Chapter 2
Christmas Day
Penny woke up early on Christmas morning she wanted to wake Leonard up, but she knew how tired he was from his journey and activities last night. She wanted nothing better than to spend Christmas with the man she loved. She felt so grateful for having him She would let him sleep a little longer. Penny unwrapped herself from Leonard carefully not to wake him and went to the bathroom, after emptying her bladder, brushing her teeth and washing her face she looked in the mirror. She scoffed as she tucked a stubborn strand of her streaked blond hair behind her ear her short crop style complimenting her large green eyes. Her thought went back to her childhood trying to work out when her insecurities began she couldn't pinpoint any specific time, reflecting on her early years they were quite unremarkable but happy. She loved her parent unconditionally as any child would do. She had a healthy relationship with her brother and sister. She loved spending Christmas with her family and extended family they help out with the cooking, decorating the house and tree if it was snowing they would all go out and build snowmen and having snowball fights. It was fond memories. She remembered the little things like playing baseball with her dad and watching sports on TV with him. And then it all stopped as she became a teenager he stops noticing her but then again she discovered boys who she hoped will notice her. They just used her maybe that's why she only dated jerks telling her blatantly, she wasn't good enough and still staying with them. It was her way of coping with her daddy issues and conniving herself that they love her and will eventually notice her moving from one failed relationship to another. She was now in control of her life and glad she figured it out and realized Leonard is the best thing that happened in her life. Now at her present age what she realizes is she finally happy in her own skin she had everything her heart desires, a wonderful husband a great job, an idea lifestyle not to mention her numerous friends from all walks of life. Penny was at peace with herself and no longer felt at odds with the world finally; she fits in. She walked into the bedroom and paused she looked at a sleeping Leonard giving him a sympathetic smile and remembering the old man's words. She promises to make a conscious effort to be kind, generous, thoughtful and loving and try hard to see both situations and not hurt him by her actions.
5 minutes later
Leonard woke up to an excited penny. "Leonard wakes up it Christmas morning.' He grumbled and tried to pull the cover over his head. But Penny was persistent.
"What time is it?" he yawned.
"Just gone 9.00am. she said.
"Penny, it's the middle of the night. Just one more hour." He begged.
"But it Christmas and I want to open my presents." pulling the curtain to expose the rays of the sun into the bedroom.
"I'm not stopping you," He said sleepily. Penny put her hand on her waist and grinned as a seductive thought came to her mind.
"But I want to open them with you. Please..." She began to kiss his neck. As she whispered sweet nothing and what she would do to him later into his ears.
"Okay. You promise you will do that thing that I like."
"Promise baby and more." he laid there for a few seconds until what Penny said sank in.
"I'm up, but we only open a few and the rest later. Deal."
"Deal. Merry Christmas Leonard."
"Happy Christmas Penny." He leaned in and kissed her. She wanted him right now but had to stop herself as they had so much to do. Leonard had a shower and brushed his teeth. He came back in the room to see Penny had laid out a Christmas jumper on the bed with ho, ho,ho written on it. He smiled and just shook his head. He was still tired from the flight. Penny insisting, they make love just before midnight into Christmas. He smiled as he remembered yesterday. Penny has run up to him as Leonard came out, he put his bag down and hugged and kissed her she grabbed his hand as he struggles to pick up his case and dragged him toward the exit. When they got home, she immediately insists he carried out his man duties and pounced on him, even though he was tired he couldn't say no and he didn't want to. After hours of loving making, they talked about the strange day they both had and who were these persons they met. She told him about the man and how he somehow reminded her of him, he told her about the lady and how she was so like Penny. They both agreed that it had a meaning but what? They finally fell asleep out of pure exhaustion.
They sat down to have breakfast wearing matching Xmas jumpers only difference Leonard's was red and black; hers was pink and purple. They looked ridiculous but didn't care, after finishing and washing the dishes together. Penny went over to the tree and got the presents from family and friends. It was the usual. Socks, tee-shirts, bathroom items, Amazon vouchers, etc. Agreeing to open the presents for each other after their Christmas dinner. It wasn't long before Penny dragged him to the bedroom for more pleasures. Leonard woke up to slap on his bare tushie.
"Ouch hey what was that for.? Penny couldn't stop laughing "I tried to wake you, but you wouldn't wake up."
"No, you didn't I would have heard you," He grumbled rubbing his bare bum.
