Stephen and Marie age 4

Amelia age 1

Sheldon woke up feeling cold. This was something that usually never happened unless Amy stole the covers or one of the kids came in bed and stole the covers. He rolled over to face his wife. Her bottom really did radiate enough heat for iguanas, and that heat was what he needed now.

He crawled back under the covers and snuggled into her back. She was hot just as he suspected, he didn't understand why she felt the need to steal the covers. A few seconds passed and he realized she was hotter than usual. He raised a hand to touch the back of her neck and felt her burning, clammy skin below his fingers.

Amy moaned at the cool touch on her hot skin. "Amy" Sheldon said softly, but she didn't move, she just moaned again in response. He gently rolled her onto her back so he could see her better. Her hair stuck to her sweaty forehead. Her face was pale and ashen and her eyes would tighten every once in a while, like if she was in pain.

He lowered the covers slightly. She blinked open her eyes slowly and looked at him with glassy eyes, "I'm cold Sheldon" she croaked reaching to pull the covers up

"How long have you been feeling like this?"

"Its fine. It's probably just the cold. I'll take some medicine and be fine" she said before sneezing

"Amy. You're sick. You need rest."

"I can't rest, I promised the twins that we could go to the park today"

Sheldon sighed. Amy had been busy all week and he knew the twins really wanted to spend time with her, "Let me go get the thermometer and we'll see from there" he said coming out of bed

By the time he returned to bed Amy had fallen back asleep. He took her temperature. "103" he murmured. There was no way he was letting her go anywhere today. He pulled the covers higher on her body and she only nuzzled the pillow in response.

He walked out into the hallway and met Stephen, "Is momma up? She had to help me pick a shirt"

"Momma can't go today Stephen"

His blue eyes filled with tears, "Bu-But she promised" he said as his lower lip trembled

"I know and I'm sorry, but momma is really-"he started but Stephen already ran off into his room slamming the door behind him. Sheldon winced at the noise and Amelia started to cry at being woken up so roughly. He walked into his younger daughter's room and lifted her from the crib, "It's okay. Stephen's just a little bit upset" He heard coughing from the hallway and went to investigate.

"Amy, what are you doing out of bed?"

"I heard the door slam. I know they're upset" she said while leaning heavily on the doorframe

"Amy you need to go back to bed. I'll come back in a minute"

"I just want to tell them myself" she said walking toward the room door, but stumbled two steps in, only to be propped back up by Sheldon. "Amy bed. Let me go put down Amelia and I'll come back to tuck you in"

Amy sneezed, "I'm not a child" she said with a nasal voice, before shuffling back to their room

Sheldon walked to Marie's room and opened the door. She was already halfway dressed, oblivious to her brother's small tantrum.

"Yes daddy?" she said turning towards him

"Momma can't carry you guys to the park today"

"Why"

"She's sick. She's really sorry about it. I'm sorry too" Sheldon said. Marie came to rest her head on his side and played with one of Amelia's feet causing the toddler to giggle, "Can we go tomorrow then?"

"Maybe not tomorrow but soon"

"Okay. I'm going to go play with my toys" she whispered before walking towards the corner of her room

"Do you mind playing with your sister? I need to check on your brother and momma"

Marie just shrugged in response, so Sheldon put Amelia on the floor next to her sister. He knocked and opened Stephen's door but was met with the sight of an empty room. He heard voices coming from his room and went to investigate.

"But you promised"

"I know baby, but I can't today. Maybe when I feel better we could spend the whole day together"

"Can I come in bed with you?" Stephen asked already climbing on the bed

"No you can't" Sheldon said scooping him off the bed, "You have to go in your own bed." Sheldon said carrying him into the hall

"Momma's sick" Stephen said when he was back on his own two feet

"I know that"

"We have to sing Sift Kitty and rub vaporub on her chest"

"I know that too Stephen"

"But there's no more vaporub"

"What? I bought a new one a about a week ago." Stephen looked down on the ground, "What did you guys do with it?"

"Well, It wasn't me. Ree wanted to use it on her dolls and then Lia got it and she almost ate it. So we hid it from her and it accidentally got knocked into the garbage. And I wasn't going for it in there" Stephen said scrunching up his nose

Sheldon rubbed his forehead, "Why didn't you say something?" Stephen just shrugged, "Go get ready, we will have to buy some more" Sheldon said with a sigh

Sheldon went into the room, "Your children threw away the vaporub, so we have to go get some more"

"My children" Amy said with a laugh before going into a coughing fit, "Sheldon are you sure you want to carry the three of them?"

"You do it all the time. How difficult can it be?" he said with a shrug

Apparently it could be very difficult.

Stephen still had a tendency to wander off, Marie made a list of things that she deemed absolutely necessary for Amy to get better, which meant they had to go to a pharmacy and two grocery stores.

"Marie what else do we need?" Sheldon asked for what seemed like the tenth time

"Oranges"

"Alright. Take your brother's hand and go get them" he looked around, "Where did Stephen go"

"Venny's lost again" Marie said with a sigh. Sheldon was two seconds from pulling out his hair, when they heard on the intercom, "Will the parents of Stephen Cooper come to counter three"

"Venny" Amelia said with a giggle. Sheldon sighed and took Marie's hand to go get Stephen.

"Sir" the employee said handing Stephen over, "we found him climbing on one of the shelves in aisle 3"

"The shelf Stephen? We weren't even in here for 10 minutes" Sheldon said

"I wanted to get some crackers for momma. And all the good ones were high up" Stephen tried to explain

Sheldon didn't even have the energy to sigh anymore. He rubbed his forehead, "Let's just go"

"But daddy, the oranges" Marie said

"We'll get them tomorrow" Sheldon said ushering them towards the exit

"Let me go see if she's awake first" Sheldon said when they were in the hallway". He poked his head in the bedroom and Amy opened her eyes, "Hey" she croaked, "How was it?"

The door was pushed open more and Stephen and Marie came bursting in, "We came to make you feel better" Marie said excitedly"

Sheldon entered the room with Amelia still on his hip, "We're not staying here all day, momma needs to rest". Stephen nodded and hopped on the bed with Marie right behind him.

"I wanna put the vaporub" Marie said

"I wanna put it" Stephen whined

"No you can't"

"Yes I can" Stephen argued back

"I'm putting on the vaporub" Sheldon said, "You both can sing"

The agreement seemed fair to the twins who nodded in agreement. Sheldon unbuttoned Amy's nightgown just enough to apply the ointment.

"Soft kitty, warm kitty…" Stephen and Marie began to sing as Amy looked on with a tired smile.