Love Is Hell
Chapter Eighteen: The Best Man 3-D Paradox
It was December, the second coldest month of the year in California...standing at sixty-degree weather in the early month. While the month introduced anarchy for traffic and buying gifts for the most-anticipated holiday of the year, Christmas, Kate was beside herself on the holiday. While her mother continued to leave short one-sentence emails and only keeping on times through Facebook, Kate was aside herself, considering her only family—for she had no other siblings—was her distal mother. Still, she continued to be optimistic this year, as her holidays would be different compared to those which she celebrated alone.
It was Tuesday, which meant going to the Cheesecake factory for lunch. After that, it was movie night; who'd be attending was still ineffective, which would be discussed at the Cheesecake Factory. Penny was the waitress, serving Amy, Stuart, Leonard, Sheldon—and because Sheldon was there, of course, Kate was as well. She sat across from him after his rant about having to turn his head to talk to her and its simplicity if she were to sit opposite of him. Doing so, Kate sat across from Sheldon, Amy across from Stuart, and Leonard sat beside Stuart. Penny stood at Kate's end, looking at the group with a subtle grin.
"You know what I've realized," Leonard said. The group turned him. "This is the first time we've actually had Kate with us here."
"You mean you've realized that she's been here with the addition of you, Amy, and Stuart," Sheldon corrected.
"What, you've gone here by yourselves?" responded Leonard incredulously.
Kate and Sheldon exchanged odd glances, turning to Leonard. Kate answered, "I'm not so sure why you're surprised, Leonard. We do go out for dates."
Leonard looked at them curiously and said, "Speaking of dates, are you all still game for tonight?"
"What's the movie?" asked Stuart.
"Does it matter?" Amy inquired to Stuart. "I thought on the base of date night is that the movie is irrelevant, the bonding being the more crucial objective."
Kate turned to her and said, "Amy, we focus on the bonding; if a movie doesn't draw a man's attention, it's not worth going." She looked at Sheldon pointedly, saying, "Isn't that right?"
Sheldon looked up from his menu confusedly, but no one explained anything to him as to what the situation dictated. Keeping safety in mind, he only looked around and then went back to looking at his menu.
"Sheldon," said Penny, "how come you look at the menu when you already know what you're going to order?"
Sheldon looked at her curiously and said, "When upon entering a restaurant, one looks at a menu. Social protocol dictates that this would elude the customer into ordering more than what they want, spending money, in spite of the retinas seeing more than what their adjacent stomachs underneath can consume."
Stuart and Penny stared at Sheldon.
"In case he wants something different, he can have that frivolity," Amy translated.
"Oh good," said Penny. "You mean you're going to order something different this Tuesday?"
Sheldon gave her a wth look, responding, "How in the world did you get that from what Amy or I have just said, Penny?" He shook his head, placed his menu on the table and said under his breath sarastically, "Order something different..."
Penny sighed exasperatedly, placing pen to paper. She looked at Kate. "Are you ready to order? I do have other tables to wait on."
Kate looked at her sympathetically and said, "So I'm guessing your pre-marital issues are already spawning, aren't they?"
Sheldon sent Kate a wide-eyed look, clearly not understanding what she meant. As though she understood her though, Penny nodded.
"I never thought planning for a wedding would be so hard," said Penny.
"Have you ever thought that planning a wedding is not only a bride's job, but the groom's as well?" asked Kate lightly. "Considering you are the only one doing anything at this point, it wouldn't be a bad idea to select your Maid of Honor. While the bride is accustomed to the anxiety and worry of committing her life to one man in infinite time, the Maid of Honor is delegated the tasks of frivolous and mind-numbing duties—ordering flowers, dresses, and the like. That kind of stress on just on person is the reason why humans have always had a maid of honor, or in the man's position, a best man."
Penny looked at her and then to Sheldon, she said, "See, Sheldon? I understood everything she just said in her rant—how come yours are just blah, blah, blah, blah"-Penny made a duck with her hand and made it chatter, a sign of a chatter box.
Sheldon gave her a scolding glare, but never the less, Leonard interrupted, talking to Penny.
"Maybe it is time to choose a maid of honor and a best man. Although, I've not really given it much thought." Leonard stated.
"Yeah," agreed Penny. She winced and turned to Amy and Kate. "I don't know who to choose though."
"Oh don't get your panties tied in a knot," Kate empathized. "Amy and I talked about it the other day while the guys were playing Halo."
