So it's going on 7:30 in the morning and I'm still wide awake. Woke up at 5:30 and couldn't get back to sleep, so I worked on this story instead with an attempt to complete a chapter, coming to realize that right when I started to type, I remembered before I woke up, I had a dream about this story! Which is odd, because I never dream about my stories LoL. That is just how bad I'm addicted to this story!

I do apologize for the way House behaved in the past chapter. I didn't realize he was being so terribly obnoxious until I reread it. I wanted to smack him senseless! I guess I got carried away.

One last thing. When anyone's reading this story, do you notice that at the bottom, the ads display Royal Caribbean cruise information, as well as the ads in my profile page? Not all the time, but sometimes. I found that quite amusing when I saw it.

Thanks for the reviews for the past chapter! You guys are awesome :D

Enjoy :)

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House whistled when Cuddy came out in a black bikini and wrap. "Wow. You make Little Greg happy."

Cuddy chuckled. "I'll take that as a compliment."

House looked surprised. "That's it? You're not going to arraign me for saying that? Hit me?"

"Nope." Cuddy grabbed a blue and white Royal Caribbean signature towel from the closet.

"Why not?"

"Because I've come to the conclusion that that's what you want me to do. You like seeing me angry. I'm not going to be angry on this cruise, House. I'm thrilled to be here, despite you trying so hard to ruin it. Which I don't understand why you would bring me on this cruise just to make me miserable."

House snapped his fingers in defeat. "Oh, you got me there. Truth is, Cuddy, you're the only woman in my life. I had no choice but to invite you."

She slipped her black basic Old Navy flip-flops on. "I wasn't aware I was in your life, House."

"Well, as you said, for better or for worse, we are in each other's lives."

Cuddy chortled through her nose. "Yes, and it's usually for worse. Before we go, I want to take pictures off the balcony before the port gets too far away."

Right before Cuddy went in to get changed, she felt a tiny tremor beneath her feet, signaling they were setting sail.

"You won't be able to see the port. I think we changed direction."

Cuddy shrugged and took out her camera anyway. House's eyes followed her all the way to the balcony, as if he had never seen a woman in a bikini before. Cuddy noticed, but didn't say anything. Guess it didn't hurt if he just looked…

She opened the slider door and stepped out. Since they were on the 8th deck, which was the highest deck that held staterooms, they were fairly high above the water. The motion seemed to hit Cuddy the worst out there as she saw the water moving below them.

She ignored the funny feeling stirring in her stomach and took pictures. She tried to get the port, but they were too far away now. Birds and the crashing of the waves against the boat could be heard, as well as people laughing. Cuddy turned her head to face the wind, tucking her hair behind her ear. She took a few more pictures of the ocean, up close, and on the horizon, marveling at how beautiful the water was. On every letterhead, and welcome booklet, the motto for the Royal Caribbean cruises was—'you'll find water in every shade of blue.' Cuddy anxiously awaited the turquoise blue waters that she's only seen in pictures. It was going to be nice to see them in person.

House never came out. Cuddy just now noticed it. She stepped back inside, eyes hurting a bit from the bright sun.

"Why didn't you come out?"

"I hate heights."

Cuddy wasn't sure why, but she found that to be the most adorable thing she's ever heard about him. Her face softened. "I didn't know that. But look at it this way, if you fall overboard, at least you'll hit water and not land."

House brought his brows together at that odd joke. Cuddy apologized.

"Your phone rang when you were outside. No, I didn't answer it or look to see who it was," he defended, expecting to be yelled at for it.

"Probably the hospital," she said and went to fetch her purse on the living room sofa.

"Why would they be calling you? I thought hotshot idiot Luner was taking over for the week."

"He is."

"So why is he calling you?"

Cuddy checked the caller ID. "He's not, House, it's your team."

"Oooh, I was wondering why your phone rang right after mine. Don't talk to them. You're on vacation."

"Doctors are on call at all times," she reminded, returning the call. "You know that."

"Well let's just hope they don't ask us to come in, because unless I can sprout wings and fly off that balcony, it'll be hard."

She shot him a look, waiting for the line to be picked up. She put it on speaker so House could hear also.

"Hello?" Foreman answered.

"It's me," Cuddy said, putting on her classic administrator voice.

"Is House there?"

Cuddy glanced over to him, who in turn shook his head and mouthed 'no' very strongly.

"Yes, he is," Cuddy said with a smirk. "What's up?"

"Luner gave us a patient with a high fever of 101, complaining of severe headaches, muscle and abdominal pain, exhaustion, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea."

House pouted. "Foreman, I'm on vacation! Go ask that moron Luner for help if he was so anxious to give you the case."

Cuddy covered the speaking end of her phone with her hand. "House, you're doing this."

"Whatever happened to going to the steam room?" he whined.

She grinned. "Looks like I'm going alone."

