Hi all, hope you enjoyed the first part.
Sheldon and Penny found themsleves slow dancing whilst there wedding guests formed a ring. For there first dance as husband and wife.
Her head leaning on his shoulder, listening to his heart beat. It was strange, she hadn't had to push very hard to get Sheldon to dance with her.
'Hey Sheldon'
'Hmm?'
'I didn't think you danced? I clearly remember you telling me that in all those dimension, in none of them did you dance'
'I did once say that. But that person, Sheldon is dead. My name is Lee now.'
'Can I call you Sheldon in private?'
'Penny, may I call you Penny or would you prefer Marie or Penelope?'
'Penny is just fine, no one has calls me Marie.'
'Why not?'
'I hate that name, it's my mothers name.'
'Penny prehaps we can continue this conversation when we are alone. I want to enjoy this evening, and not have it tainted of memories from another life time.'
The evening wound down. The guests left. Sheldon and Penny found themselves alone in a hotel room.
The conversation from earlier forgotten. Kisses shared. Although they knew they had much to discuss, like any wedding night this one also finished with husband and wife uniting as one.
They went to Europe on a honeymoon. Penny learned Sheldon was generous and loving and nothing like the man she remembered. They travelled through many European cities and experienced things most people never get to. Such as dinner at the louve or a tour of nestles chocolate factory, so close you could stick your hand in the vat. After two glorious weeks in Europe Sheldon had to return to Texas. As it turns out he had retired from academia and become a long horn breeder. Penny found herself the proud partner of one of the largest ranches in East Texas. So large infact Sheldon partly owned The Dallas Cowboys. Although not Penny's favourite team, she was glad to embracing his new loves. They were part of her childhood. She had tried her hardest to run from her childhood, tried to become an actress. Now it was time to stop running.
After a several months of settling into life on the ranch and her new husband. 'Lee I need to return to California to tidy some things up'
'What things are you referring to?'
'In case this whole marriage thing was a disaster or my new husband was abusive I paid tell the end of my lease and placed my furniture in storage. The lease is about to end and I need to work out what to do with my stuff'
'Would you mind if I came?'
'Of course not sweetie, you are my partner. Besides I still live across the hall from Leonard and we-I did not leave on friendly terms.'
'Penny whilst my social skills have improved I don't understand what you are telling me'
So Penny explained how the evening before they were married she had told Leonard it was over and how he grabbed her wrist.
By the end of her speech she was sniffling and Sheldon had pulled her into a hug. She was grateful to be able to hide her face in the crook of his neck. Despite having not been together for long she already knew her favourite place was in his arms. That he'd never raise a hand to her as that was neither gentlemanly or southernly.
Lee and Penny hired a car at the airport and drove in silence. Both caught up in there own thoughts, both apprehensive of what lay ahead.
Although Sheldon was still Sheldon in many regards there are a few key points of difference, long gone is the plaid and super heroes shirts in its place are jeans and flannel. Of course he had also bulked out. He was still lean but he also had a healthy amount of muscle on his body from working with the Longhorns.
Pulling up to the all to familiar building, Lee parked the car then came to assist Penny. Out of a need to distract herself penny stole his hat then lend up on her toes and stole a kiss. His arms fell to her waist and pulled her close.
Up the stairs they moved, hand in hand. Arms lightly swinging. As they reached the 4th floor their hands seperated whilst she looked for the key. He turned briefly to stare at 4a.
The door clicks open, stale air wafts out. Together they step over the thresh hold. What lay before them is not how Penny left the apartment. The basic furniture has been ripped out of the walls, graffiti sprayed on the every where and the floor covered in dog faeces. Both stared at the mess in dismay.
'I knew you were messy but this is...'
'Lee, why would I trash an appartment I hoped to move back to if my marriage didn't go well? And I don't even own a dog.'
They ventured further into the appartment to find more destruction. All the photos she had on the fridge had been defaced.
'How are we meant to clean this up? How am I meant to get my deposit back on this place?'
'Penny I will pay to have it professionally cleaned but first we need to see Howard. I believe he still has cameras scattered around your appartment.'
'That little creep has cameras around my apartment?'
'Yes, can you see the red lights around the place?'
Yes
'Those are pinhole cameras. I'm betting Leonard installed them to keep tabs on your comings and goings'
'That weasel!'
Hi Berne, is Howard home?
...
No im not back permanently
...
Yes I did marry a stranger
...
No, I'm not in love with your husband or planning to run away with him.
...
No im not going to murder him
...
I need his help with the cameras I found in my apartment.
...
ill explain later
...
bye
They had agreed it best for Sheldon not to be present when Howard came to assist. Not that he was far away. He was on the roof of the building.
It didn't take Howard long to retrieve the video showing a very elated Leonard paying a group of thugs and him defacing her photos.
As a precaution Sheldon advised Penny to get Howard to remove the chunk of video of her finding the appartment with her new husband and to remove anything after that just playing a continual loop of the last month.
Penny and Sheldon booked a hotel for the evening.
'Penny do you trust me?'
'Of course, your my Moonpie'
'Tomorrow we are going to pay for professional cleaners to clean the place. Then we are going to play a little return joke on Leonard.'
I love you Moon-pie the words rolled easily off her tongue. Like they were second nature.
The next day they returned to the apartment, Penny greeted the professional cleaners. She advised them to clean the poo off the floor n right the furniture but to leave the graffiti. They would return at 5:45.
After a fabulous day spent in L.A been allowed to buy anything she fancied. Of course they bought a set of shoes for now owning one pair of designer shoes was enough. She's sure in the future when it clicks in she'll buy more but for now she is content.
Sheldon of course had other ideas. 'Penny buy whatever you want, once we are back on the ranch you won't have access to these shops'
Although many things had changed. Sheldon was still a stickler for routine. They shopped tell 4:30, Sheldon calculated they'd need roughly 45 minutes to drive back to Pasadena. That left 15 minutes to get rid of the cleaners and come prepare.
the cleaners were shuffled out the door. Penny sat on a chair in the middle of her lounge room, crying with the door open. Right on cue Leonard appeared at the top of the stairs.
'Whats wrong Penny?'
'Some one trashed my apartment and now I can't live here again'
'Ha I knew your marriage would fail'
Penny's only response was to weep harder
'I told you when you left you'd you were mine but I don't want you now. Your tainted by another man'
As Leonard continued to spout off about his updated life, he placed himself on the chair beside Penny.
Brushing past Leonard, Sheldon scopes penny up and places her on his lap. She leans back against his broad chest.
'Kitten I came as soon as I could, what's the matter?'
Penny stopped weeping at the affectionate name. Turned and hide her face in his shoulder.
'I don't know what I'm going to do, the place is ruined'
Sheldon looked up and pretended to survey the damage.
'We can fix this it's all external'
Penny and Sheldon shared a kiss, as though it was just themselves in the room.
Leonard spluttered as he realised what he was seeing. Rubbing his eyes.
'You either married Sheldon or a very good lookalike'
Penny smiled and evilly grinned. ' I married Sheldon'
'You married him, but you couldn't marry me?'
'I didn't know I was married to him tell he lifted the veil.'
'But really you married him...'
'He is more a man then you'll ever be. Oh and Leonard I will be reporting you to police for trashing my apartment.'
'But you were mine. I called dibs'