Chapter Text
As Penny drove through the quickly deteriorating weather conditions, she cursed herself for not leaving her sister's house earlier. But she had been having such a good time. Between work and Roy's opinion of her sister, she hardly got to see her.
As much as she hated it, she found herself forced to slow down, keeping her eye on the middle stripe of the highway. Visibility was rapidly dropping.
With a sigh of relief she saw the road leading to the trailer court come up. She slowly turned in knowing she didn't have the best set of tires. As she reached her trailer, she was a little ashamed of herself as she found herself relieved that Roy's truck wasn't there. She knew she should be worried about him getting home, but he was driving his new four-wheel-drive truck and she was in no mood to hear him going on about her visiting her sister.
She pulled into the carport, being sure to leave enough room for the truck. She then exited and hurried inside. Once inside, she turned up the heat and keeping her coat on, made herself some coffee.
By the time it was ready, she was able to take off her coat and sat down on the couch pulling a comforter over her.
Now that she was home, she started to wonder when Roy would be coming home. He had gone out to drink after work with two of his best friends apparently celebrating Perry's job promotion. She just hoped he wouldn't be stupid enough to drive home drunk.
She had finished her cup and regretfully left the warmth of the couch to get another one when her phone rang. Getting it from her purse, she saw it was from Perry.
"Hey, Penny, just calling to be sure you are all right."
"I'm fine, Perry, I made it home." She hesitated, "Where's Roy?"
Perry sighed, "He's here. I'm afraid he celebrated a little too much. He's not going to be able to drive home. I would normally give him a lift, but with the weather..."
"I understand. Listen, I'll be all right. Can he stay with you and sleep it off?"
Perry sighed, "I guess. Millie won't be too thrilled but I think she will understand."
He paused and then said, "Roy says he loves you."
Penny thought a little sarcastically to herself 'Yeah right.' Out loud she said, "Tell him I love him too."
"Okay, Penny, I am going to hang up now. I'll have Roy call you in the morning. Thank goodness it's Saturday, I don't think he will be in much shape to work."
"That sounds good." Hesitating, "Thanks, Perry. Say Hi to Millie for me and tell her I owe her one."
"You're welcome, Penny." Pauses, "And I am sure she will hold you to that."
He went on, "Take care of yourself. Goodnight."
"Goodnight, Perry."
After hanging up, she laid the phone on the table and got back under the comforter and sipped at her coffee.
After a time, she decided she might as well get ready for bed. She took a quick warm shower and put on her warmest pajamas. After relieving herself and brushing her teeth, she returned to the couch.
Once again comfortable under the comforter, she turned on the TV.
She started to scan through the channels when something caught her eye. She had already passed the station and decided she must have been mistaken. But when she went back, she was stunned that she had been right. Facing her on the screen, standing on a stage, was Leonard Hofstadter!
Checking the information about what was on, she was even more shocked to find it was a broadcast of the presentation of Noble Prize awards.
It appeared she had come in at the right time because a distinguished looking guy was saying, "It is now my great honor to present this year's Nobel Prize for Physics to Dr. Leonard Hofstadter of Pasadena, California, for his work on expansive use of Lasers in reference to space exploration."
Penny watched as the guy put a medal around Leonard's neck.
She sat back and watched as he stepped up to a dais.
"Thank you, King Gustav, and the Nobel Committee for selecting me for this great honor.
"I also want to thank the faculty and administration of the California Institute of Technology for providing the funds and the extraordinary equipment that enabled me to succeed."
"I would like to especially single out the president of Caltech, Dr. Siebert, who stood by me and offered me his full cooperation and support."
He looked down at the audience, "On a personal note, I wish to express my deepest gratitude and regards to my best friend Dr. Sheldon Cooper and his wife, Dr. Amy Farrah-Fowler; without their friendship and support, I would not be before you today."
