This is an alternate storyline starting from Season 6 episode 2 – "The Decoupling Fluctuation". In the series, instead of breaking up with Leonard, Penny sleeps with him and continued to date him. This storyline is the opposite of that.

Chapter 1

"I think we should break up".

Leonard didn't know what to say. He cannot form words in his head and just sat there for about a minute. Penny stared at him waiting for a plea or question as to why they are breaking up.

No words came from Leonard.

Leonard then shifted himself on the couch and put his face in his hands thinking and trying hard not to cry or shout or lash out at Penny. He took a deep breath, stood up and went to the door. He opened it and went out. He wanted to slam the door behind him but he could not make himself to do so. He just felt blank and empty as he closed the door behind him. He didn't know how long he has been standing in the hallway but told himself to go into his bedroom.

The rest of his friends are seated around the coffee table eating take-out Chinese food like they always did when Leonard came into the apartment.

"Oh good Leonard you're here. We saved a couple of dumplings and got you some fried noodles." Said Sheldon.

"Thanks but I'm not hungry. You guys go ahead and eat it." He replied.

He went to his desk, sat down and opened his computer to check for any email or messages. There are none. He closed his laptop and put his arm on the table and covered his face with his hands. He wanted to scream but nothing came out.

"Leonard are you alright?" Howard asked. "You look upset."

He didn't say anything. He stood up and walked towards his bedroom. He turned back and stood at the hallway entrance looking at his friends eating.

Raj saw him and asked. "Leonard, is everything okay?"

"Penny broke up with me." Leonard finally said with a low voice.

"What?!" "Why?!" asked Bernadette and Amy as they stood up.

Sheldon stood up visibly stunned not knowing what to say.

Leonard turned around and went to his bedroom. He took off his shoes and socks and sat on his bed. He wanted to cry or shout but cannot make himself to do it.

There was a knock on his door.

"Leonard can we come in?" asked Howard on the other side of the door.

"I'm fine. I just want to be alone right now. You don't have to worry about me." He replied.

"Ok. If you want to talk just tell us." Howard said as he pushed Raj to the living room.

Leonard didn't know how long he had been sitting on the floor at the end of his bed. He sat there twiddling his fingers like he always did. He had a million questions swirling in his brain. He won't like the answers.

He stood up and went to his night stand and opened the top drawer. He took out a small velvet ring box and opened it. Inside was a diamond ring he bought about 6 months ago when he was at the mall and saw a clearance sale in a jewelry store. He took the ring out and looked at it as he sat by the edge of his bed. He played with the ring in his hand and decided to put it back in the box.

He stood up and opened the window halfway. The breeze felt cold and good. He tossed the ring box outside and closed the window.

He picked up a pillow, put it against his face and flopped himself on his bed face down. He cried himself to sleep.

Penny's door swung open as Bernadette and Amy let themselves in her apartment. She was not in the living room so Amy went to her bedroom door and knocked. "Penny are you in here?"

"Amy not now! I just want to be alone!" Penny yelled back.

Amy opened the door and saw her lying face down on her bed with her face in a pillow. She was crying.

Amy sat beside her while Bernadette sat on the other side of the bed.

Bernadette asked "What happened? Did you two had a fight?" while Amy put her hand on Penny's shoulder to console her.

"I'm the worst! All Leonard did was make me happy and feel loved. He gave me his heart and I broke it and I threw it away!" Penny cried.

"Tell us what happened." Amy said.

Penny gathered herself and sat up on the bed while wiping her tears. It took about five minutes to calm herself to start talking to Amy and Bernadette.

She took a deep breath and began to speak.

"We were having dinner on my couch and I told him I had something to say to him." Penny said.

"He put his food down the table, turned around and looked at me."

"I told him that we should break up."

"He just sat there and looked at me for a minute, not saying anything. He got up and went out the door and the worst part was, he didn't even say a single word!" Penny started to cry again while Amy was rubbing her back to calm her down.

"What is wrong with me Bernie!?"

"Nothing's wrong with you. You just need to calm down and maybe in a few days you can ask Leonard to talk to you. I'm sure he will like that." Amy said.

"Yeah. You know Leonard's always been crazy about you. I'm sure he'll come around." Bernadette added.

"Why did you break up with him anyways?" Amy asked.

"I don't know. It just came out of me. Maybe I'm was still unsure of my feelings for him or the proposal in bed thing. I don't know!" Penny continued crying.

They were quiet for a while when Penny spoke.

"You guys can go now. Thank you for everything. I'll be fine." She said.

"Ok. But call us if you need anything." Bernadette said as she and Amy stood up and went out her bedroom and apartment.

Penny just laid in her bed awake for about an hour until sleep finally caught up to her. She didn't notice that her pillow was wet with her tears.