Author's note:

I apologize for the delay but I've been very busy with school and exams. As of Monday, I will have more free time so updates will be more frequent. I'm doing my best to keep everyone as in character as possible. Thank you for your reviews, I'm glad to see you are enjoying this story.

PS: I'm not a native speaker so I apologize in advance for any errors.

Chapter 3

He remembered the arguments they had. It all seemed so silly now, so insignificant.

(flashback)

"You are having a boy? That's exciting!" exclaimed Bernadette as they all sat around the coffee table, eating the regular order of Thai food.

"Aww, there's going to be a little Sheldon!" said Penny.

"Yeah, sure... 'Aw'" her husband offered his usual sarcastic remark, landing him a sharp glare from Sheldon which made him chuckle.

"So, you guys didn't want to keep the sex a surprise?" asked Raj as he came from the kitchen, holding the water he took from the fridge, and sat down on the floor.

"Well, we discussed it and decided it would be better to know so we could be better prepared." Amy explained.

"And Sheldon threw a fit?" Penny asked very casually.

"Yeah" answered Amy in the same manner.

"I'm sorry but I find the notion of keeping the sex a secret, completely ridiculous!" Sheldon defended himself "How are we supposed to properly arrange everything before the baby's arrival?"

"Sheldon, you don't have to plan everything out!" responded Raj.

"Disagree" said Sheldon.

"It's okay. It's actually kind of comforting to have everything organized for you" Amy added and she and Sheldon exchanged smiles.

"Have you guys thought of any names?" questioned Howard which caused the couple's expressions to change drastically.

"We tried but Amy is being impossible" said Sheldon in a snappy tone.

"Sheldon, we are not naming our son after someone from one of the stupid sci-fi shows you watch!"

"Stupid sci- Okay, I'm going to let that slide because you are hormonal" retorted Sheldon "And, for the record, not all the names I proposed were inspired by science fiction."

"What did you propose?" Penny inquired.

"James"

"Earl Jones, Kirk, Gordon. Try again." responded Leonard before Sheldon could continue, still holding his food.

"Okay. William."

"Riker, Adama" Leonard started again.

"Shatner" added Howard.

"Billy the kid" said Raj and everyone turned to him with a look of derision. "Or... the ones you mentioned" he, then, said timidly.

"Luke" said Sheldon, a little exasperated and the others responded together:

"SKYWALKER"

"Okay, I didn't have much hope for that one" he said a bit quickly and, then, turned to Leonard and Penny. "You know, this is all your fault"

"What?" asked a dumbfounded Penny.

"If you hadn't stolen our first-choice boy name when picking out a name for your son, we wouldn't be having this argument right now."

"It's a name, Sheldon, we didn't steal it!" Penny defended herself and her husband. "And you said you were okay with it!"

"We had to; we are the god parents." replied Sheldon.

"Well, it's not our fault that you are too immature to compromise even when it comes to your own child!" Leonard yelled a little louder and more abruptly than intended and the peaceful dinner ambience turned into stony silence.

"Amy, get up, we are leaving." Sheldon finally said and got up from his spot.

She opened her mouth to protest as she looked at the food she hadn't finished yet but Sheldon had already reached the door so she got up as well.

With the couple gone, the others were left looking at each other awkwardly. Suddenly, the door opened slightly and Amy came in.

"Sorry, but..." she muttered and pointed sheepishly at the table.

"Go ahead" said Penny. Amy quickly made her way to the coffee table and reached for her Moo Satay.

"I haven't eaten all day so..." she said, almost too quietly and too shyly to be heard while shrugging her shoulders and got out the door.

Later, back at 4B, the tension stood. Amy was sitting in the bedroom, working on her computer while Sheldon remained in the living room. He was making tea to mitigate his, still conspicuous, aggravation. Taking his cup of earl grey, he sat on the right side of the couch. How dare Leonard say something like that? He was angry but, above all, he was hurt. And worried. What if Leonard was right? What if he ends up being a horrible parent? What if his son grows to resent him? What if Amy comes to resent him? Then, the bedroom door opened, interrupting his thoughts. Amy entered the room and walked to the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water.

"Amy" she heard Sheldon call her name as she was returning to the bedroom. He had stood up and was, now, facing her.

"What?"

"I want to apologize. My behavior was childish" he paused and Amy gazed at him. He seemed a little ashamed as if Leonard's words really got to him. "I don't want to be controlling, Amy. It's our son, after all, and we need to make decisions together. I don't want to cause any resentment between us."

"I know. I don't want to do that, either. We both need to be open to compromise." Amy responded and they smiled at each other. At that moment, the doorbell rang. Sheldon opened the door and found Leonard waiting outside. Rolling his eyes, he stepped out into the hallway and closed the door mid-way behind him.

"What do you want?" he greeted him harshly.

"Look, I'm sorry for earlier. I shouldn't have been so hard on you." Leonard replied. He appeared to be feeling guilty but Sheldon still wasn't convinced.

"So, you don't believe I'm too immature to deal with this pregnancy?"

"No, I don't. All parents-to-be fight over names, it's normal. It's not about maturity. I'm sure you guys will come up with something and that kid, whatever his name is, he is lucky to have you" he said, finally taking his hands out of his pockets and standing straight.

"Thank you, Leonard."

Leonard smiled for a little "Hey, since the girls are having girls' night tonight, do you want to go to the comic book store?"

"Do you plan on persisting on your ridiculous belief that the new Flash timeline is 'not that bad'?" questioned Sheldon with his patented not-at-all-subtle hint of condescension.

"Yes" answered Leonard, doing his best to conceal his annoyance.

"Oh, might as well! It's better than having to spend the evening isolated in the bedroom of my own home. What time will we be leaving?"

"Around 7"

"Around 7 or 7?" said Sheldon, being as pedantic as humanly possible.

"7, okay? We are leaving at 7." At this point, Leonard was trying very hard not to regret this attempt at redemption.

"Make it 7:30. I have to check that girls' night follows pregnancy guidelines"

"Sure" agreed Leonard and laughed a little. He turned to return to his apartment.

"Leonard?" he heard Sheldon's hesitant voice behind him.

"Yeah, buddy?

"Thank you"

They both smiled and entered their apartments.

(end of flashback)

"Leonard?" said Penny a bit loudly, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Huh?" he answered, a little dumbfounded.

"Were you listening?" She knew the answer. And she knew why he wasn't. This was hard for all of them. They all battled with memories. Incredulity and denial still present among them. How did they get here? But they all knew the answer, for it stemmed from the memory that haunted them most; the memory of the day it all came crushing down.