The camera moved to show Sheldon sitting with a pretty woman. Penny was stunned, Sheldon Cooper was married? To a woman? She smirked to herself, sometimes she had wondered if he even noticed if anyone was a woman. She wondered if they actually had sex.
Leonard had gone on, "But my greatest thanks go to my loving wife, Priya, who had to put up with me working long hours and having to be there when times were tough. Thank you."
The camera centered on a beautiful Indian woman who smiled up at him. To her amazement, Penny found herself having a moment of jealousy.
Where the Hell did that come from?
It was true that after she was dumped by some jerk, she had agreed to go out with him, mostly as a lark. The date had been a disaster. They had nothing to talk about and when he tried to show her some science thingy, he had ended up practically giving himself a concussion.
But they had eventually became good friends and when her year had been up, he had tried to get her to stay, even offering to help with her rent. During the low times, when she realized her career was going nowhere, he had been there for her.
She smirked, she wondered how many times she had mooched off him and Sheldon. It had surprised her how difficult it had been to leave him.
But she had been forced to admit that she was not destined to be rich and famous. When she had announced she was going to California to seek fame and fortune, her parents agreed they would help her find a safe place to live and would pay rent and utilities for a year. But she had agreed that if nothing had happened in that year, and she was not financially able to continue for herself, she would return home.
She realized she had missed the rest of his speech. She watched as Sheldon and the others joined him on the stage.
As she switched to another channel, she suddenly remembered something that had happened when her Dad had visited her.
She had introduced him to Leonard and Sheldon. When they were alone, he asked her why she couldn't get with someone like them. She was surprised and told him they were not her type and besides they had nothing in common.
He had sighed, "I suppose, but at least with them, I would be certain my grandchildren would be raised in a house without wheels."
Penny had to smirk as she looked around. The only thing she was missing were the grandchildren. She sighed. Roy had been after her to get pregnant but she just couldn't see them as loving parents, especially those times Roy was drunk and although he had never struck her, he had often threatened to and mentally abused her.
She remembered when she had returned from California and met him at work. He was tall and handsome and quickly made it clear he was interested in her. They had started dating and she discovered he was a great lover. Although her parents weren't overly thrilled with him, they were engaged six months after they met. He had assured her after they were married, that the trailer was just temporary, that they would soon be moving. She shook her head, that was three years ago.
She also soon discovered he was insanely jealous and watched her like a hawk. She couldn't remember how many times they had argued after some guy had innocently paid some attention to her.
Then, about a year ago, he had verbally attacked her in front of Lisa and she had torn into him. Since then, he let Penny know she should have nothing to do with her. Wyatt wanted to talk to him, but grudgingly agreed to stay out of it when Penny told him it would just make it worse.
The thing was, for the most part, when he wasn't drinking, they did get along and had some good times. At least he was faithful, unlike many of their friends. And there was the sex...
Penny changed to a late movie and fell asleep watching it. She finally woke up, turned off the TV and went to bed.
The next morning she was just getting ready to leave for work when her phone rang. She saw it was from Roy.
"Well good morning."
"Hey, Honey, I am sorry about last night. Did you miss me?"
"Of course, but I watched TV and went to bed early."
Lowering his voice, "Well, I'll make it up to you tonight."
Penny was surprised and a little saddened to realize that did not exactly excite her. "I have to work the noon shift today so will see you later."
"Okay." Noises behind him, "Oh, Millie wants to talk to you, Love you."
"Love you too."
Hears Millie's voice, "Okay, you guys get out of here, have some girl talk with Penny."
"Hey, Penny. How are you doing?"
"I'm okay. Sorry about you having to put Roy up."
"You should be, you should have seen my bathroom."
Hesitates, "Penny, what time do you get off work today?"
"4:15. Why?"
"Could you meet me at The Corner Bar when you are done? I need to talk to you."
Penny surprised, "Sure. It won't take too long will it? Roy is going to expect me to be home."
"No, it won't take long. Thanks."
"No problem, see you there."
