When All That's Left is You

by Marinara Lore

Alex is on a downward spiral. But when she sees the girl who had stolen her heart and had never given it back years ago in Orange County again, would the past turn the future into something to look forward to despite the inevitable?

13. Chapter 13

13

The Tides of Glory

The new day came and a smile instantly appeared on Marissa's lips as she awoke and remembered the events of the glorious night before.

Lying on her stomach and with her eyes still closed, under the covers, the scent of Thirteen was strong in her nostrils. Her eyes flew open and her smile disappeared when her outstretched hand found no Thirteen lying beside her. She felt herself start to panic and she made to get up. It was only when she turned and found Thirteen sitting on the edge of the bed, watching her with a serene smile on her face that she visibly began to calm down.

"Hi," Thirteen said softly. She was already dressed in the clothes she wore from the night before, whereas only a thin blanket covered Marissa's body.

Relief washed over Marissa to find Thirteen right there beside her, so real and so very beautiful.

"Hey," Marissa breathed as she sank back to her pillow. "You really scared me there. I thought you left."

"I did?" Thirteen's smile was unwavering as she watched Marissa partly hide her face under her blanket.

Marissa nodded timidly from under the sheet.

"Sorry," Thirteen said. "Sleep well?"

Marissa nodded again. "Never better."

Thirteen smiled and they both stared at each other in silence for some more time.

"Have I ever told you I love you?" Thirteen finally broke the silence, her eyes never straying away from Marissa's.

Marissa was stunned and taken aback to say the least. She wasn't able to manage to respond at once.

"No," she said softly when she did.

"I do." Thirteen's clear, blue eyes remained on Marissa's green ones as the smile lingered on her face. "I love you."

I was born to tell you I love you.

And I am torn to do what I have to.

Marissa remained silent, in shock, at what she just heard.

The moment seemed to pass quickly, but the declaration weighed so beautifully upon both of them. It was a loaded statement, and to see in Thirteen's face and hear in her voice that she meant it made Marissa's day. Or year, so to speak.

Still affectionately smiling down on Marissa, Thirteen said, "I need to go to work now, but I'll see you later?"

Marissa nodded, still speechless.

Thirteen got up and walked to the door.

"Alex," Marissa called suddenly, making Thirteen stop. "Wait."

Thirteen turned. "Hm?"

"I…" Marissa swallowed. "Can I… Can I kiss you? Before you leave?"

Thirteen smiled and kept her eyes on Marissa's for a long, long time before finally gently responding, "Every single day of the rest of my life, for as long as you'll have me."

Marissa smiled slowly as Thirteen went back to sit on her bed. "Good." She immediately grabbed Thirteen as she came nearer and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. Thirteen ran her hands down Marissa's bare back as she kissed her back with equal fervor, nothing but a thin sheet separating their bodies.

When they finally broke the kiss, Thirteen hugged Marissa tenderly and Marissa melted into her arms, a soft, contented sigh escaping her lips.

"Not to put pressure on you or anything, but—"

"Ssh," Marissa instantly shushed her, shaking her head slightly against the crook of Thirteen's neck. "It's what I wanted to hear," she said as she breathed Thirteen in. "I love you, too."

I was born to tell you I love you.

Thirteen smiled. That, too, was all she needed to hear.

To make you mine, stay with me tonight.

---

Foreman opened the last piece of file he had on his table and began reading through it. He had been reviewing the progress of his drug trial patients since he got to his office at Mercy after House and the team left to go home the previous night. His concentration was only broken when he heard a knock on the door. Through the glass door he saw Thirteen timidly standing outside and looking straight at him.

"Can I help you?" he asked Thirteen when he opened the door. She looked nervous, and Foreman thought he knew why.

"Yeah…" she replied. "About the…" she cleared her throat, "About the trial… Do you, um… Do you, by any chance, still have any remaining spots open?"

The slightest of smiles appeared on Foreman's face. "Lucky for you, it just so happened I just got an opening."

Thirteen nodded, momentarily stunned at Foreman's incredible foresight. She dug her hands into her pockets and looked up at her co-worker. "Where do I sign up?"

---

Thirteen spotted the team gathered outside House's outer office as soon as the elevator doors slid open. Foreman was already there, his poker face not betraying the unspoken agreement they had when she made a decision to do something that could possibly change her life. It didn't take long before House spotted her, and that fact quickly became apparent as he boomed through the hallway, "The prodigal daughter hath returneth!"

Thirteen worldlessly donned her lab coat as she walked the distance from the elevator to the benches in front of the office where House was seated and the rest of the team were gathered around. As soon as she got there, Taub handed her the week's patient's chart.

"Aren't those the same clothes you were wearing yesterday?" Kutner asked, eyeing Thirteen's top suspiciously.

Thirteen knew she shouldn't have forgotten to borrow something from Marissa's closet. She didn't look up as she offhandedly replied, "I like to wear the same thing two days in a row sometimes."

"Did you come straight to work from some girl's house again?" Kutner didn't even wait for her to reply. "This has got to stop."

"I wasn't aware I ever agreed for us to hook up," Thirteen deadpanned before shoving the file to Kutner's chest and going back the way she came.

"Where are you going?" Foreman called out to her.

"To the cath lab," Thirteen called back. "The patient's been experiencing angina, which means he might have an occlusion, stenosis, thrombosis, or aneurysmal enlargement of the coronary arteries. Either way, we have to do coronary catheterization and rule out atherosclerosis." She turned around to face them but kept walking. "Also, I'm going to the cath lab, so that I won't be here." She turned on her heel and proceeded to the elevator just as the doors opened.

"Stop that car!" House yelled to a young nurse riding the elevator alone. The team caught on and quickly ran to the elevator, followed by House himself, much to Thirteen's dismay.

Nobody said anything for a while, as they all stood together waiting for the doors to open to the floor where the catheterization laboratory was, until Kutner decided to be bold and ask Thirteen again about the previous night. "Did you even bother to ask her name before you jumped to bed together?"

"Why would she?" House jumped in. "She already knows her name. It's the name her heart has been reluctantly screaming for eleven years now."

Kutner got confused. "You spent last night with Marissa?"

Right on cue, the doors opened and Thirteen quickly walked out. But of course, the House and the rest of the team followed her. Naturally, they got a little left behind because the team sans Thirteen were walking at House's pace.

Taub looked up at a limping House. "How do you know it was Marissa?"

Foreman smirked. "How do you know that it was even a girl?" Of course it was a girl. He even knew it was Marissa before House or anyone else did.

"Numbers don't lie," House replied.

"What, did you have Lucas draw a bar graph of her sexual exploits?" Foreman asked, only partly joking, because with House, you really never know.

"Pie chart," House seriously replied. "Also, she smells like strawberry soap, which I coincidentally know is Marissa's soap of choice."

Thirteen abruptly stopped and turned to House, sporting a glare. "You know what Marissa's soap smells like?"

House smirked to the rest of the guys. "See? It was Marissa."

Kutner mirrored House's smirk. "Well, well. So you did sleep over at Marissa's last night."

Thirteen continued to glower at House.

"Don't punch me. I caught a whiff. From two feet away."

Thirteen narrowed her eyes and stared down at House, before finally turning away.

"Do you seriously really remember the smell of all the women you meet?" Foreman asked. They were all watching Thirteen's back as she walked the rest of the way to the cath lab, alone.

"Only the hot ones who go out with their equally hot female friends."

"That's amazing," Kutner commented.

"Yeah," House said. He turned and started walking back to the elevator. "Also, Lucas saw Thirteen leave Marissa's apartment this morning. And no, I didn't pay him a cent to do that."

Foreman shook his head slightly before catching up with House and Taub and Kutner. "Stalker."

"Don't be so harsh. He's heartbroken," said House.

"And if Thirteen finds out he's been watching her girlfriend from his car window across the street," added Taub, "his poor heart won't be the only thing that's going to suffer the same fate."

---

House watched Kutner with an unwavering stare from across the table as he nervously pulled on his bowtie.

"I raise," Kutner said.

House smirked. He could tell Kutner was bluffing. He raised the young doctor's raise.

Chase took a peek at the cards on his hand. "I'm guess I'm gonna fold."

House looked at Wilson, waiting for him to make his move. "Fold," Wilson sighed.

With a determined face, Kutner threw his cards down to reveal a spade flush.

Chase and Wilson both looked at House's straight face, curious to know what he's got. House's eyes didn't leave Kutner's as he placed his cards down on the table, revealing a full house.

Wilson's mouth formed an 'O' and Chase grinned while shaking his head as House smugly gathered Kutner's large stack of poker chips. Kutner looked dismayed at losing his winnings.

"I'm gonna go get myself a drink," Kutner said as he stood up. Chase followed. House grabbed a cigar from his jacket and lit it.

Wilson looked around the hospital lobby. Everywhere people dressed in tailored suits and glamorous dresses happily stood chattering and feasting on the food and wine. "You seen her yet?"

"Who?" House asked innocently as he puffed out.

"You know who," Wilson said as if that was obvious. "Cuddy."

"Haven't seen her," House said casually through the smoke coming from his cigar.

"You sure? She should've been here an hour ago."

"I'm sure. I think I'd remember if I saw her. Those breasts are hard to miss in a halter dress." He paused, pretending to ponder on something. "And just about anything else that would pass as proper party wear in twenty-first-century America."

Wilson shook his head and sipped some champagne.

House grabbed his cane and stood up. Wilson followed him and they both walked over to the group of doctors on one corner of the room, busy drinking their wines and engaging in quiet chatter.

House scowled as his eyes scanned the group. "Is Thirteen cheating on Marissa with Foreman?"

"Nobody's cheating on anybody," Taub answered. "Thirteen and Foreman are running late. She's scheduled for treatment at Mercy tonight."

House made a peeved face. "Oops. Didn't mean to offend you by using the c-word."

Taub rolled his eyes.

"And anyway, you're right," House went on. "Thirteen cheating on Marissa for Foreman seems futile. Not really something I'm hoping for either, mind you. They have no chemistry whatsoever. Camteen still seems like a better idea." He caught the look Chase was giving him. "On the other hand, they do both have tattoos."

Meanwhile, outside the hospital's lobby where the hospital's annual charity benefit was taking place, a car rolled on the front entrance and out of it came Marissa, dressed in a short, elegant, form-flattering black dress that showed off her beautiful long legs. She smoothed her dress nervously before going inside the hospital alone, but not unnoticed.

"Ah. Looks like Vesper Lynd has come to grace us with her presence," House said as he and the others watched her walk into the door and survey the crowd.

"Marissa!" Kutner waved her over. "You're looking great tonight."

Marissa smiled graciously and said, "Thanks. You don't look so bad yourself." She turned to everybody else and said hello before facing House. "You look real dapper in that tux, Dr. House."

"That means a lot coming from a fashionista like yourself," House replied as he did a little bow.

Marissa chuckled and then looked around. "Alex isn't here yet, is she?"

"Still busy trying to find the key to the door of the land of false hope, I'm afraid," said House.

"She's still at Mercy for her…" Kutner awkwardly left the sentence hanging. "She's running a little late."

"Oh, yeah, I know she is. I was just hoping she'd already be here when I arrive. She had to see Dr. Foreman and we couldn't go together." Marissa paused. "She doesn't want me to come see her at Mercy," she admitted quietly.

