Sorry for the delay in updates. RL has been busy this weekend. As usual, I don't own them.

# # #

Thirteen strode into House's office just before she prepared to leave for the evening, a pair of potential case files from the clinic in her hand. An unfamiliar masculine scent hung in the air, and her eyes went wide as she noticed what House was wearing. It wasn't what he had been wearing all day. He actually looked...good, for lack of a better word.

In place of his usual t-shirt and rumpled button down, House was wearing a deep burgundy button down shirt untucked over a pair of well-fitting dark wash jeans. Oxford shoes in place of his usual running shoes completed the look. Thirteen couldn't recall a time House had looked so pulled together for anything that wasn't work related.

"Something you want?" House's voice snapped Thirteen out of her state of shock. "I'd love to stay and chat, but I've really got somewhere to be."

"Case files from the clinic." Thirteen stepped toward House's desk and placed the files on his desk. "They looked interesting, so I thought I'd bring them up before I left. You look good, by the way."

House glanced down at himself as he buttoned his shirt cuffs, suddenly self-conscious. The saleswoman at the clothing store had assured him that the shirt suited him, though it was different from his usual parade of blues and whites that he would toss on over a t-shirt. "Thanks, I guess. Weren't you leaving?"

"In a few. Foreman's finishing his article. I figured I'd wait until he was finished." Thirteen answered. "So...dinner date?"

House rolled his eyes in exasperation. "Not that it's any of your business, but...yes. And I'm running late so if you don't mind..."

"Right." Thirteen's eyes narrowed as she observed House moving around his desk, clearly a little agitated. No, not agitated. This was different. The older doctor seemed...nervous. "Everything okay?"

"Fine." House answered sharply. He wished Thirteen would just leave him the hell alone and let him get out of here. He was feeling wound up enough without any extra help. Not that he wasn't looking forward to dinner with Anthony, but all the same...it just felt different, and he didn't know why. It shouldn't be any different from any of the million lunches they had shared at the deli. So what the hell was the problem?

It occurred to House that he and Anthony hadn't had a formal 'date', aside from the drag show, and that seemed like ages ago. He blew out a long sigh as he packed up his backpack, shoving in his work clothes a little harder than was probably necessary, completely unaware of Thirteen's presence.

Thirteen smiled a little at House's flustered demeanor. It was a side of him she had never seen before, and wasn't likely to see again. "Relax, will you? It's just dinner." She leaned over the desk with a coy smile. "And it's not like you've never met him before."

House paused briefly, Thirteen's words calming him despite himself. He limped over to the coatrack, putting on his coat before returning to his desk to sling his backpack over his shoulder. "Thanks for the pep talk. Now mind your own business."

Thirteen snickered to herself as House strode out of his office and down the hallway, leaving a trail of scent behind him. She hoped House's dinner date appreciated all the trouble he had gone to to impress him. She was sure House wouldn't bother for anyone else.

# # #

Anthony paced around nervously just outside the small restaurant near Simon's photography studio, on the lookout for House's car. He had given the older man detailed directions, but Anthony knew the place was still easily missed.

Shortly before seven o' clock, he spotted House parallel parking his car just across the street. He watched as the tall figure climbed out of the car and limped across the street, creating his own unique rhythm that Anthony had found himself falling into on more than one occasion as he had walked with him.

The older man greeted Anthony with a quick smile and a nod, and the two men entered the restaurant. Jeffrey's face lit up as Anthony approached him to request a table.

"Anthony! So nice to see you again." Jeffrey greeted him enthusiastically, glancing around him to appraise House. "Table for two, I presume?"

Anthony glanced behind him at House, who was frowning slightly as he wiped off his glasses that had fogged over from the cold. "Yes, please."

"Follow me." Jeffrey led them to a table in the back corner of the restaurant. "Your server will be with you shortly." He nudged Anthony slightly, whispering in his ear. "I see why you blew me off that night you and Simon came in here. He's darling."

Anthony snorted and House glared as Jeffrey breezed out. "What did he say to you?" House narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"Apparently you're 'darling'." Anthony chuckled as House rolled his eyes, the flush in his cheeks obvious even in the low light of the restaurant. "What that means...I'm not entirely sure. I think he likes you."

"Sorry, he's not really my type." House opened the menu to look it over, avoiding Anthony's gaze.

"Good." Anthony reached out to touch House's hand, and the older man nearly jumped back in surprise. "Are you okay? You seem a little jumpy tonight."

