Next chapter! It was going to be up tomorrow, but an update was hastened by Amber ACTUALLY READING TBBT FIC. AMBER, THIS CHAPTER IS DEDICATED TO YOU, BESTIE.
The idea for this proposal was suggested to me by stardustmelody77.
"Penny?" Leonard asked hesitantly. "Have you been going to the comic book store by yourself?"
Penny turned from the fridge. "I've gone a couple of times."
A small smile came over Leonard's face. "Are you secretly catching up on all my favorite comics behind my back?" he asked her, teasingly, sounding as if he was convinced that's what she was doing.
"No," Penny said. "That's way too time consuming. But…are you sure you even know what your favorite comic book is?"
"Well, there are certainly ones I like better than others, but…"
"What about this one?" she asked, reaching into the bag on the counter and pulling out an unfamiliar looking book.
Leonard cocked his head. "What is that?"
"The Adventures of Leonard and Penny," she said. Leonard laughed. "Don't believe me?" She handed him the book. Leonard's eyebrows went up, and he took it from her. "Illustrated by Stuart Bloom," he read, putting a finger on the name at the bottom. He looked over at Penny. "You got him to make a book of us?"
"Read it!" Penny said, sitting down on the arm of his chair. "Read it!"
Leonard smiled at how excited she looked. "This could become my favorite comic book," he said, opening it and looking down at the first page. In the corner it said September 24th, 2007. The illustrations were of their first meeting. Leonard gave her an affectionate look, and then began to page through the book, smiling at some things, like Penny gaming with them six weeks into knowing her, that he knew she considered important, and nodding in silent understanding at why some things, like her going out with the illustrator of the comic book, were obviously left out.
April 12, 2010 was drawn in dark colors, and Leonard let out a quiet sigh. The next two pages of the books were drawn in a similar dark scheme, and then January 19, 2012 began the brightness again. Leonard smiled. "I like the color themes going on here."
Penny grinned. "That was my idea. I'm sure Stuart would have thought of it too, but it was still my idea!"
Leonard smiled. "Good for you," he said fondly, then turned the page again, laughing at how the 'characters' had a hint of a mechanical look during the beta test, a nod to the concept coming from software. When he got to November 15, 2012, he lifted his hand and put it on her arm, and then she leaned over and draped her arms around his neck, putting her cheek against his so she could see the pages too.
The most recent date in the book was the week prior, and Leonard smiled when he remembered that date. "This is really, really cool, Penny," he said, turning his head to kiss her cheek.
"Well, you haven't finished it yet!" Penny said, standing up and pointing at the book.
"What else would be in here?" Leonard said. "You giving me the comic book?"
"Well, the next page is dated today," Penny said. "Not that you'd know since you aren't there yet."
Leonard gave her an amused look and then looked back down at the book, turning the page. It was indeed dated that day. The first illustration showed Leonard in his chair, looking at the book, and Penny…his head shot to the left, seeking his girlfriend, and he found her, just like the Penny character was in the book, on one knee, her hands up on the arm of the chair.
Leonard glanced briefly back at the comic book, but he found he couldn't look away from her. He knew…he knew this day would come, he knew she'd be ready one day, and she would do this, but…he suddenly knew what it was like to be Penny, knowing something was happening and being afraid. But this was a good kind of afraid, the kind that was exhilarating, the kind that wasn't really fear but a sudden hit of realization that this was in fact where one was supposed to be. And judging by the look in Penny's eyes, they were both, finally, feeling the exact same way at the exact same time about the exact same thing.
She smiled, sliding her arms farther forward so her hands could take hold of his arm. "Will you marry me, Leonard Hofstadter?"
Leonard smiled. "I have a new favorite comic book."
Her smile turned into a broad grin, and she used her grip on his arm to stand up and lean over him, putting her hands on his face and kissing him. He kissed her back, trying not to tear up, his hands starting to shake.
She pulled back and smiled at him. "Did you like this idea?"
"I'd call this the whole nine yards," Leonard said, reaching his arm around to pull her down on the chair, and she twisted as she fell so she was lying on her back across the chair, on top of the comic book, smiling up at him. He touched her face with the hand that wasn't pinned under her shoulders. He was grinning ear to ear. "We're…engaged. How long were you planning this?"
"Couple weeks." Penny sat up and pulled herself off the chair.
"Where you going?" Leonard asked, looking confused.
"You gotta look at the next page of the book," she said.
"What, is this the future?" Leonard asked. "Or…" his eyes shot over to her. "You're not pregnant, are you?"
She shook her head. "No. Just look at it."
He turned the page, and his eyebrows shot up. "Okay…this is kinda vague, but…"
She grinned. "That's how what we're gonna do now starts." She held out her hand, and Leonard tucked the book under his arm, standing up and taking it as she started walking toward his room. "Are you really bringing the book with you?"
"Well, I don't want the guys to find it!" Leonard said. "Plus…I may need to use it for reference."
The Sulfur Juxtaposition, for those of you reading that one, should be updated by the end of the week.