Alas, I do not own Dr Greg House or Dr James Wilson.. But, oh boy if I did!!

House M.D. is the property of FOX...

I'd like to thank my friend, Wicce Moon, for her permission to use one of her fictional characters in my story. The character of Jesse is entirely her creation. I cannot take any credit for her. I'm not as witty as Jess.

Beware of foul language and free-flying sarcasm!

Part One: Courtship

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It had been a week since he had laid eyes on her and Greg House had not stopped thinking about that young twenty-something that had been poisoned by her own mother for being, of all things, a Wiccan. It was just so absurd. He glanced over at his bookshelf and smiled. The signed pick from Joe Strummer was set beautifully next to his stereo. The shiny box set off the stark whiteness of the pick. It really was the most valuable thing in his office. He was dragged back to reality by a knock on his office door. It was Wilson. He waved him in.

"You still meeting Lizzie this weekend?" asked James Wilson as he sat down in one of the chairs opposite House's desk.

House looked at his old friend and asked "Lizzie? Since when did you start calling her Lizzie?" House shook his head. "Since when do you call her at all?"

Wilson laughed. "Are you jealous, House? Of me? Look, I'm not the one who got a present." He motioned to the pick. "I just talked to her one evening and she started calling me."

House sighed. "I'm not jealous of you, Jimmy. I'm jealous at the attention." He was being honest. Wilson was floored.

"Ok, what did this girl do to you?" He stood up and reached forward and put the back of his hand on House's forehead, checking for fever. House swiped him away. "Just checking" he said. Grinning as he sat down.

"I don't know." House admitted. "It's like she's the daughter I never had. I feel... Paternal toward her." It was clear that House was unfamiliar with the feelings he was having. His thoughts went to the past. To Stacy and to the thoughts he had of starting a family with her. He pushed those thoughts out of his mind.

Wilson looked surprised. "Paternal?" he asked incredulously. "Are you ill?" He reached for House's forehead again, but House slapped his hand away. Wilson smiled. "And the Grinch's heart grew three sizes that day" he said with a laugh.

House gave him the finger. "F#k you." he said snidely. Wilson kept laughing. House turned his back on him.

Wilson stopped laughing. "You're serious, aren't you? You really feel fatherly toward Lizzie? Does she know?" House shook his head. Wilson's eyes grew wide. "No?!" He leaned back in his chair. "You have to tell her. She thinks the world of you, you know."

House whipped around, his face anxious. "She does?" he asked. "What did she say to you?"

Wilson held up his hands and laughed. "Slow down speedy. Don't get ahead of yourself. I talked with Lizzie on the phone a couple of nights last week. I haven't heard from her since Monday."

"How's she doing?" asked House. His blue eyes filled with genuine concern.

Wilson, still taken aback by House's behavior warily replied "She's well. She asked how you were doing. Apparently she's concerned that you were too wrapped up in her case. She wants to make sure you're able to "let it go" and go back to normal. Your normal."

House relaxed a bit and sighed. "And about her mom?"

"Her mother pleaded no contest and was sentenced to six years for conspiracy to commit murder and assault with intent to kill, and attempted murder. After she gets out, she's not allowed within three miles of where Lizzie lives. Lizzie seems relieved about it. It really was a quick thing. Lizzie said her mom didn't eve try to fight. She admitted it all and went away peacefully."

"Good." said House. "'Cause that woman was crazy with a capital C." Wilson grinned.

Standing up Wilson said "I gotta go. It was nice talking to you. If you see the real Greg House will you send him home, please."

As Wilson opened the door House shouted his farewell to him. "F#k you, James." Wilson smiled and laughed as he walked back toward his own office.

House sat in his chair thinking about Elizabeth. She was such a bright girl. Talented, yes, from what House has read from her file. Ahh, the file. It sat on the far cabinet out of view from everyone else. He read it every few days. It brought him an odd sense of joy. She liked sports and music. Piano in particular. She was a practicing Wiccan, which was a special note on her proxy form, he noticed. Another clue to the obsession was the fact that House knew what she looked like without having to look at her picture. He'd seen it enough times to know that Elizabeth had Brown hair and hazel eyes that bordered on grey. She was olive complected and had freckles on her nose.

