Chapter 25

The wedding reception was nothing out of the ordinary. Leonard and Penny was seated on the main table in the front while their family were seated on either side as the guests started to arrive and sit the tables. Raj designated himself as the M.C. as he welcomed the guests to the reception hall.

"Welcome ladies and gentlemen as we celebrate our love for Leonard and Penny." he paused. "Leonard's been my friend for almost ten years now and I'm very thankful for that. Not only because we share the same interests but because he never made me feel like an outsider. In a way, we were outsiders. We were never popular in school, we were awkward around women, we liked nerd stuff which is a sure way for you to get bullied and beat up at school." the audience laughed. "It wasn't fun you guys….But the one thing we had in common was our love for science. When Penny moved across the hall from Leonard and Sheldon's apartment, we knew he was smitten with her. We would always tell Leonard to give up on Penny because we knew he would never have a shot with her….I'm glad we were wrong because after all the things that happened between them, they never gave up. It just proves their love for each other." Raj took his glass and raised it. "Leonard and Penny" Raj said in which everybody joined him. "Leonard and Penny!"

"Okay, I think Penny's family would like to share a few words?" Raj looked at them. Wyatt shook his head and pointed at his wife. Susan sighed as she stood while Raj went to her, giving her the microphone.

"Hi everyone. I'm Susan….Penny's mother. I just want to make this short." She turned to the newly wed couple. "Penny, Leonard, we're so happy that you two are finally married and we wish you nothing but the best. Leonard, thank you for not giving up on Penny….I know she could be a handful." the crowd laughed while Penny glared at her mom. "Mom!?"

Susan gave the microphone back to Raj. "Okay. Now we would like to hear a few words from Leonard's family." Beverly didn't react as Raj looked at her. Thankfully Alfred stood up and took the microphone from Raj.

Alfred turned to the couple. "Son, congratulations. I'm happy that you finally found the person who loves and cares deeply for you…."

Beverly quickly butted in. "What the hell is that supposed to mean!?" she said.

Leonard hung his head and sighed. "Oh my god!" he said while Penny tried to calm him down.

Before Alfred can respond, Mary stood up to diffuse the situation. "Okay...okay...before anyone says anything, in Psalm chapter 37, verse 8 teaches us to 'Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.'" she said.

Beverly scoffed at Mary. Mary saw her and spoke "I'm sorry…. but does the Word of God offend you!?" she asked Beverly.

Leonard leaned his head on his hands. "Here we go!" he sighed while Penny rubbed his back to calm him down.

Beverly spoke. "I'm sorry….I didn't mean to offend your superstition." she said to Mary.

"It's not superstition….it's called religion!" Mary said back to Beverly.

Alfred decided to butt in. "Ladies please…." he turned to Mary. "I'm sorry but I believe we have not been introduced….I'm Alfred...Leonard's father." he said smiling at her.

Mary smiled back at him. "Very nice to meet you Alfred….I'm Mary, Sheldon's mother" she said. They stood there smiling at each other.

Leonard turned to Penny. "What is happening!?" he looked at Penny.

She smiled at Leonard. "I think we both know what's happening….it seems your dad and Sheldon's mom are…." she winked at him.

"Noooo!" Leonard said to Penny.

"What is your problem?...they're both adults. Your dad's divorced and Sheldon's dad has been gone a long time…." she teased him.

Alfred turned to Leonard and Penny. "Son….I'm very happy for you and Penny but if it's okay with you….I think I'm gonna leave now."

Leonard and Penny stood up. "It's fine dad….we understand…" Leonard said. Alfred hugged the couple and left the reception.

Mary also went to the couple. "Leonard, Penny I think it's time for me to leave too. I'm so happy for the two of you." she hugged the couple.

"Thank you Mrs. Cooper...we appreciate you being here." Leonard said.

"Thank you Mary!" Penny said as she hugged Sheldon's mom.

Bert the geologist who was seated at the back turned to Stuart. "I don't get invited to a lot of weddings….but is this a good one?" he asked Stuart.

Stuart nodded. "Oh yeah!" he said as he too a sip of his beer.

Raj decided to get the wedding back on track when they heard a commotion coming from the back. Everyone then froze in their seats as they saw Robert Downey Jr. walked into the reception hall.

"Oh my god!...what is Robert Downey Jr. doing at our wedding reception?" Leonard asked Penny.

Penny was starstrucked. "I don't know honey...he could be lost or something."

Raj immediately went to Mr. Downey. "Mr. Downey….it's an honor to meet you sir!" Raj shook his hand.

"Am I at the wedding reception of Leonard and Penny?" he asked Raj

"Yes!" Raj took the microphone and announced his arrival. "Ladies and gentlemen….please welcome Mr. Robert Downey Jr.!" he said as the crowd stood up and gave him a round of applause. Mr. Downey took a bow and acknowledged the crowd's cheer.

Leonard and Penny was speechless and couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Mr. Downey decided to take the microphone from Raj and went to the front of the reception hall.

"Good evening. My name is Robert Downey Jr….you may have seen my films recently but more importantly, I'm going to answer the question in your minds right now – what is Robert Downey Jr. doing in this wedding reception?" he turned around and looked at Leonard and Penny. "First of all, congratulations to the two of you...you two look very lovely by the way….now let me go back to my story….I was sitting at home last week when I asked my assistant if we could do something crazy and spontaneous. So...my assistant checked our spam email folder and found a strange wedding invitation from one Sheldon Cooper."

