The two girls walked into a small bar filled with people. There was a small crowd sitting at round tables in front of a stage. Some people were cheering on the man wailing unprofessionally into the microphone, his music filling the bar, while the rest were absorbed in conversing with their companions.

"Come on, let's sign us up for a song," Penny said excitedly as she led the way to the DJ.

"I'm not so sure about this anymore," Colette protested nervously as she glanced around at all the strangers. So. Many. Strangers. She may have gotten over her inability to speak to the opposite sex, but she still had some horrible stage fright.

"It's not so scary," Penny encouraged. "I mean, you can't be any worse than that guy." She pointed to the man on the stage, who was practically screaming incoherently at this point, the crowd around him laughing and jeering. Colette giggled a bit at the man.

"Yeah, but still," she protested weakly. "I'm not good in front of crowds..."

"We'll do the first song together," Penny said finally, looking through the song book. "Now, get over here and help me pick out a song."

Colette sighed dramatically, but smiled as she looked over the book with her friend.

"How about this one?" Colette asked excitedly as she pointed at the song.

"Oh, girl, you have great taste in music!" Penny declared with a grin as she wrote their name and song on slip of paper and handed it to the DJ. "You wanna get a drink before we have to go on?" She asked as they headed to the bar. "It'll help with your nerves, I'm sure."

"I suppose it couldn't hurt," Colette agreed with a nod as they sat down and ordered drinks.

"Give it up for Penny and Colette!" the DJ called out. The crowd had subsided a bit, but what was left gave some whoops as the two girls walked onto the stage. Penny ate up the attention, laughing and waving to the crowd. Colette followed behind her more reservedly, laughing quietly at her friend.

The music for So What by Pink started playing as the DJ worked his magic, causing the crowd to cheer louder.

Penny started singing along with the lyrics, though she knew the song by heart. She started dancing to the music as she sang, loud and proud, her off-tune singing over powering Colette's timid singing. She bumped hips with the smaller girl during an instrumental solo.

"Dance with me!" She encouraged Colette, dancing playfully. The crowd loved it.

Colette laughed as she bumped her hip against Penny's in return before dancing, a carefree smile on her face.

As the next section of the song began, she sang and danced with glee.

Roughly half an hour into their karaoke adventures, Penny's phone went off.

Help, I pissed Colette off! -Raj.

Penny rolled her eyes, rather angry at the man for his stupidity in the first place.

"Who's texting?" Colette asked as she sipped her drink through a tiny straw, pushing the little umbrella away with her pinkie.

"No one important," Penny replied shortly as she sent back a reply.

Grow a pair and apologize. -Penny.

"Well, they're calling out my next song," Colette stated when the DJ called out her name, causing a roar of cheers from the crowd that had gathered thanks to the two girls' performances. "I'm off to please my fans." She smiled off her dramatic words as she rushed up to the stage.

Penny smiled after her when her phone went off again.

I would but I don't know where she is. Do you know where she is? Please, I really need to tell her I'm sorry -Raj.

Penny pursed her lips. She knew Raj well enough, given the fact that they've only spoken a handful of times when he was drinking. He could be kind of an ass when he drank too much, but she knew he wasn't a bad person. She looked up at Colette, watching the girl's shining face as she danced around and sang her heart out. With a quiet sigh, Penny texted the address of the bar to Raj. Giving him a chance to at least apologize couldn't hurt, right?

Raj sat at the bar, staring up silently at Colette as she danced around the stage. She was amazing, and her voice was beautiful. It did things to Raj that he could not begin to explain. He had a grasshopper sitting on the bar in front of him, but he hadn't touched it yet. Penny saw him and rushed over.

"So, you're going to apologize?" she asked as she sat next to him.

"I don't know, I'm losing courage fast," Raj replied honestly, only taking her eyes off of Colette for long enough to spare Penny a glance.

"Sing her a song, then," Penny suggested. "Something romantic and heartfelt that'll let her know that you're sorry and don't want her to be mad at you." She swooned a bit at the thought, wishing a guy would serenade her every time he pissed her off. Maybe then she wouldn't break up so much.

"Are you crazy?" Raj asked, looking at Penny like she'd grown a second head. "I can't sing. Not in front of all the pretty girls in the bar... And definitely not in front of Colette..." He sighed and looked longingly at the girl in question.