With a heavier than usual sigh Greg House admitted to himself that maybe he was taking his interest in this girl a bit too far. But it was odd, even for him. He really didn't see Liz as anything but a little girl that he had a lot in common with. Truth be told, if he'd ever had a kid, it would more than likely be just like her. Snarky and gruff, just like him. A quit wit and a sharp tongue to match.

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Elizabeth was sitting up in her living room. The candles on her altar were lit and she was meditating in the flickering light. She was path working. She was interrupted by the sound of the telephone ringing from her bedroom. "Dammit!" she swore as she heaved herself of the floor and raced to her room to catch the phone before the machine picked up. "Hello?" she asked out of breath.

"I wasn't interrupting anything? Was I?" asked a familiar voice. She could hear it in his tone and if she concentrated hard enough she could see the stupid grin on his face.

"You're an ass. I was meditating in the living room. The phone is in my room. I had to run." As Liz caught her breath she asked "Are you aware of what time it is, or do doctors make a habit of not looking at the clock?"

James Wilson started laughing. "I know it's rather late but it wasn't like you were sleeping, now were you?"

Liz placed a hand on one hip. "Smart ass." she spat into the phone. She was met by more laughter.

"You still meeting House at that weird concert on Saturday?" he asked. His tone unchanged but there was an inflection of jealousy.

"Yes I am. We both happen to be Clash fans and I already sent him a ticket. Now... unless you'd rather go in my place..."

"No, thats quite alright." he interrupted her. "I was just curious, thats all."

"And If I weren't going?" She pressed him, baiting him for more information.

"If you were free this weekend I was thinking of maybe taking you to dinner." James said shyly over the phone. Liz was almost certain he was blushing.

"You know." she began. "The weekend is more than just one day. I happen to be free Friday night if you're free as well..." she trailed off.

"Yeah, sounds great." He was happy. More than happy he was ecstatic. "Um, what time would you like me to pick you up?"

Liz smiled broadly. "Hmm, you're picking me up? Is there a dress code for where we're going?"

"Just wear a dress. You have a dress right?"

Liz laughed. "I am a girl aren't I?"

She was met by laughter. "Is this a trick question?"

"Smart ass." She reached over and scribbled down on a piece of paper by her phone Friday night, dinner with James. She was about to write down the time when she realized she hadn't given him a time yet. "What time?" she asked herself. "How does eight sound?"

"Eight sounds fine. Perfect." She just knew he was grinning again. "Oh, by the way" he started. "Do you dance?"

"I do dance. How about that? Are we going dancing too?"

"Leave me one surprise, ok." was his response. Liz laughed.

"Alright alright. So, eight o-clock on Friday evening. Wear a dress and dancing shoes. Is that all?"

"Sounds about right." he said. His voice was mellow and soft in her ear. It soothed Elizabeth. She closed her eyes and listened to him talk. "I'll pick you up. You will be ready when I get there, right?"

"Yes, dear." she quipped.

"Okay then. I'll see you then."

"Alright. Until then." Liz was blushing. She could feel the blood filling her cheeks. She felt like fool but she didn't care.

"Ok. I'll, uh, let you get back to whatever it was you were doing before I called." James sounded like he really didn't want to hang up. To be honest, Liz didn't want to hang up either.

"Yeah, ok." she replied. She had so much to say but no words would come out.

"Goodnight then." he said on his end of the phone.

"Night" Liz returned, adding "Sweet dreams."

There was a pause before he answered with "Always. Bye."

"Bye." She hung the phone back on it's charger and sighed. What was it about him? What was it that made her get all flustery inside? It certainly wasn't his track record. Others had made sure she knew that he was working on his third divorce. Liz didn't care about that. Another sigh broke her free from where she had planted herself and she returned to the living room. Sitting back down on the floor she tried to relax herself and restart her path working. After about ten minutes of trying, Elizabeth gave up and decided to shower and get to bed.

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A/N: Review please and be kind, I'm a fragile creature.