A/N: This idea came to me while I was making my morning latte. Why, I have no idea. It has nothing to do with coffee. Well..it might, but not directly. This is a Hameron AU fic. Not sure how many chapters it will be but it won't be a long one, as I'm still working on "Not All Change is Bad." So let thy smut commence!

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters. David Shore does.

"Ahh Venice." Greg House took a deep breath in and let it out slowly as he sat at the table outside and sipped his espresso. He'd been in the city for the better part of 2 weeks and his rusty Italian vocabulary had come back full force. It was his birth country, after all. What kind of citizen would he be if he didn't at least try to fit in?

People watching had always been a pastime of his and normally he'd be laughing at the tourists trying to feed the hundreds of pigeons in the piazza, but his gaze was focused on something else. Or rather, someone else.

She was standing in line at the counter, waiting to place her order. Taking the last sip of his espresso, he got up and stood behind her in the line. Bending over, he caught a whiff of her scent. It was a mixture of peppermint and something else he couldn't quite identify.

"Ciao abbastanza ragazza. Posso comprarlo una bevanda?" Hello, pretty girl? Can I buy you a drink? It sounded corny, but he need to open with something.

She whirled around and faced him, ready to attack but her eyes fixed on his bright blue ones, she froze, losing all train of thought. "No capisca."

House smirked. "Penso che facciate." I think you do.

"Prego lascilo solo." Please leave me alone. And then she turned her back to him.

Normally he would've just shrugged and went on his way, but he was too captivated. He decided on one last effort. "Il mio nome è Greg." My name is Greg.

She turned around again and looked him up and down as if she was eyeing a specimen in a lab. "Non mi preoccupo che cosa il vostro nome è. Non sono interessato. Capisca quello?" I don't care what your name is. I'm not interested. Understand that?

She made it to the front of the line and placed her drink order. After she paid, she walked away and sat down at a nearby table to wait.

House heard something drop and bent over to pick it up. It was her passport so he opened it to the page with her info. After seeing that she was only 21, he rolled his eyes as he slapped it shut and wandered over to her table.

"Siete un Americano?" Are you an American?

She huffed and begin to stand when he stopped her. "Dove stai andando, Allison?" Where're you going, Allison?

"What the..how do you know my name?" she hissed in perfect English.

"Oh, so we're going to talk English now? Good. My Italian is a little rusty." Then he held up her passport. When she went to grab it, he held it out of her reach. "What's the magic word?"

"Please, give me my passport…Greg."

Without a word, he handed it to her and pointed to the chair she'd just vacated. "Shall we?" A waiter arrived with hers and his coffees so she nodded and sat down once more.

"You speak Italian very well," he said as they sipped their coffees. She was insanely pretty with long chestnut colored hair that fell over her shoulders in waves.

She shrugged. "It's just high school. I needed an elective. How did you learn it?"

"Simple, I was born here."

"You don't look Italian. Who ever heard of a blue-eyed Italian?"

She was observant for sure, and he was intrigued.

"I'm from New Jersey. Here for a medical conference."

She perked up. "You're a doctor?"

When he nodded, she groaned. "Oh my God..you're Greg House, aren't you? The Diagnostician who spoke yesterday."

"You were there?"

"Yep."

"So you're a med student?"

Again, she nodded, looking proud.

"Do you have a specialty picked out yet?"

"Immunology."

"Interesting. So is that the only reason you're all the way over here in Venice?"

"No, I'm here with my parents. It just happened to work out that it coincided with the conference."

"How long have you been here?"

"Just a few days."

"When are you leaving?"

"Next week."

"Well, if you'd like a more interesting guide than dear old Mommy and Daddy, I'm staying at the Hilton just over there," he said, pointing. Then he took out a pad of paper and a pen and wrote down a number. "My cell. In case you get bored."

Allison took the piece of paper. "Why do I get the impression that you're a wolf in sheep's clothing, Dr. House?"

He sat back in his chair and smiled at her. "I don't know, why do you?"

"Maybe it's because you probably know this city like the back of your hand so you'll always be in control."

"Interesting. You think I have alterior motives for being nice to you?"

"I'm almost sure of it."

House chuckled. "Let's say that I do. You're still going to call me. Because a small part of you wants to find out what makes me tick. And even if you never see me again, you'll always think of me when you look back to this trip twenty, thirty, or even forty years later." He got up and stretched slightly. "I have to be at a conference in an hour. I'll understand if you don't call me, but I kind of hope you do. You're a beautiful girl, Allison Cameron. I hope your boyfriend knows it."

She was dumbfounded. "How do you know I have a boyfriend?" she stuttered.

He looked her up and down. "How could you not?" With a grin, he gave her a small wave and then walked off.

