Ted can feel himself reaching his limit of having to justify their relationship. Of listening to her questioning all these things he's already questioned himself about a million times, things he's talked to Kate about, things that the two of them have already been tackling - and continued to decide their relationship is worth it.

Michelle at least knows Ted isn't some creepy old pervert, but she's still making a lot of assumptions about who Kate is and what she wants to do with her life.

"Honestly, Michelle, that's between me and her," he answers. His voice is calm again, but there's a firmness there, like a line being drawn. "I'm not tying her to anything, okay? She came in like an environmentalist protestor chaining herself to redwood. And if she decides to leave me, then I'm not gonna regret a single moment I spent with her, just like I don't regret the years I spent with you," he continues, his voice softening. Begging her to trust him that he's not doing any of this lightly.