A/N: Hello loyal readers :) I'm going to be wrapping this story up soon so I can work on my NaNoWriMo fic next month. I hate working on 2 stories at the same time and this one is pretty much done. Sorry it's taken so long to get to this point, but for those of you anxiously waiting for House and Nicola to get busy, wait no further. Enjoy!

Chapter Eleven

"I think I'll take that Ativan now," Nicola said as she walked with House back to her bedroom. "I just wanna go to bed and not get up."

"You can do that. It's not like you have to be anywhere."

After taking the Ativan, she went to bed and once she was sound asleep, House went out to sit by the pool and enjoy the rest of the afternoon.

Mike came out and dove into the pool. "So, any idea what you're doing for Nicola's birthday tomorrow?" he asked once he resurfaced.

House blinked. "She never told me it was her birthday."

Mike chuckled. "No surprise there. She hates birthdays."

"Then why tell me?"

"I dunno, I thought maybe you could provide a distraction. Besides, I have to fly back to the office for a couple of days but I'll be back in time for the funeral. So you kids will have the house to yourselves."

That got House's attention and he nodded. "We haven't been together very long, you know. I don't even really know what she likes."

"She likes music, and you play the piano. Maybe you two could make some music together."

"You have a piano?"

"Yeah it's in the library. You've never been in there?"

"Nope."

"That's also her music room, and her double bass is still there. Come on, I'll show you where it is before I go."

"Cool," House said and followed Mike inside.

The library was literally another wing at the other end of the house and it was a huge room with the walls covered from floor to ceiling with books. In the middle of the room was a Steinway grand piano and off to the side was a large double bass. There were also a couple of acoustic guitars and a violin.

"Do you play anything?" House asked as he approached the piano, almost afraid to touch it. Clearly someone looked after it because there wasn't a speck of dust anywhere on the glossy black surface.

"Nah, I never got into music like Nicola or my Dad. He started to play piano at a really young age. He was one of those musical prodigies, had perfect pitch, and all that. I think Nicola got her talent from him. I played hockey, that was my thing."

"I heard. What happened?"

"I had a few harsh body checks, and a couple of bad knee injuries which resulted in calcification of the muscle tissue. And that was the end of that."

"That's too bad. Nicola said you were good."

Mike smiled wistfully. "I was good. Anyway, I'll leave you to it, and I'll be back on Saturday."

XXX

Nicola woke up from her nap somewhat groggy and with a very dry mouth. After making her way to the kitchen for a drink, she heard very faint music and stopped to listen. She wasn't sure if it was someone actually playing the piano or if it was simply a CD, but she headed towards the library and the music got louder. She didn't recognize the tune but it was slow and somewhat melancholy. When she peeked through the door, she saw House sitting there, eyes closed, clearly immersed in whatever he was playing.

Nicola leaned against the door frame and waited until he'd finished playing before entering. "That was a nice song."

He looked at her standing there wearing what looked to be a silk tank top with matching shorts and a silk robe. "Did I wake you?"

She shook her head as she sat down on the bench next to him. "No, I got up to get a drink and heard the music."

"Mike showed me this room."

"Ah. I meant to show you the other day. What song was that? I liked it."

"Where Is My Mind. It was a song by The Pixies back in the day. But this is Maxence Cyrin's version just for piano."

"It's nice. Play it again, Sam," she said in a Humphrey Bogart voice, which made House chuckle, but he started playing it again. Nicola sighed and leaned against him. When he finished, he looked down at her and kissed the top of her head.

She looked up, smiled and their lips met, tentatively at first, but then she got up and offered him her hand, which he took.

It seemed like a long walk to her bedroom, but once they got there, she helped him tug his shirt off and he took off her robe. He could see her nipples through the fabric of her top and he gently caressed her breasts, gently gliding his thumb over them.

Nicola let out a soft purring sound and slid her hands up his chest before stepping closer and placing very soft kisses across his throat.

"I've wanted this for a long time," she whispered.

He didn't answer, choosing to kiss her instead, making his intentions known.

"Greg," she sighed as she buried her fingers in his hair as he kissed his way down her neck and across her throat. She wrapped one leg around his hip and he slid his hand over it. Then he surprised her by hoisting her up and carrying her to the bed. She worried about his leg but it didn't seem to be an issue as he lowered her against the pillows, still kissing her, tasting her. She felt his hand slide down and caress the inside of her thigh and when his fingers found their destination, she gasped and threw her head back. He took advantage of that and devoured her neck once again, nipping at it, leaving a trail of love bites in his path.

House tugged off her top and took one of her nipples in his mouth. His tongue was so warm as it flicked and gently suckled before moving over to the other one. Nicola gripped the sheets and writhed underneath him. He was teasing her mercilessly and she didn't think she could stand anymore. She wrapped her arms around him and slid her hands down his back, pulling him against her and rolling them over so she was on top.

He smiled up at her and she lowered her head to kiss him again, tasting him as his tongue flicked against hers.

"I want you," she whispered as she gently stroked his cheek. He smiled as he twirled a lock of her hair around his finger. "There are condoms in the side drawer."

