Chapter 19
Its been almost a year since Penny moved back to California with Leonard. Her job at the pharmaceutical company has progressed as her hard work started to pay off, closing sales here and there to the amazement of her boss and the rest of their sales team. This accomplishment has even caught the eye of their Regional Sales Manager and personally congratulated her on her hard work. Penny has done so well that her sales commissions steadily grew even surpassing her monthly salary when she received her paycheck. This financial freedom was a welcome relief not only to her but also to Leonard as it gave them a little more comfort in their monthly expenses, even having some extra funds to put aside in their bank accounts.
They were having dinner in their apartment while making small talk.
"Honey I have some good news." said Penny.
"What is it?" asked Leonard smiling at her.
"My company is gonna give me my own company car." said Penny.
"Wow that is amazing!" Leonard said while giving her hand a light squeeze. "What about your car?" he said.
"Well, I was thinking maybe we should sell it. I mean, there's no sense in keeping both right?" said Penny.
"Yeah but that car was my gift to you." he said.
"I know honey and I love you for that." Penny said giving him a hopeful look.
Leonard sighed. "I guess we could put the money in our bank account or something." he said.
"That's a great idea honey." she said smiling. "So its okay for you to sell the car?" she asked.
Leonard nodded. "Yeah sure. I guess we could take some of the money and do something fun huh? Maybe go shopping or something." he said.
"Really?" she asked becoming a little excited.
"Why not. I mean, you've been working your ass off for almost a year now and it would definitely not hurt to take a little breather right?" Leonard said.
Penny got off her seat and leaned over, kissing him on the lips. "I love you honey. You'll get lucky later. I promise!" she said biting her lower lip.
A week after selling the car, the couple was having dinner with the gang in apartment 4A, the guys talking about movies while the girls talking about a TV show they're following.
"So Leonard, are you gonna bring Penny to the ceremony?" asked Howard.
Penny looked at Leonard, curious as to what Howard meant. "What ceremony?" she asked her boyfriend.
"Well, the university is awarding distinct scientists in recognition for their contributions to the university." said Howard.
"Thank you Howard." Leonard said with a slight sarcasm.
"You're welcome Leonard." he said, smiling back at him.
Raj took a sip of his beer and spoke. "Yeah, congratulations dude! Nobody deserved it more." said Raj.
"Thanks Raj." said Leonard.
"Why didn't you say anything to me?" asked Penny.
"Well I was gonna surprise you later but Howard beat me to it." Leonard said.
Penny gave Leonard a big hug and kiss on the cheek. "I'm so proud of you honey. Of course I'll be there." said Penny.
"Thank you. It's not a big deal really." said Leonard.
"Well I guess a thirty-thousand dollar check is not a big deal huh?" Howard said.
"Thirty-thousand dollars?" asked Penny.
"Yeah, its part of the award." said Raj.
"Oh my god honey that is so amazing!" Penny exclaimed, hugging Leonard tight. "You just got more handsome just now!" she said teasing him.
"I know right!?" Leonard said, laughing at Penny's joke.
"Congratulations Leonard. We're happy for you." added Bernadette.
"She's right Leonard. You deserve this." said Amy then looking at Sheldon. "Sheldon, aren't you gonna say something?" she said.
"No." said Sheldon.
"Really? You're not going to congratulate Leonard on his success?" Amy said as the gang looked at Sheldon.
"Why? Its not like he solved String Theory or something right?" said Sheldon, holding his ground.
"And I guess the substantial funding to the physics department for the next five years is your doing?" Howard asked.
"Who else would invite funding to the department but me?" said Sheldon.
"As usual, you're always clueless about the inner workings of the world." said Raj, with Sheldon looking at him. "It was Leonard who convinced the donors to shell out funding to the department for the next five years. And who do you think convinced the university to let you keep your job after all your setbacks huh?" Raj asked. Sheldon was unable to respond and slowly realized that Leonard was protecting him again, without his knowledge. "It was Leonard who convinced the president of the university to keep you around Sheldon, in case you come up with your big breakthrough." said Raj. Sheldon stayed quiet, unwilling to believe Raj and the gang.
