Three days had gone by with no solution or workable plan to combat the threat. Scientists from all over the world were working night and day on a solution. They were talks of firing a missile into the hole, but according to Sheldon that would fuel and speed up the expansion. They were running out of ideas and hope. Public panic on the streets was gaining momentum, and the national guard was on standby to keep control and evacuate at short notice. A state of emergency was declared and curfew imposed. Leonard and Penny sat with Sheldon in his holding cell thinking of ways to stop the wormhole from expanding and killing millions, but Sheldon and Leonard's ideas had flaws when they did the equations on the whiteboards provided for them, the math didn't add up, and they were back to square one. Time was ticking, and they didn't have enough of that. Penny walked around agitated, this was making Leonard nervous and couldn't concentrate on the task ahead.

"Penny why don't you sit down, you've been walking around for half an hour, it's off-putting."

"Leonard the world I know might be coming to an end, and you are asking me to relax. What the hell."

"Sorry didn't mean it like that. It just you are making me nervous."

"Oh Leonard, I'm sorry if me walking around is tedious. It all his fault." Penny pointed at Sheldon.

"I didn't activate the Mack 1. How is it my fault? If you had listened to me and got there on time none of this would have happened." Sheldon defended.

Penny went for him, but Leonard grabbed her before she could cause some damage to Sheldon.

"Let me at him." She screamed. "By the time I finish with him, he will end up in a cold chamber in a morgue." Leonard suddenly had an idea.

"A cold chamber," Leonard said.

"What," Penny looked at Leonard confused.

"That's it, a cold chamber," Leonard said again.

"Leonard, I don't know what you are talking about, but spit it out," Penny said.

"Sheldon how much changes did you make to the mack 1," Leonard asked.

"Why do you ask?" Sheldon was puzzled.

"Just answer the question," Leonard said.

"I removed some components and added a Particle Accelerator, Storage Ring, and Ion Traps," Sheldon answered.

"You didn't remove the Peltier cooler thermoelectric generator.?"

"Leonard, what is that and I didn't know one was fitted.?" Sheldon asked.

"It operates as a cooler; it could either heat or cool when applied across a device." Leonard had installed it as a safety mechanism,

"We could use it to cool the Mack 1 to freezing temperatures. In theory, it should cut off the power making the wormhole collapse."

"Wouldn't that kill millions?" Penny asked.

"With my calculations if accurate," Leonard began to write some numbers on his whiteboard. "It should collapse on itself and implode; it hasn't grown large enough to cause a lot of damage. As the temperature hits freezing point, the Mack 1 will drag the wormhole toward the source, in this case. The Mack 1, eventually vanishing into the wormhole and destroying the Mack 1."

After talks with military chiefs, the President and an emergency UN meeting, a voted for Leonard's idea was approved. The go-ahead was given as there were no other plans on how to stop the wormhole. The area within the Mack 1 was evacuated and the surroundings for over 2 miles, this was to make sure there were no casualties. Leonard was able to initiate the sequence by sending the codes to the Mack 1 remotely and activating the Peltier cooler thermoelectric generator starting the cooling process. As the world held their breaths and hoped for the best, Leonard was able to stop the expansion, and as a result, the mack 1 was able to cool down to over −58 °F, which in turn froze and shut down the device, collapsing the wormhole, stopping the expansion and clearing the hole in the sky. A relief all round as the threat was now contained and the Mack 1 safely destroyed within the wormhole which now shrank into nothing. Leonard was hailed as a hero but insisted he was only doing his job.

That evening Penny and Leonard celebrated by having dinner together. They sat at the table in Penny's living room. They were enjoying a steak dinner with mixed grilled vegetables, and a bottle of wine, with some easy listening music playing in the background.

"To the most wonderful and beautiful woman, I ever met!" Leonard lifted his glass and waited for Penny to bring up her glass. They toasted, smiling at each other. With those words, a soft smile, and a twinkle in her eyes, Penny thanked him. They continued with their dinner. Later, they cleaned up the table and carried plates to the tiny kitchen, smiling at each other every time they passed each other. And then, suddenly, in the kitchen they embraced and kissed. He took her by the hand, led her to the living room. They sat down on the sofa, and they talked, kissed and laughed for hours painting their common future.