"Really?" asked Penny.
"Really?" said Leonard, Sheldon, and Stuart.
"Yes," said Amy and Kate simultaneously, with Amy continuing: "From what I've concluded, choosing a Maid of Honor regularly causes distress in a woman's relationship, provided that the girls that were not chosen for Maid of Honor become catty to the bride and the Maid of Honor delegate. To prevent this from happening, Kate and I have agreed to be each other's Maid of Honor, while Bernadette, as she has more experience in marriage, can be yours, Penny."
"But," said Penny. "You're like my 'bestie' right?"
"Nonsense," said Amy, lightly slightly. "Considering that Kate and I have more in common where intellectual stimulation and interests are concerned, I've respectively reduced my status with you as being 'close friend' rather than 'bestie'."
Penny looked slightly affronted and said, "So you're not my best friend anymore?"
Amy glanced at Kate, saying, "Was I too subtle?"
"You might've said it the wrong way," Stuart said gently.
Kate looked up at Penny. "Don't get us wrong, Penn. You're still close to us. To be quite honest, if I was your Maid of Honor, I'd be lost. I honestly don't know what you like or what you prefer where dresses and flowers are concerned; I don't know a thing about you. Amy, I do know. She knows what I like as well. Bernadette seems to be the more likliest of candidates."
Penny considered her words and then nodded. "Wow, this is so nice. I don't have that problem of choosing; it's like you all chose amongst yourselves."
"Not technically," said Kate. "Bernadette wasn't in the discussion. If she says 'no', you have her to thank for disputes amongst us."
Penny looked at Kate and said, "Well, thank you all the more. It's sweet."
Leonard looked at the three girls curiously, saying, "Well I wish that could be said for me."
"Actually," said Kate, "I've had thoughts about you as well, Leonard."
"Really?" said Leonard excitably, standing and walking to her side of table. He stood beside Penny and in front of Kate and Sheldon.
"Yeah," said Kate.
"Hold on, before we get into this," said Penny, who stepped in front of Leonard and Kate, "give me your orders so I'm not wasting time here."
Kate gave her order for a spin-off Nacho Bell-Grande (from Taco Bell); Sheldon ordered his regular BBQ bacon cheeseburger—BBQ and bacon on the side—and the orders of the others came shortly after. While Penny wrote them down, Leonard took a chair from the farthest side of the table and sit beside Kate. He looked eager to know Kate's idea.
"So," said Leonard impatiently, "What were you thinking about—concerning the Best Man paradox."
Amy, who was also interested, watched Kate interestedly. Sheldon, who never shown interest in these matters, seemed intrigued as well; maybe it was because it was his girlfriend talking, but that could hardly be the reason. Kate folded her menu and put Sheldon's, Stuart's, Leonard's, and Amy's menus as well in a pile in the middle of the table. Kate turned to Leonard.
"It's easy, if you think about it."
"Easy, your kind of 'easy' or easy, in the way we all think is easy," said Stuart.
"What other 'easy' is there?" Sheldon asked; Stuart ignored him, only looking at him oddly, then watching Kate continue err regardless.
"Well, to be direct and getting to the point, you should pick Howard." Kate told Leonard.
"Why?"
"Why?" repeated Kate. "The more robust question is: 'Why not?'"
Sheldon watched as Leonard considered it but he wasn't going down that easy. Sheldon clasped his hands in front of him and narrowed his eyes, detecting her playful tease but the evidence of just an answer shouldn't be enough to pick something as important of who'd be marrying Bernadette, should something happen to Leonard. In any case, Kate saw Sheldon's attentive gaze.
"Elaborate, Kate," said Sheldon. To Leonard he said, "You should be more inquisitive, Leonard. Although I consider Dr. Kate Burns to be one of a making, I still demand an explanation—even from her—behind her answers." In turn, he looked at Kate.
"I agree," said Amy from beside Kate. She turned to Kate completely, saying, "I'm also interested in your subjective data. What reason does Wolowitz have to be qualified to be Leonard's best man? Surely, you must have hard evidence on your thesis."
"I do," said Kate.
"I really don't care," said Leonard. "I just wanted an opinion."
"In order to receive a full opinion, Leonard, you must ask questions," Sheldon stated.
Stuart crossed his arms on the table and looked at Leonard pointedly, replying, "Actually, I'm on Sheldon with this one. I wanna know too."
Kate smirked at Leonard, saying, "You're done for, Hodfstader. You're getting the education of a lifetime. But I am on the inclination where one must ask 'why not Howard' rather than the opposite."
