A/N Thank you to those who take time to review. They mean a lot to me.

I am still just borrowing these characters.

****************July 12, 2015, 7:00 P.M Pacific Time**************

After Sheldon3 and Amy sat down, Leonard1 took a deep breath. "I know you are going to find this hard to believe, but I assure you I am telling you the truth."

He went on, "Before I go any further, I want to ask you a question. I know it will sound strange but it is important. Have I ever had and appendectomy?"

For once Sheldon was speechless. Finally, after looking at Amy who just shrugged, "Alright, I'll play along. No, you have not."

Leonard nodded and stood up, lifting his shirt and pushing his pants down slightly, showing his scar, "Then, how do you explain this?"

Smiling at the look on their faces, he sat down, "The answer is, I am not your Leonard. I come from a parallel universe."

Sheldon finally managed to say, "You expect us to believe that. What is that, a fake scar? What is this all about? You come her with a strange woman and tell us some tall tale."

Penny spoke up, "I know you don't know me but I can tell you, one minute a guy was standing there and the next minute, his hair and clothes were different."

Amy spoke up, "Not that I believe you; but Sheldon, his hair is longer."

Leonard went on, "Listen, Sheldon, you know that you yourself have postulated their existence. This is the second one I have visited."

Sheldon stared at him. In spite of himself, he was getting intrigued. It was not like Leonard to do anything like this. Maybe… "How did you accomplish this?"

Leonard sighed, "That's the problem, I don't know. I was in the lab, there was a white light and I found myself in a hotel room in Dallas."

"Why there?"

"Because that's where the Leonard of that universe was." He smiled, "It was his wedding day."

"He was married? To whom?"

"To your sister Missy."

Again, Sheldon was speechless, "My sister?"

"Yes."

Before Sheldon could say more, "In my universe, I am married to Penny."

Amy spoke up, "But we didn't even know who she was."

Leonard sat back, "Why don't I tell you how things occurred in my world, and you can tell me what has happened different here."

He told them about moving in with Sheldon, how Penny moved in across the hall. That the three of them had the same jobs. How he got together with Penny. How Sheldon met Amy and that they were married. That Sheldon and Amy lived in 4B while he and Penny lived in 4A.

When he finished, Sheldon told him he now believed what he was saying.

"Most of it is the same, except Penny never moved in. You were quite involved with a doctor named Leslie Winkle, but she dumped you for a friend of yours. You were quite depressed for some time after that."

"As for Amy and me, we are girlfriend and boyfriend. We have discussed marriage. You and I still live here, while Amy has her own apartment."

"As we have said, we have never met Penny until you brought her here."

Amy broke in, "How did you two meet?"

Leonard wondered what to say when Penny spoke up, "I am a prostitute. Leonard, the other Leonard, had just paid me for sex."

While the others stared at her, she turned to Leonard, "I don't know why I told them that. For some reason, I just wanted to get it out there."

While they had talked, Penny realized she didn't belong there. She realized she had been fooling herself, that because Leonard was married to her somewhere, they shared something. But those were two different people. She needed to get back to her life.

She stood up, "I should be going. My friends will wonder where I am." She managed a smile, "It has been interesting."

She turned to Leonard, "I hope you somehow get back to your Penny."

As she started toward the door, Leonard called out, "Wait."

He turned to the others, "Could you possibly let me talk with Penny in private?"

Amy quickly said, "Come, Sheldon, it is obvious we are not going to have a Pizza soon. Let's find somewhere to eat, I am starved."

Sheldon looked like he was going to object but when it was apparent Amy was leaving, he sighed and followed her out the door.

There was an awkward silence. Finally, Leonard said, "Why don't we sit down. There is something I would like to discuss with you."

Penny, who had been shocked when he had stopped her, discovered she was so glad he had, "Okay, but I better call Brenda and Darlene and let them know I am all right."

After she called and told them she was going to be gone for a while, they not being very happy about it, she sat down across from Leonard.

