Chapter 33
The first couple moths of Penny's pregnancy took a toll on her both physically and emotionally. Her morning sickness only seem to have worsen making her hate Leonard even more. It also took some time for them to figure out which type of food Penny can hold down and which ones she gets sick of. She also developed very strange food cravings, like pickled fish and dried seafood which smelled funny to Leonard, combining unripe mangoes and ice cream which Leonard found weird. Penny's strange food cravings would sometimes test Leonard's patience as she would sometimes only eat a certain type of dish from only one food place. One night as they were preparing to sleep, Penny told her husband that she's hungry again.
"Leonard, I'm hungry." she said giving him a sad look.
"Do you want me to make you something from the kitchen?" he asked.
"No. I want those fried noodles from Orient Palace. Please!" she said.
"But it's already nine o'clock and they'll be closing within the hour!?" said Leonard.
"Honey please, for the baby!" Penny said pleading like a child.
Leonard sighed and immediately got dressed. "Fine." He said. He got out and took his motorcycle for him to reach the diner on time. He was lucky enough to arrive on time and get an order in as the diner was already empty with the crew starting to cleanup for the night. He paid for the food and hurriedly rode back to the house only to find Penny already sleeping on the bed.
"Honey I'm back with your noodles." he said shaking Penny awake. Penny grunted from being woken up.
"What is your problem! Can't you see I'm sleeping here!?" she yelled.
"But you said you were hungry! I got your noodles right here." he said trying hard not to lose his cool.
Penny rolled over and got off the bed, pulling Leonard's hand to the kitchen. She opened the food box, smelling and looking at the dish. She then pushed the food away towards Leonard.
"I'm not hungry anymore honey. You eat it." she said.
"Are you kidding me!? I drove all the way to the diner in the middle of the night just to get your stupid noodles and now you're saying you're not hungry anymore!?" he yelled.
Penny then covered her face with her hands and began to cry. "Why are you so mean to me?" she said. "I know you hate me because I'm getting bloated and fat but you don't have to be so nasty to me!?" she added while continuing to cry.
Leonard immediately became worried and went to her side to calm her down. "Honey I'm so sorry. Please don't cry." he said putting his arm around her. "Okay, okay, I'm gonna eat it now. See?" he said as he took the plastic fork and began eating the fried noodles. Penny wiped her tears and just stared and smiled at her husband while he ate. "I don't think I can finish this Penny." said Leonard halfway through the dish.
"It's alright. Put it in the fridge so we can reheat it tomorrow." she said smiling at him. Leonard cleaned up the table then brushed his teeth in the bathroom while Penny laid back down on the bed. He entered the bedroom and changed into his sleep clothes before laying beside his wife. Penny immediately hugged him, nuzzling her face on his neck.
"Honey, are you angry with me?" she asked.
Leonard sighed. "No. It's alright." he said hugging her tight.
"Do you wanna?" she asked winking at him.
"Really?" he asked making Penny cry again.
"I knew it! I know you don't love me anymore!" she said turning around and crying her eyes out.
Leonard pulled her back, hugging her tight and kissing her. "Honey please don't cry. I love you so much!" he said reassuring his wife.
"If you love me, then why don't you want to have sex with me?" she asked.
"I want to. Come on." he whispered as he began to undress her, touching and kissing her. Penny threw her arms around him and held him tight to feel his warmth.
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They laid on the bed, looking at the ceiling and trying to catch their breath.
"I'm sorry honey." Said Penny while touching Leonard's face.
"About what? Taking care of you?" he said.
"No. I shouldn't have made you buy the food and eat it too."she said.
"Honey, if you only knew how adorable you are to me now. I don't mind you being emotional because I know you can't control it. For now, I just want you to stay healthy and happy for our baby. Okay?" he said.
Penny nodded. "Okay." She smiled as they went to sleep.
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Penny's belly started to become prominent by her fourth month of pregnancy. She was glad to be given lighter work duties at the restaurant, sometimes manning the cashier or being the receptionist so she wouldn't have to serve orders to the tables that would stress her out. She still received the occasional tips from customers, usually as an acknowledgment to her pregnancy. Buster has also calmed down in being over-protective of her. The dog still liked to sit with her on the couch, usually placing his head on her lap and sometimes sniffing her belly, sensing the little human growing inside her. Leonard was glad that the dog has stopped being aggressive towards him. He thought that maybe Buster realized that it was Leonard's baby growing inside Penny. Leonard came home one day and saw Penny sitting on the couch, watching TV with the dog on her lap.