"Fine," said Leonard. "Since it'll be a good thirty minutes before Penny comes back, I might as well be educated with your evidential background. Okay, fire away. Why shouldn't I pick Howard?"
Kate leaned back in her seat, crossed her right leg over the left, and looked at him with full attention. Doing so, she began to explain:
"Partaking in social convention, the groom can pick anyone he wants for a Best Man but his choice must benefit, not only himself, but the rest of the group. Picking Howard is a good choice, because not only has he been married and knows what you're going through, he's not been a Best Man."
"Neither have I," said Sheldon pointedly.
"Or me," said Stuart.
"True," said Kate. To Leonard, she said, "Sheldon and Stuart have not been a Best Man, but neither are they married. In any case, it's natural for anyone to be any groom's best man, just as long in a center of friends, they have been a best man once. So in this case, Raj would have been one, and now Howard will soon be one."
"Yes," said Leonard, "that sounds reasonable. But what if Stuart wants to be one?"
"Ah, the elimination stands for itself," said Kate.
"How so?" Amy projected. "If you consider Bernadette and myself, and by becoming an anticipated Maid of Honor in the future, I'd have been Maid of Honor twice, being Bernadette's and then yours."
Kate smiled and said, "Girls aren't as intent on being someone's Maid of Honor in position, but it's important for them to have someone who will understand the emotional construct that proceeds being a bride. While Bernadette, yes, was the bride and you were the Maid of Honor, it was important for you to handle some of the business while Bernadette was nervous about being a bride. Now, in doing so, Bernadette will be Penny's maid of honor and she will be the bride. They share that emotional construct."
"Yes," said Amy, "but that doesn't interpret the fairness behind me being Maid of Honor twice."
Kate shrugged and said, "Amy, that's just how the dice rolls. In any case,"-she looked at Leonard, "You'd be Stuart's Best Man in the future."
"Why would he be mine?" Stuart asked, glancing between Kate and Leonard.
Kate sighed.
"Once again, it's simplicity, Stuart." Kate told him. "You are the best candidate for Leonard's Best Man, mainly because Sheldon and Rajesh would cancel each other out. The one person who should be upset about never being Best Man is Leonard."
Leonard looked offended, blurting, "Why wouldn't I be Best Man?"
Kate smiled and said, "Because of this. Rajesh was the last person to have a girlfriend, so by estimation, and as things go so far in his love life, he will probably be the last. Verified this by Chance, and all the other bitches with whom he's become involved, odds of that changing are low."
"True," said Leonard dismissively, "but why couldn't I be Sheldon's?"
"Oh, please," said Kate cynically.
Sheldon and Leonard glanced at each other. Because of this, Kate smiled and she said, "I say it like that because Sheldon is Sheldon. The only way his idea of a wedding would go correctly is if he was his own Best Man. So because there is no other Sheldon like himself, he'd be the groom and best man."
Sheldon smiled at her. Apparently, due to his similar Koala Face, Kate had nailed the matter on the spot.
Kate smiled back at him then turned to Leonard, saying, "Then again, if Stuart marries Amy, then you could be his Best Man, and in order to make things fair, Stuart could be Rajesh's Best Man, that way, the men have all had a chance to be a Best Man."
Stuart, Leonard, Amy, and Sheldon looked at Kate with the combined expressions of confusion, admiration, and consideration. However, Stuart looked at Sheldon and said, "I don't know how anyone can follow that."
"I made a diagram back at the house if you're more of a visual learner," Kate offered Stuart.
"So what's the summary of this?" asked Stuart. "Who would be whose?"
Sheldon turned to him and said, "I don't know how you didn't follow that, but I'll summarize. In essence, you would be Koothrappali's best man, Koothrappali was Wolowitz' Best Man. He will be Leonard's, Leonard will be yours, and because no one understands my conditions and preferences, I will be my own." He looked at Kate and said, "By the way, I approve of your choice for your Maid of Honor; Amy was my choice as well."
Amy and Kate looked at him suddenly, both unexpected of his comment. At that point, Penny arrived with the dishes and they were given to each person correctly. After handing Sheldon his BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger, Penny turned to Kate.
"So why would Howard be Leonard's Best Man?"
Kate opened her mouth to explain then Sheldon shook his head and said, "Don't bother, Kate. If Stuart can't understand this, she won't either."
