New update time! And feel free to check out my new multi-chapter fic, "It All Started With A Big Beep" if you haven't already.
Penny's mom gave the little family the same warm welcome that Wyatt had, hugging her daughter and Leonard and fussing over Ada before picking Savannah up and swinging her around, Wyatt standing off to the side mumbling about how no one was reminding his wife about her heart.
"I have an amazing supper for you," she said to them. "Your father is very excited about it."
"First bit of real food she's cooked me in months," Wyatt said.
"I'm keeping your ticker working the way it should," his wife said. "If you want to miss out on these grandchildren of yours, then you cook what you want yourself."
"I want chicken nuggets," Savannah said.
"And you shall have them, baby girl," Penny's mother said, bending down and putting her hands on the girl's cheeks so she could kiss her forehead. "Because Grandma loves you so very much." She looked at Leonard. "Leonard, darling, give me that baby!"
Leonard passed Ada to her grandmother, and the woman held her up. "Do you remember Grandma?"
"You just had her two minutes ago," Wyatt grumbled.
"Simba!" Savannah said.
All four adults looked at her. "What, sweetie?" Penny asked.
Savannah giggled, pointing at the way her grandmother was holding Ada. "Simba!"
The laughter among everyone – Savannah and Ada included, increased when Wyatt spread his arms and began singing Circle of Life.
"Dad, Dad, Dad," Penny said, going over and trying to cover his mouth. He swatted her away.
"Stick to your day job, Wyatt," his wife said.
"Nevada thinks it's funny," Wyatt protested.
"She's just laughing because the rest of us are laughing," Penny said, looking fondly at her younger daughter. "Aren't you?" she asked, extending her pointer finger to touch the top of Ada's hand. The baby grabbed on and squeezed. Penny smiled and leaned over to kiss Ada on the head.
"Penny, sweetheart," her mother said then, "you have no idea how much it means to us that you guys are here for Christmas. With your sister and her family in North Dakota…"
"North Dakota?" Leonard said, remembering a joke Penny had told years ago. It had fallen completely flat in L.A., but her parents roared in laughter at the mere reference of the state with a hint of disgust behind it. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, and Penny grinned approvingly.
"We don't understand it either, son," Wyatt said, "but they've been there three weeks and won't be back until April. I try not to judge, but…" he shook his head.
"And with your brother in rehab too far away for your father to travel…" the older woman shook her head. "We were going to be pretty lonely around here. But now we have our wonderful younger daughter," she smiled at Leonard, "our future son – in – law, and their two beautiful babies to spend the holiday with." She looked over at Wyatt. "What did these two old people do to deserve this?"
"I can tell you what you did," Wyatt said. "You made us this meal that's about to get cold."
After dinner, Savannah tugged on Wyatt's sleeve. "Grampa. Do you have balls?"
Two years ago Leonard and Penny would have smirked at her question. But they'd grown accustomed to Savannah saying things that she'd hear a lot differently a decade down the road. "Savannah," Penny said, "did you remember to bring the ball you and Ada play with?"
Savannah looked upset. "No. That's why I ask Grampa."
"What kind, sweetie?" Wyatt said.
"Like…" Savannah used her hands to indicate. "Like this. This big, and not heavy like oof!" she dropped to the ground to demonstrate how she'd fall if she had to hold something heavy. "But not like it won't go anyplace."
"She means like…" Leonard started.
Wyatt smiled and held up a hand to silence him. "I raised three of these little buggers, and I got another grandchild." He disappeared down the hall and returned moments later with a yellowed sphere that looked like a miniature volleyball. "How's this, sweet pea?"
Savannah dropped the ball to the ground and watched it bounce. "Yes."
"What do you – " Leonard started, but Savannah was already thanking Wyatt. She came over to where Ada was laying on the carpet and sat down in front of her. "Ball," Savannah said, holding it up. "Ball. Ball."
"Is that little munchkin trying to teach Ada how to talk?" Wyatt asked, sitting down next to Penny and Leonard on the couch.
"She hears us trying to get her to say our names," Leonard said. "And so every time she shows Ada something, she repeats it."
"She still ain't talking, though," Wyatt said.
"She's getting there," Penny said. "Soon."
Savannah rolled the ball toward Ada, intentionally having it go to the right. Ada squealed and crawled across the floor; upon reaching the ball, she laughed and curled her body around it. Savannah ran over, fell to the floor, and began tickling the little girl to get her to let go.
"Naaaaaaa!" Ada protested.
"We think she's trying to say 'not fair'," Penny said to her father. That's what Savannah always says if we tickle her while playing.
Savannah got the ball away and held it up, just out of Ada's reach. Ada grabbed the end of the chair next to her and pulled herself to her feet, batting the ball out of her sister's hand. Savannah ran after it, and Ada looked around, then looked toward her parents and started to cry.
"She doesn't know how to sit back down yet," Leonard said as Penny went over to ease the baby back onto her bottom. Ada stopped crying and looked toward Savannah for the ball.
The girl was staring at the ball and muttering to herself, looking intently at the object in her hands. "Sometimes she talks to stuff," Penny said. "Ever since you gave her that talking football stuffed animal, she talks to different objects, trying to figure out what will answer back."
"Savvy," Leonard said, "what were you saying to the ball?"
"I was talking to myself," Savannah said. "The ball doesn't answer me."
"What were you saying?" Wyatt asked.
"I don't know," Savannah told him. "I wasn't listening."
Penny burst out laughing. Ada looked over at her mother and then started laughing too.