Chapter 33 - Bernadette

Penny drove Leonard to the CheeseCake Factory next, hoping someone there would remember Bernadette and would tell them what happened to her. As they drove, Leonard couldn't get the picture of Howard out of his mind and it hurt him badly that his friend had gotten into such a state. Leonard also knew that it was partly because of his neglect, which made it only worse. He knew he couldn't do anything about what happened to Howard, up to this point in time, but if he could just get him and Bernadette together for just a little while, maybe the two soul mates would find each other. It was definitely worth a try and Leonard was determined to try, with Penny's help.

Penny and Leonard walked in the CheeseCake Factory door together, Penny immediately scanning for anyone she had known, the meeting with Howard making her now wonder too about her friends she left behind. She almost squealed when she saw her old best friend Cheryl and walked quickly over to the register she was standing at. Leonard watched as Penny's friend turned to look at Penny, them both talking for a few seconds, before they both grabbed each other into a hug. Leonard also noticed people pointed towards Penny, while they whispering to each other, he remembered she was a TV star, but he forgot she was a celebrity and could be recognized in public. He decided to walk over to her, just incase she needed him for anything, especially if it had to do with unwanted fans.

Penny introduced him as soon as he walked up. "Leonard this is my very good friend, Cheryl."

Penny then looked to Cheryl. "Cheryl, I don't know if you remember but this is my husband, Leonard."

Penny had said it so casually, it had surprised Leonard and actually made feelings swell up in him he had suppressed from this morning. He quietly watched as she talked to her friend, not trying to make anything about what she had just said. So after a couple minutes, he actually smiled as he continued to watch how excited she was, reacquainting herself with her friend, she was happy and seeing her happy made him happy. That was until the first fan showed up.

"Hi…..um…would Penelope please sign my napkin" the young woman asked him, making Leonard look at Penny, his expression to her asking her what to do.

"Yes,….sure." Penny signed the napkin and gave it back with a smile.

Leonard didn't know what to do, but Cheryl saved the day. "I have a break coming, why don't we got into the employee area where we can be alone."

Leonard and Penny nodded and Cheryl quickly told another waitress she was going to go on break, then herded they both to the employees lounge.

Once away from the public, the girls talked continuously for the next 20 minutes, Leonard doing nothing but smiling as he watched the two friends catch up, both seeming to be very happy to see each other again. Penny especially as she now made arrangements to see her friend again, "So, we are on for lunch on Thursday and I will have VIP tickets at the office for my show's next taping so you can come see it." Penny told her friend, a huge smile on her face.

There were a few girls in the lounge, because it appeared it was close to some kind of shift change, so there were two girls sitting at the other table and one near her locker pulling things out. Leonard notice the girls taking glances at them, really Penny, like they knew who she was but were afraid to say anything. One girl at the table looked at Leonard with questioning eyes and Leonard just nodded to her and smiled, getting the girl to smile and turn to her friend to tell her that the woman Leonard was with was just who they thought she was.

It was then that Leonard interrupted the conversation, "Penny could you ask Cheryl about Bernadette." he whispered

Penny nodded. "Cheryl, do you remember that cute little stacked blonde, Bernadette, who worked with us when I was here?" Penny said quietly to her friend.

Cheryl nodded, then motioned over to the lockers, "That's her over there." she whispered.

Leonard's head shot around to look at the young woman, and suddenly realized that was the girl that had been standing there all along. She looked so different, Leonard knew she wasn't a natural blonde but it seemed weird to see her in brown hair, even though it was probably her natural hair color. Her glasses were different too and she was skinny and pale, like Howard, he thought. "That is her." Leonard mumbled softly.

Penny looked at him and then the girl Cheryl had pointed out. She didn't know Bernadette that well and she thought that looked like her, but she knew she was important for Howard, and Leonard wanted them to meet. Penny jumped up and walked over to the petite woman, "Bernadette it is so good to see you." Penny then hugged a stunned Bernadette.

When Penny let Bernadette go she saw the smaller girl's stunned expression, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I use to work with you years ago."

Bernadette seemed to shake it off, "I'm sorry, I remember, it just has been a long time and you are now a popular actress."

