Chapter 25
A day before Leonard and Penny's wedding day, they checked into separate rooms of the hotel as part of the wedding package they chose. They temporarily left Buster with Sammy to take with him on the day of the wedding. It was already four in the morning when a couple of hotel staff knocked on Penny's door to prepare her for the ceremony since they chose a morning wedding. Penny was already awake and was about to take a shower when the two girls arrived. They entered her room to prepare their stuff while Penny takes a quick shower. She was done showering and the girls immediately started to do her hair and makeup. They were glad that Penny didn't need that much make up as she was very pretty. Ever since she arrived on the island, her hair has grown and is now up to her shoulders. It didn't take long for the two girls to finish doing Penny's hair and makeup. They then helped her put on her wedding dress which was only a simple long white gown with a few embellishments as the seamstress made sure to highlight Penny's figure.
Leonard's preparation was easier than Penny's. He had a haircut a couple of days before and made sure to have his beard trimmed off to at least make himself a little more presentable than his usual laid back look. He took a quick shower and got dressed with his wedding clothes consisting of a simple white loose shirt with matching loose pants. He put on his sandals and made sure that he has their wedding bands in his pocket. He made his way out of the room and walked to the back of the hotel facing the beach where the wedding will take place. He saw the preparations made by the hotel and was satisfied as it gave a very relaxed and simple ambiance for the ceremony, no over-the-top decorations and just a handful of seats. A simple dais where the officiant and couple will stand is placed on the sand with the view of the ocean behind them. Leonard knew that Penny would like it.
Leonard stood near the dais as a handful of guests started to arrive – Larry and a few guys from work, Solomon and his wife and son, Sammy with their dog Buster, a few people from the other hotels that Leonard befriended and a few of their neighbors. They went to Leonard to shake his hand and congratulate him. Somehow he wished that Sheldon, Howard and Raj were here to join him. Buster wiggled out of Sammy's hands and ran to Leonard. He picked up the dog as they wait for Penny to come out. A hotel staff walked towards them saying that Penny is ready and the ceremony would start soon. Leonard took his place on the dais and waited for his fiance to walk down the aisle. The music started as Penny emerged, carrying a small bouquet of flowers and walking barefoot along the sand. Leonard can't help but smile as he saw how beautiful Penny was, it was like seeing snow on a Christmas morning. Penny smiled at him, trying hard not to cry and ruin her makeup. Buster saw his 'mommy' and tried to wiggle out of Sammy's hands. Penny and Leonard saw their dog and laughed along the crowd, seeing the excitement of their pet. Penny reached the dais as Leonard held her hand to make sure she doesn't trip or slip. He removed his sandals and decided to be barefoot as well.
"You look amazing honey!" said Leonard.
"Thank you honey...you look so handsome too." she said touching his face and fixing his shirt.
The officiant, Pastor Charley who was wearing a floral shirt cleared his throat to signal the start of the ceremony. The crown hushed down as the couple faced him.
"We are gathered here today to witness the joining of Leonard and Penny. I met Leonard more that a year ago when my radio was having some problems. He was a quiet guy, very reserved but the thing I liked about him was he didn't accept my money for fixing my radio. It was only a few weeks later that I found out that I wasn't the only one who received his kindness, almost everybody here have received a favor or two from Leonard. When I learned that he and Penny were seeing each other, I wouldn't be surprised if he did her a favor or two, isn't that right Penny?" he asked.
Penny nodded. "He fixed my laptop." she said smiling.
"Leonard, you should stop giving favors to pretty girls from now on." Pastor Charley said making Sammy laugh out loud and Penny giving Leonard the look.
"Believe me pastor, I won't even think of it." he said making the crowd laugh.
"Anyway, we have witnessed how a small act of kindness blossomed into this beautiful relationship which leads us all here. I believe you two have prepared vows for each other?" the pastor asked. The couple nodded. "Alright, ladies first." he said as Penny opened a small piece of paper while looking Leonard in the eye.
Penny took deep breath and began to speak. "Leonard, meeting you was strange to say the least. I never thought that it would go as far as it went but I was thankful that it did. You make me incredibly happy and I promise that I'll be with you every step of the way." she said, smiling at him.
The pastor then turned to Leonard. "Leonard, you're up." he said as Leonard nodded.
