The Skype Syncopation

by katladyd

Sheldon and Leonard leave for Germany to give a month-long lecture series at the University of Heidelberg. While they are gone, them and their wives learn some things about life, love, and friendship. This is a sequel to The Assistant Conundrum, so it's pretty much the same characters. Note: I don't own any part of TBBT, not one bit of it.

59. Chapter 59

Chapter 59: The Fatherhood Principle

I am so sorry it has been so long since and I've published this last chapter to this story. Blame it on Windows 10. I was, maybe, two pages into this chapter when Windows did an update and I was locked out of all my encrypted documents, of which this story was one. I'm no slouch on the computer, used to teach some computer skills when I was a teacher, but everything I tried was a great big fail! I finally decided to do a diagnostic, which took a bit of time, but I FINALLY managed to use my password for this story successfully! I have worked on this story every chance I've had during the last two weeks and here it is! Thank you all for you understanding and patience.

It is seven o'clock pm on a typical Monday night. Sheldon Cooper is in his office working late. He reads a thick manuscript closely, his brows furrowed in concentration. The paper he is studying is one written by Helmut Hoffman and given to him the day before. Sheldon's thoughts begin to wander aimlessly through his mind. He is trying, with much frustration, to discover why it is tickling something in the back of his mind. An occasional, 'Hmmm' or 'I see', escapes from Sheldon's mouth every now and again. He knows there is something significant about this theory, but he is having a great deal of trouble figuring out exactly what it is that he is searching for. Several thoughts all race through his mind simultaneously.

I am so relieved we kept Helmut on after Raj returned. This man's research skills and scientific mind are of the highest standard. I suppose there was no letting him go after Annelise and Penny formed a close friendship, Leonard would have been extremely upset with me and Penny may very well have planned my demise. It's all immaterial at this point, however. I am glad he is here and that is that. This paper, though well written and researched, is bothering me. I feel there is more to it than its written words. Something tells me this theory is much more than the sum of its parts. But what is it? I don't want to ask Helmut. Dr. Sheldon Cooper never asks others for explanations of their work, he is the one that always explains to others both his theories and their own. So what is missing here? Or better put, what am I missing?

At that precise moment, an urgent knock came on his door and before he could tell whomever it was to go away, Leonard burst through the door excitedly, a copy of Helmut's paper held fast in his hand. "Sheldon! Just the person I want to talk to about this!" he exclaimed, waving the sheaf of papers in front of Sheldon's face.

"Leonard, can you not see that I am busy? Helmut gave me a copy of that theory he's been working on and I have been trying to make sense of it since."

"That's what I came to see you about. This theory, Helmut gave me a copy of it, too. This is amazing, don't you think? Why are you looking so upset?"

Sheldon stared up at Leonard, annoyance plainly written on his face, "That he gave it to both of us? No. I do believe Raj received a copy of it, also. What I am curious and concerned about is his suggestion that our superfluid vacuum theory could work in other dimensions. What does that mean exactly? I must admit, the thought has been bothering me all day."

This time, it was Leonard's turn to be annoyed, "Sheldon, don't you see? If this theory holds up, if we can certify it with proofs, my God!"

"My God, what?" he answered testily. Sheldon didn't like it when others grasped scientific theories before he did.

Leonard's voice turned to one of patience, "Sheldon, read the central equation carefully. What do you think that means?"

His friend shrugged and replied in an almost bored voice, "That our universe contains many dimensions, all with differing characteristics. It's quite a bold assumption, but one I have put forth before."

Leonard felt like shaking his friend, but instead, he merely cried out in frustration, "Don't you see? Helmut took this one step further. His theory ties together all of our previous ones and puts them nicely into one, neat, package. Super asymmetry, gravity nullification, the superfluid vacuum, they all work together to contain the entire universe into one, unified theory."

Sheldon's eyes went wide at his friend's words and the tickling in his brain was finally relieved. He rose from behind his desk and crossed the room to envelop Leonard in a giant bear hug. "Good Lord, Leonard! Our junior partner has given us the key to a unified theory of the universe!" Sheldon once again read through the paper quickly and loudly exclaimed, his eyes dancing, "Leonard, we must call Helmut to come over here immediately! We have work to do!"

Leonard's phone suddenly rang in his pocket, he checked to see who was calling him and reluctantly answered it. "Oh, okay. Wait…WHAT? We'll be right there. Don't go anywhere." He turned to Sheldon and blurted out, "Not so fast, buddy. Our talk with Helmut will have to wait. That was Penny. She's in labor and wants me to get her to the hospital asap."

A confused look crossed Sheldon's face as he asked, "But didn't it take quite awhile for Blake to be born? Surely we have at least a couple hours to spare."

As Leonard hadn't hung up the phone, Penny had overheard everything and asked her husband to put her on speaker phone, which he did with much haste. Both men heard very clearly, "Shut up, Sheldon! Have you ever had a baby? I thought not. Look, no two labors are alike and this one feels like it is going much faster. Now send my husband home to me…NOW!"

Sheldon patted his friend on the shoulder and advised him, "I think you should be getting home to your wife with no undue haste and I should join you. I'll call Niki and ask her to meet us there."

Penny's voice once again filled the room, "No need, Sheldon. She's already here. Your mother is watching the kids. Do you and Nik want to go with us?"

This time, Sheldon's voice was sincere and calm as he grabbed Leonard's phone and reassured her, "Wild horses couldn't stop me, Penny. You're the wife of my best friend, and the best friend of my wife. And I suppose you are as close to me, maybe closer, than my own sister. We'll be right there, as Leonard said, don't go anywhere."

A short sarcastic laugh was heard, followed by, "Very funny. The only place I'm going is to the hospital and Leonard will have to drive me."

"Then we shall leave immediately, right Leonard? Leonard?" Sheldon looked around wildly for his friend, to no avail.

Penny's voice was heard from the phone once more, "Sheldon, he's already downstairs and by my side. Now get down here, too. Niki needs you."

His eyes went wide as he responded with true panic, "Good Lord! Is Niki in labor, also?"

On her end, Penny shook her head, rolled her eyes, and replied to the startled physicist, "Not yet, but she still needs you here."

