A/N Thanks to my reviewers. I just hope you know how much I appreciate them. I still own nothing.

When Leonard entered his apartment, he was surprised to see Penny had fallen asleep on the couch. He couldn't help but smile. She looked so adorable. In that moment he knew that he felt deeply for her.

He walked over and leaning over kissed her softly on the cheek. As she stirred, he smiled, "Wake up Sleeping Beauty, supper is here."

Penny struggled to get her bearings, not wanting to leave the dream she had been enjoying, She and Leonard…

She found herself blushing when she saw Leonard standing there smiling at her. But the smirked to himself. He didn't know what she had been dreaming of. But as she looked at him, she almost wished he did. She realized how much she wished it were real.

"Sorry, I guess I fell asleep." She put her hands through her hair and smoothed down her blouse, "I must look like a mess."

Leonard stunned them both by saying, "You look beautiful."

Blushing again, she quickly got up and headed for the bathroom. Straightening herself up, she also fought to bring herself under control. They were not ready for anything right now. A lot of what they were feeling was due to the dilemma she was in. But even as she said it, she knew she was kidding herself. She had strong feelings for Leonard. Did she love him? Fighting to put that out of her mind, she pulled herself together and headed back out to living room.

Leonard was stunned that he had said that to her, but he knew he had wanted to say it for a long time. He knew he had to be careful, she was very vulnerable right now. God, she had the possibility of being found guilty of murder hanging over her.

Suddenly, he felt the pressure that was on him also. He had to come through.

By the time she came back out, both hoped they had put certain thoughts behind them. They sat down and began to eat.

Leonard brought her up to date about what they had discovered. Although she was disappointed they still could not put them together, she was heartened to hear about Steve's apartment. She had often wondered where he stayed when they had one of their arguments.

After they finished and cleaned up, they sat together on the couch, Penny leaning into him. Later, deciding it was time to get ready for bed, they both did their duties and Penny dressed in the night clothes she had left in his apartment.

Leonard made up the couch. He had let her have the bed. He had sometimes sensed she wanted him to be with her, he didn't think that would be a good idea. When she came out, he couldn't help but think how sexy she looked. As was usual, she leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips and saying goodnight, headed for the bedroom.

Then, as if on a string, she turned and looked at him. Suddenly, he came toward and took her in his arms, kissing her passionately. She immediately returned the kiss. Then they pulled back and stared into each other's eyes.

Leonard stunned her by picking her up in his arms and heading for the bedroom. She leaned into him and kissed him.

Once he lay her on the bed, clothes quickly disappeared. But then, Leonard knew that as much as he needed her, wanted her, he wanted it to be more than sex.

He began by kissing her softly on the neck, then moving his lips down to her breasts, taking them in his mouth and sucking and licking at the nipples.

Penny was overwhelmed, she could not get close enough to him. She arched her back and moaned in ecstasy. But she decided she needed to show him how much she needed him as well. She pushed him off her and over on his back, kissing him as he had kissed her.

It was as if they had been lovers for a long time. They drove each other to higher and higher passion until Leonard entered her. Penny was far from a virgin but somehow it seemed like her first time. She had never felt anything like what she was experiencing.

Leonard was nearly overcome by the passions and emotions he was feeling. As strange as it seemed, this all felt so right, that this was what was intended to be.

They moved together until they both reached bliss.

Afterwards, they lay next to each other, stunned at what had happened, but also knowing it was something that was inevitable, that they had been moving toward it from the first time they met.

Leonard turned toward her. He knew it should be too early. That they had only known each other for a short time. That they had no idea what the future held for her, for them. But at the same time he had never been surer of anything in his life. He knew he might regret it but he could not stop himself.

"Penny." She looked up at him, her hair awry, her lips swollen; she was so beautiful, "I love you."

Her eyes widened. She hesitated and he wondered what had possessed him, but then she smiled, "I love you, too."

He had never felt such joy. He leaned down and kissed her softly on her lips. Then he lay back and she snuggled into him.

After a few moments, she said, "So, what happens now?"

"I prove you're innocent. We get married, have 2.5 children, and live happily ever after."

She snuggled closer, "Sounds good."

They stayed like that, falling asleep in each other's arms.

In the morning, feeling a little stunned about what had happened, they showered together, made love and then showered separately.

