Author's note: my previous TBBT story 'An alternate Pennyverse' was about Penny's life changing after an encounter with a stranger. She got a successful acting career, engaged herself for the community and last but not least she married Howard with whom she had a daughter. Just before the story ended (the final scene taking place in 2030) her friends supported Howard's idea that she might enter politics (as I was working on the story the 2020 US elections were approaching). I started fantasizing about Penny in politics and I pictured her speedily rising high. And I mean High.

If you can't stand Penny/Howard and/or the idea of Penny being in politics you'd better not read this story. (To the second guest reviewer: Thank you for defending writers and their work. I appreciate it a lot.)

If you're curious about my little fantasy, here's:

An alternate Pennyverse, addition

'With me is James Delaney, political analyst in Washington,' anchor man Arnie Fielding said while his guest cleared his throat. 'Mr Delaney, the Democratic candidate Miquel Cortez announced who his running mate is. It was a surprise: she's a relatively inexperienced Congresswoman. What do you make of it?'

'Compared to Cortez, who's been in politics since he was twenty-two, she is indeed inexperienced. Cortez only ever makes deliberate moves though. A candidate needs a running mate who complements him and Drottning does that. I wouldn't have laid a bet on him picking her, but now that he has it seems as if she's the only choice he could have made if he wants a chance at beating the President.'

'Please explain.'

'Cortez is a veteran politician with ambition and some voters distrust that. Drottning went into politics to right wrongs she came across and she's been improving communities for many years. Cortez is known in his home state but as a Congressman he's one of many and most Americans barely know him. Drottning's known not just nationwide but worldwide. Imagine what that will do for Cortez's media coverage.'

Mr Fielding was about to reply but the analyst didn't notice that and continued: 'When Cortez interacts with voters he cares to bring home his message while she, as I noticed during her campaign for the House of Representatives, listens to people. She lobbied to get death-penalty abolished and he therefore doesn't have to say anything about this tricky topic: those who stand by her might vote for him thinking he'll adopt her idea and those who oppose her might think he's of a different opinion. His great-grandparents all hailed from Spain and his own marriage to a wealthy Irish-American woman was the first non-Spanish marriage in his family since his ancestors became Americans.'

Mr Delaney took a sip of his water and the anchor man seized the opportunity: 'He is popular among Hispanics and Mexicans isn't he?'

'Yes, but he needs a broader base and a running mate without his Mediterranean background will help him secure that. Another point where he and Drottning might appeal to different sorts of voters is that he's born and bred in Chicago, while she grew up in a tiny village in Nebraska.'

'Voters might resent her for having been an actress and being known as a feminist.'

'Her fans might support Cortez because of her and other voters might be happy that a woman made it to be running mate. She is only the fourth in US history after Ferraro, Palin and Harris.'

'The fact remains that she doesn't have a lot of political experience.'

'She's very experienced in front of a camera and just for the record: in her short term as Representative Drottning has proven herself to be a skilful politician. She and Cortez worked together on several issues and successfully too.'

OoO

'Mrs Cortez, with your husband running for President, how do you experience the campaign?' Dana Smith, host of "America at four p.m." asked her last guest.

'Well Dana, I can compare this campaign to all the others Miquel run in his long and esteemed political career and it's tough but also wonderful!' Alice Cortez said.

Howard, watching her on TV, noticed that her smile didn't reach her eyes. He glanced at his daughter who sat next to him on the couch, cocking an eyebrow at the politician's wife.

'Miss Drottning, with your mother being running mate, what are your feelings about that?'

'You know that dad. I'm proud of her for helping Cortez in his attempt to beat Forty-eight. I just… She said she can't imagine Cortez winning.'

'It will be difficult.'

'– great to see how dedicated his staff is, from volunteers to the running mate,' Alice Cortez said.

'That is the perfect condescending smile,' Howard commented.

'Many voters recall that Penelope Drottning volunteered in the 2020 campaign to help people make their vote.'

'A great many people volunteered then,' Mrs Cortez replied.

'Partly because she made a public call.'

'She supports democracy, just as my husband has done for decades.'

'Most of the arrows your husband's opponents are firing are aimed at his running mate.'

'Throwing mud at women has been done for thousands of years. It's sad that in this day and age it's still popular.'

Ann set the TV to mute. 'She doesn't look sad. She's probably glad for the distraction. Should mum be wrong about Cortez's chances… We wouldn't have to move to the Naval Observatory, do we?'

'You'll be at MIT and Cambridge isn't as far away from Washington as Pasadena is. You could visit.'

'Of course I will! What about you dad?'

Before Penny had accepted the surprising proposal of the Democratic candidate, she and Howard had talked about all possible consequences of her saying yes. They'd agreed that in the event of the President not being re-elected, Howard would try to get a position as an exchange researcher at Georgetown University, for at least some months a year. He wouldn't have to play Second Lady, for Penny was emancipated and she didn't want her husband to give up his career for her. Howard told Ann about the plans and she smiled.

'I'm glad to be closer to mum once I'm at MIT: I think it wasn't easy for her, despite the visits and the video-chatting. And I missed her too. Will you cope when we're both on the east-coast?'

'Even should your mum remain a Representative, I'll try to work at Georgetown for a semester every year.'

