Chapter 37 Something Wicked This Way Comes

Emergent problems have been resolved and "the world was once more is spinning in greased grooves." Twenty points for identifying the author and book. No Google that's cheating. Let's see I don't own any of the characters from the Big Bang Theory TV show. Some very talented people seem to be manipulating them right now so I'll pass. I will continue to use my avatars of them for your fun and enjoyment or not depending on you. As one of my partners said today, "Perfect just spot on perfection", I'll try but I'll settle for adequate.

Hearing Keys

Penny and Leonard had woken together to the sound of piano music coming from the living room. There was a baby grand Piano between the dining room and living area. Penny seemed confused but Leonard just smiled. "Wait for it." The music changed from a soft melody to a more upbeat jazz then back to a soft melody. Penny gasped at Leonard, "Lisel?" He just nodded and continued to listen. "She has an affinity for hearing music and being able to play it back. She mixes them up though wait until you hear chop sticks and ragtime." The music stopped and Lisel came into their bedroom. She crawled up on the bed and right into Penny's arms. "Good morning mommy and daddy did you like my song." Leonard kissed her head, "It was lovely honey, you're up early."

Lisel snuggled in between them, "I was hungry and then I went by the piano and played a song. I'm still hungry though." Leonard started to reach for the bedside phone to order breakfast as Penny scooped up Lisel and looked out the window. It was a clear day with sunshine and hardly any clouds. It was going to be chilly in the shade but fabulous. Leonard came over and put his hand on the small of Penny's back. She turned and he kissed her gently, "Good morning, breakfast is on the way, along with coffee and juice."

They all went to the dining room table and sat down. Leonard picked up his phone and checked his email. "Looks like Raj would like to have a quiet cup of coffee this morning in about an hour in the bar." Penny smiled and touched his hand, "Are you sure it's not Priya just pretending to be Raj?" Leonard gave her that quirky grin and said sarcastically, "Do you really think so? If it is it could make a difference in my drink order now couldn't it." Penny's smile widened and she said one word, "Nebraska."

Rehashing Raj

Raj was sitting at a table with coffee when Leonard arrived. Raj offered his hand and Leonard took it, wrapped his other around it and shook it. "Raj my old friend it is good to see you. I talked to Priya yesterday she tells me you're interested in coming back to Pasadena and Caltech?"

Raj looked nervous now, he stuttered for a second, "I would Leonard. I'd like to come back with my family and start my life there again. I know we weren't very close the last few years but let me explain."

Leonard stopped him there. "Raj it's the past. I do know you never slept with Penny if that's what you're getting at. I knew then when she called you "Quick Draw". But Raj the work I have in mind for you is serious research. I'll need you to have a real moral center if you come back. Your research partner is going to be very challenging. There can be no running away, no back peddling in both your professional and personal life. You have to promise me that personally Raj."

Raj looked uncomfortable and put his hand across the table. Leonard shook it and then held it he looked into the astrophysicist's brown eyes. He saw just a touch of fear there. Well that would get worse when he heard the rest. "You're going to be doing research on the Ecliptic Alignment of CMB Anisotropy problem. I'll write the grant proposal and because of your research partner it will sail right through. Now onto your first task, getting that research partner to be interested, you two have always worked well together but with some friction."

Raj's mouth was hanging open, "No not him, not again."

Leonard let go of his hand smiling what for Leonard would be called his wicked smile. "Yes you and Sheldon Cooper PhD the Nobel Laureate and this is how you'll convince him tonight after dinner."

Sole Ache

Penny walked into the suite first holding the door open for Leonard who carried the now sleeping Lisel. It had been a long day starting with a walk along the Seine then lunch at Les Deux Magot overlooking Boulevard St. Germain. Leonard then had the car take them to Montmarte Hill. Penny thought how lovely and picturesque it had been like going back in time really. They had ended up at Bois de Vincennes which had the zoo, botanical gardens and a castle. Their 4 year old had been a trooper up until the castle, and then she was getting a little cranky. Leonard had been carrying her on and off all day. She finally insisted he pick her up and promptly fell asleep with her head on his shoulder.

Penny closed the door and went ahead of Leonard to pull back the covers on Lisel's bed. Leonard laid her gently down on the bed with her head on the pillow and started working her coat off. Penny removed her shoes and socks then covered Lisel with the sheet and blanket after placing her rabbit next to her. They turned off the light but left the door open and both headed for their own bedroom to get changed. They both chose soft clothes to relax in for a few hours before dinner. Penny put on her Nebraska shorts and one of Leonard's dress shirts. Leonard had on black silk sweats and a white t-shirt.

Leonard held Penny's hand as they sat on the couch they were both checking messages.

"Horst and Lena are all checked in Penny, they'll meet us for the pre-wedding dinner tonight."

Penny showed Leonard a picture on her phone, "Howard and Bernadette made it to Pont Neuf and took a lunch cruise on the Seine", anything from Priya and Raj?

Leonard looked up, "Nope, but I did get a reply from the president of Caltech that says if I can get Sheldon Cooper to come back I can bring several Indian professors in if I would like. Kind of thought it might go that way."

"Do they know he's not doing physics anymore?" Penny mused as she continued going through her emails.

