Epilogue: The Gathering

One last time. Leonard and Penny (Who I do not own) have made the journey from meeting the first time, becoming friends and building a special bond, going through trials and tribulations as young teens and then losing each other only to finally meet again as adults. Adults that were affected by their experiences with other people and occurrences. Finally realizing that all along, all they had to do was to listen to their own hearts, trust in their feelings and just be together.

Six years later:

The whole gang was getting together for a special event that none ever really thought would happen, but all had hoped for. Sheldon Lee Cooper and Amy Farah Fowler were getting married. It had taken Amy four years of living in the same apartment as Sheldon for him to realize that she was the one woman that matched up with him on an academic scale. She was simply the woman for him to spend the rest of his life with.

Amy had put up with all Sheldon's wants and perceived needs to, on one special night, one year to the day before today's event to consummate their physical relationship. It was an exciting experience for them both. Sheldon was a complete gentleman and submitted to all that Amy had wanted. Over the next year their physicality had increased to the point it raised even Penny's eyebrows on occasion at one of their Girl's Nights.

Bernadette and Howard had gotten married in a rush event. Not because she had gotten pregnant, but rather because Howard was going to the International Space Station as a payload specialist. The fact that she had gotten pregnant on the night before he had gone to Space was an unexpected surprise for both of them and made for one very special re-entry when Howard came back three months later. It wasn't long before Bernadette gave birth to Halley Wolowitz. The spitting image of her mother. The only troubling thing was that little Halley had an eerie resemblance to her cry that immediately brought the thought of Howard's mother Debbie to mind. Howard also started on courses to complete his PhD. The interesting thing in this area was that he had to take courses given by his friends, Sheldon's was particularly difficult but Howard managed to pass with excellent grades.

Raj had beaten his mutism and went on a journey of his own with a string of eligible young women, Emily, who was deaf. Raj considered her the perfect girl to practice with just in case he was once again struck mute. Then there was Lucy, Emily, Claire, Yvette a veterinarian, Isabella an office cleaning woman, Ruchi from Zangren Pharmaceuticals and presently a grad student. He had briefly tried to date Alex, Sheldon's assistant but was told to stop by both Amy and Penny. Penny because Alex was sniffing around Leonard's goods, even though he was married, and Amy because Penny was so upset. Raj hadn't given up totally on Alex but considered it to be a good idea to keep things discrete. Penny was never someone you wanted to get in a bad mood, and where Leonard was concerned, other women had better stay away if they were at smart.

Gilda had gone off to Fermi Lab and met a visiting Physicist from Copenhagen, Nils Sanderson. He was tall, thin blue eyed, dark haired and seemed to think he was just that much better than everyone else. The entire team was about ready to put him on a sinking barge and send it out into Lake Michigan on auto pilot with just enough fuel to make it about half way across the lake. They had far too much respect for the Canadians to let him find the other shore. To the surprise of just about everybody, it seemed that Gilda alone could make this fellow tolerable. Suddenly, Gilda became very popular with the team members. Nils input was now much easier to incorporate into the studies and their progress soared.

On a side note, because they had no reason to be at this gathering, Kate had finally gotten accepted by Mrs. Latham. Of course it had taken marrying Alan for that to happen. Their new dynamic was actually working. Kate was brought fully into the Latham family business and learned from the master. Or in this case Mistress. Mrs. Latham taught Kate all the secrets she had used on client after client for endorsements, mergers and fund raising. Alan was ever present to still any missteps by either of the women and a new era of prosperity was at hand. Kate kept her toe in acting and would show up on a commercial or two every once in a while often for products of one of the Latham Industries. Each time she saw one on TV, she relished in the fact that Penny must be spitting and sputtering at seeing Kate on the small screen.

