First off, I want to thank all of you who have offered your support, ideas, suggestions and constructive criticism; you have no idea how much that means to me. When I first started righting this fic. I wasn't sure how long I would keep it up but with your input I think I might be able to keep it going a good long time, if you wish. I'm really enjoying righting this story and your feedback makes it worth wile. So here it is your twenty-fifth chapter! Enjoy, and as always I look forward to your feedback!

Chapter 25

The next day House was back at work as usual. He still didn't have a new case and had quite expertly avoided any questions about where he had been. House made his way up to the COW, he continued to play chess with Kyle, and hung out with some of the other kids. It was different not having Lily around but he knew where she was and that she was happy and safe. Best of all she was waiting for her daddy to come home to play with her, he had to admit, that was a good feeling even if he didn't understand it.

The COW was decorated corner to corner with garland, paper chains, snowflakes, ornaments, and window clings depicting multicultural holidays all over the ward. The decorations here made the rest of the hospital look dull, and that was saying something; he figured it must have been the nurses that had done it, like the decorations alone could cure these kids.

Lily was fortunate. Not all of these kids would get the chance at life like Lily did. For many of them this was the end of the road, but that was life, just another part of it all. He figured after everything he had been trough he could at least do his little bit and keep up with his volunteer work. If nothing else it still kept him out of the clinic, always a plus.

He was bored and he had gone down to the morgue to call Cuddy and check up on the girls. House wanted to take care of some things after work so he told Cuddy he would probably just go back to Wilson's since most of his stuff was still there anyway.

About 9:00 that night, House was in his old apartment packing up some of the stuff he still had at his place, he wasn't moving it just yet but he knew it would be soon so he might as well do what he could. He had already called Mrs. Hudson, his landlady to tell her he would be moving out for good. He had then packed away the few clothes he still had; most of that stuff was at Wilson's now. Then he found some boxes and started boxing up some of his books and clearing off his bookshelf.

Around 10:30 he finally gave up and decided to go back to Wilson's to try to get some much needed sleep. But when he got there he found he was no were near that state of mind one required to do so. House settled in on Wilson's couch flipping through the channels. Finally coming to the conclusion that there was nothing on worth his attention he decided playing the guitar sounded like a good alternative to what he really wanted to do, play the piano. He went over and picked up his guitar and started to strum a few rifts before Wilson walked out.

House, it's almost 11:30, what are you doing?"

"Jamming"

"Is that all."

"Just trying to unwind"

"I see, so you're playing Ozzy?"

"What? 'Dreamer' is a slow song, grant you I would rather have my piano for this one, but the guitar bits are still pretty ok"

"Where are you going to put your piano?"

"I figured we can put it in that corner with her bookshelf, I think I'll move my big bookshelf onto the other wall and make it into a kind of library corner, the piano should work well there."

"Have you talked to her about this?"

"Not yet, but she knows we're a packaged deal, like her and the kids, besides that, she likes it when I play, she thinks it's hot."

"I bet…"

House smiled mischievously.

"Ahh anyway, what does my enabler say to a beer?"

"Yeah, I suppose we probably won't have too many of these kinds of nights now. When are you moving in?"

"You mean when am I moving out. And bight your tongue! You're not getting rid of me that easy you jerk, there's still poker and the occasional bowling night."

"Right, so my question…"

"Hadn't really set a date or anything, just figured I'd start taking stuff over, it's kind of surprising but I actually think most of my stuff will fit alright. We may have to rearrange some stuff and maybe get rid of a few things"

"Well other than your piano and bookcase what do you have? Clothes, books that go on said case, your guitars, your album collection, the stereo system and speakers, what else do you have?"

"Yes, remind me of my empty existence."

"Is it really so empty?"

"My apartment? I just came from there, it's dismal."

"Your existence"

"Not now, not with Lisa and the girls."

"You're still afraid though."

"Wouldn't you be?"

"If I had been living your life? Hell I think I would welcome the change, but I'm not you House, I just get you."

"I've corrupted you."

"Oh please, I've enabled you in your corrupting."

"True" House grinned. "So about that beer."

"Yeah I'll get 'em" Wilson walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge, "Only got four left, you want to finish 'em tonight?"

"Two each, not really a binge, sure." House set down his guitar and walked back over to the couch where he sat down taking the beer from Wilson.

"So, what's going on with you and Marla?" House asked out of the blue.

"We went out, that one night, we talk on the phone, she's nice, and I like her"

"Why haven't you asked her out again?"

"Babysitter has been preoccupied"

"Ahh…"

Wilson shot House a look.

"So you want us to take them?"

"You're offering?"

"If it will get you laid."

"You're worried about me getting laid?"

"If you like her. Course then again, if you like her and her rug-rats why don't you just go over for a movie or something?"

