Chapter 15

Labour

Penny now nearly nine months gone and in a very irritable mood (mainly due to her worrying if she is still attractive to Leonard and feeling more and more insecure the more slim pretty girls they would see while out together),

My God! Has every blonde, buxom California girl chosen to shop in this damn supermarket today or what?", Penny testily thought to herself as with each girl she spied the more she thought herself to be fat, sweaty and downright unattractive. Her hair too seemed determined not to cooperate with shampoo, brush or comb and finally in exasperation Penny had tied it into a very messy bun. and also as she had become totally fed up to the back teeth with being confined to the house, and although Marcia her Mom, who had come down beforehand with Wyatt to be present after the birth to help Penny for a little while, had offered to go, she had decided to go to the supermarket with Leonard for a change of scenery.

She was also depressed at being unable for a few weeks now to do yoga, which she absolutely loved and just when she had finally convinced Leonard to join her in the exercise, she had had to stop.

She had convinced Leonard that he needed to share her interests, though really it was after reading about the statistics of the increasing amount of men having heart attacks in early middle age, which forced Penny to think about the possibility of losing her Leonard in this way and how on earth she would cope without him. Which had the result of making Penny panic so much that she began to hyperventilate. Though financially she would be quite OK, but living life without Leonard was totally unacceptable for her and after that Leonard found himself not only doing yoga but also finding himself eating a lot healthily too whenever Penny cooked for him.

Waddling round the aisles with Leonard, She was beginning to regret coming "I feel so big, fat and awkward", she wailed to herself, and to put the cherry on the cake, she also had terrible backache today. Fortunately the make over program, she fronted, had finished that series and Penny was on hiatus for a couple of months or more.
"Do you need any more mineral water honey", Leonard asked interrupting her train of thought, "Yeah put a pack of them in will you".

The program had been going well, Penny was young, pregnant and totally identifiable with her audience of mainly young wives, and with that and her interior design business her income had shot up.

Indeed she was very much in demand by younger celebs such as Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes, Kaley Cuoco. And to her enormous joy Jennifer Aniston too.

So that Dr & Mrs Hofstadter were now much more financially secure, also they had decided that as they loved their house so much, then as their family expanded, they would look to building an extension as they had plenty of ground to the back of the house, rather than buy another.

"Do we need any eggs", asked Leonard, again interrupting her thought, Penny snorted irritably, "Didn't I tell you as we walked in we needed eggs", she told him testily, "Sorry Honey, I forgot", he apologized picking up a dozen eggs.

Leonard did love Penny very much but in this last stage of her pregnancy she was proving difficult to get on with, though Leonard was very careful not to upset her, being sympathetic to her condition and after all, he did love her very much indeed.
Penny, feeling quite overheated, had retraced her steps back to the frozen food aisle hoping to cool down, then seeing her friends Ben & Jerry picked up several tubs and carried them back to the trolley, and picking up some anchovies, (to eat with the ice cream), on the way then seeing that Leonard had moved on making Penny waddle faster to catch up with him to her embarrassment.

Finally, after catching Leonard up and giving him a lecture on the need for showing consideration for one's heavily pregnant wife to Leonard's embarrassment. they placed the last item in the trolley and started to make their way to the checkout.

Suddenly Penny felt very wet down below "Leonard!, My waters have broke", she shrieked at him in panic, Next Penny found herself being carried into the managers office attended on her by a Midwife and a Nurse, who had fortunately been in the supermarket too, and the Midwife, who had been summoned by means of the PA in the mall.

I've called for an ambulance, the Manager had announced to the Midwife only to be told that Penny was now fully dilated and little Honey Marie was determined on making her entrance now.

"Great, Mom warned me this might happen, now I will get 'I told you so', every single day for weeks on end now", Penny muttered to Leonard.

Though Penny was puzzled, as everyone had told her that the first baby one had, the labor lasted several hours, in fact many seemed to take great delight in telling her horror stories of 12 hours in labour, and other difficulties associated with a long labour.

