Disclaimer: I do not House

A/N: Well this is super short so I must apologize but i wrote this RIGHT after finishing another chapter last night and I didn't realize it was done (and some how mistake free) until I read over the last paragraph this morning. Thank you again to even who reviewed and I'm sorry if this is going down hill still, Cuddy ticked me off in the last episode so I kinda wanna torture her a lil in this story xD haha don't worry though, as our awesome lead actress, Lisa Edelstien, has said House and Cuddy [Are the true lovers] and don't you forget it!!!! Well I hope you all like this little Angst chapter

Cuddy had avoided Wilson for the next three days until she had finally came up with her decision. She bit her lip as she stared at the two picture frames on her desk. One was the Polaroid of her and House while the other was a picture of her family with Lucas. She shakily grabbed one, closed her eyes and let a single tear drop as she put it face down on her desk, deciding to put that part of her life in the past. She felt more tears fall down her cheeks as she realized what she was doing could be the biggest mistake of her life and it finally dawned on her that once she made this life changing choice that she would never be able to go back on it until the consequences were made clear and unchangeable.

Her doors opened and she quickly wiped what few tears escaped and looked up to see her friend Wilson looking like his normal, kind self. "Hey Cuddy, what's up?" He asked as he closed the door with a file in his hand and sat in front of Cuddy's desk.

She took a few deep breaths before she gained the strength to tell him her decision. "I chose Lucas," She said shakily as she scanned her friend for any show of emotion. She saw him simply smile and nod his head.

"Okay," He said simply. "I was actually talking about the budget reports but that's also good to know."

"Okay? That's all? You gave me a lecture and I give you the answer you obviously don't want and you give me an okay?" She questioned suspiciously.

"Cuddy, I may not completely agree with your choice but I can't control you." Wilson told her understandingly. "Not even House believed you'd even consider him, but knowing you at least took a day to think of him made him feel a little better." This statement made Cuddy look up at Wilson perplexed and bit her lip to stop herself from crying, even in a little joy. "I told him about our conversation. He didn't really leave until about two days go." Wilson saw Cuddy's brows furrow partly in anger. "He said he didn't think you'd choose him and said he appreciates that you at least thought of him for a second." Wilson went on. "He also convinced me to just be happy for you and Lucas because obviously Lucas makes you happy and as your friends both he and I are happy for you."

Cuddy thinned her lips at the thought of House being unselfish and letting her be happy. She knew the consequences wouldn't wait to come. She regretted her choice already, but she reminded herself that Lucas was a wonderful man and would be an even more wonderful father and husband. Her feelings for House would slowly fade away she continued to assure herself. This was only temporary, like a break up it hurts but the pain slowly goes away as time heals all wounds. She was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard Wilson snap his fingers.

"I almost forgot," Wilson stood up and left the room for a moment. He returned after a few minutes and Cuddy had been waiting anxiously while silently hoping that it was something to help her get through the, hopefully, short period of hurt. "House told me to give this to you," He gave her a small leather box she had never seen before. "And ask you if you wanted this before I threw it away. I don't know why, but he said he couldn't really keep these."

Cuddy put the leather box down for a moment, afraid of what might be in it, and searched the containments of the box. She was shocked to find pictures, letters, memories and everything that had to do with Michigan and their passed. She saw things she didn't even recognize and then saw some sheet music. She read the title of the composition 'Cuddy's Serenade' and she bit her lip once more trying not to care. Why was House torturing her with all these? She shakily reached for the box afraid of what might have been in there. She opened it slowly and saw a necklace she had been missing for the passed 20 years. It was a necklace her grandmother had given her before she died and tears began to pass through her eyes. She took out a small note attached to it the inside of the box and hesitated before she read the letter.

Dear Cuddy,

Sorry I didn't give this back to you a few years ago. I was looking through that box of stuff and found it. Thought you'd like it back after 20 years. You left it at the party and I got it before someone could pass it off as theirs. Well just take it as an early Wedding Present. It's washed, polished and good as new. Live, love and be happy.

Yours truly,
Gregory House

Cuddy looked at the necklace with happiness as tears of joy escaped. It really did look brand new. The chair looked shinier than it did the first time she got it and the small jewels looked as if they had been replaced with much more beautiful and expensive ones. She could even read the engraving on the back that she had struggled for the few years to read. It said 'Live, love and be happy' like the end of House's letter. A single tear fell from her cheek and Cuddy could no longer tell if it was from regret or happiness.

"So do you want this box or am I just going to send it to the dumpster or charity?" Wilson asked which pulled her out of her trance. He knew what her answer would be but decided to ask in case she couldn't take it.

"No, its fine I'll take it," Cuddy said acting as thought it were a favor and not something she desperately wanted to do. "Thank you." She told him as she continued to search through the things.

Wilson got up and nodded and knew that it wasn't the right time to talk about work. He left her alone to look and reminisce the old days. He quietly shut the door, not to attract any attention away from Cuddy's activity and went to his office.

Cuddy looked through the photos and found several she didn't recognize let alone knew it was being taken. She flipped through them and laughed and smiled and even shed a tear or two at the memory. She turned to one particular picture and suddenly froze. It was a picture of her and House at a party dancing together. The event that had led to their one night stand, her eyes was closed and her head was rested peacefully on his shoulder. His arms were wrapped possessively around her waist and she hadn't noticed because of her eyes being closed, but House was staring at her while they danced and she could see the love and admiration that glowed from his eyes. There was a faint, but loving smile. She wanted to commit this one photo to memory before she had to bury it away with the rest of her memories with House.

She slowly turned to the next photo and it was the same party. She looked ahead and saw there were at least 5 photos from the dance. The second one had been House glaring at the camera man for taking the photo but he hadn't stopped dancing with her. He wanted that moment to end as much as she did.

She turned to the next one and saw House's eyes closed as he buried his face in her hair and danced with her lovingly. The peace and serene in his face pulled her heartstrings and she felt a glimmer of sadness.

She then turned to the next photo and saw was just House without her – probably before she even arrived at the party or before they met up – and he was staring down the hall at someone. His eyes glimmered and there was a small twinkle that the camera had successfully shot. She looked at the background and realized that was where she had 'bumped' into House and then she looked at the time at the clock in the background. It was just the time she came into the party. She wished to herself she had seen this picture sooner.

She regretfully turned to the last picture from the party and saw that it was of her and House as they shared their fateful kiss one the dance floor. That was it. That was the last she could take and the tears that welled up in her eyes began to cascade down her face once more. She closed her eyes as she remembered the kiss. It was warm and loving and soft and sweet. She had wished it to never end but was happy where it had led to. When she heard rumors that he had been expelled the very next day she had been so upset but decided to try to move on, though it was pretty hard.

She put the pictures back in the box and decided she couldn't look at anything else that day. She hid the box under her desk as she suddenly couldn't lock it away. Cuddy held her hand over her mouth as she began to silently sob realizing that House was probably trying to torture her. When she knew House would surely get her back for hurting him so badly she didn't think he'd go this far. But why should she blame him? It could have been all an innocent mistake. He couldn't live with the past, with any memory of her and wanted them to go away. He knew she'd never get rid of them like Wilson offered. It was too hard for her to give away such sweet but short memories.

A/N: There it is, ik I kinda skipped the thinking process but it wouldn't have really taken that long, like I stated in the last chapter in Wilson's speech Cuddy already has her mind set and she is as stubborn a a mule... (no offense to mules) LOL I hope you all still like it and are reading. Your reviews are encouraging and if you have any suggestions on how to make it sadder tell me because for now there is nothing back dooown hiiill.

-Jessica