Alright! Thank you all for following and reviewing and favouriting! It really does mean a lot to hear feedback on my work. This week has been crazy, but without further delay... Chapter 2!

Enjoy!

The sun poked its head out from behind the New York skyline into Penny's bedroom window. She rustled in bed and felt the mattress beside her. Empty. The sound of the shower filled her ears as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. It was Friday, she glanced at the clock it, was 7:30 in the morning. Today she was leaving for Pasadena for the weekend, well until Tuesday. A week ago, she had gotten an invitation in the mail from Caltech. They were throwing a party for Sheldon Cooper, Dr. Whack-a-Doodle. He had finally gotten his Nobel Prize. Penny couldn't not go.

Meow.

Penny looked down to the floor and saw her grey tabby cat, George asking for his breakfast. She smiled and quickly scooped him up, giving him a few scratches on the head before setting him down and getting out of the coziness of her bed. She pulled on her robe, stepped into her slippers and walked toward the window. It had snowed last night. The city was covered in a thick white blanket.

Penny missed the snow when she lived in California, but since this was her third winter in New York, the snow was getting old. She nuzzled into her robe and stared out at the city. When the sun hit the snow on the buildings, it sparkled. Penny smiled to herself. She didn't even hear the shower turn off before a strong set of arms wrapped around her middle.

"Good morning, Beautiful." The man holding her said. His voice was deep and thick, like a luxurious piece of velvet. Penny smiled and turned her head toward him pressing her lips against his. She quickly turned around and admired the man who was in her shower, standing before her in one of her hot pink towels. He was tall, blonde and gorgeous. His body was hard and sculpted, just how Penny liked them. That and it was hard to find a physicist in New York.

"Good morning, Handsome." Penny chimed. Her fingers traveled down his soft skin and gripped at his towel. Her lips found his and she kissed him as she let the heavy fabric fall to the floor. He tugged at her robe, exposing her breast. Penny sighed into his mouth as his hand gently caressed her and tweaked her nipple. His mouth left hers and attached itself to the waiting swell of her chest. Penny gasped when his hot mouth covered her hard nipple.

"Why do you have to leave for the weekend? Can't you just send a card?" He asked in between kisses that traveled across her breast toward her neck. Penny sighed and let him wash over her.

"Derek, I have to go. He's my friend and it would be rude not to go." Penny rushed to explain. Derek stopped and looked into her face. Penny watched as his blue eyes dart across her features. He quickly smiled and kissed her lips.

"Well, if you have to go, consider this a preamble for when you come home on Tuesday." He said with a wink. Penny huffed, she would have to take care of herself before she left for her flight. Derek quickly glanced at Penny's alarm clock.

"I have to go, I have to be in court at 9:00 and I can't wear the same suit as I did yesterday." Penny smiled at her lawyer boyfriend. They had only been seeing each other for a month, but she felt something. Well, she thought she felt something. Maybe it was his good looks and the sex. Maybe it was more. She watched as he put on his clothes from yesterday and walked toward her front door. She waved at him and then he was gone.

Meow.

Penny looked down at George. He was always so patient with her. She smiled and walked into the kitchen retrieving his kibble from the cupboard. She filled up the dish really full, the neighbor had agreed to come in and check on her cat for a small price of $50.

"There you go, Little Butt." Penny said in a sing song voice as she put away the cat food. She walked across her apartment and let out a sigh. She hadn't seen any of them for three years. Well, that's not true. She Skyped with Amy every three months or so. It wasn't the only window she hadn't closed to her old life. She also sent emails to Sheldon, sometimes he replied, sometimes he didn't. It was understandable that he had buried himself with work for the past three years. He had to.

Penny stepped into the shower and let the warm water rush over her. It was going to be like stepping into an alternate universe. Things were very different than before. Amy was in a long term relationship. She had become "unavailable" a year and a half ago. Leonard was also in a long term relationship. With Amy. They got together after Sheldon decided that his work was more important than his relationship with Amy.

Howard and Bernadette were still married, they had a toddler and one was on the way. Penny smirked, she wondered how Howard convinced Bernadette to bear his children. Raj had gone back to India. His parents arranged a marriage for him as they were tired of telling people "He's not gay." Amy had mentioned last week when Penny had briefly spoken to her that Raj was supposed to be coming in for the weekend too. It would be interesting to meet his wife. Penny wondered how someone could be married to someone else if they couldn't speak to them.

