Chapter 77

The rest of that afternoon and evening actually went very well, there was no further drama between any of them, which made things seem much more casual for Leonard, it made the whole visit into what it actually was, two friends visiting their friend who was recovering from an accident. Even Raj seemed to relax, Penny's mother not saying anything else to him, while she made a meal in the kitchen, Raj and Leonard eventually talking about work, until Susan told them to come and fix their plates if they wanted to eat something. Tina and Shirley had been visiting with Penny for almost an hour when Penny's mother came in with burgers and fries for them all to eat, before leaving them again so they could return to their girl talk. The tension of just a little while before seemed to Leonard to have left his apartment and now finally having a calm Raj to talk to, they ate their burgers and fries in the living room while they started to discuss what was going on with Howard and Sheldon, who Leonard hadn't seen for several weeks.

So, it was after 7 PM that evening that Leonard's apartment settled into a very quiet comfort from where it had been earlier that day, Leonard quietly reading a journal on his laptop, while Raj watched some reality TV with the sound down low. Penny's mother had retreated to guest bedroom after everyone ate, leaving Leonard and Raj alone for most of the rest of the evening, them only seeing Tina when she came out of the bedroom to get drinks for all of them, her flirting with Raj for a moment before she went back with the drinks. This atmosphere in the apartment stayed the same for almost two more hours before both Raj and Leonard heard the bedroom door open and the voices of Tina and Shirley telling Penny goodbye as they then moved to the living room where the two men just sat waiting to find out what would happen next.

Tina's smile from leaving her friend increased as she now turned her attention to the man who admitted he loved her just a few hours before, "Ready to leave...Honey?"

Shirley immediately looking at her friend, the smile she also had from visiting with Penny not turned to a small frown. Leonard also heard the obvious affection in the way Tina addressed Raj, but he didn't know whether to be worried that Raj had no idea what he was doing or getting into with this Cowgirl or just be happy Raj had found someone to be happy with at this point in his life. However, he didn't dwell on it too long.

Raj smiled brightly at Tina, "I'm ready when you're ready."

Shirley rolled her eyes, "We're ready." she then looked at Leonard, "Penny seems happy."

Leonard noticed the seriousness in that statement from Shirley and he also saw Tina now looking at him, nodding her head. Leonard didn't know why he said what he said next, maybe it was because it was the first think that came to his mind and he wasn't ashamed to say it, "I love her." though he never expected to see the sadness that took over Shirley's face for a moment after he said those words.

Shirley nodded, "Yeah...I know." before she turned to Tina and Raj, "Are we leaving or not, I think being here the whole day we probably overstayed our welcome by several hours." She then headed to the door to hurry them along.

"You guys can come over any time you want, I know Penny would enjoy her friends visiting." Leonard told them as Shirley opened the apartment door to leave.

Leonard's invitation stopped her dead in her tracks as she turned to him, "You are really just a nice guy, aren't you." She then watched for a second as Leonard tried to say something before, she smiled, "Leonard that wasn't a question." she then seemed to remember something, "I think Penny was hoping you would join her after we left." then she looked at Tina and Raj, who were just standing there, "If we ever leave."

Leonard stood a second after he locked the door after Shirley, Tina and Raj had left, not sure how to interpret what had just happened, but those thoughts quickly passed as he remembered Shirley saying that Penny wanted him. So, with no further delay he walked back to the bedroom, Penny was in, and knocked softly on the door, "Hey, its me."

"Come in Sweetie."

Leonard had to smile when he walked in the room and saw her sitting against a bunch of pillows looking up at him, a large smile on her face. "Hey you."

"Hey you." she responded while patting the bed next to her.

Leonard need no further invitation as he closed the bedroom door and moved towards the bed to sit where she had been patting. Of course, any doubt about her invitation was immediately forgotten when she moved herself against him as soon as he sat down, and snuggled even deeper into him as he lifted his arm to put around her. Leonard closed his eyes, the feeling of Penny cuddled against him was hugely intimate to him as he had never felt so close to a woman as he did to Penny. This feeling was something he treasured and also terrified him because he knew that ever since he had first held Penny, he wanted to be the one for her and now he knew if he ever lost her, he didn't know if would be able to cope.

