Chapter 2: Reflection

This story has been edited, revised and expanded for clarity and hopefully your enjoyment. The characters; Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, Rajesh, Bernadette, Amy, Penny, Mrs. Cooper, Meemaw, Missy, George, Stuart and Zack are owned by the Big Bang Theory.

Penny was in shock rocking and mumbling over and over, " why am I alive?"

Sheldon is sitting in his spot in apartment 4A. It has been four weeks since Penny received the news of her families' death.

Sheldon somberly reflects on the events following that devastating news.

When Raj took Emily home during that dreadful day he ended their relationship. As he pulled his car in front of her apartment building Raj looked at Emily with disgust. "Penny is like a sister to me and I could not be with anyone who received enjoyment from her devastating pain."

Emily responds, "I am hurt Raj…and the pain feels so good."

Revolted Raj said, "You are sick, GET OUT." Raj drove off as soon as Emily shut his car door.

A few days later Raj took Cinnamon to Yvette the vet for boarding while he is in Nebraska. He breaks down crying when telling her about his reason for boarding Cinnamon. Yvette holds Raj while he is pouring out his pain for his friend.

"Thank you Yvette for listening."

Yvette hugged Raj and kissed his forehead. "Go help Penny. Put her needs before your own and call me when you return."

Before leaving for Nebraska Sheldon sat down with Leonard in their living room. Trying to remain unemotional Sheldon pierced Leonard with a look. Leonard knew his roommate was disappointed, so he put on his whipped puppy face for sympathy.

"Leonard I am terminating our roommate agreement. You have thirty days to move out. I have had enough of your cheating and selfish ways. I do not want Penny to be subjected to your presence. Do not try and persuade me otherwise, my decision is final."

Leonard was crushed. He could see that Sheldon's mind was made up and the look of disappointment was his undoing. As tears ran down his face he ran to his room before he disgraced himself.

Leonard moved in with Mandy within the next couple of days.

Sheldon's heart overflowed with love and pride when his family arrived in Nebraska and gathered Penny in their arms. Meemaw held Penny as she cried, "We are your family for life. You have a grandmother, mother, sister and two brothers who love you." Meemaw loved this young lady who helps her Moonpie and is so kind and charming.

Penny cried in gratitude along with her new relatives. Sheldon's family had always treated her like a daughter. To fly to Nebraska in her time of need meant so much to her.

Penny's therapist Dr. Phallon Angel was an amazing new friend to the entire group. She took a leave of absence to travel to Nebraska. She made time to privately talk to each of the gang regarding their grief and relationships. In addition, Phallon offered free counseling at the church to the tornado victims.

Most importantly she was there for Penny from the initial shock and grief followed by her urgency to hold a memorial service and oversee her families' burial. Phallon was able to redirect some of Penny's grief to helping the victims and establishing a family memorial.

Sheldon, organized the gang to complete tasks for Penny, when he saw them floundering in empathy to her pain.

Raj the most emotional cried continuously. He was put in charge of the memorial service.

Most surprising, Zack a friend of the gang and Stuart owner of the comic book store arrived to pay their respects and support Penny.

Penny's family church members, Zack, Stuart, Phallon, Bernadette, Amy, Mrs. Cooper, Mrs. Wolowitz, and Missy were in charge of selling, storing and giving away items of the nine households affected.

Meemaw's main duty was to be by Penny's side. Her secondary duty was to make sure everyone was fed and rested. Penny and Meemaw would make daily trips to her favorite childhood spot by a lake on her parent's farm where she would have a cry and discuss each family member. Meemaw suffered loss but the magnitude of Penny's loss was unimaginable to her. She prayed daily that God would give her the strength and guidance to help Penny through this crisis.

Sheldon and Howard handled Penny's family legal, monetary and burial affairs.

With help from Howard's lawyer cousin, a legal representative was found in Omaha to expedite wills, insurance policies, and act as an executor to the various estates.

Penny decided to turn over three hundred acres of her families six hundred acre property to the City. As a condition the City would turn the acreage into a park in honor of her family and the victims. A statue would be erected inscribed with the names of those who died.

Penny decided to keep her mom and dad's home property. Her other families' homes were to be managed by the church with preference to the homeless tornado victims. Penny set up leases for the remaining acreage to be farmed and/or harvested for timber.

Penny was left with assets that if managed properly, she would never have to work another day in her life.

Leonard helped by watching over the gang's homes and affairs in Pasadena.

Penny's loss transformed Howard into a grown up. He was a huge help to Penny marshaling resources and expediting red tape. Bernie had never been more proud of her Howie.

However, the clown hadn't totally disappeared when he tried to skinny dip at the lake on Penny's property at the same time a news crew was out filming a follow-up story. Sheldon smiled remembering the live coverage of Howard's, deer caught in the headlights expression, when realizing he was not alone. What was hilarious was his skinny white ass running down the road to flustered to hide behind a bush.

A knock on the door interrupts Sheldon from his reflections. Seeing Amy through the door viewer he anxiously opens the door to invite her in. She greets Sheldon as he motions her to have a seat on the couch. Without any preliminaries Amy states the purpose of her visit.

"Sheldon I wish to discuss our relationship and the relationship agreement."

With a stern expression Amy asks, "Sheldon, are you willing to invest your attention and emotions into our relationship?"

Turning towards her, "What are your parameters, Amy?"

She reaches inside her purse to pull out her iPad. "I will send them to your iPad. The revised parameters are non-negotiable."

Sheldon reaches for his iPad on the side table and opens her parameters to read them out loud.

"1. During Amy /Sheldon time, focus should be solely on the activity involving both Amy and Sheldon.

2. Sheldon shall drive and/or learn how to ride a Segway within a month and must purchase a car and/or Segway.

3. Sheldon shall dedicate two days out of a month to romance and it must represent a tangible progression of their relationship.

4. Amy will attend Comic-Con a minimum of once every 4 years.

5. Amy will be Sheldon's new roommate effective immediately.

6. Due to Amy's varied schedule Sheldon will be responsible for his own meals."

Amy's brief absence from his daily routine was unbearable. By Amy's stern expression and rigid posture Sheldon realizes that there is no wiggle room to negotiate. He will have to concede the battle if he wants her in his life. Sheldon sighs and agrees to Amy's terms.

Amy inwardly is jumping for joy. She can't wait to thank Penny for helping her develop the parameters. Sheldon quickly types a new agreement. Resigned to his fate he gives Amy a copy of the new Roommate Relationship Agreement with agreed upon conditions for her review and signature.

Amy kisses Sheldon and leads him into Leonard's room to help her take measurements.

Sheldon smiles at Amy when she is not looking and under his breath he mumbles, "Mwah, ha, haa."