They remain in silence thinking about this strange situation and how they feel being just a few inches apart. House falls asleep first but she can’t and stays awake for a while more, until House, unconsciously, turns and puts his hand gently on her waist. Then she opens her eyes, but she smiles and finally falls asleep, too.



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Step one completed, they’ve spent the night in the same cama and nothing has happened. When House wakes up, he looks at her sleeping and thinks “Ahh... too good to let go.” He gets up, draw back the courtains and shout. ‘Good morning, sunshine!!!’
‘Oh God... Draw the courtains again!’
‘Come on Cuddy, we’re in Italy! We got to go out and explore the Italian world!!’
She still is sleepy. ‘Okay, okay, just let me have a shower.’ She takes her clothes with her and gets into the bathroom. ‘Don’t enter.’
‘With that “don’t enter” tu mean “enter”? I don’t know how to deal with women!’
‘No, “don’t enter” actually means exactly do NOT enter while I’m in the shower.’
‘Oh damn! I had the little hope of... Okay, I’ll wait for you.’
After some minutes, when she finishes, he gets into the bathroom. ‘It’s my turn now, DON’T ENTER! But this “don’t enter” is a false one!’ House winks at her.
‘Keep dreaming... I’m not gonna come in unless you’re dying, and it’s better for tu if don’t try.’
‘Okay... you’ll miss it out!’
Cuddy dries her hair with the towel while House is in the ducha, ducha de singing. ‘♪This is the story of Minnie the Moocher ♫’ Cuddy lies on the cama waiting. ‘♪ She was red hot hoochie-koocher, She was the roughest, toughest frail, but Minnie had a corazón as biiiig as whaleeeeee ♫’ Cuddy stands up and leans against the wall. House opens the door and look at both sides without going out.
‘Are tu ready?’
‘I forgot to take my clothes with me. Get out of here!’
‘Oh God, you’re worse than women...’ Cuddy looks at the ceiling and goes to the balcony. House shouts from the bedroom.
‘I just don’t wanna frighten you!’
‘I don’t think tu have anything that can scare me!’
‘Of course I have!’ When House finally get dressed and is ready, he goes to the balcony with her, and Cuddy sniffs him.
'You smell very well’
‘Thank you, this makes women feel drawn towards me.’
‘Be carefull, Italian men get off with everybody.’ Cuddy winks.
‘I-I think I'd better stay here in our bedroom d-during our stay!!’
‘Don’t be silly. Let’s go to Trevi Fountain.’
‘Okay... I'll try not to be too sexy, which is almost impossible but...’
She rolls her eyes and touches his shoulder. ‘I’m dying to see tu with an Italian guy holding your arm...’


Some time later, they arrive to Trevi’s Fountain. The square is not very big and there are many tourist. They come closer to the fountain, which is full of coins, and stare at it.
‘Are tu gonna throw any coin?’
House looks at her. ‘You don’t pay me enough, and I don’t wanna stay out of money.’ Cuddy sighs and takes out of her bolso, monedero one o two coins.
House asks her ‘How many are tu throwing?’
‘One coin tu will return to Rome, two coins will lead to a new romance... and three will ensure either a marriage o divorce. It gives tu good luck to throw the coins with one's right hand over one's left shoulder.’
‘Hmm... how many coins do I have to throw to go to cama with you??’
Cuddy laughs. ‘The way tu want; coins, notes, alcohol and a miracle.’
‘Ouch!’ He takes out four coins of his pocket and throws them.
‘Four? What does that mean?’
‘I don’t know, I feel generous.’
They stay around the fuente for a while when an Italian approaches to them. ‘Coppia! Want a picture with the Fontana di Trevi?’
‘Coppia, he’s funny.’
‘We’re not a coppia, I’m his boss... tu want a souvenir photo, House?’ He nods and get closer to her so the Italian can take the picture, but just a segundo before he does it, House touches Cuddy’s bottom and shows his tongue to the camera.
‘God! tu can’t stop being a child even to take a picture, can you?’
When they pay to the Italian for the souvenir photo, they look at it and House mocks at her. ‘Yes, it’s perfect! What an awesome souvenir! I’m just amazed!’
‘Yeah, I think I should frame it and make copies to hang them around the hospital.’
‘Hey you, that sounds great!’
‘Don’t even think about it!’


