Author's Notes: Well, this took long enough. I've had it hand written for a while, but school, work and carpal tunnel kept getting in the way.

Also, this story has just about run its course. I'm probably going to have maybe 5 more chapters—long ones—before the end.

One more thing. I need you readers to email me with your favorite House scenes (Up to 'Role Model' because that's as far as the transcripts I have available goes.) that I can do a 'behind the scenes' fic on.

That be all.

Ch. 13 Memories and Epiphanies

Los Angeles, CA

3 days later

House was bored. Really bored—the kind of bored that usually led to him pestering Cuddy, Wilson, or Foreman. But Wilson was off doing something, and Cuddy and Foreman were back in New Jersey. Well, maybe a walk would take his mind off things. In about 4 days, he would be going back to England and Angela. But until then, he needed some way of occupying his time.

'So, walking it is,' House thought as he grabbed his cane and cell phone and left the room. Once downstairs, he headed out and down the street towards the restaurant where Fred had bought lunch for him during his first week in LA.

The Smithson Bistro was in a slight lull when House entered the building. The smells of roasting meats mingled with the luscious scents of breads and pastries.

"Hey, if you're looking for Emma, she's in the back with her mother," said a man standing at the front desk.

House looked confused. "Excuse me?"

The man's eyes narrowed. "You aren't-? Never mind. What's your name?"

"Dr. Greg House."

The man's eyes widened slightly. "Uh huh. Well, I'm Thomas Jensen. I own this establishment. So you're the one who's marrying Angela McKeaten. I heard about you from Miss Cordelia Chase. She comes down here at least once a week. So what can I do for you, Dr.?"

House didn't exactly know how to respond to that as he didn't know exactly what he was doing there. Thinking quickly, he said, "I was looking for Angela's loft apartment."

"Oh, no problem," Tom said, cheerfully. "Emma? Come here for a minute, kiddo."

In a few moments, a petite woman with longish brown hair came out of the back. "You called, Dad?"

Tom smiled at her. "Yes, I did." He gestured to House. "This is Dr. House. He's Angela McKeaten's fiancé."

Emma grinned. "Ahhh. I see. Well, what can I do for you?"

"I was wondering where Angela's place was," House replied.

"Okay. Well, my apartment is right below hers. Come on, I'll take you over there." Emma gave her father a swift kiss on the cheek before heading out, House following her. After two blocks, they came to a large building. Emma opened the main door and led House up to Angela's loft. She unlocked the door and pulled the key off of her own key ring. "I'd stay and give you a tour of the place, but I have a meeting. Just lock up when you leave." Emma handed House the spare key and then left.

House stepped inside and looked around. There were two floors to the apartment, with a three-level staircase. House started going through the rooms, admiring Angela's collections of books and artifacts. Bookcases were covered with muggle and magical texts and glass fronted cabinets held weaponry and miscellaneous relics. House limped over to one of the cabinets and opened the doors. There were a few figurines and statues along with two wands that looked to be about 15 years old. Hanging on a hook mounted into the above shelf was a small circular pendant with a coat of arms on it.

On the next shelf down, there was only one item: a stone basin which was etched with various symbols. Inside, a silvery substance swirled about. House knew what this had to be; Angela had told him all about penseives. This had to be hers. House started to touch the rim of the basin, but stopped. These were Angela's private thoughts and memories. He couldn't just go in and watch her past. Still, House's natural curiosity was getting the better of him.

He set his cane aside and took the penseive out and set it on the nearest table. The substance in the basin swirled, and House saw a 16-year-old Angela sitting on a bed next to a woman who House figured must be her mother. House sighed, grabbed his cane again, then reached out a hand and touched the thought.

He was sucked into the memory and found himself in a small room. Angela held her mother's hand, and tears slipped out of the young girl's eyes. Her mother reached up a hand and wiped them away. "Don't cry, my Little Angel."

"I love you, momma," Angela whispered. Her mother squeezed her hand.

"And I love you. Always, Angela. And I'll always be with you."

The woman's eyes closed. Angela started crying again. "Momma, don't leave me. Don't leave. Momma?"

