A/N: LET ME JUST APOLOGIZE FOR HOW LONG THIS TOOK! My computer screen was broken, so was the VGA port, and the HDMI port is starting to go out so I let it sit broken and lifeless until I got money. I GOT MONEY! haha. I ordered a computer screen and put it in yesterday! So hopefully this will have more regular updates. I am sorry to all the reviewers and favoriters/followers who I did not get to properly thank for this long while! So thank you all for being patient and for liking the story! Okay enough rambling.

Previously:

That damn Leonard, he's so self-absorbed. If only he would stop with this obsession over her. He knows damn well they aren't good for each other. They aren't meant to be. It's driving Penny crazy. He's been crushing on her since day one.

Suddenly she stopped to think about day one. When she saw those two geeks say hi. One tall and one short, they both looked confused by anything social. Multiple hellos were passed around and Penny was amused. She heard Leonard and Sheldon when she went to grab her purse late that evening.

"You're not done with her are you?" Sheldon asked fearing the answer.

"Our babies will be smart and beautiful." Leonard replied, dreamily.

She admits it was a little creepy. She thought it would wear off but it didn't, it got worse. She dated him, how could she forget about him saying that? Sheldon though, his beautiful mind. She tried flirting with him, God! How embarrassing.

He was just so damn cute…then he opened his mouth.

She smiled thinking about that day, not because of Leonard, because of Sheldon. He was adorable and awkward. He was even a slight gentleman. God, his eyes are so blue too. Woah wait. That was present tense. I'm talking past. Penny shook it off and plopped on her couch. She decided to ignore that little thought and watch some (stolen) Netflix…Sheldon's Netflix. She smiled contentedly to herself.

Sheldon watched Penny leave then turned to glare at Leonard. "Leonard, I understand you are going through something but Penny just had a breakthrough of a life time with her acting career and all you could think about was your petty relationship? I am your friend, believe me, but that was very rude. You did something awful to her, why are you mad?" Sheldon retreated to his room and left Leonard to his thoughts.

Why was he mad? He thought this over. A lot. It's mostly because he got caught, right? Because he tried so hard to force this relationship. Penny didn't love him, not more than a friend at least, and she never will.

Maybe that's why he's so angry. He won the prize only to have him lose it at the end, only for him to not appreciate it as much after he had it in his hands.

He doesn't deserve her and he knows it but something is telling him, some dark deep part is ringing in his brain, he won her, fair and square, and this is not the ending he wanted. He tried to shove it down. Hide it. Go back to your hiding spot, he willed it, but the rage grew, and the worst part was he only had himself to blame. He stomped back to his room.

It was laundry night. Penny gathered up her messy basket and happened to leave her apartment at the same moment Sheldon exited his with his neat basket.

"Penny, will you be escorting me tonight?" She smiled widely at him.

"I sure will, Shelly." He glared at her and she just laughed.

He fought off his own smile.

"God, Sheldon, you have no idea how excited I am for this break. I knew today was going to be my day." Sheldon couldn't get past her being so causal over her breakup.

He was led to believe people have a sad or angry phase after these things, but Penny was happier than he has seen her in months.

"If I may, I was led to believe breaking up with your significant other led to a period of time left to grieving and having meaningless coitus." Penny smiled at Sheldon.

"Did you grieve after Amy broke up with you?" She said and Sheldon's eyebrows drew together.

"Amy told me what we had did not qualify as an intimate relationship." Penny chuckled a little.

"Did you guys care about each other? Did you guys get intimate? Enjoy each other company?" She made valid points.

"Yes. The intimate part was quite, awkward, and not enjoyable." Her smile slipped a little.

"Well, you guys just didn't work out. You had a relationship, albeit it wasn't a normal one."

"Then, no, I didn't grieve. I admit I was a little surprised at how abruptly she ended it, but I was…" Sheldon looked around, about to confess something he never told to anyone, and he hoped no one would overhear, "relieved." He finally finished.

"I'm sorry you felt that way but that's how I feel. Leonard and I weren't meant to be. If I went to the pound right now and looked at the puppies and one of them happened to come up to me with his big ol' eyes, whined at me, and pawed the cage, I would probably go 'aw', adopt him, bring him home, then think 'what the hell am I doing with this puppy'? Do you know what I'm saying Sheldon?"

"I think so. You didn't make it abundantly clear."

"Leonard has wanted me since day one. I finally gave in and I was weak. So when I saw that message from Alex, I wasn't surprised. I didn't get mad. I finally realized what I've been repressing. I don't love him, not like he wants me to, hell, not like I wanted to, and dammit we both deserve love. I led him on, and that was wrong, but we were both in denial. So yes, I'm relieved and happy because I have a chance at love and GOD DAMMIT CAN I JUST CELEBRATE MY BIG BREAK!" She wanted to say the last bit angrily but she was too happy. She shouted it with a huge smile and jumped up.

"Well then I suppose I understand. Yes, I know you got the part. Honestly, I am so proud of you, but I knew you could do it." He let the last part slip, accidentally.

His eyes grew wide when he realized he said it.

"You knew I could do it?" Penny's hand flew to her mouth, her eyes began to water. "That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard. No one's ever believed in me, in this stupid dream." She choked up a little and turned to wrap her arms around Sheldon. He reciprocated, no awkward pats this time, he just held her.

She finally pulled away, "sorry I got all emotional." She smiled and swiped at her teary face.

"Oh, darn, now you got makeup on my shirt. If I don't get this in the wash—"

"Sorry! Just put it in right now, you're wearing two anyway." Sheldon didn't want to but she had a point. He carefully slid his top layer off, which pulled the second layer up just a bit, and showed off his abs—wait what ABS?

Since when did Sheldon Lee freaking Cooper have abs?! Penny's eyes almost popped out of her head. "God damn." She whispered.

"Why must you always curse about a deity I'm sure you don't pray to."

"Oh um, I was just thinking of my first pay check." Penny rushed out turning away as Sheldon threw his shirt in the proper wash.

"It will be pretty sizeable I presume."

"I can finally get caught up on my bills." Penny said dreamily.

"Penny if you ever need help you know I'm here." She smiled at him again.

Sheldon is such a sweetheart—wait, what? Since when? He's always been a total asshat.

But, he's also always been her best friend.

And he did lend her money that time, but she completely spazzed over it.

"Oh no sweetie, I'm doing just fine." She replied. "I'm thinking about having a little get-together celebration thing for my gig, when its official…do you think you will come? Do you think the guys will?"

Sheldon didn't know the answer to the last question but he knew he would be there. He couldn't help himself. He was in too deep and Penny didn't even notice. "Well, I can't speak on behalf of everyone but I'll attend your social gathering." She smiled at him. He had her doing that a lot today.

Or maybe she was just happy in general.

(Denial.)

"That's great! Maybe Leonard will get over me." Sheldon snorted at her statement.

"Leonard is pretty obsessive and once he covets something it's hard to persuade him otherwise about it." Sheldon shrugged noncommittally.

"We'll see, Shelly." She smirked at his face.