In the days following her break up with Leonard Penny immersed herself in her work staying late at the studio most nights going over her lines and working on her acting technique. On top of everything else she had come home one evening to discover that the heart shaped locket which Leonard had given to her before leaving for his trip to the North Sea had mysteriously disappeared from its place on the dressing table in her apartment. The following day when she had mentioned the missing locket to Brett he had been quick to point the finger of blame at the maid who came into the apartment each day to clean and do laundry.

"Oh no she seems so nice… I'm sure Giselle wouldn't steal anything …" Penny had insisted shaking her head refusing to believe Brett's explanation for the disappearing locket.

Over the weeks Penny had grown very fond of Giselle and although she didn't speak any English and Penny only a few words of French, they had found ways of communicating with each other using hand gestures and facial expressions. Without Penny's knowledge Brett had reported the missing locket to the building manager and Giselle was promptly dismissed and replaced. Thinking always of Brett as her friend as well as her boss, never in a million years would Penny have suspected that Brett was responsible. Taking the locket Brett had packaged it up and mailed it back to Leonard in the certainty that it would send a clear and final message that their relationship was over.

For Leonard the weeks since the break up in Paris had dragged by. Aside from going to work he had refused to go anywhere socially, not even going along to the comic book store on Wednesday evenings for new comic book night. Unsurprisingly his friends were become increasingly concerned for him and desperate in their attempts to try and help him open up to them and deal with his pain. It was now 3rd July and for the first time in weeks Leonard was taking lunch in the university cafeteria with Sheldon, Raj and Howard. As a surprise Raj had brought all his friends a ticket to attend the 4th July fireworks display at the Rose Bowl Stadium.

"Oh come on Leonard it'll be fun dude…" Raj coaxed "Tell him Howard tell him he has to come…"

"I'm sorry guys I'm just not in the mood this year" Leonard told them whilst picking at his macaroni cheese with his fork. Since returning from France he had completely lost his appetite and had dropped several pounds in weight.

Looking around the cafeteria Leonard could see a group of girls at a nearby table whispering to each other in hushed tones. For weeks now he had been the talk of the university after what had unfortunately become a very public break up with Penny. Two days after returning home photographs of Penny and Brett dining at one of the most expensive restaurants in Paris had appeared in an array of celebrity magazines and on the Internet.

"Come on Leonard you can't stay cooped up in the apartment forever" Howard argued "It will do you good to get out and hang out with your friends…"

In the end it was easier to relent than to continue to come up with accuses as to why he didn't want to go, none of which were deemed as acceptable by his friends.

"Ok fine I'll go" Leonard said with a sigh

Privately he was dreading it, certain that the 4th July celebrations would hold no enjoyment for him this year. Not without Penny.

In Paris a long day of filming was drawing to a close. Earlier in the day that had been shooting up by the Sacré-Cœur and had later returned to finish filming in the studio. Speaking through a megaphone Brett was now calling an impromptu cast and crew meeting. Obediently everyone stopped whatever task they were undertaking and gathered around.

"Ok folks I'm sure you're all aware tomorrow is 4th July and a holiday back home ….so with that in mind we won't be filming tomorrow…" Brett announced clapping his hands together.

Brett waited until the sounds of whooping and cheering that filled the studio had subsided before concluding his announcement.

"So that's it you may all leave early and we'll see you the day after tomorrow…have fun guys!"

With that the gathered crowd began to quickly disperse. Penny was about to head back to her dressing room when Brett called after her.

"Hey Penny have you got a minute?" he asked

"Sure"

"How are you? We haven't had much of a chance to talk since…" Brett's voice trailed off there was no need to complete the sentence Penny knew exactly what he meant.

"I'm ok" Penny answered although the pain and sadness that she felt was still evident in her eyes

"I take it you haven't heard from Leonard?" Brett asked cautiously

Penny shook her head

"No not since he left to go back home"

There was a short silence as Brett contemplated his next move

"Listen Penny do you have any plans for tomorrow evening?"

Penny didn't reply, her only plans were to stay in with a bottle of wine and watch a few sappy movies that would probably end up making her feel homesick.

"Only I have a ticket going spare for a concert …" Brett continued "It would be great if you could join me…."

Penny hesitated. Since the breakup she found hardly any enjoyment in going out or being in the company of others. A few times Cleo had dragged her out to a bar or a club promising her that a night out on the town would help ease her broken heart. It didn't. Nothing did.

"Look Penny I might be out of line in saying this, but maybe it's time you started to move on…."

As Brett studied Penny's face he could tell that his advice was not being well received, but giving priority to his own hidden agenda he decided to persevere regardless.

"What I mean is the guy broke up with you and hasn't called since he went back to the States….I just don't see why you should sit around in the hope that he might call when you could be making the most of your time here…."

Hearing this Penny bit down hard on her bottom lip as she considered his advice she was beginning to feel incredibly lonely spending almost every evening alone in her apartment.

"Come on it'll be fun I guarantee" Brett coaxed "Dinner will be on me too…" he added hoping that the offer of a fancy meal would clinch the deal.

"Ok" Penny whispered her lips finally curling into a tiny smile "Sure why not"

As Penny headed back to her dressing room Brett switched on his megaphone and called after her

"Oh and wear something patriotic!"

"Huh?" Penny responded shrugging her shoulders

"You'll see"

Brett's guarantee of a fun time did not disappoint. The 'spare' ticket he had casually mentioned was for a front row seat at a Bruce Springsteen concert at France's national stadium; Le Stade de France.

"Oh my God this is awesome!" Penny yelled in a somewhat pointless effort to be heard above the sound of the music and the cheering crowds. Never in her life had she had front row tickets to a concert, never mind someone as legendry as The Boss.

"What?" Brett yelled back cupping his hand to his ear as he tried make out Penny's words

Penny just smiled and continued to dance. The atmosphere inside the stadium was truly electrifying and despite her recent heartache Penny had begun to forget herself and was enjoying every moment. Heeding Brett's instructions to wear something patriotic she had on a sequin top in the design of an American flag and a pair of skinny white jeans. The evening passed by all too quickly and soon the crowds were cheering madly for Bruce to return to the stage for one final number. Reappearing on stage the big screen changed to an image of the Statue of Liberty as he launched into 'Born in the USA' the entire stadium erupted and an array of fireworks shot into the air illuminating the night sky.

"Woo hoo!" Penny shouted jumping up and down on the spot and waving her arms madly in the air

In her excitement Penny failed to notice that Brett's eyes were not on the stage or on the fireworks but fixed firmly on her…..