"Maybe this will help." Penny slid his grasshopper closer to him.

"Isn't this what got me into this mess in the first place?" Raj asked, eying the drink like it might try to bite him. "Maybe I should just cut my losses and admit that I'm either going to end up all alone for the rest of my life or stuck with Howard..." He turned in his seat, crossing his arms over the table and resting his head atop his forearms.

"Well, that's one option," Penny drawled dryly. "You could also grow a pair and go apologize, or you can down some liquid stupidity enhancer, get up on the stage, sing your heart out, and beg her forgiveness once the hangover passes."

Raj sent her a sideways glare.

"What? I'm just saying. You can either give up, or do something about your situation." Penny shrugged off the look she got.

"Fine," Raj said haughtily, grabbing his grasshopper and downing it, making a face as he set it down. "I'm going for the latter, seeing as my other options aren't feasible." He ordered another drink and downed that as well, letting out a little giggle. "Feasible. That's a funny word."

"I think you've had enough," Penny piped in as Raj went to order another.

"You're right," Raj agreed. "I need to go sing her something." He stood confidently, his body swaying ever so slightly as he took a B line for the DJ, avoiding being seen by Colette as she hopped off the stage.

"That was great, you have an amazing voice," a bald, muscular man complimented Colette as he walked up to her.

"Thanks," Colette chirped as she headed to the bar, sitting next to Penny. The man followed her.

"Can I buy you a drink?" He asked. Colette turned to Penny, a look of slight panic on her face.

"Thanks, but... I was planning on leaving." She gave a small smile to the man before turning to Penny. "Ready to go?"

"We can't go yet!" Penny exclaimed, earning a heated glare from the brunette girl. "I mean, how about we do one more song before heading home?"

"But..."

"So, how about that drink?" the man asked with a smirk, leaning against the bar and getting the bartender's attention. "A sex on the beach, for the pretty lady and her friend."

Colette frowned at Penny, who just shrugged nervously and took a sip of the girly drink that was set in front of her.

"Thank you," Colette said politely as she took the drink. "But, for the record, I'm not interested in a hook up. I already have a boyfriend." Her stomach fluttered as Raj's face popped up in her mind. She usually said that she was taken when she's being hit on by someone she's not interested it - it was an easy let down, and she could yell at any jerk who tries to hit on her after she's said it, so it was a good excuse. But she didn't really consider Raj her boyfriend at this point. Sure, they flirted and shared some small touches and kisses, but neither of them had really established a relationship. Still, she couldn't shake the thought of having Raj as a boyfriend, and she felt warm and giddy, despite herself.

"I never said anything about hooking up," the man stated with a smile, holding up his hands in defense. "I just wanted to buy a pretty lady a drink."

"Well, thank you..." Colette said, feeling a slight ping of guilt as she offered the man a sincere smile.

"This is for a special lady out there," came a familiar Indian accent from the stage.

Colette turned her head in surprise, locking eyes with the one and only Rajesh Koothrappalli. He stood on the stage, looking massively nervous as he pulled at his collar to try to loosen the constricting clothing around his neck. The music started up for Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey, and Raj started singing as the lyrics rolled by on the screen in front of him.

"We were as one babe

For a moment in time

And it seemed everlasting

That you would always be mine

Now you wanna be free

So I'll let you fly

'Cause I know in my heart babe

Our love will never die

[Chorus:]

You'll always be a part of me

I'm part of you indefinitely

Boy don't you know you can't escape me

Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby

And we'll linger on

Time can't erase a feeling this strong

No way you're never gonna shake me

Ooh darling 'cause you'll always be my baby

I ain't gonna cry no

And I won't beg you to stay

If you're determined to leave boy

I will not stand in your way

But inevitably

You'll be back again

'Cause you know in your heart babe

Our love will never end

[Chorus]

I know that you'll be back boy

When your days and your nights get a little bit colder

I know that you'll be right back baby

Oh baby believe me it's only a matter of time

[Chorus]"

Colette stared at Raj in shock, unable to decide which of the swirling emotions in her head she should feel. She wasn't sure whether she wanted to laugh hysterically, ball her eyes out, or scream and throw things at him. He was obviously drunk, and he wasn't a very good singer, but his voice held sincere emotion and he got so into the song it was almost comical. Had the situation been different, Colette probably would have been laughing and swooning at the situation. But all thoughts of doing either went out the window when Raj tripped and stumbled off the stage.

