Chapter 19

It's been almost a year since Leonard Hofstadter left California to refocus his life. Looking back, he never thought of staying this long in the island. His relationship with Penny was a welcome surprise to say the least and Buster was definitely an added bonus to their lives. His job keeps him busy and has provided them a certain level of comfort. They're not rich but at least he doesn't have to worry about where their next meal will come from.

They were lying on the bed, naked and exhausted from making love. They were staring at the ceiling as they tried to catch their breath.

"That was amazing Leonard." Penny said breathing heavily.

"Yeah." Leonard said.

Penny cuddled to him. "You were so intense." she smiled at him.

Leonard looked at her. "Did I hurt you?" he asked.

"No honey….you didn't hurt me….you did good actually." she said.

"Good….I don't want to hurt you or anything." he said.

Penny moved up and kissed him. "That's what I love about you….you always know what to say." she said.

Leonard smiled at her. "Come here." he kissed her and hugged her tight.

"Don't worry honey….I'll let you know if you're hurting me or if I don't like what you're doing." she said.

"Thanks." he said. They stayed quiet for a while when they heard a faint whimper from the door. They moved their heads and saw Buster at the door looking at them.

"Buster what are you doing there?" Penny asked. The dog barked at her. "Were you watching us!?" she asked. The dog barked again. "Ugh...you're such a naughty boy!….do you want to come up here on the bed?" she said. The dog barked twice. Penny smiled and tapped the side of the bed. "Come here boy!" she called as the dog ran to her and climbed the bed. The dog then licked Penny's face. Penny laughed and giggled. "Buster stop it! You're tickling me!" Penny laughed as she tried to cuddle the dog. Buster then settled and laid on her belly, looking at them. "Look at him Leonard, he's so sweet." Penny said as she rubbed the dog's head while Leonard patted the dog's back.

"Ugh I can't wait until we go back to California honey….I'm gonna show you off to my family...my friends. They'll definitely be impressed at how smart and sexy my boyfriend is." she continued. "What do you say Buster...do you want to come with us to California?" she asked the dog. The dog barked twice at her. "See that honey?...even Buster is excited to come home with us!" Penny laughed. Leonard didn't say anything.

"We'll come and visit my parents in Nebraska….we can stay there for a month if we want….you can help my dad out in the farm….I'm gonna introduce you to all my cousins and relatives…." Penny said absently. Leonard kept quiet. Penny looked at him. "Honey….why aren't you saying anything?" she asked. Leonard just looked at her. Penny moved on her side. "Leonard?" she asked again. Leonard still didn't respond. Penny suddenly became worried. "Honey….why are you so quiet?….are you hiding something from me?" she asked.

Leonard sighed. "Penny….what if we didn't go back?" he said.

"What!?" she asked.

"What if we stay here?" he said.

"Why?" Penny looked at him.

"Well….we have a good life here….my job is going great….we have no worries here…..why change it?" he said.

"Leonard this is not our home….our home is in California….our family and friends are there." Penny was beginning to freak out.

"Penny….I've been thinking about it for the last couple of weeks now." he said.

"Leonard we can't stay here!….Give me one good reason why you don't want to go back!" she said as she sat up on the bed.

"Penny I have nothing in California but failure….and pain….there's nothing in California for me." he said

"What about me?...What am I to you?" she said.

"I'm not talking about you….you're the best thing that ever happened to me that's why I was thinking of asking you to stay here with me….we can be together." Leonard said.

"Are you asking me to marry you?" Penny asked.

"Well I'm not gonna ask you now….I want to find the right time." he said "Do you see us getting married?" Leonard asked her.

Penny sighed. "Leonard you know I love you and I want that too….you're the greatest guy I've ever known and I want to spend my life with you but why do we have to stay here?" she was beginning to tear up.

Leonard grabbed the dog and put him on the floor while he held Penny on the bed. "Penny, I'm not rich….I can't buy you a big house or a fancy car and all I can give you is myself….I'll be faithful and always make you happy." he said holding her hand.

Penny began to cry. "Leonard you're asking me to turn my back on my family and friends….I don't know if I can do it." she said as she covered her face with her hands. Leonard hugged her.

"Penny I'm not asking you to turn your back on them….we can still visit your family and friends whenever you want." he continued. "and I'm not gonna force you to stay if you don't want to." he said.

"Leonard come home with me please!….if you want we can get married there….just come home with me please!" she said as she wiped her tears.

"Penny…." he said. She didn't respond. Leonard sighed and stood up to get dressed. "I'm gonna sleep on the couch and give you some space." he said as he grabbed his pillow and blanket. He went out the bedroom and laid on the couch knowing that sleep won't come easy to him. The silence in the house was deafening as Leonard closed his eyes to try to get some sleep. He was beginning to doze off when he saw Penny standing at the end of the couch looking at him. She bent over and kissed his lips and pulled him back into the bedroom. She pushed him on the bed.

"Penny?" he asked.

"No talk." she said as she kissed him hard while taking off her robe and underwear as Leonard did the same. This was the first time they made love without saying a word.