Her thoughts shifted to her own life as she shampooed her hair. It was only three years ago that she decided to move to New York. It paid off big. She started with the small theatre company and after a year was recruited to play a minor role in Wicked. Penny's career was growing and she was now an understudy to the lead actress in a new Broadway musical called Burn. Penny was also writing her own play, not a musical, just a play. It was just an idea that had been with her for some time.

It was called Big Bang and it was based on her life in Pasadena. Paige was the main character, a girl from middle America following her dream to be an actress, only to find love instead. The rest of the cast is a group of nerdy scientists who taught her a thing or two about life. Spencer was loosely based on Sheldon and was the male lead, Leo was based on Leonard, Edward was based on Howard and Rasheed was based on Raj. It was something that she needed to get out. After a little bit of internal struggle she decided to pair Paige with Spencer for two reasons. One, Leonard ripped her heart out and two, she was always curious about Sheldon.

Penny finished up in the shower, fixed her hair and makeup and packed. She kissed her cat on the head and left her apartment for the weekend. Penny hailed a cab and was taken to the airport. After going through security, she waited for her flight to arrive. She checked her phone and email. She had one unread message from Amy Farrah Fowler-Hofstadter. Penny opened the email and began to read.

From: affowler
Date: 08:04 am, December 16, 2015
To: pennyblossom
Subject: Dinner tonight?

Hello Penny,

I understand that your flight arrives at 5:45 pm, I was hoping that you would be available for dinner. It would be wonderful to see you and catch up in person. Please let me know so I can arrange a reservation.

-Amy

Penny quickly hit the reply button.

Hi Amy,

I would love to have dinner. Let's say 6:30. Anywhere but the cheesecake factory. ;)

-P

Penny hit the send button just as she was being called to board her flight. She settled into the window seat and pulled out a pad of paper and a pen from her purse. She jotted ideas down for her play as they came to her. She was trying to work out when Paige figured out she was in love with Spencer. Penny snorted. This was going to be harder than she thought. She thought about Sheldon and his crazy ways. Writing wasn't working for her, maybe she would get some inspiration after the weekend was over. Instead, she would just sleep. She pulled out her iPod and put away her writing materials. While listening to the smooth vocal styling of Justin Timberlake, circa: bringing sexy back, she drifted off to sleep.

The flight was over sooner than she thought, or maybe she was more tired than she had anticipated. Penny got off the plane and checked her email. Amy set up reservations at Olive Garden. Penny quickly dealt with the car rental paperwork and soon she was driving down the familiar streets of Pasadena. She booked a room at the Hilton near Caltech. That's where the event congratulating Sheldon was being held and Penny figured that if she got too drunk, she could stumble up to her room.

Penny drove to the hotel, checked in, and dropped off her bags before driving to the restaurant to meet Amy. Penny got out of the rental car and walked toward the restaurant. As she walked, her cognac boots clicked on the pavement. The soung of her heart pounding in her ears was putting her on edge, she was nervous. She walked past the hostess and searched the restaurant. Her eyes spotted Amy, who looked the same. She quickly rushed over to her and as Amy stood up, Penny wrapped her arms around her.

"Amy! It's so good to see you!" Penny cried as she pulled away to get a better look at Amy. Amy smiled and sat down. Penny sat down and pulled her cardigan a little tighter around herself.

"Penny you are looking beautiful as always." Amy stated with a smile. Penny looked around the restaurant and smiled at Amy. It was really good to see her. Penny grinned and grasped her left hand to inspect a sparkle that caught her eye.

"Leonard really knows how to pick jewelry!" Penny exclaimed.

"Why thank you Penny. I like to think that I have good taste." Leonard said as he unexpectedly sat down with Penny and Amy. Penny felt her heart jump into her throat. It had been years since she seen or spoken to him. Penny quietly looked him over, he looked more mature and engaged life seemed to be treating him well. It seemed that he had actually gotten more attractive.

