Chapter XI-Dance

Cuddy couldn't relieve Kate had read her so easily. She was sure she had been doing a pretty good job at hiding her… feelings for House from people that didn't know him. But apparently, her attempts had been futile and worthless, since her friend had been able to tell there was something between them the moment she saw them together.

She stared at the kettle as if the poor utensil were responsible for her distress, mentally slapping herself for being so damn readable. Well, at least she could trust Kate would not tell every single parent how hot Rachel's mother was for a loony.

Meanwhile, House was stuck with Kate and Wilson. Every now and then, Joseph Cuddy would glance at him as if he were the devil himself. The old man's blue eyes were surely sparkling with hatred. Ruth had whispered in his ear something along the lines of "Lisa", "House" and "behave" several times, which caused Joe to groan in frustration. Ruth was probably warning him against the dangers of strangling an innocent man in front of little children.

And Kate and Wilson's flirting was really getting the best out of him. Chase and Michael, Cuddy's brother in law, were chatting amiably. Cameron was nowhere to be seen and Cuddy's sister had not even made an appearance yet. He was thankful for it, though. He stood up, uncomfortable, and walked away from the room as fast as his leg allowed him to.

"So, James," Kate smiled at Wilson. "How long had they been dancing around each other?"

"I'm sorry, what?" Wilson inquired, not quite understanding her.

"Lisa and that guy, House?"

He laughed out loud, amused. Even Kate had realised there was something between House and Cuddy, when she had only been with them for fifteen minutes or so.

"About 25 years," he replied through a sigh. "They're just too damn stubborn to admit it. Plus, House is a real mess."

"Yes, I've been told so…" Kate spotted a smile that slowly turned into a mischievous smirk.

"Don't you dare become their matchmaker. You will regret it for the rest of your life," Wilson exclaimed after he saw Kate's expression. He also couldn't help but notice Kate was indeed very pretty, with her hazel eyes and chocolate curls… and she had an overstepping quality he found really attractive. No. Wilson casted thoughts about women away. He had been involved in a series of short, disastrous relationships ever since Amber passed away, and he was tired of seeking for a long-term partner.

"But they look so good together! Maybe they just need a small push and…"

"Trust me, only the two of them can work it out." He didn't know if Kate knew everything. "There were enough pushes through the years."

Kate frowned and stared at House's empty seat. Where the hell was he?

She had always had an Emma complex. She enjoyed contributing to other people's happiness, and had many times forgotten about her own in the process. So, she turned back to Wilson and set her mind to enjoy his kind conversation. He did have beautiful brown eyes.

"Your friends is nuts," House spoke up, causing Cuddy to drop the kettle, a cry of distress leaving her pursed lips as some of the hot droplets of water came in contact with her hand. She had been pouring water into the teapot.

"Damn it, House," she muttered through gritted teeth, as she paced towards the sink. She opened the tap and let the cold water run over the tender flesh. "You could have, I don't know, knocked?"

"Oh come on. It's not that bad. Insignificant scald." He was leaning against the doorframe, but made his way in her direction, and before she could protest, took hold of her hand and began to examine it carefully. Cuddy wanted to pull her hand away, but his tight grip wouldn't allow it. "Stop fidgeting."

"It's nothing," she assured. "Just an insignificant scald," she added, air quoting with the help of her unharmed hand.

"It's not that insignificant." He applied pressure into the sore red spot that had formed on the back of her hand and Cuddy flinched. It hurt. "You see?"

"Yes. Feel guilty." She snapped. House's close proximity was doing nothing for her reputation and her heart rate. "Can you please let go if my hand and let me put it under the cold water?"

"Don't you have a cream or something like that?" He walked away from her, and Cuddy missed the warmth his callused hands irradiated when they had engulfed her smaller one, especially when the frigid water touched her skin again. He began searching for the cool cream.

"Small box over the fridge," she commanded, as she closed the tap and stared remorsefully at the now ruined tea. House grabbed the box and placed it on the kitchen counter, in a surprisingly cooperative gesture. He opened it swiftly and found the cream.

"Gimme your hand," House said grumpily.

"I can do it myself," Cuddy replied haughtily.

"Yes, and then you will complain that you have a sore spot in your hand because I made you drop the stupid kettle. I can live without that." He retorted. "Hand."

Cuddy rolled her eyes and extended her hand, sighing. "You are annoying." House smirked and began applying the cream, his long, trained fingers rubbing soothing circles across the stinging mark. His movements were gentle, kind, loving even. He looked up at her, the shadows of a smile curving his thin lips. Cuddy found herself smiling back at him, despite her best efforts. She was officially pathetic. The man just rubbing some cold cream against her skin and she still got al fussy. Ugh.

