Disclaimer: I do not own the characters of Big Bang Theory.


Chapter 6

The next morning Raj woke up with a smile on his face. Last night had gone better than he expected and everyone seemed alright with Stuart. He knew they liked him. He was mainly relieved that everyone knew; he just needed to make sure everyone was fine. Raj rolled over expecting to find a body next to him but ended up rolling off the side of his bed. Stuart was never normally up this early if he could help it so where was he now. Raj heaved himself of the floor and went into the living room in search of Stuart and some food would be nice. What he didn't expect to find was Priya, Leonard and Stuart all tidying up the room discussing animatedly about, Raj assumed from the gestures, the party last night.

"Morning Raj," Stuart greeted him coming over and kissing him lightly, "Sleep well?"

"Yes thanks. You're up early."

"Well I wanted to get an early start on the cleaning and found that Priya and Leonard had beaten me to it."

"I live here now and I'd like a clean apartment." Priya said.

"Yes, that is true, but this early."

"It's ten o'clock," Leonard informed him.

"Already, that's half the morning gone."

"You looked so sweet asleep I decided to leave you and let you stay in bed longer."

"Thanks. Now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to get dressed, and then check that Howard got home safely last night. He seemed to drink quite a bit."

An hour later and Raj arrived at where Howard lived. Knocking on the door he waited for the inevitable shouting match to occur.

"There's someone at the door."

"I know ma, I'm not deaf."

"Well answer it I'm busy."

"I'm busy too."

"I'm in the bath, so you'll have to get it."

"I didn't need to know that."

Clearly Howard had arrived home Raj thought to himself.

"Oh, hi Raj come on in," Howard said stepping aside.

"Is that one of your friends? Do their parents know there here?"

"I'm an adult now ma, my friends don't need their parents' permission." Howard turned to Raj and said "Sorry about that. Go on upstairs I'll be along in a minute." As Raj headed to Howards room what he didn't see was Howard's slight look of panic.

The silence in the room was becoming uncomfortable, neither knowing exactly how to start the conversation. "So," Howard ventured, "you and Stuart. Not what I was expecting."

"No, I'm sure it wasn't. You are OK with it aren't you?"

"Sure, sure, it's no problem," Howard replied his voice rising slightly, the way it did when he wasn't quite telling the truth.

"You're lying Howard. You know I can tell."

"I'm not lying." Howard replied a little too breezily. "I can't pretend I'm not a little weirded out, it's a little complicated, that's all."

"Complicated for whom Howard. I'm the one dating a dude. You're supposed to be the supportive friend."

"I just want you to be happy and make sure this isn't just some passing phase you're going through. I mean you've never been with a guy before, have you?"

"No I haven't and it's not some passing phase," Raj replied his voice raising in volume, "I'm happy with Stuart, and if you can't deal with it fine, but Stuarts a wonderful man, please get to know him before you make any other judgements about my happiness." Raj was shouting at this point.

"Hey I'm not judging me. You're taking what I'm saying right out of context. If you want me to get to know Stuart I will. Why don't the two of you come with me and Bernadette to the roller disco next weekend, we'll make it a double date."

"OK. If you're sure. Sorry about the shouting I'm just a bit weirded out about the situation as well, but I love Stuart and that's all that really matters." Raj apologised. "Now I better get back and tell Stuart about our plans, I'm sure he'll be delighted."

"See you Raj."

On the way back to his apartment Raj collected his thoughts together. Of all his friends it was Howard who was uncomfortable with him; even Sheldon was fine with it. A bit bemused as he deemed finding a partner to be used for procreation of the species, not for anything else, but he'd accepted it. Clearly Howard hadn't, although maybe after their double date he would come round to the idea of Raj and Stuart being together.

"Anyone here," Raj called out as he entered his apartment.

"I'm in the bathroom," Stuart called out to him.

"I hope you haven't got any plans for next weekend as Howard has invited us to the roller disco with him and Bernadette so that he can get to know you better."

"Sounds interesting," Stuart hesitated before the word interesting not sure if that was the right word.

"Yes, he wants to make sure I'm happy."

"That's nice, I suppose."

"Well. We'll find out next weekend."

Before Raj knew it it was the Saturday and the roller disco would be that evening. He'd had a slight argument with Stuart the night before about what they would be wearing. Stuart thought Raj's outfit was a bit over the top and Raj accused Stuarts of being plain and boring. They came to a compromise in the end that Raj would wear a plainer t-shirt with the gold spandex trousers and Stuart would wear normal trousers but Raj's t-shirt again gold in colour but this one made of stretch cotton, so that it hugged Stuart's lanky figure.

At six o'clock Raj and Stuart made their way out to Stuart's car and headed off to the roller disco. On the way Raj started to worry about what Howard would make of Stuart. Yes they'd met at the comic book store but they never spent any time together.

They arrived at the disco with five minutes to spare before it started, as they got out of the car Howard and Bernadette arrived, both dressed in blue, Howard's outfit however was tighter than Bernadette's.

As the music started up Raj turned to Stuart and asked "are you ready for this?"

"I think so. I'm not great at roller skating." Stuart admitted.

"Don't worry I'll hold you up." Raj reassured him.

"Let's go then. Howard and Bernadette have already gone in."

Stuart had to admit that despite the falling it was rather fun but he had to admit that the stares he and Raj were getting were rather annoying and off putting. Although some of the looks were probably watch Raj as he twirled around losing himself in the music. Stuart was content to watch Raj all night but he wanted Stuart to join in.

"Come on into the middle, you can't hold onto the edge all night." Raj shouted to Stuart coming to him from the centre.

"You might be able to dance but I don't have the coordination, I fall if I move away."

"Come on," Raj encouraged pulling Stuart away from the side. "At least give it a try, here cross your arms over and hold my hands. I'm going to swing you round Ok." Stuart just nodded and did as he was told. "Now as I spin you look only at me otherwise you'll become dizzy and definitely fall over." As Raj stated to spin them Stuart could see everything else around them starting to blur, it was a peculiar sensation, the spinning. Stuart didn't want it to stop but eventually they had to.

"That was brilliant," Stuart exclaimed.

"Told you it would be alright away from the edge."

"Can we do it again?" Stuart asked.

"Yes but later."

Eventually the night finished and everyone agreed that they had to go out again some time.

"It was nice getting to know you Stuart," Howard said to him as they were leaving.

"You too," Stuart replied politely.

"See you," Raj called out as he unlocked the car.

"Bye," Bernadette called out.

Raj turned to Stuart once they were in the car. "That went well. Howard likes you, I can tell."

"He's a nice guy. A little creepy but mostly harmless."

"I'm glad you think so. Let's go home."

"Yours or mine?" Stuart enquired.

"Priya's at mine, so yours."

"Sure."

"Do you have Bridget Jones' diary."

"I think so."

"Great let's go."

End of Part 1


A/N: The bridget Jones' diary is a reference to Season 4 Episode 13 The Love Car Displacement.

I'm going to write a sequel to this as a different story or keep with this one but I'm busy with exams so it may take a while.

Thanks to those of you who stuck with it so far and thank you to those of you who reviewed.