This story was supposed to be a one shot from Penny's point of view, but someone asked about a Leonard perspective. Hopefully, this is okay.

I own nothing

Leonard stepped into the apartment with a chilled bottle of champagne he had gotten just because he wanted to make their engagement a little more special. He had thought that she… and even… he… had shown just a little apprehension at becoming engaged. He had always thought it would be an incredibly special moment, but it turned out… at first… to be what they both classified as anticlimactic. He had made it a little more special when he pulled out ring that she now had on her left hand. He caught her staring at the ring as the light glistened off the stone. The look on her face immediately made him smile.

Just when did he fall in love with this woman? And more to the point… Why had he?

He was taken with her beauty right from the first minute he saw her through her open door when she was unpacking boxes the day she moved in… but was that love? To love someone, you have to know them and understand them and their dreams. He had eagerly listened to what she had said about herself on that first day and was truly interested in her desire to be an actress but also equally interested in her job as a waitress. He was taken by everything she had said, but did that mean he loved this woman?

He knew that they were different people and that she was probably way out of his league so he tried to be her friend. She seemed to be happy to come over for dinner and a game of Halo every now and then. After a while she would seek him out from all the others when she wanted help or to just talk about the most current relationship she had found herself in and what was going wrong in it. She would seek his advice on new things she would try and always told him first if she thought an audition went well and cried on his shoulder when she didn't get the part. They were best friends, but did that mean he loved this woman?

He tried so many times to tell her how he felt, but was too insecure. Then on two separate occasions, he asked her. Once she thought everyone would be coming, but only he did. She saw through the veil, but didn't tell him because she didn't want to embarrass him. The second time was a real date and he had thought it was wonderful. Things didn't work out because she thought he was too smart for her. He was devastated… did that mean he loved this woman?

When he got back from the north pole, she kissed him. He was literally on cloud nine…. Things were great for about eight months… He wanted their relationship to never end and he told her so…. Was that really when he thought he loved this woman?

He could think of no one else. Even though they may be apart, he could smell her green apple shampoo and vanilla body oil whenever she came by for a meal, and when they passed on the stairs. He missed everything about her… her touch… her smell… her taste… Did that mean he loved this woman?

On the very first day, he remarked to Sheldon that they would have Smart and Beautiful Babies…. Did that mean he loved this woman?

He finally asked her out again, hoping that he would not pressure her again. They agreed to take things slow. He was so happy, he would do anything for her. Sheldon even remarked that EVERYONE knew where their relationship would be going even if she didn't. Did that mean he loved this woman?

He put all his faith in her after she admitted to being scared of committing to a long term relationship. Inside, he hurt, knowing that he was further into their relationship than she was. But he would not give up. He would wait as long as it took. He told her that their fate was up to her. He would let her decide when he was ready. Did this mean that he loved this woman?

He went away for four months, half way around the world and could only talk to her on the phone and sometimes by Skype. It was the longest four months of his life. He worked hard and had a good time with the new friends he made, but he missed her terribly. He swore to himself, he would never leave her again. Did this mean he really loved this woman?

Things were fine for him at work, but she was disappointed in her acting career going nowhere. When she quit her job at the restaurant, he was scared, not that she wouldn't have money, he would help with that. He was scared that if she didn't make it, she would get even more depressed, and that was something he couldn't bear. He bought her a car when hers finally died. Did this mean he loved this woman?

She saw the smile on his face as he came into the apartment and caught him looking at her like he always did. She came over to him and took the champagne and told him to sit on the couch as she got two glasses. He sat and watched as she moved quickly to the cupboard to get a pair of wine glasses. She didn't have special champagne glasses. He smiled at the small frown she had when she pulled them down from the top shelf. She was adorable. Did he really love this woman?

As she poured the champagne and walked the two glasses over to the couch where he sat, he gazed at her… It wasn't the golden hair that smelled like green apple… it wasn't the smooth soft skin that smelled like vanilla… it wasn't the gorgeous green eyes that seemed to sparkle as she walked over to him… it wasn't the beautifully curvaceous body that she kept in shape…

It was the person inside… the kind and caring person that could easily pick up on the feelings of others. The person that would help out anyone that was in need. The person that was trusting of everyone, no matter how they had treated her. The person that put up with so much that she didn't understand from him and their friends. The person that had the biggest heart he had ever known.

He had a pretty good understanding why, and he thought about when. But one thing was certain as he took the champagne glass from her and toasted their engagement… He Really… Really… LOVED this woman.