Twelve Days Later

Bernadette drummed her fingers on her steering wheel. She felt nervous having to face the counselor. The lady had told her she'd dealt with numerous cases with a 95% percent success rate. This was good, she supposed, but what if she and Howie were in the remaining 5%? She shivered and pulled her green jacket tighter around herself. Barely had she wondered when her husband would be coming out of work did he lightly tap on the window.

"Hi." She tried to smile, trying to act like she wasn't bothered, but he saw right through it. When he'd gotten himself strapped in, he kissed her and then looked into her eyes.

"It's gonna be OK. We'll make it so."

She smiled genuinely at this. Whenever she had lost hope, leave it to him to bring it back to her. She leaned over the gearbox and wrapped her arms tightly around him. "I know. How was work?"

"It was OK. The guys have finally stopped giving my cast disapproving looks."

"Yeah, well, it'll be off soon." She started the car and felt her stomach twist in fear. Howard cupped her hand in his.

"Don't be scared. She's a professional. She won't be nasty, and she'll do her best for us."

"You're right." She took a deep breath in and slowly exhaled. Feeling better, she shifted the gears into neutral. "Here we go."

About thirty minutes later

It seemed barely a second later that they were sitting in the Counselor's office, tightly holding hands. She was running late, the receptionist told them, but she would be in in 10 minutes, so they could wait in her office for her.

"Damn, now I feel scared." Howard whispered.

"Me, too." Bernadette whispered back. "This must be what being sent to the principal must feel like!"

The door opened. A woman walked around the side of them towards the desk. "Hi! Sorry for the wait."

She wasn't what they were expecting. They'd been expecting an uptight, grey haired woman in serious, business-like clothes. This woman was around mid-forties, wearing ripped jeans and a hoodie. She also had blonde hair with streaks of purple in it.

"Dr. Hartland?"

"That's me. You're the Rostenkowski-Wolowitzes, right?"

"Yeah." Bernadette felt their clasped hands loosen. This woman wasn't scary as they'd thought she would be.

Dr. Hartland started smiling at them. "God, you looked terrified when I walked in! Now, let's get to business. I know you said you're going through a rough patch, now what was it?"

Dr. Hartland listened to the whole thing, occasionally taking notes. When one of them became nervous and stopped, she looked up and coaxed the one who'd stopped into continuing. It was little wonder she was so recommended. She was professional, but really friendly and pleasant.

"Now," the older woman said once she'd heard everything, "most of these cases are notoriously difficult to help. These cases make up two percent of the 5% non-success rate. But, the non-successes usually happen because there is no willing for change or that there is no want for help. I don't see that with you two. I can't say anything for sure , but I think you're going to be fine."

One hour later

"What are those toys for, again?"

"They're not toys, Howie. They are little sponges that we.. that I have to pull at or squeeze every time I feel mad. The big ones are something to throw around if I get really mad. I have to throw the big one in a confined area in case I hit you."

"I don't think a sponge would hurt, but..."

"It's a precaution. Also, she gave me a list of things to do."

"Like what?"

"Well, she agreed that childhood stress was a huge part of it. She said that if I combat that, I'm looking at saying adieu to the crazy anger I had."

"Awesome! So, what do you have to do?"

"Explain to my parents that what they did wasn't cool."

"Oh."

Howard didn't particularly want to see his in-laws again. But considering Bernadette had braved seeing his mother (who was remarkably composed upon seeing her again, only telling her daughter-in-law that she hoped she got better soon before avoiding her for the rest of the evening.) He decided he might as well offer to accompany her when she went to see her parents again.

"I'll come with you. If you want me to."

"Thank you. That means a lot to me."

"Do I have anything? That I can do to help?"

"No. She said you didn't need anything and frankly, you coming with me to meet my mom and dad is enough."

"OK."

TBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTB BTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBTBBT

They were both regretting it already. They'd barely pulled up outside when they cracked and started telling each other wilder and wilder reasons why they couldn't go in. Joey, who they'd brought for support, got out and opened their doors.

"C'mon. I've waited a long time for something to go down between you and Mike and Mom. I'm not missing it. Now, out!"

They took a step back once the doorbell had been rung. Bernadette felt like she was going to pass out. Both her brother and her husband linked an arm around her in case she really did. When the door began to open, Howard took a step back. Joey put his free arm in front of his sister and placed a hand on his brother-in-law's shoulder.

"Don't worry. If things get physical, you've got me to look out for you guys."

Remembering he'd come to support his wife, not to hide behind his brother-in-law, Howard stepped forward again. He rubbed her shoulder to remind her he was still there.

"Bernie?"

"Hi, Mom."

The woman stepped outside the door. Bernadette felt slightly afraid, but didn't step back this time. She was determined to say what she had to say.

"Mom, I always loved my brothers and sisters. But I never wanted to be their mother. That was your job. I just wanted to be a kid. That was all I wanted. You knew, both of you, that I could never say 'no' to either of you. I respected and loved you both too much and you took advantage of that. I saw a counselor today to help save my marriage. And she told me that my childhood is a huge part to blame for what's been happening. I won't let it happen again. He's too important to me."

"I didn't do anything wrong. All children help with their siblings. All children do as their parents tell them. I don't understand."

"I didn't expect you to. I honestly didn't."

"Bernie. I love you."

"Why didn't you let me be a kid?"

"Because I made a mistake. I didn't see it, but you did. Please, just tell me."

"I have! You forced me to babysit when I had other plans, you wouldn't let me do anything that other children were doing and you essentially stole my childhood!"

"Oh, darling." Understanding flooded her face. "I didn't know."

She stepped forward and unhooked her daughter from her sons and enveloped her. "I don't hate you, I just wish..." Bernadette began.

"I know." Her mother soothed. "Bernie, when we were growing up, I was the oldest. I had to do all those things. I remember being upset too. But that was a different time, completely different to now and back when you were born. I should have known that. I'm sorry."

"It's OK."

"Don't make the same mistakes with your children."

"I won't. He'll remind me."

Yes, I'm evil. Yes, I'm a bitch. I know we all wanted to see Beulah Vs Bernadette. I just didn't know where to put it. On a kinda related note, crappity crip crap! I didn't know how to end. It's all because of the Inglorious Curse that is Writer's Block! Still I managed to do the chapter. Next chapter is on the other two couples and Raj! Also, Bernadette and Howard are going to have some news...Guess it if you can!

Love from Shania. xx