House watched as Angela lay on the bed next to her mother. Angela's father and brother came in, but House still focused on Angela. The look on her face when her mother passed… House saw the look of someone whose whole world had been taken away. It was heartbreaking. The scene swirled and changed.

This time, the mood was lighter, happier. Lily Potter was in a hospital room, and her face and body were covered in sweat. "James Daniel Potter, I swear I'm going to kill you for thi- AHHHH!" Angela was rubbing Lily's shoulders, and comforting her. House fought back a chuckle as Lily grabbed the front of Angela's robes and yanked her close to her mouth. "Angela… if you don't shut up right now, I will decapitate you with a potato masher!"

Angela wrenched herself free and straightened up. "I'll just go check on James. Later." House followed her out of the room and into the hallway where Lupin, Sirius, and James were waiting.

James stood up from where he'd been sitting on the floor. "How's Lily?"

Angela started to answer when there was a scream of pain coming from the room. "Pretty much like that."

After a moment though, another sound was heard. This time, it was the sound they had all been hoping for: a baby's first cries. James sighed happily and Sirius hugged him. "I'm a dad. I have a baby."

"And we," Sirius said, taking Angela's hand. "-have a godchild." House couldn't help but notice that while Sirius's face was ecstatic, Angela's face held an expression of doubt as she looked down to Sirius's hand holding hers.

The scene swirled again. This time, the mood was dark, and gloomy. Angela was being escorted to a prison cell and when the reached a cell at the end of the row, House saw that it was Sirius whom she was visiting. The guard left and House took a few steps closer so he could see his future rival for Angela's heart. Sirius looked disheveled, and depressed. When he saw Angela, he leapt off his cot and hurried to the cell door.

"I'm leaving, Sirius."

"What? Why?"

"Because there's nothing here for me. Everyone thinks that you betrayed James and lily and that I was in on it. So I'm leaving. I just thought I owed it to you to tell you face to face. Good bye, Sirius." And with that, she turned and walked away.

House had seen enough. He tried to will himself to leave the penseive and, sure enough, found himself standing in Angela's apartment once more.

It was hard to look at those memories. To see the sadness when her mother died. The joy when Harry was born. And to walk away from a relationship that would go nowhere. No wonder she had become depressed and suicidal. All that would be hard enough for a mortal, but to be immortal and go through all that…

House headed for the door and locked up. He knew he could never tell Angela about what he had seen. She wouldn't like knowing that he'd poked through her memories. But still… now he had a slightly better idea of what she was about. And walking back to the Hyperion, House had the sudden idea that maybe Sirius would like to meet Emma. Then he wouldn't have to worry about Sirius horning in on Angela again.

That evening, House and Wilson talked over take out from the Smithson Bistro.

"House, are there any personal details that you wouldn't pry into?" Wilson asked after hearing about the three memories House had observed.

"I'm not sure," House replied after a bite of roast beef. "I'd have to pry and find out."

"You're a hopeless case, you know that?"

"Yes, but I'm all yours."

Wilson smirked. "I don't think Angela would want to share. Besides, I'm married, remember?"

House noticed the slight acid tone when Wilson said 'married'. Deciding to get to the bottom of it, he asked, "How are you and Julie?"

Wilson sighed. "She wants an open marriage. But it's just an excuse for her to cheat on me."

"So divorce her. You're well experienced at that by now."

Wilson nodded slowly. "I probably will. But… I don't like to just… give up. I work things out, and I stick with it. That's why I've put so much into our friendship. I may not get anything out of it, but I don't give up on people."

House had an epiphany in that moment. The reason he had pushed everyone away. He'd given up on people. Given up on compassion and trust. But with Wilson's words, he'd also realized that just because he'd given up on others, didn't mean they'd given up on him. Maybe… it was time to start letting people in again. Angela had found her way to his heart, and she'd stayed with him, as he'd stayed with her. He had the capability for love and now… maybe it was time to start giving others a chance.

"House?" Wilson looked at his friend questioningly. "Are you listening to me?"

House pulled out of his thoughts and nodded. "Yeah. I'm listening." And for the first time in years, he really was.