Penny's eyes were also closed as she savored the feeling of being with Leonard, his arm around her and her body next to his making her feel so good and happy with him so close to her, he was also her safe place, just being held by him making everything else go away and letting her feel protected from the world around her. This was love, she knew it in her heart, she had been trying to find it since she was 15 and had sex with that first boy she said she loved, even telling herself with Kurt that what they had was love, but it was never like this, it never had this feeling. What made it so real to Penny was this had nothing to sex, making out, sleeping with or looks, though Penny did think Leonard cute and handsome, because her and Leonard had really done none of that yet. No this had to do with being in love with Leonard for who Leonard was, he was her hero and not mostly because he pulled her off the street, but because he was such a good person, he seemed to understand her and not judge her, she had never know a person like him before and now that she did she knew she wanted to be with him. She definitely wanted to be with him, she couldn't seem to get enough of him, she missed him when he was not there and she never grew tired of him, his personality both attracted her and made her happy, again something again she could honestly say she never felt before with any other man. Penny knew she was in love with Leonard and as she remembered what he had said about his heart belonging to her earlier that day a small smile crossed her face as those thoughts and the extreme comfort she felt being held by Leonard took her off to sleep.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Susan got up about 7 AM the next morning, it feeling like she had slept too long and gotten up late, her still not use to the time change from Nebraska to California. She had quietly slipped into the kitchen to put coffee on, to not wake Leonard, who had been sleeping on the couch since they had brought Penny to his apartment, when she noticed that Leonard wasn't on the couch. Susan at first thought that maybe he got up early and went out, but she also noticed that there were no pillows or blankets around and out that would indicate he slept there. That left only one conclusion for her to make so she went down the hallway to the bedroom Penny was in, silently scolding herself about not spending her night with her daughter and letting Leonard be with her unsupervised the night before.

It only took Susan a few seconds to reach the bedroom door, and immediately after giving it a light cursory knock she just walked in expecting the worse. However, when she entered the room, she stopped dead in her tracks, the scene before her completely not what she expected, making a tear come to her eyes and a feeling of guilt come over her. She was so happy that they had not woken up, at least the shame she now felt would be hers alone and she would not have to endure the embarrassment that could have come with it. So, she quietly back tracked her way out of the room and closed the door as quietly as she could behind her.

It only took a few seconds for Susan to be back on a stool at the kitchen island drinking her coffee again, seemingly having successfully escaped from the bedroom her daughter was in. She now had some time to think about what she saw and again she felt shame at what she had thought before going in the bedroom, while at the same time her heart felt for both her daughter and the young man who now was holding her. Susan could easily recall what she saw after she entered the room, Leonard laying on his back on the bed, still in his clothes, while he laid semi-reclined on pillows, her daughter laying against his chest wrapped in his arms. He was holding Penny in a way she could be comfortable against him, even with her leg in its cast, and the contentment on her daughter's face was something Susan would not soon forget. It was obvious Leonard had held her until her daughter fell asleep and then just stayed with her, not letting her go, until he fell asleep himself, it was like he was protecting her and letting her know he would never let her go.

Susan made no attempt to bother them again, finishing her coffee then taking a shower before getting dressed and just doing some things around the apartment until she saw Leonard coming down the hallway into the living room. She could tell he was at a loss to explain leaving the bedroom of her daughter that morning and she didn't want him to be embarrassed for holding her daughter all night. "Are you and Penny hungry." she calmly asked him.

Leonard's eyes went wider, him unable to control the surprise he felt at Penny's mother not seeming to be concerned about him coming from the bedroom that he obviously spent the night with her daughter. "Yes...I was actually coming out here to make something for Penny."

Susan couldn't help the feeling that she was liking this young man now, the words he said the day before, when Penny's friends visited, and now finding him just holding her daughter all night doing a lot to change her opinion of him. "I can make you two something, why don't you just keep Penny company and I'll bring in breakfast in a few minutes."

Leonard just stood there frozen for a few seconds, stunned at the way Penny's mother was acting, before he realized he should just concede that he wasn't in any trouble and accept it. "Okay...thank you."

"Your welcome Sweetie." Susan then turned towards the kitchen and began to fix breakfast.

