Chapter 41: Speech! Speech!

Leonard and Sheldon address their hosts. Penny shares a secret and Helmut shares his heart.

What had drawn Sheldon away from Niki's side had been the sound of Leonard Hofstadter's voice addressing the crowd, "For both my colleague and myself, I want to thank the University of Heidelberg for having us as guest lecturers these past few weeks. Heidelberg is a truly lovely city and I will always fondly remember my time here. I have been honored to host these lectures with my best friend, Dr. Sheldon Cooper, who is one of the premier physicists in the United States, if not the world. I'm not quite sure where Dr. Cooper is at this moment, but I can assure you, he is safe. The last time I saw him he was with his wife, Niki. Now, I must tell you this, not only does Sheldon love physics, he also loves his wife very much…and very often. So, let your minds chew on that for a bit while we wait for Dr. Cooper to make his entrance, shall we?"

A few moments later, Sheldon raced up to the podium and took the offered microphone from Leonard.

"Thank you, Leonard for your kind words, most of them anyway. While up here with a mic in hand, I need to address something to all of you while I'm up here. I will try to be brief, but I must warn you in advance the odds of that happening are not great. My sincerest apologies to you all, but there are many things I need to say tonight, so please bear with me. My time as a guest lecturer at your fine institution has not been without both difficulties and rewards. The events of the last three weeks, which I will not go into detail about now, have taught me a very valuable lesson. No, make that two very valuable lessons. One thing I have been taught is humility. I've been making some ground on that issue the past few years, but I never realized how strongly I still held onto the notions of my own superiority until I arrived here and began my lecture series. To say that my eyes have been opened to a few things would be a drastic understatement. I was invited here by the university to give a series of talks about my latest paper, which was written jointly with my most gracious colleague, Dr. Leonard Hofstadter. What I need to say is as little as six months ago I would have taken great exception to the words he used to describe me, 'one of the premier physicists in the United States'. I would surely have taken him to task about his phrasing, reminding him that, in my eyes, I was the premier physicist in my country, not one of that said group. I would have been wrong. No one person achieves success in a vacuum, and I am no exception to that rule. The reason I was invited here to lecture on the superfluid theory, is in great part because of the work done by Dr. Hofstadter. I merely worked out the mathematical proofs for the theory, which was his brainchild in the beginning, if I must be honest. My math skills are superior to his, that I will agree with, but my vision has nowhere near the limitless boundaries of Dr. Hofstadter. His brain comes up with ideas that are mostly beyond me, if I must be honest with you people. And tonight is all about honesty for me. Dr. Leonard Hofstadter came up with the vision and the theory, I just tinkered with the math a little to make it all work. That is all. I owe a great deal to him, and I want everyone here tonight to recognize his genius for what it is, remarkable.

"Another work I lectured on while a guest at your university was my research group's paper on gravity nullification. This theory didn't come to fruition without the input of Drs. Raj Koothrappali and Nikita Horner. At this moment, Dr. Koothrappali is back in Los Angeles helping run our research facility and from what I have heard, doing an excellent job. Raj is one of the most gifted scientists I have ever had the pleasure of working with, and I do hope he feels the same way about me.

"On to Dr. Horner. I found her work to be as solid, well researched, and comprehensive as any I have ever seen, my own work included. What can you say about a physicist whose work astounds you? What do you do when you meet a fellow physicist of that caliber? Simple. You fall in love with the woman and ask her to marry you. She kindly accepts and together you build a family. At first, it's just the two of you and soon you create a child together. A child both of us adore, by the way. A few minutes ago, my wife, Dr. Horner, has just informed me that our collaborations have once again been successful, and she is expecting our second child. Again, what can I say except, 'thank you'? Thank you, Niki for loving me, helping me to heal and grow, and for giving me so many wonderful gifts that I know I can never repay. I also want to thank Dr. Leonard Hofstadter for not only being my co-author of the superfluid theory, but also the best friend I have ever had or ever will have. Leonard, you are more than my friend. As you once said to me, you are my brother.

"I am also very grateful to this institution for having me as a guest for the last few weeks. I have appreciated all the kindness I have felt from all of you, especially from Dr. Helmut Hoffman. Dr. Hoffman is a fine representative of your wonderful university and I will always appreciate all the kindness and help he has given me while I have been here. Your school is extremely lucky to count him among your faculty. Now, I do believe I have taken up enough of your time, so if you all will excuse me, I need to get back to my wife and unborn child. In closing, I want to tell all of you gathered here tonight, thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

Throughout Sheldon's entire speech, Niki had stayed in the small alcove, listening intently to his words. As he spoke about their history and their work together, tears gently fell from her eyes as she whispered softly, "Oh, Cooper!" She then thought of the child she was carrying and her daughter, back at the hotel with Mary, and her tears were replaced by a gentle smile. They were a family, and families stuck together through everything. Love for her husband and children filled her heart almost to bursting and she grabbed her phone and sent Sheldon a simple text: Cooper, I still love you to the furthest star in the universe and back.

