A/N Thanks again to those who reviewed. I still own nothing.
Shari returned home still almost overwhelmed over what had happened between her and Leonard. Thinking back to what Marie had said, she suddenly realized she wanted to share it with Penny. Penny had been her best friend for a long time. At the same time, she was quite aware of how Penny had acted. Now that she was in love with Leonard, she had to face the fact of what Penny had done to him and Marie.
It had always bothered her, but first of all Penny had been her friend and she had accepted what had happened and believed that Penny regretted what she had done. She had also convinced herself that Penny had tried to see to it that Leonard could be with Marie.
There was also the question of what Penny would think of all this. Oh, she had said she was happy for her and Leonard but now that it had progressed this far, would she still feel the same?
Deciding it was counter-productive to continue to think about it, she headed out to the pool, expecting to find Penny there.
Penny sat by the pool, sipping on a cup of coffee. She had been surprised, but then supposed she shouldn't have been, when she discovered Shari had not been home all night. She had noticed how serious it had been getting between them.
Being exhausted from work, she had managed to not think about what had happened but just got ready and went to bed. But know she couldn't avoid thinking about what had happened. As much as she didn't want to, she found herself thinking back to her and Leonard., It was strange, having sex with him was wonderful, but she came to realize her refusing to completely commit to him even manifested itself there. Of course, she realized that had been true with Sheldon also.
She took a small breath, what was wrong with her? Why was she so afraid? She realized that had been true of everything she did. From community college, to her acting career, to her job at the Cheesecake Factory, she had always just got by, never committing herself, skidding by on her good looks.
Now she had divorced both Leonard and Sheldon, supposedly the loves of her life. God, she was so pathetic. She realized she had always really been that way. Even in High School she did not really have any friends. After all, there was always another party, another boy.
Her first real friends had been Leonard and Sheldon.
She wondered how it would have all worked out if Marie had been Leonard's. They did love each other. Could they have made it? She had to admit that being with Leonard and Marie had been some of the happiest times she ever had. Even now, after all she had done to them, being with them still was the happiest times for her.
She heard a noise and looked up to see Shari leave the house. She waited as Shari made her way to the chair next to her. Finishing up her coffee she turned and said, "Good morning."
Shari smiled and answered "Good morning."
"So, how was it?"
Shari looked surprised, and then smiled, "Wonderful."
"I thought so, you look like the cat that swallowed the canary."
"He told me he loved me."
Penny was stunned, that she had not expected. Ignoring the myriad of emotions she was feeling, she got out, "What did you say?"
"I told him I loved him, too."
They both were silent each wondering what the other was thinking. Then Shari smiled, "Marie came home early while we were… involved. She told us we were kind of loud."
Penny had to laugh, "What did you and Leonard think about that?"
"We were a little embarrassed, but we talked to her this morning and she told us she was happy for us."
Before she realized what she was saying, Penny blurted out, "Tell her she needs to get some good head phones, that's what Sheldon…" She stopped and stammered, "I'm sorry, Shari, I…"
"That's all right. We both know you and Leonard were together." She hesitated, "How about you, Penny? How do you feel about this?"
Penny sat and thought, how did she feel about it? She smirked to herself, mostly she was envious. She was glad to realize though that in the end, she was happy for them. She had made a lot of mistakes and she had hurt a lot of people who loved her, but she needed to keep moving forward, to try to live her life as it was now. "I am happy for you guys. I have to admit, though, I am also a little sad. It just reminds me of how I screwed up."
"I understand, Penny." She hesitated, "Loving Leonard and thinking of what you did to him and Marie had given me pause at times." She reached out and took Penny's hands, "But it is also true you are my best friend and I love you. We just need to try to forget what has happened and try to appreciate what we do have. I know that Marie loves you. I am sorry how it ended with Sheldon. I also know that all of us, me, Leonard, Carla, and Marie want you to be happy."