Then just as a girl brought a new pack of towels the next thing Penny knew she was pushing and squeezing Leonard's hand, noting with great satisfaction the pain on his face, and within 15 minutes little Honey Marie had arrived. Later after Mother and Baby had been transported to the post natal ward, and to Leonard's great relief, both of them had been declared fit and well, Leonard rang Marcia and Wyatt.

Leonard now relaxed after all the worry over the ordeal endured by his wife, wept with tears of joy at the perfection that was his daughter, "Honey, She's so Beautiful, She's just so perfect, he sobbed to Penny who was also in tears as she took Honey Marie from him for her first feed, She was in absolute ecstasy and too choked up for words at watching her daughter latch on and begin feeding from her breast.

Soon Penny's room became filled with balloons, stuffed toys, cards and baby clothes and the obligatory large box of chocolates and huge bunch of flowers from Leonard, and gifts from all the gang and Penny's Parents.

But the press quickly got hold of the story and it went all over the United states and even announced on T.V., under titles like "Fresh Today" and "One Only Offer", Penny had shot from Statewide fame to Countrywide soon the makeover series was being broadcast in over 35 states with more signing up each day.

Penny though surprisingly was not pleased at this, although fame had been her motivating factor since she was 12, But she certainly did not want her very precious little family to be everybody's public spectacle, and she quickly hired a lawyer to try and curb some of the press excesses, But he advised her that as long as she didn't give birth to a baby in a supermarket every week the story will fade naturally over time

Once she was Home all the gang had a quiet little party in honor of Honey Marie, Bernadette was quite enchanted with her and when looking at Honey Marie she would tenderly pat her own stomach with a huge smile on her face and Howard watching her was forced to wipe a tear or two. and Jeannie too, was holding her own stomach in a similar manner and Stuart still looking as if he was going to faint,

Penny's percentage in the show, she had negotiated beforehand brought her in a considerable amount of money. much to the delight of her Agent whom she had rehired.

Two months later Penny purchased a little car for herself to replace the one that was returned to the pharmaceutical company.

And wanting to buy Leonard something really special, she asked him what he wanted most, his reply made Penny choke with emotion, "The most precious thing you can give me honey is your love always, that's all I ever wanted", she then dragged him up to bed while Honey slept in her crib.

But a solution to Leonard's present came about from a conversation she had with her Sister Jan over the phone.

Pete and Janey had decided to retire from the diner and as they had no children, Penny's sister Jan and her husband would run the diner.

Penny had then rung Pete asking if she could buy the cabin Leonard and herself had Honeymooned in,

Pete agreed and Leonard was now the proud owner of Lake-house, as they called it later.

And a week later the three flew up to Nebraska and entering the cabin Leonard asked her where her surprise present was?, when Penny told him "you're standing in it, Honey", Leonard moved towards her and putting his arms round her and with tears in his eyes he hugged her then told her that this present had given him some of the most happiest memories in his life" then as soon as Honey Marie fell asleep, they returned to the Jacuzzi

First anniversary

Home

Penny looked at the full laundry basket and turned to little Honey Marie, gurgling in her crib,

"Well sweetie you are definitely all woman, you've got more clothes in here than I have", She said smiling at her daughter, then turning to the pile she began sorting it for ironing, when suddenly her phone rang, "Hello Mrs Penny Hofstadter here",(She still loved saying that) "hello Mrs Hofstadter this is the dental clinic reminding you for your 10:45 appointment for Monday morning", "OK thanks, glad you rang, I'd forgotten, thank you again bye".

Then speaking to her Daughter, "I'd better write that on the calender, hadn't I".

"Holy crap on a cracker!", she said looking at the calender, "It's our first anniversary tomorrow", then turning again to her Daughter. She said,"c'mon Honey Marie, we've got to rush out and get a card and a present and It's nearly half past three as it is", and Penny picked up her Daughter and went to change and dress her.

