Writing on the iPad today so expect a lot of mis-corrected words that make no since in some clearly odd places but such is the burden of being on the road. Here's is my well thought out and cogent reasoning behind why I don't own The Big Bang Theory the TV show not the actual theory that is a fascinating piece of thought based on a classic argument of what was before the big bang. The chicken or the egg dilemma set to classical Looney Tunes credits music. Wow I really slipped there maybe I just should start writing the chapter, oh and I don't own Looney Tunes.

Saturday January 4th 2025, (for those of you keeping track I skipped Friday, we'll get to it)

Bending Time

Penny sat in Sheldon's spot on the couch tweeting a picture of the kitchen to her followers. The tweet said that this was her fiancés lovely kitchen. Leonard was in the shower, she was cuddled up in her robe on the couch wondering if she should join him. They were going to stay at the Apartment for a couple of days while the painters, then carpet people worked on Lisel's room at the house. Chelsea would be there with the dogs and make sure the painters didn't go wandering about the house.

The paint smells gave both of them headaches so this was the best solution, the work would be done by Monday night and then they could go home. Penny smiled, or to our other home actually, even though it's just 20 miles away. The apartment felt very comforting and homey. Just like the first night she'd came here to find Leonard again. She had brought enough clothes for 3 or 4 days if need be. Leonard said she'd brought enough shoes for several weeks.

Chelsea was doing well so far. Penny was encouraging her to ask questions. She reminded her that they were in this together. That a PA is not a servant but 2 more hands, 2 more eyes. If something came up she didn't understand to ask Penny. If they both didn't understand they'd ask Leonard. In the unlikely event Leonard didn't understand she'd call Sheldon. This made her laugh. Friday Chelsea had given her personal assurance that she would hold everything she heard or saw while working in confidence.

Friday had been an interesting day. Leonard had decided to go on the walk with her and the dogs. I believe he was rather sore when he got back. Einstein had almost made him fall several times. She didn't have the heart to tell him she runs with them most of the way. She was just glad he was getting some exercise. He was in good shape for his age, but that was the age where you start to slip. You had to start paying attention and doing extra to keep the pounds off and stay healthy. She knew his age and health was weighing on him the last few days. He had asked what she thought about his retiring to spend more time with her and Lisel. She told him like he had told her. Take it slow and think about it.

They had then packed up for the stay here and came back to the apartment. There were no paparazzi at the entrance for a change. Though one showed up when they went out to take a walk later. They got back in the car parked around the block and took a walk in old town just enjoying each other's company on the warm winter's day. They had a bite at the Korean bakery and walked back home. No one was out front when they got back, Penny was sure they'd be there tomorrow.

Their evening together was quiet yet wonderful. They made a light thin crust Greek pizza together and paired it with a lovely Viognier from Oregon. It was Penny's turn to pick the movie and she picked a rather racy R rated thriller. Leonard had watched it in silence until he realized Penny's was in the scene. She was actually doing a cameo for the producer, playing Penelope Jenson. She told him the story and he had been interested. They had gone to bed early, making love and sleeping in this morning. Penny was patiently waiting now for something else. She put her phone down and got up and headed to the bathroom to get in the shower with him. He loves that, she thought.

Sugar and Spice

Chelsea was petting the dogs and reading her emails. She had volunteered to spend the weekend at the house with the painters. Penny had offered to kennel the dogs over the weekend and have the contractor oversee things. Chelsea actually was enjoying all the space. Her apartment was a small one in Burbank. Just a studio a little bit bigger than the kitchen here. She couldn't even have a cat. She had played with Schrodinger until he lost interest in his toy mouse. She knew as a Penny's PA she would have enough soon to move into a bigger place.

She was taking acting classes when she could. She had been trying to get small parts in Community Theater before this job came up. Being an interoffice assistant at JP Productions had been rather dull most of the time. But she was on the inside, she had got to go to the studios and meet people. She had even been on the set for several tapings. She really liked Penny and Leonard. They were so happy together even when they were sarcastically joking around it was always with a smile. She got up to check on the painters and saw one taking a picture with his cell phone.

"Hey, you know the rules no pictures inside or out."

The painter was a dark haired guy about 35, dressed all in white. He was rather good looking. He turned and smiled at her. "What, are you going to do tell on me?"

Chelsea gave her best stern look she'd been working on and held her hand out for his phone.

She tried to channel Penny, "I'll just have to get you fired. If the lady of the house wants pictures of her home I'm sure she'll hire a professional."

He handed over his phone, she deleted the picture he took and made sure there were no others. "I'll give this back to you on your way out." She gave him what she thought was her best smiled and walked into Lisel new bedroom. The walls were all pink except the one under the window which was yellow. The floor boards light lavender. The wallpaper guys would be here tomorrow to put a strip of Disney characters around the top of the wall. Supposedly they would be done before the carpet people showed up at noon. She walked out by the painter. "Nice job."

"Thanks" he said sarcastically.

She just ignored him and smiled. Just doing my job she thought.

Snow Flakes not yet falling

Penny got up from the bed, her hair was still a little damp. Leonard had gone to the bathroom to relieve himself. She slipped into her robe and walked out then into Lisel room. She was going to move all the stuffed animals and toys to the house next week. She decided that she would need to get more to keep here so she had stuff when they stayed here.

