"I think something that will help a lot of you with this particular scene, to draw some true expression into your character, will be some emotional recall." Violet, the teacher of Penny's acting class, announced as everybody looked up from their scripts. "She is blissfully content, happy, and in love with this man, but she doesn't understand it yet. To truly get this scene, I need you to show me that raw happiness. Now, boys, I want you to do this too, and use what you find for your part. If we share some of these memories and emotions, we can build the characters past based on your own experiences."

Penny sighed as she stood along with the rest of her class and placed her script on the chair. She wasn't much a fan of emotional recall, though she was glad that this time it would be happy memories as opposed to 'think back to a time you felt alone' - something she had decided not to share with her class. Finding an empty space, she lay down on the floor, giggling as her eyes met her friends; there was always something amusing about just lying on the floor.

"Close your eyes, calm down, and focus on your breathing."

As the lights were shut off, Penny closed her eyes and did as Violet had instructed. After a few seconds, she peeked an eye open to check that she wasn't the only one with her eyes closed. Satisfied, she shut them again, and resumed training her mind on her steady breathing, trying not to think about how uncomfortable the floor was.

"Breathe in for eight counts..." There was a pause as the gentle sound of breath slowly being taken in was heard through the room. "And out for eight counts..." Another pause, as this time a slow exhale echoed through around the floor. The process was repeated a few times, and Penny felt pleasantly light before they moved on to the next stage. "Relax your muscles. Open your mouth as wide as you can... and scrunch up your face." If she hadn't just become so relaxed, Penny would have felt ridiculous, but she immediately felt the tension in her face fall away. "Shrug your shoulders up to your ears... and back down. Let the weight sink into the ground. Stretch your fingers and arms out... clench your fist. Relax your hands. Point your toes, stretching your legs and lengthening your spine. Elongate your body. Now exhale that tension, and relax." Soothed by Violet's quiet voice, Penny relaxed her body, much more comfortable on the floor now. As they did another round of counted breathing, she felt a calming peace throughout her body. "Now, think back to a time you felt at your happiest, with someone you love, so content and grateful - but a love that you only see now, which you weren't aware of then."

Penny did so, a memory easily flooding through her mind and her body as a light smile formed on her face.

"Remember how you felt when you looked at their face," Violet guided the class calmly. "Were you smiling? Did you hug them, or kiss them? Maybe you stared at them, following them with your eyes. Remember how your body reacted," Violet continued. "Perhaps your heart rate sped up slightly, or you felt butterflies in your stomach. Did you have a need to touch them, or tell them something, or thank them? Did you feel in control?" As there was another pause, Penny felt the exact feelings of her memory begin to replicate in the present. "In the scene, she is in his home; her happy place. Where were you? Picture the location. If you were inside, remember the objects in the room, where you were sat. What is it about this specific place that makes you feel happy? If you were outside, remember the smell, and what made that place special, were there other people around? Was it a familiar place?"

As Violet continued to prompt their memories, Penny almost forgot that she was lying on the floor of her acting class, and was slightly surprised when they went back to their breathing exercise and were asked to sit up. She couldn't help but smile; for the first time, she'd finally understood the effect of this Stanislavski guys techniques and how it was meant to work. When the teacher asked who wanted to share, she put her hand up immediately, still in a little trance.

"Penny?"

Grinning, Penny sat up a little taller as her classmates turned to look at her.

