Chapter 19
Leonard stared at the ceiling, hoping that his asthma won't act up as he held Penny close, resting her head on his shoulder.
"Are you gonna be alright?" asked Penny as she lightly traced her finger on Leonard's chest.
"Uh huh." Leonard said. Penny slowly slid her hand on Leonard's abdomen, feeling the scars of his stab wounds. Leonard laughed a little, tickled by Penny's fingers. "That tickles." he said.
"I still can't believe you almost died because of me." said Penny, smiling at him.
"Me too. Seeing you kiss Zack made me sick to my stomach. Like someone reached inside my gut and yanked it out." he said.
"I'm sorry honey. I didn't mean to torture you or anything." She said.
Leonard kissed her forehead. "It's alright. We were broken up then and you chose to move on." he said.
"Well, I didn't actually move on." she said.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Don't get me wrong Leonard, I was glad that we remained friends after I dumped you but the truth was I never felt this way with anyone before. And I never became friends with any of my ex-boyfriends." she said. "It's just too weird, but with you, it seems so easy and natural." She added.
"I know what you mean." he said. "I should be angry at you for breaking up with me like that but after a few days, I realized I couldn't stay mad at you. I don't know why." he added.
Penny tightened her hug and pushed her face against Leonard's neck. "Hmm." muttered Penny.
"I wonder what would the guys say when they find out that we're back together?" said Leonard.
"I know Amy and Bernadette would probably be more excited than I am." said Penny.
"Really? Why?" he asked.
Penny sighed. "Well, after you got out of the hospital, I tried to get back together with you but when I saw how happy you were with Abby, I decided to stay clear and not get between you two." She said.
"Well you stayed clear alright, but she kept putting you back in the equation." said Leonard.
Penny moved up and kissed his lips. "And now we're here, in my bed, naked and in love." she said.
"So, we're in love huh?" Leonard said, smiling at her.
"Of course!" she said. "Why? Don't you love me?" she asked.
"I do, it's just that the last time I said that, you broke up with me and ran away." he said.
"I told you, I got scared." Penny said.
"So you're not sacred anymore?" asked Leonard.
"No. I guess I just needed to see you with another woman for me to realize how much you mean to me." said Penny.
Leonard hugged her tight. "Now you know how I feel every time I see you with another guy." he said.
"I know." she said.
Leonard kissed her lips. "I love you Penny." he said.
Penny smiled, touched by his affection. "I love you too Leonard." she said while hugging him tight.
"Hey, shouldn't we be going back downstairs to get your laundry?" he asked.
"You're right." said Penny as she sat up on the bed to get dressed. Leonard got off the bed to get dressed too.
They came back to Penny's apartment in no time while she put her clothes in the bedroom as Leonard sat on the couch, turning the TV on. Penny joined him on the couch, snuggling beside him and putting her arm around his body, feeling his warmth.
"What do you wanna do now?" asked Leonard.
"Nothing honey. I just want you here." she said tightening her hug.
"Alright. I won't go anywhere." he said as he leaned back on the couch while watching the TV. Little did they notice that they were slowly drifting off to sleep, wrapped in each other's embrace.
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Penny suddenly woke up, startled by Sheldon's door knocking.
Knock, knock, knock. "Penny."
Knock, knock, knock. "Penny."
Knock, knock, knock. "Penny."
Penny sighed and sat up on the couch, looking at Leonard who was hunched on his side, still asleep.
"What is it Sheldon?" she asked as she went to open the door.
"Hi, I just wanted to ask if you two are planning on eating out or do you want to join us for dinner later? Bernadette and Howard are buying." he said.
"Oh? Okay." said Penny. "Sure Sheldon, we'll join you guys for dinner. What time are they gonna come?" she said.
"In thirty minutes, maybe." said Sheldon.
"Alright, thanks. I'll wake Leonard up." she said as Sheldon turned around, going back into 4A.
Penny closed the door and looked at Leonard still sleeping on the couch. She can't help but smile, seeing Leonard so peaceful and calm. She sat on the couch, wrapping her arms around him while kissing his cheek and neck, hoping her affections would wake him up.
"Honey, wake up." Penny whispered in his ear as she felt Leonard's goosebumps.
"Hmmm." he mumbled.
"Howard and Bernadette are bringing over dinner." she said while Leonard slowly opened his eyes, looking at his girlfriend.
"What time is it?" asked Leonard.
"Almost six-thirty." Penny said.
"Okay. I guess I should get back and freshen up huh?" he said as he rubbed his eyes. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
Penny smiled and hugged him tight. "Happy." she said while kissing his cheek.
Leonard smiled back. "Me too." he said. "Now let's clean up so we can surprise them with our big news." he said making Penny laugh.
"I'll come right over honey. You go right ahead." she said as she went to her bathroom while Leonard left the apartment to return to 4A.
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Howard, Bernadette, Amy and Raj arrived shortly, finding Leonard, Penny and Sheldon in the living room watching TV.
"Hey!" said Bernadette. "Uh, Penny hi! I'm surprised to see you here." she added as the gang looks on while they unpack the food on the coffee table.
"Well, Leonard and I have some big news." said Penny.
"Huh!? You're engaged?" Amy asked, becoming a little excited.
"What!? No!" Penny exclaimed as Leonard looks on laughing.
"Then what is your big news!?" asked Howard.
