Thanks for the reviews. I'm actually enjoying my last day off today, so I wanted this up before I go back to work tomorrow afternoon.

Oh yeah, finally broke down and used a twitter account. Mostly because I noticed a lot of authors on here have them and I'd love to be able to talk Big Bang Theory with you all! So hit me up HaleyMichelleRN!

With that being said (as well that I don't own Big Bang Theory!), here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 6: The Herb Garden Germination

Amy Farrah Fowler had barely made it around the corner and out of sight when Penny's fingers tapped away at her phone, sending a quick message.

'Amy and Sheldon are having a baby! :o :o :o'

The blonde stood in her doorway, jaw still hanging slightly open. Surely she had heard wrong. Amy and Sheldon? A baby? Surely not. They had only just begun to have sex. Penny shuddered at the thought and shut the door to her apartment.

Penny had just sat down when the door opened once again. Leonard walked in and straight over to sit next to her. Penny was so excited to talk about the latest news with someone, that she didn't even question Leonard being in her apartment. "Holy crap on a cracker!" She exclaimed, slapping him on the arm," Did you get my text?"

"Yeah," Leonard sighed," They were lying."

"What?" Penny stared at him, shocked," Why would they lie about this?"

"I ran into her in the hallway. She explained everything. It's called Meme Theory. It suggests that gossip, just like living things, seek to reproduce using humans as their host. Amy even used less interesting information as a control of sorts-" Leonard stopped, suddenly. Penny figured her confusion must have been glaringly obvious. "They wanted to see how fast the gossip would spread." He paused for a second and smirked," And they picked the perfect big mouth to use."

Penny glared at him when she realized he was referring to her, "Shut up. I do not have a big mouth."

"Oh please!" Leonard scoffed, "I have never heard anyone gossip as much you. You are the gossip queen!"

"Nuh uh!" Penny lightly punched him in the arm nearest her, a smile creeping across her face. "Take it back!"

"Hey! That hurt!" He clutched his right arm and pulled away from her. Penny knew he was lying by the grin he was trying, unsuccessfully, to hide.

"Oh, poor thing!" Penny said, sarcasm dripping from her tone. "You're such a baby."

Leonard continued to grin, "Are you going to run and tell that to everyone too? 'In confidence' I mean?" Leonard laughed out loud as Penny punched his arm again.

"You're being a bully!" Penny sat back against the arm of the couch behind her and pouted, pretending to ignore the man in front of her. Without even noticing what she was doing, her feet found their way into Leonard's lap.

"Oh c'mon. Don't be like that!" Leonard's hand wrapped around her right foot, getting her full attention now. No. He wouldn't. Penny watched helplessly as Leonard's fingers began to slowly trace the sole of her foot. Before Penny even had time to yank her leg back, he had begun to completely tickle her, grabbing the other foot as well. Shit!

"No!" Penny screamed, laughter escaping and muffling her protest. She desperately tried to reclaim her feet from his grasp, but Leonard hung on tighter. Penny reached for the closest thing to her, anything she could use as a weapon. The only thing she could find was the pillow beneath her. It'll have to do.

Seconds later, she heard a groan and the tickling ceased. She opened her eyes and saw Leonard glaring at her. Biting her lip to stop the laughter from breaking free, Penny mimicked his expression, trying her hardest to keep a straight face. It didn't work and found herself giggling again. Leonard soon joined in and Penny couldn't help but feel content as she finally found her voice again, "You fight dirty, Hofstader."

"Me?" Leonard blurted out, wiping a few stray tears from his eyes. "You hit me with a pillow!'

Instead of responding, Penny just shook her head, her smile still adorning her face. Her cheeks were actually hurting from all this smiling. Her eyes met his and she could've melted from the way he was gazing at her. She felt the butterflies in her stomach take flight again. She recalled how things had gone between them since that night she had rescued him along with the other guys. Things had gotten less awkward. Her carefree attitude had resurfaced again. Penny had been able to fully enjoy girl's night again. She had been able to sleep better each night, and while she still wasn't able to hang out with or have dinner with the guys in their apartment, she held the few moments she ran across one of them in the hallway close. Instead of allowing herself to become depressed and focus on how little she saw her friends, she chose to savor each encounter she had with them, no matter how small. She adored every tiny moment spent with them, especially Leonard. Things had been looking up.

Until that text.

Penny remembered the conversation she had been having before Amy appeared in her doorway. Howard had proposed. Howard, crazy, disgusting Howard, had proposed to Bernadette. Two of her friends had gotten engaged. Without her there.

Penny's cheerful mood began to deflate as she spoke, "Howard proposed."

Leonard noticed the change in her demeanor, she knew he did. His smile disappeared. "Yeah." Leonard's voice filled with sympathy for her, "I'm sorry you weren't there."

"No, it's fine." Penny lied. She turned away from his stare. Those eyes would break her. "It's no big deal. I mean.." Penny could feel herself becoming bitter, "I only introduced them to each other. I only helped begin their whole relationship."

"Penny, I know you're hurt. Everyone would've liked for you to be there-"

"I would've been there!" Penny shouted, "I would've had your girlfriend not been so insecure about your relationship. If she didn't hate me!"

"Penny," Leonard tried to calm her.

"Leonard," Penny's voice lowered, "I had to hear about one of my best friends getting engaged through text." Her heart sank as she uttered the words and everything hit her. "Which wouldn't be such a big deal if I wasn't the only one who wasn't there for it." Her eyes met his again, "Because of some 'rule'." She shook her head and let out a sigh, finally realizing just how hurt she was. "You should probably leave."

Leonard stayed silent, as if he wasn't sure what to say. Penny almost thought she was going to have to ask again, when he rose from his spot. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked to the door. Hand on the knob, he faced her again, "For what it's worth..I am sorry, Penny. We all wanted you there. Even me." His voice broke, "Especially me."

With that said, he turned and left for his own apartment, leaving Penny alone with her thoughts. Penny felt a single tear slip down her cheek. Things had been going so well for once. Curling up into a ball, she reached for her phone and finally typed out a reply to her friend.

'I'm so happy for you'