Niki saw Sheldon leave the dais and pull his phone out of his pocket as he made his way back to her. He then read her message, stopped, and wheeled around. Reaching Leonard and Helmut, he began to converse with them intently. All three of the men began to smile broadly and they made their way over to the dj and whispered something into his ear. That man began to smile broadly, also, as Leonard walked over to the mic and began to speak:

"May I have your attention one more time, please. I need to mention that there are three remarkable women here tonight. One would be my wife, Penny, who is the most remarkable woman I have ever known. But there are two other women I have come to both admire and respect. One is the wife of my best friend, Dr. Sheldon Cooper. His wife, Niki, has been as good a friend to me as her husband, and she has been an excellent wife to him as well. But I need to say that she has also been a very good friend to my wife. Niki has always lent an ear and support to both me and Penny at so many difficult times in both our lives. She has cheered us on when we have had successes and lent us a shoulder to cry on when times have been hard. All I can say is both Penny and I love her very much. Niki, thank you for always being there for everyone.

The third woman is the lady friend of my other good friend here tonight, Dr. Helmut Hoffman. His girlfriend, Ms. Annelise Gruber, is a beautiful woman, both inside and out. In the short time we have known her, Anna has proven herself to be a true friend to me, my wife, and the Coopers. Annalise, thank you for all your kindness. It has not gone unnoticed by any of us.

Now, we three men up here would like to invite Niki, Penny, and Annelise to dance with us to a song we have chosen in your honor."

With that, Penny and Annelise joined their husbands on the dance floor. Sheldon looked around for his wife and found her still in the alcove, wiping the tears from her eyes before she returned to the hall.

"Whatever were you crying for?" Sheldon asked her in a gentle, caring tone.

Niki attempted a reply through her tears, "It's just your words, they meant so much to me. About me and the coming baby…"

Sheldon pulled her close and whispered, "Niki, I meant those words. I'm truly excited to be adding another member to our family."

"I know that," she sniffed and thankfully took the offered handkerchief from his hand, "but I'm worried if we're going to be able to give this child as much love as we have Lori. Do we divide our love between them or what?"

Sheldon shook his head and answered her in a soft voice, "Niki, we are both scientists, well versed in mathematics. The answer to that one is simple. You are using the incorrect application. We will not divide our love, we will multiply."

Once again, tears filled Niki's eyes as she buried her head in Sheldon's neck and sighed, "Oh, Cooper. You've done it again!"

Sheldon was honestly uncomprehending and asked, "Done what?"

Niki kissed her husband's cheek and answered, "Made me fall in love with you all over again."

"I suppose my answer to that is the feeling is mutual. Now, shall we rejoin our friends on the dancefloor? That dj has been waiting all this time to start the song."

Niki looked up into his eyes, "What song did you guys pick?"

"One that encompasses all three of our relationships." Sheldon held out his hand to his wife, "Please, join me?"

Niki took his hand are replied as she walked out to the dance floor with him, "Always."

As they headed out to the dance floor, the dj began to play Shayne Ward's Breathless and all three women melted into the arms of their men.

When the lyrics addressed the future children, Sheldon pulled Niki close and whispered into her ear, "Our next child will look like you if I have anything to say about it."

Niki shook her head decisively, "No, I want our next child to look exactly like you! Especially in the eyes. Lori has my eyes, I want this child to have yours."

Sheldon teased her with, "Boy or girl?"

Niki grinned up at him, "You chose last time. Now it's my turn."

"And you want?"

"A healthy child. Our child will be deeply loved regardless of their gender, and that's the way it should be."

Sheldon reluctantly responded with, "Agreed. Though would you be upset if I'm secretly wishing for a boy?"

Niki melted back into his embrace and answered in a soft voice, "Not at all, Cooper. Not at all."

Next to them, Leonard and Penny were dancing close themselves, having a happy conversation.

Leonard smiled at Penny and asked her, "When all is said and done, are you glad you came over here with Niki?"

His wife's green eyes glowed as she told him, "Just seeing you in the flesh has been way more than worth it."

"What about your play?"

Now Penny's smile grew cheeky and she looked deeply into Leonard's eyes, "Good luck there. One of the principals got sick and they agreed to delay the opening a few weeks."