"As you all know, I work at The Cheesecake Factory, which is just fantastic." She giggled along with her friends at this statement. "I had a really crappy day at work, I was tired and it was really busy and I had some real nasty customers. Plus, my boss yelled at me for something that wasn't even my fault. So when I got back, I went to my boyfriends apartment - Leonard lives across the hall from me." She smiled to herself. "He wasn't home yet so I tried to cook something because I was hungry, but I suck at cooking so it burnt and I got upset over that. He came back and asked me what was wrong so I told him. It was kind of stupid, because I'm just a waitress and he's an experimental physicist so his work is way more stressful than mine is, but he did the sweetest things." She grinned as she traced patterns on the floor with her pointer finger. "He ordered us Chinese food, and made sure to ask for a fortune cookie, because he knows I love them. We watched Sex and the City, even though he doesn't like it, and he massaged my feet because I said they really hurt. We had a bit of wine while we ate - he never usually has wine in his apartment, but he always had some for me when we started dating. It was such a lovely night, we cuddled up on his couch, and just watched television. It was perfect. Then when we were getting ready for bed, I said I had to work tomorrow, so he got his cello out and played me some songs to cheer me up, and even sung along to some of them." Penny giggled and blushed slightly at the memory. "And then he just cuddled me until I fell asleep. He managed to put a smile on my face even though I felt like crap, he was always good at doing that, but that night was just extra special." She raised a shoulder slightly to her ear as she smiled shyly around the room. "We're not together anymore but when I look back, it was one of the happiest moments, and it was the little things he did, like that night, that made me fall in love with him. I wish I had told him that, that I love him, but I like to think he always knew."

As the girls gushed and 'aww'-ed at what Penny had shared with them, Violet grinned. Penny didn't often share personal things, or volunteer to contribute ideas that came from personal experience. It was a wonderful step for her to willingly share this with her class, and she always felt a sense of pride when one of her students made a step forward. "That was lovely, Penny - just the kind of thing I was looking for. While you're still in that memory, why don't you give the scene a shot?"

"Really?" Penny's eyes lit up; she wasn't often chosen to show a scene. "Okay, sure!"

"Mark, you can be her scene partner." Violet nodded to one of the guys, and the class moved back to their seats to form an audience. "Now, remember Penny, I want you to use exactly what you just told us - every little thing there, and the things you didn't describe but felt - put that into every word you say."

As she packed up her script and pulled her jacket on, Penny realized this was the first time she had finished one of her acting classes feeling like she had accomplished something. Violet had been amazed at how Penny had worked the scene after the exercise, and if she was honest, Penny was too. Using her memory, she finally understood the character and what she was saying, and it didn't seem forced or unreal. In their last lesson, Violet had told her 'don't just pretend to be her, actually become her' - and while she had initally scoffed at the idea of this - after all, acting was pretending, how was she supposed to physically become a made-up person? - today she understood what the problem had been in the first place.

"Hey, Penny?"

Penny looked up from her phone, which she had taken from her bag and switched back on. "Hey, Mark! Thanks for doing the scene with me. It was so good."

"Yeah, you were brilliant." Mark grinned, leaning one hand on the chair. "So, you said you're not with this Leonard guy anymore, right?"

"Mm, no," Penny sighed, pretty sure she knew where this was going.

"Okay, great, so, would it be okay to go out for coffee some time, or something?"

Penny bit her lip awkwardly. "I'm sorry... it's not you, Mark, I'm just not at that point where I can start seeing other people again. Sorry."

"Oh," Mark shrugged nervously. "Okay, that's fine, no big deal." He gave her a small smile. "Well, I'll see you next week. Great work, Penny."

"Oh my God!" Penny practically bounced when she saw Leonard in the lobby. "Leonard, guess what?"

Leonard raised a brow, but grinned at the excitement in her voice. "What? Did you have another one of those hot dogs?"

"No! Ooh... but that would be good." Penny paused to consider this. "That would be pretty exciting."

"Yeah, for the hot dog." Leonard smirked. He wasn't sure why he felt the need to even bring it up, but he couldn't help himself.

"Shut up," Penny rolled her eyes. "You're becoming worse than me."

"Nuh-uh!" Leonard shook his head. "Okay, what are you so excited about?"

"Well, we were doing some Stanislavski emotional recall for a scene, and the teacher asked me to do the scene, and she said I really did a fantastic job! Like, a genuine compliment!" Penny squealed. "I'm not a terrible actress!"

"Wow, that's great!" Leonard pulled her in for a quick hug, pride flowing through him. He knew this was a big deal for Penny - he had no idea who Stanislavski was, or what emotional recall really consisted of, but just like when he told Penny something about physics and she knew it was important because she didn't understand it, he could, too, tell that this was something significant. "I'm proud of you, well done."

"Thanks!" Penny grinned into him.

