Word Count: 1449
Disclaimer: I don't own The Big Bang Theory or the characters.

They drove in silence for what seemed like ages. Alfred was at the wheel, and Leonard stared out the window at the blur of passing scenery. The past few weeks had been a crazy mix of emotions, and Leonard had a sinking feeling that whatever was coming next wouldn't make things any easier.

Finally, the car pulled up outside his childhood home—the very place where this whirlwind of a few weeks had started. As they got out, Leonard felt a pang of nostalgia mixed with apprehension. Alfred directed him toward the study, saying he needed to fetch something. Leonard went in, finding his siblings already there.

Samantha and Michael looked up as he entered, their smiles warm but with an undertone of shared fatigue. They didn't seem like they were planning to cut him off, and that was a small relief.

Samantha stood up first, with Michael close behind. The three of them embraced, the hug carrying the weight of everything they'd all been through recently. When they finally pulled apart, Michael asked, "How are you holding up?"

Leonard shrugged and leaned against the old desk; a familiar piece of furniture that felt oddly comforting. "I met them," he said, avoiding answering anything about his own feelings.

Michael and Samantha exchanged a look, not particularly surprised by Leonard's announcement. "They're nice people," Leonard added, watching their reactions.

Samantha shifted in her seat, clearly uncomfortable. "I knew about them."

"What do you mean, you knew?" Michael and Leonard both stared at her, a mix of surprise and irritation in their eyes.

Samantha seemed to struggle with her words. "Not exactly. I was older than you guys, and I don't remember mother being pregnant. But one day, there was this baby in the house. Grandpa said you were a little miracle and that I had to look out for you. Mom took care of you, but dad... well, dad just kind of stayed out of the picture."

Leonard's gaze drifted to the old wooden door of the study. He wasn't mad at Samantha; she'd been just a kid, after all, and had to rely on the adults around her.

"I figured Grandpa must have said something. It would make sense why I felt so differently about how Beverly treated me after he got sick."

There was a brief silence as everyone took in what had been said. Michael let out a deep breath, his eyes flicking between his siblings. "Do you remember mother being pregnant with me?" he asked, clearly trying to piece together his own memories.

Leonard tried to dig into his hazy recollections of that time. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't recall anything about his mother's pregnancy with Michael, though he'd been just a toddler then. Samantha, seeming confused with her own memories all of the sudden, shook her head in response.

Before Leonard could say anything more, the study door creaked open. Alfred stepped in, looking even more worn out than before. The interruption pulled everyone's attention away from the difficult conversation, signaling that it was time to address whatever Alfred had come to discuss..

Alfred sat in his chair, the large desk separating father and children. He shuffled some papers on the desk before finally pulling out a manila envelope.

"Okay," Alfred said, clearing his throat. "It's time."

Leonard's stomach churned. "Time for what, dad?" he asked, though he already had a sinking feeling.

Alfred sighed deeply and began, "This is Beverly's will. I had to get it from her lawyer after... well, after she passed. She'd written it a while ago, and it's... it's important."

Samantha glanced at Leonard, her eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and pity. Michael, sitting stiffly next to her, kept his gaze fixed on the envelope, his expression unreadable.

Alfred opened the envelope and started reading aloud, his voice steady but strained:

" To my children, Michael and Samantha,

If you are reading this, it means I am no longer with you. I have decided to leave my belongings in a manner that I hope will make things right. I have arranged for my estate to be divided among you both, as well as something for Leonard, though our relationship has been distant."

Leonard's heart pounded in his chest. He hadn't expected this—well, he had expected something, but hearing it laid out so plainly felt surreal. Michael let out a breath he wasn't aware he had been holding.

Alfred continued, "Leonard, I know that things were not always smooth between us. I want you to know that despite our differences, I always cared for you. To you, I leave my personal journal. It's filled with my thoughts and feelings, some of which may explain why things were the way they were."

Leonard's eyes widened. A journal? What was in it that could possibly explain everything? He exchanged a glance with Michael and Samantha, both of whom looked equally stunned.

"There's more," Alfred said, taking a deep breath. "There's also a letter for Leonard, from Beverly. It was tucked away in the journal."

Alfred pulled out a folded letter, and as he read it aloud, the room fell into a heavy silence.

" Dear Leonard,

If you're reading this, it means I have left this world and it's time for you to know some things. I have always struggled with how to express my feelings towards you and the situation we found ourselves in. I was never good at it, and I regret not being able to show you the love you deserved.

Please understand that my actions were a result of my own insecurities and failures, not a reflection of your worth. I hope that you can find some understanding and forgiveness in your heart. You deserved better than I could give.

Beverly."

Leonard felt a lump form in his throat. His mother's words were a bitter mix of remorse and detachment. He looked at Alfred, his eyes pleading for some kind of explanation.

"Why now?" Leonard asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why is this coming out now? Why didn't she tell me any of this before?"

Alfred sighed and rubbed his face wearily. "Leonard, Beverly and I had a complicated relationship, and it only got worse as time went on. She tried to make amends in her own way, but it was never perfect. I think she hoped this letter might provide some closure, even if it was too late."

Michael shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable. "So, what happens now?" he asked.

"Well," Alfred said, closing the journal and letter. "I think Beverly's wish was for us all to have some form of peace and understanding. We need to decide how to handle the journal and the rest of her estate. It's up to us to figure out what to do with it."

Samantha leaned forward, her voice soft. "Leonard, do you want to keep the journal?"

Leonard hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, I think I need to read it. Maybe it'll help me understand more about... everything."

Alfred nodded approvingly. "Alright. We'll sort out the rest of the estate and make sure everything is divided fairly. For now, let's try to focus on what's in front of us and how we can move forward."

Michael and Samantha exchanged glances, and Michael finally spoke up, "It's been a tough time for all of us. Maybe this is a step towards finding some kind of resolution."

Leonard took a deep breath and nodded. "Yeah, maybe. I guess we'll see."

The room was quiet as they all processed the news and the letters. Alfred sat back, looking as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Leonard looked at the journal and the letter, feeling a mix of emotions—anger, sadness, but also a tiny spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, this could help him find some clarity.

As they left the study, Leonard carried the journal with him, feeling its weight in his hands. He glanced at Michael and Samantha, who were quietly discussing their mother's estate. Despite everything, Leonard felt a sense of cautious optimism. Maybe this was the start of something new—a way to make sense of the past and to begin healing.

He knew there were still many conversations to be had and many feelings to work through, but for the first time in a long while, he felt like he was finally on the path to understanding and perhaps finding some peace.

End of Chapter 9

I've decided to pick up this story again after six years. I always wanted to continue it, but I either didn't have the time or the ideas. Now, I'm finally making it happen. I've already written a few chapters and plan to post at least one each week. I hope there are still some of you out there who want to read it.

While cleaning out my computer, I found the original Chapter 9. I wasn't happy with it, so I decided to scrap it. I don't remember the exact direction I was taking before, but now I'm focusing more on the Hofstadter siblings and their complex relationships with each other and their parents. I've rewritten the past chapters since they were from my earlier writing and I thought I could do a better job. The overall story hasn't changed much, but I think that it has a better flow now.

Hope everyone likes it!