That leaves Penny and Leonard. Penny had success with her TV movies and stayed in local theater. She also had exposure through the local Morning Program as an event announcer/host. One thing led to another and her career took off with modest success in movies. Ironically, in the Sci-Fi and superhero genre. It was Leonard's dream come true as he was able to bring all his friends to Comic Con and watch as his wife sat on panels and satisfied her fans with witty and informative answers. As for Leonard himself, he did get the original tenure spot which seemed to cause a slight disturbance in the force between himself and Sheldon. The issue was not long lived as there was another tenure position within the year that was given to Sheldon. In fact there was recent talk of a Nobel prize nomination for a project that included Leonard, Howard and Sheldon. The Hofstadter's soon found out that Penny's apartment was not going to be satisfactory in the near future because Penny found out she was pregnant soon after finishing the mini-series and they would need more than a one bedroom apartment. Both Penny and Leonard had an extreme amount of fun searching nearby neighborhoods with good schools.

Leonard now stood holding the shiniest pair of patent leather pink shoes ever made. Unfortunately, his efforts were falling on deaf ears. "Please Jenny, Mommy said I had to get you ready for Uncle Sheldon and Aunt Amy's Wedding."

Jennifer Penelope Hofstadter stood with her arms crossed across her chest scowling at her father with her bare feet firmly planted to the floor. "NO! Mommy said that I could wear my dress with my new shoes. My flip flops are brand new and they are WAY sparklier!"

Leonard looked down at his determined daughter. "I'm not sure that sparklier is really a word..." Jenny looked up at her father confused by his statement. Leonard sighed. He had seen that same expression often enough on the face of his wife. "Not important. Jenny, please, we have to get ready for the wedding."

Penny came from the other room pulling their son along by the hand. "Leonard, you really have to learn when you are going to lose an argument. Give me the shoes and take Max. Please get his tie on." Penny then turned to her daughter. "Jenny, come with Mommy, You have to put on some tights to go with your outfit."

Leonard took the hand of his son. Maximilion Leonard Hofstadter stood very still while his father put his bow tie on. Leonard looked into the eyes of his son and simply couldn't believe that he and Penny could produce such beautiful children. Along with their obvious good looks, they were both beginning to show an advanced aptitude for other things like reading. Both also had very inquisitive minds always asking probing questions of their parents.

Jenny was the spitting image of her mother Blonde haired and Green eyed. She had inherited Leonard's curls which Penny loved so much. Unfortunately, she had also inherited his asthma and poor eyesight. Jenny was a twin to her brother but oddly conceived while Penny was already pregnant with their son, two eggs from separate menstrual cycles being fertilized. Superfectation was a rare occurrence with only a few documented cases, but considering Penny and Leonard's rather robust romantic activities, nothing that should be put off as out of the question. As a matter of fact, Penny's altered hormones while pregnant just made her need Leonard that much more. When the babies were born, Max was about a month early making things with Jenny very much touch and go. She was small for her age but as she grew, she became very strong minded and not easily bested by any of her friends. A trait that was something Leonard saw all too well in his wife.

Max also inherited his mother's looks, also blonde with green eyes. He had gotten his father's strong jaw and smile but seemed very much the shy little boy Leonard undoubtedly was at that age. He was taller than his sister and measured in the 95th percentile for his age. Leonard was actually glad that he had inherited Wyatt's height. It would make things easier for him when he got older. Other than his looks, Max had inherited Penny's love for sleeping and wasn't actually the neatest kid on the block.

Max was in strike contrast to his sister. Jenny was always the first to rise and always had all her things in their proper place. It made for a very interesting décor in their room. Both Penny and Leonard knew at some point that the kids would need to have their own room, but they were so close, they actually balked at the first try to separate them both wanting to be close to their sibling. Penny was quite amused at the fact that after a particularly loud thunder storm, she could have bet real money and won that when she checked on her children, Jenny was snuggled tight next to her brother in his bed who never once complained. It was at those times that Penny was so happy that the house they had settled on was one that had a Jack and Jill bathroom between what would ultimately be each of her children's bedrooms. Just like the bathroom between her room and Denise's. The kids room was an absolute contrast in style. Jenny's half was neat as a pin with her bed linens decidedly pink and bright colors. Max had a much more relaxed feel to his belongings, they often barely made it to their intended resting place with items strewn about and a muted blue for his bed.

When Leonard finally put the finishing touches to his son, Max stood quietly while he tried to loosen his collar around his neck. It was at that moment that Penny came down the hall with her daughter in tow. No tights covering her legs, no shiny patent leather shoes. The only difference from when Penny had taken her daughter from Leonard to convince the little girl to finish getting dressed was Jenny proudly wearing her new sequined sparkly flip flops showing off her newly painted baby doll pink toenails.

