"Thanks again for watching them tonight," Amy thanked Penny, setting Theo's diaper bag next to the couch as he and Levi made themselves comfortable in apartment 4A.

Penny looked at the boys, starting to play with Maya. "It's no big deal. You and Sheldon haven't had a date night in forever. You guys watched Maya for us last week, consider us even now. Leonard is on his way to pick up pizza. We'll put on a movie after they eat and they can play with Maya until she falls asleep. We'll have them good and tired out so they'll sleep in for you tomorrow." Glancing across the room to ensure the little ears weren't close, she lowered her voice, "Maybe you guys can work on having a baby if they sleep in."

"Shh," Amy frantically waved her hands to quiet her best friend. "You didn't tell Leonard I told you about that, did you?"

"No. You said to not say anything. I know you've got Levi and Theo, but I can't wait for you to know what it feels like to hold a part of you."

Amy offered the blonde a smile. "I can't wait for that, too, but I've gotta go. I told Sheldon I wouldn't be gone long. He still hasn't told me what he has planned for date night."

Penny put Maya to bed not long after the group finished their pizza and Theo fell asleep, with Leonard putting him in his and Penny's bed until Amy and Sheldon returned to pick up the boys later that evening. This left Levi with Leonard and Penny in the living room, chattering about school and early drafts of his Christmas wish list. "I'm going to ask dad if we can go to the park tomorrow. Can you come and bring Maya?"

"I didn't know your dad was in town again," replied Penny.

Narrowing his eyes at the woman, Levi confirmed, "My dad isn't here. Uncle Sheldon lets me and Theo pick something to do on Saturday. I'm going to ask if we can go to the park tomorrow. But we did go to the park when my dad was here. We didn't stay a long time, though. Maybe we can stay longer if you bring Maya."

Leonard noticed his wife's reaction to what the six-year-old had just said and quickly jumped in, "I'll let Sheldon know to text me if you guys end up doing something we can do with Maya. You know she can't play on the playground yet, right?"

"But she can watch us," he yawned.

"Why don't you lay down until Sheldon and Amy pick you up? You can go in our room with Theo or get comfy on the couch."

The couple watched as the boy shuffled down the hall to join his brother in the room they shared when they first arrived in California. Leonard whispered to Penny after hearing the bedroom door close behind the first grader. "We can't make a big deal out of Levi calling Sheldon dad. I know Theo's been calling him and Amy mom and dad for months; they haven't mentioned Levi doing it. You saw how he responded when you asked if Ricky was in town again. He probably didn't even realize what he'd said."

"I won't say anything unless Sheldon or Amy bring it up first," Penny's thought was cut off by the sound of her daughter crying from across the apartment. "They should be here soon. I'll get Maya back to sleep."

Penny was correct in her statement that Sheldon and Amy would be there soon to pick up their nephews. It was only after the couple exited the apartment, each carrying a sleeping boy, that Leonard noticed Levi's backpack had been forgotten. He quickly grabbed it and raced down the stairs, relieved Amy was walking around the car to the driver's seat. "Amy! Levi's backpack!"

"Thanks," she reached out a hand to collect the item. "It could have waited until morning, but I appreciate you running it out."

Glancing past Amy to see Sheldon looking at his phone in the passenger seat, Leonard lowered his voice. "When did Levi start calling Sheldon dad?"

"He hasn't as far as I'm aware."

"Well, he did tonight. Penny thought he was talking about Ricky and questioned him about it. When he explained his comment, he reverted back to calling him Uncle Sheldon. I doubt he even realized what he did, but I thought you should know."

Amy's eyes went wide, processing what the man in front of her had said. "Wow. Please don't tell Sheldon this. I think he should hear this from me."

"No, that's why I told you. I didn't want Levi to say something and send Sheldon into a tizzy. I'll let you get them home. Have a good night."

Sheldon was already in bed by the time Amy finished brushing her teeth. She quickly joined him and snuggled up next to him. Slipping his arm under his wife's shoulders and pulling her close, he smiled, "Did you enjoy the restaurant I chose for date night?"

"Yes," she nodded against him. "Leonard told me something when he ran Levi's backpack out to me." Sheldon pulled his head back, silently questioning the woman in his arms. "Don't get excited because I don't know the context of the conversation, but Levi referred to you as dad tonight. I guess Penny thought he was talking about Ricky and said something. That made Levi revert back to calling you Uncle Sheldon."

"Oh," was the quiet, barely audible response.

The neurobiologist shifted away from her husband, propping herself up on her elbow to see his face. "I know how much you love him and how much it hurts to have Theo calling you dad more often than not and for Levi to keep calling you Uncle Sheldon. He might have been testing the waters to see how it feels to call you dad and he felt safe doing so around Penny and Leonard. We should be grateful that he trusts our friends to be able to do that."

"Do you think Ricky told him he wanted to give up his rights for them to be with us permanently? Would Levi even understand what that means?"

"I don't know," Amy bent forward to kiss the top of Sheldon's head. "But if he said it once, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before he says it again."

No one brought up Levi's comment until later that week. Sheldon was in the kitchen, pouring bowls of cereal for his nephews for a quick breakfast before heading out for the day. Noticing Levi's disheveled hair when he entered the kitchen, Sheldon placed a bowl in front of him, "Did you forget to comb your hair this morning?" The first grader reached his hand up, touching the top of his head before sheepishly nodding and starting to get up from his chair. "Keep eating. I'll grab the comb and take care of it while you finish your breakfast." Sheldon quickly ran upstairs to the bathroom for a comb. He returned and brushed through Levi's hair. Dropping the comb on the counter to put away after work, he said, "There you go. Finish your breakfast and put your lunch in your backpack. It's on the counter. I'm going to check on Aunt Amy and Theo. We're running a little late this morning."

"Okay, dad," Levi replied, sliding off the chair and bringing his cereal bowl to the sink.

Sheldon froze in his tracks, but did not turn around, calling over his shoulder, "Double check your folder is in your backpack. You had it in the living room last night." He ran into his wife and younger nephew at the top of the stairs, grinning maniacally. "He called me dad."

Theo reached toward the physicist, "Daddy, up."

"What'd you say?" Amy watched Sheldon lift Theo to his hip before turning to retreat downstairs.

"I told him to finish his cereal and to put his lunchbox in his backpack. He said 'okay, dad.' I didn't say anything about it, I just reminded him to make sure he had his folder for school."

Offering her husband a smile, she followed him through the house. "I'm happy for you, but we need to hit the road or we're all going to be late."

After work that afternoon, Sheldon retreated to the office upstairs with Levi and Theo as they'd done most days since Levi had started school again earlier that fall. Sheldon would work on his whiteboard or on his computer, Levi would do any homework he might have or practice his reading, and Theo would color or play with whatever toy he dragged into the room.

Setting the book he'd been reading on the couch, Levi made his way around Sheldon's desk on the opposite side of the room. Inching closer, he forced the man to pull him onto his lap. "I called you dad this morning and you didn't say anything."

"Did you want me to say something?"

"I don't know," Levi shrugged his shoulders. "I didn't mean to, it just kinda came out. I guess cuz I keep hearing Theo call you dad, I did too, on accident."

Sheldon tightened his arms around the boy, "Well, whatever you want to call me is okay with me. As long as it's not smelly Shelly."

Merry Christmas! I hope everyone has had an enjoyable holiday season & is staying safe.