Sheldon immediately stood up. "That would be me Mr. Downey!" he smiled.

"Of course you are! Now where was I?...oh right….I saw this wedding invitation….so I checked out this Sheldon character and found out he was a genius physicist….like capital G 'genius'….you know...like Bruce Banner!" Mr. Downey said.

"You heard that Amy? He said I'm like Bruce Banner!" he squealed with delight. Amy rolled her eyes.

Robert continued. "Then I checked out the couple to be married and found out that Leonard, is also a genius physicist working with lasers and stuff….like Tony Stark…"

"You heard that Sheldon? I'm Tony Stark!" Leonard said proudly. Penny rolled her eyes.

"Then we checked out the bride...Penny….and saw that they have an on-again-off-again relationship….like Pepper Potts to Leonard's Tony Stark….so I told my assistant to clear my schedule for this day so we could add a little spice to this shindig…." he said as he went to get a glass of champagne. "everyone please join me." he raised his glass. "To Leonard and Penny!"

The whole reception hall toasted to the newly wed couple.

Leonard and Penny stood up to meet Robert. "Mr. Downey, thank you so much for coming here….this is so incredible...I'm trying hard not to cry…." Leonard said as he shook Robert's hand.

"Well I tend to have that effect…." he smiled and shook Leonard's hand.

"Mr. Downey oh my god….thank you for making my wedding extra special!" Penny moved to him and gave Robert a hug. He hugged her back.

Robert put his arms around the couple and spoke to them in a low voice. "Listen….I don't have a wedding present with me so I called my agent and we're gonna set up some auditions for you….we're gonna pull some strings and maybe, just maybe you'll get lucky….okay?" Robert looked at Penny.

Penny gasped. "Oh my god!…yes!...thank you so much….I'm so excited!" she jumped with joy.

"Wow...thank you so much...that is so amazing!" Leonard said.

"We'll see if I still have strings to pull alright?….my agent will get in touch with you." Robert told them. The couple nodded. "Well I think we're done here….let's take some pictures and I'll be on my way….there's a Bar Mitzvah across town that I have to crash…" Robert said.

Robert posed with the newly wed couple. The other wedding guests also posed with Robert for their pictures. The four guys also took a picture with him including Stuart and Bert. After all the picture taking was done, Robert bid everyone farewell and left the reception. Everyone stood up and gave him another round of applause.

Penny and Leonard went to Sheldon.

"Sheldon thank you so much…." Penny said as she hugged him.

"A simple thank you would suffice Penny...you know how much I hate these hugs and other social conventions!" Sheldon said as Penny wouldn't let him go.

Raj took the microphone to address the crowd. "Okay….I don't think anyone's speech can top that last one….we have one more thing on our list…..the bride will have her first dance with her father." Raj said as he motioned for Wyatt to take Penny to the dance floor. The slow music played as father and daughter danced.

"I'm so proud of you slugger." Wyatt said to her daughter.

"Thank you daddy….at least we don't have a father-daughter dance where the daughter's water broke huh?" Penny smiled at her father.

"It's a first for our family…." he smiled as he hugged Penny.

They danced for a while until Raj motioned for Leonard to take Wyatt's place. Leonard went over and Wyatt handed over Penny to her husband. Penny embraced Leonard and gave him a kiss. Leonard wrapped her in his arms as they danced along the music. Everyone in the reception was smiling seeing the couple so in love with each other. They were on the second song when Penny felt something funny in her stomach. She tried to ignore it until she couldn't help herself anymore and she broke off from Leonard and ran to the restroom. Leonard suddenly became worried and followed her to the restroom. Amy and Bernadette followed too. Amy knocked on the door. "Penny...it's Amy...are you alright in there?" Amy said while Leonard and Bernadette stood by.

Penny spoke from inside the restroom. "I'm okay Amy….maybe it's something I ate or drank...I'll be out in a minute…" she said. Penny opened the door and came out of the restroom.

"Are you alright honey?" Leonard asked.

"I'm okay honey….I'm just tired I guess…" she reassured him. "Let's go back in there…"

The four of them came back and Penny's mom asked her what happened.

"It's nothing mom….maybe I ate something….I'm just a little tired I guess." Penny said.

"You should probably sit down….you look a little flushed." Susan said as she touched Penny's forehead. "You're quite warm too." Susan said. Leonard took a glass of water and gave them to Penny.

Penny took the glass of water. "Ugh...thank you honey…" Penny said as she drank the water. "I guess I'll just rest for a while….don't worry honey...I'm fine…" she looked at Leonard while touching his face.

Raj spoke to the crowd. "okay….nothing to worry about…." he said. "I think it's time kick this party into overdrive… Let's PARTY!" Raj shouted as the DJ played dance music.

The guests went to the dance floor and danced to the music. After a few minutes, Penny ran to the restroom again. Amy and Bernadette followed her with Leonard whose becoming more worried.

Susan sat back with Wyatt. "How's Penny….is she gonna be okay?" Wyatt asked Susan.

"She seems fine….maybe she's just tired from the wedding." Susan said as she held Wyatt's hand. After a few minutes Susan was shocked as she thought of Penny's trip to the restroom. She leaned over to Wyatt to whisper. "Oh my god Wyatt...I think I might know why Penny's not feeling well."

Wyatt looked at her with a puzzled look. "What?...tell me."

Susan smiled and tugged on his arm. "I think we're going to be grandparents again." she whispered to her husband.

Wyatt looked at her with a surprised look.