'Great! Say dad, if mum becomes Vice-President, we'd get bodyguards…'

Howard smiled. 'You having guards while at MIT, keeping undeserving young suitors away from you… Well I must say – Ouch!'

'Thanks grandma!' Ann called out as she put an embroidered and rather heavy pillow behind her back again.

'Yeah, thanks ma,' Howard said as he caressed his attacked arm and fondly looked at his daughter.

OoO

In Pasadena four friends were watching a so called news show.

'Our President is on a roll, what about the opponent Samuel?'

'Things are looking good Nancy. I've spent the day in Florida where Cortez and Drottning paid a visit today. Mrs Cortez gave the running mate a deliciously nasty look, see the screen behind you!'

A picture of an unguarded Mrs Cortez made Nancy whoop in delight.

'What about Mr Drottning?' Nancy asked with a gleeful smile.

'Ha ha! "Mr Drottning" isn't present and one wonders whether that won't cause a breach in his marriage. Apart from…'

Samuel gestured Nancy to turn around again, which she immediately did to find a picture of Cortez staring appreciatively at Drottning's figure. 'It looks like he doesn't regret asking her to be his "mate",' Nancy commented cheekily. 'One wonders why he doesn't spend more time with her. Out of every five days of campaigning, they're only together one day, isn't that so?'

'It is. My idea is that he seeks to reveal what can't be revealed. Look what some perceptive internet users came up with.'

Nancy eagerly turned in her chair, to see movie-stills and promotional pictures from plays showing Drottning, sometimes clad in no more but a set of flimsy underwear, embracing men who all had Miquel Cortez's head.

'Most cut and pastes are done rather primitively. No one will be fooled by that. The large picture in the middle is from "Hamlet". And the one to the right is from "The spy from Westlake". The one to the right of that one is from "Cloaca". I imagine Penny is truly glad she told Wil Wheaton to ask the first actress for the filmed performance. The three on top are from - '

'Thank you Sheldon. We get it. The point is that people won't care that the pictures are meddled with,' Raj pointed out. 'They'll create an image in people's heads.'

'"A common Wednesday",' Sheldon finished his interrupted line. 'What image do they create?'

'That Cortez is having an affair with Penny,' Eric said while on screen Nancy and Samuel commented the pictures.

'Ah! Making the candidate and his running mate both look unfaithful as well as potentially more interested in coitus than politics. There will be people who are open to that sort of manipulation. Does it bother you Howard that Penny forbade us to repay the opponent? It would be a piece of cake.'

'Penny's showing herself to be a lady and a democrat,' Eric said.

'Nancy, I have a great final picture to show you!'

Samuel's announcement made the friends in Pasadena focus on the screen. Once the picture was on Eric closed his eyes.

'Looks like you didn't get all of them Howard,' Sheldon commented in a matter of fact way. 'Though it's more likely that The Opponent got hold of a hardware copy and had it posted. Your CoinSearch will get a record of hits today.'

'Great,' Howard mumbled. He felt for Penny for she'd have another load of mud dumped on her, online but more importantly offline. Raj felt shame when recalling how eagerly he'd watched the topless shots of Penny Howard had found on the internet the day they met her.

'Judging from her present silhouette I don't think they've changed a lot. It's gone now Eric. Many women will envy her. Many men will envy you Howard. And Cortez, if they buy that crap.'

OoO

With a fortnight to go until election day a tennis hall in Texas was where the Democratic and the Republican candidates were to meet again. It had been weeks since "Serial Ape-ist" had been recovered but people still eyed Penny in a special way, despite her being declared the winner of her debate with the opponent's running mate. Miquel had complimented her on what he styled "her performance" and Penny privately thought it was a belittling remark.

Penny stood in an underground corridor leading to the dressing rooms and the buzz of thousands of people chatting came from above. It reminded her of a theatre. In the tennis hall a stage had been built in front of the stairs going to the basement and Anthony Yellowstone, the head of the campaign team, notified everyone that they were about to begin. He'd been the one to inform Penny of Miquel's request that on occasions like this one she'd wear something 'understated' for Alice Cortez was the only one to wear a bright blue ensemble. Yellowstone, some local Democratic politicians and Penny went up first. Her arrival wasn't announced and her grey Givenchy combination was elegant yet modest but she might as well have worn her waitressing outfit for all the attention she still got. 'Choose the part you want to play,' Howard had told her over the phone that morning. Right now, seeing people eye her chest and then talk to each other Penny would opt for a part with a sword. When she spotted a group of deaf people standing near the stage, not talking about her looks but about their translator being late, she suggested Yellowstone she'd translate for them. He was enthusiastic but his aid less so: wouldn't it take attention away from Cortez? 'It's a novelty,' Yellowstone said approvingly. 'And with her aiding the handicapped, people will be seen as rude when they make fun of her youthful error. Where are they?' Penny pointed them out. 'She can stand in the booth against the podium so the candidate and the other attendees won't be distracted,' Yellowstone said. Penny decided to be amused by the way he spoke as if she weren't around. She offered the group her services, which they readily accepted.

