I learned later that Alma called Stephen who showed up an hour later. I was already back in bed, having taken two more of those nice pills Greg had given me the night Daddy died.

I heard him in the hall talking to Alma. His voice was calm, but worried, "Just broke into tears?'

Alma whispered back, "Just sobbing. When I told her the pregnancy test was negative, she started crying again, uncontrollably. She took some of her Dad's medicine and climbed in bed."

Stephen walked in and sat down on my bed, "Philly, what did you take?" He sounded worried, as if he thought I had tried to commit suicide.

"Don't worry, I just took a couple of Lorazipam to calm myself down. I'm not trying to kill myself."

He looked visibly relieved. "Sorry about the pregnancy. I guess you wanted a child?"

"I guess I did. It hurt when Alma told me that it was negative."

"What did Greg say?"

"He hasn't called for a few days. He has a patient."

"A Patient?" He narrowed his eyes and looked incredulous, "He has one patient and he can't call you?"

"His patient was dying."

"Seems to me like you aren't doing too well either."

I was confused. Stephen came at the drop of a hat, whenever I called. Greg didn't. I didn't even really know where Greg was. I was beginning to think that I had made a huge mistake by choosing Greg.

"I'll cancel your appointments today so you can rest. Get lots of sleep, you have a big day tomorrow."

He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek as I drifted into a uneasy sleep. I dreamed I was in Peapatch on the porch, rocking back and forth with a piece of pie in my hand. I heard a noise inside and walked in to see what it was. In my bedroom, House was busy putting together a crib. He looked up and smiled at me.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Putting together the baby's crib."

"But there is no baby." I said, sick to my stomach.

"Don't be crazy, of course there's a baby."

"No you were wrong."

"I'm Greg House."

"Yeah, well welcome to reality."

He got up and walked over to me, smiled and said, "I've got good swimmers." He kissed me on the cheek and left!

I was screaming after him, "There is no baby! Don't leave me...there is no baby!"

I woke up...concerned that House was going to leave me if I wasn't pregnant. I found that hard to believe, because I couldn't see Greg wanting to be a father anyway. I just felt scared that, in my dream, he was so insistent I was pregnant. I wondered what he was going to do now? How would he take being wrong?

Around 10 pm I got up and went to the bathroom. I saw the wand in the trash and picked it back up, the blank spot made me feel empty all over again. I kept hoping that if I warmed it up, maybe the little pink plus sign would appear. It didn't. I took a shower and dried off. As I walked back into the bedroom, toweling off my hair, I saw a pair of Nikes on my bed. I looked up and he was watching me, an amused look on his face.

"You look like hell. Come here and lay down." He patted the bed next to him.

"Where have you been?" I sounded like a shrew; I felt like one too. "If this is suppose to be a relationship, you're doing a crappy job. I'm going through hell and you don't even call me?"

He sat up and looked at me, "I had a patient...you know, dying human being. You do remember the Hippocratic oath...doctor!"

"One damn phone call."

"Sorry, I spent my time running tests and reading journals, trying to diagnose him. If it's any consolation, he died. I didn't pull the rabbit out of the hat."

I felt like crap. He had lost a patient and I was berating him for not calling. I shrugged my shoulders, "Sorry."

He gave me a slight smile, "Come lay down with me. Alma said you had a rough day."

"I think everything hit me at once." I went over and crawled in bed with him. He held me and I finally felt safe. "Please, please, I'm begging you, stay with me for a few days."

"Darling, I have no vacation time or sick days left. I used them all when I was in Peapatch."

I stared into his eyes, "Let me talk to Lisa Cuddy."

"She can't do anything, it's in my contract. I've used up my time. I have tomorrow off for the funeral, but I have to go back after the funeral."

I was stretched to the max. My brain refused to accept that I had to let him go. I was inconsolable. Greg looked at me like I had gone mad.

"Jesus, being pregnant has really done a number on you."

I howled like an animal in a trap. "I'm not pregnant! I'm not pregnant! I took a test and I'm not pregnant!"

He looked stunned, confused. Shaking his head, he told me, "I don't believe you."

"You think this is the face of someone lying to you? Do you know how upset I was when it was negative?"

"Then something's wrong. If you're not pregnant, then you're ill." He looked out into space, focused on diagnosing me. "When I got to Peapatch you were anemic."

"But I started taking iron and my anemia went away."

"Your breasts are bigger and sensitive. You areolas are bigger, the glands in them are more prominent. The veins to your breasts are more pronounced. It doesn't make sense...your abdomen is more pronounced."

"Greg, ask Alma. It was blank...nothing."

He went quiet. "Philly, the only thing it can mean is that you're sick. We need to find out what you have."

"Let me get through my father's memorial and go on this trip. Then I can get tested. I want you to stay with me Greg until I leave on the trip. I really need you."

He shook his head slowly, "Sweetcheeks, I'm on thin ice with the Board as it is. I can't rock the boat. At least not yet."

I didn't want to hear it. I reached over and grabbed the phone.

"Who are you calling?"

"My trustee."

"What? Who's your trustee?"

