Cuddy stood in front of the mirror as she fixed her hairs. She was wearing a burgundy-coloured backless dress with halter neckline. She had paired it with golden high heeled pumps. She had decided on a pair of delicate earrings, nude lipstick, and subtle eye makeup. She was confused though on whether she should go with soft curls or an updo. She finally chose the curls, knowing that House loved playing with her hairs.
She was nervous. A date with House was like a dream come true. She wondered where he was taking her. He had been so secretive about it. She was looking forward to it though. She hadn't lied when she had told Cameron that her boyfriend in undergrad had been sweet and caring. Oh! House had still been a jerk with sharp tongue but he had a romantic side too. He could be sweet when he wanted to be. And House was caring, even though he showed it in different ways.
The doorbell rang and Cuddy picked up her clutch, before walking out of the bedroom. Her babysitter had already opened the door and let House in. He was waiting in the living room. Cuddy took her time observing him. He was dressed in a navy-blue blazers and trousers, with an ironed sky-blue shirt. Wear the sky-blue shirt, it almost makes you look nice. She smiled. He had remembered. He had forgone the tie, leaving the top button open. He looked sexy.
Cuddy noticed his gaze on her and shivered as she felt his eyes move up and down, taking her in. She turned around for him, giving him a view of her back. She heard him suck in a breath and felt a shiver run through spine. She looked at him and stood still as he walked to her. He kissed her on the lips and then handed her roses that he had been hiding behind his back.
"Thank you," she whispered, accepting the bouquet. She quickly placed the flowers in a vase. "I'll just say bye to Rachel," she told him, hurrying to her daughter's room. To her delight, House followed her. He stood in the doorway, watching her as she kissed her baby and ranted a list of instructions to the babysitter. Then, she was finally ready to leave.
"How come I don't get so many instructions?" House asked.
"Because I know you. Even if you don't know what to do, you'll figure it out."
He looked away. Cuddy was starting to notice how he shied away from compliments. He boasted about his medical prowess but every other thing, he really believed that he wasn't good enough. She kissed his cheek and got into the passenger seat of his car. He got into the car and started driving.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Some place where we can eat," he answered.
"Oh really! I thought the plan was to keep me hungry all night."
"Oh! I am sure I can find some way to satisfy your hunger."
His voice dropped and Cuddy felt herself react to the innuendo. She glared at him as he continued to smirk, knowing the effect his words had. "I do remember you being quite satisfactory," she said. House grinned. "Tell me something I don't know. About you," she added the last line, knowing that House could tell her probably thousands of things she didn't know.
"I learned piano from my Oma. That's grandmother in Dutch. My mom's mom."
"Did you like her?" Cuddy asked.
"Yeah," he answered. "She was different." Cuddy smiled, glad that he had positive memories with at least one family member. "Your turn," he said.
"Is there something about me that you don't know?" she asked with a smirk.
"Tell me your favourite song. Or your favourite food. Anything." He looked at her as the car stopped at the red light. "I want to know everything about you, Lisa." His gaze was intense and his words deep. She wanted to reach over and kiss him.
"At last," she answered. "Etta James."
"A classic romantic. Hmm!"
"What's yours?"
"You've Got a Friend. James Taylor. Favourite food?" he asked, changing the topic quickly.
"Mac and cheese."
"I thought salad."
"I try eating healthy but mac and cheese is my comfort food. You?"
"Pizza," he answered with a grin. "Hope you like French food."
Cuddy frowned and then looked around. The car was slowing down. They had arrived. She looked at the restaurant. Maison de Saveur. "How did you find a reservation so soon?"
"Treated his son once," he answered with a cocky smirk. He got out of the car and gestured her to do the same. The valet took the keys from House and took the car to parking. "I'd offer you my hand but I kinda need it," House said, sounding a little annoyed. She was standing on his right. His cane was in his right hand. She moved to his left and took his hand. He looked at her, surprise written on his face.
"I don't mind," Cuddy assured him. He led them into the restaurant to an exclusive chef's table. "House. Greg," she looked at him surprised. She couldn't believe he had arranged for all of this. For her. For them.
The restaurant had an elegant and modern interior with soft lighting. There was smooth jazz playing in the background. The seats were comfortable, and the air was filled with subtle aromas of herbs and spices.
House didn't pull the chair for her, just like he hadn't opened the car door. Cuddy liked that detail. She didn't want him to act like someone out of the romance books. She wanted him to be just like he was. She wanted him to be the Greg she had fallen in love with.
The conversation flowed around freely. They talked about medical journals, some pleasant memories from their respective childhoods and some interesting patients.
"Did I ever tell you about my 82-year-old admirer?" House asked.
