Misery loves company
Chapter 8: We need people sometimes
Back with another chapter :) I want to thank every single person for reading my story. I know I say that alot but your support means ths world to me. Hearing your thoughts on each chapter makes my day so thank you. I do want to say that I am posting every Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. Back to the story then :)
P.S: This story does get more sensitive from the next chapter onwards but this chapter isn't to sensitive.
When all the dust is settled and all the crowds are gone, the things that matter are faith, family, and friends.
~Barbara Bush
Mary's pov:
Another day of all of this. Another day of this endless pain. Feeling this weight on my chest dragging me down everyday. I was so tired of all of this already. I haven't felt so hopeless in my life before,not like this. Not this fear that Sheldon isn't going to get better. I sat by the dressing table and realised how long I have been staying here instead of my home which wasn't far from here.
How much time I spent without knowing if my little boy is going to be okay. I tried to help where I could here. I tried so hard to remain positive but everyday was getting harder and harder. Looking at Leo everyday imagining the day Amy has to tell him his father isn't coming home. My son isn't coming home. My heart broke everytime.
Watching Amy hurt the way she did and try to keep it all together. To watch Penny drink her problems away at the expense of her liver as well as Leonard is going to ignore his problems until it gets so much he won't be able to bear it. Howard and Bernadette kept to themselves mostly. Everyone thinks they are the okay ones but they are putting up this wall around themselves terrified they are going to lose someone else to.
I looked at myself in the mirror to see new wrinkles forming and the bags around my eyes only getting heavier. I took the make-up to make myself look half decent so Amy didn't have to worry about me as much. I looked over at the dressing table next to the mirror was a photo framed in this black frame with the word Family at the bottom in gold. There I was with my three kids,my three joys,my three beautiful perfect children.
I wish I could go back there so I had all three of them with me. So I could hold onto them a little longer. They grew up to quickly and I wasn't ready. I'm not ready to lose one of them. Not now. I already lost so much. My dad,mom and husband. I couldn't loose my pride and joy to.
I prayed more than I have ever prayed in my life. Prayed for him to wake up so I can see his beautiful smile again. So I can listen to the way he talks about physics or how excited he gets when he sees trains. To see him get frustrated when he tries to get me to understand it and I can't. To watch him in love again. To watch him love his kid just as much as I have loved mine.
I wiped my tears that was ruining my makeup now and looked at the photo again.
"You are going to be okay Shelly. Just focus on getting home to us. Please just come home. " I said then got up before I would cry again.
I left to the kitchen to watch Amy sitting on the couch with Leo while she read to him. She smiled at me once I entered and made tea for all of us.
"Okay Leo. That's all for today. You read a whole page by yourself and I'm so proud of you sweetie. You did amazing. Go put your shoes on now so we can get going to school. " Amy said closing the book.
Leo noticed I was in the kitchen now so he ran over to me while Amy followed.
"Meemaw. I read a whole page all by myself. " He said proudly.
I picked him up and placed him on the kitchen counter.
"That's amazing Leo. You are smart like your mommy and daddy. " I said while pouring the hot water into the cups.
Amy came and stood next to me now looking at Leo. She started tickling his stomach which sent him laughing more now.
"I thought i told you to put on your shoes mister. " She said smiling as she continued tickling him.
Leo laughed until he was losing his breath as he gave in. Amy put him down on the ground and he ran into the other room to put his shoes on. I gave her a cup of tea which she happily accepted.
"Thank you Mary. You are a gift. " She said smiling. She took a pause to take a sip of her tea then continued," I forgot to tell you Missy and Georgie will be arriving later this morning so we can fetch them from the airport later. "
"I'm sorry. Missy and Georgie are coming here ?" I said shocked now.
"Yes they are coming here they took the first flight they could. They let me know to tell you . "
"Amy. I haven't told them anything about Sheldon other than the fact that he had an accident. I didn't say how bad he was. " I said worried now.
