"I'm pregnant."

Four mouths dropped.

Four pairs of eyes widened.

Four controllers fell to the floor.

Four men's lives changed in an instant.

"Holly crap"

The silence was finally broken by Raj. No one seemed to notice.

Penny was beginning to get even more worried. She could feel her throat getting tight and her eyes starting to sting.

"You… you're…" Leonard flustered, looking around at the others. He seemed to be hoping someone would shout 'Bazinga!' and they could all start laughing at how he had fallen for such an obvious joke. No one yelled, and when he turned back to Penny, Leonard knew this was no joke. He sat down on the armrest of the couch. Sheldon didn't even glare.

There was a longer silence, and finally Sheldon reached forward and picked up the TV remote from the coffee table. He turned the TV off, and looked at Penny. Her eyes were wet and she was wringing her hands nervously.
"Sit down Penny," he said, as gently as he knew how. "I think we'd better hear this particular anecdote after all."

Penny nodded, and moved to sit on the couch between Raj and Sheldon. Howard had stood and was bustling in the kitchen, and when he turned around he was holding a cup of tea, which he handed to Penny before sitting down again. Penny gave him a grateful smile that trembled slightly, and took a sip before putting down. She took a deep breath, and started.
"Well, a few months ago, a friend and I got really drunk… we were at the cheesecake factory and we'd had a bit much. We ended up going back to my apartment and… and… and now this." She waved her hand at her still flat stomach.

"So you're sure this guy is the father?" Howard asked

Penny nodded. "I haven't been seeing anyone, and he was the only one I've slept with for at least five months…"

They nodded, understanding the logical deduction, and Leonard asked "Who is he? The father?"

Penny shook her head. "I haven't had a chance to talk to him yet. I want to know what he thinks before telling anyone who the Dad is. He might not want to know about it at all." Her voice broke, and Raj rubbed her back soothingly.

"So you think you'll keep the child then?" Sheldon asked, and Penny shrugged.

"I don't know. It's hardly logical, is it? I barely make enough money to get by myself, let alone with a kid. My apartment's not exactly big, and if I don't get the courage up to tell the dad or if he doesn't want anything to do with it, the poor thing wouldn't even have a father figure…" she sniffed, and laughed humourlessly. "And let's face it, I wouldn't be the best Mum in the world either."

"While I can see your logic in your previous arguments, I am going to have to disagree with your last two statements Penny." Sheldon said, and the others nodded, though they had no idea where Sheldon was leading with this.

"First of all: you would be a fine mother, I am sure. You are caring: you took care of me when I was ill, and did an adequate job of it. You are smart: you know just what needs to be done and when. You are kind: you are always ready to back any one of us up, or do something for us that are not required by the social conventions that make up friendship. You go the extra length for those you deem worthy; and I am positive you will do the same for your child."

The others nodded, muttering their agreement.

"And secondly," Sheldon continued, "What do you mean, have no father figures? What on earth do you think the four of us would be, sisters? Pets of some kind?"

Penny stared at Sheldon, and finally let the tears run. "You used sarcasm.." She said quietly, before she began to sob uncontrollably into her hands, shudders ripping through her body as she gasped for breath. Sheldon immediately lost his collected composure, and looked desperately at the others for help, mouthing 'what do I do?'

Leonard walked around the back of the couch and gently patted Penny's shoulder. Raj stood and got the tissues as Howard brought the bin. Sheldon awkwardly rubbed Penny's back, and she leaned across and rested her head on his shoulder. He immediately stiffened, his arms clenching to his sides, but at the motion Leonard made, he awkwardly moved his arms to encircle the crying woman next to him. Penny cried into Sheldon's Green Lantern t-shirt, no doubt infecting him with bacteria, but he stayed still. They all stayed.

Penny was terrified. She was confused. She had the best friends in the world.

She wasn't sure that they would all be so accepting by the end.

But God, she hoped they were...