House laid perfectly still examining the long dark eyelashes on the edges of the largest grey-blue eyes he'd fallen in love with. This time, those gorgeous voluminous eyes were closed and the long-as-hell dark lashes laid softly on above the cheeks of one sleeping Lisa Cuddy just inches away on her own pillow.

House started to count them but gave up, those lashes were long and dark and thick. Fuck it. There were a couple hundred dark eyelashes pointing at the sexiest full pink lips. House watched Cuddy sleeping, not a twitch on her countenance. Her face was relaxed, unguarded and rested. He loved watching her when she was unaware of his attentions. He could read so much more about her.

Right now, Lisa Cuddy was open, vulnerable and his. She was naked under the soft cotton pink sheets. Her face neatly tucked against her left palm. House reached up and barely traced against her lower lip tickling her just so, Cuddy's lips pursed a little at the slightest touch. House grinned. He ran the tip of his finger gently along the bridge of slender nose. she wriggled her nose as her right hand went to swat away whatever was tickling her.

House grinned and found himself laughing a little silently, his finger traced her eyebrow over her right eye before sliding into her hair above her ear. It did the trick. Cuddy relaxed against his hand and exhaled deeply. House couldn't help from stroking her long silky brown hair. He watched her lips barely stretch into a slight smile, her breathing deepened. Cuddy was asleep and relaxed, something few men ever got to see.

"I love you," House whispered more to himself yet loud enough for it to register in her subconscious. Cuddy's smile disappeared from her sleeping face. House watched her closely but she remained a sleep.

"I know you can hear me, I love you." House repeated. Cuddy seemed to hold her breath before exhaling haltingly. House noticed the change. Cuddy remained a sleep.

"It might not be a bad thing to get married...one day," House whispered to Cuddy. He waited. She seemed to hold her breathe. House felt uncertain. Was Cuddy opposed to the idea of marriage? Was she opposed to marriage with him? Or what? He needn't worry because Cuddy's mouth stretched into a smile and she exhaled deeply. Her eyes never opened as she lay next to him sound asleep as his hand continued stroking through her hair.

House grinned. "Do you want to get married?" House couldn't believe he was even asking the question but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to have Cuddy reveal her most personal thoughts without realizing it. It was so like him to use any opportunity to find out what she thought without getting caught.

"...I mean to me?" House specified as he ran his fingers through her hair. Cuddy's face remained blank. Her smile had disappeared. Her long eyelashes never moved. Her eyes stayed closed.

House held his breath. Was this Cuddy's way of saying no? House felt scared and his hand paused as her hair slipped between her fingers.

"Lisa?" House whispered barely audibly. Cuddy rolled away from him and flipped to her other side. House was floored. He saw her bare back exposed to him and not a sign to give him a clue if she'd ever any interest in taking things further with him. House was stunned.

Without realizing it, House migrated towards her bare back and spooned against her. His knees nestled behind her knees, his groin to her smooth, cool bottom. His arm snaked around her waist and his hand burrowed under her belly pulling her closer to him. House pressed his chest against her back and his mouth came into contact with her left ear.

"LIsa?" House repeated. "I love you."

Cuddy just exhaled deeply. House frowned. Had he missed his chance to find out what she thought? She wasn't responding anymore. Not where he could see.

Cuddy was neatly tucked against her naked boyfriend under flannel sheets in a soft bed on a Saturday night. She opened her eyes slowly and grinned as she took note of the time on her bedside clock.

House had stuck his toe in the marital waters at precisely 12:16. Cuddy closed her eyes silently and grinned to herself. She'd let him know her answer in the morning. On his pancakes. In strawberry syrup.`