Such awesome reviews! Truly, thank you :) Totally keeps me writing, even at 2 am like I'm currently doing. I'm too sleepy to scour for typos, so my apologies for all that might be lurking. I loved writing these last few chapters, and I hope this one matches the rest. Getting near the end...but I still have a few more chapters left, just building up to the climax...!
Happy Weekend!
Cuddy swiftly dodged the in-coming pirate ship helium balloon floating eye level with her. Words saying 'It's a Boy' flew dangerously close to her head; the breeze from the near encounter tickled her face.
"Rachel stop messing with the balloon. You keep almost whacking me in the face."
Rachel had insisted on buying it the moment she saw it at the grocery store, a large balloon shaped like a primary colored cartoon pirate ship. And even though she was told it said the wrong sentiment, she replied that she thought House would think it was silly, and that pretty much settled the argument. Currently though, Cuddy wished she hadn't bought the thing because it had turned into a maddening object for her already hyper daughter to pester her with.
"Mommy did you wrap my present?" She pulled the balloon down by the string and clutched it fondly to her chest, her arms barely reaching around it.
"Yes remember? You put the blue bow on it like ten minutes ago."
"Oh yeah." Rachel let the balloon float completely to the ceiling and went to check on her present to House. She was very proud of it.
'Knock…knock." Cuddy heard her guests arrive right as she was passing by the door, her feet coming to a halt as she grabbed the handle.
"I'll get it!" Rachel bellowed from inside the kitchen.
"I already got it Rach!" She called back, opening the door, her eyes focusing in on House and Wilson standing side by side on the porch. "Boys." She smiled and stepped aside for them to enter.
House looked at her suspiciously before he searched the room for signs of colorful banners or streamers draped in curly loops, basically any sort of Birthday fanfare that would aggravate him. Seeing nothing besides candles, a solitary balloon floating above them, and dinner settings on the dining table, he eased up and shrugged out of his coat. Giving the beautifully dressed woman in front of him a kiss on the cheek.
"Happy Birthday!" Rachel ran towards him with her unicorn tucked beneath her arm.
"Thank you."
"I got you a balloon."
"I see that. It looks like the ship from that ninja monkey cartoon."
"I know."
"Knock knock knock." The door behind them vibrated, and Cuddy moved to open it, her high heeled boots she knew House loved, clicked passed everyone as she reached for the handle once more.
"Oh don't tell me you made this into a party. Are you trying to-" he cut himself off as the distinct smell of pizza wafted in his direction. Cuddy's hand disappeared inside her pocket and removed money to hand over to the delivery driver.
"Thank you." She smiled to the driver and silently handed boxes of food over to Wilson. Kicking the door closed with her foot before she carried more food wordlessly to the dining room.
"You ordered from my favorite pizza place." House limped into the dining room behind her slowly.
"Yes." She smiled. "The meatball special and one artichoke pizza with ham and garlic. Plus pasta and salad…I think I got it right." She looked at him with a question in her eye and a tilt of her head, seeing instantly that she had indeed remembered his favorites as he smirked proudly back to her.
"Smells great." Wilson placed the salad and pasta at the end of the table.
"Hungry?" Cuddy spoke, catching his eye once more as she placed the booster seat on Rachel's chair.
"Yes!" Rachel answered for him, and reached for her glass of juice next to her plate.
"What she said." He replied simply, finding his seat across from Cuddy. Settling in to what was shaping up to be a far less overwhelming experience than he had anticipated.
"Mine first!" Rachel clapped her hands, filled with an overabundance of glee, as Cuddy brought out the presents she had kept hidden on her kitchen counter.
"I thought I agreed to a card and cake. Not presents. And why is there so many?"
"Because these are from your team. I thought it best to ease you into this whole Birthday tradition, so I kept tonight small. But they wanted to send gifts along anyway."
House sighed, anxiety creeping in at the thought of opening up a gift from anyone, it had been awhile since he had to participate in the custom.
"This one is mine." Rachel shoved a rectangular package in his hand, standing in front of him expectantly.