"Well it seems like they knew because they said that's why they are coming as soon as possible. "
I didn't tell Missy and Georgie about Sheldon. I just couldn't do it. I couldn't bear it. I couldn't hear their voice like I had to do when I found out George died. Looking at my kids telling them their father wasn't here anymore was one of the worst things I had to do. I couldn't tell them about Sheldon. Everytime I did I was on the verge of crying. Now they are coming here.
"Who told them if it wasn't me ? " I asked.
"They said they spoke to Raj and are coming down immediately. I don't think Raj knew they didn't know. "
Leo came back into the room with his bag and his shoes on.
"I'm ready mommy. " He said.
"Okay let's go then . Say goodbye to meemaw. "
Leo ran to me and gave me a big hug then I watched him head out the door. Amy stopped and placed her hand on mine.
"It's going to be okay, Mary. Everything is going to be okay. " She said giving me a small smile.
We both knew that we didn't know if that was true but she was comforting me. I gave a small smile back and then she left to take Leo to school. My kids were coming. My two kids who have already lost their Father,Meemaw and Pop pop are coming to maybe loose their brother to. I hurt everywhere now but knowing I will see my children again gave me relief to. Relief to know they are okay.
I looked at the time and it was a couple of hours till they landed. It wasn't long now. We would have to start leaving soon. I walked to the tv room to find Amy working on her computer. She did some work from home if she could help it because she couldn't bear to go to work right now.
"Amy ? Did you eat ?" I asked.
"Yes Mary I did eat something even though I'm not hungry. " Amy said paying attention to her stomach .
She always made sure her children were doing okay before she focused on herself. I was scared of the state she would be in if this happened when she didn't have them. They were the reason she got up every morning at the moment and everyone knew it.
"You aren't hungry but your child must be. You know you can visit Sheldon if you want . I can pick Missy and Georgie up . " I offered.
"No it's okay I want to go with. It will be nice to see them both even though it is unfortunate circumstances. "
"Okay sweetie just asking. I'm excited to see them too although I wish it wasn't like this. " I said then continued trying to change the topic," How is Penny and them ?" I asked.
"Not getting any better. Leonard is mad at Rajesh and we all don't know why. Rajesh refuses to admit it and Penny is drinking more than before while Howard and Bernadette don't talk to anyone but themselves. " She said.
"So you have noticed it to with Howard and Bernadette ?" I asked .
"Of course I have. Sheldon being gone has really affected everyone Mary. I'm terrified to see what will happen if he doesn't come home. I feel like I'm losing everyone, Mary and I'm really trying so hard but I just can't do this right now. " She said putting the computer down next to her and buried her head in her hands.
"i know this isn't the best right now but you guys are going to get through this. I know you guys will. We will handle whatever comes. " I said sitting next to Amy now comforting her.
"Thank you Mary. I don't know how you do all of this. You go through so much and try to still remain so positive even when some days are really hard. You are so strong and incredibly kind. Your kids are lucky to have you as a mother and im lucky I got you as a mother in law. "
I could feel the tears fill my eyes now and I am so grateful that she was here. That she met Sheldon. That she stuck around even when she was given a hundred reasons not to. That she had patience and saw goodness in everyone even the most stubborn. I gave her a hug now not being able to say anything else. Not able to form my words.
"I'm so so glad you married Sheldon,Amy. " I said.
"I'm glad to. "
I got up drying my tears and boiled the kettle once again to make more tea while Amy carried on with her work on her computer. She was trying so hard to get better everyday. She was trying to come back to reality even if it was so hard.
I couldn't imagine how difficult it must be for her. I had my mother when I went through George's death and my children were a little older so they understood the concept of death but Leo doesn't even know what death is. He was so young when my mom died and I was terrified that Amy would have to raise 2 children without Sheldon but i knew no matter what that she would have me. I always considered her my other daughter even when she wasn't biologically mine. She deserved better but she still remained so kind despite it all and I knew that whatever was coming we were going to get through it together.
