Chapter 1 - Lives Changed

It was amazing how much Penny's life had changed since her engagement, the couple of months of Leonard and Penny practically by themselves, while Sheldon took the summer off on his train trip of contemplation, only strengthening their relationship. This alone time together had actually made them a lot closer, since they had been basically living together, and Penny was more than surprised, that after the first difficult week of adjustment, the rest of the time was just wonderful. Penny was amazed how well her and Leonard got along together, if felt so fantastic that she had been thinking more and more of how great it would be to be married to him. It also made her feel a little guilty about how over a year ago she kicked him out of her apartment when they tried the same thing, it may have been a lot different if she had given it more time.

Leonard was not only a great roomy and fiancé, but he was her biggest supporter and fan, helping her the whole summer finding auditions and scheduling her time, which really paid off. She had accomplished more that summer than in all the years before, concerning her career, not only getting another commercial, but landing an one episode part in 'Game of Thrones'. That small part making her some connections that lead to where she was now, finishing a pilot for a new TV show, a show were she would be a regular cast member if the pilot had some success. Penny's life had definitely changed and she knew it had to do a lot with the man she loved, for the first time in her life she really felt loved and going somewhere with her life. She now felt there was nothing but happiness in her future as her life seemed only to get better with each passing day.

Tonight though, things were not really the way she wanted, it had been the last day on set and her, with her fellow cast members, were having a party, to celebrate their pilot finishing its taping. It would still need to be edited but all the acting was done, so everyone just wanted to let off some steam from the stress of two weeks of constant effort to make the show. Penny was happy like everyone else, but was jealous as some of the other actors had their significant others with them, and her not having Leonard there making her miss him more and more.

So Penny just partied for a few hours with her fellow cast members, it was hard not to have fun with everyone more than happy after finishing the show that afternoon. The pilot seemed like a good one, and she had a pretty good part, so Penny was happy like everyone else, especially because this could be truly the big break she dreamed of, since she got to California. However, the more the night went on, the more she wished Leonard was with her, it was because of his help she found out about the audition that got her the part, in the first place. Also, now that she had a few drinks in her, the only thing she could think of was rewarding him in every possible way she could that night. The problem was he was working on a very important experiment at the university that would take all evening and most of the night. It had been planned for months, and her party had just been planned for just yesterday, so there was no way he could attend. Still, Penny promised herself she was not going to get too drunk, she was not going to get herself sick, she had plans for her short Physicist and she wanted to be sober enough to enjoy them, enjoy him when he came home the next day. So about 10 PM that evening, Penny had enough, she knew she had hit her limit, and started to say her goodbyes.

"Well guys, I'm going to head out. You all don't party too much." Penny told the group of single actors she was talking to, with a little giggle thrown in.

"Come on Honey, its too early to leave now, the party is just getting started." Carol, one of the girls in her show told her, she had a few more drinks than Penny already, so was more drunk than Penny wanted to get.

"Yeah Penny, the fun is just starting." one of the guys added. Penny looked at him and smiled, he was quite handsome, the kind of guy she would have throw herself at just a few years before.

"Sorry Todd, have to go." Penny told him.

Todd didn't seem to sense she was turning him down and really leaving, as he grabbed her arm to seat her again. "Come on Penny, one more drink."

Penny shook her head, then held up her left hand, the engagement ring showing for all to see, "I have a man waiting for me right now, and I am happily committed, sorry Todd."

Carol jumped in, "Leave her go Todd." she then looked at Penny, "You go girl, and have fun." Carol gave her a wink and Penny nodded and winked back.

No sooner then Penny left, Todd acting dejected and mumbling, "Everybody either has a boyfriend or is married."

Carol looked at him, "I'm not married or don't have a boyfriend." she told him, then smiled as Todd's eyes lit up and he began to flirt with her.

Penny caught a taxi back to the apartment, giggling the whole ride home, just thinking what she was going to her boy toy when he came home. She had missed Leonard all night, and she knew if he had been there she would have been hanging all over him, she was so happy, she also thought she would have probably have acted inappropriately with him too, making her smile. Her mind quickly focused on what inappropriate things she wanted to do with Leonard, and it slowly started to turn her on, so when the cab stopped in front of the apartment, Penny was actually surprised, quickly paying the cab driver and hurrying into the building.

Penny walked up the stairs to the fourth floor and looked at 4A, as an idea came to her head, Leonard would probably not come over because of how late he would come home, but she so wanted to see him when he came home and she knew how to do it, she would go to sleep in his bed. The idea of her being there for him when he got home made her feel all tingly inside and she then knew exactly what she should wear, the nightie she teased him with that night she used his mother on him because he tricked her. She was sorry she had done that, after she thought about it, but because of it he never got to take that nightie off her, so tomorrow morning she decided he was going to get her and the nightie.

Penny walked quickly to her door, only to stop and pull her phone out of her purse, so she could snap a selfie of herself in front of her door. She wanted to let her Sweetie know she got home early and safe, because she knew he'd worry about her. No sooner that she took the picture she quickly added a note to it about how she was safely home, not drunk, and really missed him before she hit send, then quickly went into her apartment. She then went to find that nightie, excited when she thought how Leonard would react when he saw her later with it on.