He studied her for a moment before he stuck his finger underneath the tape and ripped open the wrapping with red and yellow stripes decorating it, a blue bow placed lop-sided on top. He already knew it was a picture frame of some kind before he discovered the image inside. A crayon drawing boldly pressed into the light blue construction paper background. The yellow brilliance of her decent attempt at a submarine was off-centered on the page. What looked to be sea monsters locked into a battle with her take on the Blue Meanies filled up the area around the ship.
"Who did you pay to draw this for you?"
"I draws it for you."
"You did? Are The Beatles inside the sub singing?"
"Yep."
House nodded slightly, and leaned forward in his chair to speak only to her, "Thank you." He whispered, and she smiled proudly. "Now you want to help me open up the rest of these things so we can get to the cake?" He thrust a package in her hands.
"Okay!" She beamed and ripped off the card, opening it up easily, "It's um from a frog." She held up the card with a picture of a giant toad covered in warts to him.
He grabbed it as she ripped open the wrapping paper with force. "No it's from Taub." He replied, not even opening the card to confirm. Watching as Rachel uncovered a giant snow globe filled with a dozen tiny gnomes and little tree houses stuck inside the dome. House reached out for her small hands and moved them in his to shake the globe together. Her eyes growing wider as the snow fell slowly around the tiny creatures.
"Cool!" She exclaimed, looking up to House as he allowed a small smirk to cross his lips from Taub's gift. He could sense Cuddy and Wilson watching him intently as he placed the globe on the table next to Rachel's face.
"You see the one wearing the green polka-dot jacket?" He spoke to Rachel.
"Yeah." She leaned forward to press her nose against the plastic globe.
"Well that is actually Doctor Taub. Always dressing up for special occasions." He replied and thrust the next present into her hands.
"There's no card." Rachel looked at him.
"It's from Foreman." Cuddy interjected, as House caught her eye, "I guess he knew better than to get you a card that you wouldn't read anyway." She replied casually, taking a sip of her wine with a twinkle in her eyes.
"You sure are enjoying this aren't you?" He studied her carefully.
"I sure am." Wilson added pointedly.
"Are you still here?" House made a face and watched Rachel resume opening up Foreman's gift.
Her finger's clawed at the small cardboard box before she found a silk tie nestled inside. "Um it's a rope with a snake colored on it." She held it up to him with a confused expression.
House grabbed the gift from her outstretched fingers, "It's a tie. And that's because Doctor Foreman is so uptight that he even goes to sleep wearing one of these things." House tossed it at Wilson's empty dinner plate. "Here you go. Matches your eyes better."
"Especially now that it has pizza sauce on it." Wilson grabbed it and wiped off the corner with his napkin.
"How about this one?" Rachel grabbed a small gift bag, opening up the card attached to the handle. "There's no pictures. Who's got you this?" Rachel held up the writing to House as he leaned forward to read the scribble.
"It's from Chase and Thirteen. Apparently now that they're a couple that enables them to do everything together. And that includes being cheap." House explained as Rachel dug into the bag, pulling out a rolled piece of paper with a bow tied around it.
"Its paper." Rachel handed him the sheet, watching as House undid the red ribbon and opened up the paper.
"It's a receipt for a top of the line jello shot maker. It will be arriving on my doorstep next week." He placed the paper on top of the discarded wrapping, "Those two were always my favorites."
"Can I haves some jello?" Rachel asked eagerly.
"Absolutely not." Cuddy cut in quickly.
"Here." House gave her the second to last gift, "It's from Wilson. I can tell by the girlie wrapping paper."
Wilson shook his head and prepared for the snarky comments potentially coming his way any moment as Rachel pulled apart the heavy cardboard box.
The weight was too much for her to hold, and it toppled out of her hands onto the floor. "Oops." She commented. Reaching into the half-opened box she pulled out a black leather jacket and held it up to House's face backwards. "It's a coat!" She exclaimed with a smile.
House instantly liked it and reached out his hands to take it from her, running his fingers against the soft leather; he put his arms through it and adjusted it on his body.
"I'm going to take that as…you actually like it." Wilson leaned forward in his chair.
"You don't know me." House made a sour face, but said nothing further and left the jacket on his body.
"This is Mommy's!" Rachel bounced up and down before grabbing the last gift on the dining table. "I helped her wrap it." She smiled.
