Ok guys..it's been a very busy but beautiful weekend for me so far, however I did manage to get another chapter completed this morning that I hope you will all enjoy. Once again thanks to all for the reviews they really keep me inspired :) Oh and by the way I CANNOT WAIT FOR MONDAY'S EPISODE!!!

Chapter 53

Two days later, inside the bathroom of House's apartment, House and Cuddy stood face to face inside his shower, with the warm water running down their bodies as they held each other close while slow moving rivers of soap suds made there way down their wet bodies.

This was the first shower they had taken together since Jeff's attack on them both and now as the days had passed and Cuddy's bruises were beginning to fade, the current that had drawn them together for years without consummation pulled them closer, needing for them to take another step back towards the physical part of their relationship that had become so vital to them during times of stress and fear in both of lives, bringing with it the confirmation that together they had found a sacred gift between them that could indeed conquer anything in its wake.

"Are you sure you're ok with this?" House questioned softly with their bodies touching as his left hand gently caressed her hip.

"Yes." Cuddy told him with a nod, moving her hand up to his chest before giving him a small kiss.

After accepting her kiss, House took in a breath, keeping his eyes locked onto hers as he carefully moved his right hand to her breast.

"If you need me to stop, just tell me ok?" He whispered down to her, continuing to gaze into her eyes while his right hand started to tenderly caress the swell of her left breast, with his thumb gently rubbing her nipple.

Cuddy drew in a sharp breath in reaction to his touch. The affect it had on her, more powerful than she had remembered.

Seeing the worry immediately flare up in House's eyes at the thought that he had hurt her, Cuddy moved her hand to his jaw.

"I'm ok." She whispered up to him, kissing him softly at first before her tongue moved past his lips.

Closing his eyes and giving into the kiss, House continued to caress her full breast, gently squeezing it as his other hand slid down lower to the curve of her ass before cupping it in his palm, the feel of Lisa's naked body against him, making his cock rise up and take notice within a matter of seconds.

I have to go slow. We can't do much more right now…..it's still too soon. I have to give her time, House thought, starting to pull back from her before letting out a gasp as Cuddy lowered her hand between them, sliding it down to his erection before gently starting to stroke it.

"Lisa….you don't have to." He groaned out, opening up his eyes to find hers focused directly on him.

"Shh……I want to do this." Cuddy whispered, pulling him down into another kiss before he could protest, wanting more than anything to at least give him some kind of pleasure in the midst of the pain that had filled their lives recently while knowing because of the lingering bruises on her back and thighs it would probably be at least a few more days before they could even attempt to have sex again.

Letting out another gasp as Cuddy released his lips, House lowered his mouth to her neck where the bite marks and bruises upon it had started to fade away, kissing the skin there gently before a deep moan escaped from his throat as she begin to speed up her rhythm on him, moving her hand skillfully along on his length, her fingers curled with just the right pressure, her thumb stopping and circling the tip of his shaft as she kissed his chest.

There bodies were as close now….closer then they had been in days with Cuddy caressing and touching him in the ways she knew would cause his breathing to become shallow as he raced towards ecstasy.

Feeling his heart beating faster, House leaned back against the shower wall as the strong pull of his orgasm began to take hold of him, keeping his hand on Cuddy's breast and caressing as she looked up into his eyes, continuing to stroke him.

"Lisa… that feels so good." House choked out roughly, rubbing his thumb over her nipple as he trembled under her touch, feeling his climax coming fast and hard as she leaned into his caress, letting out a soft moan of yearning while her hand continued to move up and down on him.

Within the next second, his eyes screwed shut, his mouth gasping for air for air as his orgasm rushed through him, feeling Cuddy's lips softly kissing his neck as her left hand slowed its rhythm on his shaft before stopping completely, the water from the shower washing over the side of them both, keeping the heat between them.

With his heart pumping hard inside his chest, House opened up his eyes again, moving his hand that had remained on her hip, carefully down to the faint hairline between her thighs.

He saw the surprise rise up on Cuddy's face immediately, her mind still unsure if she would be able to accept the same intimate contact she had just given to him, the result creating acrease of worry in the center of her brows.

"Greg..I don't know if…." Cuddy started to say with hesitation.

