Chapter 3: Healing…Lenny…Shamy
This story has been edited, revised and expanded for clarity and hopefully your enjoyment without a Beta. 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 has been working through her grief for the past six weeks. It has gotten better thanks to Phallon's bi-weekly dinner-talks and her supportive friends and new family.
Meemaw calls or emails everyday at 8:00 am to listen and share stories of how she managed her grief losing her husband and son.
Penny is contemplating this morning's conversation with Meemaw, "It's okay to grieve dear, but your dad would not want you sitting around morose. He would tell you to get up and live life to the fullest for him and the rest of your family. It is time for you to deal with life, be open to a new love, and do things that make you happy like pranking Sheldon."
This puts a smile on Penny's face because she has a prank in mind. She leaves to go next door and join Sheldon and Amy for breakfast.
Sheldon, Amy and Penny are sitting on the couch in 4A's living room eating breakfast. Sheldon is eating cereal, Amy oatmeal and Penny fruit yogurt. Penny takes a moment to appreciate Sheldon and Amy's progress in their relationship.
"I want to thank you both for continuously looking out for me. I miss my family everyday but the burden eases knowing I can talk to you guys or just come over and get a hug. Sheldon you are my best friend and Amy you are the best bestie a girl could ever have. I would have been totally lost without your love and support. You are my family. I love you both and only you can know what that means to me."
All are sniffling, hugging, and wiping tears from their eyes.
To hopefully lighten the mood Penny asks, "Which brings up my next topic of conversation. Sheldon can you set up a lunch between Leonard and me for tomorrow. We need to come to terms with what happened and move forward."
Concerned Amy asks, "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Sheldon knows Leonard can be unpredictable and quickly formulates a plan to have Penny's back. "Penny, I will arrange a lunch meeting with Leonard."
They finish breakfast and discuss location and time of lunch meeting. As Penny leaves to return to her apartment she asks, "Amy can you come over to my place? I need help disposing some shoes."
"Sure bestie." Amy follows Penny to her apartment.
As they enter Penny holds a finger to her lips and signals Amy to go to the bedroom. She turns and says in a whisper.
"I want to play a prank on Sheldon. Does he still have his BM at 7:30 every morning."
Amy smiles and nods yes.
"Great!"
They fall back on the bed and Penny leans over and girlishly giggles in Amy's ear, giving her details of the prank. Amy feels nothing but love and happiness because her bestie is taking another step toward healing from such a loss.
The next morning finds Penny up at 7:15 drinking coffee and awaiting the outcome of her prank before Meemaw's call. At 7:30 she opens the door to 4A to hear Sheldon scream. He then yells Penny's name.
Both girls fall down on the couch laughing hysterically. Later Penny is talking to Meemaw.
"We placed bubble wrap around the rim of the toilet bowl."
Meemaw is cracking up imagining Sheldon's face. Meanwhile Sheldon is so happy to see Penny's smile and laughter he is almost willing to not prank her in return, almost, mwah, ha, haa.
Penny met Leonard for lunch the next day at the Olive Garden. They decided to sit at a booth towards the rear of the restaurant for privacy. The restaurant was extremely busy for lunchtime.
Determined to avoid manipulation Penny ignores his kicked puppy look. He tries to look remorseful because their friends are either ignoring him or being distant.
"Leonard, allow me to speak without interrupting. Phallon, my therapist-friend, and I are discussing all aspects of my life. One topic is when did I start drinking so much. We traced it back to our first sexual encounter. In your words sex was 'fine' like in fine dining and fine wine. I stated that our encounter was 'okay' like in okay dokay. We then proceeded to get drunk so that we could loosen up and try again."
Their waitress interrupts Penny's discussion to place water on the table and take their order.
Penny continues, "From that point, I have been drinking like a fish to force myself to have an adequate sexual experience and cope with an uncomfortable relationship. But Leonard it was never right between us. We wanted to be there for each other so badly that I drank and you manipulated and whined. We had a great friendship and we thought it could be extended into a relationship and that wasn't the case."
She takes a moment to compose and wipe the tears from her face.
"The death of my family has forced me to face how superficial I was when it came to us. I never gave you one hundred percent of me and deep down you agree. That's why you was always neurotic, jealous, and sought other women."