Penny started to tear up, "I want to believe you. It's just…"
"Let it go, Penny."
Penny removed her hands and got up and hugged Shari as she sobbed uncontrollably. Shari held her and felt herself tearing up as well. Penny finally stepped back and wiping at her eyes, "I'm sorry, I…"
"Don't be sorry, Penny. I think we both needed that." She smiled, "Why don't you clean up? Marie and Leonard will be over soon. Marie is about to burst wanting to tell someone. We can let her tell Carla."
"Thank you, Shari, I don't deserve…"
"Your welcome, but no more of that. What's done is done. We know how much you regret it, but the best way you can make up for it, is to be our friend and Marie's mother."
When Penny had got herself back together, they decided to make some rolls for when the others arrived. It appeared they had both decided to talk about something else and Penny realized with what had happened she had not told Shari about her promotion and raise. Shari was telling her how great that was when Carla joined them.
Shari turned and smirked, "Good morning, Sleeping Beauty, it must have been quite a party."
"Do we have any juice?"
"There's some orange juice in the fridge, help yourself."
After pouring herself a glass, she said, "I should call Marie and see how she is. She went home sick from the party. I was going to go with her, but she said she just had a headache."
Penny and Shari exchanged glances. Shari said, "I talked to Leonard this morning. He said she was feeling better. In fact, they will be coming over in about an hour."
Carla finished her glass, "Okay. Well, then I better get dressed."
After Carla went upstairs, Shari called Leonard and told him she had talked with Penny, but they were waiting so Marie could tell Carla.
When they arrived, Marie immediately asked Carla if she could talk to her and they went up to her room.
There was an awkward silence, and then Penny spoke up, "It's okay, Leonard, I told Shari and I will tell you; I was a little surprised, but I am happy for both of you."
Leonard smiled, "I'm glad, Penny." He hesitated, "You know, we all want you to be in our lives."
Penny fought tearing up again, "I know, Leonard and I am so grateful for you all."
Just then they heard a shriek from upstairs and they all broke out laughing.
Carla came running down the stairs. She rushed up to her mother, "Marie just told me you and Leonard…" Then she looked around and blushed.
Shari smiled, "Don't worry, Honey, every one knows." She turned serious for a moment, "Are you all right with this?"'
Carla smiled, "I think it's great…." Then she blushed again, "I mean…"
Shari smiled and gave her a hug. "Don't be embarrassed, this is kind of weird for all of us."
She stepped back, "But in a good way."
Marie came down the stairs and joined them, "Do you have anything to eat? I'm starved."
That broke the tension and everyone sat down to eat. Marie and Carla then left together. As they were going out the door, they could hear Marie say, "When I came in the door, I…"
Again, it was a little awkward. Then Shari had enough. "Okay, this can't go on." She smiled, "Penny, I screwed your ex-husband. It was great, the best sex I ever had. I plan to continue screwing him. I love him and he loves me." She paused, "Okay, that's out of the way. Now, what are we going to do today?"
Leonard and Penny looked at each other a little stunned; then they laughed and Penny said, "Why don't I take you guys out to lunch to celebrate you two going at it and my promotion."
Leonard immediately told her he was proud of her and wanted to hear all about it. They cleaned up the kitchen and were about to head out when there was a knock on the door.
When Shari opened it, you could have knocked her over with a feather. It was the last person she would have expected to see. "Sheldon, what are you doing here?"
"Hello, Shari, I understand Penny is staying here. Could I talk to her?"
Shari was still stunned, she wondered if she should shut the door in his face when Penny came over to see what was going on, "Sheldon, what do you want?"
"I wish to talk to you. In private."
"Well, I don't want to talk to you. I said all I want to when I filed for the divorce."
Sheldon looked down and said quietly, "Please, Penny, it won't take long."
Penny was stunned, she would have never expected to hear those words from Sheldon. Still thinking it was a mistake, she said, "All right, but we were all getting ready to leave so it will have to be short."
