Christmas Eve 25 years later…
The gang sat in their usual spots in the living room. Time had been good to them and age suited them well. Around them were their children, all grown and decorating for the holiday. Ravali and Perrin sat stringing popcorn on to threads, as Lukesh plucked pieces from the bowl. Perrin would promptly slap his hand each time he did.
Although they would never admit it, there was something between the two. Perrin was in all aspects her mother's daughter in looks and personality, in all aspects besides one. Like her father she truly enjoyed the idea of contractual relationships. She had taken her mother's fascination with the brain and applied it to her own studies, and with a twist became a physiatrist. Perrin's chosen career path paired well with Lukesh's social anxiety. Perrin had helped him to become more of a people person. This helping hand allowed him to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a gourmet chef. Ever since then, he had carried a special spot in his heart for the quirky young woman. However, he feared a relationship would never blossom due to his anxieties and her stubborn mind set.
Ravali rolled her eyes at her brother's pitiful attempts at flirting, and removed the popcorn bowl from his hands. Ravali had grown up to be extremely beautiful. Her career as a high fashion model started directly after high school much to her parent's dislike. The guys always poked fun at Raj, saying he wouldn't be able to speak with her after she hit puberty. Luckily, that was not the case and he was able to help tutor her in her college courses. Ravali was now on the fast track to becoming a lawyer. She was currently single and dreading every minute of her friend's relationships. Talking to the opposite sex just wasn't for her.
Across the room Sheldon 2 lifted Lanie on to his shoulders, so she could place the star on the tree. Lanie was the combination her parents always wanted, smart and beautiful. In looks, she was Penny, with just the slightest touch of Leonard's softness. She shared her father's career path, as well as his thick rimmed black glasses and love of hooded sweatshirts. Sheldon 2 lowered her to the ground. He has grown up to be an exact clone of his father. He was a theoretical physicist, and thought, acted, and sounded like him in all areas, but one. Sheldon 2 wanted to be social and he needed affection. He and Lanie had been best buddies since high school, and after attending the same university a relationship formed. The two were basically attached at the hip. Amy looked on as her son dangled a sprig of mistletoe above his girlfriend's head.
"I can't believe it! Penny's daughter is dating my son!" Amy squealed as Penny gave her a bestie embrace.
"No, that I can believe," Sheldon rolled his eyes' "My son was riddled with your passion! But, do you know what I can't believe?"
"What?" Leonard chuckled at his friends comment.
"That out of all of our offspring, Wolowitz's daughter is the only one to already have a Ph.D."
"She also has a Master's degree from M.I.T.," Howard stated proudly, before doing anything else his daughter followed right in his footsteps.
"She just turned in her dissertation for her second one before Christmas break," Bernadette joined in Howard's pride.
"What is Becca getting this one in?" Raj asked.
"Theology and Women's Studies," Howard laughed, "And I have no clue how it fits in with her current career path. To be honest I think she just got it to get it!"
"Remarkable," Sheldon mused, "I knew she would rival me! You know I am impressed by in all areas…except for two."
"What areas?" Bernadette sighed.
"First off, her choice in a mate! She could do so much better that her hotsy totsy Hollywood boyfriend..."
"Hey! That's my son," Penny interjected.
"Exactly, I would have picture her with some one more on her level," Sheldon replied.
"Who, your son?" Layla laughed.
"Why, yes!" the lanky man exclaimed, flabbergasted by her laughter.
"Anywho, and the second area," Howard motioned for him to continue.
"Her constant tardiness!" Sheldon exclaimed.
It was true, Becca always seemed to be running at least ten minutes behind and Christmas Eve was no exception. It was normally due to her vast amounts of work at school back east and poor ability to book flights in advance. However, this year she had Peter to drag along beside her. He had gone up to surprise her and give support for her dissertation. The term madly in love was an understatement to describe the two tardy children. They were inseparable when they were together, since they were currently living on opposite sides of the country.
Peter was very handsome. Many of his features were Leonard's, others were Penny's, truly the perfect mixture. Luckily when it came to his height and athletic ability his genes landed with his mother. In high school he did well, but like his mother still struggled. He had true potential to be the star quarter back of his school's team, but the theatre called his name. When it came to college, Peter only wanted to mirror his father, and went into Physics. Then after one failing semester, and a sit down meeting with his parents, he dropped that major. His mother's film bug had bit him early on. The next year he left to pursue his dreams in film school, leaving his family, friends, and Becca behind.
