Title: Hope's Promise

Original Author: PromiseMeTommorow

Version: Original. Huddy

Alternate Versions: Hilson and Hameron

Story's POV: Cuddy

Chapter: Prologue

Pairing: Huddy. House/Cuddy. For different pairings find my friends.

Chapter Quote: "Then he granted me a last sad morbid smile, turned, picked up his single box, and limped out of the office and out of my life."

Story Summary: His knees buckled and I ran and caught him. I felt tears run down my cheeks as we both stared disbelievingly at Hope's lifeless body. The irony of this situation hit me with full force, in dieing, House's daughter had managed to keep her promise…Hope's Promise.

Alternate Summary: When told House was leaving Cuddy kissed House. Some confessions were made and House ended up leaving Cuddy broken hearted. Five years on, Cuddy and Wilson meet him again in the place you'd least expect…

Word Count: 1,259

Beta Reader: mrsdave

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for my very ooc version of House and his daughter, Hope.

Hope's Promise

Prologue

Cuddy's POV

I walked through the doors of the hospital. It was a day like any other, except, it wasn't. Everything looked the same but there was obviously something different. What was it? I ran a hand through my dark raven colored hair, what was different? As I walked into the lobby I turned in circles, trying to decipher what was wrong. It was just a simple feeling. A feeling that there was something so much more than just wrong. As I walked while turning in circles, I bumped into something. Or rather someone. Wilson.

"Oops. I'm so sorry, Wilson-" I started but cut myself off abruptly at what I saw. Wilson's eyes were red rimmed and glassy. He was a mess. Wet streaks marked vertical lined down his flushed cheeks.

"I'm sorry. Oh, umm…Cuddy" He exclaimed. Obviously, it wasn't me who he was expecting. The sight of him astounded me. Wilson hardly ever cried. He only cried when he was extremely happy or extremely upset. His brown eyes set on mine. In them held disbelief. That's when I knew something was wrong.

"Wilson. What's wrong? What happened? Why are you crying? What's wrong?" I questioned feeling panic start to take over me. He just sighed and wiped away his tears impatiently. He caught my gaze for a moment and just froze. He sensed my panic. He sensed my fear. He closed his eyes and let out a breath he seemed to have been holding for quite some time. Then, he opened his eyes and inhaled. Looking at me, I now knew who had caused his tears. House.

That made me panic. That scared me. That scared me shitless. This wasn't about something House had said. This was about House in general. Something was wrong with House. I started to question him again but he just closed his eyes and shook his head. Then he pushed past me and ran down the hall. A couple of people stopped and looked at me for an explanation. I just stared after him for a couple of seconds and then started toward the stairs. I needed to find House.

I tore up the stairs and down the hall, almost running down House's floor. I started toward House's office, looking for the team. If something had happened to House, they had to know where he was. Expecting the team, I froze when I saw House in His office. His back was to me as he packed things into a box. That startled me. What was going on? I pushed open the door and House jumped, startled, and turned on his heels. I froze. Now I was more than scared. I was terrified.

House was worse then Wilson. He looked even more pale then usual and there were dark shadows under his eyes. More surprisingly, actually, more breath taxingly astounding was the fact that House was crying. His eyes red rimmed and glassy. The same look of absolute mind numbing terror was in his mind, but there was no disbelief, only…acceptance.

"What's going on?" I asked him. My voice cracked with the fear. He smiled sadly and said simply, "I'm leaving." I froze. Why would he be leaving? What was he leaving? Who was he leaving? Where was he going? Apparently, my luck gave me away. Her continued, " I cant tell you why. I'm leaving the hospital. And even though I hate to, I'm leaving you. I can't tell you where I'm going or when I'll be back. I can only tell you that I'm leaving and that its for the best. I can say from experience that I might be back within a year or two…or three or four. I don't want to. I have to." he said softly.

I felt tears run down my cheeks and felt absolute misery and terror seep into me. I took a breath and walked forward. Standing a foot in front of him, I realized that he really hated leaving. I realized that he really wanted to stay. He closed the gap between us and wrapped his arms around me. I didn't hesitate. I didn't question why he did it. I didn't question why he hugged me. I just wrapped my arms around his neck and burried my face in his shoulder. This wasn't a short goodbye. This was a final farewell. This was a last goodbye. He had basically said that he would probably never see me again.

We stayed like that for a long time. Finally, I lifted my head and met House's gaze. Looking into his eyes I realized what I felt for him was more than just friendship. I had fallen, head over heels, in love with him. If he was leaving, I needed to do one last thing before he left. So slowly and hesitantly, I leaned forward. He didn't move, he didn't push me away, he didn't freak out, or shove me away. I brushed my lips gently with his and he gasped. I expected him to push me away, but he didn't. He leaned forward, tightening his grip on me. I moaned softly and flicked my tongue over his bottom lip. He opens his mouth obligingly and presses me to him desperately, as tongues battle and dance.

I felt something incessantly tug in my chest and warm spread throughout my body. We broke and then crushed our lips together again and again and again. Finally we broke. Both of us gasping. His arms still around me, he leaned forward and merely kissed me on my forehead. Pulling away, he locked my eyes with his.

"I love you, Lisa. I always will. No matter what. You have to know that." his voice held sweet excitement, terror, and urgency. Wet trails that ran down his cheeks sparkled like diamonds in a way that I could not rightly describe with words. His electric blue eyes were drowned in misery and a tiredness that I never knew existed.

"I love you, Greg. I always have and I always will. No matter what happens. You must know that." I whispered with the same sweet urgency, excitement, and terror. He met my gaze earnestly. "Bye Lisa." he whispered hoarsely. And with that he leaned forward and brushed his lips with mine, very chastely and softly. Then he granted me a last sad morbid smile, turned, picked up his single box, and limped out of the office and out of my life.

My legs buckled and I dropped to the ground. I pressed my back against his desk and brought my knees to my chest. I wrapped my arms around the tops of them. I burried my head in my arms and lets sobs overtake me. I may never see the man I love ever again.

*There's my Prologue. Please tell me what you think. Reviews are love!

-Promise