Leonard yawned as he opened the door to his apartment. It had been a long day of funding meetings, board meetings, everyone-who-was-remotely-involved-in-the-physics-department meetings and he was just ready to unwind with the new King of Krull game Wolowitz's cousin had sent him from MIT, and maybe order in pizza depending how long the game went. Maybe he'd even be able to go over to Penny's after she got off work and help her unwind with a hot bath...or maybe some more of that other fun physical stuff they hadn't gotten to try yet.

He immediately knew this was not going to be a normal video game night when he walked in and was hit with a delicious smell of pan-fried corn and kidney beans. His eyes widened then narrowed when he saw Sheldon manning the stove in his navy blue apron. "Sheldon? Are you cooking or doing another experiment like when you tried to perfect scrambled eggs?"

"Neither. Winona needed to use the facilities, I'm just stirring."

"Winona's here?"

"Yeah, she's staying for video game night. Is that alright?"

Leonard scratched his head, wondering if he'd accidentally wandered into the twilight zone. It looked like Sheldon, dressed like Sheldon, but it didn't really sound like Sheldon. Sheldon gave orders even if they went unheeded or unwanted, he never okayed anything with his friends, especially over video game night. "Sheldon are you feeling okay?"

"Perfectly fine, although I did notice a little dryness in my ocular areas but that could be attributed to this dastardly annoying weather front we've been experiencing. Oh Penny called and said she would be off work at 9, and for you to use her spare key to let yourself in before she gets home."

Before Leonard could set himself to obsessing over his girlfriend's cryptic message, the woman he presumed was Winona came back into the room. Leonard knew he was staring but just couldn't help it. The woman looked like a character from Sin City brought to life: five eight, all curves in the hips, tummy, butt, chestnut brown curls flowing over her shoulders and snapping dark blue eyes. If ever there was a woman that Leonard would have picked out for his neurotic roommate, this would not be her. Yet when he saw her slip the apron off over his head, take the spoon from his hands and smile at him, Leonard could all but hear the sizzle of electricity between them. She stretched on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek, then gently nudged him out of the way, letting him know that she was in charge of this particular task. As if coming out of a fugue state, Sheldon shook his head and nudged Winona's shoulder.

"You remember my roommate, Leonard?"

Winona turned, gave him a thousand-watt smile with a hint of guilt around the edges. "I remember him all but running out of here when I was over last week. I'm sorry if I embarassed you."

"Not at all. So what are you making? It smells yummy."

"Chicken burdillas, it's all the fillings of a burrito in quesadilla form. And I'll make sure that there is one with no cheese in it for you. Sheldon mentioned you can't eat dairy."

"Did he?" Leonard narrowed his eyes; he didn't like many people knowing about his dietary concerns. Being named Leonard with thick glasses and having an IQ in the 170s had people forming their own prejudices without the knowledge that he was lactose intolerant. "Well wasn't that-"

"He also mentioned that you are a big fan of comic books."

"Yeah, Superman and the Hulk."

"I would love to just sit down and pick your brain about your thoughts on Superman. It's going to be the second section of my thesis."

Leonard pulled up a chair at the kitchen island, fascinated. "Really?"

"Winona's doing a masters in social psychology," Sheldon offered as explanation, pouring a glass of juice. "You ought to hear her go in class."

"Har har. These are just about ready, should we just take them into the living room and wait for the others or-"

Winona was interrupted as the front door burst open and Wolowitz and Raj zoomed in, parking themselves right on the couch. Immediately Wolowitz jumped up to put in the game and grab one of the slices of burdilla.

"Sorry we're late, traffic was awful on the expressway, plus there was a special on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on E! and well, obviously I'm not going to miss that. Anyways are we ready for the King of Krull? By the way, Penny, these are great, you should-" Wolowitz stopped short and did a double take. "You're not Penny."

"No I'm not. You must Howard, I'm Winona."

"Wow. You're nothing at all like I'd picture Sheldon's girlfriend, but then you are a friend of Penny's, and I'm now convinced you both belong to a secret hot girl society that-"

"Howard!" Leonard said between his teeth as they settled in to play their game. "You'll have to excuse him, he's not exactly house-broken for female company."

"Oh, I'm not female company, just think of me as one of the guys."

"Believes me, none of the guys I know have breasts the size of watermel-"

"Howard!"