Leonard sat beside her then rubbed the dog's head. "I'm just glad he's not grumpy with me anymore." he said.
Penny put her hand over her belly. "Do you think we'll have a boy or a girl?" she asked.
Leonard put his hand on her belly. "I don't know. I just want our baby to be healthy honey." he said.
"I think it's a boy." Said Penny.
"Really? How do you know?" asked Leonard.
Penny shrugged her shoulders. "Just a feeling I guess." she said leaning on his shoulder. "If it's a boy, what do we name him?" she asked.
"Hmm, that's a good question. How about Richard?" he asked.
"Honey, that's my ex-fiance." She said.
"Oh? Right! Sorry. How about George or Harry, or maybe Charles or William?" he said.
Penny looked at him. "Okay, are those really your choices or are you just saying the names of England's Royal Family?" she asked, slightly amused.
"You saw that huh?" he said smiling back. "Although, William Hofstadter has a nice ring to it?" he said.
Penny rubbed her belly. "William Hofstadter. That's a beautiful name." She said leaning over and kissing her husband then looking down at Buster. "Do you like that name Buster?" she asked. The dog wagged its tail and barked twice at them. Penny looked back a Leonard. "He likes it honey." she said kissing him again. "How about a girl?" asked Penny.
"Uh, how about Leia? or Arwen? or Hermione?" he asked with a hopeful look.
Penny glared at him. "If those are names are from your stupid comic books, I'm gonna punch you in the face right now!" she said.
Leonard kissed her again, trying to calm her down. "I'm just joking honey. I'll let you decide on a girl's name alright?" he said.
"Thank you." she said. "How about, Rachel? Or Monica? Perhaps Phoebe?" she said smiling at him.
"Okay, if you think I wouldn't notice that those are the names from FRIENDS, then you have to do better than that." He said.
"What's wrong with Rachel or Monica?" she said laughing. "Oh! How about Claire? Or Sarah?" she winked at him.
"Hmm, Sarah Hofstadter. Sarah is a princess name actually." He said.
"Really? Which princess?" asked Penny. Leonard pulled out his phone and scrolled through it.
"Here." He gave the phone for Penny to read.
"I love it honey." she said putting the phone down and kissing Leonard.
"Sarah Hofstadter!" said Leonard. "I like it. It's beautiful." he said kissing her back.
Penny touched his face "Now why don't you stand up and do some stuff with me?" she said pulling him into the bedroom.
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Leonard took a day off to accompany Penny to her OBGYN for her sixth monthly checkup. Dr. O'Brien ordered the usual checkup items to be done to Penny like heart rate, blood pressure and weight among other things. The doctor ordered Penny to lie down on the bed to check their baby using the ultrasound machine. The doctor applied the gel on Penny's belly and began moving the sensor while observing the image on the screen with Leonard and Penny doing the same.
"Well, there it is! It's a boy!" said Dr. O'Brien. Leonard looked at Penny and can't hold back his tears.
"Oh my god honey! We're having a boy!" he said crying happy tears.
"I know. I'm so excited!" said Penny, wiping her tears.
"Okay, stay still Mrs. Hofstadter, I'm gonna take a 3D image of your son." said the doctor while holding the instrument in her hand. "Your son seems to be doing fine." she said. "Let me just print you a copy." she stood up and pushed some buttons on the machine. After a little while, the doctor gave Leonard a printout of their son's face from the 3D ultrasound.
"Look at William honey. He's so handsome!" said Leonard.
Penny gasped while holding the printout. "He's perfect." she said as the doctor began wiping the gel from her belly.
"That's a very nice name. William." Said the doctor. "Sounds like nobility." she added.
"I told it's a good name." Leonard said to Penny as she helped his wife clean up and get down from the bed and then followed the doctor to her desk.
"Well, you and your baby are doing fine. Nothing to be concerned about." she said. "Just continue eating lots of fruits and vegetables and you and your baby will be fine." Said Dr. O'Brien. "Do you have any questions?" she asked.
"Uh yeah I have one." Said Leonard.
"What is it Mr. Hofstadter?" asked the doctor while Penny looks at him.