Miquel's policy was left winged, but here in Texas he downplayed it and as she translated Penny wondered whether he was still wearing a blue tie. The Republicans made up the majority of the audience and though they didn't boo Cortez, their silence spoke volumes and the Democrats present couldn't make their candidate feel like a winner. Loud applause welcomed the current President. The translator was still nowhere to be found and Penny continued to translate. Some deaf voters wore elephant shirts but they looked increasingly uncomfortable.

OoO

A week before election day Penny's friend and old acting buddy Jeffrey shared a video. Jeffrey played in a successful series and he had nearly 900,000 followers, some equally famous people among them, who shared the video on their own channels. The video, made at a Texan wedding and showing a discussion at one of the guest tables, went viral.

MAN 1: What? I need to say something to the bride and groom? On video? Like now?

CAMERAMAN: Yeah. Just congratulations or some advice for the newlyweds or so.

WOMAN (to MAN 1 and MAN 2): You can do that. (To CAMERAMAN): We're in honey.

MAN 1: Eh, okay... Be happy you two and don't mess things up.

WOMAN: Yeah. And be patient. And sometimes just think: in one ear, out the other. And talk!

MAN 2: Don't expect your better half to copy your hobbies. It's okay to spend time apart. But it's also important to schedule time for each other. Like go out to a nice restaurant. Uhm… Well, I guess that's it. Right?

MAN 1: Yeah.

WOMAN: Yep.

CAMERAMAN: Thanks! Could you hold up your glasses and smile at the camera?

The three did as they were bid.

WOMAN: We wish you joy Sarah and Tom!

MAN 2: Congrats guys!

CAMERAMAN: Great!

MAN 1: That went okay, didn't it? Know what you're gonna vote?

MAN 2: Still hesitating.

WOMAN: Why? You want a socialist like that Spaniard for President? There's Luke. He'll tell you. Luke! Come over, tell hesitating Henry here to vote Republican like always.

LUKE (sitting down at their table and taking off his party hat): I won't cause I won't.

MAN 1: What?

WOMAN: Are you saying what I think you're saying?

HENRY: This music sucks.

LUKE: I don't like it either. Give me the seventies anytime.

MAN 1: Damn right. It's before my time but they made music back then. These mini sausages are great. Tasted one yet?

LUKE (grabbing a snack): Smells good.

WOMAN: Don't change the topic folks. Why aren't you voting for the President Luke?

LUKE: If you must know, because Drottning translated what he said.

MAN 1: What do you mean?

LUKE: You haven't seen it? A week ago right here in Texas. The President and Cortez were each holding a speech.

WOMAN: Yeah, our man told them, didn't he? I liked it when he asked his running mate if he'd ever made a fool of himself in an M-rated film that was so awful it never got released. Ha! And then he let him say how long he'd been in politics – thirty-seven years! – and he said that unlike his Spanish opponent he didn't have to rely on his running mate's acting skills. And then he asked him if he'd ever said: "I was stupid and lazy" and he used an interview clip with Drottning for that! With her saying it you see? So funny! He said it would be an insult for the States if she became Vice-President.

HENRY: He stole that from his dad.

WOMAN (ignoring Henry): He compared her to Eva Peron and he totally won the debate. But what's with the actress translating? You're not still filming are you honey?

CAMERAMAN: No ma'am, just adjusting settings.

LUKE (chewing his snack): There was a group of deaf people. And Samuel and Nancy, from "True News!" didn't show that, but I watched "America at four p.m." –

WOMAN: That's for donkeys!

HENRY + MAN 1: Ha, ha!

LUKE: Cynthia likes it and I watched along. Anyway, it showed that Drottning was translating or signing or however it's called because the deaf people's translator hadn't arrived yet. She did Cortez's speech first and then the President's and I reasoned that she made useless gestures with her hands when the President was being rude and Cynthia thought she might instead tell the deaf people more about Cortez's politics. But the translator who was late was asked by Dana, the show's host, to translate both speeches and they compared that to those of Drottning, and she hadn't left out a single word, insults included.

WOMAN: Some would call that dumb.

LUKE: I say she played it fair. That woman has balls.

OoO

On 22 January Ann left Washington along with her father and their family and friends. On a couch in the Veep's suite in the Naval Observatory she'd placed a pillow made by her grandmother.

OoO

And we're back! Before the break we discussed the foreign policy of President Cortez, who was installed two years ago today. We also talked about his cabinet. When he became President, we also got a new Vice-President. Mr Delaney, how is she doing?

'They are going to discuss OFIW!' Raj exclaimed. He, Howard and Sheldon, instead of focusing on the board game in front of them, watched the television.

'Guys, we're about to begin!' Leonard, sorting out his notes, said.

'… since decades who actively took on the part of President of the Senate. She is by all reports considered an objective and effective leader.'

Stuart shrugged at Leonard and turned around so he could watch TV too. Leonard sighed.

'Was it by the President's advice that she did this?'

'No it wasn't. She herself wanted to make something of the position. It also served as a way to make clear that she wasn't the First Lady's assistant. It is known that it caused some tension between the ladies when Mrs Cortez tried to make her act that part.'

'A Veep isn't a p.a. but then a Veep doesn't have many formal tasks.'

