The automatic disclaimer function seems to broken. Tish where the hell is that disclaimer, Tish? Tish has blue screened, Howard should have never sold it to Microsoft. If he had sold it to Apple it would just misspell things. Consider this disclaimed.

Losing track of the days yet? It's Sunday Dec. 29th 2024

In the United States a new President will be sworn in soon. The college bowl games have started. Penny's beloved Corn Huskers will be playing in the Cotton Bowl on the first.

Leonard is sitting on the couch in the apartment, sipping his coffee waiting for Penny to get ready. The apartment across the hall had brought back some rather amorous feelings. But about 1:00AM they had both decided to come back and sleep in Leonard's bed.

Leonard was staring at the pewter urn that contained Liisa ashes. Instead of a grimace he had a slight grin on his face. He hadn't even noticed that Penny was standing at the end of the hallway. He did notice when she sat down beside him and put her arms around him.

"What are you remembering baby?"

Leonard turned and kissed her, "I was thinking she would be happy for both of us. In many ways she was your biggest fan. Someone who both knew who you were and who you had become. I know she watched your show on the net. She had a huge heart, knowing that you would always be part of me she took you into her heart also. I feel lucky to have loved and been loved by her. I'm happy she's going back home in January. I told Horst I'd bring her ashes to him, it's his year. I get her back in 2026. She's going on the mantel next to her grandparents ashes. I have her poetry and writing, pictures and memories that are better reminders and of course I have Lisel".

He had a stoic look, but you couldn't detect sadness. Penny though had a look of concern.

"Are you going to be all right with taking her back?"

"I was worried about it before but the ashes will be back with me in a year. Then I'll take care of them again."

Penny looked at the urn, "We'll take care of them together, you me and Lisel"

"Does it bother you that you both live in my heart?"

Penny was thoughtful, "No it makes me feel more loved, we both love you Leonard. She knew it when you were with her. I know it now. I would not have you for a moment try to replace her with me. She is part of you now, a really good part I think."

Now Leonard smiled. "What are our plans for the day?"

Penny started putting on the black flats she had put on the floor when she sat down.

"We need to go by this little grocery over in Sherman Oaks. My housekeeper gets all the staples and anything I put on the email list for her but I like to buy my own fruit and vegetables. They also have fish and meat so we can pick something fresh out. Then home. We need to get online together and pick stuff out for Lisel's room, then talk about colors and how we should arrange it. Curtains and"

Leonard stopped her, "You really want to decorate and put her room together don't you?"

Penny blushed slightly and gave him a wonderful smile.

Leonard smiled, "I'll just help out then and let you lead the way. I've done this a few times already. Think of me as a resource."

She hugged him again, "Thanks honey I been thinking about it and want to do this so much."

She pulled back and now she was more serious. "We also need to do a little research and talk about how we deal with Ms. Larson tomorrow."

Penny stood up and grabbed her garment bag and purse. "Ready to face the jerks outside?"

Leonard stood up and grabbed his bag.

"Do I get to see the Princess Leia costume later?" That raised eyebrow leer on his face.

"Only if you're a Jedi, do you have a light saber anymore?

Leonard perked up, "I guess we'll have to go by the comic book store on the way?"

Penny laughed and headed for the door. Leonard told Tish they were leaving and followed her out.

A slight depression

The comic book store looked remarkably as it had 12 years ago. The walls covered in comics and collectables. Tables full of comic books in boxes. The counter was even in the same place. It was a little darker, maybe a touch dingier.

Behind the counter was a mousy looking young man, acne, greasy hair, maybe 17 or 18 with curly red hair. He had on a black t-shirt and jeans. He didn't raise his head to look at them. He was reading a graphic horror novel, from what Leonard could see it was a bloody one. Leonard looked around, Penny stood behind him. He admired her for a moment, yellow top layered over a light pink one, dark blue jeans, and the black flat shoes. The large sun glasses were still on, her hair up in a clip piled on her head.

"Is Stuart around?"

The kid didn't look up from his reading. "Uncle Stuart someone's here to see you."

"Coming" a depressed sounding monotone voice came from the back room

Stuart came out of the back. He had always been thin, but now he looked positively gaunt. His hair was mostly gone. His complexion was the same sallow color. Leonard decided he was not aging well. But he brightened when he saw Leonard. He walked from behind the counter extending his hand.

"Leonard your back in town, It's nice to see you"

Leonard shook his hand then stepped aside and started to say. "You remember".

"Penny is that you?" Penny removed the glasses and stepped over and gave Stuart a hug. He stepped back and reached over and slapped his nephew's shoulder. The kid finally looked up, "Kevin this is Leonard Hoftstader and Penelope Jensen, old friends of mine." Stuart was beaming Kevin's mouth was hanging open. Stuart looked at him.

"I told you I knew her, we even dated didn't we Penny?"

Penny gave them her star smile, Leonard thought. Then she stepped toward Kevin and extended her hand. "Yes we did and your Uncle was an absolute sweetheart and it's just Penny." Kevin extended his shaking hand. Penny took it softly in hers for a second, not shaking it just holding it for second and releasing it. She looked Kevin in the eye, his mouth was still agape. "Close your mouth sweetie or brush your teeth more often"

Stuart was all smiles, quite a rarity for him. "What are you guys doing here?"

