Sheldon has sought out advice from Rene on his relationship with Penny.

Missy fiddled with the pasta on her plate and looked across the table at Raj. He was sipping his wine and smiling at her nervously. "Rajesh," she said as casually as possible, "you've been pretty quiet ever since I got here. Are you regretting last night?"

Raj looked at her with surprise. "No!" he said quickly. He licked his lips uncomfortably. "I enjoyed last night," he said with a shy smile. "But there is something I need to tell you."

"Married?" Missy asked with a frown. "Used to be a woman? Serial killer?"

Raj's eyes widened. "What kind of dating have you been doing in Texas?"

She shrugged. "Not much of any kind. I work nights, and when I'm off, I'm usually doing chores or resting."

Raj nodded understandingly. "Well, it's none of those." He cleared his throat and set down his wineglass. "Recently I realized I need to be honest with everyone about who I am. This is hard for me. I should have said something before we got carried away," he said softly. "Missy, I am bisexual."

She sighed with relief. "Oh! Is that all, sugar? I already knew that."

He looked at her with surprise. "You did?" He looked disgruntled for a moment. "How is everyone knew before me?"

Missy laughed softly. "Honey, you're about the most adorable thing ever. It kinda obvious that you bat for both teams when you spent most of the movie yesterday talking about how sexy Chris Hemsworth was in his racing jumper."

Raj looked down at his plate shyly. "And you don't mind?"

Missy shrugged. "Raj, you're cute, sweet, and smart. I like you. No one is perfect. I've thought about you a lot in the last four or five years. I often ask Shelly how you're doing. I want to spend time with you."

Raj's lips pulled up into a wide, happy smile. "I like you, too," he said gently.

"Good," she said with a grin. "How about we finish our meal, and cuddle on the couch."

"Have you ever seen This Means War with Reece Witherspoon and Chris Pine?" he asked.

Missy shook her head. "Any good?"

Raj nodded quickly. "I'm a definite Pine-nut. Cinnamon loves it too."

Missy glanced at the pup on her lap. "She's such a good girl, Raj. You know, I have a male Russell terrier named Hoggle. I named him after the dwarf in the movie Labyrinth because he likes to steal shiny things. I couldn't tell you how often I've had to search his bed for my earrings, keys or watch."

He smiled at her hopefully. "Maybe he and Cinnamon could get to know each other, as well. I mean, if you ever bring him for a visit."

Missy smiled. "Who knows, sugar. We'll have to see what happens."

Sheldon reviewed the notes he had written out carefully, making absolutely certain that he had made no mistakes. This was too important. This wasn't just a step in his career. It wasn't just a chapter in his autobiography. This was his future he was planning.

Penny sipped the tea Wil handed her and leaned back on the deck chair.

"So, want to tell me what's got you looking flatter than a pancake?" he asked.

"Nothing," penny said calmly.

Wil snorted. "Bullshit."

Penny's head whipped toward him and he smirked. "Pen, I've known you for a while now. I'd lay money on the belief that you and I are more than just friends. Hell, the only reason you and I aren't a couple is because our hearts already belonged to someone else before we met. So, don't tell me nothing is wrong, babe. I can practically feel the pain radiating off of you."

Penny took a long drink of her tea. "I fucked up," she said softly. "Sheldon and I …" she ran a hand through her hair roughly, her agitation growing. "We fooled around the other night."

Wil smiled. "Way to go!"

She shook her head quickly. "I screwed up," she said again. "I freaked out. It was just so …powerful, Wil. I couldn't think. I was so wrapped up in what we were doing, I'm not even sure I could remember my own name."

"How is that screwing up?" he asked. "You two love each other. You should have passion."

"No," she shook her head. "I screwed up after. I told Sheldon we should pretend it never happened."

Wil was silent for a moment. "Okay. So, before I call you an idiot, why did you do that?"

"Because I'm an addict," she said roughly. "I'm scared, Wil. What if this wasn't passion? What if it was just me?"

Wil shook his head. "I should have just started off by calling you an idiot." Penny glared at him and he shrugged. "Pen, sit up."

Penny sat up and faced him. "What?"

Wil wrapped his right hand around hr nape and pulled her to him swiftly. His lips captured hers before she could resist. He nipped and sucked at her lips, as his other hand slid around her back and pulled her across into his lap. It only took Penny two seconds of surprise to begin pushing at Wil's shoulders firmly. He didn't resist as she sprang away from him. Instead, he grinned widely.

"Are you crazy?" Penny demanded loudly. "Are you completely, totally insane?!"

Anne stepped out onto the porch. "Penny? What's wrong?" she asked worriedly.

Penny looked at her with worry. "I kissed her," Wil said calmly.

Anne raised one eyebrow. "Oh?"

Wil nodded. "She was worrying that the way she feels about Sheldon, and the way he makes her feel was because of her addictions. So, I kissed her like a lover would." He turned to Penny with a smirk. "Funny how you didn't get lost in my kiss, huh?"

Penny opened her mouth to yell at him but the words wouldn't come. She watched Anne roll her eyes and head back inside.

"Supper will be ready soon," Anne called over her shoulder.

Wil stood and walked over to Penny. He placed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly. "Babe, you love that crazy man. You aren't the woman you once were. You're stronger and smarter now. And if you're even half as smart as I think, you'll find a way to make peace with your past and embrace your future."

Tears filled her eyes and she nodded. She wrapped her arms around his torso and hugged him tight. "Thank you," she whispered. "Love you, Wil."

"Love you, too, babe," he replied.

Amy watched the small brown bird outside her window flutter it wings before it took off. She glanced back at Leonard on her couch. He spent most of his time sitting there grumbling about how unfairly Penny and Sheldon had treated him. The rest was spent at work or in her bed. At first it had been everything she ever wanted. Or rather, it was what she thought she wanted.

But surely sex was supposed to be more than just laying still while Leonard rutted over her, eyes closed tightly, mumbling odd phrases like "yeah, you like that, don't you?" or "I'll show you what a real man can do".

She kept thinking about the way Sheldon and Penny had looked sitting on the couch when she and Leonard had gathered the rest of his clothes. Contentment was the closest word she could find. Like they were at peace. And she wanted that.

She thought she wanted sex. That sex would solve everything. Sex would drive away the loneliness for good. Sex would make her less awkward, more popular, happier.

Only sex didn't do any of that. All it did was make her sore, tired and lonely.

Amy stood and pulled on her sweater. Leonard glanced over from the couch where he was watching some sci-fi show. Before he could ask, she answered. "I'm going to go get Ricky some cigarettes," she said calmly.

Leonard turned back to the tv. "Get condoms, too."

Amy nodded, even though he wasn't looking. She grabbed her purse and headed out the door.