Chapter 49 - The Wedding
Amy went to her and Sheldon's room, she hadn't seen him since the night before when she left to be with the girls so she expected to see him in the room watching TV. However after giving a short knock, in the agreed upon sequence, she opened the door with her card key only to walk in and see her man standing there in his suit. Amy was slightly stunned, partly because he was dressed and partly because he looked so handsome in the suit, "Sheldon what…I mean why are you dressed so nice."
"I was thinking, if you don't mind, I would like to accompany you to the wedding." he said shyly
"You want to go to the wedding with me?" Amy now asked in surprise.
Sheldon nodded, "You are my fiancée and we are engaged, I think I should be with you at the wedding."
"I don't know what to say." Amy was surprised by him wanting to go.
"If you don't want me to go, I won't" Sheldon then added.
"No…No, I want you there, it is just I thought you hated to go." she explained.
Sheldon stood there a second in thought, "I guess in the beginning I didn't want to go, but I would like to see you as a bridesmaid, even more now since I see how pretty you look."
"Oh Sheldon." Amy gushed, her cheeks turning pink.
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Sheldon sat quietly in the pickup truck, it was both quiet and awkward, awkward because he was riding with Penny's father, Wyatt, but actually the quiet made it bearable for him. He ended up in this situation because Amy asked for help to get Sheldon to the wedding and Penny's mother volunteered her husband to drive him while she drove with her daughters, Amy and Bernadette to the wedding. Sheldon just hoped the wedding venue was close, it was bad enough that he had to ride with someone he didn't know, no matter how much Amy had assured him it was perfectly safe, but he also had to ride in a vehicle which probably had germs he never had heard of and probably was completely unsafe based on its age.
Wyatt forced himself to be quiet the whole trip, his wife had made it perfectly clear that he was not to cause any problems, or else, so he wisely decided to be safe and keep his mouth shut. Wyatt didn't really know Sheldon, so he felt it was this man's fault his daughter had gone though all the grief and, because he was a man, Wyatt was convinced he had taken advantage of his little girl. However, there was more, not only was he mad about what this 'Sheldon' had done to his daughter, he was also mad at what he had done to Leonard, his supposedly best friend. But his wife's words about it being Penny and Leonard's day, so he needed to keep his feelings in check until it was over, kept him from calling the man next to him out and beating his ass. Therefore, he was very happy when he pulled up in front of the church and this man got out, Sheldon never saying a word as he left, not even thank you, and Wyatt perfectly happy he didn't.
Sheldon walked through the doors of the church, he had always tried to avoid churches only going when his mother made him, so now voluntarily going into one felt strange, however he didn't get much time to think about it. "Sheldon what are you doing here." Raj suddenly asked him.
"I'm here to see Amy in the wedding." Sheldon was always honest, if it wasn't for Amy he wouldn't even be in Nebraska.
Raj frowned at Sheldon's comment, about only being there for Amy, but shook it off, after all it was Sheldon, "Let me find you some place to sit."
Raj led Sheldon into the church seating area then turned to him, "Where do you want to sit?" he knew Sheldon was picky so decided to just let him sit where he wanted.
"Over there, in the back towards the outside." Sheldon requested.
Raj looked where he pointed, it was in the back to the side of the church, a seat out of the way, and a place probably that would not be visible to the bride and groom. Raj actually thought it was a good thing he picked that place. "Sure Sheldon that should be fine." Raj then watched him move to that spot for a couple seconds before he went back to the front door to continue to perform as an usher.
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Penny paced nervously in the waiting room, Amy, Bernadette and Lindsey all trying to calm her. Penny thought she would be fine but arriving at the church had finally made it sink in that it was really happening, after all her hoping, she was getting married to Leonard and her nerves were at end thinking something would go wrong and ruin everything. Every possible scenario was running through her mind, from the almost impossible, that Leonard would not be there, to the simple, that one of her relatives would do something to stop it all.