'True. Apart from the one just mentioned it's mostly about representing the President, and here too Drottning makes a difference: most of her public appearances aren't about that. She pays attention to all sorts of people and projects in the US. The President handles the pomp and circumstance affairs both in the US and abroad.'

'With the exception of OFIW visiting Sweden when the Nobel prize of physics was awarded,' Sheldon proudly commented through Delaney's analysis of the President's first reaction to the Veep's activities.

'Shh,' Leonard said.

' – but he now supports her initiative to visit states in the US.'

'In "True News!" it was said that the Veep isn't allowed to visit Texas.'

'She was present at my Meemah's funeral,' Sheldon objected.

'That was not a working visit,' Raj said. 'Nancy from "True News!" said that Cortez doesn't like it that the Texan Triumph is linked to OFIW.'

'She's called Penny,' Leonard curtly said.

'No one can deny that it was her triumph,' Stuart contributed.

'- feeling that presidential candidate Cortez might have expected his running-mate to be valuable during the campaign only, but that President Cortez is pleased to have a strong Veep.'

'Thank you James Delaney.'

Leonard had gotten hold of the remote control and he quickly switched off the TV. 'Okay, we're in a cave and there's a –' he started but he was interrupted: '"Cosmo" says that the First Lady forbade the Veep to use the same fashion designers as she does and told her to wear dull colours only. Is that so Howard?'

'Raj, if you want to question Howard please ask for useful things. Such as: is "The New York Times" correct in stating that the President wanted to assign his First Lady to handle working visits by Heads-of-State and government leaders and that OFIW and the Secretary of State convinced Cortez not to do that?'

'No comment,' Howard said.

'You are remarkably tight-lipped, I didn't know you had it in you,' Leonard said.

'Yes you did.'

Leonard blushed but also looked a bit angry. Before Stuart might ask questions Raj begged Howard to reveal something innocent yet juicy. 'For instance: "Cosmo" says that Mrs Cortez forbade her husband to go jogging with OFIW. Is it true?'

Deciding this was a question he could answer, Howard replied: 'No. One day Cortez invited Penny for a run on the White House grounds. She outran him. He didn't ask her again.'

Stuart and Raj grinned.

'Gentlemen. A month ago we found ourselves in a cave in the middle of a blizzard. We need to get out!'

'I'd rather stay inside while you get rid of the storm Leonard,' Sheldon replied.

As they finally started to play D&D Howard thought that though he knew that Cortez appreciated having Penny for a confidant and sounding board, he didn't know what they talked about. If he was tight-lipped, Penny was mute. He admired that, but he feared that it had taken her many months to feel at ease in the job and he regretted that most of the time he hadn't been around to at least make her smile after a bad day.

OoO

This would hardly be her first speech but as Penny had learned in the theatre teenagers made for a touch audience. In this town in Mississippi that was barely large enough to house a high school the people were poor and Washington was far away: the applause that greeted her after the school's principal had announced her was polite and the dignitaries and professionals seated in the back of the cafeteria contributed most to it. The cafeteria was shabby, the only beautiful things in it being the huge potted plants that marked a cleared area in front of the staff room from where she'd entered.

'Thank you Mr Kishara,' she started, standing behind the lectern in between the plants. 'I've read about what you've done for this school, its pupils and the community and I'm glad to visit now and express my appreciation for your work before you start the next phase in your life.'

Penny had praised him in the mayor's presence when she was given a tour around the building, but she felt he deserved public recognition and he now got it from those who probably mattered most to him: the pupils spontaneously applauded him.

'Is there anyone of you who thinks of becoming a teacher?' Penny asked after having greeted her audience.

Some pupils stared at her blankly, others looked horrified or perhaps disgusted. 'From your faces I can tell that the prospect of having to handle a class full of teenagers frightens you,' Penny playfully continued. Turning to the principal, who stood a few steps to the right of her lecture, she asked: 'They're not that bad, are they?'

'They are teenagers like all others ma'am.'

Penny smiled and nodded, gazing over her audience. 'Full of potential!'

She allowed these words to register for a moment and continued: 'And teachers like principal Kishara are the ones to bring out that potential. Don't let anyone, anyone, make you think that you don't have it. Don't let anyone make you feel you're less than they are. It is hard to ignore vicious words, but every time you're told that you can't do something because you're dyslectic or black or gay or a girl or poor or overweight or blonde or handicapped, think: I'm not less.'

From the corner of her eye she saw that Mr Kishara wiped his eyes with a folded handkerchief. 'You have potential and you owe it to yourselves to be the best version of you. That starts here, at your highschool. Highschool is a place to learn… and have fun too. But not too much.' Penny meaningfully lifted her eyebrows. 'I read that in the past ten years teenage pregnancies at this school have decreased but they're still higher than average. Now is your time to learn, not to breastfeed.'

The pupils eyed one another and there was buzzing. By raising her voice for just a moment Penny got everyone to become quiet. 'So: don't be peer-pressured into having sex.'

