House puts the ring back in the box and sets it on the table. Next he pulls out an old warn out name tag. The name DR. GREGORY HOUSE is written on the front, under a picture. House sits back on the couch.
FLASHBACK
House is sitting in, what is recognisable as Cuddy's office. He is sitting across from the desk, and in walks Lisa Cuddy. She walks in and stands next to him.
CUDDY: (Holds out her hand) Hello again Dr. House. (House shakes her hand).
HOUSE: Hello Dr. Cuddy.
Cuddy: (walks and sits down in her desk) I hear you're applying for our open Head of Diagnostic Medicine. Is that right?
HOUSE: Yup.
CUDDY: (Looks at him strangely) All you have to say is yup?
HOUSE: Yup.
CUDDY: (Shakes her head, looks down at file) Okay well I called your former boss and he said that you were a stupid selfish jerk who didn't care about doing things by the book.
HOUSE: (frowns)
CUDDY: But.. he said that you don't stop until you get an answer. That's just the type of person I'm looking for. You're hired, but on one condition.
HOUSE: What?
CUDDY: You can't let our past interfere with your job.
HOUSE: Not to worry. I'm totally over you.
CUDDY:(sighs) Well, good. Sign this and you start on monday.
HOUSE: (signs paper) Thank you very much Doctor Cuddy.
CUDDY: Thank you Dr. House.
House gets up and leaves, runs into Wilson in the clinic.
WILSON: How did your interview go?
HOUSE:Great, I got the job.
WILSON:(smiles) Congratulations! When do you start?
HOUSE: I start Monday.
WILSON: So, how did Cuddy react to seeing you again?
HOUSE: She seemed a bit excited, but she'll get over that.
WILSON: What do you mean?
HOUSE: She said that we couldn't let our past affect our jobs, and I told her that I was over her. She seemed a little upset by that.
WILSON: You know, eventually you guys will have to talk about what happened. You can't just ignore it forever.
HOUSE: Or maybe I can, and maybe if a certain somebody would stop bringing it up I could forget.
WILSON: Whatever, but one day you guys will have it out. Heck, maybe you will even get together again!
HOUSE: Yeah, I highly, highly doubt that. I couldn't put up with that again.
WILSON: I bet. Anyway, want to come by my place tonight? We can celebrate your new job.
HOUSE: Sure.
House then turns around to the sounds of heels running, it's Cuddy running towards them.
CUDDY: Dr. House! I forgot, we need your picture for your nametag. Can you come and do it now?
HOUSE: Sure why not. (House winks at Wilson)
House and Cuddy start walking to the elevator, Cuddy turns to him.
CUDDY: You know, eventually we are going to have to talk about what happened.
HOUSE:Or we can just ignore it, and funny thing is, Wilson just said the same thing.
CUDDY: I have not even seen you for 6 years, I honestly never thought I would again. We need to talk, now.
Both walk into the elevator.
HOUSE: FIne, you first.
CUDDY: The only reason I said no was because I thought we weren't ready, we had just graduated. I never meant to hurt you.
HOUSE: Well you did, but I'm over it. It doesn't change anything, apologies mean nothing.
The elevator dings and they are at the offices.
CUDDY: (to receptionist) We need a nametag for Dr. House.
RECEPTIONIST: Right this way Dr. House.(points right).
House turns to Cuddy and walks away, Cuddy follows.
RECEPTIONIST: Are you ready?
HOUSE: Yup.
Camera flashes and Cuddy comes up to receptionist.
CUDDY: I can take it from here.(receptionist walks away.)
Printer starts printing, Cuddy grabs the name tag, and snatches it from her hand.
HOUSE: Oh no. I need a redo.
CUDDY: (Smiling) Sorry, only one name tag per 3 years.
HOUSE: Well if I lose it by Monday, I'll be back.
MEMORY FADES
House still sitting on the couch, lets out a laugh. He sets the name tag on the table. He goes to the box, and pulls out a silver ponytail.
FLASHBACK
House is sitting in his office, in walks Cuddy, with her hair in a ponytail for once..
HOUSE:(looks up from file) Can I help you?(sarcastically)
CUDDY: I love you.
HOUSE: (pause) Okay?
CUDDY: (moves closer to House) I still love you. After all this time, all of the years of fighting, I realized that I love you. That night that you proposed I should have said yes, we could be happy right now, instead of alone.
HOUSE: I love you too.
CUDDY:( leans into House) I think we should kiss now.
HOUSE: Yeah, we should.
House and Cuddy kiss, Cuddy breaks it after 10 seconds.
CUDDY: But, we should keep it a secret for a while.
HOUSE: What? I can't even show you off?
CUDDY: Not quite yet. (Cuddy lets her hair down) Here,(hands him the hair tie), now you can remember me.
HOUSE:Smells like you.
CUDDY: You're so weird. (kisses House)
MEMORY FADES
A single tear falls from House's eye, He wipes it away and sets the hair tie on the table. He goes to the box and pulls out a small purple butterfly on a single chain.
FLASHBACK
House is walking into Cuddy's office. She is sitting in her desk.
HOUSE:(Pulls out a long black box) Happy 6 month secret anniversary Cuddles!
CUDDY: Aw, thank you!(She takes the box)
HOUSE: I hope you like it.
Cuddy opens the box, mouth drops
CUDDY: It's beautiful, thank you. Would you like to put it on for me?
HOUSE: Sure.(House moves to behind her desk, and puts it on her. He starts kissing her neck)
HOUSE: I love you.
CUDDY: I love you too.
SCENE FADES AWAY