A few weeks after the birth of baby Ravali, was Bernie's baby shower. Her mother and Mrs. Wolowitz had been planning it since the moment they discovered Bernadette was pregnant. However, it took the women quite a while to agree on the details, but was thing was sure, no boys allowed! Howard was a bit disappointed that he could attend his own baby shower, but then again, what could he do about it. That morning Bernadette walked out of the closet with a look of frustration plastered on her face. She was wearing one of the new dresses she had bought with Penny, it was black and floral.
"What's wrong?" Howard asked his wife.
"None of my clothes fit. I finally had to break out the maternity dresses," Bernadette sighed.
"Well, what's wrong with that?" he asked with a slight chuckle.
"It means I'm getting fat!" she whined.
"Bernadette, you are nowhere near fat," Howard placed a kiss on her cheek as he wrapped his arms around her, "You are so beautiful!"
"No Howard, I just look fat, and not only that but my back is killing me, my feet are swollen, and I've already had to buy new bras twice in the past six and a half month…" she stated as Howard spaced off watching his wife's breasts as she moved with her speech. Damn they looked good, but then again, did they ever look bad. 'I could fix that bra issue,' he smirked to himself, 'I'll just take it off'…No Howard, he internally smacked himself, she's pregnant, the last thing she wants to do is have sex with you! He slowly zoned back in, "…I'm always peeing, now none of my clothes fit, and worst of all, and this sounds so awful coming from a soon to be mother, but I have been super…in the mood…and apparently I'm too unattractive for you to even try and have sex with me…"
"Wait," Howard stopped her, "You want to have sex, am I hearing this correctly."
"Yes, I've been dropping hints for the past two months!" Bernie sighed in exasperation.
"When does your baby shower start?" he asked, his eyes again locked on her breasts.
"In an hour or so, why do you…" Howard cut her off, pressing her against the wall giving her a passionate kiss, "…what are you doing?" she pulled away.
"Babe," Howard began, holding her face in his hands, "I can't fix all of your pregnancy problems, and if I'm being completely honest, I didn't listen to half of the issues you were saying. But I heard boobs and sex, and I know I can fix those!" he again began kissing her, slowly unzipping her dress.
"Are you sure you're ok with this Howie?" You aren't uncomfortable with it?" she pulled away again.
"Bernadette," he began, "Like I've said a million times before, I am a horny engineer. I never joke about sex or math. Now, my lady, are we going to have sex, or are we going to have sex?"
"Hmm…" Bernadette pondered in a teasing fashion, "I'm going to go with, have sex!"
"Excellent choice, beautiful, may I escort you to the bed?" he asked as Bernadette giggled.
After a couple of triumphant adventures in love making, Bernadette decided that she should probably finish getting ready. By the time she was done, she realized she would be half an hour late to her own party. The entire way they giggled and blushed, like teenagers who had done something completely taboo. As he dropped her off at the entrance of her childhood home, she pulled him into yet another passionate kiss.
"Dr. Rostenkowski-Wolowitz," Howard scolded, "You have a party to attend!" Bernadette pulled away looking slightly embarrassed that her libido had gotten the best of her. "But maybe we can go again after I come and pick you up, but only if you're up for it," he smiled
"Oh, I'm up for it!" she nodded vigorously, taking Howard by surprise once again, "I love you, Howie!"
"I love you too," he opened her car door and helped her walk to the porch before driving away. Bernadette rang the doorbell and went inside, to only find her mother running around like a chicken with her head cut off.
"Where have you been?" she asked, noticing her daughter, "Everyone is already here!"
"Sorry, I got…a little side tracked…" she lied through her teeth.
"Bernadette," her mother reprimanded, "What have I always told you about tardiness!"
"Oh don't get your panties in a wad," Mrs. Wolowitz yelled from the other room, "It's her party it starts when she gets here!" Mrs. Rostenkowski huffed off, visibly frustrated.