Leonard walked slowly back to the bedroom, still trying to put his mind around Penny's mother's seemingly change in her response towards him and even being nice to him. 'She actually called me Sweetie' kept running through his mind and for a few seconds he wondered if he had actually woken up and this was really only a dream. So, as he walked back into the bedroom, he looked at Penny, who had a curious look on her face from seeing the confused expression on his face, before he spoke, "You are not going to believe what just happened."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The rest of the morning went by very pleasantly, Leonard and Penny had breakfast by themselves, Penny's mom just bringing in food and then leaving just as quickly. Penny and Leonard having a relaxing meal, then Leonard removing the dishes and trays before Susan came back in to help Penny freshen up while Leonard took a shower and got dressed for the day. The day then turned better, it was a very pleasant January day in southern California and Leonard asked Penny if she would like to go for a walk, so it about an hour later Penny in her wheel chair, being pushed by Leonard as Susan walked next to them, were outside in the California sun.

Leonard's apartment was in a very pleasant area of Pasadena, it cost him more than his old apartment with Sheldon, but right now he felt it was well worth it as he rolled Penny by some of the small shops near his building as all three of them enjoyed the stroll. There were even a couple public areas where the three of them ended up just sitting and enjoying the weather as they each drank their own Starbuck's coffees after walking for over an hour. Penny couldn't believe how nice it was, while she sat there making small talk with her mother and Leonard, the cold and fear she experienced just over a year ago now seeming just like a dream. She also remembered Carol telling her that as she got better the pain would get more distant, like it was now, and it made her feel good to know she was really getting better, it made her smile.

"Somebody seems happy, care to share." Leonard teased her.

Penny smiled a little more, something about Leonard always made her happy, she loved being with him and talking to him. "I was just remembering what I like about this place, days like today and how beautiful they are. I remember how happy I was being here the first few months."

Leonard's smile turned to a more serious look, "It is not all bad here, there is a lot of good here, too. It is just..." Leonard suddenly felt like he shouldn't say anymore, after all he wasn't a therapist and he worried that he would maybe say the wrong thing. Penny seemed so alive now, not the broken girl he found sitting outside in the cold over a year ago and he didn't want to do anything to change that.

"It is just there are dark places and dark people, like everywhere else in the world." Penny finished for him; her smile not as large as before but still present on her face.

Leonard nodded, not sure what to say next to her, so just agreeing with her, "Yeah."

Penny sighed, "I'm not the crazy girl I was over year ago." she said in a reflective way.

Susan was going to say something about Penny calling herself crazy, she didn't like when her daughter put herself down, but Leonard beat her to it, "Penny you were never crazy."

Penny looked at him, her face now showing a curious expression, "You don't think it was crazy to find a girl on a bench outside your apartment, in the middle of winter will no coat, freezing to death."

Susan gasped at Penny's description of herself back then, the part about freezing to death really scaring her making her think how easily she could have lost her daughter. It was something that terrified every mother, losing a child, but the thought of it happening to her youngest daughter really troubled her, especially because for most of the last year she had gotten closer to Penny. Penny's statement also made Susan remember how Leonard had saved her and it made her feelings toward Leonard even stronger, feelings that had been changing towards him and her daughter, as she now thought maybe him in her daughter's life was not a bad idea at all.

"I saw a homeless person on a bench who didn't have a place to go that night to get out of the cold." he said directly to her, while directly looking into her eyes. "I was going to give you money to spend the night in a hotel, until I saw you were a young woman." he then looked away from Penny, obviously thinking back to that day. "I guess I couldn't just leave you, I felt like I had to take care of you."

Penny just stared at him, him wanting to take care of her was more than any man had wanted to do for her since she came to California, really more than any male had every wanted to do for her ever. He also never took advantage of her, even though she had given him every opportunity to do so, he never did, it was something she deeply admired about him. He was so kind, gentle and sincere, it made her want to be with him all the time and it was a major reason she loved him.

"Leonard, I really don't think I'd be alive today if it wasn't for you." Penny said quietly while still looking at him. She watched as he slowly looked up again at her, the deep brown pools that were his eyes, showing nothing but compassion and love. It took everything she had not to just start bawling, she had never known anyone in her life like him and she knew she wanted to be around him forever.

Leonard saw a couple tears come down her cheeks and brought his hand up to wipe them away, concern now filling him on why she was crying. "I'm sorry." Always his go to response just left his lips without thinking.

Penny just shook her head then took his hand and put it against her face, "You have nothing to be sorry about, you make me so happy." she then said softly.

Susan immediately felt like a voyeur, "I'm going to find the rest room." then quickly got up and walked away, not even concerned that they hadn't acknowledged her going. Susan now had a lot to think about, her previous dislike of Leonard now completely gone and new questions about how he fit into her daughter's life taking its place. She basically needed to understand to herself if she should just let them find their own way or actually encourage them, Leonard now making her think that he was actually good for her daughter, she did seem really happy, the happiest she had seen her over the last year.

