"Is it always gonna be like this?"

Sheldon tore his gaze from the television and looked at his wife. He was not really watching it, he just still needed time to process what Leonard had told him earlier.

"Like what?" he asked back.

"Like every time you feel sad or hurt or mad, there'll be nothing I can do and say to make you feel better. In the end, I have to go to Leonard and Penny and ask them to help me or to talk to you because apparently, they know how to comfort you because they know you longer that I do," Amy said flatly, her eyes fixated on the television.

"What are you talking about?"

Amy ignored his question and continued, "Although, it's not only them. Sometimes you would talk to Leonard's mother. Everybody seems to know how to make you feel better but me."

Sheldon could feel the hurt in her voice despite her cold tone and it irritated him. He was the one in distress, he should be the one who was mad and hurt. "Are you going to nag me like this right now? Because, in case you didn't notice, this just answered your own question," he hissed. It was not a nice thing to say, and not even close to the truth, but he was angry and wanted to lash out.

For a moment, she did not say anything. The room was silent. It was not the comfortable silence they usually had, this one was uncomfortable and intense. After a while, she finally spoke.

"Is that really how you feel?" Amy asked quietly. She did not even bother to look at him in the eye. "Because that would be very very terrible—my husband prefers to seek comfort in other people except his own wife." She sighed deeply. "I can't have you being mad and sad all the time, Sheldon. I know change is hard for you, but you can't throw a tantrum every time the lunch lady changes the menu and then be mean to me and everybody else for the rest of the day. And you called me a sad sack."

"It's more than just a change of menu, Amy. It's my mother, who decides to date the pastor in our church." How she could underestimate his problem at the moment was beyond him.

"The point remains, you're being mean to everybody."

"Well, I have the right to be angry and mean!" he replied in rage.

"You don't, Sheldon," Amy said, slowly averting her gaze to him.

Sheldon almost afraid at what he saw in her eyes—they looked exhausted but surprisingly calm. He would prefer if she was crying or screaming at him.

"I'm tired of pretending to be strong, to be the one who has to get it together when her husband is sad or angry or scared. Ironically, the only thing I can do is calling the neighbor to give you a pep talk. I get sad and angry and scared too, and you tuned me out every time," she continued. "It started to feel like a one-sided relationship."

"It certainly isn't, I gave up so much for you. We're married and have coitus now!"

"Wow, I thought you were just denying your feelings and holding yourself back. I didn't know that it's a sacrifice for you," she replied.

Sheldon stunned. That was not what he meant and how he felt at all. He thought of something to say without making it all worse any further.

"Maybe you don't need me that much, maybe you just need me for your routine," she whispered.

"No! I need you, Amy, so much it hurts."

"I'm sorry I hurt you, Sheldon."

"That's not what I meant—"

Amy cut his sentence. "I think I need to go to bed and sleep. I'm tired, physically and emotionally. I don't want to say things that I might regret."

"Amy—"

"Maybe you should talk to Leonard or Penny to figure out what to do next," she said sternly, before leaving him to the bedroom.

Sheldon watched her leaving, he was glued to couch. He felt like running after her and telling her that Arthur advised him to never go to bed angry, but she would only add Arthur as the list of people he turned to when he was in trouble. Even though Arthur was a manifestation of himself appeared in his dreams, she would be saddened that it was not her.

He hated to admit that she was right. He had to hold back the urge to go next door and talk to Leonard or Penny for their advice at that moment. He even considered to call Beverly but remembered that Amy mentioned her too. Drat! Why Amy had to be so smart and observant. But if it were not for her intelligence and quick wits, he would not fall for her. To top it all off, she was also beautiful. Sheldon usually did not notice physical appearance on people, but when it came to Amy, he always noticed.

Sheldon sighed. He loved Amy, he needed her. When he said he needed her so much it hurts, he did not mean that it pained him to love and need her. He loved loving and needing her. It hurt because he kept being afraid that she would leave him someday. No matter how confident he looked about himself, there was a part of himself that worried.

Sheldon sat with his own thoughts for a moment. He wanted to give them some time to cool off. Finally, he turned off the television and the lights. Amy did not tell him to sleep on the couch so he intended to sleep with his wife and fix it right away before they sleep. It was not because Arthur told him so, it was because he loved her.

