Sheldon and Amy drive to the hospital.
Amy: I am not sure if I am ready yet, Sheldon. She is early, too early. I thought she would come in three weeks, and there would be plenty of time for us to go back to California.
Sheldon: Well, she probably cannot wait to meet us. If my parents were famous scientists and Nobel Prize winners, I would not hesitate a minute. I would be way too excited. One can never be too early or too young for anything. I'm sure she will go to college at 9.
Amy: Sheldon. What if she isn't that smart?
Sheldon hits the breaks and looks at her.
Sheldon: How can you say that? Don't be so mean to our daughter, Amy. She will be brilliant and do amazing things.
Amy: Sure, she will, but don't put too much pressure on her. That's all I am saying. And now please drive again. I don't know how soon she will be here. Am I ready? Sheldon, are we ready for this?
Sheldon: Of course we are. We are great parents.
Amy: You are the fun one, and I have to deal with the bad stuff, liking changing diapers.
Sheldon: You don't know any games, Amy. Obviously I am the fun one and you are better at changing diapers. It works so well.
Amy: You are also a parent. I would appreciate if you helped me more and let me play more with my kids. I can be fun too. We can both be fun from time to time and take turn at doing the less-fun-things.
Sheldon: Fine. I will change the diapers more often than I did with Stephen. But he had a lightsaber. It's like what I played with as a kid before I got an actual one. Girls don't have that. Oh, maybe we should buy her one.
Amy: Sheldon. Not now. Bring me to the hospital. The contractions are getting worse.
Amy breaths heavily.
Sheldon: Okay. Mario Kart it is for now.
He accelerates the car, passes other cars, drifts at a crossroad. Amy screams.
Amy: Sheldon. Not that fast.
Sheldon: What do you mean? I thought you wanted to get to the hospital fast. Don't confuse me. We will be right there.
Amy: You are not quite experienced in driving, and I want to arrive at the hospital alive.
Sheldon slows down. He finds a parking lot in front of the hospital, helps Amy out of the car and they walk in. A nurse comes to them with a wheelchair. Amy sits down.
Nurse: Your mother called, so we knew you were coming.
Amy confused: My mother?
Sheldon to Amy: She probably meant mine.
Nurse: How frequent are your contractions?
Amy: I am not sure. Ouch
Amy holds her belly and screams.
Nurse: Okay, we will get you in there, make some checks and see how's the baby.
She looks at Sheldon.
Nurse: You can come with us.
He follows them as they walk into a room. The nurse helps Amy in the bed.
Nurse to Sheldon: Are you okay? If this gets too much for you, take a walk or sit down on a chair. I don't want another man fainting today.
Sheldon: I am sorry, Amy. I think we both know I should be outside for a while. Just let me know when she will come.
Amy: Sheldon. I am in pain. I am about to give birth to our second child. This time, you will stay here all the time and hold my hand.
Amy reaches out her hand, waiting for Sheldon to hold it. Sheldon hesitates.
Amy: Shall I tell her that you didn't want to be the first to see her? Your future Nobel Prize daughter?
Sheldon: You are right. She will be a star, and I will be her proud father. Everyone will be jealous. Okay, I will stay.
He holds Amy's hand and sits next to her on a chair.
Sheldon: I think you need more fluffy pillows. I will get you some.
The moment he wants to get up, Amy stops him, still holding his hand.
Sheldon: I only want you to be comfortable. What about I will open a window. We need some fresh air.
He wants to get up again, and Amy stops him again.
Sheldon: We need more light, let's turn them on.
Amy gives him an angry look.
Sheldon: I know. Do you want a hot beverage?
Amy: Only if you want it in your face.
Sheldon looks irritated.
Sheldon: Why would I want it... oh.
Amy: Sheldon, I am sorry. I know you mean well, but all I want is just you being here by my side. Can you do that for me, please? And be quiet.
Sheldon nods. While the nurses are doing their checkups, Sheldon's phone rings.
Amy: Don't pick it up. It can wait.
Sheldon looks at his phone. He freezes. He lets go of Amy's hand, who looks at him.
Amy: Is it...?
Sheldon nods.
Amy: I guess it's fine when you go and say goodbye. I will do my best to keep her in me until you return. We won't go anywhere.
Sheldon starts to cry, nods and when he leaves the room...
Amy: Drive carefully, Sheldon. Don't Mario Kart your way to your meemaw's house.
Sheldon turns around.
Sheldon: She is here. They brought her here. Mother panicked and called an ambulance. I guess it's because I told her she wasn't safe. But she didn't want to go, until she heard I was already here.
Amy: Tell her it was nice to meet her. I wish I could say goodbye as well.
Sheldon nods and leaves the room. He takes the elevator up. When he walks out, he already hears Stephen. Mary sits outside of the room, Stephen sits next to her. He runs to Sheldon, when he sees him. Sheldon lifts him up.
