A/N: This is a long one to make up for the last chapter. It's very fluffy so consider yourself warned. I would love some reviews, even bad ones. I'd just like to know somebody is still reading this
House stood for a moment outside the door of his flat, staring hard at the rough wooden door. He sniffed the air glancing side to side before pulling out his key and letting himself in.
Oh god what is that smell
House almost let out an groan at the aromatic delicious scents wafting from the direction of his kitchen
Wilson must be nervous… smells like hotpot. He only makes hotpot when he is nervous. Comfort food. He is nervous because of the almost-kiss, we said we'd talk what if he is regretting saying... regretting telling us a lie. He lied.
House rubbed his leg and tried to shake the worry from his mind, limping slowly into the warm welcoming flat. He discarded his jacket in the closet and moved toward the kitchen with all the care of a nature presenter approaching dangerous rhinos. Downwind, almost silent, clutching his present tightly.
He grinned at the image that greeted him. Wilson was stood in front of the stove furiously stirring the pot , his hair sticking up from running his fingers through it, face pink from the heat, tie lying forgotten on the handle of the cupboard, shirt sleeves rolled to the elbow humming quietly to himself. House moved into the light
God he is adorable and oh god that smells soooo good.
"Smells good"
Wilson spun on the spot his face shocked "Jesus! "
"Nope just me"
Wilson rolled his eyes, hands on waist "You said you'd be home at 6, its almost 8"
House grinned "I had to pick something up" he gestured the brown paper wrapped shape under his arm and moved slowly towards Wilson.
"What is it?"
House didn't say a word but handed the parcel over shifting uncomfortably
Oh god he is going to laugh. This is so stupid.
Wilson put the parcel down and pulled the wrapping off, a bottle of expensive wine. Wilson eyed it warily "House… what is this?"
House licked his lips "Well the guy that sold it too me said it was good? It's for later"
Wilson looked at him, eyes wide with nervous energy "Oh… right"
They were both silent as Wilson read the label "It's… nice. Thank you".
"Well I figured you wouldn't think its right to drink beer when… when" House stilled unsure of what to say.
Fuck. We sound like an idiot. A bottle of wine? What were we thinking?
"No of course. It's good it's… romantic"
House nodded and banged his cane on the floor "I'm going to just check the TiVo"
Wilson smiled at him "Okay"
House banged his cane again, blushing lightly, and limped away.
House scooted over as Wilson brought him a steaming plate of ambrosia. House actually let out a groan when he was handed his fork and was allowed his first bite of Wilson's hotpot.
They ate in relative silence, just the gasps and moans of House enjoying his meal to punctuate the peace of the flat. When he had finished House looked up as if he had just woken from a deep sleep
"Huh?"
"I didn't say anything"
Wilsons voice sounded distant, and he was sat just staring at House his mouth hanging open.
"What?"
Wilson shook his head swallowing thickly "Nothing"
House placed the plate on the coffee table in front of him and slumped backwards satisfied, his eyes flicking every couple of minutes to Wilson, watching and waiting for him to finish.
Imagine we could have him cooking for us every night. We will have him. Every night.
House rubbed his leg, watching Wilson clear the plates away, his stomach suddenly beginning to flip, nerves fraying as the time for the talk got closer and closer.
Finally when Wilson returned from the kitchen they sat staring at each other for what seemed like eternity.
"So"
"So"
"Greg…"
"Jimmy"
They both shifted uncomfortably until House shook his head
"This is stupid, what are you so afraid of?"
"Me!? You're the one not saying anything"
"Well you're not being particularly vocal either"
They laughed, awkward.
House looked up at his friend "Come here"
Wilson raised an eyebrow but scooted closer to the older man, so they were touching knee to knee. For a moment no man made a move before Wilson determinedly reached out and grasped Houses hand. The silence was deafening.
Kiss him idiot!
House lurched forward stopping himself before his face crashed into Wilsons and they stared at each others eyes, sharing a warm breath before Wilson leant in brushing his lips against Houses , hand moving up to the older mans neck and pressing deeper. Both men's eyes falling shut as they moved against each other.
He tastes like strawberry. How…Nice.
House grinned into the kiss, it felt so natural, so comforting. They pulled back to breathe and House chuckled
"Well…"
Wilson blushed but didn't let go of his lovers' hand. They leant in again and House pressed his lips firmly to Wilsons, the kiss deepening tongues battling for dominance.
Finally House pulled back an idea springing to him. He turned away from the younger man scrabbling around for a remote.
"What are you doing?"
House found his prize and pulled it out from under a pile of medical journals with a quiet aha. Turning to face his lover he pointed at the CD player turning it on, soft ballroom style music flowing out from the speakers. House blushed but stood hand reaching out to Wilson.
"But…your leg?"
House frowned "Forget the fucking leg"
Wilson nodded wide eyed and stood, taking the diagnosticians hand.