He opened the door slowly and found Amy on her nightgown curled up on her side of the bed. He silently performed his nightly routine and carefully crawled on his side of the bed. He lied on his back first, before adjusted his position to lay on his side and face her back.

"Amy, are you asleep?" he asked softly.

"No," she murmured.

Sheldon was relieved she would still talk to him. "Can I hold you? I'm in distress and I need you to comfort me."

Amy sighed audibly. "You don't have to do that just to make me feel better. I know I was being too harsh to you. I shouldn't have said those things."

"No, Amy. You don't understand. Leonard and Penny could have said things which might work for a while, but at the end of the day, it's always you who comfort me the most. Don't you realize that I always ask you to spoon me every time I'm in distress? You don't even have to say anything, though maybe I'd ask you to hum a tune or two."

"I'm not in the mood to spoon you or hum a song from your stupid science fiction show."

"I wasn't asking that. I was thinking since we both are in distress, maybe we can hold each other. That way, we can comfort each other," he replied. And my science fiction shows aren't stupid but I know you didn't mean it because you're angry, he thought but did not say it to her. However, he held his breath waiting for her response. Thankfully, Amy switched her position to face him.

Sheldon's heart ached upon seeing her face. Her eyes were red, she had been crying.

"Oh, Amy, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he said, immediately pulling her to his chest.

"I'm sorry too. I really shouldn't have said those things," she said, sobbing onto his pajamas.

"Shh, it's alright. I deserve it." He rubbed her back and showered the top of her head with little kisses. "It's not that I don't find you comforting. It's just that I hate it when you see me vulnerable."

"Showing your vulnerability is part of the relationship," she replied to his chest.

"I know. But I'm also aware that you are the stronger one in this relationship. You're not only super smart, but you're also kindhearted and understanding. You know, the guys used to call you 'Sheldon with a heart', because they often joked that I don't have one," he said. "But, Amy, it's complicated. I definitely find you comforting. So much so that I feel too comfortable dismissing your words and actions because I know you'll love me no matter what. Other times, I felt embarrassed because you've done it so many times it made me feel… useless and weak," he continued a little sadly.

"Sheldon…" Amy said, looking up.

"Amy I'm more than comfortable with you, I love you. It's not a sacrifice or a chore, I simply do. You saw my brain scan. I didn't want to fall in love with you, but now I can't imagine not doing so."

"I love you too," she replied. Sheldon was about to kiss her lips when she said, "For the records, you're not only being mean and rude to me but also other people when you're in distress."

"Yes, but with different motives. I might appear rude and mean to you because I know you love me and will forgive me. But with the other, it's simply because I don't care about how they feel." He noticed her face frowned and looked unhappy. He thought he might had said something she disagreed on. "However, I realized that it's not a good thing to do and I will try to be nicer next time," he said slowly, looking at her closely.

"Thank you, I appreciate that." Her frowned disappeared and he let out a small sigh. "Sheldon, your mother is a beautiful and wonderful person, it's no wonder if someone takes an interest in her. And she's a grown woman, she can do anything that makes her happy."

It was Sheldon's turn to sigh. "I guess I know that. Maybe I just don't want to share her with anyone, maybe I just don't want her to get hurt, maybe I don't want anyone to replace my dad," he said.

"First, you have two other siblings, you can't have her for yourself. Second, I think you're underestimating her, she's strong and she can take care of herself. And third, she's not looking for anyone to replace your father. She just wants to be happy. Don't you think she deserves that?" she said softly.

"That is why I don't want to listen to you first when I have problems. Your words make sense, I have no reason to act all childish as I wish. Instead, I'll look like the bad guy. And I won't have excuses you ask you to spoon me and hum me the tune of 2001 Space Odyssey."

Amy rolled her eyes but decided not to comment on that. She started to feel sleepy so she pressed her face back to his chest again. Still rubbing her back, Sheldon asked, "Amy, are we alright?"

"We are. We're just having a fight like couples do, but we've resolved it before we sleep. Just like Professor Proton told you in your dream."

"Well, it wasn't Professor Proton. It was Arthur, dressed as Obi-Wan Kenobi."

"Sure," Amy replied drowsily.

"Which got me thinking, can I have my goodnight kiss?"