Things were going really well with Beverly and Leonard. That is until nine months ago. Leonard didn't hear from his mother anymore. She never answered his phone calls. Leonard wasn't concerned because this is how his mother had always been. Leonards father was moving out to live closer to the couple so he could see his grandchild more often. He hadn't been able to leave New York yet, so Leonard and Penny decided to surprise him with a visit. When Alfred opened his door, he was utterly shocked to see the couple and their baby girl. The man was speechless until the couple started hugging him.

"It's great to see you both. What a wonderful surprise."

"Dad, this is Leonore. We call her Nori."

"She's beautiful," Alfred took the baby in his arms. "Come in, sorry I'm just distracted right now."

"She has that effect," Leonard said.

"No, well she is distracting, but I was before you arrived. I have an ill relative staying with me."

"Ill?" Penny was concerned about her daughter getting sick.

"She's not contagious," Alfred reassured the young woman.

"She?" Penny asked.

"Alfred!" the man heard the woman call for him and went towards the voice.

"What are you doing up?" Alfred asked gently and concerned. He was in the doorway to the hall, but the woman could not be seen.

Leonard looked at Penny, "that voice sounded familiar," he whispered.

"I know, but it's hard to tell since we heard it so briefly."

The couple couldn't hear the conversation, but Leonard decided to go see who the mystery woman was. Alfred didn't see his son walk up, "Mom!" Leonard's face displayed utter shock. He found his mother in the hallway of his father's home, propped up by a walker.

Alfred decided to speak when he saw Beverly look a bit worried, "Leonard, I will explain everything to you and Penny. First, I need to get your mother either back to bed or the couch."

Leonard walked away and towards his wife. He guided her to the sitting room and the couple sat with their daughter on a love seat. "My mom is staying here, and she's using a walker," he said to his wife.

"Maybe she had surgery," Penny suggested.

"She looked like she was afraid to see me."

Alfred and Beverly slowly made their way into the sitting room. The two sat on the couch opposite Leonard and Penny.

"When Penny was about two months along in her pregnancy, I received a call from your mother."

"Beverly, what can I do for you?"

"Is that any way to answer your wife's phone call?"

"Huh?"

"When do you think you'll be home for dinner?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"As your wife, I have the right to know. Why are you being so rude?"

"Sorry, it's been a rough day. I'll be home in a couple of hours."

I knew something wasn't right and I still had a key to the house in case of an emergency. When I walked in she greeted me the way she used to when we were first married.

"Beverly, why do you keep saying that you're my wife?"

"Because I am."

"No, we got divorced almost ten years ago."

"What?" Now Beverly was upset.

Alfred took Beverly to the sitting room and pulled out some photo albums, "do you know who they are?" He pointed to a picture of their three children and their spouses.

"No"

"Those three," he pointed at Leonard and their other two children, "are our children. The other three are their spouses." Alfred showed Beverly a photo from Leonard and Penny's vow renewal, "do you remember that day?"

"No"

"Penny and Leonard planned a special vow renewal because you were upset that they eloped."

Beverly got up and started pacing, "why don't I remember our children or our divorce?"

"Beverly," Alfred grabbed both of her upper arms and stopped her from pacing, "I know an excellent neurologist. I will text him and ask if he can see you as soon as possible."

"Leonard," Beverly suddenly remembered, "he told me he forgave me back in May. He forgave me for being a terrible mother and I told him I wanted to improve our relationship. I was keeping in touch and...Alfred, what month is it?"

"November"

Beverly started to panic, "I don't remember the last time I talked to him. He probably hates me now and will never forgive me." Beverly put a hand to her head and tightly shut her eyes.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm getting a horrible headache."

"Why don't you go lie down and I'll bring you something for your head."

I noticed her walking unsteadily and began to wonder if I should take her to the emergency room. When I entered the bedroom she was on the floor. I called the paramedics and the hospital found that she had suffered a stroke as a result of a subdural hematoma. She apparently was dating someone not long before, who was abusive."