Several adults nodded but the youngsters stared at the Vice-President, shocked at having heard her say the s-word. 'Some are ready at fifteen, others at twenty-two,' Penny continued. 'It's up to you, but use protection! If a girl carries condoms with her just in case: don't call her a slut.' Ignoring the collective hiss Penny continued: 'If a boy carries condoms with him just in case: don't call him a stud. Call them smart for they are protecting not only their health but their future. Those who will be parents while at school have a future still, though a far more complicated one, and they could use the support of their classmates. Remember that, lucky ones,' Penny said. Next to her the principal nodded his agreement. Penny smiled in response and added: 'Principal Kishara kindly allowed me to use your school as a place to meet various professionals from this area and several of them, a nurse, a judge, a businessman, a carpenter, a policewoman and a gardener among them, agreed to speak at the job market that will start in fifteen minutes. There will also be stands holding information about scholarships and about funds to cover various expenses. Visit the market, collect flyers, listen, question and be inspired! Thank you for your attention and remember that you have much to offer.'

The teenagers didn't need their principal's lead to show their appreciation for the Vice-President's speech. The applause was far louder than the one that had welcomed her and there were even cheers.

Penny's schedule allowed for three twenty minutes conversations with local professionals before she'd mingle with the other invitees. She liked to speak with small groups and her first visitors in the principal's office were the nurse and the gardener.

'Thank you for replying to my questionnaire,' Penny said. 'It helped me prepare for this interview and allows me to learn more than can be gained from just a short meeting. I was glad to read that you both have things you're proud of, and if we had more time I'd like to hear more about that, but I think it's most helpful if you tell me about your worries. Miss Wildman, could you –'

The door was opened and Mr Churchhouse entered. 'Ma'am, a word please?'

Penny excused herself and walked to the Secret Service man. 'It's the President ma'am,' he softly said. 'He slipped in the garden of the White House.'

'While jogging?'

Mr Churchhouse nodded.

'What injuries does he have?' Penny asked, reasoning that if Miquel had simply made a dive in the blanket of snow that covered the White House grounds, she wouldn't have been informed about that.

'He hurt his shoulder and head.'

'Does he have a concussion?'

'Possibly. He's brought to hospital for a check-up.'

'Thank you. Keep me posted.'

The guard stepped outside. The nurse proved to have excellent hearing: 'A concussion usually merely needs rest,' he told Penny.

She nodded. 'One of my friends had one some years ago. She quickly recovered.'

After exactly twenty minutes Frederick Nelson, Penny's aid, knocked on the door. Penny, having kept an eye on the clock behind her guests' back, had already drawn the meeting to an end. Miss Wildman and Mr Horník smiled as they left the office. Like them the judge and the policewoman who entered next also had lots of things to relate and Penny made many notes. Before allowing the businessman and the carpenter to enter Mr Churchhouse informed Penny that the President's condition was stable and that he was still in hospital. With Eara having had to stay a night at the hospital for observation, Penny wasn't worried.

Twenty minutes later, after yet another informative session, Mr Churchhouse had no news to relate. Penny checked the White House site where it said that the President had mildly injured his head while jogging and that he'd been brought to hospital as a precaution. Mr Nelson stood ready to escort her to the staff room where she was to meet the invitees and Penny asked him to bring her there through the cafeteria. She was pleased to see that the fair was in full swing and that most pupils were so caught up in questioning professionals that they barely noticed she was there. Her videographer/photographer, Mr Armstrong, went likewise unobserved. A stand for a hospital was running out of promotional material and Penny gave the woman behind it the thumbs up. It got her a blush in reply. She asked an obese boy who was reading a flyer what he'd learned from the job market and he replied that he was thinking of going to community college instead of working fulltime in his uncle's grocery store. 'It will give you more opportunities, if only to find out what you really want to do,' Penny said. 'Good for you!'

School policy forbade pupils to carry phones with them while in the building. To give a good example teachers were expected not to use theirs while around pupils and two girls teased a teacher who was checking his phone. 'The guard agrees with us: you shouldn't use it Mr Fitzgerald,' one of the girls said. The teacher faced a stern looking Mr Churchhouse, who walked some metres in front of the Vice-President, and he nervously put his phone in his pocket. When the high visitor passed him her smile made him ask how the President was doing: he'd been brought to hospital, hadn't he?

'From what I heard he hurt his shoulder and head when he was out jogging.'

The girls had taken a few steps back and pretended to be reading a flyer about joining the fire-brigade while secretly eyeing the Veep, who disappeared into the staff room, as did her aid, her photographer and two guards. The door was kept open but a tough looking guard positioned himself in front of the doorway and no one trespassed into the cleared area, though a few pupils hovered near it.

In the staff room the people Penny had met in the principal's office were waiting along with the mayor and other professionals. Though the principal had readily said yes to her request to use his school as a meeting place he'd had to put an effort: judging by the imprints in the old linoleum floor some heavy furniture had been removed to be replaced by four bar tables, creating a spacious meeting area. Penny felt seventeen pairs of eyes on her. She smiled and issued a general greeting, adding that she looked forward to talk to them. Penny first joined the mayor at his table. She had personally assembled the groups, based on the questionnaires she'd received. She encouraged Miss DeYoung, the director of the local Food Bank, and Mrs Peshlakai, the head of the town's only pre-school, to voice some requests she knew they had to the mayor. After that she suggested that a cooperation between their facilities and Miss Mirren's gym might be nice and didn't Mr Daniels agree? The businessman could vividly see the benefits of having healthy townspeople. When Mr Nelson indicated that she had one more minute, Penny expressed her admiration for a promise Mayor Iglesias had just made Mrs Peshlakai and then took her leave.