A long awkward silence followed and Kutner thought it was time for a subject change. "Do you play poker, Marissa?"

"Oh, no, I really don't know how," Marissa replied.

"Can I interest you in some chardonnay then?" House asked.

Marissa smiled. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass."

"You sure?" House asked. "I mean I know light stuff like this isn't your thing, but we could mix it up with a little vodka to fit your taste. I'll ask the caterer for a bottle, if you want."

Marissa smiled at House's persistence. "That's an interesting idea, Dr. House. I'll think about it."

House didn't say anything more and simply narrowed his eyes at Marissa's smiling face.

"Hey, look. Thirteen and Foreman are here," Kutner exclaimed.

Marissa turned around and felt a familiar warmth throughout her body. Their eyes met and once again there were only two people in the room, mutually connected by a single strong bond.

Marissa took a single look at Thirteen and was instantly mesmerized and charmed to say the least.

Thirteen was elegantly dressed an exquisite short satin gray tunic dress Marissa herself had picked for this very occasion. She kept her resplendent wavy chocolate hair flowing freely across her shoulders. On her feet were high-heeled Jimmy Choos that one would very rarely see tough, badass Alex Kelly in. What Marissa couldn't keep her eyes off of, however, was Thirteen's dazzling teal, almost gray eyes. She swore she had never seen anything more arresting and sublime.

"Wow," a similarly enchanted Thirteen whispered once she partially got over how magnificent Marissa looked. "You look…" The words seemed to escape her lips as Marissa smiled that lopsided little grin of hers that always had her brain melting on the floor.

Marissa smiled and bit her lip. "So do you."

Thirteen smiled. "I had a little help from this incredible stylist," she said, making Marissa grin.

From across the room, House, Wilson, Kutner, Taub, and Chase stared on as Thirteen and Marissa cast looks of combined adoration and desire at each other.

"Wow," Chase said. "Thirteen sure looks sexy tonight."

Kutner furrowed his brows at what he heard. "Chase said Thirteen looks sexy," he told House.

"So?" was House's offhanded response. "He's not Megan Fox. It doesn't matter."

"He's married."

"He's also male."

Foreman caught on with the group once he finished changing into his tuxedo. He was still fixing his bowtie with one hand when he said to Chase, "Now I gotta say I'm with you on that."

Cameron walked in and grabbed the champagne from Chase's hand. "You're with Chase on what?" she asked Foreman as she took one sip of wine.

"On Thirteen looking hot tonight," was Chase's offhanded response.

Cameron followed the guys' line of sight and saw Thirteen's brightly lit face as she laughed with Marissa about something they could not hear. Her lips curled downward as she nodded. "Hmm."

House's face scrunched up, confounded as he looked at Cameron.

Cameron felt his eyes on her. "What?"

"Was my mind playing tricks on me again or did you really just nod and say 'hmm'?" House asked her seriously, mimicking her agreement with Chase.

"What else did you expect me to say? That yeah, she's so sexy she makes me want to strangle some huge wild animal with my bare hands?"

"No, that she's so sexy, and that you wanna strangle Chase for noticing."

"Well it just so happens that I don't disagree," Cameron replied insouciantly before raising Chase's glass to her lips once more.

House gave Cameron a strange look as he said to Kutner, "Now it matters."

Chase smirked at both House and Cameron, amused. He gave her wife a light kiss on the cheek before stealing back his wine glass and straying away, a smirk on his face.

Kutner grinned and then turned his attention back to Thirteen and Marissa. "I think Marissa looks really hot tonight, too."

House looked at him, bemused. "O-oh…"

Kutner's eyes widened in horror as he realized what he had just let slip. "Please don't tell Thirteen I said that."

The Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital's Annual Casino Night Charity Benefit went on as smoothly as anyone could have hoped for. To Marissa, it was exactly just like every other Newport fundraiser she had attended when she was younger, except that she was the happiest girl in the entire room with the person she enjoys being with the most looking back into her eyes, and very adoringly so.

"Coop!" an enthused Summer interrupted Thirteen and Marissa's moment. "There you are!"

"Hey, Sum." Summer and Marissa pulled each other into a quick hug.

"I've been looking all over for you."

"Oh, Alex and I were just talking."

Summer smiled at Thirteen. "Hi, Alex." She gave Thirteen a warm embrace.

"Nice to see you, Summer." Thirteen caught Marissa's smiling eyes as she gave Summer a one-armed hug back.

Summer released Thirteen. "Seth's been looking for you, too, Alex. He wants to tell you something, I think. He's over there with my dad."

"Oh, okay, well… I'm gonna…" Thirteen looked over at Marissa, who silently gave her approval for her to go. "I'll catch you later, Riss." She turned to Summer and nodded. "See you later, Summer."

"Yep, see ya later."

Thirteen saw Seth talking to Neil and Chase and she walked over to them.

"Your father was a great doctor, Robert," Thirteen caught Neil saying. "One of the best I've ever known."

"Oh, yeah, I know he was," Chase replied.

"He did a lot of pioneering work in immunology. I've read his book on sarcoidosis and other autoimmune diseases. He was a brilliant man," Neil continued.

Thirteen saw Seth pretending to be interested in the conversation.

"And I know you've been doing quite well here, too. Rowan would've been very proud."

Chase smiled and nodded. "Thank you."

"Hey, Alex," Seth said as he noticed her walking over to them. Neil and Chase stopped to look at her.

"Oh, Dr. Roberts, this is Dr. Hadley." Chase paused. "You know her, don't you?"

"Why yes, of course I do. You're forgetting my wife Julie is Marissa's mother."

Chase nodded. "Oh, right."

"We've never been formally introduced, but I've heard a lot about this feisty young woman from Julie."

Thirteen gave the elderly doctor a tight-lipped smile. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, she didn't know for sure.

"And besides," Neil continued. "I've known Marissa pretty much all her life and she's as good as a daughter to me, so I make sure I'm well aware of whomever to take track of in case they break her heart."

"I would never intentionally hurt Marissa in any way, sir," Thirteen replied honestly.

Neil smiled. "I believe you, Alex. And please call me Neil."

Thirteen smiled and nodded. "Okay."

"Julie couldn't come tonight. She's on a trip to Paris with Kirsten for a conference of some sort, but she sends her regards."

"Yeah, Marissa told me," replied Thirteen. "I'm so sorry she couldn't come." She could see Seth rolling his eyes out of the corner of her eye.

"Well that's okay. The holidays are coming so I'm sure we'll see plenty of each other very soon. Julie and I are looking forward to have you over at our house on Christmas."

"Oh." Thirteen was a little caught off guard. "Well, um… I don't know about that yet… I would love to, but… you know… With work and all…"

"Well Julie and I certainly hope you'll be there."

"Yeah… Yeah, we'll see."

Seth was now snickering to himself.

Thirteen elbowed him in the gut. "I should go. But really nice meeting you, Dr. Roberts."

Neil gave him a pointed look.

"I mean Neil."

"It was my pleasure, Alex." Neil smiled and shook hands with Thirteen before turning away to talk to Chase again.

"What were you doing, Seth?" Thirteen smacked Seth lightly on the arm as they walked amidst the crowd of partygoers. "That was your father-in-law."

"Oh, Neil's a nice guy. He used to scare me when Summer and I were younger, but once she got married to Julie Cooper, he just magically started to look like a sheep next to a wolf."

Thirteen laughed. "You better not let yourself be at my bad graces, or I won't forget to tell Julie you compared her to a wolf."

Seth rolled his eyes. "Oh, please, Alex. Like you have the stones to ever do that."

Thirteen slapped Seth on the arm, chuckling.

Seth took a look at Thirteen. "You look great tonight, by the way."

"Thanks. You look pretty good yourself."

"Thank you."

"So you are coming to Newport on Chrismukkah, right?"

"Am I coming to Newport on what?"

"Chrismukkah. Christmas and Hanukkah. The greatest holiday of all holidays."

Thirteen gave Seth a strange look. "Um, well… maybe. I mean, I do have work. You know, doctors aren't as fortunate as to have the chance to come home early on Christmas like everybody else."

"Oh, right, besides the fact that Julie Cooper scares you, you mean."

"No," Thirteen replied, before finally conceding. "Well, okay, that too."

Seth chuckled and Thirteen punched him in the arm. "Ow, hey. Yeah, just compensate for it by hitting somebody who doesn't scare you."

"Shut up, Seth," Thirteen chuckled, but then she turned serious. "Actually, Marissa hasn't asked me yet."

"Oh." Seth placed an arm around Thirteen's shoulder. "I'm sure she's going to."

Thirteen nodded. "So Summer said you wanted to tell me something."

"Oh, actually, I just needed you to take me away from that doctor talk I could understand absolutely nothing of. My head was beginning to hurt. So thanks for rescuing me."

Thirteen rolled her eyes. "Glad to help, Seth."

Across the room, Summer held a glass of wine as she peered at her best friend's sparkling eyes. "So you guys are going to Newport, too, aren't you? On Chrismukkah?"

"Oh… I don't know yet. Maybe."

"What do you mean 'maybe'? Come on, we haven't gone home for the holidays since two years ago. Even Kaitlin's gonna be there. And your Dad. Don't you wanna see your Dad?"

"I do, I just… I wanna stay with Alex on Christmas. You know… with her dad gone… All she's got left is me, Sum."

"Yeah, but didn't your mom say you could bring Alex?"

"She did. But the thing is, I'm not sure Alex will like that idea. You know she and my mom aren't exactly each other's biggest fan."

"Yes, I know. But you should just ask her. I'm sure she'll pretty much say yes to whatever you ask for. I mean, you do have her wrapped around your little finger, Coop." Summer's looked up and noticed Thirteen looking directly at their direction while she paid no attention to whatever Seth was prattling on about. "I can tell."

Marissa noticed Summer looking at something or someone so she followed her line of sight. She blushed as Thirteen held her gaze, smiling a small smile that made everybody else in the room disappear again.

---

What day is it,

And in what month?

This clock there seemed so alive.

Thirteen let out a long sigh and watched as little clouds of moisture came out of her mouth. She had taken one long look at Marissa, who seemed to be having enough fun with Summer, and discreetly slipped out of the party and took the stairs to the hospital's rooftop a few minutes ago while Seth got engrossed in a conversation about comic books and science fiction with Kutner. She savored the peace and quiet that her aloneness had brought, but it was not going to last much longer.

I can't keep up, and I can't back down.

I've been losing so much time.

Thirteen sighed and put her arms around herself as she stared at the foggy, starless night sky. She wished Marissa had been there with her so she wouldn't have to keep herself warm. She would've been a disruption to the peace, the quiet, and the safety, but she would be a welcome disruption nonetheless. Unbeknownst to her, Marissa was already trudging up the stairwell in her high heels looking for her.

"Alex?" She finally heard the girl of her dreams call her through the cold night's air.

"Hey," Thirteen responded with a soft smile.

'Cause it's you and me,

And all of the people

With nothing to do, nothing to lose,

And it's you and me,

And all of the people,

And I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you.

"I've been all over the place looking for you."

"Sorry. You looked like you were having a lot of fun with Summer. I didn't want to interrupt."

Marissa gave Thirteen a look. "Please interrupt next time."

Thirteen smiled. "Okay."

