The friends arrived at the hospital exactly as the clock struck three, with gifts and children in tow. As they entered the waiting room of the maternity ward, they were greeted by both sides of the entire family. The lobby mirrored the wedding reception Howard and Bernadette held after his first arrival home. A wave of pinks and purples washed over the group, as the family members pushed towards the door. This little girl was clearly special, the first granddaughter on Bernie's side, and the first great granddaughter for the Wolowitz family. Despite the commotion in the waiting room the gang could distinctly hear Mrs. Wolowitz's voice as she entered the overstuffed area.
"Oy Vey! This crowd just continues to grow!" She sounded so shocked.
"Dad, how's Bernie doing?" Joey asked.
"And the baby?" Howard's aunt asked his mother, "Has our little Howard actually held her? I heard she was tiny! Are we allowed to hold her?"
"Mom, when do I get to see my baby niece?" Bernadette's youngest sister tugged at her mother's shoulder.
A flood of questions hit the new grandparents' full force and was only stopped by Mr. Rostenkowski's loud whistle.
"Alright, here's an update, and after this no more questions. Bernadette and the baby are both doing just fine. The doctors don't expect there to be any more complications, but they are keeping them over one more night for observation. I don't know how Howard is still standing, I'm pretty sure the boy hasn't slept since they left for the hospital. He has basically been super dad and has changed every single diaper since her birth. Finally, you all can come back after their little group of friends have. Howard and Bernadette have requested that they be brought in first." Mike winked, motioning for them to come forward.
Penny and Raj were the first to confidently step up and part their way through the vast sea of annoyed family members. The others meekly followed behind. This was it, their group was finally complete, and the newest member was just down the hallway.
As they filed into the room, all eyes fell upon the perfect little family before them. Bernie sat up in bed, holding the tiny baby in her arms. Her eyes never left her daughter's face and she slowly rocked her from one side to another. Howard was seated next to Bernadette on the edge of the bed, holding tightly to both of his girls.
"Hi," Penny spoke, tears already forming in her eyes.
Without even saying a word, Bernadette placed the pink bundle in Howard's arms as he walked towards his friends.
"Guys, I'd like you to meet Rebecca Cecilia Rostenkowski-Wolowitz." He sighed breathlessly as everyone crowed around, to have a better look.
"That's such a big name for such a little girl!" Layla cooed sliding a finger down her sweet pink cheeks.
"Ya, it's longer than she is!" Leonard chuckled, winking at Bernadette.
"Well," the new mother giggled, "Becca, for short."
"Becca, that's perfect! What's the story?" Amy asked remembering Howard's naming traditions.
"Rebecca is Howie's Bubbee-great, whose garnet is in my ring…" Bernadette began as Layla stood beside her.
"And Cecilia is Bernadette's grandmother who passed away when we had first started dating," Howard smirked, looking towards his wife.
"She looks like a doll," Penny sighed patting her tears, "My Becca Baby Doll! Howard, Can I hold her?"
"Sure," the new father grinned as he passed his daughter to the arms of his friend.
"Lanie could eat her!" Leonard gawked as he held his daughter next to the tiny new born, causing the room to erupt in laughter.
"Buddy, she is beautiful!" Raj wrapped an arm around Howard, as he protectively watched, as Penny carried his little girl over to Bernadette.
"Thank you," Howard smiled, giving him a friendly hug. Becca's eyes suddenly snapped open to follow the sound of her daddy's voice.
"Remarkable!" Sheldon exclaimed, "For being only a few hours old, she is quite observant!"
"And is already proving her Uncle Sheldon wrong!" Howard smirked.
"How so?" the lanky man retorted.
"She was born in January, the ring is now her birthstone!" Bernadette joined in her husband's coy smile, slipping him a not so subtle high five.
Sheldon looked at bit angry, a bit annoyed, and a bit flabbergasted, all at once. His eyes fell to the little girl, whose shimmering blue gaze looked right through his own. He smiled.
