The boy that had grown quite talkative about his day as the end of the school year grew near was unusually quiet at dinner. "Is everything okay, Levi?" Sheldon inquired.

"Yeah," the six-year-old shrugged his shoulders. "I'm really tired today. Can I go to bed?"

Sheldon nodded, silently excusing him. "I'll be up to read a story in a minute."

"I don't want a story tonight."

He watched his nephew practically run up the stairs to his room. "Do you think he's sick? He was fine this morning."

"His teacher emailed me," Amy admitted. "They did a Mother's Day craft at school today. Levi's is in his backpack. Apparently, he scribbled black crayon all over it. She realized as she was passing out the supplies she'd made a mistake. I'm guessing he's upset about it and that's why he is being quiet tonight."

"Should I talk to him?"

Already sliding his chair back, Sheldon started to stand, but was stopped by his wife. "I know you've made an amazing connection with him, which I love, but I think I want to talk to him about this."

"Okay."

Amy offered him a small smile. "I'm sure he'll want you to tuck him in, even though he said he didn't. Just give me a few minutes first. Maybe you can start Theo's bath?"

Wanting to give Levi a few minutes alone in his room, Amy waited until she, Sheldon, and Theo finished dinner before attempting to talk to him. "Hi, Levi," she quietly said, poking her head through the partially open door. "Do you mind if we talk?"

"Am I in trouble?"

"No," Amy's heart broke that the boy's first thought was that he was in trouble. "Why would you think you're in trouble?"

Levi turned his back, reaching between the wall and the side of his bed to produce a crumpled piece of craft paper. "Because I did this at school today."

Smoothing the paper she'd been handed, Amy shook her head. "You're not in trouble. Your teacher emailed me about what happened during art class today. She wanted to apologize and let you know she didn't mean to make you feel bad with the Mother's Day craft."

"I liked making it," the boy admitted. That was when Amy noticed the colors peaking through from underneath the black scribbles covering most of the page. "Some of the other kids started talking about how their dad helps them make breakfast for their mom and they spend the day with her. But I can't do that."

Levi was starting to cry before he finished his sentence. "Oh, sweetie. Come here," Amy held her arms out for her nephew. "I know you miss your mom a lot and I wish there were something I could do to bring her back for you. Even though she's not here, your mom loves you very much and she's always with you. I've enjoyed every minute I've gotten to spend with you over the past few months. You've grown up so much and your mom would be so proud of you, I know I am."

Settling in Amy's arms, Levi sniffled. "I miss mommy so much. I feel like I'm forgetting things about her."

"I can't imagine what that feels like," Amy silently rubbed the kindergartener's back for a few minutes. "I can never replace your mom, nor do I want to, but do you want to do something special, just the two of us?"

"Like what?"

"You like to have ice cream before bed sometimes, how about we go out for some? Or we can go to the museum tomorrow, whatever you want."

That suggestion instantly perked up Levi. "Just us or Theo and Uncle Sheldon too?"

"Just us."

Levi looked up at his aunt and smiled, "Can I pick what flavor ice cream I get?"

Levi chattered from the backseat, debating what flavor of ice cream he wanted and pondering the toppings he would select. He quickly made a selection upon arrival at the ice cream shop and Amy did the same. The pair were quietly enjoying their dessert on a bench outside the ice cream shop when Amy inquired, "Do you want to tell me a story about your mom? Do you have a favorite thing you did with her?"

"She picked me up early from school one time. It was before lunchtime even. I think Theo was at daycare, or maybe he was with gramma. I don't remember, but it was just me and mommy. We spent the whole day together," Levi lifted another spoonful of ice cream to his mouth.

"What did you do after she picked you up from school?"

"We went to the park, then she let me get ice cream for lunch. I got strawberry and she got mint chocolate chip because it's her favorite. You got mint chocolate chip," he observed. "Is that your favorite, too?"

"It is, but Uncle Sheldon doesn't like it, so I only get it when we go out. I don't eat a lot of ice cream and don't want to buy an entire container of it for me to have at home." Silence fell over the pair as they finished their treats when Amy got an idea. "How would you feel about telling Uncle Sheldon and me a new story about your mom every day? It will help you remember things about her and Theo will be able to learn more about her. He has even fewer memories about her than you. I think it might be good for all of us to hear stories about your mom. We can try getting Uncle Sheldon to tell you stories about when they were little kids."

Levi placed his empty dish on the bench beside him and slid closer to Amy. "I love you."

"I love you, too. I will never stop loving you. You ready to go home or do you want to stay here a little longer?"

"Can I tell you more stories about mommy?"

Amy nodded and smiled, "Anytime you want. I'd love to hear more about her. I only met her a few times."

The pair sat on the bench outside the ice cream shop for nearly an hour, Levi regaling Amy with stories of time with his mother. It was only when she noticed how frequent his yawns had become did she suggest they head home. Levi dozed off before they arrived home, leaving Amy to carry the sleeping six-year-old in from the car. Sheldon greeted them when he saw Amy enter the house with Levi resting against her. "I can take him."

"I've got it. I'll put him to bed. Can you make some tea for us? We might want it when I come back," requested Amy, already halfway up the stairs. She gently removed Levi's shoes and changed him into his pajamas before tucking him into his bed. "Good night, Levi. I love you."

A mumbled, "Love you," came out as Levi rolled on his side, searching for his favorite stuffed animal.

Amy returned downstairs to find two steaming mugs and her husband waiting for her. He passed her the yellow mug and motioned to the couch in the living room, "Is he okay?"

"It's Mother's Day," she flatly stated. "They did a craft at school and the other kids were talking about spending the day with their moms. He got upset that he can't do that. We went for ice cream and talked. He's starting to forget things about Missy. He didn't say anything specific, but I feel it's things like the way she read his bedtime stories or packed his lunch for school. Things we do, but might be different from how Missy did them."

Sheldon blinked back tears. "What did you say when he said that?"

"I asked if he would like to tell us stories about Missy to help him remember her. It would also let Theo hear about her every day since he really doesn't remember anything about her."

"Okay," the physicist nodded in agreement. "I like that idea."

Smirking, Amy revealed the rest of what she suggested to Levi, "I told him to ask you to tell stories about Missy from when you were kids. He might think it's fun to hear what she was like when she was his age."

"I guess that would be alright," it was then that Sheldon noticed Amy had a giddiness to her that wasn't there before she and Levi left for their little adventure. "You seem really happy tonight."

Amy set her mug on the coffee table in front of them and snuggled next to Sheldon. As he tucked his arm around her, she shared, "He said I love you to me. It's been almost five months and he never said that before. I didn't make a big deal about it, but he said it both at the ice cream shop and when I was tucking him in."

"He never said that to you before today?" Sheldon asked in a tone of disbelief.

"Nope," she shook her head. "I never pressed it, even when I've heard him say it to you. He went through a traumatic event that no kid should go through. I didn't want to force him to say it or feel like I was trying to take Missy's place. No one can replace her and I don't want Levi to feel like I'm trying to."

Placing a kiss on Amy's cheek, Sheldon whispered, "I'm happy for you. Let's go to bed."

I'm going to be starting to only update once a week for the next several weeks. I've got a few chapters done, but I want to get ahead again and not have to skip updating for a week or two while I'm writing the next chapter.