Sorry for the wait between scenarios, guys! Had some other things to work on, hopefully these won't have to tide everyone over much longer and we'll get the real one soon!
"I'm liking our double date tradition," Leonard said as the waiter handed out the desserts.
"Yeah, me too," Bernadette said.
"I'm glad you find the time," Penny said, "with your research schedule."
"I can plan a monthly recurring event or two for my minutes of spare time," Bernadette said, "especially when we can both leave the Shamy alone for their date night and be left alone by the Shamy for our date night at the same time!"
"And we can get properly crazy," Howard said, raising his fork.
"Not too crazy," Penny said. "I'm only crazy when I'm drunk."
"Yeah, that's the only time," Howard said, grinning.
Penny stared at him for a long moment, then gestured toward Bernadette. "She can do that, not you." Howard looked down. "So Leonard," she said, turning to him, "On the subject of being drunk, did you notice that I didn't have anything to drink tonight?"
"I did think that was a little odd," Leonard said, cocking his head. "And now I'm starting to sense that there's a reason for that," he said hesitantly.
"There is," Penny said, nodding.
"Are you pregnant?" Howard asked loudly.
"Howie!" Bernadette said.
"What? I'm curious!"
"If she's just about to tell Leonard you don't want to spill the beans!"
"For all I know there aren't beans to spill!" Howard protested. "I just asked a simple question."
"I'm not pregnant, Howard! No beans!" Penny said firmly, glaring at him. She smiled and turned back to Leonard. "I just wanted you to know for a fact that I'm completely sober this time." She grabbed his hands. "I think I owe you that much."
Howard and Bernadette's jaws fell almost in unison and they glanced at each other as Penny slipped out of the chair and down onto her knee. "Leonard Hofstadter," she said, smiling. "I'm ready. Will you marry me?"
Leonard smiled broadly, squeezing her hands. "Absolutely."
"Fourth time's a charm!" Howard said again, raising the fork.
Bernadette raised her eyebrow at him. "Howard, I can't even do that, much less you."