The Fowler Anxiety Results

Chapter 08

Amy couldn't bare to go home to the house that reminded her so much of her husband. He was everywhere, his shirts hanging in the wardrobe, his shoes placed neatly on the shoe rack, she had spent the last few days at the hospital and was nowhere near ready to be anywhere else. Harmony and Melody were still in the paediatric intensive care, doing well, but still very poorly. Amy knew she would have to tell Stephen as soon as possible, she knew how things went round the group and she didn't want him to hear it from someone else. Amy also thought that it should definitely be her to tell him. Leonard and Penny were great and would handle it very well, but it wouldn't be the same as hearing it from his mother. Penny would have told Megan by now, she didn't believe in keeping things from her children any longer than was necessary. Elliot and Alice were too young, but Megan would have needed as long as possible to cope with the news.

Amy walked up to the paediatric intensive care like a zombie, Bernadette had to literally guide her through the hospital by her shoulders, stopping every few minutes as the news hit her again. As they stood in the cubicle, looking down at these two beautiful girls that Sheldon had helped to create, both Amy and Bernadette were overcome with emotions. Harmony was doing well and gave her Mommy a big smile, which just made their hearts break even more. Melody was still hooked up to the machines and very sleepy.

"I'm so sorry to hear about your husband" the same nurse that had brought Stephen was now looking after the twins, "it must be heart-breaking"

"it is" Bernadette was the only one of the two that could manage to say anything "we're all so broken"

"Mrs Cooper, I have news" Amy couldn't bear to correct the nurse on either her title or surname, it was just nice to hear Sheldon's name "is it okay to speak in front of your friend"

"anything you need to say, you can say to Bernadette too" Amy said quickly, managing to get the words out "it's fine"

"okay" the nurse lead them both over to the chairs between Harmony and Melody's cots "Harmony can go to the ward now"

"that's good" Bernadette managed to smile slightly "she's getting better?"

"she is" the nurse smiled too, if only for a few seconds "Melody needs a few more days here, but she's doing well"

"how am I going to manage?" Amy panicked "how am I going to manage three children on my own?"

"you will" Bernadette promised her, "you've got me, Howard, Leonard. Penny and Raj we'll all help you"

"it wont be the same" Amy cried "I'm a single parent"

"no, it won't" Bernadette answered "but you need to pull yourself together"

"I…"

"you can do all your screaming and crying in the relatives room, or when you get home, but Stephen, Harmony and Melody need you right now, they need their Mommy to be able to talk to, Stephen isn't going to know what's going on, and Harmony and Melody are still recovering. I know it's awful, I have no idea what you're going through, but there are three children there that have just lost their father, they need their mother to be strong, you need to tell Stephen before someone else does, it won't be Megan's fault if she accidentally tells him, she's only a child"

Amy knew Bernadette was right, although she thought it was a little too soon. But also, Stephen needed to know. Amy managed to leave the hospital to go to Leonard and Penny's, on the understanding that Raj stayed with the girls, as he promised to do. On the way home Amy looked out the window while Bernadette drove, the silence between them saying just as much as they needed to hear. When they got to Leonard and Penny's Stephen was playing with Megan. Amy thought that Penny was right, he was just getting back to some sort of normality, the hope of his Daddy and sisters getting better, and the knowledge that he and his Mommy had gotten out of it with cuts and bruises

"Stephen" Amy said softly, aware that Stephen would be so happy to see her, and she couldn't bear his happy face for too long "can I speak to you"

"Mommy!" Stephen cried, pleased to see her again "how's Daddy, and the twins?"

"Come into the kitchen" Amy beckoned him, "I need to talk to you"

Megan knew what was going on so she stayed where she was. She and Leonard building the latest piece of Star Wars Lego, Penny waited at the door for a few extra seconds, just watching Megan have quality time with their father, knowing that neither Stephen or the twins would have that with Sheldon again.