Sorry for the delay in updating. Perhaps my inspirations will come from the Cuddy centric episode previews we'll see tonight after the House episode this evening featuring Foreman's brother. Don't get me wrong but it does feel slightly like the writers are trying to find other things to delay the inevitable connection between House and Cuddy. I hope like hell it isn't going to be this season's cliffhanger but then again, they've done meaner things to us Huddyfans. Here's the next day at work between our lovers.

----------------

"Hey, I'm all for announcing we're a couple, yelling it out from the lobby balcony, even, but we can wait a little while before going public," House agreed. Cuddy tried to scrutinize his expression as they pulled into the parking lot.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"As long as you and I go home together every night, I don't care who knows what." House squeezed her hand again and Cuddy squeezed back.

"You know it is Friday," Cuddy hinted. "Want to move in tomorrow?" House felt his heart swell and he nodded immediately with a crooked smile. God, I love this woman! House thought to himself.

-------------

House walked Cuddy to her office from the parking lot. He had left his cane in it the day before and needed it badly. Even though he needed his cane, had it not been there, there was no way he wasn't going to walk her to her office. It gave them a few more seconds together. It also gave them a chance to sneak a passionate kiss inside her office. The excitement of their hidden romance was intoxicating.

"You're such a sexy little minx," House whispered as he nuzzled her ear and caressed her body thrilling Cuddy to nervousness.

"Greg…oh, I guess I better not call you that while we at work," Cuddy murmured into his mouth. "We have to use last names here."

"Okay," House said as he pulled her tighter and stifled the urge to grope her bottom. Cuddy kissed him with a quick peck and backed away.

"There's your cane, by the couch." She pointed out. House waited before going over to it.

"I don't want to go just yet," House said quietly.

"I don't want you to go either," Cuddy replied. "You want to grab lunch together?"

House nodded, "11:30?" Cuddy nodded back. "I'll see you in three hours, Cuddles…. if I don't sneak back here before then."

"I miss you already," Cuddy was grinning. House winked at her and walked out the door. Just a couple of feet away, he turned to look back and see if she was still watching him. She was. He smiled and waved to her. She waved back.

"Three hours…." House said to no one in particular.

House strolled into his office twenty minutes late singing a relatively recent pop ballad loudly and ignoring his staff until he finished it.*(following song by Big Star, "I'm In love with a girl")

"I'm in love with a girl 


Finest girl in the world 


I didn't know I could feel this way 


Think about her all the time 


Always on my mind 


I didn't know about love 



All that a man should do is true 


I'm in love with a girl 


Finest girl in the world 


I didn't know this could happen to me"

Foreman leaned back in his chair and raised his eyebrows at his fellow co-workers as House walked past their conference table on his way to the coffee pot – still singing but less loudly. Taub looked up at Thirteen with a weird look on his face. Thirteen shrugged and smiled. Chase covered his grin and caught Foreman shaking his head.

"What?" House looked innocently at his staff. "It's a beautiful morning and I felt like singing!"

"Sounds like somebody got a little sumthin' sumthin' last night," Foreman taunted.

"That wouldn't be you. Didn't Thirteen dumped you?" House shot back. "Now, kiddies, what's on the agenda for today?" Without waiting for their reaction, House continued on, "all of you are going to do double clinic hours from now on until we get a case. Capeesh?"

Foreman sighed heavily and Taub took a sip of his coffee to hide his own reaction from House's announcement. Thirteen took it in stride but Chase protested.

"Why do we have to double our hours down there?"

"Because I said so. Sorry if I'm cutting into your cross-word puzzle time but you slackers need to step it up!"

"Are you doubling your own hours?" Taub asked.

"God no, I'm the boss! Why would I do that? This way I get more time away from you all!" House laughed sarcastically as he twirled his cane with a flourish. "Time to go, kiddies! Daddy needs a nap!"

"But you just got here," Thirteen pointed out. "It's 8:30 in the morning!"

"Yep, somebody got a little sumthin'sumthin' last night. You know how tired old guys get after sex!" Foreman said pointedly.

"And you know this because you sex with a lot of old guys?" House shot back? Foreman rolled his eyes and knew better than to mix it up with House. He pushed the door open and headed down to the clinic before House told him a second time. The rest of the team followed behind.

"Ahhhhh, peace and quiet, at last!" House reclined himself into his sleek leather chair and placed his feet on the ottoman before closing his eyes and remembering the very special night and morning he shared with Cuddy. Images of their tryst played over and over in his mind not realizing he was singing to himself quietly.

"I'm in love with a girl 


Finest girl in the world 


I didn't know I could feel this way 


Think about her all the time ….


-------------

Just after 9 am one of the nurses walked into Cuddy's office carrying a large vase with a grand assortment of spring flowers in every color. It was filled with daisies, bud roses, lilac, tulips, lilies and irises and had a pale blue ribbon wrapped about the vase, cascading in gently curled tendrils.

Cuddy looked up and was surprised at the arrangement. When did he have time to order these? She wondered.

Nurse Jackie sat the arrangement on her desk and gave Cuddy a Cheshire cat grin and a wink. "These are for you….again."

