Christmas Day came and went like a flash. The snow fell and everyone was woken up painstakingly early, by overly excited children to open presents. As the little ones played with their new toys, the adults spent most of their day preparing the Christmas feast. That night they dined with Penny's parents and wished them a Bon Voyage on their second honeymoon. Everyone was enjoying their time in the little cabin, so I became a unanimous decision to stay an extra day. They also hoped the snow would melt a bit, so they could safely journey home. However the snow just kept coming and it seemed to fall in sheets that blanketed the ground.
Soon cabin fever took full force, for it became too cold for any typical, fun, outdoor, winter activates. The group began to fear that they would never be able to leave and the anxiety set in. It was clear that everyone just wanted to go home! Howard and Bernadette had already canceled three flights to the weather. The Koothrappali's had given up on trying to take the train, and decided to spend the money and also decided to fly out as soon as they could. Sheldon almost had to be sedated twice, due to attempts to escape off the roof. After dealing with a clinically insane Sheldon, Amy went into what seemed like a permanent state of hibernation, due to her lack of sleep. Leonard was kept busy by a wild Peter, and a severely uncomfortable Penny.
The day of the twenty eighth arrived, Bernadette and Layla stood in the kitchen, making the last boxes of macaroni and cheese.
"That's it, I have to get out! My work needs me!" Sheldon shouted as he opened the door, which only let in a huge gust of wind, mixed with snow, "Drat, foiled again by precipitation. I told you all we shouldn't go to Nebraska. Do it for Penny you said. It'll be fun you said. Well I hope your pants set on fire, because this in NOT fun!"
"Actually," Howard began, "We might be able to leave today. It looks like the snow is clearing up a bit and should be ten times better by this afternoon."
Well, until then, lunch time!" Layla called throughout the house, as the group ran to the large dining room table.
"Hey, where's Penny?" a barely awake Amy asked.
Almost on cue they heard her from the back room, "Crap!"
The friends all jumped up, leaving the children at the table. They found Penny bracing herself on the wall.
"What happened?" Leonard asked.
"Judging by the pool of amniotic fluid at her feet, I believe your offspring is arriving!" Sheldon explained.
"No shit!" Penny said sarcastically.
"How fast did your labor progress with Peter?" Layla asked.
"Like, super-fast, he just kind of popped out! The doctors were really shocked that he was my first!" she explained.
"I'll call the ambulance!" Howard replied, moment later her returned with a concerned look on his face, "Well, it's coming as soon as possible but from the looks of the snow, it might take a while."
"Ok then…Who knows how to deliver a baby?" Bernie asked. All eyes turned to Sheldon, who helped in the delivery of his sister Missy's home birth.
"No!" both he and Penny yelled simultaneously, before Sheldon left the room exasperated.
"I'm screwed," Penny flopped her head back on the pillow.
"Well…uhh…Howard and I can deliver your baby…" Raj spoke quietly.
"What? How?" Leonard asked.
"We…uhh…took a class…" Howard replied as if it were nothing.
"Umm…Why?" Layla prodded to gain further information.
"Because we volunteered to be partners for woman without them in birthing class…" Raj began,
"Why would you do that?" Bernadette asked, "Did you get paid?"
"No…we were trying to pick up single, desperate, pregnant chicks in the class. We thought knowing how to deliver babies would be a turn on and give us a chance," Howard finally sighed. Bernadette gave them a disgusted look, "Hey, this was pre-you!"
"We also never got a chance to deliver an actual baby. We never got that far sine most of the women were married," Raj rubbed the back of his head.
"Well, what are you two still doing over there? Let's do this!" Penny shouted as Raj and Howard jumped to her aid.
"Wait, who's with the boys?" Leonard asked, not wanting his son to walk in on this event.
"Oh, just Sheldon," Amy smiled. Terror washed over the groups face' "What?"
"Layla and I will go and watch them!" Bernie said, but Penny grabbed her hand.
"No, stay," her friend's eyes pleaded, "I need you here!" Bernadette nodded in affirmation.
