After waiting a few hours, Penny, Leonard, and Amy decided to take Peter and Sheldon home and get them into bed. Howard and Bernadette stayed to watch over Raj and Layla's boys after Bernie's parents dropped them off. The boys played in the waiting room for a while and Howard went out and bought them Happy Meals. After eating, he and four year old Aadi played cars on the floor, while two year old Lukesh slept in Bernadette's arms. A nurse walked into the lobby and came over to the boys and smiled.
"Congratulations boys, you've got a little sister, your parents wanted me to come out and get you so you can meet her!"
Aadi jumped up and took Howard's hand, almost dragging him in pure excitement. Bernie carried a sleepy Lukesh in her arms, trying to wake him before they saw his parents. They entered the room and saw Layla holding, eight pound, three ounce, Ravali Priya Koothrappali, born November 21, at 1:37 am. The oldest boy jumped into his father's arms to get a better look at his swaddled sister. Lukesh looked down at her shyly, although he wasn't Raj's biological son, he sure did share many similar traits.
"She's beautiful, buddy," Howard patted Raj on the back.
"Thanks dude," he replied, his eyes darting from person to person in his perfect family.
"How are you feeling?" Bernadette asked laying a hand on Layla's shoulder.
"I am truly at a loss for words," she smiled, "She's finally here! I got my girl!"
"Speaking of which," Raj began, "I don't care what Penny says, you are having a son! You have to have a son!"
"How did you come to this conclusion?" Howard asked reluctantly.
"Because who else am I going to allow my precious little girl to marry!" Raj smiled playfully, punching Howard in the arm.
"You're going to let your daughter marry a pasty white boy," Bernadette laughed.
"Of course," Layla giggled, "just as long as he's your pasty white boy."
"Oh wow," Howard sighed, "Our Jewish-Catholic son marrying your Hindu daughter, their children would be so confused!" The entire room burst into a fit of laughter.
That night Howard and Bernadette took the boys back to their apartment until Layla's parents could pick them up after their flight got in the next morning. On the drive home, Howard couldn't help but look back at the two boys, snuggled in their car seats. Aadi fell asleep cuddling his Aquaman action figure as Lukesh had a death grip on his stuffed Ewok, the first gifts Raj gave them, when he began dating their mother. Howard couldn't help but imagine that if he had a son, that he wouldn't be much different.
Although for the past few weeks, Howard had been mesmerized with the idea of having a daughter, he could not stop thinking about how wonderful it would be to have a son. His mother had been telling them for weeks that she could tell it was going to be a boy. Howard believed this was only because she wanted another little boy to run around her home and bring life to it, just as he did. Howard also couldn't get over how adorable Bernadette looked holding Lukesh and Peter, and how they clung to her as if she were their own mother.
He looked at his wife, cradling her belly, looking out the widow, probably day dreaming. Howard imagined her holding their son, he had dark hair just like him. He then pictured the pint sized version of himself holding both of their hands as they swung him between their arms, like his parents used to do, when he was little. Howard could see him wearing his own miniature dickey, playing in his outer space room, with action figures and Lego creations. He saw his son having nightmares and crawling into bed, asking him to make them go away, and ending up sleeping between Bernie and him for the rest of the night. His son would win science fairs, build inventions with him, and think he was a hero because he was simply his dad. Ma, oh Ma, his son's Bubbee, she would cry because of how much her grandson reminded her of her only son. Finally, like his father, he would be a momma's boy, he would love Bernie more than any woman in the world, until he found a wife, then he would love them equally.
Instinctively, Howard entered into the parking garage and pulled into his spot. As he exited the car he turned to his wife and smiled.
"What if we have a boy?" Howard asked unbuckling Aadi from his car seat.
"Hmm…" Bernie pondered with a grin, "I wouldn't mind having a little Howie running around the house," she held Lukesh close as he snuggled on her shoulder.
"Little Howie sure will have a fantastic mommy, much nicer and less crazy than Big Howie's mommy!" He winked.
"You can't say that" she giggled, "you don't know what kind of mother I'll become, especially I have a son!"
"True," he chuckled, "but I do know one thing for sure."
"What's that?" she asked.
Howard smirked, "We look excellent with little ones in our arms."
"We do, don't we!" Bernadette kissed Howard's cheek as they ascended the stairs.