"Well, I called you from the kitchen a few times."
"And I am supposed to hear you. You're just mean, and you like torturing me."
"No, I don't I would never do that." Giving him her best glare.
"Oh yeah flushing the toilet while I'm in the shower comes to mind. Twice in two days."
"Oh come on you must admit that was funny."
"For you maybe not so much for me."
"I just wanted to see my baby dancing naked. She bit her bottom lip."
"Not funny. So what do I owe the pleasure this time?" rolling his eyes.
"I need help in the kitchen." Leonard rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom mumbling to himself. "why me."
This year and after thanking giving Penny decided to ditch the traditional turkey and do something different she wanted a unique and delicious dish she had browsed the internet for dishes and settled for baked steak because of its simplicity. Cooking time was only an hour. It consists of mushrooms, red onions, garlic, lemons, thick sirloin steak and baked potatoes which she bought a few days ago.
Leonard spotted Penny in the kitchen area preparing their Christmas dinner.
"Hey, would you like to do yoga with me when I finish peeling the potatoes." Leonard was still a little pissed at Penny for waking him up.
"Alright put me down." he said sarcastically.
"Oh, why is there never a vet when you need one."
"Hey"
"Well, you never want to do yoga with me."
"I always do things with you like I always compromise with you. I admit I am wrong, and you agree with me."
"You got that right mister and don't forget it." shooting him a knowing smile.
Penny seasoned the steak with salt and pepper rubbing it with garlic. She whisked some ketchup, lemon juice, and Worcestershire sauce and spooned the mixture over the steak leaving it for 45 mins for the ingredients to fuse.
While Leonard prepared, the salad penny went and sat on the sofa with a glass of red wine. She lowered herself back into the sofa watching him with those large green eyes happy to sit quietly enjoying his company waiting for him to finish. He put the salad aside and picked up the glass of wine penny poured for him. She watches him as their eyes met she smiled and scrooges over and patted the sofa beside her. He joined her putting his glass down on the coffee table. Penny held out her hand he took it. She cooed and said softly.
"You know when I met that old man at the airport he told me the secret of not to argue he said if ever I get mad at you I should keep my thoughts to myself until I'm calm enough to talk about it in a civilized manner."
"Penny I could never be mad at you for long. Even when we fought on our wedding day, I instantly regretted saying those things. I promise to be the best husband and appreciate, love and make time for you."
"I hated it when we argued too the horrible things we said to each other when we got married. It was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives. I'm sorry Leonard," holding back her tears.
"I'm sorry too Penny. I never meant to hurt you."
"I know we are good now. She rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her left arm around his neck. They stayed like that until Leonard broke the silence.
"I will love you forever." Leonard sang.
"I will love you all the way." Penny joined in
"If you love me today," they both sang as they rocked side to side and sang the verses a couple of times laughing at how cheesy they can get.
"I'm glad you made it home for Christmas Leonard."
"Me too, I wouldn't miss it for anything, By the way, the tree and decorations are beautiful you did a good job penny. I love it."
"Thank you. I wanted it to be special. Our first Christmas together."
It is going to be the best Christmas ever. Thank you, Penny for making it happens. They just held each other in silence until Penny unwrapped herself from him and said. "Help me prepare dinner." She grabbed his right hand and led him to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Leonard put the steak and potatoes in the oven. Penny put the radio on and began to cut up the mushrooms, red onions, and lemon. After about 1 hour of roasting while singing along to the Christmas songs she followed the instruction frying the mushrooms, red onions lemon adding salt and pepper. The frying filling the air with sweet aroma.
She served it with the salad Leonard made earlier and vegetable. She panicked for a moment. What if the food was terrible and Leonard didn't like it? She pushed that thought away. The sat and ate making small talk, touching each other at every opportunity Leonard thought it was delicious, and she agreed. They also tried some of the burned Mince pie that wasn't too bad finishing up with a spruced up vanilla cake that penny had the most off. They both sat on the island chairs too stuffed and bloated to move to the living room.
"Penny that was a fantastic dinner Thank you I'm so full."
"you are welcome. Good thing we are doing yoga later."
"Speak for yourself I'm not getting off this chair."
Leonard and Penny sat in front of the tree they still had their main presents to open.
"So do you want to go first?" Leonard asked.
"No, you first." Handing him one of his presents.