"Sheldon, are you alright?" Amy asked. Sheldon quickly stood up and quietly walked to his room, defeated and somewhat humiliated. "He'll come around." said Amy as they returned to eating their takeout food.
"He seems to be going back to his old self huh?" Howard said.
"Is he gonna be alright Amy?" asked Bernadette.
"He'll be alright. I wouldn't worry about it." said Amy.
"I guess we should congratulate Penny too huh?" said Bernadette.
"What are you talking about Bernie?" Howard asked.
"Well, Penny here is the fourth best sales person in the company. She even surpassed some of the sales rep that have been with the company for years now." said Bernadette.
"Wow! That is amazing honey!" said Leonard, kissing her cheek. "Why didn't you tell me this?" he asked.
"Well I was gonna surprise you but Bernie beat me to it!" said Penny, as Bernadette smiled at them.
"I'm so proud of you honey." said Leonard.
"Thank you honey." Penny said. "So when is this ceremony?" she asked.
"A couple of weeks from now." Leonard said.
"I promise I'll be there." said Penny, touching his cheek.
A week before the ceremony, Penny took Leonard to the mall to get him a new suit and shirt so he would look good when he receives his award.
"Is this really necessary?" asked Leonard.
"Honey, you need to look smart and handsome if you're gonna receive your award." said Penny.
"But I'm already smart and handsome!" Leonard jokingly said.
Penny held his chin and gave him a quick kiss. "You are smart and handsome. Do this for me and I promise you won't regret it." she said winking at him.
"Why didn't you say so!?" he said pulling her hand, acting somewhat excited to shop for clothes making Penny laugh.
"The prospect of sex really gets you going huh?" she asked him.
"Who doesn't get excited for sex?" said Leonard.
"You're a jackass." she said, rolling her eyes.
"I know!" he said, confidently smiling at her.
After almost two hours of choosing and fitting clothes from several shops at the mall, the couple finally settled to a nice suit, shirt and new pants for Leonard. Penny also bought a new pair of shoes after seeing a new design that Penny liked, which Leonard knew was always the case. They passed by a restaurant at the mall to grab a quick bite before going home for the night.
"I'm so proud of you honey." Penny said as they walked towards the parking lot to get to their car.
"Thank you." he said. "I can't believe that it's been almost a year since you moved back here to California with me." he said, lightly squeezing her hand.
"I know right. I was broke and my life had no direction but then you came and saved the day, like Superman." she said smiling at him.
"You know if you keep talking like that, I'll take you right here in the parking lot." he said as he opened the door of their car, putting the shopping bags in the back seat.
"You hold your horses right there mister!" she said as she got inside the car, putting her seat belt on.
"I'm just joking honey." he said as he put on his seat belt then started the car, to drive home.
After another week, Penny was sitting at the front row of the auditorium beside her friends Amy and Bernadette. Howard, Raj and Sheldon were also there to attend the ceremony and give their support to Leonard. Penny looked up at the stage and saw Leonard wearing the outfit that they bought at the mall. Leonard saw her looking at him, he gave her a light wave of the hand and smiled at her while trying to keep his composure on the stage along with the other awardees. The audience in the hall then gave the speaker an applause for his acceptance speech with a few people from the crowd cheering for him, probably his friends, Penny thought. The president of the university then took the podium as the hall calmed down, waiting for him to introduce the next recipient.
"Thank you for that very enlightening speech Dr. Jenkins. Our next recipient needs no further introduction. He's been with the university for almost a decade now and his work has progressed steadily ever since. The results of his experiments and published works should be something that we should all aspire to achieve. Please join me in welcoming the recipient of this year's American Physics Society Award, Dr. Leonard Hofstadter!" President Siebert said, enjoining Leonard to take his place at the podium. Leonard stood up and shook the president's hand while the audience gave him a warm welcome and thunderous applause. Penny and the rest of the gang stood up and cheered as Leonard took the podium to start his speech. He looked around and saw his friends and Penny looking at him. He gave Penny a smile before clearing his throat to speak.
