I've spent a while trying to decide how to tie in all I wanted to get accomplished in this fic, and the show, particularly the last episode, has given me the perfect catalyst – or so I hope. Here's the next chapter-Benny's birthday.
Howard and Bernadette stuck their heads between the door and the frame, grinning. "We're here!" Bernadette announced, dancing through the door, holding a box wrapped in red paper in front of her in both hands.
"Yes, the party has indeed started now," Raj said sarcastically from his spot on Amy's couch.
"How are you talking?" Howard asked.
"I allowed him to have one shot," Amy said. "Just so Penny, Bernadette, and yours truly don't render him mute over intimidation of our off the charts sex appeal."
Howard smiled. "That's a good idea, Amy," he said, largely for her amusement. "So," he said, "is Sheldon bringing a present?"
"Benny is his son," Amy said. "I certianly hope so."
"He will," Raj said. "He doesn't need to be told that gift giving is a non-optional social convention more than once."
There was another knock at the door. "It's open!" Amy called.
"Amy," Sheldon said as he and Leonard entered the apartment, "we have a child who has just turned one year old. He is incapable of defending himself, and you just call out to any old Joe who knocks at your door. What if I was a serial killer?"
"Then we wouldn't be having this conversation," Amy deadpanned, causing Leonard and Howard to smirk. "But of course, it being you and Leonard, Benny and I are still alive."
"So," Leonard said, looking around," where's the birthday boy?"
"He should be waking up any moment," Amy said. "Then we'll be giving him his last bottle, and start the celebration begins." She looked at the clock. "Where's Penny?"
"She left before we did," Leonard said. "She's not here?"
"No," Amy said, looking concerned.
"I'm here, I'm here!" Penny announced as she burst through the door, looking flustered. "I had a flat tire. I ran down to the Comic Book store and Stuart closed up a bit early to go down and wait for someone to come with a spare. Then I ran here."
"You didn't pass her on the road?" Raj asked Leonard and Sheldon.
"We don't go that way," Sheldon said. "It has speed bumps."
"Just don't slow down for them," Penny said. "That's what I do."
"You have a flat tire," Howard pointed out.
"I know," she said, looking extremely upset. "But I have Benny's presents."
A sound rose up from the bedroom. "Looks like he's awake," Amy said, smiling. "Be right back."
Penny flopped down on the couch next to Raj and Bernadette. "Ugh, it's an awful day."
"How can it be awful?" Bernadette said, smiling. "It's Benny's birthday."
Penny smiled. "I know, it's just…" she tipped her head back. "I've stopped 'nursing', so my breasts hurt, I had a long ass shift today, so my feet and back hurt, and I had that godda…nged," she said, changing her word in midsentence when Amy carried her son into the room, "flat tire. But yes, this little boy was born a year ago today, and that makes it great, doesn't it, Benny boy?" Penny asked, changing her finale few words to baby talk as Amy sat down on the arm of the couch and held the boy on her lap. "Here he is," she said.
"Hold him up like the Lion King baby," Raj suggested, raising his arms in example.
Amy rearranged her hold on the boy and lifted him into the air.
"It's the ciiiircle of life…" Raj started, moving his arms dramatically. "And it moooves us aaaalll…"
"Through despair, and hope," Howard continued.
"Through faith and love," Bernadette said, tipping her head back toward Howard as he stood behind the couch.
"Until we find our place on the path unwinding," Penny said, tilting her head to see Benny's face better.
The boy looked a bit confused at being up in the air, and he squirmed a little bit as his mother continued with the song. "In the circle, the circle of life," Amy finished, lowering her son and turning him around so he faced her. "Happy birthday, sweetie," she said, touching her nose to Benny's.
"Is that going to be your special birthday song?" Penny asked, reaching out to tickle Benny's side. "Derivative!"
"Oh dear lord," Sheldon said.
"Ease up, Physicist," Penny said. "It's your son's birthday." She put her hand on her abdomen. "I've got a scar that's now a year old."
"Please don't show us," Sheldon said, coming over and taking Benny from Amy. "Did you make a cake?"
"I made a cupcake," Amy said. "And it's got a B on it.." She pointed to her coffee table.
"Aw, it's so cute!" Penny said, clapping her hands together. "Look at that, little Benny." She looked at Amy. "Do you have a candle?"
Amy regarded her friend. "Fire? Around an infant?" She shook her head. "Seriously, Bestie. Okay, so he can eat it later, how about presents?"
"You're more impatient than the boy," Howard said. "Bernadette and I got him this little…"
"Spoilers!" Bernadette hissed, handing Penny the gift. Amy moved to the floor and sat Benny next to her, taking the present from Penny and handing it to the infant, who seemed much more fascinated with the bow than anything else. "Benny boy," Penny said, tearing the paper a little to give him a hint. "Look what's in here."