Leonard smiled over at her, "Doesn't matter as long as he has that Nobel medal he can go to work almost anywhere and never actually work. It's a huge fundraiser for any university as well as the prestige factor."

Penny showed Leonard a picture of the dogs in the pool Chelsea had sent, "Do you think your plan will work tonight?" Leonard sat back and looked at her, "It's really going to depend on how turned off Sheldon really is. We'll actually know tonight, it will either trigger him or he won't care. In which case I'll have to think of something else, hitting him on the head with a coconut it worked in the cartoons."

Penny laughed and leaned over to kiss him and making out seemed be the next natural thing to do. She rolled on top of him pinning him down and proceeded to passionately kiss him. Perhaps he was too involved kissing Penny or maybe he was just in a very contented place. But Leonard didn't feel the disturbance in the force.

The Return of the Sith (Sorry George)

The woman before the desk clerk was rather drawn and tight lipped. Her grey hair worn in a very tight gathered fashion. She was dressed in a blue women's business suit with a longish skirt and high black heels. She drew another exasperated breath then again said, "The reservation?"

The clerk found it a deluxe room a single on the third floor. He asked for her passport and processed her credit card then handed both back to her with the key card. She looked him up and down. "Which room is Dr. Hoftstader in young man?" He looked back at the computer, "I'm sorry Madame no one by that name is registered here."

She huffed, "Then how about Dr. Sheldon Cooper and family?" The clerk again consulted the computer. "They are in 503 Madame."

"Well thank you." The woman said quite sarcastically then waved at the bellhop to lead the way with her bag.

Challenging Data Constructs

Dinner had been quite wonderful Leonard thought as he sat at the large table holding Penny's hand in his lap. One reason he had chosen the Athenee was the three star restaurant with its large wine cellar and world renowned cuisine. He was waiting for the game to begin. He got everyone's attention. "The wedding will be at 1:00PM tomorrow everyone. Cars to take everyone to the Chateau will be here at 11:30AM. It's about a 45 minute drive. After the ceremony the cars will bring everyone back here. Lisel will go with Horst and Lena. Penny and I have another stop to make then we'll meet right back here for the reception dinner 7:00pm. The drivers will take you anywhere you'd like to go we have the cars for the day one for each couple. Sheldon can I see you, Howard and Raj for a moment."

Leonard led his three old friends into the lounge. They took a table in the corner and each ordered a beverage, Sheldon ordered a virgin banana daiquiri, Raj and Howard cocktails, Leonard a double Laphroaig scotch. Howard raised his glass, "To Leonard and Penny"

They all raised their glasses and then had a drink. Leonard looked over at Raj and raised his glass, "To my newest research team co-leader and long lost astrophysicist Raj." "Here, Here" added Howard. Sheldon got that condescending smile on his face, "Going to search for more planetoids in the Kuiper Belt again?"

Leonard smiled both inwardly and outward, Howard jumped in, "Oh no Sheldon, Raj will be co-leading the Ecliptic Alignment of CMB Anisotropy research team. One of the last great cosmology questions in Physics." Howard turned to Raj, "So are you going with the Hagerman approach or Reitman evaluation?"

Raj answered immediately, "I think Reitman is the way to go his theory may not have held water 10 years ago but was far superior to Hagerman. It will be interesting to use the modern field theory to reexamine it."

Sheldon snorted, "Excuse me Reitman was a second rate astrologist compared to Hagerman, what's your sign. Hurmph. How could you be so misguided, you obviously have to start with Hagerman and use the new unified field equations to determine the new quantum constants. It should only be matter of time to come up with quantum calculations to have someone like Leonard here create an experiment to test it. If it fails then go back to Reitman and do the same thing though you'll probably only find Virgo rising in Taurus."

Sheldon looked over at Leonard, "Are you sure Raj is the right person to co-lead this, you should have a top theorist as his co-investigator."

Leonard was careful not to smile, "I was thinking about you Sheldon. You've worked with Raj before and I know Amy would like to come back the Caltech."

Sheldon didn't miss a beat, "I'm in."

Raj just "happened" to have some scratch paper and a pencil in his pocket and the two started to talk about the physics. Sheldon was scratching equations and diagrams on the paper. Leonard nodded at Raj who returned it. Howard and Leonard bumped fists behind Sheldon's back. Leonard started to get up to go tell Amy the good news when standing in the door of the lounge he saw Penny with a grey haired lady. Penny had a distraught grin on her face. Leonard turned toward Sheldon. Through clenched teeth, "Sheldon why is my mother here."

Sheldon did not look up from his calculations, "Because she's your mother Leonard. Don't worry she can ride with Amy, Tyler and I.

This one was kind of fun tonight, I think Darth Vader music at the front desk scene might have been appropriate. You didn't think I'd leave Beverly out now did you? Hope you enjoyed tonight's little fiasco dramedy.

Reviews, snickers, drawings, tweets, comments are more than welcome but generally demanded by the authors muse lest she leave him and search for clearer minds and greener pastures. If I have a moment I'll post some pictures to go along with the sightseeing. Oh the quote winner. Final lines John Steinbeck's Cannery Row.

Macy loved today's mini chapter, keep'em coming, someday I'll have to explain you to the rest of the readers.