Howard's heart began to beat faster and faster as Raj sped down the almost empty streets. If his heart arrhythmia didn't kill him, Raj's poor driving skills surely would. However, two other lives meant more to Howard Wolowitz than his own, and those belonged to his loving wife and unborn baby. Was she alright? And how was the baby? What condition were they in? How could Penny have not asked these important questions? Howard loved Penny to death, especially at this very moment, but she could be so absent minded sometimes. It didn't matter, Howard thought to himself, they had found her. He couldn't wait to see his Bernie, hold her, kiss her, protect her, and console all of her fears. As the entrance of the hospital come into view, Raj barely had time to stop the car before Howard jumped out and ran directly to the front desk. He asked for his wife's room number and again took off down the hall, in search of his Bernie.

As he rounded a sharp corner, he spotted her at the end of the hall. Bernadette was sitting upright against the back of the bed, she was wearing a hospital gown and a blanket that covered her legs. Howard could clearly see they were checking her vitals, an IV was in her arm, a clamp on her finger to monitor her heart rate and a simple monitor strapped around her belly to watch the baby's heart rate. Although it was a sight that terrified Howard, he realized it could have so much worse. Bernadette was awake, looking around the room with terrified eyes, she saw him, and Howard ran to her.

"Howie," Bernadette sighed breathlessly as he kissed her and gave her a gentle squeeze.

"Oh Bernie," he looked at all the machines his wife was hooked too, "What happened? How are you? Is everything…"

"Almost perfect," she smiled giving him an Eskimo kiss, "Don't worry this is all just precaution."

"The baby?" he sighed.

"Better than I am," she laughed, "Apparently, I'm dehydrated and have a slight concussion, even though I was one hundred percent capable of calling an ambulance and telling them what had happened." Howard chuckled at his wife's frustration and gave her a kiss on her forehead.

Within the next minute their worried friends filed into the hospital room, just in time to see the perfect scenario unfold. A wave of relief washed over the friend group as Peter reached across the room to his Nee nee. Howard picked him up and placed him on Bernie's lap. The little boy could tell something wasn't right. Peter squeezed her tightly burying his head in her shoulder. Behind the group of friends appeared a tall balding man and a little woman, who pushed through them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Rostenkowski," Howard smiled as Bernadette's mother took his place by her bed side.

"How is she?" Mike asked his son-in-law.

"Almost perfect, all precaution," Howard shook his hand.

"My daughter-in-law is back there," an all too familiar cry came from outside the door.

"Ma, its fine we're all in here!" Howard yelled back.

"Oy vey, Howard, I can't fit back there!" she retorted "How is my darling doll?"

"She fine, Ma" Howard yelled again, trying to get her to stop, sensing the annoyance of the hospital staff.

"And my future grandbaby?" she continued to scream.

"Baby's fine too!" Howard yelled one last time to quiet her.

"Baby, what baby?" Mrs. Rostenkowski looked at her daughter in confusion.

"Is that your baby?" Mike asked pointing at Peter.

"Oh, no, Mr. Rostenkowski," Leonard responded timidly, "That's, my son."

"Bernadette, what baby?" he asked again, this time more sternly.

Howard looked to his wife. He had assumed she had told her parents while he was in space. Bernadette sighed and gave Peter back to his father, revealing her small, yet prominent baby bump, under the thin hospital gown.

"Mom, Daddy," Bernadette began, cradling her belly, "you're going to be grandparents."

"Bernadette Maryann, you are telling me I'm going to be a pop pop!" the large man started to cry. Howard placed an arm around his father-in-law as Mr. Rostenkowski patted him on the back. "Damn son, I didn't know you had it in ya."

"Ummm…thank you…sir," Howard replied tentatively, not knowing whether or not it was a compliment.

The doctors told Bernadette that they wanted her to stay the night, just so they could keep a close eye on the baby, knowing her past history. Their friends didn't stay long they had dinner to eat and children to care for. Howard had sent his mother home with Raj so he could keep Bernie to himself. Mrs. Rostenkowski brought back sandwiches and after eating, they too went home to care for the rest of their large family. Finally, the two were alone together. Although, both social and family oriented people, Howard and Bernadette enjoyed the quiet time they spent together the most. They never did anything too exciting, unless it was in the bedroom. However, the couple shared many quiet nights at home watching old silent films and early black and white movies. Tonight was one of Howard's favorites, Abie's Irish Rose. He had loved the film since he was a boy and now his life mirrored it almost perfectly. The only exception being he had a little Pollack, instead of an Irish girl. Bernadette looked up at Howard, who was completely engrossed in the movie. She couldn't help but giggle. Howard looked down at her.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Bernadette grinned, "I love you my Abie Baby!" she kissed him as she pulled out the little gold chain, which held his great grandfather's tiny Star of David.

"I love you too my, Shiksa Goddess!" he responded by nuzzling his nose into her hair.

"Howard," she began, this must be serious he thought, she's using my full name, "In what religion are we going to raise our baby?"

This was a serious topic, Howard sighed to himself as he pondered the decision at hand. Of course he wanted Jewish children, but having the baby be Catholic wouldn't kill any…ok would only kill his mother and he couldn't do that to her. However, his father-in-law might kill him if he demanded the bay be Jewish. Also, his wife was going through all of the pain of giving birth to this child so they might as well let it be Catholic. On the other hand, Howard was giving up his job to be a stay at home dad, and doing a lot of the work for the next eighteen years, so the baby should be Jewish. But Catholic, no Jewish, no Catholic, Jewish…his head was spinning in circles and he couldn't gather his thoughts until he just blurted out… "Both!"

"Both!" Bernadette looked at him with serious confusion.

"Ya," Howard smiled, "Why not? Neither of us are hardcore in our religions. I'm a Jew who doesn't keep kosher and you're a Catholic who only goes to mass on Christmas and Easter. We can expose our child to both religions and he or she could stick with both or pick when it's old enough to make decisions on its own! We'll call it Jewlic!"

Bernadette laughed so hard, "Ok, ok Jewlic it is then."

Howard smiled at his little wife, "you're beautiful, you know that, right."

"Howie," she continued to laugh, "What was that for?"

"I promised myself on the day we were married that I would never stop telling you how beautiful you were and that I love you," Howard sighed with a smile, "So I guess I love you."

"Oh Howie, I love you too," Bernadette snaked her arms around his neck, "You know, you're perfect Rocketman."

"No," he flashed that famous Wolowitz grin, "We're perfect, together."