Brian's POV
The next week Penny did everything exactly according to what the doctor said. When it was time for her follow up appointment, Penny was stressed about going out in public with her forehead in full view.
"It doesn't look that bad Penz, people probably won't even notice it."
"Nice try, Haner."
"How about a hat?"
"I guess that will help." I could tell she was still very self-conscious about her forehead.
The appointment went well and the doctor said she would be able to return to most normal activities in two weeks. Penny followed all instructions given by the doctor with no fuss.
Chloe brought the twins over and we both were so happy to see them. They remembered me, even though they hadn't seen me for five months. They were just starting to walk when I left and now they were running around and even talking. I was sad that I missed so much and angry when I thought about all that Penny missed when she was in California. I was holding in a lot of anger, I couldn't wait until Gwyn was behind bars for good, but I dreaded what the trial would put Penny through and the publicity that would go with it. I hoped that before the circus began that we would be able to rebuild our relationship.
We were spending all our time together, getting to know each other again. She was still my best audience and we spent a lot of time in the basement in my musical "man cave."
She was moving around better every day and hadn't needed any pain medication for over a week. By the day before her second follow up appointment it was clear she was ready. I was happy that she was feeling better I was also aware that once she was well enough she wouldn't need me there anymore. I wasn't sure what would happen then. Penny was clearly very nervous about the appointment, I thought maybe she was wondering whether she wanted me to stay. I wasn't exactly sure what it was, but she seemed very troubled.
The night before her appointment, she had a bad dream. I woke up and she was sitting on the side of the bed crying.
"Penz, what's wrong?"
"I can't do it, I can't go out like this."
"What are you talking about?"
"This!" She pointed at the scar on her forehead.
"You mean your scar?" She nodded. "I told you that we will get rid of it, in the meantime you will be able to cover it with makeup."
"Yeah right, and next thing you know we're out in public and the makeup comes off. Everyone will see it and look at me like I'm a freak, you will be embarrassed and then go sleep with women that don't look like the bride of Frankenstein."
"I will never do that and you do not look like the bride of Frankenstein." I knelt in front of her, lifting her chin to look at my face. "Look at me, you are beautiful. Honestly Penny, I don't even notice it anymore."
"You're just used to it and you're trying to make me feel better."
I don't know why, but that triggered me.
"Damn It Penny! Why do you discount everything I tell you?"
"What?" She was stunned by my outburst.
"I'm here, taking care of you, being with you constantly but yet you don't believe me!"
"I thought you wanted to be here, you can go if you want. I can take care of myself." I could see she was holding back tears. I don't know what came over me, I shouldn't have acted like I did.
"Penz, this is the only place in the world I want to be. I just hate it when you get all self conscious about how you look. It hurts me when you think I tell you things just to make you feel better. I also understand that it bothers you and we'll figure out something, okay?"
"I'm sorry, it's not that I don't believe you. I just keep having all kind of crazy dreams. In several I must even be so bad that I make babies cry."
"I hardly think that would happen, they're just dreams. Layla and Lola weren't scared. Nana had a boo-boo, that's all."
"You're right, I'm being crazy. Let's get some sleep." She said with a half hearted smile.
I was so tired I fell right back to sleep. I half woke up at 7:00 AM, rolling over to put my arm around Penny. It took a second to register in my brain that she was gone. I looked over at the bathroom door, it was open and the light was off. I got out of the bed calling for her, but she didn't answer.
I checked all over the house, Penny wasn't to be found. As I walked up the stairs of the basement I saw the last door that I could check, the garage. I held my breath as I opened the door and sure enough her mustang was gone.
"Damn it Penny!" I yelled, like she could hear me.
I called her cell phone, a few seconds later I heard a familiar sound, her ringtone. The phone was sitting on the kitchen table.
"What the hell is she doing?" I said out loud. I went back through the house and found her nightgown in the hall bath, she must've changed there so I wouldn't hear her. She didn't pack anything, but she did take her purse. Did she run off again? I was kind of hard on her, but I don't think it upset her that much. What if someone took her? What if Gwyn sent someone who forced her to change clothes and take her car? All kind of crazy and terrible scenarios where going through my head. Then, just as the sun was starting to rise, I heard the mustang pull around to the back of the house and the garage door open. I quickly went to the garage and stood there waiting for Penny to pull in and get out of the car. I was pissed as hell.

