Bathtub Party Day (December 5th)
She quietly handed Priya the diaper bag and kissed her cheek. She handed Leonard the cooler with the bottles in it and kissed his cheek. "I really appreciate you guys babysitting," she whispered.
Priya grinned. "We are happy to do it. It will be good practice if we ever have a child of our own."
Leonard blushed slightly and shook his head. "I just moved in a month ago and already she's talking kids. What's a guy to do?"
Penny heard the shower start and kissed Caroline's forehead before handing her off to Priya. "I'll see you in a few hours, honey. Mommy loves you. But she needs a little time with Daddy, okay?"
She waved bye as they walked away. She locked the front door and stripped off her robe and pajamas. She smirked and threw them onto Sheldon's spot. Then she headed to the bathroom eagerly.
Sheldon was just reaching for his shampoo when the curtain moved. He looked back wide eyed as Penny slipped into the tub with him. Immediately his body reacted to her. Penny looked him up and down slowly, licking her lips.
"You know it's Amy's turn to pick the holiday, right?" she asked.
Sheldon nodded with a bit of confusion. They were naked, and she wanted to discuss Amy and holidays?
"Amy called me last night to tell me her choice." Penny grinned and wrapped a hand around his manhood. Sheldon groaned and leaned back against the wall. "It's Bathtub Party Day, Sheldon. Leonard and Priya are watching Caroline for the next five hours. How should we celebrate?" she asked innocently, as she continued to stroke him.
Sheldon grabbed Penny's waist and turned them around. He pressed her up against the wall and ravished her lips. "Are you sure, Penny?" he asked huskily. "It's only been 6 weeks since you had Caroline."
Penny lifted one leg and pulled him against her. "I need you, Sheldon. Please don't make me wait any longer." With a sigh of pure bliss, he joined their bodies.
Penny listened to his heartbeat as she traced her name across his stomach. His right arm was draped over her shoulder, his fingers gently running up and down her arm. Penny lifted her head and looked into his beautiful blue eyes.
"Are you happy?" she asked.
Sheldon looked at her with surprise. "Penny, I have a beautiful daughter, a fascinating career, good friends, loving family and most importantly, I have you. Without you I would be alone, still trapped in the mindset that emotions were detrimental and that I was above all of that. All I would have is physics. I love my work. But you make my life complete. Happy? I am beyond that. I am jubilant."
Penny smiled tearfully and kissed him. "I love you," she said softly. "I've never been happier."
Sheldon grinned and rolled them over. "We still have a couple of hours until they bring our little girl home. Let's see how happy I can make you."
Penny wrapped her legs around his waist. "Ooh! I love a challenge!' she purred.
Missy and Mark were the next ones to marry. They had a beautiful ceremony in March. Amy and Zack announced they were expecting their own bundle of joy a month later. Raj's parents were upset at first that their kids were marrying outside their religion, but Leonard's obvious love for Priya and Sarah's jolly good nature quickly won them over. Even Leonard's mom had to admit that she had never seen her son so happy and content. Bernadette and Howard got married, too, just before Howard got the opportunity to go into space.
There were a few bumps along the road for Penny and Sheldon. They were two stubborn people who rarely looked at things the same way. But they never lost sight of what was important. Caroline was joined a couple of years later by a baby sister, Natalie Grace. The two of them kept their parents on their toes. They weren't just smart. They were scary smart. Inquisitive, bright, inventive and usually banded together. They had Sheldon's genius and Penny's daring. Life in the Cooper house was never dull.
:Epilogue:
24 years later Caro (as she liked to be called), Grace, Nathan Fowler-Johnson, Edward Hofstadter, Michelle Wolowitz, Anala Koothrappali and the twins Jason and Jessica Johnson gathered to help their parents celebrate 30 years of friendship. Leonard and Raj were bickering over whose turn it was to buy the Thai food. Zack was asleep on the couch, worn out from driving 10 hours.
Caro's boyfriend watched with confusion as Sheldon tried to blow up Howard's head over a weird card game. "Are they always like this when they get together?" he asked, turning to watch Penny and Amy tango by. Priya and Missy were giggling as Sarah and Bernadette sang Dancing Queen together.
Grace nodded as the others laughed. "Yep. Don't let the arguing or silliness fool you. Even though they all live in different places all over the world, they are the best of friends. There's nothing one of them won't do for the others."
Michelle nodded. "Remember four years ago? Uncle Zack had to have that by-pass surgery, so they decided to take a cruise? That way Uncle Zack could spend every day sitting on the deck, relaxing?"
Eddie laughed. "You and I had just graduated from high school. Aunt Penny and Aunt Amy snuck us drinks."
Nathan nodded. "Uncle Sheldon hates boats, but he never complained once. He even spent the last night on board sitting with Uncle Zack and playing gin rummy."
Anala linked her arm through Grace's. "What about 5 years ago, when you and I came out to our parents and told them we love each other? I thought my grandmother would have a heart attack if we ever told her, but Penny and Dad arranged for my grandparents to fly in from New Delhi, and your grandmother to visit from Galveston. Everyone stepped in to explain how, even though we were only 16, we loved each other and they convinced them to give us a chance to explain for ourselves."
16 yr old Jessica smiled, even though a tear slipped down one cheek. "When Dad died last year, Uncle Raj and Aunt Sarah flew in all the way from Italy. Uncle Sheldon even skipped an awards banquet in his honor to give the eulogy. We spent the week doing all those weird holidays in Dad's honor."
Caro turned to her boyfriend, a man she hoped was The Guy. "Regardless of blood, this is my family. So, ready to meet my aunts, uncles and parents?"
Greg smiled down at the woman who had first impressed him with her beautiful mind, and later astounded him with her generous heart. "Into the fray, we go," he said.
"Together," Caro smiled.
"Always," he replied.
I hope you guys have enjoyed these three years of holidays as much as I enjoyed writing them. By far, the epilogue is my favorite part. I guess, because I can see it in my head. Sheldon and Howard playing Warlords of Ka'a, Penny and Amy dancing, even Raj and Leonard arguing about the food. Everyone a little grayer, a wrinkle here and there, but still friends. Still each other's support. Thanks for reading. Today is International Jazz Day. Excuse me while I go listen to some Thelonius Monk.