A/N: So people wanted me to expand on this one. I guess I left it like I did it on purpose because I wanted to write more on this one myself. Anyway, this is not planned in any way so if you have ideas for future chapters, I might consider them. Story is on Penny's POV. Enjoy!
What did he mean by that? Not necessary? That was so not the respond she was expecting. Her mind was thinking of possible scenarios and possibilities, but none made any sense. She noticed him staring at her. She didn't trust herself saying something now in case of saying the wrong thing.
Fortunately, he said something at last.
"I guess you want me to explain?" He asked. She just nodded, still dumbfounded.
"Well, if you let me fully explain before you interrupt me, maybe you will understand." When she nodded again, he continued. "The basic reason for what I said is that I simply don't believe in annulment or divorce for that matter. I mean that once you are committed to marriage or in general anything, that should not be broken. Now, I'm guessing you must think that this situation is different because we just met last night. While that is true, I'm not the guy who walks away from from an impulsive responsibility I made last night of getting married in a wink. I don't know you much other than your name and how you look, but to me that doesn't matter right now. Although, I will say that I want to get to know you more, that's totally up to you. So I'm gonna go back to my room, I will write down my contact information with my number on this paper, then you can contact me if you wanna get to know me better." He gave her a small smile. When he didn't see her respond, he did as he explained and got his stuff together. Before he left, he walked up to her and caressed her cheek. "If this is goodbye, then I'm glad I got to meet you Penny. And I want to let you know that I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. " Leonard then leaned forward and when she didn't pull away, he gently kissed her lips for what could be the last time. Penny didn't know what to do, but at least she wanted to remember how it would feel getting kissed by him, so she kissed him back. When he finally pulled away, he looked into her eyes and whispered. "Goodbye Penny." And then he walked out, maybe forever. It all happened so quickly, she didn't know how to react to any of it. He had totally surprised her, he wanted to stay married to her.
She knew she could get it annulled because they were both drunk and it was not a valid marriage. But what he had said made her think. She was already 27, her last boyfriend was Kurt whom she moved to Los Angeles with in the first place. He had cheated on her and made her a total mess and she had never trusted any guy after that. That was 6 years ago. When she had gone to clubs and stuff, many guys have told her she was hot and sexy, but no one had ever called her beautiful like Leonard did. And that kiss. It was the best she had ever had in her life, even if it wasn't a passionate kiss in any way. It was different. It was simple but with full of emotions. He was also very cute in a nerdy way. That made her smile a little before her eyes widened. What am I thinking? I can't do this. This is beyond crazy. If they had been together for years it would have been different, but she just met this guy last night. She didn't know anything about it, his job, where he lived, how old he is. Nothing. This was just too much at once and she was still feeling the effect of last nights drinking, so she went back to bed to sleep a few more hours and maybe then she would have some more thoughts on the matter.
A few hours later...
A knock on the door woke Penny up of her sleep. Who could it be? She put on her robe and got close to the door. "Who is it?" She asked.
"Room service" Was the message from the other side.
Penny thought that was weird, she hadn't ordered anything, but she was hungry anyway. She opened the door gently and a guy with a tray came inside with several dishes of food. It smelled really good.
She looked at the guy. "I didn't order any of this."
"Oh, it's complimentary from a mr. Hofstadter." The guy replied.
That made Penny smile. Nobody had ever done something like this for her. He knew she would sleep more and then he was thoughtful enough to get her breakfast for when she woke up.
"Thank you." She said to the guy as he walked outside again.
Penny walked back to the tray of food. She was about to take off the top to check what she had gotten, when she noticed the note next to the tray. She grabbed it and started reading.
Dear Penny.