"What are you doing up here anyway?" Marissa was now only about four feet away from Thirteen.

"This is where I go when I want to be alone. When I need to, you know… escape House and his crazy ways."

Marissa stopped. "Oh. Well… I guess I'll just go back to the party." She made a move to turn around and go back from where she came in.

What are the things that I wanna say?

Just aren't coming out right.

"No, no, wait. I don't want you to go," Thirteen said. "Please stay?"

Marissa returned to face Thirteen. "Only if you want me to."

"I do," Thirteen replied. "C'mere."

I'm tripping on words,

You got my head spinning,

I don't know where to go from here.

Marissa timidly walked the rest of the way to Thirteen. Thirteen rubbed Marissa's bare arms to warm them before deciding to take off the jacket that she had grabbed from her locker on the way to the rooftop.

"Won't you be needing this?" Marissa asked as Thirteen wrapped the garment around her shoulders. "You're gonna be cold."

"I'll be just fine." Thirteen slowly turned Marissa around so that they were now both facing the city. She placed her arms around Marissa's middle and rested her chin on her shoulder. Marissa smiled as she closed her eyes and melted against Thirteen.

'Cause it's you and me,

And all of the people

With nothing to do, nothing to prove,

And it's you and me,

And all of the people,

And I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you.

Marissa could not help but think how everything felt so right. More than anything she just wished that time would stop so that they could stay in this moment forever.

The two women were silent for a while, until Marissa brought up the thing she had been wanting to ask Thirteen all night.

"My mom wants me home for Christmas," she said. "She told me to bring you."

"Mmm?" Thirteen hummed softly as she nuzzled Marissa's neck.

Marissa could feel Thirteen's hot breath against her neck. "W-will you come with me?"

Thirteen was silent for a minute. Marissa turned her head so that they were almost face to face.

"Will you?" asked Marissa.

Thirteen kept her eyes on Marissa as she said, "Yeah. I'm sure I could work my schedule out with House."

"I'll help you talk to him," said Marissa.

Thirteen nodded, a small smile on her face.

There's something about you now,

I can't quite figure out.

"Have I told you lately that I love you?" Thirteen suddenly said out of nowhere.

Everything she does is beautiful.

Everything she does is right.

"Yesterday," Marissa said with a smile as she turned around.

Thirteen unwrapped her arms from around Marissa and allowed her to face her fully.

"Twice," Marissa continued. "Also the day before yesterday. And the day before that."

Thirteen frowned, her lips slightly pouting and her brows slightly furrowed. Marissa's heart skipped a beat. How can something so simple be so sexy?

"I haven't told you yet today?"

Marissa bit her lip and shook her head gently. "You don't have to. I already know you do."

Thirteen placed her hand on Marissa's face. "I want to," she said earnestly. "I want to tell you. Everyday, while I still can." A sad smile appeared on her lips.

Marissa looked away. Thirteen gently caressed her cheek with the knuckles of her hand. Marissa instinctively leaned to Thirteen's touch as she struggled to keep her emotions in check and stay strong for her Alex. Nevertheless, Thirteen could easily see the sadness in Marissa's face.

Once again, silence fell upon the two women and they remained rooted on their feet as they got lost in each other's eyes.

'Cause it's you and me,

And all of the people

With nothing to do, nothing to lose,

And it's you and me,

And all of the people,

And I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you.

After a while, Thirteen pulled Marissa into her and hugged her tenderly. How did I ever live without you? She gave Marissa an affectionate squeeze before whispering into her ear, "Wanna go back to the party, play a little poker?"

Marissa shook her head against Thirteen's shoulder. "I like it here. Just you and me." She snuggled more into Thirteen. "Definitely beats poker with House, half the hospital and all the guys in your department checking you out, and those awful hors d'ouevres," she said, before adding in a soft voice, "And pretty much everything, actually."

Thirteen chuckled. "Good to know."

What day is it,

And in what month?

This clock never seemed so alive.

---

With their hands entwined with each other's, Thirteen and Marissa made their way towards the former's colleagues.

Foreman watched as Thirteen and Marissa walked towards them. Well, actually, it was mostly Thirteen he was watching. He shook his head lightly. He wouldn't have stopped from staring at Thirteen if she didn't have Marissa pressed tightly against her side. Hopefully, the others, most especially House, didn't get any clues that he might be crushing on Thirteen. Not that he thought his crush was serious or harmful, but he knew that House's knowledge of any possible attraction he has for her is. He had contemplated acting on his feelings only once and very briefly anyway. Now, he was just really happy that she was finally finding her way back to sanity. He knew she had never had any real reason to hang on, no real reason to try to fight the disease or live with the disease. But now that she had finally found something to fight and live for, that was all that truly mattered. So he shook his thoughts away and cleared his throat to announce the girls' arrival to his other colleagues. He gestured to them with the glass of cognac he was holding.

"Ladies."

Thirteen and Marissa smiled at Foreman's congenial greeting.

"We've been wondering where Princeton Plainsboro's golden couple have gone to."

"Yeah," agreed House. "This party's started to get boring without you."

Marissa smiled. "We were up in the rooftop."

"Warming each other up?" House tried.

"Talking," Marissa said, chuckling.

"Oh," House let out, pretending to be disappointed. "Matching necklaces," he changed the subject. "Very cute."

Marissa smiled and took the heart-shaped pendant between her fingers. "Thank you," she said. Beside her, Thirteen was trying really hard not to smile at House's observation.

"So did we miss anything?" Thirteen changed the subject.

House shook his head. "Nothing. Just a few minor, mildly interesting workplace revelations."

Kutner gulped and looked away. Foreman did his best not to look guilty.

"You don't have anything against mountain ox strangulations, do you?"

Thirteen's eyes narrowed. "I'm not sure what that's a metaphor of, so I'm gonna choose to just take that in the literal sense," she said. "Yes. I do, in fact, condemn animal cruelty."

"Good!" House exclaimed. "Bad for Chase, but good for that mountain ox."

Confused, both Thirteen and Marissa looked at Chase with their eyebrows raised in question.

"Not that Chase," House said. He pointed a finger at Cameron and muttered, only the corner of his lips moving, "That Chase."

Thirteen nodded slowly. "Okay, I'm not even going to ask why."

"Don't," Cameron agreed as she eyed House with a pronounced look of annoyance.

"So anyway," Marissa quickly changed the subject. "Alex wants to ask you something." She gently bumped Thirteen's side with her hip.

"You mean you want her to ask me something."

Marissa ignored House and elbowed Thirteen gently on the side. "Go on. Ask him."

Thirteen cleared her throat. "Can I talk to you?" she asked House.

"You already are."

Thirteen didn't say anything for a while. House raised his brows.

"Um, well," Thirteen began, "I was just wondering if it's possible that you allow me to take a few days off next week…?"

House grimaced dramatically. "But what about Secret Santa?"

"I'll still do Secret Santa," Thirteen said quickly. "And I'm willing to work more hours once I get back. I'll do three days' worth of your clinic hours," she offered.

House narrowed his eyes. "Get back from where?"

Thirteen sighed, realizing it's probably time to simply come clean. "I'm going to Orange County to spend Christmas with Marissa and her family. I'm also, hopefully, meeting her dad for the first time. I really want to make a good impression and turning the invitation down, I'm thinking, is probably not the best way to do that."

House's eyes were narrowed as he seemed to be thinking about it. After a moment, he finally nodded. "Okay."

Thirteen frowned slightly, surprised that his approval came too easily.

Taub was about to protest, but Kutner had elbowed him hard on the arm to stop him from doing so. Kutner thought he'd save Thirteen the effort of having to beg some more, and House, too, from making excuses as to why he was being nice. Taub sighed and kept his mouth shut as he shook his head and ignored Kutner's glare.

"But on one condition," House added.

"Name it," Thirteen said.

"I'm letting you off for three days if you promise to do a week of my clinic hours."

Seven days of dealing with common colds and the flu in exchange for three days with Marissa miles away from House and his insane stunts? Thirteen only had to think about it for a split second. "Okay."

"And also—" House began.

"W-wait." Thirteen held out a hand as she looked out House in disbelief. "You said one condition."

"Clinic duty wasn't the condition. It was a given," House said.

Thirteen rolled her eyes. "Okay, so what do I really have to do for you to let me go?"

"You have to promise that you will come back with footage of the two of you drinking eggnog under the mistletoe," House said. "And of course, by 'drinking eggnog', I really mean kissing."

Behind House, Kutner, Taub and Foreman all rolled their eyes, completely unsurprised.

"Could be photos, film…" House continued. "I appreciate all types of media, but of course, video's more preferable."

Thirteen glared at House. "No way."

"Yes way!" Marissa chirped as she stepped between Thirteen and House. "She means 'yes way'," she said with a grin.

Thirteen looked at Marissa incredulously.

House smiled a smug smile. "I knew there was a reason I like you."

Marissa just smiled, and said, "Merry Christmas, Dr. House."

"Also, I'd let you off for one more day if you put on sexy Santa outfits while you—"

"Don't push your luck," Marissa quickly cut House off, ignoring Thirteen's protests as she pulled her away. "Alex will have her formal request for leave on your desk by tomorrow!" she added before they headed to the exit.

"You let her spend the holidays with people she could call family… for a pretty small price," Wilson said to House as the two of them walked to a nearby poker table. "That was nice of you."

"You think I should've held out until they agreed to include the 'sexy Santa outfit' clause to that deal?"

"You didn't do that for yourself," Wilson said as he and House sat across each other on the poker table.

"Sure I did," House replied as he shuffled the cards on the green velvet tabletop. "Of course they're both going to enjoy doing their little homework, but I did it out of pure self-interest."

Wilson ignored him. "You did it for Thirteen, albeit in a very inappropriate, unprofessional and completely perverted manner," he said as he examined and arranged his cards in his hand. "But…" he shrugged slightly, "baby steps."

On the way to her car, Marissa jangled the keys out of her purse as her girlfriend slipped into the passenger seat, a look of disbelief on her face.

"We are not giving him pictures of us making out under the mistletoe, or anywhere else, for that matter," Thirteen said to a still-grinning Marissa as they found themselves alone once again inside the former's car.

Marissa giggled. "Of course we're not," she said as she started the car. "But we'll worry about that when we come back from our vacation in Newport."

Thirteen grinned, her eyes narrowed at Marissa. "I forgot how good you are at this."

Marissa smiled as she started the car. "You forgot I'm my mother's daughter."

Thirteen made a face. "Oh I didn't forget that."

Marissa laughed. She leaned over the passenger side of the car and gave Thirteen a peck on the cheek before sitting back and slamming on the gas. "You and I on Christmas with House nowhere near us," she said with a glint in her eyes. "It's gonna be awesome."

---

"Alex!" a small voice interrupted Thirteen's peaceful slumber.

Thirteen felt tiny hands shake her in her sleep.

"Aaaalleeeex!"

She cracked her eye open and smiled when she saw Sarah wagging a pink plastic toy horse near her face.

"Hmm…" Thirteen groaned. "What's going on?"

"My daddy told me to wake you up and tell you that breakfast is ready. He made strawberry waffles."

"Really."

"Yes. But he said you can have bagels, too, if you don't like strawberry waffles."

"I love strawberry waffles."

Sarah smiled. "Me, too."

Thirteen slowly sat up and stretched her arms. Sarah giggled.

