She knew better than to get her hopes up, but Cuddy couldn't help but have a daydream or two about playing house with House. It wouldn't be the perfect Ward and June Cleaver domestic bliss, not that she was ever holding out for that sort of thing to begin with. But she did feel that House was ready to make a commitment to her. It had been a long and rocky path to get over his feelings for Stacy. Now Stacy was gone forever. Cuddy was here. And she was planning on staying around for a very long time.

It still felt like it was too soon to bring it up. Though House was hardly going anywhere, he already had enough on his mind. She didn't want to nag him and she wasn't going to. He would bring it up when he was damn good and ready and not one second sooner.

So imagine her surprise, three days after he had challenged her to a wrestling match, that he brought the subject up in his own peculiar way after they had moved to the sofa to relax after dinner.

"Maybe I need a woman's touch around this place," he said in a tone he usually reserved for commenting on the weather or idiotic patients that crossed his path.

"Really?" She wasn't sure if he was serious or not, but decided to play along.

"Really. I'm not talking about rosy wallpaper and pink couches. Just a few little womanly decorations here and there to let her presence be known." He encircled her waist and pulled her over to him, so they both had a grand view of the living room. "If you had your way, Lisa, what would you bring here?"

She laughed softly and said, "I think you could get away with a few scented candles."

"Not those giant tacky candles, I hope."

"No, nothing like that."

"Where would you put them?"

"I'd put one or two here on the table. Maybe one top of the television and on the piano."

"I could live with that. But I can't live with overpowering, perfumed scents. Those give me a headache."

"I don't like those either. There's vanilla scented, nothing too strong. There's lavender or peach or cinnamon. Those are quite nice and they won't make your eyes water."

"All right, Miss Cinnamon and Lilac. You've sold me on the candles." He planted a few playful kisses on her neck tickling the sensitive skin.

Her pulse picked up. Was he really talking about candles and decorations? Did he really want a woman's touch in the sacred domain that was his apartment? Was he going to take that next step for her?

"What else?" he asked, sounding sincerely interested.

"I think you could use some new curtains," she said. She thought no such thing, but wanted to see how he take her suggestion. Either he would start to hyperventilate or go with the flow.

"I think so too," he agreed, and she nearly fell off the sofa. "Nothing frilly, okay?"

"Okay." The word barely squeaked out of her throat.

"Maybe a light blue, or maybe even cream. But no pink."

"No pink," she repeated. "You got it."

"Good. Anything else, boss?"

"I think you could use some new sheets and a new bedspread."

"You think I can get away with having buttercup yellow sheets, Lisa? Or is that an open invitation to get my ass kicked?"

"I won't tell if you won't tell."

"Sounds good to me."

House appeared to be enjoying himself and the conversation. Cuddy was beside herself.

"And I'll need a night table and lamp by my side of bed, Greg," she threw in, "so I can keep up with my journals."

"You got it, boss. No candles in the bedroom, please."

"All right. No candles in there."

"All right," he echoed. "No drastic changes? You don't want a few of the walls knocked down or a new kitchen set or a sunken tub?"

"No, I like your apartment the way it is," she replied truthfully. "But a sunken tub sounds great–"

"Why am I not surprised?" he snickered, and hugged her closer. "Okay, boss, fair is fair. It's my turn."

"For what?" She tilted her head up to look at him.

"I get to add a man's touch to your place," House answered in a rather matter-of-fact manner. "I have a few ideas of my own."

She took his hand and asked, "What would a manly man like you add to my place?"

"New curtains."

"I do need new curtains," Cuddy had to agree.

"A sunken tub."

"I like the sound of that."

"A few of my guitars on the walls."

"Of course."

"And a little rearranging for my piano."

That gave her a pause. "I'll see what I can do."

"Please do," he said in all seriousness. "But if you can't find a way to make it fit, just remember there's always room here for a woman's touch."