"Okay," he excitedly ripped the wrapping paper, and his jaw dropped when he realized what it was. Leonard was moved he fought back the tears. When Penny asks him to accompany her shopping, he thought it was to get her nephew a gift. Leonard spends all day with her shopping and finally settled on the surfacePro3 tablet.
"Penny I don't understand I thought…" he was having trouble getting the words out.
"No Leonard it was always for you I knew you would go peeking so I made you think it was for my nephew. The look on his face was priceless. "I wanted to buy you a grownup present instead of action figures and comic books," she smirked.
"You made me go out and buy my own present." He frowned. He really wanted one but thought he will be getting it for his birthday in 4-month as Penny promised.
"Well, I paid for it making you get your gift was so much fun." She grinned.
"See always mean to me but to you, it's all fun. Thank you so much, you don't know how much I appreciate this." He pulls her in for a long kiss.
"Well, now you can get used to grown up presents instead of toys."
"It's not easy with Sheldon it's hard to have a normal adult life."
"Your life doesn't have to be like that; now he is back with Amy we should think of moving here permanently. You have been a loyal friend for years it time for us to live a normal life." Penny instructed.
"I know but how will he cope, I mean it is going to be hard for him."
"He's got Amy now we can't keep carrying him, he needs to stand on his own two feet, or he will never learn. We need to lift this burden on our shoulders and start living as a married couple it time we start lavishing attention on ourselves as we promised when we got married."
"I have given him time, commitment and a willingness to understand now I need to turn my attention upon the woman I promised to cherish forever."
"Who that then." She grinned at him.
"You. Silly, he gently slaps her arm. Okay, we need to do this as soon as they are back from Texas in the New Year. We sit him down and tell him. Leonard said.
"He has done a lot of changes recently so you never know maybe he will understand. But no backing out no matter what he says. We are a team now."
"I got your back."
"No Leonard we got each other's back." she scoffed at him.
They enjoyed the unity and the togetherness that money can't buy. He handed her present. "this is for you." Leonard said in a quiet voice. She slowly unwrapped it and gasped.
"Do you remember the jeweller's shop we went to a few years ago where you fell in love with that diamond necklace that you couldn't afford?
Penny choked up and started to cry, nodding her head. "I saved up to buy It for you."
"It's beautifully Leonard, thank you so much. This is the best present ever." She jumped on him and started placing kisses all over his face. He just grinned. He loved seeing Penny happy. She turned around as he hooked the necklace on her. Penny admired It she loved it.
"Thank you, Leonard."
"You are welcome." Handing her the tissue box. They continued opening the rest of their presents.
"Really Leonard. 52 love notes for every week of the year." She rolls her eyes.
"Really penny a Grill remote meat master."
"It's a talking grill alert remote meat thermometer. So you don't burn our dinner."
"You bought that for yourself. Didn't you."
"Absolutely not" as she looked away from him hiding her guilty face.
They sat on the sofa watching Christmas movies. Penny cried Leonard console her she cried some more he brought her chocolate she rested her head on his shoulders she thought this was the best Christmas ever just the two of them. Penny had always dreamed of finding her prince charming. She was so grateful for the fact that it was Leonard. She turned to face him.
"Happy Christmas Leonard. As your wife may this be the first of many Christmases to express my deep love for you." Leonard was touched by her words
"Merry Christmas Penny. As your husband, I promise to do all it takes to make you happy penny. I am so glad you are part of my life. I hope my love becomes your Christmas star." He kissed her. Penny spotted the envelope the old man had given her, as she opened it she said.
"So Leonard what was the name of the old lady you were flirting with?"
"Why...? Is someone jealous? Funny you asked I didn't catch her last name, but her first name was Penny." He said as he grabbed another bottle of wine from the kitchen.
"What was your sugar daddy's name? He looked at Penny, who had turned white like she just seen a ghost. He rushes to her as she fell back onto the sofa.
"Are you okay?" Leonard looked worried. She said nothing as her bottom lip began to tremble. "Penny what's wrong?"
"His, his… the name was Leonard." She finally manages to get out. Showing him the Christmas card.
The ripple in space-time the nine dimensions of space and one of time which one is the real version of the universe some may be identical while some may be different explaining the extraordinary and the possibilities of the existence of other worlds but links with one's own implying the term alternative reality. The variant of our own where there are no laws of motions.
AN. Thank you for reading and reviewing hope it was enjoyable as it was for me writing this fic. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.