What I wish a guy would do for me… *sigh*. Anyway, the red plaid blanket, milk, and strawberries are for my good friend HappyDaysAreHereAgain. Song lyrics: Beautiful Day by U2.

House woke up and lay in bed for a few moments, still. The bed was empty next to him; therefore Stacy must've already gotten up. He could hear her moving around the kitchen and humming slightly. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, letting her voice travel through his mind. He smiled, and sat up, checking the time. It was nearly 11:30 a.m. He hoisted himself out of bed and into the hallway.

Stacy heard him get out of bed and was glad he was up. She was almost done making the egg sandwiches and had everything packed and ready. She was leaning over to grab a knife to spread the egg salad on bread when House wrapped his arms around her from behind. She jumped a little at the touch but soon relaxed, letting him rest his head on her shoulder and rock her back and forth.

"Next time, check before to make sure I don't have a knife," she murmured into his ear. "I nearly stabbed you."

House just smiled, turning to look at her. She smiled back, letting him kiss her softly on the lips.

"Dear God, your breath is terrible." She jokingly gagged. "Now get off me so I can finish making our lunches."

House put an over-exaggerated hurt face on and moved away to get ready for the day. Stacy continued making her sandwiches, and starting humming again.

"The heart is a bloom
Shoots up through the stony ground
There's no room
No space to rent in this town"

House, brushing his teeth, stopped to listen to her singing.

"Hurry up, Greg!" Stacy yelled down the hall, ending his train of thought.

House hoisted the cooler up into the trunk of the car as Stacy placed the whicker basket neatly on the red plaid blanket and slammed down the trunk.

"Feisty," House remarked. "My chances of action today are lookin' good." Stacy rolled her eyes and got in the passenger side of the car.

House pulled out of the driveway and down the road, into the autumn colours of late September. It was still warm and the trees were just beginning to turn. They pulled away from town and out into the countryside. Stacy sighed happily and leaned back, flipping on the radio.

It was a beautiful day
Don't let it get away
Beautiful day

Touch me
Take me to that other place
Reach me
I know I'm not a hopeless case

The car ride was silent in a somewhat peaceful manner, House occasionally drumming his fingers on the steering wheel for a few moments before Stacy got annoyed and stopped him. A good 45 minutes from town, the lovers pulled over next to a lake and set up their picnic.

They picked a nice sunny spot next to a big willow with a stunning view of the lake. Stacy flattened out the blanket as House lifted the cooler and basket and brought it over. He put it down beside the blanket and sat down heavily next to her as she unwrapped the sandwiches and offered him one. House gladly accepted and took a huge bite, groaning his pleasure.

"These sandwiches are almost as good as…" he struggled for some words, "that hooker Cuddy got the number for me a few weeks ago. " Stung, Stacy slapped him.

"I give you a compliment and you slap me! I'll never understand women!"

"You slept with another –"

"It was a joke!"

"Wasn't funny." Stacy pouted.

"To you maybe." He took another bite. "But seriously, these sandwiches are really good."

Stacy ignored him and took a drink from a little milk bottle. House rolled his head back and threw up a strawberry, opening his mouth to catch it. Stacy saw her opportunity and swiped it out of the air just before it entered his mouth.

House looked surprised and then impressed. "Nice catch, but what the hell was that for?"

Stacy shrugged and popped the strawberry in her mouth. House growled and took a swig of beer. The two ate in silence for awhile. Stacy quietly started subconsciously singing again.

"What you don't have you don't need it now
What you don't know you can feel it somehow
What you don't have you don't need it now
Don't need it now
Was a beautiful day"

"True," House said. Stacy looked at him, cocking her head in a silent question.

"Today was a beautiful day," he replied, lying back on the blanket and staring up at the sky. Stacy watched him for a few seconds and then smiled to herself, lying back next to him and staring up at the white-patched blue sky. They watched the clouds drift by lazily for awhile, before House turned and looked at her.

"Thanks, for all this." He said. Stacy turned in shock. Those words were as rare as an apology coming from his mouth. But House had already turned his attention back to the sky, refusing to meet her gaze. Stacy thought for a moment, stunned, then shook her head and rolled onto her stomach to prop herself up, her face inches away from his.

"You're blocking the view," he complained. Stacy grinned, planting soft, lingering kisses on his nose and on his chin, brushing her lips over his familiar stubble. Slowly, and with care, she studied his face, the feel of every dimple and line on it. He grunted in pleasure as her lips met his and he threw himself into the kiss, making it long and urgent and dirty. Stacy matched his pace, letting herself fall into delirium and anticipating the rush as House lifted his hands to muss her hair.

At first, there was a universe, and in that universe there was a planet, and on the planet there was a lake, and next to the lake there were two people, a man and a woman. The next moment, reality spun away and it was just them and their love, and they were one.

A little later, the couple sat, gasping for air on the blanket for a second before diving into another passionate kiss.

"Slow down, Stacy," House pleaded. Stacy smirked and sat up, staring out at the sparkling water.

"Was the hooker as good as me?" She blurted out. House stared at her, before a smile spread over his lips.

"Take a wild guess."

"Not even close?"

"You guessed right."

And voilà! The review button is looking awfully lonely…