"Tell her I will be down directly. And Penny?"

"Yeah?"

Sheldon did something completely uncharacteristic of him and told her, "I'm sending up a prayer for you and your unborn little one."

Penny's face softened at his words as she ran her hand lovingly over her abdomen, "Awww, thank you Sweetie. Your mother said the same thing. Now get down here. Niki wants you here."

Sheldon grabbed the sheaf of papers and put Leonard's phone in his pocket as he ran out of his office, "Of course, I am leaving now."

When he reached the main floor, Sheldon found Leonard in the Great Room/Reception area with his arm protectively around his wife, who seemed to be in more than a little distress. He also saw Niki somewhat kneeling down in front of Lori, advising her to be a good girl for her grandparents while they were gone.

Mary stood behind her granddaughter and admonished her daughter-in-law, "Now don't you forget, Niki. You better be callin' me and Alfred the second that little one is born."

Niki threw her a reassuring grin, "Have no fear, Mary. As soon as that baby is born, you'll be getting a phone call."

Sheldon stepped over to his wife, put his arm gently around her, and added, "I'll make sure she does, Mother. I wouldn't want to hear it from you and Alfred if we didn't."

A slight grimace crossed Penny's face and she called out to no one in particular, "Hey, hey, everyone. Do you think we could leave for the hospital now? These contractions aren't playing around anymore."

Sheldon nodded quickly and replied, "Of course. Leonard, Niki and I will follow you in our car. Are you going to Huntington or the Methodist?"

Niki planted an elbow into her husband's ribs and chided him with, "Sheldon, you don't know? She has the same doctor I do, at Huntington Memorial."

"I'm sorry everyone. I suppose my mind has been somewhere else tonight. As I said before, Leonard, we will follow you."

As they walked out the front door, Niki looked up at Sheldon and inquired, "All right, spill it Cooper. What's been occupying that immense mind of yours tonight."

He unlocked the doors of the car and answered her as they both got in, "I'll explain it all to you on the drive to the hospital.

"This better be good, Sheldon."

Her husband started the car, looked over at Niki and gave her a sly smile, "Oh it is, Freckles. It is." He purposefully tossed a stapled stack of papers into her lap, "Read this and tell me what you think."

"Sheldon, this is neither the time nor the place…"

"Just read it…please."

"If you insist." Niki brows furrowed in concentration as she read until she suddenly looked up and gave a little gasp, "Geeze, Cooper! Is this saying what I think it's saying?"

Sheldon's voice was more than a bit smug, "So it would seem."

"B-b-but this kind of ties all of our work of the past few years into one, neat, bundle."

Her husband nodded as he kept his eyes on the road, "That it does."

Niki turned in her seat and addressed him excitedly, "Cooper, we've got to get together with Helmut and publish this!"

Sheldon nodded once more, "I agree. I have texted him and he and Annelise are meeting us at the hospital. Oh, not just about his theory, but about Penny, too."

"Good. This should be an interesting night." His wife pulled out her phone and began to text at a furious pace.

""Whatever are you doing? I have already told you I was in touch with Helmut."

"Oh no, I'm not texting Helmut. I'm telling Amanda and Raj to get their butts over to the hospital asap."

"Very good. I think you should give the same instructions to Howard and Bernadette."

"I'm on it as you speak. Sheldon, could you drive a little bit faster? That baby will be born before we ever get there."

"Better we miss the child's birth than to miss their entire life. It is my responsibility to see that we get to the hospital safely, and I take my responsibilities very seriously."

Niki sensed this was one battle she wouldn't win,so she merely shrugged her shoulders and reluctantly settled in for the ride.

After parking the car at the hospital, Sheldon's long legs took him quickly through the front door and up to the Admissions Desk where he and Niki asked for information regarding Penny and were told that she had been assigned to room 302 and that the Coopers had been given the okay to be in the room with the Hofstadters.

As they raced down the third floor hall to the labor rooms, or at least as much racing as Niki could do with her pregnant body, the Cooper's heads swiveled from side to side, both of them reading the numbers on each room as they passed

"Two-niney-nine, three hundred, three hundred one, oh, here it is!"

The Coopers burst through the door of room 302 and Niki greeted Penny with, "Hey, girl! How's it going?"

Penny shot her a glaring look and snapped, "I'm in hard labor, how do you think it's going?"

Sheldon was a bit taken aback and upbraided her with, "You needn't use that tone of voice, Penny. My wife was merely voicing her concern about your well being."

Leonard made a feeble attempt at placating his friend, "Easy, Sheldon. Penny didn't mean to bark like that, but she is in a lot of pain right now."

Penny's eyes narrowed as she interrupted him, "I don't need you to stand up for me, Leonard. I am quite capable of defending myself, if you don't mind."

Leonard's response was a feeble, "I was just trying…."

This time it was Niki who interrupted, "Guys, guys, stop it. I get where she's coming from. It was a stupid question, though I meant it with the best of intentions. I'm sorry, Penny."

At her bestie's words, Penny looked a little chagrined and attempted to make peace, "Hey, girl. I know. You just caught me at a bad moment. I'm sorry, too. Now, as far as how it's going, it's hurting a lot and I do think it won't be much longer until our daughter is born."

Niki's grin was wide as she teased, "You're sure it's going to be a girl, huh?"

"Yep. I have spoken. I want a girl this time and I know that's what I'll have."

Leonard interjected, "Honey, just because you wish for it…"

Penny's retort was quick and strained, "Shut up, Leonard and grab my hand. Here comes another contraction and this one is a doozy!"

Not ten minutes later, Leonard turned to the Coopers with a worried look on his face and asked, "Hey, could you guys find the Koothrappalis and the Wolowitzes and let them know what's going on?"

Niki placated him with a small grin and a pat on the arm, "No worries. As we speak I'm texting both Amanda and Bernie and keeping them informed. Both couples are on their way and should be here in about fifteen minutes. if they can find parking, that is."

Leonard's response was for both Coopers, but his eyes only met Sheldon's, "Well, I hope they get here soon. I think it's close to the time I'm going to have to ask you guys to leave so the doctor can come in here for the last hurrah."