"Thank you President Siebert and the rest of the University's Grant Committee and Academic Committee. Never in my wildest dreams that I would find myself up here, receiving this award. When I started out, I was content with doing what I knew best, doing experiments and science. I somehow resigned myself to the fact that I will never be the next Einstein or Feynman or Oppenheimer. I was happy that after all the things I went through with my professional and personal life, the good and the bad, happy or sad, I always knew that science would always be there for me. To this day, the thought of the unknown still excites me, even if most of the time, its scary to think of how little we know about the things around us.
I would like to thank my friends who stayed with me through thick and thin, but mostly through thin which in itself is something to be grateful for. Sometimes, I think of my journey through science and through life is intertwined in that, one cannot exist without the other. Like Einstein's Cosmological Constant, there is one person that has always been in my life, even if we drifted apart for how many years, somehow that person was always here and here (he pointed to his head and chest). Like the Cosmological Constant, I thought that getting to know that person was a mistake on my part, that I somehow knew that it would just cause me grief and suffering. But I was glad to be proven wrong. I realized that she's the answer after all. I knew that somehow she was the missing term in the equation of my life. I should have done this a long time ago.
Leonard then stepped off the podium and walked down the stage to the surprise of everyone in the auditorium. He walked down the stairs on the side of the stage, walking towards the gang with Penny visibly nervous, knowing that she was the person Leonard was referring to in his speech.
Leonard took Penny's hand into his own as she stood up, he knelt down on one knee while the whole auditorium held their breath, knowing that something magical was about to take place. He reached from his pocket and opened a small box, showing Penny a diamond ring.
"Penny, I don't want to wait anymore. Will you marry me?" he asked, looking her directly in the eye.
Penny gasped as she saw the gleaming diamond on the ring. She cried a little, trying hard not to become too emotional and freak out. "Oh my god yes Leonard! Yes I will marry you!" she exclaimed as Leonard laughed while putting the ring on her finger with the whole auditorium erupting with cheers and applause, celebrating the lovely moment they just witnessed. Penny pulled Leonard up and wrapped him in her arms as their lips locked, sealing the deal under the sea of cheers and congratulations from everyone in the auditorium.
They broke off their kiss as they looked in each other's eyes, happy and excited for the next chapter of their relationship.
"I can't believe you waited that long to propose to me." she said, touching his face.
Leonard laughed, surprised by what Penny said. "What?" he asked her. "I thought we agreed to get your career on solid ground first?" he said.
Penny gave him a quick kiss. "Leonard, ever since I followed you in that conference in Nebraska, I was waiting for your proposal." she said, surprising Leonard.
"Oh my god! I'm sorry honey!" he said, hugging her tight.
"It's alright sweetheart. You're mine now." she said hugging him tight.
"Oh my god Penny! Congratulations! I'm so happy for you two!" said Bernadette giving Penny a tight hug, as did Amy. Howard, Raj and Sheldon also congratulated the couple.
"Okay, that was a nice surprise!" said President Siebert on the microphone as the crowd began to quiet down. "Congratulations Dr. Hofstadter and future Mrs. Hofstadter. We're really happy for you." he added. "Guys, that's how its done!" he said making the crowd laugh.
Later that night, the gang was having dinner at a restaurant to celebrate Leonard and Penny's engagement. Leonard couldn't help himself from smiling, achieving success in both his professional and personal life, excited for his future with Penny. Penny for her part would always glance at her engagement ring, giving Leonard's hand a squeeze from time to time. A waiter went to their table and served them wine. Penny chose to have an orange juice instead of wine, surprising the whole gang including Leonard.
"You're not having wine?" asked Leonard.
"No. I want to be sober later when we celebrate!" she said winking at him.
Leonard looked at her. "Who are you and what have you done to my Penny!" he jokingly said.
"I just don't feel like having wine right now. And besides, we have a lot of celebrating to do later, right?" she said giving him a quick kiss on the lips.
"Ugh! Will you guys cut it out!" said Raj.
