Cameron looked up from her bathtub to check the time. It was only 6:30, but she wanted to be sure to have plenty of time to get ready. The warmth of the water and the scent of the vanilla bath gel had helped to ease her nervousness about the evening to come. She wondered where tonight would lead. It's not like it's your first date, she thought, recalling that disastrous date they had had so many months before. Even then, even with his diatribe about why she cared for him, she knew that he had feelings for her. The corsage was a dead giveaway. She smiled when she thought of the roses she had so carefully dried and kept with the other important mementos of her life.

She rose out of the tub and grabbed a bath sheet to wrap around herself. Once in her room, she reached for the pink striped bag from Victoria's Secret that she had kept for so long. She carefully removed the black silk thong and matching lace bra from their tissue wrapping and laid them out on her bed. I knew if I held onto these long enough, he would come around. She put them on and went back to the bathroom to finish her hair. Remembering the reaction she had gotten from House the night of the Casino Fundraiser, she had taken time before getting into the tub to put her hair up in rollers so it would have that same curl he seemed to have enjoyed. She put on a pair of older, but well fitting, jeans and searched her closet for a blouse that would just show a hint of the lace on the bra. With her outfit complete, she stood back and looked at herself in the mirror. Perfect – and with ten minutes to spare. "Or not…" she smiled as she went to answer the knock on her door.

He knew he was done for as soon as she opened the door. She looked stunning. In jeans that hugged every curve she had and her hair tumbling in soft curls down to just above where the black lace from her bra peeked out, she looked as if she had just stepped out of one of his fantasies.

She looked at him with soft, warm eyes. "Hi." She took him by the hand and led him into her apartment.

"Hi yourself." He reached behind him, shutting the door, and pulled her back to him and into his arms. "Now, where were we?" He bent down to kiss her, but she leaned her head back.

"I thought we were going to continue this after dinner?" she said, smiling.

"Consider this the first course." He put his hands on her face and brought her lips to his in a passionate kiss. He felt her hands slide up his chest and back down, settling around his waist. He slid his hands behind her neck until they were lost in the tangle of her curls. His need for her was beginning to grow and he knew, if they didn't stop right then, there would be no turning back. "Allison…"

She kissed him again. "Mm, hmm."

"If we don't stop right now, I'm going to have to take another shower – this time cold – and we'll be late for our reservations."

She moved her lips along his jaw line, moving slowly towards his neck. "A shower could be arranged, you know." She stopped for a moment and looked into his eyes. "Ok," she said quickly kissing him. "Let me get my coat."

This is the only place in the world I want to be, Cameron thought. Arms around the man I love. She didn't want the ride to end, but soon they were pulling up in front of a small, Italian restaurant that looked like it was straight out of Lady and the Tramp.

Greg watched in amazement as she took off her helmet, shaking her hair and running her fingers through it, tempting it back into place. She took his breath away, a sensation he was not used to – at least not one he was used to giving in to. He extended his hand to her, which she took as they walked into the restaurant.

A rather large man greeted them and shook House's hand. "Buenasera, Dr. House – right on time. And this must be the lady you were telling me about. Bellissimo! Welcome to Palermo my dear." He took Allison's hand and placed a gentle kiss on it.

"Good evening, Giovanni. Yes, this is Dr. Cameron. And I agree. She is very beautiful."

Allison blushed as House spoke, but then smiled and added, "And you have a beautiful restaurant, Giovanni."

He took two menus and offered Allison his elbow, saying, "Come. I have the best table in the house for you."

Giovanni led them to a round booth in the back of the restaurant, in a quiet corner. A candle-lit chandelier hung over the table, illuminating the red and white checked table cloth in a soft glow. Allison slid into the booth and House followed on the opposite side.

"No, no, no – that will not do!" Giovanni scolded. "I give you the most romantic table we have and you sit like you are brother and sister." House rolled his eyes, causing Cameron to smile and start to chuckle as they both slid in towards the middle of the booth. "Now, isn't that better?" Giovanni smiled and clasped his hands. "For you – the best wine in the house – on the house – for Dr. House!" he laughed as he walked away to get the wine.

"He is such a sweet man" Cameron said.

"Sweet? Not quite sure that's how I would describe him, but his food is excellent."

A moment later, a waiter appeared with a bottle of wine. He showed the bottle to House, before pouring a small amount for him to taste. House tasted the wine and nodded his approval. After pouring the wine, first for Cameron, and then for House, the waiter took their orders and left them alone for the first time since they had arrived.

House reached over and took his glass, raising it, as Allison did the same.

"Allison, I don't know what our future holds." He took her hand. "I've spent too much of the past building myself into a corner. You're the only person who's ever been able to get through the walls I built up. I don't know if that is testament to you or shoddy workmanship on my part." She rolled her eyes and smiled. "But, I do know that I want to explore the future with you." She clinked her glass to his and they each took a drink.

"Wait, don't put that down yet." Allison said, still holding her drink up in the air. "I haven't had my say yet."

"Oh, jeez. You're not going to ask me about my feelings again are you? 'Cuz that didn't work out so well last time."

She put a finger to his lips to shush him. "Shhshh. My turn. Those walls that you have built are still there, Greg. That's part of who you are. I didn't break through them. I climbed up and over, so now we are in this little world of yours together. And I want to explore the future with you, too. Our future." She touched her glass to his, but instead of drinking, she leaned over and gently kissed him.