Cuddy knew she was glowing at the sight of the flowers.

"There's a card this time!" Jackie pointed out. Cuddy reached for it and opened the small envelope slowly hoping Jackie would leave. She didn't.

"Special occasion, Dr. Cuddy?"

"Yes, something like that," Cuddy said as she read the card. "Thank you for bringing them in." Nurse Jackie took the hint and left, disappointed at not knowing the name of the sender.

Cuddy looked at the card and re-read it, committing his words to memory, "Lisa, Loving every minute since sex-thirty yesterday. Greg." Cuddy felt a jolt of happiness flooding her veins. She stared at the card and glanced up to make sure she was alone before slipping the card inside her left bra cup, keeping it close to skin and her wildly pounding heart.

Wilson walked past House's office and noticed the conference room was empty. He spotted two large tennis-shoes cocked at angles on a chair's ottoman and realized House had dozed off in his recliner partially hidden by a bookshelf. Wilson smirked, quietly entered the office and whipped out his cell phone out to quietly snap a picture of the drained diagnostician.

"What happens next?" Wilson asked the sleepy doctor stretched out before him.

"I don't know," House said without opening his eyes.

"You going to screw this up or what?" Wilson said before kicking House's shoe on the ottoman.

House opened his eyes slowly and glared at Wilson despite the feeling of fear that was expanding in his stomach. "I can't. This is my last chance with her."

"She said that? Cuddy actually said that?" Wilson was obviously surprised.

"Yeah, and she also wants to keep this news secret for now."

"That makes sense on her part. Why tell everyone you two are a couple? You might blow this and then she'd be …."

"I'm not going to blow this, Wilson!"

"I hope you don't because I'd really like to see it work out. You've been infatuated with her, attracted to her, scared of her, …"

"Whoa there, Dr. Phil, what's this 'scared of her' crap?" House demanded.

"I don't mean scared of her …more like scared to do something that would reveal your feelings…now that you're healthier, that's not the issue anymore."

"Then what is the issue?" House pushed.

Wilson looked at House with a smirk on his face. "This isn't a casual thing to either of you. You have to confess."

"Confess what?" House was on the defensive.

"That you love her. That you want to be with her and only her."

"Cuddy knows I love her. I told her already."

"Has she said it back?" Wilson couldn't help but ask.

House stared at Wilson debating whether to share this with him further. Obviously Wilson knew the two of them were together after this morning's visit. House decided this wasn't violating anybody's trust to share a few more details.

"Yeah, she did."

"Cool. So what do you plan to do about it?" Wilson tried to act casual but he was far too curious to hide it well.

"We're moving in together…. tomorrow." House said with a smile. Wilson grinned back at him.

"I'm really happy for you both. Don't worry. I won't say a word to anyone about your secret. Just be good to her, House. Cuddy deserves it and I think you both could be very happy together."

"I know. I've been thinking about this for a long time and I …" House stopped and looked at his friend, unsure whether to reveal too much. "I don't think I could ever see myself with anyone but her."

Wilson was smiling hugely. "So you're thinking this could be a permanent deal?"

"You think she'd want that?" House asked shyly.

"I think Cuddy's way too wary to rush into anything with anyone, especially you, House. Better to take it easy on her and let her get to know you again. Let her reconnect with who you were and who you are now."

"Then what?"

"Then do what you think is right," Wilson added. "For both of you."

"What the hell does that mean?" House was a little clueless for once.

"We both know what that means," Wilson smirked.

House stared at his friend briefly before nodding at him. "I know. I just needed to hear it from someone else."

"She's probably a nervous wreck right now," Wilson pointed out. "She's vacillating between moving forward with you and panicking about the ramifications to her job. You two are trapped by your working relationship. The only way to protect her job and her reputation is to make this permanent or else be contented to stay in the shadows and pretend you're not together, even though you are."

House knew exactly what Wilson meant but he didn't know if Cuddy was ready for that move.

"You think I should mention this sooner or later?" House asked softly.

"I really don't know but if it were me, I'd tell her I'd like to know if she see'd ever consider it as a possible option.

House nodded and went to his desk to play with the oversized tennis ball. "Have you talked to her alone yet? Like this?"

Wilson followed him and sat in front of his desk to offer reassurance. "Not yet. Thought you'd crack first."

"Nice."

"I was right." Wilson admonished. "I'm heading over to Cuddy's office. Anything you want to know?"

"You know what I want to know," House said firmly. Wilson nodded at him and left. Wilson knew this was make-it-or-break-it time between these two over-thinkers. One wrong thought could end things prematurely and he wasn't about to let that happen. Hell, he'd waited far too long to see this ever happen. Wilson was on a mission.

What do you think Cuddy will want? Let me know if you think they can be happy together or if they'll only end up more miserable together. I'd like to think they would be the best thing that happens to each other but they both have so many walls up and so easily hurt deeply that it has to be a careful foray. Let me know your thoughts on Cuddy and what she should say to Wilson. It could hold some surprises. Reviews help me weather the 7 days until the next new episode. Thanks all.