I woke up to here the sound of running water. My bedroom door was opened wide so I could see into the bathroom across the hallway. Greg stooped over the sink, drying his face with a hand towel. I sat up, peering at him.

"You a peeping tom now?" he looked over at me.

I fell onto my stomach, leaning on my elbows, "Are you leaving?"

"Cuddy's been harassing me for about three hours," Greg waddled to the door frame. "Could you hand me my cane?"

I rolled over and reached beside the bed to grab hold of it, "Don't you have to go into work at nine?"

"Yeah," he held his hands out for me to throw it. "And it's noon right now."

I shot up, "What?"

"You're a heavy sleeper, you know?" Greg came over and snatched the cane from me. "I was about to wake you up."

"What about-" I began.

"I made Rosie breakfast, gave her medication, we watched a movie, and I made her go outside for twenty minutes," he smirked.

I furrowed my brow, "Breakfast…"

"The unopened box of frozen waffles in the freezer," Greg shrugged.

For a moment, I watched him roll down his shirt sleeves, "Where's Rosie now?"

He leaned over me, "Calm down for just a minute, would ya?"

"I can't," I rose up on my knees. "I'm a mother."

Greg cocked his head to the side and closed his eyes, "Oh yes, I forgot."

"When will I see you next?" I laughed, getting off the bed and standing.

"I don't know. I'll be around," he clucked.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, "You're so vague. I hate it."

"I have to go, so shut up," he chuckled, forcefully pressing his lips against mine.

I pulled back, "No. Not until I get an answer."

"I told you to zip your mouth," Greg pulled me into his chest.

Smiling, I breathed in, "Did anyone call for me?"

"Goons… goons… and a girl named Ashley," he rolled his head.

I jumped away, "Ashley?" I darted around him and into the kitchen, seeing my daughter, "Good…afternoon?"

"Mommy!" she hopped down from the tall chair she was sitting on.

I smiled, "Hi." I called back to him, "What'd she say?"

Greg followed, "She sounded confused, then said she needed to talk to you."

Picking up the phone I sighed, "And what did you say?"

"I said I'd tell you that she called," he came up behind me as I pressed the phone to my ear. "Now I'm going to leave."

I turned toward him, "Rosie can you go get my address book from my side table?"

"Oh, okay," she harrumphed, sliding toward the hallway.

"She seems a lot better, yes?" Greg breathed on my forehead.

As the ringer picked up, I covered the mouthpiece, "You're a fool." I jumped up so he could get the message.

"Do you need something?" he played dumb.

"Hello?" a quiet voice came from the telephone.

I ducked down from him, "Ash, it's me."

"Hi, Marilyn," she replied.

I leaned on the counter, "I heard you called."

"Yeah, I did a bit ago. Who was that guy who picked up?" Ashley asked uncomfortably.

Looking up at Greg, I pursed my lips, "Somebody. Why'd you call?"

Her small voice gained a little more speed, "I wondered if you wanted dinner tonight."

"Um…" Rosie ran up to me holding up a little red book. I pulled away from the phone, "The blue one sweetie." And back, "The usual?"

From her voice, I could tell she was smiling, "Sure, I'll drive."

With that, I hung up. Greg cupped my cheeks in his palms and kissed me lightly. I laughed, "Took you long enough."

"I don't know what you're talking about. Now what's the 'usual'?" he said roughly, touching my waist.

"A little place I like to call 'none of your business'," I smirked.

His pager beeped, "Damn it to Hell."

"You have to go, you have to go, I get it," I lifted my hands from him, seeing my daughter in the corner of my eye. "Get going."

He shuffled back and forth, "Oh, come on. One little-"

"I got it!" Rosie shoved the blue notebook between us.

I smiled and shrugged, rubbing it in, "You snooze, you lose. Thank you, dear."

Greg rolled his eyes, obviously aggravated. He began to limp toward the door, carrying his coat, "Well then, have a nice day."

Trailing behind, I opened the door, "Goodbye, House."

"Goodbye, Marilyn," he scoffed. Rosie put her hands around his leg. "Get better, Rosie."

I closed my eyes, "I'll talk to you later."

He began to turn, but suddenly turned back, pressing his lips on mine. "I win."

"House, 1, Lawley, 7?" I smirked.

Taking hold of the door knob he breathed through his teeth, "Pretty and smart, do I pick 'em or what?"

I closed the door after he limped out. He was a guy that anyone would have a reason to hate. And I was just a little girl that would try and tame him.

Ashley put her hands on the steering wheel, biting her lip.

"How have you been?" I smiled.

