Sorry it's taken me so long to update. I actually have most of this written, as I've been posting it on the Fox board. But I've been very busy. I do promise to give the readers here more updates. Thanks for your patience!

Chapter 10

"My aunt is having sex with Doctor Greg." Tiffany told her friends in an excited whisper.

"Really?" Judy asked. "Did you see them doing it?"

"No, they were just in bed together, but they were asleep."

"I don't want to hear about this." Terry said.

"Why not?" Nicole asked. "It's a perfectly natural human function. Like going to the bathroom or eating."

The other three girls stared at her.

"Well, that's what my mom said. She has sex with men all the time since she and my dad got divorced." Nicole told them with as sophisticated an air as she could manage.

"I really don't want to hear about this!" Terry said.

"Well, I don't want to see them or think about the sex part all that much," Tiffany said, "But I've got another idea."

"What?" the girls asked in unison.

"I want them to get married. Then Doctor Greg would be Uncle Greg."

"That would be so awesome!" Judy said.

"I love weddings." Terry said.

"I don't know," Nicole said. "My mom says marriage is terribly overrated."

"I don't care." Tiffany told them. "I want them to be married. Then we would be a real family." And I'd have a dad again, she thought.

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Since school was now finished for the year and Tiffany was home during the day, House and Casey had to abandon their noontime sex. But since sleeping together the entire night was even better than lunchtime sex, they didn't complain too much.

Wilson and House were having lunch in Wilson's office. House had been seeing Casey for almost four months. Wilson had spent many evenings at the Landers house with his friend and the Landers women. He enjoyed their company. He also thought Casey was very good for House. But how to tell the man that without angering him?

"Are you and Tiffany still friends?"

House looked up. "Why shouldn't we be?"

Wilson shrugged. "Because she sees herself as matchmaker."

"Matchmaker?"

"Sure. Haven't you seen her watch you and Casey? She's got you picked out as uncle material."

Wilson took a bite of his sandwich, waiting for the explosion. Or at least for House to shoot him down.

When House remained quiet, the younger doctor looked up to see House staring at his cane. There was a contemplative look on his face.

"What?" Wilson asked.

House murmured something Wilson couldn't hear. "What was that?"

Without looking up, House said again, "I've thought about it."

"About her matchmaking?"

House shook his head. "About marriage."

Wilson sat up straight. "You've thought about marriage? About marrying Casey?"

"No, about marrying Tiffany. Of course, I'll have to wait about six years. Unless we move to West Virginia."

"House…?"

House nodded. "Yeah, Casey."

"My God, this is…huge. Did you buy a ring? Are you going to propose?"

"No. And I don't know. I just said I've thought about it. That's all."

Wilson looked at the puppy dog expression on House's face. "You're in love with her!"

House shrugged. "Nah. It's just the sex. I mean, the sex is fantastic. Where I am going to find someone that flexible? I figured she could keep going for a long time, so…"

Wilson smiled. "You're in love with her. House, there's nothing wrong with being in love. And there's nothing wrong with wanting to marry her."

"I don't even know if she wants to."

"Have you told her you love her?"

House shook his head.

"Don't you think that would be a good first step? If she feels the same, then you can move forward."

"She's still confused about the whole giving up the theater thing. I don't think she knows what she wants to do right now. Not the best time to make life changing decisions."

"Maybe that's what she needs to end the confusion."

House shrugged again. "It's just something I thought about. Doesn't mean I'm going to do it."

"Oh, well, why should you marry a woman you're in love with and that you also happen to be sleeping with? Especially if you have to go to all the trouble of telling her first. No, your way is much better. Just keep it a big secret. Everyone will be much happier that way."

"Glad you see it my way." House snagged the rest of Wilson's sandwich and left the office.

Wilson sat back, smiling and shook his head. House was in love. And he wanted to marry her. And they would be good together. After all of his experience, Wilson figured he knew a thing or two about marriage.

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Marriage, historically, was less about emotion and more about business and practicality. You married the person who could best help you in your chosen life.

A farmer wouldn't marry a society girl. He'd choose a strong, healthy, hard-working woman who could help him on the farm.

A prince wouldn't marry an uneducated servant (Cinderella notwithstanding).

Sometimes you married to improve your social position. Or to join two prominent families. Sometimes both.

That was what Margaret "Muffy" Pendleton had done. As the younger daughter from an old money family, she knew where her priorities lay. Marry well and relax for the rest of your life.

She had carefully weighed her options and chosen Thad Pendleton. His family was very old money (older than hers). Most of the men had been in politics in some capacity. Several mayors, senators and one governor.

Not like her older sister Bitsy. Or Beth, as she preferred. Whereas Muffy had gone to college to make connections, Beth had actually gone to get an education.

Still, Bitsy, er, Beth had gone to Princeton. So she could have hooked up with someone from the right set.

But not Beth. She had found the poor guy, there on scholarship.

Not that Muffy objected to slumming with the lower class. They were exciting lovers. She wondered what her husband's mistresses saw in him. He was boring in bed.

But Beth didn't just fool around with him, she had married Rick Landers. And they bought a small house in the suburbs. Eventually, he started making a decent salary, but just barely. Still, Beth insisted on working.

And then there were the kids. Her foolish sister had actually gone ahead and had THREE of them! The whole thought of it disgusted Muffy.

After the first, a boy, was born, Muffy had talked to Beth, hoping the whole thing would have disillusioned her enough to leave the guy. But no, Beth was ecstatic. She loved her son and her husband.

And two years later, she'd done it again, had another baby, another son. Muffy assumed that would be more than enough.

When she gave birth to a girl a few years later, Muffy gave up on her sister. She never even bothered to visit and meet her niece, Tiffany.

It didn't surprise her when her sister died. She knew she would come to a sad end, choosing a life like that when she had so much promise.

Muffy only went to funerals when someone important died or when important people would be there. She knew there would be no one worth impressing at Beth and Rick Landers' funerals. Especially since both sons had died with them. It would just be sad. Muffy did not like being sad.

And then there would be that girl. She would be crying all over everything. Muffy really didn't want to deal with that. It wasn't as though the child would need her. She had HIS sister, who was some sort of actress.

Lord, the entire family was so disgraceful. It was best if she just distanced herself from them. Best for all concerned.

Because Thad himself had political aspirations. Senator now, maybe even president someday. They didn't need the black sheep of the family ruining those plans.

Muffy was content to put the memories of her sister away. And she never even thought about the child.

Until Thad's campaign manager brought her up.

They were sitting at lunch in their Long Island home. Jack Nelson had managed several successful political campaigns and he promised Thad's would be as well.

But there were a few things they had to work out before it began.

"I want to know about any skeletons in your closet right now. I can spin anything, but I need to know about them. No surprises. Then, we need to make sure your family profile is sound."

"Our families are excellent." Muffy said proudly.

"No, not talking about that. I mean the two of you. You don't have any kids, do you?"

"No, we don't." Thad told him.

"Any chance of having one in the next year?"

"NO." Thad and Muffy said together.

"Okay, okay, we'll have to work something else out." He looked at the notes in front of him. "What's this? You had a sister who died last year?"

"Yes, my sister Bitsy."

"And she left a daughter?"

"Apparently. Bitsy and I lost touch."

"What happened to her daughter?" Jack asked.

"I believe she's with her aunt on her father's side."

Jack studied the notes some more in silence, and then looked at both of them. "Okay, we're going to kill two birds with one stone here. We're going to head off possible negative publicity before it happens and we're going to improve you personal image."

Thad was confused. "How are we going to do that?"

"By suing for custody of your niece, Tiffany Landers.