Six thirty. The stormy night had faded into a brisk morning with the residue of rain all over. Over the pavement, the trees, cars. Everywhere. Although the rain remained, the clouds had scattered away, along with the lightning and thunder. The apartment was still fairly dark. There was only a small lining of light दिखा रहा है from behind all the trees in the distance. The sun was rising, slowly and readily. Today would be a promising day, one we could remember.

Cuddy was still sound asleep on the couch, wrapped snug in the blanket. She gave brief movements, signifying she was still dreaming deep; her eyes were not completely closed, they fluttered for only सेकंड्स before shutting themselves tight. Suddenly a vibrating noise sounded from inside the couch. It continued for nearly a मिनट before Cuddy dug her hand inside the couch, searching to stop the noise. She finally found it and pulled it out, sitting upright on the couch. It was her phone that had received a text message.

Wake up Wake up.

She checked the bottom for the call back number. It was House. She grinned. Then rested the phone gently on the coffee तालिका, टेबल and took off the blanket. She stood up and made her way into his bedroom. The door was slightly cracked open, दिखा रहा है a slit piece of the room. She pushed it open and found he wasn't in his bed. She curiously looked around the entire apartment: from the bedroom, to his bathroom, everywhere. When she made her way back into the living room, a key slid into the door. First the bottom lock; it locked in and twisted, but before it could reach the सेकंड lock, she had went to the door to open the चोटी, शीर्ष lock.

"Good, you're awake."

He was carrying a plastic bag and a paper bag as he walked in the apartment, setting his keys on the side table.

"Odd choice of waking me up."
"Yeah, coffee?"
"Might as well."

He took out two cups of coffee from the paper bag before crushing it to form a ball, and tossing it towards a trash can द्वारा the piano. He unfortunately missed and it landed on the ivory keys.

"Nice."
"Yeah."
"What's in the bag?"
"Quick grocery and some pads, या napkins, या whatever आप women call them."
"How did you--?"
"You stayed overnight, go figure, you'd need one today."

He snatched the pack of pads out of the bag and handed them to her. She had a slightly shocked face with a smile included. He sighed.

"That is one thing I am definitely not doing again. आप know how many heads I turned when I walked up to the register?"
They both laughed.
"Thanks."

He began to walk into the रसोई, रसोईघर to put away all his groceries as she laughed at his odd and thoughtful gesture. After she did so, she shifted her eyes to where the brown paper ball had fallen. But she didn't walk over just to pick it up. She was और fascinated with the small पियानो that stood in her presence. She sat down on the bench and slowly dragged her hand across both the ivory and ebony keys. When she lifted her fingers, dust residue had stuck to her. This was a surprise to her. Right then House had walked back out of the रसोई, रसोईघर and saw her drawn the the piano. He walked over and leaned against a side as he watched her interest.

"You ever played?"
"When was the last time आप did?"
"Haven't in a while."
"Why?"
"Busy with some things."
"What could आप possibly occupy yourself with on your own spare time, besides sitting your नितंब, गधा on that couch, popping pills and playing this piano."
"Things."
"Like what."
"Why is it relevant?"
"Why isn't it irrelevant?"
"Same thing."
"I know."
"I take it that this was a euphemism just to ask me to play?"
"Yes."
"Finally."

He rolled his eyes and slowly limped over to the bench. He took off his जैकेट and rolled up his sleeves. Cuddy began to slide off the bench, but he stopped her.

"Stay."

He stood behind her and reached out his arms on both sides of her. One arm on one side and the other on the other side. She attempted to reposition herself for his benefit, but he gave her a relatively stern look. Then he laid his hands on the keys ever so gently and began to play. The notes filled the air as he pressed every key, all harmonizing together to fill the apartment with song. After a good amount of notes and chords, he began to hum the tune, as if he'd known it forever.

"Mmm...hm...hmm..mm, mm, mm..."
"Yiruma?"
"River flows in you.."

He continued to play the ballad so gracefully, nearly और so than Yiruma could. It sounded almost like an एंजल was playing heaven's song on the piano. She turned and raised her head to face him. His face was inches away as he focused on catching all the notes. Every now and again, he strived to reach over his foot to the pedals to sustain the sound. It only brought his face closer, and the संगीत to echo louder.

"You sound like you've perfected it."
"Easiest to learn द्वारा ear."
"How so?"
"This method, allows आप to give it more, meaning when आप play.."

She watched his face as it tensed and release, with every note he played. His eyes shut every now and again as his hands continued to dance along the keys. For some reason, she couldn't turn away from him. When he was doing something so passionately like this, so committed, determined, it showed a great side of him that she wouldn't normally see.

"Brilliant man with a brilliant talent.."
"A natural gift. Like you."
"This isn't a gift. This is just hard work, passion and strife compacted together in one mans hands. "
"Blythe told me that she had put आप on lessons and आप were a natural."
"No. My gift is the gift of observation, this is just something I earned. Understand, I enjoyed it, it was my passion that I thrived on through my youth, however, it wasn't easy getting to where I stand now."

It was amazing how he could juggle a conversation, while playing a beautiful ballad, so gracefully, and so flawlessly. It took her a while to respond for she was grinning so much at his feel towards the music. She wasn't even staring at his hands anymore, for आप could see it all on his face, on his sustaining expression.

"I can imagine."

His touch was getting softer. Softer and slower. His hands moved steadily along the keys now. He was beginning the ritardando ending portion of the piece. He kept his eyes closed for the remainder of the song. Now, the sun was high over the trees, and shining through the windows onto their faces and the keys. But this didn't stop him. He hummed the last few notes as his fingers glided over them and they remained for several सेकंड्स before he lifted them up.

"Work?"
"You never--"
"I meant you."
"Oh. Probably. After, I go change."
"Can I come?"
"Sorry, I'm off the clock."
"Rain check on that then."
"I'm free अगला week."
"Good."

They both got up from the पियानो and he walked her to the door. He began to escort her out. He held tight to the doorknob as she slipped on her shoes and jacket.

"Thanks for the stay. This was--fun."
"Relatively."

They both paused. She smiled slightly and he tilted his head to her left, gazing at her.

"What are आप thinking?"
"Whether या not I'm going to work."
"Seriously."
"I am द्वारा the way. Only because, I have a feeling आप might want to finish this a little later."

And he leaned in and lingered a किस on her lips. His lips pressed against hers for only a moment then he looked at her then opened the door, allowing her to finally leave.

"You're caring again."
"Only a little bit."
"Ah, you're deflecting too."
"Am not."

She walked out slightly entertained द्वारा his gesture as the song began to play again in her mind. The door closed slightly as she continued walking down the hall with the notes echoing in her mind.