Sunday - Quarter to six


House was in his jeans and t-shirt waiting for Wilson to come pick him up for the anniversary. Sitting on one of the chairs, he propped his arm up on the rest and rested his chin on his thumb. He kept running the ring on his finger, up and down his chin, feeling the cold metal against his skin. He was in a trance, just thinking about the ring, and her. The last thing he remembered was her face--the image locked in his mind. So vivid.

He wondered how he could face her today.

After minutes of waiting, Wilson burst through the front doors. He looked directly as House as soon as he walked in, and urged him out the doors.
He limped quickly out the doors to catch up with a hurried Wilson who had already approached the car. As soon as House got in, he just stared at him.

"In a rush?" he asked sarcastically. Wilson just glared at him and began to drive away from Mayfield.
"Seriously, you meeting someone or something?"
"What the hell happened yesterday," he asked rather calmly. House slouched in his seat and folded his hands, resting them tight on his neck before responding to him.
"She talked to you." he stated blankly.
"What else?"
"We're not fighting."
"The hell you aren't. She was devastated coming back yesterday."
"Right."
"Fine, I'm exaggerating, but she was crying before she got back which I figured as soon as she burst into my office complaining about you."
"What'd you say to her?"
"I figured you did something stupid so I let her do the talking."
"So--now you're angry at what I did? Which was nothing? This is you upset at me? You've changed it up a little. You're a little less--lecturing."
"I'm not upset at you."
"Right."
"I'm not."
"Why would you be?" he asked sarcastically.
"I'm not saying you did the right thing--actually you did and said nothing which was really the wrong thing--but I shouldn't be upset. I've got no right to be. You did nothing. But you're going to do something tonight. You're going to tell her that you are in love with her and that you do want a relationship."
"Right."
"I don't get it. You're willing to admit everything else to her except the one thing that actually matters?"
"I did admit it. Through everything else. She was being stupid. The answer was clearly right in front of her, she broke down on her own terms."
"House."
"Misery, it's been driving her mad. If she figured out anything yesterday--she would've known to not even ask those questions. There was no point."
"She's not concerned in the answer, House. The only reason she makes it seem that way is because she actually just wants you to admit it to her. Admitting it gives her a sense of satisfaction. Lets her know that everything else you've told her wasn't crap that you pulled from thin air to jerk her around."
"That's stupid."
"She doesn't want to put herself out there, and get hurt. I don't blame her. I would be cautious with you too."
"Why, because I'm miserable and can't handle a relationship at the moment?"
"If she ever got hurt, it wouldn't be your typical wound." he stated softly. He had kept his eyes on the road when House turned to look at him.
They were silent all the way back to Wilson's apartment. When they walked in, House kicked back on the couch as Wilson darted into the bedroom for his clothes. He came back out within minutes as House flipped through the channels on the TV.

"Here." Wilson grabbed the hanger out of the plastic that was covering. He pulled the outfit out and showed him.
"This is what I was telling you about. It's a--"
"link I know."
"How did--?"
"Old college hall mate. Filipino, obviously. Had the same one. His was an off white though."
"I got you the blue one. I'm wearing the off white. Blue looks better on you."
"Right."
"Yeah, its a formal kind of clothing. Used at weddings normally, but you won't stick out."
"Where'd you get them anyway?" he asked curiously.
"Cancer patient of mine. Thank you gift. She was half Filipino and she didn't look like it. Gave it to me a few months ago. Never wore either of them though."
"Why not," he asked slipping off his shirt.
"No chance to. Hurry up. I'm gonna go change into mine." Wilson walked into his bedroom, and a bathroom door closed shut. House slipped on a white t-shirt, and then the barong. He then slipped on his dress pants and shoes. He sat there just thinking, waiting for Wilson to come back out. Within minutes he did, and he was fixing his sleeves as he did so.

"Ready?" he asked opening the door.
"The party or Cuddy?" House responded turning off the TV. Wilson gave a smirk as he urged House out the door and closed it slowly.

---

At the hospital - 7:01 p.m.

House and Wilson walked on the pathway towards the entrance of Princeton-Plainsbro, looking sharp as ever. The sunlight hit them at an angle where they appeared to glow, like lightning bugs.
Taking long strides with hands in their pockets, House with his fancy sliver headed cane and Wilson with his insanely polished shoes, came up the the entrance doors. House caught a glimpse of Cuddy through the windows.
She was walking around, greeting and talking to people in a beautiful link that appeared to be Asian themed. She looked beautiful with her hair up in light blue chopsticks, along with blue sandals to match. She actually matched him...Wilson gave a smile toward him as soon as he saw her. House then turned to him with a glare.

"You made us match?" House asked as they pushed through the doors.
"Blue looks good on you," he uttered with a grin. As soon as they walked in, everyone caught eye. Not to the point of complete focus, but their entrance was definitely seen. Especially, by Cuddy. She reluctantly looked at them, tempted to walk over and discuss things, but she didn't have the nerve. Not now at least.
Avoiding her for the time being, they walked into the party area, where everyone was either talking, eating, or requesting foreign songs to the DJ. They eventually met up with everyone by their table.
Cameron was dressed in a kimono, Chase in a Scottish kilt, Thirteen in Indian type robes, Foreman with a Greek style, and finally Taub with a sombrero and a scarf over a white embroidered shirt with black slacks.
As soon as Wilson and House appeared before them, their attention caught on House. It had been a while since they all saw him, and not unconscious, with the exception of Cameron. They all just stared at him as they approached the table. Wilson did most of the talking.

