He zipped up the suitcase and shrugged on his jacket. Leonard watched him from the doorway, but they didn't speak. What was the use? He had made up his mind. He picked up his suitcase and walked to the door. "I'm ready."

Leonard looked at him sadly for a moment. Then he did something completely out of character. He took Sheldon's suitcase, set it on the floor and pulled the taller man into a tight hug. "Be careful, okay?"

Sheldon froze for a moment before awkwardly patting Leonard's back. "Will you watch over them for me? Just until I return?"

Leonard released him and nodded. "Of course we will. All of us."

The two men shuffled nervously before Sheldon picked back up his case. In silent accord they left the apartment and walked down the stairs.

Penny hung the curtain rod over the window and stepped back to look it over. The pale blue was a pretty close match to the quilt. She looked around the room, pleased with the amount of muted light they let in.

"Hi," Bernadette said nervously from the doorway.

Penny turned to face her with a smile. "Hi."

Bernadette walked forward nervously. "How are you feeling?"

She shrugged slightly. "No more morning sickness. I'm still tired a lot, but I'm okay."

Bernadette stepped closer, wringing her hands together. "Penny, I am so sorry."

Penny shook her head quickly. "Bernadette, I'm not angry. I know you would never deliberately harm me. I'm fine. My baby is fine. You and I are fine." Bernadette sniffled so Penny crossed the room quickly, pulling the petite woman into a hug. "Don't cry, sweetie. If you cry, I'll cry, and I hate the way my eyes get all red and swollen."

Bernadette laughed a little and pulled back enough to look up. "Can I help with anything?"

Penny looked around the room. She still had a few boxes to unpack and the changing table needed to be put together. "Take me to lunch? I'm hungry."

"My pleasure," Bernadette said. "What do you feel like eating?"

"Chinese," Penny said immediately as she stepped away to grab her purse. "Okay with you?"

Bernadette nodded as they left the apartment. She was pretty sure she would have agreed to any kind of food as long as her and Penny were still friends.

Penny and Bernadette walked into the apartment building, each carrying a take out bag. Penny stopped when she saw Leonard at the mail boxes. She looked around surreptitiously, making sure Leonard was alone.

"He's not here," Leonard said, watching her. "He's gone."

Penny looked over at Leonard. "I don't care where he is."

Leonard took a step closer, studying her expression. "I mean, gone as in out of the state."

Penny went very still. "Out of the state?" she repeated unwillingly.

Leonard nodded. "Actually, out of the country. He's on his way to Germany. He went to attend a series of lectures by an old colleague."

Penny sucked in a harsh breath. Gone? He had left when things were so screwed up between them? She felt herself grow cold inside. He really didn't care about her then, did he? If he wasn't in control of the situation, he wanted nothing to do with the situation. She clutched her food tighter. "Like I said, I don't care." She hurried up the stairs, her shoulders stiff.

Leonard sighed and looked at Bernadette. "She really does hate him, doesn't she?"

Bernadette shook her head quickly. "No, she doesn't. She's mad at him, but if she hated him, she'd be glad he was gone. She's too upset that he's gone to hate him."

He headed up the stairs with Bernadette. "She did look a little upset, I guess."

Bernadette smiled hopefully. "She's very upset. Sheldon going on a trip may be just what they need. She'll realize she misses him."

Leonard thought about explaining to Bernadette, but he had promised Sheldon not to say anything to anyone. Sheldon would let them know in his own time. He shuffled the mail in his hands and looked away. "With Sheldon gone, I called the guys and they're coming over for pizza tonight. Alex is coming. You and Penny are invited too, okay?"

Bernadette nodded as they reached the second floor. "Okay. I better get up there. We're going to eat some lunch and put the changing table together. I'll let you know if we're coming."

Leonard nodded and headed on up the next flight of stairs. Why did his friends have to be so stubborn or dense?

Bernadette entered the apartment and found Penny's carryout bag on the kitchen counter. She bit her lip and walked through to the nursery. When she found that room empty, she went to Penny's room. Penny was unpacking a box, placing books on a small shelf.

"Penny? Are you okay?" she asked worriedly.

She nodded without looking up. "Of course I am. I just have a lot of stuff to still unpack."

Bernadette sighed and walked over. She took the books from Penny's hands and pulled her over to sit on the bed. "Penny, there's nothing wrong with being upset that Sheldon is gone on a trip. Things are pretty bad, I know, but he'll be back before you know it."

Penny took a deep breath. "You don't understand, Bernadette. Him leaving just confirms what I've been thinking. Sheldon doesn't love me. He never did. He may want this baby, at least until he finds out if she's a genius or not, but he couldn't care less about me."

"I don't believe that," Bernadette said firmly. "He told me and Howie he loves you. I saw his face when he said it. He was telling the truth."

"Now who's being naive?" Penny asked.

Bernadette decided to change the subject before Penny got any more upset. "Um, Leonard said everyone was having pizza tonight upstairs. Do you want to go?"

Penny shook her head. "No. I still have a lot to do. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

Bernadette watched Penny walk over and continue unpacking the books. After a few minutes she left quietly. Damn you, Cooper! She thought. Why did he have to leave now?

Karl Gruber opened the door to his home with surprise. "Sheldon Cooper? This is a great surprise! What brings you to Hamburg?"

Sheldon set his suitcase down by his feet and cleared his throat nervously. "I have come to take you up on your offer from before."

Karl's jaw dropped a he stared at his old colleague. "Oh my," he said softly. "Are you sure? I know how difficult you find it to be near other people."

Sheldon nodded, only twitching slightly. "I am very sure."

Karl stepped back and held the door open fully. "Come in, my old friend. Something tells me the story you have to tell will require hot tea and comfortable chairs."

Sheldon picked up his case and walked into the foyer. "And possibly a bottle of scotch."

Karl laughed. "So it is to be like old times? Wonderful!"

A/N: Sheldon has finally realized that things between him and Penny have been bad for a while now. Is there any chance of him fixing things, or are he and Penny doomed to be at odds forever?