AN: Sorry for the delay in posting, I've been sick for the past few days and have a massive headache so I can't do much. Hoping to try and get another chapter done today, but it all depends.

Also, this story jumps around in time a lot, I should probably make it clear that House and Cuddy have known eachother for about two months before they started dating.

Summary: A bookstore was where it all began, from there, it lead to much more. He was her friend, confidante and love of her life. Gregory House was her everything, and she was his. It started out playful and unexpected, but there's one thing that can change everything. The island.

Chapter Eleven

House and Cuddy walked back towards the hotel hand in hand, much to Cuddy's amusement and House's embarrassment. Everyone few seconds, Cuddy would lean against House's side, squeezing his hand, looking up at him. Then House would respond with a smile and squeeze her hand back. There wasn't much they had to say to each other now, that was at least until they reached the hotel.

"What do we tell Katheryn and Wilson?" Cuddy asked, looking at House as they stepped in the lobby, dropping their hands as they spotted a few classmates who had come along to the trip as well.

"No idea." House strode past the elevators, "Do you want to walk up, it will give us more time to figure something out."

"Okay." Cuddy paused, "I'm just going to get some hot chocolate, want some?" She filled one of the dispensable cups with hot water and emptied one of hot chocolate mixes into it.

"I'll have some of yours." House smiled, "Want to wait down here until you finish that up? Don't want to spill it anywhere." He didn't wait for an answer before finding an semi-private couch towards the breakfast bar and plopping down on it.

"Here you go." Cuddy offered him a sip of the hot chocolate, sitting besides him.

"Warm," House passed it back to Cuddy. "Unlike your cold hands." He took one of her hands in his and rubbed it, before taking her other hand and rubbing it too.

"Thanks," Cuddy smiled at him, finishing up the last of her hot chocolate.

"Ready?" House asked, taking the cup from her and tossing it in the trash.

"Sure, why are you so eager to get going?" Cuddy asked, following House down the hall to the stairs.

"So I can do this." House pulled Cuddy into his arms, holding her tightly.

"Do what...?" Cuddy was cut off as House kissed her gently on the lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing him back eagerly, her eyes closed. House's hands dropped from her waist to her hips and he pushed her lightly against the wall, trailing his kisses to her ear.

"You don't know how long I've wanted to do that." House whispered in her ear, "I love you." He kissed her lightly on the lips, running his fingers through his hair.

"I...I love you too." Cuddy smiled against his lips, kissing him back. This time, their kiss was more passionate than the first and Cuddy had reached up between them, running her hands up House's chest to loop around his neck.

"Lisa," House broke the kiss a few minutes later and he rested his forehead against hers. "I'm so sorry."

"For what?" Cuddy asked, still trying to catch her breath after their kiss.

"For trying to push you away," House took her hand, "Let's go upstairs, I'm sure Wilson and Katheryn think something is up."

"Hey," a voice called down to them and both House and Cuddy looked up, seeing the door to the stairwell shut behind Alex.

"Hey Alex," Cuddy waved up at him, feeling House's arm snake around her waist.

"What are you two up to?" Alex headed down the stairs towards them.

"I wanted hot chocolate," Cuddy smiled, "Greg and I decided to make some and give Katheryn and Wilson some time alone."

"Alone time?" Alex's eyes darted to their clasped hands, "You two need some alone time as well?"

"Not really." House followed Alex's gaze to his and Cuddy's clasped hands. "Oh, yeah, I guess we sort of did." He pulled Cuddy towards him, kissing her cheek gently.

"I'm not too surprised," Alex gave them a smile, but both House and Cuddy exchanged a knowing glance. "I'm happy for you two."

"Thanks." Cuddy replied, before glancing at the watch on House's wrist. "We should head up though, Wilson and Katheryn are waiting for us."

"Oh, okay." Alex tried not to sound too upset or disappointed, "See you two around." He slipped past them on the stairs, disappearing down the hall towards the lobby.

"Well, that was really weird," House commented, looking after Alex's retreating figure.

"He's jealous you moron," Cuddy laughed, "Let's go."

"Jealous, Alex, of us?" House shrugged, "He knows that you're mine," he kissed Cuddy's cheek, "Let's go."

They took the stairs two at a time, hand in hand, heading up to House and Wilson's room first, knowing that Katheryn would be there waiting for them.

---

"There you two are!" Wilson cried when House unlocked the hotel room door and pushed it open.

"Yes, we wanted to talk." Cuddy moved past House, settling herself on his bed, "Have a problem with that?"

"No, I just thought you were upset at House earlier." Katheryn hissed quietly to Cuddy, who laughed.

"Nope, the exact opposite," House sat besides Cuddy, overhearing Katheryn's comment. He wrapped his arm around Cuddy's waist, pulling her into his lap, nuzzling her neck gently.

"Wait, what?" Wilson looked surprised, "You two are dating?"

"Well I couldn't ask Lisa out in front of you two could I?" House asked, his arms still around Cuddy's waist.

"Well, actually, I sort of asked you out." Cuddy replied, a faint smile on her lips.

"We both did," House replied, glad to see Cuddy smiling at the obvious affection he was showing towards her.

Katheryn half-faked a yawn, "I'm going to head up to our room, you want to come with me Lisa?" She kissed Wilson's lips briefly, "If not then you have a key right?"

"I'll come with you, I'm pretty tired too." Cuddy kissed House lightly on the lips, "Night."

"Night Lisa." House kissed her forehead before letting her go. "Good night Katheryn, both of you sleep well."

"We will," Cuddy smiled, giving Wilson a hug, "Night both of you." She pulled open the door before letting it swing shut behind her and Katheryn.

Once outside, the two of them dissolved into giggles, Katheryn eager to hear everything about how Cuddy had gotten House to admit his feelings to her, and Cuddy overjoyed about her and House's new relationship.


AN: Comments?

x