Overhauled. Chapter 3.
May be a bit to OOC for your taste. Enjoy!
The smell of coffee woke him up early the next day. That and the absence of a warm body next to him. He stood up. He was in her bedroom, he reminded himself. He made his way to the bathroom to pee, and then washed his face. He looked at himself in the mirror. He tried to reflect the recent events in his life. He does not deserve to be this lucky. He was the one who was supposed to die in that bus. And yet, he was here.
He found her behind the kitchen making pancakes. He went behind her, grabbed her waist, and kissed her neck. "Hmmm..., Can't sleep?" the sun's rays were just beginning to rise.
She turned and kissed him on the lips. "Good morning to you too. Sorry, I wasn't able to feed you last night. I was just so tired." She hoped he would understand. "Sit down, you need breakfast." He poured himself some coffee, and sat down at the edge of the table. After placing two pancakes on his plate, she placed one on hers and sat with him.
"Leg alright?" she asked, with a hint of concern on her voice.
"Never better" he cut her short. After he breakdown last night, he thought it best to not let her worry.
Then they ate in silence. Both watching the sun's rays fill up the kitchen. It was the dawn of a new day. She always like Sunday mornings. It was a time for her to relax, get away from work, and usually just sit around her house. This time was more special though, Cuddy felt herself smile realizing this.
When she finally finished her breakfast, she took a sip of her coffee, and after savoring the warm liquid, she turned to him and said. "So...we're here".
"Yes, we are here Cuddy. So now what?" He poured some more maple syrup all over the last piece of his pancake and shoved the food in his mouth.
He hesitated. "Is this the part where you tell me that you had a change of heart? Or are you going all in?" He already knew her answer, and he was just teasing her.
She stood up and faced him. "In case I didn't make myself clear last night. This is me, telling you that I need you, Gregory House." She cupped his face and leaned over and kissed him. "I need you and I won't let you go."
He pulled her towards him, making her sit on his lap. "God, woman, you're driving me crazy. Crazy enough not to let you go." he whispered to her ear. He worked his hands towards the inside of her shirt. Finding her supple breasts in the process. She caressed them both causing her to moan.
"Then I guess we better take this to the bedroom." she led him back to her bed and they made love.
It was almost lunch time when he woke up. He still found her in his embrace. He smiled. He liked waking up like this. With her, he felt, safe. He traced her spine, and he felt her shiver. "Wake up sleepyhead. It's Sunday, don't you usually have errands to run?"
She turned around facing him. Her eyes still closed, she then opened it slowly. She wanted to make sure he was still here. When her eyes met his crystal blue ones, she smiled. "I was thinking, we could stay here all day. And umm...maybe you could cook me dinner later." She wanted to be with him and only him for the day. She missed him the past week, and after all the stress that they've been through, she thought they both needed to recharge.
"I don't have any problems with that" he said, then started to ogle her. She giggled, and gave in.
He cooked her dinner that night. She set the table, and added candles. She figured they both needed the romantic feel since they've never really had a real date out.
"Mmmm..this is delicious House. Have you ever considered becoming a Chef instead of a Doctor? Think about it, no patients, and you can shout all you can to your sous-chefs"
"I would keep that in mind. Although, I probably need someone else to greet the customers when they insist on meeting the Chef. Zero social skills and all that." he winked.
"I'm glad you're all better now House" she told him. "I feel sorry for Wilson and everything. I know Amber does not deserve what happened to her. But I just." she looked down, feeling shy about what she's going to confess next. "I just don't know what I'm going to do if it had been you." This time, there were no more tears shed, just honesty in her words.
He was glad she let him know how she felt for him. He was also glad he finally found the reason why he needed to get off the bus. "You don't realize how happy you're making me Cuddy. And though I can't promise that things would always be perfect between us, I can promise you I'd never stop trying. I'm also glad it wasn't me, because I would surely be missing out on this." he leaned over and kissed her.
It all seemed so surreal to him. So he took her hand and held it tight, he was glad when he felt her squeeze his hands back, it was an assurance that whatever it is that is going on between them is real.
"So, I figured you should stay here while you recuperate. I know I'd still be working on weekdays, but I'd be home. Also, it would give me enough time to re-evaluate your Ketamine treatment." He looked at his leg. "How are you feeling by the way? With all the physical exertion we've been doing the whole day, I figured you must be pretty tired already. And by physical exertion I meant sex." She emphasized.
