A/N I haven't done a disclaimer for a while, so, I don't own the main characters here. The seven from the show, obviously belong to Warner Brothers and a few, here and there, are owned by the previous story's author. I guess I do own Roger Thompson, although if there is anyone named Roger Thompson, I do apologize as my Roger Thompson is fictional.

Chapter 73

Apt 4B 2:00 PM Sunday December 16th 2012.

Amy and Bernadette had finished packing up the things from the list Penny had sent to Amy. There were three boxes, one with clothes Penny had wanted, a whole box of shoes, and a box full of personal items, knick-knacks, a couple books, and pictures. Amy would be taking these three with her, to mail to Penny. There was one other box, Penny had listed, that neither of them quite knew what to do with. Although Penny had told Amy to throw all of it out, Amy and Bernadette weren't sure they should.

When they had first looked in it, they were initially puzzled as to what the items were. There was a yellow rubber duck, a pressed rose, an airplane ticket to Omaha, tickets to different movies or attractions, and a negative pregnancy test. They were trying to understand what all this was, until Amy found an envelope, with a bunch of folded pages. Amy didn't want to look at them, thinking they were private, but Bernadette wasn't so reticent.

After reading part of the first page, she looked at the other stuff and realized what the box was. "I think I know what this box is now," said Bernadette sadly. "I think it's Penny's keepsake box. All the different things Leonard did for her, or things that reminded her of him, went in this box."

Hearing what Bernadette had said, Amy nodded, looking sad, "That would be my guess too," said Amy. "Do you think we should tell Leonard?"

"I don't know," said Bernadette, "at this point, I don't think it matters."

Just then, they heard a knock on the door, and they left the bedroom. Amy answered the door, and there was a guy there. Amy looked at him and said, "Can I help you?"

"Yes," he said looking at his paperwork, "my name is Roger Thompson, I'm from the car agency. I'm supposed to pick up two sets of car keys from an Amy Fowler."

"Oh, yeah," said Amy, as she turned to go to the kitchen counter. She picked up the keys, and the papers under them. Walking back to Roger, she said, "Do you have the paperwork, and your ID?"

"Yes," said Roger. He pulled out his paperwork and his ID and handed it to Amy. She compared it to the note she had, from Penny, and then checked the picture on the ID.

Seeing they matched, she had him sign both pieces of the paperwork, then Amy signed them. After that, she handed both sets of keys, and the papers she had, to the guy, and said, "The car is just outside of the building."

Roger took the keys, handed Amy a check and thanked her before leaving. Amy started putting the boxes out in the hall, while Bernadette took the box with the mementos from the bedroom. After they got all the boxes in the hall, Amy closed the door.

She went over to 4A and went in. Leonard and Sheldon were both sitting on the couch, watching TV, and Amy said, "OK, Bernadette and I are done, I'm going to lock it up, before we leave. I'll be coming back to the apartment tomorrow morning, when they pack it up. Goodbye for now, I'll see both of you later, for dinner."

"Amy?"

"Yes, Leonard?"

"Can I get one last look at the place, before you lock it up?"

Amy nodded and grabbed the keys, while Leonard got up and went across the hall to 4B. He opened the door, and looked around the living room and kitchen, but with a few of the things missing, it didn't quite look the same. He was remembering the talks he had with Penny, watching movies and TV shows together. The times they gotten drunk here, the dinners they had eaten together.

He walked to the bedroom, remembering the first time they had sex. He also thought about the times they just slept, or laid in the bed with her, his arm around her, just the connection by laying together and…

It was starting to overwhelm him, tears starting in his eyes, so he turned and mumbled, "This was a mistake," and walked out of the bedroom, and back toward his apartment. Getting to his door, he stopped and turned, remembering seeing her through the door that first day. His tears increased and he quickly turned back and walked into 4A.

"Leonard, wait," said Bernadette, walking after him. "You can't let it go like this, you need to go get her."

"It's too late Bernadette," said Leonard, his eyes filled with tears. "She's having this apartment packed up, so she's not coming back. I'm leaving, and besides, I want her to have her career. She's doing so well now. All the notice, it's what she wanted, and she's made it. That's what I want for her."

"What about you?" said Bernadette, sounding frustrated. "What do you want?"

"I want her to be happy," said Leonard.

"She can't be happy without you," said Bernadette.

"Yes she can," said Leonard.

"Here, I think you should see this," said Bernadette, taking the box from Amy and opening it, "Look at all the stuff of yours she kept. She loves you and you need to go get her and straighten all this out."

Leonard looked in the box, "I can't believe she kept all this stuff."

"Of course she did," said Bernadette, "she loves you."

Leonard was choking up, "Not anymore. Many of those things are from the first time we were together, or even broken up. There are many of the more recent things, but it doesn't matter."

"What do you mean it doesn't matter?"

"Bernadette," said Leonard, "don't you remember that she's dating someone else now? Don't you remember that I want her to succeed in her job? Besides like I said, I can't go get her."

"Why not?" Asked Amy.

