Getting dressed for the day, Amy groaned, "Why did I agree we would have dinner at my parents' house tonight? What if Levi and Theo have a bad day and tonight doesn't go well? We have to be sure to take some toys or something to keep them occupied. There's nothing at my parents' house for them to play with."

"We were supposed to have dinner with them on New Year's Eve, but we were still in Texas," Sheldon reminded his wife. "It's the middle of February. We've avoided this for as long as we can. I called your mother yesterday; I suggested they come here instead. Levi & Theo can easily play in their room if they get bored with the grown-up talk. I'll cook, you have nothing to worry about tonight."

Amy turned on her heel, "You really did that?"

Shrugging, Sheldon brushed off Amy's shock at his gesture. "Your mother was quite receptive to the suggestion. I pointed out Theo has been falling asleep early recently, so it would be best for him to be home and able to be put to bed when he falls asleep."

"I know my mother has opinions about Levi and Theo being here. What if she says something in front of them? I can handle her comments, but they shouldn't have to."

Sheldon walked around the bed to where Amy was sitting, putting on her shoes. He sat next to her and draped his arm around her shoulders. "If your mother says anything that we don't like, we can always ask her to leave. This is our home and if she offends our family, she does not need to be in our home."

"Thank you. I'm sure I'm worrying for nothing," Amy leaned over and briefly rested her head against Sheldon's shoulder. "I'll see if Levi is ready for school. Are you getting a ride with Leonard today or do you want me to drop you off after I take Levi to school?"

"Riding with you sounds perfect."


"Can I have more garlic bread?" Levi asked with the last bites of his first piece in his mouth.

Sheldon nodded, passing the six-year-old another piece. "Remember to finish chewing before you talk. We don't like seeing the food in your mouth."

Shooting his uncle a toothy grin, he replied, "Sorry, Uncle Sheldon."

Mrs. Fowler silently watched this interaction before chiming in with, "Amy did that until she was nearly a teenager. All it took was one trip to the sin closet for her to stop."

"What's the sin closet?" Levi asked, looking between the adults across from him.

"Nothing you'll ever have to worry about," replied Amy before her mother could respond. "We don't have one here and your dad doesn't have one in Texas, either."

"Oh, okay. I'm full. Can I go play?" Sheldon nodded again, this time excusing the boy from dinner. "Do you want to see my room, Mr. Larry?"

Larry seemed taken aback at the kindergartener's request, but quickly agreed. "All right. Does Theo want to come with us?"

Shaking his head, Levi answered for his little brother. "No, he likes to stay with Aunt Amy until she finishes eating."

"I don't think this is a good idea, Amy," Mrs. Fowler spoke for the first time since greeting her daughter and son-in-law when she arrived at the apartment. "You're getting attached to those kids. It's going to end badly when they return to Texas and you're no longer a part of their lives."

"It's not like that. Levi and Theo are our nephews; we'll always be a part of their lives, even after they go back to Texas to live with Ricky," Amy calmly stated.

Mrs. Fowler ignored her daughter's response, continuing, "The little one is already attached to you. He's barely left your side since your father and I arrived nearly two hours ago. You're going to be devastated when they go back to their father and you're left with nothing, but what, a few months' worth of trips to the zoo and driving carpool? I never thought I'd see the day you give up your career like this."

"Their mother just died," Amy shot back, startling the toddler in her lap. "They need stability. Sheldon and I are doing what we can to give them what they need."

"Amy," Sheldon placed his hand on his wife's forearm in an attempt to keep her from continuing the debate with her mother.

Continuing to share her opinion on the situation her daughter was in, Mrs. Fowler spat back, "Moving them halfway across the country is hardly giving them stability. They're in a brand new apartment, away from the people they've known their entire lives. It would have been better for them to stay in Texas until their father stops being a deadbeat."

"I didn't ask for your opinion on this," snapped Amy. "If Aunt Barbara had died when Irene and William were kids, are you saying you and dad wouldn't have taken them in if Uncle Joe weren't able to take care of them?"