There was also something about the joyfulness of her laugh that made Leonard tingle all over every time he heard it. They spend the night in Penny's room with not much sleep, but satisfied.

Morning came, Penny woke up to Leonards protective arm around her. She smiled at this and snuggled more into him wishing she could wake up right next to him every day. He put his glasses on and turned to face her.

One of the things that Penny first noticed with Leonard when they first met was his geeky glasses; she thought they were so cute on him. He kissed her neck which made her tingle all over. Leonard noticed, confused and asked if they were okay and would never hurt her. Penny smiled and hugged him to let him know his confusion was okay and even accepted. It was meant to be and last night proved it to her. Leonard smiled back.

Those words that he would never hurt her and she was beautiful had etched into her memory, Words that were not fake and would take a long time to wear away. They looked into each other's eyes as their lips met. They made love with the rising of the sun.

Leonard stuck to his word and returned to his world to inform Amy that Sheldon had been captured and wanted to see her. He also had to arrange Sheldon's extradition. Penny accompanies him again on the trip. Amy was happy he was alive but sad that he could go to jail for a long time. She asked Leonard and Penny for more time to decide if she wanted to go back with them and see Sheldon who had broken her heart. For Amy who was hurt, it was a hard decision to make.

At Leonards apartment, Penny was looking for a pen in Leonard office drawer when she found a letter that was dated the day they returned to her world from their first trip; she was about to put it back when she spotted her name on the letter. After reading it, she couldn't believe Leonard kept this info from her. Penny's family in Leonard world had been found and lived in England.

Why did he keep this from me? She thought.

Her phone rang, and it was Amy. She wanted to meet but without Leonard. Penny agreed as she was mad at Leonard for keeping this information from her.

They met at a small cafe and just ordered some coffee.

"So how are you and have you made a decision yet," Penny asked.

"I'm in two minds I want to and don't. When I first met Sheldon, our lives were complete, not so sure now. What do you think I should do?" Amy realized that Penny was just staring into space.

"Penny, Penny are you okay."

Penny was brought out of her thoughts. "Sorry Amy, what did you say."

"Are you okay," Amy asked again.

"Yeah sure fine. Why do you ask?" Penny looked away.

"You seem lost in space, is everything okay.?"

"Sorry, Amy, I'm fine. What did you say again?"

"Do you think Sheldon still loves me?"

"Of course, he does. He is the reason we are here. He asked for you and wouldn't talk until he sees you." Penny informed Amy.

"Really, he wants to see me."

"Amy, I think you should come with us, hear what he has to say. The way he talks about you is one of the reasons he gave himself up. He loves you." Penny tried to convince Amy.

"Did he say that," Amy asked.

"Not in those exact words but his body language keeps giving it away when your name comes up."

This made Amy smile. "Okay."

"Okay, what," Penny asked.

"I will come back with you and Leonard."

"It makes sense. You wouldn't regret it." Penny was pleased.

"Penny, I miss him terribly he always brings out the best in me and channels my ups and downs by doing creative things together. I tried to move on by focusing on my hobbies like playing the harp and writing. I feel so embarrassed that I miss him so much." Amy began to get emotional.

Penny rubbed her shoulder to try and comfort her. "Missing a guy is an entirely natural thing, and there is no reason why you should be embarrassed about it. You should channel your emotion by giving it a fun twist, like go dancing or exercising or something that brings out the best in you. It also helps if you go on about your usual routine and not overthink things." Penny said.

"I've already cried my eyes out to the point my head hurts. I haven't seen him for maybe two months; I am so scared of the space that has been between us. I know that he was trying to do things to better our future, but it hurts he left without a word. My family doesn't care how I feel, and it has been hard, and I'm confident that I will cry a lot when I see him after all these months. I want to be angry at him, but I can't." Amy cried.

"It will be okay, just follow your heart; if it meant to be, then it's meant to be. I mean look at Leonard and me, He makes me happy, and faith keeps bringing us together. Leonard has always been there for me when I'm feeling down or need someone to talk to. Colleagues say we're not good for each other because we are from different worlds, but who cares about what other people think. As long as I have Leonard, I'm happy I'm still upset that he kept details from me, but deep down I know he had his reasons. I know things will get better." Penny said.