House reached for the gift and began to open it with his own fingers. The paper discarded quickly, he opened up a small cardboard box with something heavier than clothes inside. The tissue paper was pushed aside and her present was finally revealed to him, nestled deeply amongst the wrapping.
He ran his fingers over it…taking it in. An old copy of his favorite book, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, lay before his eyes. He turned to her after a moment, searching her expression before he looked back to the vintage item. "Is this a first edition?" He asked humbly.
"Yes…open it." She spoke softly. Her eyes fixed to him as he obliged her request, seeing his own eyes widen as he saw the signature on the inside cover.
House took in the gift, probably the best gift he had ever received. He lightly brushed over the faded signature by the author himself. The name Hunter S. Thompson was scribbled on the old paper, the book itself smelled from years of age, that wonderful old library smell that only true book lovers could appreciate.
"Thank you." He looked across the table to her, still slightly uneasy by the shower of gifts and attention, but unable to hide his genuine appreciation at her amazingly thoughtful gift.
"You're welcome." Her lips displayed a small smile, "There's a card inside the book too, but you can mock it later." She added teasingly. Getting up from her perch at the table, "You ready for your cake?"
"Only if you promise not to sing."
"You will have to discuss that with Rachel." She murmured and vanished to the kitchen.
House brought his eyes back to the tiny person still standing in front of him in anticipation. "If you don't sing, Uncle Wilson will give you ten dollars."
She gasped, "Really?" She went over to Wilson and stretched out her hand automatically.
Wilson gave House a very dirty look.
"It's my Birthday." House pulled out a slight pout, knowing it was enough to get his friend to open up his wallet.
Ten dollars was placed begrudgingly in Rachel's hands as Cuddy brought out a small round cake on a platter and set it on the table in front of House.
"Candles?" He groaned.
"You said no singing. I heard nothing about candles…and why is my daughter holding a ten dollar bill?"
"Uncle Jimmy is very generous tonight." House explained, turning to his cake and looking at the writing cursively iced across it. He made a face, the words Happy Birthday House spelled out in front of him in blue icing. A yellow sugar design of Sponge Bob nestled next to the expression, his mouth open wide implying the character was the one saying Happy Birthday to him.
"I take it you picked this cake." He turned back to Rachel who was currently leaning on his good leg to get a better view.
"Yep!" She concluded, "Blows out your candles and make a wish okay." She patted him on the leg and turned back to the glowing cake.
House sighed and did as he was summoned too. Theatrically blowing out the two numbered candles that showed his age with a giant breath and looking back to Rachel for approval. "There."
"Did you makes a wish?" She judged him openly, hands immediately on her hips.
"Yep." He lied and grabbed the cake knife on the platter. "You want a piece of Sponge Bob's face to eat?"
"Uh-huh." Rachel agreed and shuffled back over to her chair to wait for her treat.
House plopped a piece on a plate held up by Cuddy and then continued to cut small pieces for the rest of them.
"Rachel got a bigger piece than I did." Wilson judged the sliver of cake placed before him.
"I'm rationing this cake. I have plans for the leftovers later tonight." He wiggled his eyebrows knowingly at Cuddy as the blush overtook her cheeks. She rolled her eyes, but House noticed her trying to mask her excitement at what would be a fun evening for them both.
"I don't want to know." Wilson finished the last bite of his measly piece, and stared at Rachel whose face was already covered in icing.
House looked to her as well, and she instantly smiled back over to him, making the frosting spread even further on her face as she poorly attempted to wipe her mouth. "Happy Birthday House." Rachel spoke with utter happiness and childlike sincerity as she shoved another heaping bite of sugar down her throat.
House studied her face for a moment, his mind wandering over the evening's less than painful events. The feelings and customs were unfamiliar, but somehow it seemed to suit him alright, despite his outward objections.
So he took a bite of his cake, and relaxed into a night of contentment with the people he couldn't help but to love. Allowing himself to feel just an ounce of what came so naturally to a four year old.