Thirteen smiled down at the little girl. "What?"

"Your hair's all messed up."

Thirteen laughed. "Oh, is it?"

Sarah nodded.

"Well that's not fair. Why don't I just mess up yours, too?" She reached out and ruffled Sarah's hair, making the girl giggle. "There ya go. Now both our hairs are messed up."

Sarah sat on her knees, looking up at Thirteen, with a huge grin pasted on her face.

Thirteen smiled. "So how about those waffles?"

---

"I didn't know you could cook, Seth. Are you sure it's safe for us to eat those?"

Seth turned away from the stove and wiped his hands on the apron he was wearing. "Good morning to you, too, Alex."

Thirteen leaned on the doorway with her arms crossed. "You never struck me as the cooking type."

"Well, you know. Having a wife and a kid, a family of your own… Changes a person in ways you never would've imagined."

Thirteen grinned. "Uh-huh?"

"Yup." Seth removed his apron, revealing a crimson knitted sweater with reindeers on the front. "Where's Sarah?"

"Oh, she went to look for Neil and Julie and your mom and dad to tell them breakfast is ready."

Seth grinned proudly. "My very own Santa's little helper."

"Do you know where Marissa is?"

"Christmas shopping with Summer," Seth replied as he prepared the table.

"Again?"

Seth nodded. "Again."

"Wow. Don't they ever get tired of shopping? We've just gone shopping yesterday."

"Don't ask me. I'm just as clueless as you are."

"Daddy, daddy!" Sarah appeared on the kitchen's doorway, flushed and slightly breathless.

"Hey, sweetie. What is it?"

"Ryan's here!"

As if on cue, Ryan appeared and lifted a giggling Sarah in his arms. "Hey, guys."

"Ryan. Hello," Seth greeted his pseudo-brother with a wave of his spatula.

Ryan shot Thirteen a smile. "What's up, Alex?"

"Hey, Ryan. Good to see you."

"Good to see you, too." Ryan looked around. "So. Where's everyone?"

"Shopping," Thirteen replied.

"Again," Seth added.

Ryan nodded, as though no more explaining had to be done. "What's that I smell?"

"Strawberry waffles," Sarah replied promptly.

"Smells great."

Seth grinned triumphantly. "Doesn't it?"

"Yeah." Ryan pulled out chair and set Sarah down on it. Then he pulled another one for himself. "You made them?"

"Who else do you think could have made them? Alex?"

Ryan smirked. "Oh, yeah. I forgot you don't eat breakfast."

"I do now," Thirteen replied and she took the seat beside Sarah. "And I'll have you two know I make a pretty mean breakfast."

"Well, we'd love to try that out sometime, Alex."

Ryan grinned. "Yeah. Looking forward to it."

---

"Alex, look what Ryan got me!" Sarah exclaimed excitedly as she held up a box wrapped in green and red wrapping paper. Thirteen was now standing by the Christmas tree—or Chrismukkah tree, Seth had insisted—that she, Summer, Marissa, and Seth and Sarah had decorated the day they arrived to the Cohen mansion. She had just excused herself from the dining table where the Cohens, Ryan, Julie and Neil were catching up, telling them that she had a few calls to make. As much as they were all generally nice to her, she still wasn't entirely comfortable interacting with them, especially with Julie.

Thirteen smiled down at Sarah and knelt before her. "Wow! That's awesome. More presents for you."

"Yeah," Sarah replied. "Ryan says I can't open it yet, though."

"Well, he's right. You have to wait for Christmas day—"

"Chrismukkah," Sarah corrected her.

"Right," Thirteen agreed, chuckling, "You have to wait for Chrismukkah before you can open your presents."

"I know, that's what he said."

"But hey, Chrismukkah's tomorrow," Thirteen insisted. "You can open it first thing in the morning."

Sarah smiled.

"Why don't you put that underneath the tree for now?"

"Okay." Sarah nodded. "I'll put it right next to the present you gave me."

Thirteen smiled. "Okay." She watched Sarah obediently do what she was told. "Here. Let me help you arrange all these up so they won't topple over," she said, referring to the small mountain of gifts Sarah had received from her parents, grandparents, Thirteen, Ryan, Kaitlin, her friends, and even Kutner and the Chases.

"Wow, you have tons of presents," Thirteen said as she continued piling up the presents that Sarah was handing her one by one.

From across the room, neither of them noticed that both Marissa and Summer had already arrived. The best friends silently entered the living room and Marissa instantly smiled when she saw her girlfriend and her goddaughter giggling on the foot of the huge Christmas tree. Summer noticed Marissa's starry-eyed look and wordlessly continued to the kitchen donning a small smirk.

"There. All done," Thirteen declared as she placed the last of the gifts on the very top of the huge pile, still unaware of Marissa's presence in the room.

It was Sarah who was first to notice that they weren't alone.

"Marissa!"

Thirteen turned and looked up to see Marissa standing in the doorway, shopping bags still in hand. "Hey." She quickly stood up and dutifully took the bags from Marissa's hands. "Here, let me help you with that."

"Thanks," Marissa replied absently, not taking her eyes from Thirteen's face. She wanted so badly to kiss the brunette good morning, but knew she couldn't yet. Not with Sarah in the room.

"Where do you want me to put these?"

"Oh, um… My room."

Thirteen nodded. "Okay." She started moving towards the stairs.

"Wait, um…" Marissa stopped her. "On second thought, we could just put them away in your room."

Thirteen shot her a confused look. "My room," she repeated.

"Kaitlin," Marissa mouthed.

Thirteen nodded slowly, and then smiled to herself when she finally understood.

Marissa smiled and bit her lip before walking up the stairs with Thirteen to the guest room.

---

Thirteen smiled as her knees hit the bed and she fell on her back with Marissa falling on top of her. She released a quiet moan as Marissa bit down her bottom lip and gently sucked on it. She was now lying on her back on the guest room's bed while Marissa straddled her hips. The half dozen Chanel and Gucci paper bags she was carrying a minute ago lay forgotten on the floor.

Marissa finally broke the really long, breathtaking kiss. Thirteen looked upon her flushed face as she hovered above her. A heart-shaped pendant hung from her neck, reflecting the light coming from the windows.

"Wow," Thirteen breathed out. "What was that for?"

Marissa untangled her legs from Thirteen's and took her place beside the brunette. She laid her head on Thirteen's shoulder, both of them still panting from the intensity of the kiss.

"Just wanted to say… good morning," Marissa explained almost breathlessly.

Thirteen blinked. "Well, wow… I think you just performed the miracle of turning me into a morning person."

Marissa chuckled. She placed a kiss on Thirteen's neck and then settled her back on its place on her shoulder.

There was silence as both of them tried to catch their breaths.

"I should just sleep here," Marissa broke the silence. "In this room."

"You know I would love that… But you can't. I'm pretty positive your mother won't allow it."

"I'm twenty-eight years old, Alex. My mother's years of trying to control my life have long been over."

"I know. But she's your mother," Thirteen replied as she idly played with Marissa's hair. "She wants to protect you. It's what mothers do. It's what my mother used to do."

Marissa didn't have to strain her ears to hear the sadness in Thirteen's voice. She took Thirteen's other hand and kissed its palm. Thirteen smiled at the sweet gesture.

"Do you miss them?" Marissa asked quietly. "Your mom and your dad?" She waited patiently for Thirteen's reply.

"More than I ever thought I would," it finally came after a short pause. Thirteen buried her face on the top of Marissa's head and took solace in the sweet smell of Marissa's hair. "But I have you," Thirteen whispered. "That's all I need."

Marissa looked up to see Thirteen's face. Her eyes were sad, but even so they were the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

Thirteen smiled to let Marissa know that she was okay and that she meant what she had just said.

Marissa's expression didn't change as she brought her fingertips and ran them over Thirteen's soft lips before she replaced them with her lips.

When they pulled away, Marissa set her head back down on Thirteen's shoulder and closed her eyes. They immersed themselves in a comfortable silence, simply enjoying the moment together.

"My sister annoys me though," Marissa said after a while as she randomly played with the button of Thirteen's dress shirt.

Thirteen chuckled, secretly touched at Marissa's subtle attempt to lighten the mood. "Come on. Kaitlin's not that bad."

"Oh don't you dare take my sister's side over mine, Alex Hadley."

"What?" Thirteen laughed. "She's really nice."

Marissa lifted her head a bit and scowled playfully at her girlfriend.

"I may be biased though," Thirteen said. "I mean she is yoursister."

Marissa chuckled and hit Thirteen with a pillow. "Suck-up."

---

Thirteen poured some cookie dough into a bowl before picking up a spoon and stirring it. Her CBGB shirt was covered in flour and sugar dust.

Across from her on the kitchen island, Marissa was up on a high chair and bent over the cold marble surface with her chin resting on her hand. She was wearing a grin as she kept her eyes glued to the brunette across from her.

Thirteen kept stirring the sticky stuff, adding some flour every now and then as she played it cool and pretended not to be self-conscious from her every move being watched.

"Why are you staring at me?" Thirteen finally asked without taking her eyes off of the bowl.

"I'm not," Marissa said in her best innocent-sounding voice.

Thirteen continued stirring for a few more minutes, until she couldn't ignore Marissa anymore. She took her eyes off the dough only for a split second to see Marissa biting her bottom lip and grinning at her. She let go of the bowl and the stirrer, crossed her arms and looked at Marissa. "Okay, seriously, have you never seen anyone baking cookies before?" she asked with a slight smile threatening to break out on her own face. "You're distracting me."

"I have," Marissa said slowly as she hopped of her chair and slowly walked around the island to get to Thirteen. "Though I have never imagined that I would ever see tough girl Alex Kelly baking Christmas cookies," she said a she placed her arms around Thirteen's neck. "It's kinda cute," she added.

Thirteen chuckled. "You think so?"

"Mmhmm," Marissa said before letting go of Thirteen and turning to the cookie dough bowl. Thirteen watched her dip a finger into the pastry mixture and stuck it into her mouth. "Mm… mmmm….."

Thirteen watched as Marissa scooped another helping of cookie dough from the bowl. "How is it?"

"That…" Marissa licked a small mound of dough from her finger. "…is really, really good," she said, slightly surprised.

Thirteen smirked. "That'll teach you never to underestimate me again, Cooper."

Marissa giggled. She scooped some more of the sticky dough and put some on Thirteen's nose before running off.

Thirteen looked at Marissa incredulously. She swiped the dough off her nose and ate it before running after Marissa. She caught the giggling Marissa by the waist and lifted her a couple of inches off the ground. She turned Marissa around so that they were facing each other, and wrapped her arms around her waist. Marissa closed the gap. They both smiled into the kiss.

Things quickly started heating up between the couple that they didn't even notice Seth, Summer and Sarah enter the kitchen.

"Holy mother of Moses!" Seth uttered as he quickly shielded Sarah's eyes with his hand, and Summer, in turn, shielded his.

Thirteen and Marissa broke apart.

"Hey," Thirteen said awkwardly to the Cohens. Her cheeks were still flushed from making out and from being caught. "We didn't hear you—We were just… starting to bake the cookies."

"Prepping the oven?" Seth maliciously inquired.

"You can shut up now Seth," Thirteen said, a mixture of annoyance and amusement in her voice.

