The Big Bang Baby [The Big Bang Theory]

Chapter 1

"Halley!" A high-pitched voice screamed from downstairs. My mom still has that iconic high-pitched voice that she couldn't learn to get the hang of over the 18 years I have known her. I sighed and looked in the full-length mirror in my room to see if what I was wearing looked cute. The white crop top just covered my belly button, paired with whitewashed jeans and a pair of sneakers.

Cute. I approve.

"Coming!" I shouted, quickly placing my hand in front of my mouth, not liking the somewhat high-pitched voice I got from my mother. I sometimes wonder how those genetics got passed on to me. It's not a permanent thing, at least. It comes and goes when it likes to. I grabbed my bag, slung it over my shoulder, and headed downstairs, where my mom and dad were waiting in the living room. I look them over and see that my dad, Howard, still wears those skin-tight jeans he wore before I was born and thinks they're still in fashion.

I raise an eyebrow at him, looking at the outfit he wore. "Seriously, dad? Skinny jeans? Those are not in fashion anymore," I say, walking past him. I can see his shocked face as he looks over his attire.

"What were you doing up there? We will miss Comic Book Night at Uncle Sheldon's place." My mom said. Even though she is not the one for these geeky gatherings, she always goes to hang out with Amy and Penny.

"I thought he put that off years ago," I said, looking confused at my parents.

"You know how Sheldon is. Every second week he changes things around to suit him, so you never know when what will be happening." My dad said, grabbing the car keys and heading for the door with my mom in tow. I followed them out the front door and rolled my eyes, taking out my phone and hoping not to talk to them during the ride to the apartment block. The ride to Sheldon's apartment was not long, max 5 minutes.

"Dad, do you think Penny and Leonard will be there tonight? They always have something else on when we visit Sheldon." I asked from the back seat. I look up from my phone to see him not responding to my question. My mom looked around from the front seat to me.

"They said they will try to be there tonight. But with Penny's acting career, the agency can call her to a job anytime, so it's pretty unpredictable." She smiled as the car stopped in front of a brick building.

I climbed out of the car, grabbed the bag I had brought, and headed to the entrance doors. I sighed in disappointment as I walked into the building and saw that the elevator was still not fixed.

Seriously? Why am I not surprised?

I do not understand why the owner has not fixed it yet. It's just an elevator. It's been nearly 25 years since it was last functional. Now I have to use the stairs. It can't be that difficult.

"The exercise will be good for you." The high-pitched voice of my mother came from behind. I looked at her and my dad as they led the way up the stairs.

"Why? It's just an elevator. All it needs to do is go up and down. It can't be that hard." I said softly, dragging myself upstairs.

***

I finally stepped onto the landing of the 4th floor, and I looked at the two doors on either side of the hallway. We walk towards the door to the right of the hallway, and dad knocks on the door three times, just as Sheldon likes it. The door suddenly flies open, and Sheldon's standing there, just looking at us.

"Welcome," he said as we walked into the apartment. After ten years of engagement, Uncle Sheldon and Aunt Amy finally tied the knot.

"Don't sit on my spot," he said as I walked past him. I gave him a sweet smile, and I could feel him still staring at me as he closed the door. I sometimes tease Uncle Sheldon about 'his spot' and sometimes purposely sit in it to annoy him. Now he reminds me not to sit in his spot every time I visit.

Not much has changed in Penny's apartment now that Sheldon and Amy live here. Sheldon is so scared of change that he will freak out if anything is out of place. The turquoise couch is still in the apartment, although Sheldon said he hated it and wanted to get rid of it the day he and Amy eventually tied the knot. I made my way to the colorful one-seater chair next to the couch. I looked around and smelled something very aromatic from the kitchen. Aunt Amy's cooking improved so much. As far as I remember, the first thing she cooked for me was bacon and egg. Now she's suddenly cooking duck breast like it's no one's business.

"Is the Hofstadter's coming today, Amy?" I asked, not knowing what to expect as an answer. Before she could even answer me, the well-known three knocks echoed on the door. The people at the door did not even wait for Sheldon to open it. The door swung open, revealing three well-known figures standing on the other side. I smiled when I saw the blonde woman and the two guys accompanying her.

"Hey, best friend!" Amy says, indulging Penny in a big hug. The two of them immediately made their way to the kitchen. My dad and Leonard joined Sheldon on the turquoise couch as they began their marathon comic book read-through. I smiled at all the comic books now packed out on the table. I looked up to see the other figure still standing at the door. He smiled at me, and I tried to smile back, but I don't know if I did.

"You know you can come in, right?" I said, walking to the door.

"Yeah, I know. It just feels so weird being back here," Gregg states, walking in and closing the door behind him. Gregg is the same age as me. Leonard and Penny did not plan to become parents as soon as they married. According to my mom, they were shocked to find out Penny was pregnant. For me, it has been a plus, though. I have had a friend growing up. Someone I can talk to that is not a scientist. The two of us head for the dining room table. It's been our usual spot to hang out since I can remember.

"You know how much I missed this?" he said, looking at our dad's paging through the soft, colorful magazines.

"Then why did you leave?" I asked. He looked at me with a questionable look on his face.

"Since you two are standing at the table, could you maybe get some plates and cutlery?" Amy asked, interrupting us.

"Sure. I assume you guys will eat on the couch?" Gregg asked. Every time we all used to eat together, our parents insisted on eating on the couch and let the two of us eat at the two-seater table.

"If you guys don't mind?" Amy answered, heading to the bedroom. Having Gregg back in town felt very surreal. It's been four years since I last saw him. I looked at him and realized how much he had changed. His short honey-blonde hair has grown slightly a little longer than usual, almost how Lenard's used to look back in the day. A faint 5-o'clock stubble is growing on his face, and his eyes are a shade darker green than I remembered. Gregg passed me two placemats as he disappeared into the kitchen. He returned with some plates, knives, and forks.

"Foods ready!" my mom shouted across the room. Everyone stopped what they were doing and gathered around the kitchen island, grabbing each plate and dishing the food.