Cuddy was a new woman Wednesday morning. She eagerly looked forward to House's morning visit and the promise of sugary donuts. She'd surprise him today and eat them all. Her appetite had returned!

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"You little animal!" House said in admiring tone. "Look who's hungry for my 'donuts'!" Cuddy smacked his arm at the innuendo.

"You going to finish yours?" Cuddy asked sweetly.

"Please, help yourself!" House slid his donut over to her. "So what's got you so hungry this morning? And please, no details if it involves Lucas."

Cuddy grinned mischievously. "My sister isn't coming today!"

"Seriously? Good for you!" House said kindly. "Wait, shit. That kills my hopes for her and Lucas running off together. Damn." Cuddy ignored him but a small smile appeared at the corner of her mouth. "How'd you do it?"

Cuddy's head snapped up. "I didn't do anything! I'm just lucky, I guess!"

"If you were that lucky you'd be with me!" House said quietly. The moment suddenly felt tense. Cuddy's eyes met his. House wouldn't look away from her forcing her to as her cheeks blushed.

"Clinic hours?" Cuddy reminded him.

House recognized the deflection technique. "I'm all caught up, mommy. But I'll do more if you'll grab dinner with me tonight."

"Tonight?" Cuddy questioned.

"Yeah, why not? Your sister's not coming so you don't have to be home right away. Plus I want to see if your newfound appetite is really back or if you're faking it."

"I never fake anything!" Cuddy flirted.

"I remember." House shot back and Cuddy realized they had ventured into dangerous territory.

"See you in the clinic?" Cuddy asked as she changed the subject swiftly.

"If we're on for dinner, I'll be in the clinic today."

"Fine," Cuddy tried to sound slightly annoyed but she was secretly pleased at the prospect. "Uh, do we really have to go on your motorcycle?"

"A deal's a deal," House reminded her.

"Great." Cuddy sounded unenthusiastic.

"It's swingy kinda skirt you got there, it'll work, just pin your legs against mine and your skirt shouldn't blow off."

Cuddy's eyes grew large. "I hope it rains!"

"Ooh, you in a wet blouse? Yes, please let it rain!"

"If it rains, we go in my car!" Cuddy said seriously.

"Fine. See you around 6?" House relinquished even though his heart was beating excitedly.

"No, I'll see you in a half hour in the clinic. But yes, 6 works for dinner. Where do you want to go?"

"I'll think of something," House said in a rather sexy voice.

"You're paying this time!" Cuddy reminded him.

"Yeah, yeah but only if we go on my bike. That was the deal!" House pushed. Cuddy relented.

"Bye, House!" Cuddy said as she gathered up the donut napkins and stuffed them into the white paper bag before tossing it in the trash.

"Bye I-Blo," House teased.

"Don't call me that!"

"Fine. Cuddles. Ta-ta!" House left with a happy feeling in his chest and a large grin on his face.

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"And how did the dinner date go?" Dr. Nolan asked. He was clearly pleased to see things working out for House and Cuddy if only to reestablish their 20-year-long friendship.

"It went very well," House laughed as he remembered how Cuddy had difficulty getting situated on the back of his motorcycle. "You should have seen her sitting on my motorcycle. She was terrified but wouldn't admit it."

"How do you know she was terrified?" Nolan asked.

"Her nails were buried in my flesh!"

"What?" Nolan sat up with a laugh.

"Yeah, she was clinging to me for dear life. Her skinny arms were wrapped around me pretty tight and her nails were dug into my gut. If it wasn't so funny I'd…." House began chuckling at the memory. Nolan laughed a little with him. It was nice to see Greg House enjoying a moment's levity.

"So you made her ride on your bike?"

"That was the deal," House replied. "In a skirt, too."

"Oh, God!" Dr. Nolan started laughing at Cuddy's gumption. "Nice, man." Nolan said sarcastically.

"I thought she'd back out but she didn't. She wore this huge helmet and a leather jacket that was too big on her. She looked pretty adorable." House rubbed his stubbly chin and recalled the memory vividly.

"She's a good sport."

"She really is," House admitted. He had no way of knowing just how intense the situation was for Cuddy riding on the back of his motorcycle, holding on to a man in such a highly physical way. Cuddy had even dreamed about House that night and woke up the next morning hugging onto Lucas from behind. She could hardly face House the next morning at the hospital.

"Then what happened?" Nolan asked. He was quite pleased to see the change in House's demeanor, from sulking and sad to hopeful and happy.

"We went inside, ate a meal together and then rode back to the hospital." House answered. "And she actually ate most of her dinner. I thought she was turning into an air fern.

"A what?"

"You know, air ferns? Those little green airy ferns that grow on rocks with no visible source of food or water. Air ferns."

"Okay. That's it?"

"Well, yeah. What'd you expect? We'd run off and elope?" House said sarcastically.

"It is an option," Nolan said seriously. House shut up and stared at the psychiatrist stunned at his suggestion.

"Oh come on, you're telling me you've never thought about it?" Nolan asked.

"Marriage?" House seemed surprised.

