Chapter 61 - Epilogue
The girls spent the next hours in the machine room with the guys, as the guys downloaded the operating system from the computer on disks then again on a flash drive, two copies each, before wiping the memory. They then disconnected the machine from the facility power and finally threw large tarps over all the equipment to protect it from dust. It was almost midnight when they finally set the lock on the door, both then walking out to their separate cars for home after they all gave each other a group hug and Leonard apologized to Amy, while Sheldon apologized to Penny for what they almost did.
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It was almost ironical that Penny found herself alone in bed the next morning, after all that happened the day before, it worried her immediately and it made her get up to search for her husband, finding him ultimately just sitting the couch in the living room. "Leonard?" she said quietly when she found him just sitting and staring at nothing on the far wall of the room. Penny's voice quickly broke Leonard from his thoughts making him turn to look at her and his eyes, when they met hers, told her everything she needed to know. "It happened didn't it Sweetie." she then came to him and sat on his lap, pulling his head to her chest and kissing the top of it.
"Yes." he quietly said.
"Are you going to be okay, Honey." Penny squeezed him tighter.
"Yeah, but the emptiness." Leonard lifted his head from her chest to look at her. "How did you do it, you lost so much more than me?"
Penny wanted to cry at his sudden concern for her, his stress from forgetting his memories now put aside as he now truly realized what she must have went through. "It was hard a first but you talking to me and telling me everything you knew helped a lot. Then you get use to it and finally it seems normal again."
Leonard nodded, then pulled her tight to him, "I love you Penny. I can't even explain how happy you made me when you came into my life."
That was it for Penny, she buried her face into his hair as the tears came. "Honey, I'm sorry it took me so long to know we were suppose to be with each other forever, but I know it now and I am so happy. I love you so much Leonard."
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The next week settled down as both Leonard and Sheldon ignored the room in the basement and went back to their university work. This time also gave Leonard a lot of time to think, so when he entered Siebert's office that Friday, he had a lot to say, two hours of things to say before he even began to show Siebert, Sheldon's work and the evidence it was stolen. The letter to the Nobel Committee, an official protest from Cal Tech, left the next week, it was also the first time Sheldon found out what was happening.
Sheldon walked in his friends office late on Friday afternoon, before he was suppose to go home with Amy, to talk to Leonard. "Thanks for seeing me Leonard."
"Please Sheldon, you know you can come here anytime you want. Have a seat. May I assume this has to do with the protest letter?" Leonard watched his friend sit down a go quiet for a second. Leonard knew he was composing his thoughts and just waited.
"Leonard while I appreciate what you and the university has done, I don't see where is was worth your effort. You know the Nobel Committee does not revoke the prize after it is awarded. It has never happened and probably never will happen." Sheldon calmly explained.
"I know Sheldon, but there is more to it than the prize and the money, there is the prestige about what you done and knowledge to the world you were the one that really made that theory work. Lewis gets the prize and money, but I intend to make sure the world knows who actually accomplished the work, who really made the discovery." Leonard looked at his friend.
Sheldon actually smiled, "You are a good friend, but I must be honest with you, I don't need a Nobel anymore to be happy. If I get one in the future, that will be okay, but I am happy now, I really am Leonard. I think I have been missing something all my life and I thought that part that was missing was recognition, but I was wrong, the part that was missing was Amy and now our baby. I didn't know that till I had it back in that other timeline, then I knew I couldn't live without her anymore."
Leonard nodded, it was strange hearing Sheldon talk like that, but it was also good to hear it too, Penny always told him that Amy and Sheldon belonged together. He also knew never question Penny about things like that, especially since she also believed him and her belonged together. "Okay, I won't push it too hard, but both President Siebert and the Board of Directors believe you were cheated and will defend you to any other outside organization that questions your discovery."
Sheldon nodded, "Thank you." Sheldon then stood up and shook Leonard's hand. "Will you and Penny be coming up Sunday for dinner with Howard, Bernadette, Raj, Cheryl, Alex and her new boy toy."
Leonard nodded and smiled, "It is starting to get crowded in the apartment isn't it now with all our friends?"
Sheldon nodded and sighed. "Amy bought a table and put it near the window, so we could entertain more people."
Leonard's eyes went wide. "Wow, you did that for Amy?"
Sheldon nodded, "I find it makes me happy to make Amy happy." Sheldon then glared at his friend. "Don't you dare tell anyone I said that."
Leonard chuckled, "I promise you I won't, husbands honor. A few secrets from the wives, makes for a better marriage, as far as I'm concerned."