To The Train Store

Leonard meanwhile had agreed to take Sheldon to the model train store, (though as usual Leonard had only agreed in order to shut Sheldon up as he would have not heard the end of it).

Just then Sheldon's phone rang, "Hello", "Sheldon don't tell Leonard it's me calling", Penny Pleaded desperately "listen can you stall Leonard for a while?, it's our anniversary tomorrow and I forgot to get Leonard a card and a present", she explained.

Sheldon for once was speechless, as he meditated on her request "Alright Fred Bloggs I think I can do that", "Thanks Sheldon I owe you one", and Penny rang off.

"That was Fred Bloggs", Sheldon informed Leonard.

"Who's Fred Bloggs?", Leonard asked him, thinking of names at Cal-Tec.

"He's the new Guy at Big Boy", Sheldon replied.

"You haven't been to Big Boy since we started going to the Cheesecake Factory?", Puzzled Leonard

"I met him in the street outside, really Leonard I object to all this questioning, why can't you take me at my word", Sheldon testily replied looking rather shiftily at Leonard.

"Sorry Sheldon I didn't mean to jerk your chain", Leonard mollified him while rolling his eyes, "I don't know why you didn't go yesterday anyway, we drove right past here yesterday?".

"Really Leonard, I told you last week that I needed to go to the train store on the 22nd, If I had wanted to go on the 21st I would have said the 21st , wouldn't I?".

"Yeah, OK Sheldon, don't get your knickers in a twist", Leonard said borrowing a favourite Phrase of that English Doctor who was currently on an exchange with Cambridge University, Doctor Stephen Jones.

"Whaaat?, wait a minute, did you say it's the 22nd?", "Heck I've got to get Penny a card and a present, It's our first anniversary tomorrow", Leonard now in a panic, informed Sheldon.

"I know", Sheldon replied then to allay any suspicion from Leonard, said,"I have an Eidetic memory you know".

To the Mall

Penny opened the front door, stepped outside and then stepped back inside as Honey Marie posseting nearly half of her earlier feed down the front of Penny's top so Penny had to go and change her top .

Finally arriving at the mall, Penny rushed through the crowds, like a madwoman and pushing the stroller in front of her as if it was a battering ram, and headed straight for the greetings card shop. And began looking through the anniversary cards for husbands.

Penny searched through their whole selection but was unable to find one that even came close to the words she wanted to say to Leonard.

Finally in desperation Penny rang Bernadette.

"Hi Bernadette, I need an anniversary card for Leonard, do you know any other card shops I can try?, I'm at the one in the mall but I couldn't find a single one with the words I wanted it to say?"

"Hi Penny, I don't think you'll find any that's much different from the ones you've just gone through?", "tell you what why don't you come over and we can make one then you can write your own words and we'll print it off, if you can buy some envelopes about 10" by 5" we can then trim the card to fit, OK?", Bernadette suggested.

"Thanks Bernadette, you're a life saver", Penny told her with some relief, then after purchasing some purple envelopes and a present for Leonard, she made her way over to Bernadette's.

At The Train Store

"Sheldon!, come on, will you buy something?, we've been in here over an hour", Leonard said, rapidly losing patience.

"Oh but Leonard, I can't decide between this wonderful English 00 scale model of the 4-6-2 LNER A4 Locomotive, Mallard,

do you know it still holds the world record for the fastest steam locomotive at 125 MPH, or this wonderful N gauge model of the Canadian Pacific, Which one do you think?", Sheldon asked him.

"Just get the blue one then, Sheldon" Leonard answered, beginning to climb the walls in frustration.

" choose between The blue one?, Really Leonard, would you choose between the XBOX or the Playstation for the colour of it, what about the...", "I don't care Sheldon just buy one will you", Leonard replied cutting Sheldon off in mid flow, "I've still got to get Penny a present and a card yet", he said testily.

At Bernadette's

"Thanks for this, I never thought of making one of my own", Penny said as Bernadette opened her door.

