"Like everything else about you," Raj said.
She smiled at him. "Well aren't you sweet." Her attention was quickly diverted. "Sheldon," she called to the retreating figure in the hall. "Where are you going?"
"To my room, where there aren't so many people."
"Fine," Penny called. "But it's just a smaller room you don't recognize."
Sheldon bowed his head, then turned and approached her with such certain steps that it had her backing up. "And what would you suggest I do? I am very lost and confused, and I'm terrified of whatever crapstorm is coming my way next. I just want to be alone right now, and if you can't accept that, then I have a big problem with you being in this apartment."
"Hey," she snapped, making him bristle, "If it wasn't for Leonard I wouldn't be here today, because as it turns out I have a problem being here myself. I am just trying to help you, but you've got to trust me."
"Nothing you have done so far, or could ever do, has been helpful," he said coldly.
"I see," she said offhandedly, and stood. "I'll just leave."
"Very well. If there's one thing you could do to make yourself useful, it's that." He watched her through callous eyes as she left; and as he went to his bedroom to no further objections, Bernadette closed the door.
"That was rough," she said.
Howard contemplatively rubbed his chin. "I hope we're all still friends by the time this is over."
"If it makes you feel any better, I'm surprised y'all have lasted this long," Missy piped up.
Howard gave her a weird look. "Why would that make us feel better?"
"Well, you've definitely had all your ups and downs. And more downs, and more downs. You'll get through it no problem."
"How do you know?" Raj asked.
"I grew up with Sheldon," she responded thoughtfully. "I didn't think we'd even keep in contact growing up. Well, here I am." She put a hand on his knee. "You trust me. It'll come back to him, and then, he to you."
"Thank you!" Leonard said. "That's what I tried to tell them."
"Is it?" she asked.
"Well, not quite like that..."
"Then that was the problem."
He stood.
"Where are you going?" Howard asked him.
"To check on Penny," he answered.
"Let me," Bernadette said, standing up. "I know you're her boyfriend. But sometimes a girl needs her girlfriends."
Leonard stepped out of her way. "Fine. But tell her that, on behalf of my roommate, I apologize, and...I want to see her later."
Bernadette nodded and walked out of the room. Missy followed her out, gently shutting the door behind them.
Raj smiled, bouncing in his seat like a child.
"Why are you so happy?" Howard asked.
He beamed. "Missy and I made a date."
Howard and Leonard stared at him in disbelief as he kept bouncing in his seat.
Penny opened her suite door and tried to smile at Bernadette and Missy. "I'm sorry about that." She stepped aside. "Come on in."
They obliged, and Bernadette said, "Speaking of apologies, Leonard's sorry about Sheldon."
Penny smiled, cracking open a wine. "We're all sorry about Sheldon."
"He wants to see you later," Bernadette added.
Penny hesitated. "You do mean Leonard, right?"
"Yes."
"Good." Penny poured a glass. "You know what I don't get? Sheldon didn't like me when he was Sheldon. Now he absolutely hates me. What would it take for him and me to be on one side?"
"A miracle," Missy replied.
Penny sighed. "Yeah...Too bad miracles and science don't coexist."
"Really?" Bernadette asked. "So you don't consider science to be a miraculous thing?"
"Well, the fundamentals of both science and miracles, sure; but the finer points of each are better left separated."
Bernadette raised both eyebrows.
"What?" Penny asked.
"They're getting to you," Bernadette said.
Penny took a swig of her wine.
"Penny," Missy said thoughtfully. "Would it be an intrusion if I just crashed on your couch?"
"Go for it," she said.
"Thanks," she replied, smiling, and sat.
"Oh, right now," Penny said, as Missy lay down. "I can get a blanket, if you want one."
Her only response was a snore.
"But I guess you don't," Penny said, moreso to herself.
Bernadette smiled. "You know, there is an upside to learning what the guys know."
"Yeah, more in common with my boyfriend." Penny sighed and they clinked glasses, then drank.
"Eeyugh." Bernadette pushed her glass toward Penny. "Throw it back with the fish where you got it from."
"It's peppermint!"
"It's recycled." Bernadette smiled sweetly, and then her cell phone rang. She answered. "Hey, Dad...I miss you too...What? Really?...Great! 'Bye." Bernadette hung up. "I have to go home; my parents stopped by. See you later?"
"Sure."
Bernadette left and the door opened a few seconds later. Leonard walked in, looked at the couch, and walked back out; looking at Penny from the hallway. She walked past Missy and out into the hall, shutting the door almost all the way.
"I'll get a new roommate," he said. "I'll buy his half and kick him out and you can move in; just don't stop coming around. You are the only reason I haven't left Los Robles yet."
Penny smiled at him and took his hands in hers. "That's nice. A little sad...but nice."
"I don't want to live with him anymore. I want to be your roommate. May I please live with you?"
Penny looked down at their conjoined hands. "Leonard, you know I love you. But...I need to think about it."
"Okay," Leonard said.
She kissed his cheek, released his hands and went to her suite.