Chapter 14

Another three months has passed and Penny rarely sees Leonard anymore. Her only news about him was from Amy and Bernadette when they would come over to her place for 'girls night'. One night, Amy and Bernadette was on the hall knocking on Penny's door when Leonard and Abby came out from his apartment, laughing and having a lively conversation. "Hey guys! 'Girls night' huh?" asked Leonard.

"Hey Leonard! Yeah, we're celebrating Bernadette for completing her dissertation." said Amy.

"Really! Congratulations Bernadette!" said Abby, shaking her hand.

"Thanks Abby." said Bernadette.

"Yeah, Howard told me about that. Congratulations Bernadette!" said Leonard as Penny opened her door.

"Hi Penny!" said Abby, giving her a wave.

"Oh, hi guys!" said Penny. "What's happening?" she asked.

"Uh nothing. I'm about to go home now and Leonard is just walking me out the building." said Abby.

"Uh, if you want you could join us for 'girls night'?" said Penny, surprising Leonard.

"Really?" asked Abby.

"Yeah, why not?" said Penny. "Unless you guys have something else to do." Penny said as Amy and Bernadette looked at each other, hoping that the night would not be awkward in case Abby joins them.

Abby looked at Leonard. "It's fine with me if you want to join them." he said.

"Okay, I guess I could join you guys for an hour or so." she said smiling at Penny.

"Great!" said Penny as Amy and Bernadette went inside the apartment with Abby following closely.

"Have fun you guys!" said Leonard as Abby waved goodbye to him before Penny closed the door.

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Inside Penny's apartment, Abby sat on the chair while Amy and Bernadette took to the couch while Penny took some wine glasses for them.

"Your apartment looks nice and cozy Penny." said Abby as Penny poured her some wine. "Thanks." she said as she took a sip of her wine.

"Well, I try to keep it tidy as much as possible." said Penny smiling at her.

"So Bernadette, congratulations again!" said Abby.

"Thanks Abby. I appreciate it." said Bernadette as she drank her wine the same time as Amy.

"So Abby, how's work at the hospital?" asked Penny.

"Well, it's the same as always I guess. You know, people coming and going, a little drama here and there." said Abby. "How about you? Leonard told me you're an aspiring actress?" said Abby making Amy and Bernadette look at each other.

"Yeah but I haven't gone to as much auditions as I wanted to. You know, with my work at the restaurant and all." said Penny.

"Well good luck. I hope you get your big break soon." said Abby smiling at her.

Penny couldn't help but feel that inviting Abby might be a bad idea as she felt insecure not only of her good looks but at her successful career as well, unlike her who is just a waitress.

"Thanks Abby." Penny said back, smiling at her. "So I hear that you're family lives in England huh?" she said.

"Uh yeah, my mom's from Manchester but I grew up here in the states." said Abby. "That's why I don't have your typical 'British' accent." she added.

"And they're okay to them for you to work here instead of being with them?" asked Penny.

"Yeah, they're pretty cool about it." said Abby. "Leonard and I are actually gonna visit my parents next month." she added greatly surprising the three. Penny knew that she has really lost Leonard.

"You're bringing Leonard to meet your parents?" asked Amy.

"Yeah. I mean, my parents already met him thru Skype but they prefer to meet him in person, you know, get to know him better." said Abby.

"Sounds like you guys are getting serious huh? Are you like, getting engaged soon?" asked Bernadette, surprising Penny and Amy.

"Bernie!?" said Penny while giving her the look.

"What?" said Bernadette.

"It's alright Penny. And to answer your question, no, we're not getting engaged. We're much too early for that." said Abby making Penny and Amy sigh with relief.

"Forgive her Abby. Sometimes Bernadette has no boundaries." said Amy.

"No problem Amy." said Abby while drinking her wine. "So, how about you and Sheldon?" she asked.

"Well, Sheldon and I are doing fine I guess, you know with his penchant for resisting change and all that." said Amy.

"Yeah, Leonard told me about his Relationship Agreement and all. I gotta say, it's the first time I've heard of such things." said Abby.

"Well, Sheldon likes his contracts." said Amy.

"How about you and Howard, he must be very excited for your doctorate huh?" Abby said to Bernadette.

"He is. I just don't know how to tell him the other news." said Bernadette.

"What is it Bernie?" Penny asked.

Bernadette sighed. "Well, I've been offered a position as a researcher for this big pharmaceutical company." she said.

"Why wouldn't he be okay with that?" asked Amy.

"Yeah I mean, pharmaceuticals is a billion dollar industry. I should know because I get a lot of pharmaceutical sales reps calling me every time to sell their stuff." said Abby.

"I know but the problem is, I would be earning more than he does." Bernadette said. "You know how it is with guys, always thinking that they should be the 'provider' and if their partner earns more than them, it's like you're hurting their ego or something." said Bernadette.

"You won't know if you don't tell him Bernie." said Penny.

"She's right. I mean, Leonard knows that I earn more than he does but it didn't really bothered him." said Abby.

"Lucky for you Leonard is a great guy." said Bernadette. "But Howie is a little sensitive when it comes to money, you know, him being an only child and all." said Bernadette.

"You're gonna have to tell him eventually Bernie." said Amy.

"I guess you're right Amy." said Bernadette as she drank her wine.