Penny had problems concentrating all day at work. She kept thinking of how it had not bothered her more that Roy had not been home and also her reaction when he inferred they would make love that night. She also wondered what Millie wanted. She was surprised to find herself also thinking about Leonard. Seeing him on TV made her realize how much she did miss his friendship.
When she arrived at the bar, she found Millie waiting for her. After obtaining a beer, "So, what was so important?"
After a few moments, Millie sighed, "Now, promise me you will hear me out. I am sure it is nothing. He was really drunk.."
Penny sat up, as Millie went on, "Roy tried to kiss me last night."
Seeing the look on Penny's face, she hurried on, "We had all gone to bed with Roy sleeping on the couch. I got up to get some water and when I was returning to the bedroom, I ran into Roy coming out of the bathroom. As I passed him, he reached out and grabbed my shoulders and tried to kiss me. I pulled away, but he tried again. I told him he needed to stop and he suddenly got a shocked look on his face and let me go."
She looked at Penny, "I think he may have been confused and thought he was home and I was you.. I don't think he remembers it at all. Everything seemed fine this morning and he didn't seem bothered at all that I wanted to talk to you." After a pause, "I probably shouldn't have said anything, but I thought you should know."
Penny had sat stunned as Millie was talking. She remembered how she had thought about Roy and that at least he wasn't a cheater. Then she realized she was probably being unfair. It could be like Millie said. But she also knew she was maybe kidding herself.
Finally she got out, "Thanks, Millie. You are probably right. I know how he sometimes gets when he's been drinking. I am sorry you had to go through that."
"It's okay." Hesitates, "Are you going to say anything to Roy? I really don't want Perry to find out."
"No, I think it's best we forget the whole thing."
Millie took a deep breath, "There is something else I wanted to tell you. Since Perry got this promotion we have decided we are going to try to have a baby."
Penny smiled, "That's great. I know how long you guys have waited. I am so happy for you."
Millie smiled, "Thanks." She paused, "How about you and Roy?"
"I don't think we are ready for that now. Maybe later..."
They talked a little longer, but Penny's mind was wandering. As happy as she was for Millie and Perry, she had a feeling this was going to result in Roy pushing harder for her to get pregnant as well. The problem was, she was more convinced than ever they were not ready for that.
That night, although Penny told Roy she was tired and wondered if they could forego sex for the night, she knew it was a losing cause. Oh, he would never force her or rape her, but he would not let it go either. She had found it was just easier to go along. After all, she was his wife and hadn't she said how great the sex was.
Afterwards when he rolled over and soon feel asleep, Penny lay there thinking of all that had transpired in the last twenty-four hours. Finally, she sighed and soon managed to fall asleep.
Priya turned back from the window and looked over at her husband. She internally shook her head as she watched him pack. As usual, he had wasted no time in changing to that infernal hoodie. It saddened her when she thought of all the wonderful clothes she had purchased for him that hung unused in his closet. She had long ago given up trying to get him to change but it still greatly bothered her. And those glasses...
He was a wonderful man in many ways and she deeply admired his brilliance, but sometime she wondered if marrying him had been such a good idea. She knew her parents had never really accepted it. She had once hoped time would change that, but it seemed to have worsened. She knew they wanted grandchildren but did not want Leonard to be the father. She had also been a little surprised at her reaction when she heard that her old boyfriend had been asking when they were coming. She realized she was looking forward to seeing him again.
Leonard felt Priya watching him. He smiled to himself, no doubt bugged by his clothes. He did love Priya but sometimes it did bother him deeply that she continuously tried to change who he was.
He sighed, he really wasn't looking forward to visiting her family in India. He could feel their resentment that he had married their daughter. Maybe winning the Nobel would change things, but he doubted it. He also was pretty sure their feelings toward him was the main reason Priya kept putting him off when he talked about starting a family. He even often wondered if she shared some of their feelings. He sighed, something needed to change, he could feel they were drifting further and further apart.