Penny was a ball of nerves as she reached the doorway, she couldn't believe this was happening. With Leonard holding her hand she felt somewhat even queasier. They were about to enter their announcement party. Everyone was there. Well, not everyone. All of Leonard's family was there and a few of Penny's closest friends.
It has been a week since their return to California. Leonard had finished with his work with Kripke in New York and now they were back in LA. It was all a blur really and she wished that she was able to say goodbye to Sheldon before he vanished at the airport.
The doors opened and revealed lots of confused yet hopeful faces. With a deep breath and a smile that felt forced, Penny and Leonard entered the room.
''hello, everybody, were sorry to have kept you all waiting in suspense but it's going to be worth it for the news that we have for you.'' Leonard said in his nervous twitchy way that had his hand sweating against her palm.
''well, spit it out.'' Kripke said with impatience after a moment of silence from the couple.
''Penny and I are getting married.'' Leonard blurted out with excitement.
Silence filled the room, only a quiet snort from Leonard's mother broke the stillness in their guests. Slowly once everyone realised that they were serious, words of congratulations was tossed to them. Leonards shoulders noticeably relaxed and he gave Penny a quick peck before going to talk to his friends.
Catching eye contact with Beverly, Leonard's mother, Penny saw the intense look of suspicion in her eyes. Not wanting to go there, Penny quickly broke contact to find her friends.
Bernadette, Amy and Stephanie all hugged her when she found them. Soon the talking started, which Penny was anxious about.
''so, Leonard huh? You definitely won top gossip topic for the week…or the year.'' Bernadette stated looking uncertain and slightly confused with the news.
''Yes, Bestie, this is definitely unexpected and quite unnerving.'' Amy said looking slightly worried.
''aww, come on guys this is what Penny wanted, she wanted to get married and Leonards a nice guy.'' Stephanie contributed to the conversation.
''you guys suck.'' Penny said dejectedly. ''I mean I went across America to propose to him. I wanted this.''
They all must have seen something in her eyes because they all shared a look before Bernadette cautiously said ''do you still want this?''.
''oh, course…'' Penny hesitated. She hesitated. Why did she hesitate? Oh, no. She knew those looks. They all looked at her with pity and worry like she was a cute animal that was being dragged into a cage.
''Penny, maybe you should talk to Leonard? I mean he would hold it off for a while right, I mean you don't have to get married right now. You don't even live together yet. Maybe you take that step before you take this one.'' Stephanie said with logic.
''She's right, this is one hell of a big step and if your uncertain then maybe it's just not the right next move.'' Amy said, trying to be understanding but it only put more doubt in her mind.
''ok, here's the plan, I speak to Leonard and see if he has any nerves or if he is acting strangely then I will report back in a jiffy'' Penny said with a game plan type attitude.
''in a jiffy?'' Bernadette said with amusement. ''who have you been talking to?'' she laughed along with the rest.
''oh, Sheldon said it and now I keep saying it.'' Penny said with a dismissive hand.
''Who's Sheldon?'' Amy asked with a suspicious, mischievous expression.
''Oh, you know the guy that helped me in Texas. Any who…I'm going to go see how Leonards getting on''
She walked away quickly, but not quickly enough because she caught the look that her friends shared which only made her want to get away faster.
After looking around and not finding any of Leonard's friends or Leonard himself, she headed for his bedroom. As she got closer she could hear talking on the other side of the door. She slowed to a stop, her curiosity got the better of her and she eavesdropped from outside.
''I can't believe that you're actually going to do this! I was surprised when she even agreed to go out with you but now this, actually marrying such a babe, I'm jealous man.'' That sounded like Howard.
''I know she's great isn't she?'' Leonard.
''yeah, it was good plan, getting her hitched so that she wouldn't leave you'' Kripke sniggered.
Penny gawked at the door in shock and outrage with her mouth wide open and a glare to her eyes.
