The next day, the three scientists and their friend Howard were sitting at their usual table in the cafeteria. Sheldon hadn't been at work in over a week, and Leonard had missed the previous day. Not to mention the absence of all their favorite routine activities.
"Where have you been Sheldon?" Raj asked. "We thought you were dead!"
"We couldn't get that lucky," Howard said, leaning towards Raj.
"Hey!" Leonard said, unhappy with the joke. And then he realized that Raj and Howard were staring at him confused. Normally, Leonard didn't stick up for Sheldon in these types of scenarios. Usually, he was in on the joke. "Don't you think that's a little harsh?"
"Sorry, Sheldon" Howard said, then to Leonard he said, "Happy?" Leonard nodded. "Where have you been Sheldon?"
Then Leonard realized it was time to reveal their secret. Did he really want Sheldon to be the one to say it? "Hey, guys. Guess what?"
"You just discovered that your mother has been replaced my an alien life form and plans to take over the world," Sheldon guessed.
"No," Leonard said, glaring. "You're not supposed to be guessing!"
"You said to guess," Sheldon said. "I don't know what you're going to say, therefore I must guess."
Leonard buried his face in his hands. "If you really thought about it, you'd know what I was going to say."
Sheldon then went silent and put his thinking face on, the face he used when he was trying to understand social conventions.
"Oh, I have it," Howard said. "You got a girlfriend. Wait, that's even more unrealistic!" Raj laughed.
"As a matter of fact, I have started seeing someone," Leonard said.
"You've been seeing someone, Leonard? Who have you been seeing?" Sheldon yelled.
Leonard pushed his tray out of the way so that he could bang his head on the table several times. When he decided that he had enough he sat up and looked Sheldon in the eye. "If you think about it really, hard you'll know. Here's a hint. It's someone you know very, very well."
"Amy Farrah-Fowler?" Sheldon asked.
"No!"
"Penny?" Howard asked.
"Nope."
"Oh, dude. Please tell me you're not nailing my sister again," Raj said.
"No!" Leonard said exasperatedly.
"Bernadette?" Sheldon asked.
"Howard's mother?" Raj asked. Howard and Leonard both looked as if they were going to throw up.
"Leslie Winkle?" Howard asked.
"I'll give you three clues. It's someone you all know very well. They work at the university." When he still saw nothing but perplexed faces, he decided he would have to go with a much more obvious clue. "They are sitting right at this table."
"Oh," Sheldon said, smiling. "I understand."
"Umm... does someone mind explaining to me what is going on?" Raj asked. Howard wore a look of stunned shock on his face.
"Leonard and I have upgraded our relationship status," Sheldon said.
Raj spit his drink out. Howard gave a look of concern and tried to talk. "How did... What did... Did you..."
"Howard, how is anyone supposed to answer your questions if you can't finish your sentences?" Sheldon asked.
Raj turned to Leonard and was much less subtle. He leaned forward and looked into Leonard's eyes. "Did you and Sheldon have sex?" This time, Howard spit out his drink.
"No we did not have sex!" Leonard yelled. At this point every single person in the cafeteria was staring at them.
"Okay, but are you in a relationship?" Howard asked, making air quotes around the word 'relationship'.
"Yes," Leonard and Sheldon said simultaneously.
"...I have to get back to work," Howard said, standing up.
"I also have to get back to work," Raj said. They both hurried away conspicuously, leaving Leonard and Sheldon alone at the table, sitting side by side well the rest of the cafeteria gave them odd looks.
"Well," Sheldon said. "I think that went well."
"Oh yeah," Leonard said. "That went perfectly."
Raj and Howard ran to their secret meeting place, AKA Raj's office. Howard checked to make sure no one had followed them and shut the door behind them tightly.
"Well, what do you think?" He said with a huge grin on his face.
"I think it's ridiculous!" Raj said. "Leonard and Sheldon? It's absurd."
"No," Howard said, laughing. He took a quick look at the door. "Do you think now is a good time to tell them?"
Raj had been waiting for this moment forever. They had only started their romantic relationship recently, but he had pined after his best friend for much longer. "Really? You'd tell them?"
"Of course," Howard said. "We can't keep this a secret forever. I want to be able to hold your hand in public." As he spoke he moved closer to his lover, putting an arm around Raj's waist and planting a series of little kisses on his neck.
Raj's heart melted. "Okay, let's go tell them."
A/N: I hope you liked this chapter. I had a ton of fun writing it. I know the chapters are a little short, but that's where they seem to naturally end. I'll make up for it by updating everyday. :) Review?