"Thank you, Leonard," Penny felt like crying knowing the night was coming to a close. "Tonight was wonderful," it was the first time she had seen the guys since Howard's wedding.

"It really was, wasn't it," he half-grinned, half-chuckled as he walked her to her room. "Almost like old times," he was thrilled that they were alone. He had offered her a ride home for just that reason.

"Almost," Penny agreed. "Right here," she opened her door and invited him in.

"So this is it?" he had followed her as always, but the reason for her stay in LA drew his attention.

"That's it," she tossed her purse on the bed and kicked off her shoes avoiding the gold man in her room. Not that Best Supporting Actress wasn't monumental, she just would have preferred to win for a role that she put her heart and soul into over a performance that was cut together by the director.

"Can I?" he pointed to it nervous to touch it.

"Go ahead," Penny chuckled. It was so cute to see him treat her award like one of his treasured collectables.

"It's so heavy."

"I know. I nearly dropped it," she had already told him the story of her trying to think of what to say when she was called up to the stage. She hadn't expected to win for the silly drama. But when she was forced to stand and give some sort of a speech, she could barely speak. Thankfully she was able to muster enough coherent words that they were being replayed over and over again on TV and the Internet.

"Does this mean you'll be in LA more often?" he sat next to her on the bed.

"I don't think so. I love New York and the stage. LA and the movies can't compete with that."

"Shame. It would be nice to see you more often."

"Aw, sweetie," she took his arm and leaned on him. Maybe she did have one too many glasses of wine with dinner.

"Maybe someday I'll move closer to you," he put his arm around her.

"Huh?" she pulled up a bit. She felt as if she had missed something.

"I've always wondered what would have happened if we never split up. No matter who I was with, I always compared them to you."

"Wha…what about Samantha?" she stared at him blankly; she was flattered but terrified at where he was taking the ambush.

"It's over. It's been over for a while now," he looked to the floor.

"I thought you were trying for a baby?" she was trying with all her might to get him somewhere else.

"It was a last attempt to hold onto something that was never really there," he admitted. "It was my fault, I was still in love with you," he looked to her with hopeful eyes. "It took me a long time to realize that. And I never really imagined going through with telling you, but you're here and so real. You followed your dream and are so much wiser. You are the most amazing girl I've ever known. I just couldn't let you leave without telling you."

"Oh, Leonard," it was the words she had been dying to hear but not from him. "I can't. I'm sorry," her heart broke for him. "There's someone else," she couldn't leave him without an explanation.

"Do you love him?"

"I do. I love him," it was the first time she had ever said it. The first time she had ever admitted it to herself. "He's the love of my life."