''yeah, she is quite the prize isn't she.'' Leonard said and she could hear the smirk in his voice. ''When I heard that she was traipsing around Texas with some guy I just knew that I had to do something. I mean you didn't see how he was looking at her when I turned up at the airport. So like Howard's girl, Beyonce would say, 'I put a ring on it'.'' Leonard laughed with the rest of them, like some smug player that he wasn't. Penny's anger was sky high now and she was one more comment away from going Nebraska on his ass.
''any way, our babies are going to smart and beautiful.'' He said like that was the end of it, set in stone, his life. It sent all of his shit to hit the metaphorical fan.
''NOT TO MENTION, IMAGINARY!'' Penny screamed as she burst into the room and promptly slapped Leonard across the face.
There was a shocked silence in the room and all around the apartment. Horror and fear was struck across Leonards face.
''Proposed so I wouldn't leave you?! Are you an idiot or something?!'' Penny shouted with no less venom. She knew that everyone could hear which just made it all the more sweeter.
''Traipsing across Texas, are you kidding me! Do you know why I was travelling across the country? Hhmm, Leonard? In that big fat brain of yours that you think holds all the answers, tell me why I was even in Texas''
Leonard panic was splat all over his face before he shrugged hopelessly in fear.
''I shall educate you then Leonard. I was coming to surprise you with a visit and then PROPOSE TO YOU! Yeah, me, the pretty blonde that you managed to bag. For someone who thinks he's all brain, you are the stupidest jerk that I know. And I know Kurt! You are just a disgusting….HOMUNCULUS!'' Penny shouted before turning and leaving, for some reason feeling slightly relieved if not terribly humiliated.
She catches the outrage looks that everyone sends Leonard when he stumbles into the living room, whining and apologising. She especially appreciates the disappointed look that Beverly sends his way and the way that he cowers from it.
She is in her apartment before anyone could say anything to her. She took a deep breath before releasing all the tension in her body on the exhale. She was so happy that she found out before anything more happened and that she was now free.
She curled up on her bed and let exhaustion pull her in to a dreamless sleep, drowning out the knocks on her door and the distant whining of Leonard whimpering to his disappointed mother.
- Sheldon -
Sheldon rolled up his sleeves and sat in his desk chair as he prepared the greatest pranks in his life.
It had three days since his return to LA after his stay in Texas with his family. As much as he loved his family visits he couldn't stand their looks of sympathy after telling them what happened with Penny. He knew that they must have noticed his feeling for her but what was done, was done and he couldn't change it now. He was slightly disappointed that he didn't get to say goodbye properly but he also knew that he wouldn't have been able to witness them kiss again. It was too painful.
It was on his first day back to work that he first heard the gossip. Apparently his observations of Leonard were correct and his was in fact just a snivelling whiny little man that didn't want people taking away what was apparently his. He first saw Leonard in the cafeteria and he took silent pleasure as he ducked his head when people commented and laughed at his stupidity. It was the first time that he agreed with Leslie Winkle and even chuckled at her personal comment to Leonard. Something on the lines of, ''she finally realise that Leonard junior wasn't getting any bigger and left?''.
He himself hadn't said anything yet, but he doesn't think that words would be enough to punish Leonard for his actions towards Penny. He constantly thought about what it must have been like for her, he hopes that she is doing ok. Missy told him to get into contact with her but he didn't think that she would be ready for another man admitting his feelings for her yet. She needed a little more time alone and it had only been four day since the incident happened.
So instead of words, he took public humiliation as a reasonable punishment. Clicking a few keys on his laptop, an image of Leonard eating his lunch in his office came up on the screen. He heard from Raj that he was finishing up some research from the New York trip instead of eating lunch in the cafeteria, which worked out perfectly for his plan.
A countdown from ten was counting down in the corner of his screen and his smile grew as he set up the link from his laptop to the televisions in the cafeteria for everyone to see. Then he checked that it was also recording the footage before sitting back and relaxing in pure satisfaction as the timer hit 0 and Leonard's entire office was covered in yellow foam and Penny Blossoms.
