Cuddy was busy taking the meatloaf out of the চুলা when she heard the ever familar thudding of a cane against her front door. Sighing to herself she walked to the door.
"You are early," she ব্যক্ত with a scowl.
"You sound disappointed. Usually you're complaining because I'm late," he ব্যক্ত walking into her living room and sitting in her recliner.
"I still have to make a vegetable and the ধান has another ten minutes..."
"Wow. আপনি really put alot into a ডিনার আপনি were blackmailed into having. Interesting."
"Well, I might as well make the best of an annoying situation. I wanted আরো than take out tonight," she ব্যক্ত as she went back into the kitchen. House slowly followed after her.
"What did আপনি tell private dick?"
"I told him I was having ডিনার with a friend tonight," she ব্যক্ত pouring herself a glass of ginger ale. She then pulled out a glass for him.
"Not a complete lie, but not a complete truth. Isn't it a little early to be lying to him?" he ব্যক্ত as he took his glass of soda from her.
"Let's watch t.v. for a while," she ব্যক্ত with a roll of her eyes.
"Purposely deflecting my question. Interesting."
"I'm not deflecting I just don't think my relationship is your business. Just as your encounters with ladies of the night are none of my business," she ব্যক্ত with a smirk as she flipped the t.v. on to an old episode of Will and Grace.
"This is what আপনি turn it to? আপনি have to be kidding me," he ব্যক্ত leaning into the পালঙ্ক cushions.
"Oh, আপনি don't like? All the আরো reason to watch then."
"A lonely Jewish girl in a codependent relationship with a gay man who she used to be madly in প্রণয় with, yeah why wouldn't I want to watch that. I'm sensing আপনি like it because it mirrors one of your past boy toys. He was a little too caring, sympathetic, and interested in your hopes and dreams. আপনি loved it until আপনি found him in বিছানা with your hairdresser, Miguel."
"You wish my life was that easy to figure out. After all these years আপনি still see me as an enigma," she ব্যক্ত with a triumphant smile.
"I have all the important parts of the puzzle that I need to tie in the rest."
"Oh, really? Do tell," she ব্যক্ত leaning into the pillows.
"You প্রণয় what আপনি do but আপনি still wish আপনি were in the trenches figuring out the medical mysteries that I come across every week. আপনি want people to look at আপনি as a formidable opponent and a woman of great esteem, but আপনি are much আরো fragile than you'll ever let on. আপনি want to believe that you'll get the whole package one day, husband, kids, and hold on to your career with ease, but as আপনি approach middle age আপনি know the great dream will continue to allude you. আপনি overcompensate with tight skirts and obscenely low cut tops that my 'ladies of the night,' would envy আপনি for. আপনি pretend that আপনি have everything under control, which আপনি don't because if আপনি did then I wouldn't be sitting here with my feet propped on your coffee টেবিল awaiting a প্রথমপাতা cooked meal."
She watched him lounge with ease as he drank his soda. She could see his eyes smiling with that certain arrogance she had grown accustomed to. He was very pleased with himself.
"Bravo! I wonder how many times আপনি rehearsed that little speech? আপনি are way too obsessed with me and my life. This breadth of detail doesn't প্রদর্শনী insight into me instead it reveals how আপনি can't stop thinking of me," she ব্যক্ত with her own arrogant grin.
"Oh, here we go. I'm head over heels in প্রণয় with আপনি and that is why I notice all your annoying habits, flaws, and সামগ্রিক motivations. I can't just be an analytical genius that likes to screw with people and my boss being the number one person on that list."
"Exactly."
He rolled his eyes at her quick response. He then watched as she started back into the kitchen. He saw her take out some ফ্রোজেন peas and place them in a pot of water.
"I hate peas," he ব্যক্ত with a groan.
"I like them," she yelled over her shoulder.
"Next time make corn."
"There's not going to be a পরবর্তি time."
"So আপনি say."
"So I know."
He continued to watch her from the corner of his eye as she stirred the rice.
"Is it nearly ready?"
"A few আরো minutes," she ব্যক্ত as she made her way back to the sofa.
"Want to play truth অথবা dare?" he ব্যক্ত with a wink.
"No way. পরবর্তি you'll be talking about strip poker. Just watch the t.v." she ব্যক্ত as she was about to grab the remote but he took it before she had a chance.
"General Hospital is about to come on Soap Net."
"House! Give me my remote!" she ব্যক্ত reaching for it.
"You got to watch your little sitcom now it's my turn."