"I have, and her kids are great. Logan is finally starting to ease up on me a little, very little, he's a pit-bull that one."

"Yeah he is."

"Nether one of us is ready to rush into anything, but I think I want to hold on to this one, she's good for me."

"You said that about Amber too."

"She was good for me, I still miss her but, its time, time to move on, and I think Marla is the perfect one to help me get back on my feet."

"Yeah, she's pretty hot; knockers aren't too bad, not as good as Cuddy's but hers are hard to top anyway."

Wilson just rolled his eyes "Well I like them just fine" he sat back smiling as though remembering a particularly pleasant memory.

"I can leave you alone you know"

"Humm?"

"Oh f*ck, that's it, I'm going to bed"

"Drink your beer"

"Oh hey by the way, I need you to help me out, I told Cuddy I'd go get a fake Christmas tree, and set it up. Then your hot blond bimbo is supposed to be coming over to decorate it."

"You're putting up a tree?"

"Yeah, were having our family's come, met the kids, Hanukkah, Christmas, Rachel's Birthday, our engagement, all that in one shot."

"What did she bribe you with? Wait I don't want to know"

"Well the fact that they won't be staying with us is a perk for starters."

"Ok… how do you feel about getting the tree and moving the piano and book case this weekend?" he said taking a swig of his beer.

"I guess so, I'll have to call the piano movers, I'm not trusting my baby to you."

"Fine by me, that way everything will be ready, Hanukkah starts next weekend."

"Yeah, I know, and Cuddy goes back Monday, so yeah this weekend should be fine" he downed the rest of his first beer setting the empty bottle back down and picked up his second bottle.

"Speaking of Cuddy coming back, you going to announce your engagement?"

House smiled one of his up-to-no-good-smiles, "Cuddy wants to have some fun first"

"Cuddy wants to have some fun first?"

"Oh good your ears work, I was worried about that. Yes!"

"What kind of fun?"

"We want you to place some bets for us" he cracked open his beer.

"You want… House!"

"Her idea, I promise! Just play dumb, take bets, tell them your money is on that new male nurse in the clinic, and then rake in the dough."

"And the one Chase has had going for years?"

"Sweeten the pot, put a thousand on that one for me too, I bet that one is pretty high, that's the one that has us screwing right?"

"And this is her idea?"

"Oh yeah"

"Wow"

"Nice huhh?"

"Good night House" He said getting up and walking away.

"Night Wilson" House sat back and downed the rest of his beer, and then he walked back to his room.

House stripped down to his T-Shirt and boxers then got a pair of sleep pants out of his drawer and slipped them on, it was getting colder out. House crawled in between the sheets and laid there looking up at the ceiling.

Tomorrow was Friday, he would finish out the week, hopefully skip out early, kidnap Wilson get the tree, call the piano guys, and then get a small moving truck for the rest of his stuff. Oh yeah and tell Cuddy he was moving in.

Cuddy… this could very well be the last night he spent away from her and he couldn't wait for it to be over. He had missed being there to tuck the girls in, getting his hug and kiss goodnight, then holding Cuddy in his arms as he drifted off to sleep. If it hadn't been so late he would have gone over that instant, but they were all in bed, fast asleep, he doubted Cuddy was still up but he chanced a call.

***

Cuddy rolled over to the sound of her phone ringing, "Greg? What's wrong? It's, gees Greg it's almost one in the morning"

"Would you believe me if I told you I'm calling because I missed you?"

"Greg"

"Yeah I know, its cliché, but it's true, I just wanted to hear your voice."

"Have you been drinking?"

"Boy Wonder let me have two beers, other than that no, just missed you"

"You know, you never cease to surprise me, I love you Greg. Now get some sleep, your coming over tomorrow right?"

"Yeah, I'm calling the piano movers and then Wilson and I are getting the tree after work."

"I was starting to wonder when that piano was going to move in."

"She's my baby."

"Speaking of babies, they missed you tonight."

"And you?"

"I'm glad you called."

"Why is that?" he suddenly reminded himself of an awkward teenaged boy.

"I missed you too Greg, now, please, go to sleep, I will see you tomorrow, I love you."

"Love you too."

House hung up the phone; he hadn't cared how stupid he had sounded. It made him feel better.

***

The next day was rather uneventful at the hospital, House called the piano guys and they had handed him in a monkey wrench. They claimed that hey didn't work on weekends but they could have some of their guys there at 4:00. That kind of screwed him over as far as getting the tree went, but then again, he really didn't want to go to some crowded store to look for a dam tree anyway, that's what Wilson was for right?

House went into Wilson's office relating his dilemma trying to sell it as a sob-story knowing Wilson would see right through it.

"Are the piano guys even coming?"

"That part was actually true."

"So what, you lied about how much you wanted to be there to pick out the tree?"

"Something like that."

