Hi everyone! I'm so so so sorry I haven't posted in literally almost a year. I have been so busy with life that I haven't had much time to write. I'm sorry for the short update, but I wanted to give you guys something. Enjoy!

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"I'm sorry if this brings back any unpleasant memories, but we need to get this incident report filed and then this will all be a memory."

I drummed my fingers on my lap as I looked up at the woman sitting across the desk from me, looking like she was having just as much fun as me. I uncrossed and crossed my legs again before responding. "What do you need to know?"

She slid her glasses on and hovered her fingers over her keyboard. "I just need to know if your work environment has changed significantly and how this has affected your residency."

"You're talking about the fact that I work for Doctor House on top of my residency?" I asked crisply. "My residency is hard, but I'm a hard worker and have been able to balance both work and school." I replied. "I've been doing different rotations with different doctors throughout the hospital on top of being apart of House's team. I'm still a resident, but I'm moving to California at the end of the year.

A lot happened in the past six months: I got shot, I passed my oral boards, and I had recently accepted a fellowship at Stanford for oncology. I would be leaving New Jersey for sunny California in just three months. Until then, I was posted in the ER and working on a new case for House.

So here I am, filing an incident report on how I got shot, and if it caused me any emotional damage. The only emotional damage I was feeling was the need to hit House over the head with a brick. He might be my boss, but he was still irksome and nosey.

"Is there anything else you need?" I asked, making a move to stand up. "I have patients I need to see."

The woman scribbled something quickly and looked up. "Not for right now, but I will give you a call if I have anymore questions."

With that I stood up and left the room, my footsteps the only sound in the empty hallway. It was just past 5pm and most of the staff had gone home for the night, save for several nurses and me. I just needed to administer one more dose of Amphotericin B, check on some lab work, and then I would be free to go.

I turned the corner and immediately regretted my decision when I saw Doctor House coming towards me. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as I walked past him, not so much as earning a glimpse of acknowledgement from him. I released a breath I didn't know I had been holding as I made it to the elevator. The door began to slide closed, but suddenly stalled, a black cane blocking its path.

"Someone's up late."

I looked up, my lips tugging into a frown. "It's only 5, House. Not everyone sleeps during the day like you."

He pulled his cane out from the door and got in the elevator with me, pressing "3" as the doors slid shut. "You can go home now. Cameron is here checking on another patient, she'll do the lab work too."

I ached to go home after work today, but I wouldn't let Cameron do my work for me.

"I'll do it." I said, stepping off the elevator.

"You're not getting paid overtime!" House called as I walked away and the elevator shut again.

/

I finished my lab and patient work quickly and now found myself unlocking the door to the apartment. The flicked the lights on as I discarded my shoes and bag. Robert was in surgery right now so he wouldn't be home until later. I pulled leftovers out of the fridge, popped them in the microwave, and proceeded to have a lovely dinner on my couch.

I couldn't believe I was actually going to California in just two short months. My life had gone from zero to one hundred in a matter of months. Emily would be going to the University of Washington for her fellowship; my best friend would be away from me for the first time. I hadn't even thought about what Robert and I would do. It had seemed so far off until now. We freely talked about the fellowship and the excitement of it all, but actively avoided the subject of us being separated. I honestly didn't know what would happen to Robert and I. We had been dating for almost 10 months now, but what did that matter when I would be moving across the country? I knew we could make it past the distance, but it would be difficult.

I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard the familiar click of the front door being unlocked. Robert came in moments later, lugging a box behind him. I stood up and walked over, curious as to what he had brought home.

"Old patient files," he said, reading my mind. "What's for dinner?"

"Leftovers," I replied, joining Robert in the kitchen.

He made his way over to the sink to wash his hand and I followed, wrapping my arms around his waist form behind. I placed a kiss on his back before resting my head there. He let me hold him for a moment before turning to face me, his arms encircling me now. He bent down and pressed his lips to mine. I stood on my tiptoes and added more force to the kiss. He scooped me up and placed me on the counter, my legs pulling him close to me. I could feel his hand were still wet as he wove them in my hair. I parted my lips slightly and he took full advantage. I sighed into the kiss, loving every second of it. He planted one more kiss on my lips before pulling away. I was breathless and ready to keep going.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

Before I knew it I was being carried to our room. Our clothes were quickly shed before getting into bed. I reconnected my lips to Robert's and groaned when I felt him enter me.

When it was over, I was bone tired. I wanted to shower and then pass out until my alarm went off at 6 the next morning. I planted a kiss on Robert's chest, walked into the bathroom, and stepped into the shower, savoring the feeling of the warm water cascading over me.

I showered quickly, slipped into bed, and sighed deeply. Robert was gone when I got out of the shower and back into our room, working I assumed. The clock on the nightstand said it was only 8:46. Was I really about to go to bed before 9:00? Absolutely.

/

The clock glowed 2:34 when I heard Robert enter the room. I had passed out hard, only to wake up around 2:00. I had been trying to fall back asleep for the past half an hour to no avail. Maybe Robert getting here would lull me back to sleep, I always slept better with him next to me. He slipped under the covers and enveloped me in his arms giving me a squeeze.

I rolled over to face him, still surrounded by his arms. "Good morning," I said quietly, earning a smile from him.

"I can't believe I was up this late again," he said sleepily, his eyes closing momentarily.

I scooted closer to him so our bodies were touching. "You work too hard."

"Says the woman who works a full time job while in her residency." He said with an eye roll. "But you never cease to amaze me, so I'm really not surprised."

I pressed my lips to his softly. "What're we going to do in two months?"

He tightened his grip on me momentarily before relaxing. "I don't know baby."

I sighed. We needed to talk about this, but it could wait until another time. Robert brushed his thumb across my cheek and kissed me. "I do have something that might make it easier though," he said.

In one swift movement he rolled on top of me, his weight resting on his forearms. His nose brushed against mine. "Marry me."

What?

"Robert," I breathed, the air forced out of my lungs.

"Marry me. I love you and want to be with you for the rest of my life," He said, his eyes peering into mine.

"We've only been dating for 10 months!" I squeaked.

He smiled. "I knew I wanted to marry you when I came over for Thanksgiving last year. You were so intent on making everything perfect for me, despite the fact that you can barely cook and you weren't wearing pants. It was that moment that I knew I needed you to be mine. My perfect, scatterbrained, wonderful, best friend."

I thought my heart was going to burst out of my chest. Here was the man I loved telling me that he wanted to marry me. This was crazy. This was insane. But I wanted to marry him too.

"Robert I-" I began, but he pressed his lips to mine before I could finish.

"You don't have to give me an answer now, just think about it," He whispered against my lips.

I placed my hands on his face and kissed him forcefully. "Yes, I don't need to think about it."

His smile was so big I thought it was going to split his face in half. He kissed me once more and rolled off of me. He went to the dresser and began digging around in one of the drawers. I sat up and cocked my head to the side in confusion. He returned moments later and prompted me to scoot to the edge of the bed. He got down on one knee and opened up a small black box, revealing a simple silver ring.

"Eliza, will you do me the honor of being my wife?" He asked.

"Yes. Yes yes yes," I gushed as he stood up and slid the ring on my finger.

He picked me up and enveloped me in his arms. He pulled back and captured my lips in his. "My fiancée," he whispered against them.