Abigail was sitting crosslegged on Cuddy's office couch reading one of her medical textbooks, waiting for Wilson to pick her up. She had always been somewhat interested in the field of medicine. Cuddy was stacking her papers and making sure everything would be in order when she came in tomorrow when Abigail broke the silence. "You like him," she stated simply.
"Who?" Cuddy asked. She was beginning to dread the direction in which this conversation was headed.
"You know, the guy with the cane. Friends with James. House?"
"You call him James? You don't call him...Dad?"
"OK, you're totally trying to avoid this, furthur proving my theory. But yes, I call him James. You guys are always arguing and stuff. And you both get really animated when you talk, leaning towards each other and stuff, and your eyes are always, like, sparkling when you're looking at him."
Cuddy sighed. "Just because I argue with Dr. House does not mean I'm in love with him."
"So you admit you're in love with him?"
"I just said I wasn't."
"Exactly. I didn't mention love, you did."
She really is like her father, Cuddy thought. "He told you to say this, didn't he?"
"Who?"
"Wilson."
"No." Cuddy just stared and Abigail returned it,delightful and childish curiosity in her chestnut eyes.

"You like her," Wilson told House.
"No I don't," he replied quickly.
Wilson, ignoring this denial, continued. "What happened when you talked to her?"
"Nothing. I just asked her why she gave me the case and she gave m the usual spiel."
"Oh, House," Wilson responded, sounding sad. "You really need to learn some conversational skills."
"Hey, I have good conversation skills! I talk to you."
"I meant with women."
"Who needs to talk? I could just take their panties off like you do. That's probably what broke the ice with the ex-Mrs. Wilsons anyway."
"Fine, House. Have it your way. I'm going to Cuddy's office to pick up Abigail, wanna come?"

"Seems like they're getting along," Cuddy told House after Wilson and Abigail had left.
"Yeah, uh, this is good for Wilson. And for her, I guess. It's just, I guess Wilson can be lonely and this is a good thing," House said, his nerves on edge. He wasn't used to feeling like this at all. But Cuddy had always made him feel this way. It wasn't a bad feeling; in fact it was kind of exciting.
"You're lonely too, House," Cuddy said. She hoped he wouldn't take it the wrong way, but she had to say something.
"Yeah," he said with a small grin. "So are you."
"Yeah," she responded. "Well, I have to get going," she said finally as she made towards the door.
"Don't," he said and grabbed her wrist hastily. He had to do this now. No one else was around, no one would see them or hear them.
"House," she said confused as he took one large step closer to her, making her gasp. He felt a fire in his belly as he looked at her with the eyes of a man who's just found water in the desert. "Are you sure-" she started to say, but she was cut off by their lips meeting.
"Don't try to rationalize," he murmured right before their lips touched again. Her lips were soft and he quickly explored her mouth with his tongue. He felt every weight lifted off him as they finally kissed, one of his hands along her jaw and the other on her back. Her hands moved up and down his back, to his hips, and up his arms. She clasped her fingers together around his neck. She felt so good, like she'd never felt before. He was amazing. They parted to catch their breath and quickly kissed again. He nuzzled her and watched her smile serenly with her eyes closed. She could picture his round blue eyes staring at her. Finally he closed his eyes, and it pained him to say it.
"You should go," he whispered, breaking the stupor. She opened her eyes and they looked at her each other for a few seconds longer, then she slowly lowered herself from her tip toes and released her hold from the back of his neck. As she gathered her things and walked towards the door, he stood in the middle of the floor, cane at an angle. He made her feel just a little self-conscious, and no one had done that before. She left, and he closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He finally released it and left himself.