Loved the feedback on whether or not Cuddy should say something to House about Lucas and her 'break up.' I'm still mulling over the possibilities and will work something in one way or the other. Hope you enjoy the following chapter. Don't forget to leave a review!

"Yeah, but we can still talk on the phone, right? Just make it look like we've broken up but we're still together, right?" Lucas sounded so pitiful.

Cuddy nodded. "Of course, we'll just stay apart until the divorce is final but that doesn't mean we can't talk to each other."

"So lets get our story straight tonight and tomorrow we'll be officially 'over,'" Lucas said softly as if the words tasted badly.

Cuddy hugged Lucas and kissed him gently. "We'll get through this, honey. Don't worry. It's just for a little while." Lucas hoped she was right but felt his stomach ache at her words. Somehow he wasn't convinced it was going to be temporary.

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After Lucas left that evening, Cuddy couldn't help feeling a little angry with him. She turned off the lights and locked the doors, checking the downstairs windows as well before heading upstairs to check in on Rachel who was already asleep for the night.

Cuddy stared at herself in the bathroom mirror as she prepared for bed. She felt sad and yet somehow relieved. Deep down, Cuddy resented Lucas for putting her in such an embarrassing position with the hospital board. She was intensely private about her private life and having such a messy, ugly personal situation surface at her reputation's expense was more than she could stand.

She crawled into bed and stayed neatly on her side avoiding Lucas's pillow. She tried not to think about him and how she didn't exactly feel all that sad about their time apart for the next several weeks. It was an opportunity to rethink so many things going on in her life. For one thing, she felt immensely better about giving House one last chance now that Lucas wasn't sleeping with her. Somehow she had felt guilty about continuing her relationship with Lucas while opening the door for House to reconnect with her on a whole new level. She hadn't done anything wrong but in her heart she knew she wasn't being totally fair to either of them even if her brain felt otherwise.

She pushed the worries out of her mind as she turned off her bedside lamp and closed her eyes. I wonder what flowers he'll send tomorrow, Cuddy thought as she smiled in the dark.

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The car across the street from Cuddy's house turned on the engine and let it idle for a moment quietly after Cuddy's bedroom light went out. Lucas's wife stared at Cuddy's home satisfied Lucas would not be returning that night. The redheaded woman smiled to herself as she thought about her husband Lucas and the miserable look on his face as he left the house earlier that evening. Apparently her plan was working. Easing out of her parking space, Annette drove away quietly before turning on her headlights. Being a detective's wife had taught her plenty about the art of surveillance.

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Twenty-seven miniature orchids reached out gracefully along the dark reedy stalks. Cuddy was enthralled at their scent. They were beautiful and brought an equally stunning smile to her face as she inspected them. House was certainly working hard to impress her and she allowed herself a moment to enjoy his attentions.

Cuddy had only a few minutes to herself before House blasted into her office startling her enough to jump before turning around quickly.

"So why all the lawyers yesterday?"

"Good morning to you, too," Cuddy said dryly.

"Did you kill a patient? Rob a donor? Hit on an employee?" House waggled his eyebrows. "Because if it was the last one I certainly didn't turn you in."

Cuddy rolled her eyes as she moved around her desk and took her seat.

"It's nothing, really."

"Your office was wall-to-wall in legal beagles all day and you say it's nothing? C'mon…." House prompted.

"Seriously, House, the matter's resolved." Cuddy said slowly.

"So you don't want to tell me? Yesterday you said it was 'personal' which sounded very juicy, now you're being very mysterious about it," House pried. "I'll admit I do find that sexy as hell."

Cuddy smiled and looked away as a blush spread across her cheeks. House noticed.

"So you're okay?" House asked gently.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for checking on me yesterday. That was …sweet."

House smiled at her and stared at his cane to get over the momentary embarrassment of her compliment. The truth was he had been checking on her yesterday and was obviously doing so again this morning.

"You know I'll find out eventually…." House mumbled.

Cuddy's pleased expression suddenly turned cold, "House, I would really appreciate it if you would just drop it." Crap. House had blown it and screwed up what had been a nice moment between them.

House looked at Cuddy for a few seconds and finally responded. "As much as I love puzzles -- and you know I do, -- I will drop it but only because you asked me to. If you change your mind and want to talk about it, you know where to find me."

Cuddy's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Just like that? You're letting it go?"

"I keep telling you, Cuddy, I'm a new man. The old annoying House is gone. The new and improved House before you is a much nicer guy," House said flirtatiously.

"So I see," Cuddy said with a tone bordering on admiration. "Thank you, House. I really would appreciate it if you didn't mention the lawyers meeting to anyone."

"Whoops. I already told Wilson."