The door shut mutely behind her as she crept into her dark bedroom she thought House had retreated too, but she couldn't see a thing. "House?" She called into the blackness, her small light next to the bed flicked on immediately in response. "There you are." Cuddy moved further into the room towards her dresser. "Rachel's eyes were closed before she even made it beneath the blankets."
He observed quietly as she took off her earrings. "Too much Birthday excitement." He replied, shifting the cake platter resting on his lap, finding it funny that she hadn't noticed its placement yet.
"Yeah, combined with a major sugar crash. She had a piece of cake bigger than her head. Thank you for that by the way, she twirled around in the bathroom like a maniac, falling all over the place. I think she managed to brush three of her teeth." She sat on the bed and unzipped her boots, tossing them next to her on the floor before she turned around to face him.
"I'm ready for my Birthday evening." He mischeviously looked down to the cake, then back to her. "You were right by the way. Birthday's can be quite the enjoyable experience…if you allow them to be." .
Her husky laugh he loved so desperately much filled the room as she came around the bed and planted a kiss on his rough cheek. "Let me go to the bathroom first. I'll be right back." She rose to her feet but was stopped by his hand on her arm.
"First look under the bed." He offered without further explanation.
Cuddy gave him a weary look, sighing at whatever else he could have in store for her as she pulled out a large gift bag that she had not put under there. "What's this?" She held it up to him, standing by the side of the bed.
"That…is the outfit you are going to put on whilst in yonder bathroom." He grinned and motioned with his eyes for her to hurry up.
"When did you put this under here? "
"I broke into your house yesterday. "
"When you were supposed to be working? "
"Uh…my memory is a little hazy on the specifics…you know. So excited about my Birthday and all… " He shrugged innocently.
The face she gave him in return was one of undeniable hesitation that he found rather endearing. She peered into the bag briefly tilting her head suspiciously down to him, then walked towards the bathroom without another word.
House held his breath in anticipation, she was going to kill him for this, but he couldn't care less. It was totally worth it. Minutes turned into ten, and the excitement was starting to kill him, he placed the cake on the nightstand and shifted upright in bed, "You need some help in there?" He called out through the closed door, the rustling from inside seemed to escalate briefly before the door handle rotated open.
Light spilled out from the bathroom behind her, covering her body in a halo as she emerged into the doorframe looking less than thrilled at her mostly naked appearance. "When you said Wonder Woman…I really thought you were joking." She switched off the bathroom lights and stepped into the subdued setting of the bedroom. "And I refuse to wear that ridiculous headpiece thing."
House's mouth hung open wide; his brain lacked any sense of cognitive thinking beyond the magnificent image before him. Any sort of communication was lost in the moment, as his eyes roamed over her exquisite body. The lanky form fitted boots made her look like a goddess; an otherworldly creature that was only the picture of perfection because someone had drawn her that way.
But this women standing angelically before him was evocatively real. And she happen to also be his. It was a fact that, at the current moment, made him feel like the luckiest man ever to walk the earth.
"I gather by the drool hanging at the corner of your mouth, you like what you see." She walked towards him, gaining some semblance of confidence back from his adoring stare.
He nodded like an idiot, finally closing his mouth. His lips twitched up into a small smile that he could no longer contain.
Cuddy caught his eyes roaming over her feverishly, the fact that he still had not said a single word to her, made her grin unabashedly from his hysterical reaction. "Don't get used to this…but the look on your face right now, actually makes wearing this hideous outfit totally worth it."
"Oh you're wearing that to work tomorrow. Trust me when I say that your day will be filled with ease if you show up in that. I'm talking big donations." He finally found his voice, shifting his legs to sit on the side of the bed; he reached his hand out to her, never letting her out of his sight as she came around the bed to him. Instantly he clasped his hands around her hips and pulled her body closer, marveling in the up-close vantage point he was currently being graced with.
Cuddy smiled down to him, despite her lack of enthusiasm, she was starting to like making him melt like a puppy dog. She raked her fingers through his hair at the top of his head, tugging his head back slightly to look into his eyes, "And what would you like me to do now?" She whispered sexily.
"Uh…I clearly have not thought this through." House ran his hand slowly down her back stopping to trace the seams of the small outfit placed perfectly on her body, the material not even covering her hips. "You know a picture of you wearing this right now might-"
"No. Take a mental one with that photographic memory of yours you're so proud of. There is no way I'm allowing something like this out in the universe for you to blackmail me later with."