He smiled. He like this banter, missed this even. "I feel fine, never felt this fine in a long time. And not just because of the sex Cuddy. I meant there isn't any pain any more. That's a good thing isn't it?"
"And I don't mind staying here for a while. Just gives me more opportunity to ogle you at night."
"I don't mind the ogling either." she beamed a smile at him.
"So are we, exclusive now?" he teased her once again.
"How dare you even think we're not! Gregory House!" she knew he was kidding. And she liked the game they're playing.
The weeks passed by briefly. Cuddy would go to work on weekdays, and she'd go home early and find House reading some Medical Journals or doing physical therapy. On Fridays, they would meet at his apartment on Fridays and stay there for the weekend. They would come back to her house on Sundays, and the routine continued for the next two weeks.
"So what do you think about having a dinner out?" she blurted out of nowhere while they were watching a movie on her couch. He has one week left before he comes back for work. Cuddy's feet was resting on top of his legs and he was massaging it.
He came to a stop. "I don't mind. But, you sure you're ready to take me out Cuddles?" he asked, challenging her. He knew bringing this relationship out in the open is troubling Cuddy. And he wondered how his woman would take this.
"No biggie. No one would probably see us. Work night and all. I just want to go out with you. We've been indoors the entire time, a bit of fresh air would help, don't you think?" she inched a little closer to him.
"Sounds like fun. Oh, I'm being sarcastic by the way. But, I guess I'm game if you're paying." he tried to make a joke. It would probably be a good idea. Testing the waters. "Are we, are we getting public?" he asked.
"Not sure yet. I was hoping to tell Wilson first. But since you are both not speaking to each other, I guess we'll just be heading straight to HR once you return." she paused, and then tried to divert the topic. "And since we are talking about Wilson. Care to tell me what's going on in that part of your life? Tried to call him yet?"
"First of all, fine, you have my permission to meddle now since you're my girlfriend. Second of all, I tried, he didn't answer. I tried again, left him a message, then hang-up. I think that's more than enough coming from me." he really didn't know what Wilson was up to. And he doesn't want to think about it for now.
She wanted to hug him for what he just said. She never closer to him ever in his life than this moment. And she felt, that their relationship had hope. She went ahead and gave him a hug, and kissed him.
"What was that for?" he was surprised by her reaction. If any blunt honestly would ever turn Cuddy into this, then he'd speak like this every day.
"Nothing. You just called me your girlfriend, and I think it's sweet. Gregory House has a girlfriend." she put her arms around him and kissed him deeper this time.
"And you, Lisa Cuddy have a boyfriend" he tried not to smile, but the thought made her happy. For the first time in a long time, he was happy.
"OK, so, I'll pick you up at 7? Wear something nice." he deepened their kiss as a response.
Her doorbell rang at 715. "You're late!" she knew he'd be late, so she took her time. But she acted a bit angry. Just for show.
"You knew I'd be late. You just put your lipstick on." he wiped a smudge off her lips. And he offered her a rose. "For you. You like Italian?" he asked.
"You got me a flower. That's really sweet, House" she kissed him then. "I didn't know you were such a romantic."
"Of course you do. You just chose to ignore it" he bickered. "Let's go?"
They both had been lucky enough that night as no one recognized them from the restaurant. Surprisingly, they both enjoyed each other's company. It was much like their previous dinners only they were outside.
She declared "There was nothing awkward about this at all. I thought we'd both freeze." she hinted.
"I thought you'd run the minute we entered the restaurant. I'm glad you didn't. You're gonna have to pay for the dinner though." he liked this feeling of ease that he's feeling when he's with her.
"I'm glad we did this House." she offered her glass to him. "To freedom."
And he offered his glass back. "To freedom". He replied. Their glasses clinked and they both drank their wines.
"Gotta admit. This feels good" she closed her eyes, letting her lips taste the goodness of the wine, trying to capture the moment in her memory. She was finally going out with Gregory House.
When they finally arrived at her house, House opened the door for her.
"You outdone yourself this time House, this has been one of my best dates by far. Well done." she hugged him and gave him a small kiss.
He was proud of what he just heard. "You know I'd behave only if there's going to be a prize afterwards, right? And that prize is you Lisa Cuddy. Only for you." he led her straight to the bedroom, and began to undress her.