Amy tried fighting back the tears, but she was failing miserably. One after another they were running down her cheeks, over her nose and into the pillow. Then there came the sobs. She just couldn't help it. Her whole body was trembling under the emotional turmoil that Sheldon's last words had caused to her.

"Amy…" His voice was soft and full of concern. "Amy, why are you crying?"

His tender endeavors to comfort her were forming a harsh contrast to his awful words he uttered just some moments ago. How could one person be so contradictory? She knew he probably hadn't meant it that way, but still...

"You want to have a baby, Sheldon. Finding out the reason for crying is considered key skills for being a parent, I guess." That sounded more cynical than she had intended to. But she was desperate. And angry. And sad.

"Amy, did I say something wrong?"

"Yes, Sheldon, you said something wrong." Did he really not understand? She sniffed her nose. "You really upset me with the way you just spoke about our future children. You frighten me. Our conversation went so well and I was just starting to think about having a child with you. I've seen myself holding a little, cute baby in my arms, while you sit next to me and tickle the baby's feet... But then, suddenly, you say something so terrible." She became angry again. „Kids seem to be some sort of commodity for you. If one gets broken, you just buy something new!"

„Amy, I - "

Amy interrupted him roughly. She was really angry now. "And you know what's the worst? Your part in the whole affair will last only some minutes. Afterwards, it's all on me. Probably until the new child is able to speak. HOW DARE YOU?"

Sheldon's voice was now loud, too. „Amy, please listen to me. I never said that I wanna replace one child with another one. At least that's not what I intended to say. I know very well that every child is an individual. My parents couldn't have replaced me with another child and your parents couldn't have replaced you. But I know it's possible to lose a child. As terrifying as that may be. And it's important to me to be prepared for any scenario. Therefore, I want to talk with you about it."

"Sheldon, I don't think I can do that." Amy had become calmer now. The anger had given way to sadness, again.

"Please Amy, just listen to me." He spoke softer now, too. "I am very aware that this is a very emotional matter, also for me. Because it's about human beings that we love as much as ourselves or even more. At least this is what I hope to be able to feel for our future offspring. But even if in our society, in opposition to ancient societies, we mostly get children because we want to have cute little bundles of joy that we can give all our love to and that we can pamper and just give the best possible childhood, there's still a function that kids have when they have grown adult. Today has shown that very clearly to me. Children care for their parents when they are old, at least if they are not totally estranged. And they help them finding a new sense in life. Also society depends on the younger generation to take care of the older ones and pay for them with their taxes, amongst other things."

"Yeah, we spoke about some of those things this afternoon at Robert's garden."

"You know, the thought of losing a child is hurting me deeply, too. But I allow it, I don't repress it, like many other people do. I am trying to image what comes after the pain and the sadness. And for me, there is the question if you can load such an emotional and financial burden as caring for the two of us when we're old and making a contribution to the wellbeing of the society on a single child. I'm really upset that I didn't make that clear from the beginning."

Amy turned around and looked at him. She wiped the last remaining tears from her face. "And I am really sorry for yelling at you. But I guess I just cannot think about these kinds of things the way you do. It doesn't make you a bad human being that you are able to fade out the emotions. But I am not able to do it. I am not able to think and discuss about it. Please just accept that, ok?"

"Ok."

They looked at each other in silence. Finally, Amy spoke again.

"Sheldon?"

"Hm?"

"I guess you will be a very good Daddy, in your own, very special kind of way."

"So, you still wanna have a child with me?"

"Yes."

He drew nearer and pulled her in a tight embrace. His words were only a whisper. "Thank you for understanding me and accepting me the way I am. I love you."

"I love you, too."

He looked at her, again. "So, when will we start our kids project?"

"Well, first of all I will finish that pack of birth control pills. That has been expensive, after all."

"Oh, your thrifty Daddy would be so proud to hear that."

So, this chapter was very short. But they have solved their dispute and that was important to me. The next chapter will be longer, again. And more cheerful, I promise!