Chapter 8 - Cutting the Umbilical

It was two hours later when Amy knocked on Penny's and now Leonard's apartment, being immediately met at the door by her blonde bestie, in her robe and holding her baseball bat. "Penny do you really think that is necessary." Amy pointed at the bat.

"Sorry Ames, but there have been a lot of pests around here lately." Penny said with a smile, immediately putting the bat to the side.

Amy sighed, "Penny, I hardly see how my boyfriend qualifies as a pest."

"Come on Amy, you know he just wants Leonard back."

"I know Penny, but Leonard has to go back sometime, why are you making things worse for him." Amy tried to reason.

"Leonard is not going back."

Amy looked at Penny confused, "What do you mean he isn't going back."

"Leonard moved in with me, didn't Sheldon tell you that?"

"No. He just called me to come over because he said you went cra..., were being difficult." Amy caught herself from saying Sheldon said crazy, she didn't want to make things worse.

It didn't work, "Yeah, he should know, he is the definition of crazy." Penny stated her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Wait, I thought that just a few months ago you were thinking of breaking up with Leonard."

Penny immediately looked guilty, then softly sighed, "I wasn't thinking clearly then, I couldn't get over him asking me to marry him, I was scared."

Penny looked back at her bedroom, then back at Amy, "Ames I almost screwed up big time then, I'm not letting that happen again."

"Alex reminded you of Priya." Amy put out there.

Penny sighed again, "Partly, but mostly Leonard and I have been doing so good and I like having him around...all the time."

Amy just nodded, "I guess I can understand but Penny you know Sheldon hates change, couldn't you and Leonard have done this slowly over several months."

Penny just shrugged, "I guess I just want him to live with me now, and anyway, I thought you would be thanking me by now."

Amy again looked confused, "Thanking you, because I like dealing with an upset Sheldon?"

"No. Thanking me because Sheldon is going to need a new roommate and name me one person in this world who would put up with him?"

Amy blinked a couple times as she stared at Penny, thinking about what she said, "Congratulations on you and Leonard moving in together, see you later bestie." Amy then turned and went to 4A. Penny smiled as she closed the door to 4B.

Amy walked in the door of 4A, to find Sheldon sitting in his spot watching an episode of Dr Who, her mind wondering if Dr Who was on TV 24-hours a day, he always seemed to be watching it. Sheldon noticed her after a second and muted the TV, "So did you set her straight?"

"Sorry Sheldon, Penny is completely crazy, there is no reasoning with her." Amy lied.

"I knew it, I told Leonard that hydrogen peroxide would destroy her brain cells and now look."

"I think you may be right Sheldon; she is too far gone; I think there is nothing we can do."

"Do you think she is holding Leonard there against his will?"

Amy wanted to chuckle, Leonard loved Penny, he was probably in heaven living with her. "I think she has him completely memorized by her charms; you know how limited his thought process is when it comes to her."

Sheldon sighed, "Yes, you are right, all Penny has to do is hint of coitus and Leonard follows her around like the energizer bunny."

Amy nodded, again trying not to laugh, "I think Leonard is lost cause Sheldon. You are just going to have to cut your losses and come up with an alternate plan to replace him."

Sheldon nodded, "Again, I think you are right Amy Farrah Fowler. Leonard is lost. I will have to advertise for a new roommate."

Amy nodded and gave him a little smile, now all she had to do was wait. "Of course, Sheldon, whatever you think is appropriate."

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Penny had quickly locked her door locks and stripped off her robe again, to join Leonard back in bed, these interruptions were seriously cutting into her Leonard cuddling time. She practically leaped back in bed with him and nuzzled back into her spot against him to continue watching the chick flick they were watching, while grabbing a potato chip from the bag he was holding. She immediately felt content and sighed as she felt him kiss the top of her head, she didn't want to get out of bed again until at least tomorrow.

"You should let me answer the door."

Penny shook her head, "I am not risking ruining this, so I am going to answer the door, until Sheldon, gets over this."

"He'll never get over this, you know. Remember his itchy brain."

"I got a baseball bat that will cure that itch for him once and for all."

"You can't and you won't hit Sheldon with a baseball bat."

"I know, but he doesn't" Penny giggled, feeling Leonard chuckle.

"What did he say this time." Leonard asked,

"Oh, that wasn't Sheldon at the door that was Amy. Sheldon sent her over to talk to me."

"Amy? This must really be getting to him if he is sending her to talk to you." Leonard said softly with a little bit of sadness.

Penny grabbed the remote and muted the TV, then turned to look back at Leonard. "Leonard are you happy living with me." She was suddenly worried that he was having second thoughts and was wondering if Sheldon's whining was getting to him.

"Yes, of course I am." he said quickly.

"Then why do you want to go back to living with Sheldon?" she asked while looking directly at him, she didn't want to ask him that question, but they needed to both know if Sheldon was going to be a problem for them being together from now on.

"I don't, I like living here with you." Leonard defended himself.

Penny nodded, then turned back to the TV, "Good, because if you left now, I would be heartbroken." She did not like being vulnerable but she was all in now and Leonard needed to know that.

Leonard's jaw dropped, "Penny." she turned to look back at him, "I won't leave you; I really mean that, I promise."

Penny gave him a small smile, "Good. Now cuddle me because I'm feeling a little insecure right now."

Leonard put his arm around her and pulled her close, "Better now."

Penny got even closer, "Yeah better." she then looked at him, "I love you Leonard."

Leonard smiled, "I love you, too."

They then unmuted the TV and both happily watched TV snuggled very close to each other the rest of the night.

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Sheldon actually didn't see Leonard the rest of the week, he had gone to Penny's apartment twice that week and was driven off by irate Penny, he was actually wondering if Leonard was actually being held prisoner by the crazy blonde. Leonard hadn't been at work all week and although Howard and Raj had said that Leonard had taken off the week because like Sheldon, he had a lot of vacation time to use, Sheldon wasn't sure that Penny hadn't just kidnapped him. After all, Sheldon couldn't understand why Leonard would want to spend all his time with Penny when he could be hanging out with himself and taking him places. So, it wasn't till Saturday that he saw his bespectacled ex-roommate, when he caught Leonard leaving 4B carrying a box out the door.

Sheldon had been watching through the peep hole, so he quickly opened the door to confront the short man. "So, have you finally got bored with Penny's perkiness and the coitus, and finally discovered you have nothing in common with that waitress." he said very smugly. "Well if you are thinking of moving back, I assure you that things will a lot stricter than before and there will be a new roommate agreement to sign."

Leonard frowned at Sheldon, "No, Penny and I are perfectly happy."

"Then why are you moving again?" Sheldon was now confused.

Leonard smiled, "Well that is an interesting story, a funny thing happened this week, 3A became available so we rented it. It will give us plenty of space now that we are living together and it will solve the only problem we are having, which is space for all our stuff. This weekend is our moving weekend, Howard and Raj are coming over later to help with the furniture."

Sheldon looked at Leonard wide eyed, "You are not going to be living across the hall anymore?"

Leonard smiled, "Yep, Penny is pretty excited about it too." Leonard then proceeded down the stairs, leaving a stunned Sheldon in his wake.

Sheldon watched him in shock until he turned the corner and was gone, slowly turning his head to look at 4B, to find Penny glaring at him. The glare turned into the phoniest smile he had ever seen her give him as she turned and closed the door behind her. Sheldon walked back in his apartment in defeat, sitting in his spot and turning on the TV, he hoped Dr Who was on because he needed something comforting at the moment.