Sheldon nodded, then turned to leave. "It is time to meet Amy, I will see you and Penny, Sunday." Sheldon then went out the door.
Leonard smiled. "See you later." he barely got out before Sheldon was through the door, Sheldon hurrying so he wasn't late, because some things never changed, Leonard thought with happy satisfaction.
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Life settled into a routine and it was only a few months later, Penny was in her hospital bed with her twins, feeding Samantha while Leonard held Scott on his shoulder to burp him. Her concerns about taking care of twins was already diminished as she watched her husband help with the babies, it just confirmed to her she made the right choice years ago when she asked him to marry her. She looked at the little bundle now falling asleep at her breast, both her babies were eating well and Penny could tell her daughter was full and content at the moment, it made her smile. It also surprised Penny when Leonard reached to take her from Penny to burp her, she hadn't even seen him put Scotty back in his bassinette to sleep she was so mesmerized by Sam. Penny brought her daughter to her shoulder to burp her as she looked at Leonard, "Sweetie I want to do it." and she was disappointed when Sam immediately burped and Leonard took her to put the sleepy little girl in her bassinette, making Penny sigh.
"I everything alright." Leonard asked as soon as Sam was down and he returned to his wife's side.
Penny nodded, then reached out to pull Leonard next to her in the bed, so she could cuddle against him. "I love them so much." she quietly said once she was laying on him.
"Yeah they are pretty amazing….like their mother." Leonard told her.
Penny smiled at him and gave him a quick kiss, then made herself comfortable next to him, closing her eyes, she was asleep a moment later. It was about three hours later, when soft cries brought both Leonard and Penny wide awake, Leonard untangling himself from Penny to get hungry twin for his/her feeding. Penny automatically got herself ready, exposing her breast for feeding and then suddenly smiling. She was amazed how much of a team they had already become, both knowing now what to do and how to help each other.
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The next two months, after Penny and Leonard brought their babies home, were some of the happiness of Penny's life. Leonard had taken off from work and worked at home part time, while Penny had maternity leave, 2 months of it. They had some difficult times during those months, but usually a phone call to Penny's mom solved all their problems and Penny was surprised it was not as scary as she thought. Leonard being there also allowed Penny to get a lot of sleep even though none of her sleep sessions were more than 4 hours long. However, after a feeding, once the babies were back to sleep, all it took was Leonard holding her against him or rubbing her back to put her into a deep sleep fast. Four of those sleep sessions of 3-4 hours during the day supplying her all the sleep she needed to recover from her caesarian operation, to deliver them, and six weeks later the doctor said she was good as new.
Those two months were also happy for Amy, as she visited Penny all she could, being very visibility pregnant now herself too. Amy was fascinated how Leonard and Penny handled two babies and used her time with Penny to help and learn as much as she could for when her little boy came. The girls would also talk about babies the whole time they were together, both of them thinking it was the most interesting conversation in the world and each of them at almost an equal level in the conversation, Penny having the slight advantage.
Another thing happened during those two months, at first Amy and Sheldon would come over and Penny and Amy would go to be with the babies, while the guys talked and played video games. Penny wanting Leonard to enjoy himself a little with Sheldon, because he worked all the time to make it easier for her with the babies. But after the first month that all changed, Sheldon was beginning to take a serious interest on the care of the babies, to Amy's happy surprise, and Leonard enjoyed holding Penny while they both watched Sheldon and Amy practice with their babies.
"They are actually getting pretty good." Leonard whispered to Penny, as they watched Sheldon and Amy change both babies without much fuss.
"I know, they have the routine parts under control. It will be the surprises that will the hard part, like when they cry and you don't know what they want and you feel helpless." Penny whispered back.
"That is why we have you." Sheldon said to them as he finished pinning the diaper and reached for the Purell hand sanitizer for his hands.
"Damm his Vulcan hearing." Penny whispered to Leonard, making him chuckle and Sheldon look at her with a half-hearted glare.
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Leonard and Penny hired a part time Nanny, when they finally went back to work, Leonard going to work early in the morning and coming home earlier, while Penny arranged a work shift where she went in about noon and worked till early evening, so the Nanny only having to watch the twins for 3-4 hours in the afternoon. Their arrangement was not lost on the Cooper's who set upped a similar arrangement just before Amy's delivery, Sheldon's need to plan ahead having everything scheduled and in place by the time Amy was admitted for her delivery.