"You don't understand, If I go get her, and bring her back, it will ruin her career, and I don't think I can take the responsibility of that. I feel guilty just thinking about going.m And, what if I do go get her? Do you think at some point she won't get resentful of that? Either way, it would be very difficult for us to be together if I feel guilty about it all the time, or she feels resentful, or even some of each. If I did go get her, it just seems sooner or later it would be over for us. I don't want to spend my time waiting for it to all go wrong again. I couldn't go through that again."

Leonard could feel tears forming, so he hung his head, "At this point, we're better off to just stay apart, as we are now. I'll be in Europe, she'll be in New York. I'm leaving, she's going to be a star, let's just leave it at that."

Bernadette and Amy were both on the edge of tears. Leonard said goodbye, and went to 4A, heading straight for his bedroom. He now had a headache and just wanted to lay down.

Amy went and locked the door, then got Sheldon to help her and Bernadette carry the four boxes down and put them in Amy's car. Bernadette said goodbye to Amy and Sheldon, then got in her car and left. Amy reminded Sheldon she was coming back for dinner, and would see him then. She got into her car, and drove off.

4A 6:00 PM Monday December 17th 2012.

Leonard was folding his underwear and putting them in his suitcase. While he was doing this, he was thinking about his day.

He had left the house early, as he didn't want to be there when Amy was watching Penny's stuff get packed. Besides, he had to go back to the university, to complete some of the paperwork, and he would be back tomorrow to complete the final paperwork, and to turn in his badge. While there, he said goodbye to several other people he had missed the previous week. He also had remembered Alex and after talking to her, he a large lump in his throat and she was in tears.

He thought about making a final stop at The Cheesecake Factory for lunch, but then decided against it. He was afraid he would run into waitress friends of Penny's, and he didn't know if they knew the two of them had broken up. Worse, they might ask how Penny was doing and either way, it would have been awkward and Leonard didn't want to deal with it. After lunch at Big Boy, he had stopped at several places around Pasadena, to say his goodbyes, before heading home, to do laundry before he packed. His laundry was now done and he was folding and packing it. All that was left was to wait for Amy and Sheldon, as they were bringing dinner home. He finished packing his underwear, and decided to go get the rest of his laundry, before they arrived with dinner.

Wolowitz house, 6:30 PM Monday December 17th 2012.

Bernadette was looking at her phone. She needed to call Penny, about her stuff getting picked up. But, there was another reason for her to call, and she was unsure about her idea to confront Penny about what was going on. Finally, she picked it up, found Penny's number and pushed on the call button. She heard it ring several times, before Penny answered. "Hello Bernadette, why are you calling?" asked Penny, sharply.

That didn't sound promising to Bernadette. She knew how defensive Penny could be, and she sure sounded defensive already. "I'm just letting you know that your stuff was picked up, the apartment is empty."

Even though she already knew, from Amy, Penny choked up at that. She had always felt at home in that apartment, more so than any other place she had ever lived, even the home she grew up in. She felt that way because it was all hers, and she had good neighbors.

"Yes, I know," said Penny, "Amy called and left a message."

"That's why I'm calling," said Bernadette. "Amy asked me to call, because she hadn't heard back . She also left the key with the landlord. Where were you?"

"Where was I?" said Penny sounding puzzled. "I was working. We were doing the pre-shoots for tomorrow's taping, where the hell do you think I was?"

This isn't going very well, thought Bernadette. "Sorry, I was just wondering."

"Fine, if you don't have anything else, I've got to go…"

"Wait Penny," said Bernadette.

"What?"

Bernadette paused, she wasn't sure how to bring this up. Finally she said, "How's things going with Brent?"

Penny stifled a gasp, "Who said anything about Brent?"

"No one," said Bernadette, "it's just last time you asked me what would happen if you were dating him. I now think you never were dating him."

"How would you know?"

"Well, you tend to talk about the guy you're dating," said Bernadette. "When we worked at The Cheesecake Factory together, you were always talking about who you were dating. You haven't said anything about this."

"Just keep your nose out of my business."

"When you were dating Leonard, everything was about him," continued Bernadette. "Leonard did this, Leonard did that. You don't do that with Brent. You know what, I think? I think you're still in love with Leonard."

"Wha…no…I don't…ummmmm," Penny sputtered. Finally she said, "Why?"

"Because of the box in your closet in the apartment," said Bernadette.

Penny was already upset talking about Brent and Leonard, now Bernadette bringing up the box was like a kick in the gut. Everything that had happened felt like it was crushing her. Tears formed in her eyes, brought on by the hurt, fear, shame and guilt, of her situation. Bernadette had no right to look in there, and Amy shouldn't have let her.

"I've moved on," said Penny, tears starting to form in her eyes, "and I'm quite happy."

"Sure you are," said Bernadette pushing her. "Is that why you're not talking about Brent?"

Penny was now very angry, she didn't want to talk about Brent, and she was trying to cover her other feelings. She was now ready to blow up on a convenient target, Bernadette offered that.

"Who the fuck gave you permission to look at my things?!" yelled Penny.

"I was helping Amy," said Bernadette.