"No turns. My house. My remote. My choice of shows to watch," she yelled as she reached further across him to get the remote. He hid the remote under his পালঙ্ক cushion.
"Now get it."
"Uggh. আপনি are such a teenage boy sometimes."
"I know আপনি like my antics. আপনি wouldn't have played prank war with me a few months পূর্বে if আপনি didn't."
Smiling she shook her head.
"Sometimes it's fun. But I mostly want to strangle আপনি when আপনি do some of your little stunts."
"Please. Without my little stunts your life would be a complete bore."
"But less stressful and much easier."
"Easy. Nothing of worth in this life is ever meant to be easy. That's why you're settling isn't it?"
"God, I'm not talking about Paul."
"Look, he's good at what he does. I'll give him that. He's was good company when Wilson wasn't around but he's too simple and manageable for আপনি to actually want a long term relationsip with."
"He's not simple. He wanted to be a writer and the dream never materialized. He became a private eye because he still wanted to understand people better. He's learned how important it is to forgive and not to expect perfection. He's..."
"An idiot."
"Why? Why do আপনি think that?"
"Because he thinks that believing in less makes him wise. Believing in nothing would be wiser."
"It's good to have faith in people, House."
"But this isn't about faith. He wants to tell আপনি what আপনি want to hear so that আপনি overlook his boring personality. Honestly, do আপনি look at him and see your future husband?"
"It's too early for that kind of talk. We've only been dating a short while."
"Bullshit answer."
"Whatever."
"That's your retort."
"Just watch your damn soap opera," she ব্যক্ত as she stalked back into the kitchen. She began setting the table. House began watching her again.
"Wilson thinks I miss your cooking," he yelled from the sofa. He saw the tension release from her shoulders as she put the plates down. He noticed a slight smile form on her face.
"You've improved since college."
"Is that a compliment I hear?"
"Is ডিনার finally ready," he asked evading her question.
"Yes."
He walked into the রান্নাঘর and sat at the one end of the টেবিল as she sat at the other.
"I mean anything is an improvement on burnt lasagena and undercooked sausage," he ব্যক্ত as he took a bite of meatloaf.
"I never made lasagena before. I was learning. Anyway, আপনি still have no idea how to cook anything. Mr. PB and J is a balanced meal."
"I like সুপ too."
"I rest my case."
"So, what do আপনি cook private dick?"
"No."
"Not a yes অথবা no question."
"No আরো prying into my relationship. I've already প্রদত্ত too much away."
"Are আপনি gonna offer me any liquor? I mean the soda was great but I am a big boy now, Mommy."
"I've got some rum."
"Not my পছন্দ but it will do."
Cuddy got up and went to the cabinet pulling out a bottle of Puerto Rican Rum. She poured him a glass and then decided to pour herself one.
"Here," she ব্যক্ত handing him the glass.
"Good. You're gonna যোগদান me," he ব্যক্ত noticing her glass.
"I could use a drink after all this annoying conversation."
"We should make out," he ব্যক্ত abruptly as he watched her finish her drink in one gulp.
"Only in your dreams, House."
"I'm being completely serious with you. We need to see once and for all if there's a spark."
"No we don't."
"You don't want to চুম্বন me?"
"I don't even want to talk about this any more," she ব্যক্ত as she ate some of her rice.
"I want to চুম্বন you."
She looked up to see him watching her very intently. She searched his eyes for any hint of a joke but found none. He was sincere.
"Stop."
He got up and slowly walked toward her and stood beside her chair.
"Stop? You'll have to be specific. Stop talking. Stop looking at you. Stop..."
"Don't even think about it,"she ব্যক্ত standing up পরবর্তি to him.
"Think about what? This?"
Before she could respond he placed a soft চুম্বন against her lips. She responded slowly, surprised দ্বারা his action.
He pulled slowly from her watching her eyes. She was deifnitely surprised. For all his innuendo and empty challenges he finally kissed her. She never thought he would ever actually do it.
"There was a spark," he ব্যক্ত as he looked down at his hands. He suddenly felt very exposed.
"House, I..."
His beeper started to go off at that moment.
"Damn," he ব্যক্ত as he read the message.
"You have to go."
"Patient is in cardiac arrest. The drugs aren't working. We missed something..."
He looked at her feeling as if it was the first time he ever saw her. The blush to her cheeks was all his doing. She was just as nervous and vulnerable as he was.
"You better go."
"Yeah."
He started for the door when she yelled at him,
"I'll save আপনি some left overs. I know you'll be hunrgy once আপনি solve the case."
"If I solve it."
She smiled that knowing smile of hers.
"You will."