Penny then looked at Leonard and smiled while holding his hand. "Leonard and I are back together." she said.
"Oh my god that's so amazing!" said Bernadette, hugging Penny as Amy did the same.
"Yeah. Howard told us about Abby. I'm sorry Leonard." said Amy.
"Thanks Amy." said Leonard. "She just kept getting jealous of Penny even though Penny and I haven't really talked much or hung out when we were together. It just got to the point when we were fighting about Penny all the time." he said.
Raj tapped his shoulder. "I'm sorry dude." he said.
"Thanks Raj. I guess I don't want to be in a relationship where there is no trust." Leonard said.
"So I guess you and Penny being back together is bigger news than me and Bernie getting engaged huh!?" said Howard, surprising everyone.
"Oh my god! How did this happen!?" Penny exclaimed while hugging Bernadette.
"Congratulations guys!" said Amy, hugging Bernadette and Bernadette as Sheldon, Raj and Leonard did the same.
"Thanks guys." said Howard.
"Tell us, how did Howard propose?" Penny asked as they start getting their food from the coffee table.
"Yeah, tell us!" said Amy.
"Well, we were having dinner at my parent's house when he suddenly got down on one knee holding a diamond ring." said Bernadette. "I got so nervous that my voice got squeaky I thought I was gonna die or something." she said with the gang laughing at the funny story.
"And what was Bernie's parents' reaction?" asked Leonard.
"Well, Bernie's mom was excited but her dad was, let's just say, unenthusiastic." said Howard.
"Well that's understandable since you're the creepy Ringo Starr look-alike having sex with his daughter." Leonard said making the gang laugh.
"Very funny Leonard." Howard said sarcastically.
"Did you guys pick out a wedding date yet?" asked Sheldon.
"Not yet Sheldon. Howie and I are not in a rush." said Bernadette.
"How about you and Leonard?" Sheldon asked Penny.
"Me and Leonard what?" Penny said.
"Are you planning on getting engaged soon?" Sheldon asked.
"Yeah, why not make it into a double wedding!" Raj suggested.
"Are you guys kidding me? Leonard and I just got back together and you're expecting us to get engaged right away!?" Penny exclaimed.
Bernadette smiled. "Why not? It's a lot of fun!" she said teasing the couple.
"Guys cut it out." said Leonard. "Penny and I are taking things slow." he said.
"Speaking of which, when are you two going to give me the various provisions so I could get started in drafting your Relationship Agreement?" Sheldon asked, surprising the gang.
"You're having Sheldon make you a Relationship Agreement?" Howard asked. "Are you crazy!?" he exclaimed.
"No!" Leonard said. "Penny and I realized that we have many things to work out between us and the best way is to have some guidelines so we won't repeat the same mistakes we did before." he added.
Penny held Leonard's hand. "He's right. And I promised Leonard that we're gonna make it work this time. I don't want to lose him again, right honey?" she said while smiling at Leonard.
Leonard kissed her hand. "Damn right babe!" he said making Penny squeal.
They continued eating around the coffee table with the girls excited in talking about the wedding preparations as the guys looked at them, baffled and confused.
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After dinner, the gang stayed for about an hour until they decided to go home and rest for the night. Penny had Leonard stay the night in her apartment, telling him that they have many things to talk about. After washing up and changing into their sleep clothes, the couple got on the bed and slipped under the covers.
Penny kissed Leonard goodnight before resting her head on his shoulder. "Goodnight honey." she said.
"Goodnight." Leonard said as he put his arm around his girlfriend. "How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Just glad that we're together again." said Penny.
"Me too." he said.
"Although, I've been kinda thinking about what Sheldon said earlier, you know us getting engaged or something." Penny said, slightly surprising Leonard.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yeah." said Penny. "Why?"
"Well I wouldn't be surprised to see you freak out at the thought of us getting engaged, but you thinking about it, that's something you don't see every day." Leonard said, smiling at her.
"So you don't see us getting engaged, or married even?" asked Penny.
Leonard kissed her on the lips. "Penny, I told myself that I'm gonna marry you the first time we met." he said making Penny laugh.
"That is so creepy." said Penny.
"I think it's romantic." he said. "How about you, do you see us getting married?" Leonard asked.
Penny smiled and nodded at him.
Leonard kissed her again before hugging her tight. "I love you Penny. Don't worry, we're gonna make it work this time. I promise." he said.
"I love you too Leonard." she said hugging him back.
"Let's get some sleep." said Leonard.
"Okay. I have no work tomorrow so we are gonna stay here and have sex all day!" she said as Leonard looked at her, not knowing how to react.
"Penny?" said Leonard.
"Why, don't you want to have sex with me?" said Penny, amused by Leonard's blank expression.
"No, it's not that. I'm just thinking of where we're gonna do it first." said Leonard making Penny laugh out loud.
"That is so disgusting." she said slapping him on the chest, making Leonard laugh.
"You said it first! Tell you what, let's start at the kitchen and work our way back here and then finish up in the bathroom where we could take a shower together." he said as Penny looked at him, confused and slightly amused.
Penny sighed. "Fine, just make sure you're up to it." she said.
"I am up to it, but before we do I'll have to go back to my room and take a couple of inhalers and cans of Red Bull." he said making Penny laugh more.
"Sure honey." she said kissing him as they laid back, going to sleep in each other's arms.