All reviews and follows are appreciated

Also I made a mistake in chapter 4 when I mentioned Sheldon cashing up his pounds, clearly it should have been dollars

Continuing on from their weekend away

There will be some angst

It was 7pm and Sheldon and Amy had just returned home from their weekend away and were exhausted from the trip, Sheldon stopped to collect his post and they continued upstairs to the apartment

'Sheldon I just want to say thank you for taking me away, I feel like we connected so well together'

'I agree, Amy I don't want you to go home tonight, can you stay here?

'Of course Sheldon, I probably have to work late though tomorrow and Thursday to catch up with the addiction study so I think we will have to miss date night'

'Amy that's ok, I have plenty to do as well and we can still skype each other. I am presuming you will be coming the weekend?

'Yes of course'

'Ok we can catch up then, I think we will do vintage video night on Friday and get the same group of people over as last time'

'I will agree to that'

'By the way Amy you never did say what the addiction study was, is it monkeys again?

'No this time we are testing cocaine on bunny rabbits'

'How's that working out?'

'Well it's only been going for a week or two but we are already seeing different responses, the males tend to get a bit more aggressive than the females'

'How long will it last' asked Sheldon curiously

'This is just a 6 month study, after the 2 year one with the smoking monkeys UCLA decided they want shorter ones, though they are not ruling out doing the same again in the future

'Will you be bringing any of the rabbits home with you like you did with Ricky?'

'I don't think so, I don't want to get attached like I did last time'

'That sounds sensible, Amy I don't know about you but I think we should go to bed' said Sheldon as they cuddled up on the sofa

'I agree' smiled Amy as they got up and took each others hand and walked to the bedroom where they promptly fell asleep in each others arms

Wednesday

Wednesday was productive for both Sheldon and Amy, Amy had caught up on the addiction study and was able to finish work by 630pm and rang Bernadette to ask if she wanted to meet up, she agreed to come to Amy's apartment

'Hi Amy, how was your trip away'

'Oh it was fantastic, we had such a great time, Sheldon has some pictures that he took and if you are coming on Friday I can show you then'

'Sounds good to me, said Bernadette 'Did you not invite Penny here?

'No I didn't want to talk to her about my relationship with Sheldon, whilst I'm happy to be friends, I want to keep that between me and Sheldon and I know she will try and badger me for details and quite frankly I don't think she deserves to know'

'Ok, I hope you don't mind me asking but did you and Sheldon get any further physically?' asked Bernadette curiously

'Oh yes it was going great and I had dressed up in the lingerie I bought with you and I was giving him a massage because he had a sore neck and one thing led to another and it got very intense and then I panicked and stopped him'

'How did he react?'

'Oh Bernie, he was perfect, he said it was ok and that he wasn't as ready as he thought he was and then we lay in bed cuddling for a while'

'I think you have a winner there Amy, men who are respectful of what women want are hard to find, he's a keeper' said Bernadette

'Oh I know and he said we have all our lives to get to know each other better like that and there is no rush'

'Wow what happened to the Sheldon who hated physical contact and commitment talks?

'He said that I have changed him for the better, but it works both ways now I know what he wants I'm happy to wait forever for him'

'Do you think you two will get married some day?'

'We haven't discussed that and I think that while Sheldon has changed a lot, that particular conversation might be a bit early'

'How are you going to explain this meeting with Penny, she's working tonight and Howard and Raj have gone to the cheesecake factory'

'Well if she says anything then I will tell her the reasons why but I can't see why she'd be bothered' said Amy as they sipped some wine continuing to chat

Later that night

Penny had just got home and was severely pissed off, she had a terrible night at the cheesecake factory she had heard from Howard that Amy had called Bernadette to meet up and couldn't understand why she hadn't been invited then while she was working the bar, Kurt had turned up with two irritating girls who were giggling at everything he said whilst he kept smirking in Penny's direction.