Penny's POV
I was hoping to get home before sunrise and before Brian woke up so I could surprise him. I thought that he would understand why I needed to do this. It's hard to tell a friend that you called at 4:30 AM to hurry up, especially when they are doing you a favor.
My hopes were dashed when I pulled into the garage and Bri was standing there in just his boxer shorts. He didn't look happy, I just didn't now how unhappy he was until I got out of the car.
"What the hell? Where have you been?" He didn't give me a chance to respond. "Do you know how worried I've been? You fucking scared the shit out of me! You didn't even take your phone!"
"I'm sorry, I thought I would get home before you were awake and I forgot my phone."
"You're sorry? What about the fact that you haven't been cleared to drive yet!"
"Come on, we both know I'm fine to drive. I haven't had to take pain medicine for over a week. I understand you're upset, but you don't have to freak out."
"Freak out! I think I have a right to freak out, some crazy bitch shot you and we don't know what else she has cooked up or who else she's roped in! I thought you had been kidnapped or worse!"
"Oh God Brian, I didn't think of it that way." I felt terrible, I could tell that he was letting out fear and anger that he had been holding in. "Let's go in the house and we can talk about all this."
He opened the door into the house and motioned for me to go inside. I sat on the couch and patted the cushion next to me for him to sit, he just paced back and forth in front of me..
"I understand why you're mad at me. I didn't think about anything but my own selfish need."
"It scared the shit out of me I didn't know if you had decided to run away again or someone had" he stopped mid sentence.
"Someone had made me leave?"
"Yes, that thought did occur to me. I would have never imagined that you went out in the middle of the night to get your hair cut."
"So you noticed? What do you think?" I said, trying to change the subject.
"I think it looks great and the bangs were a great idea."
I stood up and wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Will you forgive me?" I pouted and kissed him before he could respond. I felt him relaxing and soon the kiss turned passionate. I stopped and with my lips still almost touching his I said softly.
"What were we talking about?" "I pouted just a little. "I know, will you forgive me?"
"Yes Penelope, I forgive you." He said and pressed his lips to mine and our kiss returned to the passion I had halted earlier.
I started to tug on his boxer shorts, the urges were rising and I wanted him.
He stopped me, I looked at him not understanding why.
"Baby, I want you so bad but you haven't been cleared by the Doctor yet."
"We both know it's okay." I started to kiss him again.
"No, I am not going to take that chance. You'll probably be cleared today. I'm very glad you want to!"
"Well I guess for now you're still in charge. Okay, let's go to this appointment."
We both readied to leave the house. Once we were on the road, Bri was very quiet.
"Are you okay? Are you worried about what the Doctor is going to say?" I asked.
"No, it's going to be okay, you're doing great. I wouldn't be surprised if he says you can do a lot more now."
"I hope so." I said, not realizing what he might think I meant.
He tried to smile and look happy, he failed.
"It's definitely a good possibility." I said, now knowing what he was worried about.
"Yep." He said quietly.
"Don't worry, Bri. I want you to stay no matter what he says."
"You knew what I was thinking?"
"I guess we're still connected. I want what you want. We'll get there, okay?"
"Yes, that's more than okay." He said with a smile.
The appointment went better than expected. The doctor said I could resume normal activities. He commented on what great care Brian must have taken of me. The doctor was right, Bri was my protector from my own willfulness that would have set me back. This meant we were now able to be intimate again.
We walked into the house after the appointment and I slyly said, "I need to take a shower."
"A shower? Why?" He said, not getting it.
I kissed him, then turned and walked away saying "If you don't know..."
Honestly, I thought I was ready. I didn't realize that my body may have recovered, but my mind hadn't.

Brian's POV
Things were great, it's hard to believe that three weeks ago, I thought we were over. We were back together after five months and the hell of Gwyn.
Penny was in the shower, I decided to take her hint. I undressed and walked in behind her.
"Hey Beautiful" I said
She handed me the soap.
"Wash my back, Haner." She commanded and I gladly complied.
"You look great Penz."
"Well as I gained weight back, I wanted to make sure it was going to the right places. I had been working out a lot." She turned around putting her arms around my neck. "I'm glad you noticed."
"Oh, I noticed." I kissed her and she seemed really into it. While still kissing, I moved my hands down to her sexy butt. She pressed herself against me. Then I started kissing down her neck to her right breast and I was preparing to move to her nipple when she suddenly stepped back.
"Brian, I can't do this yet." She hurried out of the shower, wrapped a towel around herself and left the bathroom.
I just stood there with the hot water still pouring over my body. I couldn't hold back the anger and frustration of the last 5 months anymore. Unfortunately for Penny, she was the only one there to aim it at.
I got out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist. Penny was sitting on the bed hugging her knees.
"What the fuck, Penny?"
"I'm sorry, I just keep..." She struggled to say it.
"Picturing me with Gwyn, right?"
"Yes" she said sullenly.
"When are you going to get it through your head that I didn't even know what was happening! I thought she was you for fuck sake!"
"But it still happened." She wiped the fresh tears from her face.
"As far as I remember, it didn't happen! I don't remember ANYTHING! I know you're hurt, but you don't have to be a dick tease to get back at me!"
"Get back at you!" Her anger started to build as her blue almost violet eyes seemed to turn a stormy dark blue.
"You may not remember fucking her, but I haven't been with anyone! Do you really think I would lead you on for revenge?" She went to my closet and grabbed an armful of my clothes.
"What the hell are you doing?" I asked.
"I'm helping you get your things so that you can get the hell out of my house! I'm not TEASING either." She threw the clothes at me. Before I had only seen her anger, now I could see the hurt. I finally came to my senses, realizing that I had unleashed the anger I had towards Gwyn out on her.
"Penny, stop! I know you weren't trying to tease me. I'm sorry."
"GO BRIAN!" She yelled, as tears started streaming down her face.

"I'll leave, but will you please just hear me out first?"

"Okay, then you'll go?" She said angrily.
"If that's what you want, I will."

"Talk!" she said as she sat on the edge of the bed.

"I've held in a lot of anger about what happened. Today, I just couldn't hold it in.
"You're angry with me?" She asked.
"No Penz, I'm angry at Gwyn, I would like to strangle that crazy bitch. Instead of dealing with my anger, I took it out on you. I didn't mean to."
"I didn't mean to lead you on. I thought I was ready." She looked at me with sad now almost violet eyes."
"I know you didn't mean to, I understand how that is very hard for you. We will work through this. I know I've said this before, but I have no memory of anything. I remember thinking you were there and then the next thing I know you were standing at the bedroom door and Gwyn was wrapped in a sheet. I don't think about her and I am glad I don't remember it."
"I know she fooled both of us. Obviously, she fooled me more than you. I love you Brian. My love and desire for you has not changed. It has been over 5 months; you know" We both laughed. "I just need a little time, okay?" She said holding my hand.

I understand and whatever it takes and no matter how long, I will wait until you're ready. I will not pressure you." That was one promise that I knew was going to be hard to keep.

Notes