It's Monday night so it's Thai night. After a gruelling day at the Cheesecake Factory it the last thing I want to do is see every one but I haven't seen the guys much since Leonard and I are not together any more. It always feel makes me feel strange visiting with my ex-boyfriend but then I remember I won't be the only female there tonight, as Sheldon asked us all to be present. The door swings open and in walks Penny.

"Hey Guys"

"Hey" Collectively the group respond with varying degrees of hi and hello.

Amy is the last to respond. "Hello Bestie"

I take my seat on the middle cushion with Sheldon on my left and Bernadette on my right.

Sheldon turns slightly in his seat and clears his throat. "Good, now that every one is gathered we should discuss what we are doing for Thanksgiving seen as it is only a week away. I propose lunch here."

Before he can launch into why the room burst with words of "NO"

"But it's our tradition"

"No"

"I don't want to cook and have you mock my cooking skills. Let's do something fun."

"Fun you say." Howard wiggles his eyebrows suggestively. "There is only one place to go that is fun."

"A train museum"

"Um, no. Vegas."

"I think the train museum sounds better"

"No one cares what you think"

"Howie, that wasn't very nice"

"I've never been to Vegas. Can we see a show?"

"Of course Ames" I give her a reassuring smile.

Raj takes a sip of his beer and burst out with "We can see a Celine Dion show"

"Really Raj? That's what you get out of a trip to Vegas? Surely you can do better."

"But Celine is so magical. Every one must see her at least once in concert."

"I don't like this"

"Of course you don't sweetie, how about this I will play rock, paper, scissors, lizard, Spock. If I win you agree to come to Vegas without complaint. If you win, we go to the train museum for Thanksgiving." I jut my chin out, square my shoulders and raise my eyes to stare at him definitely. I do this so he knows I'm laying down a challenge. As I know he isn't very good at reading body language I use the same gesture every time. I'm taking a huge gamble here, I am hoping he will play Spock like he usually does and I haven't just cost us all a fabulous week in Vegas.

He studies me closely. Eyes staring intensely, like I'm his whiteboard. "best of 3, 5 or 10?"

"3"

"If I win you guys have to dress up as well"

I look around the room they all seem nervous, pleading with their eyes for me to win or stop this madness. I'm choosing to read it as they have faith in my ability and are egging me on. "Okay, we dress up"

"And I get to be conductor"

"Sure sweetie"

"Your terms are acceptable. Let's play."

He has a smug look on his face like he does when he thinks he is right about something. Like the first time we played Halo, he had that superior look on his face. And all those words about been better then me. Boy did I enjoy wiping it from his face, much like I'm going to enjoy wiping it off his face right now. He always underestimates my cunning.

Our fists met, "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock." Now If I remember rightly only one thing matters how to beat Spock, I think it's the lizard and paper That beat Spock. Lizard poisons Spock and paper disowns him or something. All I remember is they win in Sheldon's version of rock, scissors, paper. As the last word slips from our mouths I form the lizard sign.

Im in luck Sheldon chose Spock.

"Round one to Penny. Lizard poisons Spock." Howard announces in a referees voice.

Our hands form fists again "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock" I lay my hand flat like paper. Sheldon choose Spock.

"Round two to penny. Paper disproves Spock. Looks like we're going to Vegas"

"Woohoo"

Sheldon is still holding the Spock gesture up.

"We'll sweetie looks like your going to Vegas."

He is staring at me dumb founded. "But that's not possible. Best 3 out of 5?"

"Sorry Sheldon, we already agreed to the terms. Your going to Vegas and you can't complain about it starting now"

Leonard can't help but throw in "Yer Sheldon you never back out of a deal. Specially written ones, You hold every one else to their word now it's your turn."

"But it wasn't written"

"So it was a verbal contract and you lost, deal with it."

"Besides Sheldon you can visit the museum of poker machines"

"Why would I want to go to go to a poker machine museum. They are rudimentary machinery a best that don't require much thought to break down. Besides what would my mother think. She'd send to bible school for a year, telling me gambling is bad and her pray circle would b praying for change."

"Sheldon, your a grown man."

"You clearly weren't raised in Texas. Texan mamas whoop their kids tell they learn the lesson. No matter how old they are" I notice Sheldon has slipped into his Texan accent. He sounds so different, he sounds human, like he comes from some where. I suppose it's 'cause his accent forms when he is distressed. So time for a new tact.

"Think about the history you'll learn"

"I already know the history of poker machines, why would I want to read about it further?"

" I don't know Sheldon. But it's to bad. We are going to Vegas and you can't complain about it." I stick my tongue at him.

"If you don't complain and come, I will agree to buy you a comic book and visit a train museum in Vegas"

He stomps his foot, crosses his arms and says "fine" while looking away from me.

"Well now that's settled what are we watching tonight?"

"Star Trek episode. "The Man Trap." It's season 1, episode 1 of The original series. We'll actually it's really episode 3 if you include the two pilots."

"Sweetie, I don't really care."

"But it's Star Trek"

I don't even bother responding. I roll my eyes pick up my food and switch off.

Hmm, I wonder what hotel we will stay at and whether I can afford it. Oh sipping mojitos by the pool sounds like the lap of luxury to me. Good looking men, with no shirts. Mm, I can't wait. I need a holiday. I haven't been or done anything fun in ages. In fact the last time I went to Vegas was for that bachelorette party, that was the last time I've had any seriously mind numbing fun.

