Please see the disclaimer from Chapter 4 or 5, one of those was pretty good. Yeah 5 play on a dirty limerick that one. You can only be so creative at 2:00 AM. When I laid my head down this opening scene came to me.

Early Morning Meanderings

Penny woke up alone, she almost panicked. She'd become accustom to being curled up next to Leonard. His arm wrapped around her as she slept. An old comfort she'd never forgotten. She sat up. The clock said 2:37AM. Where was he? She got up and slid her furry slippers on. She left her robe beside the bed and walked to the great room. The Christmas tree lights were on. Leonard was on the couch. There was a bottle of scotch on the table, an empty glass next to it. Leonard was leaning back against the corner of the couch asleep.

Penny grabbed a blanket from the chest next to couch. She sat down next to him, and then snuggled into him. Wrapping her arms around him and pulling the blanket over them both. She looked at the tree, trying to see what he saw. What she saw were Christmases spent apart, not enough spent together. Did Leonard see that too? She hoped the tree cheered him up it had seemed to.

Penny made a silent promise to herself. Leonard would never have another Christmas alone without her there. She could make that happen. She's made a lot of things happen in her life. She knew when to be stubborn and insistent about things she wanted. She realized that keeping Leonard happy was one of those things she wanted. She snuggled closer and closed her eyes. He moved slightly and wrapped his arm around her. He muttered her name and went back to sleep. She saw clearly in that moment. Screw the career, the fame and Hollywood. She wanted with all her might to be pregnant, to be pregnant and to raise Lisel and their baby.

She reached up and touched the face of the broken hearted and weary man she loved. She could be pregnant even now. They had sex more in the last week than she'd had in the last 2 years. She realized this was what Patty had been afraid of. That she would get pregnant and decide that a family would end her career. That she wouldn't be needed anymore. She was sure she was paid well for the information. It made her sad she had been relying on Patty for over two years. It hurt that Patty had violated her trust. It was like Patty's plastic surgery to fix her nose and chin. It had made her too perfect for being in anything more than bit parts. Patty had been edging toward pornography before she had come to work for Penny's production company. Penny had always thought she had saved her from that alternative. That was beyond her control now. She thought of Star Wars, Patty had went over to the dark side.

Penny opened her eyes and stared at the tree. It made her think of home. Nebraska and her mom and dad were clearly in her mind. It hadn't been perfect, far from it. But she had been loved. The Christmases had been wonderful, some of her best memories. She thought of the family gatherings of her aunts, uncles and cousins for Christmas Eve. She suddenly longed for her family. Then she realized it was for her and Leonard's own family. She would build that with Leonard and Lisel and whatever little soul may be within her now or very soon.

Penny knew that she was at a point in her life and Leonard's where it was all possible. She had been wondering this past week where to take all this. Where was it leading? The answer was clear now. She meant to be a mommy to Lisel and their child. She thought of Liisa and what her letter might say. She hoped it was a wish for her to be happy and to care for Leonard and Lisel. That was her intention, her want and passion. She was done with this current life. How did Leonard put it, a new half-life. It was clear now a new second half of her life was going to begin. She was closing her eyes when Leonard stirred. He held her tighter.

"Sorry baby I must have fell asleep. I had a bad dream?" he said very softly. She tightened her grip on him.

Penny whispered "Ready to go back to bed?"

He responded by starting to unwrap himself from her. She helped him never letting her hand leave his. She started leading him to the bedroom, leaving the tree lit.

"Next time you have a bad dream honey, just wake me I won't mind."

They were in the bedroom now, she helping him into bed and snuggling into his chest. His breathing got deeper, sleeping now.

She whispered softly "I will always be there now Leonard, every moment you need me."

She closed her eyes, her head on his chest and shoulder, his arm around her when sleep finally returned.

Working Through the Numbers

It was early. The morning light was just starting to filter in from patio doors. Penny felt Leonard move to get up. Sleepily Penny said, "Where you going mister?"

Leonard continued sliding out of bed, "You know me, love them and leave them Hoftstader. Even physicists have to pee, especially 45 year old ones." He was up now. "I'll be back," this was done in his best terminator imitation. She smiled, it wasn't a good one. Penny rolled onto her back and waited for him. A few moments later she heard the toilet flush and he was back. "Did you put the seat down?"

Leonard slid in beside her and lay on his side. His face was in her hair and right hand on her tummy. "What seat?" Penny elbowed him gently, an old joke from years gone by. She was staring at the ceiling. "Why don't they ever put anything on the bedroom ceiling to look at?"