Becca grew to be the brunette version of her mother. Her personality, on the other hand, fell in perfect sync with her father. Although she had a shy, and quite exterior, in the right moments she could be just as obnoxious as the rest of the kids. She was smart and ended up graduating high school early, right alongside her best friend Peter. It was only after graduation that the two let their close friendship bloom into something more. The families thought this fling would end as soon as Peter left, but the distance only seemed to make them stronger. Despite all odds, the couple was going ten years strong, with no signs of stopping. However, like always, they were running late.
"Ok, we'll just tell them we hit traffic coming home from the airport," Peter's voice was hushed coming up the stairs.
"Please, like they're going to believe that. They know what time our flight got in, and three hours in traffic is kind of stretching it!" Becca whispered, sounding to eerily like her mother.
"I'm sorry, but you know you can't start something like that with me and expect me not to finish…" he stopped talking as soon as his mother swung open the door. The couple shuffled in looking a bit disheveled. Becca, without hesitation smoothed a few wild waves back into place, as Peter tucked in his shirt tail.
"Traffic?" Penny asked.
"Ya, mom, real bad traffic!" he responded.
"Traffic my ass. Don't lie to your mother," she grinned, "You've got red lipstick all over your face. Go in the bathroom and clean yourself up
"Told you so," Becca winked, as he passed by.
The Christmas festivities continued as the friends waited on one final guest. Raj's oldest son Aadi was lucky enough to catch the last flight out of Chicago this evening after work. Aadi was becoming a big star in the world of international business. The boy just had charm. He was also a man's man, in every way except for the fact that he liked men. Tonight was the first night anyone would be meeting his newest boyfriend.
"I'm Home!" the Indian giant bellowed as he shuffled inside. Behind him stood a smaller man with dark curly hair, pale skin, and a rather large nose, "Everyone, this is Ben!"
"Hi," he spoke nervously, "I hope you all don't mind I'm sort of new to this Christmas thing."
"Are, you Jewish?" Becca boomed from the opposite end of the room, sound a bit too much like her grandmother.
"Yes, uhh, I am," David responded shyly.
"Finally, someone to understand my other holiday! You can like the menorah with me tonight!" she replied with a wink.
Now that everyone had arrived, the group could finally settle in and open presents. As families grew, it became tradition for the friends to meet on Christmas Eve for their celebration, rather than the next morning. Christmas Day was saved for travel and biological family gatherings. After about an hour of every person opening up one present at a time. They were finished.
"Hey, there's still one under the tree!" Layla pointed.
"To: Becs. Love, Peter!" Lanie cooed.
"I thought you two agreed to save your mushy stuff for personal time," Ravali giggled as she prodded Becca in the rib cage.
"Hey this is him not me!" she retorted, sticking out her tongue. Lanie placed the package into Becca's hands and she immediately tore into the paper and opened the tiny box, "It's a key…it's my key…to your apartment. Peter, why did you give me my key to your apartment. Not to sound ungrateful, but I've had this for years. I'm confused."
"I'm giving you the key again, because I'm asking you to move in with me. I mean after last week you finished school, for good. I figured you'd be looking for a place to stay, and I figured, why not with me!" he smile.
A smile crept on to Becca's lips, "Peter, of course I'll move in with you! This was completely unexpected. I thought we had always agreed that if we were going to live together, we'd be engaged first, but if this is what you want!" she responded, slipping the key back on to its ring.
"You know Becs, you're right! I should probably do that," Peter replied dropping to one knee, pulling the velvet box from out of his pocket.
"Wait…what…" Becca gasped.
"Rebecca Cecelia Rostenkowski-Wolowitz," Peter nervously cleared his throat, "I have literally been in love with you since the day you were born. And since I was three years old, it has been my sworn duty to respect, honor, and protect you. Becs, I don't care how much time we have to spend apart, or if we fight over stupid things. I wouldn't mind if you wanted to raise our babies Jewlic, and hell, I wouldn't even care if you wanted your name to be Becca Rostenkowski-Wolowitz-Hofstadter. I mean you'd sound like a law firm, but that's beside the point. Becca, I can barely remember my life before you were in it, and I don't ever want to picture a future where you're not in it. I love you. I think ten years is enough, do you want to do this?"
Becca's only response was to leap out of the chair, tackle him to the ground, and press her lips to his, "Yes," she sighed breathlessly, as Peter slipped the ring onto her finger, and all of their friends joined in the dog pile.
