Summary: It began the same day it ended.
Word Count: 1102
Disclaimer: I don't own The Big Bang Theory or the characters.

It ended in cold, rainy September night, and she remembers that because the bed wasn't as warm as it had been on the previous nights. She also remembers that because it was the last time she saw him, and she could never forget that. She would never forget the last time she saw him, the same she would never forget the first time she saw him, and how awkward it had been. She'll always remember saying hello, and saying goodbye. Both are hard to forget.

He remembers that cold September night for a different reason, and at the same time, the same reason. The bed felt lonely, unknown. It was normal to feel unknown, it was, after all, a bed he had never been in before. Hotel beds weren't comfortable anymore, he realized. Not without her. He also remembers the rainy day because the drops started to fall at the same time as their last conversation. Oh, what would he give to go back to that night, just before the rain started to fall! He'll always remember that last conversation, just as he'll always remember their first, they were both so naive. He'll always remember their conversations, especially the first and the last. Both hard to forget.

It began the same day that it ended, a day they will both remember until the end of the world. Forever, and ever.

And she remembers everything, at least the important parts. Especially the ones that made her tear up from emotion. She tries to forget the bad parts, even though they strengthen the relationship. They weren't necessary anymore, they were over anyway.

There are things she tries to remember and fails to do so.

And that's the difference between them. She tries to remember, he tries to forget.

He tries to forget how her skin felt against his, how soft her hand was, how her hair shined with the sunlight. He tries to forget the most beautiful memories, like how her wedding dress was, or what she said in that ordinary day. But the thing was, no day was ordinary if she was in it. And that was what made everything so much harder. Because she was everything but ordinary.

And now, after three years, they see each other. Unexpectedly, they were both just crossing the street. The same street.

They crossed paths, and smiled at each other, both with their hearts jumping like crazy. They entered a coffee shop, decided to catch up. Their hearts weren't stable yet, and both of them knew that. They talked about everything, even about each other, making both wonder why communication was a reason for their separation. Both kept in touch after that even had dinner together and went to the movies. Just as friends, at first. But as the months passed they went back to being Leonard and Penny, instead of whatever they were before. They weren't friends, that wasn't how it worked.

Their first kiss was magical, sparks could almost be seen. At least they were felt by both of them, and they were happy with their decision. They decided not to tell anyone about it, instead just kept everything a secret. But secrets aren't a good thing for a new relationship, doesn't work with everyone. And eventually, everyone found out, gave their opinion. Of course that they were all against the relationship, but people change, right?

Unless they don't. Not as friends, not as a couple. Only as strangers that held someone's heart.

And that was what they became.

Strangers.

They didn't see each other for the next twenty years. Eventually, their paths crossed once again, for the wrong reasons.

She was the last person he had expected to see standing there. It had been two very long decades.

But when he saw her he didn't think. He didn't wonder. He ran to her embrace, as quick as he could. She heard his soft cries become a suffocated cry, and his arms were tight against her. She could almost feel comfortable, but she didn't. It wasn't this reunion she had in mind. Not in a day like that.

Not when he just lost his best friend. His brother. Not like this.

Everyone was quiet during the service, and no one said a word about the fact that they were holding hands. No one mentioned how Leonard was looking at her, or how Penny was looking at him. No one mentioned how they were so comfortable together after so long apart.

That same day, she drove him to a train station. He smiled and reminded her of when they drove there to see Sheldon. They had just become engaged and Sheldon ran off. How things changed!

She watched him go from afar, trying to maintain her cool. She watched his train go, realizing she made a huge mistake. She should've hugged him the last time, said she still loved him, maybe even kiss him to remember how it felt like. Her last kiss had still been with him, over twenty years ago.

And that was her last kiss ever.

It took them another three years to see each other. Well, for her to see him. He wasn't responding, his skin wasn't as warm as she remembered it to be, and his chest wasn't doing its thing. They said he had a peaceful death. He didn't feel a thing, he didn't suffer. And as everyone joined her mourning, all with grey hair and a wrinkled face, just as it had been three years prior to that moment, she cried. She cried for him, and for his best friend. She cried for her failed relationship, for her love that never truly died. She cried. And no one held her.

No one held her because they knew that the one that should be doing that wasn't between them anymore. And they finally realized: they belonged together. They always did.

And when she went to visit him, on his birthday, the day of their first official kiss, she smiles. She smiles because even though it was short, they had a good run. They loved each other more than a lot of other couples ever would, they respected each other. And she reminds him of that.

"I love you, Leonard. I always did." She starts to cry. A few tears at a time.

"I love you too, Penny. I always did, and always will." A voice is heard, and she turns to that sound. She smiles when she sees from who it came. He extends his hand. "Come."

She takes his hand, and they both smile. Together at last.

The End

After writing this, I realized I write too many stories like this. They break up and then get back together in the end, or one of them dies. This time, they break up, get back together, break up once again, and then one of them dies.

I'll try and stop writing like this because even I am getting tired of them. I'm going to write something sweet next time. Okay? :)