Leaving five smiling people behind Penny joined Mr Hornik's table. He introduced police-inspector Miss Leopold, the head of the fire department, Mrs Akinjide, and the director of the Social Housing Company, Mr Lee. 'I believe that before I interrupted you, you were talking about issues you come across when making house-calls Mr Hornik?'

'I was ma'am. Sometimes there are far too many people in a house or there's mould all over.'

'The idea you mentioned when we talked before is worth being heard by experts,' Penny said and so Mr Hornik shared it. When Penny left the quartet she had hopes that there'd be a solid communication between the parties in future.

In the third group the judge keenly listened to the gardener, the carpenter and the councilmember who were talking about the importance of green surroundings, public art and playgrounds. Penny shook hands with the councilmember, the only one she hadn't met before and asked her whether Mr Fuchigami had already shared his proposition for a play-ground in between the local supermarkets. The carpenter, a young father, hadn't mentioned that yet and Miss Rojas urged him to do so. Penny enjoyed herself: she liked connecting people and had enthousiastically done so for these past two years. All too soon it was time to move to the last table. She got a view on the second entrance to the room next to which hung a portrait of the President. Penny looked around for Mr Churchhouse but the Secret Service man was not present. The principal introduced a second businessman, the owner of a music studio and a teacher. 'Mr Nikolaou, I imagine that you got a lot of questions during the fair?' Penny asked. 'Were there pupils with musical dreams who liked to record a song?'

The young man smiled. 'Yes there were. But mostly I talked about what it's like to run a studio. I brought a friend who's a sound technician and I myself am a bit of a songwriter and the kids were interested in that too. Ma'am.'

Through the conversations going on at the other tables Penny heard a door being closed. The buzzing in the cafetaria died away.

'Having a songwriter, and especially one who attended this school, make an appearance in English class might be nice, wouldn't it Mrs Rosing?' Penny asked.

The teacher eagerly nodded. 'Would you mind Hektor to – '

Mrs Rosing stopped talking in mid-sentence. Penny registered that at the other tables the volume of the conversations had decreased. She heard Mr Churchhouse's cough.

'Ma'am?'

Penny excused herself and turned around. Without ado the Secret Service man handed Penny his phone. From his expression and posture she gathered that she'd receive bad news and for a moment she feared something might be wrong with Ann and Howard.

'Yes?' Penny tentatively said into the phone.

'Ma'am, this is the Secretary of State.' The knot in her stomach didn't disappear now that it was likely that her daughter and husband weren't hurt: Penny had a friendly relationship with the Secretary of State and when it was just the two of them they were Ken and Penelope.

'Ma'am, I am sorry to have to bring you this news but President Cortez suffered a bleeding in the brain. He died ten minutes ago.'

Penny tried to come up with an appropriate response but she found herself speechless.

'Ma'am?'

Penny released the breath she didn't know she'd held. 'Was his wife with him?' she softly asked.

'She was on her way to the hospital.'

'Have his children been informed?'

'They have just been reached.'

'Has it been made public yet?'

'Now that you've been notified a statement will be made. You'll have to be inaugurated before you leave for the capitol.'

It took Penny a few heartbeats to respond: 'Understood. We'll talk later.'

Penny broke the connection and handed Mr Churchhouse his phone.

'I was told to bring you to Washington immediately after your inauguration ma'am.'

Inauguration. The word spread like ripples on water as did the shocked expressions of those who heard it. From the way the Vice-President had responded to the call and the paleness in her features those who were able to eye her had concluded something was wrong. All others now boldly turned to face her, very aware of the fact that they were witnessing history being made. They looked at each other wide eyed and barely dared to breath, let alone talk.

Penny sighed deeply, squared her shoulders and addressed the attendees. 'Ladies and gentlemen, I've just been told that President Cortez died as a result of a bleeding in the brain after an accident,' she said, speaking slowly and pronouncing clearly so what she was saying would register. 'I must leave for Washington immediately, but I need to be sworn in first. I'd rather do that here, with you as witnesses, than at the airport. Mr Gulland. Would you be willing to administer the oath?'

The judge stuttered that he would.

'I'll look it up ma'am,' Mr Nelson said, nervously unlocking his phone.

'Ay,' the judge said, still flabbergasted. 'We also need a bible?'

'I'm not religious,' Penny said, conscious of the fact that only one President so far had chosen not to use a bible. People will scold me for it but change has to start somewhere.

The judge took a small book from his pocket and showed it to Penny.

Thank the starry sky! Penny was more aware of her audience and of what needed to be done than of her own feelings, but it gave her strength to have something to act upon.

For a few minutes it got a bit hectic. Penny softly gave instructions and as a result stand-in-the-way bar-tables and trays carrying refreshments were removed and people were guided to one side of the room. Mr Churchhouse told them not to use recording devices. No one questioned his orders, for not only had they already had to switch off their phones on entering the staff-room, they also felt privileged to be present and wouldn't risk being thrown out. They allowed Mr Armstrong to position them and when the principal and Mrs Rosing, hearing cries from the cafeteria, wanted to calm people, they asked the photographer for permission.