She walked back into the hall as Leonard left the bathroom in his robe. "Hey you" she said and they shared a short kiss. "Getting hungry yet?"

Leonard just nodded and followed her to the kitchen. She poured them each a cup of coffee and stared at the apartment from the kitchen island. Penny smiled that crooked little smile. "Remember how it used to be. You guys would be doing something geeky and I'd show up for dinner. You always gave me some of your food. Sheldon never did of course, but you always shared."

Leonard smiled that smile, "The truth is the first week after you moved in next door I always ordered more in case you came over."

Penny looked at him surprised, "You did?"

Leonard shook his head, still smiling, remembering. "Yep, even when I was with Priya just to make sure you would have some if you came by. The guys all thought I was a horrible pig they never did figure it out. I paid your power bill a couple of times too when I knew you had no money. Then I told you that they had a bill holiday."

Penny looked almost in tears. "You should have told me, I would have paid you back, I always paid you back."

Leonard laughed, "Penny not counting the bills I paid you didn't know about you still owe me $3300 dollars plus change. Beside when I paid you power bills we weren't together."

Penny looked shocked now, "You know I forget how tough it was then. I was working double shifts at the restaurant. I occasionally got a residual check for the hemorrhoid commercial. Thank you Leonard for taking care of me, even when I didn't know it." She leaned over and kissed his cheek.

Leonard blushed, and then got a grin on his face. "Will you be paying me that $3300 by check or cash?"

They both laughed and stared back out at the apartment. Penny was looking at the Christmas tree. "I guess we should take the tree down."

"Not today, let's leave it up the rest of the weekend. What's the plan for the rest of the day?"

Penny put her hand on his back and rubbed. "Tonight we're doubling with Howard and Bernadette for dinner and a movie. No idea what we're eating or seeing they put it together and are picking us up at 6:30PM"

"Okay, let's head down to eat somewhere neither of us has been in a real longtime. We should get there just about lunch time."

Penny looked at him shaking her head, "No"

He just smiled that smile, "Yep, Cheesecake Factory."

Possibilities

Chelsea sat on the sitting room couch playing a game on her tablet with the dogs at her feet. The painter had left after cleaning up and retrieving his phone. He'd even asked for her phone number which she refused but she got a kick out of it anyway. He wasn't her type, really not her type. She wasn't exactly sure what her type was but he wasn't it.

She would be 19 in another week and had really not been to any bars. The reasons were fairly simple she wasn't old enough, she didn't drink, and had promised her mother to never start. That was that. She thought about her father who still wouldn't stop drinking, or couldn't. Nope no painters that don't paint on canvas, no one who does construction. But a nice younger professor from Caltech would be all right. A younger version of Leonard would be just right.

Back to the current

Leonard and Penny were home at last. It was just past twelve, the movie had been a remake of the Matrix. Leonard had liked it. Penny was still confused about some parts of it. The Cheesecake Factory for lunch had been fun. A few people had looked hard at the couple wondering if they were seeing a star or not. Penny had smiled at everyone but no one had come up and talked to them or asked for an autograph. Penny had especially enjoyed seeing the bartender. She definitely thought it was the same busboy Leonard's mother had the hot's for years before. Leonard was to say the least skeptical. Dinner with the Wolowitz's had been a joy at a quiet little bistro serving new American cuisine outside of old town.

Leonard walked to the kitchen and was busily looking for a bottle of wine in the wine cellar. Penny was a little confused.

"We need to do something tonight, have a seat on the couch" Leonard said.

Leonard found what he was looking for. A bottle of champagne was on the top of the island. He opened it with a loud pop but without any spilling out. He took two champagne flutes from the rack and brought both the bottle and the glasses to the coffee table. He filled both glasses and handed one to Penny.

"What are we celebrating?" she asked quietly.

Leonard had a faraway look for a moment. Then he sat down beside her and smiled that smile.

"Tonight we celebrate finding each other again, and the birth of Liisa Grunwald. She would have been 35 years old today. She wished for those who loved her to celebrate her life. Cheers."

Penny drank her champagne it was dry yet had underlying sweetness and was wonderful.

Leonard had drained his glass and refilled it then hers.

He looked intently at the urn then back at Penny. "This toast is to us." They touched their flutes together with a clink sound and drank a final toast.

Leonard pulled her into his shoulder and quoted a line of poetry.

HOW I WOULD PAINT DEATH:
White on White or black on black No ground, no figure.
An immense canvas, Which I will never finish.

Penny had a tear in her eye, "Liisa's ?"

"No, Lisel Mueller, but one of Liisa's favorite."

Penny snuggled further into his shoulder. He didn't shed a tear, but smiled. Contemplative of what had been and what would be.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter. It's been a long day on the road sorry this will be a late update. I want to mention my constant companion when I'm home. He's 14 years old and has become deaf. He's a large buff Sharpei I've had him since he was a puppy. I had his father before him. He's named Wellington and so old that I have to wake him to go to bed. I have to pick him up and put him on the couch beside me. My buddy and companion who never complains and always misses me no matter what.

Of course you can follow on twitter ElipticalThread or EllipticalThreads blog on wordpress dot com.

Macy honey drive carefully there is eight plus feet of snow at Crater Lake right now. Though it is the most beautiful and wonderful place in the winter. I should visit it more often. Loving your thread I'd like to add the whole thing to the blog as its own page let me know.

Cheers.