"Penny, I never thought that doing this job would lead me to you. I had no direction before I met you, no sense of time or space. I was like an empty shell, a rogue comet – forever traveling in space, never to be seen again. But then you came and somehow I had a direction, a purpose, a reason to wake up in the morning. When you left, part of me already accepted the fact that you may never come back to me, I would always sit by the sand with Buster hoping to see you on the horizon. But then you did, and I felt like I could never be happier. Thank you for coming back to me and I promise I'll do everything to make you happy." he said as Penny wiped the tear off her cheek.
Pastor Charley was also drying the tears from his eyes. "Sorry. I'm sucker for wedding vows that's why I chose this vocation." he said as the crowd laughed. "Okay do we have the rings?" he asked.
Leonard turned and looked at Sammy. Sammy reached into his pocket and gave the small cloth packet to Buster. "Come on boy, take this to mommy, come on!" he said as he put the dog down. Buster then darted on the ground and ran towards the couple carrying the small packet in his mouth. Penny picked him up and the dog excitedly jumped and licked her on the neck and cheek.
"Buster stop that, they haven't said 'kiss the bride' yet!" said Leonard pulling the dog away from Penny and taking the small packet. The crowd laughed at the dog's excitement. Sammy went to the front and took the dog from Leonard. Leonard took the rings from the packet and gave them to pastor Charley.
"Okay, maybe you two should find Buster a girlfriend huh?" he said making the crowd laugh. "Leonard take the ring and repeat after me." he said. Leonard took one ring and followed the pastor's words while putting the ring on Penny's finger.
"Penny, take this ring as a symbol of my love, I swear to honor and cherish you, to respect and to be devoted to you, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do we part." said Leonard smiling at her. "Whew!" he said with relief making Penny chuckle.
"Okay Penny, you're turn." Pastor Charley said. Penny nodded.
"Leonard, take this ring as a symbol of my love, I swear to honor and cherish you, to respect and to be devoted to you, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do we part." said Penny while looking Leonard in the eye.
"Alright! By the power vested in me by God, the beautiful people of this island and the Klingon High Council!" Penny was surprised and glared at Pastor Charley. He immediately became defensive. "Leonard made me say it!" he said pointing at Leonard to the delight of the crowd.
Penny hung her head and sighed. "Okay fine!" she said giving Leonard the look.
"I now pronounce you 'husband and wife', you may now kiss the bride!" he announced as Penny grabbed Leonard by his neck and gave him a big, sloppy kiss. Leonard was surprised by Penny's move but was glad to accept his wife's love. The crowd cheered and applauded the newlywed couple with Buster running to them, wagging it's tail and barking excitedly at his mommy and daddy. Penny picked up the dog and it immediately clawed it's way up and licked her and Leonard's face.
"Look Buster!, your dad and I just got married! Isn't it exciting!?" said Penny. The dog continued licking her face and barked at her, expressing his excitement.
The wedding reception was held just beside where the ceremony took place. It was just a simple gathering, the food representing the simple life on the island, a good mixture of seafood and vegetable dishes. One of the hotel staff served as the host for the reception calling the couple's closest friends to say a few words. Sammy was called first.
"Hi, my name is Sammy. I'm their neighbor. When I first met Leonard, I thought there was nothing remarkable with him but as time went on, you will realize how wise he was, not just smart but wise, the way he spoke and looked at the world. I lost count at how many of the stuff in my house he has repaired and he never took payment for any of them. Before he met Penny, he was always quiet and never really bothered anyone. But after they met, I can always hear him humming or singing when he's working on his garden or when he passes in front of my house." said Sammy. "Leonard, Penny, congratulations!" he said raising his beer. The crowd joined in and raised their drinks as Penny squeezed Leonard's hand.
The other guests took turns in congratulating the couple, wishing them all the best while everyone was eating and having drinks. Penny took a piece of meat from her plate and cut it into small pieces on a small dish. She added a few vegetables and rice to it and mixed it with her fork as Leonard looked at what she was doing.
"What are you doing?" he asked.
"I'm mixing this up for Buster." she said as the dog sat beside her chair looking at her. "Are you hungry?" she asked the dog. Buster barked and wiggled his tail. "I'm almost done sweetie." she said as she mixed the food. She put the dish on the ground and Buster ate heartily while wagging his tail.
"How are you feeling?" asked Leonard.
"Happy, but anxious." she smiled at him.
Leonard looked at her. "Anxious about what?" he asked.