"What? Am I not allowed to kiss my husband-to-be?" Penny said.
"Not here." Amy added.
"Leonard I think your fiance has an alien parasite in her brain." Sheldon said making Leonard laugh.
"I think you're right Sheldon." said Leonard making the whole gang laugh and Penny glare at him.
"So you'd rather have me drunk as a skunk in bed later!?" she said to Leonard.
Leonard kissed her on the cheek. "We're just teasing you honey!" he said, consoling her.
The gang continued to eat dinner, talking about the upcoming wedding, with Amy and Bernadette excited for the wedding preparations especially which wedding dress Penny would wear. Amy became more excited when Penny asked her to be the maid of honor, making her conscious about her dress and hair style for the wedding.
Later at the apartment, the couple was done washing up in the bathroom, getting ready for bed.
"Honey, do you know where my inhaler is?" asked Leonard while looking at the night stand.
"I think its in my purse." said Penny as she combed her hair in front of the dresser. Leonard took her purse and rummaged through it. He suddenly paused when he saw something in Penny's purse.
"Uh honey, what is this?" he asked, holding a pregnancy stick in his hand. Penny turned to face him, looking him straight in the eye. "You're pregnant!?" he asked, looking at her with a blank expression.
Penny nodded at him.
"So that's why you didn't want to drink wine earlier at the restaurant!?" he said laughing out loud.
"Yeah. I was a little bit nervous that Bernadette or Amy would guess that I was pregnant." she said smiling at him.
Leonard's expression then turned into happiness as he jumped and cheered. "Oh my god honey! This is so amazing!" he said pulling Penny to kiss her, hugging her tight. "I cant's believe we're going to be parents!" he added, laughing out loud.
"Are we gonna be good parents?" she asked, a little bit apprehensive.
"Are you kidding me? Of course we're gonna be good parents! We are gonna be the coolest parents!" he exclaimed as he hugged Penny again. They sat on the bed as Penny covered her face with her hands.
"I'm scared Leonard." she said crying.
Leonard then put his arm around her, reassuring Penny. "Don't be scared honey. We got this! We're a team." he said. "I'm gonna be here all the way!" he added.
Penny hugged Leonard, kissing him on the cheek. "I love you so much!" she said.
"I love you too." Leonard said, kissing her on the lips. He then started to undo Penny's robe while kissing her on the neck.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"What else?" he answered as he continued loosening her robe.
"Honey, I'm not gonna get more pregnant." she said.
"We'll see about that." he said as he laid Penny on the bed, kissing her while exploring her body with his hands. Penny fought back, kissing Leonard hard, feeling his love and affection, giggling and laughing under Leonard's loving embrace.
A couple of hours later, the couple laid on the bed with Penny laying her head on his shoulder.
"I told you." he said laughing.
"Hmm." she uttered, putting her arm across his body. "Honey?" she said.
"Yeah?" he said.
"I wanna get married before my belly gets big." she said.
"Whatever you want honey. We'll keep it small and simple." he said.
"Okay." she said softly. "Do you think we'll have a boy or a girl?" she asked.
"I don't know. But what I do know is that I want our baby to be strong and healthy." he said, kissing her on the cheek.
"I love you so much." Penny said.
"I love you too." he said. "Now let's get some sleep, you need your energy for our baby." he said making Penny laugh.
They slept hugging each other, knowing that a new chapter of their life has just begun. Penny slowly drifted to sleep, thinking that a few years ago, she would be scared to death if she was put in a situation like this one. She took a deep breath, knowing that she's not scared anymore now that she has Leonard beside her.
Author's note: I've decided to end this story line with this last chapter. Now that we're starting to go back to the 'new normal', work has been steadily keeping us busy again. With this, I wanted to focus my energy on my remaining stories – The Decoupling Alternative Book 2, The Princess Nomenclature, Lost and Found, The Alternate Convergence and The Justice League Bifurcation, all of which has still a long way to go in the development of each story.
Thank you to all of you who read and reviewed my stories. I hope I could keep you all engaged.