"I would never." He placed his hand over his heart dramatically.
"Oh of course not." Her fingers let go of his hair and her hands came to rest on top of his shoulders, "Now please start making out with me so we can get this outfit off my body. My breasts feel like they're being smothered." The words barely flew out of her mouth before she felt herself being pulled onto the bed, falling into his lap, his hands secured low on her hips. She leaned forward and kissed him as he lay down on the blankets. She could feel his fingers inch their way under the thin material of her skimpy leotard, roaming up her sides to skim over the tops of her breasts that were nearly spilling out from the corset that was unnaturally tight.
Their kiss broke apart briefly and House took the time to stare at her once again. Memorizing her in the vividly bold outfit he had so meticulously picked out at the costume shop he drove an hour out of his way to get too.
"What?" She whispered down to him, feeling his hands pause, sitting up straighter on the bed but continuing to straddle his torso. Her booted legs folded under her, her hands were resting on his chest.
"Nothing…I'm just taking another mental picture. Never thought I would see the day where 'Wonder Cuddy' was sitting on top of me. I mean I've concocted millions of fantasies in my head with this exact scenario…but this is much better"
"One time only thing. So enjoy it while it lasts."
"Oh I plan on it. You are the hottest super hero I've ever seen."
She shook her head with a gleam in her eyes. "Who fights crime wearing an outfit like this anyway? Seems completely impractical. And that stupid lasso of hers-"
"Shhh…quiet. Don't ruin the moment." House pressed his finger to her mouth before he moved her with fervor around on the bed, her back quickly coming into contact with the blankets.
"Wow." Cuddy laughed breathily as she moved the hair from her face. The strength and eagerness she felt from him at the moment was palpable. She stretched out underneath him as he took one of her legs in his hand and began to run his fingers up the boot, reaching her bare thighs slowly, teasing her skin, as his eyes devoured her image.
His fingers hooked into the zipper at the side of her boot, slowly undoing her leg from the soft synthetic leather. "You know…the only reason I'm allowing this outfit to come off you is because we still have a cake to get to." The singular shoe slipped off her foot and was tossed to the floor behind him with a soft thud.
"Well I think I would much prefer the cake." She whispered, "Although…don't think I'm the only one that is going to be wearing some of that frosting." Her eyebrows rose with intent, running her hands down his torso once more as he began to unzip the other red boot from her leg.
"I think I'm okay with that." He replied, his lips inching towards hers.
They met in a passionate kiss, wet mouths pressed together, exploring the taste of one another. She relished the way his lips on hers brought goose bumps throughout her entire body. The way he would softly kiss her everywhere but her mouth then finally fixate on her lips, sucking her bottom lip between his own. She could feel his tongue graze her lip as she clutched at the fabric of his dress shirt; unbuttoning it, exposing his skin, running her fingers against his chest. House found the hook in the back of her outfit, undoing only one latch before he broke free of their kiss and lifted her back off the bed to sit up facing him.
"I just want to do one last thing before we say goodbye to this outfit." His eyes shifted towards her chest, openly gawking, before he looked back up to her as if to ask for permission.
She followed his line of sight to her breasts that were barely maintained in the corset, making them appear bigger than normal. Knowing full well what his intentions were next, she allowed a flitter of a seductive smile to cross her flushed mouth, rolling her eyes teasingly "Go ahead." She laughed immediately as his eyes lit up from her open invitation. Only taken a moment before he plunged his face directly between her mountainous bosom.
His breath tickled her chest as he allowed a long lingering sigh of contentment escape his lips. "Happy Birthday to me." He mumbled against her flesh, breathing her in to him before he finally managed to break free from his heavenly experience.
Her fingers found the back of his head, grabbing his hair and guiding him back to her lips. She wound her arms around his neck, kissing his jaw line, moving slowly to nibble at his earlobe, "Happy Birthday House." She murmured into his ear, "Now get me out of these clothes…"
His arm was draped heavily over her body as they slept. The cake platter remained on the nightstand, having been abandoned a few hours prior. Only bits of frosting still graced the top of the mound of yellow dough, a symbol of the fun they had shared before passing out contentedly next to one another.
