Cuddy stripped down the blue بستر spread and added it to her growing pile of dirty laundry. She sat down on the bare matress and traced a hand over the sunken left side.
"Lisa?"
Cuddy looked up at the doorway to see Wilson staring at her.
"What are آپ doing here?" He asked as he walked closer.
"I thought I'd clean his place up...for when he comes back." She کہا as as she stood up and picked up the hamper.
"We don't know when that will be...if that will..."
"He's coming back." She کہا loudly before heading out of the room.
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"I really like these soft periwinkle drapes for the living room. What do آپ think, Cameron?" Cuddy asked the younger woman as they perused the local ہوم Depot.
"It looks مزید like your style than his." She کہا with a grin.
"Well, he could use some help in decorating. I think I have pretty good taste..."
"You have impeccable taste. But if he does come back do آپ want him to not recognize his own apartment?" Cameron asked as she placed a hand on Cuddy's shoulder.
"I'm just putting in some new curtains I'm not getting rid of his lumpy سوفی, لٹانا یا his beloved arm chair."
"Okay. But آپ know this might be premature he's only been gone for a few weeks..."
"I need to do something, Allison." Cuddy کہا with heavy sigh.
"Okay.But if you're getting curtains what's the harm in a new rug?" Cameron کہا with a smile.
Cuddy smiled back and shook her head in agreement.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The place smells better than I can ever remember it smelling." Wilson کہا as he closed the door behind him and set down his grocery bags.
Cuddy walked out from the باورچی خانے, باورچی خانہ to meet him.
"Well, it should smell good I disinfected the place from سب, سب سے اوپر to bottom and put flowers in a few of the rooms." She کہا as she picked up the bag and headed to the kitchen. Wilson followed.
"Are آپ staying the night again?" He as asked as he sat on the stool.
"Well, Rachel is staying with my parents for two مزید days so I can stay here a little longer. It worked out really well actually because I have to get these windows cleaned and have the piano tuned..."
"Lisa, they're saying he needs to stay longer than we anticipated. So, all this preparation has been in vain." Wilson کہا sadly as his gaze went to his hands.
"How much longer?" She asked with a strain to her voice.
"Another month."
She blinked back the tears and started putting the food in the refrigerator.
"Well, another ماہ to get this place in shape. آپ should see how I organized his dresser drawer. I even got a bar installed in the شاور to help him in and out easier. I know he had problems with the pipe so..."
"Stop!" Wilson suddenly yelled as he stood up and walked to stand beside her.
"James?"
"He may never come back. آپ have to face that Lise. I can't be going through this alone." He کہا breaking into tears.
Cuddy pulled him into her arms.
"Keeping this place in order is my only connection to him right now...This is the only thing keeping me together...Believe me, James you're not alone in this." She کہا as she patted his back gently. Wilson nodded against her shoulder but continued to hold on.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Miss, where do آپ want this tv?" The installation man asked.
"The bedroom. There is a clear shelf in front of the بستر where it would be perfect."
The man went into the bedroom with the tv. Cuddy went into the باورچی خانے, باورچی خانہ and began stirring her پاستا sauce when her cell phone rang.
"Hello?"
"We just stopped for gas. He's in getting some جنک, فضول food."
"How long until آپ get here?"
"Another forty-five minutes."
"That's great the sauce is just about done and the tv guy is here."
"I'll make sure he doesn't get too filled up on twinkies before we get there."
Cuddy laughed.
"See آپ soon." She کہا before hanging up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What the hell happened to my place?" House کہا as he walked inside his apartment.
"It's only cleaner, House." Wilson کہا with a smile.
House walked over to his سوفی, لٹانا and noticed a vase of yellow roses on his coffee میز, جدول along with an In Style magazine.
"This place has been chickified." He کہا with a dramatic huff as he sat down.
"It's just got a little bit of a feminine treatment but it's still all man." Wilson کہا as he walked to the bathroom.
"It's totally different. Even my curtains have flowers on them." He کہا as he stood up to walk to the window.
"So, آپ hate everything then?" Cuddy کہا as she suddenly stood behind him.
House jumped in surprise.
"Cuddy. Where did آپ come from?" He asked as he looked her over carefully.