Leonard chuckled when he saw the picture and read her text, she looked adorable with that huge smile on her face. She had been so happy about the show pilot she was working on, she said the cast were great and the show was the kind she thought would get picked up. Leonard smiled, if the show got picked up, she would be a regular on it and she would get her wish, she would be a TV star, after all the disappointment she had, this was a wonderful change of events for her. Leonard sent her a quick text and told her to sleep well, then put his phone away, he still had a lot of work to do, if he wanted to get home before dawn.

Penny quickly got a shower, then put on some sweats, grabbing her nightie and robe as she headed out the door to across the hall, she was still giddy from the day, the smile on her face never leaving the whole time she got ready. However she was surprised when she knocked on the door of 4A and Amy answered the door, "Hey Bestie, what brings you over, you know Leonard's not here."

Penny gave a Amy a big smile then took her in a bear hug, "I know, I wanted to sleep in his bed tonight, so I would be there when he came home."

Amy looked down seeing the little nightie in her hands and gave her a knowing smile. "I assume Leonard's been a good boy." she quietly said.

Penny nodded, still smiling, "The best. Oh Amy I've had the most amazing couple of weeks."

Amy smiled, "Okay you have to tell me everything." Amy had not really seen Penny since she started acting for the pilot of her show.

"Okay." Penny couldn't wait to tell someone how happy she was and now that she was safe on the fourth floor, she wanted to drink just a little more to keep the buzz she had. "Why don't I make us a couple of drinks and we can talk."

"I don't think so Penny." Sheldon had been half listening to Amy and Penny's conversation, but now felt he had to chime in. "You know I don't drink."

Penny smiled, "I can make a great New England Ice Tea for you. Come on Sheldon, celebrate a little with me, I am a TV actress now."

Amy turned to Sheldon, "A little drink won't hurt and it is social convention to celebrate with your friend when something important happens in their life." Amy was now getting excited for Penny.

Sheldon didn't want a drink, but the idea of it being social convention grated on him. "Okay, but only one."

It was only fifteen minutes later when Penny brought over her alcohol and mixers for the drinks they wanted, Penny making Grasshoppers for her and Amy, and of course New England Ice Teas for Sheldon. No sooner that everyone took a sip, Penny started to tell them about her week, she was so excited, Amy couldn't help but smile back at her, while Sheldon accepted he was going to be bored, taking another drink of his tasty Ice Tea. An hour later was the last thing Penny remembered from that night with her friends.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxWRONG BABYxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Leonard slowly walked up the stairs to the fourth floor, stopping on the landing and looking at 4B, trying to decide if he should go in. It was only 5 AM, and Penny was a sound sleeper, but he knew he could crawl in bed with her and not wake her up. However he was really tired and he decided she probably needed her sleep, plus they had not discussed him coming over, which made him rationalize he better sleep in his own bed. So Leonard just sighed in fatigue and a little disappointment as he just turned back to his apartment. He put his key in the door and was completely surprised it was unlocked, making him cautiously walk in the apartment, now suddenly more alert from the previous few minutes before. He immediately notice the empty liquor bottles on the coffee table and then the clothes on the floor and couch, one of them looking just like Penny's robe. The whole scene was both weird and disturbing so he made his way to the hall to ask Sheldon what happened, the man had woken him up many of times in the middle of the night, so it didn't bother Leonard at all to wake him up now. Leonard had planned to knock on his door, but as he entered the hall he saw that Sheldon's door was half open, which was even more disturbing, so he quietly walked up to peak in.

The sight Leonard saw was the last thing he ever expected to see and his blood went cold as his mind tried to go into denial. In Sheldon's bed where three sound asleep people, the sheets only covering small parts of their nude bodies and one of those people was Penny. She was laying length wise on the end of the bed, on her side facing him, the sheet only covering her back, her whole front exposed, making it easy for Leonard to see the dried male ejaculation around her upper thighs and crotch from lighting of Sheldon's night light. He was unable to move and just stared at her for a while, not believing what he was seeing, thoughts of how they had just got engaged a few months ago running through his mind, as his mind kept telling him this wasn't happening at the same time. He then looked at Sheldon, the sheet only on his hip, the rest of it on Amy who was snuggled up to his back. Sheldon was on his side and his front exposed, his penis laying against the sheet, the stain of ejaculation obvious on the material. It was then Leonard couldn't deny it any longer, Sheldon had sex with Penny, she had cheated on him with his roommate, it was then it fully hit him, his happy life had just ended, it was over forever.

Leonard wanted to scream, to wake them all up and yell at them all, but that passed quickly, he really just felt tired and used up, and couldn't look at the scene before him anymore. He walked to his room and stood there a couple moments, he felt like he should cry, but a numbness seemed to come over his whole body. He completely lost track of time and just stood in his room for a little while, but finally he began to move, getting every suitcase he had, filling them with all the clothes he could pack. It didn't take him long, there wasn't a lot he really needed, so after he finished he then made his way back out to the living room. Finding a sheet of paper and a pen, he left Sheldon his signed roommate termination paperwork and a brief reason why, then took one more look around as he knew he would never come back. Leonard left his apartment keys in the bowl and walked out the apartment, going down the stairs to his car to leave 2311 N. Los Robles Avenue forever.