While I still don't remember much from last night, I have started getting flashes of what happened. If your memory kicks in, all I can say is: WOW. The stuff we did I have never done with anyone else, inside or outside the bedroom for that matter. Okay, getting sidetracked here. Anyway, don't wanna keep you from eating your breakfast now. Just wanted to let you know that I'm not leaving Vegas until tomorrow, so if you want, we can maybe eat dinner or something later and talk some more? Call or text me if you want, you have my number. Leonard
Penny was almost in tears. Of course it was Leonard. In the brief time they actually talked, he seemed so nice and friendly. Now, he ordered her breakfast. She was really hungry and checked the food she had gotten. It was both bacon, scrambled eggs, salad and some french toast. Just the stuff she liked. How could he know? Or maybe this was the standard food they serve here. Anyway, it was just what she wanted right now, so she sat down by the table and started eating.
After finishing her breakfast, she went into the bathroom to take a shower and get ready for the day. She stripped off her robe and panties and stepped inside the combined shower/bathtub. She used her own shampoo and conditioner and made sure to clean every inch. As she was, flashes of memory last night came into her thoughts. It was her and Leonard kissing while getting inside the room and she was holding the marriage-certificate in her hand. It seemed like she had fully participated as she was dragging him into her room and towards her bed. Okay, not the best thing to think about when in the shower. She shook those thoughts out of her head and finished showering then wrapped herself in a towel.
She walked over towards the table where the marriage certificate was. She looked at it. Mrs. Penelope Hofstadter the letter said. She had to admit it sounded good. Further down it said Leonard Hofstadter. Even though they had gotten married in Vegas, it was all professional in every regard for it being legit.
Taking a deep breath, she decided that she at least should go to dinner and have some normal conversation with Leonard. Maybe get to know him some more. She still wanted to get the whole thing annulled, but Leonard had been so nice so far, so she was gonna give him a chance during dinner. She grabbed her phone and started texting him.
Hey Leonard. Thanks for breakfast, you shouldn't have :)
Regarding that dinner-invitation, I accept. Let me know what time. Penny.
Figuring that simple text was the solution here, she decided to get outside and check her girlfriend in other room. She knocked on the door and Amy opened it. "Hey bestie." She grinned and let her pass.
"Hey Ames. Hey Bernie. How did you guy sleep?" She asked getting conversation started.
"Good." Amy said"Bad." Bernadette replied. She almost had to laugh at that. Deciding it was best to change the subject. "So have you guys eaten breakfast yet?"
Bernadette spoke. "Yes, we went downstairs and ate over one hour ago. We thought you would need some more sleep so we waited for you to come over here."
Penny always loved sleeping, but had needed the sleep for a whole different set of reasons last night. "Yeah I needed that."
"So what did you do last night after we went back to our room?" Bernadette asked.
Penny was prepared for that question. But she did not know how to respond. Figuring that she should just tell it like it is.
"Well, after I got drunk in the bar... I sorta got married last night." Penny said almost in a whisper.
"YOU WHAT?" Came from both Bernadette and Amy.
She looked at them. "I got married." She replied with a straight face.
"Oh Penny." Bernadette said giggling. "You are so funny." Amy joined in on the laughter.
"Hey hey hey. Stop that! I'm actually serious here." Penny didn't like her friends laughing at her.
Bernadette and Amy looked at Penny, then at each other, then back to Penny.
Bernadette and Amy then talked on top of each other and Penny had to calm them down. "I will explain as much as I remrmeber."
"Okay start talking." Bernadette said. She did not look happy.
"Relax Bernie. He's really nice. Okay. It started last night when I went to the bar. After having a few drinks, this guy walks up and orders a beer and he doesn't even notice me at first. So since I was already a little tipsy, I started chatting with him. Apparently, after we both got pretty wasted, we got married and I got him back to my room. He spent the night and woke up next to each other this morning where I found the paper of us being married."
Amy then spoke. "Wait back up. Who's idea was it to get married? What is this guy's name even?"
Bernadette just looked at her. "What she said."
Penny closed her eyes for a second to focus. "His name is Leonard." She left out his last name as it was none of their business. "He is here in Vegas for a couple of days. When we talked this morning he said he was here on a trip with some other guys, just like we are here on a girl's trip."
Bernadette then talked again. "This morning?" Her eyebrow raised.
Penny blushed. "Yes, we spent the night together, although neither of us remember anything of it. But we got married last night. Even got the paper in my room to prove it. But guess what he told me?" Penny smiled.