The gang was all smiles as they stood around Amy and her son, Nicolaus, in the hospital room, both Cooper's agreeing to name their son after Nicolaus Copernicus, Amy liking that her nickname for him would be 'Nicky' and everyone else would call him 'Nick'. Sheldon couldn't be more proud, telling everyone how high his son scored on the newborn baby test and checkout, plus how his eyes looked so intelligent. Penny and Leonard rolling their eyes at Sheldon's bragging, but felt great that everything went so easily for their friends and their baby was healthy.
The only thing that dampened their hospital visit with Amy, Sheldon and Nick was the ride home that evening, with Bernadette and Howard, Penny inviting the friends for coffee after they stopped at their house, so she could get Bernadette alone. Penny kept Bernadette in the nursery, while they looked at the sleeping babies for a few minutes, while Leonard paid the baby sitter and rejoined Howard in the living room, Bernadette's serious expression since she left the hospital, making Penny wonder what is wrong. "Bernadette, Sweetie, is something wrong?"
Bernadette, who had been looking at the babies, turned to look up at Penny and nodded, her eyes getting the glassy look when tears were present. "Yes." she whispered.
Penny lead her friend to her bedroom and sat he down on the bed, sitting next to her and putting her arms around her, while she noticed two tears come down her cheeks. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"I'm confused. It seems like I'm being torn in two." Bernadette answered.
Penny squeezed her a little harder, "Why Sweetie."
"I thought I knew my mind, I didn't want kids. I raised by bothers and sisters and I didn't want to raise anymore children ever again." Bernadette sighed, "But, I look at your and Amy's babies and my heart hurts." Bernadette then swallowed. "There is also Howard, I think he has accepted we'll never have kids now and it seems like something has died in him. I love him so much Penny, I feel terrible about doing this to him."
Penny nodded, Bernadette had made her feelings about babies well known to the girls, before. "Sweetie, you shouldn't have a child unless you want one, Howard respects that, he will also get use to it over time. You know he loves you too."
Bernadette nodded, "I know, but I'm not sure now that I don't want one. Penny don't take this wrong, but I am jealous of you and Amy, you guys seem to have it all figured out. You and Leonard both have careers and Amy and Sheldon have their plans too for their family." Bernadette sat silent for a moment, "I think I want that too."
Penny sat there with her mouth open a little in surprise, not sure what the right thing to say was right at the moment. One of her babies crying saved Penny from having to say a thing, as she giggled a little to try and lighten the mood. "It is feeding time and my boobs are a little sore from being so full." Penny then go up and Bernadette followed, both grabbing a now awake baby, and sitting in the nursery so Penny could nurse them. Penny had just finished nursing Sam and was feeding Scotty, while Bernadette took Sam to burp her, for Penny. Penny just watched as Bernadette got Sam to burp, then gently held her, rubbing her head against Sam's and softly rubbing her back, Sam's eyes closing from her comforting embrace. Bernadette's eyes closed with the same contentment as Penny wondered what was going through the mind of her friend.
It was then when Leonard and Howard joined them, Leonard coming in the room to see if he was needed. Howard just stared at his wife, watching her with the baby and daydreaming how it would be to have their own. Leonard looked at both his friends, then cleared his throat, "Um, I probably need to change her." he said softly to Bernadette.
Bernadette opened her eyes and looked into her husband's gentle eyes, then turned to look at Leonard. "Can I change her Leonard?" Leonard looked between his friends again then nodded.
Bernadette went to the changing table and Howard stepped up to her side to help. Leonard looked at Penny, confused, and Penny just shook her head and looked at her friends too. Howard and Bernadette said nothing while they both carefully changed Sam, then Bernadette picked up the still sleepy baby and held her for a second, closing her eyes again. Bernadette let out a content sigh, then opened her eyes to look at her husband again, nodding to him with a little smile, before she put Sam back in her bed. Bernadette then walked to Howard and wrapped her arms around him as he kissed her head. Leonard looked at Penny who had a big smile on her face, then he smiled too as he suddenly thought he had idea of what just happened.
Amy and Sheldon took their baby home the next day, Amy's delivery being extremely routine, rather quick and neither her or the baby stressed from the ordeal. Sheldon was also able to get a couple months off and work some at home too, while Amy had a couple months of vacation time and maturity leave to spend. Penny's assessment turned out to be right, the routine things of taking care of their baby were easy for the Coopers, however the surprises made a daily call to Penny the norm for the first two weeks. These daily calls then became weekly calls and ended entirely a little after the first month, as Amy and Sheldon got more confident about taking care of the little life entrusted to them both.