She rolled her eyes.
"I'm real House. I was in the bedroom putting some final touches on your surprise." She کہا as she grabbed his hand and started to drag him with her to the bedroom.
"Is this a surprise that involves whips and chains because I don't think I have the strength quite yet, Mistress Cuddy."
Cuddy snickered.
"And I was afraid آپ wouldn't be your regular smart پچھواڑے, گدا self anymore." She کہا as she finally opened his bedroom door and ushered for him to go in.
"A tv?! A plasma flatscreen?!"
"We thought you'd like it." Wilson کہا as he joined them in the room.
"Gosh, I need to go crazy مزید often." House کہا as he ran a hand over the television.
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"More garlic bread?" Cuddy asked House.
"No. Believe it یا not I am stuffed. That was a pretty non-sucky meal آپ made there, Cuddy." He کہا leaning against his سوفی, لٹانا cushion.
"Yeah, that was really delicious, Lise." Wilson کہا as he too leaned back. Cuddy smirked victoriously.
"Well, I'm glad آپ enjoyed it. I think I'll get another glass of wine." She کہا as she stood up to go the kitchen. Wilson shared a glance with House.
"So, I think I'm gonna head home...I'll come سے طرف کی tomorrow to pick آپ up for bowling."
"Alright. I look آگے to beating you." House کہا as he stood up and walked Wilson to the door.
"It's good to have آپ back." Wilson کہا as they stood at the door.
"It's good to be back...Goodnight, Wilson."
"Goodnight, House."
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"Don't do the dishes. I'll get to them in the morning." He کہا as he stood behind her at the sink.
"Yeah, right." She کہا as she continued to scrub a pot.
"Maybe cleanliness is my new addiction. Ever think of that?" He asked as he leaned closer to her ear.
Cuddy turned around to meet him face to face.
"You are still the lazy and messy diagnostician you've always been." She کہا with a playful smile.
"Yeah, I am." He کہا before splashing her with some of the soapy water.
"House!" She yelled as she picked up a paper towel and wiped her shirt.
"It's too wet to wear now. I'll get آپ something." He کہا as he limped into his room. Cuddy followed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cuddy sat on the بستر as House went through his newly organized closet for a shirt.
"Woman, did آپ have to reorganize everything I own."
"Yes. آپ were living in a چوہا maze. Tee-shorts are on the top, blazers on the side, and jeans are in the side drawers."
Following her new system, House pulled out his well-worn but پسندیدہ Led Zeppelin tee-shirt.
"This is my pride and joy. Wear it with care. I know the twins are used to stretching out shirts but..."
"Just give it to me." She کہا with a hand on her hip. He smirked at her and handed the شرٹ, قمیض over. She walked into the bathroom to change. House laid down on the bed.
"The place screams Lisa Cuddy, interior designer, now." He yelled at her through the door.
"It's better than misanthrope with no sense of style." She yelled back.
"Oh, آپ couldn't wait to come in here and remodel. There are Cuddy cooties everywhere."
Cuddy walked out of the bathroon wearing only his oversized shirt. House sat up instantly. His eyes went wide.
"You forgot your pants." He کہا in a flustered voice. Cuddy walked slowly toward him and sat down.
"I've missed you...I cleaned and remodeled thinking it would keep me with آپ somehow...I thought about the delusion آپ had of us..."
House placed a finger to her lip.
"It wasn't real. I wanted it to be...I need time." He کہا as he slowly trailed his finger away from her lips. Cuddy smiled softly at him.
"I guess I thought آپ would want to make it real tonight." She کہا as she began to stand up feeling embarassed. House gently grabbed her hand.
"I just want to hold آپ tonight...The rest I'm still a little shaky on."
"I would like to be held سے طرف کی you." She کہا with a shy smile.
House pulled the blankets back and scooted to the left side of the bed. Cuddy laid on the right side with her back to him. He pulled her to him and spooned her from behind.
"I like the new sheets." He whispered into her ear.
"I thought آپ would."
House kissed her head softly before turning off the light.
"Goodnight, Greg."
House couldn't help but smile at the usage of his first name.
"Goodnight, Lisa."