"I'll go slow ….and if you want me to stop just tell me ok?" House whispered, letting her know once more he was giving her the control on how far things would go between them before lowering his head into her the side of her dark hair and gently nuzzling her neck, feeling so incredibly good right now he wanted her to experience that same feeling as well, wanting nothing more than to please her they way she had just pleased him.

"Ok." Cuddy responded softly into the side of his cheek feeling House gently move his other hand to the small of her back. Closing her eyes and taking in a breath as his nose brushed aside some of her hair so his lips could find the spot just behind her earlobe.

"Lisa ..you feel so good." House whispered to her, staring off slowly just as he had told her he would with his fingers caressing the soft strip of hair just above her sex, feeling her respond by placing her hands onto his chest while lifting her chin up to kiss him.

Go slow, House reminded himself again as his hand moved lower onto her body, his middle finger now just barely brushing against the nub between her thighs while a chill ran up his spine at the knowledge that she was indeed aroused by his touch as the silky heat of her coated the tip of finger as the building steam inside the shower kept them both in its protective cocoon.

"Greg that feels so good."Cuddy whispered out with gasp, moving her left hand up to his neck, as her lips placed kisses across his chin, wanting him so much right now it hurt.

Hearing the aching in her voice, House moved his middle finger towards her entrance, teasing it gently as his thumb took over the spot on her nub, apply more pressure to it.

"Oh god," Cuddy moaned as her body started to tremble while both of her hand gripped House's biceps with her forehead pressing into the center of his chest.

Carefully, House slipped his middle finger inside of her, gently rubbing the tip of it around in her heat as his thumb stayed outside of her, circling her clit, feeling her body shudder and hearing her breath catching in her throat.

He knew she was close, but he also felt the small vein of tension holding her back, knowing her mind was questioning if she was ready for this while wondering once more if he was doing this out of pity for her, the way a wounded heart often does when it is completely exposed and vulnerable, remembering all too well the horrors the world has shown it.

"Close you eyes Lisa and think of yourself on top me while I'm buried deep inside of you as rock your hips and fuck me until I can't take anymore. Show me that you want me just as much as I want you." House whispered against her ear, letting her no matter how gentle he was being with her right now he still hungered for her with a raw passion that was unmatched in its need, helping her let go of any doubt lingering inside her mind.

"Oh God! Oh god .......Greegggg!"Cuddy moaned out loudly after hearing his words wrapped inside the deep masculine tone of his voice, her eyes closing tightly as her legs shook underneath her.

She was on fire, with electricity coursing through her body now as her left arm wrapped around his neck, moaning out again into his neck as her pelvis continued to thrust against his thumb.

Her orgasm had been incredibly powerful, forcefully breaking free from the shell of misery that was trying to keep it prisoner, leaving her gasping for air as House carefully wrapped his arms around her.

"You ok?" House whispered, kissing the crown of her head as the water from the shower drummed against his back.

"Yes," Cuddy gasped with her lips pressed into the groove where his collar bones met just as another shiver of ecstasy ran down her spine.

Looking down at her as Cuddy lifted her head from his chest and rested her chin upon it, House gave her a small smile, brushing aside some of the dark locks of her hair that were clinging to the side of her beautiful face which was filled with the expression of sweet release and perfection at its best.

"Come on lets get washed off before we're both late for work and my boss is going to go medieval on my ass." He then teased, moving them both up closer to the shower head so she could feel the warmth of the water on her skin while inside of her grey eyes he lingered in the look of adoration she had for him as her lips turned up in a smile that rivaled the brilliance of the sun.

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Meanwhile across town, Ruth stood in the kitchen of Bill Martin's home after being released from the hospital the day before, currently staying at Bill's place, along with Wilson who had offered to keep her company until Bill was discharged from the hospital as well.

"Hey, are you ready to go?" Wilson asked Ruth as he walked into the kitchen, picking his jacket up from the back of one of the one of the chairs where he had placed it earlier.

Ruth nodded, reaching for her purse on the counter, "Wilson…I just want to let you know I'm grateful that you offered to stay with me. I just couldn't see myself imposing on Lisa and House right now and truthfully being here by myself would have been a little lonely." She told him as Wilson opened up the door leading out to the garage for her.

"Hey... the way I look at I'm the one actually making out on deal. Considering you've ironed my shirt for me and made me breakfast before eight am." Wilson replied with a small smile.

