A/N: Here is the sequel to 'Obsession' (finally), because you all asked (demanded) so nicely :) Also, this is officially AU… Again, I'm sorry about the delay… school sucks ^_~

Disclaimer: I still don't own House…

Puzzles

10. Opportunities

I watched House carefully for the next few days, analyzing and over-analyzing everything he did. His therapists had wanted him to get a 'room-mate' which meant we were back to living together. Which, unfortunately, gave me very little time to work on my own private puzzle.

I was glad to see that he was starting to look better, more like his old self. His leg bothered him more without the vicodin, but he was coping well. For now anyway.

I occupied myself in making sure that he really was better, and so managed to avoid thinking about my feelings. It was ironic, normally House was the one who hid his feelings, and I was the one desperately trying to get us to talk about said feelings. Admittedly, House was still being House, but now I was acting more like him than was healthy.

The problem I was dealing with now, was avoidance. I knew that I couldn't avoid the problem, if it was a problem, forever. There would only be so many opportunities I could miss before my chance was completely gone. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to act on my new knowledge yet. I wished that House would say something about it, then I could just plunge right in rather than stressing over the 'could's and 'would's and 'what if's.

A month after House got home, I gave up on waiting. I pulled the metaphorical puzzle that was my relationship with House out of its metaphorical hiding place and I settled down to solve the final pieces. I had to figure out how I felt about my best friend, if I wanted more than just friendship with House. Then I had to decide what to do.

I frowned, how did I normally tell if I was in love with somebody? I immediately scrapped that question. Clearly I wasn't very good at telling what love was. So, how do I figure out if what I feel for House is love?

I decided to call Cuddy. She would be able to help. Or tell me I was crazy. Whichever.

She picked up immediately.

"What's up, Wilson?"

"Um, I was wondering if you could, um, help me with something." Was I insane? This was going to be the most awkward conversation ever! Why did I think this would be a good idea?

"What did House do?" she asked warily.

"Nothing!" I responded immediately, "well, it was something he said to his therapist, that the therapist told me…" I could almost hear Cuddy raise an eyebrow.

"Jones said that," I dropped my voice, looking around warily to make sure that House wasn't going to randomly apparate from the hospital to here, "that House was in love with me…"

"And?" Cuddy prompted, totally unsurprised.

"I don't know what to do!" I whined.

Cuddy sighed, "I don't know which of you is dumber. Listen Wilson, who is the most important person in your life?"

"House." I said immediately.

"Right, and who do you go to whenever you are having problems"

"House."

"Who always came first, even before your wives?"

I could see what Cuddy was getting at, "House."

"Exactly. House is the most important thing in your life, you practically admitted that yourself, and you know that you are the most important thing in House's life, despite what he says about his job. You always seek each other out whenever you are in trouble. Your friendship has lasted longer than any other relationship either of you ever had, despite all the shit you've put each other through. You have stayed together through the toughest times in your lives. If that's not love, I don't know what is." Cuddy finished her speech, and paused while I absorbed what she had said.

It made sense.

And the pieces fell into place.

"Thank you!" I said, feeling happier than I had in years.

"No problem." Cuddy responded.

"How was your day?" I asked, trying to be nonchalant and not act at all like a girl with her first crush.

House just grunted and flopped onto the couch next to me.

"Wow, that's really interesting." I teased.

Then, because I was sick of missed opportunities I leaned forward and kissed House.

When he kissed me back I grinned, puzzle solved. I mentally awarded myself a gold star, then went back to kissing House, because really, that was much better than puzzles.

I was very glad I would have plenty of opportunities to keep kissing House.