The next morning Howard woke still cradling Bernadette's midsection. He sighed with a content smile on his face, it wasn't a dream. Howard often wondered if one morning he would wake up and find himself in his old bed back at his mother's house, single, alone, and desperately creepy. Bernie was his life, he could never paint a more beautiful scene than the one he was currently living. Bernadette had done more than just marry him, she forced him to make commitments, find out his priorities, and most importantly to grow up. Howard remembered the day where she made the biggest and best compromise with him, her words still rang so clearly in his ear.

"You can't have a child if you still act like one! We can have a baby when you stop acting like one."

That was the moment he realized he needed to grow up, not give up, the habits he had harbored for his entire life. Howard was still his lovably, awkward, quirky self, just a little more adult. He now took on responsibilities in the house and was the self-titled "laundry expert". Howard looked up at his little woman, she was still sleeping restfully, with the most perfect pout on her lips. I hope the baby has her lips, Howard thought, I hope the baby looks a lot like Bernie, he laughed, I don't think I could handle it if the baby looked like Ma. He climbed up to the head of the bed and gently moved the strands of blonde curls out of her face and kissed her lips. Bernadette batted her eyelashes and tried to focus as best she could without her glasses.

"Mornin' Momma!" Howard flashed that famous Wolowitz smile.

Bernadette blushed and averted his gaze. "Oh Howie," she giggled as he brought her into his chest for a tight hug. The two laid perfectly still in blissful wonderment, never wanting to leave this moment, until his phone rang.

Grudgingly Howard answered his phone and a booming voice rang through on the other line. Mrs. Wolowitz was screaming about the fact that Howard did not call her immediately upon his arrival home. He tried to explain to her that he was just a bit preoccupied last night, which only lead to his mother yelling at him and telling him to stop making 'whoopee' and to visit his mother. She then hung up abruptly. Howard sighed in frustration.

"I think it's time to tell your mother," Bernadette chuckled.

Within the hour the couple arrived at Howard's old home, and after a good fifteen minutes of trying to explain to his mother that it was him and not a sexual predator, she finally let them inside. Howard excitedly guided his mother to the couch and asked her to sit down. Bernadette grabbed her hands as Howard stood before them, looking as if he were going to explode.

"Ma, Bernie and I want to tell you something," he began

"OH my God, you're dying?" she wailed looking at her precious son, "You got some space disease."

"No, Ma, no. I'm not dying," Howard responded dryly, "Bernie and I wanted to tell you that you're going to be a bubbee!"

Mrs. Wolowitz for once sat in silence as she turned to her daughter-in-law as if to ask if it were true. Bernadette smiled and nodded in affirmation. Howard sat down next to his wife, as his mother embraced them both in a large hug as a few solitary tears rolled down her cheeks. She was no stranger in the couple's fertility issues. There was one moment when her Bernadette had come to her during a time of despair.

Bernie had always been Mrs. Wolowitz's beautiful girl, from the moment she knew Bernadette was engaged to her son. Despite her Catholic faith and upbringing, deep down Mrs. Wolowitz knew she was the girl for Howard. Bernadette never made her feel as if she was losing a son, but simply gaining the daughter she always wanted. Mrs. Wolowitz remembered the day very clearly, when her girl came to her in the most distraught state. Her blonde hair was tucked up on the top of her head and her glasses were placed poorly on her tear stained face.

"Bernadette, darling, what's wrong?" she asked bringing the tiny girl into her arms.

"I can't do it," Bernie sobbed, "it's just not working!"

"What honey, what?!" Mrs. Wolowitz asked again, this time fearing for her son's marriage.

"I can't give him what he wants. I can't give him a baby!" she stated as she as she then spilled the couples secret of their infertility. Bernadette didn't know why she was explaining this to her mother-in-law, but she couldn't harbor this any longer. That night she and Howard had gotten into a huge fight about taking the next step in trying to have a baby. Bernadette insisted on trying IVF, but Howard refused to inject hormones into his wife, that may not even work.

"It's like my wanting to not have children has made it completely impossible for me to have them," she sobbed into Mrs. Wolowitz's arms.

"Bernadette," She lifted up the small girl's head, "things like this take time, and the best things can't be rushed!"

"But, his is all we want!" Bernadette sighed. A smile came across her face as her daughter-in-law spoke the word 'we'.

"Sweet girl," she began, "good things come to those who wait, and the best things come when you least expect it. How do you think I got such a wonderful son like Howard?"

"You?" Bernadette looked up in confusion.

"Of course, that's why he's an only child. Why do you think I held on to him for so long," Mrs. Wolowitz smiled, "Now my darling doll, how about a cup of tea and a Wheel of Fortune marathon? I just bought a new pack of cookies." Bernadette nodded and smiled back as Mrs. Wolowitz walked into the kitchen.

"Thanks, Ma," Mrs. Wolowitz's heart melted, Bernadette was the perfect.

A few hours later a very frantic Howard burst through the front door, yelling about how he lost his wife. His mother promptly shushed him and pointed to the sleeping Bernadette, who was using her as a pillow. Howard knelt down but his wife and gently shook her awake, as his mother left to give the couple space.

"Bernie," he sighed breathlessly, "I have been all over Pasadena trying to find you. I thought you were lost forever!"

"I'm so sorry Howie, I just…just needed to talk to someone…" she sniffled

"My mother?" he laughed trying to lighten the mood.

"I knew she'd…" she pondered her word choice, "…she'd know exactly what to say. She's the best mother I've ever had, better than my own mother." Hearing this Mrs. Wolowitz could only remember one other time she was this happy and that was the day her son was born.

Now, not only did she have a doll of a daughter, but a beautiful future grandbaby from her tow favorite people. Her hands reached around the couple, feeling the contentment in the hug. Mrs. Wolowitz's prayer was answered, and whether God was Jewish or Catholic, it didn't matter, he had blessed her perfect little family with new life.