Leonard froze under the onslaught of the substance and like a sign from above, a loose Penny Blossom fell from the ceiling and landed on Leonards greasy head.
He could literally hear the laughter from the cafeteria as everyone witnessed the prank. He ignored Leonards yells of outrage as he loving sent an email with the video attached to Penny. He hoped that she liked it.
I had been a week since the foam and Penny Blossom incident and everything was turning out perfect for everybody. After the humiliation from everybody at work, Leonard didn't even hesitate to except the job that was offered to him by the people in New York and Kripke went with him. Penny had seen him once or twice in the hallway between their homes but he didn't try to get her back after the second slap he received from her. Also, after the added humiliation of her sarcastic comments about the possibility of foam still being in his ears, he stayed clear of her, knowing that she saw the video. And oh, how she loved that video and whoever the anonymous email was from. She only hoped that the next tenant in apartment 4A was not another whiny physicist.
It was a Friday evening when she heard the sound of 4A opening across the hall. She hopped up from the sofa in her little shorts and baseball top and made her was over to the door before opening it.
The sight she saw brightened her whole week; Sheldon Lee Cooper carrying boxes toward apartment 4A. He didn't see her at first but when he did, he had to do a double take to truly believe it.
''Penny?'' Sheldon breathed then set the boxes just inside the door before turning back to his hopefully new neighbour.
''Sheldon what are you doing here?'' Penny asked with excitement. He looked even better than before, all chilled out in a Flash t-shirt and black jeans.
''The apartment was for sale and it was closer to work so I bought it. Do you live here?'' Sheldon asked, pointing to 4B.
''Yeah, ever since I moved here from Nebraska. This is amazing! Ha, we're going to be neighbours.'' Penny said as she childishly hopped towards him whilst giggling.
''It looks like it.'' Sheldon said with a laugh as he watched her. ''Oh, and I'm sorry about Leonard, he deserved the foam.'' Sheldon said apologetically as she reached him.
''well, at least my eavesdropping caught him before you know, god have mercy, I actually married him.'' Penny sighed and they both stared at each other, only just noticing that they were both standing very close.
''I was going to call, but I didn't know when was a good time, or if you even wanting to be bothered by the male population ever again.'' Sheldon gave a weak chuckle as he rung his hand nervously.
''no, it was nice to have a bit of quiet for a while so it all good. Anyway this is even better, now I get to do this.'' Penny said before wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to him.
Sheldon froze in shock before wrapping his own long arms around her and kissing back. Best day of his life, hands down. He couldn't believe it. This magnificent girl was kissing him. And not just any girl, this was Penny. The beautiful girl that was also funny and supportive and understanding. She didn't just look through him, she looked at him.
''Do you know how long I have wanted to do that?'' Penny asked breathlessly when they parted.
''I bet that it wasn't before I wanted to do that?'' Sheldon joked back.
''since you wouldn't shut up about quarts'' Penny smiled up at him as his wacka-doodle brain probably flicked back to the days they were in Texas, trying to remember how long ago he talked about quarts.
''Penny that was the second day you met me. Why didn't you do it?'' Sheldon smiled down at her.
''you can't just go around kissing strangers'' She laughed.
''oh, right, yes my bad, first you have to drag them across Texas before they are classed as kissable.'' Sheldon said with faux logic.
''you were classed as kissable the first moment that we met.'' Penny said whilst nodding her head.
Sheldon dipped down again, because he could, and kissed her. He would never tire of this. And hopefully he got the chance to test that theory.
AN/ well that's that. The End. I'm sorry for the lateness in my updates but hopefully, with the story now complete, you shall feel better and forgive me. Thanks you all for reading and giving me reviews. I hope you enjoyed the Leonard bashing as much as I did. I didn't like the end very much but I want to just give it to you all as soon as possible. Sorry for any mistake in grammar, hopefully you will be able to just read past them and understand what the words are supposed to be ;P
I have some more ideas for stories but they will probably be one-shots. You probably would prefer them because then you won't have to wait in-between chapters to find out what happens next.