Chapter 77
"How long has it been since you last came here?" asked Penny as they walk up the path leading toward June's grave.
"Two and a half...almost three years now...that was the first time we met you at the restaurant." said Leonard as he carried William in his arms who was clutching a small toy, happy in being outside and feel the fresh air.
"Yeah I remember that day, you said something about getting some flowers or something." said Penny.
"You're right honey." Leonard said before looking at his daughter who was quiet for most of the trip. "Hey little princess...are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm fine dad." said Sarah, giving his father a weak smile as they arrive at June's grave.
Leonard gave the baby to Penny before kneeling down and brushing aside some dead leaves and dirt around June's tombstone. Sarah got down and helped her father, staying quiet for most of the time. Leonard then took the bouquet of flowers and set it in front of the tombstone. Leonard then touched the name carved on the stone and gave a weak smile before standing up, helping his daughter on her feet as well.
William looked at his father and reached for him, making baby noises as Leonard took the baby from his wife. "Come here buddy." said Leonard before kissing his son, making him giggle before going back to playing his toy.
Penny then pulled Sarah close while holding her hand. "Are you alright sweetie?"
Sarah glanced at Penny before leaning onto her and pushing her face on her side, not wanting to cry in front of her parents. Penny knelt in front of Sarah and hugged her tight. "It's alright sweetheart...I'm here now." she said.
Sarah wiped off her tear and took a deep breath. "I've only seen her in the videos dad showed me...back when I was still a baby." said the young lady.
"Sweetheart listen to me...I know I can't replace her as your real mother and it would be an insult to her memory if I tried to, but I'm here with you and your father and your baby brother now...and whatever happens, we'll be together...okay?" Penny said while consoling the young girl.
Sarah then hugged her tight. "I love you mom...and thanks for putting up with dad." she said, making the couple laugh.
"Hey I heard that." Leonard said, glad that his daughter's sense of humor was still intact.
"Just take one for the team dad." said the young lady, surprising her parents.
"I always take it for the team...a little too much actually." Leonard said.
Penny stood up and gave him a straight look. "And what does that supposed to mean?" she asked her husband.
Leonard smiled at Penny and touched her arm. "Nothing honey...I love you so much!" he said, knowing that a little affection would go a long way.
"Nice save Hofstadter." Penny said, rolling her eyes at him.
"If June was alive, she'll probably give you guys a high-five and join in ganging up against me." said Leonard, making Sarah and Penny laugh.
"Did my mother always strung you along dad?" asked Sarah, slightly surprising the couple.
"I wouldn't say she strung me along...but yeah, I guess you're right." said Leonard, making Penny laugh. "But it's not like she did it just to make me feel bad or something...it was more of a thing between me and your mother...like a secret that only we understood." he said, smiling at his daughter.
"And what about you and mom?" Sarah asked as Penny looked at her husband, raising her eyebrows and waiting for his answer.
"Well...your mom pretty much owns me now...like a personal slave or something." he said, making the girls laugh. "But it's alright I guess...especially after she gave me a handsome son like this guy right here." he said before nuzzling William's neck, making the baby scream with laughter.
Penny gave Sarah another high-five. "I own your ass Hofstadter." said Penny, making Sarah laugh. "Now come on, let's get out of here." she said while pulling Sarah, with Leonard following close carrying the baby who won't stop making baby noises.
"Your mom may act like it's nothing but in reality, she hates to admit that she can't live without me." Leonard jokingly said, earning glaring looks from his girls.
"Strike one Leonard." Penny said, pouting her lips on him.
Leonard laughed a bit. "Tell me I'm wrong." he said, teasing his wife.
"Strike two!" said Penny. "One more and you're sleeping on the couch for the rest of the week." she added, giving him a serious look.
"Okay fine...I'll stop." he said as they reach the car while Penny made sure her son was secured on his baby seat as well as Sarah, who fastened her seat belt.