"I want you to know I was hurt that you had sex with another woman when we had just committed to one another. However, I really was relieved to end the engagement and I truly believe you were also. I love you Leonard you are one of my best friends and I want the best for you."
"I want to be able to hang out with you and the gang without any awkwardness, I want to meet and checkout Mandy. I apologize and take responsibility for my portion of our failed relationship. Leonard can we go back to being each other's friend?"
Leonard crying nods his head yes and jumps up to give Penny a long hug. He sits back down and looks at Penny and falls in love with his friend all over again.
"I am sorry for my actions and agree that I tried to force a romantic relationship when deep down I knew it wasn't right."
Leonard gazes into Penny's eyes so that she would know he was sincere. "I was dying inside not being able to be with you in Nebraska. I thought my presence was best served in Pasadena. I need to grow up and repair my friendships with the gang so that I can move forward with Mandy."
"I really like her and can't wait to formally introduce her to everyone. Penny know matter the circumstances or my relationships, you will always be able to count on me as your friend."
Penny smiles and exuberantly hugs him. The waitress returns with their food. Relieved of the pressures of a romantic relationship, they proceed to have the best lunch ever as friends.
Leonard pays for lunch laughingly saying next time its Penny's turn. As they exit the building Penny stops and feels her shoulders.
"Oops, I forgot my sweater."
She kisses Leonard on the cheek before heading back inside. "I will talk to you later, bye."
Instead of grabbing the sweater she detours to the opposite side of the restaurant where she catches by surprise Sheldon and Amy sitting in a booth.
They both look guiltily at Penny and start to explain why they are there. Penny holds up her hand to stop the excuses.
"Thanks for loving and protecting me guys."
She kisses Sheldon and Amy on their cheek and leaves. Sheldon and Amy smile at each other with light hearts knowing that Penny is doing well.
As they finish their meal Amy sighs, "I have always been jealous of your relationship with Penny. At times I may have subconsciously pushed Penny towards Leonard. I ignored her alcohol consumption because it kept her away from you."
Sheldon listens quietly with a raised eyebrow as Amy continues to talk.
"I told you once that I was engaged to Faisal and you are aware that I never broke it off and that's mainly because of my insecurity of the relationship between you and Penny. Sheldon you need to know that I did end my engagement to Faisal when we became roommates."
Sheldon sits back in his seat quietly staring at Amy. Amy becomes uncomfortable.
"Amy, I was raised to be honest and a gentleman. Our relationship never progressed because you were engaged to another man. I thought I gave you every opportunity to end it but you never did. I told you I loved you and participated in make out sessions against my better judgment to show you I was committed. You continuously disparaged me Amy when I have put more 'tangible' assets into our relationship than you ever had."
"I don't think you are being totally honest regarding Penny. You manipulated your 'bestie' with mind games and were totally aware of her growing dependence on alcohol. I sat back and watched because it amused me to do so."
Amy winced hearing the truth from Sheldon. She is scared. Where is this conversation going? Sheldon looks so serious and continues talking.
"I am ashamed to admit, I tried to train Penny with chocolates. I also undermined her self-confidence by always insulting her intelligence. I realized long ago that I love Penny like an annoying little sister. I intend for you and I to talk to Phallon for advice on telling Penny about our PAST behavior."
Sheldon gives Amy a piercing stare, "Let me make a couple of things clear, Amy, first I will no longer tolerate you manipulating or harming Penny in any way. I have appointed myself her 'guardian big brother'."
Amy nods in agreement afraid to talk.
"Secondly, I love you Amy Farrah Fowler."
Amy wipes the tears in her eyes while staring at Sheldon speechless. Sheldon moves to stand beside Amy and gets down on bended knee. Taking Amy's hand and presents her with Meemaw's antique engagement ring.
The ring is a gorgeous 1930's old European diamond center stone accented by two channel set baguette cut diamonds on either side crafted of solid platinum.
"Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
She is in shock and mute. She knows she needs to answer him quickly before but she could only manage an affirmative nod Sheldon places the ring upon her finger. He looks at her strangely because she seems dazed. Maybe social convention requires me to kiss her. He leans forward to kiss her feeling humbled and happy.
He reaches into his message bag to pull out the engagement-marriage agreement for her signature. Upon seeing the heading of the paperwork he pulls from his bag Amy becomes animated, "Sheldon are you freaking kidding me."