Sheldon was sitting at The Cheesecake Factory with his mother. Mary Cooper was in town, visiting her son, and suggested inviting Amy to join them for dinner. "Amy's never been late when I've met her in the past. She seems like a very punctual person. I hope everything's okay. Has she texted you that she was running late?"
"No, mother," Sheldon glanced at his phone yet again when he heard Amy's voice approaching the table.
"Sorry, I'm late," she apologized as she pulled the chair out for Max. "My dad was going to watch Max for me tonight, but he's having car trouble and my mom is out of town. I asked Liz if she was available, but she's got a test tomorrow that she needs to study for. I knew you already left the apartment, so that left me no other choice but to bring him along."
Max looked at Mary and narrowed his eyes at her, "Who are you? I've never met you before."
"I'm Sheldon's mother. You can call me Mary. Shelly talks about you quite a bit, so I feel as though I already know you."
Watching Amy get her son situated across from him, Sheldon spoke, "I wish you had given me a head's up you were bringing him. I could have asked the waitress for a children's menu and some crayons."
"It's okay, I'll ask her for them now," Mary was already waving over the waitress. The waitress returned with the items quickly and left the group for a few minutes to make their meal selections.
"I want the same thing as Sheldon," Max declared to the table.
"I usually get a cheeseburger when I come here. Did you know that Penny works here? She's not working tonight, but sometimes she'll bring us our food."
The mention of the blonde waitress brought a smile to Max's face. "I like Penny. She's mommy's best friend, like you're my best friend."
"We might need to talk to Leonard if I'm your best friend. You see, I'm also his best friend and I don't want there to be any problems between the two of you," replied Sheldon.
As the group was finishing their meal, Max tapped on Amy's arm. When she turned her attention to him, he motioned for her to lean over so he could whisper to her. Amy replied loud enough for the others at the table to hear her, "You need to ask him. I'm sure he will."
Max slid off his chair and moved next to Sheldon before indicating he wanted to whisper to him as well. Sheldon stood from the table and pointed the little boy away from the table. "We'll be back in a minute."
"I never thought I'd see the day," Mary remarked as she watched her son escort Max to the restroom. "Is Sheldon always like that with Max? Or is he putting on some sort of show because I'm here?"
"He's good with Max, especially since Max and I had the flu last year and he took care of us. I was worried about him interacting with Max when we first met, but the more time he's spent with him, the more comfortable they are around one another and the more relaxed I've become with Max being around my friends. You mentioned earlier that Sheldon talks about Max quite a bit. Is that true?"
Mary nodded. "He does. He talks about both of you. I can tell he cares a great deal for you and your son. I've only known Max for about an hour, but he reminds me so much of Sheldon when he was that age. Max is what, about six?"
"His birthday is in April. He'll be six then. In what ways does Max remind you of Sheldon?" Questioned Amy.
"He's very reserved, but I can tell he's smart as a whip. Listening to him and Sheldon talk is just like the dinner table when my kids were growing up. Although, Sheldon didn't have someone to talk to like that when he was that age," Mary reminisced. "And Max has those beautiful blue eyes. It's just like looking at a picture of Sheldon when he was five. If I didn't know better, I'd swear Max was his son."
Noticing her son and boyfriend returning to the table, Amy quickly changed the topic, "How's Missy doing? Sheldon told me she's having a baby soon?"
The group said goodbye to one another at the door of the restaurant. Mary made her way to her rental car, where she stood, watching Sheldon escort Amy and Max to Amy's car. Noticing he turned in her direction after Amy closed her car door, she quickly climbed in the driver seat so Sheldon wouldn't think she had been watching.
"I know you want to say something, so just say it," prompted Sheldon as Mary slowed at a stoplight.
Glancing at her son, Mary played dumb. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Max. I've told you about him, but we didn't plan on you meeting him tonight. I would have prepared you if I had known Amy was going to bring him. I know you have thoughts about her being a mother that you haven't said the past three and a half years."
"You're right. There are things I haven't said since you told me you were seeing a single mother," Mary started, continuing to drive through Pasadena. "Amy has always impressed me the times I've met her. She seems to understand you in a way not many others do. Seeing her with Max only impressed me more. I can tell Amy is a fantastic mother to that little boy. He is polite and soft-spoken, but not afraid to ask questions about the world around him."
Sheldon smiled to himself. "She really is a good mother. Amy will do anything for Max. She reminds me quite a bit of you when I see her with him."
"Amy's not the only one who impressed me tonight, Shelly. When you first told me Amy had a son, I had my reservations. I could tell you liked her a lot and I was worried how her having a son would impact your relationship with her. I never pictured you willingly spending time with a child, especially one who isn't yours, but it's clear that Max has taken a liking to you. His insistence on ordering the same thing as you was cute. I can tell how much you care for both of them."
"I really do, mom," Sheldon's smile grew larger. "I've enjoyed having both of them in my life. I only see Max a few times a month, but I look forward to the time I do get to spend with him."
Mary parked in the small lot next to the apartment building, but stopped Sheldon from getting out of the car. "All I've ever wanted for my children was to be happy and healthy. I've never seen you happier than you were at dinner tonight. I know you and Amy aren't at that point yet, but if you feel like you might be, I want you to know that I've been saving your great-great-great-great grandmother's ring; it's yours to give to Amy if you ever want it."