I started this chapter hours ago – and I mean hours ago – but I kept procrastinating finishing it. Finally got it done. Like I said, this chapter is about the guys. Oh, and you can thank Daisy Wilson for suggesting the first scene in this chapter. I thought it fit here perfectly! Thanks, Daisy!

DISCLAIMER: Ummm, I own Danielle. And that's it…

"Are you ready to go, Sheldon?" Leonard asked, walking into the living room. His best friend was currently hunched over his laptop, and they were supposed to meet Raj and Howard for dinner in fifteen minutes. "What are you doing?"

Sheldon looked over his shoulder. "Video chatting," He responded. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Can't you tell Amy you'll talk to her later?" Leonard said; ready to get on the road. "We have to go soon and…" He stopped when Sheldon moved away from the laptop, so Leonard could see the screen. "Mother?"

On the screen, Dr. Beverly Hofstadter frowned. "Do you have functioning eyes, Leonard?"

"Yes,"

"Then use them."

Leonard turned away from the screen and towards his friend and roommate. "Why did you call my mother, Sheldon?"

"I thought she could help," Sheldon replied. "You're mother is a renowned child expert with a brilliant mind."

"Help with what?"

"Your problem with Penny,"

"Sheldon…"

"Leonard," Sheldon said, as sternly as Sheldon ever talked. "Even I can see that you are distraught over your inability to procreate with Penny. As your friend, I care about you and your wellbeing a great deal."

Leonard almost smiled. "Really?"

"Of course!" Sheldon said. "You don't do me any good when you sit around and listen to Alanis Morisette!"

Leonard's face faltered at Sheldon's motives, but he knew this was probably one of the nicest things Sheldon had said to him in a while, and so he gave up and moved to kneel in front of the computer. "What oh-so-helpful advice do you have, Mother?" Beverly opened her mouth, but Leonard wasn't done. "And don't say 'buck up, sissypants'!" Beverly's mouth closed.

"Leonard," Beverly said after a moment. "You are not going to lose my homegirl over this. She is the best thing that has happened to you, so buc-" She paused, caught herself, and took a breath before continuing. "And anyway, just because you have offspring does not mean that –"

"Yeah, yeah I know! I saw your last book!"

Beverly almost smirked. "Think about what I said. Now if you'll excuse me, I have much better things to do with my time." She clicked a button on her computer, and the screen went black.

Sheldon looked at Leonard. "See? Wasn't that helpful?"

Leonard shrugged. "Not really. But she did get one thing right – Penny is the best thing that has ever happened to me, and I want to be with her, baby or not." He sighed, grabbing his keys. "I'm just worried she doesn't know that…"

I told you those babies would only be imaginary. Sheldon thought. He opened his mouth to say this, but then decided against it.

"So,"

The first half of dinner was normal, but by the time the plates had been cleared away the guys were slowly running out of things to talk about. The recent events were definitely acting as the elephant in the room, and without any more comics, sci-fi or "groundbreaking" discoveries at work, it was like the elephant had double, even tripled in size.

"So," Sheldon said, repeating the word Leonard had uttered a few seconds before. "Do you feel better after the talk with your mother?"

"You called your mother?" Howard said, incredulous.

"Does she still think Howard and I are gay for each other?" Raj added. "And if yes, did you tell her that we are not homosexual and that I have a girlfriend now?"

Leonard ignored Raj's comment. "Sheldon did that for me." He looked back to his best friend. "I told you, Sheldon, I'm fine."

"I think your inability to have smart and beautiful babies with Penny is getting you down," Sheldon said.

"Gee, you think?" Leonard replied sarcastically.

"Yes, as a matter of fact I do!" Leonard rolled his eyes and pulled a pen out of his pocket. He scribbled something on the napkin and when he held it up the word 'Sarcasm' had been written on it. "Oh." He turned to Howard. "So are you coping well or do I have to talk to your mother?"

"Sheldon!" Leonard gasped. "You don't just ask someone that!"

"Why?" Sheldon asked. "Isn't it the social protocol for me to care about his happiness even though I don't really care?"

"Yes, but you don't ask about a sensitive subject so bluntly –"

"It's fine," Howard interrupted. "Well it's not fine but it's…" He trailed off. "Better, it's better. I just wish Bernie would talk to me about it. I keep trying to bring it up in the most sensitive way I can but she doesn't even give me the chance. It's like I'm not even there half the time…"

"We're so sorry, dude." Raj said sympathetically. Howard forced a small smile.

They were cut off when Raj's phone began to ring. The astrophysicist looked at the caller ID and smiled. "It's Danielle," He informed them, before answering. "Why hello Danielle."

"She's calling him again?" Leonard asked.

"Every day since their first date," Howard replied, both of their eyes following Raj as he stood up from the table and walked across the restaurant to take the call. "He's really into her."

"Yeah," Leonard said with a sigh. "Our little boy's growing up."

"Oh," Howard sighed. "Where does the time go?"

"I don't know," Leonard said, watching Raj hang up the phone with a smile on his face. He shook his head. "It feels like just yesterday he couldn't speak to women…"

"That was yesterday," Sheldon corrected. "Raj thought the Starbucks barista was an ideal mate and he clammed up."

Raj slid into his seat then, still smiling. "God," He said. "Danielle. Danielle Koothrappali. What do you think we'll name our children?"

"So," Leonard said. "You really like her huh?"

"I do,"

"You sleep with her yet?" Howard asked.

Raj's face faltered, and he looked down at the table.

Sheldon looked up. "That's a no, right?"

"Yes, Sheldon," Leonard said, exasperated. "Yes, that's a no."

I didn't proofread this because it took me FOREVER to finish, so sorry for any typos.