Chapter 10: The Big Reveal

Penny sends out a group text to her family and friends.

I wish to invite you to the University of Southern California's Commencement to be held 2:00 pm, Sunday, August 30, 2015 where I shall receive my Masters of Business Administration. A reception will be held immediately afterwards, time and location TBA (to be announced).

Penny's phone blew up with surprise and congratulations from family and friends asking why didn't she tell them she was pursuing her MBA much less already received her Bachelor's.

Phallon forwarded the message to Max. Phallon had invited their parents and siblings out to California for that weekend. It would be the perfect opportunity to introduce Penny to the family on the low.

The bonus was that Taylor would be home to attend and meet Penny in person. Her lover is a great judge of character and she really likes Penny from their earlier video chats.

Phallon is proud of her scheming. The Angel's trip was planned months in advance so Max shouldn't be suspicious.

Saturday: Dark Dining

Sheldon, Amy, Howard, Bernadette, Phallon, Raj, Leonard, Stephanie, Max and Penny met at the restaurant appropriately called Blind Expression. The gang was eagerly anticipating the experience. They congratulated Penny in person on her educational achievement.

Phallon and Raj immediately paired up. Which left Penny with Max. Leonard texted everyone the day before to let them know he and Mandy were no longer together. He took a chance calling Stephanie and luckily she was available. Leonard gave Stephanie a heads up regarding their matchmaking mission for Penny.

All eyes were stealthily looking at Max and Penny. Each couple was escorted to a private dining area with a table for two and a personal server. Raj visited the restaurant earlier that week to notify the manager he wanted a seductive dinner for his friends Max and Penny. Raj would give a signal to the server to identify the couple.

Sheldon in rare anal form approved the individually wrapped blindfolds, which were removed from its packaging and placed over his friends eyes. The servers then washed and massaged everyone's hands using a portable massage table. It was so relaxing.

Penny and Max's server Alice informed them, "Couples may dine multiple ways, not wearing a blind fold, alternating blindfolds between courses or only for dessert courses."

Everyone wanted to be blindfolded. Sheldon opted out of the blindfold he thought it best that someone be responsible for monitoring the servers.

Alice said, "The menus are secret until the end of the meal so our patrons can have fun guessing which food and/or wine is being served."

Leonard and Stephanie felt comfortable hanging out again. Stephanie was saddened to hear about Penny's family and was onboard to help with the matchmaking. Throughout dinner Leonard opened up about his past behavior and his broken engagement. "I am not in a great place but I am in a better place. I've started therapy. In fact Phallon who you met tonight is my therapist. I'm living with Raj until I find an apartment."

"I'm glad you called Leonard. I won't lie I am still hung up on you and would like to pursue a relationship. I am aware that I have issues also. If this is to heavy for you then I will back off and we can remain friends."

"Stephanie would you join me in my therapy sessions with Phallon. We can see how things develop from there."

The both sat back and enjoyed the unique dining experience. It was the most relaxing and enjoyable meal they've had in a long tome. The two reunited friends were cautiously optimistic.

Bernadette and Howard grossed out their server who thought the couple was in heat. Howard tended to lick and taste every part of Bernadette's exposed body. Bernadette made animal noises. They ended up eating their dinner quickly and left before the others completed their entrées. It was weird.

Raj and Phallon savored each and every course. Penny told Phallon about Raj's history of selective mutism around females. She decided to test a hypothesis. "Raj, I noticed you feel very comfortable around me but I see small traces of anxiety when you are around your female friends. Why is that?"

"Sheldon told me you are a lesbian and I feel no expectations regarding my manly role."

"Raj, stop me if I'm wrong. You classify yourself as bisexual because you are attracted to men. You date women because it's expected and the accepted social norm. However, you think you are homosexual and are unsure because you have never been with a man. In addition, you factored in your mutism as a reason for your preference."

"You are correct, Phallon."

"As your friend not a therapist, I went through a similar situation growing up. Luckily my mom is a psychologist and was a big help. You see I was uncomfortable and tongue-tied around boys. I felt an attraction for them and dated actively. It never felt right. I vacillated between was I gay, straight, bi or something new."