That night, Howard and Bernadette returned home for their first Christmahkkah alone in twenty-eight years. Granted, they would see their daughter tomorrow, but she had always spent the night in childhood room over the holidays. The couple climbed into bed and decided to get some sleep before having to deal with all of the commotion with their families the next day. However, halfway through the night, Howard rolled over to cuddle his wife, only to find that her side of the bed was empty. He sleepily padded down the hallway to find that his daughter's bedroom light was on. Bernadette sat on the bed.
"Bernie, what are you doing in here?' Howard yawned.
"Nothing," Bernadette attempted to choke back her already falling tears.
"What's the matter?" Howard's concern brought him to the bed, next to his wife.
"She's actually gone this time. How are you not freaking out? Our little girl is going away forever!" she sobbed into his shoulder.
"Awe, Bernie, come here," He wrapped his arms around her, "We knew this was coming for a long time. You know, like when she left for college, and when she left for college again, and when she lived with the girls for that summer," Howard chuckled, Becca hadn't lived with them permanently in years. He didn't understand why his daughter's engagement made her leaving final.
"I know this sounds stupid," Bernadette began, "But I always thought that she would come home. I kept telling myself that this was a phase, that her growing up wouldn't, and that she would just stop. Oh Howie, how did we let her grow up? Our baby girl is engaged, staring her own life. I thought you Wolowitz's were supposed to be overly attached!"
Howard couldn't help but smile, "Well, she's an independent girl like her mommy. Hey you, don't be sad. Becca being able to take this huge step in her life means that we did our jobs as parents. It means we raised a good one, the best one," he smiled down at his little wife.
"Howie, I just want our baby back," Bernadette wailed into his shirt, and he pulled her closer.
"Shh," he rocked her back and forth, "First off, she will always be our baby. Nothing is ever going to change that. Ever. Second, I know it's hard, but Becca's a grown up girl now. She's got a great job and is going to marry an amazing guy, who really loves her. Just think, they're getting married and what happens when you get married?"
"Howard, they already do that," Bernadette stared at him blankly.
"Not THAT!" Howard shook his head, "And no, they will never do that. Nope not my baby girl. What I meant was they're eventually going to have a baby!"
"Well, you need sex to make a baby," she giggled with a coy smile.
"AHHH stop, please let me keep this delusion!" he laughed, "But seriously Bernie, in just a few years we could have a grand baby! He or she could sleep in Becca's old room, when we babysit. We still have all of her old toys for the baby to play with. Hell, we've got Leonard and Penny beat for the holidays with Hanukkah and Christmas. We will totally be the favorite grandparents. Bernie, what's our grandbaby going to call you?" Howard asked.
Bernadette thought for a moment before she responded, "Nee Nee, and you.
"Well, your dad is already Pop Pop, so maybe I'll be Poppy," he nodded.
"Nee Nee and Poppy's house," she smiled, "I love it."
"It does have a nice ring to it," Howard agreed, "Now my beautiful bride, will you come back to bed?"
"Ya," she sighed, "Just give me a second. I'll meet you there."
"Ok, whatever you say! I'll try not to fall asleep waiting for you!" he kissed her forehead.
Bernadette remained on her daughter's bed, looking at all of Becca's belongings. Bernie closed her eyes and remembered the first day they brought her home. So much in the room was different now, but the walls were still painted the same. The bed was the third one the room had held, and the grey glider had been replaced by a desk. Memories hung on the walls, pictures of the kids at all ages, graduation caps, and posters of beloved boy bands past. The closet no longer held clothes, but boxes of her childhood keepsakes, stuffed animals, and more than fifteen photo albums. Becca was their world and this room was the biggest reminder of every moment of the past twenty-eight years. All the joy, all the pain, the tears, the laughs, the hugs, the kisses, and every single late night talk. Bernadette stood and touched all of the surfaces in the room, just like she did when Howard first decorated it as the nursery. She smiled as she held on to the door frame, looking at the room one last time.
"Well, sweet baby girl, this has been a truly wonderful endeavor!" Bernadette spoke aloud, before turning of the lights.
The End.
A/N: Oh. My. Goodness. I finally finished it! Ahhhh, thank you all so much for reading this story. I have loved every single moment writing it and I hope you enjoyed reading it! I kind of feel like Bernie right now, my baby's all grown up! And again, I can't thank everyone enough for reading, reviewing, and Enjoying the Wolowitz Endeavor! Happy Holiday's to everyone, my gift to all of you!