"Hello, Sheldon." She sounded drained.
"Hello," he answered, and motioned to the chair across from him. "Join me. Please."
She sat, fingering her pendant. "Thank you, for the flowers," she said formally.
"You're welcome," he replied.
Then there was silence. Finally he spoke. "You look...real nice," Sheldon said into the stillness at their table. "It makes me wish I'd put on my suit."
"No, it's fine," Amy told him. "I was going to put my cardigan back on, but I'd run out of time."
"So you're nervous, too," Sheldon stated.
"A bit," she confided, "I feel bad about saying our first time was a mistake. I'm truly sorry."
"Thanks," he said, and turned off his phone, moving to put it away.
"Sheldon? Don't you have something to say to me?"
He furrowed his brows. "Like what?"
"How about for caring so little about our date that you forgot I was even coming? Or for abandoning me at your place, without even offering if I'd like to come to the airport with you?"
"Excuse me, but I did everything right! I apologized, I set up another date to compensate, and I showed up. What more do you want from me?"
"Your complete attention. I want a date where we don't check our phones, or touch the computer."
Sheldon nodded, leaning forward, his fingers interlocked. "I see. And do you also want respect?"
"I do!"
"Then I'd like to request the same. Whenever you insist we have children, you're disregarding my feelings completely." Their gazes held fast. "Amy, I promise you one thing; if ever I do want children, it will be with you. But I find your own lack of respect, as well as your inability to see it, very disenchanting."
Amy's eyes were softer than her tone of voice. "Then what do you suggest?"
"Relationship counseling," came the quick answer.
Her brows went up. "Really?"
"Yes. I don't want to lose you, Amy Farrah-Fowler."
She smiled sadly. "I don't want to lose you either, Sheldon Lee Cooper."
