Chapter 9
A couple of days later, Penny went into labor while she was taking a shower in the bathroom. Beverly helped her get dressed in their bedroom while William nervously looked at his mother, worried for the pain she is going through. Beverly took her phone and dialed Leonard's number to tell him of his wife's condition while helping Penny get dressed. After helping Penny get down to the living room, Beverly dressed William before getting dressed herself. William then went to sit beside his mother to comfort her.
"Mommy, I'm scared." he said.
Penny tried to put on a brave face and assure her son that everything will be alright. "Don't be scared sweetie, it's not that bad." she said as another contraction hit her, making her moan with pain. Beverly came down from the stairs carrying the hospital bag as she helped Penny stand up to go to the car in front of the house.
Meanwhile in CalTech, Leonard was walking hurriedly towards Dr. Gablehauser's office to let him know of his wife's condition. After a quick conversation, Leonard was off to his car to meet up with his wife at the hospital.
The three arrived at the hospital emergency room as Beverly quickly told the nurse of Penny's situation. The nurse quickly brought a wheelchair and helped Penny to sit on it as she felt another contraction. Beverly helped William off his seat and took the hospital bag with her before locking the car, following the nurse and Penny into the emergency room. The doctor and nurses quickly checked on Penny to find out how far along she is while Beverly began to fill-up some paperwork for the hospital records. William went to Penny's side, visibly worried for his mother.
"Mommy?" he said.
"Yes sweetie." she said. William said nothing and just stared at his mother. Penny gave him a smile and touched his cheek.
"Don't worry sweetheart, it won't take long now. I'm gonna be alright." she said, trying hard to keep it together in front of her son.
A few minutes later, Leonard arrived and went straight to his wife and son, kissing them both.
"How are you feeling honey?" Leonard asked.
"It's getting there but it's not like when I had William, this one's more intense." she said.
"Do you want me to get you something? Ice chips?" said Leonard.
"I think I can use some ice chips right now." said Penny.
"Okay. Let's go son, we'll get your mom some ice chips." said Leonard as he took his son's hand while Beverly sat on a chair beside Penny.
"Daddy, do the ice chips make the pain go away?" asked William.
"No son. But it gives your mom some distraction so she won't think about the pain." said Leonard smiling at his son.
"I'm scared daddy." said William, squeezing Leonard's hand.
"We have to be brave for your mother. Do you understand?" he said. William looked up to his father.
"Okay daddy. I'll be brave for mommy." said the child.
They took the bag of ice chips from the dispenser and walked back to the emergency room only to find that Penny was already brought into a vacant room for close monitoring. The father and son went to Penny's room after a nurse from the emergency room gave them directions to it. They arrived at the room and saw Beverly sitting on a chair talking to someone on the phone. Leonard put the ice chips on a small bowl and gave them to Penny as William sat beside her mother.
"Mommy how are you feeling?" he asked.
"I'm better now that you're here sweetie." she said smiling at her son.
"What did the doctor say?" asked Leonard.
"They said it's gonna be a while." said Penny. Leonard sighed and took a chair to sit beside the bed while Penny took a few chips from the bowl to have something to chew on.
"Hey why don't we get something to eat huh?" Leonard said to William.
"But I want to be here with mommy." said William. Penny gave him a weak smile.
"It's alright sweetheart. I'm gonna be here when you come back and your grandma is here to keep me company." said Penny.
"Come on buddy. We'll be quick. Do you want something? Mom?" Leonard asked his wife and mother.
"Nothing for me honey. Thanks." said Penny.
"Just black coffee dear." Beverly said as Leonard took William's hand and went out to the cafeteria to find something to eat.
After about fifteen minutes, Leonard and William came back into the room finding Penny and Beverly in the same place they were in when they left. Leonard gave Beverly her cup of coffee while William sat back beside his mother with his ham sandwich and orange juice.
"Mom do you want some?" William said offering his sandwich to Penny.
"Thanks sweetie. You go ahead and eat it." she said smiling at him.
"Mom are you gonna punch daddy again?" asked William.
Penny was slightly surprised and laughed by her son's question. "No sweetheart. I promise I won't hurt your father anymore." she said touching her son's face when a contraction suddenly hit her, making her wince with pain. "Uggghhh!" Penny uttered.
Leonard quickly stood up and held Penny's hand as another contraction came again. Leonard looked at Beverly and rocked his head to get William out of the room. Beverly nodded and stood up.
"Come on dear. Your mother will be fine here with your father." said Beverly, pulling William's hands.
"But I wanna be with mommy!" William said.
"Sweetie, go with your grandma. I'll be fine. Your daddy will take good care of me." said Penny. "Can you do this for mommy? Please?" she added.
William looked at her and nodded. "Okay mommy." he said as he held on to Beverly's hand while going out of the room.
Penny pulled Leonard in for a kiss. "Good job honey. I don't want him to see me right now." said Penny as she touched Leonard's face. "I love you so much." she added.
"I love you too honey. Just relax and in no time, Sarah will be in your arms." he said hugging his wife.
"Yeah, I can't wait to meet our daughter." she said.
"Me too. I'm sure she'll be as beautiful as you." Leonard said. Penny pulled him again for a kiss.
"I won't punch you anymore. I promise." she said smiling at Leonard.
"Ugh thank god! I was already thinking of how to hold your arms when we go into the delivery room." he said laughing.