"Of course, what was I thinking," Cuddy rolled her eyes.

"Relax, Cuddles. Wilson won't do anything but pester you to tell him and when you do, he'll tell me," House said slyly. "Of course I'll tell him not to but you know how he gets -- all girly and squealy sometimes."

Cuddy's expression changed to one of sarcastic doubt. "Right."

House watched her lips as she spoke and she realized he was staring at her mouth. Cuddy felt herself get a little nervous and reached for her phone. House realized Cuddy was dismissing him without saying so and he nodded as he turned to leave.

"Uhm…House…" Cuddy hesitated. House turned around and looked at her.

"Thank you for the orchids. They're just lovely." Cuddy looked genuinely happy as she spoke. House smiled at her.

"You're welcome, Cuddy. They're butterscotch orchids. I thought you might like them."

"I love butterscotch," Cuddy said softly.

"I know," House winked as he left.

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Cuddy stared at the door and put the phone back in its cradle. House was certainly acting differently than she expected. Cuddy let her mind wander and she weighed the idea of telling House about Lucas's wife Annette and the whole mess but she couldn't help fearing the thought of House laughing in her face. She wanted to believe House was truly "new and improved" but his history of throwing hurtful comments at her when angry was too much for her to bear. Maybe one day she'd tell him, but just not now.

Cuddy knew she should feel sad about not being able to see Lucas for a whole month but strangely she didn't. She almost felt lighter, freer. She gazed at the soft yellow orchids on her desk and realized she truly believed House when he said he wasn't going to try to find out anything more about the lawyers meeting. Maybe he had changed.

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Lucas was miserable. He looked miserable, he felt miserable because he was completely miserable. He knew Cuddy was right to suggest they take a break from each other and he felt terrible about causing her so much embarrassment and stress at her job. He longed to see her and touch her right then and found himself hitting the speed dial button to her cell phone.

Cuddy's cell phone vibrated in place on her desk. Picking it up, Cuddy saw it was Lucas calling. She didn't answer and placed the phone back on her desk.

When she didn't answer, Lucas quickly hung up instead of leaving a message. He'd try her again later. Right now he had to go see Annette's attorney and let him know she'd cost him his relationship with Cuddy and if Annette ever contacted Cuddy again or her hospital, Lucas would get a restraining order against Annette.

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House was hoping to see Cuddy in the clinic later that day. He leaned against the nurses' station and toyed with the folded edges of his list of top ten reasons why they should be together. The list stayed in his pocket most days and served to remind him he still had a viable chance to win her away from Lucas. He waited to hear the familiar clicking sound of a pair of size 6 and ½ high heeled designer pumps coming his way.

For once the clinic wasn't very busy and House managed to fulfill his clinic hours for the day relatively unbothered. After the third patient House lingered behind and caught a short nap. Not all bad habits had vanished.

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"So, want to get lunch?" Wilson asked Cuddy from her doorway just before noon. She glanced up and stared at him before responding.

"You're not asking me to lunch to grill me about lawyers are you?" Cuddy asked firmly. Wilson looked caught.

"Well, the thought had crossed my mind but if you'd rather not tell me that's fine. My lunch offer still stands."

"Okay, then." Cuddy got up and pulled her wallet out of her purse before shutting the drawer. "Lets go."

The pair got their lunch and sat together in a booth toward the back of the cafeteria.

"So how's Lucas?" Wilson asked politely. Cuddy practically dropped her fork.

"What? He's…fine." Cuddy managed to say quickly before gulping a bite of salad.

"Those flowers must be costing him a small fortune," Wilson teased good-naturedly.

Cuddy nodded but said nothing. Wilson waited for her to weigh in. When she didn't Wilson continued chatting.

"Have you seen House today?

"Yes, he stopped in this morning," Cuddy admitted. "He was curious about the lawyers in my office yesterday."

Wilson smiled at the obvious elephant in the room.

"I told him not to worry about it and he agreed to let it go." Cuddy said quickly before taking a sip of her ice tea. Wilson's mouth dropped open. "I KNOW!" Cuddy added.

"Wow. How did you manage that?" Wilson seemed genuinely surprised.

"I have no idea but he said he'd leave it alone because I asked him to. Said he was a new man and isn't going to pester me about it."

"He is trying to shed some of his more annoying habits," Wilson nodded approvingly. It felt good to put in a good word for his buddy to the woman House wanted to impress so badly.

"You believe a leopard can change his spots?" Cuddy sounded skeptical.

"Depends on the leopard," Wilson said thoughtfully. "I also believe old dogs can learn new tricks…not that House is an old dog."

"Dog, yes. Old, no." Cuddy teased.

