I should disclaimer this, but I'm too ambivalent about the entire disclaimerer thing. It's all mine I say, mine, mine, mine. Anyone who says otherwise is a no good #$$%cker, sorry my fingers slipped and the shift key got stuck. You get the idea. See some prior chapter when I wasn't trying to be witty and boorish.

Liquid in Suspension

The lamb was scrumptious, tender and succulent. They served it with a red wine reduction, new red potatoes and steamed seasoned zucchini. Penny's phone buzzed beside her. She looked, "Josh says the story hit E News, just the engagement announcement."

Leonard smirked, "I guess I'm not sure how it helps. I really am rather clueless about the whole spin thing."

Penny gave him a warm smile and touched his hand. "Oh sweetie its really rather simple. The tabloids and celebrity gossip blogs would have the worst possible pictures of us together, even if they had to Photoshop stuff. There would be a headline like "Penelope Jenson Seeing Mystery Man""

"Then they would speculate, lie and use whatever information they could get to make a walk in the park dirty or unseemly."

Leonard smiled, "I see by putting our own story out there we rob them of the chance."

Penny nodded, "Not that they still won't do it Leonard, but at least we got our story out so the more respectable entertainment media can use it instead. We chose to use the truth. You heard Patty and Josh you could have been my brother here for a visit of something. The important part was to answer it first. I should have went out with the hat and glasses today."

Leonard looked down, "I'm glad you didn't if you can't be yourself when you're out with me when can you be? Were you acting today when you were dealing with Josh and Patty, or do I need to watch out?"

Penny squeezed his hand, he looked up, she smiled again. "That was business Penny. You can think of it as how I go Nebraska these days. So it's a real part of me, though I can act it when I need to. You already know what I can be like when I'm mad. Just like the old days just wait me out Leonard I'll come around."

She leaned over and kissed him sweetly.

"Watch out, got it", Leonard said grinning.

They had both ate lightly. The leftovers were put away. They did the dishes together in the sink.

Penny went over by the tree. Leonard un-stoppered one of the other bottles of wine they'd tasted and grabbed two glasses. He was heading for the couch when Penny turned and met him halfway.

"You know we've only made love once today. Why don't we have the wine in your room?"

Leonard nodded and they headed down the hall. "Technically last night went past midnight so we've already done it twice today."

Penny shook her head, "Pedantic Leonard Pedantic."

Spatial Concept of Time, or lack there of

Leonard Cell phone started ringing a little after midnight. He and Penny had been asleep a short time. He had to un-wrap his arm from under her to reach the phone on his nightstand.

He answered it sleepily "Hello, oh hi. Yeah we did. It was in your Penny news folder this morning? Well no I have some ideas but not yet."

Penny leaned up on her right hand, "Who is it?"

Leonard gave her the shut up look. "Oh yeah, she's right here." Leonard held out the phone to her. She looked pissed but questioning. Leonard held out the phone "It's Amy Cooper in Cambridge." Penny took the phone, "Amy?" Leonard heard "Bestie" come from the phone excitedly. He lay back down and pulled the pillow over his head. Penny got up and headed to the living room.

When Penny slid back in bed next him and started cuddling up Leonard looked over. It was a little after 1:00AM. "Did you have a nice chat?" Penny pushed her head into his chest. "Yep, you're going to have to let her know our wedding plans. She wants to be there." She settled in and ran her hand up his chest.

Great thought Leonard I had some general ideas about where I wanted us to get married and now I'm actually going to have to plan it. He bent his head down and kissed the top of her head. Her hair was so soft and she smelt so good. Paris, He thought, has to be Paris for this Nebraskan farm girl. First to Geneva to get Lisel, and then we'll get married in Paris.

"I love you Penny"

Sleepily in reply, "Love you Leonard."

The Wedding Planner

Penny woke up to a warm spot where Leonard should be. She grabbed the short pink robe she'd brought with her and went looking for him. He was intently staring and typing on his computer and hadn't noticed her yet. She could smell the coffee and turned toward the kitchen. He must have seen.

"Good morning, sleep well?" He said to her back.

"Need coffee, talk soon." She got a mug and filled it with coffee from the pot. She leaned down on the island and took a sip. That's the ticket she thought. The coffee was strong and so tasty. I wonder where he buys it. Okay better now. "Morning Honey. What you up working on so early?" He looked over his computer screen at her.

"Reservations, flower arrangements, cathedrals, Amy's been emailing me all night apparently. I guess I better ask this question. Do you want a big formal wedding or something smaller more intimate. I'm pretty sure Don's Wedding Shack in Vegas is out."

Oh he used the smile, she smirked back at him. "Already did Vegas once not something I want to remember or repeat. Where did you and Liisa get married?"

"It was a small church outside Geneva. I should point out a small church in Europe seats about 300."

Still smiling, she smiled back, "Something intimate, Leonard. Let's see there are you, me and Lisel, Sheldon and Amy, Howard and Bernadette, Horst and Lena if they'd like to come."

"How about your Parents?" Leonard asked.