Penny and Stuart gave him a look. However, Leonard stood and looked at Penny.
"It's a way to make sure all of us get a turn at being Best Man, and Kate was explaining it to me," said Leonard. "So it's Howard."
"So," said Penny, "Who would be Sheldon's?"
"No one would be," Leonard noted. "Kate explained that because he's so crazy, he'd be his own Best Man."
"Can he do that?" asked Penny dubiously.
"Yes, I can," Sheldon replied. "And I'm not crazy; my mother had me tested."
"And even if you were, I'd love you all the same," Kate responded smoothly.
"Well noted," said Sheldon. He looked at Penny. "In the prospect of satisfying our little friendship circle, the crucial problem of subjecting all those involved in a wedding would be whomever Koothrappali would marry."
"How so?" asked Kate.
Sheldon looked at her pointedly, saying, "She'd be the only one lacking in the position of Maid of Honor. At this point of the circle, Penny would be the only candidate without having already been Maid of Honor, and she'd be one for Koothrappali's fiancee. After that has been said and done, who would be hers?"
"True," said Kate lightly. "I hadn't considered that."
"I know," said Sheldon. He looked up at Leonard who still stood beside Penny, and said, "And that is why you should always ask questions, Leonard."
"She settled my dilemma for my best man," Leonard stated. "It's all right if she didn't think things through."
Sheldon rolled his eyes and said, "And you wonder why you'd be the unlikely candidate for being my Best Man." He shook his head and to Stuart, he remarked, "Good luck."
Stuart raised his eyebrows, but said nothing.
"So," said Penny curiously with a high note in her voice, "What movie are we seeing tonight, or, well, are we still going?" She looked at Leonard. "We're still going, right?"
"Yeah, sure," said Leonard happily.
"Well, good," said Kate. "So what's the movie?"
"We can all decide when we get there," Stuart suggested. He looked at Amy, "Is that okay with you?"
"It's fine," Amy said, nodding. "I won't pay attention it; need I remind you that the whole point of movies are to make out in the dimmest lighting possible and pretend to be attentive to its dubious plot."
Stuart grinned at her broadly, but after Sheldon had taken a bite out of his burger, he objected.
"What's wrong?" asked Stuart.
"I'm not okay with it," Sheldon protested. "I'd like to go in a theater knowing exactly the time the movie starts, and even before that, I'd like to know its title. My mind will suffer if it's a movie about two brides provoking one another in dropping their wedding reservations, and dying hair blue."
Penny laughed, saying, "When did watch Bride Wars?"
"The last date night, now that you ask," Sheldon admitted. He gave Kate an annoyed glance, saying, "Never had I had two hours so wasted as they were that night. I have you to thank for that."
Penny smirked at Kate, who only ate another nacho without guilt. Her smile only reflected the mischief in her eyes.
"Who's all coming, anyway? Are Bernadette and Howard?" asked Stuart.
"Yeah," said Leonard. "They're coming."
"One other reason why you can't simply go to a movie," Sheldon reminded. "Planning a movie is as tedious as planning a wedding. You must have enough seats in a row for all participants, not just yourself."
Kate looked at Sheldon, and said, "Don't worry, honey. I've got it all planned out."
"You don't know the movie we're going to watch," Sheldon reminded. "So how can you have everything planned out?"
"You doubt my abilities, Dr. Cooper," Kate replied smoothly. She withdrew her phone and said, "I have an app on my phone for the Pasadena Movie theatre. They've come out with a Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of The Ring, in 3-D."
"Then what are we sitting here for?" exclaimed Leonard.
Sheldon stared at him obliviously, pointing out that they were here clearly to eat before they watched the movie. This began the whole discussion of favorite parts of the Lord of the Rings, and their favorite characters. Penny was off to a different table, and Leonard looked after her in his dazed-like state.
Xx
Kate and Sheldon returned to the apartment shortly so Sheldon could pee. As Kate sat on the arm of the couch as she did so. Sheldon hurried into the bathroom. His eagerness to see the Lord of the Rings movie in three-dimensional view was imploding as he rushed to get in and out, so they could meet the others at the theater. When he came back out, he saw Kate on the couch, looking...the expression on her face confused him. He couldn't decipher it.
Sheldon tread carefully, walking in front of her. Her head was down, shoulders slumped. He touched her head with the palm of his hand and to this, she reacted. Kate looked up at him.
"Kate, are you all right?" asked Sheldon. He looked down at her.
