The weekend is great. the next one too. And the one after even better. Everyday is awesome actually. House and I are doing really great, without asking ourselves too much questions. We just live our relationship one day at a time.
POV House
Tonight is my night with Wilson. Once a week, I have my night with him, and I have another night all by myself. I like that. Connelly is great with me: she understands that I need time on my own. I love having a bachelorhood night, the reunion with Connelly is always great after. I have opened a scotch bottle and I'm waiting for Wilson who is on his way to my place with dinner. While I start drinking a glass, I hear a knock on the door. I grab my cane, stand up from the couch and limp to the door. I open it:
« Hi Wilson. You get dinner? »
He rolls his eyes:
« As usual. You could pay sometimes… »
« I could… At least I offer you alcohol.»
« You're such a generous guy House. »
I smile and we go sit on the couch. Wilson gives me my food and takes his. We start eating and I suddenly say:
« Talking about generosity, it's almost Valentine's day. I don't know what to offer to Connelly. »
He looks at me, rolling his eyes once again:
« What? » I ask.
« You're really a sentimentally disabled person, you know that? »
« Why? »
« I don't know… Any normal guy knows what to offer to his girlfriend, especially for the first Valentine's day. Jewels, chocolates, something she loves… Basic stuff.»
« I never see her wearing a jewel. She's a jewel herself », I add with a smile.
Wilson smiles at me:
« You two seem to be fine. »
« We are. We really are. »
He bends down and ask:
« And… Don't you think you're with her for bad reasons? »
I stop eating:
« What do you mean? »
« Well, she's a petite woman, she has blue eyes, dark hair, big breasts, nice butt, a really beautiful body… She's Cuddy's clone basically. »
« She has light brown hair, not dark. »
« That's a detail. »
« She is nothing like Cuddy. Believe me. They may have physical common points, but that's it. She is different from Cuddy, that's why I'm dating her.»
« Cuddy loves you more than anyone », Wilson says.
I give him an angry look:
« She doesn't! What are you trying to do Wilson? »
« Listen, you need her. »
« Cuddy? »
He nods and I burst out laughing:
« No I don't. I don't need her anymore. I used to, that's true though. »
« You need her in your life. She is the only one who can control you and prevent you from doing too much stupid things. »
« Whatever you say. I'm not gonna dump Connelly. »
« Why? You would find someone else. Women love you. »
« I don't want to be with someone else! She's… special. I want to be with her, no one else. »
Wilson stares at me for a long time:
« You love her, don't you? »
I look down:
« House, it's me… You can tell me you know. I'm not gonna mock you or something. »
« Well… Yeah, I think so. That freaks me out but… Yeah, I love her. »
« Does she know? »
« Jeez no! »
« Why not? »
« I don't know… I'm not sure she feels the same. She's young. I don't think she even knew love. Well, help me with that freaking gift! » I add, changing the subject.
Wilson stares at me for a moment and ends up saying:
« Jewels. Earrings. I've seen she has her ears pierced. Or necklace. Or both.»
« Okay. Thanks Wilson. »
We spend a great evening together, he stops talking about Cuddy and I'm grateful for that.
POV Connelly
On Valentine's day, I hide House's gift in my locker. It was quite hard for me to find something that would please him, but I think I finally made it. I then leave to our floor and we start working on our new patient's case. It's quite difficult, as usual the first days, we make lot of examinations to exclude false tracks.
At the end of the day, we all go down to the lockers but Chase calls me. In the corridor, next to the diagnostic room, he comes to me:
« Hey Connelly. »
« What do you want? » I ask.
« Hey relax. Do you have plans for tonight? »
« Of course… I am dating someone you know… House… »
« Well, I thought we could go to a restaurant together. »
« Well, no thanks. »
He gets closer from me:
« You sure? You'd not regret it. »
« I'm sure I would indeed. »
His eyes stares at me:
« You're a tough businesswoman. But I know I can have you.»
I laugh:
« You never will. »
« You wanna bet? » he says.
Suddenly he kisses me. I am so surprised that I don't have the presence of mind of spurning him or something. And I hear a light gasp. I move away from Chase and see House, staring at me, then at Chase, as if he didn't believe what he saw. Once again, I am unable to say or to do anything. House bends down, slightly shakes his head and leaves without a word. It's only when I don't see him that I react: I violently push Chase away, then slap him.
« Son of a bitch! You're happy now? »
« Yeah… Quite. »
I slap him again before leaving too. I rush to the parking lot but House's bike has already disappeared. I get in my car and drive to his apartment.
