A/N I want to start off, thanking all those who have been reading and following this story. I don't know why, but there has been quite an increase in views. Views in January are almost double the number of views I had prior to December. No, I'm not complaining, or bragging (well, maybe a little), but since I'm not getting very many reviews, all I have to go by are the number of views, and it heartens me that I have so many reading. So, thank you to all those who are, at least stopping by to read, even if you are not reviewing. And, a very special thank you to those who are reading and reviewing.

The second thing, I got several DMs, (and one review) mentioning Penny's pay. The phrase I used was, "…half AGAIN, as much…" Note the capitalized word. It means add half her current pay, to her current pay. In numbers, it's 150%. So, if she was getting $100, she would be getting $150. Now, enjoy.

Chapter 39

Monday 04, February 4:10 PM

Dammit, I forgot about Bernadette coming by, thought Penny. She dialed and waited and when Bernadette picked up said, "Hey."

Bernadette answered, sarcastically, "Oh, there you are. Nice of you to finally remembered me"

"I'm sorry, I forgot," said Penny. She paused, then said, "That may be part of what I want to talk to you about. Can you come down here?"

"Are you going to be there?"

"Yes, I will," said Penny. "Look, I'm sorry, okay?"

'Okay," said Bernadette, give me about ten to fifteen minutes."

"Thank you, see you then."

Penny hung up and decided to get a cup of tea and wait for Bernadette. It was about fifteen minutes later that Bernadette came into her office, "What's up?"

"Close the door, and sit down," said Penny.

Bernadette looked at Penny, but she backed up and closed the door and then took a seat to the side of Penny's desk, "What's up?"

Penny looked at her tea for a few seconds, not knowing how to start. Finally, she said, "I've been forgetting things lately, did that happen to you, while you were pregnant?"

Bernadette chuckled, "Oh yeah, a lot. Keys, food, cups, appointments…ahhhhh, so that's what you meant by part of what you want to talk about. Yeah, don't worry about it. Talk to your doctor, but it's pretty normal."

"Good to know it's not just me," said Penny. She tried to think of a way to start asking about the dreams, "Er, how about…um…er…about…I'm not sure how to say this."

"Who you having sex dreams about?" said Bernadette with a wicked grin.

Penny looked embarrassed, "Did you have them too?"

"Yep," said Bernadette, "old boyfriends," she paused and laughed, "even Sheldon."

Penny giggled, then laughed, "Sheldon? Did you tell Amy?"

"Oh god no," said Bernadette, "can you imagine her reaction? Remember the sister-wives comment on the plane?" Penny nodded and Bernadette continued, "Yeah, not sure I would tell her. I also had dreams about small animals, mostly rabbits, and taking care of them. Also, a really bad one where I kept dropping a baby, every time I picked it up." She moved to the edge of her seat, "So, who are your dreams about?"

"Kurt is one, Zack is another," said Penny, "then…not sure I want to tell you the other two."

"Howard, is one of them, isn't he?" said Bernadette with a smirk.

Penny looked embarrassed and Bernadette laughed, "If I dreamt of Sheldon, Howard makes sense for you. Who was the other one?"

"No, that's it," said Penny.

"You said the other two," said Bernadette, "Howard is one, who's the other?"

"I'd really prefer not to say," said Penny, "It's kind of, kind of…"

"Come on Penny," said Bernadette, "how embarrassing can it be?"

"Very, embarrassing," said Penny, "Bernie, I can't."

"Come on, tell me."

Penny didn't say anything for a few seconds, then threw up her hand and said, "Okay, but you asked for it, it's you."

Bernadette looked at Penny, and said in a questioning tone "Excuse me?"

"You, you were the other one."

"What do you mean?"

"What do you mean, what do I mean?" said Penny. "You asked me who I had a dream about, and it was you."

"A dirty dream?"

"Yeah, you were feeling me up, and I had my hand down your pants."

"Ummmmm," said Bernadette.

"Hey, you insisted," said Penny, "I didn't want to tell you."

"Uh, yeah," said Bernadette, sounding unsure, "how about we just leave it there?"

"It's fine with me," said Penny.

Bernadette looked uncomfortable, "Actually, I would have thought you would have been dreaming about Amy."

Penny looked strangely at Bernadette.

"Remember all those comments she was making, back when she started hanging out with us?" said Bernadette. "Hell, you even kissed her… well, she kissed you, so I would think you would be going over to her place…"

"Okay, enough," said Penny. "Don't drag her into it. It's bad enough I was dreaming about you."

Bernadette said shakily, "Yeah, okay. I have to get back to the office anyway." She turned and hurriedly left.

I guess we're both acting a bit weird, thought Penny.

