Love Is Hell
Chapter Thirteen: Hand-Holding Hypothesis
Author's Note: So sorry for not updating; I've recently bought Batman: Arkham City video game, and being Batman-Joker obsessed, its taken me away. So please, forgive, as I'm back on it. :)
A week passed and it was then that Leonard and Penny had begun planning their nuptials; where would they be wed? What were the bridesmaids going to wear? Who would be Penny's Maid of Honor, and then who would be Leonard's Best Man? Who was going to wed them? What would Penny's dress look like, and where would it be bought? Who was going to invited? Where were the guests going to sit? Who would sit where? What flowers were going to be ordered—more importantly, what was the them? As it turned out, Penny seemed to be more excited about the little details rather than the actual matrimonial affect itself—taking vows to be with Leonard forever. The more important thing that concerned Leonard were his vows and who he was going to make his Best Man. Everything else was Penny's choice.
Bernadette, Penny, Amy, and Chance were all of squeals and giggles—they went to every shop and store looking for Penny's dress, the flowers, the table cloths, the churches, planning the big wedding. As they did so, Kate was left to be in her apartment, having no wish to be involved in the crazy bride stuff. As it was Wednesday, Halo night and Comic Book day, Kate naturally drove Sheldon to the comic book store after work. As they went, Sheldon side-glanced her curiously.
"Kate," he said.
"Yes?" asked Kate, glancing at him then to the road.
"Leonard and Howard have recently brought up an inquiry that has made me ponder your difference between you and Bernadette, Amy, Penny, and Briar." Sheldon said. "Would you like to know what it is?"
"I don't hazard a guess," said Kate smoothly. She smiled at him. "So tell me."
Sheldon looked at her, saying, "They've noticed you are not so inclined to join in the wedding nonsense, and they perceive that to be extraordinary while I find no disturbance in the matter. What do you think?"
Kate laughed, saying, "What do you mean what I think?"
Sheldon shrugged, watching the road with her. Without looking at her, he said, "By inquiry of your thoughts, I'm primarily asking your opinion, Kate."
Kate looked at him, in turn. She smiled shortly before turning her eyes back on the road as she came to a stop sign.
"Dr. Sheldon Cooper, Ph.D., is asking for my opinion; how fascinating," mused Kate.
Sheldon looked at her again, stating dubiously, "I hardly see how it's fascinating. You're my best friend and my mate; Naturally, I'm interested in what your opinion is, considering the inquiry focuses directly upon you."
Kate smiled in return, replying, "Fine, it's not fascinating. But it's certainly noteworthy."
"I'll stipulate to that if you tell me why you're so different from Amy, Bernadette, and Briar's insistence upon being part of whatever Penny values important in her upcoming nuptials. Personally, I'm not interested, but the other night, Wolowitz, Koothrappali and Leonard emphasized on the abnormality by the typical stereotype of a young woman—according to them, you're acting withdrawn and restrained."
Kate scoffed, responding, "Am I acting withdrawn or restrained towards you, Sheldon?"
"Of course not; if anything, you're verbose and responsive to my inquiries," said Sheldon.
Kate turned the steering wheel left and in doing so, she glanced at her rear view mirrors, her side mirrors, and then past her blind spots. Kate shifted in her seat and looked at Sheldon passively.
"So I don't like the dress shopping—big deal," Kate stated nonchalantly. "That doesn't negate my friendship with the girls any less than what it is already."
Sheldon gave her a mildly impressed look and Kate saw it, glancing at him curiously.
"Why are you so curious about how I feel about the wedding anyway?" asked Kate, turning right on the stop light.
Sheldon shook his head, rolled his eyes, saying, "Personally, I could care less about the wedding. Although, I've congratulated Leonard on his success of the beginning step of acquiring a suitable, however, less than compatible, mate, I've expressed no other enthusiasm for the hype and hamper."
"Then why be so concerned about how I feel towards it?" Kate replied. "You never have been too concerned about my personal feelings towards things, so why start now?" She smirked at him when Sheldon realized that his feelings for her had been expressed involuntarily—he cared about her overall affected self for the wedding.
Kate parked in front of the comic book store and she unbuckled her seat belt, then turned to him completely.
"Are you concerned for my friendships with your friends' gal pals?"
"Of course not."
"Then why the questions?"
Sheldon sighed, as though he couldn't suppress whatever curiosity was eating at him. He took a long breath in and then exhaled quietly.
"Wolowitz inferred that you were being passive towards the wedding due to whatever envy you may conceive throughout, which may have been acquired through the slow movement of our own relationship," said Sheldon slowly. He bit the inside of his cheek before admitting, "Although it's something only Wolowitz would project into a pool of jealousy and resentment, I can't say I'm befuddled as well."