House set down the menu with a huff, knowing there was no point in trying to keep anything from Anthony. Even if he did hide and deflect, Anthony would figure it out eventually. Better to just come right out with it. "Tonight just feels...different. I don't know why."

Anthony lightly stroked the back of House's hand with a thumb, nodding in understanding. "I don't think we've done a formal 'date' thing. Aside from the drag show and the movie, I mean."

"Is that what this is?" The waitress took their drink orders and quietly walked away.

"I'd like to think of it that way." Anthony shrugged. "If it helps you to think of it as just another dinner for us, that works, too."

House leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful. "I bought a new shirt for this thing. I've been a nervous wreck most of the day. Yeah, it's a date." His eyes flicked up to meet Anthony's. "I've never 'dated' guys."

"I know." Anthony sat back and appraised House. "It's different, but I like it on you."

"The shirt, or the nerves?"

"Both." Anthony answered. "It means you've got something invested in...us. That's a good thing."

House fell silent as the waitress arrived with their drinks and took their dinner orders. He played with the edge of his glass, looking thoughtful. Finally he looked across to Anthony. "And you're not nervous? Not even a little?"

"Only because it's you. No other reason." Anthony smiled a little as he took a drink of his beer. "Being out in public with a man is just, well, normal for me. That doesn't make me nervous, not anymore."

House nodded, still staring at his glass. "So it gets easier, then. That's good to know."

Anthony laughed a little at House's discomfort. "It must be difficult coming out so late in life. It might make some wonder why you bothered."

House's mouth twisted in that familiar half smile. "Someone convinced me that it was worthwhile."

"So this is all my fault?" Anthony looked vaguely amused.

"I wouldn't say that." House's face suddenly clouded over slightly. "Let's just say you...sparked something that was buried for a very long time."

Anthony nodded. "Which still doesn't quite answer the question. Maybe I sparked something, but you could have just as easily ignored it."

House took a long drink from his glass. He'd been wondering the same thing for months. "Don't have a good answer to that one. I guess it doesn't really matter now."

"I suppose you're right." Anthony agreed. They were here and together now, and the only thing that mattered was what lay ahead for them. "But you're still scared."

"I'd be scared if you were a woman." House replied, pausing when the waitress set their meals in front of them. "My commitment issues are non-gender specific."

Anthony was startled by House's easy admission. "That's...oddly comforting, I guess."

"Wasn't meant to be comforting." House answered calmly. "Just telling it like it is. You okay with that?"

"Very much so." Anthony's face lit in a warm smile. "As long as we keep being honest with each other, we can't go too wrong."

House's face flickered in a brief smile before he dug into his meal. Honesty seemed to be working for them so far. Might as well keep running with it.

# # #

Once the initial jitters were resolved, the two men settled into their usual casual chat, lingering over their meal long after most of the other customers had left. It was becoming more like one of their usual deli meals, but much more intimate, and House found himself relaxing more as the evening wore on.

Anthony was relaxing more as well, but one question still nagged at him. He leaned his chin on his hand and studied House curiously. "So, I just have to know something."

"What's that?" House gave Anthony a skeptical look over the remains of his steak and shrimp.

"How is it that you're into both men and women?"

An expression that blended amusement and discomfort crossed House's face. "That's...kind of a big question. How is it that you're only into guys?"

"I don't know." Anthony shrugged. "Just is."

"There you go." House answered. "Same here."

"Okay, okay, let me rephrase that." Anthony paused, pondering how to express his curiosity. "Who were you attracted to first?"

"Girls." House asserted. "No question. But...guys weren't far behind."

"Interesting..." Anthony leaned on the table.

"That's my line." House glowered mockingly.

"Right." Anthony affirmed. "So...I guess the fifty thousand dollar question is..."

"Summer after high school graduation." House told him.

Anthony's eyebrows shot up, mentally doing the math. "Okay, that's just...I mean, how?"

"It kind of started as a challenge." House sat back in his chair. "There was this one kid that was rumored to be gay. So, me always being the curious kind of kid, I had to seek him out. One thing led to another and..." House shrugged. "Scared the hell out of me when I liked it."

"So what happened?" Anthony was hooked into House's story.

"We managed to keep things going for a while. Totally secret, of course, considering the time and place." House's mouth twitched, and his facial expression turned dark. "My dad happened to come home early one day and...found us. He..." House's mouth clamped down, and Anthony could see he was starting to shut down. "I got the beating of my life, his parents kicked him out of the house and...I heard he killed himself about three or four months later."