Niki suddenly winced and looked over at her husband as she looped her arm through his, "Actually, Leonard, I think we'll be leaving right about now."

Sheldon countered his wife's proposal with a petulant, "Whatever do you mean? We've just gotten here and baby Hofstadter's birth is most likely not that imminent."

Niki fruitlessly attempted to pull him closer to the door, "No, Schatze, it isn't. But baby Cooper has just let me know that he's on his way."

"Of course. Wait, he's?"

Niki nodded emphatically as she answered her husband, "Yeah, he's. You got to call the last one, Sheldon. I'm in charge of this one and I want a boy. You got a problem with that?"

Sheldon did an exaggerated eye roll and let out a sigh before replying, "No, not at all. But never let it be said that the act of childbirth improved a woman's demeanor."

"Shut up, Sheldon!" both women chorused at once.

Leonard commiserated with his friend and gave him some valuable tips, "Look, buddy, let's humor the ladies for a bit and just keep our mouths shut. I also think you should get Niki admitted asap."

"Why? Labor can take quite awhile. I don't see the need to hurry."

Leonard grabbed his friend by the shoulders and turned him to face Niki, "Sheldon, look at your wife's face. Does that face look like it wants you to take your time getting her a room?"

"Point taken, Leonard." Turning to Niki, Sheldon placed an arm on her shoulder and steered her toward the door, "After some consideration, I agree with you. Let's get you admitted and comfy, or at least as comfy as a woman in labor can get."

With that, the Coopers headed out the door and Leonard returned to his wife's side, cajoling her to, "Relax and breathe, honey. This baby's going to be here soon."

Penny looked up at her husband, panic written on her face, "Leonard?"

"Yes?"

"Ring for the doctor. I think this is it!"

"S-s-sure thing," he stammered nervously.

But before he could press the call button, Penny's doctor opened the door, looked in, and made a quick assessment, "Mrs. Hofstadter, I can't say for sure until I've checked you, but I do believe you and Leonard will be meeting your new child in the very near future."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

While the Hofstadters were busy with their birth process, Sheldon and Niki were pleasantly surprised when they were assigned the room next door to their friends. Once situated and unpacked, the Coopers began an intimate conversation regarding their child and their future. Let's listen in for a bit, shall we?

After his wife was settled in her bed, Sheldon looked up from his phone and asked in an earnest voice, "Niki, did you mean what you said about our next child being a boy?

She nodded, "Darn right I did. I even have a name picked out."

A small smile crossed her husband's lips, "Could that name be Sheldon?"

"No."

"Leonard?"

Niki now shook her head in a determined manner, but her voice was calm and dreamy, "No. It's none of our friends, okay? His name is going to be one I picked out long ago, and just the first name. I have something special chosen for his middle name." She then grinned happily at her husband, "You will be the first person to know his name, I promise. For now, just humor me."

Sheldon threw up his hands in surrender, "Niki, I know better than to argue with you. When your mind is made up about something, you are immovable as a stone wall."

Her demeanor turned almost flirtatious as she answered, "Yep. Like when I set my sights on a certain tall, handsome, physicist."

"Are you speaking of me?"

Niki's head swiveled as she took in her surroundings, "You see any other tall, handsome, physicists in this room?"

"No, and I appreciate the sentiment, but…" Sheldon's voice trailed off as he caught sight of his wife's grimacing face. "Was that a hard one?"

Niki nodded, her brows furrowed with a look of worry, "Yes, but this sure feels different from Lori's birth."

"Well, our mothers are not here."

Niki shook her head emphatically as she told him, "No, it's not that. This feels weird."

Sheldon's voice held nothing but concern, "More painful, if that were at all possible?"

"No, not really. The pain level is the same, it's just presenting itself much differently. The contractions are closer together and it seems like I'm not making too much progress."

The father-to-be made a feeble attempt to calm his wife's concerns, "Well, it's only been thirty minutes."

Niki sat up and made a frustrating try at getting comfortable, "No, I mean, when I was at this level of pain and contractions with Lori, I could feel her head moving down, getting ready to be born. This boy seems like he's resisting the entire idea. No matter how hard my body is trying to convince him otherwise, he wants to stay put."

Sheldon placed a loving hand on his wife's shoulder and asked, "Should I call the doctor?"

"Not yet. Like you said, it hasn't been that long"

Sheldon reluctantly returned to viewing something on his phone, "Very well. But let me know when it's time for me to summon help."

Niki gave him a forced grin and, with much difficulty, suppressed a moan as she replied, "Okay, I will."

Two hours later, Niki was drenched in sweat and no closer to giving birth. At this point, Sheldon took the initiative and placed a call to their doctor, urging him to come to their room and check things out with his wife. The good doctor was at first reluctant, but then hearing a primal scream erupt from Niki's throat, he assured Sheldon he was on his way.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Back in the Hofstadter room, the birth of Leonard and Penny's child was very near. Their doctor had left the room to ready himself for the impending birth. Much like the Coopers, Leonard and Penny also engaged in a serious conversation. Let's eavesdrop on this one, too, shall we?

Leonard looked out the expansive window in the room and asked his wife, without turning around to face her, "Penny, did you really mean it when you said this one was going to be a girl?"

Penny's chin tilted up stubbornly as she answered him, "Yep, I sure did. I have a name picked out for her and everything."

He finally turned around and asked in an almost demanding voice, "Would you care to give me a hint as to what the name is and just why you want a girl?"

His wife gave a quick nod and looked past her husband's face as she mused, "Okay, first I want a girl because I've seen the bond between Niki and Lori. They seem to have so much fun together. I want that, too."

Leonard frowned as he blurted out, "You have fun with Blake."

Penny gave a long sigh and continued with her reasonings, "I know, I know. But he isn't a girl and he's just plain not interested in tea parties, ponies, or fairy princesses. My dad raised me like a boy. I want a little girl I can raise to be girly." She immediately added, "If that's what she wants, of course."

Now Leonard's face broke into a wide grin as he teased, "What if she's a tomboy?"