"You little lying slut!" Penny laughed as she poked Bernadette in the arm with one hand and holding a plate of food in the other, "I know what you were going and don't try to play innocent. I can recognize that 'I just had sex' smile from a mile away!"
"I have no idea what you are talking about," Bernadette gave Penny a little wink as she walked away to help her mother.
As the baby shower took full swing, Howard made his way to Sheldon's apartment. He couldn't help but leave the smug smirk he had on his face.
"Hola, Nerdmigos!" he contently sigh, walking in, and sitting in the closest chair.
"What's got you in such a good mood?" Leonard asked, pulling a water bottle from the fridge.
"Ehhh, nothing," Howard smirked.
"I know that look far to well. You had sex, didn't you!" Raj exclaimed.
"Ya," Howard nodded excitedly with a wink, "Three times!"
"You lucky bastard," Leonard mumbled, "Penny won't let me touch her with a ten foot pole."
"That's how I thought Bernie would be too," Howard began, "But, no, apparently since her hormones are all crazy and raging, she just wants to have a lot of sex, all the time!"
"Enjoy it dude," Raj sighed, "Once the kid arrives, there not time for that anymore. You have to watch them constantly, they get into everything!" as if on cue, Aadi walked out of Sheldon's bedroom carrying a set of large black goggles. "Aadi Koothrappali, those are not yours bring them here this instant, young man! Do you guys see what I mean?"
"Oh drat!" Sheldon pouted, "Raj, your son has opened my gift to Amy!"
"Night vision goggles. Why are you giving Amy night vision goggles?" Howard asked, removing them from Aadi's hands.
"Oh simple minded, Ph.D. lacking, Howard," Sheldon began, "in today's world it is customary to give a woman a gift for delivering your offspring, it is called a push gift or a push present."
"Again, I say, night vision goggles." Howard looked skeptically at the genius in front of him.
"Well, but of course! They are the most functional present for a new mother," Sheldon sounded like a television infomercial.
"Why?" Leonard sighed, "I know I'm going to regret asking this, I just know it."
"It's simple, must I explain everything to you," Sheldon condescended, "My offspring will be up in the wee hours of the night. The night is when I sleep and become rested for the day's work. I must sleep in total darkness to benefit from my full eight hours of REM sleep. I bought Amy the night vision goggles so she does not have to turn on the light to disturb me, when they begin to wail. Plus, they are oodles of fun and look super nifty!"
"Wouldn't you want to help Amy with the…you know, I'm not going to fight this battle," Leonard rubbed his temples in frustration.
"I got Layla a puppy for her push present," Raj smiled.
"A what?" Howard looked at his friend as Leonard choked on his water.
"That is the worst gift ever," Sheldon stated.
"It is not," Raj argued, "Guy's back me up here!"
"I think we're going to stick with Dr. Selfish-Night Goggles on this one," Leonard nodded.
"You guys suck," Raj spat.
"I got Penny a charm bracelet," Leonard smiled proudly, "One of the nice ones form Tiffany's! She has a blue rattle and Peter's birthstone currently, and I'll probably do the same for this baby!"
"Oh that's a good one! I see her wearing that all the time!" Howard nodded in affirmation.
"Do you have any idea of what you're going to get Bernadette?" Leonard asked.
"Actually," Howard smiled, "I've already got it!"
"Oh what is it?" Raj suddenly became interested in what his friend could pull off, knowing his awful gift giving history.
"Well," Howard began as he pulled a small velvet box from his coat pocket, "I really skimped on the engagement ring, so I thought I would give her something a bit nicer this time around, especially since this is going to be a lot more work!" He opened the box to produce a gorgeous brilliant cut garnet ring with little diamonds surrounding the jewel and then down on to the band. "The garnet was from a broach my Zayde bought for my Bubbee-Great after they fled Poland during the Holocaust."
His friends were awestruck by their friend's meaningful gift. It was probably the most romantic thing Howard Wolowitz had ever done.
"You suck, you know that, right?" Raj said folding his arms.
"Howard, the ring is perfect, don't listen to Raj, he's just mad that his puppy present was a total disaster," Leonard laughed.