Leonard had wondered why he had called her back. He just knew he didn't want her to leave. No matter what had happened in this universe, she was still Penny and he was surprised to find he wanted to be around her. He was also curious what had happened.

"Before we start, do you want anything?"

"I could use a beer or some wine."

Leonard took a couple beers from the refrigerator.

After taking a drink, Penny asked, "What did you want to talk about?"

Leonard looked a little embarrassed. "I don't know, I just didn't want you to go like that."

Penny was thrilled. She smiled, "I am glad you did." She hesitated, "I like to spend time with you as well."

She took another drink, "Leonard, can we try to figure out where things changed for me? I know it probably doesn't matter, but I would like to understand."

"Are you sure? I am willing, but don't think you have to."

"I know but I just feel I need to." She paused, "Can you tell me what you know of her life before she met you."

"She grew up on a farm outside of Omaha. She has an older sister Lisa and a younger brother Randall."

"Her parents names are Wyatt and Susan."

"She was a cheerleader in high school. When she graduated she came to California with her boyfriend Kurt to become a movie star. She lived with him for four years before they broke up after he cheated on her. As Sheldon said, she then moved in across the hall."

Penny thought about what he was saying. So much was the same, but…

She asked, "Did she say anything about what happened after she caught Kurt?"

"She just said she got out of there and went over to her friend Cheryl's who worked with her. She stayed there for a couple weeks. She contacted her folks and they sent her some money for furniture and to get set up in a new apartment. Then as I said, she moved in across the hall."

Penny pondered that, "Did she say anything about her car being in the shop."

Leonard thought for a moment, he was about to say he didn't when he remembered when her car broke down later. "She didn't say anything then but I remember when it broke down later, she remarked how it always picked the worst time to do that. She then mentioned she had to take a cab to Cheryl's."

Penny nodded. She took another drink and then took a deep breath.

"Everything is basically the same up to then. After I left the apartment, I was of course upset. I decided I didn't want to hang around the apartment building waiting for a cab. I was afraid Kurt would be looking for me. I decided I would go to a small diner nearby and have a cab pick me up there. I pushed the button for the elevator but it didn't come right away. Instead of waiting, I went down the stairs. I was in such a hurry that I dropped my purse and had to pick everything up. When I got outside, I saw a guy getting into a cab. I apparently had just missed it."

She looked at Leonard, "Do you think your Penny waited for the elevator and got that cab?"

Leonard pondered that, "I suppose. Would that have made a difference?"

She took a deep breath and looked at him, "I was walking toward the diner…"

Penny walked along still bummed over Kurt and just missing that cab. Suddenly, a van pulled up next to her and a man jumped out and grabbed her, pulling her toward the van. She tried to scream and get loose, but he had his hand over her mouth and was too strong.

Then, just before he pushed her in, two women came hurrying up, "What the Hell is going on? Let her go, you Bastard."

At first the man ignored them but then he saw one of them taking a gun out of her purse. Cursing, he threw Penny down and jumped into the van telling the driver to get the hell out of there.

One of the women knelt down by Penny, "My God, are you alright?"

As she helped Penny up, Penny clung to her, crying uncontrollably.

The women hugged her back, "It's okay, it's okay, they're gone. You're safe."

As she finally got control of herself, the woman asked, "Do you live around here? Is there someone we can call?"

Penny managed to get out what Kurt had done. She also realized she did not want to see anyone, not even Cheryl.

The woman looked her in the eye, "Okay. My name is Brenda and this is Darleen. We live nearby. Why don't you come home with us and we will figure out what to do."

Penny finished her beer. "I went with them and we decided it would do no good to call the police. It turned out they had a spare bedroom and I stayed with them for almost a month. I was a little shocked when I found out they were prostitutes but then realized it was none of my business and they had saved me."

"When I contacted my parents, I didn't tell them anything about what had happened. I know it was silly, but I was ashamed."

"Anyway, they did send me money for furniture and rent." She smiled ruefully, "I remember I did check on apartments in this building but they said they had just rented the last one."

"I moved into another apartment and went to work at a restaurant."