Penny gave Stewart a warm smile a real one, "Leonard here needs a light saber". Leonard just nodded.

Leonard watched as Stuart went into business mode. "Jedi or Sith?" His face was very serious.

"Jedi" Leonard said.

Stuart had a little grin, "I have just the one, give me second". He walked into the back and brought back a lit light saber with a green blade. "It's a nice one, a limited addition this is number 107 out of 500". Leonard shook his head, "I know it used to be mine"

Stuart smiled a little bigger. "I never could sell it so I just bought it myself."

Leonard took the light saber. "Hello old friend, how much?"

Stuarts face went back into business mode, "$700"

Leonard's mouth dropped open. Stuart had only given him $150 for it 12 years ago. Penny leaned over and said "Leia costume"

"Done" Leonard said.

Homeward bound

After paying for the light saber Leonard used his phone and took a picture of Penny standing with her arm around Stuart. She then signed every picture Stuart had of her in the shop, most all were publicity stills from here TV show. Stuart had been a fan.

They got in the car and headed for Penny's grocery store.

Penny was smiling sun glasses off, holding his hand. The traffic was light.

"So how much will Stuart be able to get for your autographed stills?"

Penny laughed, "Not much unless I die tomorrow. I signed thousands of the promo shots when the show was on. All you had to do was write in and ask for one."

She turned toward Leonard, he was ashen. Her right hand shot to her mouth, "Honey don't ever think that. I'm sorry."

Leonard shook his head, "It's okay it just hit me that's all, I'm sorry I even went there, it's just "

Leonard never finished Penny just leaned over and put her head on his shoulder. They drove quietly for a few minutes more. Leonard reached his hand up and touched her face.

"It really is okay, Penny. I shouldn't be touchy. Want to play some music?"

Penny gave him a very soft kiss on the cheek. Then she started looking through the cars music selection. She went with country and settled back against his shoulder. They drove the rest of the way in a comfortable silence.

Snappy Section Title here, maybe when I've written it

The dogs were certainly happy to see them. They took several minutes and commands from Penny before they settled down.

They had went their separate ways for a while Leonard on the couch as Penny worked on finding furniture for Lisel's room at her desk.

Leonard had settled in on the couch by the tree with his laptop on his lap. He checked his email, there was one from Sheldon.

Subject: Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials.

Leonard both Amy and I are excited to come to your wedding in Paris. I have been wanting to take the train through the Channel Tunnel and will finally have the chance. Let Penny know if she would teach Amy to sing the Happy Kitty song correctly when she has time in Paris it would be greatly appreciated.

Sheldon

Penny sat down beside him on the couch in a long pink and white silk robe. She had her own laptop in hand. Leonard leaned over and showed her Sheldon's email. Penny laughed then started typing on her own laptop.

"Just what I was thinking, your Ms. Larson mostly does celebrity interviews. She does seem to be a mainstream type though no tabloid garbage. I wonder how she found out about us."

Leonard looked stunned, "You're saying she was using me to get to you."

She gave Leonard a smile, "I had a feeling she had, but how did she know to interview you?"

Leonard watched her think it through. Penny's face was a mask of concentration she had a wrinkle in her brow he had never seen. Then her face was serene, the wrinkle went away. She had her answer.

"Honey tomorrow she thinks she just going to interview you and she is. Invite her in and get her in your chair. I want you to sit on the couch and I'll come out and sit on the couch next to you. We are going to hold hands on the couch the whole time. If I squeeze your hand you let me answer. If I rub my fingers on your palm just keep quiet and let her rephrase the question. If she asks anything about Lisel we stay silent. She'll get the idea. If I like her and the way she treats us, I'll give the interview she's looking for. But she'll have to tell me some things first."

Penny looked intently at Leonard face, "Tomorrow during the interview I'm going to be acting the whole time. I'm going to be Penelope not Penny so don't be surprised or put off. I don't let the press see the real me very often. They take advantage of that, I would have to really trust this girl and right now I don't"

Leonard shook his head yes. He was suddenly filled with enormous respect for the woman before him. She wasn't the Nebraska farm girl struggling waitress anymore. She was a professional dealing with the vagaries of being a celebrity. He had to remember that. He found it both attractive and intimidating at the same time.

She saw it in his face. Suddenly she was Penny again, soft, alluring and caring. She reached over and put his laptop on the table. She took his hand and started leading him away from the couch.

"Come on Jedi, I have something to show you"

It becomes concentric to these two to be together. There center is the love from 12 years ago. But they are who they are today even though there feelings come from then. The person you loved then is still in there, they have just evolved. Could you deal with that? I guess the best answer to that is to never let a split evolution happen. So much easier to love that person now, in this moment and evolve together. But sometimes it's a matter of couldn't.

Hope you enjoyed today's chapter. These are not pre-written each one is created the day it's posted. So perhaps my own mood is reflected in it. To follow the creation on twitter it's ElipticalThread to follow. Where this all goes is you guess as well as mine.

Reviews are awesome, good or bad. Are these people still Leonard and Penny TBBT fans let me know? If it's just become a completely new tail that's okay too.

T