There once was disclaimer from Algiers, he was sorry and said through the tears. I used them only in good spirit, with no intention to inherit, and to give all the folks at TBBT the credit.

Trimmings

Leonard smiled at Penny, caught his breath and turned back to the duck in the pan. He was rendering the fat at the moment. He was going to pour it off then let it simmer in herbs, a little Syrah and a touch of butter.

"Okay, the table is set for 4", Penny announced, "What are we having with the ducky?"

Leonard didn't look around, "I was going to do a risotto with mushrooms, yellow onion and sun dried tomatoes. Just need to get this done so I can dice the onion and cut up the Morels and Shitake mushrooms."

Leonard felt her hand in the middle of his back as she reached beside him to the butcher block on the counter. She pulled several knives out until she found a offset serrated one. "I think I can handle that." Leonard looked over his shoulder. Penny had a fresh cutting board out and was quickly dicing a yellow onion very quickly. "Very nice knife skills Penny, something you haven't told me?" She looked over and smiled a lovely smile, "You're not the only who's learned how to cook. I'll have you know I've been the celebrity judge on some cooking shows. Do you want the mushrooms coarse of fine?"

Leonard, let his breath out, he really wanted learn more about this Penny. "Coarse I think, but it's up to you." He turned back to the duck and heard her chopping away.

"All done, anything else?" , Leonard heard the sink, then the hand on his back again as she replaced the knife. She gave him a peck on the cheek. "I think I can handle it from here, but next time we'll plan a meal and cook it together. Why don't you relax and drink your wine."

She purred in his ear, "Oh I have another project to get started on you just keep cooking."

Leonard turned back to the duck. He heard Penny walk into the living room. "Tish", she said, "Christmas music please, something up beat."

Christmas music started playing. Leonard smiled, that's my girl embrace the change. Leonard set the duck to simmer and started making the risotto. He walked over to the island and looked over. Penny was busy decorating the tree from the cloth bag she had brought. It had lights and was already half covered in crystal icicles, silver bulbs, and many crystal snowflakes. On the top was an angel in light blue with silver wings.

"That looks incredible Penny." She looked over smiling and continued decorating. He could hear her singing to the Christmas music softly to herself.

Everything for dinner was either simmering or in the warmer. The Wolowitz's would be there in about 30 minutes. Leonard took a sip of his wine then put it on the island and started walking toward the tree. Penny was making some final adjustments. She looked up and smiled, there were tears in her eyes. He grinned, walked over and offered a hug which she quickly stepped into. Leonard wrapped his arms around her. "I remember the last time we did this too."

Ghost of Christmas Past

Penny sniffled a little. He knew what I was thinking about. We have more history apart than we ever had together but we're still connected. It made her happy but at the same time sad for wasted years. She caught herself, "Oh my god, I'm over thinking now". This caused her to laugh. Leonard gave her a squeeze, and they backed away from the tree an admired it.

"Tish, would you dim the lights in the living room." The lights dimmed and the snowflakes sparkled with the clear lights of the tree. "It's beautiful Penny, the first tree I've had in a few years. Lisel has been spending Christmas with her grandparents since she was one. Once Liisa died I had Christmas with them until I moved back here. Thank You."

Penny had heard no sadness in his voice, he was happy right now. She felt content with his arm around her. "I think you should have Christmas morning at my house, my tree has presents under it and everything. I'd really like you to be there." Leonard turned to look in her eyes. She gave him sweet smile.

"That sounds great, but we need to be here tonight at 11:00PM. Lisel will be on the webcam opening her presents. It'll be 8:00AM in Switzerland. We could go to your house after that." Penny was thrilled, "Okay". They turned into each other and were sharing a soft kiss when the knock on the door came. "Howard's normal timing", Leonard scowled, as they finished kissing and he started turning for the door. Penny cracked up laughing and followed.

Old Friends New Beginnings

Leonard opened the door, "Hi guys, I've got a Christmas present for you." He stepped back revealing Penny standing by the coffee table. Bernadette, who was in front, gasped and held her hand to her mouth, "Penny" she cried, and moved quickly to give Penny a big hug. Penny hugged the petite blond, tears starting to stream down her face.

Howard walked in next to Leonard, "I guess someone else will be getting a nice little Christmas present also." Leonard just frowned at Howard, and then smiled at Penny and Bernadette. They had stopped hugging. Both were crying then started hugging again. "Hi Penny", Howard said brightly, Penny looked up and smiled at him and gave him a little wave as she continued to hug Bernadette.

"Let's let the women folk get reacquainted show me this wonderful wine we'll be drinking." Leonard closed the door and followed Howard to the kitchen. Howard looked over to the computer, "Hi Tish", "Hello Master," Tish responded.

