Allow me to take a little advantage with a self-serving A/N. I've been waiting to update for a little bit, to make sure I had a chapter ready to post today, June 29. 'm

In June of 2007, I had begun a new job as a paralegal (I'm still with a successor to that firm). One of the first clients I had an opportunity to work with was a young couple that had embarked on the summer of their lives.

They were both celebrating birthdays in June (hers on the 29th). They had just gone under contract to purchase their first home (that is where our firm comes in). They were negotiating the terms of the mortgage to help them make that purchase. They were also about to be married and go on a dream honeymoon to a warm weather paradise. We were lucky enough to represent the couple a total of 5 times over 6 years.

In early 2009, we learned that the young wife had contracted non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. For the next 4 and 1/2 years, she put up a valiant fight, having both victories and setbacks along the way. Unfortunately, just as I began this work in September 2013, she lost her battle and passed away.

I'm not conceited enough to say that she and her husband were anything but casual acquaintances. I would never have known of them if I didn't work where I do. Her circumstances, her bravery and the love she and her husband shared got to me in a way that I will never be able to forget.

Suffice it to say, The Sorrowful Sunshine Eventuality is dedicated to them both, and to all readers who have suffered (and have had loved ones who suffered) through illnesses, both now and in the future. xxx

Howard had picked up Penny late that morning. It was two days before she was to undergo her second chemo session and she wanted to go to the grocery ahead of time in case she was once again too worn out from the treatment to do so later.

They were now standing in line at the deli counter, waiting to order some lunchmeat and Leonard's favorite cold spring salad.

Howard began to feel a little uncomfortable and wished he wore the hat he had left in the car. The man taking orders behind the counter was giving them an odd look.

"So are you two some of them hari-krisha people with the tambourines?" he asked in a gruff voice, a toothpick wagging between his lips.

Penny let out a loud laugh and before she could respond, he asked "No? Maybe you're in some kind of cult?"

Composing herself, Penny responded "no. We're not members of hari-krishna and we're not in a cult." She then touched each of her shoulders with the opposite hand and said "I'm a cancer patient having chemotherapy treatment" then she reached out and wrapped her arms around Howard squeezing him tight and continued "and this is one of my beautiful, wonderful close friends. He shaved his head to show solidarity with me and what I'm facing. Isn't that the best thing you've heard today?" As she finished and released him, Howard grabbed hold of his "Team Penny" pin to show the big lug behind the counter.

"Yeah. I guess. Nice job there baldy" he nodded in Howard's direction, the toothpick continuing to bob up and down. "Just so long as you two aren't a couple of weirdo's. That's all I care about. What'll it be?"

The two friends looked at each other and broke out laughing. Penny then gave him the order.

After Penny received her items, Howard needed to pick up some additional things for his mother. Tapping him on the shoulder, Penny said "I'm going over there by the fruit and vegetables. See you in a few."

"Okay" Howard replied.

Making his selections, Howard then began to move toward Penny, who was looking at some mangos.

He watched her as she reached over, going through the fruit gathered in the bin. The dress she wore seemed to hang off her shoulders. It was a long dress, something that they may have called a 'maxi-dress' years ago. Not having any idea about fashion, he thought that the style had come back, especially in the warmer months. The dress did not cling, but still could be considered becoming. However, Penny appeared tiny wearing it; swimming in seemingly too much material.

As he approached, she spoke without looking up.

"You know, we have a sixth sense when a guy is staring at us" she said.

He took in a breath sharply and stuttered "oh. No. I'm sorry."

Finally having made her selection, she held a mango in her hand. Looking at him she smiled and said "sorry. Just teasing. I couldn't resist."

Keeping eye contact with him, her smile slowly faded and was replaced with a blank look.

Slowly placing the fruit in the carriage, she reached out and touched him on the arm and asked quietly "do I look that bad?"

Howard looked into the green eyes that held his gaze; the question was there as well as it was hanging in the air after she asked it. The eyes pleaded with him to tell the truth. It was a request that couldn't be denied. He broke eye contact and looked off to the left, at nothing in particular, and replied in a far away voice.

"Your clothing is beginning to hang on you a little. The dress you're wearing, it's really nice, but…" his voice trailed off.

She then wrapped him in an embrace, both of them fighting back tears. Holding it for a few seconds, the two of them in the produce section of the market made an interesting sight. Backing away, she wiped at each of her eyes with first one wrist, then the other and said "let's go over to see what kind of steaks we can buy my man." Howard smiled and pushed the carriage walking next to her.

"Does he talk to you about it?" she asked, continuing with the quiet tone they had now set.

Walking next to his friend, he replied "no not really. Guys aren't usually talkative about things-well, things that are painful."

Drifting off to the side to look at the selections in the meat cooler, she picked up a few different packages before deciding on one, then placed it into the carriage and returned to his side.

