A sequel to "The Biophysical Relationship Evolution" and "The Biophysical Relationship Continuation". Part 6, the group prepares for a new arrival. Everything belongs to Chuck Lorre and friends.

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After Penny's announcement and then the news from Dr. Frazer, Bernadette was left in an uncomfortable position. She was happy that her friend Penny was going to have a baby, but this became virtually the sole topic of conversation in the social group, especially on "Girls Nights." Amy, the mother of one year old twins, was full of advice for the soon to be new mother. Two weeks earlier Bernadette had been somewhat ambivalent about her ever becoming a mother. However, Penny was about to join a club which Amy had already joined and that she could never join. She didn't want to rain on Penny's parade by revealing what Dr. Frazer had told her and Sheldon.

Sheldon bent over backwards to be a good husband to Bernadette. By a mutual unspoken agreement babies were not to be mentioned at home when only the two of them were there.

Bernadette threw herself into her work. She was busy enough with 5 PhD students to supervise and an increased teaching load. Her time in the lab was becoming limited to a few hours a week with her students. She found herself on a Caltech research grant committee, Raj was also on this committee so at least she had a friendly face with her as the creeping tendrils of science administration started to eat into her time. She frequently thought to herself "I am turning into what Tom Kariuki used to be before he became the Dean. Good job I can't get pregnant, I would hate for someone to try and do this for a year as maternity cover."

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As the winter turned into spring Penny was getting bigger and bigger. Bernadette tried to be supportive to Penny but she was starting to dread social occasions with her friends. She would barely say a word as everyone else except Sheldon would talk constantly about the new baby and the latest cute thing that Josh and Debbie Wolowitz had done. Sheldon would frequently drive Bernadette home with his wife in floods of tears :-(

Then one day at work, when Bernadette had one of her increasingly rare days in the lab with her students, she sought out her friend Jane Parker.

Bernadette "Jane, can I have a word with you in private."

Jane "Is anything wrong in the lab?"

Bernadette "No, you are doing a great job in the lab as always, my students enjoy working with you. This is nothing to do with biology. Well actually it has everything to do with biology, just not the sort we do around here.

Do you remember my friend Penny, Dr. Hofstadter's wife."

Jane "Yes, I remember her from Amy's wedding. She's not a scientist?"

Bernadette "Far from it, I worked with her waiting tables at the Cheesecake Factory when I was a graduate student. Penny is 8 months pregnant, Sheldon and I are both thrilled for our friends. However, a week after I found out Penny was pregnant I found out that I couldn't have children, I just waited too long. Nobody will ever have to do a maternity cover post for me!"

Jane "Awful timing."

Bernadette "Before Penny's announcement I had never seriously thought of having a baby. It was always something for the future. But now that future has gone, never to return. For the last 6 months I have heard nothing but baby talk from Penny and new mother Amy passing on baby advice. Please, not a word to Amy or Penny about this, I do not want to spoil their happiness. Sheldon has been wonderfully supportive for me but I just needed to talk to a woman about this."

Jane "it must be rough for you. I love my Angela and Michael but my sister Anne can't have children either. She is a super Aunt but I can see the momentary look of sadness in her eyes when Auntie Anne says good bye to her niece and nephew. However, I think I can do something to help. Would you and Sheldon like to come over and visit after work tomorrow?...

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Four weeks later Marie Amy Bernadette Hofstadter was born, right on schedule. Bernadette and Sheldon were both at the hospital for their friends big day, they were very happy for Penny and Leonard, Bernadette was very pleasantly surprised with the baby name.

When they got home Bernadette opened the door and said

"We're home kittens, who wants cat food?" as two little black and white balls of fur came streaking towards her. Bernadette sat down and both kittens jumped into her lap and started purring.

Then Sheldon said "Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, come and get your food." The kittens both jumped out of Bernadette's lap towards two little bowls of kitten food, chasing each other's tails en route.

Bernadette said to her husband "We owe Jane Parker another huge favour. Not only did I get a job at Caltech as her maternity cover but now she gives us two new kittens from her cats new litter. Good luck to Penny and Leonard with baby Marie, at least we have two kittens to play with :-)"