"Well uh, I read somewhere that it is perfectly safe to have, you know, sex until the last month of pregnancy. Is this true?" he asked with Penny slapping his chest.
"Unbelievable!" Penny said while shaking her head.
The doctor was slightly amused and laughed at Leonard's question. "It's okay for you guys to have sex until the last month, even until labor as long you're not hurting your wife." She said.
"Did you hear that honey?" he said giving her a smug smile.
Penny shook her head. "You're a jackass." she said slapping his arm as they stood up, leaving the doctor's office.
By Penny's ninth month of pregnancy, the doctor recommended her to stay at home until she gives birth. Penny talked to her restaurant manager and was allowed to have three months of maternity leave. Leonard for his part was already done preparing for William's upcoming birth. Solomon gave the couple his daughter's old crib which Leonard repaired and repainted, making sure it is sturdy enough for the baby. His neighbor Sammy also helped him in renovating their bedroom, repairing and repainting the walls and ceiling. Leonard also made sure to prepare their hospital bag containing everything they will need when Penny goes into labor. He also talked to his neighbor and borrowed his car a few days before Penny's due date, making sure it is in good running condition when the time comes for him to take his wife to the hospital.
A few days before Penny's estimated due date, the couple was sitting on the living room, watching TV.
"How are you feeling?" asked Leonard, holding Penny's hand.
"Tired and excited." she said putting her hands over her belly.
Leonard then knelt in front of Penny to talk to his son in her belly. "Hi William! This is your father. We can't wait to meet you. I'm sure you'll be smarter than me or your uncle Sheldon." he said laughing, making Penny smile. "Your mother and I love you so much. Remember that alright?" he added. He sat back beside his wife, kissing her. "I love you honey." he said.
"I love you too." she said.
"A few days from now, our lives will completely change when this little guy arrives." he said.
"Our lives have been changing for the past three years Leonard." she said smiling at him.
Leonard nodded. "Can you believe it's been almost three years since we met?" he said.
"I know right? You were a scruffy handyman back then, always sweaty and dirty." she said.
"And you were this beautiful, hot girl that I was lucky enough to call mine." said Leonard.
"So, I'm not hot and beautiful anymore?" she asked teasing him.
"Honey, you're still the hottest and most beautiful girl in the world." he said.
Penny leaned and kissed him passionately. "Good boy!" she said touching his face. "Do you think Dr. O'Brien is right?" she asked smiling at him.
"About what?" he asked a little puzzled.
"About having sex until labor?" she said laughing, biting her lower lip.
"Let's go!" he said, helping Penny to stand and carefully holding her arm, guiding her into the bedroom. Leonard helped Penny to lie down on the bed while he hurriedly got naked with Penny waiting for him on the bed. He then laid on the bed beside his wife, pulling the covers over them while kissing each other. Leonard slid his hand around Penny, feeling and supporting her while he moves into her as Penny giggled and laughed at Leonard's excitement, feeling his eagerness. They were now at the height of their pleasure when Penny suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen.
"Ahhhh!" Penny grunted as she pushed Leonard off of her.
"Oh my god honey! I'm sorry! Are you alright?" Leonard asked.
"No. I think I'm in labor." she said. "Uggnnnhh" she uttered feeling another pain.
Leonard quickly jumped off the bed and got dressed. "Okay, we've prepared for this. We have to time the contractions to be sure it's not a false alarm." he said as he helped his wife to sit up on the bed.
The contractions became more frequent as Leonard helped Penny get dressed, then helping her into the living room to get their hospital bag ready. Buster sensed something wrong and ran up to Penny, barking softly and licking her hand, trying to make his mommy feel better.
"Don't worry boy, I'm gonna be alright." Penny said to the dog as she felt another contraction. Leonard took Penny by the arm and helped her into the car as he threw the hospital bag in the backseat.
"Buster you stay here and look after the house alright!?" Leonard said as the dog barked and wagged his tail at him. He got into the car and put Penny's seat belt on as he started the car and drove to the hospital. He looked over to his wife, trying to reassure her that it will be alright.
"Don't worry honey, we're almost at the hospital." said Leonard as Penny moaned again, feeling another contraction.
They arrived at the hospital and was assisted by the staff in the emergency room. Leonard helped his wife on the wheelchair while he slung the hospital bag over his shoulder, trying hard to stay cool as a new chapter of their life begins.