"No problem Penny I have the software all fired up and ready, Let's make a special card for Leonard", while Honey Marie sat in her baby chair and was amused by Bernadette while Penny worked, Penny began by selecting the font and then adding a picture of the two of them standing in front of the barn on their wedding day, then added a decorative pattern around it, she then turned her attention to the inside and specifically the words she wanted to use.

"So Penny, you've been married a whole year now, how does it feel?", Bernadette asked her while she tickled Honey Marie.

"I can't believe it, I still feel like Wow, it is so wonderful to be a wife and mother, really I can't believe I was so terrified to commit myself to Leonard, now I feel it's the best thing I have ever done, Life is just so great now", Penny replied , her eyes twinkling and with a look of wonder on her face.

"That's good to hear I'm so glad for you", Bernadette commended looking at Honey Marie.

They printed out the card and trimmed it then Penny wrote a small message and signed it with several 'xxxxxxx' at the end then she slipped it into a purple envelope, she had bought earlier.

"Thanks again Bernadette you've saved my bacon" Penny thanked her as she left, then noticed the look of longing on Bernadette's face as she said goodbye to Honey Marie.

"Hmm I think your Auntie Bernadette might quite like to have a little girl herself, by the looks of it sweetie", Penny said to her Daughter, once they were back in the car.

At The Train Store

Sheldon at last purchased Mallard to Leonard's Immense relief then to Leonard's Horror he then decided to look at the LNER Teak carriages that were usually coupled up to it.

"Sheldon I must nip out and get Penny a card. I'll pop back here once I've got it OK".

"Oh yeah", replied Sheldon as usual not listening at all, as he was entranced by the sight of the four carriages on display.

Leonard dashed out the shop, and on passing an exclusive dress shop he spied a beautiful deep blue Evening dress in the window display then rushed in and bought it for Penny, (Leonard had noticed Penny's dress size one morning when taking a couple of her dresses to the dry cleaners the previous week.

He had been staring at the label while waiting an absolute age for the assistant to finish talking to her boyfriend on the phone and somehow Penny's dress size was now etched indelibly on his memory, as was Dave, the girls boyfriends name. )

Then after paying, he rushed into a stationers hoping they sold cards as well but was disappointed to find they only sold ones with pictures on the front and a blank page inside in which One can write One's own message on, with the envelope included.

Finding one with red roses on the front he purchased that and dashed back to the train store then stopped, dashed back to the stationers and purchased some wrapping paper (which also was adorned with red roses) , then he dashed back to the train store, to find to his astonishment that Sheldon was still in the same position as he was when Leonard left, then Leonard realised he still needed Sellotape and dashed back to the stationers and purchased one of those too, then it was back to the train store, to find that Sheldon had actually moved and was now purchasing the four carriages as well, Then they left with Sheldon still not even aware that Leonard had left the train store, and waxing lyrical over his railway purchases.

Home

Penny took off Honey Marie's coat and also her own then she began wrapping up the Leather wallet for Leonard complete with a Picture of herself and Honey Marie inside before hiding them in her and Leonard's bedroom.

While outside Leonard had dropped off Sheldon and was struggling to wrap Penny's present in his car before he wrote lovingly Happy Anniversary, before telling her how happy beyond belief Penny had made him, how valuable She was to him not only as a wife but also as a dear friend, his Soul mate. And he was certain that he would go on to enjoy many more happy years with her always at his side, then he finished his with "I love you so much and 'xxxxxxx' too.

Leonard crept up to the lounge window and waited till Penny went to the kitchen then he silently opened the front door and crept upstairs to hide her present, then quickly came downstairs and made like he had just got in by shutting the front door at which Penny appeared "Hi honey", She said kissing him, coffee?","yes Please Honey", Leonard replied removing his shoes and then he picked up Honey Marie and sat down with her on his lap while Penny made coffee.

Next Morning

"Leonard, please wake up sweetie", Penny wheedled, kissing him.

"Huh?", Leonard mumbled feigning heavy sleep.

