted to figure some way to stay with her, what was wrong with him, he was suppose to be smart, why couldn't he figure a way to stay with her.
Howard, finally made them both move, if not for him Leonard probably would not have left the bed. "Leonard, its morning, buddy." Howard said in a low voice, thinking Leonard probably didn't set the alarm clock.
"Thanks Howard." Leonard replied, then looked down to see Penny looking at him. Her eyes were wet, and it broke his heart to see her like that, but a moment later they were kissing.
Penny had moved up and initiated the kiss, she had to kiss him, she couldn't help herself. His lips were so soft and inviting, she needed to kiss him and make sure he knew she loved him, before he left for the day. Her kiss was getting more and more intense, she was now laying on him, her arms around his head and her mouth clamped tightly to his. Her tongue demanded entrance into his mouth, which he granted, and she ravished his mouth, unable to control herself. Penny had now lost awareness of everything except Leonard, his mouth, his smell, and his body below hers.
Penny was all over him, and he had seen her like this before, she was taking control, she was going to have him. But, now he had to stop it, he was too concerned about her to risk hurting her and he was still worried about having sex with someone who was pregnant, he was too worried he would hurt her or the baby. So Leonard gently stopped her by tenderly pushing her face away from his. It hurt him to see her hurt confused face, when she opened her eyes to look at him.
"Baby, we can't, you need to rest more and heal. Please understand, I can't, when you are so hurt like this. I love you so much and I desire you very much, but I can't, I'm too afraid of hurting you." he tried to explain to her.
"Leonard…..I…I'm sorry." she responded, in a voice that sounded like a little girl. "I love you so much, too", then she wrapped her arms around he neck and hugged him really hard, before reluctantly moving off him. She didn't know how she kept it together, when he gave her a kiss, then got out of bed to go shower, she felt so alone when she lost sight of him.
Leonard quickly showered and got dressed, finding Penny sitting at the kitchen table, with Howard and Bernadette, waiting for him. Bernadette had made pancakes for them, so they had pancakes and coffee, while Penny had juice with her pancakes. Leonard could see Penny was a little stressed still and he couldn't help notice how she would watch him as nonchalantly as she could. She was really getting to him and he knew if he didn't leave quick, he wasn't going to go.
Leonard kissed Penny and Howard kissed Bernadette, then both of them got into Leonard's car and headed to Cal Tech. All the way to work, Howard could see that Leonard was deep in thought and he knew he was thinking about Penny because he had that expression on his face when he was trying to figure things out. Howard wanted to try and help him.
"Leonard, Penny for you thoughts." Howard said with a little smile and chuckle.
Leonard looked at him and smiled. "That obvious, huh." he responded.
"Something bothering you, buddy?" Howard asked
"Not really bothering me but I need to figure out a few things. Penny's emotions are all over the place, and I know a lot of it is because of the pregnancy, but I'm concerned about her, she is not use to wearing her emotions on her sleeve. Sometimes, I feel she is going to go too far and have trouble coming back. I really don't know how to explain it. But I know I want to make her comfortable and not stressed, she has been stressed too much the last few weeks." Leonard told Howard.
"How are you handling the pregnancy and being engaged now?" Howard asked, with concern. Leonard had a habit of taking on a lot of stress himself, when trying to help someone he cared about.
Leonard smiled at Howard. "Howard, I'm going to marry the girl of my dreams, and she just happens to be the most wonderful person in the world, plus my best friend. I still can't believe this is all happening, then add, she is having my baby, and I think my heart is going to explode, I am so happy." he told him.
Howard smiled, "Leonard just don't forget to take care of yourself, when you are taking care of Penny, Ok." he told him
Leonard smiled and nodded. Leonard and Howard talked the rest of the way to work and while walking to their offices. Leonard had a few minutes to get things straight and at least look at his email before he had to proceed to the department head's office. He quickly sent an email to Alex, asking if she could spare some time to see him, in the afternoon, and asked her what time was best for her. Once he hit send, he grabbed his notes and headed to Dr Gablehauser's office, to start his long morning of meetings.
Sue Reese walked into her office, at county child services, she was the head of the child welfare department. Sue had watched TV all weekend and she was mad that some stupid woman was pregnant, having sex with questionable actors, drinking and taking drugs. She really felt that this woman was not responsible enough to raise a child and she needed to be controlled for the sake of her unborn baby. She got settled in her desk and immediately called for one of her case workers, she was going to do something about this Penelope.