"Chance knows about Rajesh." Kate said softly. She indicated her Iphone and said quietly, "She called me a minute ago."
"Is she coming here to exact her revenge?" Sheldon asked, slightly panicked, although he remained quite still. "If so, our best bet to avoid her temper is leaving right now. Another good idea is to hide in the theater."
"No, she's not coming here," said Kate quietly.
Sheldon gazed at her curiously. This emotion was hard to pin point. Was she fine? Was she angry? Was she sad?
"Did she threaten you?" asked Sheldon.
"No."
"Was she threatening my safety?"
"No."
"Did she say she was going to kill Wolowitz and Koothrappali, because if so, we may have to alert Leonard on his choice of Best Man," Sheldon noted. "Considering the previous conversation we had with them recently, one can understand the paradox."
"No," said Kate quietly. "It's nothing like that." She put her phone down on the arm of the couch and looked up at him. "She said she's sorry."
Sheldon looked down at her. Aw, now the emotion was clear. Kate was remorseful. Soft, delicate, fragile Kate...he didn't like it.
"Sheldon, was I wrong to..."
"Hold on," Sheldon interrupted. He sat beside her—in his spot—and took her phone, placing it on her lap. "Kate, I'm not a psychic or any type of clairvoyant being, mainly because they don't exist—but that's not what I'm saying. For whatever reason Briar has decided to apologize can't possibly be sincere in any way, considering you, Kate, were right in ordering Leonard to tell Koothrappali what he had seen and heard."
"But Sheldon, she's sorry," Kate muttered. "Like, she was...I don't know...sincere."
"That may be," Sheldon said. He licked his lips and said softly, "Kate...let's postulate a hypothesis, shall we? Let's say that Briar is in fact apologetic for having cheated on Koothrappali. Let's go as far as saying that she's atoned for her misconduct of the past and she's completely redeemable."
"All right," Kate muttered.
"Wouldn't you say, based on the data that history provides and we take from this, she would only elapse in to her own ways, becoming manipulative and vindictive all over again?" asked Sheldon. He shrugged, saying, "Not only that, but you've also signed a Document of Expulsion, ceasing all contact with her prior to the confrontation, yes?"
"Yes," said Kate. "I remember." She looked at Sheldon. "I feel bad."
"Would you like a cup of tea?" asked Sheldon.
"I'm not bereft, Sheldon. I just feel bad." Kate replied. "It's the guilt that accommodates a person after having a negative conversation with an old friend. I hate how she can so easily manipulate me."
"All the more reason to end the friendship permanently," reasoned Sheldon. "You'll also be doing everyone else a favor, considering Rajesh has moved on—the odds of him taking her back are rather extraneously low."
Kate nodded, agreeing with him.
"Aside from your disappointment for having a friendship dissipate into something less than acquaintenaceship, I'd expect that your distraught behavior would be resolved after consulting your boyfriend on the matter," Sheldon replied.
Kate gave him an odd look. To explain his knowledge, Sheldon replied, "Based on what I've learned from the past conventions, when a girlfriend-slash-boyfriend tells her-slash-his boyfriend-slash-girlfriend the reason why they are distraught, both parties offer a time significance, in which they become stronger for the consolation offered and received."
His explanation seemed to have worked for Kate gave him a genuine smile; touched the back of his hand endearingly; Sheldon looked down at it, half-interestedly.
"It's funny that you know all the right things to say, Sheldon," said Kate softly.
Sheldon replied, "I hardly understand why anything I would say is remotely comical, unless paired with my catch phrase 'bazinga'. Then, after said phrase is aforementioned, posted, stated, I could then understand it."
Kate nodded, agreeing.
"I guess you're right, Sheldon. I shouldn't feel guilty for having that conversation with Chance."
"I don't know why you'd have to estimate that I'm right, considering that I've been correct for the past week and on-going." Sheldon told her. "But, out of the interest of this conversation, what did she say?"
" 'I'm sorry for what I've done'," Kate recited. "Then she said that she hoped we could be friends in spite of everything that's happened but...with all that's happened, I don't see that happening."
"Yet, if I hadn't condemned your notion of befriending her again, you'd have done so," Sheldon replied knowingly. "What is the logic in that?"
"None what so ever," Kate answered. "It's obvious that I don't think clearly when I'm upset."
"I'm glad you said it yourself rather my having to point you in that direction; it would have been bothersome and extremely tedious. Also, we have ten minutes before this movie begins so we ought to be trucking." Sheldon reminded. "It's not going to watch itself."