He had grown a slight beard, not a scary arctic beard, which suited him very well. He was wearing a blazer and a nice dress shirt, not a military jacket, hoodie and ironically geeky shirt under all of those layers. It seemed as though Leonard had grown up. Penny smiled at him, she wasn't sure how she would feel once she saw him, but seeing him with his new fiancé made Penny feel good. She knew she never would have married him. Plus they looked really good together.

"So, what's new in your life, Penny?" Leonard asked, thought it didn't really sound like he was interested. Penny thought about it for a moment.

"Well, I'm writing a play. Hopefully it's good enough to really become something." Penny softly said. It was like her voice escaped her. She cleared her throat and took a sip of the water that the server had brought over. Amy had pre-ordered a bottle of wine, which Leonard was already indulging in.

"Is that like that screenplay based on your life you were writing when we first met?" Leonard sardonically asked as he swilled his wine around in his glass. Penny nearly choked on her water. Was he being serious?

"Leonard." Amy chastised. She quickly smiled at Penny. Penny silently cursed her for not preparing her for this. Penny smiled and was thankfully interrupted for a moment by the server. After their order was taken, the table was silent. Penny bit at her lip and thought about something to say to break the awkward silence, she couldn't. She could feel the resentment that hung thick in the air, like a dense fog. Penny didn't really expect any less from him.

"So, how is your work going, Leonard? What's new in the exciting field of experimental physics." Penny finally managed to get out. Leonard skeptically eyed her. A chuckle escaped his throat. Penny nervously laughed.

"Well, it's nothing compared to the exciting field of theoretical physics, I can tell you that much." Leonard said tipping his glass toward Penny. Of course he was speaking of Sheldon. Jealousy oozed from his lips when he spoke about his former roommate. Penny smiled.

"I have to go to the washroom. Excuse me." Penny mumbled. Amy stood up with her and followed her to the restroom. The door shut and Penny whirled around to face her so called friend.

"What the hell, Amy?" Penny squeaked.

"I'm sorry Penny, he insisted that he come. I didn't realize that he held any resentment toward you." Amy offered as an explanation.

"Do you know how awkward this is for me?" Penny asked trying to hold her tongue in fear of saying something that she might later regret.

"I'm sorry, I promise, he'll behave. I really do want to catch up with you." Amy apologized.

Penny nodded and made her way back out to the table. Thankfully their food had arrived, she could eat and run for it. Her and Amy sat back down and Penny unfolded the napkin and placed it in her lap.

"So Penny, are you seeing anyone?" Amy asked, ignoring her future husband. Penny smiled and stabbed at her pasta with her fork.

"Actually, I am. His name is Derek. He's an environmental lawyer. We've only been dating a month, but I really like him." Penny calmly said, looking straight at Amy. Amy smiled.

"How about you guys? What are your plans for the future? Besides the wedding." Penny asked while stuffing a forkful of ziti into her mouth.

"Well, we are planning on purchasing a house. We have been eyeing a place that came on the market a few weeks ago." Amy said with a sweet smile adorning her face. Penny beamed at the two of them. Despite Leonard's episodes of jackass-ary, he and Amy really were meant for each other.

"Congratulations! That's so exciting!" Penny exclaimed. Amy laughed.

"We've made an offer, we are just waiting to hear back from the realtor." Amy excitedly told Penny.

"Seriously, congratulations to the both of you. You two really deserve it." Penny said raising her wine glass to the pair. Dinner continued to smooth over and it was actually an enjoyable evening. As the night came to a close, Amy left for the restroom, leaving Leonard and Penny to talk amongst themselves.

"Look, Penny. I'm sorry that I was such an ass earlier. I just didn't expect you to come. When I heard that you and Amy were having dinner, I couldn't not see you and then all those years of resentment kind of got away from me. I'm really sorry." Leonard said, his voice was soft and regretful. Penny nodded and patted his hand.

"Leonard, I'm happy for you and Amy. You two actually work. I know this because when she talks about you, it's always good things. The way she talks about you… Leonard, the girl is crazy for you. I'm glad that you finally found the one." Penny said as she grabbed her purse.

After the group said their goodbyes, Penny drove back to the hotel. She got ready for bed and wished she had her cat to snuggle with. She laid in the dark thinking about the events that transpired that evening. She hoped that it wasn't going to be this hard to re-unite with everyone else.