The movie ended at around 7 o'clock. House was full of energy after sleeping the day away, and though Kelly was feeling weary she did her best to keep up with him. He was glad to find that their easy camaraderie was still intact as they spent some time in the music room, played a game of pool, downloaded Dr. Mario for the Wii and did battle, and carried on as they always did, flirting and bickering and touching way more than necessary --- who knew that billiards could be a contact sport? --- as the time flew by.

House wasn't oblivious to the fact that though it was she who was tired, it was also she who kept suggesting more activities, as if she was afraid of stopping and just being with him. So when she excused herself to go to her bedroom and send a few emails, he didn't follow her.

Instead, he went upstairs to the main house and snooped around for the next half hour. Kelly's mom (or perhaps the person she hired? Did rich people ever clean their own houses?) kept the place immaculate, and it seemed all the 'good stuff', if there was any, was not to be easily uncovered. A few doors were locked. House realized that because they were used to having kids like Randy and Sarah Beth around, they'd probably developed ways to protect themselves against snoops and thieves. Too bad.

The most interesting thing House stumbled on was photos. Usually this would hold no interest at all but he was curious about Kelly's husband and wanted to see what he could learn about him. He skimmed through some albums but it was one of the unsorted boxes that held what he was looking for.

He found himself wondering if it was wrong to think a girl was hot in her wedding dress when you weren't the groom. He also found himself wondering what she saw in Mark. He wasn't really all that good looking, kind of tall and gangly and baby faced. He looked like a kid in his uniform, and like a geek at what House assumed was high school prom. Still, the way he looked at her...

He recognized the shelter in some of the pictures. Mark had grown up a bit after all, filled out, looked more mature. Looked tired at times, probably weighed down by Kelly's passion for the kids, one that as she described it had come to consume him, too. Still the boyish grin, though. Probably right until the end.

House wondered if Wilson had a box like this. Paper memories that would one day be priceless treasures but for now hurt too much to look at. Pictures of Amber smiling like someone convinced they had all the time in the world.

He popped a Vicodin and moved on, ending his snooping in the master bedroom.

The rest of the home, though large, didn't smack of money. It had nice things but not EXPENSIVE things, and not really more than was needed. Their bedroom seemed to be the exception to the rule. A gigantic plasma TV hung on the wall across from their gigantic Sleep Number bed (which he couldn't help but try out, careful to reset it to where he'd found it). Some classy art was on display --- originals, a few from famous painters that even he recognized --- and a large book case held some well preserved first editions.

And then there was the bathroom. "I could live here," he said aloud. It was manly and girly all at once, tastefully decorated, high tech gadgets, double sink, double shower, double tub. He opened a closet and found a whole shelf of tools for the serious bather. "Rub-a-dub-dub." And he set to work.

House found Kelly hunched over her computer looking engrossed and stressed. "Where have you been?" she asked when she noticed him watching her. "Behaving, I hope."

"Never. What's wrong with you? Your forehead's all wrinkly. Not sexy."

"Bite me. I'm working, and I'm almost a month behind with all my administrative stuff."

"You're smart and driven. And I fixed you, so now you'll be even better at your job. And you're rich, so you can outsource. So relax."

"Frig off."

"What's wrong with you? I've never seen you so wound up." His tone was accusing but his hands were gentle on her arms and shoulders.

She leaned her head back against his stomach. "Sorry. I just didn't realize how far behind I'd gotten." She opened an attachment from the vice chair of one of the boards she headed and scanned down. "Eff."

"Okay, that's quite enough." He reached over her and closed her laptop. "Come with me; I have a surprise for you."

"Greg..."

"'Greg...'" he whined, mimicking her as he yanked back her chair and tipped it to force her out. "Come on." He took her by the hand and pulled until she started to follow of her own volition.

"Greg, this is my parents room. Were you snooping?"

"Yes. Keep walking." He pushed her ahead of him into the bathroom.

She stopped abruptly, paused, and then turned and threw herself into his arms. "Thank you."

House had drawn her a bubble bath, dimmed the lights, and lit all the tea light candles he could find. He had burned incense and chosen an instrumental station on the satellite radio. And he had a Harry Potter book on the tub's edge, ready for him to read to her if she wanted.

"Hey, why are you crying?"

"I'm sorry. This has just been such a weird day. I needed this."

He kissed her forehead and stepped back, grasping the hem of her tank top. "Well then, let's get you in there." He pulled the shirt off over her head.