"Leonard!, Honey it's our first anniversary today", "You haven't forgotten have you?", Penny accused him her voice stricken.

Leonard answered her by reaching down and pulling her card out from the bedside table, kissed her passionately on the lips and then "Happy anniversary Honey, I love you so much", then he gave her her card.

"Oh Leonard! Honey, that's so romantic, I love it", she said, wiping the tears from her eyes that had flowed as she read his words.

Then she handed him his card.

And this time it was Leonard who shed a few tears as he read , 'Honey my dream was to be a famous actress, winning the best Actress award at the Oscars. But now Leonard and this may sound clichéd but I know now that being married to you my darling I Am living the dream and thank you for our beautiful daughter, I Love you so much, with all my love, Penny.

Then she handed him his present and Leonard handed Penny hers, which she quickly opened

"Leonard!, Oh Honey it's beautiful, but I didn't buy you anything as expensive as this", Penny told him in dismay.

Meanwhile Leonard had also opened his and told her that this beautiful picture in this wallet represented the most precious two people that I could ever dare to hope to call mine, My beautiful Wife and Daughter, thus mollified Penny began kissing him passionately and things might have progressed further, had not Honey Marie began crying for her feed. And after she fell asleep Penny and Leonard picked up where they left off.

That Night, with Bernadette and Howard looking after Honey Marie, Leonard took Penny out for a Dinner and dance, (after Penny had gone shopping for some shoes and nail varnish to match her new dress, but as far as Leonard was concerned it was worth every Cent, as Penny looked absolutely stunning as a result).

And in Penny's special memento box of the couple, there was placed their anniversary cards and even the wrapping paper from her present folded and carefully labelled 'Deep Blue Evening Dress'.


But six weeks later, Penny was shocked to the core to find she was expecting again, And as she said to Leonard after she had almost got over the shock, "Honey you might be a nerd, but your little soldiers certainly ain't".

To which Leonard had replied "Well Honey that Nebraskan air sure is good for giving a man, get up and go"
And Later one Friday when they were all in 4a after Penny had announced it, Bernadette still stunned at Penny's declaration, asked her "pregnant?, already?", "Yup, you know I could never keep my hands off of Leonard, besides my limbic system needed to take his pants off", Penny replied. Just then Honey Marie started crying for a feed and Penny took her into Leonard's old room to feed her, the room still smelt of Leonard, which rapidly got Penny aroused, "Wow I can't believ this, this is absolutely crazy?, My man is like a drug to me, and now I've just got to get my next fix", she thought. And later as soon as they got home and settled Honey Marie down, she did.

With Penny's return Amy offered to change Honey Marie who had shown appreciation for her feed by filling her diaper.

Later Penny at three months and Bernadette at eight and a half months went together for Penny to have her scan and Bernadette to be assessed by the midwife, both accompanied by their respective Husbands ,

Penny lay on the bed and shivered once again as the gel was spread on her abdomen, "now then Mrs Hofstadter, let's see how we are doing", moving the scanner around she detected a heartbeat,

"Yes that sounds fine, good strong heartbeat there and Hmm, that's strange", then moving the scanner again round Penny's abdomen she picked up another ", "Well that ones strong too, congratulations Mrs Hofstadter, You're having twins this time", "Leonard! ", Penny shrieked, announcing his name to the entire hospital, then afterwards saying to him, "didn't I tell you, I was not putting this body through three children", "Be fair Honey, you're having two at once so that only counts as two", he answered, "Shut up Leonard", she said, then recovering her composure once things had sunk in, smiled and told him "I love you so much". "I love you too Honey", he replied, then kissed her soundly.

Then three weeks later Bernadette and Howard Wolowitz were proud to announce the birth of their son Samuel Joseph, and Bernadette was in an ecstasy with the nursery Penny had designed for her as a present to both of them.

