"I have no right to be mad অথবা disappointed. We're not together and if আপনি want to be with another it's you're business. I know this rationally... but in my হৃদয় it doesn't make any sense...I was so happy when I saw my Med School desk. No one had ever done something so...thoughtful for me. I guess I thought it was your way of not only saying sorry, but that আপনি wanted আরো than just friendship. Anyway, thank আপনি for Rachel's present and thank আপনি for the desk. I'd rather have your friendship than nothing at all." Cuddy let out an exhausted breath and stood up. She smiled hoping he wouldn't notice the sadness in her eyes.
House started to stare down at his own feet.
"Well, now that we've cleared that up, let's open your present." Cuddy ব্যক্ত as she began to walk toward the door.
House stopped her with his cane. She paused at the sudden obstacle. He stood up behind her.
"I'm an idiot sometimes." He ব্যক্ত into her ear.
Cuddy turned to face him.
"House?"
He took a tentative step closer to her. He placed his cane on the টেবিল and took a deep breath. He felt nervous but he knew it was time to finally give her his present.
"House, আপনি don't have to..."
"Love is not all: it is not meat nor drink
Nor slumber nor a roof against the rain;
Nor yet a floating spar to men that sink
And rise and sink and rise and sink again;
প্রণয় can not fill the thickened lung with breath,
Nor clean the blood, nor set the fractured bone;
Yet many a man is making বন্ধু with death
Even as I speak, for lack of প্রণয় alone.
It well may be that in a difficult hour,
Pinned down...by pain and moaning for release,
অথবা nagged দ্বারা want past resolution's power,
I might be driven to sell your প্রণয় for peace,
অথবা trade the memory of this night for food.
It well may be...I do not think I would." He finished saying as his eyes remained focused on her face.
Cuddy began to open her mouth to say something but she was literally without words.
"You know the poem. It was your favorite." He ব্যক্ত as he pulled out a worn copy of Edna Saint Vincent Millay's complete works with a red ribbon wrapped around it; from out of his কোট pocket.
"The one I loaned আপনি in college." Cuddy ব্যক্ত with surprise.
"Yeah, I always forgot to give it back to you. I decided one দিন to give your Chick Lit a chance and I found that I really liked it...You underlined all your পছন্দ passages and wrote notes."
Cuddy blushed.
"I always used to do that."
"This one poem was my পছন্দ too."
Without thinking about it Cuddy grabbed House দ্বারা his কোট মণ্ডল bringing him down into a kiss. It was different from the other kiss. This wasn't about drowing in comfort because the pain was too much. This was about connection. This was about giving প্রণয় and allowing it to be received.
Cuddy pulled back eventually feeling the need for oxygen. House too took a big breath of air as they broke from their lip lock. Cuddy noticed the redness to House's cheeks and he once again saw hers. As if they both knew what the other was thinking they started to laugh in unison.
"You look happy, House."
He pulled her closer to him with his hands firmly on her waist.
"So do you, Cuddy."
Suddenly Wilson came through the রান্নাঘর door holding the gift Cuddy got House.
"More people arrived so we need মহাকাশ on the couch..."
Wilson suddenly realized that Cuddy and House were embracing.
"I'll make sure no one comes into the kitchen." He ব্যক্ত with a smirk as he quickly left the room.
Cuddy picked up the gift bag and held it out for House. He took the bag from her and then placed it on the chair.
"I can open it later." He ব্যক্ত as he once আরো encircled her waist and pulled her into him.