His wife matched him grin for grin as she shot back, "Then I intend to show her my wicked fastball." Penny thought hard for a moment and then asked him, "Do you have a preferred gender for this child?"

Leonard's eyebrows raised in curiosity, "Why do you ask? I thought you said your mind was made up."

Penny looked down at her hands as she shamefully admitted to him, "I just realized that sometimes it looks like I leave you out of things and this was one of those times. I'm not really, I just live in my head sometimes and get tunnel vision."

Her husband decided to put her words to the test as he came over to the bed and put his face close to hers, "You mean you really want to know what I prefer?"

Penny nodded and grabbed one of his hands and gave it a gentle squeeze, "Yeah. I love you, Leonard. And you are the child's father for cripes sake! Oh, shit! Here comes another contraction!"

After it had passed, Leonard slowly extracted his hand from her viselike grip and told her, "I don't care what gender this child is. I just want you and the child to come through this okay."

Penny's voice sounded tired, but resolute, as she reached for his hand once more, "That's nice, Sweetie. But I really want to hear your feelings on the subject."

Leonard nodded thoughtfully, let out a long breath, and replied gently, "Okay, but first give me a hint about the name you chose.""

Well," she took a moment to work through a contraction, "do you remember when I told you I was pregnant with Blake?

"Of course. It was on Christmas Eve. But you didn't announce it to just me, all of our friends were there as well."

Penny's face brightened at his remembrance, "Yes. That was one of the best Christmas Eves I've ever had, and I want our daughter's name to commemorate it."

"Are you thinking of calling her…"

His words were cut off as Penny cried out, "Leonard, get the doctor in here, quick!."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Doctor Actus made a perfunctory examination of Niki and then announced, "The problem seems to be with your wife's hips, Mr. Cooper."

"That's Dr. Cooper, if you don't mind."

The man rolled his eyes at Sheldon, "Fine. Dr. Cooper. It seems that your wife's hips are the major problem here. They are preventing her labor from progressing."

Now Sheldon was curious and concerned, not combative, "In what way?"

At that, Niki sat up in her bed and exclaimed in a voice fueled by frustration and fear, "Excuse me, I'm right here, not two feet from the two of you. How about you guys include me in this discussion?"

"I'm sorry for that Mrs. Cooper. Or are you a doctor, also?"

Sheldon sniffed derisively, "Of course she is. Would I have married any other kind of woman? I left that to Leonard."

Now Niki's fear was compounded with anger, "Sheldon! Stop that! Penny is my best friend and she is plenty intelligent about things you struggle with."

Being put vehemently in his place, her husband conceded, "Very well. I see your point. But,yes, my wife is also a doctor. She has her PhD. In Astrophysics. Surely she has told you thant in the past."

Niki met his words with a frown and a question, "Sheldon, that has absolutely nothing to do with this situation. Now, doctor, could you please tell my why my hips are the problem?" Niki's face suddenly went white and she raised a single finger while saying, "Wait a sec before you answer that, please."

After the contraction had passed, the doctor asked her, "All right, but first, how do want to be addressed? Mrs. Cooper, Dr. Cooper, or something else?"

Niki let out a prolonged sigh of exasperation, "Just call me by my name. Is that too difficult for you?

The doctor turned to Sheldon, "She's a feisty one, isn't she?"

He nodded, "Yes, and she will get even more so if you fail to answer her question."

"Very well. Niki, you are a fairly slender woman and your narrow hips are not leaving much room for this baby to travel down the birth canal."

Sheldon countered the man's words with, "That's ridiculous! She had no trouble birthing our daughter."

The doctor seemed shocked, "This isn't your first child?"

"No, this will be our second. You were there for the first one, remember? And Sheldon is right, I had no trouble whatsoever with my first. Oh crap! Here comes another contraction!"

Doctor Actus thought deeply for a moment and then told them, "I haven't had the time to give your situation a thorough examination, I have even forgotten your last child's birth. But it is most likely that this child is going to be somewhat larger than your first."

Shedon nodded, "That makes perfect sense."

"So now what?" Niki blurted out.

"I am going to schedule you for a C-Section. Every time you have a contraction, your baby's heartrate increases dramatically. I would say the umbilical cord is getting wedged between the baby's head and your pelvic bone. Time is of the essence here. If you will both excuse me, I will go prepare things for the procedure."

After the doctor left the room, Niki's eyes widened in terror and she cried out, "Sheldon, I don't want to do that! I want a natural childbirth!"

He attempted to calm his wife's fear through calm reasoning, "Niki, we have to think of the child here."

His wife dropped her head and bit her lip, "I know, I know. But I still don't like it."

They were interrupted by a friendly face peeking into their room, "Hey guys, don't mean to interrupt things, but I have a suggestion for you."

Who is this person and what can they do to help Niki? We shall soon find out. But now, back to the Hofstadters.

As Doctor Actus left Room 303 and raced down the hall towards the delivery room, he ran into Leonard Hofstadter emerging from Room 303. The poor man looked at him wild-eyed and shouted, "Doc, come quick, I think it's time!"

The obstetrician stared at Leonard and did a quick contrast of the soon-to-be fathers. He mentally compared Leonard's wild panic with the calm, almost detached, demeanor of Dr. Cooper and made a lightening quick decision. Viewing one of the midwives coming in their direction, he instructed her to, "Please, my good woman, could you see to the Coopers in Room 303? I'm afraid it looks like the wife may need an emergency c-section. Check her out and please do what you can to prepare all the involved parties for the operation. Mrs. Hofstadter in Room 302 is quite close to giving birth and I feel compelled to deal with her needs first."

The young woman nodded and replied, "But of course, Doctor. I'm on it." With that, the woman turned on her heels and headed into Room 303.

Meanwhile, in Room 302, Dr. Actus was attempting to steer Leonard to a calm place while at the same time, facilitating the birth of the Hofstadter child. The man truly looked like he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. His wife, on the other hand, seemed more calm and made her focus the imending birth of their child. After a few seconds, despite Leonard's paranoia, he deemed Penny's need the greater of the two and turned his attention to her. "Now, Mrs. Hofstadter, just breath, concentrate on pushing, and, unless I'm frightfully mistaken, I do believe your baby is going to joining us in the very near future."