"What did he keep from you.? Penny, it's none of my business, but I know something is bothering you other than Leonard. It's good to talk, or if you want, I can wire your brain and see what is going on in your head." Amy countered.

"What the hell Amy," Penny groaned.

"I'm neurobiologist it will be fine, a couple of electric shocks to your brain should do it." Amy seriously said.

"You know what, I'm good, I think I'll pass." Penny was shocked at Amy's audacity.

"Ok, will you like to talk about what's bothering you then?"

Penny could see Amy wasn't going to give up and maybe talking to Amy would help. "I don't know," Penny told Amy about her family and how they died in her world but were alive here, and she has this urge to trace this family in this world. She also told her about the letter, and Leonard kept it from her.

"Penny, we should go to London." Amy blurted out.

"What."

"Find your family, that's what you want."

"But what about Leonard."

"We do not tell him, he will just try and put you off going."

"I don't know Amy."

"Come on this has been bugging you for a long time and you will regret it if you don't follow your heart," Amy warned.

Penny knew Amy was right and might help with closure. "I remember when my family died, I felt winded by the thought that I would never see them again, not just that I wouldn't see them again, but forever and ever. That was really hard. You know what let's do it." Penny agreed.

"Really," Amy said excitedly.

"Yes really," Penny said. "Friends have said to me that even though they exist in this world, they are still my family:"

"Oh, but they are, just a different version," Amy said.

"You really think so. I want to be my mom's daughter again and my brother's sister. I want to be my daddy's and mommy's daughter again." Penny began to sob.

Amy didn't know what to do; she wasn't used to comforting people, so she talked.

"Your identity has changed forever. Penny, it can be so shocking when someone dies, and you feel like it ought to be very noisy, it actually isn't, it's hushed because that person's gone, so you don't hear their voices anymore., but in your case, you have a second chance. Explore it." Amy advised.

"I guess you are right. I look at life differently now. I can say I used to have my brother, and I know what it feels like to be a sister, and I know what it feels like to have a father and to be my father's daughter - but I am no longer those things, and it's tough." Penny continued to sob. All the hurt and pain that Penny had been building inside suddenly came rushing out, and she couldn't help it.

"I hide my sorrows when I think of my loss; I cry myself to sleep most nights because the pain in my heart is still the same. I miss them so much." sharing her pain with Amy made Penny feel lighter inside. The reassuring words put her at ease; the burden lifted off her shoulder. Penny felt she was ready to take on the next chapter of her life.

Leonard woke the next day and couldn't find Penny; he thought maybe she had gone for a walk or jog. Leonard didn't think much about it and left for work to arrange Sheldon's extradition. He began to get worried. Penny wasn't home when he got back from work. Leonard knew something was wrong; he found her suitcase was missing. Leonard wondered where she had gone, he tried calling her, but there was no answer. As he tried to think where Penny could have gone, he spotted a note on his work desk. Leonard read the note.

Leonard, I found a letter in your desk drawer about my families whereabouts in your world. It broke my heart that you could be so cruel and keep this information from me. I know you had your reasons and probably trying to protect me, but isn't that my decision to make. Since we met, you have been my strength and best friend. You have always been there when I needed you, whether I needed a shoulder to cry on or just someone to talk about everyday life. I want you to know that I'm not mad at you, well I was for a bit, how can I be when you mean so much to me. Our relationship will go on, you hurt me by not telling me but thank you for the effort you made, and because of you, I'm on my way to England. Please don't be mad at me. It's just something I need to do to be at peace with myself. I write this note with tears in my eyes, I don't want to leave you for any length of time, but this is something I need to do. Goodbye Leonard. See you soon. oxox.

Leonard felt bad now for not telling Penny. She was right; it wasn't his decision. He just hopes she would find it in her heart to forgive him for his reasoning. He thought he was protecting her and didn't want to see Penny hurt if things didn't work out and they rejected her. Penny had suffered enough. There was a knock on the door. Leonard opened the door and didn't recognize the older couple and two adults standing before him.