Penny saw the smirk on her husband's face and rolled her eyes. "Shut UP!" She then bent over to look at her son. "Oh My GOSH! You are SO cute!" Max looked up at his mother and eagerly accepted the hug she had for him. Penny then stood and looked into the smiling face of her husband. "And you, Doctor Hofstadter, SO handsome in your tuxedo. Just like James Bond!"

Penny stood in her Rose Red gown, off the shoulder and perfectly gathered at the waist to show off her figure that Leonard swore was every bit as good as the day he saw her at that Gala at the Planetarium. Her hair was off the shoulder gathered in the back trailing down her shoulders. Leonard just stared. "You look BEAUTIFUL!."

Jenny stood frowning, with her arms crossed. "What about me?"

Leonard quickly bent down and scooped up his daughter. "Awww, Baby Girl, you are so beautiful too." Jenny giggled and lay her head on her father's shoulder.

Penny bent down to pick up her son and comfortably placed him on her hip. "And my big boy is just the handsomest!" Leonard looked devastated. Penny giggled at the look. "We all look great."

Penny and Leonard gathered the family and made their way to the ceremony. Jenny and Halley were flower girls with Max serving as ring bearer. Penny was the matron of honor and Leonard was best man.

The wedding ceremony was short and sweet which suited Sheldon just fine. However, Amy insisted on the procession of the bride's maids Bernadette and Gilda along with the Matron of honor Penny. They were followed by two little girls happily skipping down the aisle tossing rose petals. Halley perfectly dressed as she was told in tights and shoes along with Jenny, showing off her new sparkly flip flops and pedicure. Max was much more reserved and shy having to be coaxed along by his parents carefully carrying the wedding rings worrying the whole way he would drop them.

The reception was put on at the very same hotel as Leonard and Penny's. It was actually a well attended affair by the scientific community. The fact that Penny was in attendance with her well known husband and the team of Nobel nominees also struck up some interest by the society press. There were all the usual points of interest. The cake cutting and the throwing of the bouquet, Gilda practically dove into the pool to catch it. Nils caught the garter to the amusement of all the friends.

Everyone was mingling when Penny stepped up to her husband and took his arm as he looked over at his ex-roommate. "Whatcha looking at there?"

Leonard pointed at Sheldon in a deep conversation with Nils as Gilda and Amy talked. "Have you noticed how's much Nils resembles Sheldon? And how insufferable Nils can be"?

Penny wrapped her arm around Leonard's waist. "Gilda sure does have a 'type' doesn't she? But there is something you really have to see." Penny turned Leonard to show her husband something truly amazing. Beverly, who was invited by Sheldon was dancing with Jenny standing barefoot on her grandmother's feet. Max sitting at a nearby table with Halley happily eating ice cream from the ice cream bar with Howard and Bernadette.

Leonard smiled. "Who would have thought we all would wind up like this?" Penny just put her head on her husband's shoulder and smiled.

In the end, the meeting of the friends was a complete success. They had all congratulated Penny on signing up for a new movie. It was a small part, but it WAS in the new Star Wars movie. Leonard was taking a short leave of absence to take the children along on location and care for them. It was a condition Penny insisted on in her contract. She simply couldn't bear to be away from her family. Raj had mingled with the guests just a little too much and was being tended to by his date and Howard. Bernadette was busy with a very tired daughter. Sheldon and Amy were slowly dancing. Gilda and Nils had gone off to their room.

Leonard stood with Jenny mostly asleep in his arms grasping Jenny's flip flops in his hand as Penny was placing an equally tired Max in his car seat. After getting the children seated, Penny strapped herself into the passenger seat beside her husband. She reached over with her left hand and softly took Leonard's right. Leonard rubbed the top of Penny's hand with his thumb brushing across her wedding and engagement rings. He took her hand and brought it to his lips and kissed it. "This has been a perfect evening."

Penny giggled. "It got a little testy when Jenny fought Sheldon for the last of the m&m's for her ice cream."