I held up a hand to quiet Greg as I heard Stephen's voice on the phone, "Stephen, I want you to buy Princeton-Plainsboro Hospital for me."

Stephen, who's voice clearly indicated had been asleep, whispered, "What are you talking about?"

"I want to buy the hospital...I want Greg to be able to stay with me and he can't because he has no vacation time."

There was a huge sigh from Stephen. I could hear Greg in my free ear. "This is ludicrous. You can't buy a hospital because I don't have vacation time."

Stephen must have heard him, "Greg's right, you can't buy a hospital just to get Greg time off."

I was frustrated and infuriated. What good was being ungodly rich if I couldn't get my boyfriend a few days off? "Look, both of you shut up. I don't care how you do it Stephen, I want to get Greg time off. If you can't do that for me, then..." I burst out crying again.

"Okay, calm down Philly; let me see what I can do." Stephen was clearly frustrated with me, but I didn't care.

Greg pulled the phone out of my hand. "Stephen, Philly's hanging up now." He plunked down the phone and turned me over to face him. "Hey, what's going on? Where's the Philly who went out of the raft at Iron Ring and still managed to save a boy's life?"

I couldn't stop whimpering, "I knew who I was in Peapatch. I don't know who I am here. I don't know what I'm doing. This isn't my home anymore."

"Bull, you've just lost your Dad, you're head of a huge conglomerate and you're sick. You need to take it one day at a time."

"Greg, please stay."

He held me close, so close I could hear his heart beating. "I'll call Cuddy and get some time off."

"Tell her I'll make it worth her while."

Greg dialed someone, kissing my ear on occasion as I could hear the phone ring through the receiver and a voice pick up. "It's House. I need a few days off." He made a face and held the receiver away from his ear. I grabbed the phone.

"Lisa Cuddy?"

"Yes?"

"I'm Philomena MacKenna." There was a pause.

A somewhat nervous voice responded, "I'm sorry for your loss. Is Dr. House with you?"

I was a little surprised that she asked, "He's with me and I really need for him to be here. To get me through my father's death."

"House?" She sounded completely baffled. "House is your emotional support?"

"He's my boyfriend, why wouldn't he be my emotional support?" I looked at Greg who was looking anywhere but in my eyes.

"House? Greg House is Philomena MacKenna's boyfriend? Wilson told me you two had a falling out. "

"Lisa, can I call you Lisa?"

"Sure."

"Lisa, right now I need someone to hold me. I think I'm going to need that for the next week, maybe longer. I hope you'll let him have the time off."

"I wish I could, but he doesn't have the time left on the books. He's on probation here. If he misses work, I'll have to let him go. There's not a hospital on the east coast that will touch him if I do."

"I can see your point, but just think of it as him attending to a patient and I'm the patient. Or... I can buy your hospital, change the board and make Greg my representative on the board, which would make him your boss. Or, you can let him have the next week off and I make a tremendous donation that makes you look incredibly good in front of the current board."

Her voice was cold, "Can I speak to House?"

I handed the phone to House.

"No, I didn't tell her to do that." he looked at me, rolling his eyes and making faces at the receiver, "Yeah, okay." He hit the stop button on the phone. "You get me as long as you need me."

"She doesn't like to be threatened."

He looked impish, "Nah, when it comes to me, she expects things like this to happen. She just said the donation better be worth it."

I called Stephen back. "Okay, just make a donation to PPTH...say $20 million to be doled out over the next five years?"

Stephen sighed, "Fine, we'll do it in memory of your father."

"I want $5 million of it earmarked for the Diagnostics Department provided Dr. House is kept employed."

Stephen exhaled in frustration, "Fine. Now get some sleep."

"Good night Stephen." I hung up the phone and turned to Greg. "God, that's the first time I've felt good about inheriting all this money! Let's screw!"

His eyes shot open and he looked at me sideways, "Damn, I like when you bribe people...I get job security and sex...wow!"

"Uh, don't go counting your eggs...that job security depends on how well you perform the sex. Now get naked."

"Birth control?"

I thought about it, as much as I wanted a child, it was bad timing and, if I was sick, this might not be the best time for me to get pregnant. "Condoms? Did you bring any?"

His face tensed and he shook his head, "Sorry, I really thought you were already pregnant."

"I have a diaphragm somewhere around here from my youth."

House winced again, "Old diaphragms aren't that reliable. They get loose and the rubber gets old."

"Well buster, you better think quickly, because you have $5 million riding on this issue."

"Okay, hold on." He jumped up and ran out of the room. I went in the bathroom and dried my hair. Fifteen minutes later, a very happy House came running back into the bedroom waving a condom package. "Gooooaaaal!"

I was laying nude under the covers. Upon seeing the condom package I clapped and smiled broadly. "Did you have one in your car?"

He shook his head violently, "No, but I asked your servants and they said your Dad had some in his bathroom."

I turned bright red, "You asked my servants for condoms?"

He pulled his head back and smirked, "They're servants. I was going to give them money to go buy some but they told me where your Dad kept his."

I turned beet red, "I'm so humiliated."

He chuckled, "You're 38 Philly, I think they know you're not a virgin."

"But I'm having sex the night before my father's memorial. Isn't that tacky?"

