I ow nothing

Penny was sitting home with Max and Jenny. She had just put them down for a nap. They were actually easy babies to take care of. They slept almost through the night. They seemed to occupy each other and that let Penny deal with the other chores she had to take care of.

The phone rang; it was Dr. Johnson's office. Penny picked it up, "Hello, yes this is Penny. Hi Katie, what's up"?

Katie was her usual effervescent self, "Penny, Dr. Johnson was asked to be on Good Morning Pasadena to talk about your pregnancy and she wanted to know if you wanted to be there with her".

Penny was floored by the question. "Oh my god... REALLY?... Would the babies need to be there? What about Leonard... I'll have to ask Leonard... Good Morning Pasadena... REALLY?... OH MY GOD..."

Katie giggled, "Penny...Penny... calm down. The interview is next Wednesday. Ask Leonard, and call us back"

Penny couldn't wait for Leonard to get home. When he did, she practically knocked him over. "Leonard ... Leonard... They want to interview me on TV... Well, not me really... Dr. Johnson... But they want me to be there... well, not them really... Dr. Johnson wants me to be there... But they want to talk about the babies... It's like she said... They're news... And it's TV...

Leonard walked Penny over to the couch and sat her down. The commotion woke up the babies. Leonard walked over to the playpen and gave Max to Penny. He then lifted Jenny and settled on the couch next to a very excited Penny. The kids were not fussing, just cuddling and cooing at their parents. "Penny, what are you talking about"?

Penny calmed down a bit now having to split her attention between Leonard and Max. "Remember when Dr. Johnson said we would be in the news? Well, they want to do a follow-up on the babies and she wants me to be there. Can I bring the babies"?

Leonard looked down at Jenny as she pulled at his shirt. "Sure, it won't be too long, and who knows who could be watching".

"You're the BEST". Penny was beaming as she gave Max a hug and leaned over to give Leonard a kiss. She then poked Jenny in the stomach. Jenny looked at her mother and smiled.

Bernadette drove into the driveway of her Mother-in-law. She needed to ask her some questions about Howard and she was hoping that none of the conversation got back to Howie.

Howard's mother came to the door, happy to see her daughter-in law. Bernadette had made a lunch date with her and asked that she not tell Howard. "HELLO DEAR, IT'S SO NICE TO HAVE LUNCH".

Bernadette smiled as she came up the stairs. "Hi, I think so too. What's for lunch"?

Howards Mom was all smiles. "OH I THINK IT'S GONNA BE GREAT. I MADE POTATOE LATKES, AND SOME GIFILTE FISH, WITH SOME LOVELY STRAWBERRY BLINTZES FOR DESSERT."

Bernadette smiled as she walked in the door. "That sounds so yummy". She thought to herself, 'fattening, but yummy'. "Could we talk?"

Howard's mom set the table quickly and sat down. "THIS IS SO NICE, BUT I FIGURED THERE WAS ANOTHER REASON, LET'S FACE IT, YOU REALLY DON'T COME OVER ON A WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON JUST TO HAVE LUNCH."

Bernadette started to eat. "This is really good, but you're right, I was wondering if you could tell me a little about Howard when he was small and what it was like growing up alone".

Howards Mom took Bernadette's hand and patted it before starting her own lunch. "HOWIE WAS SUCH A GOOD BOY, HE ALWAYS LOOKED AFTER ME. WHEN HIS FATHER DIED, I WAS PRETTY MUCH A WRECK, SO HOWARD WOULD STAY WITH ME AND MAKE SURE I WAS HAPPY. HE WAS SO GOOD. I TRIED TO MAKE THINGS AS NORMAL AS POSSIBEL. HE WOULD GO TO DAY CAMP IN THE SUMMER AND I EVEN SIGNED HIM UP FOR KARATE WHEN HE WAS SMALL. HE WENT TO MATH CAMP AND DID OTHER THINGS, HE CHASES AFTER ANY OF THE GIRLS, BUT THEY ALWAYS SHOT HIM DOWN. HE MOSTLY STAYED HOME. HE HAD SOME FRIENDS, BUT NOT TOO MANY. HIS LITTLE FRIENDS THAT HE HAS NOW ARE REALLY THE MOST HE EVER HAD."

Bernadette looked sad. "Do you think it was hard for him?"

Howard's mom just looked at her daughter-in-law. "HE WOILD NEVER ADMIT IT, BUT I THINK IT WAS REALLY HARD FOR HIM BEING SO SMALL AND NEVER HAVING HIS DAD TO DO ANYTHING WITH. WE TRIED TO HAVE MORE CHILDREN, BUT, IT WAS NOT TO BE. AND THEN HIS DAD LEFT".

They finished lunch and Bernadette tried to have a happier conversation for the rest of the meal. They finished up and agreed to not tell Howard about the conversation. Bernadette went off to work for the afternoon.

Raj gently took the two test strips and placed them aside. He then took Alex by the arm and led her to the couch. He sat next to her and held her. "Alex, what are you thinking?"

Alex was brought out of her thoughts by his words. "What does this mean? One test positive and the other negative? Really? How can this be happening?

Raj tried to calm her. "Alex, they are just screening tests. To get the real answer, you need to see your doctor. You do have one, do you not?"

Alex looked at him. "Yes, of course I do, I'll call her, I'll call her. Raj, what if it's positive?

Raj was afraid to ask, but felt like he needed to. "What if it is? Is that a bad thing"?

Alex looked down. "I don't know, we never talked about anything like this. I mean, Raj…. We have only been seeing each other less than a year…. I just got my PhD…. I don't know if the grant is going to come through….. If it doesn't….. where will I work? I just don't know…. Raj…. You're really sweet, and I think we're going down a really nice road right now, but this is so…"

Raj patted her hand. "I see….."

Amy couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Sheldon, do you mean to tell me that you asked me to come over here at this ungodly time of the morning because you are being inconvenienced by someone who is taking care of his family in a manner that would be considered herculean?

Sheldon was taken aback by the comment. "But, Amy, you don't understand".

Amy quickly shot back, "I take it you haven't talked to Leonard about this. And I also hope you haven't approached Penny. I can assure you that that would be beyond recommended on an epic scale".

Sheldon smiled a little. "That's why you are here. I have taken your advice as per the new rider in the relationship agreement that states, and I quote, "All discussions or proposed discussions that may affect the lives of others not designated in this agreement as either boyfriend or girlfriend, must be discussed with said girlfriend prior to discussion with said affected party."