At that, Penny looked up at the doctor with a determinined glare, gave a final push and the cry of a newborn infant filled the room.

Oh my God!" Leonard cried out, tears in his eyes, "She's beautiful!"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

As the young midwife entered the room after her greeting, Niki blurted out, "Who are you and what are you doing here? Does this have anything to do with a C-Section?"

The midwife gave a wry grin and answered her with, "Well, sort of. Dr. Actus sent me here to check on you and help arrange your procedure."

Niki shook her head vehemently in response and snapped, "I don't want that procedure. I want to birth my child naturally."

The young woman entered the room and headed towards the bed, "I understand. Let me check you out, Mrs., Ms.?"

"Call me Niki. Niki Cooper." She pointed towards the tall man on the other side of the bed, "That's my husband, Sheldon."

The woman gave each a brief nod, "Nice to meet you both. Now, what did the good doctor say about your problem?"

As his wife was caught in the throes of a strong contraction, Sheldon took it upon himself to answer, "That Niki was too thin in the hips for the baby to pass safely through the birth canal. He also mentioned that every time she pushes, the baby's heartbeat goes up dramatically."

"I see…"

Sheldon attempted to pin her down, "You see what, exactly?"

The midwife gave them both a reassuring smile and replied, "That this 'problem' may not need a c-section for a remedy."

Niki stared at the woman open-mouthed and exclaimed, "Say what?!"

The woman began to give instructions in a kind, yet no-nonsense voice, "Niki, get on your hands and knees and start to rock back and forth."

Sheldon interrupted her with, "Why does she have to do that?"

"Don't ask questions, Sheldon. We don't have time for that. Trust me, okay? Mrs. Cooper, I mean Niki, just do it."

Niki began to position herself as the woman requested, "All right. Here goes."

The young midwife kept encouraging her, "Keep rocking, keep rocking. There! I think you're ready to do this."

Niki's eyes went wide and she screamed, "Oh my god! I think this child is about to be born!"

"I don't think we have time to get you to the labor room, or get the doctor in here. Do you think we can deliver this baby by ourselves?"

"Miss, Mrs.? Whatever your name is. I think I could deliver this baby without anyone here at all. He or she is coming now!"

The midwife gave a short chuckle and told her, "Good. Oh, by the way, my name is Niki, also.

Niki gasped as she tried to respond in a normal voice, "No shit! Is it short for Nicole?"

"Yep. You?"

"Nikita. Oh my lord, here he comes!"

"Just relax, Niki, and get ready to greet your new baby. Now, as gently as you can, lay back down on the bed."

Within a few seconds, Niki gave a strong push and a loud cry from the child filled the room.

"Oh dear Lord!" Sheldon exclaimed, "he's beautiful!"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

"Penny," Leonard whispered tenderly, "you did great. We have a healthy daughter."

She looked up at her husband and answered weakly, "Told ya."

In response, he kissed Penny on the forehead and then announced, "Okay, now it's time for you to do a little reveal. What is our lovely daughter's name?"

"Remember when I told you about the Christmas Eve when I announced I was pregnant with Blake?"

Leonard nodded, "Yeah. We just talked about that a little while ago."

Penny smiled and continued, "Well, I've never forgotten that night. So, if you're agreeable, her name is Noelle."

"Noelle," Leonard mused and repeated to himself, "Noelle. Hmm…I like it. It sounds lovely. No, I love it. Do you have any ideas about her middle name?"

"Yeah. Amelia."

Leonard looked puzzled as he asked her, "Amelia? After Amelia Earhart?"

Penny rolled her eyes and answered, "No. For Amy. She was my best friend and I know she would have loved to have been here for this. I shared so much with Ames, I guess this is my way of sharing this with her, too."

Leonard reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, "I like that idea, too. Noel Amelia. Yeah, that works. And it's beautiful at the same time."

Penny looked down at the tiny life laying in her arms, her dark hair so reminiscent of her father's, but possessing her mother's pretty face, "You're right, she's beautiful. Do you think her blue eyes will turn green, Doctor?"

Dr. Actus smiled at the happy couple, "There's every chance of that, Mrs. Hofstadter. Though they may stay blue. Time will tell."

At that, Leonard shook his head and told both of them, "No, they're going to be green."

"How do you know that, Mr. Hofstadter?"

Leonard looked down at his wife and daughter with tears forming in his eyes, "Because she is going to be just as beautiful as her mother, and her mother has green eyes."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sheldon Cooper cradled his newborn son in his arms and stared down at the child's face in wonder. He could not believe what he was seeing. The boy's face was a mirror image of his own. His son's eyes were the same deep blue color and the shape of the face and the boy's mouth were identical to his own. He whispered reverently to no one in particular, "It's like looking in a mirror."

Dr. Actus added kindly, "Except he has your wife's hair color."

Sheldon looked up, gave the man a warm smile, and then returned to staring lovingly at his son, "Yes. But that is preferred. He is absolutely perfect!"

Niki nodded as she looked from the doctor to her husband, "Yep. I planned it that way. I kept wishing and praying for a boy who would look exactly like his father. And that's what I got."

"What are you two going to name him?"

Niki smiled and replied, "I've given this a lot of thought, and I've decided his name will be Ryan."

Sheldon cocked his head quizzically and asked her, "Why Ryan?"

Niki shrugged and explained, "It's a name I had always planned to give my first born son. What do you think, Sheldon?"

"Ryan. Hmmmm. I suppose it will do. It is a masculine name and quite mellifluous. What will be his middle name?"

"Sakurai."

Dr. Actus looked taken aback as he asked her, "Sakurai?"

Niki planted a tender kiss on her son's forehead as she helped her husband transfer their son back into her arms, "Yes, Sakurai. His father and his godfather just won that physic's prize not that long ago and I want this child to never forget how brilliant and dedicated his father is to everything he does."

Once again the doctor had a question, "Won't that put a bit of pressure on the boy? He is going to be raised in a very academic environment that is already chock full of pressure. I mean, as I now recall, both of his parents are Nobel winners. Do you think this name will help with that?"