Again Ruth nodded, making her way over to the passenger side of Wilson's car before getting inside of it.

Staring up the engine, Wilson looked over at her, seeing the sad expression on her face.

"Is something wrong Ruth?" He asked with concern.

"Do you think Lisa is going to be ok today when Agent Collins comes to see her and House?" Ruth asked with worry as they sat inside Wilson's car.

"Lisa will be fine." Wilson assured her.

Ruth looked away from him, shaking her head as the worry within her remained, "I hope so I……I just wish Lisa would let me be with her when Collins comes to talk to them." She confessed.

Letting out a sigh, Wilson reached for Ruth's hand, "Ruth, you know your daughter better than anyone," he began, "and with that being said, like it or not ….the one thing that's going to help Lisa get past all of this is for her to be control of the situation."

Looking over at him, Ruth let out a sigh of her own. "I know, but…that doesn't mean I have to like it." She replied.

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A few hours later inside the hospital, House walked into Cuddy's office, causing her to look up from the papers she was signing.

"I take it our FBI agent isn't here yet." House grumbled in a low tone as he walked up to her desk, sitting down in one of the two chairs placed in front of it.

"Collins called just before you came in here and said he'd be here shortly." Cuddy informed him as she placed the pen she was holding in her hand onto the desk in front of her before leaning back in her chair.

"How's your back today?" House asked as his eyes searched her face for any trace of pain while he reached inside his jacket pocket, taking out his bottle of vicodin.

"Actually I think that nice hot shower with you this morning really did me a world of good." Cuddy replied with a soft and sexy smile, causing House to pause before popping the vicodin pill into his mouth as a wiry grin moved up onto his lips.

"Why Doctor Cuddy are you trying to seduce me?" He asked before swallowing the pill as his eyes traveled down to her cleavage.

Cuddy bit down on her bottom lip as her eyes lowered to House's crotch, "Well if you've got what I need I think we can……" she started to say before a knock on her office door interrupted her.

"Come in." Cuddy then said to Agent Collins as he stood in front of the glass doors while House turned in his chair to look in his direction as well.

"Doctor Cuddy. Doctor House." Collins said to them as he stepped inside the room.

"Agent Collins, please take a seat." Cuddy offered as the FBI agent approached them.

Collins nodded at the offer, feeling House's gaze upon him as he sat down next to him.

"Listen, I know the both of you are very busy so I'll try to keep this as short as possible." The agent informed them, moving his gaze between Cuddy and House, amazed that both doctors were back at work so soon when many other people in similar situations needed weeks or sometimes even months to recover from the trauma they had experienced.

Shifting in his chair House waited for Collins to continue as the agent turned slightly in his own chair in an effort to face both him and Cuddy.

"After I arrested Tritter, he was pretty tight lipped about everything that had gone on between him and Jeff even with all the evidence we have against him. That was until I told Tritter about what Jeff had done to you." Collins continued as his gaze shifted back to Cuddy.

Not sure of what, if anything to say, Cuddy remained silent, her eyes glued upon the stocky agent's face.

"Tritter claims he had no idea that Jeff was going to attack you in that kind of way." Collins told her, watching as the corners of her mouth fell further south into a frown of worry, knowing she was once again reliving the past he was speaking of.

"That's a load of crap." House remarked from his chair, causing both Collins and Cuddy to look in his direction.

"There's no way in hell Tritter didn't have clue that son of bitch was going to end up losing it in a big way." House continued.

After listening to House, Collins spoke.

"House, I agree with you that in Tritter 's line of work he would have had to have have seen the warning signs that sooner or later Jeff would eventually snap, but…Tritter is absolutely adamant that he did not know Jeff was going to break into Doctor Cuddy's home and attack the two of you." Collins explained.

"So then Tritter just gets a free pass on the controlling psycho plotting with the demented psycho to try and kill and terrorize as many people as he can? Nice to know my tax dollars are helping to employ a bunch of idiots at the FBI." House shot back.

"House…..stop!" Cuddy ordered, glaring at him before focusing her attention on the FBI agent.

"I'm sorry Agent Collins; this has been very hard on both of us." She apologized.

