Chapter 42
It has been a couple of days since the young family came back from their Christmas vacation in New York. The gang decided to have dinner at Leonard's place for them to catch up and share their stories about how their holidays went. They were unpacking the take out food on the coffee table as Leonard came back from the bathroom and into the living room where Sarah joined the rest of the guys including Amy and Bernadette.
"I'm gonna go over to Penny's place and tell her that dinner's here okay honey?" said Leonard.
"Okay daddy." said Sarah while she was helping Amy with the napkins.
Leonard knocked on Penny's door and she opened it after a minute, pulling him quickly inside to kiss him. Leonard was surprised but let Penny have her way, meeting her lips with his.
"Hmm, I miss you too!" he said as he held her by the hips.
"Are we gonna tell the guys that we're engaged now?" asked Penny.
"I guess. I mean, they're already sharing their holiday stories in there." he said.
Penny suddenly got excited. "Okay. I wonder what Bernadette and Amy's reaction would be?" she said.
"They'll probably scream and roll on the floor." said Leonard while laughing a little. "Are you ready?" he asked.
Penny grabbed his hands as they went over to 4A. As soon as they entered the apartment, the gang cheered and gave them a group hug, congratulating them. Penny and Leonard was caught by surprise, realizing that Sarah already spilled the beans on them.
"Congratulations guys! This is so romantic!" Bernadette squealed in delight, hugging Penny and then Leonard after.
"We're so happy for you two!" Amy said hugging them both.
"Congratulations Leonard!" said Howard, shaking his hand as Raj and Sheldon did the same.
"Thanks guys!" said Penny. "Let me guess, a certain young person got so excited that she can't wait for ten minutes and just told everybody about our engagement?" she said as they all looked at Sarah on the couch.
Sarah gave them a sly look, smiling a little. "I'm sorry mom." she said.
Penny sat beside her step-daughter and tickled her, making her scream with laughter. "You ruined the surprise sweetie!" she said.
"I can't help it. Uncle Sheldon asked me how my Christmas went. I got a little excited." she said.
Leonard sat beside his daughter. "It's alright honey." he said kissing Sarah on her forehead. "So what else did you guys do during the holidays?" he asked the gang as they started to eat. Penny helped Sarah with her food before getting some for her own.
"Well, Sheldon and I went to Texas to visit his mother during the holidays." said Amy, looking over to Sheldon.
"Really? How did it go?" asked Bernadette.
"Well, it was interesting to say the least." said Amy, a little hesitant. "Sheldon, do you wanna add something?" she said.
"It didn't go well." said Sheldon. "My mother went on with one of her religious rants about having 'relations' outside marriage?" he said.
Leonard gave Sheldon the look. "Sheldon?" he said.
"Oh? Okay, I got it." he said. "But overall, my mom was glad to finally meet Amy." said Sheldon.
"Did grandma Mary like aunt Amy?" asked Sarah.
"Uh huh. They really hit it off which is a little weird." said Sheldon.
"Why would it be weird?" Penny asked.
"Because I am my mom's little angel but she and Amy immediately became buddies and somewhat ignored me." he said.
"Maybe she's just happy to finally meet your girlfriend uncle Sheldon?" said Sarah.
"That maybe it." said Leonard.
Amy then faced Penny. "So, Penny, when are you and Leonard planning to get married?" she asked.
Penny looked at her, rather curiously. "Uh, we haven't discussed that yet." said Penny. "I guess we're going to figure out first on when I'm going to move in here so we don't have to pay rent twice." Penny said with Leonard nodding in agreement. "Why do ask Amy?" she added.
"Uh, nothing much. It's just that you'll be the bride and Leonard's gonna be the groom and Sarah will be the flower girl. I just figure that you're gonna be needing a maid of honor huh?" Amy said sheepishly.
Penny smiled while looking at Bernadette who was similarly amused while the guys look on, puzzled and perplexed. Bernadette nodded at Penny who understood what Amy meant. "Amy, would it be alright if you'll be my maid of honor?" Penny asked.
