Warning: Contains some spoilers for the S5 finale. I don't own anyone but Avery.

Avery was attempting to unlock her apartment door, something that was increasingly difficult thanks to the distraction that was pressing his lips to her shoulder and the back of her neck.

She snickered as she fumbled her keys. "We'll never get in if you don't stop."

"Don't care." House's hand found her waist as he continued moving his mouth upward to her ear. "I'll take you right here."

"Right. I'll believe that when I see it."

"Don't tempt me, woman." The low growl in House's voice sent a shiver right through Avery. The lock finally clicked and they both stumbled through the door.

House closed the door behind him, watching Avery toe off her heels at the door. He caught her just as she started to walk away.

"Not so fast, babe." He pulled Avery in, wrapping his arms around her waist, resuming what he was doing outside her apartment door. "I've been thinking about this all night." His hands roamed from her waist, up her ribcage, taking hold of the zipper and slowly pulling it down, exposing Avery's smooth back.

He pushed the dress, and it fell to the floor, pooling around her feet. Avery stepped out of it, away from House, starting down the hallway to the bedroom. House leaned against the door, arms crossed across his chest, enjoying the view as she walked away.

Realizing that he wasn't following her, she turned her head slightly. "Coming?"

He gave her a wicked grin. "Not yet…"

She snorted and continued down the hallway. "Don't keep me waiting, man."

"Don't you worry, woman. I'll make it worth the wait."

# # #

Avery met House at the bedroom door, taking him by the hand and leading him in. Her hands drifted up to his neck, drawing him down to her for a hot, lingering kiss. He responded in kind, hands around her waist, slipping down to feel the soft curve of her rear, playing with the waistline of her thong.

She slid his jacket off his shoulders, letting it hit the floor where they stood, moving on to untie his bow tie. He leaned further into her, pushing her back until she landed on the bed, her hands making quick work of his shirt buttons. She wrapped a leg around him, holding him close, feeling him press into her as he moved from her lips, brushing them against her neck, taking in her sweet, musky scent as he traveled down to the swell of her breasts, capturing a nipple and rolling his tongue over it, evoking a shaky breath from Avery.

House stroked the other nipple before continuing downward, leaving a trail of wet kisses down Avery's stomach, slowly dropping to his knees between her legs, shifting so most of his weight rested on his left leg. He rolled down her thigh-high stockings, tracing a line from just inside her knee up to her center, spreading the folds to access the softness that lay just beneath.

He briefly flicked her with his tongue, causing Avery to jump and gasp at the unexpected touch. She spread her legs further, encouraging him, raising her hips to meet the increasing pressure he was putting on her. Just as she neared her peak, he shifted gears, leaving her to meet her lips once again, nearly crushing her with the intensity.

Avery fumbled until she found the waist of his pants, quickly undoing them, pushing both his pants and his boxers off, shoving them the rest of the way with her feet. House teased her, playing with her until she was dangerously close to her edge, finally sinking into her, rocking her, taking her over, taking him with her, both of them collapsing from the exertion.

He eased out of her, stumbling a bit as he found his footing, then climbing onto the bed to lay beside Avery. House lay on his side, stroking her face with his thumb, leaning in for a small kiss.

"Dammit, woman." He was still breathing heavily. "I don't know how much longer I can keep up with you. I'm getting too old for this shit."

Avery chuckled softly, turning over to face House. "I'm not that far behind you. I'm starting to wonder myself."

"True. I forget that you're an old fart, too." House grinned as Avery smacked him in the arm. She rose from the bed, moving toward the bathroom, and he lifted himself up on his elbows to watch her go. Pretty damn good for an 'old' woman.

He found his lounge pants and tugged them on, settling back on the pillows, closing his eyes. Soon Avery climbed in beside him, curling up to him with her head on his chest, savoring his scent, soothed to sleep by his steady breathing.

House felt himself drift off, one arm wrapped around Avery, the other over his head. A sound broke the silence. It sounded like…laughter.

Not joyful laughter, either. It was mocking, growing louder, until it was directly in his ear. House was familiar with this sound. It was a sound he thought he had left far behind him.

"A different version of the same old story. How sweet." Amber. Fuck. Suddenly she was in a chair in front of him, legs crossed and arms folded in that pose he knew so well.

House was frozen to his spot. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Whatever do you mean?" Amber tilted her head, a slight smile on her face. "I'm always here. I never left. I would never leave you."

This isn't happening. Wake up. WAKE UP.

She stood up and walked toward him, looking House in the eye. "Does she know about me?" He shook his head, carefully watching her as she moved around him. "You mean…you haven't told her?! Shame on you, House."

"She doesn't need to know."

"Why? Are you…ashamed of me? I've only ever wanted to help you." Amber seemed to ponder this. "You know what? You're right. Don't tell her. She wouldn't understand. You wouldn't want to disappoint her, would you? You've done enough of that already, don't you think?"

House felt the panic rising in him. Amber was right. She usually was. Avery didn't need to know about this part of him.

"Do you really think she'd leave you over that?" A different voice broke in, a male voice. House turned to see Kutner standing off in the distance, a thoughtful expression on his face. "A lot's changed since then. Maybe the story's true now."

"Get real." Amber snapped. "People always say they'll take you as you are. People LIE."

Kutner shook his head in disagreement. "I'm telling you, this one's different. She'll be okay with it. Look at what she's put up with so far. Besides, have you seen her? She's totally HOT."

"So of course, that should be the deciding factor. Her hotness. Idiot." Amber turned to House again, her eyes narrowing. "Get rid of her. You'll only hurt her. This farce has gone far enough, don't you think?"

House's panic turned to anger at Amber's words. He glanced over to Kutner, who simply stood there, shaking his head, the slightest hint of a smile on his face.

"You're…happy now, and you know it. Don't listen to her. She's crazy." Kutner reached out to House and opened his hand. A simple ring lay in his palm. "It's all there waiting for you. All you have to do is take it."

House must have looked uncertain, because Kutner nodded to House, as if to encourage him. He started to reach for the ring, when Amber stormed over, closing the space between her and Kutner, knocking it out of his hand.

It clattered to the floor, and House lunged after it as it fell down a hole. The hole opened up, sucking House down an endless pit of darkness…

"Baby? Are you okay?" Avery's voice stabbed through the darkness, bringing House back to reality.

"What?"

Avery was upright in bed, stroking House's chest in concern. His heart was pounding, his hands were shaking, and he could feel the sweat running down his neck.

"You screamed loud enough to wake the dead. What happened?"

Interesting choice of words. "Nothing. Just a bad dream, I guess. It happens." Avery laid down, and they fell back into their previous sleeping position. House lightly stroked Avery's arm as she fell back asleep.

Just a bad dream. House hoped like hell that's all it was.

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