Yes I am a Shenny Shipper, yet this is my first attempt to write a story which is sympathetic to all ships.

Chapter 1 – Some bad news shakes the gang

Looking down at the grainy scan, a tear welled in Leonard's left eye. 'I will not cry', he told himself, yet it made it's way down his cheek in defiance. The doctor had spoken clearly but the words made little sense and they now echoed inside his head once more. "I'm sorry, there is no baby."

It had been hard to digest, almost impossible to accept. Leonard had stuttered a reply, "…but how?" and the rest was a blur, as he stood alongside his equally confused wife. He'd never even heard of pseudocyesis, also known as 'phantom pregnancy'. Neither of them had. The doctor went on to explain that it was a condition when a woman's body "…mimicked pregnancy, when she was in fact not pregnant at all…" That these things just "…happen sometimes when a woman was under stress and dearly wanted a child…" Doctor Evered explained that they would have to do more tests to check if Penny had any underlining issues but that she seemed in good health.

Leonard gripped the scan in his left hand and closed his eyes for a second, only to hear his wife leaving the bathroom down the hall. Hastily wiping his damp cheek with a sleeve, he straightened up. He must be strong… for her. "Can I get you anything?" he offered, letting the scan slip from his fingers on to the coffee table.

Penny slowed to a stop in the middle of the room, eyes cast down as though thinking on his offer. "I…," she said softly. "I'm okay."

She certainly looked okay, as radiant as she ever was. In all the years he had known her, she never stopped being beautiful to him. The soft green shirt hung gently over her slender frame, the tight jeans, and the glossy golden hair that complemented her perfect skin. He reached his hand out to stroke those soft curls by her face. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm…" she didn't finish.

There had been tears at the hospital, just for a minute and he'd held her close as she cried. He expected much more when they returned home and he was ready to comfort but he knew all too well that he couldn't always predict the behaviour of his wife. "Shell we stay in, get a Chinese take-out, watch something you like?"

Her manner was unusually reticent, "Sure," she said, as though in a daze and proceeded to sit down in Sheldon's spot.

The speckled man eyed her for a second with a worried frown. A sudden memory of Sheldon and Amy relying on tea during distressing times spurred him to action. . "Tea..." he blurted, "…I'll make tea." Continuing to talk as he reached into cupboards for mugs and filled the kettle. "I know this is heart-breaking for us but once we take time to understand why it happened … I'm sure we can get through it… I'm always here for you… and when you are ready, we can try again…"

"I think I'd like to go on a girls' night." It was so sudden.

"Tonight?" Have I pushed too hard? Should I have not mentioned 'trying again'? He gave her another concerned look. A girls' night didn't seem like a good idea, after such news.

"Well, it's not like I can't drink now," the truth stung.

"I know but…" was all he could say.

"I'll text the girls," she said brightening up, stepping away and pulling her phone from her back pocket.

Please don't go, he wanted to say but she had already gone to change.

Over at 4B, the text had been received loud and clear but Amy was wearing an ever-growing scowl. "I have to go, Penny needs me," she insisted.

"…but we haven't gone through any of this..." The tall man gestured towards several large piles of paper on the table in front of him. "…now we are Nobel laureates we have been bombarded with hundreds of offers and invitations…and LOOK!…" he said, waving one on the air "…an invitation from quantum geniuses, Stormer and Tsui…" he seemed extra jittery this evening and Amy really wasn't in the mood.

"Sheldon!" she said with as much patience as she could muster. "My best friend has just found out she not going to have a baby. She wants to meet her friends. I'm going..."

"Should I come along…?"

"No!"

"…but I'm Penny's friend…"

"She wants a girls' night."

"But I've been on a girls' night before, you know that, we danced. Maybe I should bring a fruit basket? Would she like a fruit basket… is that appropriate?"

"Sheldon!" Amy boomed, with much less patience. "She doesn't want a fruit basket!"

His eyes were wild and startled by the outburst. "…but…"

"You're not coming! You didn't even show the slightest interest in her pregnancy before."

Sheldon flushed as the guilt hit him. It was true, he had barely reacted but hadn't expected everyone to notice. The guilt seemed to travel from his toes to the crown of his head. He had only done what he had promised. Keeping secrets had never been this odd mans strong suit and he wondered if the reddening of his cheeks would give him away.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap," Amy said softly as she slung her bag over a shoulder.

It hadn't.

Glancing back at the letter in his hand he searched for something to do or say, to distract from his sweaty palms. "…b-but what do I tell Stormer and Tsui?" was all he could manage.

Amy huffed. "Stormer and Tsui can wait," and with that the door closed and she was gone.

The tall man placed the letter down and covered his face with both hands, in deepest despair. He wanted to go to Penny but was that allowed? Not long ago, he would have gone immediately. They had always shared a special bond. As close friends, they had relied on each other for support more often than he cared to remember. But after that night everything changed…

Things had been said that couldn't be taken back.

From that day forward, they had both promised never to speak of that night again. He could no longer rush to his friend for advise on Amy's latest disappointment in him, or joke with Penny about her issues with Leonard.

Not ever again.

He sniffed and picked up a pen. 'A physicist needs something to put his mind to, a Nobel laureate has a moral and civic responsibility to enlighten and inform.'

Not ever…

Staring at the letter of invitation in front of him, Sheldon sighed and firmly ticked the box.

Yes, we will be attending.