Penny meanwhile stood with Mr Nelson, Judge Gulland and Mr Churchhouse to discuss the ceremony. The judge had copied the Oath of Office in a small notebook and Penny clarified things and effectively cut the oath in three. She recalled it from when Miquel had spoken it, but if the judge spoke the whole oath first and she followed his lead she'd been seen as the actress who had no difficulty learning her lines or worse: as eager. Penny took a moment to stare at Miquel Cortez's portrait. He was so vibrant. A simple misstep shouldn't lead to someone's death.

'You look perfectly presentable Judge Gulland,' she whispered. 'Is there anything about my appearance that needs alteration gentlemen?'

Mr Nelson shook his head. The judge swallowed hard. Penny briefly pressed his upper arm before gesturing Mr Armstrong to come near. 'Begin filming at my signal and stop after I've left the room. We'll edit the footage in the car on the way to the airport so we can send it before the aircraft takes off.'

The videographer nodded.

'No congratulations afterwards if you please,' Penny said for the judge's benefit. 'I'll return the book to you and then you may step back. Mr Nelson, could you address the country first, saying that President Cortez died, check the White House site for the wording please, and that federal Judge Gulland of Monroe county will swear the new President in so the affairs of state will continue as is. Then join the other witnesses. Commander, after the swearing in I'll ask for a minute's silence. Please keep track of the time and escort me outdoors immediately afterwards. Mr Nelson, please make sure the principal and the mayor are brought outside also so I can say goodbye to my hosts.'

Mr Armstrong guided Mr Nelson, the judge and Penny to stand where he wanted them, making small modifications after he'd observed them through one of his cameras. He once more directed the witnesses, the principal and Mrs Rosing among them again, who stood in a three row deep semi-circle. Mr Nelson used the opportunity to nervously whisper his short speech to Penny. It was what she'd prompted so she nodded approvingly. She then asked the witnesses whether they were ready. They all nodded.

'Are you ready Your Honor?' Penny softly asked the judge. 'The text is clear?'

'Yes ma'am,' Judge Gulland whispered.

Mr Churchhouse, listening to data he got via his ear-piece, took a stand next to Mr Armstrong.

Penny felt oddly detached, as if she were in survival mode. You only have one take Drottning. Don't mess it up.

OoO

Howard was in his lab, running yet another 2,500 dollar test. The experiment was in its sixth successive run. He'd received several calls which he'd not answered, not even in between tests, for the ringtones hadn't been those of Penny or Ann. There was banging on the door.

'Howard! The President died!'

Howard was surprised that Raj was here: he ought to be on his way to the Owens Valley Radio Observatory. Howard also didn't understand why his friend was making a fuss: Raj didn't like Dr Clavell. Maybe he sounded upset because Clavell was a few years younger than they were?

'I'm sorry to hear that, but I'm running a test,' Howard cried out. It was silent for a moment. Thinking Raj thought him insensitive Howard added: 'I'll come out after – '

'No, you gaandu!'

'President Cortez of the United States of America died. Our Penny's inauguration will be broadcasted in a moment,' Sheldon's voice came through.

Howard looked at the 17,000 dollar piece of equipment he held and with trembling hands placed it on a workbench. He banged a button to stop the experiment and hurried outside.

Raj and Sheldon took him and his red-faced Secret Service man, who kept saying he'd not received a message, to the cafeteria. 'As for my ignorance: I was offline in my secret place and afterwards I visited the bathroom,' Sheldon said in a slightly high pitched voice. 'It must have been the beans in the wrap I had for lunch.' Howard heard him as if from a great distance. On reaching the cafeteria Sheldon cried out: 'Make way!' Teachers, cleaners, students, secretaries, visitors and Caltech security personnel were gathered in front of the huge screen that had been installed for the postponed Olympics in Tokyo. When those in the back realised who'd just entered, they cleared a path and those in front of them followed. It was like the parting of the Red Sea and on the opposite shore Howard saw Penny stand near an unknown man. Her right hand was raised and with her left hand she pressed a book against her chest. Above her fingers its title could be read: "Constitution of the United States of America".

'Holy Krishna!' Raj whispered.

'I, Penelope Tyra Drottning do solemnly affirm –'

'- that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States –'

Oh Penny. In a flash Howard recalled Penny wearing a towel when they first met. He saw her look elegant and sophisticated on their wedding day, moving him to tears with a stage performance, as a force of nature when giving birth, lovingly taking care of his mum and teaching Ann self-defence.

'- that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States –'

'- and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'

'- and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.'

Penny lowered her right hand and briefly rested it on the book before giving it to the man with both hands. He inclined his head while receiving it. Penny took a quarter turn left and stepped forward.

'The country mourns for President Miquel Cortez. Let us hold a minute of silence.'

OoO

Where in Caltech's cafeteria most heads were lowered, in the Paramount Studios most people kept looking at the screen in front of which they'd gathered. A screenwriter was making notes and several actresses attentively watched Penelope Drottning in her moss green coat and skirt pay her respects to the late President, who eyed them from his portrait. Leading actor Jeffrey barely noticed what was going on around him: he was mesmerized by the sight of the lady who'd once been an insecure yet skilled actress. She was shown in close-up now, looking both sad and charismatic. There were shots of witnesses from various ages and various races, who stood with their eyes cast down.