"You are joking right?" she asked, grinning.
"No. She had syphilis. Got it in 1939. It came back. The spirochetes started eating her brain cells." House smirked mischievously. "Her son learned a lot about his mom's sex life that day." Cuddy laughed at that.
"She had a crush on you?"
"Wrote me a poem. Wilson read it for the whole floor."
"Tell me."
"It was like five years ago. I don't remember it anymore." He took a bite, his eyes suddenly more focused on the food. He had a miniscule smile on his face.
"You remember it," Cuddy said. "There's no way you don't. Tell me."
House shook his head, but he wasn't really protesting. Cuddy could tell that he was enjoying this conversation. House told the poem and Cuddy listened, a teasing smile on his lips. "You already knew," he said, once he finished.
Cuddy laughed. Of course she did. Wilson had the entire hospital talking. They ate in silence after that. But it wasn't uncomfortable. She was at peace. Sitting here with House, eating and talking a little. Cuddy was very aware of his leg brushing up against hers, and the way his eyes would stop at her lips. Oh God!
Once they left the restaurant after the delicious meal, House drove them to the woods, away from the city lights. He parked the car and gestured her to get out of the car. He leaned against the hood of the car and Cuddy joined him.
"When I was a kid, my dad would make me sleep outside in the yard," House told her. Cuddy reined her temper, lightly stroking his hand. "I used to look at the stars, try to find constellations or count the stars. It would distract me from the cold to some extent. Made me feel less lonely." She was happy he had something with him that helped. "I wanted to share this with you," he told her. Cuddy looked at him, into his blue eyes. "I have wanted this for so long with you. I never thought I could have this."
"Like the philosopher Mick Jagger said," Cuddy said with a smile. "You can't always get what you want -"
House continued, "But if you try sometime, you'll find, you get what you need." They moved together, seeking each other's lips. Cuddy moaned as his fingers moved along her body, as if playing music. "Where to?" House asked.
"I have my babysitter till midnight," she told him.
He raised his arm and checked his watch. "It's ten. So, I get two hours with you." His eyes were full of mischief and promise.
"Or we could go back to my place," Cuddy suggested. She felt him pulling back, obviously misunderstanding her. "You could stay the night."
He smirked. "You naughty girl!"
"It won't be convenient," Cuddy said. "Rachel will need attention every few hours and…"
"Lisa," House interrupted her. She shut up and looked at him. "I don't mind Rachel. She's a neat kid." He looked away. "I don't understand why you trust me with her. I am scared out of my mind. I am going to make mistakes with her. I am going to disappoint you again." She opened her mouth to object but stopped when he turned back to look at her. His eyes were shining with truth and vulnerability. "Despite everything, I want to try. With you. With her. She is a part of you. I love you. And I don't think it is possible for me to not love a part of you."
She could feel tears flowing down her eyes at his confession. House had always hidden his feelings in a tight container. Him opening up to her like this, him trusting her like this, was a gift; one that she would cherish forever. She reached for him, pulling his head down and captured his lips. No words would describe what she was feeling. And she had rarely needed words for House to know what was going on in her head. He kissed her, under the stars. Neither of them was alone anymore.
They arrived back at her home by eleven. Cuddy paid the babysitter, who assured her that Rachel had been fine the whole time. She thanked the young girl and locked her door. Turning around, she looked for House. "Greg," she called.
"In here," he answered. He was in Rachel's room, checking her pulse. "I just wanted to -" he began but broke off, obviously not willing to explain. She smiled softly. She is a part of you. I love you. And I don't think it is possible for me to not love a part of you.
"I love you," she whispered, as she got close to him. He looked at her and then back at Rachel. Her baby girl was sleeping peacefully. "Come on," she said, leading them out of the room.
"How long till you have to feed her?"
"Two hours. Want some coffee?"
"Or we could do something else."
Cuddy gave him a sensual smile. House walked to her and pressed her against the wall, towering over her. She reached forward to kiss him and he responded enthusiastically. They fought for dominance, neither of them backing down. Cuddy could feel her body responding to him. She could feel him too. She broke the kiss and pulled him into her bedroom.
House opened his eyes and looked at the surroundings. Which was useless, since it was dark. His instincts told him that he was not in his apartment. There was a weight on his chest and left shoulder. Someone was lying snuggled against him, with their hand on his chest. He took a sniff. Cuddy's perfume.
They had gone on a date. House remembered the evening well. Her laughter, her gentle touch, her passionate kisses, and the sounds she made. It had been a while since he had felt so comfortable. He didn't want to move. He didn't want to leave. He turned his head and pressed a kiss into her hairs. This woman - this perfect goddess of a woman - loved him. He still couldn't wrap his head around it. He picked up her hand from his chest and gently played with her fingers. She released a deep sigh and snuggled closer. House pressed another kiss into her hairs. He reached for his phone and checked the time. It was almost three. Time to feed Rachel.
