A/N Thanks to SRAM and bamadude for their reviews. I really do appreciate them.

I still own nothing.

***********August 11, 2015, 7:00 P.M. Pacific Time**************************

When Amy4 and Penny4 returned with the pizza, they were gratified to see how well Sheldon and Leonard1 seemed to be getting along and hoped it would carry over when their Leonard returned.

The spent the evening enjoying each other's company.

When Penny and Leonard arrived back home, it was after ten o'clock. When they checked with Jenny and her mom, they found out Sara was asleep. They decided rather than wake her they would pick her up in the morning.

Penny had been impressed with how Leonard had interacted with Sheldon. She also found herself excited by the possibility of being friends with Amy.

She also found herself thinking that with Sara gone, they were alone in the apartment.

After they got ready for bed, Leonard said that since Sara wasn't there, he could sleep on the couch. Penny was about to agree when she met his eyes. She was shocked to realize she wanted him. She fought it but the feeling just grew stronger.

"Leonard."

"Yeah."

She hesitated, "Do you think it would be cheating to have sex with someone you are married to, even if it is a different world?"

Leonard was stunned. Did she mean what it sounded like; did she want them to sleep together? He realized how much he wanted that too. He also realized something else. It was possible he might never return to his own Penny. If that was true, it was also true he might never be able to have a lasting relationship with anyone if the 28-day cycle continued.

Didn't it make sense that he have the love of the Pennys he encountered, especially if they were his wife?

But then he sighed. He realized he was not ready to face that yet. He still needed to hope he would return home, to be with his Penny. Maybe someday he would be ready to cheat on her, but that time hadn't come.

He smiled sadly at her, "I want more than anything to be with you." He paused, "But to me it still would be cheating. Maybe some time in the future I will think differently but not now."

At first Penny was disappointed, but then she felt relief and was grateful to him for preventing her from making a mistake that would have could have caused her deep feelings of guilt and damaged her marriage.

"Thank you, Leonard, for being stronger than me." She teared up, "I'm sorry, I don't know what I was thinking…"

He smiled and moved forward and hugged her. "Don't be." He stepped back, "I am the one that is sorry. You are so beautiful."

Penny blushed a little, then she surprised them both by saying, "I love you."

Leonard was stunned for a minute and then smiled. He realized what she was saying. He realized it had been true of all the worlds he had visited. No matter what their relationship, he had been attracted to them all. He had cared for all of them. Because in the end, they were all Penny, and she would always be his friend.

He lifted her chin, "I love you, too."

She smiled and leaning forward, kissed him on the cheek. She then took a deep breath, "I'll get you a pillow and a blanket."

*************August 13, 2015, 10:00 A.M. Pacific Time ********************

Leonard4 had been gratified to find that they had arranged for him to have a week off. It gave him time to come to terms with what had happened before he had to face going to work. After that first awkward encounter, he and Penny1 had found a way to be comfortable together.

He was still concerned for her. It was apparent all this had taken a toll on her. It seemed she struggled to go to work each day. As for himself, he missed his family terribly, but at least he had the hope he would be going home in about three weeks. He didn't want to think about what the alternatives were.

His thoughts were interrupted when he was stunned to see Penny come through the door. "Penny, why aren't you at work? Are you alright?"

Penny sat down on the sofa, "Dan called me into his office. He told me that the company had decided I was no longer an asset to them. He said he was sorry but he had to admit I had not been doing my job for some time. He said he knew I had personal problems, but they needed to have someone out there that was committed to the job. He said they were giving me two-week severance pay and that if I ever found I was ready to do the type of work they had come to expect from me, to come and see him."

Leonard stared at her, "They fired you?"

She nodded. He went on, "Oh, Penny, I am so sorry."

She then surprised him by saying, "Don't be. He was right, I was not doing my job." She looked at him, "Actually, I am glad it happened. I should have quit some time ago."

Making her way to the kitchen, she poured herself a glass of wine and returning to the couch, sipped at it.

Leonard wasn't sure what to do. He felt he should comfort her but remembered what had happened the last time he did that. Finally, he went over and sat down beside her and put his arm around her shoulders.

She looked up gratefully at him.

They sat that way for some time, both lost in her thoughts. Finally, Penny sat down her wine glass and turned to him, "I can't keep going on like this. Every month getting my hopes up and getting crushed. I have to accept I may never see him again."

"I have decided that I am going to stay for three more transfers. If my Leonard hasn't returned by then, I am going home for six months. Sheldon and Amy will have to deal with the Leonards."

She sat back, "If he hasn't come home by then, I am going to arrange a divorce with whatever Leonard happens to be here and find somewhere to go for a fresh start."