"We're matching, because I made him." Wilson stated with a grin.
"Those actually look familiar. Chase, where have we seen these before?" Cameron asked.
"Women's department of Macy's?" he asked sarcastically.
"Seriously." Cameron uttered with a laugh.
"Um, Asian. Oh yeah, we saw it on TV. That one big festival that was held in the Philippines. Some people wore those. Actually some women did too."
"It's called a barong." Wilson said. House then interjected.
"Barong Tagalog, also meaning a dress that is Tagalog."
"So wait, these are dresses?" Taub asked evidently entertained.
"Sombrero?" Thirteen retorted. He just gave a gesture and laughed. She continued talking, complimenting House and Wilson.
"It's a very classy attire for you two. Looks good." After that, everyone gave a look towards the both of them and nodded, also giving a quick glance towards House almost saying, "It's good to see you here." When House was about to sit down, Cameron got up from her chair and excused herself, slightly tapping his foot on her way back to the lobby. He stopped midway sitting down and raised himself up again, reluctantly following. They reached the staircase and talked as people surrounded the lobby.

"What?" he finally asked her.
"It's good to see you here."
"Is that all you need to tell me?" he asked impatient.
"What interest do you have with the party? You'd rather be here than back in there."
"Right. But either way, I'd prefer not to attend to all the fascinating questions you all have for me."
"Right." she nodded suspiciously.
"You been taking care of mommy? Is that why you pulled me aside?"
"I talked to her before the party. I know every that's been happening."
"The verdict?" he ask curiously.
"When have you ever craved my opinion?"
"You're the second eldest. And you're the first girl. You don't annoy me as much as the other morons. Only when you get morally outraged at the things I do."
"I'm actually proud. You managed to step up, and fess up everything. Well, not everything I hear."
"What'd she say," he asked, a little annoyed.
"Go ask her. She's the one working her ass off in the office." he rolled his eyes at the thought, and walked down the stairs toward the clinic. Cameron just smiled and gracefully made her way back to the party.
Upon entering the clinic, House spotted some of the nurses huddled in one corner gossiping about something happening in the hospital. It's what they lived for after actually nursing. Reaching the first set of doors, he could already see her in the office, flipping and signing papers, typing things up on the computer and coming back to a stressful sigh and face rub. He entered slowly through the doors, and finally made his way in. She didn't look up to see.

"Whoever it is, I'm a little busy at the moment."
"Why is it," he started. She looked up and saw him as he continued.
"that when everyone else is getting drunk, eating themselves into obesity and practically slumming, you choose to work yourself dead."
link
"Hi." she stated softly.
"Hi."
"You came."
"You asked me to."
"Since when did it become that simple?"
"You wanted me to, so I came."
"I also wanted you to answer two questions, but you couldn't do that. I don't understand the difference with this--you're wearing the ring."
"I know." her face was slightly shocked, and she quickly shook her head, getting up from her desk and walking past House and out into the clinic. He followed quickly after her. They were in the middle of the parking lot by the time she stopped walking away. They were separated in merely feet as they yelled back and forth as the sun descended on them.
"I don't know what to do with you, House."
"Stop acting afraid!"
"I'm not afraid! You are just assuming that I'm not acting rational!"
"No! You're afraid. You're afraid of having a real relationship with me. I know it. I can see it. You even said it yourself yesterday. 'I'm even doubting this,' this being, us."
"House, there is no us. The way you act--you haven't learned to break that barrier between us. Even with me you still isolate yourself."
"And that's why you're afraid. You fear, that I'm going to treat you like that. You're afraid of getting hurt." he got closer to her. Limping a few steps to where she was. Strands from her bun began to fall out as her hair loosened. He tried sweeping them away and continued.

"You can't--go anywhere, and hope that the same time you won't get hurt. It doesn't work that way."
"I think you're directing that advice at the wrong person. And I thought you didn't believe in hope?"
"I don't--didn't. You proved me wrong." he stated softly. She looked up with him with a slightly angry and curious face. He sighed, unsure of what to say, but he took a chance.
"You really think, that I would dream about you while in a coma, and hallucinate you only a month prior if I wasn't in love with you and if I didn't want a relationship?" she couldn't say anything. So he just continued on.
"And I know you wouldn't have given me this, if you didn't love me either." he put the ring in her face, and began to walk away. A foot away from her he stopped. He went back and kissed her, for merely seconds. Stopping himself. He stared at for a second--slate against sapphire. The friction was clearly there.
He limped away again. But she called out to him after several seconds, leaving him motionless several feet from her. He turned very slowly as he waited for her reply. All she could do was look at him, and then began walking after him. She returned his kiss, and wrapped her arms around him. Suspending her inches off the ground, he refused to care for his leg. Breaking for only a moment, she asked him one last question.

"You think this could be some kind of hallucination or dream?" she asked, her head rested against his.
"I don't need to know." and he kissed her again.

The sun took them in its favor and gave them more time in this beautiful light. This evening was better than most had been. The sky had a been a canvas splashed with warm summer colors to compliment the vast light that shone in the center of it all. And as the two stood there in this light, a random wind came in. Gentle and soft, occurring mostly on a summer evening. Like this, summer evening.