"I finally broke down and discussed my sexuality with my mother. Her advice was for me to do what makes me happy. Labels are for the ignorant who are too lazy to get to know the true person. She said if I identified my self-worth by labels then I should conform. If I could care less because my sexuality, race, and religion wouldn't matter to the people who know and love me, then be true to myself."

Raj reached for Phallon's hand and breathed deeply for a few moments. He gathered his composure. "Thank you for your perspective. I realize this dinner is a parallel to your mother's wisdom. I can't see my food so I'm not put off by its outward appearance. I can get to know it through smell, taste, feel, and sound to determine if I like it."

He knew in his heart that all of his friends would support him no matter his sexuality. Raj was at ease and awakened to new possibilities. He and Phallon laughed and enjoyed the remainder of their meal.

The server at Sheldon an Amy's table never worked so hard in his life. This guy was unbelievable. Although he was cool when he said he wanted everything perfect for his Amy who finally persuaded him to accept a blindfold.

It was amazing how they made a game breaking down the chemical components and ingredients of their food and named each item correctly.

Prior to eating, each person selected one item that they would like to feed their partner. Amy selected Beondegi boiled silkworms because it was the closest to Gagh a worm that is prized by the Klingons. She new Sheldon would love this treat.

Amy was so excited she asked the server to grab Penny's phone to capture Sheldon's reaction. As a condition of the engagement-marriage agreement, neither, Sheldon or Amy could bring electronic devices on a date. It was distracting and one hundred percent of their attention was to be focused on each other.

Sheldon initially thought the food was pasta. He bit into it and it tasted horrible. He screamed, "What is it?"

I thought you might like a dish similar to the Klingon delicacy Gagh. Amy was so proud of her selection. I ordered Beondegi.

He screamed in horror, "YOU FED ME SILKWORMS?" Sheldon ran out of their dining area heading towards the bar screaming that Amy poisoned him. He snatched a bottle of Everclear from behind the bar poured it into a shot glass and without hesitation tossed it back. The server laughing followed Sheldon recording his reaction.

Amy yelled, "Everyone continue eating my boyfriend didn't like the taste of and item. We are going to call it a night. Amy was so distracted by her traumatized husband she forgot the server recorded the entire fiasco on Penny's phone."

Their server returned Penny's phone and was on his way back to Amy and Sheldon's dining area. Amy thanked the waiter and left a generous tip. She guided her whimpering traumatized husband out of the restaurant.

Throughout the meal Max and Penny furtively challenged each other by seductively tracing their lips with food, licking fingers, and moaning their appreciation. They used all their senses while eating the food and on each other listening, smelling, touching, and tasting.

The server was thinking to herself, This couple is so hot, I almost lost my shit when Max licked chocolate from Penny fingers.

After they finished eating Max and Penny struck up a conversation with Alice to help cool things down while waiting on Phallon and Raj to finish. They told her the experience was awesome and asked her if she was a college student.

"Yes, I am sitting out a semester due to funds but hope to return to Nebraska next semester."

Everyone heard Nebraska and started groaning. Max narrowed his eyes thinking, "Unbelievable."

"Are you kidding me, both of you know that Nebraska stole the name Cornhusker from Iowa right."

Alice said, "Yes, and we tell you Hawkeye's every time we spank your asses in football."

Penny smirks and gives Alice a high five and the date quickly deteriorates.

Penny is sitting on her kitchen stool on the phone with Meemaw the following morning.

Meemaw could barely catch her breath from laughing so hard. "That video of Sheldon you uploaded was hilarious. My Moonpie's reaction was priceless and Amy's cluelessness is what tipped the scales. I had to wear Depends cause I kept laughing so hard."

"I was paying their server to much attention when he told me to send him a link to the video. I looked at it last night and about died from laughing so hard. Between Sheldon's antics and the Wolowitz's make out session we were on shaky ground with the manager. Max and I got into a heated argument talking smack about each others favorite college football teams. The Owner had enough and banned our entire group from his restaurant."

"Meemaw I need to talk to you about Max. Here's my problem."