"Oh no you're not. Foreman, it's Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Run tests and don't call us, we'll call you."

"House, we've already ran tests and it's not Ebola. And the patient's not bleeding out of every opening."

House rolled his eyes, appearing to be interested in anything but the case. "Did you test with the patient's saliva and urine samples?"

"Yes. We wouldn't have called you if we didn't test for it already. If it was Ebola, there would be internal and external bleeding."

House tucked out his lower lip in pout when Cuddy handed him off the phone and walked towards the door, grabbing her towel on the way out. Stupid work.

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Thank god for that phone call. Cuddy found the steam room on deck 9, a hop up the stairs from where their stateroom was, but located at the way other end of the ship, taking her a little while to get there. The steam room was currently empty, so she took advantage of that. The steam room was clouded like fog and smelt as sweet as the ocean. She sat in the corner of the white and green tiled room and brought her legs up, stretching them across the bench. It was so quiet in there. She didn't hear a thing, except for a light whirling of a fan coming from inside the room somewhere. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She was very exited about the yoga program that was here and the rest of the exercise equipment listed in the welcome book. A vacation for Cuddy wasn't just about relaxing; it was about getting up and doing the things she can't do on a daily basis because of work. Whereas House decided he was going to pig out all week and play the piano, Cuddy would be doing the opposite. It's just as well. She didn't want to spend all week with him anyway.

She sighed and relaxed her shoulders. She could hardly wait to get a massage and possibly take a mud bath. As soon as her mind came across a mud bath, she chuckled briefly. House would love to see that, especially if there were two women in the same bath.

Just then, the door opened and laughing two women came in. Both of them were young blondes with the best looking golden tan that Cuddy had ever seen. They showed it off nicely by wearing a bikini similar to hers.

"Hi," one of them said in a cheery southern accent, sitting down on the opposite side.

Cuddy greeted them back, half disappointed that her thoughts were now interrupted by teenage girls.

"I'm Maddie, and this is my sister Adrianna. We're from Texas."

"I guessed that," Cuddy said, smiling to be polite.

"Where are you from?"

"New Jersey."

"Oh. The sun must be nonexistent there this time of year. Or do you normally have pale skin?"

Cuddy's smile somewhat disappeared.

"What's your name?" Maddie asked before Cuddy could talk back.

"Lisa," Cuddy said, feeling a bit uncomfortable with this conversation.

Both of them looked surprised and grinned at each other, followed by a giggle. "That is so cool. Our grandmother's name is Lisa."

"Yes, I hear it was popular back then," Cuddy mumbled, wishing these girls would go away.

"Are you married?" Adrianna asked.

Now it was time for a frown. Who were these girls? It's like House hired them to butter her up for questions that she would never give him the answers to directly.

"No, she's not. If she was, her husband would be in here with her. Are you here alone on this trip? What do you do for a living?"

"Are you girls always this rude?" Cuddy couldn't help but ask.

Both of them shrugged simultaneously. "No. We're just curious. We don't see a ring on your finger."

"Do you care?"

They shook their heads. "No, not really," Adrianna said.

"Then I really don't care to answer you."

The girls chuckled and got up to leave. Cuddy was glad that happened. The nerve of those girls. She'd rather be in here with House. Hopefully she wouldn't have to see them again.

She closed her eyes for about five minutes and then when her mind went to thinking what she would have for dinner, the door opened again. Cuddy groaned inwardly, hoping it wasn't those girls or anyone else like them.

"Good afternoon," a middle-aged man politely said, sitting down where the girls were. He had a blue and white towel wrapped around his waist, identical to hers. He leaned back and sighed after Cuddy greeted him back.

At least this man seemed pleasant enough. He wasn't bad looking either. He had salt and pepper hair and a very young looking complexion, despite his age.

"How are you liking the ship?" he asked.

Cuddy smiled. He didn't sound like a jerk so far. "It's beautiful. I've never been on something like this before," she said, speaking the truth.

"Thank you," he said. "She's some of my best work."

Cuddy's mouth fell open. That's not something she expected to hear. "You built the ship?"
He laughed quietly. "Not literally with hammers and nails, no. I designed the Vision Family line, which is one of six Royal Caribbean cruise fleets. I envisioned this steam room so perfectly that I knew if I built a bench in the far right corner, one day a beautiful raven-haired woman would be sitting on it, capturing my attention."

Cuddy felt her cheeks redden. She didn't know what to say to that. She lowered her head in embarrassment, not losing her smile. She felt like a schoolgirl again, being told by the hottest boy in school that he liked her. It's not often she gets compliments like that, which is surprising.

"The name's Bryce Holden, but you can call me Bryce, Mr. Holden, Holden, whatever does it for you." He scooted over and offered her his hand and a kind smile that Cuddy would learn to trust all too well.

"Lisa," she said, politely shaking it.

"Just Lisa? Like Cher?"

