A/N This is AU sometime during the show. I am just borrowing the characters again.
Penny stared out the window of the apartment. How the hell had she ended up here? What had she been thinking? God, it's not like she didn't have enough warnings.
She cleaned up her dishes and put them in the sink, deciding she would get to them later. She had gotten used to eating alone since he had taken to working late. At one time, she had tried to be interested in what he was working on, but he had just given her that look and said if his fellow scientists couldn't understand it, how could a community college dropout hope to?
Moving to the Living Room she purposely sat down in his spot. It was a feeble gesture but gave her some satisfaction.
Was it really only four years? It seemed like a lifetime. But then it hadn't taken him much time to wear her down. How the hell did Leonard put up with him all those years?
Leonard. How different it might have been if she had been able to tell him she loved him that night. The ironic thing was, she did have strong feelings for him, but wasn't ready to settle down. Or maybe she felt she would be settling for him.
They had tried again but she kept taking him for granted, knowing he would always be there no matter how she treated him. She decided their love was boring, that there should be more.
Then, one night when she'd been drinking, she had jumped into bed with Sheldon. It had been forbidden and exciting. She continued to see him behind Leonard's and Amy's backs. Both were caught up in the adventure and newness of it. Then, when they got caught, she made herself believe they were in love as justification for what she had done. They had deeply hurt Leonard and Amy; they had been betrayed by the loves of their lives and their best friends.
But she and Sheldon convinced themselves it was a necessary step for their happiness.
As time passed, Amy and Leonard had moved on. Amy moved back east and returned to her Alma Mater. As for Leonard, he had married a fellow doctor, a visiting professor from France. Bernadette had told her when they had a baby boy about a year ago. Penny wondered if he was bright and beautiful.
She had heard that after living a year in Paris, they had recently returned to the States and were living in New York.
She looked around the apartment. Except for a few things Leonard took with him, it didn't look much different than when she first saw it. She smirked as she remembered how she had been then, young, confident, planning on being an actress. Now ten years later, her biggest accomplishment was to move across the hall.
When she heard his key in the door, she quickly slid over.
He put his bag on his desk and went into the kitchen; he looked around and immediately turned and addressed Penny, "Must I be met with dirty dishes in the sink every night. You know they are a source of germs and who knows what."
Penny sighed, "I just finished eating, Sheldon, I just sat down to rest for a moment before I tackled them."
"What could you possibly need to rest from? I cannot see where you have accomplished much of anything today."
"What do you call working eight hours at the Cheesecake Factory and trying out for a part?"
"As far as the tryout I would call it a waste of time. When will you give up that quixotic chase?"
Penny thought back to the time when she thought Sheldon supported her career and Leonard did not. But then Leonard had explained his position. She also remembered when Sheldon told her she should appear in a porn movie because her career was going nowhere.
That reminded her when Leonard bonked that old lady and Sheldon did all but call her a prostitute twice, telling her it was a compliment.
How had she ignored the signs? She remembered when her car died and she was at a very low point. Leonard, who could have easily reminded her of his concerns about quitting her job, instead bought her a car so she didn't have to go back to the Cheesecake Factory. Sheldon on the other hand was upset because Leonard was holding up some stupid game.
Now she was back where she started. She worked so she could get the money for her acting lessons which Sheldon thought were a waste of time.
When Sheldon sat down next to her in his spot and started to go on about how he was underappreciated at work, she got up and went to do the dishes.
She soon heard the TV go on.
When she finished up and Sheldon announced he was going to bed, she told him she had a headache and was going to take a couple aspirins and sleep in Leonard's old room. He nodded and told her good night. It hadn't really been necessary for her to say anything, as their sex life was practically non-existent anyway. After they were married and the excitement and newness were gone, his germaphobia became a consideration again. When they did do it, she was a little put off when he immediately rushed off to take a shower, like she had contaminated him.
She sometimes felt herself thinking about how it had been with Leonard. He really had been the King of Foreplay. After that first time, sex had never been their problem. Suddenly she realized she probably shouldn't have been thinking about that. She thought of going to Sheldon, but didn't want to hear about her waking him up and not able to contain her urges. She thought of her vibrator, but it was in the bedroom. Finally, she just satisfied herself the old-fashioned way.
After she finished, she lay there, feeling sorry for herself. She had thought of divorcing him but she was too weak to do that. He did provide for her and she could convince herself it wasn't all bad. God, she was such a hypocrite.
About a month later, she was having lunch with Bernadette. She was feeling better than she had for some time. She had actually got a small part on a soap. It was only for a few episodes but it gave her hope for her acting career.
She was a little surprised that Bernadette and she had remained friends, but then they had been friends before they met the others. She also got along with Howard and Raj. Time evidently does heal some wounds.
After Bernadette had congratulated her on getting the part, she hesitated and then said, "I got an email from Leonard. He and Monique are coming out to California. Evidently, she is going attend a series of lectures in San Francisco and they decided to have Leonard use the time to drop by and see us and the kids and have us meet Warren."
Penny was stunned, Leonard was going to be in Pasadena? She managed to get out, "How long does he plan to stay?"
"For about a week. Monique is going to drive down after she finishes so she can see us before they fly home."
Penny had to ask, "Did he say anything about Sheldon and me?"
"He said to tell you that if you wanted to meet, you could stop by our house and see him there."
When Penny told Sheldon about Leonard returning, He quickly informed her he was not interested in seeing Leonard after he had deserted him. Penny reminded him that Leonard had left because she had gotten involved with him, but he couldn't see what difference that made.
Penny waited until Leonard had been back for a couple days before she contacted Bernadette and arranged to come over.
Penny stood nervously outside Bernadette's door. She wasn't sure what she was nervous about. She was only going to spend some time with an old friend. He was a happily married man with a son. She had to smirk to herself how arrogant it would be for her to wonder if he would still be upset with her. He had moved on and found himself someone that could love him back.
After she finally knocked and Bernadette let her in, she entered the living room and saw him. She realized what had been bothering her. Seeing him sitting with his son on his lap reminded her of the mistake she had made. That should be their child.
Angry with herself, she firmly forced those thoughts out of her mind. She went over to him, "Hey, Leonard, it is great to see you. She smiled down at the baby, "This must be Warren. He looks like you."
"Hi, Penny, I'm glad you come over." He looked lovingly at the baby, "Yeah, little."
She sat down in a chair nearby. "So, I hear Monique is coming in a few days."
"Yeah, she is really looking forward to meeting all of you." He hesitated a moment, "Is Sheldon going to come later?"
"No, he wanted to, but he is really busy."
She avoided looking at Leonard, knowing he knew full well she was lying. Penny was happy and gratified when Leonard was exited about her getting a part in the soap. He told her that Monique loved American Soap Operas and taped them to watch every day.
Penny visited another day and then was there the day Monique was to arrive. She had finally prevailed upon Sheldon and he was there as well. She had to admit he had been on his best behavior, exchanging scientific ideas with Leonard.
Penny had been surprised that Halley and Michael weren't there but Bernadette explained there had been a party scheduled at the Day Care Center and they would pick them up later.
After Warren had been put down for a nap, Leonard's phone rang. He looked and said, "It's Monique." But when he answered it, he looked surprised and said nervously, "Yes, this is Leonard Hofstadter." After he had listened for a few moments, everyone was shocked when he suddenly turned white and dropped the phone barely getting out, "Monique…"