Collins nodded at her before returning his gaze to House, "I do understand how you feel House, but believe me when I say that I'm going to nail Tritter to the wall with as many charges as I can, not only for what happened to the two you but also for his abuse of power as detective under the Princeton Police Department"

Studying the agent's face carefully, House narrowed his eyes at him.

"From the way you moved your eyes away from Doctor Cuddy just now, I'd say you've got something else on your mind besides this news about Tritter ....something that's been bothering you since you first walked in here." House said dryly.

Surprised at how well the man seated beside had read his thoughts, Collins held their gaze for a seconds before speaking, "You're right…..there is one more thing I need to tell both of you." He admitted, looking over at Cuddy again before continuing.

"When my team searched Jeff's home, we found some audio tapes inside his bedroom. And from what we have pieced together so far it looks like it was Henry Williams who provided those tapes to Jeff after he planted listening devices inside your bedroom. I believe what was on those tapes was what finally pushed Jeff over the edge." Collins said, seeing the all too familiar look of shock rise up upon Cuddy's face.

"Oh god….are you telling me Williams taped us while we were….." Cuddy whispered, unable to complete the sentence as her eyes darted over to House and her stomach turned in disgust.

"Yes." Collins confirmed, "but I can assure you those tapes are in a secure place. And I'm hoping that with all of the other evidence mounting against Tritter we won't have to present them at his trial." Collins replied, trying to ease her fears in some small way.

"I may not be an FBI agent… but I'm pretty sure "hoping" isn't agent codes talk for "guarantee" is it Agent Collins?" House responded in a dull tone as his eyes stayed locked on Cuddy whose face had become pale.

"House…I promise I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that those tapes are only presented in court as a last resort." Collins answered back to him before looking over at Cuddy once more.

"Lisa.....I know this is a very hard thing to come to terms with but I am going to go after Tritter with both barrels." Collins said using her first name to try reach her after seeing the far away look in her grey eyes that had dulled under the strain of his latest revelation.

"I understand Agent Collins and I know you'll do your best to make sure those tapes aren't used." Cuddy replied, putting on a brave front for both men seated before her even though a part of her was dying inside at the thought of Jeff listening to her and House as they made love inside her bedroom.

In the few seconds of silence that fell over the group, Collins phone began to ring.

Looking down that the number on his caller ID he answered it immediately, addressing one of his fellow agents while telling the man he as on his way.

After hanging up, Collins addressed House and Cuddy again, "I'm sorry but I have to go." He said getting up out of his chair, "but I will be keeping in contact with the both of you just in case we find out anything more about Jeff that I think you should know." He added.

"Agent Collins?" Cuddy said, rising to her feet while feeling the heat of House's gaze upon her as he watched her silently.

"Yes?" He asked.

"I want to thank you for all that you have done. Not only for me, but for all of us. I don't' know what we would have done without you." Cuddy told him sincerely offering him her hand to shake.

Collins reached out and clasped her slender hand in his own, "Remember Lisa.....don't let this latest blow about the tapes knock you down. You are far too strong of person to let that happen." He told her with softness to his tone, conveying in his words the amount of respect he had for her after all that she had been through.

"I won't." Cuddy replied even though she was unsure if she could, letting go of the agent's hand while House stayed seated, keeping his eyes fixed upon her.

After releasing her hand, Collins looked down at House.

"House, I want you to know I am a man of my word and I that I wasn't just telling you a load of crap when I said I was going to do everything in my power not to have those tapes brought before a judge." The agent stated again as House briefly glimpsed up at him before returning his gaze to Cuddy.

"Thank you again Agent Collins." Cuddy repeated, trying not so show her disappointment at House's lack of gratitude towards the man who had put Jeff's insanity to a halt.

"You're welcome." Collins replied before turning and leaving her office.

After the FBI agent had closed the door behind him, Cuddy looked over at House as she remained standing.

"You know you could have at least shook Collins hand and thanked him." She said, watching him rise to his feet while leaving his cane resting on the side of the chair for now.

"No, I couldn't." House replied quickly as he rounded the corner of her desk.

"Wha...…why…not?" Cuddy stuttered as a strong wave of dizziness crashed into her.

"Because I wasn't sure how long I would have to catch you before you fainted." House told her with grunt, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her body against him as Cuddy went limp.

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A few seconds later, Cuddy opened up her eyes, finding herself lying on the couch in her office as House sat next to her on the chair he had pulled up beside it, flashing the penlight in her eyes as he spoke to her.