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"Thank you honey." Leonard said as he held his wife close, savoring her sweet scent as they laid naked on the bed after having sex.
"Didn't I tell you not to thank me for sex?" said Penny.
"I'm thanking you for sticking around...for not giving up on me and Sarah." said Leonard. "If you did then Sarah and I would be back to spending most of our time with the guys and she probably won't have a hobby like that horse-riding thing." Leonard added.
Penny smiled and kissed his lips, resting her head on his shoulder. "Well...I fell in love with you mister, that's why I stuck around...I've been in love before but it was different with you...something I can't quite explain." she said.
"Maybe you're referring to my sexual desirability...add my big brain and no woman would even stand a chance." he said, laughing a little while Penny glared at him, not amused by his joke.
"That is stupid." Penny said.
"Can't you give me break for once?" asked Leonard.
Penny laughed before moving up and kissing him again, this time with a little more passion. "You are so sexy...and smart!" she said. "Make sure you still have enough energy because I want you to do me again later." she said.
Leonard gave her a goofy smile. "I knew you couldn't resist me." he said.
Penny tightened her hug. "Fine...I'll let you win this round." she said, nuzzling her face against his neck as they close their eyes to get some sleep, feeling each other's warmth and thankful that their son didn't wake up to interrupt their 'mom and dad' activities.
XXXXXXXXXXX
"So...what do you guys think?" asked Marge, the real estate agent as she led the young family inside one of the houses that she's selling.
Sarah looked around and was amazed by the wide space of the living room, not to mention the wooden stairs leading up to the bedrooms. "Wow!...this place is huge!" said the young lady. "Can I check out the rooms upstairs?" she asked Marge.
"Yeah sure...just be careful on the stairs alright?" Marge said as Sarah went upstairs, checking out each room and the view from the windows.
"This seems too big for us...right honey?" said Penny while looking around.
"Well at least you guys would have plenty of room if you decide to add another baby or two to the family!" Marge said, making the couple laugh.
"No...that's not gonna happen. I'm done with one kid." Penny said.
"Really? You're stopping with William?" Marge asked as she played with the baby's hand, making him giggle.
"Yeah..." Leonard said.
"Well, it is practical to have a small family nowadays...with prices going up and all..." said Marge as Sarah came running down the stairs.
"This place is amazing mom! And you can see the mountain in every room!" Sarah exclaimed.
"Sweetheart, your dad and I think this place is too big for us." said Penny.
"Oh?" Sarah said, slightly disheartened with what Penny said.
"Don't worry honey, we still have a couple more houses to check out...maybe they have a better view than this place...not to mention one that's within our budget." said Leonard, making Penny and Marge smile.
"It's totally your decision guys. And you're right, if this is out of your budget, then it makes no sense to get it." said Marge before facing to the young lady. "Don't worry baby girl, I have a couple more places to show you...I'm sure you'll love them too." she added, smiling at her.
Sarah nodded and smiled back at Marge. "Okay."
"Okay...let's go sweetheart." said Penny, holding Sarah's hand as Marge followed them out with Leonard close behind, carrying the baby in his arms.
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"I think this is it." Penny said to Leonard as Sarah ran around the last house that Marge showed them.
"I know what you mean...there's something about this place..." Leonard said.
"Mom, dad, look at the backyard...it has a tree in it." Sarah called to her parents.
Leonard and Penny followed the young girl along with William who kept making baby noises, seeing the new place for the very first time.
"Look! A lot of space for William to run around." said Sarah, making her parents laugh.
"Is she always this sweet to her baby brother?" asked Marge.
"Yeah...except for when he needs a new diaper, then she hides like Anne Frank." said Leonard, making Penny and Marge laugh.
"I once played Anne Frank in a play above a bowling alley." said Penny.
"Wow...really? How come you never told me that?." said Leonard before taking the baby from Penny.