Niki shook her head resolutely, "Most likely not, but any pressure won't come from me, that's for sure. And I'm pretty sure not from Sheldon. He hasn't done that with our daughter."

The doctor began, "But she's a girl and…"

Niki gave a knowing smirk as she looked up at the two men, "That doesn't matter one whit to Sheldon. He's the least mysoginistic person I know. I feel pretty safe in saying that both of our children will be successful in whatever they decide to do with their lives."

Again, Dr. Actus spoke up, "Why is that?"

This time it was Sheldon who answered, "That one is easy. They will come from a happy home where both of their parents love each other deeply and are very committed to their marriage and children, as well as to their careers. They will be ahead of the game right there. Right, Freckles?"

Niki looked up at him with tears in her eyes, "Oh, Cooper! That was beautiful!"

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Thirty minutes later, all of their friends and relatives were gathered in the doorway that connected both of the hospital rooms, admiring the latest additions to their friends' families.

Raj smiled as he checked out Sheldon's new son, "Dude, that boy looks just like you!"

Bernadette added acidly, "It is uncanny, Sheldon. Did you mean to control that, too?"

He ignored her tone, as he often did, and responded with, "Unfortunately, I must admit that Niki had control of the outcome, not me. She even had the boy's name picked out."

"Is that true?" Bernadette eagerly asked her. "I like the idea of the woman taking charge."

Niki felt a twinge of annoyance at Bernie's questioning and looked over at her small friend and then up at her husband, "Guys, guys, it wasn't some power play I masterminded or anything like that. I just wished for a boy who would resemble his father, and that happened. His name? I've liked the name Ryan for many years and now I had the opportunity to use it."

Amanda Koothrappali scooped up the newborn and cooed, "Well, whatever it was, he's beautiful!"

Sheldon mused whistfully, "Almost as beautiful as Lori when she was born."

Helmut countered that statement with, "Now Sheldon, we all know that Lori has your heart, but was she this gorgeous?"

Niki sensed an occasion where she would have to, once again, defend her husband, "I have to support Sheldon here. Lori was every bit as beautiful as Ryan, if not more." She then grinned wickedly and added, "Sheldon makes great looking babies."

Howard agreed with the rest of the people in the room,"You got that right. It's one thing I can give him credit for. Sheldon, you drive us all crazy sometimes, but you and Niki have some good looking children."

Niki's mother quickly added, "Well, their grandparents may have had something to do with that!"

Sheldon got an excited look on his face and he turned to his wife with a suggestion,"Niki, let's make some Punnett squares and see if that holds true!"

Niki was more than a little amused. That sounded just like him and she found no little comfort in the fact. Still, she decided some things could wait, no matter how gung ho he was about the entire idea, "Not now, Sheldon. We don't need to graphically organize everything that happens in life, do we?"

He cocked his head almost unbelievingly, "We don't? What an odd thing to say."

Howard began to laugh and interjected, "What did I say about him driving us crazy?"

The whole room erupted into laughter and Sheldon, much chagrined, decided to back down and just drink in the many accolades his son was receiving.

Soon, Mary Cooper arrived with Blake and Lori and all the visitors shifted to the Hofstadter's room, and similar conversations began to take place.

Amanda was the first to offer a comment, "I have to give you this, Leonard, your daughter is as beautiful as your wife."

Leonard's grin of pride went from ear to ear, "Don't I know it. As soon as she was born, I knew she had gotten Penny's genes in the looks department."

Raj smiled wickedly and added, "Whose brains do you think she'll get? I hope that they're yours."

It was Niki who then spoke, defended her bestie, "Hey guys, Penny's pretty damn smart in her own way. Sheldon and I often go to her for advice."

Penny gave her a tired, but thankful, grin, "Thanks, girl. I needed that. You do know that there are many different kinds of intelligence, don't you? My besties taught me that."

Leonard piped up in curiosity, "And would that be?"

His wife threw him a mischievous grin, "Why, Nik and Amy, of course. I have a lot of dear friends, but Ames and Nik have been the most special."

Lori interrupted the adults excitedly, "I'm special, too! DaDa and Mommy says so!"

Everyone in the group had a good laugh and then Sheldon announced, "I do believe it's time for us to leave the new mommies alone with their new bundles of joy. For old times sake, let's all go to the Cheesecake factory for a little celebratory repaste…my treat."

As they all laughed and headed for the door, Howard chuckled happily and replied, "Hey, this certainly is a momentous occasion. I'm in!"

Amanda grinned from ear to ear and seemed to agree with him, "Yes, it is! Two new members have joined our little family."

Howard was quick to jokingly correct her, "Oh, that's not what I meant. I was just acknowledging the fact that C3PeeWeeHerman is paying. For all of us!

Leonard grabbed Sheldon's arm as they headed out the door, "Uh uh. You're not the only new father here. I say me and you split the bill."

"That sounds like a perfectly good suggestion Leonard. Duly noted and agreed upon. Now, let us get to our cars and meet at the restaurant."

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Fast forward six months into the future and all was not well. Childbirth had been hard on both mothers, but especially on Niki. While Penny had the luxury of taking some time off between projects, the physical and mental exhaustion caused by working full time and being the mother of two children, one of them an infant, had completely sapped Niki of her energy and usual lust for life. This condition hadn't been helped by her husband. Sheldon constantly toiled long hours with Leonard and Helmut on further developing Helmut's work, which as they had surmised, tied together their theories of gravity nullification, superfluid vacuum, and super asymmetry into one, cohesive theory. The hours Sheldon spent apart from his wife and children led to more than a little resentment on Niki's part.

One day, out of pure frustration, the harried mother put in a call to Penny, "Girl, get over here asap, I need to talk to you!"

"I'll have to bring the kids, Leonard's locked away in his office with Helmut and your ever lovin' spouse."

Niki gave a long sigh and answered, "I know. That's part of what I want to talk about. How soon can you and the kids get here?"

Penny checked both the clock on the wall and the state of her children's cleanliness, "Give me ten minutes to corral and tidy up the kids and I'll be on my way."

"Great. See you then." Niki then ended the call and looked out the window with tears in her eyes and softly whispered, "Please help, Penny. This is one time I really need your common sense and wisdom."