"I can hardly see how it's perfect," Sheldon sighed, "The Wolowitz spawn will be born in February, and the garnet is the traditional birthstone of people born in January, so you're wrong."
"Yes Sheldon," Howard gritted his teeth, "The first thing my great grandfather was thinking when he bought the broach was the month of his future great great grandchild's birth and not, his beautiful wife!"
"Sheldon, its fine!" Leonard shook his head, "When are you going to give it to her?"
"Today, at the baby shower," Howard smiled.
While the men continued to converse their wives munched on party foods and played traditional baby shower games. Layla placed a bow n Ravali's head and handed her to Bernadette with a note that read 'free practice', the room burst into laughter. Bernie had a smile playing on her face, she was surrounded by her family and friends. She couldn't believe that she had once thought she didn't want this. She was never without support and now knew this was the perfect time for a baby. Bernadette sat in a comfortable arm chair and began to open presents. She received all the necessary items needed to care for her little bundle of joy, as well as some adorable, gender neutral, outfits.
"I wish you would just find out what you are having," her sister spoke up, "I could buy you cuter clothes!"
"She's having a girl! Penny shouted across the room, placing a hand on her friend's belly.
"I'd have to disagree," Layla chimed in, "I think they're having a boy, and I've got Mrs. Wolowitz on my side!"
"The little Indian girl is right!" Howard's mother laughed.
"I'd have to agree with her too," Mrs. Rostenkowski smiled, "It just feels like a boy!"
"On the contrary," Amy spoke up, "I agree with my bestie, although not very probable, I am to agree with her even if she is incorrect!"
"Thank you Amy! Team Girl!" Penny shouted.
"Jeez," Howard's voice rang from the front door, "If you all don't stop, the baby will get confused and come out as both!" he laughed.
"Get out!" Penny yelled, shoving a chip in her mouth, "Girls only!"
"I know, I know, I'm leaving but, I just wanted to drop this off, "Howard handed Bernadette a small gift bag. She opened it, producing the small velvet box. Her eyes widened as she tipped the lid to only reveal that it was empty.
"Howie, its…" he was on one knee, he gripped her hand between his, "oh...goodness."
"Bernadette, I know I'm not the most attractive, romantic, or mature man in the world, and I can be a bit cheap, but we've been together for five years and there hasn't been a second of it where I wasn't crazy about you. This wasn't always your dream, and I know I pestered you to no end on this very subject, but I know that there is no better time than right now. So, I guess what I'm trying to say is Bernie, will you continue to be the best wife and mommy to our baby, for the rest of our lives, so I can never wake up from this dream." Howard smiled and slipped the ring on to her right hand, as Bernadette nodded with tears in her eyes, pulling him into a tight embrace.
"Howard, that was beautiful," Layla gushed.
"Ya, ya, ya, the words were nice and all but that ring is what's beautiful!" Amy grabbed Bernadette's hand, inspecting the jewel.
"Awe, how sweet," Penny giggled, "He's trying to make up for all his crappy anniversary gifts!"
"Well, he sure did a great job," Bernadette sighed sweetly, standing on her toes to kiss his cheek, holding tightly to his arm.
Howard's eyes fell upon his wife as she proudly showed off her new ring friends and family members. Bernadette's eyes still sparkled the same way they did when he first met her. Although the start of their relationship was rocky, they remained strong and pushed through the struggles life brought. She was his partner in crime, the only person he wanted to wake up to in the morning, and now the mother of his child. Howard laughed remembering how he asked Penny to describe the future mother of his children, the very night they were set up. He had no clue that the small woman in the magenta sweater, who didn't even laugh at his jokes, would actually fill that role. However, from the moment Howard saw Bernadette, he couldn't have imagined anyone else being "The Future Mrs. Wolowitz." Now, five years later, after many more trials, they still stood together, more in love with each other than ever before. Another chuckled rose in Howard's throat, who would have thought Wolowizard would be married to a princess.