"And you felt the need to lie to me because…"

"Sounded like a good plan at the time."

"You do realize that I would have gone myself if you just asked."

"Cool, thanks Wonder Bread!"

"See you at Cuddy's later House"

"See yah!"

***

It was now 4:00 on the dot; House had skipped out and was currently in his old apartment leaning up against the back of his couch waiting for the piano guys to get there. House looked at his watch, he might not be the most punctual person in existence, but he hated waiting, cosmic irony he figured. Finally there was a knock at the door, fifteen minuets. He answered the door to reveal two moving guys, "You're late!" he barked turning way from the door.

The two young guys looked at each other, these guys were clearly bothers, probably the owner's sons House figured. "Sorry, man, had a hard time finding the place."

"Congratulations, you've found it, 221 B, now get to work" He pointed to the piano "One scratch and I'll hand both your asses over to your dear old daddy, man" he said stressing the last word.

The younger adverted his attention to the piano while the older of the two, swallowed, he was clearly taken back from his gruff manor "Yes Sir" House smiled to himself, way too easy.

The guys got to work almost afraid to make the grouchy man in front of them anymore irate, and nether one of them wanted to get a bad report sent back to their father. Not knowing that this was House on good behavior.

"Nice little piano" the younger guy said trying to make conversation.

"Yes she is"

"Guess you're pretty attached to it, humm?"

"You want my life story or you want to get paid?"

"Just trying to be friendly, dude."

"Look, if I want friendly, dude, I'll call my friend, if I want piano movers, I call piano movers, got it? I want to get home sometime tonight."

"Yum isn't this…"

"My new place moron, you are "Movers" thus, moving, to a new location, one I would like to get to sometime tonight."

"Yes, Sir"

House plopped down on his couch, he was going to miss this couch, but, Cuddy's wasn't bad, so he'd get over it. But there were some things he was not going to do with out. One being his piano.

Once they had his piano all ready to be moved out House removed him-self from the couch allowing the guys to move it so they could maneuver the piano easer. Then he stood and watched them like a hawk as they moved his baby out of the apartment, down the steps and into the truck.

Then the guys cam back inside to get the stool and the address they were to take him piano to House gave them a sideways look, "You had a hard enough time finding this place, follow me."

They finished up, got in their truck and House got in his car and lead them to Cuddy's house calling her on the way to tell her they were coming. When he got there, Cuddy was waiting at the door for them. "You ready for this Greg?"

"Actually I think I am, it will be nice to have my piano back, I missed her."

"Do you call her in the middle of the night too?"

"No, I reserve that for your bodacious ass"

"I'm flattered."

"Humhumm" the older of the two guys cleared his throat, "Ehh where you want it lady?" House shot him a dirty look "I mean, where would you like us to put it Ma'am" House gave Cuddy a smirk which she returned in kind then turned to the piano guys, "Over in that corner, by the book shelf" she pointed.

"Alright, hey Sammy, we got some moving to do before we unload that" he yelled to his brother who was starting to open the back of the truck.

House and Cuddy moved into the house, and let the guys get to work. Cuddy went in to the kitchen to sit with the girls where they were playing; House took up his post at the kitchen door where he could have the advantage of keeping an eye on the movers and still be close enough to talk to Cuddy.

"You afraid they're going to hurt your baby?"

"Told 'em, one scratch and I'd kick 'em in the a… where it hurts" he stopped himself, catching a warning look from Cuddy.

"I see" she smiled and walked over to where he was standing. She took his jacket in both of her hands and positioned herself only inches away from him, bodies almost touching. "Maybe you can play for me tonight?"

House felt a slight grin tugging at his lips as he looked at her, her eyes were soft and sensual and full of passion. If they hadn't had the girls and the piano guys there he probably would have made his move and had his way with her right there but as it was. "Privet performance after the girls go to bed?"

"Hum… that might be nice" she snaked her hand up around House's head and lifted herself up on her toes to meet his lips. He drank her in, oh how he had missed those lips, even if it had only been a day, he had missed them, he had missed her. He moved his arms around her waist pulling her to him. Then she heard yet again, "Hummhm", she turned around to face the young man standing awkwardly in her living room rubbing the back of his neck "Yes?"

"Hum, Ma'am, huhh, where, which, which way do you want this thing to go in that corner?"

House looked over, they had got the piano in, and the other brother was carefully unpacking it and getting it ready to be set up properly. House walked over, and stood in the spot he thought would be best "Put her right here, facing this way" he said swinging his arms in front of him, "We got another book shelf to put in here and my guitars can go over there." he said indicating a space that would be between the two bookshelves with an outlet.

"Yes, Sir" the brothers said at once.

Cuddy leaned in close to House, "Sir? Ma'am? What did you do to them?"

House gave her a half smile, "Nothing at all".