A/N Thank you so much for your reviews. I really do take into consideration what is said. I still own nothing.

As the end of the year neared, Marie continued to work on her paper. Although she and her Dad did not visit Sheldon again, the three did occasionally confer by phone.

Marie and Leonard were also pleased when Sheldon told them he was about to issue a paper of his own.

With the end of the fall baseball season, Jerry returned to Texas, saying he could be back in the summer. Penny started to spend more time with Shari in the afternoons.

Everyone was excited and pleased when Leonard and Shari announced they were planning a two-week trip to Europe after the New Year. They decided that Marie would stay with Carla at the house and Penny promised to keep an eye on them.

One morning, after Leonard had stayed over, Shari spoke up, "I am a little worried about Carla."

"Why, what's going on?"

"While she never excelled anything like Marie, she has always had almost all A's and B's with an occasional C. But her on her last report card, she had just one B, a lot of C's and a D. She has never done that badly before. I talked to her teachers and they said she just isn't putting in the time, that she seems distracted."

"Did you talk to Carla?"

"Yeah, but she just muttered something about Senior year and assured me she would do better."

Leonard thought for a moment, "I doubt if she would be any different with me. How about if we ask Marie to talk to her?"

"That sounds like a good idea." She paused, "I have noticed they don't spend as much time together as they used to but I know Marie has been busy."

When Leonard approached her, Marie was surprised and agreed to talk to her. She felt a little guilty that she and Carla weren't as close as they used to be.

They met in Carla's room. Marie got to the point, "Okay, what's going on with school?"

Carla feigned innocence, "What do you mean?"

"You know what I mean. Dad told me how your grades are slipping."

Carla was surprised to feel herself getting angry. This is why Marie finally wanted to see her? She stunned herself and Marie by blurting out, "So now the Big Brain has decided to speak to the lowly student."

Marie stared at her, "What the Hell are you talking about?"

Carla went on, but it was like someone else was talking, "You really never knew, did you?" Seeing the puzzled look on Marie's face, "I was the ugly sidekick. Only with you it was also the dumb one."

Marie just stared and then finally got out, "I never… How long have you felt like that?"

"It never bothered me that you had skipped a grade until High School and I realized we wouldn't graduate together. I didn't really care how people thought about us when we were both in school."

Then she realized what she was saying and shocked Marie by beginning to cry, "Oh God, Marie, I'm so sorry. I don't why I said those stupid things. I don't know why I would want to hurt you. I never felt that way. I just… It's just that I miss you so much and when you asked to talk... It's bad enough you're no longer in school but we hardly ever see each other anymore."

Marie hugged her, "I'm sorry, I have just been so busy with this Physics thing, I didn't…"

Carla hugged her back, "I know. That's the trouble. I always knew you were special, that you would leave me behind. But knowing it doesn't make it easier."

She hesitated, like she was making a decision, "And, as much as I fight it, knowing you will never feel that way, I do love you. I am attracted to you."

They broke apart and Marie reached out and took her hands. Then she smiled and leaned forward and kissed Carla softly on the lips.

She then laid back on the bed, pulling Carla next to her and putting her arm around her. Carla snuggled into her side.

They lay like that for a long time.

Finally, Marie broke the silence; she smiled sadly and looked at Carla, "Life sometimes really sucks."

Carla eyes widened and then she nodded.

They both sat up, "I would give anything, Carla, to feel about you the way you feel about me."

Carla looked down and then raised her head, "I know." She paused, "Again, I'm sorry I said those things, I didn't really mean them. I always have been proud of you and proud to be your friend."

"It's okay, I understand." Then she smirked, "Besides, you're too damn cute to be the ugly sidekick."

She went on, "And I was really bummed that you didn't graduate with me."

She started to get up, "Hey, I know Christmas Break is coming up. What say we spend the time together? And don't forget, we'll be living together when Dad and Shari go on their 'love' trip."

Marie put her hand under Carla's chin, "Just believe this, If I were gay, I'd be all over you."

Carla smiled and then gathered her courage and asked hesitantly, "Can I ask you for a big favor?"

"What is it?"

"There is a big Holiday dance on the seventeenth. Would you go with me?"

Marie smiled fondly, "I'd be honored."

But then she went on, "But only if you do something for me."

"Anything."

"Will you get your damn grades up?"

Carla looked surprised but then smiled, "It's a deal."

After Sheldon published his paper, Caltech arranged for him to give a lecture on it. He was surprised and gratified when Leonard and Marie accepted an invitation to attend.

Both Penny and Shari had been a little shocked to see Leonard and Marie allowing Sheldon back into their lives, if only on a limited basis. Shari found herself a little angry when Penny seemed to be bothered by it. She felt she should be gratified Marie was able to interact in some way with her Father.

As for herself, she had been worried about how Leonard would feel about it. But it soon became apparent he was all for it and had encouraged it. She had to marvel again how loving he was and how he was doing what he thought was best for Marie. She could also see that Marie was doing it only because she knew Leonard was aboard. She was a little surprised when they asked her to join them at the lecture, but was thrilled they wanted her to be a part of it.