Penny couldn't help think that everybody seem to be abandoning her, she had one lousy text message from Amy just saying they were back and they had a good time. She searched her apartment for alcohol, she hadn't touched a drop since she had been told in no uncertain terms by Sheldon that he wasn't interested in her and now she was desperate and in her crazy mind thought that alcohol would be the answer, finding a bottle of white wine, she poured herself a glass and downed it in one before repeating twice more and then needing something to do, went to her bedroom and collected her laundry and haphazardly bundled everything into her washing basket

Penny walked into the laundry expecting to be alone but surprisingly Sheldon was there sitting on a chair listening to his music and looking at his phone

'Moonpie' shouted Penny 'its not Saturday why are you here'

'Same reason you are Penny and don't call me that' said Sheldon as he removed his earplugs

'Oh' said Penny as she moved closer to Sheldon to see what he was looking at

'Penny! What are you doing' said Sheldon feeling uncomfortable

'Nothing just seeing what you are looking at so intently, no need to get scared' said Penny as she stood next to him

Sheldon was puzzled at Penny's behaviour, he could see she was acting normally but then he noticed the tell tale sign of drink on her breath

'Penny you know I am not comfortable with you alone and whilst I can't ban you from this room, please go and sit somewhere far away from me, the smell of alcohol on you repulses me'

'Sheldon do you wanna know why I have been drinking'

'Not particularly'

'Well your little girlfriend and Bernadette are having a cosy little meet up and didn't invite me'

'Yes I know, Amy text me earlier when I was at work finishing up, why does that bother you?'

'I'm supposed to be Amy's bestie but she's off gallivanting with Bernadette!' shouted Penny

'I don't know what you want me to say and quite frankly maybe you should have a think about maybe why Amy has not asked you there'

'What are you talking about?'

'Amy told me about the conversation she had with you and how you said you wouldn't interfere in her love life again and she told me that she didn't want to talk to you about it, Penny I don't know why you don't speak to her about this'

'You are right I will' said Penny slamming her laundry into the washer and storming out

Sheldon waited for his laundry to finish and then went back to his apartment and text everybody who came to the previous vintage games night to confirm arrangements, he decided not to invite Penny, she was turning into a loose cannon and he didn't want to deal with her problems and then went to bed

Friday

Amy picked up Sheldon from work and they went back to the apartment having stopped to get the Chinese food for everybody, they arranged for everybody to arrive at 7 so they could have a little time alone and they were certainly making the most of it as they lay on the sofa kissing and enjoying each other.

Penny's apartment

Penny was drinking again alone in her apartment when she heard cheering and laughing coming from across the hall, realizing it was Chinese and Vintage video game night and nobody had said a word to her about it, she decided action needed to be taken.

She stormed over to 4a and let herself in, taking in the scene before her, the boys were playing video games and Amy and Bernadette were chatting in the kitchen so she immediately went and sat down on the sofa

'Penny that's Amy's spot' said Sheldon

'Yeah well now its Penny's spot' slurred Penny and started helping herself to the food on the table

'Penny what are you doing, you didn't get an invite so it's best you leave now' said Sheldon clearly unhappy and trying to block her taking the food

Penny glared at him and said nothing

Amy and Bernadette came into the living room area noticing the commotion which set Penny off

'Well look who it is, its Amy and Bernadette hanging around like little besties, I thought I was your bestie Amy and now here you are sneaking around and not even inviting to your little get together on Wednesday' Penny was drunk and very mad

'Penny you know you are acting out of control here' said Amy gently

'Just tell me why you didn't want me there, I wanted to know all about your trip and all I got was it was fine'

'Because I didn't want to talk to you about mine and Sheldon's relationship and I knew you would try and ask about and I don't think you deserve to know'

'I don't believe this, I said sorry and you are still mad at me'

'I'm not mad, I'm just not telling you details, I don't understand why you are so upset'

Sheldon interrupted 'Amy we are clearly getting nowhere while she is like this'

'I will tell you why I'm like this Sheldon you are stopping me from seeing my friends'

'I'm not stopping you from seeing your friends, you can see them anytime you like, I am however stopping you from being here, this is my apartment and I don't want you here while you are like this'

The rest of the group had abandoned the video games and were looking on in confusion until Howard spoke up

'What's going on?'