Tuesday 05, February 10:10 AM

Raj was working on his new presentation for the Griffith Planetarium. He was still feeling depressed, thinking he would be losing his visa, when he didn't get tenure. Maybe, he could get a visa for his work at the planetarium.

His phone ran and he picked it up, "Dr Koothrapolli."

"Yes, Dr Koothrapolli," he heard Dr Gablehauser say, "I need to speak with you tomorrow. I have meetings tomorrow, so can you come by a little after five?"

Sure, a meeting after everyone has left for the day, thought Raj, dejectedly. I know what those mean. He paused, then said, "Yes, I can be there."

"I'll see you then," said Dr Gablehauser.

Raj hung up and looked at the phone. I'm going to miss this place. I better start talking to the observatory and see about getting a visa.

Tuesday 05, February 2:30 PM

Penny was working on a report for Dan when there was a knock on her door. Looking up, she was surprised to see Bernadette, who stuck her head inside the door, and said, "Can I come in?"

"Sure," said Penny, "do you want to?"

"Look, I'm sorry I was acting weird," said Bernadette. "It's just that, I've never had a woman hit on me before."

Penny looked shocked, "I didn't hit on you, I just told you I was having weird dreams."

"Yeah, I meant about how calm you seemed to take it," said Bernadette.

Penny giggled, "I didn't take it calmly, I yelled for Leonard, and he got me calmed down."

Bernadette nodded, "Oh, okay. Look, I thought that was weird, until later when I remembered you had some teachers, and a woman doctor, who hit on you. So I guess you had some experience with that. It's just I haven't."

"Oh, that makes sense," said Penny. "But, really, it's still kinda strange to me also. Oh, I don't care who does what to who, as long as everyone involved is willing, but I like men. Which is why it shocked me to find out I was dreaming of you, like that."

"I get it," said Bernadette, "how about we just acknowledge it happened, but we don't want to actually act on it, and just move on from here."

Penny smiled and nodded, "Sounds good to me."

"So, we're good?" asked Bernadette.

"We're good," said Penny. "Although I do have another question."

"Nothing weird, I hope," said Bernadette.

"Not really," said Penny, "I just started getting these dark spots on my arms and legs." Penny held out her arm, showing Bernadette.

"I got those too," said Bernadette. "Talk to your doctor, but I think it's the extra melanin your body is making, due to the pregnancy. They disappeared, on me, after the pregnancy."

Penny got up and walked around to Bernadette, "I will ask my doctor about it though." Penny stopped and put her hand on Bernadettes arm, "Thanks," said Penny, as she lightly rubbed Bernadette's arm.

Bernadette looked at Penny with concern, until Penny started laughing. Bernadette giggled and playfully slapped Penny's hand, "Stop that."

Penny kept chuckling but nodded. "I have to get back to the report, 'cause Dan wants it today."

"See you tomorrow night," said Bernadette. "Remember, our house this time."

Penny nodded and waved, as Bernadette left.

Wednesday 06, February 4:30 PM

Leonard was going through his emails, preparing to leave for the day. It was new comic book night, and then everyone would meet at Howard and Bernadette's. He looked and found he only had three more to go when his phone rang. "Dr Hofstadter," he said.

"Hi Leonard," said Raj, dejectedly.

"What's wrong?"

"Dr Gablehauser wants to see me just after five tonight. So, I won't be going to the comic book store."

"You coming for dinner?"

"I think I'm just going to go home," said Raj.

"Why?"

"I don't think I'm going to feel like it after I finish talking to Dr Gablehauser."

"You have to eat," said Leonard. "Look, talk to him, then come on over. At least tell us what he said."

"Yeah, I'll try," said Raj, "but, I won't promise anything."

"I'll see you later, then," said Leonard.

Raj hung up and as Leonard hung up, he just smiled.

Wednesday 06, February 6:30 PM

The guys had arrived with the food, and the women had the plates and silverware ready. Penny and Bernadette made up a plate for Halley and Michael, while everyone else got their own plate. Leonard had made up a plate for Penny. Talk was muted, as they all ate, but there was a knock on the door. Howard got up to answer it.

Raj came in, smiling, "Dude, you won't believe it, I got a new job, I get tenure. It's so great."

"Come on it, and tell us," said Howard.

They walked into the living room and there were comments of "Great News," or "Congratulations". Raj took a plate, got some food, and after a few mouthfuls, started talking.

"I thought I was going to get told my position would be ended at the end of the school year, " said Raj. "And, Dr Gablehauser didn't make me feel any better when he told me I wasn't going to get the Mt Palomar assistant director position. But then, he started telling me about the planetary science position. How I would help grad students, and post-docs with their planetary or sub planetary objects, I'll be the number two person in planetary science. And, the best part is, I get tenure. I'll be an assistant professor of Planetary Science."

