The Memorable Masquerade
Disclaimer: In no way, shape, or form do I own anything to do with The Big Bang Theory (except DVDs). CBS, Chuck Lorre, and Bill Prady have that honor. I am just a fan.
This story will be a look at the costume party in my previous story, The Verbal Variant, from the perspective of the other characters. It isn't necessary to read The English Element and The Verbal Variant to understand this story, but reading them first will enhance your experience.
Chapter 1 – Leonard and Penny
Leonard was in his bedroom putting on the finishing touches of his Captain Kirk costume. He had gone through every costume he owned, trying to decide what to wear to the English and History departments' fundraiser. He and Penny were considering reconciliation and this was their first attempt at a date. I don't want to look too geeky he thought Captain Kirk should hit the right note.
Knock, Knock, Knock "Leonard?" Knock, Knock, Knock "Leonard?" Knock, Knock, Knock "Leonard?"
"What is it Sheldon?"
"Are you ready? We're almost running behind schedule."
Leonard opened his bedroom door "Yeah, I'm ready."
"Oh good." Sheldon was wearing his Flash costume. The two men walked into their living room. "I'm still not certain it's a good idea to countenance an attempt at fundraising by the Humanities. That money could be better spent by the sciences. Even funding your derivative work would be a better use of funding."
"Sheldon, we promised Katherine that we would attend."
"I knew your dating an English professor would be trouble. Even after your relationship has terminated, she's still getting us to mix with those dilettantes in the Humanities."
Leonard sighed. "Penny and Amy are waiting for us. Plus it's a costume party, you love costumes."
"Very well." Leonard and Sheldon crossed the hall to Penny's apartment, Leonard knocked on the door.
"Hi guys." Penny turned back to the apartment. "Amy, the guys are here."
"You make a fantastic She-Ra." Leonard said, admiring the way the white mini dress set off Penny's tan.
"Thank you." Penny said, doing a turn that made her red cape swirl. Wow, Leonard looks good she thought He's usually wearing so many layers I forget how cute he is.
Amy walked out of the apartment dressed as usual in an oversize sweater and calf-length skirt. "Aren't you going to wear a costume Amy?" Leonard asked as they walked down the stairs.
"I am in costume. I'm one of the nameless background characters that populate the fictional realm."
"What an…original concept." Leonard said.
"It was my idea." Sheldon said.
"Your whimsical, creative side is one of the things I admire most about you." Amy said, causing Leonard to shake his head; he looked at Penny and caught her choking on a laugh. The group got into Leonard's car; Leonard driving with Penny riding shotgun and Amy and Sheldon in the back.
"What's everybody else going as?" Leonard asked.
"Howard and Bernadette are going as Robin Hood and Maid Marian and Katherine is going as Barbara Gordon. I don't know what Raj is wearing." Penny answered.
"Yeah, he's been really secretive about his costume for this party." Leonard contributed.
"I wonder why?"
They arrived at the university and walked into the multi-purpose hall. A sign at the door announced that they were entering Vauxhall Gardens. The entered to find the utilitarian space transformed. Potted plants and trees lined the walls which were also hung with floral garlands. The ceiling was draped with purple silk and twinkling white lights, mimicking an evening sky. Reproductions of period artwork stood on easels scattered throughout the space. One end of the room held musicians on a dais with space cleared for dancing before them. On the wall across from the musicians were recreations of the Vauxhall boxes, reserved for VIP guests. Between the boxes and the dance floor were tables draped with white cloths and floral and candle centerpieces.
Sheldon sniffed "I see they couldn't decide between the eighteenth and nineteenth century."
"I think it looks beautiful."
"Thank you Penny." Katherine approached her friends. She was wearing a brunette wig styled in a bob. A purple suit with a gold scoop neck blouse accessorized with gold jewelry from which dangled tiny gold bats. A gold bat belt buckle and an ID badge proclaiming Gotham City Public Library; Barbara Gordon PhD. completed the look.
"Wow, I almost didn't recognize you with that wig." Leonard remarked, admiring how her outfit paid homage to the Batgirl of the Batman television series.
Amy and Penny complimented Katherine on the décor, she pointed out some of the features to them. "Be sure to check out the courtyard. Howard and Bernadette just went out there. Is Raj here yet?"
"We haven't seen him."
"Have fun guys. I have to go circulate." Katherine walked over to another group of guests.
"It's a shame Katherine has to spend the party schmoozing potential donors." Penny remarked.
"I'm sure she'll manage to get some time for fun." Leonard said. "Let's look around."
"Amy and I are going to find the optimal seating location." Sheldon said. He and Amy headed for the tables; Leonard and Penny started walking around the room.
"Wow, the room looks great. I've only seen it used for conferences before." Leonard said.
"Katherine was on the decorating committee. They did a fantastic job."
"Katherine is very creative. Her costume was so clever; putting a spin on Batgirl by going as Barbara Gordon." Leonard said admiringly.