"God." Anthony was speechless.

"Yeah." House was quiet. He had managed to keep that memory to himself all these years. It had only come up during the many discussions about his father in therapy, and after all these years, it still hurt.

The silence stretched out between them until House broke it again. "It was only after I went to Mayfield that my sexuality even came up again. Dear old Dad left his marks on me, even after he died. When I got out and got back to work...things were different, somehow. I knew it, even if no one else did." He shrugged as he finished off what was left in his glass. "Guess you were the first one to figure it out."

Anthony shook his head. "I was taking a chance. I didn't know for sure. You weren't exactly sending out strong vibes."

House held out his hand, and Anthony took it, squeezing lightly. "I'm...really glad you took that chance."

Anthony smiled warmly. "I am, too."

A shadow appeared over their table in the form of a very amused Jeffrey. "Hate to kick you lovebirds out, but I've got to close up. Simon's waiting for me."

Anthony's eyes crinkled in amusement. "Well, we wouldn't want to keep you from that." He started to reach for the check, but House was quicker.

"I invited you, I'll pay." He asserted. "Pretty sure that's how that works."

"As long as somebody pays, it's all good." Jeffrey called out as he headed back to the front.

Anthony chuckled as they gathered their coats and headed toward the register. House handed over his debit card and signed the receipt, following Anthony out of the restaurant.

The cold breeze cut through them as they stood out in front, neither one of them willing to end the evening. Anthony took House's hands in his own, squeezing lightly. "I didn't mean to dredge up such a horrible memory for you. I'm sorry."

"Don't be." House answered calmly, lightly kissing the younger man. "Things were just different then. If I were a few years younger..."

"You wouldn't be you." Anthony interrupted softly, cutting House off with a soft kiss. House deepened the kiss, wrapping his arms around the younger man and pulling him in close.

Anthony kept it going, reluctant to break away, and soon he and House were tangled in each other, paying no attention to their surroundings. It was only the sound of soft laughter that made them break apart, and Anthony turned to see Jeffrey shaking his head as he locked up the restaurant.

"Simon was right." He commented. "You two are made for each other. Now go get a room or something."

"The man's a genius." House murmured after Jeffrey left. "Now, why didn't I think of that?"

"Because..." Anthony reminded him. "We weren't going to play sleepover during the week, remember?"

House huffed in annoyance. "Stupid rules. Who came up with that one?"

"It was mutual agreement." Anthony laughed as they started walking toward House's car.

"Can't believe I agreed to that." House growled as he leaned against his car, pulling the younger man in close. "Anything in the rules about vehicles?"

Something lit up in Anthony's eyes at the suggestion. "Do you have any idea how long it's been since I did anything like that in a car?" He glanced at the car skeptically. "You think we'll both fit in there?"

"I managed to make it work in a '78 Chevette once." House replied, his eyes crinkling in amusement. "Of course, the girl was only about five feet tall." He briefly kissed Anthony, fixing him with a steely look. "I'm game if you are."

Anthony briefly considered the idea before relenting. House was nothing if not creative, and Anthony's curiosity, among other things, was aroused. "I'm in. Unlock the doors."

A slow smile curved across House's lips as he pushed the button to unlock the doors, opening the passenger side door and climbing in. He put the seat as far back as it would go before reclining it fully. "Coming in?"

Anthony nodded, carefully climbing in and straddling House before closing the door behind him. The older man immediately pulling him in by the back of his neck for a long kiss, his tongue tangling with Anthony's, his other hand working the buttons of Anthony's shirt.

House pulled away, nipping at Anthony's earlobe as he worked his way down his neck, his hands spreading across the younger man's chest, lightly rolling his thumbs over his nipples. The move evoked a soft gasp as House's hands slid down his stomach to his waist, deftly undoing his belt buckle and his jeans, his hands moving further to slip under the waistband of both his jeans and his boxers.

A bit of fear rushed through Anthony. A million things could happen out here on the street. They could get busted by a passing patrol car, assaulted by an opportunistic passerby...suddenly his thoughts shifted as House pulled him in, his slightly spicy scent filling his nose.

God, this man was driving him to distraction. Anthony leaned in for a long kiss, quickly undoing the shirt that looked so damned perfect on him, running his hands over the rough hair of his chest. He still couldn't quite believe he had agreed to this, but he was too far into it now to want to stop.