Amy shrugged her shoulder, playing a little hard to get. "Oh, I don't want to impose Penny. I mean, I'm the newest member of our social group and it won't be appropriate for me to be your maid of honor." she said. "Maybe Bernadette would be better as your maid of honor?" Amy added.
Penny smiled, amused by Amy. "Amy please!" said Penny while touching her arm. "I want you to be my maid of honor. Please!?" she added.
Amy put her food on the coffee table and smiled at Penny. "Okay Penny, I'll do it." she said. "I just hope I can look the best as I can for my very special day." Amy said while holding her hair.
"Uh maybe you mean, Penny's special day right?" Bernadette asked.
"Yeah and that too!" Amy quickly said to the amusement of everyone.
"Daddy, that was weird right?" Sarah asked.
Leonard smiled and nodded. "Yes honey, but everyone has their own quirks and idiosyncrasies, that's what makes them unique, you understand?" he said to the young girl.
Sarah nodded. "Yes daddy." she said.
"So Bernie, what did you and Howard did for Christmas?" asked Penny.
Bernadette and Howard looked at each other and smiled. "Well uh, we sort of have some great news too." said Bernadette.
"What news Bernadette?" Amy asked.
Bernadette then quickly held out her left hand showing the gang her engagement ring. "We're engaged too!" she exclaimed making the whole gang jump and cheer, happy for the couple. The gang gave them congratulatory hugs and handshakes, wishing them all the best.
"Oh my god this is so exciting!" Penny said.
"Thank you guys!" Howard said.
"So, tell us how did Howard popped the question?" Leonard asked.
Howard took a deep breath. "We were at Bernie's parents house on Christmas day and after dinner, we were in the living room having some wine and that's when I asked her to marry me." he said. "I gotta tell you, I almost soiled myself not only because I was afraid she'll say no but also since her father was there. I thought I was gonna have a heart attack." Howard said with an air of relief.
"Congratulations guys!" Raj said while tapping Howard's shoulder. "Do I see a double wedding?" asked Raj making Amy anxious all of a sudden.
"No! No! No! No! No!" said Amy surprising everyone.
"Uh Amy, why not?" Penny asked slightly confused and amused by her reaction.
"Because, I cannot be a maid of honor in a double wedding!" said Amy, puzzling everybody in the apartment.
"Leonard, I don't understand." said Sheldon.
"Let me break it down. I'm gonna be Penny's maid of honor and I assume Sheldon will be the best man since he's Leonard's best friend. Now Raj is Howard's best friend so it's only natural for him to be his best man. But I'm the only maid of honor candidate here so we cannot have a double wedding since I cannot be at two places at the same time. Therefore, we cannot have a double wedding." Amy said.
"Well actually you can be..." Howard said but was quickly cut off by Bernadette, nudging his side.
"You know what Amy, sure. I would like you to be my maid of honor." said Bernadette.
"Thank you Bernadette." Amy said, touching her hand.
"We're happy for you Amy." Penny said smiling at her.
"Thank you Penny." Amy said while the guys look at each other, puzzled and amused.
Sarah looked at Penny. "Mommy?" the child said.
"Yes sweetheart?" Penny said.
"That was weird right?" asked Sarah making the guys laugh.
"A little bit, but aren't you excited?" Penny said.
"What do you mean?" Sarah asked.
"Well now that your aunt Bernie and uncle Howard is getting married too, you get to be the flower girl for both weddings!" Penny said smiling at her.
Sarah's face lit up with excitement. "Really?" she asked while looking at Bernadette.
"Of course! I want you to be the flower girl for my wedding too!" said Bernadette.
Sarah looked at Penny. "Can I wear different dresses for the wedding mommy?" she asked her step-mother.
Penny touched her cheek. "Of course you can sweetheart!" she said to Sarah.
The gang continued eating dinner while sharing the rest of their Christmas stories.