Hello everyone! I decided to change this chapter because it was brought to my attention that the characters have been too angsty and have not shown very much hope/'fluffy-ness' (which I completely understand and am grateful for it since I was thinking the same thing).
Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy it… again… :)
Disclaimer from previous chapters applies.
Life had become monotonous for Amy.
She had to balance being in the hospital with Marie and being a mother to Tyler who had recently developed the familiar battle that was night terrors... and then of course there was Sheldon.
Said...person... had uncharacteristically stayed with Marie for the last 4 nights in the hospital, opting to go home every morning to shower and change clothes. Amy had found this very curious, but in the current exhaustion and mental drain she was in, she didn't allow herself to dwell on the quirks of her...friend.
Of course she had been internally grateful for the fact that her daughter wouldn't spend the nights alone, although to be fair she had only missed two which was the nights after Penny had called at the very early hours of the morning to tell her that Tyler was crying and what seemed like to her, was having non-stop nightmares.
Amy thought herself an intelligent person and although she wasn't one to fight against anthropological urges, she knew that being around Sheldon for a prolonged amount of time could only have unwanted and unnecessary effects on her life and her family.
"Good Morning, Amy," she was pulled out of her thoughts as Sheldon entered the room, freshly bathed and carrying with him an exhilarating smell of talc.
"Good Morning," Amy said turning her head slightly, the talc was strong.
"I take it you've already had breakfast?" Sheldon asked.
"No, I haven't actually," she had been so preoccupied with Marie that she didn't remember to eat breakfast and now that she thought about it she didn't have dinner the night before.
"Well are you planning on doing so?" Sheldon sat down on the other side of Marie's bed.
"I'm going to wait until Marie has been fed," she looked back at her daughter.
Marie had been moved from the ICU, twenty-four hours after being admitted, to paediatric care where she was allowed to have visitors. After the swelling in her brain had gone down, they had lowered the dose of fluids and taken her off the ventilator which meant she woke up.
When Amy had first seen her, she was both relieved and scared. Her skin had been paler than usual and if Amy was not mistaken, she seemed skinnier.
Her eyes told Amy everything. The usual crystal blue cheer was gone and in its place was dread and fright. She had rushed to her side and hugged her. Marie had cried for a bit before being hugged by Penny and Leonard, Sheldon of course when beckoned by his daughter had...hugged her too.
After that Amy had dedicated her time to being with her daughter. She had brought in Tyler the next day and the twins had spent the entire day playing cards and reading off flash cards Amy had made them for The Origins of the World.
Currently she was seated next to Marie's bed with the newest edition of Neuron on her lap, Sheldon was seated on the other side of Marie's bed, he was sat with his hands on his lap and unmoving.
It wasn't until Sheldon looked at Amy that she realised that she had been staring at him since he had arrived.
She cleared her throat and looked down at her still unopened magazine.
She didn't want to- she couldn't- go back to him, she would get hurt and this time it wasn't just her, there was her twins- their twins.
"She has really enjoyed your company," she looked at her daughter before her gaze fluttered back to Sheldon, "Thank you,"
"For what?" Sheldon asked.
"For everything, especially for being with Marie,"
Their eyes locked and again the familiar tingles ran up their spine.
Amy looked back down at her magazine.
"Naturally, it is my duty to do so; she is after all, my offspring,"
She looked back at Marie, who was starting to stir, her brown hair spread across the White pillow.
She yawned and sat up, rubbing her eyes "Hi mommy, hi daddy," she said looking around the room.
"Hi Marie, how are you feeling?"
"Hello Marie," Sheldon replied.
"Good, but mommy when can we go home?" Marie said, fiddling with the White blanket laying over her.
"I'm not sure, the doctor will have to tell us, but I assume that in the next few days they will allow you to come home," Amy replied moving the tray of food across her daughter's laps.
"But right now it's time for breakfast," she pushed forward the plate with pieces of cut up apple.
"Mommy do you know what my favourite fruit is?" Marie said, preoccupied with sipping her warm milk.
"As a matter of fact, I do," Amy replied, smiling at her," it's grapes,"
Marie grinned widely and nodded, she took a small bite of apple.
Sheldon on the other hand had remained quiet throughout. He was baffled by this new side to Amy. Never before had he seen her be so...so...nurturing.
It was as if a hypothetical light was switched on inside her and she glowed when she talked to the twins.
"Okay, now eat your oatmeal," Amy said, picking up a spoonful of the food.
"No, mommy. I want daddy to feed me," Marie crossed her arms defiantly.
Amy looked at Sheldon, who was sat wide eyed and frozen.
She looked back at Marie who was pressing her lips into a thin line.
"Please, daddy," Marie asked, poking out her bottom lip.
"I don't think I'm the most suited to do so, I have no previous experience so I think it would be better if Amy fed you," Sheldon was squirming in his seat.
Amy smiled amusedly, "Sheldon, it's not hard, you go through the same motions when one is feeding oneself except instead of moving the cutlery to your mouth you move it to hers,"
Sheldon looked from Amy to Marie and back.
Logic was telling him it would be wiser for Amy to feed her, but instinct was telling him that Marie was not going to eat unless he fed her and if she didn't eat she wouldn't get better. Drat.
He stood up and sat on the edge of the bed hesitantly.
Amy handed him the spoon, still warm from her touch, making his fingers tingle.
"Just pick up some food and place it in her mouth," Amy smiled reassuringly.
He looked at Marie who opened her mouth.
Sheldon placed the spoon into the bowl of oatmeal and scooped up a huge amount of oatmeal.
"Sheldon, that's too much," Amy watched him.
So Sheldon dropped the oatmeal back into the bowl and picked up a tiny bit.
"That's too little, but I suppose taking longer to finish eating is better than choking,"
She watched as Sheldon brought the spoon up into Marie's mouth and took it back out.
Marie smiled widely before saying, "Thank you, daddy,"
Sheldon nodded and offered a small smile, "You're welcome,"
He looked over at Amy who was smiling at him.
After a few more spoonful's, Marie spoke, "Mommy when we live in Massassachussets, will I still be able to eat oatmeal,"
Sheldon's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at a wide eyed Amy, but before he could ask any questions there was a quiet knock on the door before Leonard poked his head in.
"Look who I brought," he opened the door wider and Tyler appeared from behind him.
"Tyler!" Marie exclaimed, clapping her hands excitedly.
"Hi Marie!" Tyler said, "Look what I brought for you," he looked at Leonard who gave him a stuffed monkey. He handed it to his sister.
"A monkey!" She immediately hugged it tightly and started playing with it.
Amy smiled at Leonard, "Hi mommy!" Tyler said hugging his mother tightly.
"Hi Tyler," she started, "were you a good boy for Uncle Leonard and Aunty Penny?"
Tyler nodded vigorously, his gaze moved to Sheldon who had become a part of the background.
"Hi daddy,"
"Hello Tyler," Sheldon replied his look distant. Leonard saw the exchange and frowned.
Ever since he had met them he has been very attentive with his children.
He cleared his throat loudly, "I have some good news," Amy looked at him but Sheldon still looked spaced out.
"Howard and Bernadette are moving back!"