"You really do need to change that Howard, she sounds like a slave", Leonard hissed, he saw the look on Penny's face and shrugged. Howard just chuckled and moved to kitchen. Leonard was showing Howard the bottle of French wine as Penny and Bernadette finally sat down on the couch together. "How are you, I've missed you so much?", Bernadette began quickly. "I've really missed you too, I wished I had kept in touch but it was hard." Penny was still a touch weepy. "I've followed you on twitter and the news Penny, you've really made it. We were so excited for you when you got your own show." She touched Bernadette's hand, "Thanks, I just wish I hadn't screwed up in New York so badly. I lost Leonard and then myself for a few years there."

Bernadette looked seriously at Penny, "I knew when you left you weren't ready to go there on your own. I told Leonard afterward he'd been too supportive, that you needed him to tell you to stay here with him. But he wanted you to succeed so much, to realize your dream and be happy. He made as big a mistake in letting you go, as you did there."

Penny looked shocked, Bernadette continued. "I talked to him about it after you asked us to pack up the apartment. I told him to go to New York and get you, but he said he wouldn't destroy your dream. He was really stricken with guilt over it, that's when he decided to go to Oxford. He just couldn't be here without you."

Penny sniffled, "and I couldn't come back because he had left and I felt so guilty. We really screwed it up didn't we?" Bernadette smiled, "Well there's always now, Leonard's had a hard time of it the last few years but he has Lisel and Caltech to keep him busy. He spent months getting the apartment just right. I worry about him over the holidays though, he tends to isolate himself and over indulge his fondness for wine and whiskey. You know he's rather wealthy now? How did he contact you?"

Penny smiled at her friend, "He didn't, I read his interview in the Times and new he was here. Someone tweeted it to me. I can't figure out who it was though."

"That would have been me", said Howard now standing beside them, wine glass in hand.

Three people's mouths were now hanging open.

Wine and Dine me

"Howie", Bernadette almost shrieked. "Hey, I would of told you if I'd have known it had worked. I wasn't sure if it was really Penny that was doing that twitter account. It could have been her publicist or PR person." Penny was staring at the engineer turned PhD, "How did you get it to me."

Howard looked a little embarrassed, "I hacked your twitter account and added an account to the people you were following. It wasn't too difficult to hack you password, 'ShoeHugger', is not really all that secure. I sent you the link, not really sure what would happen."

Penny stood up and walked over to Howard. She did something she had rarely if ever done, she hugged Howard Wolowitz. "Thank you Howard, now no creepy comments" Howard stayed silent. Penny let him go and reached over to take Leonard's hand who was standing next to them. "Is it dinner yet sweetie?" "It is." The two couples headed for the kitchen island.

The wine was poured and Leonard made up each plate. It was the mushroom risotto, beside it a lovely duck comfit, and steamed and seasoned asparagus. The wine was a 15 year old Cote Rotie from the upper Rhone Valley. It was a perfect pairing. Penny smiled at Leonard when she tried it. The conversation was light. The tree was commented upon and enjoyed by all. Pet stories exchanged. Dessert was a vanilla bean ice cream with a sweet German ice wine over the top with fresh raspberries.

Leonard got up to get the coffee to go with dessert. "So no kids for you guys?" asked Penny. Howard looked pained for a second. Bernadette smiled at him and reached over to hold his hand. The little blonde turned to Penny, "You knew I was never too excited about having kids. It turned out I couldn't. We tried for a while but I just kept miscarrying. They've never figured out why. So we decided several years ago instead of going through the heartache of more failed attempts we would just no try. It's really okay we're at peace with it, we could always adopt if wanted to." Bernadette switched her hand to Penny's.

Penny shed a tear, and squeezed her friends hand back.

After coffee Howard and Bernadette got up to go. Penny gave Bernadette a hug, then handed her a piece of paper. "That's my cell phone, only my closest friends have it. Call me after Christmas and you can bring you dogs over to meet mine. Maybe we can have another girls night like in the old days."

"I will Penny", she gave Penny another hug. Penny pecked Howard on the cheek, whispering "Thanks again." Howard smiled, almost said something, thought better of it and just nodded.

Leonard and Penny were suddenly alone again. Christmas music was still in the background. "Tish, music we can slow dance too please", Leonard intoned.

Penny realized that she and Leonard had never danced, he and Amy had once and he'd gotten hurt. "Are you sure about this?" Leonard smiled, "Had lessons for my wedding, I'll manage". Penny kicked off her shoes, and stepped into Leonard's arms and they danced for the very first time.

A touch of a shorter chapter, we'll talk to Lisel soon and then sleeping arrangements with pit bulls. Then there's Christmas morning.