She looked at him entreatingly, tears in her eyes, "Am I being selfish? Should I continue to wait?"

Leonard was shocked. He thought about what she was saying. How would he react if he came back sometime in the future and found his wife had moved on?

He took a deep breath, "I have no right to judge you or speak for your Leonard. But, if it was me, I would not want you to waste your life waiting for me. I would want you to find happiness."

She smiled sadly at him, "Thank you, that does help a little."

After a period of silence, she quietly said, "Can you hold me?"

He nodded and took her in his arms as she sobbed quietly into his shoulder. Finally, she pulled back.

She then told him she wanted to be alone for a while and went to her bedroom. He looked after her, realizing how much he cared for her and felt compassion for her. He was stunned to realize in a way, he loved her.

When they notified Sheldon and Amy about her decision, they were shocked at first, but after some time, said they understood.

For the rest of the time, Penny and Leonard would sit and talk after he came home from work. Penny wanted to hear everything about Sara. She was surprised to find she was thinking about her and her Leonard having a baby. She had never really thought much about being a mother, but found she was becoming more and more receptive to the idea.

************September 6, 2015, 6:00 P.M. Pacific Time********************

For Leonard1 and Penny4, the rest of the month passed swiftly. They spent a lot of time with Sheldon and Amy. Sheldon agreed he would work to repair his relations with his Leonard assuming he returned.

As for Amy and Penny, they were becoming fast friends and decided they would stay friends whatever happened between Leonard and Sheldon.

Although Sara seemed to still sense that there was something off about her Daddy, they did form a loving relationship. Penny loved to see how Leonard was with her. She smiled to herself, if Leonard did find his way back to his world, his Penny might find herself pregnant.

The talk she and Leonard had the night they visited Sheldon and Amy had made them both relax. They found they could both comfort each other by often cuddling in bed. They had come to trust each other.

She often wondered about her husband. Was he with another Penny? Were they married on his world? Was he with this Leonard's wife? How was he coping being separated from Sara?

She did not allow herself to face the possibility he would not return on September 6.

When the day arrived, Penny and Leonard sat together in the apartment. Sara was with Jenny. They had thought of having Amy and Sheldon there but had decided they would rather be alone.

As the clock passed six o'clock, Penny slid over and gave Leonard a hug and kissed him softly on the mouth, "I am not real religious, but I pray you find your way home."

Leonard smiled, "Thank you." Sitting back, "You better move away. I wouldn't want you to go with me."

She stared at him, "Do you think that would happen?"

"I don't know but I don't want to risk it."

Penny moved over to the other side of the couch. Just as she did, at precisely 6:12 Pacific time, there was a flash of light. When the new Leonard arrived, he looked around. Leonard4 was thrilled to see Sara's toy box in the corner.

He turned to see Penny staring at him, hope in her eyes, "Leonard?"

He quickly asked, "Where's Sara?"

Penny gave a huge smile, "She's with Jenny." She paused, "Leonard, is it really you?"

He moved forward and took her his arms, crushing his lips against hers. They stayed that way for a long time before finally breaking apart. Penny smiled, "I didn't think I should have Sara be here not knowing exactly what was going to happen." Then she looked seductively at him, "Besides, I thought we might want some time together."

Leonard smiled happily and rising, picked her up and headed for the bedroom as she leaned contentedly into him.

Penny1 had decided she was not going to wait at the lab. She remembered how she had broken up the last time. She told the others she would remain at the apartment. As soon as they knew what had happened, they were to text her either yes or no, yes for her Leonard and no if not.

When her phone beeped, she took a deep breath and looked at the message. After reading it, she threw the phone down, buried her head in her hands and began to cry. The message read, 'No. I am so sorry."

Penny5 sat back in the Limo and looked over at her husband. She was always amazed how handsome he looked in a tuxedo. She looked out his window. They were moving forward in the line. Just then their driver announced they would be the next ones at the Red Carpet.

She still couldn't believe they were here at the Academy Awards.

Leonard5 looked over at his wife. She looked gorgeous. He was glad she had not gone overboard with her dress.

When the Limo stopped and an attendant opened the door on Leonard's side, Penny took one quick look at her dress and was turning back to her husband when there was a flash of light. She stared in astonishment and shock as the tuxedo was gone and Leonard was wearing one of his hoodies.

Leonard1 looked around. He was amazed to find he was in a Limo. Noticing how beautiful Penny5 looked, he turned when the door to the Limo was opened. He saw a Red Carpet stretching out ahead of him with people lined up all along it. All he could manage was, "Oh, Crap."