AN: So yeah, everyone pretty much knows this isn't going to happen, because Micheal Weston is leaving abound episode ten, but I totally had a "what-if" moment when listening to this.

Thanks to HughLaurieLover and cassidyTVNut for the great ideas/suggestions - this story is decidated to them!

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do

To look you in the eye

And tell you I don't love you

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie

To show no emotion when you start to cry

-98 Degrees "The Hardest Thing"

House sat on his couch, a bowl of chips in his lap, and his feet up on the coffee table. Besides him, Cuddy was curled under a blanket, her head on his shoulder. They both looked content and relaxed, until Cuddy's cellphone buzzed from her jacket pocket. Getting up, she placed a gentle kiss on House's lips, before frowning at the caller ID and flipping open.

"Hey Lucas," she grimaced as his tone and turned towards House, a hurt look in her eyes, "No, I'm still at work, but I'll be home soon." House, taking this as his cue to allow Cuddy to leave. "Bye, love you." She clicked her phone shut quickly, and wrapped her arms around House's neck, pulling him into her arms.

"I guess that's your cue to leave," House kissed her lips gently, "I love you Lise." She nodded at him, grey eyes meeting blue, before she pulled away, jacket over her shoulder, and left the apartment quietly.

"Hey Lucas," Cuddy stepped into her living room, seeing him sprawled out on the couch, and she bent to give him a kiss on the cheek, "How was your day?"

"Good," he scooted over as she sank down besides him, "You?"

"Exhausting, House is being a jerk, as always."

"Ignore him Lisa. He's not different than the other department heads at the hospital," Lucas ran his fingers through her hair, "Why are you so particular when it comes to him?"

"Because," Cuddy sighed, "House is the one who is able to bring the hospital the most attention, we get the most grants for his department – if I don't listen to him, obey his every wish, then he could walk out on the hospital."

"And you'd rather be completely stressed over that, then possibly rick loosing him?"

"Yes," Cuddy responded quietly, thinking about House completely differently than Lucas posed him as, "I don't know what the hospital would do without him." She added quickly, thankful that he hadn't noticed her dreamy expression.

"You want to grab something to eat or do you want to make something?" Lucas asked, standing, hoping to change topic.

"I've actually got to head back to the hospital in about ten minutes, I just came home to grab something quick to eat." Cuddy lied, heading into the kitchen, "I should be home around eleven." She grabbed a microwavable lunch from the fridge, along with a bottle of water. Turning, Lucas' figure in the kitchen doorway made her freeze.

"Lisa, what about our plans for tonight?" He didn't try to sound hurt, but she knew that he was, "It's Friday, you said we could go see a movie tonight, and I told you that I was headed out tomorrow afternoon, so you can feel free to stay late at work."

"Rachel's sister can stay after five on weekends," Cuddy put the food into her briefcase, "Listen, I know we had plans, but if I don't finish up these reports by tonight, then the hospital is at risk." She kissed Lucas' cheek and hugged him loosely, "I'll get Rachel's dinner ready, I'd say you should -"

"I know how to make her dinner Lisa," Lucas retorted, his anger slipping through his mask, "Just go back to hospital if you feel that's where you need to be."

"What's with the attitude Lucas?" Cuddy set down her dinner, "If I don't get this finished, then I could loose my job. Everyone at the hospital could. Can't you understand that?"

"I can!" Lucas snapped, "But it seems like you're always leaving early for work, coming home late, or you have to go in and work late. When are you ever going to have time for me?"

"If I loose my job, then I'll have more time with you then I'd like right now." Cuddy sighed, her heels clicking as she made her way down the hall to Rachel's room, Lucas simply following her along. "I love you Lucas, I really do, and I love having time to spend with you. But right now, my job is important too, and I need to go do it." She kissed Rachel's forehead, seeing her asleep in the crib and straightened up. "Love you," she kissed Lucas' lips quickly and hurried down the hall, grabbing her briefcase and lunch on the way out.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever had to do

To turn around and walk away

Pretending I don't love you

"Trouble in paradise?" House came into her office at ten-thirty, and Cuddy sighed, her opened, but untouched dinner next to her. He sat on the edge of her desk, keeping his distance as if he expected Lucas to walk in any moment.

"I guess," Cuddy closed the lid on the Tupperware her dinner was in and dropped it into her briefcase. "Look, House, we need to talk."

"'House'? I don't like the sound of this." He stopped short, "Lucas didn't figure it out did he?"

"No, but I was doing some thinking on the way back over here," Cuddy leaned back in her chair, "We can't go on like this, me sneaking over to your place for an hour after work, all our moments together – Lucas is going to figure it out soon."

"Are you breaking up with me Lise?" House asked, not wanting to hear anymore of it.

"Yes," Cuddy stood and reseated herself on the desk behind House, "Listen, I love you more than anything, but I can't … we can't … not now."

"Then why not end it with Lucas?" House felt jealously burn in his throat, "Why are you doing this to me Lisa? I tried so hard to prove to you that we could have something, and you're still choosing him over me."

"For now," Cuddy stopped his rant, "Maybe in a month or two, we'll break up. But right now, I need to stay with Lucas, I can't afford to have him madder at me than he already is."

"You're going to regret this Lisa, trust me, you will." House stood, turning on his heel, slamming the office door loudly behind him.

AN: Let me know what you think! A shorter, happier part two is coming soon!

KM Wilson