HERE! lol I have to go up to my school to get uniforms.... yippee.....:~( READ, REVIEW, AND ENJOY!

~Dr. McCaney

Chapter 21- Shut up and Drive

"Wow," Cuddy whispered to herself as they stood outside the Eiffel Tower.

"Looks like something that would be in the Tin Man's pants," House joked.

"House," Cuddy hissed as two children and their parents passed. House made an innocent face and shrugged his shoulders. After waiting an hour in line and paying the twenty euro ticket cost to go all the way to the top, they went into Altitude 95 to eat lunch.

"That food cost more than I get paid," House joked as they exited the restaurant.

"Well, maybe you'd get paid more if you did your clinic duty," Cuddy responded.

"Oh," House winced, "ya got me."

They made their way over to the elevator which had a mile long line, resulting in an hour and a half wait. House's leg was beginning to hurt but, thankfully they were able to go straight to the back of the lift when it came back down. He leaned back against the wall, and wrapped his arms around Cuddy's waist as she stood in front of him. He pulled her back against him as the elevator started to fill with people.

"Don't want you catching any stray hands, now do we?" House mumbled to her.

"You mean like the ones that currently reside on my hips," she smirked.

"Hey. These aren't stray." He protested.

"Oh yeah, I forgot I own them," she joked.

"And strangely enough, that doesn't bother me," House said tightening his grip, "How long is this gonna take?"

"It depends on whether or not the elevator stops at the second floor," She said as she laid her head back on his chest.

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Fifteen minutes later House and Cuddy were looking out over Paris, France.

"Give me your phone," House said.

"No," Cuddy looked at him.

"I just wanna use the camera," he said holding out his hand expectantly. Cuddy rolled her eyes and reached into her purse with a huff, "I'll do it."

Cuddy took several pictures of the cityscape. "I wanna take some too," House pouted.

"Do you remember what happened last time I lent you my phone?" Cuddy scowled at him.

House thought about that for a moment, "Okay, I'll cut you a deal. If I send anymore reckless texts to your mom I get a month of clinic duty."

"You don't even do your current clinic duty. Why would I expect you to do extra clinic duty?"

She had a point. "Okay, a month off of sex," House challenged.

Cuddy looked at him questioningly; he actually wanted to take this relationship somewhere. It wasn't just a one time deal. He still wanted to be with her after this trip was over and he only just started admitting that he loved her. Well, that's what she told herself at least and there was nothing he could do in that moment to change her mind.

"Deal," She handed over the camera.

"I'm gonna go take pictures of the other side," House threw over his shoulder as he walked off.

Cuddy looked back out onto the city.

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House didn't want to take pictures of the city, matter of fact that wasn't his intention at all. He limped around the Eiffel Tower until he was back on his original side and hid out of the way of Cuddy.

"Hey, kid," House motioned to a little boy. The boy looked up at House.

"Can you take a picture of me and that lady over there," House stooped down to his level. The boy shook his head happily. House gave him the phone, "All you have to do is press this button and this sucker is all yours." House took the cherry sucker out of his pocket, waving it temptingly in the boys face.

The boy nodded his head. House limped back over to Cuddy.

"Hey, Cuddy," House said as he limped up behind her.

When she turned around he was right behind her and planted his lips on hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he placed his hands on her hips. The questioning look was back in her eyes and when she saw his face she understood.

"Love you, too," she said as she rested her forehead against his. House smirked at her, gave her another small peck on the lips, and limped away. Cuddy looked after him for a second in confusion, shook it off and continued to admire the beautiful city.

House limped back over to the kid and looked at the pictures. The boy took three pictures, one of House standing behind Cuddy, one where House was kissing Cuddy, and the last one had them resting their foreheads against the others.

"Thanks, kid," House said as he ruffled the boy's hair. He took the sucker out of his pocket and tossed it to him.

As House limped back over to Cuddy he sent the pictures to his phone. Oh yes, he had big plans for those pictures.

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As the afternoon progressed, the sky above the tower was taken over by dark, looming, grey clouds. It was breathtaking and scary at the same time.

"We're out of here, Cuddy," House said leading her back to the elevators, "I remember reading about this place getting struck by lightening and unless you have a death wish, we're leaving."

Cuddy looked at her phone, "We've been here for quite a while anyway."

By the time the couple got to the car it was raining cats and dogs. Cuddy handed House the keys because she never really liked driving in bad weather. Lightening flashed violently across the sky as thunder made itself known audibly. Cuddy was about to tell House to slow down when something scampered across the street. House swerved out of the way just in time to dodge, what looked to be two animals one of which was already injured. When he came to a stop Cuddy rushed out of the car to investigate the damage. House had thankfully only driven up onto the curve before he stopped and Cuddy sighed in relief. She was about to get back into the car when she heard a high-pitched whimper coming from under a parked car. Cuddy quietly stooped down and cautiously surveyed the area, so she would not scare whatever it was away. The rain pelted her head, skin, and already drenched trench coat as her eyes finally landed on a frail yellow Labrador retriever which was limp behind a growling black one.

"Hey," Cuddy cooed, "what are you doing under there?" Cuddy put out her hand to let the puppy sniff it. "I won't hurt you," she assured the tiny, underweight puppy. "And who's that behind you?" Cuddy asked as she scooped the yellow one up. While she comforted the black lab she noticed the yellow lab could barely lift its head. The puppy whimpered again as she missed the presence of its sibling. It was lying on its side and had missing patches of fur.

"Shhh," Cuddy whispered gently, "I've got you, baby." Cuddy clutched both of the puppies to her chest as she made it back into the car. She didn't yet know what to do with the puppies, but she knew she didn't want to leave them like this.

House stared at her like she was insane and then opened his mouth, "And what do you expect to accomplish by bringing two sopping wet, mangy, mutts into this car?"

Cuddy continued to comfort the puppies, "Just drive."