Kelly left House alone for the rest of the evening. She knew that he was a solitary person and after being with her almost non-stop for nine days he deserved and needed time to himself doing something he loved.

So she puttered. Finished and folded all their laundry. Unloaded the dishwasher. Talked on the phone with some of her employees. Scheduled a meeting with her board of directors. Updated her Facebook status to "Kelly is home at last".

And realized that being alone didn't really suit her anymore.

The full brunt of that realization happened to coincide nearly exactly with House's own similar revelation. He showed up in the office and waited impatiently for her to get off the phone.

"Let's jam."

"I just have to make one more -"

He took the phone from her hand. "Tomorrow. Come on."

And so they spent the next two hours together in the music room. This was the first time that they had played instruments together and they found that it didn't take long to adjust to the other's styles. House was loving the music, and Kelly was loving the chance to watch him in his element, his eyes shining and a genuine, wide smile on his face.

A smile that was gone the instant Kelly's father walked into the room.

"Daddy! You're home!" She left the drums and threw herself at him.

Philip caught her with a chuckle and held her for a long time. "I'm glad you're back, and that you're okay." Finally he stood back to look her over. "You are okay, right?"

"She's fine," House spoke up, surprising Kelly by taking the lead. He was on his feet and shaking Philip's hand before she could introduce them. "Greg House."

"Phil Campbell. Dr. House, I'm so glad to get to meet you. My wife and I are so grateful to you and your team."

"It was our pleasure to help." House caught Kelly looking at him with a pleased expression on her face, and was inwardly pleased himself that he was pulling off a good first impression. It happened so rarely, but then he usually didn't put forth the effort. "How was your flight?"

"The trip home always seems longer, but it was actually fairly enjoyable. Are you all settled in? Where has Colleen put you?"

"In the other bedroom downstairs, with me," Kelly supplied.

"Ah." Philip's expression was unreadable for a moment, but then he was smiling again. "Well, I trust you'll find it comfortable. Just let someone know if there's anything you need." They shook hands again. "I'll have to excuse myself, I'm afraid; I need a cup of tea and a hot bath in the worst way. But I'll see you at breakfast."

"Of course."

"Kelly, come make your old dad some tea, won't you?"

"Sure, Daddy," she replied, throwing a private "thumbs up" in House's direction before taking her father's hand and leaving the room.

House sat down heavily, drained from the short encounter. Philip Campbell was older-looking than House had expected, but not frail by any means. The big man cut an impressive figure in his dark business suit, and for the first time in a long time House had actually felt intimidated. And now he and Kelly would be talking about him. House hoped she would lie.

"He seems nice," Philip had led with; he was much more subtle than his wife had been. "You had a good trip, I assume."

"Yes, it was lovely. I took lots of pictures."

"I look forward to seeing them." He sat at the island in the kitchen and allowed her to wait on him a bit. "And Dr. House enjoyed the trip as well?"

"He seemed to, yes." She set the kettle on to boil, then sat across from him.

"And, um..." Philip took his time. "You're comfortable with him sharing the apartment with you while he's here?"

"Daddy..."

"I just want to make sure all is well," he continued quickly.

She reached across the island to cover his hand with her own. "And I appreciate that. I'm not evading; I just don't know what to say."

"And I don't know what my rights and responsibilities are in this situation. You're not a little girl anymore. You are more than aware of the reality of life and men and..." Kelly coughed. "So what's my role here? I'm assuming I'm to keep the shot gun locked up for the duration of his visit."

"Yeah, if we could not involve firearms, that would be super." She left the island to make the tea. "I can tell you, if it will make you feel better, that he hasn't tried to take advantage of me in any way."

"Yes, that does make me feel better. But... um... have you taken advantage of HIM?"

"Daddy!"

"Sorry, sorry..." He chuckled. "Good to know things haven't changed THAT much."

She brought him a steaming mug of tea and a sugar bowl. "Listen, I guess what I really need from you is an honest answer: Is it too soon?"

His heart broke a little more for his daughter, something he hadn't even thought was possible. "Oh, honey, that's the one thing I CAN'T give you, because my judgement doesn't mean a thing. That's something you'll need to settle in your own mind."

Kelly sighed heavily. "I know."

"I do know that Mark was a good man, and that he wanted the same thing that your mother and I wanted: for you to be happy. And it seems to me, for what it's worth," he continued, "that if you've made it to the point of being able to ask the question, you probably already know the answer."

They both thought on that for a moment, and then Kelly came around the island to kiss his cheek. "I love you, dad."

"I love you too, honey. Go on now." But as she walked away he couldn't help but call after her, "Maybe you could just mention to Dr. House that there IS a shot gun..." Her laughter was evidence enough that something inside her had changed, and he couldn't have been happier.

Kelly found House where she had left him. He was sitting on the piano bench, but facing away from the keys.

"Why aren't you playing?" she asked.

"I was waiting for you."