It was almost two months to the day that Nicky came home, that Amy had Penny and Bernadette over for a girls day, all the girls fussing over Nicky while Amy just beamed. It had been a fun afternoon for them all, getting together, so after Nicky feel asleep they went into the living room to just talk. It was during that talk, that Bernadette finally opened up with the thing that had been on her mind all day. "I've been sick in the morning all week."
Amy and Penny just looked at her for a few minutes before Penny spoke for both of them, "Bernadette have you been trying…you know, to get pregnant."
Bernadette sighed and reached in her purse for a the bad with the pregnancy tests, "I'm a little scared."
Amy couldn't help but smile, she then got up and went to the refrigerator, pulling out a large bottle of Gatorade. "Drink this, then we go to the bathroom." Penny nodding as Amy handed the bottle to Bernadette.
It was only 20 minutes later all the girls were squealing and dancing around it the living room, especially Bernadette, who even now couldn't stop looking at all the pregnancy tests on the coffee table. Everyone one of them was positive and even though she needed to go to the doctor and get it confirmed, she couldn't help the feeling that she was really pregnant. Bernadette was so happy, really happy, not just for herself but for Howard and as she thought of what his expression would be when she told him, it made her smile even more. However the girls loud celebrating also woke up Nicky, and Amy found she couldn't say no when Bernadette begged her to get him and hold him. Bernadette was now in the baby mode and her friends were truly happy for her.
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Life in Pasadena became incredibly domestic and boring, something Penny, Amy, Leonard and Sheldon soon began to cherish. They were involved in their families, their careers and their life, a stable life that none of them wanted to see changed. They all remembered the machine in the room in the basement, but none of them dwelled too much on it and none of them went back to visit it, with the software removed it was basically neutered if anyone found it. The special keyless lock Leonard had on it, almost impossible to break and Sheldon and him had the keys hidden away.
Sheldon actually found himself too busy to even think about time travel lately either, the requests for him to be a guest lecturer piling up on him each day more and more. Although Lewis got the Nobel, the scientific community now knew his work was stolen, so although the Nobel committee wouldn't revoke the award, the scientific community was not so kind, basically censuring Lewis, his college even going so far as to fire him on ethics charges. The world now knew that Sheldon was the scientist that solved Sting Theory, and now everyone wanted him, even Cal Tech, who gave him a drastic pay increase and guaranteed Amy all the research projects she wanted, to keep them both at Cal Tech.
So the marker, that appeared on the time machine's alert, was put out of the minds of all of them, even Sheldon, burying it in a place in his mind where it wouldn't nag at him. He wasn't going to risk Amy ever again, and now with Nicky, he had extended that promise to himself, he was never going to do anything to risk his family. Leonard had it easier, he just put it out of his mind, devoting all his time to his family and woman that still dazzled him every day of his life.
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While 50 million years in the past, Leonard (from the video) and Sheldon (the doppelganger who was actually married to the Amy who died in the parking lot) had just activated the marker they built from one of the laptops they took into the past. They had been in the past, two years now, and they both wanted to go home, their supplies used up after the first year and them having to live off the land over the last year. Dinosaurs were not a smart as humans, and the rifles they brought dropped them just like any other game animal, high velocity bullets working a lot better in real life than the movies portrayed they worked against the beasts. So Leonard and Sheldon had plenty of food the whole time they were there, even velocity raptors not quick enough to dodge a bullet.
Leonard actually never expected them to last this long, he had expected his future self to fix everything and him and Sheldon to disappear, or even them to die from the huge animals they now lived with every day. But after two years, he was now concerned, that things did not go as he hoped they would before he left and now he rationalized that he needed to go back and see what was happening. Leonard did not know about the time variance in the universe and that their travel of 50 million years could have a huge effect on when the universe got around to them to stabilize things, he still though time acted like humans understood. So Leonard convinced himself they needed to go back, because something had to be seriously wrong, therefore he had to go back and fix it.
Both men knew as soon as they activated the marker it would show up on a time machine located in any place in time and they would be taken within a few moments. So both men stood there, Sheldon wanting to go home and get really clean for once, since they got there and Leonard wondering what disaster they would find when they got back. Leonard looked to this Sheldon and sighed, then nodded for Sheldon to flick the marker switch closing his eyes while he waited for the hum of energy to begin.
THE END or is it THE BEGINNING
A/N: When I wrote the part with Penny being killed by Art, I realized I didn't want the machine destroyed, because I may want to write a sequel to this story in the future. Sorry for the little cliffhanger in the end, but if I write a sequel, it will start there. Hope you enjoyed the story and thanks for everyone who read it, a special thanks to all of those who left reviews.