Leonard and Penny

Chapter 32, Epilogue

Penny sat in her old seat in Sheldon and Raj's apartment holding hands with Leonard and talking with Sheldon, Amy, Howard, Bernadette, and Raj. She held Leonard's hand by the cast. Raj unpacked the take-out boxes from the Siam Palace and passed them to the friends.

"Leonard, Penny, thank you for treating us to take-out," Bernadette said.

"It's our pleasure," Leonard said. "Penny and I wanted to have one of our evenings here that we miss so much. We need to start back doing this."

"This is just like old times," Penny said. "How many meals have all of us shared here?"

"I wouldn't dare try to count. We have had some wonderful times here," Raj said, downing his wine cooler.

Amy said, "Where are your dad and Patti?"

"They're having a romantic dinner to celebrate their six-month anniversary of being together," Penny said. "They may drop by here afterwards."

"So Penny," Bernadette said, "You're safe now?"

"Of course, you can't say we're safe with 100 percent confidence," Penny said. "But, according to the investigators, everyone they know about who would do us harm is either dead or in jail with little hope of ever seeing daylight."

"What's going to happen to the people who attacked you?" Bernadette asked.

Penny said, "They are planning to enter pleas for the charges that affect me. They have much more serious federal and state charges to worry about, so I doubt they will even think about me anymore. According to the investigators, they didn't originally target me, they targeted the building because of the lack of security."

"You won't need protection?" Howard asked.

"Oh, we will, especially when we go out to events where there are a lot of people, but we should be able to start back trying to have as normal a life as possible. We're going to keep a security team to protect our home and to go out with Leonard and me when we need them. I'm looking forward to being able to drive again. Leonard and I are looking for me a new car. Do you realize I haven't driven a car in nearly six months? Would you believe the insurance company only gave me $300 for my car?"

"Well, it was a 1984 Volkswagen Golf with the check engine light always displaying," Sheldon said. "That sounds like a generous settlement to me."

"This is nice," Leonard said, as he looked at his friends.

Penny said, "You know something? I love you guys. You are my dear, dear friends. All of you have been so supportive since my life changed on the day before Valentine's Day six months ago. You were there for me after my attack. Then, when I nearly lost Leonard, all of you stayed there supporting me. I want all of you around me forever."

"We love you and Leonard," Bernadette said.

. . .

Penny held Leonard's right hand as they walked up the path from their stables to the pond. "How's your left hand?" she asked.

"I itch under the cast. JaQuan showed me how to slide a ruler between the cast and my skin to scratch. Other than that, I'm good," Leonard said. "I'm counting the days until we can get rid of it. I know I'll have to wear a soft cast for a few weeks, but, at least, I'll be able to take it off and wash. You haven't mentioned your ribs in a while. How are they?"

"I think I'm just about healed," Penny said.

As they approached the pond, Leonard noticed that Penny was staring at him smiling.

"Why are you smiling?" Leonard asked.

Penny said, "Do you realize that you're my best friend? Ever since we met, you've been there for me, even when I broke up with you, when you should have hated me. I feel as if I can tell you anything. You're my soul mate."

"I am so fortunate that I married my best friend too," Leonard said. "You are the most amazing person I have ever known. I am so proud of you in so many ways."

Penny turned, put her arms around Leonard's neck, and kissed him.

"I love you, Dr. Hofstadter," Penny said.

Leonard squeezed Penny and said, "I love you too, Mrs. Hofstadter."

They walked a lap around the pond. When they got to the old boat dock, they took off their shoes and sat with their toes in the water. It was a few minutes before twilight, and frogs were serenading them. Penny put her head on Leonard's shoulder. Leonard pulled a bag of meal out of his pocket. He and Penny threw handfuls of it into the water and watched the small fish fight over it until a large catfish drove the others away.

"Leonard," Penny said, "I can't believe it took me so long to tell you I love you."

Leonard kissed the top of Penny's head.

"Know what?" Penny said. "Let's go make a baby."

. . .

Author's note: Thank you for sticking with my story to the end. I had a ball writing these chapters: Writing them has been a wonderful way to relieve stress—except for the occasional trolls. If you enjoyed this story, please drop me a line and let me know. I sincerely appreciate your taking the time to read my babies and to review them. I've never made a secret of the fact that I had no intention of publishing these stories, which I began in frustration due to the unfortunate direction the show has taken this season, especially with Leonard and Penny's relationship, with all the Ross and Rachel angst. Fortunately, things may be looking up for them. My wife bullied me into publishing the chapters. I was skeptical about inflicting my stories on others, but I'm now glad I did. I have a file cabinet and several hard drives full of stories I've written (not fan fiction) and even parts of two novels I'm trying to work up the nerve to submit for publication. Writing these stories has helped me sharpen the saw so maybe I'll take the leap and submit some of them.

I am especially grateful to people who have provided encouragement as this story unfolded, especially 5Mississippis, zhalen565, Aussie SciFi, Tragic, pfps, and others, who have been so generous with their reviews, suggestions, and words of encouragement. Thanks to my wife, who is my Penny (supermodel-beautiful blonde, who married a short, ugly, science nerd with what Penny called "stupid" eyebrows on Leonard) and the person who writes under the pen name Twyla Mercedes, both of who helped me with all things feminine. Writing these stories has been a wonderful release, and I feel as if I have made some friends in the process.

I'm not finished with married Leonard and Penny and the new characters I came to love, only this part of the story. Please visit my new story, the Expansion Paradigm, which begins where this story ends (and which should be posted in several days), and my other story so far, the Emily Derivative, which takes place eight years in the future. I've already posted the first chapter in that story.

Take care.