[It's his peace of mind he's concerned about tonight, not hers. This is one curse where he hasn't made contact because, though he guesses sending the usual text warning could have been fair enough, adding and stay away from House might not have seemed like selfless concern.

And he's not just walking her to ward off other suitors. He likes walking with her, likes being allowed, considering there have been plenty of times in the city - some all too recent - when she'd have backed him off without a moment's thought for how it sounded. There have been too many people to avoid recently, it's tiring and it's unseasonal. Chase likes Christmas, for all that he's let it pass uncelebrated in his own home over the last decade or more. Yes, he can point out all the places where its message of enforced benevolence falls down, it's an easy target to tear apart, so he doesn't. Even if it's just a commercialised excuse for a party and a smile... sometimes it's an excuse people need.]

You should see my hallway, it looks like Santa's Workshop had a storage problem. I think I like this more.

[He stops long enough for her to catch up with him, turning his head toward the strung lights and greenery around the edges of the square.]

It is pretty.