"I asked HER to do it," said Penny, still yelling, "not for you to go poking your nose into my business. I'm going to have to call her, and tell her how bad she fucked up."

"It wasn't her fault," said Bernadette, "blame me, not her."

"You're right," said Penny, not as loud, but still sounding angry, "it is your fault. You know what, you've been a pain in my ass these last four to five weeks. Why?"

Bernadette was starting to get angry herself, "I'm just trying to help you, but I guess 'Ms. Big Shot' doesn't need help. I guess you can be proud of hurting your boyfriend, right? Look at me, I'm Penny and I know everything. I'm a big time star, who can kick her boyfriend around."

"You have no idea what you are talking about," yelled Penny, tears of frustration starting in her eyes. "So, why don't you just lay off of me. If you knew the full story you wouldn't be such a bitch to me."

This set Bernadette off, "I'm a bitch? I'm a bitch because I don't know the full story? You've been a bitch to your boyfriend and have hurt him badly, without telling him the full story. I've been asking but you won't tell me whole story either. So, you don't get to call me a bitch because I don't know the whole story. Until you do tell us the whole story, bitch fits you much better than it fits me. So why don't you tell us? No, you know what, if I'm such a pain in the ass, why are you even bothering to talk to me?"

"You know, you're right, I have been a bitch." said Penny. "But, you have been a pain in the ass, and I don't want to talk to you anymore. So, why don't you just fuck off."

Bernadette heard the line go dead. She shook her head, saying angrily, "Stupid, bitch."

4A 8:00 PM Monday December 17th 2012.

Amy and Sheldon were watching a special on flags, Leonard could hear Sheldon complaining about how they got their facts wrong. Leonard was looking over a list Geoff had sent him, with the subjects of the lectures he would be giving the next semester. Leonard was a bit confused as in addition to the lectures, he would be obligated to do tutorials, with a smaller subset of his lecture group.

Amy's phone started vibrating and when Amy looked at it, she saw it was Penny. Not wanting to talk to her, with Leonard there, she got up and went into the bathroom.

She answered, "Hi Penny, what's…"

"Why did you let Bernadette look into that box I wanted you to throw out?"

"Huh? What?"

"I told you to throw that box out," said Penny. "Why did you have to show it to Bernadette? Now she's calling me with all sorts of weird ideas that I still love Leonard."

Amy thought for a minute. "I didn't show it to her, she looked." Amy paused for a minute, then said, "Why does Bernadette thinking you're still in love with Leonard matter? If you aren't in love with him, this shouldn't bother you, right?"

Penny choked up, and she wanted to yell at Amy, but it obviously wasn't her fault. Finally she said, "It's not bothering me, I just didn't need Bernadette to tell me what she thinks is wrong with me. She's not a psychologist. I just wanted to know why you let her look in it."

"I told you, I didn't let her, she just looked. What is wrong with you, Penny?" said Amy. "I did everything you wanted. I mailed the boxes, and the check for the car. I was there to give the keys to the car to the guy who gave me the check. I was there when they came to pack all your stuff up, and I gave the keys to the apartment to the landlord. I did everything you wanted me to do, but it seems the only thing I evidently didn't do right, was to prevent Bernadette from seeing what was in the box. Something you didn't tell I should keep from her from doing. I even though I threw it out, like you asked."

Penny, choked up, remembering the things in the box.

Amy continued, "So, I did everything you wanted done, except one thing you didn't tell me I needed to do. Now it sounds like you are mad at me," said Amy. "Why? Because Bernadette looked in the box, and saw all the mementos, and thinks you're still in love with Leonard? Again, why should that bother you, unless you ARE still in love with him, and still want the things in box? What is it?"

Penny felt cornered, then she tried, but couldn't speak for a few seconds.

"What's wrong Penny," said Amy, "is it because you can't think of a good reason, except you're still in love with him?"

Finally Penny sputtered out, "I don't need a lecture from you, or from Bernadette, telling me what I am or am not still feeling. Why don't you just leave me alone?"

Leave her alone? Amy became upset and sad, "Me, leave you alone? Penny, you called me and asked me to do something. I did it, but you're still mad at me. I just don't understand."

"Why are you pushing me on this?" said Penny. "You're as bad as Bernadette, both of you trying to make me feel worse than I already do about the whole situation, with work and Leonard..." Penny paused, realizing how close she had been to telling Amy.

"But, you called me," said Amy, now even more confused, "I didn't call you to bother you. And, make you feel worse about what? I don't even know what you're talking about."

Maybe I should just not call or answer the phone anymore, thought Penny. "I'm sorry, I've got to go," said Penny. "I think it's best if we just don't contact each other anymore."

Amy heard the phone disconnect, but she was in shock. There was definitely something wrong with Penny, but Amy wasn't sure what could be done. Tears started forming in Amy eyes as a feeling of sadness came over her. Sadness, because her first real, best, friend would think she was trying to make her feel bad. And, now, it appeared Penny was cutting off contact. Amy decided she would have to talk to Bernadette, tomorrow.