Chapter 27:The Big Surprise
It was the day after Heather Powers had made her attempt at disrupting Sheldon and Leonard's lecture, and once again, the two friends had just wrapped up a mutual presentation, this time on their joint superfluid paper. Sheldon was busy packing up his briefcase and Leonard was thinking of a way to get him over to their wives' hotel rooms without spoiling the surprise for his friend.
Leonard began to pack up his own notes and then suggested, "Hey buddy, what do you say we go out on the town tonight? You know, have an early dinner out and explore the town."
Sheldon looked over at his friend and tartly responded, "Leonard, need I remind you we have a well-stocked refrigerator back at our apartment and only a week left to empty it? Besides, it's the middle of February and much too cold to go galivanting around Heidelberg. Honestly, Leonard, sometimes I wonder if you think before you speak."
Leonard reluctantly conceded on those points, but still tried to find a way to get his buddy out of their apartment and over to the hotel where their wives and children were waiting for them, "Okay, we don't have to walk around town, but dinner out would be nice. You know, a little change of scenery and all that."
Sheldon shook his head vehemently at that idea, "No, Leonard. I have absolutely no interest in eating out tonight. Tomorrow, maybe. And need I remind you that in a couple of days we will be attending that banquet the university is putting on for us visitors? We will have that night to eat out. Tonight, I want to just stay in and catch up on some work. Niki has been doing the lion's share of our research since I've been gone and I'm starting to feel a bit guilty about that. Besides, tonight may be the night she decides to speak to me again."
Leonard had to almost physically bite his tongue to keep the news from his friend that both their wives were now less than a mile away. Instead, he had a better idea… "Say, buddy. We could always go out after we eat and take in a movie. How's that sound?
Sheldon's patience was running out and he almost snapped at his roommate when he answered, "Once again, I must reiterate that I have no desire, whatsoever, to leave the apartment tonight. None. Why are you so set on going out on the town, anyway?"
Leonard wracked his brain for an answer and came up with, "Uh, cabin fever. Yeah, that's it."
Sheldon dismissed his friend with a wave of his hand, "Well go explore on your own and leave me out of it. A nice, quiet evening sounds perfect to me right now. So, you go do your thing and I'll do mine."
Leonard's face suddenly brightened, "Hey, could I bring some friends back with me?"
Sheldon turned angrily and spat out, "Leonard, what part of 'quiet evening' are you failing to comprehend? No, please do not bring anyone back with you."
Leonard was becoming more than a little frustrated with his friend, but then thought of a new plan, "Okay, buddy. Just let me make a quick phone call and I'll be right with you."
"Then we will go up to our apartment?" Sheldon asked wistfully, his eyes making an upward trek towards the ceiling.
"You bet."
Sheldon nodded, somewhat appeased, "Very well. Make your phone call, but don't be all day about it."
Leonard exited the meeting room, went into the adjoining kitchen area, and placed a quick call to Penny. Hey, honey.We have a little problem on this end.
Is that problem called Sheldon Cooper?
How'd you guess?He refuses to leave the apartment tonight.You know how stubborn he can be.
Do I ever!Hey, why don't Nik and I get Helmut to bring us and the kids over to your place?We can still surprise him there and then go out to dinner if you want.
That's my girl.Always with a plan.Okay.We'll meet you at our place in, say, an hour?
Works for me.I'm sure Niki will have no problem with that.I think she's dying to see Sheldon as much as I'm dying to see you.And the kids can't wait to see their fathers.They're driving us crazy!
Okay.Tell Blake that Daddy loves him and that I'll see him in a little while.Okay?
Doesn't Daddy love me, too?
You know I do.As I've always told you, I've loved you from the first moment I laid eyes on you.
And I never get tired of hearing it.Okay, Sweetie.I've got to go and get ready.We'll all see you guys in about an hour.I'll text you when we're downstairs.Still fourth floor?
Yep, just like the good ol' days.
That's right!That makes this even better.See you then.
Okay.Love you.
Love you, too.And don't tell Sheldon anything.
Don't worry, I won't.
Okay. 'Bye.
See you soon.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
One hour later, the two physicists were kicking back in their apartment and enjoying the peaceful comradery which filled the room. Suddenly, an urgent knock came on the door. Sheldon jumped in surprise and asked Leonard, "Who could that be? Are we expecting anyone?"
Leonard gave his friend a knowing grin and replied, "Oh, could be." Just then, a voice called out from behind the closed door, "Leonard, Sheldon, are you at home?"
Sheldon gave a small sigh, "Dear god, it's Helmut. Whatever does he want at this hour? Doesn't he have an afternoon class to teach today?"
Leonard could hardly keep himself from laughing as he responded, "We'll never know unless we open the door, Sheldon."
"Well, I'll just give that honor to you, Leonard. I am far too comfortable sitting on the couch to get up."
The smaller man feigned frustration as he walked over to the door, "Okay, Sheldon. Be that way. I'll get the door."
"Well, it wasn't me who invited Helmut to come over."
"Sheldon, I didn't invite anyone to come over today." Leonard somewhat spoke the truth, but sincerely hoped his face didn't give him away.
His friend looked up and challenged him, "Then what was up with all that business about trying to get me to go out or bringing someone back with you?"
