A/N: I am very grateful for the reviews I have gotten. I know this story is different but I am happy that there are so many that are willing to take this ride. I welcome all constructive criticism and hope that I will grow to become an awesome BBT writer. God bless...
Penny Rallies the Guys
"Leonard are you awake?"
"Hmm?" he said turning over to face his wife. He put his arm around her waist and seemed to fall back to sleep.
"Leonard!" Penny almost yelled. He sat up on an elbow and said he was up.
"I wanted to talk to you about something," she replied sitting up on her elbows. He nodded that he was awake.
"Do I need to put my glasses on?" he asked.
"No, but I need you to trust me." Leonard's eyes widened. This was not a good start.
"I trust you," he said hesitantly.
"The girls and I came up with a sort of game that we all want to play." Leonard raised his eyebrow intrigued. "We thought it would be great to do something we all can do."
"Another D&D?" Leonard asked now sitting up. This could be exciting. His mind started to swirl with ideas. He would be the Dungeon Master but use Howard for voices where needed.
"No honey." Leonard's shoulders sagged. "But it's going to be even better."
"Tell me."
"We are going to swap partners," Penny said now excited.
"What?" Leonard replied as only he could. "What two weeks into our marriage and you are already tired of me?"
"No, no. See there was this show called Celebrity Wife Swap where wives would swap lives with each other. It was pretty funny to see the women so out of place with their new 'husband'." Leonard stared at his wife for a moment at her lit up face and then reached over and put on his glasses. He would need all his senses.
"Where are we going to find a celebrity who would be willing to be my wife?" he asked. Penny tilted her head and smiled.
"Oh honey. That's just where I got the idea. We are going to swap with our friends."
"Our friends?"
"Yes. Listen to the NEW couples that we picked out," Penny said and got the list that was sitting on the nightstand. "We drew names so it would be fair."
"Okay. So who did I get paired with."
"Um, Emily." Leonard backed away from Penny.
"She's scary," he replied acting out his feelings.
"I got Howard if that makes you feel any better."
"Handsy Howard? There isn't going to be any physical part of this swap right?" Leonard asked.
"No, nothing like that. The guys will just plan a weekend with their "date" and that's all," Penny said proud of her idea.
"I knew the sex was wayyy too good tonight. You were buttering me up," Leonard said laying back down.
"Leonard come on. It'll be fun," she said and then laid down next to him. She took off his glasses and put them on the stand. She started giving him soft kisses all over his face and neck.
"Okay I'll do it," Leonard said enjoying the attention Penny was giving his earlobe.
"There's just one other thing," she said in between nibbles. Leonard breathed out a yes. "You have to convince Sheldon." Leonard's eyes opened wide.
"Mood killer," he called his wife before letting out a huge sigh.
The guys were sitting in 4A waiting for Leonard to arrive. They knew the girls were over in the other apartment and were all quizzical as to what was going on. Raj decided to break the silence with an observation and a question.
"Okay this apartment here we used to call Leonard's and the one across the hall Penny's. Now that they are married, what do we call them?"
"I don't know why you called MY apartment Leonard's when it should have been called Sheldon's or Sheldon and Leonard's. My name coming first of course," Sheldon replied a bit on the cranky side. He hadn't been in a good mood all day because they changed the mayonnaise from Helmanns to Miracle Whip in the potato salad.
"Why isn't Leonard living at 4B where his wife is?" Howard asked.
"Didn't you hear? They are going to time share each apartment until Sheldon gets used to being alone," Raj informed him.
"I have the perfect person for you - " Howard started.
"No," Sheldon replied.
"But he even cooks."
"No." Howard slumped into the chair and sighed. No getting rid of Stuart any time soon he figured. Silence filled the room until Leonard came rushing in the door.
"Sorry I'm late but there was a situation at the lab when the power flicked on and off and things were dropping and magnets were sticking to things you never thought they would," he said quickly and then took a seat in his usual spot as Howard moved to the chair next to him.
"So what did you want to talk to us about?" Raj asked.
"Penny had this idea-"
"Oh boy," Sheldon said cutting Leonard off.
"Penny had this idea and the girls agreed," Leonard paused waiting for another remark from Sheldon. When there was none forthcoming he continued. "She wants to do something called wife swapping."
"Is that anything like swinging because you know I could totally get into that," Howard asked enthusiastically.
"No it's not that. Penny said she saw a show about celebrities doing it," Leonard replied.
"I've seen it. There was one with Cloris Leachman and Pia Zadora. So funny," Raj said. "Which celebrities are we going to get?"
"Not celebrities. The girls – our girls," Leonard said. The guys looked at each other and didn't seem to be too fond of the idea.
"I don't think I want any part of this," Sheldon said getting up and walking towards his bedroom.
"Me either. Can't we just play Dungeon and Dragons again?" Howard asked.
"Bowling?" Raj suggested.
"No bowling," Leonard said remembering how Penny broke up with him the last time they bowled together.
"Paintball?"
"Oh I could get into that. I call captain," Sheldon said coming back and sitting down in his spot.
"No, no and no," Leonard said firmly. "The game is wife/girlfriend swapping and that's it."
"Well you may recall Leonard that Miss Amy Farrah Fowler is no longer my girlfriend so that leaves me out."
"Sheldon maybe if you play this game you can show Amy that you are trying. That will score you some points," Howard stated.
"Points? I have to earn points now? What is this world coming to Leonard?" Sheldon asked exasperated.
"I know buddy but give it a try. You may end up enjoying yourself."
"I doubt I could enjoy any hippy dippy thing that Penny comes up with," Sheldon said leaning back in his spot. Just then the door opened and Penny stuck her head in.
"We all on board?" she asked.
"On the hippy dippy train to hell apparently so," Sheldon said. Penny clapped her hands in excitement and ran to get the girls so everyone could go over ground rules. She ran back over to 4B and told the girls the happy news.
"Even Sheldon?" Amy asked.
"Yes and he was as enthusiastic as Sheldon can get with things he thinks are stupid," Penny replied and motion for them to go over to the other apartment. Bernadette and Amy went out the door but Emily hung back.
"Penny I wanted to talk to you before we start this thing." Penny nodded her head and sat down on the couch. "I know that there's been some tension between the two of us."
"Well since Leonard and I are married now, I wouldn't think you would feel you had anything to worry about."
"And you don't find it odd that I got paired with your husband?" Emily said in a tone that sent chills down Penny's spine.
"We drew names and there is only so many combinations."
"I hope I don't find myself in any embarrassing situations while Leonard and I are on our dates."
"No physical contact," Penny replied showing Emily the list of rules they had come up with. "See rule number one."
"Are you upset you got Howard? I'm sure you wanted Raj instead."
"Emily I don't know what you are trying to get at but I really wish we could put the past behind us. We've all done things we are not proud of. Can't we just let it go? If not for my sake but for Raj's?" Penny asked as she stood and walked to the door. Emily put her head down.
"It's going to take some time," Emily said rising from her seat and moving towards the door. "My first reaction is to strike and seek revenge on the people that have harmed me. I'm trying to be more mellow."
"Well let me know how I can help you with that. You know make you some herbal tea. Remove the knife from your hand. Things like that," Penny replied and stepped aside so Emily could walk out the door. Penny sighed and began to doubt this swapping was such a good idea.
TBC