She looked over at him, then in a deadpan voice. "I'll invite my parents if you invite yours"

"Got it, friends only." Leonard agreed.

"What about your friends here?" Leonard asked.

"Leonard I have some really nice friends here don't get me wrong. You're going to get to meet them believe me. But everybody in the business is the worst gossips in the universe. You know me I've always been a gossip so I know."

"Okay well then I know where I want to take you then, it'll still work I just thought it would be the three of us."

"Leonard you can tell me if you like, Bernadette or Amy will probably spill it. What was your plan before I proposed yesterday?"

Leonard blushed. Penny walked over to the desk, set her coffee down. Spun his chair toward her and hopped in his lap. Her arms around his neck, butt in his lap, legs over the side of the chair. She ground her butt down to make a point and kissed him quickly.

"Okay give it up Hoftstader." Penny said and buried her face into the side of his neck.

Leonard was still blushing she knew.

"Well my intention was to ask you to marry me when we finally got to get to Geneva and spent some time together. I was going to get the same hotel I tried to get for Valentine's Day the first time we were together. Then I thought you would find it romantic to get married in Paris, I know I would."

"Leonard that is so romantic, and thoughtful, and you are so wonderful, perfect score!" Penny kissed him to let him know that he got a perfect score. She would have used a sports metaphor but Leonard rarely got them.

"Well I have a friend of mine from CERN that I emailed to help and she's got a small chapel in an old palace for us to get married in. Her uncle is the equivalent of a judge and will perform the ceremony. We actually have to get married twice, we can go later to our embassy and they will marry us again so it's legal here."

"She said the chapel could accommodate 20 people, so were okay. But I just need to give her 48 hours' notice to get her uncle on board. Now we need to pick a date so everyone has a chance to travel. How about February 1st, it's a Saturday?"

Penny kissed Leonard again, "February one sound wonderful. You get back to it. It's the shower for me. She ran her hand across his upper thigh. "I'll share if you like."

Leonard was right behind as she walked toward the shower.

Camouflage

Penny was dressed, her hair piled on top of her head. She had on black stretch pants and boots, a black top with a floral pattern that came down to her upper thighs. He had put on a pair of brown worsted wool slacks, a white button down shirt, black leather loafers and belt. He was thinking about which jacket. Penny was looking him over.

"Take the brown tweed honey it will set off your pants nicely."

He put it on and she smiled approvingly.

She was putting clothes in the bag she's brought, his clothes. She went to the closet and got two shirts and two pair of slacks. Then got a belt and a pair of shoes. She folded carefully and packed everything.

"We may need to stay at my place for a couple of days. Is that okay?" She said as she busily packed.

"Sure. What do you know that I don't?"

She looked at him, concern on her face. "I would be surprised if the paparazzi aren't parked on your building this morning. Let's just assume they are. We'll give them a photo op on the way to your car. We can stay at my place over the weekend. Like I said we are the flavor of the week."

Leonard looked at her, he knew she knew what was best in this situation, might as well go with it.

She finished packing him up, he added his laptop and tablet to the bag and grabbed it.

They left the apartment, Leonard letting Tish know he'd be gone for a couple of days. They took the elevator down. Penny had on her hat and glasses, as well as a lovely grey scarf wrapped around her neck.

When they exited the building they were there, photographers about ten of them, snapping away. They went toward the parking lot and got to Leonard's Toyota. They got in and he carefully backed out almost hitting one. Then they were on the street driving away.

"Wow, that was a little intense." Leonard said.

"I thought there might be more so it worked out. Did you smile the whole time?"

Leonard thought about it. "I tried but I don't know, deer in the headlights I suppose"

Penny reached over squeezed his thigh, "It went just fine. Do you know where you're going?

"I'll get on the freeway, just tell me when to get off and we'll go from there." Leonard looked in the rearview mirror. No one following them he could see. He looked over at Penny she was taking off the hat and glasses."

"Why the disguise if they know it's you already"

Penny laughed, "it's almost a game, they hate pictures where you not either looking bad or like your persona. They can take all the pictures they want but they never get a real picture of me."

Home ground

They got to the gate to the community. It swung open as he approached.

He looked over at Penny. "I have a card in my purse that lets it know I should be let in. I'll get you one along with the garage door clicker."

They parked in the right hand garage stall. Penny's Mercedes was in the middle. She must have had someone bring it home.

The dogs were barking at the door. Penny got out and waited for him to get his bag. She stood in front of the door. When he got to her she wrapped her arms around his neck. Penny kissed him, both softly and passionately. She looked at him, their eyes locked together.

"I've never said this to a man, ever. Welcome home." She opened the door and the two hounds were upon them.

I thought these two deserved a moment to get things together and test the waters.

Reviews please, I like to know what you think.

Ted

Edits: I only proof a piece twice then publish it, I do go back and make corrections, grammatical changes, some times I just want it to flow better. A larger change is usually a redaction, I read it and realize TMI and cut it out. But sometimes I will add line to clarify something. So the point is: If you see this at the bottom of a chapter, I have edited it since I published it and something beyond a typo was done.