I now realize that my own special little flaming guest reviewer (and I'm sure he/she is yours too) is a complete moron. He/she thinks so little of Sheldon they don't even think he would be concerned if his wife and child were in danger. How sad it must be to have so much of your life revolve around hating a fictional character in a TV show. I actually feel kind of bad for this person. Maybe we should get him/her a puppy.

Anon13, thanks, doll! I love Howard. He's grown so much and come so far from that first season. I kind of liked Priya. She was strong, determined and had a lot of confidence. Unfortunately she was also pretty overbearing and a bit condescending, too. Oh well. Got to take the good with the bad, I guess.

Ask A Stupid Question Day (September 28th)

Penny ignored the sound of the door opening. She didn't feel like having visitors. She had been stuck in this stupid room 22 hours a day for over a month now! She was sick of these four walls. She was tired of the pastel curtains. She hated the florescent lights. And she unconditionally despised the tiny little foods on the compartmentalized trays that had absolutely no taste, no texture and no appeal.

She loved her friends. She really did. But she couldn't take another evening of them sitting in these hard plastic chairs, telling her how lucky she was to be waited on hand and foot. How nice it must be to just sit and relax. She knew this was necessary. She knew this was important. Her daughter was the most important thing in the world to her. But she was tired, and sore, and lonely. She missed sleeping beside Sheldon. She missed him waking her in the morning with a kiss. She missed Halo night and laundry night. Heaven help her, she even missed the almost weekly fights between Sheldon and Leonard.

"Penny?"

She pasted a smile on her face and rolled over to face Amy. For a moment, she was sure she must be dreaming. Her eyes widened as she looked around the room. "Missy? Mom?" Penny looked around at the group of women with confusion and joy all rolled into one. Bernadette, Amy, Priya, Missy, Meemaw, Mary, her Mom, her sister Katie and even Raj's new girlfriend Sarah were standing around the room. Penny maneuvered her swollen belly around so she could sit up straighter. "What are you all doing here?"

Meemaw smiled and stepped over to the bed and laid her hand over Penny's. "We're here to help you get ready, dear."

Penny frowned. "Ready? For what?"

Her mom held up a garment bag. "We're taking you out for a bit of fresh air, honey."

Penny's jaw dropped. "I am getting out of this pastel hell?!" she asked excitedly. She looked at Mary with chagrin. "Sorry," she murmured.

Mary laughed. "Honey, if I had been stuck in this room for a month, I'd probably say the same."

Bernadette pulled the sliding curtain closed and placed Penny's make-up bag on the bedside table. Amy shut the curtains on the window and plugged in a curling iron. Her mom helped her into a shower chair and she got cleaned up from head to toe. Then her sister and Missy helped her get dressed in a pretty white sundress with a primrose print. She settled into a wheelchair and applied her make-up while Sarah curled her hair. Once that was done, Amy and Bernadette did her nails. Penny felt like she was in a spa. Once they were satisfied that everything was perfect, Priya tied a pretty rose colored silk scarf around her eyes.

"Just trust us," Priya said cheerily. "Today is going to be a day you'll never forget."

Penny's mind scrambled to figure out what her friends and family were up to as they wheeled her through the hospital. Then she breathed in fresh air and a second later she felt the sun on her skin and for the first time in weeks, her body relaxed. It was so cathartic. This was what she had missed. A few seconds later her ride was over. Priya untied the scarf and pulled it away.

Penny gasped and covered her mouth in shock. Sheldon was standing in front of her in a sexy tux. Beside him stood Leonard, Howard and Raj. Penny looked to her right and saw Bernadette, Amy, and Priya. She tried to blink away the tears threatening to form as she saw all their family and friends sitting nearby.

Sheldon reached out and took her hands in his. He knelt down and smiled shyly. "I know this isn't what you dreamed of. And I promise that once you are back on your feet, we'll do this right. But I want us to be married before our daughter arrives. So, will you marry me today?"

Penny tugged him close and kissed him softly. "We ARE doing this right, sweetie. I cannot imagine a better wedding than this." Penny looked at him with bright eyes. "Sheldon, this is the most wonderful, fabulous, romantic idea ever. Let's get married. Right now."

A cheer went up from their family and friends and Sheldon stood back up. Penny kept hold of his hands and they both turned to face the hospital's chaplain. The elderly gentleman smiled benignly at them.

"Welcome everyone. We are gathered together to bear witness to the blessed union of Sheldon Lee Cooper and Penelope Rene Queen. Marriage is not just a legal title. It is the joining together of two souls. It is the melding of two lives. Sheldon and Penelope have chosen to stand before all of you and take a pledge to love and support each other for the rest of their lives."

He smiled at everyone and turned to Sheldon. "Sheldon, do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? To love her? To honor her? To care for her in sickness and in health?"

Sheldon nodded firmly. "I do."

He turned toward Penny. "Penelope, do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband? To love him? To honor him? To care for him in sickness and in health?"

Penny smiled warmly. "I do."

The chaplain looked at Sheldon again. "Please place the ring upon Penny hand and repeat after me." He paused while Sheldon slipped the gold band onto her finger. "This ring I give you as a symbol of my love and fidelity."

Sheldon repeated the words tenderly. The chaplain turned to Penny and had her do the same. He closed the prayer book he had been holding and looked at them both. "I now pronounce you lawfully wedded husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Sheldon bent and kissed Penny passionately. All around them a cheer went up. In the almost 3 hours before Penny had to go back inside they managed to squeeze in a small reception in the hospital's botanical garden. Penny looked around at the laughing, smiling faces all around her with joy. She truly was a lucky woman.

Sheldon helped her relax back against the pillows on the bed and drew the blanket up over her legs. She pulled him down beside her and wrapped her arms around his neck. Sheldon smiled and leaned down to kiss her. "Happy?"

Penny grinned. "Do you know what today is?" Sheldon frowned as he tried to figure out what answer she was looking for. "It's Ask A Stupid Question Day. Of course I'm happy. How could I not be?"

Sheldon hugged her close. He opened his mouth to say something but froze. He pulled back from her and looked down. "Penny? Are you okay?" His voice was hesitant and concerned.

She grinned and rubbed her belly. "Sorry, sweetie. She's a bit active tonight. She must have liked getting outside as much as I did." Up until now, the baby's movements had been small and delicate, almost timid. But today, their little girl was kicking up a storm. Apparently she liked all the excitement going on.

Sheldon's eyes were wide as he tentatively placed a hand beside hers. After a moment he felt a second forceful kick. His face softened and he bent to place a kiss to the area his hand had just covered. "Caroline Sabrina Cooper, just one more month," he promised in a low whisper.

Penny's heart swelled with love as she watched him whisper reassurances to their baby. Six years ago she would never have been able to imagine this scene. She ran her fingers through her whackadoodle's closely cropped hair as he continued his conversation. It might not have been a conventional wedding night, but it was one that would always bring a smile to her face when she thought about it.