Even from behind the cover of Summer's hand on his eyes Seth could tell Thirteen was glaring at him and so he promptly shut up.

"I'm so sorry you guys," Summer said as she gently pushed both her daughter and her husband out of the room. "We were hungry and we thought we'd just raid the fridge. I think we'll order out in the meantime while you're…" she trailed off. "Yeah, bye."

Marissa awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck as another unwelcome intruder barged into the kitchen. An ecstatic-looking Kaitlin entered and yelled, "Marissa!" Clearly, whatever it was that happened had her so excited that she completely missed the awkwardness in the situation she had just walked in on.

"What's going on?" Marissa asked her sister.

"Dad's here!"

---

"Daddy!" Marissa flung herself into Jimmy Cooper's arms.

"Hey, kiddo," Jimmy greeted her daughter with a tender embrace.

Marissa pulled away to take a good look at her father. "You look really good, Dad."

"Why so do you, sweetheart," Jimmy said. "I missed you last summer."

"I know, sorry. I had a deadline," Marissa said. "By the way, there's somebody I want you to meet." She turned and beckoned Thirteen to come closer. "This is Alex Hadley. She's the one I've telling you about," she blushed.

"Ah. Alex." Jimmy held out his hand to Thirteen. "It's good to finally put a face to the name. Marissa has told me so much about you."

Thirteen took his hand and shook it. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Cooper."

---

Marissa laid a plate of red and green cookies on the coffee table where her dad and girlfriend were gathered around. She was inwardly relieved that her mother had left earlier and wasn't around to make things weird for her and Thirteen. She wanted her dad and her girlfriend to get to know each other without her mother meddling and breathing down Thirteen's neck the entire time.

"Chrismukkah cookies for everyone," Marissa announced. The cookies were cut into different shapes; some were in the shape of Christmas trees or pentameters, while some were patterned after the Star of David and yarmulkes. "Alex made them."

"Marissa and I did," Thirteen piped in.

"I handed over the ingredients," Marissa interjected.

Jimmy bent over and took a piece. He took a bite and chewed thoughtfully. "Mm. She's a doctor and a fabulous baker. I think this one just might be a keeper, honey."

Marissa caught Thirteen's eye and gave her a smile. Then she told her and Jimmy that she would get some hot chocolate to go with the cookies and that she will be right back.

"So, Alex," Jimmy began. "Marissa tells me you're a medical fellow in a hospital in Princeton."

"Yes, I am," Thirteen said, nodding. "I work in Princeton Plainsboro Teaching Hospital's diagnostic department."

"Your family's from New Jersey?"

"No, my family's originally from New York City, but I grew up in LA."

"I see," Jimmy said, nodding. "So what does your father do?"

"He… was a cop…" Thirteen recognized the curiosity in Jimmy's face so she casually added, "He died… almost a month ago. He was killed in the line of duty."

Jimmy's face turned grave. "I'm so sorry to hear that." He paused. "How about your mother? Is she in LA?"

"No…" Thirteen replied. "She, um… She died just after I got into college." She could see how sorry Jimmy was from his expression.

"That's terrible," Jimmy said. "It must have been really hard for you."

"It was," Thirteen replied quietly. "I was telling Marissa how lucky she truly is, for having parents who can be there for her when she needs them."

Jimmy smiled. He leaned forward on the couch and rested his forearms on his lap as he looked straight into Thirteen's eyes. "Well, to tell you the truth, Alex… I haven't always been there for Marissa, or for Kaitlin…" He paused, as if searching for words.

Thirteen swallowed. She was sure she was about to get the I'm-gonna-hunt-you-down-if-you-ever-hurt-my-daughter speech just about then, like Sandy Cohen, who was then wearing a perfectly pressed suit and a scowl, once did when he came into the Bait Shop to tell her to stop corrupting his little boy. It wasn't that Jimmy looked anything intimidating with his wavy graying blond hair, kind, blue eyes, and boyish grin. It was just that Thirteen had never been good with parents. Not that she had ever been with any person, male or female, who she was serious enough with (or who was serious enough with her) to actually be, and care to be, formally introduced to their folks. Now Sandy and Kirsten were an exception (and even they didn't completely approve of her, at least not from the beginning), but God knows she has never been someone who her friends' parents would be happy to know their kids were hanging out with. Even her own parents had given her a hard time for who she was, what she liked to do and who she liked.

"…but, I love my daughters very much," Jimmy continued, "and I'd do anything in my power to protect them and keep them happy."

Thirteen didn't say anything, afraid that her voice would give away how sad that just made her. "I'd do the same thing for your daughter, sir," she gave Jimmy her word.

To Thirteen's relief, Jimmy only gave her a small smile and a nod. He didn't say anything more as Marissa waltzed into the room carrying a tray with three steaming mugs of hot chocolate.

"You're not giving Alex a hard time, are you, Daddy?" Marissa good-naturedly asked her dad as she set the tray on the coffee table and settled beside Thirteen on the couch.

"Of course not, sweetheart," Jimmy said as he picked up his mug and carefully took a sip. "I have a feeling I don't even need to."

Thirteen and Marissa shared a small smile.

Thirteen cleared her throat. "So, Mr. Cooper…"

"Call me Jimmy."

Thirteen smiled nervously. "Okay, well… Jimmy," she obliged. "So, um, I understand you've been staying in Maui."

"Yes, I have," Jimmy replied. "Have you ever been to there?"

"Yeah, I've been there once, a couple of years ago. It's a beautiful place. The beaches are great for surfing."

Jimmy's face lit up. "Oh, you surf, too?"

The rest of the conversation flew by with Jimmy telling them tales of his great island adventures and Thirteen saying all the right things to keep him engaged and impressed. Thirteen herself was surprised at how well everything was going.

"The two of you should come visit sometime," Jimmy said to the two girls. "You're gonna love the house. It's right by the beach and Marissa's got her own room."

"You're not gonna believe how amazing the view is from my room, Lex," Marissa gushed, squeezing Thirteen's hand that was resting on her lap.

Jimmy looked at Thirteen expectantly. "So what do you say, Alex?"

Thirteen looked at Marissa, who simply smiled. She turned to Jimmy. "I'd love to."

Jimmy beamed in satisfaction. "So it's settled then. You and I are going surfing in Maui in the summer."

Marissa smiled and squeezed Thirteen's knee. The first meeting of two of the most important persons in her life couldn't have ended on a better note.

---

Been up all night staring at you,

Wondering what's on your mind.

I've been this way with so many before,

But this feels like the first time.

Marissa smiled as she awoke to Thirteen leaving butterfly kisses along the length of her shoulder. Without opening her eyes, she extended her neck a bit to the side to further expose the nape of her neck while Thirteen brushed the hair off her back and continued assaulting her neck and shoulder with soft, sweet kisses.

You want the sunrise to go back to bed,

I wanna make you laugh.

"Morning," Thirteen mumbled in response to Marissa snuggling more against her. She burrowed her head in Marissa's neck and smiled as the girl arched to her touch.

"Mmm," was all Marissa managed to let out as she felt Thirteen's hand began rubbing her belly underneath the cool covers. She couldn't help but smile as she relived the beautiful night they had shared. She rolled over to lie flat on her back and let Thirteen position herself on top of her as they fervently kissed.

Mess up my bed with me.

Kick off the covers, I'm waiting.

Every word you say I think I should write down.

Don't want to forget come daylight.

Things were quickly heating up between them, until the mood was killed by the peculiar sound of Thirteen's pager beeping from somewhere on the floor.

Thirteen sighed and kissed Marissa's forehead before bending over to grab her pants off the floor. She extracted the device from its pocket and took a quick glance at it before turning it off and tossing it back to the carpeted ground. Then she repositioned herself on top of Marissa and began attacking her lips again.

Happy to lay here, just happy to be here,

I'm happy to know you.

Play me a song, your newest one.

Please leave your taste on my tongue.

They made out for a few more minutes until they were both out of breath.

Paperweight on my back,

Cover me like a blanket.

"Do you have to go?" Marissa asked when Thirteen finally pulled away.

"Yeah," Thirteen said before pressing her lips against Marissa's once more. "Sorry." She broke the kiss and stared at Marissa's eyes while she rested her weight on her forearms. She watched as Marissa took her heart pendant between her fingers and began playing with it.

"Take the day off. You've been working for three days nonstop," Marissa said, her eyes on the pendant. She didn't quit fiddling with it when she looked up at Thirteen's smiling face and said sultrily, "I promise to make it worth your while."

Thirteen gave out a soft chuckle. "Tempting, but I really gotta get to work." She carefully sat up and grabbed her discarded shirt off the foot of the bed. "Somebody's gotta support your shopping habit," she added matter-of-factly as she buttoned her shirt. After she put it on, she proceeded to pick up and put on the other articles of clothing she (or Marissa) had hastily thrown all over the room last night.

"I can support my own shopping habit," Marissa giggled as she watched her girlfriend slip into her pants. "Not that I have one."

"Yeah, but that's no way to make Julie Cooper know you're well taken care of, is it?" Thirteen asked rhetorically, before adding, "And we both know you do have a shopping habit."

Marissa smirked as she raised herself off the bed a little, resting her forearms on it. "Do I hear you complaining?"

Thirteen sat on the edge of the bed beside Marissa and smirked. "I just said I'd support it, didn't I?"

Marissa giggled as she sat up completely and pulled Thirteen to her. "Keep that up and you…" she said and kissed Thirteen in one fluid motion, "…are going to win my mother's approval in no time."

Thirteen grinned. "I'll see you tonight?"

Marissa nodded as Thirteen closed the gap between them one more time.

"I love you," Thirteen mumbled into the kiss, hardly noticing the slight frown that appeared on Marissa's face before she hurriedly left to go home for a quick shower and a change of clothes before heading to work.

Marissa sighed and fell back to her bed, muttering to herself, "Happy Valentine's Day to you, too."

---

"You're not seriously planning to stop the patient's heart trying to find out what's messing it up, are you?" Foreman asked House. He, Taub, and Kutner were standing in House's office, all slightly disheartened at still not being able to diagnose their latest patient, and that House, of course, wasn't helping.

House was leaning back on his chair with his ankles crossed on the table, while tossing and catching his ball repeatedly in the air. He caught the ball with his two hands as he replied without looking at the Foreman. "Just half-seriously," he replied offhandedly.

Foreman gritted his teeth. "This is really not a good time to kid around, House."

"We can't stop the patient's heart," Taub focused the conversation back to their diagnostic dilemma.

"Would you rather we just let it stop on its own?" House continued playing catch as he replied.

"No, but I'd rather the patient be alive and not be brain-dead when we find out what's killing him," Foreman said.

"He's only gonna be inside the MRI for eight minutes tops," House countered calmly. "By the time you pull him out, Kutner will already be waiting with the paddles."

"The brain could only tolerate six minutes without—" Foreman's voice was beginning to rise.

"It's okay," Thirteen cut Foreman off as she barged into the room clutching a piece of paper in her hand. "We don't have to stop the patient's heart. I already know what it is."

House caught the ball with his hand and gave Thirteen his attention.

"Turns out he did have exposure to toxic substances. I found fungi in all over the kitchen of the old restaurant he works at," Thirteen explained.

"Yum," House remarked sarcastically.