Leonard opened the door and invited everyone out in the hall to come inside, "It was about this…"
At the sight of his wife, mother, and child, Sheldon's eyes went wide in surprise and he jumped up from the couch and ran to where they were standing. He then gathered all of them in his arms and tightly held them as though he would never let them go. "Niki, Lori, Mother…" were all the words he could get out before tears overtook him.
"DaDa!" Lori squealed in delight at finally having physical contact with her beloved father.
"Oh, Cooper!" Niki exclaimed as she gloried in the feel of being in Sheldon's arms once more.
Blake ran to his father as fast as his chubby little legs would take him and called out, "Daddy!"
Like Sheldon, Leonard wrapped his arms around his family and explained to his friend, "Sorry I couldn't tell you they were coming, but Niki made me and Penny swear we wouldn't breathe a word to you about this."
When he had finally regained the power of speech, Sheldon informed his friend, "No worries, Leonard. This is the best surprise I have ever had in my life." He looked down at his wife and child and told them, "You two have no idea how very, very, much I have missed the both of you."
Niki blinked back tears and told her husband, "I think we know, Schatze. It's about as much as we have both missed you."
He then down at Mary, "I'm more used to not seeing you, seeing as you don't live with me. So, I haven't really missed you a great deal."
Mary took no offense, she was very used to her son's pragmatism, "Don't you worry about that none, Shelly. I mostly came over to visit Alfred, and watch the kids sometimes for you guys when you all want some private time."
Leonard kissed his wife and child and told them, "Penny, Blake. This is like a dream come true. Thank you for coming all the way here to see me."
"Oh, Sweetie. When Niki invited us, I jumped at the chance to see you again. At one point, I almost felt like getting out of the plane and pushing it to make it go faster."
At that point, Sheldon interrupted her, "Penny, you know full well you would have met your demise if you had stepped outside of that plane."
Penny shook her head and gave her bestie's husband an ironic smile, "Sheldon, it was a figure of speech, okay? I meant that I couldn't wait to see my husband, and if I have to be honest, you too."
"Okay, Miss Smarty Pants. I suppose I have missed you as well. Now, Leonard, what do you say we take our wives and children out to dinner?"
Leonard looked at Sheldon in complete confusion, "But buddy, you told me earlier you didn't want to leave the apartment tonight."
"I didn't, but our families have most likely not eaten for several hours, so I think it is only proper that we treat them to a genuine German meal."
Penny asked happily as she continued hugging Leonard, "Where?"
Sheldon suddenly heard his phone chime and after he looked down at it, he informed the rest of them, "I just got a text. Binary has arranged a private table for us at Schnitzelbank."
Leonard dropped his arms from around his family and asked his friend, "Isn't that the place we ate at the first night we were here?"
Sheldon smiled happily at the memory, "Your memory has served you well, Leonard." He then beamed down at his wife and added, "Oh, that place has heavenly schnitzel, Freckles. Just wait until you taste it."
"I can't wait! It's been years since I've had genuine schnitzel."
Sheldon suddenly realized that their partner company was somehow involved in all of this and blurted out, "Niki, how did Binary get involved in this?"
Penny giggled and answered his question with, "Oh that. We came over on a private jet they loaned us."
Sheldon sat back down on the couch, "Wait, they gave you a jet to use?"
Niki nodded at him, "Uh huh. Marcus arranged it for us."
Sheldon gave his wife a slight grin and stood back up, "Well that explains a lot. Marcus is always looking out for our best interests. At least the children weren't confined to their seats for several hours."
Mary interjected, "I ain't ashamed to tell you, Shelly, that was a lifesaver, all right."
Penny looked at all the happy people in the room and "Look everyone, sorry to interrupt, but I'm starved. What do you say we continue this discussion at the restaurant?"
Niki's hand went up, "I'll second that motion."
Leonard's did as well, "I'll third it."
Sheldon smiled fondly at all of them, grabbed the house keys, and announced, "Then it's settled. Off to downtown Heidelberg we go."
Out of nowhere, they all heard Helmut Hoffman clear his throat and announce, "Now that I have delivered your families to you good men, I will be taking my leave."
Niki stood in his path, her arms crossed and a stern look on her face, "Like hell you will. You're coming with us!"
Sheldon gently scolded his wife, "Niki, watch your language. Perhaps Helmut doesn't want to horn in on our family reunion."
"Sheldon, Helmut IS family."
He looked befuddled and asked her, "Excuse me? Niki, did you say Helmut is part of our family?"
She nodded, "Uh huh. I sure did."
"In what way, may I ask?"
Niki, ever mindful of Penny's hunger, answered quickly, "On the drive here, we discovered that we're cousins."
Sheldon picked up his daughter and headed for the door while addressing his wife with, "Run that one by me again?"
"Sheldon, my mother and Helmut's mother are sisters."
He stopped his progress and slowly nodded, "I see. I suppose that does make the two of you cousins."
Leonard was intrigued by the entire situation and asked, "So, Helmut, when do we meet your mother?"
Before Niki's cousin could answer, Penny gave her husband a gentle push from behind and reminded him, "Hey, like I said before, I'm starved. Is it possible for us to go out to that restaurant and talk about this whole cousin thing when we get there?"
They all nodded at Penny's request, quickly readied themselves, and headed off for a most informative dinner.
Well, they've made it to Germany.Everything should be fine from now on.Right?Of course…not.