In case anyone's still wondering, this story is dead. This is kind of blunt, yes, but I feel like I owe it to you to tell it straight up and not just continue to ignore this.

After I'd written about ten chapters for NHDH, I thought about writing another chapter to this story, but it just wouldn't come out of me. The intricate plot that was this story got too complicated and then I read the makers' interview, which stated that it's a good thing that for once there's a man and a woman with great chemistry but they aren't together-together, and it made sense to me. Also, in the fourth season Amy has more or less replaced Shenny-scenes so they hardly ever spend time together anymore, so inspiration equals zero right now.

I feel really bad about this, but I can't even really offer you guys a plausible "how it would've gone", just some pieces of the plot that I happen to remember. I had a great time writing this, and I learned a lot, so I wish I had something more but unfortunately I don't.

On a positive note, think about the parallel between my chapter The mole postulate and how quite some time after I published it, Penny turned out to have a tattoo and Sheldon peeked at it. I thought that was pretty neat.

As promised, the plot a little further along:

The reason Howard was so depressed wasn't because he was in love with Raj (as one might have thought considering my later fics), he was just lonely that all the others were getting some. Eventually I would have integrated Bernadette into the story and he'd have gotten some too.

I had no plans for Raj and Missy, I suppose they'd have settled into a relationship where Missy would have had all the power in the relationship and Raj would've just gone "yes Missy" (because you know, she's hot).

Rick would have taken Leonard out. They both had the plan of getting the other drunk, and they would have succeeded. Rick might have spilled the beans about the "arrangement". This would have lead to..something.

I figured Leonard would have hooked up with Leslie again, but I think she has too much self respect for that. Hm. I think he would have been alone, not because I don't like him, but because his obsession with Penny would prevent him from really liking anyone else (though that hasn't stopped him from sleeping with every woman that has come his way..).

As for Sheldon and Penny, about whom you are probably most curious.. They would have kept this Rick-with-Penny-scheme going on for some time, but would have gotten caught kissing or something, but that's many other schemes away. Penny would have gotten a great job as a translator or something to that effect. Like I told you, it got really complicated and difficult. Writing the fic was generally very difficult.

The Penny of this story was quite melancholic at times, foreshadowing my fic NHDH. She has some self-esteem issues and she kind of uses boyfriends to either make or break her "image", and dating Sheldon would have been difficult for her as he wouldn't even pretend to be "normal" (as Leonard does). Personal growth, coming together as a person, that sort of thing.

Oh, by the way: Sheldon wouldn't have changed in any way because of the surgery because it would have been way too easy a plot device. I think I was trying to fool the readers intentionally to think he would change, though. I don't remember why. These days I'm much more reader-friendly (I think. The actual readers might disagree :D).

Again, the Chocolate Cake Disturbance is similar to the scene where Mary gets Sheldon back together with Amy. I am psychic.

I'm sorry it had to end like this, but thank you for the good times and many, many reviews for this story.