This is it – the chapter you (and me) have been waiting for! Leonard's going to propose to Penny! I hope this lives up to your expectations. It took a few rewrites and lots of Lenny fanvideo marathons, but I think this chapter turned out pretty good!

DISCLAIMER: I don't own TBBT, but I wish I did.

Penny trudged up the stairs after a long night at work. She had a huge stain on her skirt from where she'd dropped a tray of food, and her hair was a mess, and she just felt like she really needed a shower and then a nap. And maybe some snuggles with Leonard. That sounded nice…

She'd reached her floor at the same time Sheldon exited his apartment, holding his basket of laundry, because after all it was Saturday night. "Hey, Sheldon," Penny greeted him tiredly, pushing a piece of hair that had fallen out of place behind her ear.

Sheldon looked up at her. "Hello,"

"Doing your laundry?"

"What do you think?"

Penny glared at him, but she was too exhausted to be mad at him tonight – it required too much of her energy. "So, goodbye," She turned on her heel to go, digging around in her bag for her key.

"Goodbye," Sheldon called after her. "Oh, and tell Leonard he owes me an extra cent for the strawberries!"

"What?" Penny said, turning around, confused.

"I don't know what in that sentence could possibly confuse you," Sheldon said, before heading towards the laundry room.

Penny sighed and turned back around, sticking her key in the lock. She shook her head – it wasn't important, she told herself. Sheldon did weird things all the time. Though, Penny couldn't help but feel the teeniest bit suspicious as she opened the door to her apartment. Why would Leonard steal Sheldon's strawberries...?

"Leonard, are you –" Penny began to call as she closed to the door, but as soon as she turned around her words caught in her throat.

Her boyfriend was waiting for her on the couch, no surprise. But the lights were slightly dimmed, music was playing, and there was food and a bottle of wine waiting on the table for them. For a moment the two of them just stared at each other, Leonard obviously waiting for her to say something, and Penny frozen in shock. She suddenly felt like she might pass out, and not because of her evening serving people cheesecake.

Penny had known Leonard was going to propose to her. He had told her flat out he was going to, and she had told him she would say yes. But now, it was obvious that this was it, tonight was the night. Leonard was going to propose, and she was going to say yes, and they would officially be getting married.

Don't worry – she wasn't backing out. Isn't everyone at least a little bit nervous when they get engaged? "I have to go get changed," Penny blurted out quickly, and she felt embarrassed after she did. She turned on her heel and walked into her bedroom, feeling her face grow hot the whole time. Whether from humiliation or nerves, she couldn't be sure.

Penny collapsed onto her bed, letting go of her purse and flinging it across the room. It hit the wall and then landed on the floor. Leonard was going to ask her to marry him tonight. And she was going to say yes. And then they'd get married. And then they'd be together forever. Oh my God.

Penny sat upright, trying to steady her breathing. Now she was beginning to feel another emotion – excitement. They were going to get married. They were going to be together forever. Pull yourself together. She thought. You need to go back out there. Leonard is waiting for you.

Though, once Penny looked at herself in the mirror, she realized she probably did need to change her outfit. She really didn't want to get engaged in her Cheesecake Factory uniform with her hair all over the place. Sighing, she pulled the hair that was still up in a ponytail down and began brushing it furiously, until no tangles remained. Then she slipped out of her shoes, skirt and top, leaving them in a pile on the floor.

Penny knew she couldn't keep Leonard waiting for long, so she had to decide what to wear fast. That wasn't an easy task. She didn't want to just look good, she wanted to look nothing less than amazing. After all, she was only going to get proposed to once. She looked at the contents of her closet, before finally realizing she was being stupid. Leonard would think she looked amazing in whatever she wore. So, Penny simply put on low cut T-shirt and a pair of pajama pants she'd recently purchased from Victoria's Secret, took a few more deep breaths, and then went back out there.

Leonard was waiting nervously on the couch, and he smiled when he saw Penny. "You look amazing," He said, as if in awe that a woman like her could love actually be in love with him, as she sat down.

Penny smiled – it was like he was reading her mind. "Thank you," She responded, trying to hide her nervousness. She took a glass of wine and shoved a strawberry into her mouth to calm her nerves.

The couple sat in silence for a few seconds, both of them not sure what to say, before Leonard finally cut to the chase. "Penny," He began, putting his glass back down on the coffee table. "There's something I really want to say to you."

Penny watched him with baited breath as he fumbled for the ring box in his pocket. Her hand was physically trembling as it set the glass of wine down. Leonard held the box tightly in his hand as he got off the couch and lowered himself onto one knee, Penny's eyes on him the whole time.

"I love you so much," He began. "Penny…you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I feel so lucky to have you in my life. And I'd like to have you forever, if you'd let me." Leonard opened the box, and Penny found herself stunned by the ring's beauty. It was perfect. "Things haven't been easy, but I wouldn't change a minute of it, because it made me love you more than I already did. I love you more and more with every passing day. I want to be with you for the rest of my life. So, Penny, will you make me the happiest man alive, and marry me?"

Penny had tears in her eyes, and Leonard did too, as she nodded fervently. "Oh my God, yes." She answered. "Yes Leonard, of course I will marry you."

Leonard was both grinning and crying as he got back up next to her on the couch. With her one hand Penny wiped away the tears that were threatening to fall over, while she extended the other towards Leonard so he could put the ring on. With a smile Leonard slipped it onto her finger, nestling it into the spot where it would stay for the rest of eternity. "I love you so much," He said again, and Penny was speechless, so she simply kissed him, cupping his face with the hand that now wore his ring.

"You know," Leonard began, smirking as they pulled apart. "I heard we're-getting-married-sex is pretty great."

Penny looked down and sighed. "Nah, I'm kinda tired…" She looked back up discreetly, seeing Leonard trying to hide his disappointment. "Oh I'm kidding!" She said. "Let's go have sex, you idiot!"

Leonard immediately seemed relieved and she pulled him in for a long kiss. They got up off the couch and headed towards her bedroom, making out most of the way there, but Penny stopped them once they reached the door. "Do I have to take my ring off?" She asked, admiring the cushion-cut diamond.

Leonard's smile widened. "No," He said. "The best part about we're-getting-married-sex is that you don't take the ring off." Penny bit her lip as she smiled, and then practically shoved her fiancé into the bedroom.

She couldn't wait to have moments like this with him for the rest of their lives.

*sobs* God, those two are so, so….so OTP, it hurts. I love them so much.