When Will I See You Again

4:00pm

Cuddy had just gotten off of a conference call when she heard her door open.

"When were you going to tell me you were in love with Chase?" House asked as he walked up to her desk. "Is that why you went out with me? Just so that I would confirm that he thinks you are hot?" House had a pretend hurt look on his face.

"You fell right into my trap," Cuddy said, giving him a smile. "Now Chase and I can be lovers."

"Was it the accent that won you over?" House asked.

"I couldn't resist it," Cuddy said. "I think it gives him some sort of superpower."

"The superpower to get your clothes off?" House asked in a fake British accent. "That could be a very useful power."

"You sound like Ringo Starr," Cuddy said laughing. "Your fake personality must come from Liverpool."

"I would have done a French accent, but it always comes out sounding like Snagglepuss," House said, returning his voice to normal.

"I didn't realize he was French," Cuddy said. He was joking with her. She hoped that meant his talk with Wilson went well.

"Yes, he was best friends with Pepi le Pue," House said. "They were both trying to chase down all the pussy...cats. Of course, Snagglepuss was smarter than Pepi." Cuddy laughed. She never thought she would be having a conversation with Gregory House about cartoons.

"Is Saturday morning cartoons where you got all of your knowledge?" Cuddy asked him. It was hard for her to imagine House as a small child watching Looney Tunes.

"I'm just a bill on Capital Hill," House started to sing.

"School House Rock," Cuddy said snorting a little. "Now I understand you."

"If you understand me so much, what did I come in here for?" House asked. He was nervous and didn't know how to casually bring up a date for tomorrow. He hoped that she would play along.

"Too warn me not to go out with Chase?" Cuddy asked sarcastically.

"Actually, I came in to help you pick out what clothes you should wear," House said. "I figured it would be good for me if you were dating one of my team. Maybe this way you wouldn't yell at me as much."

"Is that why you asked me out?" Cuddy asked half joking, half serious. "So I would let you do more around here." House looked up at her. She was staring directly at him.

"No," House answered her.

"Then why did you?" Cuddy asked, still looking at him, needing to know the answer. House was a little nervous because she kept looking directly at him, but he didn't look away.

"Because I wanted to," House said shrugging his shoulders.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Cuddy asked with her left brow rising.

"I wanted to go out with you," House said. House didn't really know where this was going. "Why did you say yes?" A smile rose on Cuddy's face.

"Because I wanted to," Cuddy said. "Not a very good answer, is it?"

"Because I like you," House said, taking his eyes off of her when he felt his face beginning to blush. Cuddy looked at him for a moment, shocked. She couldn't believe he had actually said it.

"That's also why I said yes to you," Cuddy said.

"Because I like you?" House asked with a smirk.

"Because I like you, stupid," Cuddy said with a giant smile on her face.

"Let's not start with the pet names just yet," House said.

"I can probably think up some really good ones too," Cuddy said.

"Just remember that I can think of some, too," House said. They both laughed. It was a laugh that House had never shared with Cuddy. It was kind of a nervous laugh, but it felt really good.

"So why did you really come in here?" Cuddy asked. "You always have a reason for everything."

"I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me tomorrow," House said.

"What do you have in mind?" Cuddy asked with a smile.

"I got tickets to that oldies music on ice thing," House said. "You seemed like the music on ice kind of chick." She also seemed like a ballet kind of chick, but that was not going to happen. Cuddy smiled.

"How much did Wilson pay for them?" Cuddy asked.

"I am proud to say that it was my idea," House said. "Well, maybe not proud. It was Wilson's idea for me not to call it stupid in front of you."

"I would love to go with you," Cuddy said.

"You know, we could do something tonight," House said.

"You have to go to the seminar," Cuddy said. "I would prefer that you keep your license."

"You only want to go out with me because I am a doctor," House said.

"If you switch careers now, it's over," Cuddy said.

"Even if I become a famous actor?" House asked. "I would make tons of money."

"We'll see," Cuddy said. She knew that she would stay with him even if he did nothing. "Until you are nominated for an Oscar, you need to stay working here."

"Fine," House said. "I am going to go grab some food with Wilson now."

"Have fun," Cuddy said as he got up.

"I'll be with Wilson, not you," House said as he left the room. Cuddy smiled as he left. She couldn't wait to see him tomorrow night.

"Over 24 hours to go," Cuddy said to herself. "What do you wear to one of these stupid things?" She knew that she would just have to choose something that House would love.