He pulled back from the hug, reminding himself to keep it more on the friendly side. He hated himself for doing it, the feeling of her against him felt so right, but he knew he had to before he turned it into anything more.

"You know, maybe I'll go get a hot dog to celebrate. Small achievement, small reward." She giggled. "Wanna come with?"

Yes. Leonard found that, in that moment, the idea of going with Penny and watching her eat a hot dog, was immensely appealing. He blamed the chew toy; ever since he had seen her with it and let the thought of her using it cross his mind for the shortest of seconds, it kept flitting back into his mind.

And that was exactly why he responded with a sad "no." He could recall all too clearly what had happened last time, and the chew toy situation did nothing to calm his imagination. Realizing how abrupt his answer must have sounded, he shook his head. "I mean, I can't, I'm on my way to meet Priya." And she would not be happy if she could see what was going on in my mind right now.

"Oh, okay." Penny shrugged. "I'll just get one on my own."

Oh I'm sure you will. Leonard cleared his throat, quickly remembering something that diverted his attention. "Hey, Priya said you suggested the two of you go out for coffee some time."

"Yeah, is that okay?" Penny asked. "Did she bitch about the fact that that would involve spending time with just me?"

"Actually, she was pretty happy with the idea." Leonard grinned. He wasn't sure what exactly had caused Penny to ask his girlfriend to hang out over coffee, or why his girlfriend had accepted that offer, but he sure as hell wasn't going to question it. Perhaps they would be able to get along as friends, he thought once they pushed past the awkwardness and dislike they would actually get on quite well. "I'm so glad you both want to try be friends. I'd really like that."

Penny looked at Leonard for a moment. He seemed so glad that she was trying to get on with Priya, that she actually felt guilty about her invitation to hang out being induced by the euphoria brought on by her chew toy. She had thought about not following it through, and just avoiding Priya. But the grin on his face, the happiness in his eyes that the two might end up not hating each other, made her actually want to be friends with Priya. Not for herself as a way of finally trying to get over him, not for Priya to show that she was okay with her, but for Leonard - if it made him happy, if it meant she got to see him smile like that, all proud and appreciative, then she would do it.

"Yeah," Penny smiled shyly. "You know, I think I'm just going to make some pasta or something instead, and have a glass of wine to celebrate. Just one." She clarified with another smile. "I promise."

Leonard felt his heart swell. He wasn't sure why, but her promise to him meant a lot. Maybe it was because he knew her so well, that her promise to just have one glass of wine, was more than just that to him. "Okay, good. You deserve that celebratory glass of wine."

"Thank you." Penny grinned excitedly again. "Have a nice time with Priya."

As they met for a goodbye hug, without realizing the other felt it too, butterflies flitted across both their stomachs. From Penny's achievement in her acting class that day, to her effort to get along with Priya, and her promise to only have one glass of wine, Leonard couldn't help but smile as he held her to him, inhaling the subtle scent of apple he could smell on her hair. Knowing she still used the same shampoo comforted him, he didn't know why, but it just did, it was a familiar scent that he always associated with her.

Penny clung to him just a little bit tighter. She had put that smile on his face; he was proud of her. Very little else mattered to her in that moment, apart from the fact that she had been able to tell him of her achievements and her endeavors to mend ways with his girlfriend and control herself. He didn't have to say anything; she knew Leonard saw that in her promise to stick to one glass of wine that evening, that it also meant that she was happy, she was in a place that evening that didn't make her want to shun her own emotions.

Pulling away, they kept their eyes locked for a moment. Small, content smiles stayed on their faces, hands still lightly holding each others bodies.

"I should go," Penny said quietly after a while, but not letting go or looking away.

Leonard wished beyond anything that he didn't have to go, he felt so comfortable right now, like it was just her and him that existed and her smile was the only thing that mattered. But something nagged him in the back of his head and moved through his body, and he found himself reluctantly letting go of her and offering a sorry smile. "Yeah. Me too."

Penny let her hands drop too. "Thank you, Leonard." She wasn't sure what she was thanking him for; for everything, she supposed, but she didn't know how to explain it, not even to herself. "It was nice talking to you."

"You too. And, again, well done. I'm proud of you. One step closer to getting your dream."

