Chapter 22

It's been five days since Penny and Leonard decided to slow down on their relationship. Penny requested the closing shift at the boutique so she would have less chances of running into Leonard and Sarah in the building. They still maintained texting to keep up with each other but nothing too cheesy or romantic.

It was Friday when Penny asked Bernadette to come over to catch up on things. Bernadette arrived with a bottle of wine and some chips. They sat on the couch while Penny poured the wine into the glasses.

"So how are things with you and Howard?" Penny asked.

"Oh it was great….a little awkward first but when we found out that we had the same problems with our mothers, we hit it off instantly!" Bernadette said smiling.

"That's great Bernie! Leonard told about Howard's mom and I was gonna warn you about it but it seems there's no need for that now." Penny smiled at her.

"So how are you and Leonard?….everything going great?" Bernadette asked.

Penny frowned. "We had our first fight last week Bernie." Penny said.

"Oh my god! What happened?" Bernadette asked her.

Penny told her everything that happened at the ranch, Sarah's horse riding experience, their fishing trip and the games they played in the cabin that weekend. She told her about their fight and how Sarah heard them through the door and how they explained to her about what happened.

"Penny I'm so sorry...that must be very difficult." Bernadette put her hand on her shoulder to console her.

"I know Bernie….I thought I would die when I saw Sarah standing there crying when she heard us fighting." Penny said.

"So what happens now?" Bernadette asked her again.

"Well I told Leonard I needed some space to think….and it's been so difficult Bernie….I can't stop thinking about them." Penny continued. "Am I a horrible person Bernie?" she asked her friend.

"What!?….of course not!….I wouldn't know what I would do if I was in your situation." Bernadette added. "Are you gonna break up with him?" she asked.

"What! No!….we're not breaking up….I just needed some time for myself." she continued. "Leonard is the greatest guy I know….I don't think I'll ever meet a guy like him again….he's so smart….sweet...funny...and the way that he cares for his daughter….ugh...it will melt your heart Bernie." Penny said.

"Do you love him?" Bernadette leaned towards her.

Penny said nothing and looked at Bernadette with a sad look in her eyes.

"Oh my god Penny?….you love him!….oh my gosh this is so exciting!" Bernadette giggled.

"Bernie….what am I gonna do?" Penny was starting to freak out.

"Well….have you told him yet?" Bernadette asked.

"No….it's too early and I don't want to mess it up!" she put her face in her hands.

Bernadette move closer and rubbed her back to calm her down. "Don't freak out Penny….it's gonna be fine….did he tell you if he loves you?" she asked.

"Not yet….I think he's trying not to say it because it's too soon and he's afraid I might freak out or something." Penny said back.

"Just relax and it will be fine…..it's not like he's cheating on you or something right?" Bernadette said.

"What? No….he's not cheating on me." Penny said.

They were silent for a while when Penny decided to change the subject.

"So how's your doctorate going Bernie?" Penny asked.

"Oh it's going great...I'm almost done with it….I just have to finish up with the citations and references…" Bernadette said.

"Sounds like a lot of work huh?" Penny said.

"It's not as hard as it sounds. My adviser is pretty confident and says it's almost in the bag." Bernadette added. "So are you enjoying your new work at the boutique?" she asked.

"Oh it's so great Bernie….it's like I'm working in a giant closet….It pays better too and I get commissions…" Penny happily said. "This wouldn't have happened if not for Leonard."

"I'm really happy for you Penny….you deserve to be happy!" Bernadette said.

"I know….he's been nothing but supportive to me….and he never once made me feel that I should owe him for getting this job…." Penny said.

"Leonard's really great huh?" Bernadette said.

"He's the greatest Bernie...I'm so lucky to have him in my life!" Penny smiled. "Oh that reminds me!…" Penny quickly stood up and went to her bedroom. She came back carrying a handbag. "Bernie this is for you." she gave her the handbag.

"What's this for?" Bernadette was puzzled.

"Well...some of the rejected items in the store are going to be thrown away and shredded and they let us take them home instead….this one has a small scratch in the bottom which is totally fine...see!?" Penny said as she showed her the scratch at the bottom.

Bernadette squealed in delight. "Really, this is mine?" she asked. "Oh Penny this is beautiful...thank you so much!"

"You're welcome Bernie….it's not a big deal really….we can't sell them anyways so it's better to give them to someone who appreciates it." she smiled at her.

"Thanks again….I love it….this is so fancy!" Bernadette hugged her. "I'll have to thank Leonard when I see him."

"I'm sure he'll be surprised if you did that." Penny said.

They continued to chat for another half an hour until Bernadette had to go home.

"Penny I think I should go home now….I have to be early at school tomorrow." she stood up and went to the door.

Penny followed her. "Okay...thanks for listening Bernie...it means a lot." she said as she hugged her.

"We're friends Penny….I'm always here for you." Bernadette said as she opened the door. She stepped out of the apartment while Penny followed close by at the same time Leonard was coming out of the elevator carrying a basket of laundry. He saw the two girls.

"Hi Bernadette. Nice bag!" Leonard greeted her.

"Hi!….I got this bag thanks to you….don't worry Penny can explain." she smiled at him.

Leonard was puzzled. "Okay….So how are things between you and Howard?" he asked.

"It's going great Leonard. How are you and Sarah?" Bernadette asked.

