Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight

The movie ended at 9:30 and House and Cuddy left the theater.

"Let's walk to the diner," Cuddy said as she grabbed House's right hand and tugged. "It's only a block away. You can make it."

"Did you forget that it is 25 degrees outside or am I so hot that you can't even feel it?" House said as he started walking with her.

"I think it's the second one," Cuddy said sarcastically, as she and House walked down the road holding hands.

"We used to have a place like this in Boston when I was growing up," Cuddy said, remembering what Natalie had said about trying to make the conversation about something personal. "I used to love when my dad would take the whole family to it."

"I only really want out to eat with my mom if my dad was away for work reasons," House said. "We usually went to Pizza Hut."

"Did your dad not take you out very much?" Cuddy asked. "Is he the, 'I need a home cooked meal' kind of guy?"

"He took my mom out a lot when he was home," House said trying to avoid her gaze.

"You two aren't very close, are you?" Cuddy asked, remembering the time that House said that he hated his father. She didn't really understand why. He had always been a complete gentleman to her.

"We are just completely different people," House said. "He always wanted me to be tough and play football. I was more interested in music and reading." House held open the door to the restaurant and they both walked in. They sat there quietly reading the menu until the waitress came over.

"I would like a hamburger and a strawberry shake," Cuddy said. She could already smell the food cooking in the back.

"I'll take a bacon cheeseburger without any pickles and a banana shake," House said.

"Is pickles the only kind of food you don't like?" Cuddy asked, remembering all the times he had tried to steal her and Wilson's food. "You eat practically everything else."

"I don't like coconut because it tastes like cotton balls," House said as he started to play with the mini-jukebox on their table. He couldn't believe one song cost a quarter. He decided just to listen to whatever song that played.

"I'll have to remember that," Cuddy said with a small laugh.

"Is there any food that your don't like?" House asked. "I've seen the way you have inhaled your food, too, young lady. It's nice to know that you have a healthy appetite."

"Fried chicken," Cuddy said. "I'm not a big fan of liver, either." The waitress came over and brought them their food. There were only a few people in the restaurant, so they did not have to wait very long.

"Thank you," Cuddy said as the waitress left.

"No pickles," House said as he checked his burger. House and Cuddy started to eat and listen to the jukebox.

Johnny Angel

How I love him

And I hope that someday he'll love me

And together we will see how lovely heaven will be

"I used to go around singing this song and changing the name from Johnny Angel to the name of whoever I was in love with at the time," Cuddy said with a slight laugh.

"You should never admit that to anyone," House said.

"Are you telling me you never went around singing embarrassing songs?" Cuddy asked giving him the 'I know you did' look. House started to laugh.

"I used to go around and sing Rock Me Amadeus in college a lot," House said. House and Cuddy both laughed.

"I think I missed that," Cuddy said. "You will have to give me a concert sometime."

"Only when you change Johnny Angel to Gregory House," House answered back. House and Cuddy continued to laugh and joke about music. Cuddy didn't want to bombard House with too much personal information all at once after he had gotten so uncomfortable talking about his dad.

xx

"Whoa, that's chilly," Cuddy said as a strong wind blew against them as they left the restaurant.

"I tried to warn you," House said.

"Your hotness must be dimming down," Cuddy joked to him.

"That was just your coldness coming out," House said with a smirk.

"Shut up," Cuddy said as she playfully hit his arm.

"Your cold hand didn't just melt against my hotness did it?" House said laughing. Cuddy grabbed on to his left arm and laughed. After making it to the car, they continued their small talk on the way back to Cuddy's house. House pulled into her driveway and got out and opened the door for Cuddy.

"Thank you," Cuddy said. "It's nice to see that the gentleman is still awake."

"He is getting very sleepy," House said as he walked her to the front door.

"Did you miss your nap time?" Cuddy asked.

"Wilson usually comes over and we spoon," House said. "It helps put me at ease." House's heart was almost pounding out of his chest as Cuddy unlocked her door and opened it. Cuddy reached in and turned on the light to the front hallway.

"I had fun tonight, House," Cuddy said as she turned back around to face him.

"I did, too," House said nervously playing with his left sleeve. "And to think that you turned me down yesterday."

"I had to work," Cuddy said with a frown.

"You and your excuses," House said jokingly.

"If it was an excuse, I wouldn't have asked you to go out with me tonight," Cuddy said. "I would have said I was busy for the next five years."

"I never said you were smart," House retorted.

"You know, the best complement I ever got from you about my intelligence was that time you said that I am not an idiot," Cuddy said.

"Cuddy if you weren't smart, I wouldn't work for you," House said. "I know that when you are telling me drop dead about one of my crazy plans, it is because you honestly don't agree with it."

"You are getting closer to saying that I am smart," Cuddy said. She always knew that House must have thought she was smart because she knew that he would never listen to her if he thought she was stupid. "I'm still waiting."

"I think you're smart," House said, rolling his eyes. "I will still continue to say otherwise in front of everyone else, though."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Cuddy said looking into House's eyes.

"I guess I should head home now," House said as he felt a strong gust of wind hit his back. House walked up closer to Cuddy, put his hands on the sides of her upper arms, and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. House wanted to make sure he listened to Wilson's advice on making sure that she knew that he wasn't just in it for the sex. "Goodnight," House said to her.

"Goodnight," Cuddy answered with a confused smile on her face. She didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing that House had only tried to kiss her forehead. She had expected him to try for so much more, even if she had only let him steal a few kisses.