This is to state that everything that might be construed to be from tbbt is and belongs to them folks over dare. All of da rest of the stuff belonged to me, mine and four dogs, three cats and whatever keeps making that noise in the garage. Really I have no clue what it might be but it scares the crap out of me. Really BIG spider? I'll just keep parking on the outside for a while.

Geneva Switzerland, Lisel's bedroom, 7:20 PM

Lena set next to Lisel on the floor. She was surrounded by her audience 3 dolls, a stuffed kitty, doggy and her long eared white rabbit Rascal. Lisel read from the book, she got most of the words right. She only had to ask her grandmother what some meant.

Lisel looked up at her animals, "Rascal pay attention there's a rabbit in this story."

Lisel finished the story. She looked up to see her Grandfather in the doorway.

Horst smiled, "What are you reading little Lisel"

Lena answered for her. "A 3rd grade reading primer I got at the used book store."

Lena gave her husband a huge grin. Horst raised his bushy eyebrows, "Wonderful, perhaps she's ready to read this." He handed a child's birthday card to Lisel.

Lisel looked over, "It's for me" She read the card:

On your first birthday:

This white little bunny from me to you
Hold him close and keep him warm.
Love him as your papa and mama love you.
Keep this little white bunny safe from harm
and remember always mommy loved you.

Mama

Lisel looked at her grandmother, "Did mommy make Rascal grandmama?"

"No Lisel, your mama was to sick so she asked your grandaunt Camille to make him for you so she could give him to you. Camille made one for your mommy when she was a baby." Lena was getting a little teary.

"Grandmama will I ever get a new mama?"

Horst answered her, "I think you will very soon."

"Who will it be?"

Lena answered smiling at Lisel, "Miss Penny. She's coming with your papa to come get you"

Lisel got very excited grabbing up Rascal. "Penny with the doggies and the kitty, that will be wonderful? When are they coming, will they bring the doggies and kitty?"

Horst replied "No the animals will have to stay at home"

Lisel was still excited, "When are they coming grandpapa? I want to meet mama Penny"

Lena put her hand on Lisel, calming her and spoke softly. "In a few weeks, now back to your reading, and then it will be bedtime. Would you like me to read a story to you tonight?"

"Can we read it together?"

"Yes"

Horst picked up the birthday card. He'd better send an email to Leonard and let him know the next video call might be interesting.

Quiet please

Mumbai, India 11:00 PM

Raj sat at his desk, his wife had just gone to bed. Oh cow how that woman could talk. It had taken him years to be able to talk to women. The he finally could and his wife Aisha would just not shut up. His mistress was just as bad, never a peaceful moment. He checked his search engine filters for any news. It had been a few days since he'd last checked. His collected entries were mostly about TV shows and movie stars he followed. The third one down made him sit up and his mouth drop open

Penelope Jenson engaged to Caltech Physicist

He clicked the article which was a brief news release

Penelope Jensen TV and screen star to marry Caltech professor Leonard Hoftstader PhD in private ceremony. No details of the wedding plans were available.

Raj started typing an email to Howard to get the details. He also forwarded the item to his sister Priya. Raj wondered if Howard was even still at Caltech, Bernadette made the big money they could have moved on. He checked the school website and found his way to the faculty page. Howard was there and now with PhD after his name.

When Raj had come back to India 10 years ago it was to try and find a wife. He had every intention of returning to California. Though Sheldon thought he was insane to take a sabbatical and come back to India to find a wife. He had done it anyway his marriage was arranged by his parents. Aisha was pretty and very tiny then, now three children later really neither. He'd taken on his mistress last year just to lighten his mood. Once Raj was married he tried to return to the United States but could not get a work visa. Then Aisha was pregnant and it was impossible to go back. He and Howard had kept in contact for couple of years but that communication had gradually faded away.

Raj hadn't communicated with Leonard or Penny since they split up and Leonard moved to Oxford. They had not been close for several years before he left, because of Leonard dating Priya and then Raj's unfortunate aborted sexual encounter with a very drunk Penny. Until Raj had read the engagement notice he had no idea Leonard had come back from Europe. Raj spent his day's now teaching astrophysics at the University of Mumbai and helping his Mother run their many and varied businesses.

He did miss his old friends though, and it was a perfect excuse to get away from both his wife and his mistress. His friends would be so surprised to see he could talk to women now. That electroshock therapy by a psychiatrist friend of his father had cured him. Well kind of cured him he was still deathly afraid of pretty women but would shudder and wet himself if he didn't speak to them.

He sent his first email to Howard in over five years, and waited to see if he could be invited. He hoped so, there would be all the stars Penny knew there, and he could have a hamburger. Thanks be to Cow.