Leonard became curious and his head drew back and he asked her, "Oh? Who's sick?"

"Me. Well not sick, exactly. I don't get sick when I'm in a family way like Nik, but still…"

Leonard's eyes grew wide and bright and he responded to her in an almost unbelieving voice, "Wait. Y-y-you mean?"

Now Penny's smile was wide and genuine, and her eyes sparkled even more as she answered him, "Yep. Baby number two is on the way. It was quite a jolly Christmas season for you and me. And Niki and Sheldon."

Leonard pulled his wife close to him and told her, "I love you, Penny Hofstadter. How long have you known?"

"Since about a week before we left. That's one of the reasons I agreed to come over here. I wanted to tell you in person."

"I'm so glad you did. This night wouldn't have been anywhere near as special for me without you here."

Penny kissed his cheek and made a confession, "I know. It's been pretty special for all of us. Oh, I have to tell you something else."

Leonard's face held a happy grin as he replied, "What?"

"I love you, too, Leonard Hofstadter. And I'm very, very, proud of you. You and Sheldon both deserve this dinner tonight, even if there were other honorees. But you were the guys that won that Sack…something prize."

Leonard threw his head back and laughed, "You mean the Sakurai Prize? Yeah, I'm pretty jazzed about that myself."

Penny grinned seductively, "Yeah? Well it makes me pretty damn hot, if you know what I mean."

"Really?"

"Yep. Just wait until I get you alone tonight."

Leonard made a bawdy suggestion to his wife, "Do you wanna leave now and get busy on addressing that issue?"

Penny giggled her answer, "That would be a bit rude, don't you think? It can wait another hour. But no longer than that."

"Deal."

Next to the Hofstadters, Helmut and Annelise were sharing their own, personal, moment.

Helmut beamed down at his lady as they danced and told her, "I am so happy you could be here tonight, Anna."

Annelise laid her head on his shoulder and answered dreamily, "I wouldn't have missed it for anything."

"Not even a good part in a great play?"

His girlfriend pulled back from Helmut's arms and replied, "You want to know something, Helmut? I've learned a lot from Penny and Niki about relationships. We have been separated so often because of my work. That has to stop. From now on, I will only accept offers that keep me close to you. I can act anywhere, but there is only one man for me, and that is you."

He nodded in response to her words and added, "And I have learned so much from Leonard and Sheldon. My work will never stop being important to me, you know that. But, I saw what happened to Sheldon when he was far from Niki and Lori. The man could barely function. And I could tell that Leonard missed his family more every day. Neither of them were very happy until their wives and children joined them. That is what I want for us, the same kind of bond. Whatever life holds for both of us, I want us to see it through together."

With that, as the music began to fade, Helmut got down on one knee in the middle of the dance floor and pulled a dark velvet box out of his coat pocket. Looking up at her with his heart in his eyes, he asked, "Annelise Hildegard Gruber, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

The young woman looked as if she were about to faint as she managed to squeak, "Yes, Helmut. I will marry you."

The other two couples on the dance floor turned to them with surprised expressions and were quick to join them for the celebration.

Penny was the first to speak, "Oh my god! Helmut couldn't have picked a better woman for his wife! I approve!"

Niki was quick to agree, "So do I!"

Sheldon added his approval to his wife's, "I feel compelled to side with the ladies. Anna, you are getting a fine young man as a husband. I do hope your marriage is as happy as ours."

Leonard happily chorused, "And ours!"

Penny squeezed her husband's hand and asked him, "Sweetie, can I tell Sheldon and Niki our news?"

"Sure! Go right ahead."

Niki asked her in an eager voice, "What news? Were you nominated for an Emmy?"

"No, silly. Nik, me and you are both gonna be mommas again. I think I'm due in September.""

Niki squealed her reply, "Me, too! Girlfriend, we can be pregnant together again!"

Sheldon turned to his friend and asked, "What do you think, Leonard? Should we be excited, or very afraid?"

"Buddy, I think I'm going for excited."

"Good. Then I can join you in your excitement!"

All three of the couples then left the dance floor and returned to their table, talking amongst themselves excitedly. Suddenly, Niki's phone alerted her that she had a message. Thinking it might be Mary sharing a problem with Lori, she immediately checked her texts. What she found was not about Lori, nor was it from Mary. It was from her mother, Audrey, and what the message said cause Niki to cry out, "Yessss!" and everyone else at the table to turn to her and ask, "What?"

What was in Audrey's text to make Niki have that kind of reaction? Does it have something to do with any of their little group?