A military looking man walked toward Penelope and saluted her.

Jeffrey shivered.

'Madam President.'

Jeffrey shivered again.

'We're ready to escort you to Washington.' Penelope nodded. She thanked and greeted the judge before inclining her head at the witnesses. A guard opened the door behind her. Her high heels click-clacked on the linoleum floor. The United States seal appeared on the screen.

Around him people started to comment the inauguration but Jeffrey didn't participate. He just stared at his goose-fleshed arms.

OoO

'Hi.'

'Hi. Have you heard?'

'Only just. I saw your inauguration.'

'I couldn't contact you before.'

'I understand. I...'

Howard stopped talking and Penny sensed that he was shocked into silence. Around her, in the plane waiting to take off, a lot was going on and she patiently waited for her husband to inhale deeply a few times.

'It was a respectful ceremony Penny. I'll come to Washington this evening.'

'No. Mrs Cortez just lost her husband, I won't move into the White House yet but still I don't want her to feel as if her house and grounds are being invaded. I'll tell Ann not to come at all. You could come over for the state funeral?'

Howard hesitated for a moment. 'If that's what you want that's how it will be. Raj and Sheldon are with me. They'd like to talk to you. Is that okay?'

'Of course.'

'Hello,' Raj started.

'Hello Raj.'

He was silent for a moment. 'I want to hug you.'

Penny wanted to smile and say: 'Thank you', but aware of the ears and eyes surrounding her she reasoned that it would make people think she'd been offered congratulations.

'Ditto sweetie.'

'Here's Sheldon,' Raj tearfully said.

'Hello,' Sheldon said. 'You've started your rule in a distinguished way. Madam President. Be careful.'

'I will doctor Cooper.'

Howard got the phone again: 'Are you alright?'

I had to battle Yellowstone who tried to delay the release of the inauguration video and some people here are eying me resentfully.

'You're not alone are you?' Howard guessed when Penny remained silent. 'Of course not. I'm just a phone-call away my love. My brave capable love.'

OoO

'It's been one hundred days since the fifty-first President took the Oath of Office. James Delaney, what can you tell us about the start of the President's administration?'

Howard, his left arm draped over Penny's shoulders, used the remote to increase the volume. Penny smirked. 'Getting old are you?'

'I hope so.'

'So do I.'

Penny intently listened to what the analyst had to say, but she didn't comment, not even when he remarked that the previous President had left big boots to fill. When the program was over Penny went to her office and Howard promised to bring her tea. Behind her desk Penny re-read the diary notes she'd made in the two weeks after her unexpected inauguration. It were merely keywords but even now, ten years later, everything she'd written down was vividly clear to her, if only with the aid of a monocle clip on.

'Recalling memories?'

Penny shrieked for Howard had approached her from her blind left side.

'Sorry! Silent as a ninja,' Howard joked as he placed her mug on the desk. He looked at the piles with note-pads and glanced at the notes his wife had been reading. 'What's that: "day 2: AC nl sed steno pres"?'

'Alice Cortez no longer sedated. I made sure only to talk to the woman with a stenographer present.'

Howard seated himself on a stool to Penny's right. 'Are you still thinking of publishing your memoires in parts?'

At Penny's nod Howard continued: 'How long will I have to wait for the juicy stuff?'

Several months into her Presidency the two of them had talked about the fact that she kept certain things to herself and not merely affairs-of-the-state, and Howard had convinced her that as long as he'd be the proof-reader of her memoires, she need never apologize for her secrecy again. It didn't mean that over the years he hadn't pried for information, if only to show her he was there for her.

'You'll have to be very patient. I'm merely noting down an explanation of these early scribbles. The library comes first.'

Howard grinned. 'I never thought that Wyatt would be so keen to move across the road. This morning Ann told me –'

'You didn't tell me you talked to her! How is she?'

'Into bananas and peanut butter but otherwise fine. Anyway, she said that he said that every day he stumbles along to the road sign that says "Future location of the Penelope Drottning Presidential Library and Museum" and then he smiles and returns to his new home.'

'I'm a very lucky woman to have you Howard Joel Wolowitz.'

'That's a bit of an out-of-the-blue remark Penelope Tyra Drottning,' Howard said with a happy smile. 'Why did we give Ann one name only?'

Penny smiled but she didn't reply for she'd just recalled something she'd wanted to tell her husband: 'Do you know part of the reason why I'll write my autobiography?'

Seeing how serious Penny was, Howard kept a silly response to himself and simply shook his head.

'For as long as my memoires are read, you and Ann and our friends will be alive. And I will do my utmost best to make readers think: those were such wonderful people, I wish I'd known them.'

Howard stared at the pirate queen in front of him. He felt no shame whatsoever that tears run into his beard.

Concluding author's note: I've enjoyed writing this story about Penny's rise to the White House. I've got many scenes in my head about her years there, but I don't know whether those will make it into a story. A last remark: As far as I recall the TBBT characters never mentioned politics so I made Penny a Democrat because if I were American that's what I'd probably vote.