House moaned softly into Anthony's mouth as he smoothed his hands all over him, fumbling as he undid House's jeans. Anthony could feel House reacting to his touch, and he shifted ever so slightly to maximize contact between them.

"Tell me if I'm hurting you." Anthony whispered into House's ear as he started to rock against House.

"So far, so good." House answered roughly, managing to work a hand in between them, stroking Anthony through the thin cotton of his boxers, his other hand caressing his back.

Anthony responded in kind, shifting so that more of his weight was on House's left side. It was still ridiculously awkward, but he was so lost in the feel of House's hands on him that it didn't matter.

House's mouth found an exquisitely sensitive spot at the base of Anthony's throat, sending his desire into overdrive, and he clutched at the back of House's neck as he went over, pressing himself against the older man with a ragged moan.

He reached through the opening of House's boxers, continuing to stroke the older man as he nipped at his neck, evoking all manner of sighs and groans from him as he arched upward, seeking more of what Anthony was giving. House wrapped the one arm that was around his waist tighter as he got closer, tangling the other in the hair at the back of Anthony's neck, taking hold as he tensed up and went over, relaxing with a heavy sigh as he collapsed against the headrest.

Anthony couldn't help but burst out laughing as he leaned down to kiss House. "Are you okay?"

"Better than okay." House joined him with his own low rumble. "That was fucking fantastic."

"You are crazy...in the best possible way." Anthony shook his head as he and House both buttoned up and refastened before the cold got to them both. "Leave it to you to find a loophole in the rules."

House simple shrugged as he brushed Anthony's bangs out of his eyes, a ghost of a smile crossing his rough features. "I didn't hear you complaining."

"That wasn't a complaint." Anthony carefully straddled House, pressing one last kiss to his lips. "That was most definitely a compliment."

"Good." House grinned as he pulled the younger man in close, taking in the scent of his leather coat and closing his eyes. "Busy tomorrow night?"

"Can't think of anything." Anthony murmured against House's shoulder.

"Bring your MSTs over. We'll order in Thai and get the weekend started right."

"Sounds good." Anthony answered. "I'll make sure to bring over all the Mike Nelson ones. I know how much you love those."

"You'd better not if you know what's good for you." House growled. "I will kick you right back out."

"No you won't."

"No, I won't." House sighed and stroked the back of Anthony's head. He released the younger man, finding his keys to unlock the doors and start the car. "You'd better go. I have a feeling we're on borrowed time out here."

"Right." Anthony opened the car door, stiffly climbing out and stretching himself out. House followed close behind, taking significantly more time, wincing slightly as he pushed himself out of the car. "You okay back there?"

"Yep." House answered, wrapping his arms around Anthony and pulling him in for a light kiss. "Just old and slow, that's all."

"I completely disagree with that." Anthony responded. "See you tomorrow."

House nodded, drifting his hand along Anthony's arm, squeezing his fingers lightly before releasing them. He watched the younger man go, waiting until he climbed into his car before he rounded the back end of his own car to get in on the driver's side.

The seat was already warmed up and the windows were starting to clear as he buckled up and turned on his I Pod. Aerosmith's 'Young Lust' started screaming out of the speakers, and he grinned to himself as he turned it up a little louder and pulled away from the curb. The damn thing really did have a mind of its own, and sometimes it had a knack for finding just the right song.

He pulled up in front of his apartment, shutting off the car and the I Pod. The memory that he had shared with Anthony at dinner came back to him. There had been more to the story than he had told, far more.

He remembered the phone call with his mother as if it were yesterday. They had been chatting idly about nothing as he was getting settled in for his first year of college, and she had brought it up, almost casually. No, Mom, we weren't friends. I barely even knew him. He still couldn't believe how easily the lie had slipped out.

It became just one more damn thing he blamed himself for. If he had simply let things be, the boy might still be alive today. Even then, his curiosity had hurt people, destroyed lives.

House was surprised to feel the tears spring to his eyes, finally mourning the death of the first man in his life, the first man to bring out what lay beneath. Somehow, things had managed to come full circle, right down to the fierce makeout session in his car.

It wasn't a '78 Chevette, and it wasn't a five foot tall girl. Everything else was the truth, more or less. This time, however, his relationship would no longer be carried out in secret. His father was long dead, and nobody else in his life seemed particularly bothered that he was with a man.

He took a deep breath and brushed the few tears that remained out of his eyes. Suddenly his plans for Christmas were crystallized. It seemed his mother wasn't the only one he needed to visit.

# # #

It's that time again. Read and review.