That was a fun night.

The episode finishes. "Well, I've got to go start looking for wine glasses." I know it's a flimsy excuse but any more of this show and I am going to go crazy.

"Hey Penny, can I come help you search?"

"Sure thing Bernadette"

"I'll also assist you Bestie."

"Alright Ames."

The girls and I grab our stuff and leave.

The girls and I are sprawled around my apartment each with a glass of wine. The television is on but none of us re paying attention to it.

"So lovely ladies, what do you want to do in Vegas?"

"I've never been"

"Neither have I"

I almost spit my wine out. "How have you two lived so close to Vegas and never been before? It was like the first thing I did besides visiting the ocean."

"Penny, whilst you might find this hard to believe I didn't have any friends before my date with Sheldon and it is my understanding that one goes to Vegas with friends"

"Your right, you should go with friends. Good thing you have Bernadette and me" I turn to Bernie, so what's your excuse?"

"Well as you know I'm not from around here, I moved here to get my doctorate. So when I wasn't working at the Cheesecake Factory, I was studying or dating. Every spare moment I had was taken up. Now all my spare time is spent with Howard and you guys." She shrugs lightly.

"What about when it's just you and Howard?"

"He says it's for special occasions only, like bad break ups or group outings"

"Have you ever asked why?"

"Yes, he said it was sacred man territory, which is why it's only for special occasions."

"And you believed that shit?

"Of course not, I've merely never had the opportunity to go that fits into his criteria as acceptable, tell now."

"Good, so what do you want to do?"

"Well I've heard Vegas night clubs are the best place to experience Vegas at its finest and meet prime male specimens. So I would like to visit my first night club."

"Me to"

"We should so find some hot guys and hang out with them. Whilst at the clubs"

"I don't think Howie would like that."

"I don't think Sheldon will care."

"Speaking of which are you two even still together, 'cause you weren't sitting in the middle cushion like you normally do?"

Amy blushes and looks away. "No, we're not. But I still want to be with him. He is the perfect example of the male race. With his long fingers. I imagine he is well endowed in other areas based on his height, the length of his feet and hands"

She stares off dreamily thinking about Sheldon and his assets.

"Earth to Amy." I wave my hand in front of her face.

"Huh?"

"What happened to your five year plan?"

"Um, I'm not allowed to talk about it. Sheldon made me sign a contract."

"Typical Sheldon" Sheldon has contracts for everything. If you can get him to agree to a verbal contract your doing well.

"So how come we didn't know you guys had broken up?"

"That was part of the contract. Unless asked directly about it I wasn't to tell you guys"

"Okay. So Bernie, how are you and Howard?" I turn my full attention to Bernadette.

"We're good. Although Howard has started to ask about kids. I don't want kids. I've only just got my doctorate. Why would I want kids?"

She takes a giant gulp of wine, whilst gesturing for us to continue talking and not wait for her.

"How about you Bestie, you've been single for some time now, any new gentlemen callers?"

"No, I've been busy with work and it just feels to soon to do anything series. I'm enjoying my freedom for now."

We all awkwardly stare off into the distance. I can imagine what Bernie is going through, why would you want kids. I mean I couldn't even tell Leonard I loved him. I really wanna know what happened between Sheldon and Amy. Sure she stopped sitting in my spot but I just thought that was 'cause of Halo night.

"Hey Penny, what else should we do in Vegas?"

"Hmm" I'm woken from my inner thoughts.

"Well you've been to Vegas before, what else is there to do?"

"Well there's the casinos, dance shows, the water fountains at each hotel, night clubs, music shows, pools, beauty spa treatments, bars, um that's about it. Last time I was there was for a bachelorette party so we partied hard. I don't remember doing a lot during the day but at night it was a lot of fun."

I shrug off the question. I don't really remember a lot about the trip as I was drunk for most of it and we were only down there three days.

"How long are we going to Vegas for?"

"We didn't discuss it"

"Where are we staying?"

"We didn't discuss that either"

"Hmm, perhaps we should go back across the hall and find out."

Back at the boys apartment "so we have some questions, how long are we going to Vegas for? Are we flying or driving? What hotel are we staying at?"

Sheldon clears his throat. "We will stay at the Bellagio, for four days and we will be driving."

"Sheldon I can't afford the Bellagio and why can't we fly?"

"I will pay for your room, if you drive. I don't like flying."

"Fine, you have a deal."

"Now you two have decided. The rest of us are staying at the Mirage"

"Grr, Sheldon" I watch Sheldon take a step back, I'm fuming on the outside. Inside I'm not really angry, I mean yes I'm driving to Vegas instead of flying is a bummer and I'll be stuck with the whack-a-doodle for serval hours in a car but a suite at the Bellagio out weighs his habits, doesn't it? Maybe Sheldon and I can reform our friendship whilst on the road. We haven't really hung out since I dated Leonard. I suspect Leonard told him to buzz off.

"You already agreed." He smiles smugly.

"Yer, without all the facts, but whatever the Bellagio is way to beautiful for me to disagree."

"Well I guess I really should call it a night. I'll have to go in early to the Cheesecake Factory and ask for some time off."

"Night guys" as I close the door I hear a round of good nights and we should also be going.