Chapter 37

For the next few days, Romoly and Wilson saw each other every night: either taking in a movie, going to dinner or just grabbing a coffee. The more they saw of each other, the deeper the friendship became and the more she learned about his twisted relationship with House. It was good for them both because the more he learned about Romoly, the more he realized she was perfect for House. The more she learned about House, the greater insight she gained into not only him but into Wilson as well.

That's not to say that the whole experience was a walk in the park. House always found ways of being around when they either left or returned to her apartment; Wilson always picked her up holding flowers. That's not to say House was around to wreck the date; he was just there to "see them off" in his own annoying manner…

Take their second date, the day after their disastrous first one, for example. Wilson arrived at her apartment at around 7:00, holding a tiny bouquet of lavender. Romoly's eyes lit at the tiny beautiful purple leaves and stuck her nose into the center of the bouquet, her eyes closing at the wondrous scent. "Oh James! They're beautiful and they smell amazing!" Romoly, wearing a beautiful sea foam green sundress, delicate silver sandals and thick hair curled and set so the back resembled a cascade of curls, looked quite beautiful herself. And Wilson was taken aback by her appearance.

"Wow! You look incredible! What have I done to deserve such a beautiful woman on my arm?"

"You help little old ladies across the street; give candy to babies; and date beautiful but pathetic, lonely librarians who can't seem to understand that their handsome neighbor can satisfy all their womanly needs?"

Romoly kept her nose in the blossoms but lifted her eyes at the gruff intrusion. House was standing behind them, thumping his cane impatiently. "Don't get all Romeo and Juliet on me; go on your date. I'll be fine…all by myself…" Her eyebrow darted up at this pathetic, whiny routine. "…with just Torchwood to keep me company."

Her eyes brightened. "Great. That should come in handy whenever you're in Britain and you see an alien with a British accent. You'll know just what to do. Well, cheers love." She grinned and, still clutching the lavender, took the snickering Wilson's arm as he led them toward the building's door.

"Now, don't do anything I wouldn't do, like have sex with Wilson."

"But I thought you two were lovers?" She asked, looking over her shoulder as they slowly walked to the building's front door. Her eyes glistened with the next question: "You mean, you were LYING to me?"

House's pulse stopped at the vision in the dress. He couldn't stop the twitching of his fingers to dive into those thick curls and rub her scalp, to feel the softness of those locks just as he'd done not so long before. House returned to the subject at hand as he shrugged but smirked. "I'll not kiss and tell."

Romoly and Wilson stopped in their tracks and turned around. Wilson watched House as he rolled his eyes. "No we have never, are not, nor ever will be lovers. Why does everyone assume we're gay?"

Romoly smiled. While she absolutely didn't condone House actually finding them in bed together, she wasn't against taunting him with the POSSIBILITY they were having sex. Those were two different things. "Because your buddy here has done nothing to dispel that rumor. Let's go Jimmy…if we make it on time we could get the room with the vibrating bed. Did you bring the quarters?"

Wilson took everything in stride. He didn't know what she was going to say but he knew it would be something to get House going. And he was very impressed; she sure did pick the best way to get at him: House had begun fidgeting again. Wilson smiled at Romoly. "Yep. I got five rolls…think that's enough?" Wilson paused. "Do you have the naughty librarian uniform, ruler and sexy bifocals?"

Romoly gasped dramatically. In a stage whisper, she said, "Remember that's tomorrow night; tonight it's bondage night."

"Ok, that's it…" House knew they were jerking his chain but he hated it. He didn't want her talking those things with Wilson…HE wanted to be DOING those things with her. "…just go. You've moved from annoying to infuriating. Go, have your sex; forget about the cripple all lonely and cold all by himself."

Romoly shook her head. "It's not cold; we're in the middle of summer. And you aren't lonely; you've got Little Greggie to keep you company, as usual."

Romoly and Wilson started walking again when House said, "Little Greggie'd prefers you to me. You've got the soft touch."

They didn't stop as they continued out the front door of the building. But House's final comment left an impression on Romoly: it was the first time he vocalized how much he missed her. While deciding not to run with it, she couldn't help feeling something she'd missed for quite awhile.

Hope.