AN: Okay, going to try and keep two stories going at once – Blue Stones and this.

Summary: A bookstore was where it all began, from there, it lead to much more. He was her friend, confidante and love of her life. Gregory House was her everything, and she was his. It started out playful and unexpected, but there's one thing that can change everything. The island.

Chapter One

Soft rock and roll played from the speakers and the radio station changed as the dial was twisted. It switched from Bob Dylan, to Madonna then to Ian and Sylvia before returning to Bob Dylan. The guy fiddling with the dials had he feet up on the counter and was filling through a textbook, throwing random medical terms at his friend.

"Do you mind?" A brunette with gray eyes stepped up to the counter, "Could you pick one station and stay on it?"

"Why?" The guy with his feet up looked at her.

"Because I asked you to," The girl glanced at his name tag, "Gregory."

"Oh, tricky, using the 'I know your first name' approach." He laughed, "And you are?"

"Lisa Cuddy," she stretched out her hand, "I'm not sure if it's nice to meet you yet though."

"Greg House," He took her hand, "Trust me, you won't be forgetting it, you'll remember it the minute you see me."

"Oh I'm sure it will," Cuddy rolled her eyes.

"Sorry, he can be a bit of a jerk sometime," the guy next to Greg stuck out his hand, "I'm James Wilson."

"Hi James," Cuddy shook his hand, "Do you happen to have the course books here?"

"What?" House sat up, grabbing the syllabus from Cuddy's hand, "You're a med student? You look younger." He stood, "Follow me."

"Gosh House," Wilson rolled his eyes at House headed towards the textbooks.

"Don't worry," Cuddy rolled her eyes at Wilson, "I won't die."

"Very funny." House turned, seeing Cuddy standing at the counter still, "Come on Cuddy." He grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the back of the store.

"Here?" Cuddy glanced at the staircase leading towards the second floor.

"Yup, every textbook known to mankind." House let her go first, his gaze darting between Cuddy's feet and hips.

"Really?" Cuddy glanced back at him, "Every textbook?"

"All the important ones," House caught her slightly, his hand on her back as she wobbled slightly. "Careful, won't want your pretty self to fall now would you?"

"Gee, thanks Greg." Cuddy hopped onto the top stairs and turned back, looking at House.

"Call me House," he glanced at her syllabus, "Most people do."

"Okay," Cuddy stopped as House disappeared down various aisles, returning with a different book each time.

"So, this your first year in Michigan?" House asked, trying to act casual.

"Yeah," Cuddy shifted on her feet, "I'm an undergrad, grew up in the Boston area."

"You're an undergrad?" House dropped a third book on a table and looked at her, "Don't look like it."

"Um, thanks?" Cuddy went to pick up one of the books on the pile. "Do you want me to bring these down?"

"Nah," House went to the stairs, "Hey Wilson," he hollered down, "Come and grab these books, I'm gonna show Cuddy around."

"Around where?" Cuddy asked, "Because they've got a seminar for incoming undergrads in an hour."

"Oh God, that thing?" House faked a yawn, "Boring, I can show you around Ann Arbor faster than those doozys could."

"Stop flirting with Lisa," Wilson appeared around the bookshelves, looking at them. "Go find someone your own age, oh, and I'm not your slave - you bring the books down."

"Fine Jimmy," House tucked two books under one arm and handed the other to Cuddy, "Here's the lightest one, three is too much for me."

"Weak," Cuddy followed House down the steps, then Wilson following the two of them.

"Got them," House dropped the books on the counter and tugged the third one out of Cuddy's grasp, "Anything else?"

"Nope," Cuddy glanced over at clock on the counter, "Just the books."

"Okay, I've got them then I'm heading out early Jimmy - the band is getting together later." House rang up the books and glanced up at Cuddy, "Two seventy-five; really, you've got that?"

"My folks both work at Simmons College, dad's the dean there and mom's a Social Science major."

"I see," House picked up two of Cuddy's textbooks, "I'll walk you back to your dorm if you want."

"Why? I think I can manage three textbooks at once." Cuddy picked up the last textbook, "Besides, don't you have to work?"

"Wilson does," House grabbed a blue backpack from behind the counter, "I take off Friday afternoons."

"Oh, okay," Cuddy headed towards the door, House following her, "Where exactly on campus are you headed?"

"Mess hall, I was going to grab a late lunch first." Cuddy shifted her books slightly.

"You don't need their food, it's pure crap – except their burgers." House shrugged, "I'll take you somewhere."

"Are you sure?" Cuddy asked, "I'm fine with the college food."

"You won't be once you're vomiting it up all over your dorm later," House steered Cuddy away from the bookstore, "Happened to nearly everyone on my floor at least once."

"Oh," Cuddy made a face, "Whatever you pick then, I'm not too picky."

"Then I'll show you some good places," House glanced at his watch, "I don't actually have practice until four, but everyone needs a break." He led her down the streets, pointing out various buildings and stores as they went.

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