"I'm sure your Dad would have approved. Judging from the number of condoms and lubricants he had and the bottle of viagra, he was pretty active."

"Oh God Greg! I didn't need to hear that..."

"What, that your Dad had a healthy sexual appetite? Hey, he was 76 and still getting trim, that's cool. He's my hero."

"Get me my gown out of the drawer."

His jaw dropped. "What? We're not having sex?"

"I feel...shameful. Hand me a gown out of the third drawer down."

"No. I won't do it. I'm having sex."

"By all means, you can have sex...just not with me."

He tilted his head to the side and puffed out his lips, "No! Come on Philly, sex will be good for you."

I chortled, "Really?"

"You're a doctor, you know it releases endorphins and you could use a lot of endorphins." As he was saying this, he was quickly undressing. As he took off his boxers I could see the beginnings of things to come. He lifted the sheets and quickly saddled up next to me, his arms going over my body like tentacles. He was moving fast, really fast. I could feel his excitement as he touched my body.

"You're so soft. Christ." He sounded upset.

I asked, "What's wrong?"

"I'm afraid that if you open those legs, I'm ..." he stopped, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"You're telling me that this is going to be short and sweet."

He looked sad and frustrated.

I took pity. I turned and kissed him, my tongue overtaking his as I touched his incredibly hard erection. I smiled as he quickly pushed my legs open and didn't wait to dress himself. I was a little shocked that he didn't use a rubber after everything we had just discussed, but part of me didn't care. I felt schizophrenic.

There were a couple of thrusts and a few grunts and he was done – and embarrassed. Very embarrassed. I started to giggle. He grumbled, but I was so busy giggling, I didn't hear what he said. He rolled off of me and put his arm over his eyes. I finally got control of my giggling.

I held up the unused condom package, "Uh, did you forget something?'

"I'm sorry. I'll get you the morning after pill if you want it."

I shook my head, "It's okay. Like Stephen said, having kids is like a bad haircut."

He gave me a quizzical look.

"Nothing, don't worry about it." I almost started giggling again, "But, what was that about?"

"I've been thinking about you for the last few days and haven't had time to beat off...it's just been building up. The sight of the real thing just...well, it set me off."

"I see. And I'm rather flattered."

He took his arm off from across his eyes and turned his head, "I've never done that before, at least not since I was sixteen. I get so excited when I think I'm going to see you." He swallowed and then raised himself up on his arm.

All the giggling stopped. He'd never really said anything that sweet to me. I was nervous.

"Philly, I'm going to ask you properly. Babe, will you marry me?"

I went cold and clammy, I started shaking. The emotions of the day, of this moment were overwhelming, I was on overload. He looked so hopeful and, could it be, he looked so in love with me. I looked into his eyes and then I ...threw up. It went over him, over the sheets, the duvet. It was a smelly mess and I felt horrible, both physically and mentally. I had just blown the best moment in my whole life.

I started crying. I could see that look on his face when he's about to make a cutting remark, but he looked into my eyes and then shut his mouth. He looked around and found the bell rope. He pulled on it and within minutes the housemaid showed up. By this point, Greg had me in the bathroom, back in the shower. He stuck his head out the bathroom door.

"Philly barfed all over everything. The sheets and blanket thingy needs to be changed."

I heard the maid confirm that she would get right on it. He closed the door and got into the shower with me. I leaned back on him as he washed my hair. He was gentle, the massaging of my scalp was delicious. When he was done rinsing my hair. He reached around me, putting his long fingers across my abdomen.

He whispered into my ear, "I'm worried about you. Your abdomen is distended, you're vomiting, you've had light periods...you may have a tumor. I want you to get checked out tomorrow after the memorial."

I turned and we hugged.

He wiped some soap from my face, "Now, that was a pretty dramatic response to my very romantic question. Would you like to rephrase your response?" The water rolled down our bodies as we held each other, my arms around his waist, head on his chest. He kissed the top of my head. "I love you. I'm not good at saying that, so don't get used to it. But I'm tired of trying to figure out ways to push you away. I want you to come home to me or me to you. I know that we may have to figure out where we're going to call home, but that's just extraneous to what we both know in our hearts. We're going to be miserable if we don't try."

"Greg, we don't have to get married. I'm not pregnant. We don't have to get married. We could just live together."

He held me a little tighter, "I've done the living together thing and when things got tough, it was too easy to call it quits. I want to marry you."

I looked at him like my life depended on it,"I love you and I'm really good at saying it. If I commit to this, I'll be like gum on your shoe. There's no getting rid of me."

"I'm in."

I looked up into those beautiful blue eyes, the water running down his face, "You'll have to sign a prenup."

He chuckled, "I don't want your money. I'll sign your prenup."

"Wow, we've just made a deal. I'm going to marry the great Gregory House, the brilliant jerk of Princeton, New Jersey."

"Yeah, well I'm marrying the best lay in Peapatch, West Virginia."

I giggled. When we got out of the shower, I dressed in my nightgown and climbed in-between the clean sheets and new comforter. I fell asleep with my fiance's arms wrapped gingerly around me. I felt guilty. My father was dead, but I was happy.