House massaged his thigh, trying to get the kinks out. He pulled himself out of her grip, replacing himself with a pillow. He tested his leg. It helped that he hadn't been down all night. He stood up and went to her side of the bed. He shut off her alarm for three, dressed up in his jeans and shirt, and left the room.
When Cuddy found him twenty minutes later, he was sitting on the armchair in the nursery, feeding Rachel and telling her stupid facts.
"You turned off my alarm?" Cuddy asked.
"No point for both of us waking up," he answered. Was she upset? She was smiling so probably not. He watched her lithe body, wrapped in a night gown.
"I don't think I can go back to the hospital on Monday, pretending that I didn't see this side of yours," she said.
"I could do something -"
"Don't."
House gave her grin and could see the small smile on her lips, while she pretended to be upset. She walked to him, gently taking Rachel into her arms and burping her. House pulled himself out of the armchair and went to the kitchen. When he returned back, she was sitting in the rocking chair. House stood in front of her and gently rocked the chair for both of them. Cuddy relaxed and focused on singing the lullaby. House watched her. She looked absolutely serene. He could watch her for hours and not get tired.
They left the room once Rachel was asleep. House pulled his girlfriend into his arms and kissed her hungrily. He couldn't get enough of her. She responded, her lips moving against his and her arms wrapped around him. His last thought before he pushed her towards the bed was one that he hadn't had in decades.
He was home.
Cuddy was bubbling with joy, though this time she tried to hide it. House had stayed the morning. They had snuggled together, playing with Rachel, watching a movie and making out. They had talked too. Mostly about their respective childhoods. House had told her about the guy in Japan who motivated him to be a doctor. She had talked about her own motivations. Then there had been that conversation about birth control. They had both mutually decided that neither of them was ready to add another child to the mix (if that was even possible for her body).
House's mood stayed better too. He had arrived to the hospital on time. He had solved a case quickly. He also continued to work in the clinic. That one bothered Cuddy a bit but she didn't know how to ask him why he was doing his job. He was still sharp with his tongue and almost everyone let the changes in his behaviour slide off as one of his eccentricities.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Wilson poked his head in. "Got a minute?" he asked. Cuddy nodded and waved him in. He sat on the chair in front of her. "Need your help," he said.
"What's wrong?" she asked, worried now. Wilson asking for help wasn't common.
"I need to convince House to talk to Stacy."
Cuddy was glad that she had experience in hiding her emotions. She liked Stacy, she really did. She just didn't like the reminder that Stacy had a history with House. "Why?" she asked, keeping her voice neutral.
"He refuses to," Wilson complained. "He is completely locked up on it. Cuddy, he has finally accepted that he hasn't forgiven her. If they talk about it, they can move on."
"It has to be his decision, Wilson," she told the oncologist.
"He won't even talk about it," Wilson said. He shook his head. "She makes him happy. You know that. Even when she came here with her husband, she made him happy. You remember that, right?" She did. She remembered House's reaction to Stacy's arrival, stay and her departure. She remembered everything. Cuddy was starting to dislike this conversation more and more. "She knew him before his leg. She even knew him after. Stacy can help him move on."
"She left, Wilson. Twice," Cuddy reminded. "I am sorry but I can't help you with this. I talked to House before I hired Stacy. He made it clear that he had no intention in dealing with her. I am not going against that."
Wilson was disappointed, she could tell. He got up and walked to the door. Stopping there, he turned around. "I still think that she is the perfect woman for him." He left after that.
Cuddy's shoulder slumped. Wilson didn't know about their relationship. But Wilson knew House best. If he thought that Stacy was the perfect woman for him, maybe he was right. Cuddy blinked her eyes, trying to regain control over her emotions.
She remembered the first time she had met Stacy. She remembered seeing her with House. She remembered the pang of jealousy. Stacy was allowed to hold him. Stacy was allowed to be there for him. Cuddy had told herself that she had moved on from Greg but it had been a lie. Watching him with Stacy had not been pleasant. Seeing him in pain and not being able to help him had been nothing short of torture.
Was Wilson right? Was Stacy the perfect woman for House? Was Cuddy kidding herself thinking that she could be the woman House would love coming home to? He and Stacy had been together for five years, while she and him -
She shook herself out of these thoughts. Her heart ached. She decided to end the day and go home to her daughter. She would play with her and read to her. She would do everything that would help her avoid thinking of Wilson's words.
Hope you are enjoying the story :)