Shari didn't like Sheldon, but she thought Penny was being a little hard on him, "You can use the library."
When Sheldon came in and headed for the hall, Leonard could just stare. Sheldon turned to him, "Good morning, Leonard."
Leonard managed to get out a slightly strangled, "Good morning," and continued to stare as they went into the library.
He turned to Shari, who shrugged, "He said he wanted to talk to her." She hesitated, "He even said Please."
"Sheldon said please?"
"And he seemed to mean it."
She then smiled, "While we're waiting, let's go in the den. I realize I need a little lovin'."
They sat down on the couch and exchanged a passionate kiss, they leaned together holding hands.
After they both sat down, Penny said curtly, "Okay, Sheldon, what is this all about?"
"It is about those papers you had your lawyer send me. I have to admit, I never thought you would treat me like this. I thought you loved me."
Penny found herself getting angry, but then just felt sad, "I thought I loved you too. After all, I left Leonard to marry you. But after all that has happened, I just don't know anything anymore."
When he didn't say anything, she went on, "I will never forgive myself for what we did to Leonard and Marie. Somehow, they still seem to want me around. I don't deserve it but am going to try to make it work."
"It's still the same, Penny. You will never be free from Leonard. Even after all this time, you still want to be with him. You still let him manipulate you. You and Marie never gave me a chance. You conspired against me from the beginning."
He looked into her eyes, "Why did you leave that night? What bothered you so? Didn't you understand what Leonard had done to me? What Marie had just done to me?"
Penny just shook her head. Finally, she said, "Sheldon, you said you thought I loved you. That night I realized it was all a sham. You never loved me. You came to me that night because you didn't want us to leave. You did it for yourself."
She took a deep breath, "You never loved Marie. You just used her to hurt Leonard. You asked me about that night. Sheldon, Leonard didn't rob you of a Nobel. Leonard never took me and Marie from you, because you never had me and he thought Marie was his. You have had everything twisted from the beginning. The sad part is I now know it was all for nothing. We almost destroyed Marie and Leonard because there is something deeply wrong with both of us."
"As for me and Leonard, he has moved on. He and Shari have found each other and I am happy for both of them."
"I am sorry for what happened with you and the Nobel. Leonard helped me to know how important is was to you. But we are done, Sheldon. I am going to try to move on, to try to at least partially justify Marie's love for me."
She looked at him and spoke quietly, "I hope that somehow you can find some peace. And maybe someday you and Marie can come to some kind of closure."
"Who knows what the future holds. They say time heals all wounds. Maybe someday we can find a way to relate to each other."
She looked at Sheldon, wondering if anything she had said would register with him.
Sheldon could only stare at her. How could he had been so wrong about her. How could he have been so wrong about them all. He had given up part of himself to become friends with Leonard. But he had never appreciated with all he Sheldon had to put up with. In the end, he had betrayed him, leaving him and taking Penny with him. Then Marie had done the same, never appreciating what he had done for her, had sacrificed for her. And now, Penny. He had poured out his soul to her, had changed for her. But in the end, she had betrayed him as well.
Well, he was done trying. He had rearranged his whole life to accommodate them and now they had all turned their backs on him.
He rose to his feet, "I came here, Penny, hoping that there was still a way to reach you. To give you another chance to make things right. But I see I was foolish. You are right in one way; it was all a waste. For everything I did for you, for Leonard, for Marie, none of you appreciated it."
"As for this divorce, I will not let you undo years of work. If you have any idea of depriving me of those things that are valuable to me, I will not have it."
Penny sighed internally, why had she bothered, they lived in different realities. And what was he going on about with his valuables? She had no intention of taking anything from him. The law in California meant they had to reach some accommodation, but she wanted nothing from him.
He got to his feet, "Goodbye, Penny."
Even after all she knew, after all that happened, Penny still found herself wondering if there was anything she could say, any way of reaching him. No, it had all been said, "Goodbye, Sheldon."