Stephen: Daddy. Meemaw will go to heaven.
Sheldon nods and sniffs. Stephen rests his hand on Sheldon's shoulder. Mary comes over to them.
Mary: I am not sure if I can see her anymore. It's too hard. I have been praying all day. I am sorry I had to get you away from Amy.
Sheldon sniffs and looks down on the floor. He gives Stephen to Mary. Before he enters the room, he stands before it for a while. He takes deep breaths.
Meemaw: Moon pie? Is that you? Come in.
He walks in and sits next to Meemaw on the bed. She turns her head slowly in his direction and smiles a little.
Meemaw: I have never seen you insecure like this. It's just me. I am still fun to hang with.
She giggles. Sheldon tries to smile a little.
Meemaw: You can do better, moon pie. There is no reason to be sad. And what happened to your voice? I don't remember you ever being speechless.
Sheldon sniffs: I will miss you.
He holds her hands, starts crying. He rests his head on her shoulder.
Meemaw: Oh my moon pie. I won't go anywhere. I only have to leave my body. Look at it, it's old. I want a new one, young and fresh. Find some sexy men again. What life is this? I cannot do anything anymore. I mean the only entertainment that I get are prayers from your mother, the pastor and people I haven't seen in years.
Sheldon looks at her.
Sheldon: Are you scared?
Meemaw: A little bit, yes. But it's inevitable. I am not sure if I will come to a better place. You and me don't believe in that, right? I only hope my pain will be gone.
Sheldon: My pain won't.
Meemaw: Thank you for coming back home and for introducing me to your son.
Sheldon: If you can stay a little longer, you can meet my daughter, too. Amy's here.
Meemaw: You should be with her. You cannot help me anyway anymore. And stop being sad. I had so much joy with you as a kid. I always talked about you. Some of my friends did not even knew I had other grandchildren.
She chuckles.
Meemaw: When I could not sleep at night, I always tried to find the moon. There was something calming about that. I even did this as a little kid. The moon and pie were my two favorite things, until your mother brought you home.
Sheldon: I love you meemaw.
Meemaw: I love you too, moon pie. And I always will. Don't you ever forget that.
Mary and Stephen walk in.
Meemaw: Don't think you will ever get rid of me. My soul will always stay with you. And moon pie, with your eidetic memory, I know you won't forget anything. So let me tell you one last thing, which is one of the many things I have learned from you: be open to different perspectives, like the one's of your kids. They will enrich your life in ways unimaginable even to your vast phantasy.
She turns her head to the side in which Sheldon sits, closes her eyes. Sheldon felt her hand losing its last bit of power and she stops breathing.
Sheldon cries. Mary and Stephen hug him and they sit quietly in the room next to meemaw.
Stephen: Can I meet my sister now?
Mary: Yes, honey. We should go to your mother. Or you and your father should go. I think I will stay a while longer and pray a little.
Sheldon wipes away a tear, takes Stephen by the hand. Before he leaves the room, he looks one more time at meemaw.
Sheldon: Never will I ever forget anything, as you were always patient, and explained me things no Professor could.
He whispers: Thank you, meemaw.
He and Stephen leave the room, take the elevator to get to the first floor. Before he walks into Amy's room, he hears screaming. He runs into the room, and then sees Amy holding a little bundle. She looks at Sheldon.
Amy smiles: Come here, daddy.
Sheldon and Stephen come closer and look at the baby.
Amy: I am her number one now. I was the first to see her.
Sheldon: I am sorry I wasn't there.
Amy: How's...?
Sheldon shakes his head and tries to stop new tears from coming.
Amy: Hold her.
She gives him the baby. He looks at her. She smiles. He smiles.
Amy: See, she stopped screaming the moment she saw you. I think she was just waiting to meet you.
Sheldon sniffs.
Amy: I know we have been discussing names before, but I changed my mind. I know the perfect name for her.
Sheldon looks at Amy: What do you mean? What is wrong with Elliot?
Amy: Look at her.
Sheldon looks at his daughter again.
Amy: I think we should name her Connie, Connie Charlie, after your grandparents.
Sheldon: Connie. CC. I love that. Also sounds like the Austrian princess. You will always be my little princess, Connie. I cannot wait to show you the moon and have pie parties with you.
He smiles, kisses her on the forehead. Connie smiles, then closes her eyes and takes her first nap in Sheldon's arms.
Thank you so much for reading. As sad as it is, I wanted to discuss this as it's part of life. However, I also wanted Amy to have her kid shortly after Meemaw died to put some joyous moments in this chapter as well. Everything that starts, has to end at some point. Pain and joy are linked in life. That's the circle of life.
Take care. Stay safe!
New chapter next Friday.
XO Sanny