Last time on Yes, He Loves Me…
"You know what, House, forget I ever asked."
"Hey, it's me. I'm sorry."
"HOUSE!"
It's a Cold Night in Jersey…
"House…wait up!" Shouted a running Wilson at House's back.
"Hey, what are you doing out here?" House asked.
"Trying to catch you. Got your roses," Wilson said as he caught his breath.
"Oh that. Yeah. Well, uh, good night then." House said as he started his walk home again.
"Whoawhoawhoa, wait, House. Talk to me. I keep getting mixed signals from you left and right my head is spinning. Please don't leave."
"Well…what do you want from me?" House mumbles.
Wilson sighs and looks into Houses eyes. "Nothing, House. I just want you here with me."
House stares in silence in response.
"Come on. I'll walk you home." Wilson says looking away at the sidewalk ahead.
And with that they both slowly walk beside one another quietly, until House notices for the first time that Wilson isn't wearing anything but one of his thin dress shirts.
House deftly closes the distance between them and puts his arm around Wilson's shoulder. Wilson looks up startled, but says nothing and enjoys the warmth between their bodies for the remainder of the walk to House's apartment.
When they arrive at House's home, they stand outside the door and look at each other as though for the first time in a while.
Wilson breaks the silence with "Well, I guess I should be heading home. I'll see you tomorrow. Good night, House."
Wilson turns to leave but before he gets very far he feels a hand grabbing his arm.
"Wilson, wait."
"…Yes?"
"I, um…Listen, I know it's not what you had originally planned, but if you want to, we could poke around the kitchen and see if we can't have dinner tonight. Together…if you want that is…" House gets out, for once fumbling for words.
"Yes. I'd like that very much."
As it turns out, there isn't much of anything in House's kitchen, but that really didn't surprise Wilson as he was quite well acquainted with his friend's style of living by now. They decided that since there was a tube of noodles that wasn't as old as time yet, that bread and pasta would be appropriate.
It only took Wilson fifteen minutes round-trip to get bread and the makings for a delicious sauce for the meal, but in that small amount of time House was able boil water, and place plates and silver at the stools at his counter. He also managed to locate and procure two wine glasses and a bottle of unopened Merlot for which he'd been saving for something…and there probably wouldn't be a greater time than this. He was just placing the candle that was previously by his piano under the counter when..
"Wow, I didn't know you knew…" Wilson started.
"What, how to set a table?" House replied in mock hurt at Wilson's surprise.
"Actually I'm shocked you know how to do, well, anything that has to do with a kitchen and food that isn't beer or take out. I must say I'm impressed and now upset that you withheld this information the entire time I stayed with you. You're such an ass."
"Yeah, yeah…well I figured that it isn't really the best idea to take advantage of your kindness tonight."
"…I think that's the sweetest thing you've ever said to me." Wilson said as he began preparing for the dinner ahead.
"Don't get all gushy please. Your feminine side never seems to need a break does it?" House joked.
Wilson just shook his head smiling to himself. House reached out to grab the wooden spoon out of Wilson's hand and he said "Why don't you go sit down and relax for a change?"
"What? Are you sure?"
House looked at him and rolled his eyes and said "Yes, please. I promise I won't burn the place down. It's only noodles and sauce. How stupid do you think I am?"
"Ok." Wilson turns around and heads to the couch and he sits there. He listens to his friend in the kitchen basically cooking for him, and he replays the entire day in his head and contemplates where things are between them.
House distributed the food on both plates, poured the wine in both glasses, and got the candle from below the kitchen island and lit it. The dim lighting of the kitchen created perfect ambience for the flame's glow. Deciding that it was as perfect as it was going to get, House leaned into the living room and looked over toward Wilson and noticed he had fallen asleep.
House limped over to Wilson's sleeping form, and was about to pounce his legs to scare him but he stopped. He looked at Wilson's gentle face as he lay there on House's couch breathing softly. House reached out slowly, daring to touch Wilson's cheek with the back of his hand…ever so tenderly. Wilson's eyes fluttered open.
"Hey. Sorry, I must have been more tired than I thought."
"It's fine. Come on, dinner's ready." House said quickly before turning around and heading toward the kitchen well ahead of Wilson.
"This is amazing, House."
"I know. I am that good."
"When it suits you."
"Well duh."
Wilson smiled at House as they ate. "Where do you see yourself House?"
House looked at Wilson like he was crazy "Umm…the mirror."
"No, I mean five years from now. Do you think you'll still be doing this? Going to work, coming home to this apartment, and doing it all over again everyday?"
"Where the hell is this coming from?"
"Nothing. I'm just making conversation and trying to get in your head in the process. I just think that you'd want more?"
House looked up and carefully regarded Wilson before responding "What are you getting at exactly, Jimmy?"
"You're smart, funny, and underneath that ogre exterior you actually are a wonderful man. I just wonder why you insist on being alone. That's all."
"I don't know. Consider this the change of subject, you're making me uncomfortable."
The rest of the dinner was uneventful and played out through bits and pieces of meaningless small talk, and after the dishes were cleared, they retired to the living room and sat beside each other…with the tv off.
They sat in comfortable silence enjoying each other's company as often in their relationship; at times like this words were often unneeded between them. Eventually, House got up and went to his piano bench where he proceeded to play some of the most beautiful music Wilson had ever heard before. After a while, Wilson looked up at the clock and said "It's gotten pretty late and we're both tired, I should be heading home."
Wilson got up and headed for the door and House followed him to it, and upon opening it Wilson stepped outside. House said "Wilson, it's a pretty cold night. Why don't you stay here tonight?"
"A night on your couch as opposed to my bed? I appreciate the offer House, but I really am in need of a pretty sound sleep."
"You wouldn't have to sleep on the couch if you don't want to…" House said looking at his feet.
Wilson gulped, "And where exactly would I sleep?"
House looked up into Wilson's brown eyes and said "In my bed. With me…"
Hope you liked this chapter guys! More to come by Saturday.
Song for Chapter 3: Stacie Orrico's I'm Not Missing You from the album Beautiful Awakening