Leonard lifted his head up onto his hand looking over at her. "They did in the old palaces and townhouse in Europe. They have huge murals with angels, cherubs, or landscapes. But I kind of like the view down here better." She turned her head and he kissed her very softly. She reached her left hand behind his head and kissed him harder. They broke their kiss and rubbed noses together. Leonard lay back down and put his face back into hair and pulled her close.

"Honey I was thinking that after we get back from Europe with Lisel I want to make a career change."

Leonard rubbed his hand down her tummy. "I'm pretty sure the Cheesecake Factory will give you your job back. You gave notice and everything."

Penny elbowed him again. "I mean it Leonard I think I want to stay home and be a mom. I can take Lisel to pre-school and kindergarten, and then take care of her brother or sister when they come along." Leonard sat up again.

"That's a huge decision Penny. Your career has always been important to you. You could be starting into a really successful new phase in movies and TV. Are you sure about this?"

Penny continued to stare at the blank ceiling. "I have some commitments that I will have to honor. I've told several producers that I would do their projects if they get them to the stage of filming. But it's pretty clear to me what I really want."

Penny turned and cuddled into him. She sunk herself into his chest and he held her tight.

"I want this Leonard. To wake up every day with you there, wrapped in your arms. Knowing my children are just down the hall waiting for me to start their day. It's never been clear to me as it is right now."

Leonard ran his hand up and down her tummy and thigh, "How would you do it. Make an announcement, or what?"

"First I need to tell my agent not to except scripts or work for me. Then tell josh and the rest of my folks that I'm scaling back further. I'm already at a low ebb as compared to when the show was on. I would still need to go to the major awards shows. Oh and you're going to need a couple of formal suits, need to call you girl in London. If you don't mind I'll help pick them out."

Leonard made a low whistle, "Sure, just give me the options you like. What awards shows?"

Penny rolled on her side to face him. Leonard pulled her hips closer to him and slid his hand up and down her lower back.

"The Oscars, Golden Globes and SAG for sure. They're kind of fun actually. Think of a big dress up ball with live entertainment and parties. Usually I leave fairly early but once in while you'll be with some real special people and things go late. You don't have to go with me but I'd like you to."

Leonard pulled her closer and kissed her. Penny pulled back and gave him that funny smirk.

"I can see you're still stuck on the get me pregnant part of the plan. Good choice"

Leonard's hand ran lower to her butt, "Yep"

Uprising

Penny rolled onto her side and melted into Leonard's side while he remained on his back. She was breathing heavy as was he. She pulled the comforter up over them and snuggled in as close as she could.

"Penny you can't real ever fully retire can you? They'll always be fans, paparazzi, and the press."

Penny thought it through that a minute. She thought about friends who had left the business.

"You can after a while. Your popularity will get to a low state once you're not working any longer. Eventually unless you have some kind of scandal most of your life should be pretty normal. Or you can become a recluse."

Leonard laughed, "Somehow I don't see you as the reclusive type. Especially once the kids are old enough to go to Disney."

Penny got a huge smile, "Won't that be great, do you know if you're a celebrity you get to go to the front of the lines for the rides. Have you taken Lisel yet?"

Now Leonard smiled, "I was waiting for her to turn 5. I haven't asked but how are you financially?"

"I've done pretty well, I'm actually making more now than when I made the show. The show actually has a larger following in syndication. How about you how much do you really have?"

Leonard blushed, "Somewhere around 25 million Euros actually. It amazes me how much easier it was to make money once you had money. Lisel's trust fund is about a third of that hers is invested very conservatively. It doesn't feel like real money it's just a number or a tool to get something you need."

"Leonard can we move Tish here?"

"Well we'd just make another Tish here, let me talk to Howard and see if he can design it and arrange for it to be done why were in Europe. We're going to have to get a dog and Schrodinger sitter anyway."

Penny started rubbing her hand on Leonard's chest. "I guess we should finally get up."

Leonard turned on his side and kissed her. "Happy New Year's Wonder Woman"

Penny had forgotten, "Go Huskers"

Ever just stay in bed all day with someone you love. As long as you can keep the crumbs out of the sheets it's pretty special. Then up for dinner and dancing. There's a day to remember. Dance with someone you love today she'll remember it always.

Okay back from a small Hiatus to attend to charitable activities. Getting more followers on the twitter account, remember its ElipticalThread to follow if you're interested.

Kid Macy, been holding dinner for you. A lovely pheasant, it will go lovely with a 2000 Mouton. Yum.

This is a soft and subtle chapter, these two needed to slow down just a bit especially Penny.

Reviews are awesome write a lot, write often, I'll answer all good or bad ASAP

Ted