Penny started to remember a couple things about the girl standing in front of her after hearing her voice again. "Yeah but we had some good times. Remember that boring Thursday afternoon when you and me scored every hot guy that came in the restaurant." Penny smiled at her, happy she was remembering some stuff about her.

Bernadette smiled, "Yeah, there were no '10s' that day, I think the best we got was a rounded up '8'."

Penny giggled, then mentioned a couple more things they did, that were coming back to her, leaving both girls laughing. Leonard watched from his seat, impressed by Penny's ability to socialize with her old friends, so Cheryl's next remark surprised him. "It is sad how tough a life she has had."

Leonard looked to Cheryl, "Bernadette?" Cheryl nodded. "Why what happened to her?" Leonard said, now curious.

"She was working for a degree and had finished her Masters, I think its called, working for a Doctor type degree, when her boyfriend got her pregnant, then dumped her." Cheryl shook her head. "It seems all her dreams were crushed then, she dropped out of school to take care of the baby and work here. She has never seemed to have recovered, she is either at work or with her kid, that is why see looks so tired all the time."

Leonard was shocked, Bernadette was a single mother, working as a waitress instead of a successful PHD working for a big drug company. Howard, the person who was suppose to be her husband, a recluse with no life and no future. Suddenly his problems didn't seem as large as they did before, the problems of his friends weighted heavy on his mind.

Penny started to walk back to the table after hugging Bernadette goodbye, Bernadette leaving the room to go to work. But before she got back to their table, she stopped at the table where the other two girls were sitting, signing something for each, then hugging them both before returning to the table with Cheryl and Leonard. Leonard should have realized that Penny had seen the other two girls look at her and notice her. The other two girls got up as soon as Penny sat down and with big smiles on their faces, they gave little waves and a 'Bye Penelope' as they walked out to go to work.

"Did you know them too?" Leonard asked her.

Penny shook her head, "No, but they are waitresses, and working here, I can not have a small place in my heart for them because I know what it is like."

Leonard nodded, she had such a kind heart, it was one of the reasons he loved her and he reached over to pat her hand, which made them lock eyes for a couple seconds. Cheryl brought them back to reality, "Well I better go back to work, I have been on my 15 minute break now for almost 30 minutes." she chuckled.

Penny stood up and grabbed Cheryl in a big hug, whispering to her. "I missed you so much, I'm sorry I haven't been around. That is all different now, if you still want to be friends."

Cheryl broke the hug and looked at her, "I've missed you too and we never stopped being friends in my book."

Leonard could see that both of them were on the verge of tears, they were both so happy. He thought if he didn't do something they would both break down crying any second now. "Cheryl, you will have to go to dinner with us sometime." He was now thinking about Raj and how him and Cheryl seemed to hit it off in his timeline, but it did the trick, as both girls now looked at him.

"Oh, that is so happening." Penny added and got a nod from Cheryl. They gave each other another quick hug the Cheryl went back to work, giving Penny a little wave before she went through the door. As soon as the door closed, Penny plopped back in her chair a sad expression on her face.

"What's wrong Penny?" Leonard was a little concerned.

"I never realized how much I missed them." she said quietly.

Leonard gave her a small smile, "You are both young, you still have your whole lives together to be friends, just don't get too busy again to forget her, like I did with Howard."

Penny nodded, "After I talked to her, I guess I miss Bernadette too." she confessed.

Leonard now smiled, "That is actually great, because in my past timeline, you guys were best of friends."

"Was I still friends with Cheryl?" Penny questioned him

"It is funny but it happened almost the same way, you guys lost touch, but then got back together again. Raj and her were dating before everything happened, you fixed them up." Leonard told her.

A small smile formed on Penny's face, "Cheryl broke up with her boyfriend and hasn't been dating anyone since. Raj is divorced, so…"

Leonard chuckled, "I will check to see if we have any positions for a visiting professor from India. Maybe we can lure him back." Leonard then shook his head, "You are such a matchmaker."

Penny's smile covered her whole face as she stood up and grabbed Leonard's hand, "Come on, I need to see what section Bernadette is working, because we are definitely eating dinner with Howard here tonight."

Leonard couldn't agree with her more, as he followed her out of the break room into the restaurant.