"Alright, Amy get Sheldon's emergency pack of surgical gloves. Howard go boil the water and get a lot of towels! Bernadette and Leonard support her legs. Penny get comfy this might be a long ride. Let's do this!" Penny took off her pants with some hesitance. Raj looked down and his face became completely ghost white and pursed his lips, trying not to faint.
"Raj, let me handle this, you get the towels." Howard took control as his friend vigorously nodded.
"No, uh uh! I want Raj to do this!" Penny scolded as poor Raj looked terrified.
"Penny, do you really want the man who couldn't talk to you for six years to deliver your baby, or me, someone with a little more expertise in lady areas. Plus I've got a pretty steady hand under pressure, that's why I'm an astronaut." Howard sighed.
"He makes a valid point…" Leonard agreed.
"Ok, ok, Fine! I honestly never thought Howard Wolowitz would ever get between my legs," Penny laughed, until she was hit with a strong contraction.
Penny's Labor progressed quickly, Amy returned with the gloves, and Howard and Raj were doing a fantastic job with maintaining the situation. Leonard and Bernadette flanked both of Penny's sides trying to keep her calm and comfortable, as Amy stood behind her, trying to find natural ways to trick Penny's brain into not feeling as much pain.
"I now know why no one does this naturally anymore!" Penny yelled, "I would kill for an epidural!"
"I know what goes into those," Bernie began, "trust me you're better off without one!"
"This hurts so badly. Fu…" Penny started to say.
"PENNY!" Amy yelled as everyone looked at her wide-eyed, "We do not say that word…ever!"
"Alright Penny, you should be ready any time now!" Howard said over her screams.
"Just remember to breathe!" Raj clarified.
"I swear if this baby is a boy I'm naming it after the two of you!" Leonard laughed.
"Sorry to burst your bubble Leonard, but I already know it's a girl!" Penny replied between breaths.
"You what?!" Leonard yelled, "You promised not to…"
"Hey buster we're trying to have a baby here!" Bernadette corrected, "Figure this out later!"
"Penny we are going to guide this baby out as gently as possible," Howard explained before everything began to happen.
The next moments in the friends' lives seemed so hyper real. One moment there were six people in the room and then, boom, there were seven. Elena Grace Hofstadter made her dramatic entrance into the world at 12:15, after only an hour and a half of labor. They had done it, they delivered their newest member as a team. The paramedics showed up almost directly after, having had plow through the snow to reach mom and baby.
As they started to load Penny in to the ambulance, she shouted to Howard, "Who would have thought that out of all of you guys in our group, the one who isn't a doctor would be able to deliver a baby. I owe you one Howard. Thank you so much."
"You're Welcome! You don't owe me anything, just make sure you and Miss Lanie stay safe!" he smiled.
"Lanie, Oh gosh Howard, that's the most adorable nickname. Leonard we are calling her that!" she gushed to her husband.
With the family the family tucked safely away inside, they were taken to the hospital. The friends finished packing and cleaning up the house, before they too rushed after the ambulance to visit their new little friend.
"Howie," Bernadette began on the car ride to the hospital, "I still can't believe you delivered Lanie. You were so calm and so brave."
"If I'm being completely honest, I was reading how to do it as Raj held me phone," he shrugged
"Still, I feel so safe knowing, if I were in that situation, my husband could deliver our baby," she said with such admiration.
"Ya," Howard laughed, "but I promise I won't let this happen to you. I was so dangerous, we're lucky it went so well!"
"I know, that's why I'm so proud of how calm you were!" Bernadette squeezed his thigh. Then there was silence.
"Hey Bernie, I need to tell you something," Howard began uneasily, gripping the steering wheel, "Bernie…Earth to Bernadette…Come in Bernadette."
"Oh sorry, I was thinking about Lanie," she blushed, "I just can't wait until our baby is here! Did you say something Howie?"
"Ya, but I forgot, its ok," He lied through his teeth. Howard couldn't do it today, it was Lanie's day, and he couldn't bear to ruin it with what he had to say.
A/N: And a very Happy Birthday to not only Lanie, but my bestie of 13 years, Penny Lane, no seriously that's her actual name haha!