"That was a long time ago...and only a handful of people saw it...our director got really creative and used the bowling sounds from below to substitute the rumbling noises from the tanks and bombs and stuff." she said, making Leonard and Marge laugh.
"I wish I was there to see it." Leonard said. "What do you think buddy? Do you like this place?" he said as he showed William around the backyard, letting him touch the leaves and the tree. William grunted before giggling, finding the new environment stimulating.
"I think he likes it here dad." said Sarah.
"I think so too." said Leonard as he let his son touch the branches of the tree, making him laugh and giggle.
"And if we buy one of those inflatable pools...we can put it out here...I'm sure William would love that." said Sarah, playing with her brother's hand. "Do you like it here baby?" she said to her brother.
William screamed at his sister before laughing, making the adults laugh at how energetic and jolly William was.
"What do you say honey?" Leonard asked Penny.
Penny smiled before taking her son from Leonard. "Well...this place is within our budget...and it's not that far away from Sarah's school..." said Penny as William laughed, excited in being with his mother, pushing his face onto her shoulder while making baby noises.
"Don't worry guys, you don't have to decide right now. Tell you what, I'll write up a couple of draft contracts so you can choose and decide which financing plan is suited for your situation." Marge said.
Leonard shook her hand. "Thank you...and don't give this house away without telling us first okay?"
"You got it Leonard." Marge said as they start leaving the house.
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"I gotta say Penny, I'm really happy that you guys are moving in to a proper house." said Amy as they have dinner around the coffee table in the apartment.
"Thank you Amy...Leonard and I kinda figured it would be best to raise the kids in the suburbs rather than here in the building." Penny said,
"Not to mention our elevator breaking down often which is a pain in my back now that William is getting bigger each day." Leonard said.
"And I guess it would just be in time for your baby's first birthday huh?" said Sheldon.
"Mom, can I invite my friends over?" asked Sarah.
"Of course sweetie...William won't even remember his first birthday party...and you and your friends are gonna be the only kids there." Penny said.
"When are you planning to move?" asked Howard.
"A couple of weeks from now...I already talked to this moving company and they're gonna send a couple of guys after we're done boxing-up all our stuff." said Leonard.
"Don't worry Leonard, we'll help you out...right guys?" Howard said as Raj nodded while getting an unenthusiastic response from Sheldon. "Sheldon?" asked Howard.
"I think Sheldon is thinking about his schedule for that day." said Leonard, laughing a bit.
"Why? What are you gonna do on that day?" asked Bernadette.
Penny looked at Sarah and smiled. "Well, Sheldon and Amy have some big news that they want to share with us." she said.
"Yeah...and it's really exciting." Sarah chimed in.
"What is it?" asked Bernadette.
Sheldon shrugged his shoulder. "Well...as you know, Amy and I have resumed our relationship after my...shortcomings..." he said as Amy looked at him. "...and to move forward, we have decided to share this apartment..." he said, surprising Bernadette, Howard and Raj.
"Wow...that's quite a bit step Sheldon." Howard told Sheldon.
"Amy made a pretty solid case for it." Sheldon said, not wanting to say anything that might annoy his girlfriend again.
"Which is?" asked Bernadette.
"I told Sheldon that it'll be a good way for us to save money...you know, sharing the rent and everything...and being both scientists, this would be a good place and time to determine our compatibility in moving forward with our relationship." said Amy.
"So...it's like an experiment?" asked Raj, after drinking his beer.
"Yeah...it's great right?" said Amy, trying to hide her excitement.
"And what did your mother say about this?" Howard asked Sheldon.
"Oh she's pretty excited which is weird because it goes against the grain of her Christian beliefs that unmarried couples shouldn't live together..." Sheldon said. "...you know, living in sin like what she would always tell me when I was a kid."
"Well at least she's not against it." said Bernadette.
"That is only after I told her that Amy and I have separate bedrooms..." said Sheldon. "...and Amy and I have would have a Roommate Agreement, enumerating our various responsibilities as roommates..." he added.
