For Darkly Dreaming, who probably expects this to break her heart. Instead, I hope it makes her smile.


Howard clenched his teeth against the panic welling up inside him. His stomach churned and his mouth filled with saliva. He forced himself to swallow and breath shallowly to keep from throwing up all over the inside of his space suit. Pressure built up in his ears until the rumbling of the engines became a dull roar.

I'm going to die. What was I thinking? I'm not an astronaut! I'm going to die!

"You're living the dream."

Leonard had looked so envious when he said that.

"Dude, this is a great honor! You're going to be right up there, among the stars I love!"

Raj had given him a small shard of a meteorite then. It was Raj's talisman. He never went anywhere without it.

"Don't worry about a thing. Bernadette and I will watch over your mom. You just have fun. And make sure you come back in one piece."

He should have expect Penny to offer to help his mom for him. She was always taking care of the group. He wondered if she knew how much they all relied on her.

"Howard, I do not say this often. Especially to you. You have been afforded a great opportunity. I am sure that you will meet the challenge with courage. I expect you to be honorable, steadfast and, as always, proficient. You will be missed, and we will eagerly await your return."

Sheldon Cooper, the most obnoxious, annoying, insensitive person ever, had faith in him.

"I'm so proud of you, Howie."

Howard's eyes snapped open as Bernie's words floated into the front of his mind. He slowly relaxed, the shaking and rumbling from the rocket's engines no longer scared him. Howard settled back and smiled slightly. He was on his way into space. He was doing something few ever had the opportunity to do. Fulfilling a childhood dream. And when he was done, his friends would welcome him back eagerly. Even better, he had the most wonderful woman on Earth waiting on him back home.