She thought of asking Penny if she wanted to go, but decided that was up to Marie.

Marie herself had wondered if she should talk to Penny about it. She finally decided she should at least give Penny a chance to decide.

When Marie asked to come over, Penny had a feeling she knew what she wanted to discuss. She had been shocked when Marie had told her about their meeting with Sheldon. She remembered how Marie had said that she wanted nothing to do with him. She was less surprised when she learned that Leonard was the one who had encouraged it.

She knew she should have been thrilled. After all, she had always wanted them to be closer when Marie was growing up. But she realized that one of the things she thought she had shared with Marie was the need to put Sheldon behind them, to put him out of their lives. So, it was with a bit of trepidation that she waited for Marie to arrive.

After they were comfortable, Marie started, "I wanted to talk to you about the speech that Sheldon is going to give at Caltech. As you know, the rest of us are planning on going. I wondered if you wanted to join us."

"Don't you think that might be a little awkward? I mean, we just went through a divorce."

"I know and I understand. I just wanted to give you the choice."

Penny knew she should leave it at that, but she had wanted to talk to Marie about this.

"Marie, I have to admit, I am surprised that you and your Father are interacting with Sheldon. I mean, you told me once you wanted nothing to do with him." Not recognizing how it would sound, she went on, "After all he did to you and Leonard, I would think you would never want to see him again."

She realized her mistake when she saw Marie's eyes narrow. Marie took a deep breath, "You mean what YOU and Sheldon did to my Dad and me? How YOU and Sheldon cheated on him? How YOU and Sheldon took me from him?"

As Penny stammered, Marie went on, "I let you back into my life because, unlike Sheldon, I loved you and knew you loved me. I did it because, unlike Sheldon, you wanted me to spend time with my Dad. I did it because I knew that Dad wanted us to be in some way a family. I felt that you, also unlike Sheldon, regretted what you did."

Her eyes turned cold,"But," she looked into Penny's eyes, "I hold you just as responsible for what happened as I do Sheldon and I will never forgive either one of you."

Penny was devastated, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. What was Marie saying? How could she say those things? NO, she didn't mean them, she was upset. But even as she thought that, she knew Marie knew exactly what she was saying. She sneered at herself. She had been so proud of how she had put this all behind her, of how everything was all right, how it all been forgiven. That in divorcing Sheldon, she was free. She would never be free. All the guilt she had thought she had put behind her crashed over her.

Suddenly, she burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. She felt Marie try to hug her, but she knew she just felt pity for her. Her daughter despised her. She broke free and rushed to her bedroom and threw herself onto her bed, her whole body shaking from the tears.

Marie was shocked at what she had done. At the same time, she knew she should have said it a long time ago. She went into the bedroom and tried to comfort her, but she just continued to cry and mutter about how worthless she was.

Marie was starting to be afraid for her. She decided she needed help. She called her Dad and he said he and Shari would be there as soon as possible.

After a time, Penny had no more tears. She sat up and pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Marie tried to talk to her, to hold her, but she just rocked back and forth, mumbling about how worthless she was, how she deserved to die.

By the time Leonard and Shari arrived, Marie was becoming desperate, worried Penny might hurt herself.

Leonard and Shari were shocked at what they were seeing. Marie had been distraught on the phone but nothing like this.

Leonard immediately went and hugged her as she clung to him like a lifeline. Shari looked in on Penny. She started to head toward her but decided she need to find out what had happened.

Marie finally recovered enough to tell them what she had said. She sobbed, "God, I am so sorry. How could I say that to her? How could I hurt her like that? She will never forgive me. It will never be the same again."

She looked imploringly at her father, "I am such an awful person."

Leonard hugged her and patted her back, "You are not an awful person." He held her by her arms and looked into her face, "Listen to me, you only said what we have all felt."

He sighed, "A lot of this is my fault. I wanted to believe that we could just put this behind us, that we could go on with a new start. But I was wrong. We should have faced up to this a long time ago. We need to confront and understand how we feel."

He sighed again, "You are right, Marie, it will never be the same way again, but that is only because what has been was not sustainable." He smiled sadly, "I am sorry you had to be the one to do what we all needed to do. But we're here now. We will all need to finally be honest. Then, maybe, we can find a way to move forward."

He smiled, "How about it, Marie, are we ready to start? Are you ready to let us help?"

Marie dabbed at her eyes, "Yes." She leaned forward and hugged him, "Thank you, Dad. I love you."

He hugged her back, "I love you, too." He went on, "Your Mom does love you, Marie, and you love her. In the end, that's what will matter."

Shari then came over and hugged Marie, "I am so sorry you had to be the one to go through this. But your Dad's right, we will do this together."

She released her and turned to Leonard, "Maybe I should go in first. I think I might have a better chance of getting through to her."

Leonard and Marie nodded.

Taking a deep breath, Shari headed into the bedroom and closed the door behind her.