'Nothing' said Penny

'Penny I think its about time the rest of the group know what happened and perhaps a bit of public humiliation might shame you into stopping this destructive behaviour, let me warn you Penny you are very close to losing all of us here'

'Sheldon please don't say anything'

'Penny you have made it clear you have not learned from your behaviour and you leave me with no choice. Bernadette can you stand by the door so Penny doesn't try to leave while I tell the group what Penny did'

Sheldon told them what happened and Penny sat motionless on the sofa with her head in her hands quietly sobbing, the rest of the group were clearly stunned at what was being said

Howard was the first to speak

'Wow Penny you really must have been lonely to go after Sheldon'

'That's not helping' said his wife and she clipped him on the head

'Penny you need to sort out what you want, I know you said you will speak with Leonard when he returns and tell him what happened but this here right now cannot keep happening' said Amy rubbing Penny's back

'I don't know what I want' sniffed Penny

'Have you had any auditions lately? ' Asked Bernadette

'No my agent claims nobody is interested'

'What have you done about it then?' asked Amy

'Nothing at all'

'Do you still want to act? Asked Sheldon

'More than anything'

'Penny you can't just sit around waiting for something to happen, get a new agent and get yourself out there and noticed, you obviously don't like working at the cheesecake factory and you need to start liking yourself again to stop the loneliness and self hatred' said Amy

'I don't hate myself' said Penny

'From where I'm sitting its very clear that something is not right with you Penny and you need to do something about it, we can help but only if you want help' said Bernadette whilst the others nodded in agreement

'I do and I'm sorry I ruined your evening' said Penny as she got up and walked back to her own apartment

'Sheldon I think Bernadette and I will go back to Penny's for a little while and make sure she's ok'

'Are you sure you will be ok with her?' asked Sheldon

'Yes of course, now go back to your games and you can keep my food ready for me to eat later' said Amy as she stood next to Sheldon and kissed him fully on the lips.

Sheldon smiled at Amy and her ability to handle the situation and gave her a cuddle and the rest of the group got back to the games

Amy and Bernadette got busy in Penny's apartment and sat her down and made her coffee

'Have you eaten today Penny? Asked Any

'No I had breakfast but that was it'

'No wonder you got drunk quickly with nothing to soak it up, have you got anything in?

'Nothing' said Penny

'Ok wait there' said Amy and she went back to 4a and took her food and gave it to Penny

Penny looked in surprise at Amy

'I can't take your food'

'You can, I want you to have it, you need something to eat'

'What about Sheldon he made it clear that he would not let me mooch off him again'

'Maybe he said that but I paid for some of the Chinese and I want you to have it, he doesn't mind'

' I will take you shopping tomorrow to get you food if you like and you can make an appointment with a new agent and I will come with you for support whenever that will be said Bernadette

'You guys are being so nice to me and I don't deserve it' said Penny as she started crying again

'That's what friends are for, they look out for each other in good and bad times, now come on get yourself together and eat up' said Amy

Much later that night

Sheldon and Amy were in bed talking about the events of the night and they both realised that Penny needed help from the group more than ever

'Amy I'm sorry I didn't tell you before but on Wednesday when I was doing my laundry, Penny appeared and was slightly intoxicated then as well and she was complaining about you seeing Bernadette'

'Sheldon its fine, she has some issues she needs to sort out and hopefully now everybody knows what she did it will knock some sense into her, and help her achieve what she wants to achieve, I'm not sure how she's going to tell Leonard though' pondered Amy

'You are right' said Sheldon 'right now though I need you' and moved on top of Amy and passionately kissed her running his hands up and down her body while she responded doing the same to him and they continued like that for a while happy to be in each others arms under no pressure to do anything else.

Chapter 7 will be along shortly