It was just a little thing that set things back again, it had been a warm night and Leonard had not been holding Penny as closely as he usually did, with him feeling the heat and Penny began to fret in her mind, that perhaps Leonard was cooling off towards her, also because of his mind being on a problem with working out the strength of the magnetic field needed to distort light from a laser that he had been working on at Cal-Tech he became more than a little distracted , his attention not being so much on his wife as it usually was, which only served to exacerbate the fears in her fragile state of mind. Penny had after giving birth to Honey Marie, and along with Leonard, had resumed her yoga exercises and running on her running machine in the basement in order to get her shape back but alas was now too afraid to even do some gentle yoga in case she hurt the twins, so that now with the twins though still tiny, Penny's weight had ballooned two and a half stone all of which plunged Penny back into depression over her weight and her insecurities, And yet again she began blaming herself for failing Leonard in her own imagined unattractiveness, added to that with her hormones all over the place, this quickly accelerated her distress, Until Leonard becoming aware of Penny's depression immediately acted in being more considerate towards her and reminding her often how much she meant to him and how much he loved her in spite of her shape, in the end though she had to return back to her sessions with Dr Julie Jeffers but in spite of these sessions which she would attend with Leonard always by her side, her depression deepened and it was decided by Julie, that Penny should return to the special unit at the psychiatric hospital. It then became a tricky situation Leonard now finding himself once again parted from Penny and so fearful that she would sink back into her own safe little world found himself also sinking into the deep black depression, blaming himself for being unable to reach Penny and pull her from her despair. Julie was now so concerned for the both of them, she decided to try and contact Leonard's Mother, Dr Beverly Hofstadter, and update her of the situation. As Dr Hofstadter was a noted consultant in this field.

Beverly Hofstadter thanked Dr Jeffers for her call and with shaking hand replaced the phone on it's cradle, she leaned back in her chair and thought deeply, Here at last was her chance to reconcile with Leonard, She had spent many sleepless nights trying to think, how to tell him she was sorry for all those years of her indifference to him?, what words could she use to convince him of her love for him?. Now divorced and so lonely, she had, had much time to mull over the past, now she was noticing other people with their children and grandchildren and noticed the love and joy they shared together. Now she realized her own need for that love, not only taking, but giving too, she found herself cursing all that she had learned in higher education, the need to analyze everything so that in the end it became harder and harder to switch from an objective analytical mode back to a human one . After all in the end it was her own observations of those happy people that had finally taught her the most important lesson of all, for the first time in many years Beverly laid her head on her arms and wept.

Later after composing herself she considered the situation, Penny really needed help not only for the sake of her unborn twins or Honey Marie but Leonard too and Beverley although she didn't show it at the time liked Penny, for she too saw in the girl the fine qualities that had attracted her son to Penny in the first place. She was very well aware too of the enormous amount of love there existed between Penny & Leonard and was extremely troubled that if they remained apart it could well finish both of them mentally and emotionally. She had failed Leonard but she was damned if she was going to let this little family fail, She had to act now, and fast..

Leonard was sitting on the couch vacantly staring at the T.V. without even being aware what program was on, in fact Leonard was barely holding himself together for Little Honey Marie's sake.

Just as he picked his daughter up to change her, the doorbell rang and carrying Honey Marie he opened the door to find his Mother standing on the doorstep, Before Leonard could say anything his Mother threw her arms round him holding him close to her and still holding Honey Marie, Leonard and she cried together.

Every morning at 10 am Beverly would drive Leonard and her Granddaughter to see Penny, as Dr Julie Jeffers had handed Penny's case over to Beverly.
Through the first session after Penny fed Honey Marie, she have would Penny and Leonard sit together and just hold each other without saying anything, believing that there is no stronger medicine than love, all the while she would cuddle her Granddaughter while reading through Penny's medical records.

She felt saddened at the severity of Penny's breakdown, and resolved her determination to unite the family

Beverly attached no blame to Leonard for not inviting her to the wedding, that was after all her own fault, but no matter, now hopefully I can turn things round.

So while both recovered (Penny needing more time than Leonard) Beverly cooked and looked after Honey Marie except for the little girl's feeds as Penny would express milk in order that her daughter could continue to have breast milk.