Penny leaned over and whispered on his ear. "Anxious to take your pants off." she said winking at him.
Leonard opened his mouth in disbelief "You!?" he said finding it hard to finish his words.
"Relax honey, I was just teasing you." she said laughing, drinking her wine.
The celebration continued as the couple did every 'traditional' wedding rite including cutting of the cake, throwing the bouquet and first dance. Penny kept her arms wrapped around Leonard's neck all throughout their first dance as the guests looked at them. They would occasionally kiss and smile at each other as no words were needed to express their happiness. Around three in the afternoon, the wedding reception came to a close when the guests started to leave one by one after congratulating the newlywed couple.
Sammy took Buster in his arms as the couple said goodbye to him, promising to go home the next day.
"Buster, Sammy will take you home for today alright? Daddy and mommy has some unfinished business." said Leonard to the dog. The dog barked at the couple.
"Don't worry Leonard, I'll make sure he doesn't run away or something." said Sammy as he put a leash on the dog's neck.
"You be a good boy alright?" said Penny as she patted the dog on his head. The dog barked at her.
There were no more guests when the hotel staff started to clean up the reception hall as the couple decided to go back to their hotel room. They reached their floor when Leonard suddenly scooped Penny up in his arms, carrying her into the room. Penny was surprised but gave in and held tightly to her husband. They entered their room as Leonard put his wife on the bed, immediately closing the door while Penny looked at him.
It was already seven in the evening. Leonard was standing on the balcony wearing only his boxer shorts, looking out to the horizon. Penny was lying on the bed, her hair all ruffled as she slept naked with a few pillows and the bed sheet covering her body. Leonard looked at his wife snoring soundly, their clothes scattered everywhere as the TV was silently showing some news on the screen. He opened the mini fridge, taking out a bottle of beer and going back to sit on the balcony, looking down on the coast. Penny stirred and opened her eyes, not seeing her husband on the bed anymore. She sat up, pulling the sheet to cover herself and saw her husband on the balcony. She combed her hair with her fingers and went over to Leonard, clutching the bed sheet over her body. Leonard was slightly surprised when Penny slowly hugged him from behind, wrapping him in her arms.
"Hey." he said softly as Penny rubbed her cheeks against his.
"Hmmm." she muttered, tightening her hug.
"I didn't want to wake you." he said. She stood up and sat on his lap, hugging him.
"I love you honey!" Penny said kissing him hard.
"I love you too." said Leonard. Penny took the beer from his hand and drank it all.
"Ugh...thats good….do you want me to get you another one?" she asked. Leonard nodded as Penny stood up to get another bottle from the fridge.
"Honey, you didn't open it." he said taking the bottle from her hand as Penny sat back on his lap.
"Oh sorry, I forgot." she said. Leonard grabbed the bottle and opened the bottle using his teeth, spitting the cap out. "You're such a stud." she said pulling his face onto her chest.
"Stud!….I like it." he smiled at her. They stayed like this for a while, looking down on the coast below.
"Penny?" he said.
"Hmmm?" she muttered.
"I know I promised to us going to Nebraska after the wedding, and I was thinking of going after three months." he said.
"Why three months?" she asked.
"Well, since the company has just started, I was planning on getting things organized in the office first so Larry would have less things on his plate when we leave for the States." he said.
"Okay." she said.
"But while we're here, we'll go around the island every weekend, we can go diving again and to the river if you want." he said.
Penny nodded. "We'll take Buster with us. I'm sure he'll like it." she said.
"Okay. I'm gonna have to make a basket on the bike for him." he said.
Penny hugged him again. "Let's go back to bed honey." she whispered.
"You're not hungry or anything?" he asked.
"No. We're not done yet." she said as she pulled him back into the room. Leonard followed her onto the bed as Penny took off the sheet, showing her naked body to her husband. Leonard grabbed her by the thighs and lifted her up while she held on to his shoulders.
"You know what?" she asked smiling at him.
"What?" he said.
"This was the room where we first slept together, remember?" said Penny.
"Yeah I remember. I just got your pearls but I had to leave for my job." he said smiling at her as he laid her on the bed. Penny pulled him close as their lips meet while Leonard pins her down with the weight of his body. Penny squirmed as her husband tightened his embrace and moving himself into position. Penny returned Leonard's embrace, digging her fingers into his skin as she met his advances. They made love as husband and wife until the early hours of the next day.