Past in Present: Chapter 3
His leg was more sore than usual upon waking up that morning. The snowstorm had caused major outages throughout the eastern seaboard and unfortunately the heat in his place was a casualty. Putting on his extra thick blue robe and grabbing his plaid throw blanket, House made his way to the kitchen to find anything possible to eat. He knew that much of the food wouldn't be salvaged due to the outage but he had a few granola bars left in the cupboard that he could munch on until Wilson got there. He had called the man the night before, requesting his company at Mickie's Pancake House.
As House sat at his sofa eating the bar, he couldn't help but remember the way Cuddy would eat the health bars every morning before her cup of coffee. He would always tell her that a real breakfast consisted of meat and potatoes, but she insisted on that pesky vegan diet. He pretended that he hated the granola concoction, but he actually came to really like the treats. Even after the relationship was long over he kept up the habit of eating the nutritious breakfast snacks. House shivered a bit and pulled the blanket closer.Feeling the cold seep into his achy leg, House wondered how Cuddy could choose to live in a blizzard zone like Denver. He had discovered her location a year ago. Unlike his usual behavior, House actually did remain willfully ignorant of Cuddy's new place of residence. But within the last year he found that his desire to at least know where she was if not how she was, could no longer be ignored.
His interest in Cuddy was rekindled due in part to a disastrous romance he had a few months prior. After a couple of years of playing the field and seeking women of the night, House had begun a relationship with a new neighbor in his building. Her name was Kay, and she seemed liked a good idea. She was in her mid-thirties, smart, fun, and willing to play his games. Everything seemed perfect until she began to become overly possessive and very territorial. Ironically, she didn't like Wilson being apart of House's life. He remembered laughing at the absurdity of such a statement. She had all kinds of ideas of who House could be and what they would be as a couple but none of those visions were possible. The fun and sexy romance turned into one big endless argument and after nine months neither wanted to partake any longer.
It was around the time that they broke up when House decided to track down Cuddy. He debated about it for a few weeks, but in the end he chose to go forward. Hiring a new private investigator, it was only a week before he knew her address and phone number. However, he didn't need the details of her personal life; he had already learned all of that from a drunk Wilson a few months prior. Wilson felt horrible about spilling the beans over Cuddy's impending divorce and the adultery done by her pansy husband. House honestly felt relieved to know that she wasn't fairing any better than him. Granted, Cuddy had been married for four years and had seemed happy enough during that time but it still ended the same way: in the gutter. He felt bad for her, but also a bit jealous that she had found something good for at least a small amount of time. He knew he hadn't really been happy with Kay. He had been excited, aroused,distracted, but not truly happy. So, when he discovered that Cuddy was no longer a Mrs. he knew that his last chance for some kind of forgiveness(redemption) or even a fleeting moment of affection was at hand. He didn't know what he was hoping for because he knew that she had no obligation to give him another chance. He didn't even think he was worthy of anymore mulligans. But he missed her and Rachel. He was still a selfish bastard in some regards. Although he knew it would be better to never come near her again, he just didn't have the will to stay away. Five years had been long enough.
As House sat at his sofa eating the bar, he couldn't help but remember the way Cuddy would eat the health bars every morning before her cup of coffee. He would always tell her that a real breakfast consisted of meat and potatoes, but she insisted on that pesky vegan diet. He pretended that he hated the granola concoction, but he actually came to really like the treats. Even after the relationship was long over he kept up the habit of eating the nutritious breakfast snacks. House shivered a bit and pulled the blanket closer.Feeling the cold seep into his achy leg, House wondered how Cuddy could choose to live in a blizzard zone like Denver. He had discovered her location a year ago. Unlike his usual behavior, House actually did remain willfully ignorant of Cuddy's new place of residence. But within the last year he found that his desire to at least know where she was if not how she was, could no longer be ignored.
His interest in Cuddy was rekindled due in part to a disastrous romance he had a few months prior. After a couple of years of playing the field and seeking women of the night, House had begun a relationship with a new neighbor in his building. Her name was Kay, and she seemed liked a good idea. She was in her mid-thirties, smart, fun, and willing to play his games. Everything seemed perfect until she began to become overly possessive and very territorial. Ironically, she didn't like Wilson being apart of House's life. He remembered laughing at the absurdity of such a statement. She had all kinds of ideas of who House could be and what they would be as a couple but none of those visions were possible. The fun and sexy romance turned into one big endless argument and after nine months neither wanted to partake any longer.
It was around the time that they broke up when House decided to track down Cuddy. He debated about it for a few weeks, but in the end he chose to go forward. Hiring a new private investigator, it was only a week before he knew her address and phone number. However, he didn't need the details of her personal life; he had already learned all of that from a drunk Wilson a few months prior. Wilson felt horrible about spilling the beans over Cuddy's impending divorce and the adultery done by her pansy husband. House honestly felt relieved to know that she wasn't fairing any better than him. Granted, Cuddy had been married for four years and had seemed happy enough during that time but it still ended the same way: in the gutter. He felt bad for her, but also a bit jealous that she had found something good for at least a small amount of time. He knew he hadn't really been happy with Kay. He had been excited, aroused,distracted, but not truly happy. So, when he discovered that Cuddy was no longer a Mrs. he knew that his last chance for some kind of forgiveness(redemption) or even a fleeting moment of affection was at hand. He didn't know what he was hoping for because he knew that she had no obligation to give him another chance. He didn't even think he was worthy of anymore mulligans. But he missed her and Rachel. He was still a selfish bastard in some regards. Although he knew it would be better to never come near her again, he just didn't have the will to stay away. Five years had been long enough.