"Sis calm down." Lindsey said sternly, treating her sister like they did when they lived at home together.
Bernadette gave Lindsey a look, to try and convey to her to be nicer, before turning to Penny, "Penny, it will be okay, every bride gets nervous there is nothing to worry about."
"But what if something goes wrong." Penny quickly responded back.
"It won't, I went through the same worry you are and it was all for nothing." Bernadette told her trying to comfort her.
"Yeah, Sis believe me you are worrying about nothing, I did the same thing when I got married, everything will be okay." Lindsey added, getting a nod from Bernadette
Penny turned to the two girls, "I can't help it, it seems like my whole life has been to get to this moment." Penny shook her head, "I've screwed up so much, it seems I shouldn't even be here."
Bernadette could tell Penny was just too nervous, "Penny, Leonard loves you so much and you love him, that is why you both are here, you both want to be with each other forever, both of you."
Penny nodded, "I love him so much."
"Leonard adores you, you know that." Bernadette now said, not elaborating that after all that had happened he never really broke up with her and stood by her, even when she was with Sheldon's baby.
Penny nodded again, a little smile on her face, "Thanks Bernadette."
"Dad's waiting, you know he is really happy walking you down the aisle because you are marrying Leonard." Lindsey now told her.
Penny smiled, "Dad really likes Leonard, I'm really lucky that the family likes him so much."
Lindsey chuckled, "That's because he is the first doctor in the family. Mom has be bragging to everyone that you are marrying a doctor." All the girls chuckled at Lindsey's remark.
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Penny couldn't wait till it was her turn to come down the aisle, she wanted so badly to see Leonard in his tuxedo, she knew he was wearing a black one, like the one he took Amy to a wedding years before, the type that looked so good on him. But knowing that just made her more anxious to see him, she knew he would look so handsome and it started to made it feel like there were butterflies in her stomach at the thought they were getting married today and would be with each other forever. She didn't even realize she was pulling her father towards the door as she waited for the wedding march, her queue to enter the church.
"Slugger, it will be just a few seconds more, I'm sure." Wyatt could tell his daughter was excited.
"I'm sorry daddy, it is just…..just that I can't wait to see him." she confessed.
Wyatt softly chuckled, "And here I thought it was because you wanted to show off your dear old dad. I think I look pretty good in a tux."
"Daddy." Penny giggled, then quickly stopped as she heard the exact music she was waiting for, the music letting her know to begin her walk.
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Leonard didn't even realize he wasn't breathing as he watched his future wife walk down the aisle with her father, she was so incredibly beautiful she just took his breath away, literally. The only word his mind could come up with to describe his vision of Penny was that she was an Angel and he actually thought he saw an aurora surround her as she made her way towards him. He might have just stood there in awe until the lack of oxygen made his body collapse in a heap if Howard didn't notice him and give him a nudge on his shoulder, then whisper to him, 'breathe'.
Penny was smiling so hard, the look in Leonard's eyes as she got closer and closer to him making her want to smile even wider than was physically possible by her. The only word in her mind that could describe the way her soon to be husband was looking at her was 'Love', pure love, and that feeling of the knowing that the man she loved so much, loved her so much, was beyond incredible. She was actually having trouble keeping the pace they rehearsed the day before, the urge to bolt to Leonard, to be in his arms, was now dominating her every step, only her father's presence and touch was able to keep her from following the urge in her heart to just run to him.
It was only a few moments later when they were face to face, the words of 'who gives this woman' said to Wyatt and Leonard's response, not only in words but in sincerity, telling Wyatt that he would never hurt her, this simple exchange between the two men, a promise. Penny, during the whole time, almost on pins and needles impatiently waiting for Leonard to take her hand, her need to be in physical contact with him, on one of the most important days of their lives, almost overwhelming to her. So when their hands did finally touch it was like an electrical surge to their bodies, not the kind of electrical shock that makes you pull back, but something magnetic that drew them closer together, making them squeeze each others hands in a grip that let them each know the other was never letting them go.