I gave her a cup of tea which she thanked me for and we felt time move as we made small talk about Leo and,his progress on his reading and math. Sheldon and Amy, always taught Leo a little bit of reading and math every morning before school just so Leo felt smarter in the mornings which made his day at school better. It made him feel better about himself. Now Amy had to do both math and reading with him because Sheldon wasn't here.
"We better start leaving if we want to be there on time for when they land. " Amy said looking at her phone.
"We better go then " I said sounding sadder about this.
"Mary, I know you are trying to protect them from seeing Sheldon like that and protect them if something bad happens to him which is totally understandable I mean I haven't even told Leo yet for the same reason but they want to be here for you and their brother. They need this. You need to see them. This is a time where your children need comfort from you and you need comfort from them. It is going to be okay. "
"You always know the right things to say. " I said smiling.
"Well my mother in law taught me a thing or two about it. You should thank her. " She said smiling.
"How happy I am to know you are a Cooper my dear. You make us seem a little less crazy than we actually are. "
She gave a smile then looked at her phone again," Let's go welcome your children. " She said getting up now and we both left to the car.
Amy and I both searched endlessly for two familiar faces to appear in the airport but we just saw random people being greeted by their loved ones. Eventually we caught sight of Missy and she looked at Amy squealing. I forgot how much closer they got recently. Missy ran towards Amy and threw her arms around her. Amy fell back in surprise but then hugged her back tighter.
"How's my favourite sister ? " She asked still hugging her.
"You know she says that to everyone."Georgie said carrying all the bags then putting them on the floor.
"Shut up Georgie. I don't see you giving me a sister in law anytime soon and even if you did Amy would still be my favourite. " Missy said.
"Yeah Georgie. I married Sheldon but stayed for her. She is my favourite Cooper. " Amy said laughing.
"Haha see I'm her favourite to. " Missy said.
"Well I'm her favourite brother in law. " He said.
"That's because you are her only brother in law. There wasn't much options to choose from. " Missy said.
"Well I see fighting over Amy's attention seemed to have made you both forget about your mother the person who raised you. " I said now.
"I'm sorry mom. We are happy to see you too. We are always happy to see you. " Missy said hugging me now.
"You are our favourite mother if it helps. " Georgie said hugging me too.
"Well im sure that is only true because I'm your only mother." I said smiling.
"No mom,you are possibly one of the best mother's out there. Even Amy got jealous so she married Sheldon so she at least had you as a mother in law. She married Sheldon for you. " Missy said laughing.
"I wonder how he will feel about Amy marrying him for his family instead of him. " Georgie said.
"How is he ?" Missy said looking at Amy now as her smile dissapeared.
"Not good Missy." Amy said with a crack in her voice hiding the tears.
"Why didn't you tell us how bad it was mom ? We would have came sooner. We deserved to know about him. He is our brother. My twin. " Missy said looking at me now with tears in her eyes now.
"I'm sorry I really wanted to but I couldn't seem to find the words. I couldn't seem to utter it out and hurt you all over again like I did with your dad. I'm really sorry. I should have called sooner. " I said feeling the tears come now.
"It's okay mom. Don't worry about it. The important thing is that we are here now and we are going to get through this together. " Georgie said hugging me again.
Missy was hesitant with the tears in her eyes but then she said something,"We are sorry you have to go through this again mom. " Missy said hugging me while Georgie was hugging me.
I felt incredibly lucky for them both. I was in tears now. I looked at Amy and gave a smile through the tears.
"See I told you everything is going to be fine. " She mouthed with the same smile.
Both of them separated from me while I tried not to cry but I was failing.
"Let's get your bags so we can get home. " Amy said picking up one of the bags.
"Nope. You aren't carrying anything. You are pregnant remember ?" Missy said taking the bag away from me.
"Pregnant not paralysed. There is a difference Missy. " I said grabbing the bag back.