"I have a few questions obviously," Leonard said, "why didn't anyone tell me once she had trouble with her memory or the stroke?"

"Your mother was deeply upset that she couldn't remember you. She hadn't called you in six months and she was afraid that you would be angry. The stroke affected your mother's speech and she didn't want to tell you because she was embarrassed. She was embarrassed about her mobility issues as well. Plus everything just happened so quickly."

"Why is she staying here?"

"She doesn't have anyone else. Your brother and sister haven't spoken to her in years. I saw the look of fear on your mother's face when she was on the floor. I couldn't leave her after that."

Leonard sat there thinking for a moment, "I need to take a walk." Leonard got up and left the apartment building.

"Penny, are you going to follow him?" Alfred asked.

"We have an agreement that when one of us says they need to take a walk that the other doesn't follow." Penny noticed Beverly staring at the bundle in her arms. "Alfred, I need to use the bathroom. Could you hold Leonore until I get back?"

"Sure," Alfred got up to take the baby.

"Why don't you introduce them to one another," Penny whispered with a smile on her face.

Alfred smiled back, "thank you." Penny left the room and Alfred returned to his seat next to Beverly. "Hun, this is our beautiful granddaughter, Leonore. They call her Nori I guess." Alfred saw a look of sadness on the woman's face. "What's wrong?"

"I can't hold her," Beverly admitted. "I upset my son which is what I was trying to avoid. My speech is fine now. I should have called him."

"You were afraid after all this time that he would be angry and ignore you."

Penny had been listening and rushed to the front door when Leonard came in so she could explain everything. When Leonard returned to the sitting room, he moved his mother's walker aside and sat on the coffee table in front of her. He took her hands in his and smiled, "it's okay."

"Really?" Beverly whispered.

"Yeah, really," Leonard responded. "Dad, can I talk to you in private for a moment?" Alfred got up and handed Nori to Penny before following his son. When they returned, Alfred reclaimed his seat and Leonard took Nori from Penny. "I talked to dad and we're going to help you hold her." Before his mother could object, Leonard was transferring the baby to her. After a few minutes, Beverly had Alfred take the little one. "So, dad, when do you think you'll be able to move out to California?" Leonard saw a look of confusion on his mother's face.

"You're moving?" Beverly turned to the man to ask.

Alfred hesitated, "Leonard and Penny suggested I move closer to them when I mentioned how I wouldn't get to see the baby much."

"You didn't move because of me?"

"I wouldn't put it that way, but I am still planning to move..." Alfred couldn't finish because Beverly grabbed her walker, stood better than he had seen her do in months, and left the room.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I didn't mean..."

"It's okay, son. It's just that, the past few months your mother and I have become a lot more than patient and caretaker." Alfred handed Nori to his son and went after Beverly. He walked into their room and found her on the floor, crying. He panicked, "honey, did you fall?" he ran to her.

"No, well, a little. I slid down because I couldn't make it to the bed," Beverly said through tears.

"Come here," Alfred took her in his arms and scooted back until he was sitting against the wall. "I was going to tell you about the move. I wanted to wait because I want to ask you to go with me, but I didn't know if it was too soon."

Beverly looked up at Alfred with her tear-stained face, "really? You want me to go with you?"

"Of course I do," Alfred kissed her and then hugged her tight. "Now, do you feel better?"

"Yeah," Beverly sniffled.

"Let's get you off of the floor." It took a lot of effort, but Alfred was able to help Beverly up. She was unsteady, so Alfred lifted the petite woman and carried her to the bed. "You want me to help you wash your face?" he asked after settling her in bed. Beverly nodded and Alfred went to retrieve a washcloth and helped her. "Why don't you take a nap?"

"Can you ask them to stay?"

"Sure, I mean I think they already are. I'll make sure they're still here when you wake up. Even if I have to lock them in the spare room." Alfred joked making Beverly laugh.