Warning- Character death mentioned

July 2028

"Momma, Daddy's in your room and he's crying. Why's he sad?" Iris asked Amy, entering the kitchen while she was making dinner.

"I don't know, sweetie. Stay here, okay?" Amy slowly made her way upstairs, figuring he'd just had an argument with the guys. She pushed the bedroom door open and found him on the bed, hugging a pillow and crying. "Hey, what's going on? Iris heard you crying and asked why you're sad."

"My mom just called," he answered between sobs. Amy moved to sit next to him in attempt to comfort him. His breath hitching, he was barely able to say it, "Meemaw's gone. She took a nap this afternoon and didn't wake up."

Amy wrapped her arms around her husband. "Oh, Sheldon. I am so sorry. I know how much you loved her. Do you need me to do anything for you right now?"

Shaking his head, Sheldon answered, "Can you tell Iris? I know she's only seven and didn't know Meemaw very well, but I know she loved her. I just need some time to myself right now. I'll look at flights back to Texas once Mom lets me know the funeral arrangements."

"I can do that. Do you want me to tell Leonard and Penny so they can tell everyone else? Should I bring you something up for dinner or do you want to come down? I'm sure Iris will want to see you once I tell her," Amy pointed out.

"Please tell them. Can you also ask if they'd come with us? I want some of my people there. I'll come down in a little while."

"I can do that. Come down whenever you're ready. I love you," she said, placing a kiss on his cheek before exiting the room.

Iris looked up from her tablet when she heard Amy come downstairs. "Is Daddy okay?"

"He will be. Come sit by me. I have to tell you something about why he's sad," Amy pat the couch next to her. Waiting for her to get settled, Amy wrapped her daughter in a hug. "Do you know what it means when someone dies?"

"Grandma says that's when someone goes to Heaven. That's why I've never met Grandpa George."

Nodding, Amy continued, "That's right, sweetie. Grandma called from Texas to tell Daddy that Meemaw died this afternoon."

"And Daddy's sad because he's going to miss her, right?"

"Exactly. We're all going to miss her; he might be sad for a long time and it's okay to be sad about this. But first, we're all going to go to Texas to say goodbye to her at something called a funeral. I don't know when exactly we're going, but it will be in the next few days. Do you have any questions?" Amy was surprised at how well Iris was processing everything she had just been told.

"Can we make Daddy some tea? He always says tea helps when someone's upset. Maybe tea can help him feel better."

Amy smiled, "I think he would love that."

"Thank you so much for coming with Sheldon and Amy. I know he won't admit it, but Sheldon needs his people around him right now. I'm worried he's going to shut everyone out. You know how close he was with Meemaw," Mary said to Penny later that week as everyone was at her house the day after the funeral.

"We're all a little worried about him, but he seems to be doing okay so far. He actually had Amy ask Leonard and I to come with them. Georgie and Missy have their family and friends here. I think he wanted the same. Leonard being here also gives him a distraction if he needs it. They can talk about work or comic books or something. Iris is enjoying having Jacob here and showing him everything."

Mary smiled, "He really is lucky to have all of you. Thank you for taking care of my son for all those years."

"There was a time that I never would have been friends with someone like him, but I've considered him one of my favorite people for a very long time. How are you doing with everything? Do you have people to lean on if you need to?" Penny asked.

"Thank you for asking. I've got the church. Pastor Jeff retired, but he still lives next door. He and his wife have been extremely helpful through all of this. Georgie has been surprisingly helpful as well. Sheldon gives him a hard time, but he knows how to step up and take care of his family when we need him."

Leonard spotted Sheldon with Iris and Jacob and joined them outside. "Hey, buddy. How's it going out here?"

"Good, I guess. They don't really need me out here, but I couldn't sit in the house any longer. Penny was helping my mom with lunch. I think Amy was finishing packing since we have to leave for the airport after lunch."

"I wish it were under better circumstances that we were here, but I think we've all had a good visit. It's been a long time since I've been out here." Leonard jumped slightly when Sheldon hugged him. "Is everything okay?"

Releasing the hug, Sheldon answered, "Thank you for coming with me. I don't think I would have made it through this past week if it weren't for you and Penny."

"Don't mention it. We're family, of course we'd be here for you, even if you hadn't asked."