"I'm sorry about that honey." said Penny.
"It's alright honey. I deserved some of it." he said.
"No, you don't. And besides, I don't want William to think that it's alright to resort to violence." said Penny.
"You're right honey." said Leonard as Penny winced in pain again. "It's getting worse huh?" he asked. "
Yeah. I think the doctor is right, this might take a while." she said as she ate a handful of ice chips from the bowl.
Outside in the waiting area, Beverly and William sat quietly, waiting for Sarah's birth.
"Grandma is it gonna take long?" he asked.
"I'm afraid so dear." said Beverly.
"Why is it taking so long grandma?" William asked.
"Well it's not the same with everyone dear. Some mommies take a long time to bring out the baby while some take only an hour or two." she said, touching her grandson's face. "Don't worry dear, your mother is gonna be alright." she added.
After waiting for a couple of hours, William asked Beverly if he could see his mother again. Beverly held his hand and led him back into the room where Penny and Leonard are. William came to his mother and sat beside her.
"Mommy why is it taking so long for Sarah to come out?" he asked.
"I think your sister wants to make a grand entrance sweetheart." Penny said trying to lighten the mood in the room.
"But why would she do that? Doesn't she know that she's hurting you?" said William. Penny and Leonard smiled at their son.
"Sweetie, I don't think your sister is doing it on purpose. Just be patient and in no time, you'll be able to hold your baby sister in you arms." said Penny, feeling another contraction.
"Your mommy is right buddy. But right now, we have to be brave for mommy like I told you. Can you do that for mommy?" asked Leonard.
William nodded. "Yes daddy." said the child.
"Good boy. Now come here and give your mother a kiss." said Penny as William leaned over and kissed Penny on the cheek. "I'm so proud of you sweetie." she added.
"I love you mommy." said William.
"I love you too sweetheart. Now why don't you and your grandma go and wait outside, alright?" she said. Beverly stood up and took William by the hand.
"Come on dear, we'll let your mommy rest for a while." she said as she led William out of the room.
The afternoon came and the gang visited the hospital, surprised to learn that Penny was still in labor as the baby is taking her time to come out. Bernadette arrived shortly followed closely by Howard and their daughter Halley. William immediately ran up to Bernadette upon seeing her, giving her a hug.
"Aunt Bernie!" William said as Bernadette rubbed his back to console him.
"Aww, don't be scared honey. I'm sure your mommy is doing alright." said Bernadette as she led William back to sit down.
"But why is it taking too long? Its been almost six hours now." said William.
"Honey, did you know how long it took for me to give birth to Halley?" she said.
"No." William said.
"I went through five hours of labor before she came out." she said.
"Don't worry. It will be over soon, I promise." said Bernadette, as she pulled William to sit beside her.
Another hour passed and Leonard came out into the waiting area, displaying a big smile. His face was a picture of happiness and relief. Everyone stood up as soon as they saw Leonard with William running towards his father. "She's here guys. They're both doing great. Penny's tired but doing okay. They're being taken to her room with the baby right now." he said as the gang and Beverly sighed with relief, congratulating him.
"Daddy I wanna see mommy now!" William said pulling Leonard's hand.
"No problem son. But you have to wash your hands first so you won't bring in anything that might make your sister sick, okay?" said Leonard.
"Okay daddy." said William as he went with his father, followed closely by the gang.
William ran to his mother's side as soon as they entered the room to look at the baby. "Mommy!" said William, kissing his mother as Leonard sat beside Penny on the bed.
"Aww sweetheart! I'm okay now. You don't have to worry anymore." said Penny. "Do you wanna meet your baby sister?" she said as she slowly lifted the baby blanket showing the baby lying on her chest. The gang was surprised and delighted upon seeing Sarah — an exact copy of her mother with her cute nose and cheeks, small lips and hair so blonde that it was almost translucent. Penny smiled looking at her daughter as she slept on her chest, unaware of the admiration from the people in the room.
"Oh my god Penny! She looks just like you!" Amy said, giggling with delight.
"Penny 2.0" said Sheldon.
"That is so amazing. It's like Penny was shrunk down to an infant." Raj smiled.
"Mommy she's so pretty!" said William as he lightly touched his sister's hand.
"The resemblance is remarkable." said Beverly. "I wonder how would Susan react when she sees Sarah for the first time?" she said.
"I'm sure she'll be surprised as we are." Penny said. "I think your wish came true sweetheart!" she added.
"Yeah. Good job buddy!" said Leonard giving his son a high five. Halley pulled Bernadette's hand.
"Mom, I want a sister just like that." said Halley making Bernadette and Howard a little anxious.
"Uh honey, I don't think it's gonna be that easy." said Bernadette.
"Your mother is right baby." Howard added.
"I guess you don't want another broken tooth huh?" Leonard said to Howard.
"Very funny Leonard." said Howard. "I'm surprised to see you don't have any black eye or broken nose. Did you tie Penny's hands or something?" Howard said, teasing Leonard.
"No more punching from now on. Right honey!?" Penny said, touching Leonard's face.
"Damn right babe!" Leonard said smugly, giving Penny a fist bump. The slight noise startled the baby, making her scream and cry.
"I think someone is hungry." Penny said as Leonard helped her sit on the bed to feed Sarah.
"Okay show is over guys! Let's give Penny some privacy." Amy said as the gang slowly went out the room for Penny to breastfeed her daughter.