A/N: Still going with this! The muse says it's not over yet and so who am I to argue with the muse? To catch you up here, this story began on Thursday and in this chapter it's Friday night.


"I love the way you play, I could listen to it all night."

They were sitting so close that their legs were touching. Cuddy rested her left hand on House's right thigh, gently over the area of his infarction. He never took his eyes off of her as he leaned towards her. Cuddy, so completely at ease being so close to him, parted her lips and welcomed his kiss. It was warm and gentle and sweet, full of promise but it seemed as if they were both holding back. They pulled apart after a moment and just stared at one another, a thousand emotions reflected in their eyes.

"Cuddy," House whispered in that low raspy voice she loved. "I need to know what you want."


"House," she whispered. "I want -"

At that moment she was cut off by Rachel's cries coming from House's bedroom. She leaped from the couch and ran to the bedroom and House followed, limping as quickly as he could. They entered and Cuddy rushed over to her and picked her up. Rachel's face was red and her little body was very hot.

"House, she's burning up."

"Let me have her." He reached over and gently took the child from her. He felt her forehead and checked her over. Cuddy was moved by House's care and gentleness. "Could be strep or an ear infection. How was she earlier?"

"She's been fine."

House lay Rachel on the bed and gently felt her lymph nodes. "She feels a little swollen here," he said as he felt her neck. "Check my medicine cabinet; I've got a digital thermometer in there."

Cuddy ran to the bathroom and searched his cabinet, finding the item and bringing it back to him. While Cuddy held Rachel, House inserted the thermometer into the crying child's mouth. Cuddy rocked and hummed to her as they waited, hoping to calm her down. House watched Cuddy comforting Rachel. He'd never told her but he liked the maternal side Rachel brought out in her. When the thermometer beeped, House took it from Rachel's mouth and read it.

"One hundred two point nine," he said, frowning. He noticed the look of panic on Cuddy's face and tried to assure her. "Listen, let's give her some acetaminophen and keep an eye on her. Could be nothing. If it doesn't go away by morning we'll take her in and check her white count okay?"

"I should take her to the hospital," she said as she rocked the crying child.

"Not yet," he said softly. "Listen, right now you're not a doctor, you're a mother. You can't be objective. Let's see if the acetaminophen works first and go from there, okay?"

"Okay, at least I'll take her home."

"Stay here, use my bed."

"We can't do that to you."

"Cuddy, it's late. She's sick and you're tired."

"Where will you sleep?"

"Couch."

"I hate to see you do that, with your leg."

"I'll be fine really," he said.

"Okay," she relented. She actually did feel better knowing he was there with them.

"Mama, I hurt," Rachel mumbled, still crying.

"I'm here baby; you're going to be okay." Cuddy assured her and kissed her on the top of her head. As she did this, her eyes connected with House. They just looked at one another as she tried to comfort Rachel. No words were spoken between them, but none were needed.

House could see the helplessness Cuddy felt as she looked at him. Then he did something she'd never expected to do, he motioned for her to hand Rachel over to him. She hesitated at first but then allowed him to take her.

"I've got her," he said. "Go ahead and get the stuff, it's in the medicine cabinet."

When Cuddy left the room, House sat holding a fussy Rachel. He was rather uncomfortable holding a child but he wanted to reach out to Cuddy especially now when she worried over her sick child. He wanted to show her he'd changed. He looked down at Rachel who was still crying and spoke softly to her while her mother was in the other room.

"You're a pain in the ass you know that? Your mom and I were having a good conversation. Actually it was more than just conversation and then you started screaming. You've got a set of lungs just like her. She's a screamer too though don't tell her I told you that," he said smiling. He had to admit even with her blotchy red face, she was a cute kid. He didn't really dislike kids; he usually disliked their parents because generally the ones he came into contact with at the clinic were idiots.

"House!" Cuddy had entered the room and heard the last half of his one-sided conversation with Rachel.

"What? She's not gonna remember any of this."