When I get there, I knock at his door. I can hear music on, but he doesn't reply. I knock harder on the door. He still doesn't reply. Then I shout:
« House! Open the door! »
Still nothing. Then I yell:
« Open this fucking door! »
« Go away! » I hear him shout from inside.
« No! We need to talk », I say, pounding on the door.
I don't stop, even when my hands fucking ache. Finally, the door opens on House:
« Stop! » he shouts angrily.
I don't answer and I come in. When he has closed the door behind me, I turn to him:
« It was not what you think. »
« Oh really? » he ironically says. « It looked very clear though. »
« He kissed me! » I say.
« And you didn't spurn him! »
« I was surprised that's it. »
« Surprised my ass », he says, going to the door again, opening it and saying harshly:
« Now piss off. »
« No », I say, sitting on the couch.
I hear him moaning with exasperation and I violently start when he punches the door. I stand up and walk carefully to him:
« Hey, calm down », I softly say.
I put my hand on his arm but he pushes me away:
« Don't fucking touch me. Why did you do that, uh? Why? »
I get in front of him:
« I never wanted that. I should have spurned him, I know I should. I told you I was surprised. There's nothing else, I swear. I hate Chase. »
« Why? He's young. He's handsome. He's mad about you. »
I chuckle:
« I don't care. I don't care about him. I care about you. Because it's you I… »
I stop there, unable to finish my sentence, especially after such an argument. But House looks up at me:
« Because it's me you what? »
I faintly smile:
« Nothing. Forget it. »
« Because it's me you what? » he repeats, looking intently at me.
His look gives me tears in my eyes: I try to look away but he grabs my chin and makes me look at him.
« Say it », he whispers.
I shake my head: I can't, I just can't. Tears start running on my cheeks.
« I can't », I moan.
« You can. Say it. Because it's me you what? Because it's me you what?!» he ends up yelling.
As if it was an electroshock, I yell back:
« Because it's you I love! I love you, you bastard! »
Then I just dissolve into tears, and lean against the door. After a few seconds, I feel him wrapping himself against me, kissing me and rocking me softly:
« Shh, don't cry. See, it was not that difficult. »
« You're a bastard », I moan.
« Yes, but you still love me. »
I remain silent before closing my eyes and asking, terrified about his answer:
« And you? Do you love me? »
« Hmmm… I don't know. »
I move away from him suddenly and start opening the door. He grabs my arm and slams the door:
« Come on… You know it… »
« No I don't », I reply defiantly.
« I… I'm not gifted for this stuff. »
« I know. It's my turn to ask you to say it. »
His eyes looking down, he mumbles:
« Love you. »
« No, no, no… You made me cry to say it. Look at me and say it truly. »
He looks up, I wrap my arms around his waist, stroking his kidneys softly. His hands slide from my shoulders to my butt, but his eyes stare at mines and, after a long moment which looks never-ending, he ends up softly whispering:
« I love you Connelly. »
My heart violently beats in my chest and I smile at him. We kiss and he lifts me up in his arms. He takes me to his bedroom, and I kiss his neck and his cheek all the way to it. We make love in a different way this night, as if our relationship had turned into a serious one for real. I think we're just happy and relieved that we could confess each other our feelings. He falls asleep before me, and I watch him sleeping, brushing his skin with my fingers. His arm around me pulls me closer and I smile before closing my eyes and ending up falling asleep.
The following morning, when I wake up, I'm still near House, my head resting on his heart. I don't even open my eyes at first, I listen at his heartbeats. It's only when I feel his lips brushing my forehead that I react and I look at him.
« Hey », I do.
« Morning. »
He turns his back at me and takes something on his nightstand.
« What's that? » I ask, when I see a red box.
« Happy Valentine's day. A few hours late. Sorry. »
I smile and kiss him:
« Thanks. My gift has stayed in the locker last night though. »
« It's okay. Open it. »
I do it: it's a set of jewels. Earrings and a necklace, quite simple, not tawdry at all, but still magnificent.
« They're beautiful. Thanks », I say, kissing him.
« I'm glad you like it. I'll make breakfast. Stay here. »
« Okay ».
I watch him leaving the bed, completely naked and stare at the swaying of his butt. He comes back with a tray and we eat breakfast in bed. We have a quickie before getting ready for work. When we arrive, I go grab my gift for him and, when I arrive in the diagnostics room, I see House punching Chase in the face. I don't even try to reason with him: Chase deserved it. At the end of the day, I go in House's office to give him his gift: I found some old jazz records, and I think he's quite happy. At least, the display he gives me in his office lets me think he is…