Leonard interrupted, "I don't suppose it was the Cheesecake Factory?"

She looked at him puzzled, "No. Why did you ask that?"

"Penny worked there."

Penny nodded, "For the next three years, I went to work, took acting classes and auditioned for parts."

She went on, "I dated a bit, but never got serious with anyone."

"It was always touch and go with the rent. I would get a couple months behind, but then would catch an acting gig or work long hours at the restaurant and was always able to catch up."

She sighed, "Unfortunately, my acting career was not exactly taking off. My resume consisted of items like an Hemorrhoid commercial and some play over a bowling alley." She smirked, "I did have a role in a movie called Serial Apist. It was as bad as the title suggests. Not only that, I got talked into a nude shower scene. Thank God, it never got to the theaters."

Leonard broke in, "If it helps, Penny's career was about the same."

Penny smiled, then sighed. "But then, it finally all caught up with me. I was falling way behind in the rent and the restaurant was actually cutting my hours."

"In desperation, I agreed to appear in Serial Apist II. I didn't have to do any nudity but it was even a worst movie than the first. But it was helping with the rent. I decided I would do the best I could. But then one day, when I asked if we could do a scene over, the director told me how bad an actor he felt I was."

She looked at Leonard, "That was the final straw. I told him what I thought of him and his movie and quit."

"Now, I was completely at my wit's end. I was about to be evicted; I hadn't even dated anybody for months… I decided I was done and needed to go home."

Leonard didn't know if he should say anything. Whether he should tell her that it was at a similar point that he and Penny had got engaged. He finally decided she probably didn't want to hear it.

Penny had gone on, "I had just quit my job at the restaurant and was sitting having a cup of coffee when I was stunned to see Brenda and Darlene come in. They saw me and came over to join me.

Suddenly, I found myself telling them everything. After I finished, Brenda asked, "Is that what you want, Penny, do you want to go home?"

"I thought about what she was saying. I realized I didn't want to. As bad as it was, I wanted to stay in California. There was nothing waiting for me in Nebraska."

"When I told them that I wanted to stay, Brenda looked at Darlene and said, 'Penny, please don't be angry with us for suggesting this. I know you have never considered it. But you can come and work and live with us.'"

"I of course was shocked that they would even suggest such a thing. But then I was stunned to realize I was considering it. I knew I did not want to go home."

"Brenda then said 'How about this? Why don't you just come home with us? You can stay for a while and then decide.' She told me I could always go home then."

She looked at Leonard and smiled sadly, "You know the rest. I decided it was something I could force myself to do. I still often can't believe it."

She sighed, "I always say I am going to quit but just tell myself to stick it out a little longer."

Then to both their shocks, she broke out crying, "Why, Leonard? Why did it turn out this way? I have made such a mess of my life."

Leonard instinctively moved forward and took her in his arms to comfort her. She hugged him back, burying her head in his shoulder.

They stayed like that for a time and then something changed. Both of them realized how good this felt, how natural it felt.

Leonard slowly released her and moved away from her, trying to get his thoughts together. He realized he needed to be careful, not to let his sympathy for her, his instinct to comfort her, get out of hand. But at the same time, he knew he felt something for her as well, something apart from his Penny.

Penny was stunned. She couldn't believe how good it had felt to be held by him. She knew she had made him uncomfortable. He was married. He loved his wife.

She sighed, "I really should get going." She hesitated, "Leonard, I won't lie, that felt wonderful. I needed it. But I know you love your Penny." She managed a small smile, "I do hope with all my heart you can find a way back to her."

Leonard looked up, "Thank you, Penny." He took her hands, "But, I like you too. I am not ashamed of holding you. I would like to be your friend."

Penny felt herself tearing up, "I would like that very much."

She picked up her purse, "Could I call you tomorrow? Maybe we could have lunch or something?"

Leonard smiled, "I would like that. Here is my number."

As they reached the door, she turned back, "Thanks for listening." Then she leaned forward and kissed him softly on the cheek, "Goodnight, Leonard."

"Goodnight, Penny."