A little less than fifteen minutes later, Penny and her brood burst through the front door of the Cooper home and deposited themselves on the couch. "What's up, Buttercup?" the pretty blonde inquired with some concern.

Niki held up a finger as a signal to her friend, "Not yet, Penny. First, let's get the kids situated. Blake and Lori can go play in Lori's room." She then turned to her daughter and asked sweetly, "Is that okay with you, honey?"

Lori nodded enthusiastically as she grabbed Penny's son by the hand, "Yes, Mommy. C'mon, Blake. Let's go!"

Penny gave a happy grin and chuckled, "She's getting so big, they both are. I love how she can now say Blake instead of Bwake."

Niki nodded, "Yes, time passes so quickly when you have small children. They grow up so fast. That's part of the problem. Here," she took her young son and put him on a blanket in front of the couch, which had several bright-colored toys on it, "let's put the babies down here where we can watch them and then I'll get into the situation."

After Penny deposited Noelle on the same blanket, she turned to her friend and asked in a worried voice, "Okay, Nik. What's up?"

Once again, Niki gave a long sigh and proceed to explain to her friend, "It's Sheldon, or more to the point, his absence. He's never here. He comes in late at night, gives me and kids a quick kiss, and heads off to his little corner of the dining room to eat some cold dinner while he does yet more work on that darn theory."

Penny merely cocked her head and asked, "Does he even notice you?"

Niki looked down at her hands folded in her lap and answered in a sad voice, "Sometimes. Once in a while he hands me some papers and tells me to check his work. Me, with two small children to get to bed. It's almost like he doesn't notice them. Or me, if I want to be honest." A small tear began making its way down her cheek. "I don't know…I know the work is important and all…it's just that we should be, also. And I don't know for sure if he even cares about us anymore. It's all given to his work now."

Penny cleared her throat and looked earnestly at her friend as she reminded her, "As I recall, Sheldon has retreated into his work before now. I believe you used to say he was in The Zone."

Niki nodded, but explained further, "Yeah, but that was always just for a few days. This has been going on for months now."

Penny moved closer to her friend and patted her leg, "But this work could get him, Leonard, and Helmut a Nobel, couldn't it?"

Niki let out a long breath and pointed at something in another part of the room, "Yeah, but Penny, look behind you at that glass case."

She did as she was asked and shrugged, "So? What about it?"

"That case holds our Nobel medals and the papers that go with it."

Penny looked into her friend's eyes, a confused look on her face, "Okay. Once again, so?"

Niki closed her eyes and asked, "Do you know how often either one of us looks at that case, or takes those medals out?"

"No."

Niki's face got serious as she answered and began to make an insightful point, "Never. You see, it was the quest for the award that fueled Sheldon and made him tick. The dream of it. Once he earned it, it didn't mean so much to him anymore."

Penny pulled back a bit from her friend, "So you're saying?"

"I'm saying that Sheldon's kids and his wife should mean at least as much to him as chasing an award that will lose it's luster soon after it's won. More, in fact. We're living, breathing, human beings who all love him very much, but he seems almost indifferent to us."

Penny slowly nodded, and then put a delicate question to her friend, "Nik, how's your love life? Is that gone, too?

Niki's tears began once more as she explained, "Almost. Once in a blue moon, Sheldon makes sexual overtures and we make love, if you want to call ten minutes of impersonal physical interaction making love. Penny, I just want things to go back to the way they were before Ryan was born. I know new babies can change the dynamics of a marriage, but Lori was our first experience as parents and things didn't change that much. In fact, they got even better. Look, I don't mean to be nosey, but how are you and Leonard doing?"

Penny reached for her friend's hand and gently replied, "Just fine. Yeah, he's working almost as hard as Sheldon, but when he comes home, me and the kids get his full attention. I don't know what to tell you, Nik, unless it's this: Give Sheldon a little more time. He's a brilliant man and I know he loves you and the kids more than you'll ever know. He'll figure it out, trust me."

Niki's face went dark, "I sure hope so. If he doesn't, I think I'll crack from the exhaustion. It took both of us to make these children, and it should be both of us raising and taking care of them, not just me. Penny, I take the kids to the office with me, both of them, and try to get some work done, though not much actually does by the end of the day. I need help with them, and I need it from their father. They need it from their father. Lori misses his attention so much."

Penny's eyes narrowed as she asked a pointed question, "Do you still love Sheldon?"

Her friend sadly nodded, "Of course. I'll always love him. I just don't know if he still loves me."

Penny stood up to repostion the two babies on the blanket. She then sat back down on the couch and gave some advice to her bestie, "You need two things right now, Nik. Patience and faith."

Niki gave a unamused chuckle and added, "Having Sheldon back to his old self wouldn't hurt, either."

"Just give it a little more time. If I know the Wackadoodle, he'll come around."

Niki's eyes stared directly into Penny's as she asked, "And if he doesn't?"

Penny got up and used levity in an attempt to lighten the mood, "I'll just have to open a can of whoopass on him, that's what."

For the first time in what seemed like forever, Niki laughed out loud. She hugged her friend and they then proceeded to plan a girls' night out for the next month. Neither of them noticed the tall man listening outside the front door, tears running down his face.

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

It was dinner time that same evening and Niki had her hands full with trying to cook an actual meal while dealing with a crying baby and a screaming toddler. She was about to give up doing any of that in frustration when Sheldon came in through the front door and immediately took his daughter's hand and led her away from the chaos. "Princess, what was all that noise? Mommy's doing the best she can and needs our help. Okay?"

Lori looked up adoringly at her father and tried to explain to him her dilemma, "Okay, DaDa. But since Ryan came, Mommy doesn't play with me anymore, or tell me stories. I don't know if she loves me any more."

The little girl's words tore at his heart and he hugged her tightly, "Princess, Mommy still loves you and so do I. It's just that everything's been a bit crazy lately." He then looked over at Niki, "And I'm going to work hard at changing all of that, Lori. From now on, my work stays at work. What do you say sometimes you come to work with me? Would you like that?"

