Sky: I HAVE BROKEN ZE CURSE!

Cuddy: (staring) Walk us through it, hun, walk us through it...

Sky: Yes I believe I shall. You see, it has recently come to my attention that I have not updated in such a long while for a reason. And that reason is simple...

House: You're lazy and have the attention span of a dead fruit fly?

Sky: (glares) Perhaps. But also because, in terms of story writing, 13 is a cursed number! Even on my other Zelda story (it lies dead now...muahahahaha!) I stopped writing on 13! And now chapter 13 is up on Ducklings! THE CURSE IS BROKEN! (does happy dance)

House: Uh...Sky does not own House. She does however, own Markus. Oh, and she would like to convey her sorrow over this chapters title. It has nothing to do with the actual story. Just a pleased exclamation from the authoress.

Sky: Thaz' right! Now...ONWARD!

Chapter 13: The Curse Is Broken

There is a time in every persons life, dear readers, when one can only feel that they have been sentenced to hell for some higher purpose. Actually, we just hope it's for some higher purpose because otherwise we'd just be in hell for the hell of it and that is, in fact, not a pleasant thought. After all, who would want to be there? On second though, don't answer that.

Anyway, there are always those type of moments. And for Marcus, this was that moment.

The poor boy sat alone at the table, fidgeting with the tie his sister had painstaking arranged and rearranged to perfection, nervously glancing around the restaurant as though under each and every table a monster of epic proportions lurked; afraid that, at any given moment someone, would show up and ruin the whole ruse that the conspirators had going. He wasn't quite sure who would show up but, damn it, there was someone!

Dear reader, perhaps you are wondering why our temporary (for only House can command our attention for chapters at a time) hero was so on edge. That is an excellent question, and, if I wasn't half so good as I am, I might have part a mind to end the chapter here and call this a cliff hanger. But I wouldn't do that to you dear readers. At least, not yet.

Oh, yes, (ahem) why was he so on edge? It had a simple explanation really. Oh, it wasn't because he was having to date Stacy, if only for his sisters benefit, mind you, or that said date previously had insulted his masculinity by saying he was almost an exact duplicate of said sibling, but because said sibling had shown up with her whole merry band of brigades to supervise him. Him!

Yes, the four had taken to sitting at a table not ten feet from him, separated only by a think veil of plant foliage, menu's that were doubling as shields, and a distinctly more jovial vibe. Of course, it didn't help their cover any when House and Cuddy started yelling about clinic duty again. If their lousy choice of hiding spots hadn't already screwed him over, then chances were, the arguing did. For a moment he could have sworn his imagination mapped in a flashing red light over the table, alerting all to their presence.

"Markus?"

He turned at the sound of his voice, drinking in her appearance. For a moment, he was shocked. She looked impossibly lovely, dark hair pulled back in a loose tail, her slender form accentuated by the crimson of her dresses flowing skirts. He could almost forget their bitter rivalry. Almost. Putting on his best smile and most charming air. "Hello Stacy..."

So yes, dear readers, Markus had up and gone to hell.

Meanwhile, over at said brigade's table...

"Cuddy, we're supposed to be looking inconspicuous."

She glowered, treading squarely upon his toes before turning her attention back to the menu. She seemed to be doing that more and more often recently. "I am looking inconspicuous."

House rolled his eyes, putting on his best condescending smile, "Yes, Cuddy, of course Cuddy. You look inconspicuous. On friggin opposite day! No! Good god woman! Don't look in their direction! Don't neglect them entirely either! Ack! Haven't you ever stalked someone before!?"

She favored him with a dark glare. "No actually, I haven't."

Wilson looked up from the menu he was eyeing suspiciously, "That's technically not true. There was that one time in college that you stalked H..."

The glare resurfaced, strangling the oncologists retort with brutal efficiency. "You were saying...?"

"I was saying that I was going to shut up."

"That's what I thought you said."

House sniggered something derisive into his glass of wine while the sniggee managed to look properly shamed. Through the whole thing, Chase managed to stay silent, more asleep then anything. He had not wanted to come tonight. After all, they had spent the last few days planning and sleep had been the first necessity to take a hit. In short, the poor doctor hadn't slept in nigh on three days. A rest was in order, so no disturbed him.

Cuddy shook her head, the tousled curls falling prettily around her shoulders as she cast a desperate look in her brothers direction, blue eyes forlorn. A hand slid comfortingly over her own, easing some of her dread, a thing partly responsible for her foul temperament, "C'mon Cuddles, it'll be fine, " she didn't look all convinced, "Look, go get a drink, and when you come back it'll be smooth sailing."

"Really?"

House gave her a wide smile and, suffering a brief pang of sweetness (it grieved him greatly that he ought to fall prey to such a snare), leaned in close to her, clinking and resting his forehead gently against hers. "Honey, I promise," now she smiled. Unable to resist, he let a final parting jab slip, "Besides, when have I ever lied to you?"

She rolled her eyes, rising with a levity he knew wasn't feigned, "I'm gonna go get a drink."