"It's aspergillus. He probably inhaled fungus balls, which might have travelled to his heart through his bloodstream, and that's what's causing his symptoms. It fits. We just have to give him amphotericin B and he'll be fine."

Foreman narrowed his eyes at Thirteen. "You've already been to his workplace?"

Thirteen shrugged. "Figured it'd be quicker if I just went on with my idea than if I waited till you were convinced my idea was even worth trying."

"But we already ruled environment out," Kutner said.

"You did," replied Thirteen. "I didn't."

House nodded. "Nice. Go behind your teammates' backs and solve the puzzle by yourself when they refuse to listen to your idea." He turned to the guys of the team, smiling. "I knew there was a reason I hired her." He paused. "Besides the obvious."

Thirteen jammed her hands into her pockets, smiled and shrugged. "Can't be a team player every time. Not when your teammates are too distracted playing their little games." She turned around and started back to the way she came in. "I'm gonna go hook her to the IV antibiotics. We should know if the treatment is working in an hour."

House stood and smirked at Thirteen's retreating back.

"Hey, what's her hurry?" Kutner asked no one in particular.

"No idea," said House sarcastically to the young doctor. "Not like the patient couldn't wait five minutes. He does still have about two hours till those little fungus balls kill him. She could've at least stopped to chat about how she and bisexual Newport Barbie are doing, right? So rude of her to just leave us all hanging like that."

"It's Valentine's Day," Taub explained simply. "She's got a date." He pulled out the ringing phone out of his pocket, took a glance at the screen, and waved it in front of House, Foreman and Kutner. "And so do I." And then he strode out of the office after Thirteen.

House stood up and stared after Thirteen and Taub as they both walked off. "So our work here is done."

"I guess it is," Foreman shrugged.

House turned to the remaining men and shrugged. "You guys wanna go bowling? Wilson's out on a date, too, so maybe we could—"

"No," Foreman and Kutner said simultaneously, both starting toward the door before House could even finish.

"Me neither," House instantly agreed and threw himself on the recliner couch before turning the TV on.

---

"Tell me what's wrong, Brock. I need to know."

"Nothing's wrong, Marie."

"Something is. You've been distant. Tell me, Brock. Is it me?"

"No, Marie. It's not you. It's just that… I love you so much… it scares me…"

"Oh, Brock. I love you—"

House had muted the TV when he saw Thirteen enter the doctors' lounge where he had transferred to when he decided that hi-definition was the best way to go when watching new episodes of your favorite soap opera. His eyes scanned Thirteen's appearance as she walked over to the small desk on the corner of the room. She was dressed in casual clothes and clutching what seemed like a letter in one hand and a small dark velvet box on the other. The brunette didn't acknowledge his presence and simply grabbed some paperwork she had forgotten there earlier.

"Why are you still here?" House asked. "I thought you had a date."

Thirteen nodded as she pocketed the box she was holding and continued sorting through her things. "I do."

"You were supposed to have left more than half an hour ago. Wouldn't Little Miss Newport Beach get angry if you keep her waiting on Valentine's Day?"

"I had to meet somebody down at the lobby before I leave."

"Bigger boobs or longer legs?"

Thirteen stopped and gave House a look.

"Both?"

"My dad's lawyer," she said, "since I know you won't let it go." She went back to sorting her stuff.

"He left you a message? Your father?"

Thirteen nodded. "Yeah, and something else." She grabbed a stack of files and walked to the door. Then she stopped and turned to House, smiling vaguely. "Cuddy mentioned she's free tonight."

House looked at her. "If I didn't know you were way too hung up on your young love, I'd say you're totally up for doing Cuddy, too."

Thirteen ignored him. "Maybe you should ask her out tonight. Valentine's Day's supposed to be spent with somebody you really care about."

House didn't say anything but merely looked at Thirteen with a slightly guilty expression.

Thirteen turned and opened the door. She was about to step out when House finally found the tongue to speak.

"I never really took you for the mushy type."

Thirteen turned to him again and smiled. "If there's ever one time to be mushy, it's today. It's not bad. You should try it."

"You still owe me that picture of you and Marissa heating it up under the mistletoe, you know," House changed the subject.

"Oh." Thirteen recognized the deflection but ignored it, rummaging through the files tucked under her arm instead. She smiled when she found the thing she was looking for sticking out of a medical journal she had been reading. "Here."

House accepted the polaroid Thirteen had handed him. The photograph showed Marissa and Thirteen standing beneath a bunch of mistletoe, wearing on their heads what looked to him like a cross between a Jewish yarmulke and a Santa hat. Marissa's lips were sticking out to Thirteen's cheek, while Thirteen was making an exaggerated surprised face and held a little placard where it was written: "BESTEST. CHRISMUKKAH. EVER."

He smiled, not seeing Thirteen smirk, too, and leave.

---

Marissa checked the diamond-studded Bulgari watch that adorned her wrist for the fourth time in the last hour. The minute hand had just ticked a notch to indicate that her secretary was supposed to have entered the large mahogany doors of her office exactly an hour ago bearing the news that Thirteen already was standing in her outer office, just waiting to be called inside. She reached over her desk just a little to pick up her phone and check whether her girlfriend had left any messages to explain why she was still not in the office just as they had agreed over the phone earlier that day, a few hours after Thirteen had left her apartment to go to work.

Nope. No messages. None.

She sat back on the big maroon swivel chair and sighed. She had just finished writing next month's feature editorial piece and there was no more work left to do. Why was Thirteen late again? It was Valentine's Day and though there was never even a mention of the occasion in their conversations during the last weeks, be it face-to-face or over the phone, Marissa had hoped it was just either because Thirteen had been wanting her Valentine's plans to be a surprise, or because she simply had not had the chance to tell her and was planning to whisk her away for a romantic candlelight dinner or a stroll on the beach at the last minute. They haven't seen each other for days before last night after all, due to a patient from the ER being referred to House for either some fungal infection or lupus or trichomono-whatsitcalled (She didn't know what, exactly; it all sounded funny and weird to her on the phone).

Marissa sighed. Wherever Thirteen was and whatever she was doing, she was going to find out right at that moment. She knew Thirteen was never into the Valentine's dating (and really, neither was she), but it was just that the occasion held a special meaning to her and she was not about to let the day be over without being able to let Thirteen know just that. So she picked up her phone and was about to press call when she heard a faint knock on the door. She looked up.

"Yeah?"

Betty poked her head through the doorway. "Alex is here."

Marissa felt like a weight had been lifted off of her chest. She placed the phone back on her desk. "Oh. Thanks. Tell her I'll be right out in a second."

Betty nodded and did as she was told.

"Thanks, Betty," Thirteen told Marissa's secretary.

Betty smiled. "No problem. And good luck with your date. Not that you need it," she said.

Thirteen let out a small chuckle while she adjusted the package in her arms.

"See you around, Alex," Betty said as she pulled her bag to her shoulder and opened the door of the outer office. "You and Marissa have a good night." She winked at Thirteen before closing the door behind her.

Thirteen sat on the couch near the file cabinet in silence as she waited for Marissa to come out. Her head snapped to the door when she heard the door clunk faintly against its frame.

"Hey," Marissa said as she turned off the lights in her office and locked the door behind her. "I was starting to worry about you."

"Sorry I'm late. I really wanted to be here sooner," she apologized and Marissa's expression instantly softened.

"It's alright. I guess that's the advantage of dating a doctor," she said, smiling gently. "Are those flowers for me?"

Thirteen came up to Marissa and gave her a brief kiss. "I hope you like lilies."

Marissa took the bouquet that Thirteen handed her. "They're my favorite."

Thirteen shrugged, playing it cool. "They were all I could find," she took Marissa's best friend's suggestion and lied. She actually had to call Summer up roughly an hour ago to ask what Marissa liked as she swung by the flower shop on the way to the office. She had to endure a lecture over the phone about doing something special for her girlfriend on Valentine's Day. Apparently, Marissa had been wondering all week whether she, Thirteen, had been planning to do anything, or at least even remembered about their special day. She had told Summer not to worry because she's got everything covered.

"Of course I'm doing something special for her tonight," she had told Summer. "This is our first Valentine's Day back together."

The girl had sounded doubtful and Thirteen didn't blame her. She did care about Valentine's Day more than she let on, only she hadn't done anything remotely out of the ordinary for the holiday since she and Marissa broke up at the bonfire until this time. The truth was, although she always pretended not to care about the particular holiday, she was always, every year for ten years, unwillingly conscious of it approaching. Friends and colleagues would often ask her whether she had a date and she'd always reply with a casual shrug and say that she had a class or was on-duty. If anybody asked her out, she'd turn them down and study or go to work as per usual, avoiding anything that reminded her what day it was. She just never felt like doing anything special with anybody to commemorate the holiday.

"If you say so," Summer had replied. "But don't tell her you talked to me. She might hate me for holding out on her."

And that's what Thirteen did.

And no need to worry, that's wasting time.

And no need to wonder what's been on my mind.

"It was crazy out there. You'd think people had never owned a bunch of roses before. I had to drive a mile out of the way to find a flower shop in a neighborhood where there were less flower hoarders."

Marissa looked amazed. "That was why you were late?"

Thirteen shrugged again. "I'm bad at picking flower arrangements."

It's you,

It's you,

It's you…

Marissa smiled that sweet lopsided smile again. Thirteen swore to make it her life's work to make Marissa smile like that as often as she could.

Every word you say, I think I should write down.

Don't want to forget come daylight.

Marissa bent down to place the flowers on the nearby table and then faced Thirteen again, wrapping her arms around her shoulders and breathing her in.

I give up, I let you win.

You win, 'cause I'm not counting.

They stood smiling, wrapped in each other's arms for a few minutes. When they finally broke contact, Thirteen went and gathered the bouquet in her arms, and then said, "So, you ready?"

"Ready for what?"

Thirteen smiled, grabbed Marissa's hand and pulled her towards the door. "C'mon."

Marissa grinned. "Where are we going?"

"You'll see."

You made it back to sleep again.

Wonder what you're dreaming.

---

"Wow," Marissa softly exclaimed, her eyes sparkling, as Thirteen pulled her into a fancy little restaurant by the beach. "This is really nice, Lex."

"You like it?" Alex asked, watching Marissa survey the surroundings.

"It's beautiful."

The maître d', a short guy in a tuxedo and a bowtie, walked over to them. "Good evening."

"Um, hi, I have a reservation?"

"Your name, madame?"

"Remy Hadley."

The maître d' checked his list and then extended a hand towards the tables. "This way."

They were led to a private table by the glass windows where they could see the lights reflecting on the water. Once their jackets were taken, Thirteen pulled out a chair for Marissa and then sat herself across a small table set for two. They then ordered some food and a nice bottle of champagne to go with it.

There was a woman singing and a man playing the piano at one corner of the room. They sat in silence for a while as they listened to the song that was being played.

You, by the light, is the greatest find,

In a world full of wrong, you're the thing that's right.

Finally made it through the lonely, to the other side…

"When did you plan all this?" Marissa asked, still a little surprised that Thirteen had actually prepared something special for the two of them. She had completely expected to stay at home with her and maybe watch a DVD or two while eating takeout.

"Oh, a couple of days ago. I came here once with some friends and I immediately thought of this place when I was trying to decide where to take you. I knew you'd like it here because it's by the beach and they have live performers."

"I love it."