"Oh yes, DaDa! I can be with you and Uncle Leonard?"

Sheldon smiled indulgently down at his daughter as he added, "And Uncle Helmut, Uncle Raj, and Uncle Howard. Now, doesn't that sound like fun?"

Lori's entire face beamed, tears long forgotten as she replied excitedly, "Yes! Especially if Uncle Howard shows me some of his magic tricks!"

Her father muttered more to himself than anyone else, "Oh, I'm sure he will. I'm sure he will."

"Is that an eye roll, Sheldon Cooper?" asked Niki as she came out of the kitchen and into the living room. A saucy smirk appeared on her face as she spoke.

Her husband turned to face her and reluctantly admitted, "I suppose it is, but the man brings that out in me, for all I'm fond of him." He then crossed the room and took his wife in his arms, "Just as you bring out this in me." With that, Sheldon Cooper gave his wife a long, lingering kiss, ignoring Ryan in his high chair and his daughter on the couch.

"To what do I owe this pleasure?" she asked him teasingly.

Sheldon let out a sigh and loosened his grip on her a tad, "To your husband finally realizing what a horse's behind he has been to you and his children lately. It hit me today that I have been acting very selfishly the past few months, not that this news is a shock to you. It seems I'm always apologizing to you for something or other. It's a wonder you always forgive me and still tolerate me."

Niki's eyes met his playfully, "Who said I forgive you?"

"The way you responded to my kiss told me all I need to know. Niki, I love you. I will always love you. I will also always love our children. There is no luckier man on the face of this planet than I, and that will never change."

Niki melted into her husband's arms and softly whispered, "Oh Cooper!"

Sheldon broke their embrace to announce, "Now, I'll mind the children while you finish cooking dinner. Then, we will all sit down together as a family and enjoy our meal. And afterwards, I will get Lori ready for bed while you handle Ryan. As our last detail, I shall join you in cleaning up the kitchen and washing the dishes."

Niki gave her husband a blatantly seductive look and asked him, "Are you sure that's our last detail for the night?"

Sheldon's look back at his wife was just as smoldering, "It seems I stand corrected, and happily so."

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Several weeks later, Niki Cooper awoke from a sound sleep with the sense that something was 'off'. Not majorly wrong, just a bit off. She reached across the expanse of the bed and suddenly realized what it was; her husband was not beside her. This in itself was not strange, Sheldon Cooper had always been an early riser and was awake and, more often than not, out in the kitchen before his wife. No, what made Sheldon's absence odd was that it had been his turn to tend to Ryan's early morning feeding and put him back asleep. That he had done without a fuss and returned to their bed and proceeded to make love to Niki in the loving, sensual, and intensely satisfying manner he had repeatedly demonstrated to her in the last month. On morning like this, Niki most often woke to Sheldon's arms wrapped contentedly around her as he slept in. But this particular morning, she had woken up alone.

Rather than get annoyed, Niki smiled gently and lay back on her pillow as she recapped in her mind the major events of her years with her husband. She recalled the first time they met, their trip to Santa Barbara, their first trip to Disneyland together, their first kiss there, the first time they had made love, and their first time dancing together. Her mind also envisioned the Rooftop Prom, the Fourth of July on the Queen Mary, the horrific experience of their evil intern (at which the smile briefly faded from her face and was replaced with a grimace), buying their present home and facility, their eventful lecture series, their wedding, the birth of Lori, their Nobel win, the trip to Germany, Ryan's birth, and many other important milestones of their relationship. When her nostalgic recollection was finished, Niki found herself more worried than upset at Sheldon's absence.

"Where has he gone to?" she wondered out loud, "It's not like him to leave me without a word." Suddenly, Niki's phone alerted her to an incoming call. It was Penny. Without a greeting of any kind, her bestie blurted out, "Girl, go look out of your living room window."

"Whaaat?"

Penny continued, "Trust me. Just do as I say. Look out the damn window."

Niki gave a sigh of exasperation, but replied in a resigned voice, "All right. But you'd better be able to explain all of this to me after."

"Won't be necessary, now go look!"

With equal parts curiosity and annoyance, Niki pulled on her robe and made her way out of the bedroom and down the long hall to the living room. She headed directly for the window facing the expanse of yard that separated their home from the pool and the front house. She vaguely heard some sort of music and singing coming from the area close to the pool fence and parted the blinds to have a better look at whatever was going on outside. The puzzled look on her face was quickly replaced by her mouth making a perfect O and both eyes widening in wonder.

What she saw out in the yard was Sheldon and Leonard, both sitting on a large, blue blanket, each with a baby in their lap and a toddler snuggled up next to them. As the background music was playing, the men began to sweetly serenade their children with Good Morning Starshine from Hair.

Good morning starshine, the earth says "Hello"
You twinkle above us, We twinkle below
Good morning starshine, you lead us along
My love and me as we sing our early morning singing song
Gliddy glup gloopy nibby nabby nooby la la la lo lo
Sabba sibby sabba nooby abba nabba le le lo lo
Tooby ooby walla nooby abba nabba
Early morning singing song

Good morning starshine, the earth says "Hello"
You twinkle above us, We twinkle below
Good morning starshine, You lead us along
My love and me as we sing our early morning singing song
Gliddy glup gloopy nibby nabby nooby la la la lo lo
Sabba sibby sabba nooby abba nabba le le lo lo
Tooby ooby walla nooby abba nabba
Early morning singing song

Singing a song, humming a song, singing a song
Loving a song, laughing a song, sing the song
Sing the song, song the sing
Song, song, song, sing, sing, sing, sing song

Niki carefully cracked the window open a bit to better hear the early morning concert and as she watched further, a single thought filled her head: I now know how to answer people who ask me how a smart, attractive, lady like me ended up with Sheldon Cooper. I will tell them that for all his quirks and eccentricities, Dr. Sheldon Cooper has more heart than any man I have ever met.

oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Period. End of Story. Thank you all for your patience and for reading this little story of mine. I do hope you had moments of enjoyment reading it. For the most part, I have enjoyed writing it and publishing it to this site. I even used the birth circumstances of my son for part of the story. That was fun remembering all of that. Again, thank you all.