"So, you don't have to leave," said Leonard with a big smile.

"Nope," said Raj. "I also get a raise, so I won't need you to watch over my finances, Sheldon."

"Well, that's good," said Sheldon, "because I won't be here next week."

"Where are you going?" asked Leonard. Penny looked over at Leonard who had a smirk on his face.

"I will be going to Fermilab, next week," said Sheldon, "to help them understand Super-asymmetry better, so they can look at designing some experiments to do a deeper test of Super-asymmetry. There is also talk of going to CERN, or them coming here, for the same thing."

Another round of, "That's great," or "Congratulations," while Amy smiled.

"Well, isn't this nice," said Leonard with a smile. Penny kept looking at Leonard, trying to figure out what was going on.

Leonard continued, "See Raj, it did work out for you. And, congratulations Sheldon, I'm glad you decided to travel for this."

"Dr Gablehauser pointed out to me," explained Sheldon, "that it was more logical, for one person to travel, instead of ten to twelve, coming here."

Everyone had finished eating by now, and they all pitched in to clean up. Then there was more talk, although the guys were talking about their new comics, and the women went to the dining room and talked about work, and Penny's pregnancy.

After an hour, it was time to leave and on the way home, Penny looked at Leonard and said, "Ok Hofstadter, spill it."

"What do you mean?" said Leonard innocently.

"You weren't surprised by either Raj or Sheldon," said Penny accusingly, "how did you know?"

Leonard chuckled, "I suggested Raj's position to Dr Gablehauser. There will be enough free time, for him to continue his planetarium show. Caltech and Griffiths have been trying to work out a partnership, and with Raj, now they'll have it. And, he will also help and guide the students and post-docs working in planetary sciences."

"And Sheldon?"

"Dr Gablehauser was having trouble with Sheldon," said Leonard, "as far as getting him to travel. So, I gave him a couple of ideas to use. One was to appeal to Sheldon's self-interest or his logic. One was to point out it's more efficient to have one person go to other universities and places like Fermilab."

"Good job, Hofstadter, good job," said Penny, as they continued home.

Wednesday 06, February 9:30 PM

Howard and Bernadette had put the chairs back where they belonged, put the dishes away, and then got the kids ready for, and put them to bed. The two of them then got ready for bed themselves. Once in bed, Bernadette knew there was something wrong with Howard, as he was only giving her short answers. So she decided to push him on it.

As she was putting on her hand cream, she said, "So, what's wrong with you?"

This surprised Howard, but he mumbled, "Nothing."

"Don't give me that Howie," said Bernadette, "you've been short and grouchy since dinner, what's wrong?"

"I don't know," said Howard. "Everyone is getting tenure, even Raj. I'm not eligible, so I still have to get my pay from NASA. If they decide they don't need me as an astronaut anymore, I might lose my job here."

"With my promotion, it wouldn't hurt us, for a while, at least," said Bernadette.

Howard took on a hurt, angry look. "Thanks, make me feel useless."

"Howie," Bernadette said softly, "that's not what I meant. If something happens, with me working, we would have the time for you to find another job. You have all that experience, with the things you designed up on the space station. There are a lot of aerospace companies around the LA area that would hire you."

"Yeah, maybe," said Howard, still looking sad, "but I like the academic feeling around Caltech, and I would like to stay there. Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what?"

"How would you feel about me working on my PhD?" asked Howard.

"Would you be able to?" asked Bernadette. "Do you have a project in mind?"

"Yes, I would, and yes, I do," said Howard. "I talked to Dr Gablehauser, and the head of the Engineering department they both would be willing to waive certain requirements because I would be working here while getting it."

"As far as a project, Leonard said something about my fix to the space station grip, about how I should find out why it failed, and why my fix works, and if I could find something that works better. It got me thinking, which is why I talked to the heads of both departments. I realized, and pointed out to them, that it's kinda the perfect PhD problem, no matter what I find is new knowledge."

"What about the kids?" said Bernadette, "I can't take care of them every night."

"No, I would take the few courses I need, during the day, at work," said Howard, "and I would be home, most of the time at night. There might be only a few nights a month, where I'd be gone. Most of the time, I would be at home, at worst, working on writing my thesis."

Bernadette considered that, "I guess that would be fine."

"See, most of my research would be a continuation of my work for NASA," said Howard, "so there wouldn't be much extra time, outside of work."

"If all this is the case," said Bernadette, "I'd say go ahead and try it."

"I'm just going to think about it for a week or so, then decide."

"Oooooh, thinking of you as Doctor Wolowitz, is getting me horny," said Bernadette, as she turned and kissed Howard. He returned the kiss, and soon Bernadette's nightgown, along with Howard's boxers, were on the floor.