The world then became a blur to them both, the touch of their hands seeming to cocoon them in a world all their own. They performed as rehearsed, said all the right words, even presented their vows without a hitch, but during all that time their minds could only register each other, it was like they were the only people that truly existed. It was only when they turned to the church full of guests, and the priest introduced them as Dr. and Mrs. Hofstadter that the world suddenly came back, new and amazing, as they both looked at each other smiling before they took their first steps into that world as husband and wife.
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The wedding party all lined up to get congratulations from all the guests as they left the church, all of them except Lindsey, but Penny and Leonard where in such a state of euphoria as they talked to everyone, they didn't even notice. However Penny's mother had noticed her other daughter going off to talk to her husband Todd, so she decided not to mention or look for Lindsey, so not to spoil Penny's day. Nonetheless, Meryl did start to worry when the wedding party finished at the church and was about to leave for pictures in the two white rental cars.
"Honey, have you seen Lindsey?" Meryl asked Wyatt.
"The last time I saw her she was with Todd." Wyatt responded
"Yeah that is when I saw her last." Meryl said absent mindedly
It was Penny who actually technically found her sister, she was the first one to approach the first rental car, Leonard opening the door helping her in, so she was also the first one to notice her sister crying in the front passenger seat. "Lindsey what is wrong?"
"What's wrong?" Leonard asked as he halfway entered the car to see where the crying was from, the tinted windows of the car, not giving anyone a clue that Lindsey was already in it.
"I don't know." Penny quickly said to her husband, then to Lindsey. "Sweetie what is wrong?"
"Can you give us a minute." Lindsey said between her tears.
Penny gave her husband a little nod, which he returned before closing the door on his wife so she could talk to her sister. Leonard then looked to Howard who was approaching the car, from seeing his wife in the other car.
"Howard lets go check on everyone in the other car."
Howard looked at Leonard in confusion, but didn't ask any questions, just nodding and saying, "Okay." while following his friend to the other car.
Penny scooted up in the back seat until she was leaning on the back of the front seat. "What is wrong Lin."
Lindsey, seemed to calm a little once her and Penny were alone. "Todd said he wanted to go back to town and skip the reception."
Penny couldn't understand why Lindsey was so upset about that, she seemed to be flirting with Raj so much, that she really didn't know how to properly respond. "Okay….it's not that bad is it?"
Lindsey shook her head, "That's not the problem. He said the reason he wanted to leave was because he had something to do and then like fate his phone rang."
Penny nodded, she still was confused, "So then what happened?"
"I saw the screen, it said Karen Johnson." Making that statement made Lindsey cry a little more.
Penny was still confused, "Who is Karen Johnson?"
Lindsey took a couple seconds to calm down again. "You haven't been home much, so you don't know. Todd had an affair with her right after I had Carl, I mean right after, he told me it was just because he needed sex and there was nothing emotional between them. So I let it go."
"OH!" Penny said in surprise
"Yeah oh." Lindsey's grief was now turning to anger, "So I asked him why the hell he was getting calls from her now, since he told me he would never see her again."
"What did he say." Penny curiosity was now taking over.
"He at first tried to lie, but when I told him he was lying, he got mad and told me the truth. He has been seeing her for six months and he liked her better than me because she was more fun than me and a kid." Lindsey explained.
"That bastard." Penny was now mad
Lindsey nodded, "He then told me he wanted a divorce."
Penny looked at her sister wide eyed, "Holy crap on a cracker."
Lindsey nodded, "It seems ever since you have been home and we've been hanging together, he was dumping Carl off on his mother's while he was visiting Karen."
"I'm so sorry, Lin." Penny said with guilt
Lindsey shook her head, "It is not your fault, like I said this has been going on for six months, so it has nothing to do with you being here. He just used the excuse for me being at mom and dad's to cheat more."
"I'm still sorry sis." Penny again said.