"Oh we're okay. She's inside playing with her X-Box." Leonard said and looked at Penny. "Hi." he said softly.

"Hi." Penny greeted him back.

Bernadette looked at the couple and decided to leave. "I guess I should go now….you two have a lot to talk about." she smiled and went inside the elevator.

Leonard waited for the elevator to close to talk to Penny. "How's your day?" he asked her.

"It's okay I guess….how about you and Sarah?" she asked him back.

"We're fine….she's been asking about you….she misses you…" Leonard looked at her.

"And you?" Penny looked back at him.

"Of course. I can't sleep for the past couple of days….I can't stop thinking about you…" he said as he moved closer to her.

She smiled at him. "Do you wanna talk inside?" she asked him. Leonard nodded as he went inside her apartment. Penny closed the door while Leonard put his basket on the floor and sat on the couch. Penny sat down facing him.

"Leonard I don't want us to break up…." Penny said as she held his hand.

"I don't want that too….I want us to stay together…" he continued. "I know this is an unusual situation for us and I don't know how to approach this….I guess I'll just have to be honest to you." Leonard said while looking into Penny's eyes. Penny felt her stomach tighten. She was anxious of what Leonard will say next.

"Penny I know this is too soon and I've been holding off on saying this because I don't want to scare you or freak you out….we've only been on one date although I wanted to have more, but I can't just leave my daughter alone and I'm thankful to you for understanding that….I know you're scared of becoming an instant mother to my daughter and I don't want to force that into you, even if it breaks my heart seeing my daughter longing for a mother's touch…"

Leonard was rambling so Penny had to stop him and placed her finger on his lips.

"Honey." she put her hand on his cheek. "you're overthinking again….stop rambling and just say it to me…" she tried to calm him down.

Leonard took a deep breath and looked at her. "Penny….I think I'm falling in love with you." he hung his head low.

Penny smiled and lifted his face to look into his eyes. She moved closer and kissed him on the lips. Leonard hesitated for a moment then felt relaxed as he returned Penny's kiss. They broke off their kiss and placed their foreheads against each other.

"Honey….don't freak out….I feel the same way too…" she said to him softly. He smiled and hugged Penny. Penny hugged him back.

Leonard released her from his hug and looked at her. "Why did Bernadette thanked me for that bag?" he asked her.

"Oh?….that bag had a small scratch on the bottom and it's store policy never to sell damaged goods. So instead of being thrown out, the store lets us keep some of them. For the past month, I had two handbags already….how cool is that?" Penny smiled at him.

"Wow that is awesome honey!...you can give them to your mom and sister for Christmas and they wouldn't know the difference!" Leonard said.

"I know right? We can save money!" she continued. "and it wouldn't have happened if not for my sexy, smart, stud of a boyfriend!" she teased him.

"Mmmm...does this mean we can….you know?" he winked at her.

"Okay now hold your horses Hofstadter….we have plenty of time for that…." she added. "but for now...you have to go back to your daughter….I'll come by tomorrow and have dinner there….okay?" she playfully pushed him.

Leonard sighed and hung his head. "Fine….I'll go now." he stood up, grabbed his laundry basket and opened the door. He turned to Penny who followed close behind him.

"Bye honey." Penny said.

"Bye Penny." Leonard said as they kissed one last time before Penny closed her door.

He entered his apartment and saw Sarah was still playing. He took the laundry basket to his room and went back to the living room.

"Okay honey...I think you've played enough….time for bed little princess…" he said as he sat down beside his daughter.

"I'll just finish this round daddy….please." Sarah said.

"Okay fine….but you go straight to the bathroom and brush your teeth and then straight to bed, understood?" he asked her.

"Yes daddy." she said. Sarah finished the game after a few minutes and went straight to the bathroom. She brushed her teeth and went straight to her bedroom where Leonard is waiting to tuck her in. She took her teddy bear and got up the bed as her father tucked her under the sheets. Leonard kissed her forehead as she laid on her bed. She looked at her father and spoke.

"Daddy….why did mom died?" Sarah asked her father. Leonard was shocked and didn't know how to answer his daughter. He took a deep breath and looked at his daughter. She was so pure and innocent, Leonard thought.

"Honey…." he said as he touched his daughter's cheek. "your mother got really sick….we did everything we could but…." he couldn't find the appropriate words to say to his daughter. "you were too young to understand back then." he reached over the nightstand and picked up the picture frame to show to her. "That's you and your mom….you were about three months old when I took this picture….we were so happy when you were born….you're our little angel….our princess." he kissed her forehead.

"I wish she was here daddy." Sarah said as she looked at the picture.

Leonard sighed. "me too honey….me too." he added. "but don't worry….daddy's always here for you…" he kissed her on the head.

Sarah nodded. "Daddy...I miss Penny too….why doesn't she come here anymore?" she asked her father.

"Honey I miss her too and I'm sure she misses you, but Penny's a little busy with her new job….if she doesn't work hard she could lose her job…do you understand?" he continued. "Now why don't you go to sleep?….it's getting late now." he said.

"I love you daddy." Sarah said to her father.

Leonard kissed her on the cheek. "I love you too princess." he smiled at her. He stood up and turned off the light. He closed the door gently and went to his room to sleep. He closed his bedroom door and leaned on it. Leonard was deep in thought as he sat on the side of his bed. He put his face down to his hands and cried silently.