"What about your Relationship Agreement?" asked Leonard, making Penny, Bernadette and Sarah smile while rolling their eyes.
"Well now that you mentioned it, I'm thinking of combining them for an all-encompassing Cooper-Fowler Agreement." Sheldon proudly said.
"Wow...that's so hot." Penny said sarcastically.
"Yeah...the only thing missing is a ring and you and aunt Amy basically have a marriage contract." said Sarah, making them laugh while Sheldon and Amy looked awkwardly at each other.
Leonard tapped his daughter's shoulder, knowing that Sheldon might freak out at the concept of getting married. "Okay honey, no need to tease your uncle Sheldon and aunt Amy...let's just be happy that their relationship is okay now." he said.
"Got it dad." said Sarah before giving a thumbs up to Sheldon and Amy, giving them a goofy smile.
They were then startled when William suddenly woke up, screaming his lungs out and calling for his parents. Leonard put his plate down to attend to the baby, checking his diaper which was still clean. "Come on buddy, everyone is here eating dinner." he said as he carried the baby to join them by the coffee table. William saw his mother and immediately reached out to her, making baby sounds.
"Aww...my poor baby...come to mommy." Penny said after putting her plate down and taking the baby from her husband. "Did you have a bad dream?" she said as William snuggled up to his mother. "You're okay now sweetheart." she said consoling him.
Bernadette was done eating and decided to take the baby so that Penny could finish her dinner. "William..." she said as the baby recognized his name and looked at her.
"Come to aunt Bernie..." she said, smiling at him and reaching out as William giggled, excited in being cuddled by his aunt. "Are you hungry?" she asked, making the baby mumble more. "Okay, we'll make it small so you won't choke." Bernadette said as she took a small piece of food and fed William with it.
William took the piece of dumpling into his mouth and chewed it before giving Bernadette his smile of approval. "He likes it!" exclaimed Bernadette as she took another piece and fed it to the baby, making sure it's small enough so he won't choke.
"Good thing he's not picky with solid food huh?" Howard said, playing with the baby's hands.
"Yeah, it's getting him to stop eating that's difficult." said Sarah, making her parents laugh.
"How do you stop him then?" asked Raj.
"That's easy! You just distract him with another food." Sarah said.
"Then that will just put you in a loop." said Sheldon.
"Sheldon, she's just messing with you...he's usually done eating when he burps or when he refuses to open his mouth." said Penny.
"Well at least we know why this young man is so big and heavy." Howard said, taking the baby while Bernadette continued feeding him.
"Keep him steady Howie...we don't want him to get too messy." said Bernadette as she fed William another piece of food as they continued eating.
After a few minutes, Penny looked at Leonard and silently told him to look at Howard and Bernadette who kept feeding their son, acting like parents to William. Sarah noticed it too and gave her aunt Amy a look, nodding her head to look at the other couple.
Bernadette noticed them staring at her. "Uh, why are you guys looking at me like that?" she asked, a little uncomfortable with the unwanted attention.
"Nothing aunt Bernie...it's just you guys are pretty good at taking care of my baby brother." said Sarah.
"Yeah...you guys would really make great parents...I mean look at how at ease my baby is with you guys." said Penny.
"Okay, I know where you're going with this." said Bernadette as she took the baby from Howard and gave him back to his mother. William suddenly cried, being separated from her aunt (and food), reaching out to go back to his aunt. Bernadette sighed and took the baby back, cradling him in her arms. "I'm sorry baby...come here...don't cry...aunt Bernie's here." she said as William calmed down, snuggling up to Bernadette.
"See that? Even William agrees with us." said Leonard.
"Okay I get it...now can we please talk about something else?" said Bernadette while she consoled the baby when she saw Howard smiling at her. "Wipe that smug smile off your face Howie..." she told her husband as the gang laughed, amused by the couple.