"Well, Rebecca Rostenkowski-Wolowitz, I've waited a long time for someone to come along and challenge my intellect, and you, just might be that someone!" Sheldon scooped up the baby, "Just don't listen to your father, he'll ruin you for me!"
Howard rolled his eyes, at least Sheldon was trying to bond. He had been softer since the twins were born. Howard watched as the rest of his friends took turn passing Becca around, until he felt a tiny tug on his pant leg. It was Peter. The two year old looked to his uncle, as his little finger pointed towards his favorite aunt, his Nee nee. Howard lifted the toddler up just in time to see Amy pass Becca back to Bernadette. The curly haired boy wrinkled his face in confusion and a touch of disappointment. However, Bernie just smiled at her special boy and patted the spot next her.
"Hey Buddy," his little wife sighed as his nephew turned into his shoulder, "Will you please come sit with me?"
Howard placed Peter at the foot of the bed. He grudgingly crawled up next to Bernadette, not wanted to get too close.
"Peter," Bernie began, "I want you to meet someone," she brought the baby down to his level, "This is Becca."
"Say Hi baby boy," Penny smiled at her son, watching as the tender moment unfolded.
Hi Becca," his little voice spoke quietly as he looked over her tiny bright eyed face, "You're bootiful!"
"She says thank you," Bernadette giggled.
"Nee nee," Peter looked to her wide eyed and wondering, "I big boy, I hold!"
"Oh no buddy…" Leonard Began.
"No, it's fine" Bernadette interrupted, "Howie?" she motioned for him to come forward to help Peter.
Howard supported the baby, as Bernie placed their daughter into his tiny two year old arms. At first, Becca squirmed a bit, fussing quietly, until Peter placed his hand on her cheek.
"Shh…" he whispered tenderly, "its ok Becca, don't cry. I'm your friend. Shh…it's ok, my bootiful Becca."
"Your Becca?" Howard turned to look at Peter, who simply nodded in affirmation, "Well, she's my Becca too, do you know what that means?" Peter shook his head no, before his uncle took the baby in his arms as well, "It means that if I'm not around, you have to protect her. Can you do that for me?"
Little Peter looked down at the sleeping little girl in his arms, "I can Uncle Howard."
"That's my boy," Leonard smiled ruffling Peter's hair, "Already accepting challenges!"
The friends laughed softly, as Howard sat back down on the edge of the bed, placing Becca in his wife's arms. The grouped clung to all of their children, it was complete, finally finished, all of the hardships, struggles, and pain. Finished. The evolution had completed this phase. Right at that very moment a nurse walked in.
"Well, isn't this the most adorable family. Would you like me to take a picture?"
"It would be nice to have our first full family picture," Layla smiled.
The gang readied themselves, as the nurse was handed someone's phone. She was right, they were a family. Howard couldn't help but look around the room, as he perched on the edge of the bed. To his left was his best friend, holding both of his sons. Raj sweetly kissed Layla as she cradled Ravali close to her chest. Howard wondered if Becca and Vali would have a similar friendship to their father's. Across the bed from the Koothrappali's, were Amy and Sheldon, each holding one of the twins. They were destined to be geniuses, but hopefully they would inherit their mother's social graces. Leonard bumped Sheldon, giving his a gentle nudge with Lanie in his arms. Howard could already tell she was going to be just like him. Penny sat on the other side of Bernadette, sneaking peeks at Becca. It was clear Becca was just as special to Penny as Peter was to Bernie. However, nothing compared to the bond Peter had just formed. The little toddler's eyes never left Becca, his finger wrapped in her tiny grasp. Who would have thought he'd have to be chasing of boys this early. His daughter was going to be a flirt, he could feel it. Howard turned directly to his right, his beautiful wife, his Bernadette, taking motherhood in all of its glory. She seemed to glow more now than ever, as she held Becca. Finally Howard's eyes fell upon his precious baby daughter. In a mere matter of hours, she had become his whole world.
"Say cheese" The nurse smiled as the camera flashed.
Howard's life was complete, perfect, an almost fairy tale. How could he leave all of this in two days to go to space?