It was the dull pulsating of House's thigh beginning to ache, that roused him from an incredibly satisfying sleep. His eyes opening in the darkness, instantly reaching his hand down to massage his muscle, trying to lessen the contractions he was feeling…probably due to the mind-blowing sex he had just experienced. It was a very small price to pay, he thought as he shifted in bed, carefully unraveling his body from hers.
His head lifted off the pillow, and turned towards his phone, checking what time it actually was. As if by magic his phone reacted in his hand, the dull sound of a ringtone symbolizing it was his team calling began to pulsate beneath his fingers, before he even had the chance to read the clock.
"Really?" Cuddy whined next to him, her eyes tightly shut as she shifted to place her head on top of his chest, her arms winding around his torso.
"Bootycall…Foreman can't resist me." He replied, switching on his phone. "What?" He hissed into the receiver.
"Patient started seizing. The broad spectrum antibiotics we gave for the infection are not working."
"Well that's obvious. It means I was right all along, it's neurological." House sighed, running his fingers down Cuddy's back as she remained nestled warmly against him. "Test for epilepsy, I'll be there soon. Just have to unravel myself from the naked women sleeping beside me first." House switched off his phone and tossed it back on the nightstand grumpily.
"See you in a few hours." Her breath tickled his chest as she whispered into him. "Don't do any crazy procedures until I get there please."
"I make no promises." He murmured into her hair, kissing her on top of her head. He felt her soft lips press to his skin before she sleepily rolled off of him and allowed him to leave. House studied her for a moment longer, lingering on the curve of her body only partially hidden beneath the covers, wanting nothing more than to remain exactly where he was.
But he moved away from her anyway, and grabbed his phone and cane resting by the side of her bed. He found his clothes in the shadows and pulled them on quickly to ward of the frost in the air, and made his way down the hall to the dining room to put his shoes on his feet.
House sat down in a chair and surveyed the remainder of his Birthday party. The balloon Rachel had picked for him still hovered above his head, her picture of the yellow submarine sat amongst the discarded wrapping paper and snow globe. House finished putting his shoes on and stood up. Unhooking the new leather jacket Wilson had given him from the back of the chair and slipping his arms through it.
Then he reached for one last gift. The old hardback book nestled inside the card board box it had come in. A small smile spread across his face when he held it in his hands once more. He tucked it under his arm and brought it with him, heading out the front door and into the chilly night.
It had been nearly five in the morning by the time House arrived to the hospital. His team spent the next hour running neurological tests on their thirty-five year old patient only to debunk House's theory. Making the last hour a grueling test to find a proper cure while their patient's kidneys began to fail.
House put his patient on the top of the donor list immediately, and was currently having Taub run tests for Hepititis while Foreman monitored the patient's protein in her urine. Leaving House a small window to find some peace and perhaps some sleep over the next hour while he waited.
He snuck into the chapel on the first floor that no one ever used, and laid down in one of the pews, propping his head up with a pillow he had stolen from a patient's room only moments before.
With his legs stretched out in front of him he pulled out the book Cuddy gave and opened up the binding, thinking reading for a moment would make his eyes tired enough to sleep.
It was as he flipped to the first chapter that he recalled her mentioning a card stuck somewhere in the middle, and he shifted the book slightly in his hands before a yellow envelope fell onto his chest.
He placed the book behind his head on the wooden bench and turned the card over in his hands. Placing his fingers under the flap, he pulled out a white card with a deranged looking dog on the cover.
He smiled instantly, and opened the card.
So you were right.
Birthday cards are all filled with ridiculous clichés. Typical diatribe that quite frankly was not good enough to buy for you.
Rachel picked this one you're holding now. Drawn to it because of the Golden Retriever Puppy with the unnaturally giant eyes on the cover. I find it a bit creepy, but thought you would actually find it amusing. Thankfully it was blank inside, but now that leaves only me to fill it up with something eloquent, something uniquely profound, maybe something I have never told you.
Sitting here now with the pen in my hand...I find it hard to find any thoughts that I have not shared with you.