"Thank you," she mouthed softly. "It's really not that bad."

Why was he talking about her dead girlfriend to a complete and utter stranger? If she was a potential date, he was surely screwing up his chances. But Kate lent him a sympathetic ear. He always needed one of those for himself, since he was always the one with it. The one who listened, the one who cared. The one who was always there for his friends. Cuddy was there for him, most of the time, but she had other business to take care of, from her six year old daughter to the Hospital. And House was there only when you really needed him, when the situation had hit rock bottom and there was practically no way out.

Kate might have had a divorce, but she was not needy at all. She was independent, strong-willed. And fun.

Was it about time to break his pattern?

"Why are you here?"

"I told you, Wilson…" House began to explain, but was cut off by Cuddy.

"I meant, in my kitchen," Cuddy grabbed the kettle again and resumed the previous task.

"I was bored. Your friend is nuts and having a fabulous time flirting with Wilson…"

"I'm surprised you didn't ruin his chances by revealing his most embarrassing secrets." Cuddy chuckled.

"Not necessary, he's doing it all by himself…" House paused for a moment. "Plus, I think your father is seriously considering killing me and burying me in the backyard." House took a step forward and stole one of the cookies from the bowl. Cuddy merely rolled her eyes.

"You can't really blame him, can you?"

"Hey! I was in my best behaviour when I met him," he argued, his mouth full of cookie crumbles. "And I'm my best behaviour today."

"Swallow, and then talk," Cuddy said in her best maternal tone as she proceeded to grab the kettle again, not before sending House a warning glare. "You made me cry once during the holiday you spent with us. That's enough for a father."

House froze. Was that true? How come she never told him? He remembered their argument clearly. She had stormed away from his side visibly hurt and upset, but…crying? She had shed tears because of their quarrelling? He took a few steps in her direction, until he was standing directly beside her.

"I'm sorry," he mumbled, before realising he had actually apologised. What was wrong with him?

"Late apology, but at least you apologised." Cuddy successfully managed to fill the teapot, even when House's propinquity made her feel slightly uneasy. "Still, I'd rather sit and watch while my dad rips your skin off."

"And they say I'm the nasty one…"

Cuddy turned around in order to protest. She hadn't realised how close he really was until her face came in contact with his still broad chest.

"Ouch," House complained.

"Don't be a baby. You were standing three inches away from me. Consider it your punishment," Cuddy tapped his shoulder patronizingly.

"Did I mention how hot you look in that outfit?" House was eyeing at her suggestively. It was true.

"I was hoping you wouldn't," Cuddy lied, feeling a hot sting on her cheeks.

"Then why are you blushing?" He inquired, and Cuddy could almost hear him smirking. It was infuriating, and all the more because it was true. She hoped someone would wonder why the hell making some tea was taking her so long.

"I'm not," she protested, but it was futile. House was examining her face closely, so closely she could almost feel his hot breath tickling her skin. This had to stop.

"I bet they're screwing their brains out right now," Kate chuckled. Lisa was really taking her time with the tea and House sudden disappearance made it likely.

"That, or Cuddy murdered him and is trying to hide the body," Wilson laughed, nonetheless admitting to himself Cuddy would never dare do House any harm.

"I seriously doubt it…" Kate couldn't help but laugh again.

"Uncle James," Wilson heard Rachel's voice called out to him. She walked on his direction crawled onto his lap and wrapped her little arm around her uncle's shoulders. Kate smiled.

"What is it, kiddo?" Wilson stared at the little girl fondly, not really buying she was already six years old. Yesterday, she was a tiny baby, and now she was six. It didn't make any sense.

"Where's mom?" Rachel asked after scanning the room with her eager blue eyes, noticing her mother's absence. She then smiled at her two grandparents. "I want to have cake. Please?"

"I'll go find her," Kate offered, rising from her chair in one fluid swift motion. She didn't want to get in the way of the sweet uncle and niece moment, and she was way too curious about Lisa and House to pass up the opportunity to check what they were up to…

"What are you doing?" House's lips were inches away from hers. This couldn't end up well.

TBC…


A/N: Feel free to throw rocks at me for this late update. I hope you liked it :)

So, SEASON FINALE. I feel slightly cheated, but I'm not that angry. House's hallucinations pretty much confirmed he really, really cares for Cuddy, which was nice. There's a lot of Huddy potential for the following seasons. But the final scene just broke my heart (though I'm happy Chase and Cameron got married). I couldn't even cry, such was my despair!