A.N.: Thanks for all the reviews, follows, and alerts! I love you all!

I do not own.

Figuring out that he was in love with Cuddy did not bring him any closer to figuring out what he should do. In his experience it was best not to expect good things to come to him. Other people got to be happy. Other people got to be in love. He got to live in pain and be walked out on by others. Trusting Cuddy with his heart would be a huge step. She had been his doctor for the infarction. Legally he knew that she had to do whatever Stacy said, but he felt manipulated by them both. Logically he knew she was not at fault, but it had taken him a long time to stop resenting her. Stacy he would probably always resent. Part of him was sure that he should give a relationship with Cuddy a try, but the biggest part of him was sure that it would all go wrong. Was it worth the risk? It wasn't even just them at stake here. It was Gwen as well. Then again if they were going to attempt to be a couple it should probably be while she was too young to remember. It would be less harmful to her that way if they flamed out. Emotions were fucking complicated. He needed Wilson.

House had been back to work for a week since his electrocution. So far he and Cuddy had been doing the avoidance dance that was made possible by him hiding out or doing his work and going to her home before she left so he could get time in with Gwen. It wasn't a flawless plan, but it was working so far.

House left his office and cut across the balcony to Wilson's. His friend didn't seem to be in so he opted for a nap on his couch while he waited.

Wilson walked in to his office and shut the door gently behind him. When he spotted House on his couch it occurred to him that he should probably be more surprised than he was. Instead of going over to wake him up he merely opened the door again and slammed it closed loudly causing House to wake from his dreams with a start, "Morning, sunshine." He greeted as he moved to sit behind his desk.

House rubbed his eyes trying to get himself to fully wake before he sat up, "I have real emotional problems and waited ever so patiently for you to come back in and this is the thanks I get? You are so insensitive, Jimmy." He put his hand over his heart feigning hurt.

"So sorry. I was completely unaware that you were napping on my couch because you were waiting out the chance to show me your soul. By all means share away." He gestured for his friend to begin with whatever it was he needed to say.

"Well now I am not sure if I want to discuss it with you." House folded his arms over his chest to show his obstinance.

Wilson rolled his eyes, "Fine. Sit there and pout. See if I care" He picked up his pen and set about the task of his paper work.

"You are just going to ignore me?"

"If you are going to act like a child, then yes I am." Wilson answered without looking up.

"Cuddy told me she loves me." House blurted out.

Wilson's head snapped up, "WHAT!"

House smirked, "See that got your attention."

Wilson shook his head, "You are such an ass. Why would you lie about that?"

"Who said I was lying? I just said it got your attention. I was right. It also happens to be true. That is really just a bonus."

Wilson stared at him in shock, "So she really did? What did you say?" He pressed.

"Well it sort of just slipped out of her when she was berating me about the whole knife in the electrical socket thing. I pressed her about it. She said it wasn't the point because she obviously didn't matter to me. I told her she did because as Gwen's mother she would always be a part of my life."

"What every woman wants to hear, 'Of course you matter. Fate has bound you to me and I can't get rid of you'." Wilson quipped with a roll of his eyes.

House rolled his eyes mockingly back at him, "It wasn't meant like THAT. Geez Wilson you make me sound insensitive to her feelings."

"No. YOU make yourself sound insensitive to her feelings because you are."

"I care about her feelings." House was a little put out that Wilson thought he didn't.

"Oh I am so sorry. I must have missed you caring in between telling her she looks like a prostitute and insulting her intelligence."

House leaned back into the couch and stared at the wall, "I happen to enjoy the fact that she flaunts all her goodies, and we all know she isn't stupid. Can't anyone take a joke."

Wilson shrugged, "I know for a fact that you are just pulling on her pigtails because you like her, but you can't blame her for thinking she doesn't matter to you." He put down his pen and laced his hands together to rest on his desk, "Do you love her?"

"I want to bang her again. Is that the same thing?" House asked pretending to look confused and innocent.

Wilson shook his head, "House you came here to talk to me because you obviously need advice. I can't give you any if you deflect the whole damn time."

House sighed and rubbed his forehead, "I might sort maybe have feelings like you are talking about, but what good has that ever done for me?"

"She isn't Stacy, House. It isn't fair for you to try and compare them. She deserves a chance."

"I could fuck it all up. Then what happens?" House was genuinely curious how Wilson thought their break up might work.

"You two will just have to figure something out if it fucks up, but why don't you consider what could happen if it did work. You could live in the same house with your daughter. You could be a family, a real one. Gwen deserves that chance just as much as Cuddy does."

House contemplated that for a moment before nodding briefly in response. Wilson was right, but he was not going to verbally acknowledge that.

After a few moments of silence House spoke up, "So I should talk to her?"

Wilson nodded, "Sure after she gets back from the conference in New York you should definitely talk to her."

This surprised House and he sat up looking a lot more alert, "She isn't here?"

Wilson rolled his eyes, "House she told you about this two months ago when she agreed to go."

"How the hell am I supposed to remember something that was told to me two months ago?"

"Yes that is such an unrealistic expectation for a man who pays so much attention to her that he knows when she menstruates." Wilson shook his head in disbelief of how much of an idiot his genius friend could be, "In any case she will be back in two days."

House let this information sink in. He had been avoiding Cuddy to the point where he didn't even notice she was gone today. She probably thought that her slip of the tongue had meant nothing to him. For all he knew she could be vulnerable and some idiot at the conference might be able to take advantage of that. He had been to a few conventions with her, and he had seen the way those dip shits looked at her. Only HE was allowed to leer at her and picture her naked. No, no. If he was going to talk to her it was going to be today. They had wasted years of not facing what was right in front of them. There was no way he was going to allow one more thing stand in the way of the chance they should take, not even his own fear. They had a lot to talk about, he knew, but that was even more of a reason to get started on it now. His decision was made. He was going to New York.