Putting her hand on the carriage, next to where Howard's was as he pushed it along, she moved it closer and rested it on top of his. Neither of them stopped walking.

"You have to promise me", she began even more quietly than she had. That quietness caused Howard to look directly at her. She in turn continued to look straight ahead, gripping his hand tighter.

"You have to promise me if anything happens, you'll be there for him. Always. I know him." She stopped and wiped at the tears that slid from her eyes with her free hand, not loosening her hold on him; presently her support.

"I know him better than I know myself. If it- - - If it happens" she paused as her voice broke. She quickly composed herself and continued. "He'll need the three of you. You're really his brothers, you know.

Howard couldn't find his voice and just let her statement stand for what it was. The truth. The truth about the four of them. Finally, he replied in a whisper "you know we will."

Still walking, she looked down and nodded her head and said "good."

"But Penny, you can't be thinking that way. You've only just started the chemo treatment and Bernie says the prognosis is positive so far."

"I know and I don't mean to upset you, but I've got to be prepared for anything. I'm not going to go through any of this with rose colored glasses. I need to be realistic, if not with him, then with myself."

Not saying anything, but understanding, Howard nodded in reply.

"This is just between us. I don't want you to tell even Bernadette that I talked to you this way, alright?" Again he nodded.

"I'm sorry, but it had to be you. Raj would get too emotional. Sheldon is- - - well he's Sheldon." This caused Howard to laugh out loud.

They returned to the silence. Their strides were matched as they progressed through the market. She removed her hand from his and let it fidget with its mate in front of her. They stopped along the way, selecting the remaining purchases they needed. As they went, they continued to receive odd looks from other shoppers.

Turning to him and looking into his eyes, she flashed him the brilliant smile. The one that had captivated them all when they had first encountered it so many years ago. For a few seconds, she wasn't Penny, the cancer patient, but Penny, the girl across the hall from Leonard and Sheldon, who captured the hearts of the four of them, however none moreso than Leonard.

Interrupting his thoughts, she said through the smile "she's made you sweet, you know."

That statement brought a smile to his face. A smile that broadened as she continued.

"Bernadette. She's taken off your sharp, maybe creepy edges and brought out a really nice and sweet side of you."

Looking down, but still smiling, he replied "we never would have gotten together if it wasn't for you."

She smiled at his response and continuing fidgeting with her hands, she leaned toward him and bounced her self off of his arm.

Breaking the silence, he nodded to an upcoming aisle he said "I need to go down here for some things."

Howard had gone to the frozen food area to get some items needed at the Wolowitz house. Penny continued toward the far end of the store. She went down the dairy aisle, looking at the different containers of orange juice, looking for a 'pulp-free' type, when she noticed a little girl standing off to her right, staring at her.

Turning to look at her, Penny said "hello!"

The little girl continued to look at her and said "you've got no hair".

Penny chuckled and rubbing the top of her head she replied "yup. No hair."

"Did you do it on purpose?" the girl asked, not uniquely.

Penny looked around, but did not see an adult nearby. As she was about to speak a young, blonde woman came running around the corner looking frantic until she saw Penny and the girl in the aisle.

"Amanda! You can't go running off like that!"

"Sorry mommy. This lady gots no hair!"

Scooping the girl up in her arms, the mother kissed her rapidly on her forehead and on both cheeks. Then realizing what she said, she placed her down to stand on the floor and with her hands on her hips exclaimed "Amanda!"

Penny took in a deep breath and said "well, she's right. I don't have any hair."

"I'm so sorry ma'am. She did not come equipped with an 'edit' button."

"That's okay, really."

With effort, Penny bent down to talk to the little girl, who could not be more than three years old.

"I'm sick, so I have to take medicine that makes my hair fall out."

Backing away, the girl said "you're not gonna sneeze on me are you?"

"I promise I won't sneeze on you" Penny said laughing. "Besides, you can't catch what I have."

Just then the little girl pointed and grimaced as she saw Howard come around the corner at the opposite end of the aisle.

"Oh sweetie. That's one of my friends. He and some other people I know cut their hair really short, just so I wouldn't feel bad and be by myself like this." She looked upward at her nonexistent hairline.

Gripping onto her mother's legs, Amanda said "ohhhhh." She then turned around and ran down the rest of the aisle. Her mother said "I'm so sorry, she didn't mean anything…."and took off after her daughter.

"That seemed interesting." Howard said approaching, watching the mother run after the little girl.

"Yeah. I guess we've got to warn the villagers before I go out so they can get their torches and pitch-forks ready."

One looked at the other and each burst out laughing, something that did them both a world of good.

Standing up again, slowly, she said "Okay Wolowitz. Let's go check out, you've gotta get me home. All this excitement is wearing this girl out.

They made their way to the front to pay for the groceries; the earlier silence having returned.