"Well, she couldn't wear a mask. The committee members weren't allowed." Penny said. She was jealous of the compliments Leonard was paying Katherine. It was probably not a good idea for our first date to be a party thrown by Leonard's ex-girlfriend, especially a beautiful ex-girlfriend she thought. Why can't his exes all be mean and bitter like Leslie Winkle?Katherine has that red hair and those gorgeous emerald green eyes. I know she wishes she was thinner, but she still has an hourglass figure, like a fifties bombshell. And the worst part is that she's nice; I can't even hate her. It's weird enough that she and Leonard are trying to remainfriends, but for her and I to be friends too? We must be crazy. I suppose I owe her though, she was nice to me when she was dating Leonard and I was his ex. Besides, I think she has a crush on Raj now. Hmm, I should try to get them together. If Katherine was dating someone I'd feel better about trying again with Leonard.
"Do you want to dance?" Leonard asked.
"I'd love to." The musicians were alternating period music with contemporary music and had just started a waltz. Leonard swept her onto the dance floor and steered her skillfully around the floor. "You're really good at this. I don't remember you being such a good dancer."
"I'm not at clubs, but we had a semester of dance classes in phy ed in high school; it was the only semester I didn't get a C in gym. So in college I took a ballroom dance class to fill my gym requirement."
"You have unexpected depths Hofstadter." Penny commented, causing Leonard to give the boyish grin that always made her heart skip a beat.
The waltz finished and the musicians started a modern song. "Do you want to check out the courtyard?" Leonard inquired.
"Yes, that sounds nice." They left the dance floor and went out to the courtyard, which had been decorated to suggest the famed Dark Walk of Vauxhall Gardens. Secluded nooks abounded and the air was perfumed with roses and gardenias. Leonard and Penny walked slowly, content to be together in the moonlight. They came to a bench by a fountain and sat down.
"I missed you." Leonard blurted out. "I mean, I know you've been right across the hall but.."
"I missed you too." Penny said, "I've had time to think about us and I never should have just run out like that. It's just, when you said you loved me, I panicked."
"Was it really so horrible to hear that I loved you?"
"No, it wasn't that. It was just, I knew you meant it, and I didn't want to say it back unless I was sure. And then at the bowling alley Wil Wheaton was going on and on about how he had girlfriend who ruined his life by keeping him dangling…I just couldn't do that to you."
"Wheaton! Sheldon was right to put him on the list." Leonard muttered.
"I thought I was doing the right thing for both of us, but then you started dating Katherine and I realized that I had lost you. I was so miserable the whole time you two were dating. "
Leonard sat silent awhile, obviously debating how he should respond. He finally said "Penny, I don't like that you were unhappy, but dating Katherine was a good experience for me. You know that I haven't had the best luck with women. Dating someone like Katherine, especially after you dumped me, really helped my self-confidence. She's attractive, funny, well-educated…"
"Talking about how great your ex is, is a funny way to convince me to start dating you again."
"I'm sorry, but my point is that before I met you, if someone had asked me to describe my ideal girlfriend, I would have described someone like Katherine. But I did date her and it wasn't ideal. It wasn't like when you and I were dating. Katherine and I had fun, but it was kind of like dating one of the guys."
"I don't get it."
"Katherine didn't challenge me. We had too much in common. Even if that whole disastrous Truth or Dare game hadn't happened…"
Penny winced "Don't remind me of that."
Leonard ignored the interruption "We were on the way to breaking up anyway. We were boring each other."
Penny shook her head in disbelief "I don't understand how you two could bore each other, you have so much in common; you're both smart, you and she make more sense together than you and I."
"I really hate it when you sell yourself short Penny."
"What do you mean?"
"Have you paid attention to who your friends are lately?"
"Huh?" Penny was puzzled.
"Who did you hang out with your last Girls' Night?"
"Amy, Bernadette and Katherine."
"You mean a neurobiology PhD, a microbiology PhD and a literature PhD?"
"Umm, yeah. I guess I never really think of them that way."
"Would you agree that they are smart women?"
"Yeah."
"Do you think they would be friends with someone they didn't think was smart?"
"I guess not."
"Do you really think that education is the only measure of intelligence? And may I remind you that Sheldon has a wall full of diplomas and awards but can't manage to pass a driving exam." Penny laughed. "And speaking of Sheldon, you know he considers you a friend and you know how he feels about wasting time with lesser mortals."
Penny gazed at Leonard; she realized what he was trying to tell her, but wanted to hear him say it. "Leonard, is this your incredibly long-winded way of saying that you think I'm smart?"
"Penny, of course I think you're smart, and funny, challenging, beautiful…" Penny's heart warmed when Leonard put beautiful last. Every other guy she dated would have put her looks first.
"Challenging, huh? How do I challenge you?"
"You make me take risks, step outside my comfort zone."
"You challenge me as well." Penny moved closer to Leonard.
"Really?"
"Uh-huh. I've even learned a little about quantum mechanics." Penny smiled mischievously "Have you ever heard of Schrodinger's cat?"
"Yeah, what…?" Leonard was interrupted by Penny kissing him.
Author note: I would love to hear any thoughts, comments or constructive criticism so please review.
This story will have two more chapers. Chapter 2 will be Howard and Bernadette and chapter 3 will be Sheldon and Amy.