Kate nodded and they stood. She opened the door and Sheldon guided her out and closed the door when he stepped outside of the apartment. Shortly after, Sheldon locked the door. They began down the staircase.
"Referring back to our conversation at the Cheesecake Factory," Sheldon began, "were you generally serious when you said that I'd be my own Best Man or was that another attempt in playful banter?"
Kate looked at him as they descended the stairs; once again, their steps were in sync.
"I was both playful and serious," said Kate. "Personally, if not for Amy being my best friend and second most compatible mate, I'd have you be my Maid of Honor as well."
"What do you mean by Amy being your compatible mate?" asked Sheldon. They stopped on the second staircase. "Last I checked, I was."
"You are," Kate stated plainly. "But should you leave this world behind, I'd have to choose another mate to candor my children. Because my feelings for you increase exponentially through the days we spend with each other, it's more than obvious that should you leave before me, I will become derivative in my skills as a widow, so Amy would be there to look after me, should I become neurotic."
Sheldon stared at her, saying, "You're already thinking of my replacement?"
"No," said Kate. "You're not being replaced. You're being substituted."
"Tell me how that's difference," retorted Sheldon.
Kate sighed and looked at him boldly.
"Sheldon, I will never find a more compatible human being to me than you. Amy is my confidant besides you, and should you leave me on incident, she'd help me with the children and the rest of my life. Would you rather me place your brain in a robot?"
"Yes, please," said Sheldon. He sounded half-concerned for the matter, and a little upset. "If you can place my brain in a robot presently, I'd also be exceptionally grateful."
"I'm not placing your brain in a robot."
"I wouldn't expect you to; you have no scientific experience or background," Sheldon relayed.
Kate shook her head, but smiled. She returned, "All right, I'll get Leonard to do it. Anyway, I don't see you passing away anytime so this whole conversation is useless. In any case, it'll be me who dies first."
"I would hope not!" Sheldon exclaimed.
"You'd find someone else, Sheldon; I'm not the only woman in this world for you," Kate replied gently.
"I refute your premise," said Sheldon. "On the whole that you and I are—dare I say it—destined to be bound, I hardly see another Kate Burns appearing on my doorstep. More to the fact, do you realize how chaotic my world would become if you left the world entirely? Besides the fact that I'd have to find another roommate that attends to my every whim and physiological bend, they'd also have to meet me on an intellectual level that's the most obvious."
Kate watched him with wide eyes as his tone became more panicked; he was almost hyperventilating.
"Then, then, oh the worst would happen; I'd have to train some idiot my routine, my eating habits—the whole routine—my whole routine would be derivative in its nature; the wasted time to explain what physics requires and, dear lord—the idea of having to put in so much effort in a relationship to get to a certain point of comfort and frivolity." He continued as they went down the stairs, although Kate began to become a little nervous as he did: "And what if my new roommate was boisterous, obnoxious—oh my REM sleep would definitely suffer, and then I'd have to make a whole new contract—longer even. And I know they'll be dumber than a rock; it'd be not unlike living with another Penny, and the thought of that, oh, the horror!"
Kate saw him shaking and a little sweat started on his forehead; his hyperventilating was continuing. Sheldon was having a panic attack.
As they came down into the lobby, Kate touched her hands around his neck and moved her lips onto his in one hard movement. He stopped instantaneously, his arms moved around her waist. She didn't pull away until half a minute had passed. Sheldon looked at her.
"You were having a panic attack," Kate remarked. Her hands lowered from his neck to his chest. "I didn't mean to scare you."
Sheldon hugged her close to him, almost tight enough that Kate might as well had been hugging a boa constrictor.
"Please don't leave me alone," Sheldon murmured quietly; his voice was quiet and small; his tone, vulnerable, sounding much like a child who'd lost their parents in a large store.
"I won't," Kate reassured.
"I can't live without you," Sheldon murmured.
"I know," said Kate softly. "Nor I, without you." She lifted her head and kissed his lower lip. He returned the kiss and she smiled at him. "I love you, Shelly."
"I love you, Kitten." He murmured.
Sheldon released her slowly and Kate smiled at him genuinely pleased.
"We better get to the movies; we'll be late by this time," Kate stated.
He looked at her incredulously, saying, "Now you're intentionally attempting to scare someone, Kate. I don't appreciate it."
"I know, so let's get going," said Kate. She walked out of the door and Sheldon followed her.