Thirteen smiled. "I'm really glad."

"I thought you had a rule against dating on Valentine's Day though."

Thirteen chuckled. "The rule was, no Valentine's Day first dates," she said. "Anyway, I already broke that rule once, so." She shrugged her shoulders.

Marissa grinned. "Oh yeah? Why did you, anyway?"

"Well… there was this girl…"

Marissa giggled. "You just couldn't stay away, could you?"

Thirteen smiled. "No, I couldn't."

Marissa grinned.

"You know what's funny though?"

"What?"

"This is embarrassing, but…" Thirteen warned as Marissa watched her with eager eyes and a big smile, "I was pretty convinced I jinxed up the best relationship I've ever had. I just kept telling myself, I shouldn't have brought her out on our first date on Valentine's Day."

Marissa erupted into a fit of giggles. It was the sweetest sound Thirteen had ever heard. She played it cool and rolled her eyes. "I know, it's stupid."

Marissa bit her lip. "Aww, it's okay. It's cute."

Thirteen grinned. "Well I'm glad you think it's cute."

Marissa smiled and nodded, covering Thirteen's hand with hers. "Except you didn't really jinx it up," she said softly. "'Cause I'm here now."

Thirteen beamed. "I guess I didn't."

Then her expression became more serious and she shifted their hands so that she was holding Marissa's, instead of the other way around. She leaned forward a bit and looked into Marissa's eyes. "It's isn't just Valentine's Day we're celebrating right now," she said softly. "We're celebrating the day you changed my life."

You set it again, my heart's in motion.

Every word feels like a shooting star.

I'm at the edge of my emotions,

Watching the shadows burning in the dark.

For a number of time that was more than she could count, Marissa found herself lost in Thirteen's eyes again. "You have no idea how happy I am right now. I didn't even think you'd remember."

Thirteen smiled. "Are you kidding? It was best date I've ever had."

Marissa's smile grew bigger. "Mine, too."

I'm in love,

And I'm terrified,

For the first time and the last time

In my only life…

The food and drinks finally came and they merrily drank and ate while engaging in a casual lighthearted conversation. They talked about everything under the sun—their respective jobs and the people they work with, Thirteen's experiences in college and in her clinical rotations as an intern and a resident in LA, Marissa's precious memories of Sarah's childhood, Summer's unlikely collaboration with Seth for his graphic novel making business, Jodie and her more-or-less steady relationship with her long-time girlfriend, Kaitlin's thriving fashion design business in Manhattan, Julie's insatiable love for spas and Newpsie parties, and even Ryan and his ironic career move of joining the Newport Group as head architect for the company's real estate projects.

This could be good, it's already better than that.

And nothing's worse than knowing you're holding back.

I could be all that you needed if you let me try.

Thirteen also told Marissa about fascinating cases she had solved with the team, and the insane stunts House had had them pull off to diagnose their patients. Marissa couldn't remember having had laughed so much in a long time. Thirteen laughed with her as she recounted that one time House had them believe that he was actually only cranky and mean the way he was because he had a sexually-transmitted disease that affected his brain and behavior.

Hawaii was also brought up and the women blithely talked about what they plan to do there in the summer. Marissa expressed her excitement about staying in her dad's beach house, which she obviously really loved.

"I've always dreamt of living in a house by the beach, even since I was really little," she said. "And not just near the beach, but really on the beach, by the water. It wouldn't be anything huge and extravagant or anything; it'd be roomy but very simple and cozy, with maybe two bedrooms and a music room," she kept on talking slightly dreamily. "I'd go to the beach all the time and sit there and read a book, or just walk my dog or something, and I'd have all the fun in the world."

Thirteen smiled. "You don't have a dog."

Marissa shrugged. "So maybe I should get one. Don't you like dogs, too?"

"I do, yeah. I used to have a puppy when I was little, but my mom didn't want it in the house so she had me give it away. I do kinda miss having a pet," said Thirteen. "You know, dogs are really useful, like we had this patient in a wheelchair once who had a guide—"

She stopped when she remembered about that unfortunate event months ago that resulted from her negligence. And then she thought about that guy, crippled by his genetic neuromuscular condition, and heavily dependent on his dog to assist him even in simple daily tasks like crossing the street and picking up things that he accidentally drops. She used to think about him all the time, racked by guilt of causing his untimely passing. Now all she could feel while thinking of him was solace for ending his suffering somehow soon enough. Because of her, he didn't have to endure five more years confined in his wheelchair, helpless and of no use without his trusty canine friend.

"Alex?"

Thirteen snapped out of her thoughts. "What?"

"Are you alright?"

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine, sorry. I just kind of… spaced out…"

Marissa nodded. "So you were saying about your patient and his dog…?"

"Oh, um, yeah. He had a guide dog," she said, but didn't tell any more. "I don't know if I'd want one though. I mean a dog, not a guide dog." She added the last part hastily before clearing her throat. "I mean, I'd never have time to feed it or anything," she explained. Thirteen picked up her fork and knife and resumed eating. "This steak is nice, don't you think?" she said, changing the subject.

Marissa nodded and forced a smile before sticking a piece of steak into her mouth herself.

I only said it 'cause I mean it.

I only mean it 'cause it's true.

So don't you doubt what I've been dreaming,

'Cause it fills me up, and holds me close,

Whenever I'm without you.

Later, as the night deepened and the food and wine slowly ran out, Thirteen took a deep breath and stood from her chair. She smiled and offered Marissa her hand.

You set it again, my heart's in motion.

Every word feels like a shooting star…

Watching the shadows burning in the dark.

And I'm in love,

And I'm terrified,

For the first time and the last time

In my only life.

Thirteen wrapped her arms around Marissa's waist and they gently swayed together as Never Say Never by The Fray came on.

Some things we don't talk about,

Rather do without,

Just hold the smile.

Marissa smiled as she rested her cheek on Thirteen's shoulder and they both gently swayed to the music.

Falling in and out of love,

Ashamed and proud of,

Together all the while.

They continued dancing until Thirteen placed her lips against Marissa's ear and whispered, "I've something for you."

You can never say never

While we don't know when,

Time and time again

Younger now than we were before.

Marissa lifted her head and looked at Thirteen with questioning eyes. "Oh yeah, what?" she asked softly.

"It's the real reason why I was late." Thirteen took out a small, black velvet box from her pocket and nervously opened it.

Marissa felt her heart jump up her throat and her eyes widened as she stared at the simple silver ring that was glimmering before her eyes.

Don't let me go,

Don't let me go,

Don't let me go…

"Alex," Marissa finally found her tongue. "Wow, this is—"

"No, wait, listen," Thirteen immediately cut her off. "Before you say anything, listen to me first." She took a deep breath. "This is not a, a proposal, or an engagement ring, or anything like that it's just… I dunno… just something to remember me by, I guess…"

Marissa stared at Thirteen's eyes, startled, confused, and deflated at what she just heard. She removed her hands from Thirteen's shoulders and shook her head a little, as if to clear her head, as she slowly walked to the restaurant's exit.

We're pulling apart,

And coming together

Again and again.

Thirteen stared after her, even more perplexed. Did she say something wrong?

She pocketed the box and caught up with Marissa as she stepped out of the building, grabbing her elbow and turning her around. "Marissa. Where are you going? Did I say something?"

Marissa shook her head, avoiding Thirteen's eyes. "No, no, I'm fine. Just take me home, please, okay?"

We're growing apart

But we pull it together,

We pull it together

Together again…

Thirteen was nothing short of mystified, to say the least. Marissa started to pull her own arm but Thirteen wouldn't let go. "No, you're not fine. You're upset. Tell me. What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Marissa said, struggling to keep her voice even.

"Something," Thirteen said, "is clearly wrong." She was starting to lose her own patience.

Marissa finally met Thirteen's eyes, considerably startling the brunette, making her let go of her arm.

"You wanna know what's wrong, Alex?" Marissa said. "I'll tell you what's wrong."

Thirteen raised her brows as she watched Marissa's anger explode. At what, she had no freaking idea.

"You know why I'm upset? Because I thought you were going to say something and it didn't turn out to be what I wanted to hear."

Thirteen's face scrunched up and she opened her mouth but didn't say a word, too afraid to aggravate Marissa even more.

"I know you're scared… and I know it isn't easy for you to keep your guard down and give yourself to somebody completely… but Alex… I told you I wanna be with you… You keep saying like I don't really… like I'm still here even if I don't want to be."

Finally enlightened, Thirteen's expression instantly softened. She looked at Marissa's shiny eyes and saw how vulnerable she was letting herself become. She stepped closer to the girl and cupped her jaw with her hand.

"I didn't wanna push you into anything, Riss," she said softly. "I don't want anything you don't want."

Marissa turned her head to brush Thirteen's hand away. "Will you stop saying that? I'm not in this relationship because I need you to take care of me and give me everything you think I want."

Thirteen helplessly dropped her hand. She was starting to feel the cold getting to her, but she hardly cared.

Marissa closed her eyes and clenched her jaw. "Look, Alex, you don't need to keep trying to protect me, trying to make things easy for me. I can take care of myself. What I want is for you to do things for yourself, too… To do things that you want." Marissa paused as she searched Thirteen's eyes for a sign that she understood.

"All I want is for you to be happy," Thirteen insisted.

"I can't be happy knowing you're not," Marissa replied.

"I am happy."

"How can you, when you still keep expecting me to walk out the door every time the future is brought up?"

Thirteen pursed her lips and bowed her head.

"I want to be with you," Marissa firmly reiterated.

Thirteen swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. "Even if I'm going to be sick and useless and difficult?"

Marissa sighed softly as she looked at Thirteen with sad eyes. "You won't be useless and difficult. Will you not keep talking like you'll be gone so soon?"

"But I will be," Thirteen insisted. "The treatment may be working now, and it might keep me functional for a little while longer, but to count on it to actually cure me, is foolish," she explained, raising her chin slightly to look again into Marissa's eyes. "I just don't want to be a burden to you. I want you to be able to, to have a way out… when things become too rough for you to handle…"

"I told you, I'm not going anywhere," Marissa pressed. "I want to be there for you when you need me. I need you to understand that you're not in this alone. Now if you don't want me there…" She shook her head and threw her hands in the air.

Thirteen stared helplessly as Marissa wrapped her arms around herself and turned around to watch the sea from a distance. Nothing was said for a few long minutes, until Thirteen wordlessly took out the box from her pocket again and opened it. She took the ring and rolled it between her fingers a couple of times, as she carefully mulled her thoughts over and slowly regained strength to make the most difficult and, at the same time, the easiest decision she'd ever had to do in her life.

"At the hospital today," she began, her soft voice drifting through the cool ocean breeze, "my dad's lawyer set up a meeting with me to discuss his last will."

Marissa listened intently to Thirteen, even though she still had her back turned against her.

"I found out that he, my dad, didn't have a lot before he died, except his house, which he left to his wife and kid… and this."

Marissa didn't see what Thirteen was referring to, but she knew it was the ring she was going to give her back inside the restaurant.

"It was his wedding ring," Thirteen revealed. "I remember the other one my mom was still wearing when she was buried. She never took it off, even after she and my dad got divorced."