"That's the second time you've experienced dizziness, which means time for a CT Scan." House told her as he moved the listening piece of the stethoscope down over her heart.

"House I'm ok …….I just got a little lightheaded for a moment because of what Collins told us." She said taking in a deep breath.

"No…you were lightheaded …...then you fainted which means your ass is getting a scan whether you like it or not." House argued back at her.

"House ..I'm not…" Cuddy started to say, quickly sitting up on the couch before rreaching for House's shoulder as a small wave of vertigo left over from her fainting spell passed through her.

"Dammit lay back down." House ordered in a voice that stern but soft as he eased down onto the couch again.

"Now..follow my finger." He then told her, moving it from side to side in front of her.

"House I told you I'm fine." Cuddy stressed as her eyes followed the movements of his finger.

House gave her a long look before speaking to her again. "Why are you so adamant about not getting a scan?" He asked as his eyes stayed locked on hers.

Cuddy swallowed hard and looked away from him, only to feel House place his finger upon her chin, turning her gaze to him once more as he waited for her answer.

"I don't want the people at this hospital to look at me the same way they did when I came into the ER after Jeff had attacked me." She confessed in a voice that was as raw as her nerves right now.

Holding her gaze, House moved his hand down to his own thigh, "Then we'll just go down to the CT room during lunch and sneak you in while everyone else is busy stuffing their faces." He replied while knoiwng there was more to her hesitancy than just her fear of being looked upon by her staff like a bug under the microscope.

"House.....if something is wrong with me…" Cuddy started to whisper.

"Then once we know what it is we can start to fix it." House interrupted in a low voice.

"What if it can't befixed?" Cuddy challenged as her voice stayed soft as her heart pumped inside her chest.

"I'm not going to let you expect the worse when we have no idea what this could be." House replied even though the same thought had been running through his head.

*******************************************************

It had been just about twenty minutes before twelve when House had left Cuddy's office. With the intent of meeting her down in the CT room a little after twelve as the current thought buring through his mind caused him to limp at an ever increasing pace towards the conference room attached to his office, pleased to find it empty as his fellows were busy running test on his latest patient.

Once he had entered inside of the room it only took a few minutes for House to find Cuddy's chart buried underneath a stack of others on Cameron's desk.

"What do you think you're doing?" Cameron suddenly said from behind him after entering into the room unnoticed by House as he opened up the chart.

"I'm pretending to be you." He replied casually as his eyes began to scan the results on the blood test that had been run on Cuddy when she had been admitted into the ER.

"Nice try..... but you need to loose at least a foot in height to wear my clothes." Cameron remarked smartly before walking up to him and snatching the chart away.

"Good thing I don't have to worry about growing any breasts. Now give me back that chart before I give my morally outraged look." House countered with a warning glare.

"Last time I checked, Cuddy was your girlfriend not your patient." Cameron replied coolly after checking the patient name on the first page of the chart.

"Which means the only reason you'd be interested in Cuddy's medical record is if you thought there was something medically wrong with her," She then realized with her voice taking on a softer tone as she looked into House piercing blue eyes in search of an answer from him.

"Hey I'm the one who's supposing to playing you. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to find Chase and have sex with him the janitor's closet." House responded wiggling his eyebrows at her before snatching the chart out of Cameron's hand and limping towards the door.

"House if something is wrong with Cuddy…." Cameron started to say as he opened up the door.

"You'd be the last person I'd be discussing it with. Oh and by the way ...that was me being me just now." House yelled over his shoulder before leaving the room.

********************************************************

Limping into the CT room with Cuddy's chart tucked under his arm, House made his way over to the machine where Cuddy was waiting for him.

He had indeed found something in her blood tests and as she was leaning against the table that fed the patient into the imaging part of the scanner, he couldn't help but noticed that although color in her face had returned ......the worry in her eyes was still present and rising as he closed the space between them.

"Is there something wrong with your patient that you needed me to see?" Cuddy questioned as he presented her with the chart.

"Nope, somethings wrong with you." House replied, pointing to the label on the medical record where her name was typed.

"It would have been nice if you would have asked me before you stole my chart." Cuddy responded evenly...holding the folder next to her chest as she glared up at him, feelign such a mix of emotions right now she wasn't sure what was going to come out of her mouth next.