"What?" They both said in unison.
"He doesn't want an annulment. He wants us to stay married." Penny tried to keep her face neutral but failing and couldn't help smiling.
"What?" her friends once again said.
Penny was on a roll now so she decided to tell them what her thoughts are. "And... I'm considering it."
"What?" Her friends made it a hat-trick. That made her laugh so hard. Even though they wouldn't understand the analogy.
Amy was the first to reply now. "You are kidding with us right?"
Penny had been going back and forth but she was considering it. "No, I'm not kidding." she replied.
Bernadette walked over and hugged her friend before speaking. "Do you realize what you are saying here Penny? You are seriously considering staying married to a guy you just met yesterday?"
Penny got serious. "I'm not sure yet okay, I'm just thinking about it. I'm gonna meet him for dinner later and hopefully get to know him better. Oh by the way, he even got me breakfast this morning."
When they both stared at her she continued. "He had to go back to his room and we were still hangover, so I went back to sleep, but two hours later I got woken up by a knock on the door and it turns out it was room service complimentary of Leonard. A full breakfast, even with a card from him." She smiled proudly.
"Okay, he seems like a nice enough guy. But Penny, you had been hurt before, how can you know that this guy won't?"
"I don't know. He is definitely not like Kurt. Pretty much the opposite. To be honest, he's more like you guys." Penny said smiling.
"Like us? What do you mean?" Amy asked.
"Well, he's not tall or buff in any way, although he looked pretty good without a shirt on. He wears glasses and is about my height." Penny explained.
"Okay, that doesn't sound like your type at all Penny." Amy stated.
"I know, that's why I want to take my time with making a decision, so I'm gonna have dinner with him later. But right now, let's go shopping." Penny started clapping her hands in excitement.
Back from shopping...
Penny unlocked her door and dragged all of her shopping bags along inside.
She finally found a nice dress to wear for the dinner with Leonard. It was a purple sleeveless dress, mid thigh length and with deep v-neckline that shows just a hint of cleavage. It also showed off her assets in a tasty way. She was really excited for the date? Was that what it was? Doesn't matter. Married to the guy anyway.
She took her time, applying makeup, putting on her strapless lace bra and panties and in the end, the dress. In between she got a text from Leonard saying he would pick her up in thirty minutes.
She was standing in front of the mirror, making sure everything was perfect. Finally she put on her shoes and got her purse. Then she heard a knock on the door and as she was about to open, she mentally prepared herself for hopefully a good evening and good company.
She was not prepared for what hit her when she opened. There Leonard was standing with a rose in his hand and in a really nice dark blue fitted 2 piece suit. He didn't wear any tie but he left the two top buttons of the dress shirt open. Butterflies was somersaulting through her stomach.
"Hi." She said.
"Hi Penny. This is for you." He gave her the rose. "I know it's nothing compared to your beauty, but I thought I couldn't come by empty handed."
Penny had to hide the blush that crepped up on her cheeks. "You are such a smooth talker aren't you Leonard. Thank you." She smelled the rose. He just smiled.
"Are you ready to go?" He asked her.
"Yes I am, let's go." She linked her arm through hers as they walked towards the elevator and got down to the lobby.
Penny was nervous, so she figured it was best to start talking. "So where are we going?" She asked.
"Do you like Italian?" Leonard asked.
"I love Italian." Penny replied happy that he had such a good taste.
"Great, there is a restaurant just a couple of hundred meters away from here, do you mind walking?" he asked.
"Not at all." she replied. Leonard grabbed her hand without thinking much about it. Penny didn't mind.
Once they arrived at the restaurant, Leonard said he had made a reservation.
"Aah, Hofstadter. Follow me please." The manager told them.
Penny let go of Leonard's hand as he went to her seat and pulled out the chair for her before going over to his own.
It was so rare that guys did that for her but for Leonard it looked natural.
"This is such a nice place Leonard. How did you know about this?"
Leonard folded his hand leaned forward. "I researched it online. Don't tell anyone." He said with a gleam in his eye.