When Susan returned, she found her daughter and Leonard just giggling at each other, it was actually a relief for Susan after the awkward and emotion (for her) scene she had left just moments before. The rest of the afternoon ending up being light hearted for all of them, making it a pleasant day in all, again for all of them. The fresh air outing seemed to stay with them all night, each of them having a healthy appetite for dinner and each of them going to be early, tired from their day.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The next week was basically the same, going out in the afternoon, except for the one day it rained, being their normal routine and even some serious shopping for an hour one day so Penny could get a couple cuter nightshirts. It was also, two days into the same week, when Shirley and Tina, with Raj, came to visit again, just before Shirley had to leave back to the Rodeo, and it was much more pleasant a visit than the last time for everyone involved. Leonard and Raj actually going out to get some coffee and then sandwiches for lunch while the girls visited.

"So how are you handling that Tina is leaving." Leonard began as they took their seats in the Starbucks.

"Tina isn't leaving." Raj responded.

Leonard blinked, surprised and his answer, "I thought her and Shirley were leaving tomorrow?"

Raj shook his head, "Shirley is the only one leaving, Tina is staying."

Leonard leaned back in his chair and looked at Raj, "Is this getting serious between you two?"

"Leonard, Leonard, Leonard. We are just enjoying each other. Besides I'm just too rock and roll to settle down right now with only one woman." Raj said with a very cocky attitude and a lot of smugness.

Leonard shook his head, "I thought you said you were in love with this girl, she even heard you say that."

"I say a lot of this dude, you just don't understand what I mean because I'm exotic and from India." Raj now got defensive.

Leonard shook his head again, "Raj, according to Penny, Tina has been in the Rodeo for several years, she is not as good as Shirley but it is her job and her life. Now, she seems to not want to go back and just stay with you, does that tell you anything?"

Raj smiled, "Yeah, that she likes my exotic charm and my Cheetah like moves in bed."

Raj's bragging made Leonard want to get up and just shake him, "Raj, it also probably means she might be seeing a future with you."

Raj got serious, "Mummy and Daddy would never allow me to have a relationship with a white girl."

Leonard nodded, "So don't you think you should tell Tina that before she falls more in love with you?" he then thought that maybe it was already too late for the love part.

Raj looked down, "I guess." he then gave Leonard a pleading look, "But she is so warm and soft, she is also really good in bed and I like her being there in the morning, waking up with me."

Leonard now shook his head again, "Raj she is basically living with you, stop using your little head to have fun and then your big head to make excuses on how this not serious. She had a life before she met you and now, she put it on hold for you, so you screwing with her, literally, is not the right thing to do."

Raj looked down at his Chai Tea, "I guess."

"Sooner than later." Leonard reminded him.

"Okay." Raj responded like a child.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

With everything settling into a sort of routine, time passed quickly till the day Penny returned to the doctor to have her cast removed and a walking cast put in its place. She then had two days of physical therapy to learn what she needed to move around on crutches before she was sent back out into the world with her new found freedom. It was that same day that her daughter was on her own, with her new crutches, that Susan knew it had come to the point where she was not needed in California anymore. So, unlike a few weeks before when she would have almost insisted that Penny return to Nebraska with her, Susan had a good feeling that she knew Penny did not want to leave Leonard and she could see Leonard did not want her daughter to leave.

So, while they were eating dinner that evening, Susan let them know her plans, "Your father has been struggling by himself for too long now, I'm going to really need to get back home very soon."

Penny stopped eating and looked at her mother, a scared almost childlike expression covering her face. Leonard also stopped eating to look at Susan, his face a mask of worry and concern at what she was going to say next. Both of them did not know what was going on in Penny's mother's mind so they thought the worse, she was going to insist that Penny leave with her.

Susan was not planning on pushing anything, but she still was going to ask if Penny would come home, heck she wouldn't even mind if Leonard came with her, but she promised herself she wouldn't push her daughter. "Penny, Honey, do you want to go home, too?"

Leonard just looked between Penny and her mother; he knew he wanted her to stay but he had promised himself he would do nothing to influence her. He was still remembering something Gloria had told him many months before, that Penny feelings for him could still be based on what he did for her and in the long run could change as she got better. She was much better now, but even he could see she still had some time to go and Gloria's words still haunted him even now.