Lindsey gave her sister a little smile. "I guess I'm a little jealous of you."
"Why?" Penny was confused again at the sudden subject change.
Lindsey's smile dropped and she looked at her hands while she spoke, "Leonard would never do that to you, he really loves you and I wish I had someone to love me like that."
Penny knew her sister was right, Leonard would never do that to her, she loved him with all her heart and he would never consciously break her heart. She could see his love for her in his eyes and after all that happened the last few months, she could never doubt his love after all that. "Lindsey, you'll find someone." she said softly.
"Not around here, you were smart to leave." Lindsey said while looking back up at Penny.
Suddenly Penny thought about her sister and Raj, and she just as quickly pushed it from her mind, this situation was just too new to be thinking about that now. "What are you going to do next."
Lindsey had stopped crying now, so she just sighed, "I told him I wanted him out by the time I came home and he said fine, Karen wanted him to move in with her anyway. I'm just glad our family is watching Carl while I'm here, the thought of one of his family having him just upsets me."
Penny nodded, "I'd like to take a baseball bat to him."
Lindsey made a sad chuckle, "Me too, but after I accidentally shot him before, I think they would lock me up if I beat him up with a bat."
Penny chuckled sadly at that, "Yeah you're probably right."
Lindsey sighed again, "Thanks Sis, talking really helped, I needed to tell someone, I think I can go on now, sorry for putting it on you on your wedding day."
Penny smiled at her, "As long as you don't come knocking at my door tonight when Leonard and I are finally alone."
"God no, who would ever do something like that." Lindsey said with a disgusted face.
Penny now chuckled, "I could actually think of someone."
It was only a couple of minutes later that Leonard and Howard were back in the car, Howard driving off, getting directions from Lindsey, who was telling him where to go while she fixed her makeup. Leonard sitting quietly next to Penny, her hand in his while he softy rubbed his thumb over her hand. Both of them were looking between the rings on their hand and each other eyes, little smiles on their faces. It was then Penny leaned over to Leonard and whispered in his ear, "I'll tell you what happened later." Even though he had not asked her a thing about her and Lindsey's conversation, she knew he was curious and she never wanted to keep secrets from him every again.
Leonard just nodded then gave her a kiss. "I love you."
Penny smiling, "I 1ove you too."
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Amy sat quietly in the passenger seat as Steven drove the car, following the other car, thinking it was good they were basically strangers, because she didn't feel like talking while she was thinking of Sheldon. She was still trying to recover from the shock of him going to the wedding, not to even mention the look he was giving her when she caught a glance of him as she walked down the aisle. She had almost let out a 'Hoo' when she saw the intensity of that look, and right now she was trying to figure a way to talk to him later about it. Of course she didn't know what kind of mood he would be, since for the next couple hours he would be in the care of Penny's relatives, so she was hoping he just survived.
Therefore Amy just watched as the two cars drove thru the middle of town beeping their horns. Penny had told the girls it was a tradition around there when someone got married. She watched as the people stopped and waved at the cars, everyone smiling and Amy sort of got it why it was done, a good happy thing was happening and it made everyone happy. They then repeated the trip down the main street two more times before they went to the park where Penny wanted to have the wedding party pictures taken.
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It was about three hours after the wedding ended that the two white Chryslers showed up at the reception, coming to a stop in front of the building. Everyone a little surprised that all the guests were standing outside waiting for them, Penny especially because she had been to weddings before in her family and the men usually started drinking inside as soon as they got there. So it was with a little trepidation that Penny and Leonard got out of the car, not sure what was happening and not knowing how they should act.
It was almost a second after Penny got fully out of the car that a microphone was pressed into her face, a pretty woman holding it, dressing in a very nice skirted business suit. However it was what she asked Penny that really surprised her, "Penelope can we get your comment on the cancellation of your show and the falling out you had with your producer."
The question stunned her and Penny just turned to look at Leonard wide eyed, finding her new husband looking back at her, just as wide eyed as herself.