Cuddy rolled her eyes and administered the acetaminophen to Rachel as House continued to hold her. Then she pulled down the comforter and sheets and House lay Rachel down among the pillows, tucking them around her to keep her safe. Cuddy lay on the bed with Rachel whispering to her and caressing her hair in an effort to calm her. House stayed with them, sitting in a chair next to the bed until his leg hurt too much and he went into the living room to lie on the couch. Two hours later, when Rachel finally fell asleep, Cuddy crept quietly back into the living room. House lay there on the couch in his boxers, tee shirt and socks. His eyes were closed but he wasn't asleep.

She sat on the coffee table and gently lay her hand on his shoulder. "House?"

He opened his eyes and noticed that Cuddy looked exhausted. "How's she doing?"

"She'd worked herself up into quite frenzy but she's sleeping for now. How bad is it?" She asked pointing to his leg.

"It's throbbing but the patch has it down to about a five," he said as he rubbed his thigh.

A five, she thought. It was a good day for him was when his pain was a five. The thought made her want to cry.

"Is there anything I can do for you?" She asked her voice full of concern.

He shook his head no.

"We never finished our conversation."

"We were a bit distracted."

"Yeah." She looked down at her hands in her lap. "I hate the idea of you sleeping on the couch."

"Not much of a choice considering the lesser Cuddy is sleeping in my bed."

"I could still drive us home."

"No!" He realized it came out more forceful than he intended. In a softer voice he added, "Stay...please."

Cuddy was immediately warmed by his concern for her and Rachel. She had watched him hold Rachel earlier, he had been so gentle with her, as if he truly cared. Cuddy gathered her courage. "I feel better that you're here with us. I know it might just be something minor but still…thanks."

"You're welcome." He stared at the ceiling.

An uncomfortable silence descended on them and unspoken words hung in the air creating tension. Just a few hours earlier, Cuddy been ready to tell him so many things before Rachel's crying interrupted them and now she was worried if they didn't talk soon, he'd put the walls back up and they'd have to start over.

As if House sensed what was on Cuddy's mind, his eyes left the ceiling and looked right at her. His words cut sharply through the silence between them. "Cuddy, are you sure about this? I mean...us? Because once we go there-"

"I know," she interrupted.

"Do you?" Slowly, he sat up to face her and rubbed his leg. "If weeks or months down the road you decide you made a mistake, then what?"

"I won't do that."

"You don't know that."

"I do," she insisted.

"No, you don't," he restated.

Cuddy stood up from the table and paced the living room thinking. Finally, she turned to him. "House, what do you want from me? I'm doing the best I can. If you don't trust me then it can never work."

"It's not that I don't trust you, I do. But what if I relapse? How would you handle it?"

"Are you worried I'll leave you at the first sign of trouble?"

"You set your standards high, Cuddy."

"I've always set my standards high. My mother constantly reminds me of that."

"Setting your standards high isn't a bad thing; most people set theirs too low." He added, "And don't think this means I agree with your mother."

She raised her eyebrows at him. "I don't know how I'll handle it if you relapse," she admitted.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"Being honest. There's no way you can know how you would handle it."

"So that's what you wanted to hear?"

"I don't do platitudes, just the truth."

"I didn't want to scare you off."

"You'd scare me off by lying to me," he said.

"Sorry."

"Don't be. Listen, you need some rest."

"So do you," she said before she left the room. She returned with a pillow and soft blanket.

"You gonna tuck me in?" He asked, looking up at her with a childlike expression.

"Aren't you a little old for that?" She smiled but her eyes reflected her worries, about Rachel and about them.

"Come here," he said, patting the couch.

Cuddy hesitated at first but the way he looked at her, she couldn't resist. House still had his left leg up on the couch and when she sat down he pulled her to him so that she lay on the couch, her back settled against his chest. When she was in place, he pulled his right leg up around her and she felt safe and completely ensconced in his warmth. He pulled the blanket up and covered them with it, then wrapped his arms around her, feeling her settle comfortably into him.

"House?"

"Hmm?"

"Thanks."

"Shut up, Cuddy."


I can just imagine House and Cuddy curling up together on the couch, him trying to make her feel better and her acknowledging him being caring and compassionate then him telling her to shut up :) It's so them!

Don't forget to let me know what you think about it!