Hey everyone, I know I usually do intros for my stories but I feel like this fic deserves to get dived right into ASAP. But before I do, here's some exposition for y'all.

4 years after the end of TBBT.

Raj and Emily never broke up.

I've put my own spin on Howard and Bernadette's kids.

Enjoy!

'' Argh! Seriously, why couldn't we just push her into horseback riding!'' a short man said, getting off the ground, rubbing his back.

'' Because with our genes the only way she'll stay on the damn thing is if we tie her to it with bungee cords'' his wife smirked from the back porch.

'' I win!'' the young child said gleefully. She was Halley Wolowitz. Just like her mother Bernadette, she had slightly pale blonde hair and whilst appearing as sweet as a lamb on the outside, she was secretly as determined and vicious as a rapid wolverine. The reason for her cry of victory being that she, through pressuring from her maternal grandfather had taken up peewee football, and had just tackled her father, who, even at his age bruised easier than a gay peach.

'' Oh come on Howard, injuries happen all the time in football. Also you're the one who didn't want to pay for a practice dummy so here we go!'' Bernadette smirked, Michael in her arms.

'' I told you their physiques intimidate me! Plus, I gave a perfectly reasonable solution'' Howard responded.

'' And I told you that we aren't using Stuart in place of it, or Raj, Leonard, Sheldon or Michael.''

'' Come on, why not use the possum? Afterall we let him stay here for a while, consider these his 12 labors.''

'' You used that same excuse when you made him stand outside with a kid's umbrella in that lightning storm.''

'' Daddy?'' Halley asked, tugging on her father's pant leg.

'' Yeah honey, what's up?''

'' Are you a sissy?''

Bernadette struggled, and subsequently failed to hide a laugh. '' No, he isn't.''

Howard looked around himself. A beautiful wife, two kids who loved him unconditionally, great friends who per Sheldon's nagging and whining all now lived in houses 5 minutes away from each other. Josh had also recently taken up a job researching shark biology at Caltech and had become the unofficial 5th member of Howard's circle of friends. His life was great.

Despite this, there was a part of him that he kept thinking about; his mom and dad. 8 years ago his mom had tragically passed away after going to Florida. Howard, before this hadn't taken her to the airport as he was too busy, something he'd never forgive himself for. His mom would love Michael and Halley, she'd teach them how to shriek at each other and would happily babysit them on the off chance he and Bernie were able to get out of the house for a few hours.

But then there was his father…Sam Wolowitz was, according to Josh, a manipulative douchebag who was more interested in downing a case of Silver bullets than being there for his own family. Still though, he was a constant thought in his older son's head.

Sam was still Halley and Michael's grandfather and therefore had a right to know his grandkids, something Bernadette had been telling him for a while. But after what he had done to not just Howard, but Debbie as well, the engineer wasn't even sure if he wanted to see his father again. He had walked out on them when Howard wasn't even 13 years old, leaving Debbie a lonely broken shell of a woman and Howard, now the man of the house. He had to be a kid and take care of his mother at the same time, something no child should have to endure.

This came up again later that week when Raj and Emily were over for dinner.

-x-

'' Wait, so you used Raj's suggestion for roller skating as a double date with Penny and Leonard? Why am I only hearing about this now?'' Emily chortled, sipping on the wine she was given.

'' Hey, I didn't mean for it to happen, it just did. Come on, back me up here, it was awesome right?''

Bernadette looked at her husband getting into an argument with his best friend's fiancée. '' Sure, yeah it was great.''

Having been married to her for years, Howard could tell when she was lying. '' Was it really that bad?''

'' You danced like you were learning to walk for the first time and then yelled out The Disco Duke is here to crank up the funk.''

'' Funk? Come on dude'' Emily smirked.

'' Hey, it's a cool genre, plus, I rocked that outfit that night.''

'' You looked like you crawled out of a 90s stereotype's wet dream'' Bernadette deadpanned.

'' This has to be fun right, your wife, my future wife, bonding over your humiliation'' Raj added.

'' Hilarious- hold on'' Howard said, his phone vibrating. Taking it out of his pocket he noticed an unknown number.

'' Who is it?'' Raj asked.

'' Don't know'' Howard sighed.

'' Well answer it dude, I need my gossip for the week.''

