Still own nothing

The girls were sitting around the coffee table eating their ice cream. Penny had replaced the wine with Hot Chocolate. She even had the little marshmallows that everyone liked so much. Everyone was happier and Alex didn't seem like an outsider anymore. Bernadette got up to get the chocolate chip cookies and heard a bit of noise coming from the kid's room. Penny heard the same noise and went to see what was the matter. Bernadette followed close behind.

Penny looked over the edge of the crib that the babies were in. They were getting so big, but were still sleeping in the same crib. The other crib typically had an assortment of stuffed animals in it. They were a collection mixed with new dolls and Penny's Care Bears that Leonard had finally convinced her didn't need to be staring at him while they were having sex. As usual, Jenny and Max were side by side and looking up at her waving their arms at the solar system mobile that hung from the side of the crib.

Bernadette looked over the side of the crib and Jenny started to wave her arms quickly and smiled. Penny picked up Max who immediately buried his head in her shoulder. Penny thought that he was still sleepy and was only awake because Jenny was up. Bernadette picked up Jenny and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Jenny cooed softly and grabbed a bit of Bernadette's hair. The two women took the children and went into the living room.

Penny sat down in the chair and Bernadette sat down between Alex and Amy. Max had woken up some and just like always, started to pull at his mother's chest. Penny looked a little embarrassed. Sure it was a normal thing to feed the kid's in the living room when Leonard was home, but she rarely did it in the presence of company and never in public. And tonight, Alex was here. With it being one of her first times, and with the conversation they just had, Penny was a little uncomfortable. She tried to excuse herself. "Well… I see that Max is getting a little comfortable. I'll just take him and be back in a bit. He doesn't usually take too long. He's a real trooper. Real motivated… if you get my drift".

Alex was the first to speak up. "Penny, you don't have to leave on our account. We're all women. You don't have anything that we haven't seen before."

Bernadette agreed. "Yeah Penny, this was supposed to be a Girl's Night…. You just can't leave. You might miss some juicy conversation."

Amy concluded the barrage. "Go for it Bestie…. Whip that out and give it to him".

Penny just stared at Amy and Max just kept grabbing at Penny's chest… Penny finally lifted her shirt over one shoulder taking one arm out and reached behind her to undo her bra. Max was clearly pleased with the process and latched on just like always. Penny leant forward a bit and gave him a kiss in the head.

Amy looked on. "Fascinating!"

Bernadette and Alex were attending to Jenny. She was really the perfect baby. She rarely fussed too much, and she always seemed to be attentive. Penny often wished she could climb into her tiny head to figure out what Jenny was thinking. Penny was sure Jenny was analyzing everything around her. Those Hofstadter brain genes were kicking in.

The conversation took on a light tone with the three girls amusing Jenny as Max finished up. Penny then handed Max to Amy so she could take Jenny from Bernadette. Penny had just gotten Jenny comfortable on her other breast when max made it plain that he needed some changing. Amy was clearly uncomfortable. Bernadette took Max and proceeded to go to their room.

Alex looked over at Penny, "Is it weird that I want to go help Bernadette with a messy baby?"

Penny smiled back. "Not as weird as Bernadette wanting to "DO the DOODY" in the first place. Go for it". Penny knew right off that Alex was curious about anything that had to do with babies at the moment.

Both Bernadette and Alex emerged from the kid's room a short time later with a very happy and animated Max. Penny was just finishing up with Jenny and getting herself dressed properly again just as Jenny made Amy "uncomfortable" again.

Penny thought that was just too funny. "C'mon Ames. It's our turn to take care of the mess. You clearly need a little practice at being an Aunt. Let's face it, if you ever baby sit with uncle Sheldon, He's gonna be NO help… AT… ALL…" Amy smiled a bit at the connection of Aunt Amy and Uncle Sheldon.

Penny and Amy returned from changing Jenny. Amy was carrying the little girl and had a big smile on her face. "It turns out It's much easier with humans. Jenny didn't once try to take a handful and fling it at me". Penny giggled at the comment. Bernadette and Alex just stared in amazement.