"You didn't answer me!" He was ignored, Cuddy waving off his comment with a tired little flick of the wrist, her step becoming a little lighter the further away from the scene she became, almost like a butterfly shedding it's cocoon.

House didn't need to see Wilson's face to know it was perfectly smug. And for once, he didn't care. He'd made Cuddy smile; that was more important.

Plus, he'd managed to snag her wallet.

And that, was the most important. Hehehehe...

Meanwhile At A Table Where People Are Not Smiling...

People were not smiling. Which is of course, dear readers, why it is in fact called what it is and not the table of "Smiling Happy People."

If Marcus had thought things were going to be awkward before she got there, before when he had run over every piece of available information to predict their evening, now that she was actually present, things were much worse.

An awkward sense of foreboding hovered over the table like a shroud of silence, keeping both individual's painfully silence. Occasionally one of them would open their mouth as though to speak only to have it clang shut again.

Silence.

Yes, dear readers, riveting.

"So, uh, Stacy, uh, how are you?"

She looked taken aback for a moment. They were speaking? How very quaint! "I'm doing good."

More silence. She looked up from her shoes, which had suddenly become fascinating. Never before had someone shown such undivided attention to one's foot ware. "How about you? What did you do after school?"

He shrugged, "Well, after graduating I went and got a degree in law..."

"Oh?" Her interest seemed to have perked up.

"Yeah. But then I decided that sucked and went into directing and writing instead. I'm in between projects at the moment, so I've been working on a free story.

"

"Oh." . Silence. "So...uh...what your book about?"

Another shrug, "Just a little story about my sister, her boyfriend and a few crazy conspiracy theories floating around the hospital. Maybe by the end I'll be able to divulge one of House's major secrets to the world." At her prodding, he continued, "Like, who he's dating. Or possibly marrying sometime in the distant future..."

The waiter arrived to refill their water, forcing him to pause mid story. Surprisingly, somewhere along the line he seemed to have caught Stacy's attention, for she was focused on him and only him. She really did have nice eyes. If you were into the kind that bore right into your soul. She smiled cutely, sipping her new water, much to the waiters chagrin, "So how's it end?"

Now it was his turn to smile, "I'm not sure yet. Perhaps you can help me find the answer?"

Dear readers, while I'm sure you're dieing to hear the rest of the conversation, a more important and monumental event was beginning to unfold at the bar across the way. Namely, the bar House had recently sent Cuddy off to.

Yes, the bar was conveniently located next to the front door which was, as all front doors are want to be, located near the lobby which was precisely where the newest character emerged from, her pretty face flustered from both the cold and a desperate desire to save her co-conspirator.

Of course, such a woman could only be the lovely Alison Cameron, arriving precisely when we don't want her

The petite doctor glanced frantically around the restaurant, completely distressed (somewhere along the course of her quick scan, Chase had slunk down into his seat, secretly terrified he might be discovered, especially if she happened to see Cuddy. He did not, in fact, have any desire to relieve the Halloween Party all over again.) till finally, her gaze settled upon the one that needed to be saved. Namely, Stacy.

"Stacy! Stacy! STA...ACK!"

Markus glanced over towards the screaming woman (which was turning quite a few heads, this was, after all, a rather expensive place and screaming was a thing generally avoiding if one didn't wish to be pointed and/or laughed at), and was instantly horrified, seeing the young lady go down, a form clad in a very expensive dress cutting short her message.

Unfortunately, the point had gotten through, and, hearing her name, Stacy began to turn towards the noise and, what could have been, the end of the conspirators.

And so, Marcus did to most distracting thing he could think of.

Namely, seize the older woman by the shoulders...

And kiss her.

Somewhere, deep inside him...he felt his stomach wretch.

Meanwhile...

It really was an excellent thing she had been marching back to their table to punish House (for snagging her wallet, no doubt!), else she might not have caught dear Alison mid shriek. Of course, there had probably been a less violent way to solve the situation. After all, rugby tackles are not the most common way to tell someone to shut up.

Cuddy hastily rearranged her dress, trying not to make a scene. A failed attempt really since the entire restaurant (minus the now preoccupied Stacy and Markus) was already gaping. She gave them a weak smile, grabbed Cameron's arm and marched right out of their, none the worse for the wear.

One by one, each of the males in her party followed suit, till only House was left. He turned, waved to the patrons, held his drink up in salute, spun on his heel and walked out. "And to all a good night!"

It was going to be an...interesting night to say the least.

Sky: There, it is done. Short, but done. Finally. THANK GOD! THE CURSE IS BROKEN!

Cuddy: Still convinced there's a curse, are we?

Sky: I'm convinced because it is.

House: Of course. Well, in celebration, everyone that reads this chapter should review, voicing their elation that this story can go on curse-less!

Sky: YEAH!

House: Don't cheer for yourself moron.

Sky: Sorry. Anyway, ya'll know the drill. If there's something you think should happen next chapter, or you have an idea that you would like to see in here, please, please, please tell me. I'd love to try and do it for ya! Till next chapter!