Sheldon attempted to change the topic, hoping both women would take the bait, "How are you enjoying retirement? You've been retired for a few months now, haven't you?"

"You're not even living in your apartment. You're staying in your friends' apartment. What are you going to do when they decide they need their apartment back? Didn't you tell me they're having a baby soon?" Inquired the older Fowler woman.

Amy held Theo close to her, running her fingers over the hair on the back of his head. "Sheldon and I put an offer in on a house last week. It's four bedrooms; we'll have plenty of room. I knew something like this was going to happen tonight. I was hoping you'd be supportive, but I guess you're the same overbearing woman who raised me and thinks I'm in the wrong when I do something you don't like."

Seeing his previous attempts to end the conversation were futile, Sheldon lowered his voice and leaned in close to his mother-in-law, "I think it's time for you to leave. I refuse to listen to you talk to Amy in that tone. We don't need to be reminded that this is quite possibly the hardest thing we're ever going to do. Now, I'm going to tell Larry it's time for the two of you to leave so we can put Levi and Theo to bed. You need to tell him the real reason I asked you to leave."


Neither Sheldon nor Amy spoke of what transpired with Mrs. Fowler as they were giving Levi and Theo their baths, reading a bedtime story, or standing in the doorway, watching the boys sleep. Amy sensed the tension radiating from Sheldon, but hesitated to question him about it. It was only after they got in bed themselves and Sheldon rolled on his side, facing away from Amy and he felt her body against his back, her arm slung over his side did he finally break the silence. "Your mother is right," he whispered. "It's going to be hard when Levi and Theo go back to Ricky. They've only been here a little over a month and I'm dreading the day the four of us get on a plane to Texas, but only the two of us get on the return flight."

"I know. I feel the same way," she quietly replied. "But I didn't want my mother to know she was right. I'm sorry for egging her on."

Sheldon flipped over to be facing his wife, "You have nothing to be sorry for." He ran his hand down Amy's arm. "You were defending our family. Even if it's temporary, you, me, Levi, and Theo are a family now and that's what you do when someone's attacking your family."

Staring into her husband's eyes, Amy smirked, "We are a family, albeit temporary, aren't we?"

"We are."

"This isn't how I thought we'd be starting a family, but I've loved every minute with Levi and Theo." With that, Amy rested her head against her pillow and closed her eyes in an attempt to sleep.

Continuing to shift, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep, Sheldon groaned before mumbling, "Did we do the right thing for Levi and Theo?" Amy's eyes popped open and she propped herself up on her hand. "Should we have stayed in Texas or asked my mom or Georgie to take them? What business do I have taking care of two kids that aren't even mine?"

"We promised Missy we would look after them if she weren't able to. I've never known you to break a promise, Sheldon."

"But this was one of those things you agree to because you feel you have to," he protested, sitting up in bed. "You don't think it will actually happen."

Amy joined Sheldon in sitting upright, reaching for her husband's hands. Holding them, she took a breath before replying, "I know we've said they need stability, but if this is too much for us, we can call your mom in the morning and figure out something else."

"Do you think this is too much for us?"

Reflecting on the weeks since bringing their nephews to California, Amy took a moment before answering, "There are moments that I think 'what the hell did we get ourselves into?' But I've never regretted our decision to bring Levi and Theo back here. Do you think this is too much?"

"Yes and no," he quickly replied while searching for the words to explain his reply. "I love Levi and Theo. I prefer knowing they're safe here than worrying about them if they were with Georgie or in a foster home with people we don't know. I'd feel best if they were with Ricky or if Missy hadn't died so they could still be with their mother. But I guess being here is what's best for them right now. And them being here has been a good distraction so I'm not constantly dwelling on Missy."

Amy started sliding down the pillows again, still grasping Sheldon's hand. "I'll give my mom a few days to cool off, but I'll call her and ask if we can talk civilly about Levi and Theo and what happened tonight.

"Only if you want to. I'm okay with your mother having no interaction with them. Your father was wonderful, though, and seemed a little sad they had to leave. Levi was showing him the train set I got him last week."