Leonard woke up around seven in the morning. He opened his eyes and saw the dog sleeping next to him. Penny was no longer in the bedroom. He stood up and put on his robe to go to the bathroom to wash up. He then went to the living room where Penny is looking at her laptop.

Penny looked at him. "Honey….I have something to show you." Penny said. Leonard pulled a chair and sat next to her to look at the screen.

Leonard nodded. "You should do it Penny….I'm not gonna get in your way." he said.

"Are you sure honey?" Penny asked.

"Penny….it looks like a good project for you and that director is great right?" he said.

"Yes….it's been one of my goals to work with this director….and look at the cast….Jessica Chastain….Sean Penn….Casey Affleck…..I have a minor role but still…" Penny said.

"Well your manager says the role is yours if you want it." he said.

"I know….but what about us?" she asked. Leonard took her hand and pulled her to the couch. They sat facing each other.

Leonard took a deep breath. "Penny, I've been thinking about it and it may have been unfair of me to ask this from you. I'm sorry and I think you should do this movie." he said.

"But what if something happens and I don't come back?" she asked.

"I'll understand….I love you that's why I don't want you to pass out an opportunity like this….I know this is important to you." Leonard said.

"Why can't you just come back to California with me?" she asked again.

Leonard sighed. "Penny, when I came here, I was hoping to come up with my original theory in physics. I still haven't found it, that's why I'm choosing to stay." he said.

"But wouldn't it be better if you're back in CalTech doing your science stuff rather than fixing stereos here?" she asked.

"I can't….too much distractions in CalTech….I need more time." he said.

Penny nodded. "Okay...so what do we now?" she asked.

"Well….I'll stay here with Buster and you go back to California to do this movie….you're still my girl and I'm still you're man….and I'll wait for you." Leonard said.

Penny hugged him tight. "I love you honey." she whispered.

"I love you too." Leonard said.

"So does this mean that we're not breaking up?" Penny asked.

"No. we're not breaking up….we're just taking a breather." he said.

Penny nodded. "Alright. Remember your promise to me….no flirting with pretty girls!….I'll know because Buster will tell me!" she said.

Leonard put his hand up. "Promise….and don't you go around looking for a sexy scientist while you're there okay?" he said back.

Penny smiled. "Honey, I promise I'm yours." she said kissing his lips.

Penny spent the next couple of days arranging her flight back to the states. Leonard took two days off from work to be with Penny. Penny emailed her manager Miranda to inform her of her return to California. Penny was packing her suitcase when Leonard came into the bedroom looking at her. Penny saw him and walked up to him.

"Honey I made this for you." she said as she handed him a sealed envelope.

"What's this?" he asked.

"I want you to open it after I'm gone." she said kissing his lips.

Leonard nodded. "Okay." he said as he put the envelope in his nightstand.

"Ugh I already miss you." she said hugging him.

"Me too….just remember I support you and I know you'll do great in this movie." he said.

"Thank you honey. I love you so much!" she kissed him again.

"Well, we still have two days until you leave." he winked at her.

"Are you sure you can you handle it?" she teased him.

Leonard lifted her up. "Only one way to find out!" he said as Penny giggled and laughed while Leonard laid her on the bed. They made love for two days, reassuring their commitment to each other.

The day of Penny's flight back to California came and Leonard borrowed his neighbor's car to take Penny to the airport. They reached the airport as Leonard unloaded Penny's luggage. Penny hugged him tight.

"I love you Leonard….don't worry I'll be back….I promise." she said kissing him passionately.

"I know. Don't worry about Buster, I'll take care of him." he said as he wiped Penny's tears.

Penny grabbed her bags and went to the airport, waving goodbye to Leonard. Leonard looked at her and felt a big empty space inside him. He wiped off his tears as he got inside the car and drove away.

He returned the car to his neighbor and went straight home. Buster was restless and barked furiously at him. Leonard went to the dog and patted his head. The dog licked his hand and whimpered. "I know Buster, I miss her already." he said as he picked up the dog and cuddled him in his arms, the dog licked the tears from his face. He put the dog down as he went inside the house. He went to the bedroom to look for the envelope Penny left him. He opened it and found a letter inside with one of the pearls he got for her. He put the pearl in a small box inside his nightstand and put the letter in his pocket. He took a beer from the fridge and carried his chair outside the house. He sat down, took a sip from his beer and began reading the letter.

Leonard,

I never expected to meet someone like you when I came to this island. I guess it was fate that we found each other and I was very thankful for that. I want you to know how incredibly happy you make me and I hope I did the same to you. I feel like the luckiest girl to have someone like you in my life. Thank you for letting me do this, it just goes to show how unselfish you are which makes me love you even more. I intend to keep my promise of returning to you and Buster that's why I left you one of my pearls. Please take good care of yourself and our dog.

Penny.

He folded the letter, putting it back in his pocket. He took a sip of his beer as he looked at the people walking along the coast while Buster sat beside his chair.