AN: Hey! Sorry it took so long for me to update. College is making me really busy! (Seriously, my eye bags are unbelievable.) Hope I don't disappoint you guys with this chapter!
Reviews are always highly appreciated, you guys. I own nothing :-)
Penny entered the building, smelling the familiar odor of burgers and fries. She smiled to herself as she looked at the table-the one where Sheldon and his friends used to sit. The table where Sheldon would complain about her being a bad waitress, where Howard used to hit on her, where Raj sat silently because he was unable to talk to her, the place where Leonard was... well, just Leonard.
She smiled as she saw the small stage, where Sheldon sang when he had gotten drunk, and where Howard apologized for proposing to Bernadette too early on in their relationship. She saw the bar, where Sheldon had gotten drunk on Long Island iced teas. She chuckled softly as she realized that she had more memories with Sheldon here than with any other person in the group.
"Hey, Penny," the old manager greeted her. Charles was one of the best employers Penny has had. "Hey!" She greeted him back with a hug. "Place hasn't changed at all!"
Charles shrugged. "Yeah, well, I'm still the manager, so..." Penny laughed. "Right. Look, I need The Cheesecake Factory for a night."
"You're always welcome to just walk in, you know." Charles replied.
Penny pursed her lips. "No, not like that. I need to... hire it."
"Hire?" Charles almost laughs. "You throwing a party?"
Penny shrugged. "More of a... thing for my boyfriend."
Charles nodded. "Alright! Come into my office and tell me what you need." Penny followed Charles into the office, taking one more look at the restaurant. He'll love it, she giddily thinks to herself.
"I feel like I'm preparing for prom," Penny complained as Bernadette curled her hair. "Do I really need hair and make-up?"
"No, not really," Bernadette replied. "I mean, Sheldon loves you way beyond your looks. You could look like garbage and he'd still find you attractive. But tonight's a big night!"
Penny groaned. "Fine." She re-did her lip gloss. "How's the pregnancy?"
"Five months and I'm already dreading it," Bernadette replied. "Morning sickness is a bitch!"
Penny laughed. "I thought you didn't like kids. What changed your mind?"
Bernadette smiled. "I really don't know. I just kind of saw married couples with a bunch of kids and told Howard, "I want one of those." Then it happened." She rubbed on her growing belly proudly. "I'm really excited to meet Bump. I want to hold her and teach her and play with her... I want her to learn how to play the piano like Howie. It'll be adorable."
Penny smiled as Bernadette continued daydreaming. One day, Penny thought to herself. You'll have that someday.
Bernadette agreed to fetch Sheldon from his apartment so he could go to The Cheesecake Factory. She was absolutely excited, but she tried so hard not to reveal too much to him. "It's just dinner with the group, Sheldon, it'll be great."
Sheldon nodded. "Alright."
When they got there, Bernadette led him to the usual table. Howard and Raj were already waiting, not knowing exactly what was going on. Penny and Bernadette were silent, anticipating the show. Finally, after some waiting, a waitress appeared, bringing them a tray of their usual orders. She placed Sheldon's order last, and he immediately realized that something was wrong with his food. He had it sent back to the kitchen.
Penny smiled. "Really? They got it right..."
Sheldon frowned. "You, of all people, should know that this isn't how my burger is supposed to be fixed."
"I'm a bad waitress, remember?" Penny elbowed him.
Sheldon rolled his eyes. "It's a simple order, really. Just put everything on the side. Simple."
Bernadette pouted. "But I saw the plate. Everything was on the side."
"Not everything." Sheldon insisted.
Bernadette laughed. "I remember Penny storming into the kitchen in frustration because your order was so exact."
"Yeah. I mean, I'd get it right, but it's really just annoying," Penny laughed. The same waitress returned, and once again, Sheldon found something wrong with his food and sent it back. "Really? Poor girl!" Penny said as she watched the girl walk away. "You know what? It's not the food that's his problem. Be right back."
She appeared a few minutes later clad in a Cheesecake Factory uniform, bringing Sheldon's food-the way he liked it. She smiled as she saw the huge grin splitting Sheldon's face. "I haven't forgotten your order, sweetie. Especially because you used to pester me with it every week."
Sheldon pulled Penny down to his lap. "What did you that for?"
"I don't know... I just felt like you missed this." She replied. "The old us."
"I do," Sheldon admitted. "I stopped going to The Cheesecake Factory because nobody here could ever replace you. You were the only one who cared enough to actually follow my crazy demands. You were the only one who understood why I do the things I do. Also, you were the only one who didn't ask me to change something about me, because then I'd be different."
Penny smiled as she put her arms around him. "You probably never realized it, but you were such a huge part of my life. I had memorized your routines and schedules, your order, why you chose your spot on the couch... It's crazy how much I know you."
Sheldon's heart swelled with love for her. She was unlike him-in fact, she was so much different-but she complemented him and made him happy, and that was enough. "I love you, Penny. I never thought I would ever say those three words but I just have. And I'll tell you that everyday, when I'm right beside you-on the moment you wake and just before you sleep."
"I live in LA, sweetie. Are you going to travel back and forth every morning and every night?" Penny asked.
Sheldon looked at her. "No."
"So... How...?" Penny asked.
Nobody in the group was expecting Sheldon's next statement. "Move in with me."