'' Fine, I'll do it.'' Getting up, the man went into the den, not sure who was on the other line.

'' Howard Wolowitz, how can I help you?''

'' Howard, is that really you?''

Howard knew that voice, even though it had been almost 30 years since he had last heard this man's voice, he remembered it clear as day.

'' How did you get hold of me? Did Josh put you in contact with me, because if he did then I swear I'll feed him to those damn sharks.''

'' Easy there kiddo, not the response I was expecting from my own son.''

'' Cut the crap, I stopped being your kid when I woke up that morning and you were gone.''

'' I had to kiddo, you don't understand-

'' I understand plenty!'' Howard's raise in his vocal volume attracting his friends from around the corner. '' You were selfish, you broke- no, shattered the heart of the greatest woman I've ever known, leaving her a smoldering wreck and your own son with abandonment issues.''

'' Howard, please, just listen to me'' Sam said, calmer.

'' Fine, what do you want?''

'' Well kiddo, you see, my girlfriend broke up with me down here in San Diego, with Josh living in LA now and his mother having divorced me, I have no reason to stay there, long story short, I'm coming to Pasadena at the end of the week. I'd love to meet up with you, meet your friends, that wife of yours, your kids, hell, I'd even like to see your lab at Caltech, afterall, my son's been to outer space.''

'' You give me one good reason why I should. You abandoned me and mom. Left us with mental scars that still haven't healed. You know she gained weight after you left? Yeah, 200lbs! When she died all those years ago, autopsy showed heart strain, you know who caused that, you!''

'' Howard, I know I screwed up! Believe me its haunted me for years, I wanted to reach out to you but never had the guts to. Like a coward…''

As Howard's verbal war with his father continued, Bernadette, Emily and Raj peeped from behind the door.

'' Who's he talking to?'' Emily whispered.

'' Don't know. I've never seen him get so angry, even after Iron Man died in Endgame'' Bernadette answered.

'' We loved him 3000'' Raj added.

'' Well whoever it is, Howard clearly isn't a fan of his, maybe we should ask?'' Emily asked.

'' I love you, but have you gone mad babe? In his mental state he'd probably charge through the front door.''

'' Whatever lets keep listening'' Bernadette snapped.

'' Give me a chance to redeem myself kiddo'' Sam said. '' What have you got to lose?''

'' Any shred of respect I still have for you. You never even showed up to my barmitzvah!''

'' I couldn't! You would have thrown the yad at my head!''

'' I would've. You know…what, I'll sleep on it, goodbye Sam'' Howard answered.

'' Who was that?'' Bernadette asked, now in the den.

'' My dad'' Howard sighed.

'' Seriously? You're kidding'' Raj added.

'' No. He said he's moving back to LA from San Diego, wants to get in touch and meet everyone.''

'' Are you going to go through with it?'' Emily asked.

'' I don't know'' Howard answered, sitting down on a nearby couch. '' I told him I'd sleep on it. I mean, sure I still want to beat the living crap out of him but, I'd finally have the chance to tell him off to his face.''

'' Or maybe he's changed. Its been over 20 years Howie, it could've happened. He can see me, the gang, his grandkids-

'' No'' Howard interrupted.

'' Excuse me?'' Raj added.

'' He can meet me only. I can deal with seeing him, but I'm not going to expose you, Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, Amy, Penny, Emily and especially Michael and Halley to this. He's not going to traumatize my own children like he did me.''

'' So, still going to sleep on it?'' Bernadette asked.

'' No, I'm calling him. He's moving at the end of the week, I'll see him then.''

'' You sure you can handle this?'' Raj asked.

'' No. I'm…terrified of seeing him, but if I don't, I'll never forgive myself. This meeting isn't just for me…its for ma too'' a tear forming in Howard's right eye.

'' She would've wanted you to do this. She'd want you to have closure. In fact, bring him to the restaurant at my hospital, neutral location and if worst comes to worst I'll use liquid helium on his hands'' Emily scarily smiled.

'' Then I guess that's that. I'm meeting my dad'' Howard laughed.

And scene. Thanks guys for reading, hope you're all doing well and I'll hopefully have some more Draveney goodness for y'all soon.

Until then, stay safe and stay awesome!