"No you weren't. You were worrying." She held out a hand and pulled him to his feet, leading him from the room. "Breathe Greg. You did good. You did GREAT, actually. And he likes you."

"He doesn't know me."

"But he knows ME," she countered. "And he knows that when I left here I was miserable, and now I'm not. He's not going to pull the shot gun on someone who is making his little girl this happy."

House's eyes were still trailing the floor, but the corners of his mouth tugged upward. "I also saved your life; don't forget to mention that. To him. Often."

"Will do." She smiled when he took her hand. "So, what now? It's only 11:30."

"What are our options?"

"Well, we could go to bed" - he shook his head - "or veg in front of the TV" - another no - "or maybe we could go for a swim."

House wasn't so much a fan of swimming as he was of seeing her in a bathing suit. A heated pool on a beautiful night with a beautiful woman. It didn't take House long to agree, and they went to their respective rooms to get dressed.

It took House a few minutes to find his trunks where she had put them away. After quickly changing, adding a t-shirt and sandals to complete the ensemble, he selected a large towel from the pile left on his dresser for his use and made his way to her door, knocking. "Hey, you decent?"

"Come on in," she called.

He found her rooting through boxes that had been stored in the large walk-in closet; she was still in her jeans. "What's the problem?"

"Just looking for my bathing suits."

"What's wrong with the one you wore the whole trip?"

"Nothing, I guess. I thought we both might enjoy some variety."

Several off-colour comments came to mind, but he suppressed them all.

"Here they are."

When she pulled out a conservative one piece, he limped over to the box and shooed her out of the way. "Allow me."

"No way. I already know the one you'll pick."

And she was right. He held up a tiny bikini that she'd only had the guts to wear once.

"In your dreams."

"I'd say that's now a distinct possibility." He pulled out another one that had a bit more to it; still a revealing top but at least with boy-cut shorts. "How about we meet in the middle."

"I don't know, Greg. I'm pretty sure I've gained 20 pounds on this trip; you might not want to see me in that."

"Oh, I want. Trust me."

"Down boy." But she was laughing. And certainly flattered. "I'll need some time to get ready. Why don't you go up and get the cover off the pool."

House did as he was told. He was concerned that with his leg he might not be able to manage the simple task, but when he arrived pool side he saw that it was all automatic; all he had to do was press a button to activate a crank and the cover took care of itself.

It was a beautiful night, and through the clear plexi-glass safety fence the ocean was in view. The stars and the moon were bright. He toed the water and found it warm and welcoming. And he awaited a woman who seemed to want nothing more than to share it all with him.

If only he could keep himself from blowing it, somehow.

He shed his shirt and sandals, hooked his cane on a deck chair, and jumped in. He was swimming lazy laps when she arrived.

"You want lights on, Greg?"

"Nah," he called back. "Don't need them." The moon light enhanced the surreal quality of the evening. Besides, from his vantage point he could see all he needed to see.

Kelly forced herself to ignore the fact that he was staring as she took off the towel she'd wrapped around her in case she'd encountered Randy or her dad on her way. Now she felt very exposed, but it was gratifying to watch House's expression and know that he liked what he saw. She approached the water and dived effortlessly.

And so they swam, and laughed, and talked as they always did. The only thing that changed was that suddenly House was keeping his distance. And when she finally suggested they hit the jacuzzi before they go in, House actually looked a little panicked. "Um, we should probably just head in."

"Well, Dr. House, I know I don't have my Ph.D., but it seems to me that a soak in the hot water will help your leg relax after the strain of swimming."

She was out on the deck then, and as his eyes traced her skin he was suddenly unable to say 'no'. Without using the ladder he hefted himself onto the deck and hit the button for the cover as she folded back the top of the hot tub and adjusted the temperature.

When he climbed in after her, he sat along the opposite wall, causing her to finally ask the question.

"Greg, is everything okay?"

He fiddled with the jet controls and ignored her. Or tried to. Suddenly she was beside him.

"Greg." Her voice no longer held a question, and he sensed she was beginning to understand.

"If you know what's good for you, you'll never wear that swimsuit around me again," he said quietly, his eyes darting everywhere but her.

"You chose it. You're stuck with it."

She said it lightly, and that angered him a little. "A little cruel and unusual, don't you think?"

"You think I'm teasing you."

"This pretty much epitomizes the concept of teasing, yes."

Kelly didn't like his tone; he was being serious. Maybe it was time to come clean. The both of them.

It would have to wait. Kelly's mother, having just returned, appeared at the door.

"Kelly, honey? Are you there?"

"Yeah, mom. Is everything okay?"

"Oh, yes. Sorry to interrupt. I was just about to set the alarm and it wouldn't let me because the deck door was open, that's all. Do you know how much longer you'll be?"

"We're headed in right now, actually." It was House that answered her.

"Okay, then. Goodnight, kids."

Wordlessly, House climbed out of the tub and retrieved their towels. He wrapped his around himself and collected his things, leaving her alone and not looking back.

Too soon. Too soon. Too soon.

Until she told him different. And maybe even then.