"Uh, what about you Penny? Are you seeing someone these days?" asked Abby making Amy and Bernadette look at each other.

Penny gave her a weak smile. "No Abby, I'm not seeing anyone right now." she said as she drank her wine.

"Really?" Abby asked casually. "I mean, you're very beautiful. I can only imagine a lot of guys hitting on you." she added.

"Tell me about it." said Amy. "Sometimes when we're in a bar, guys would hit on us just to get to her." Amy added.

"Really? That is so terrible!" said Abby.

"Tell me about it. One time when we were in a bar, we received three drinks and it turns out those drinks were from three different guys trying to get Penny's phone number." Amy said.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Amy." said Abby, giving her hand a light squeeze.

"Thanks Abby. I guess this sort of stuff doesn't happen to you huh?" said Amy.

"Well, I don't really go out to bars and stuff. Most time I'll just go straight home after my shift at the hospital." Abby said then turning back to Penny. "Don't worry Penny, I'm sure you'll meet someone great." she said smiling at her.

Penny didn't know what got into her as she gave Abby the look. "I did meet someone great Abby, but then I took him for granted and pushed him away!" she said almost raising her voice.

Abby was taken aback and was surprised by Penny's sudden outburst. "Uh, I'm sorry?" Abby said.

Bernadette quickly decided to chime in. "Don't mind her Abby, she sometimes does this if she had too much wine." she said as she gave Penny a glaring look.

"Wait, are you talking about Leonard?" Abby asked Penny.

Penny took a deep breath and sighed. "I'm sorry Abby. I didn't mean to raise my voice like that." she said.

Abby was about to speak when she heard her phone beep. She took it out and scrolled on the screen before putting it back on her purse. "You know what it's fine Penny. You don't have to apologize." she said. "Listen, I gotta go, there's an emergency at the hospital and they're calling everyone in." she said as she stood up, going to the door. "Bye guys, thanks for the drink." she said as she went out the door.

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As soon as Abby left, Penny buried her face on her hands. "Ugh! I can't believe I did that!" she said.

"Yeah, us too." said Amy. "What were you thinking anyway? I thought you and her already made a silent pact to let Leonard be happy?" Amy added.

Penny sighed. "I know! I don't know what got into me, with her telling us that she's bringing Leonard to meet her parents in England and her wishing for me to meet someone great!" said Penny.

Bernadette sighed and put her hand on Penny's shoulder. "Penny, don't you think it's time for you to move on?" she said.

"Don't you think I know that?" Penny said.

"Do you? As far as I can tell, you still haven't moved on from him." said Bernadette.

Penny didn't respond as she drank her wine.

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The next day, Leonard picked up Abby to get some dinner at a nearby diner. She got in the car and kissed Leonard's cheek.

"So, how was your day?" asked Leonard.

"It's alright I suppose. I'm a little tired actually." she said.

"Okay, I'll drop you off your place after we have dinner alright?" said Leonard.

"Thanks honey. You're so great." she said.

"How was 'girls night'?" he asked.

"It was fine until your ex-girlfriend got a little crazy." she said.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Well, I asked Amy about her relationship with Sheldon and then we talked about Bernadette's doctorate and her being hired by this big pharmaceutical company." said Abby.

"Wow! Really? That's wonderful news." said Leonard.

"Yeah but she's a little worried that it might hurt Howard's ego. You know with her earning a lot more than him?" she said.

"Well I can imagine Howard being a little sensitive about that. Especially if you rub it in his face." Leonard said. "Is that it?" he asked.

"Oh? Right! Then I asked Penny if she was seeing someone and then all of a sudden she just snapped back at me! Telling me that she found someone great but just pushed him away! I asked her if she was talking about you but Bernadette cut her off!" Abby said.

"What did you do?" he asked.

"Nothing. She apologized and then I got a message from the hospital, calling us in for an emergency so I had to leave them." said Abby.

"Oh? Okay." said Leonard.

"I thought you said that you and Penny are good?" Abby asked.

"We are. I mean, last night was the first time in like three weeks since I last saw her? Before that it was in the laundry room when I was finishing up folding my laundry." he said.

"Really? Because I kinda get the feeling that she's still holding onto something!" said Abby.

"What do you want me to do?" Leonard asked.

"I don't know Leonard! What do you want to do?" said Abby.

"What are you talking about? I'm not gonna do anything." he said as Abby kept silent. "Do you still doubt me?" he asked.

"Well you were pretty hung up on her before you got stabbed!" Abby adamantly said.

"Oh my god! I can't believe we're still talking about this! I told I'm done with her didn't I!?" said Leonard.

"Are you really?" said Abby.

"Yes!" Leonard yelled. "Did I do something to make you feel otherwise?" he asked. Abby didn't respond and just stared at him. "If she can't move on then it's her problem, not mine!" he added.

Abby took a deep breath and sighed. "Okay. I don't want us to fight Leonard." she said. "I guess I got a little concerned that she might steal you away from me." she added.

"And do you think I'm that kind of guy?" he said.

Abby sighed. "No." she said as Leonard parked the car in front of the diner.

After having dinner, Leonard dropped off Abby at her building. Abby pulled him close, kissing his lips.

"I'm sorry we fought." she said.

"Don't worry about it. We're good now." said Leonard.

Abby hugged him tight, kissing him again. "Goodnight honey." she said before getting off the car and running to her building.