You have been with me through so much of my life and there are very few times I can recall where I have actually censored myself, held back what I feel when I'm around you. Granted for many of those years my feelings were mostly colored with annoyance from the brilliant man that came bursting through my office doors without warning. Spouting medical riddles, coercing me to bend to his ego-maniacal ideals. But even in those times, you and I both know that whenever we were around each other, it was always more than that. We have never been simple. I have always loved you, and you have always loved me.
A part of me wonders what it would've been like had we given into each other sooner. Moved passed the walls we both erected and found solace in 'us' ten years ago, twenty years ago. But then things would be different now...maybe I wouldn't be sitting here writing this incredibly sentimental Birthday Card to you.
Even though I wish some things between us never happened, I want to believe that our entire journey together played out the way it should. Making our want stronger, showing us that no matter how hard we push each other away, we will always be better together.
And that's the absolute truth House. I am better when I'm with you, in every way imaginable. You make me feel alive. Loving me in a way that overwhelms me. Makes me feel weak at the knees, even now. You drive me unequivocally crazy, but sometimes I think that I love you even more in those moments. You have always challenged me in a way that no one else has ever come close, and I am so much stronger because of that.
So I guess all of this elongated emotion is my way of saying, thank you. For all the times you kissed me, touched me, held me, fought with me, clung to me, loved me with every part of your heart.
I pushed against my need for you…I pushed you away for far too long, even when we were finally together. I think you already know this, or rather I'm hoping that in the last couple months I've been able to convey this properly to you... but…I'm done running away.
Happy Birthday House.
"I know you're in here." Her voice sounded in his ears with crystal clarity as he closed the card, startling him for a moment before he realized she was actually standing inside the chapel. Her high heels echoed across the floor until she stopped just behind his hiding spot.
"I asked you not to do anything crazy until I got here."
He looked up into her vibrant blue eyes as she peered down to him, noticing she looked slightly apprehensive when she saw he had just been reading her card. He couldn't help but allow a small smile to light his eyes. "Well you're here now. Can I do something crazy?"
"You read my card?" Her teeth worried her bottom lip.
"Is this from you?" He placed the dog picture face-up on his chest, and stoically crossed his hands on top of the card. "It felt a bit mushy…I mean who writes love letters anymore." He stretched out the last words and looked deep into her eyes.
Cuddy instantly flashed on bits and pieces of his love letters to her. She hadn't thought about it when she began writing the card, but after finishing, she realized she had unintentionally written one back to him. She felt hesitant about her utter honesty, but somehow it still felt incredibly right to place it inside the book and wrap it for him. "It won't happen again. I promise." She teased him softly.
"I don't need you to promise me that." He sighed and placed the card on top of the book, resting on the pew next to his head. "Thank you…for yesterday."
A smile flitted on her face. "You're welcome." She answered him tenderly before she glanced down to the file she forgot she was holding, shifting it up so he could see. "Why is your patient at the top of the donor list?"
"Um because she will die without her kidneys."
"What's the diagnosis? Because the last I heard you were checking for Hepatitis B."
"Nephrotic syndrome. In which case she will need her kidneys."
"What about auto immune? Sjogren's syndrome or lupus, that fits too. You can't put someone on the top of a donor list without—"
"You really have become a doctor again." His words broke threw her speech, causing her pause from his simple compliment.
"Does that mean you are testing for auto immune next because if it's Sjogren's syndrome…she's too far gone for any kidney to survive in her body."
"I know…why do you think I'm pulling for hepatitis?"
"Just…call me as soon as you have the results." She spoke down to him with a softness in her tone.
"You still going to go out with me tonight or are you mad?"
"I don't think I'm upset enough to miss dinner at Marcel's…with you." She leaned down over the bench and kissed him, caressing his lips in between her own before she pulled away with a smile and walked towards the door.
"But since you seem to have some time, the clinic could use an extra doctor for the next hour." Cuddy announced with a hint of amusement in her features, knowing House couldn't witness her teasing expression from his spot lying in the middle of the quiet chapel. And she smiled even brighter as the door slowly shut behind her, instantly picturing the face she knew he was surely making from her classically spoken request.