Leonard chuckled and stole a look at his daughter sleeping in her car seat through the rear view mirror. "Thank goodness Mary Cooper was there to settle things and pointing out that Sheldon would need to give in on these things when he had kids. Just like she had said, she put a little zing into it. Sheldon actually handled defeat better than I would have imagined. Amy really has made an impression on him".

Penny nodded. "You're right, it was a perfect evening."

Settling the children into their beds and then making it back to their room, Leonard sat on the bed tossing his tie to the side and opening his shirt. "I am exhausted".

Penny came over and dropped her dress to the floor now standing before her husband in a pair of lacy red VERY sexy panties and matching bra along with a garter belt and stockings. Releasing her stockings from the garter belt, Penny grinned slyly. "Well, I hope you're not TOO exhausted." She proceeded to twirl around shedding the garter belt and placing her right leg on Leonard's left thigh. Leonard smiled as he watched his sexy wife expertly roll her stocking down her thigh and then past her calf. When she reached her ankle, Penny looked at her husband with well placed puppy dog eyes. Leonard quickly got the hint and tenderly took her foot in his hand and removed the stocking. Penny then circled the chair watching as Leonard turned with her. When he couldn't turn any longer he turned back just as Penny placed her left leg up on his right thigh. The process was repeated until Penny paused at her knee. Leonard let out a deep sigh and an audible gulp. Watching Penny continue rolling her stocking down past her calf, Leonard once again took her foot in hand. But this time, after removing the stocking, Leonard kept her foot and started to tickle her tender sole.

Penny took her foot quickly away and sat on Leonard's lap with her hands behind his neck, arms length away smiling at him. Leonard smiled back and moved his hands from her hips to behind her back releasing her bra clasp. Penny then shimmied her shoulders and the confining garment settled at her elbows. Leonard's eyes widened as the shimmying of her shoulders continued a wave action down her chest. Penny easily flicked away her bra and leaned in to her husband who took her right breast expertly into his hand and her left nipple tenderly into his mouth. Penny now ran her fingers through his hair and let out a pleased moan.

Penny quickly realized that there was something wrong. Leonard had WAY too many clothes on. She leaned back and shed him of his shirt and t-shirt. Smiling, Penny pushed her husband down onto the mattress, she soon dispatched him of his pants. Now similarly clad in only a pair of panties and boxers, she felt the night was about to get interesting.

Leonard had the same thoughts and brought Penny to him. They kissed deeply for more than a little while letting their hands roam their lover's body. When Leonard's hand found it's way down the front of Penny's panties, there was no turning back. Penny shed her panties and pulled off Leonard's boxers taking him into her hand and stroking him to readiness. Leonard was not about to give in so easily and turned his wife on her back as their night of love began.

Penny rolled off her husband and rest her head on his chest listening to his quickly beating heart. "Sweetie, do you need your inhaler?"

After all the years they had been married, it never ceased to amaze Leonard just how good sex could be with Penny. They never once failed to satisfy each other and they were always concerned for the other's pleasure. Taking a deep breath, Leonard smiled. "I'm good. I'm really good."

Penny had similar thoughts. She went from boyfriend to boyfriend looking for what everyone had told he was so special. Sure sex was fun, but if she was honest, she was never really satisfied until she finally shared herself with Leonard.

Sleep came quickly to the couple. Each content in the arms of the other. One thought shared between them. This time, this place, this family they had made together. They were both meant to be... meant to be together, meant to be one, meant to be in love.

A/N: Many things have happened to the group of friends and acquaintances. But as I have said before, Leonard and Penny have largely taken control of where this story has gone. It just feels that they are in a good place and have been since the reaffirmation of their wedding. The addition of their family just puts icing on the cake. I hope I have given them justice and proper closure and satisfied at least a few readers. But the primary focus of this story was about the journey of Penny and Leonard. They have made it to a very special place. Happily married and caring for a young family. If you would like to read a little story about the birth of their twins, take a look at "The Perfect Number". The general principles would be the same.

This has been the most aggressive story I have written for this couple, 375,000 words. They have been through many experiences that had influence and changes in their lives. The different phases of their lives was a challenge to write. I hope you have enjoyed their journey as much I have. Thank you to all that have read and commented. 500 reviews, WOW!