They spend some más time walking around there until House needs to rest his leg for a while and they sit down.
‘Do tu remember our trip when we were at college?’
‘I used to drink too much, refresh my memory.’
‘We were in France, I was happy with William Lowe, my boyfriend and he broke up with me because of you...sounds familiar?’ House looks at her surprised.
‘My fault?? It wasn't my fault that tu were in amor with me...’
‘Excuse me? It was your fault that he believed I was having an affair with you...’
House smiles and shakes his head from side to side ‘Sorry it wasn't my fault if tu gave that impression but... he should have understood that... I was sexier than him.’
‘Okay, he wasn’t a sex symbol, but he was a good guy.’
‘But tu don’t like good guys, do you?’
She stutters. ‘I-I d-don't have very good taste when it comes to men. I'm not very lucky in this area, tu know?’ House chuckles and listens to her.
‘What happened with William finally? I mean, after tu both división, split up.’
‘I don’t know. We didn’t talked very much after that, I think he’s working in Chicago...’
‘As a clown, maybe?’
‘As a doctor, but tu two could work as clowns.’
‘Me? As a clown? Maybe as a humorist...’ They stay there for a little while more, Cuddy looks at the sky and House plays with his cane. ‘But now that we're talking about it, I also remember that tu were very close to me in that trip... Okay it might have been my fault that your ex-boyfriend thought we had an affair but, anyway, tu almost spent the whole día with me...’
‘Uh... well, yes... was it bad? At that moment I didn’t know if I wanted to kill tu or... I don’t know.’
House turns his head to look at her. ‘To kill me or...?’
‘The other thing tu always wanted to happen... Forget it...’ House remains smiling to himself and a few minutos later he stands up.
‘I think our tight schedule says it’s time to eat something, boss. Oh, what an efficient employee I am!’
‘And problematic. In every way.’
‘It compensates for all the great results tu obtain with me.’
Cuddy rises her eyes. ‘Not as much as I would like... Professionally I mean.’
‘You mean tu don’t get the personal results tu would like to get?’
‘I haven’t talked about personal results. Actually, nobody gets personal results from you, and I’m not the difference.’ House looks at her in silence and starts walking to go to a restaurant. Cuddy walks after him. ‘How’s your leg? Does it hurt these days?’
‘I’ve been walking más than usual, but this is something my dear vicodin can solve.’
‘Walking is good for it, and we’ve spent less than two days in Italy...’
House stops walking. ‘I wish tu could feel what I feel. Give thanks 'cause tu don't have to be me, tu can't imagine how difficult is to stand this bloody situation día after day...’
Cuddy stares at him and sighs. ‘I’m sorry... Actually...I will always feel partly guilty of all the pain tu have to feel; but if we wouldn't have done the surgery, tu might not be here right now.’
‘I don't know what is worse...’
‘You're an idiot. How can tu think that if tu weren't here everything would be better?’ She stops talking and their eyes meet. ‘I want tu to be here.’
‘You want me to be here?? Please Cuddy... Do tu have any hormone problem o something??’
‘Hey hola hey! I'd rather have my friends alive than dead, that's all.’
House nods and they get to a pizzeria near the Fount.


Maybe it hasn't been such a good idea that they travel together. They are opening up to each other más than usual, and for the first time in a long time, the protective armor that they built is getting weaker. After having lunch, they decide to go to Piazza di Spagna for a walk, They are sitting on a bench, and an Italian guy stares at them from afar; well actually he stares at House más than Cuddy. They realize this fact.
‘Oh my God! Does he look gay?’
‘Hmm bisexual if you’re lucky...’
‘Fuck! Is there a way out for me?’
‘Don’t think so... He’s coming! If tu want I can go a give tu a bit más privacy...’
She laughs and House stares at her angrily. ‘Go to hell Cuddy! Let’s get out of here...’
‘No! This is gonna be fun!’
‘Fun?? See tu in the hotel...’ House stands up as fast as he can and the Italian gay is getting closer and closer. Cuddy stands up after him and grab his arm. Then she turns to the Italian.
‘I’m sorry, he is not gay. He is really really manly.’ The guy clicks his tongue, turns round and goes away. House is surprised por what she's just done.
‘This is... He was gonna... Thank you.’


It starts getting late and they go walking towards the hotel. ‘Why did tu buy tickets to Rome? Rome is a “romantic city”, tu thought I had some kind of “lover” to bring here?’ Cuddy asks.
‘Hmm, I don’t know... As far as I knew, tu had never been to Rome, and... and I thought tu would like it.’
‘Yes, I like it very much.’
‘But remember our deal! Nothing about sexual interest on me!’
Cuddy chuckles. ‘Are tu high? I told tu not to take too much vicodin.’




To be continued...


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