Howard tests Sheldon's Theory

Still own nothing

Bernadette stayed a little longer after Amy and Alex left. She just had the hardest time breaking away from Max and Jenny. She just wanted to ask Penny a question. 'Penny, how did you feel after the babies were born?"

Penny was watching her children lying together in the playpen. "Bernadette, I really can't put it into words. The pregnancy was so stressful, especially the last bit. You guys were all so great. You might have thought that giving birth would have been a relief, but then there was the time that Jenny needed to stay in the Hospital. Still, with all the stress and anxiety… I wouldn't trade it for anything. They are so precious. They look up at you and you can just see that there is that special connection. I almost want to cry every time. I love them so much. There isn't one thing about them that I would want to change. It doesn't matter that Jenny has her bouts with breathing and we have to be extra careful when the weather changes. It doesn't matter that Max is a little too attached to me. They're perfect."

Bernadette thanked Penny for a wonderful evening and gave her big hug. They were always friendly as coworkers, and their friendship had grown over the years, and Amy had thought that Penny was her bestie, but in the end, the friendship between Bernadette and Penny was as close as to friends could be.

Howard d gotten home first and was sitting on the couch flipping through the channels on the TV. It was pretty late and he was not really putting very much thought into the process. When Bernadette came into the room, Howard looked up and smiled. '"Hi Bernie, have a good night?"

Bernadette smiled back as she hung up her jacket. 'Yeah, it was nice… we haven't had a Girl's Night in a while. It was nice to get together with Penny and Amy like we used to. Now, Alex might even start to be a regular".

Howard was surprised. "Alex? Really? Even after what went down with her and Leonard?"

Bernadette scowled a little. "Howie, Nothing went down with anybody. We've been through this. Sure Alex thought Leonard was cute, who wouldn't? She backed off when you guys had to have that meeting with the HR lady. Penny never really had to worry about him. Leonard would never do anything to hurt her".

Howard smiled. "Yeah, that would have been a fight to see".

Bernadette looked at her husband. "Howard Wolowitz… you stop that right now. Penny and Leonard are the most secure couple you know aside from us and they always were. It just took Penny a little longer to figure it out, that's all. Now that they have the babies, they have everything they want".

Howard leaned forward. "How about you Bernie, di you have everything you want?"

Bernadette looked questioningly at her husband. "What do you mean by that?"

Howard sat back. "Nothing, I was just wondering if you are happy…. That's all".

Bernadette sat up. "Howard… What are you trying to say?"

Howard sat up too. "Nothing in particular, it's just that Sheldon had an interesting hypothesis as to why you are so happy around Leonard's kids".

Bernadette looked surprised. "Sheldon? Since when do you listen to what Sheldon has to say… And I thought you guys were playing video games, not talking about what makes your wife happy. What do you guys do when you get together anyway?"

Howard put his hands up surrendering. "OK….OK… He just made the observation that you are always in a good mood when you're around Jenny and Max. He asked if you were the same when we weren't just there with the group, and I said that you were always in a good mood after seeing them regardless of when or where you were. He first chalked it up to some latent sexual tendencies toward Penny and the girls, but we settled on just liking the babies".

Bernadette gasped "What latent sexual tendencies? Is he nuts?"

Howard smirked. "Yes… He most certainly IS nuts. But more importantly, Bernie….. do you want children?"

Bernadette was surprised by Howard's question. "I…. I….. I don't know… maybe….." She then sheepishly looked down.

Howard picked up her chin. "What made you change your mind?"

Bernadette continued to look away. "I don't know, ever since Penny had the kids, she is so different. Even when she was pregnant. Things were so rough for her and we all pitched in… then the babies were born and they are so darn cute. I just never want to let them go".

Howard smiled. "Well, if you want to try…."

Bernadette looked up. :I don't know Howie, I'm still worried about what it will do to my career and my body, and I really don't know how I would be as a mother…."

Howard put his arm around his wife. 'You will be a great mother. You're really good with Jenny and Max. Your career will be fine. We can look into day care, and Ma will want to help out. It might even be good for her to be chasing around a little kid. We would just have to hope the kid understood that getting out of the way of falling objects is the right way to go".

Bernadette smiled. 'Howie, how did the conversation start anyway?"

Howard thought, "Well, I mentioned all the stress you were under and then when you were happy and that you weren't at work one day last week and Ma let it slip that you were with her asking questions…"

Bernadette looked into his eyes. "She told you? That was supposed to be a secret. She swore she wouldn't say anything."

Howard looked back. "Yeah… let's just keep the fact that she let it slip between you and me, shall we? Anyway, she would probably help with a baby."

Bernadette smiled. "It's OK Howie, I talked to my mom too. She said the same thing. She and Dad would help and she even said that some of my sisters would be good with helping. It would be payback for when I had to wipe their snotty noses".

Howard looked deep into his wife's eyes. "SO, do you want to try?"

Bernadette answered shyly. "Maybe" She then took Howard into a big hug.