"Well if Sheldon found out we let you carry anything while pregnant with his child he will come kill us. You and his children are the only things he would go to jail for and I like my life to much to risk it at the hands of my brother. " Georgie said taking the bag from me.
"Welcome to the Cooper family. I gave you several warnings before you married Sheldon so this is all on you. " Missy said.
"Please without you guys my life would be boring. " Amy said laughing.
"We promise fun and crazy every where we go. " Georgie said.
"I didn't sign up for the crazy part. Maybe I should reconsider. " Amy said.
"A little too late for that. " I said hooking my arm around hers with a laugh.
"Well that's a shame. " Amy said pretending to be sad.
Georgie carried most of the bags while Missy rolled a suitcase. We left the airport to the car and on our way to Amy's home.
"Can we see him first ? Before we get home ? " Missy said looking at Amy now.
"Yes of course . I was planning on us going after you freshened up from your long flight but we can see Sheldon first if that is what you you want?" Amy said looking at Georgie now in the backseat behind my seat.
He nodded staring out the window in his own world now.
"Okay then we are going to see Sheldon first then . I'm sure after I can pick up Leo and he will be excited to see you both. " She said trying to smile.
"How is Leo ?" Georgie asked.
"Smart. Very smart and kind to. Beautiful little boy who is so active. He drives you up the walls but he has this biggest heart ever and he understands human emotions so well. It is incredible. I don't where he gets it from. I think it is from Mary and Penny. He has grown up so much since you last saw him. He is starting to read a couple of words now. " Amy said so fond of him,you can see how proud she was of him for just breathing let alone anything else.
"Wow isn't he only turning 5 this year?" Missy asked.
"Yes well it comes as no surprise he has Sheldon and Amy's brain as well as their beauty to. He is just perfect. " I said.
"I need to send my 4 boys here for one summer maybe they will come back smarter . " Missy said laughing.
"How are they ?" Amy asked.
"They are good. The eldest Liam is such a teenager now but he is quite smart and responsible. Ethan on the other hand the middle child is quiet. He loves reading and knows right from wrong. He is a good kid that one and the twins drive a person mad but they are still small. Peter and Matthew are very energetic but they keep each other occupied. They absolutely love each other. The twins are the attention seekers but they are so funny and kind. They are able to make people laugh so easy. They drive me insane but I love them. " Missy said talking with the same love for her kids.
"You wouldn't want to babysit them ever Amy. " Georgie said.
"Be quite Georgie these are your nephews we are taking about. " Missy said.
"Yes and I love them to bits and pieces but they drive a person mad." He said.
"Let's be glad he doesn't have any. " Amy said.
"You know Sheldon gave me grandchild before you did. I still want grandchildren from you. " I said.
"Not this conversation again mom. Really ? Isn't 6 enough for you?" He said.
"Yes but I want one from you." I said.
"Knowing Georgie he probably has a couple kids somewhere that he doesn't know about. " Missy said.
"Missy that isn't cool. Don't give the universe ideas here." Georgie said.
Amy just laughed as we arrived at the hospital now. We all fell silent now staring at it as though it was the most intimidating thing in history.
"We ready ?" I asked.
Everyone seemed to take a gulp then nodded.
We arrived in the hospital room now and, Missy and Georgie seemed to have the same reaction to seeing Sheldon that we had. Missy hugged me tighter now not being able to look at the other part of her who she shared a womb with was lying there so vunerable. It hurt me to see her like this. To watch her cry over the person who lived this world with her. The person she was brought into the world with. I watched Georgie force himself not to cry. I hated watching him think that he didn't deserve to cry.
That poor child never cried infront of us even in times where it was perfectly okay he refused to. When Georgie was 10 and the little ones were 5when they lost their pop pop. Everyone cried but Georgie. I remember the one time I put him to bed and I asked him why he didn't cry about this. His response was something i never forgot.
"Because mommy. Im the older brother. I have to make sure Missy and Sheldon cry first before I do because I can't protect them if I'm crying. " he said.