Allison looked at the piece of paper he gave her and shoved it in her pocket. Did she dare? She wanted to. God, but she wanted to. He was everything her boyfriend wasn't; snarky, rude, arrogant and, as much as she hated to admit, sexy as all hell. His blue eyes and the way he looked her over made her knees weak.

Her boyfriend, Rick, was cute, but he was a goody goody, boy-next-door type. They met freshman year at college and hit it off instantly within their close group of friends. After dating for a couple of weeks, she learned that he was quite a devout Christian who didn't believe in sex before marriage. That didn't really bother her so much, as she was in no hurry to lose her virginity to the first boy who looked her way, but frankly, she was bored out of her mind. After a year of dating he was only willing to put his hands on her breasts. She had boyfriends throughout high school of course, but they all turned out to be selfish jerks with no regard for her wants and needs. She was looking for something different. What, she wasn't sure. But she hoped she didn't run into Greg House again. If she did, she'd probably fall in love with him.

* * *

Two days passed and Greg hadn't heard a thing from Allison. He wasn't surprised of course. She probably thought he was some dirty old man. On the other hand, deep down he was a little disappointed. He hoped he'd see her in passing before he had to leave town in a few days, but time was running out and he gave up on the whole idea of seeing her again.

It was early evening and he was riding through the city on his rented scooter. He knew there was a game on so he head over to the local American-type sports bar and went inside to grab a beer. The place was quiet and he was thankful because he hated crowded bars. He was starting his second beer when Allison came into the bar, seemingly trying to get away from three young men who pursued her.

Her eyes locked with House and he instantly understood the look on her face. Fear. He got up and she immediately walked over to him as he put himself between her and the three boys.

"Is there a problem?" He didn't even bother to speak Italian to them, as they looked like they were also American.

"No, sir."

"Then why were you chasing her?"

"Who're you? Her father?"

"Nope. She's too pretty to be my daughter."

Allison secretly smiled as she stayed close to Greg. He smelled amazing and she found herself clutching his jacket as she hid behind him.

"Go bother someone else. She's way out of your league, kids."

"She's nothing but a little tease!"

"Yeah, and play time is over. So get the hell out."

The three guys reluctantly turned around and left. Allison heaved a sigh of relief and started to leave but House grabbed her wrist.

"Hey, wait. You get me to protect you and you weren't even going to thank me? I don't think so."

"Thank you."

"That's a start," he said as he let go of her. "Stay and have a drink. It's the least you could do."

"That's how I got into that mess in the first place. I was at the pub around the corner, minding my own business and those guys kept smiling at me. So I naturally smiled back, and I guess that meant I was looking for some company."

"That's a common misconception here. If you make eye contact with a man, he thinks you want his company. Do yourself a favor, get some sunglasses."

"I suppose so."

"So now that you're safe, have a drink. Do you have a curfew?"

She shot him a dirty look which he liked and ordered another round. "So where've you been? I kinda hoped you'd call."

"You did?"

House shrugged. "It gets boring riding on those gondolas by myself."

"Lonely, Dr. House?"

"You have no idea. Too bad you're going home in a few days."

She shook her head. "I'm not. My dad extended our trip. He has some unfinished business and can't get it all done."

"How fortunate for me," he grinned. "So, are you in need of a bodyguard as well as a guide around Venice? It would be fun," he grinned as he nudged her. "I could show you things you can't even imagine. Things your parents don't even know about."

"Or believe, I'll bet." However, the more Allison thought about it, the more the idea appealed to her. Her parents were getting on her nerves, and when she spoke to Rick online the other night, he said he was horny and couldn't wait for her to get home. What was that supposed to mean? Was he going to put his hands somewhere else this time? And even if he did, would he even know what he was doing when he got there? She had a feeling Greg would show her a thing or two about sex, and then some. He would make an amazing first experience for her, she was sure.

"Earth to Allison," House chuckled as he waved a hand in front of her face.

She was flushed and looking embarrassed. "Huh? Oh, sorry."

"Thinking about the boyfriend? I hope he's missing you. He better be."

"He is."

"How long have you two been together?"

"A year."

"Slept with him yet?"

Allison shot him a dirty look. "That's none of your business."

"I'm thinking the answer is no."

"Why?"

"Because you never answered it. Do you love him?"

"What? What's it to you?"

"I want to know what my chances are."

She laughed. "You are unbelievable."

House watched her with amusement. "That's what the ladies tell me."

A/N: I used an online english-Italian translator for their first conversation, so if it's not correct, don't blast me. Also, I've never been to Venice. The closest I've been was visiting the Venetian in Las Vegas ;) Anyway, let me know how you're enjoying this so far. I have some ideas on where I'm going with this.