House let a soft smile grace his features.
Just like a dream
House pulled Wilson closer, wrapping a arm around his waist the other still tightly clasping the shorter mans own hand. Wilson grinned up at him and rested his head on the older mans shoulder arm sliding down his back. They began to sway gently to the music.
"So"
"So"
"You took to this well"
"What?"
"Even in the best case scenarios I never thought you'd be this…"
"This what?"
"Gentle, affectionate I don't know. It's moving a lot faster than I thought "
"You want to slow down?"
"No it's just…I never thought you'd be so caring"
"Well you were never my… you wouldn't have seen this"
"I was never your what?"
"I don't know. What do I call this?"
"Jimmy is nice?"
"You're my Jimmy?"
"Well what do you suggest?"
"I don't know"
They swayed in silence for a few minutes, the younger man grinning into his friends shoulder.
What do we call ourselves lover? Partner? Boyfriend? It's too confusing. What will we tell the kids… they don't have to know. They would only concentrate on that and pry into our private business.
"We can't tell the kids"
Wilson lifted his head frowning at House "What?"
"We can't tell them?"
"Why"
"They will spend all their time rooting around in our business instead of concentrating on the patient"
"Are you ashamed of me?"
" I just told you-"
Wilson let House go, his face crumpling "No that's not it. You don't want anybody to know because it would disgust them you would be embarrassed"
House rolled his eyes pulling Wilson's arms, trying to pull him close again
Oh great. Why does he have to be so dramatic? Get him back. Don't ruin it
"Do you have to overreact about this?"
"Overreact!?"
"Look, what is between us is our business"
"You don't have a problem being in everyone else's business"
"That's different"
"What are you so scared of?"
"I don't… If they find out they won't leave us alone."
"And that's all you want. To be alone?"
Wilson stepped back again so he was out of arms reach, his hands on his hips eyebrows pressed together in confusion.
"No that's not what I meant"
"Then what did you mean?"
"I don't want to tell them because if I do.. It becomes real" House blushed again eyes firmly on the floor.
"And if it's real then it can go away. It can end?" Wilson whispered concern heavy in his voice.
House just stared at his friend's shoes, too scared to look up
Idiot. Now we sound pathetic.
He jumped when a warm hand touched his arm and Wilson enveloped him in a tight hug.
"We won't tell them then. We won't tell anybody until you're ready"
House pulled back staring hard into Wilsons eyes "Thank you"
How did we end up with someone like this? He just wants us to be happy. Who did we save to deserve this?
Wilson grinned "I'm exhausted"
"But… the dessert? The wine"
"They can wait till morning"
"Dessert for breakfast?"
"Special occasion"
"But mooom I want it noww"
"That's so inappropriate"
Chuckling House clasped his hands together and batted his eyelashes "Pleaseee"
Wilson just rolled his eyes and turned away, heading to the bedroom House followed him, both stopping in the doorway
"What now?"
House looked Wilson up and down, noticing the tired lines around his eyes, his slumped posture
"Tonight lets just sleep"
Wilson smiled softy and let go of Houses hand.
House limped forwards and leant his cane against the wall, sitting heavily on the bed. He looked back at Wilson framed by the doorway, soft lamp light from the living room making his fluffy hair glow.
Just like the dream
He took off his jeans and slid into bed, watching Wilson watch him.
"Well?"
Wilson grinned and blushed as he unbuttoned his shirt, removing his pants and shoes. House chuckled
"Hm this seems familiar"
Wilson laughed "so what did I do next in the dream?"
He looks even better than the dream.
"You got into bed"
Wilson licked his lips and padded around to the other side of the bed, pulling the sheets back. House shivered, bare leg and arm curling towards the still covered warm part of the bed.
"Stop staring and get in, I'm freezing"
Wilson blushed but sat down rolling himself under the sheets and curling into the foetal position facing House.
"Greg"
House rolled his eyes but turned so his head was facing the younger man.
"Come here"
Wilson bit his lip but moved over his legs sliding down the other mans, wrapping instinctively around the damaged thigh his arm slowly sliding over the broad warm chest until he was clinging to the older mans side Houses chin in his hair, arm still by his side.
Something isn't right, this isn't enough
House frowned and rolled sideways so he was fully facing his lover and pulled him closer and onto his chest before rolling back onto his back, arms wrapped around the younger mans waist.
"Your arm will be dead by morning"
"Shut up"
"And you're lying on your leg. That will hurt"
"I said shut up. Go to sleep"
"But..."
"You're ruining it"
Wilson was silent for a long moment and repositioned his head so he was facing the wall, ear to Houses chest listening to the calm even breathing and steady heart beat.
That's better.
House grinned letting his eyes slide shut, but the oncologists mind was still reeling.
"I never thought you'd be a cuddler"
House opened one eye "I never thought you'd never shut up"
"Sorry. Goodnight Greg"
"Night Jimmy"