Chapter 12

House and Kate soon settled into a routine. Not always an easy one, but a routine nonetheless.

Kate was an early riser. She liked to be up at 6, do a workout and be at her desk at the precinct no later than 8. House, of course, slept as late as he possibly could. So Kate made coffee for herself, then, set it up for House, so that when he got up, he could just push the button. She would then give him a kiss on the cheek and go to work.

House liked to stay up late watching TV. Kate preferred to get to bed at a "reasonable" hour, as she put it. So House would join her in bed, then, later go back to the living room to watch TV. When he finally got to bed, he would pull her close to him to snuggle in sleep.

When House had a medical case, Kate would sometimes stay later at work to get paperwork done. When Kate had a murder case, House would go home, but he worried about her. His job wasn't as dangerous as hers (usually).

Neither liked to cook, so they took turns bringing home takeout or else they would meet somewhere after work to eat. In the evenings, sometimes they watched TV together, usually the trashiest shows they could find, all the time making snide remarks about the plots and the acting. Sometimes House would sit at the piano and play, while Kate read or did crossword puzzles.

One night, she sat beside him at the piano while he played. When the song was done, she sighed.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing. It's just that it sounds so beautiful. I wish I could do that."

"No reason why you can't."

"Are you kidding? I don't know music."

"Well, maybe, if you know someone who does and who has a piano, he could teach you."

She looked at him in wonder. "You would teach me how to play?"

"Oh, did you think I meant me?"

"Seriously, Greg, would you teach me?"

"I don't know. My rates are pretty high."

"How high?"

"Oh, unbelievably high. Mostly consisting of sexual favors. Positions you've never even thought of."

"That's not a problem. If I haven't thought of them, you probably can't do them."

He smiled and lifted her right hand. He placed her thumb in the middle of the piano, just under the manufacturer's name. "This," he said, "Is middle C."

From then on, every evening, Kate would get a piano lesson. Sometimes she got frustrated if she missed notes, but, surprisingly, he was patient with her efforts. After the lesson, he made her practice for half an hour. She grumbled, but he wouldn't relent.

Wilson stopped by occasionally. He was still amazed that House had actually found a woman to love, but he was happy as well. They tried once or twice to double date, but House always ended up somehow insulting Wilson's dates, so they had to stop that.

Kate had a good friend as well. Joanne was almost sixty, never married, a little overweight and the most terrific person Kate had ever known. She had spent 25 years working as a school teacher in Trenton. When she retired, she took a part time job at the police station as an administrative assistant. Her experience with teenagers in an inner city school made her able to deal with the cops and crooks that came into her sphere. It also made her able to deal with House.

Joanne had her own name for each person she knew based on what she felt they needed from her. Kate needed nurturing, something she hadn't received for most of her life, so she was "Katie." House needed discipline, but in a caring way, so he was "Gregory." They sparred verbally often, but she appreciated the man for bringing love into Kate's life and knew that he was basically good.

At their first meeting, they had established a routine that would continue. Kate introduced them and Joanne said, "So, you're the man who's shacking up with Katie."

"No, that's someone else. I just have sex with her."

Kate rolled her eyes, but Joanne continued. "Don't even try that stuff with me, young man. I won't take any crap from you."

House had to smile at the 'young man' line. "Aw, gee, are you going to send me to the principal's office?" He asked in a whiny, little boy voice.

"I never sent a child to the principal's office in my life. If I couldn't deal with them, then I didn't deserve to be there. And you are no different from any of my students. Arrogant, think you know everything and too smart for your own good. But since Katie seems to like you, I'll be gracious. Just don't get on my bad side or you'll be sorry."

For some reason, House believed her. From then on, whenever they met, he tried to bait her and he always failed. She tried hard not to smile at his antics, but sometimes she had to. He reminded her of all those troublesome young men she had taught. The ones that acted up to get attention. She had always had a soft spot for them. Most of them were incredibly bright and just needed to know that someone cared. She made sure that House knew that she cared. So despite his loud protests, he secretly enjoyed having Kate's friend visit.

Sometimes Joanne and Wilson visited at the same time. Joanne called Wilson, "Jimmy".

One evening, in early December, the four of them were in House's apartment eating pizza. Wilson was noting how terrific they were together. Kate rolled her eyes and House said something about "Little Mary Sunshine."

"No, really," Wilson said. "You two have been together, what, four or five months? You need to celebrate this. You should have a party, a Christmas party and invite all your friends."

House and Kate both looked at him with both horror and shock on their faces.

"Are you nuts?" Kate asked incredulously.

"You must be hanging around the brain tumor patients too long." House said.

"I'm serious. You're a couple now. You should celebrate that by having a party. It would be great."

Joanne nodded in agreement. "That is, actually, a very good idea. Christmas is a wonderful time to share happiness with friends."

House and Kate shared a look that said 'they're both nuts'.

"What do we know about having parties? I've barely even been to one."

House added, "My idea of a party is a bottle of scotch, and a couple of Vicodin."

"Don't be impertinent, Gregory."

House opened his mouth to retort, but Joanne continued, "Anyway, it wouldn't be hard to do. You hire a caterer to do the food and drink. They come, set everything up, serve and even clean up afterwards."

Wilson added, "And you can get a service in to clean and decorate the place."

"We'd have to decorate?" House asked.

"Well, sure. You need to put up your Christmas tree in time for it."

"I don't put up Christmas trees." House snarled, watching his cane as he tapped it on the floor. Suddenly everyone seemed silent. He looked up and saw Kate's face. She was terribly sad all of a sudden. Not the way he was used to seeing her.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I haven't had a Christmas tree since before my mom died. And I never really remember celebrating Christmas." She shook her head. "Never mind, I never really wanted to. Lots of stupid people spending way too much money." But her eyes still looked sad.

House thought his heart would break at the look on her face. He looked at Wilson and Joanne. "Would you guys help us with it?"

Wilson replied eagerly, 'Sure, I'd help."

"I would be happy to help." Joanne added.

Kate looked at House in amazement. "Greg, we can't…"

House interrupted her. "Okay, great, Joanne, you hire a caterer and supervise them. Wilson, you hire a decorator and get a tree." He sat back with a smug grin on his face.

Wilson was stunned. "If we do all of that, we're throwing the party. What will you be doing?"

"I'm offering my home. And Kate and I will be here, entertaining everyone."

"Although I often find you entertaining, it isn't usually because you intend to be." Wilson replied. "How can you just push this on Joanne and me?"

"It was your idea and you know how to throw parties. So, Kate and I will leave it in your capable hands. Don't make us look foolish."

Kate tried very hard to hide a laugh. House felt better seeing her smile. He hated parties and the thought of lots of people in his home terrified him, but to make her happy, he would put up with it. Especially if he didn't have to actually do any work for it.

"What about the guest list?" Wilson asked.

"You know everyone I know. Don't invite anyone who irritates me and we'll be fine."

"That excludes the entire human race."

Joanne finally spoke up. "That's enough, Jimmy." She was also flabbergasted at House's gall, but it really wasn't surprising. And her heart had also broken at the sight of Kate's face. She didn't mind doing some extra work to give that girl a Christmas celebration.

"We'll do it." She said. "I can take care of inviting Kate's friends from the precinct, I know who they are. The only thing I insist on, Gregory, is that you stay out of my way and no criticism from either of you."

House and Kate nodded, wondering how they had managed to get their friends to agree to throw a Christmas party for them.