They went out to breakfast and kissed goodbye. Again telling each other they loved each other, parted ways.

When Leonard arrived at the office, Kurt and Sheldon were waiting for him. He found Kurt looking at him. He tried to be completely nonchalant but he somehow had the feeling Kurt knew something had happened.

Kurt finally asked, "How's Penny?"

"She's hanging in there. She's worried of course."

Kurt had a feeling he was right about them, "Anything going on between you two?"

Leonard acted surprised but had a feeling he wasn't fooling Kurt, "No, why do you ask?"

At that moment, Sheldon had enough. "We have a lot of work to do today. I suggest we get started."

Leonard nodded, "Okay, I guess we know what we have planned for today. Any other thoughts?"

When no one had anything to say, Leonard and Sheldon took pictures of Cheryl with them and headed out for Steve's former living quarters while Kurt headed for the small clothing shop.

Sheldon and Leonard were thrilled when they found several individuals who had seen Cheryl around the building. It seems she was someone who was easy to remember. They even talked to a neighbor who had seen them together in a nearby restaurant. No one could be absolutely sure they had spent the night together, but two people had seen her leaving the building in the morning.

No one though had seen either of them the day of the murder.

In following up with the restaurant, they discovered they had indeed eaten there.

Kurt entered the shop. He wasn't exactly sure why he was there, but agreed it couldn't hurt. The shop was empty except for a pretty young woman folding some clothes and putting them on shelves.

He went over to her, "Excuse me Miss, do you work here?"

Betty turned and found herself facing one the best looking-men she had seen for a while.

"Yes, I'm Betty, I own the store. Can I help you?"

"I hope so. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions?"

Betty brought her guard up, "Questions. About what?"

"It's about a purchase that was made a few weeks ago."

"A purchase?"

"Yes, here's a copy of the credit card charge."

"May I ask why you want this?"

Kurt had noticed how she had looked him over and now put on his most charming smile. "Well, I am a private detective. I just got the job and my boss sent me out. It's my first job and if you could help me, I would really appreciate it."

"Wow, a detective." She felt herself blushing a little under his gaze. "Okay, let me see."

She took the paper as Kurt made sure their hands touched.

She entered some of the information into the computer, "Okay, it was for a pair of black gloves."

Kurt perked up, "Can you tell me what they looked like?"

"Sure. In fact I can show you we still have some in stock. She led him over to another counter. When Kurt saw them, he had to struggle not to show his excitement. He felt like he did when he scored the winning touchdown in High School. They were identical to the gloves found in Penny's purse.

Although he couldn't wait to let Sheldon and Leonard know, he realized he should try to see if there was anything more he could find out.

Acting nonchalant, "Did Cheryl say anything about why she wanted them?"

Betty's felt her guard come back up. Wasn't it a little strange he used her first name? But it was on the credit card. "Not really, she just said she was going to see her boyfriend and that they were just what she wanted because they matched her scarf."

She went on, "Do you know her? I don't want to make trouble for her."

Kurt realized he might have made a mistake, "You haven't, we're just clearing up some details about a lawsuit she's involved in. She will appreciate that you helped us."

Betty smiled, "Glad I could help." Then she looked a little coy, "Do you guys ever get some time off? I usually am done by five."

Kurt realized he may have gone overboard with the charm, "Actually, we stay very busy. We have a lot of cases to work on."

"Okay, but if you ever have some time, it's Betty Reynolds. I am here every weekday."

"I'll keep that in mind. Thanks again."

After he left and she was no longer affected by him, she began to wonder. Should she have talked to him? She started to feel a little guilty. After all, Cheryl Cummings was one of her best customers. She really couldn't afford to lose her. It shouldn't hurt to let her know, should it? He had said it would help Cheryl. Maybe she could even get some points for helping him.

She looked up Cheryl's number in her files. When she answered, she said, "Hey, Cheryl. This is Betty at the clothing shop. I just wanted to let you know that I cooperated with your private detective."

"Which one?" She smiled, "The big dreamy one."

"I just told him about those gloves you bought."

"Yes, the black ones." Suddenly she was worried, "It was okay wasn't it?"

Cheryl thought to herself, what a dumb bitch, "Yes, Betty, it was fine. Don't you worry about it. But we don't want anyone else to know, okay."

"Yes, I will be in next week. Thanks for calling."