"You should give him another chance, you know." Wilson said boldly. Cuddy's head snapped up at his words.

"Wilson! Please don't," Cuddy's eyes flashed dangerously at him. "I'm trying to figure out… I mean I have to think about what's best for Rachel and … Lucas and I…." Cuddy caught herself and stopped suddenly.

"What about you and Lucas? Everything okay?" Wilson urged.

"We're good. Can we change the subject?" Cuddy said uncomfortably and Wilson nodded. "How's your love life?" Cuddy turned the tables on Wilson.

"Right now it's nonexistent. There's this woman in our building who I met but she thinks House and I are a gay couple." Cuddy burst out laughing and apologized immediately.

"It's not funny!" Wilson said sadly. "First she thought we were a gay couple but now she thinks we're just a couple of 'mendacious scumbags!'"

"What did you do to deserve that?" Cuddy was enjoying their conversation.

"It's House's fault. First he convinced her we were a couple in order to get her to let her guard down and make a move on…" Wilson caught himself. Cuddy raised an eyebrow.

"Did he get to first base?" Cuddy teased. Despite her outward calm playful demeanor she felt strangely jealous.

"No, but only because I had to propose to him in a restaurant!" Wilson admitted sheepishly.

"No! You didn't! Did he accept?" Cuddy said gleefully. Wilson rolled his eyes.

"Please! Sarah came to see him here and he actually confessed his evil plan which she didn't appreciate one bit!" Wilson watched Cuddy's eyes closely as he spoke. She was very interested. "Sarah hasn't talked to either of us since then except to tell me we're scumbags."

Cuddy couldn't help but laugh out loud. "God, you two are something else! 'Mendacious' scumbags, don't forget." Wilson cringed but smiled weakly.

"So how's Rachel doing these days?"

"Fine. She's so wonderful. She's growing so fast and talking a little bit now," Cuddy's voice sounded warm and relaxed. "She calls Lucas 'dookus' which he doesn't….exactly like but it is pretty funny." Wilson smiled at the thought of sharing that little gem with House.

"So you're okay?" Wilson asked suddenly. Cuddy looked him directly in the eyes.

"I'm fine, you don't have to worry about me."

"Can't help it. I worry about my friends, it's what I do." Cuddy smiled at Wilson and reached over to pat his hand comfortingly. Wilson continued, "House worries about you, too, you know."

Cuddy nodded. "He's being very sweet lately."

"He cares a lot about you. You know that." Wilson added.

Cuddy leaned back and sighed. "I know. I care a lot about him but I just don't know if I can trust him. I'm torn whether to …" Cuddy trailed off.

"You trust him with patients' lives everyday," Wilson pointed out.

"It's not the same thing. We both know people who get close to House get hurt."

"He's changed. He's not the same old ass. House actually wants to be happy. He wants a future with you in it. Outside of the hospital."

"I want to believe you but it's going to take time, you know?" Cuddy said softly.

"Just don't give up on him, okay? Give him a chance to show you he's changed. He's still the same guy only better, he's really trying." Wilson said quietly. "He's still the most interesting guy I know."

"Maybe House should have accepted your proposal!" Cuddy teased. "You're like Felix and Oscar!" Wilson frowned at her.

"I had to show him how easy it is to do. Buy a ring. Ask in a public place. Wait for an answer." Wilson grinned. "God knows I've had plenty of practice proposing." Cuddy laughed easily. "And I'm secure enough in my manhood to not take offense at that 'odd couple' reference as long as you know I'm Felix!"

"Wasn't he the gay one?" Cuddy jabbed. Wilson shook his head with a sarcastic smile.

"Oh god! Please, that's the last thing I need people thinking!" Wilson replied. " Just thought you should know about Sarah in case you saw an angry woman running around the halls of Plainsboro."

"She wouldn't be the first," Cuddy said out loud.

"What?"

"Nothing," Cuddy said quickly. Damn, I almost said too much, Cuddy thought to herself.

Thanks for the latest reviews. Love the private emails and suggestions. I plan to use some of your great ideas to advance the story. Sorry to hear some of you are so unhappy with Cuddy but I'm on her side and truly want her and House together. I didn't like her mean Thanksgiving prank but looking back on it, it only seemed mean because we the viewers knew how much House was looking forward to being with her. Truth was he was planning to try to break up Cuddy's relationship and she knew it. She got him good BUT it did cause House to confront Lucas and to admit he loves Cuddy. I don't believe for a minute he said it only to screw with Lucas. He meant it which is why Lucas never told Cuddy. Poor Cuddy has no idea what to think. She'll get it right once she believes in House again. Let me know if you agree or not. Reviews make my week!