"My dad also left me a letter," continued. "He said… He said he was sorry that he wasn't a better father and husband, and that he loved me very much… He also said that he wants me to have the ring… that I could give it only to whoever—as long as I 'truly love him or her'—" Thirteen chuckled softly before going on, "—I want to spend the rest of my life with."

Ohhh…

Don't let me go,

Don't let me go,

Don't let me go…

"I do want you to be by my side… forever, if it was just up to me… and I really was going to ask you this," Thirteen went on, "but I didn't want to put you into a position where you have to choose between me and your life. But I love you… and I know, that you love me, too… so I'm just going to ask and let you decide." She lowered herself to the ground.

Marissa turned around to see Thirteen bent down on one knee and she instantly felt tears begin to cloud her vision.

Don't let me go,

Don't let me go,

Don't let me go…

Thirteen heard the faint sound of the tides turning in the distance as she looked deep into Marissa's eyes and hoped for the best.

"Marissa," she said as she held out the last of her parents' possessions that she considered irreplaceable and priceless. "Will you marry me?"

---

Thirteen's bright, teal eyes swept the horizon as she welcomed the first soft, gentle rays of the sun shining on her face. She was quietly sitting on the ledge of the hospital's rooftop, her lab coat folded and tucked beneath her arm.

Shoelaces untied,

You can dry your eyes.

Perfect shadows lie

Behind us.

This is the day I make you mine.

She had come to work earlier than she had to and decided that she could use some quiet time to think and to reassess her life before it was again time for some serious lifesaving.

The way your hair lies,

Sometimes unrecognized.

All the way from these today,

On a train.

Nothing to say but there's still time.

She heard the familiar sounds of ambulance sirens coming from the hospital grounds, breaking her moment of peace. She briefly glanced at her watch and saw that it was time for her clinic rounds. She jumped up and slid into her coat as she made her way down the stairwell.

You are the one I've been waiting for today.

Here comes the sun,

It's been baiting more today.

"Good morning, Dr. Love," House said when he ran into Thirteen in the hallway to the clinic.

"We got a case?" Thirteen asked when she saw Foreman, Kutner and Taub following closely behind.

"Not yet," replied her boss. "We're still looking."

"Okay, you're either trying to get Cuddy off your back, or avoiding clinic duty, or just really, really bored."

House paused before replying, "All of the above."

"We—and by 'we' I mean 'House'—are trying to get out of the M&M conference Cuddy's holding today," Foreman explained.

Thirteen slowly nodded her head in understanding as her colleagues went to the nearby station to check the chart rack for potential diagnostic mysteries.

"You do realize that you should be looking for a case that couldn't wait till lunch, right? In which case you should be looking in the ER," said Thirteen.

House nodded. "Yeah, except Cuddy is in there right now talking to Cameron. My minions are looking there next."

Foreman gave House a look. "Don't call us your minions. You're the only one here who doesn't want to be in the M&M."

"And yet you're still here doing my bidding," House said. "The exact definition of 'minion'."

Foreman rolled his eyes and then went back to looking.

"So," House began after pause, casually slinging his cane back across his shoulder. "She say yes?"

Astonished, Thirteen opened her mouth but wasn't able to say anything.

"You did ask her, didn't you? Or did you chicken out at the last minute?"

"H-how did you—?"

"You're dad's lawyer is a cheap, irrespectful ingrate," House replied. "So spill. Did she say—?" House stopped when Marissa appeared from behind Thirteen. "You again."

Thirteen turned and saw Marissa, who immediately gave her a hug. "Hey. What're you doing here?"

"Hey. I know your note said to meet you at five so we could go to Mercy together for your medical appointment, but it was still too early for work so I thought I'd come by first and see you," Marissa told her.

Thirteen smiled. "I'm glad you did."

Marissa smiled back and then turned to House. "Hi, Dr. House." She did a small wave with her hand to greet the other three doctors standing nearby.

House smiled as the sparkle in Marissa's hand caught his attention. "I guess you did say yes."

Thirteen and Marissa both looked at him with puzzled looks on their faces.

"Nice engagement ring," House said.

Marissa looked at Thirteen. "You told him?"

Thirteen shook her head. "No, but he figured it out anyway."

"You guys are getting married?" Kutner immediately butt in when he heard the news.

Marissa beamed and held up her hand once more to show them the wedding band on her finger.

"Oh, hey, congratulations!" Kutner gave Marissa a friendly hug before hugging Thirteen, too, and giving her a pat on the back and saying, "Good job!" to which Thirteen simply replied with a big smile.

Foreman and Taub then took turns to shake Marissa's hand and give Thirteen congratulatory hugs.

"Wow, two weddings only a few months apart. Did somebody put something in the water lately?" Foreman joked good-naturedly, actually really delighted for the couple. "But seriously, this is great news."

"Thanks," Marissa said. "We're really, really excited about it." She turned to her fiancée and took her hand. "By the way, the real reason I'm here is, I kinda need to ask you something about the, uh… flowers. And the, um, the color scheme." Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed House looking persistently at her. "Um, can we talk somewhere private?"

Thirteen looked slightly bemused. "Uh, yeah, okay." She turned to House. "Do you mind if I—?"

"Not at all," House immediately said. "You know I've always been all for girl-on-girl action even before I saw that 'Sexy CPR' video on the Internet." He paused, seeing Marissa looking funny at him. "Oh, you're discussing wedding plans. Right. Be my guest."

Thirteen rolled her eyes. "I'll be right back," she said as Marissa giggled and pulled her into a nearby empty exam room.

Startled, Thirteen's eyes widened as Marissa grabbed her by the suspenders. She laughed. "The flowers and the color scheme? Really?"

"Shut up," Marissa giggled, before pushing her back towards the door and pressing their mouths together.

House smirked as he briefly caught a partially obstructed view of Marissa grabbing and kissing Thirteen just before the exam room door shut close.

Beside him, all three of the team members left were standing motionless and staring at the door themselves.

There was a beat, before Kutner spoke up without taking his eyes off the door. "Did you say there's a 'Sexy CPR' video on the Internet?"

House looked at the young doctor, amused, but didn't say anything. That was when all four of them got pulled out of their fantasies by their boss's voice.

"What are you all still doing here?" Cuddy said and all four doctors turned to look at her. "The M&M is starting in fifteen minutes."

"Um, we were just looking for Thirteen," Foreman replied.

"And?" Cuddy prodded. "Is she in there?" she nodded to indicate the exam room door where they were all standing next to.

"Yes," House replied. "She's busy doing a breast exam."

Kutner and Taub both looked away to hide their snickers. Foreman bowed his head and stuffed his fist into his mouth to keep himself from laughing out loud.

"What's so funny?" Cuddy inquired.

"Nothing," Foreman said, straightening up. "It's just…" He rolled his eyes, smiling. "We just found out that Thirteen and her girlfriend are getting married."

"Oh," Cuddy said, nodding a little. "Good for her."

"Yeah. Can you believe how fast the kids are growing?" House said to her.

Cuddy ignored him and glanced at the exam room door once more as realization dawned on her. "Thirteen's not making out in the exam room with her girlfriend right now, is she?"

"Don't know for sure," replied House. "Could be doing a pelvic, too. Do you wanna take a peek with me?"

The three other male doctors couldn't help but smile to themselves again.

Cuddy rolled her eyes. "Tell Thirteen, congratulations," she said, "and to make that 'exam' quick so she could make it to the M&M as soon as possible." She started to walk away.

"Oh, don't be so upset," House called after her. "They'll always be our little babies!"

Cuddy turned as she continued walking and pointed at their general direction. "Get your asses into that conference right now or I'll give all of you eight extra clinic hours this week. And tell Thirteen to get her butt in there, too."

"I'm sure she'd be happy to," House yelled to Cuddy's retreating back, "as soon as her fiancée's done with it!"

Foreman, Kutner and Taub wordlessly started to follow Cuddy.

"Whoa, whoa, wait," House stopped them and they turned to face him. "Where do you all think you're going?"

"To the morbidity and mortality conference Cuddy just told us to attend?" responded Taub.

"No," House said. "You, you, you—" he continued, looking at each of them, "—and I, have more important things to do."

"Like what?" Kutner asked.

"Like planning a bachelor party for Thirteen," House said.

"Oh, cool," the youngest doctor said. "Could we have some of that alcoholic ice cream we got for Chase's party again?"

"Shouldn't we maybe call it a bachelorette party?" Foreman asked, smirking slightly.

House ignored Foreman and turned to Taub. "You. Go get Chase out of the M&M and you two buy the ice cream."

"Get the scotch one," Kutner called to Taub as he left. "Thirteen loves that."

House turned to the two remaining guys. "You and you, go to a strip club and bring back some photos I could choose from. You know the drill. I'll go talk to Wilson and convince him to let us use his apartment again."

Foreman and Kutner obeyed and left.

Alone now, House limped a few steps to the exam room and knocked lightly a couple of times.

The door swung open, revealing a slightly disheveled-looking Thirteen and Marissa.

"The M&M's starting, yeah, I'll be right there," Thirteen said, still slightly out of breath.

"It's okay," House said, supporting his weight with his hand against the door frame. "You're excused. But only because I'd rather think of you two getting it on than be bothered by how many nosocomial infections the hospital had in the last quarter."

Thirteen blinked. "Um… okay…?"

House nodded. "No need to thank me for excusing you, or for lending you my expertise in bachelor party planning."

Thirteen's shoulders dropped and she groaned softly. "Oh no. Seriously? I'm not even a bachelor."

"No, I am," replied House.

Marissa smiled and shook her head.

Thirteen rolled her eyes. "Fine," she said. "But no strippers."

"You don't have any food allergies, do you?" asked House.

"No."

House nodded once as he straightened up and grabbed the doorknob. "Good. But still, no body butter. I promise. Just to be safe."

"No strippers, House." Thirteen repeated as House started to pull the door close.

"Don't worry. I promise they won't be male," House said back and shut the door before Thirteen could make another protest.

He faced the door where a sign that said "The doctor is IN" hung. He moved the sliding piece of plastic so that it now read: "The doctor is OUT." He smiled, obviously pleased with himself.

He turned around when he felt a hand tap him lightly on the back.

"How much longer before I get somebody to take a look at me?" a patient that looked like she was about eighty asked. "I think it's my turn to go in there."

"No, sorry," House replied and pointed to the sign on the door. "The doctor's out." He paused, before adding, "Pun intended."

The elderly lady looked at him strangely before turning away and going back to the waiting benches.

House smirked to himself before limping away, actually glad to know that, while he himself essentially made no progress with escaping his own misery, there were two less lonely people in the world at that moment.

You looked right through me,

There was no one else.

I sat beside you and I became myself,

Today…

Behind the closed door, Marissa's eyes glinted as she pulled Thirteen close again by the suspenders, and then captured her lips once more in hers. Thirteen kissed back fervently, vaguely wondering of a time when she had been happier than she was right then.

Not long after the thought crossed her mind, she wrapped her arms around her bride's waist and smiled into the kiss. She remembered no such time.

You are the one I've been waiting for today.

Here comes the sun,

It's been baiting more today.

The End.

---

*Song lyrics by Jason Wade ("You and Me"), Schuyler Fisk and Joshua Radin ("Paperweight"), Kara DioGuardi and Jason Reeves ("Terrified"), Joseph King, Isaac Slade and David Welsh ("Never Say Never"), and Joshua Radin ("Today")