"Lisa Cuddy," she said, immediately flattered by this man's charm, warm tone, and gestures.

"So, Lisa Cuddy, what brings you on my ship, besides Fate that drew you to meet me?"

Cuddy chuckled. "One of my employees won tickets last month and he invited me to come along."

"I've got to remember to thank him someday."

"I bet you say that to all the women you meet in the steam room."

He shook his head. "Nope. In fact, despite my charm and stunning good looks, I don't attract many women," he joked.

Normally Cuddy would be thrown off by this sort of brazen attitude, even if it was a joke. She didn't like when guys flaunted themselves, thinking they were god's gift to women with an ego bigger than House's, but Bryce wasn't like that. He was a man with a very good sense of humor, the kind where once he steps into a room, all the heavy air would be lifted out. He was laid back enough to have a good time, but serious enough to get done what needed to get done. Not to mention that his smile was extraordinarily captivating. Cuddy had to throw that in there. He definitely charmed her.

"That's a lie," Cuddy said.

He shook his head. "I kid you not. I've never been married or so much has had a date because I'm always so busy with walking around the ship, noticing little things that need fixing. Women don't like the workaholic types and just brush by me. Unless they're gold diggers, in which case I politely excuse myself and walk the other way. But something told me to come into the steam room as soon as we set sail. I'm glad I did." He paused to exchange smiles with Cuddy. "Tell me about yourself. Are you married? If you are, I dearly apologize, I wasn't flirting, I promise, I was just trying to be nice."

Cuddy laughed. "No, I'm not married. If I was, my husband wouldn't let me go on a cruise with my employee."

"You say employee. Do you own your own business?"

"I'm a hospital administrator and Dean of Medicine," she said.

His emerald green eyes widened. "Really? Wow, I would never have guessed. I thought that job was only reserved for overweight men with no social lives?"

"Yes, well, I was very lucky."

"You must be very intelligent. I always did enjoy the company of gifted woman."

If Cuddy's cheeks got any hotter, burn marks would start appearing. She didn't know what to do with all this flattering other than grin like an idiot and thank him. He was flirting with her and she was blowing it by acting shy. Luckily, that didn't discourage him.

"So the employee you came with, what does he do?"

"He's the head of Diagnostic Medicine and a real pain in the ass."

Bryce laughed. "Really? I got a few of those on my payroll as well. I think everyone does."

They talked for what seemed like minutes, but what was actually a half hour. A few passengers came in and out of the steam room in that time, but Bryce hardly noticed them, even though one was an attractive woman. He remained focused on Cuddy and Cuddy only. They enjoyed one another's company and she became a bit more open and less shy around him. He made her smile. That's really all it took. Cuddy wasn't picky. She didn't need someone with a high-level job like a master designer who designs cruise ships for a living. As long as he had a good sense of humor, he would capture her attention. Bryce was funny, honest, and sweet. And that smile…oh god that smile…And those shimmering eyes…

"I think I should be getting out of here. I'm melting like a snow cone in Phoenix," he joked, wiping off some sweat with his towel.

"Yeah, me too. I'm sure House is unsure what to do with himself at this point now that I've been gone this long."

"That House keeps you on a short leash, doesn't he?"

"Too short," Cuddy replied, coming to a stand.

"I'd like to see you again. That is, if he lets you out of his sight."

She grinned from ear to ear. "I think we can arrange that."

"Good. How about dinner tomorrow night in the Romeo and Juliet dining room at 6:00?"

Cuddy nodded without even thinking, or thinking about what House would say about this. "Okay."

"Great." He took her hand in his, but didn't shake it. He just held it with the both of his. "Just tell the host you're looking for me and he'll escort you to my table."

Cuddy nodded once more, feeling weak at the knees. Oh wow did she get lucky or what? Bryce Holden was a complete god. Feeling giggly and happy inside, she left the steam room and headed back to the royal suite, where she presumed she would find House sitting on the couch with some meal he ordered or playing the piano. But she didn't let herself think about that. She thought about Bryce. His smile wouldn't leave her mind. He knew just how to capture a woman's attention. Cuddy fell for him at a mere hello.

And now she was going to have dinner with him tomorrow night. Good thing House decided to stay in the suite all vacation. She would be able to see Bryce without him getting in the way.

She couldn't wait!

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So I've decided not to go with the captain. I figured the master designer would be more of a Cuddy thing and more of a reason to make House jealous. You pretty much can't get any higher up the food chain than the master designer, unless she fooled around with the owner, which wasn't going to happen, since the owner of this specific cruise liner is actually a woman. And Bryce Holden, by the way, is not a real character. He's a figment of my imagination. I have no idea who the master designer is of the Royal Caribbean, even though I attempted to find out. I'm still open for ideas and suggestions! I'm having a really fun time with this story, so I hope all of you are, too :D Thanks to everyone who gave me ideas already! They are a really big help :) And as always, thanks for reading!