Father know Best when Mother is not in the room

Cambridge England 6:45 PM

Amy was 7 months pregnant, it was a good thing she didn't laugh much. Because even the slightest titter would make bladder control disappear. She was looking around for her husband Sheldon and their 2 year old son Tyler. She found them in the model train room together. They were both playing with the wooden toy train set on the floor rather than the huge model train layout all around them. Sheldon was explaining, "This one is Thomas" said Sheldon gently as he handed the engine to Tyler. Tyler promptly stuck it in his mouth and began sucking on it. "Oh my Sheldon" said quietly, "I think we should not suck on trains." He put his hand out and Tyler spit it into his hand. Sheldon took a sanitized wipe from the container next to him and cleaned the toy. Then took another wipe and wiped his hands.

"Sheldon has Leonard told you where the weddings going to be in Paris yet? All my emails to him come back with an automated reply that says "Be Patient Amy", I may need to call him." Sheldon gave that panda bear smile, of his. "Leonard emailed me that no one will know where it is before we get in the cars to drive there. They are worried about the press." Sheldon went back to playing with his son. Amy waddled out of the room, thinking this baby might be twins but knew better. Perhaps Sheldon and I can have sex if we want to have another one or we're getting a surrogate.

Nebraska Cornhuskers take on the Auburn Tigers

Burbank California 2:30 PM

Penny got the popcorn in the bowl, chips and salsas were already on the coffee table. She had on her Nebraska shirt, red hat with a large white N and grey sweats that said Nebraska up the leg. The game started at 3:00. Leonard decided to tease her. "You know Oregon is playing Michigan in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, we could have went to a live football game. Both teams are ranked higher than Nebraska."

"Hold your tongue Hofstadter", she placed the popcorn on the coffee table then walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, and grabbed his butt with both hands.

"Go Huskers?" Leonard said with just a tiny bit of enthusiasm. Penny kissed him. "That's better but with a little more pep next time"

"So who's coming over the old husker's crowd?"

"Nope, just you and me honey, I was invited over to a couple of Cotton Bowl parties but I think I'll just stay home and watch it with you." A dog's head rubbed her knees, "Oh and my other boys" she said rubbing Leaky's head. Einstein was eyeing the popcorn over by the table.

They sat down on the couch, cuddling up and watching as the players entered the field. Leonard knew the cuddling would only last until the actual game started. Then Penny would go into fan mode. Leonard's phone was on the kitchen counter, he heard it buzz and beep for an email. "I'll check that and get us a couple of beers." He got up and headed for the kitchen.

Leonard grabbed his phone he had not one but two emails. One was from Horst and one from Howard. He started back toward the couch. Howard subject just said "Raj is coming to the wedding, I invited him." Leonard smiled at that, there had been a time when he really liked Raj it would be good to see him again. He sat back down and opened Horst's email and read it. A huge grin sat upon his face. Penny looked over and saw his face.

"Something good must have happened?"

"A couple of things actually, Raj is coming to the wedding." Penny smiled at this and waited for the second piece of news"

"I got an email from Horst, I wish you could read it but it's in German. I'll read it to you"

"Leonard some news you may be interested in, your daughter is reading at a 3rd grade level. She asked us today if she would ever have another mother. We told that Penny was coming with you to get her. She's very excited to meet a mama Penny. Let Penny know, Liisa would be so happy. I wanted you both to be ready the next time we do a video mail.

Horst"

Penny had tears in her eyes. She grabbed Leonard around the neck and buried her face in his neck. "I promise Leonard I will the best mother to Lisel, and I'll make Liisa proud."

Leonard just hugged and kissed her head. "I know you will honey, I know you will.

He lifted her head off his shoulder, "Come on its kick off or whatever, Go Huskers."

This time he said it with pep.

Nebraska beats Auburn 27-24 on a last second field goal Penny almost wet her sweats.

Oregon crushed Michigan 47-21 and we again wonder why they are not in the national championship game.

Threads from different places I've been meaning to pull together and write. I finally got to bring them into the piece. I hope you enjoyed it.

You of course know about the twitter feed, follow ElipticalThread.

I also put the entire story on a blog at Ellipticalthreads on wordpress

It has all the chapters 5 to a page, a thread blog answering questions both asked and hinted at. If you want to see more of the process I've been using its there

Reviews are needed let me know how you feel about it either way. I'll respond to all of them either directly on Fanfiction or via the blog or twitter.

Kid Macy keep'em coming, you're cracking me up. Yes it would have been an iPhone there are directions on it to where I left your iPad. I know a great vegetarian place. I'll text you.