Nicola laughed. "Of course there are," she said as she reached for one. "However, you're overdressed."

"So are you," he replied as he ran his finger along the waistband of her shorts. She tugged them off while he did the same with his own shorts and tore open the foil packet. Nicola was suddenly nervous as she watched him roll the condom on himself. He looked very well endowed and she was a little worried.

"Relax. And c'mere," he said softly as he pulled her back down on top of him, wrapping his arms around her.

"I can't help it," she murmured against his lips. "It's been a long time and…"

"Shhh." He silenced her with a soft, gentle kiss. "Just relax and go with it."

Somehow his words comforted her and she relaxed against him, feeling his hard cock against her stomach. She longed to feel him.

"Greg…"

"Mhm?" he murmured against her lips.

"Make love to me."

He surprised her once more by flipping her onto her back and moving on top of her. His lips found hers once again and as they kissed, their bodies joined and it felt incredible. Nicola let out a deep feral groan as her nails dug into his back. That only served to excite House even more and their kisses became more intense.

She wrapped her legs around his waist but he kept his pace slow and controlled for as long as he could. However he could feel his own release approaching and he knew she was also close to the edge. "Nicola," he whispered as she cried out. "Yes...let go…"

"Greg! Oh my God…"

He smiled down at her before kissing her again, both of them riding it out before he collapsed against her.

They laid there like that for several minutes before House rolled off her and got up to use the bathroom. When he returned, Nicola was getting dressed. "What? No pillow talk?" he teased.

"I'm starving. Dinner will be ready soon."

House nodded and grabbed his shorts as she approached him. "That was, hands down, the best sex I've ever had," she told him with a satisfied smile.

House grinned and wrapped his arms around her. "Baby, you ain't seen nothin yet." To seal the deal, he kissed her. "We should have a jam session after dinner."

"Sure. Sounds good. It's been awhile since we did that. It was fun."

"That's why I suggested it," he grinned. "I'll meet you in the dining room. I'm just going to take a quick shower."

"Okay see you in a bit."

XXX

The funeral was a very grand event. It seemed the whole town was there to pay their last respects.

"Wow," was all House could say when he saw the amount of people. "Your dad had a lot of friends."

"Yeah he touched a lot of people in this city," Nicola said as they sat in the private room off to the side while people took their seats. She seemed a little distracted as she looked out in the crowd.

"Expecting someone?"

"Hoping, more like it."

"Who? Buck?" House kidded, but earned a wicked glare.

"That's not funny, Greg. He better not be here."

"Relax, it was a joke. If he does have the balls to show up, he better hope he doesn't run into me."

"Or what? Gonna fight him for me," she smirked.

"If necessary. I might be a cripple, but I have a cane and I know how to use it."

"You're not a cripple, Greg. I've never thought of you as such."

The funeral director came into the room and let them know they could take their seats in the front row. Thankfully, there was no sign of Barb and Nicola was keeping her fingers crossed that she wouldn't show up and cause some kind of scene. If she did, the room was full of cops from the local precinct who would surely take care of things.

It wasn't a very long service. Mike gave the Eulogy and then several people got up to say a few words. Most of the stories were funny which helped. Nicola kept her head down most of the time and House kept a protective arm around her.

When it was over, everyone filed into the room next door for the reception. House went off to grab something to eat while Nicola mingled. When House found her, she was talking to an older man and they seemed to be having a serious discussion which ended with them shaking hands.

"Who was that?" he asked her once the man walked away.

"Chief of Police, Dan Blake."

"Your old boss?"

"Yeah. He...well...I guess you could say he gave me an offer I might not be able to refuse."

While she was talking, another older man with silver hair approached her from behind and put his finger to his lips when he made eye contact with House. His eyes were about as blue as his own, and he looked to be in his late sixties.

"Hi, kiddo."

Nicola's eyes widened and she stopped talking. She seemed to be in shock but when she turned around, she all but tackled the man by throwing her arms around him. "Joe!"

He laughed when she did that and set her back down on her feet.

House looked on with amusement and curiosity as the two hugged and exchanged words that he couldn't hear.

"Who's your fella?" Joe asked her.

"Oh! I'm sorry, Dr. Greg House, this is Lieutenant Joe Kendall. He was head of Homicide. And my mentor, until he retired."

Joe extended his hand to House and House shook it.

"Dr. House?" another voice spoke up, and a man wandered over. "Are you the Dr. House over at Princeton Plainsboro?"

"I am," House nodded, wondering who the man was and how he knew him. "The real question is, who are you?"

"No, the real question is how do I get you working for me?"

House put on his best poker face. "What's it worth to you?"

"Oh, I think I could make it worth your while," the man said and handed over a card. "I'm Chris Parkins, Chief of Medicine at UC Health University. Call me Monday morning, or better yet, come see me first thing."

"Why?"

Chris seemed dumbfounded but he recovered quickly. "I'd like to pick your brain about starting a Diagnostics fellowship here."

"I have it pretty good over at PPTH," House lied.

"I think I might be able to sway you to the dark side," Chris smiled. "See you Monday."