Leonard dropped down next to Amy and feinged amazement when the boy and his mother removed the present from the paper. "A ball!"
Benny grinned. "Ayah…" he said, taking the ball and throwing it. It hit Penny's shins and bounced back, and he giggled.
"Not talking yet, huh?" Raj, who had spent the least amount of time with Benny in the last year, asked.
"Not yet," Amy said. "Hopefully in the next month or so."
"At least he's not taking after his father," Howard said. "Because that guy, let me tell you, he just won't shut up."
"If you'll notice, Howard," Sheldon said, "I have not talked since we were on the subject of the cake."
"And we're very proud of you," Amy said.
"Raj, what did you get him?" Sheldon asked.
"A got him a blanket," Raj said. "It's in his room."
"Aw, that's sweet, Raj," Penny said, reaching over Bernadette to squeeze his arm.
"Did you get him a sweater?" Sheldon asked. Howard smirked.
"Hey now," Penny said, "he loves that sweater! Right, Leonard?"
Leonard had been rolling the ball toward Benny, but upon hearing his name, looked up. "Huh?"
"Never mind," Amy said. "What did you get him?"
"Oh." Leonard went into his bag and came up with a box. "Block letters!"
"Aaaaa bee ya," Benny said, holding his hands out for the box."
"Aw," Amy said, looking down at her son. "He likes it already."
"He likes my present better," Sheldon protested.
"I noticed his little Flash tee shirt," Penny said. "It's so cute."
"What did you get him, Bestie?" Amy asked.
Penny smiled and reached for the bag, pulling out a stuffed bear with a yellow jacket and hat. She held it out to Benny and the boy took it. "Hee!" he said, squeezing it to him. The bear made a soft growling sound. "I love you, Benny!"
Benny scooted backward and looked at the stuffed animal, looking petrified for a split second before breaking into a smile. "Ayi!"
"Yes, very sweet," Amy said putting the bear back in Benny's arms. He squeezed it again, not protesting when the animal repeated the phrase.
Leonard looked up at Penny and she smiled at him. "Isn't he cute?" She asked.
"The bear, or Benny?" Leonard asked jokingly.
"Both," she said.
"Adoarable," Bernadette said, putting her head on Penny's shoulder.
The group watched Benny giggle over the bear for a moment longer, and then a timer went off in the kitchen. "Oh," Amy said, getting up and leaning Benny against Leonard. "Time to offer him his last bottle!" She went to the fridge and removed the thermos, emptying the content into a bottle and putting it in the microwave.
"Your poor boobies," Raj said, shaking his head slowly.
"Are we sure he only had one shot?" Bernadette asked.
"I hope to God you're wasted," Penny told Raj.
"Why, so he won't remember you punching him?" Howard asked.
"Ordinarily yes," Penny said, "But I will not resort to violence in front of Benny."
The microwave beeped, and Amy removed the bottle and tested it on her arm. "Would you like to do it?" she asked, handing the bottle to Penny.
"Please," she said, taking the bottle. "Come here, Ben." He crawled toward her, and she lifted him into her lap, handing him the bottle. He curled up against her, his mouth working to remove the milk.
Penny felt her eyes threatening to well up as the bottle grew empty. This was it. He didn't need her anymore.
It was only about nine-thirty when Penny got home. The party had caused Benny to crash before nine, and Amy had been up all of the previous night with Benny after a bird had hit his window and scared him, so she was about ready to drop as well. So everyone said their good – byes and went their separate ways.
Penny drove too fast on the way home, and she knew that, but there were no cops around, not on those roads and not at this time of night. Pasadena cops were predictable – at least Penny knew their routes and patterns by now. But despite the knowledge of speeding, she couldn't make herself slow down.
A birthday, especially a first birthday, was cause for celebration. But Penny couldn't make herself celebrate. One year and a day ago, Benny's existence was completely dependant on her. Now, 366 days later, he didn't need her at all. He'd cuddled up to her and taken his last bottle. Now, it didn't matter if she left the country, or if she crashed her car and was killed. He'd be completely fine without her.
She parked her car and headed into the apartment building, looking down at the steps as she climbed to the fourth floor. Her key jammed in the lock and she chipped two nails getting into the apartment.
Penny locked her door and dropped her purse on the table next to it. "And I'm back to just being me," she said aloud to the empty apartment. The walker she'd bought for Benny was over by the coffee table, as were a few of his toys. So what if he'd be spending the next Monday with her. It's not like it was dependent on his survival or anything, she thought bitterly.
Penny walked over to her fridge and reached for the bottle above it. She'd always known this day was coming, but she'd held out while Benny still needed her nourishment. Now, however, it didn't matter what she put in her body. No one relied on her.
Penny sat on the floor, back against the fridge, and tipped the bottle up, taking the alcohol much more eagerly than Benny had taken his last bottle.