Meemaw settled into her recliner giving Penny her undivided attention. "I'm listening sweetheart."

"I really like Phallon's brother Max. However, I lose my mind whenever we discuss college football between the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. My family were all devout Cornhuskers and its like I'm the only one left to honor the family tradition. My reactions to Max are extreme. What can I do?"

Meemaw could detect the beginnings of love for Max within Penny's voice. "Sweetpea talk to him and be honest. See if you can work out a solution together."

"I will give it a shot. I find I don't want to lose him. We have this bond/connection. We have yet to make love and I could care less. I always look forward to the time we spend together. I seriously want to explore a relationship."

Phallon is having breakfast with Max's in his loft apartment near Santa Monica. They are sitting in the breakfast area enjoying the oceanfront view. She loved his open floor plan it reminded her of the openness of Iowa.

Concerned that Max and Penny's relationship is unhealthy she asks, "Brother dear why do you lose it around Penny when the Hawkeyes and/or Cornhuskers is mentioned."

Max shakes his head, "I honestly don't know it feels like foreplay. My body is alive and I am so in tune to her. It's like she needs to argue as much as I do to release our bottled up passions."

Phallon chuckles, "Can't you come up with a more conventional method of release?"

Max phone buzzes, its Penny. He holds up a finger to his lips for Phallon to be quiet.

"Hello."

"Hi! Max can I come by in an hour to talk?"

He says sure and gives her his home address.

Max frowns and tells Phallon that Penny is coming over.

Phallon advises, "Be totally honest with her. Don't hold back your feelings. Penny is really intuitive she will pick up on deceit. I guarantee she will be completely honest with you."

Phallon reaches up and places her hands on the side of Max's face so he could look into her eyes.

"Max are you in love with Penny and is she going to be my new sister?"

"I love her immensely she is in my heart. Penny is what's really most important to me. I want her as my wife and the mother of my children. However, I don't know how she feels. I will give her all the time she needs with no pressure to discover if I am the one."

Phallon kisses his forehead, "Based on what I have observed I have no doubt she will be a part of our family."

Penny arrives smiling as Max opens his door.

He invites her into his apartment and they sit together on his couch. "Wow this loft apartment is fabulous. I love your view."

He thanks her.

Penny proceeds to repeat her earlier conversation with Meemaw to Max. When she finishes he hugs and cuddles her.

"Penny, I really like you and understand that it's hard to let go of a family tradition. I would never ask you to give up supporting your Cornhuskers. I am not that rational when it comes to the Hawkeyes, but I instinctively know you would never ask me to stop supporting the Hawkeyes."

He looks at her with a gleam in his eyes.

"However, I enjoy our trash talk it is stimulating and sexy. I will not be offended by your Cornhusker trash talk. I promise to talk smack as good or better than you, if we keep it respectful. Would that work for you?"

Penny nods yes.

They relax and talk about themselves sharing their past and what they want for their future.

"Max, I really like you and want to explore a relationship to see if we have something real. I am open to a physical relationship but only when it feels right for us both."

Max is overjoyed at Penny's words.

"I want the same. To make sure you understand my position I will clarify. I want to date you exclusively. My life's goal since I was nine is to be in a committed relationship with children. If you take exception tell me now because I will be relentless in my courtship."

Penny's feels peace at his words and cautiously admits this feels so right.

She looks Max in the eyes and tells him, "Yes, I want the same."

"They kiss passionately."

Wolowizard and Marmaducas are downstairs listening to Peter and Queen P's conversation from a bug planted in her purse.

GROUP TEXT to the guys: Operation Homo Novus - We have a couple.

Monday: The Big Reveal

Amy's mom and Sheldon's family received a FEDEX delivery of a package at the same time. The package contained instructions that the family view at the same time indicated on the note.

Mrs. Fowler's was frozen in place with mouth open after watching the video. Mrs. Cooper played the DVD and promptly fainted. Meemaw smiled knowingly. Missy screamed and George exclaimed, "I thought he was gay."

GROUP TEXT to the gang: Amy and I were married the Friday before last. Visit to see a video of the ceremony.

Sheldon and Amy's family and friends blew up their phones.