Such was her bond now with her Granddaughter, that Beverly decided to move to Pasadena, Now she was no longer lonely, now that she had been reconciled with her Son, And absolutely adored her daughter in law and was completely enchanted with Honey Marie, and eager to bond with her unborn twin grandchildren.. The scare had affected Leonard a lot, as it was quite some time before he was able to relax again, always on guard, always watching Penny for little signs that she might be regressing, so terrified therefore he had become in losing her back to her isolated world. If she did and he could not reach her this time. He thought feeling the panic welling up inside him. The fact remained, Leonard simply could not live without Penny.

Later, after Penny had her scan at her second trimester, She was found to be carrying two little girls.
Later that day, the four would be seated in front of the T.V. To watch the video of the scan and Penny and Leonard hugged each other in joy, as they watched Beverly cuddling Honey Marie, tears streaming down her face, watching in awe at her unborn twin granddaughters on the screen.

Three weeks Later the four Hofstadter's with Wyatt and Marcia and Pete and Janey spent a happy two weeks at Lake McConaughy, Wyatt and Marcia and Pete and Janey were staying in rooms above the diner, while Penny and Leonard, Honey Marie and Beverley were staying at Lake-House.

On the second day Pete and Wyatt went fishing, just like the old days, and Janey, Beverley and Marcia went to North Platte to do some shopping, they had asked Penny and Leonard if they would like to go?, But Leonard quickly declined at feeling Penny squeeze his hand hard in panic at the mention of North Platte. So the three women took little Honey Marie with them, also taking with them some of Penny's milk to feed her. Leonard still holding Penny's hand led her to the Jacuzzi where they made gentle tender love, with heartfelt words as well as actions in declaring their undying love for each other.

Later in the week, Leonard took Penny back to the beach where they sunbathed and made love in the long grass just as they did on the day that Honey Marie was conceived ( though this time with careful consideration to Penny's condition.

Upon their return they all spent a happy evening in the diner, Pete and Janey were very pleased at the way Jan and her husband were running the diner, and the laughter as Pete and Wyatt teased each other over the small size of the fish the other caught.
Beverley was thoroughly enjoying the warm close family atmosphere and was animatedly talking about their genius granddaughter with Marcia and Janey, And Penny and Leonard, both eating with one hand, as neither could, it seemed to be able let go of the other. In fact throughout that holiday and for a long time after, they would always to be found sitting close together holding hands.

After two weeks of sunbathing and walking and sharing laughter and comfort with family and friends, Penny felt much more secure in her relationship with Leonard through, his continual reminders everyday to Penny of how much she meant to him started to become firmly entrenched in her mind

Soon Penny was well enough to return to fronting the make over show as Helen had covered for her while she regained her mental health, also Kelly and Sarah brilliantly coped with the interior design until Penny could return.

Beverly would often babysit so Leonard and Penny could increase their time spent together, IE., Dancing, dining out, and going to the movies, which went a long way to helping Penny to recover.

Penny now with only four weeks to go was on edge, anxious and restless, not knowing the solution to her anxiety, or what it was she desired.

In her last session with Beverly, Beverly had told her not to bottle things up, not to feel afraid to express her fears and not to think she was weak or inadequate by doing so. As she well knew Leonard loved her very much and her happiness was his top priority, and he will not think less of you by telling him, so please understand it is vital that you talk to him.

And Penny even now feeling the fear rising inside her told Leonard how she was feeling. Leonard thanked her for talking to him appreciating how hard it was for her to do so.

Now he thought about her anxiety, and what he could do for her to overcome it?.

Suddenly Leonard had a brainwave, where did Penny feel safe and happy?, when she was back home in Nebraska. He remembered how happy she was when they stayed at the farm, so back to the farm they will go. Penny was too nervous at this stage in her pregnancy to fly, so Leonard hired a Winnebago and Penny, Himself, their Daughter and his Mother began the long drive up to Nebraska.