"Yes, marriage. Growing old with her."

"With Cuddy?" House was trying to backpedal and find a suitable answer to deflect properly.

"No, with Wilson. Of course, with Cuddy!" Nolan snapped.

"I …I'm not the marrying kind, remember?"

"And why is that?"

"Because I'm an ass, at least that's what women often tell me."

"But you're not the same ass you use to be." Nolan pointed out.

"Ass-lite?"

"Something like that," Nolan said with a small smirk. "You're a lot nicer now. Human, even, at times."

"Yeah, yeah. You're a real Charmer. If you say so." House seemed a little embarrassed.

"You could be a really happy guy one day, Greg. It's entirely possible, you know."

"I'll be happy when Cuddy dumps that loser Lucas. Then …" House trailed off.

Nolan waited for a few minutes hoping for House to continue on. "Then what?"

House glanced up at Nolan and didn't know what to say. He shrugged resignedly.

Nolan nodded. "So if Dr. Cuddy is ever 'single' again, what would you do about it?"

"It's not …that easy, you know. I mean for one thing, she's still my boss." House explained.

"Who you're in love with," Nolan pointed out. "Come on, we both know you got it bad!" Nolan added at the look of vulnerability on House's face.

House nodded grudgingly. He knew he was in love with Cuddy but it felt a little naked to have your psychiatrist state it like it was no big deal when in fact it was the biggest deal in his life.

"It sucks."

"What, that you're in love with your boss?" Nolan seemed surprised.

"No, it sucks that I'm in love with my boss and we can't be together without one of us having to leave the hospital.

"What makes you so sure that would happen?" Nolan had to ask. "Are you saying if the board knew you were dating, one of you would have to resign?"

"Yeah and that someone would definitely have to be me. Cuddy's too valuable." House fidgeted a little with his shirt. "If we could just be like we are now but together, it would be perfect…"

"So you're saying you'd rather work at Princeton Plainsboro than be with the woman you love?" Nolan was surprised.

"God, no! What I mean is if I left the hospital and she and I ….didn't work out then I've lost her. I mean I wouldn't ever see her anymore. I'd be working somewhere else and she'd still be there and it would be over."

"What makes you think it wouldn't work out between you two?" Nolan asked.

"Because nothing lasts forever," House retorted.

"You and Cuddy have lasted for a couple of decades…"

"…as friends." House reminded Nolan.

"Most successful long-term relationships between men and women are built first on a solid basis of friendship. I'd say you two have that box checked."

"Right. I'll just go up to my boss and propose to her between meetings." House said half-heartedly.

"Maybe the problem is you're thinking of Cuddy as a boss first and a woman second?"

"Actually, I always think of Cuddy as a woman. Trust me. You've seen her." House looked up. "It's just that things are complicated."

"Look, Greg. If you want this woman you have a couple of options but recognize there are complications so it'll take some serious consideration to make things work."

"Like?"

"Like your boss has a reputation to protect and you can't treat any romance with her lightly. For starters, you two need to actually date secretly to see if she feels as seriously as you do. If she does, then you two should talk about where you want this romance to go…if you're not ready to marry each other you'll have to keep the relationship secret from everyone or risk jeopardizing your job and hers. That means you can't live together or anything. But, if you do decide you want to marry her and she agrees, you'll have to recognize the risks that one of you may have to work elsewhere but at least you'll be together."

House was quiet.

"Then again, maybe neither one of you would have to leave Princeton-Plainsboro. Aren't there married couples among the staff."

"Sure," House acknowledged. "But you can't report to a spouse."

"So you report to someone other than Cuddy or maybe Cuddy and Wilson or some other board member?" Nolan suggested.

House's mind was churning.

"You listening?" Nolan asked.

"Yeah, I'm listening and everything you've just said makes sense. There's just one problem." House said dejectedly.

"Lucas?"

"Lucas!" House agreed. "She's still with him and they're practically living together."

"Didn't you tell me she ignores his calls?"

"Well, she did once, when we were eating donuts in her office."

"It's a start, House." Nolan raised his eyebrows and nodded. House knew it.

"Look, you need to figure out how far you want things to go with Cuddy. I mean she has a daughter now and she may need more stability in her life ….like marriage…or not. Either way, you need to find out what it is she wants for her own life and make sure its compatible with what you want ultimately," Nolan said encouragingly. "If it is, I think you might be making a mistake waiting for Lucas to disappear. But its' your life and its your decision."

House was a mix of emotions. He appreciated hearing the options he hadn't allowed himself the luxury of considering with Cuddy. He couldn't get past the fact of their working relationship would cost someone their job and hers was more of an accomplishment than his. He had a lot to think about.

"Hey, at least she's eating again …and filling out her suits quite nicely again," House wiggled his eyebrows a little. Nolan laughed.

"Think about it?" Nolan asked.

"I will." House said firmly. "See you next week."

"I'll be here." Nolan nodded and House waved as he left Nolan's office.

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Is this getting out of character for House or Cuddy or even Nolan? Please send me your thoughts. Wow, three chapters in one night. Say good night, Reisling! Please review.