Colette and Penny rushed over to the fallen, drunken idiot.

"I think I did drink too much," Raj groaned as the girls helped him to his feet.

"Are you alright?" Penny asked, looking as though she was trying not to laugh.

"Peachy," Raj said with a goofy smile.

"Alright, now that that's been established," Colette drawled, still holding Raj's arm to keep him steady.

"Oh, Colette!" Raj exclaimed suddenly turning to the woman with a look of desperation. Colette's heart skipped a beat at the look. "Colette, Colette, Colette..." He wrapped his arms around her waist, pressing his face awkwardly into her stomach.

"W-what, Raj?" Colette stuttered out, lifting her arms away from the crazy man and looking to Penny for help. The girl just shrugged and laughed a bit.

"That song was for you..." He slurred out, the words muffled against her clothes.

"Yes, I assumed as much..." Colette said slowly. "Now, let's get you home before you pass out." She peeled his arms off of her waist, slinging one over her shoulder instead to support his weight as she escorted him to the door.

"I'm really, really sorry," Raj slurred out, doing his best not to lean all his weight on the brunette, but succeeding in swaying more than necessary. Penny went ahead and hailed a taxi for them.

"I know you are," Colette said with a sigh. "Now, get in the cab." She helped Raj into the cab before climbing in after him, and Penny slid in last.

The three rode in silence, even after Raj had passed out. Penny helped carry the half-conscious Raj into the house, tossing him on the couch.

"I'll pay for the cab," Penny insisted, giving Colette a worried look. "You wanna stay at my place tonight?"

Colette sighed and looked at Raj, who groaned quietly and rolled over to an even less comfortable looking position.

"No," she said softly with a shake of her head. "I'll make sure he doesn't hurt himself or anything tonight."

"You sure?" Penny asked for clarification.

"Yeah, you go." She offered Penny a small smile and ushered her out the door. Once the blond was gone, Colette locked the door and let out a sigh. She turned back to the man on the couch, who was looking at her through half-lidded eyes, his hand on his forehead.

"I'm sorry I'm so stupid and useless," Raj groaned out, a frown apparent on his face. He sat up, his body swaying a bit.

"You're not..." Colette hesitated before going and sitting next to him. "You're not stupid and useless."

"Yes I am," Raj persisted, not turning to the girl. "I can't talk to girls without making myself into a drunk idiot, Howard is my only real friend, and... I'm just stupid and useless." He buried his face in his hands. It was silent for several seconds. Raj lifted his head, surprised at the lack of response, and came face-to-face with a glare from Colette.

"It's that sort of thinking that put you were you're at now," she scolded lightly. "Stop your complaining and self-loathing! If you want more friends, go out and make more friends. If you want to talk to girls, man up and do it! But don't try to make me pity your sorry ass because you can't get your own life together!"

Raj stared at her in surprise, not expecting such a response. "O-ok," he stuttered out. "I'm sorry..."

"Now, let's get you to bed." Colette still looked angry as she stood up, but it seemed to have subsided a lot after she finished her outburst. She grabbed Raj's arm and pulled him up, guiding him toward his room. She pushed him down on the bed, not even trying to be gentle with him any more, and, once he bounced a few times on his back, she lifted his legs and pulled off his shoes one at a time, followed by his pants and shirt, ignoring the embarrassment undressing Raj caused the both of them. She then grabbed the blankets and threw them over Raj, ignoring the curious look the man gave her. "Night," she breathed out before leaving the room, turning the lights off and shutting the door.

Raj stared at the door for several seconds, pulling the blanket up to partly cover his face. He wanted to go out there and apologize, but maybe it wasn't the best idea when he was still drunk. With a sigh, he let his heavy eyelids droop closed, falling into a deep slumber.

Colette stood outside the door for several seconds, reigning in her emotions as she took a deep, relaxing breath. She went through her nightly routine halfheartedly. She was really just going through the motions, knowing it would take her hours to get to sleep anyway.

Once she finished her usual routines, she snuggled into her spot on the couch, holding back the tears that threatened to spill.