Blushing, Penny giggled. "I hope so." She smiled at him once more. "Thank you. Well, have a nice evening. I'll see you around."

"Thanks. Yeah, you too. And remember, just one glass of wine."

As she began walking up the stairs, Penny turned her head back to look at him, grinning. "Just one. I promise."

"Where the hell are you..." Penny muttered, shifting through the piles of clothes that had been thrown unceremoniously to the top shelf of her closet over the years. She had finally read the issue of Cosmopolitan that Amy had brought over for her, and suddenly just lying in bed all day had seemed like a complete and utter waste. "It would be a real help to me if you were switched on right now. I mean, not for me personally, but just to make it easier to find you so I can actually use you. Being switched on then helps too."

Sighing, she continued to throw various items of clothing out of her closet. It was a sign of how desperate she was to find that damn chew toy that she took a moment to vow to herself she would try keep her closet more tidy to make finding things she had hidden easier. Not so tidy that other people could find something, but tidy enough that she didn't have to spend so much time trying to locate it.

Right after throwing a blue shirt into her laundry basket with spectacular aim, Penny picked up a t-shirt that made her stop her search. Un-scrunching it, she held it out in front of her, as a fond memory accompanied by a small smile fell across her.

It was one of Leonard's t-shirts. Black, with the caffeine molecule printed on it. She knew it was the caffeine molecule because she remembered asking him, and deciding that it was her favorite molecule. He hadn't really worn it often before they were dating, and once they had started dating, it had become her fault that he had stopped wearing it. With a small laugh, she remembered how it had ended up in her closet. He had been taking a shower in the morning, having woken up before her. Getting out of bed, she had come across his t-shirt draped over the shoes she had flung off - she could remember all but tearing that t-shirt off him that night - and picked it up. She had pulled it on over her naked body, and seconds later, Leonard emerged from the bathroom wrapped in her towel. He'd asked for his t-shirt back with a grin, telling her that he needed it to go across the hall and put on some fresh clothes before work. She had refused to give it back to him, and they'd playfully chased each other around her bedroom. This had, to her delight, caused his towel to drop. As she stopped and bit her lip, he caught her, taking her by the waist. So, as a measure she had deemed as necessary to persuade him to stay home with her, she had pulled the t-shirt off her own body and thrown it into the top of her closet.

"Now you'll never get it back, my little homunculus." Penny repeated the words she had said that morning with a grin on her face. She folded the t-shirt back up carefully and placed it over the rail beneath the shelf. "Yeah, I really need that chew toy."

Shifting her weight from one leg to the other impatiently, she began quickly throwing clothes out of her closet and shifting boxes around with more determination than earlier. Finally moving a box of shoes she couldn't remember buying or even wearing, Penny burst into a grin. "Aha! There you are, mister!" She eagerly reached her hand over to the back of the closet and picked it up, doing a small happy dance on her feet, keeping careful not to fall off the chair she was standing on to reach to top shelf. "Oh thank God it's not broken!"

And then as if to spite her, she heard knocking at her door.

"No." Penny growled angrily, glaring in the direction of the noise. Slamming the chew toy back down at the back of her closet and shifting boxes to hide it completely from view, she jumped off the chair.

Stomping through her apartment, Penny practically tore her door open.

"What?"

"Umm..." Bernadette raised a brow. "You said last night we should come over and you said to be here at eleven..."

"We were going to watch lots of Jennifer Aniston movies..." Amy held up a stack of DVDs. "Look. Remember?"

"Oh." I hate myself. Why the hell did I suggest that? I should have woken up earlier. "Sorry. I forgot. Come in."

"Why so angry?" Bernadette asked cautiously as she stepped in.

"Mensies?" Amy raised her brows.

"No." Penny shook her head. "I haven't had my fix of caffeine yet."

A/N - That first part with her acting class is the part I was really looking forward to writing (told you it wasn't a hangover, Molly!) and despite the fact that I've done a gazillion Stan exercises back in the A Level Drama days , it's really difficult to write them out. Hopefully it made sense and done some justice to the actual process! These chapters are getting longer but I don't think you guys mind :) Hope you enjoyed!