"Didn't really feel the need to ask since it was in my conference room underneath a bunch of Cameron's crap. Besides if I didn't get a look at your chart before Cameron did.......She'd be the one telling you that you're pregnant right now instead of me." House told her matter-of-factly watching her eyes grow wide as her mouth opened in shock.

In the split second it took for House's words to reach Cuddy's ears, her world once more was turned upside-down as her heart ached with the knowledge that a dream so cherished by her, had somehow made its way through the heartache that a had been born of the recent events in her life, breaking over the horizon with such brilliance the mere thought of it took her breath away.

"Wha….What?" Cuddy replied with a dry mouth, sure that his words had somehow not meant what they said.

"The mood swings, the dizziness and the fainting, all classical symptoms of early pregnancy, however because of the bullshit going on with Tritter and Jeff we both thought of the worst answers instead of the simplest answer." House informed her as he fought to keep the smile from forming on his face.

"But…I'm on the pill..and I…" Cuddy tried to argue still keeping the truth at arms length.

"You know the pill is only 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy and when adding in the fact that you've probably slipped up at least once and forgotten to take a pill during all of this bullshit with Jeff and Tritter, thinking you'd be safe to take it the next day because of your age and past medical history with IVF .....you Doctor Cuddy are left with this." House told her, pulling the chart away from her chest as he opened it up to the blood test results on the first page.

"Good thing hospital policy states that all women who have been the victim of a sexual assault get tested for pregnancy along with STD's even if a rape has not occurred, otherwise we would have cost the hospital a whopping amount of money for a useless CAT Scan." He added with low tone, watching her eyes scan over the results with disbelief before she placed her finger under the reading that stated "positive".

"I'm …I'm pregnant." Cuddy whispered with a voice that was now at the divine mercy of the dream she had longed for with all of her heart, looking up into House's face with the most tender and guarded piece of her heart completely exposed to him to now.

"I think I've told you that at least twice already." House responded softly, seeing the glistening of tears begin to fill her eyes as he took the chart from her, placing it behind her on the table.

"I never thought I could…. I mean I always hoped ...but I…" Cuddy started to say in a shaky voice, moving her hand to her flat abdomen as she stared down to where a new life was growing inside of her.

"Apparently you were just messing around with those sub-par donors. Good thing my boys now how to swim." House replied with a small smile.

Cuddy's eyes instantly shot up to his face again, "So….you're ok with this?" She questioned warily, not really sure how he truly felt about the bombshell that had just been place in both of their laps.

"You've wanted this for a long time." House said as he eyes stayed fixed upon hers.

"I know I have….but ..do you want this?" Cuddy pushed as her hand remained splayed over her abdomen.

House looked down at her stomach, pausing before answering her. "I've never really though about having a kid, until you started up with the IVF thing and even then all I though of it as was 'your' kid because that what it would have been."

"That's not an answer." Cuddy replied keeping her eyes focused on his face.

House let ou a deep sigh. "I don't want to screw this up." He then confessed in a low whisper, placing his hand over top of hers as his thumb brushed over the fabric covering her navel.

Cuddy left out a soft laugh, using her free hand to take hold of the lapel on his suit jacket, pulling him closer.

"I have news of you House…we are going to screw up from time to time but I think between the two of us this baby will have enough stubbornness and arrogance to make its way through life without us have to worry too much." She told him with a smile as the thought of a child with his striking blues eyes began to fill her mind.

"Nice to know you have such low expectations of us." House replied back dryly, trying to keep himself grounded even though the amazing smile on Cuddy's face was making it hard for him not to be pulling into the joy she was experiencing.

Seeing the worry in his face Cuddy placed her palm up to the side of his jaw, caressing the stubble there. "Hey...remember ...we've got nine months to try and figure alll of this out." She reminded him.

"If you think we're going to figure everything out after nine months ........you really have no clue about what it take to be a parent." House remarked smartly to her while unable to keep himself from looking down at her stomach again as the strange feeling inside of him, attached to what was little more than grain of sand inside Lisa's uterus claimed its stake on a piece of his heart. Clinging stubbornly to him in the promise it held as life showed him how it could twist fate within the beating of a heart into something totally unexpected that could take your breath away.