Kate chuckled.
"What's so comical about this?" Sheldon responded curtly. "I'm genuinely concerned that your withdrawal to Penny's wedding hype is demonstrative of depression or lack of contentment with our relationship. If you're laughing to avoid it then I suggest a topic of inquiry during our next Roommate meeting."
Kate smiled at him, a small smile, but indicative that she found his condescension ideally sweet and sensible.
"Sheldon, I'm not depressed or discontent with our relationship," said Kate. "I've never been one to become hyper about dresses or flowers. The only thing I find myself become enthusiastic over where Penny and Leonard's wedding is concerned is the theme and what dress I'll be wearing at the wedding. Nothing more." She smiled at him and said, "I do find your genuine concern sweet and endearing. Thank you."
Sheldon looked at her, slightly disturbed.
"Wolowitz said you're only shielding me from your dismay," Sheldon stated.
Kate rolled her eyes, remarking coolly, "Howard knows shit about our relationship—pardon my language—but it's true. I'm not discontent. I'm not passive or depressed. I'm just not much of a girl when it comes to weddings."
Sheldon continued to gaze at her, an odd look on his face that made Kate furrow her eyebrows in her own interest.
"Why are you asking all these questions?" asked Kate.
Sheldon sighed quietly, saying, "Kate, I'm about to embark on the social protocol that dictates upon our friendship and our relationship where confidences are kept and never told. Ergo, I'm about to tell you a secret that never shall be spilled. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal," Kate responded.
Sheldon sighed deeply, closed his eyes for a moment and then looked at her, serious as can be.
"Throughout this ordeal, I imagined that you, being a woman, would have hypothesized your idea of a wedding," said Sheldon lightly. "In doing so, one may become distracted by fantasies regarding something similiarly happened to a friend, AKA Penny and Leonard. While I remain happy with the level our relationships stands, our friends have discussed a situation in which you'd be taking notes."
Kate smiled and said, "I'm not imagining a wedding, Sheldon. Besides, I'd not be taking notes about it, if I were, with Penny's wedding." She shrugged and said, "Now that you've asked, I have had ideas of what it would be like."
Sheldon gazed at her curiously, asking, "Such as?"
"Well," Kate said, "I thought of who would be marrying us. That's simple. As I've been told, Bernadette and Howard were married through you all, being ordained. I'd like the same."
"Interesting, so you have simulated it," said Sheldon.
"What girl has not?" Kate responded instantaneously, as though this was fact, not a surprise to her. "The details aren't worked out, considering there are not to be as such. But, yeah, I've had ideas, it's just I've not shared them with you because...well, we're not married."
Sheldon looked at her.
"Do you want to be?" asked Sheldon.
"Do I want to be what?"
Sheldon rolled his eyes, saying, "Kate, please keep up with the conversation." He sighed, repeating, "Do you want to marry me?"
"Of course I do," said Kate.
Sheldon gave her a look, saying, "Kate, you do realize that it was a question, not a proposal."
"Yes, I've realized it," said Kate serenely.
"Good, I'm only establishing boundaries."
"Understood." Kate said. "It's nice to be on the same level."
"Indeed," said Sheldon. He shook his head confoundedly, saying, "I don't see why Leonard and Penny went around and around, circling indefinitely; what's so cryptic about reaching an understanding?"
"Because, Sheldon, while you present numerous problems in a relationship, I'm so understanding and tolerable that I cause very little ripples in this relationship," said Kate. "You're the Joker to my Batman."
Sheldon stared at her curiously and said, "That's an interesting metaphor."
"Yes, and strangely, not too far from the truth."
"I disagree; I'm neither insane nor a supervillain. And you're not a man or the caped crusader," Sheldon told her factitiously. He shrugged with consideration and conceded, "I'll accept the symbolism. Very witty."
"Isn't it?" Kate replied rhetorically. "Now, if we're done talking about this wedding bull, can we continue to the comic book store? I want to get the new Batman comics before some less-than-deserving Momma's boy snatches it. Even if they do, I'll take out my Bat-Grappler and aim."
As they got out of the car, Sheldon exchanged with Kate a various number of gazes, although the one that took her heart out of her chest was one of admiration and affection. He opened the door and Kate entered; she felt the back of his hand on her lumbar section, guiding her through the comic book store. While the geeks and nerds gazed at her with open mouths, Kate felt no discernible acknowledgment to them. However, while the men gawked at her, she looked down to see that Sheldon had taken her hand—aw, so there was yet again a smallest hint of possession in him.