That made Penny laugh. He was so funny. Another thing she was learning about him.
"So Leonard, what do we call this?" At his confusion she explained. "I mean, getting married first day, out to eat dinner on second day. We kinda did this whole thing backwards.''
"I know but why not let us enjoy our first official date and see things from here moving forward.'' Leonard stated. Penny's heart started beating faster at him being so determined about it. It was nice to see that he was like that. It felt like she was learning new things about him every second.
"And I see this as our start. Like our beginning from what you so smartly describe backwards." Leonard said.
Intrigued by that suggestion, she agreed. "Okay."
"So Polly, tell me about yourself?" Leonard said in mock-seriousness.
Penny smiled and let out a little laugh at that. "It's Penny."
"Oh sorry. Awkward." Leonard replied which made Penny let out another laugh.
So finally they will get to know each other and Penny just wanted to be honest with him.
"Let' see. I'm from Nebraska and ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed about moving to LA to become a movie-star and after about 6 years of acting-lessons and waiting tables, I've done a hemmoroide-commercial and a production of Anne Frank above a bowling-alley. So you know, dreams do come true." She said sarcastically.
That was not what Leonard expected at all. Not only did she live in California, but in Los Angeles as well, the same city he lived in. That made him happy and hopeful about the future.
"Wow Penny, you actually done a tv-commercial? That's amazing." Leonard said not being sarcastic at all.
Penny could tell he was being sincere. "Yeah I have. Okay your turn." She said.
"Okay let's see. I am an experimental physicist at CalTech. Most of my research involves high-powered lasers and hey, I just got a government-grand to see if they can be used knock out incoming ballistic missiles."
Penny just stared at him wondering if he was being serious. Wow. A physicist. He's like a genius. Oh god. What on earth would he want to do with me then? A failed actress who work at the cheesecake-factory. He just keep being more and more impressive to her. Wait, I wonder if Amy and Bernadette have heard of him? I gotta ask them about it.
"Wow. Can they?" She asked.
"Oh god no." He responded which made her laugh again. "The money is pretty good." He shrugged.
Penny didn't care too much about money, except when shopping for clothes and shoes, so that wasn't a deal breaker, but at least nice to know he could take care of himself. Then he spoke again.
"And I used the equipment to make my own bat-signal." That made her really laugh. He was so funny.
"Bat-signal? What are you? Some kinda nerd?" She half-joked.
"Not some kinda nerd. I'm the king of nerds." He replied which made her laugh again.
"What does that mean?" She really enjoyed the banter between them.
"It means that if someone displeases me I won't help them set up their printer." Another laugh. Wow. Is this guy for real? Smart, funny and handsome.
"You are so funny." She said not expecting his reply.
"Good. Remember that when I take my shirt off." He smiled.
She almost sipped her wine in the wrong tube. "Oh Leonard. This is so nice. I'm glad we did this." Penny was really happy right now.
"Me too." He replied.
They continued their easy banter and Penny had the time of her life.
After eating their food, which was delicious, they ordered dessert. Leonard got them chocolate mousse, which she loved. It was so weird, it was like Leonard knew so much about her already. It freaked her out a bit, but also made her feel good knowing that a guy like Leonard existed. Leonard of course paid for the meal and took her hand walking out of the restaurant.
They walked hand in hand back towards the hotel. They talked some more about what they liked doing on their free-time and about family. She noticed that Leonard didn't say much about his family, just that he had a brother and a sister and that his parents were divorced.
She would try to get him to open up more about that subject at a later time. Her breath almost caught her when she realized what she was thinking. How are they gonna solve things? They both lived in the same city, but how are things gonna go with them being married? She felt so conflicted. But this date had proved what she thought about Leonard. He really is a great guy. Hopefully, they could keep going out and see if there could be some deeper feelings that could develop from there. For now, she will just enjoy knowing this seem too-good-to-be- true guy Leonard.
A/N: Okay, that's my longest chapter yet. I'm guessing you caught some of the dialogue from the show during their date. Hope you liked it. Please review :)