"I can't believe you're going to live together," Penny said, as she played with her food.

"Why not?" Amy asked.

"Because, you could barely survive one night with him!" Penny exclaimed. "Don't you think this is a bad idea?"

"She's taking Leonard's room," Sheldon explained succinctly.

"Ah," Penny answered.

Sheldon studied her. "You still think it's a bad idea, don't you?"

"Well," Leonard jumped in, "You know what happens when you mix all the wrong chemicals. It can blow up in your face."

"It won't do that!" Sheldon exclaimed. "The last time we tried living together was a fiasco because there was only one bedroom."

"There was also the couch," Leonard pointed out.

Penny rolled her eyes. "So, where's Raj?" she asked.

Howard looked at Bernadette, who shifted her weight and met his eyes. She didn't say anything, so Howard spoke. "Uh, he's out with a...girl."

Penny brightened. "Claire?"

"Uh, no."

"It's that bitch Emily, isn't it?" she prodded.

"Nope, not her either."

"Okay, we all know where this is going," Leonard sighed. "It's gotta be Cinnamon."

"Did you not hear me guess 'dog'?" Penny asked, and Bernadette faintly smiled.

"Uh, no, not Cinnamon either. But he didn't really say," he muttered hastily. "Pass the soy sauce, please?"

Bernadette handed it to him. "Well, I hope iwhomever he's with/i doesn't have a tail and a wet nose."

-0-0-0-0-

Raj let himself into the restaurant and Priya looked at him and smiled. She wore a chef uniform and even a white chef's hat. Her long hair was pulled into a ponytail and she was slightly stained with tomato sauce. "Hello, Rajesh," she said, appearing to be in rather good spirits.

"Hey. Am I on time?"

"Yes, my break begins..." She looked up at a clock. "Now." She smiled at him and pulled off her hat and gloves.

"I have to ask. How did you go from successful lawyer to pizza girl?"

"Rajesh, I'm not just a pizza girl. This restaurant is partly mine." She sat beside him.

He didn't look impressed. "Yeah, still wondering."

"I'm married, Rajesh."

"What?" He looked at her in shock. "Since when?"

"Five days ago. Samar had inherited this place from his late father, and didn't want to give it up."

"So you left your awesome business life? You traded down?"

"No. I took it to be closer to my brother. I've got to say, I was expecting a more supportive reaction."

"Well, I'm a little surprised you didn't even tell me you were engaged, or that you'd even met someone."

She nodded, trying not to let her revulsion show. "Yes, well, this whole thing goes much deeper than meeting Samar. Mummy and Daddy wanted to marry me off to a judge, but he was cold and cruel...I had to get out of there. I wasn't expecting to find the right person."

"So where is the other part-owner?" Raj asked.

Priya sighed. "Court."

"You're kidding."

"No, but it's nothing serious. He just finally caught the kid who was throwing rocks at his car."

"He took a kid to court?"

"No, he took the kid's parents; they refused to take responsibility." Priya shrugged. "Anyway, when I told him I'd cut the cord with my parents, he gave me half his restaurant to try and cheer me up."

"Did it work?"

"Not really." Priya shook her head. "I think tomorrow I'm going to call them and explain. What are your plans?" she asked abruptly.

He blinked. "I'm...getting a doggy."

"Oh. Great. Another terror. Remind me not to come to your place." She then asked, "How's Bernadette? Are the twins okay?"

"Actually, it was false labor. But she's okay."

"Good...We should really get together sometime, Rajesh. We need to talk."

"Okay. How's my place?" He grinned at her.

"Sure. If you get the dog after I leave," she said smartly.

He nodded and studied her. "You seem different."

"I am different. I'm relaxed. Honestly, I've never been happier."

"Priya," a woman said, as she walked out of the back room. "Priya, the oven just died."

"Crap," Priya muttered, as she stood. Pulling on her gloves, she hurried to the woman. "What did you do this time, you bimbo?"

The door swung shut behind them, and Raj sat there, staring up at the menu. "I'd like a medium," he said to himself. Feeling forgotten, he stood and left the restaurant.

-0-0-0-0-

AUTHOR'S NOTE: So sorry, Laura Spencer! I actually really like you, but we all know Emily and Penny hate each other.