"I'm getting better, I know that," she started the car and pressed on the gas. Neither of us spoke for about five minutes. Ashley came to a stop and put the car in park, "I'm sorry!"

I looked at her, "I'm sorry too!"

She threw her arms around me and we hugged, even as the light went green. I pulled away, "Why are you sorry?"

"I was going to ask the same thing," Ashley grinned.

A long and steady honk echoed from behind us. She quickly put the car in drive and pushed onto the peddle.

"I'll begin," she bit her cheek. "I'm sorry because I wouldn't listen to you. I wouldn't take the time to look at my situation and think about my kids," Ashley sighed.

I replied with a small laugh, "I'm sorry because I tried to push you to be happy."

She shook her head, "No, no. I was wrong."

"I won't argue. I don't want to argue anymore," I leaned back in the chair.

We pulled up to a small corner restaurant, a diner with chairs that didn't match and plates hanging up on the walls. Both of us walked in and sat in a corner booth, way in the back.

"So, now that we're amiable again," Ashley pulled open the menu and lowered her voice, "Who was that man who picked up the phone?"

I stared at her, "Ashley…"

"I need to-" she stopped. Her eyes widened and her mouth dropped down. "No."

I grinned and nodded, "Oh yes."

"No!" she screamed. "You are not. You're a liar."

I sat back, "No, I'm not! I'm dead serious…" I trailed off as the door dinged open. "He's got a soft hard for blondes."

Ashley closed the menu, "I just cannot believe what has happened in my absence from your life."

"Believe it," I laughed.

"You slept with him… that's incredible!" she sighed.

I held out my hand, "Hold up. I did not sleep with him."

"He picked up the phone at eight in the morning, I don't think he came over to fetch the morning paper."

I clapped my hands together, "Rosie was sick. We were supposed to go on a date, but he, being a gentleman, stayed and took care of her with me. I insisted he sleep at my place and we fell asleep."

"He didn't even try to do anything?" she pursed her lips.

"I never said that," I crossed my arms and looked away from her. Something in the corner of my eye sparked my attention, "Oh… oh my God."

Greg lingered in my peripheral vision. He watched me intently and I could see the man with him, Dr. Wilson.

Ashley looked over, her eyes widening, "Speak of the devil."

I rose from the table and slowly sauntered over to him, "What are doing here?"

"I found the 'usual'," he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I don't want to keep you from your date," I glared.

Greg grabbed my arm, "Oh, come on. Don't give me the cold shoulder."

"You came here to spy on me!" I frowned. "How can I not be angry?"

He showed me his big cerulean eyes, "I just wanted to see my girlfriend."

Girlfriend.

"Girlfriend?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Well, sure," he shrugged. "Why not?"

I paused and caught my breath. "I don't think I should forgive you."

"Why don't you invite us to sit with you?" Greg smirked.

"Good evening, Dr. Wilson," I peered behind him. Back to Greg, I narrowed my eyes, "I will invite you both to sit with us, but not because you're giving me a guilt trip, because I'm a nice person."

They followed me closely as I led them to our table. Ashley looked at me in surprise. "Ashley," I put on a happy face. "This is Dr. House and Dr. Wilson. I'm sure you know which is which."

I slid in beside her while she whispered, "What's going on?"

"Bear with me," I muttered as I felt a small nudge on my foot. I looked up as Greg raised an eyebrow at me. "How was work?" I pleasantly smile.

Greg closed his eyes, "Oh, let's not talk about that. Not now."

Dr. Wilson sat up straighter, "I don't think I ever got a chance to formally apologize to you, Marilyn."

"Formally…?" I trailed off, not remembering any apology at all.

He glared at Greg, "House, you said you'd-"

"I lied, Jimmy," he smiled to his friend and then at me.

"House was supposed to tell you I felt sorry for what I had said to you, but obviously he didn't," Dr. Wilson pressed his fist into the table. "So I am sorry."

I smiled, "I humbly accept your apology, doctor." I looked at Ashley, "Dr. Wilson is an oncologist."

Ashley nodded, "Oh, really? That's so interesting. What made you choose that field of medicine?"

As they began to speak, I turned back to Greg, "You are a son of a bitch."

"But you love me," he shrugged. "I get it."

I bit my lip, "If you're trying to annoy me, okay, you win."

Greg shook his head, "I'm not trying to annoy you. I'm making up for last night."

"By interrupting my dinner?" I scoffed. "You're unbelievable." I glanced at Dr. Wilson and Ashley. They actually seemed to be hitting it off. And it was strange because Ashley was not the type of person to move on so quickly, especially from marriage. I thought quickly and pretended to open my phone, "Dammit! Look, I have to go to the store. There's been a break in."