Bernadette was being very possessive of Max. She would let Amy interact with him but not once did she give Max up. Amy was between the babies so she split her time. Alex, for her part was just taking it all in. This was really the most time she spent with infant children. All her nieces and nephews were older.

Penny was the first to realize that Bernadette was being possessive of Max. "Geez Bernadette, you look so comfortable with Max. And he seems to be pretty content with you. That's not something he usually does for just anyone. Leonard and especially me are his favorites. He will go to other people, but it's usually with a bit of a furrowed brow, sort of how Leonard looks when Sheldon pulls one of his "little known facts" out of his ass. You're a natural with kids."

Bernadette looked from Max to Penny. "He's such a cutie. Your kids are so much different than any others I had to take care of".

Amy looked confused. "Others? What and or when have you had to take care of other children? Our little group has been together for a number of years now and although your time is not exclusively tied to our activities, it has been my experience that the sort of activity you are referencing with other children would have come up as an item of interest at one of our Girl's Nights".

Alex just kind of stared at Amy in a bit of wonderment over her comment. It was no wonder that Sheldon had taken a liking to Amy. The two of them were two sides of the same coin.

Bernadette just smiled at Max while answering. "I had to take care of mu brothers and sisters when they were small. I was the oldest and my Mom was working to get some extra money."

Penny Handed Jenny to Amy and went to get everyone a refill on the Hot Chocolate and brought over the last of the cookies. "Bernadette, you can't compare taking care of kids when you were really just one of them to taking care of one now. When you were younger, they were just a chore. Now, you're a woman. Let me tell you. There is nothing like it. They are part of you, you would do anything for them.

Look at me, did you EVER think I would be this way with kids? Let's face it, with my past and how I would handle stress and stuff, not to mention relationships? I just want to be with them ALL the time."

Bernadette gave Max over to Alex who gingerly too k him with a little trepidation. "Penny, let me ask you, how is this going to affect your career. I mean the Cheesecake Factory is not a set schedule and you could their schedules all fouled up. And then there's your acting career and now your college courses. What is going to happen to YOU. Aren't you going to get lost? Stop being PENNY and just start being Jenny and Max's MOTHER?"

Penny thought about it. "Well… I can't lie… that did cross my mind… but look at them… they deserve everything I could give them".

Bernadette pressed further. "But aren't YOU just as important? Your career, your dreams, are you supposed to just give that all up?"

Alex was now starting to take an interest in what was going on in the conversation. She held Max a little closer and really started to pay attention.

Amy looked up from playing with Jenny. "From an Anthropologic standpoint, there are plenty of Maternal Centric Cultures where taking care of the family is the pinnacle of activity. In our society, the ability to juggle family and career is often tied to the support system in place for the mother".

Penny agreed. "Yeah… that…. Leonard and I had that conversation. He's willing to do whatever he needs to help out. He doesn't want me to be lost in the shuffle. He thinks that my career is important to me and therefore important to him and also important to Max and Jenny. If I'm happy, then everyone else is happy too. I'm not saying it's all about me, it's just that Leonard puts a premium on trying to make sure I don't sacrifice more for the kids than he does. He really thinks this is a fifty, fifty deal. He's so great".

Bernadette looked back to Jenny and poked at her making her laugh and wave her arms. "You sound just like my mother. She said that they would be willing to help out, and Howie's mom would be too."

Amy and Penny both burst out. "Bernadette… do you want a baby?"

Bernadette looked sheepishly from one girl to another. "I don't know…. Maybe".

Penny put her hand to her mouth. "Oh my god… Bernadette…. That's so great… does Howard know?"

Bernadette answered, "No, not yet. I'm just thinking about it. I talked to his Mom and mine swearing them to secrecy. I just don't know with my career so new and all".

Penny smiled and took Max from Alex. "You really just need to talk to Howard. Everyone will have an opinion, and reasons they handled having kids when they did and how they handled it, but the important thing is how Howard and you are going to do it. You know how much he's changed since you got together. He'll be great. Alex, you should talk to Raj too. All these guys are so alike. If they are one tenth like Leonard, they will be great."