I was in tears to know how lucky I was to have him. He was always so considerate even though he refused to show it. He always made sure to protect everyone before he allowed himself to feel anything and I knew this was one of those times.
We sat on the chairs now while Missy held Sheldon's hand.
"I'm here Sheldon. Please come back.You need to come back. You are my insane and smart other half. I refuse to let you go first. You are staying here. You are not going anywhere because I can't put up with Georgie alone." Missy said sitting back down in tears again as she rested her head on my shoulder.
Georgie held his hand over his mouth now forcing the tears in. I was about to say something before Amy went to sit next to him now.
"Georgie cry it out. It is okay to want to cry.He is your brother. He would be deeply upset if you didn't. " Amy said.
He shook his head sitting straighter now trying to look tougher.
"Come on Georgie. It is okay to cry. It is okay to feel sad. He is your brother and wanting to cry makes you human not any less of a man. It actually makes you more of a man.Your family is here with you. We are here Georgie so it is okay to cry. It is okay to feel. It is okay to not be okay. Please. " Amy said holding his hand.
Georgie fell into Amy's arms now in tears as his sobs filled the room. Amy managed to do something with that boy that I was never able to do. To make him feel like it was okay to cry. I knew his dad told him it made him less of a man to cry but that wasn't the truth. I didn't understand why you were considered less of a man for feeling a human emotion. Why were you disregarded by your gender for being human ?
It hurt me to see him cry like this. This ugly cry but I also felt relief that he wasn't holding it in. Missy took Amy's place now comforting him as she played with his hair. Amy sat next to me now.
"You have great kids Mary. " She said with a small smile.
"I do and you are an amazing kid. Your mother must be so proud of you. I would most certainly be if I was her. I am proud of you. " I said knowing she needed to hear it every once in a while.
"Thank you Mary. " She said holding my hand.
We both sat there watching Georgie and Missy comfort each other. It made me the happiest but saddest person to exist. It was very bittersweet.
Eventually after some time the doctor came into the room with a smile.
"I see we have new people. " He said with a smile looking at Missy and Georgie.
" This is my son Georgie and my daughter Missy, Sheldon's twin. " I said with the biggest smile.
He greeted them both then looked at all of us again.
"Did they just arrive today?" He asked as he was on the tablet.
"Yes came here straight from the airport. " Amy said.
"That must be rough but I hope the news I am about to give you makes it worth it. " He said.
We all sat up straighter now waiting for him to carry on.
" Sheldon's been improving alot more dramatically. More than we ever thought he could at his condition. We are hoping he keeps improving but I am hopeful. " He said.
We were all shocked to here what he was saying. My baby was going to be okay. Everything was going to be okay. I hugged Amy while Missy hugged Georgie then both Missy and Georgie hugged the doctor.
"Are you still going to tell Leo then if Sheldon is getting better ?" I asked.
"Leo ?" The doctor asked now.
"It is our son Leonard. We call him Leo. I haven't told him about Sheldon yet but I don't know if I should. " Amy said.
"Well Sheldon still has a long road ahead of him so maybe it is best to inform your son on what's going on. Trust me he is going to want to know about his father. I'm sure he already suspects it and it is better he finds out from you before it is too late." He said.
Amy nodded slowly taking in what the doctor is saying. She then looked at all of us.
"I guess I should tell him tonight then. Thank you so much doctor. " She said watching him leave.
"Everything is going to be okay. We are going to do this together. We will invite the group to help through this. " I said holding her hand now.
She smiled at all of us nodding then we all stayed silent soaking up the good news. Good news was better than bad news.
I wanted to dedicate this chapter to my brother and remind him it is okay to not be okay and I want to remind you guys that to. You will notice I will mention the gender theme again in one more chapter but I think it is important to note.I guess we will see how it goes with Leo next chapter then. Thank you so much for all your love on this story. You have no idea how much you guys push me to write more. I only hope you enjoyed this chapter and I will see you for the next one.Thank you so much for all future reviews and love :)