Ashley gasped, "Oh no, was Ellen there?"

I nodded, "Yeah. But you stay, I can walk to the store."

"I'll go with you," Greg rose from the table.

"That's not necessary," I began to step away.

He frowned and put on a sarcastic tone of voice, "But with a criminal on the loose, you need someone to protect you." He raised his cane, "Someone with a weapon."

"I-" I stopped myself. There was no way I could get past this. All I wanted was a little dinner for Ashley and nice young man. "Fine, fine you can come."

Ashley was about to protest, "Marilyn, I-"

"You have a nice dinner," I held out two twenty dollar bills. "On me. Goodnight."

I rushed out of the restaurant, Greg trailing behind me. As soon as we got out he chuckled, "There is no break in."

"How would you know?" I harrumphed and walked across the street.

"Because you're trying to give your friend a nice night. With my friend," he caught up to me.

I pursed my lips, "Well, is there any shame in making a friend happy?"

"No," he shrugged. "But it's shameful when you try and run away from the guy you've been dating."

I looked at him, "I wasn't trying to run away."

Greg returned my gaze, "Yes, you were."

"So what? You do that kind of stuff all the time," I tossed my hair to the side, walking at a steady pace in a direction I didn't know.

He grunted, "You don't."

There was a long pause. We synchronized our steps. I let my hand droop and not control its movements, like a puppet. Greg dropped his head and reached for my hand. Our fingers intertwined, I grinned like a madman.

"Somehow," I laughed. "I think you can forgive me."

Greg asked, "Where are we going?"

I stopped, still grasping his hand, "Wherever we want to."

"C'mon," he snapped me around to face him. "We've got three hours left to live, what do you want to do?"

I pulled at the collar of his coat, "You're setting me up."

"So you would…" Greg pressed his palms into my waist.

"One of these days," I growled. "You're going to learn it's better to keep your mouth shut."

He kissed me, deeply on the lips. I touched the stubble on his face, feeling my body slip away into a dream. Greg pulled away, "So."

"So," I smiled.

We managed to walk a few more blocks and ended up sitting at the counter of a bar. I ordered a Long Island iced tea and he ordered some hard liquor. Taking a sip, Greg watched me with his stealthy eyes.

"Have you had any past long term relationships?" I stared right back.

He quickly looked away, "One."

"Was it with Cuddy?" I frowned.

"Ew, no," Greg shook his head. "One night stands rarely lead to any good."

I closed my eyes tightly, "Ick. Gross. That's not a good image."

"Well, it happened once. Awhile ago," he leaned on the bar. "Don't worry she didn't have STDs."

"Then with who?" I ignored his comment.

Greg slowly picked up his drink, "You wouldn't know her."

"I don't care! Was she successful? Beautiful?"

He sighed, "She was a lawyer, I thought she was attractive. Maybe not beautiful. And then she left me, beat me to it."

I frowned, "Why'd she…"

Brushing his leg, he smiled, "She screwed me up. She couldn't take that I blamed her."

"You blamed her?" I frowned.

Greg didn't look at me, "It's a long story."

"I've got time."

From there, he launched into a long story of how his ex-girlfriend, Stacy, ruined his leg. After fifteen minutes of him nonstop talking he ended, "And that's how my leg came to be."

I was quiet for a moment, "Oh, God. Greg…"

"Eh," he shrugged. "Another day, another story. Now I pose the question to you."

I folded my hands, "Only one. One that was important at least. His name was Charlie. I met him at the beginning of sophomore year in high school. He showed me to all my classes and sat with me at lunch. And he ended up as my boyfriend by the end of the first semester. So I had that going for me. I wasn't popular, I was smart. I had all honors classes and was in the dance program. Charlie was equally busy, but I sincerely believed he was my soul mate."

"And that changed…" Greg leaned on his elbow.

"That did change. We maintained our relationship until the very end of senior year. I was off to the East coast, and he was off to the West. And he told me that he wouldn't be able to handle us. I was absolutely devastated. Not so much that he broke up with me, but over that. There were plenty of times that we fought where he had an opportunity to end the relationship, and he chose that. I was frightened to let anyone else effect me like that. So I didn't," I covered my mouth, but I wouldn't cry.

He didn't respond. He lifted his hand from his lap and rested in on top of mine, "Its okay. It really is.'

What are you thinking? I know House seems a little OOC, but it will all make sense.

Thanks for reading and reviewing!