Author's notes: Okay. I have the basics of the remaining chapters mapped out for both this story and 'Dea Ex Machina'. Also, I am in the process of working on a 'House'/'Law and Order:SVU' crossover under the name The Orange Elf of Oblivion. So, when you're done with this, skitter over there and check it out.

Also, I am on the hunt for favorite 'House' scenes to go behind-the-scenes stories on. Remember to send me your choices.

One more thing—the title of this chapter comes from the title of one of Bryan Adams' latest songs. I thought it sounded good.

Ch. 14 This Side of Paradise or House and Angela both have cold feet moments

Sirius was miserable. His time with Cordelia was fun—no question about that—but it wasn't fulfilling. So here he was, strolling the streets of Los Angeles, and bored and miserable. He was lost in thought when someone walked into him, causing himself and the other person to fall to the ground. Looking up, he saw a woman with short brown hair on her knees, quickly picking things up from the ground.

"Here, let me help you," Sirius said, gathering up the rest of the papers she had spilled.

"Thanks," the woman replied, as she stood up.

Sirius stood as well, wincing slightly as his knee twinged. "So do I get to know your name?"

"Oh, um…. Yeah. Emma. Emma Jenson."

Sirius handed her the papers. "I'm Sirius Black."

"Angela's former fiancé. Yeah, I know."

Sirius gave her a smile. "Listen, I'm just out for a walk. Do you… want to get a drink? I'll buy."

"Sounds great."

Sirius gave Emma a warm smile and offered his arm, which she took. Together, they headed down the streets.

London, England

When Lily orbed into Angela's kitchen, she couldn't believe the carnage that lay before her. Scores of bridal magazines, pages and pages of notes, and empty bottles and empty junk food bags and wrappers littered the room. On the top of a pile, Lily found a page with what looked like the final notes for the wedding details.

Guest List

Weasley family& Hermione Granger

Hogwarts staff—including Dumbledore and Snape

J, L, H, S, R

Duncan Macleod

Amanda

Methos

Joe Dawson

Sunnydale Gang

Angel& company

Kyle Wyle

Emma Jenson

(I don't know who Greg is inviting—will ask later.)

Angel will give me away. Lily will be my maid of honor. Hermione and Ginny will be bride's maids. Greg will probably want Wilson to be best man, groomsmen are unknown.

Wedding Dress:

Slender, fluffed lace ball gown skirt, slitted on left side. Skirt is ice blue; bodice is lavender with off-the-shoulder straps.

Accessories: diamond letter choker (purple ribbon)

Hair: crimped, curled, put up (face framed)

Pale blue ankle boots

Bridesmaids dresses:

Silky satin 1 piece—spaghetti straps—pale blue bodice, darker blue skirt

Blue sandal strap heels

Sapphire earrings

Diamond letter choker—blue ribbon

Hair—braided bun

Music:

Ceremony: Bryan Adams (All for One& All for Love)

First Dance: Bryan Adams (Inside Out)

Lily was amazed. It was hard to believe that this was really going on. Angela was making this happen. Even with what she'd been through, she wasn't letting it get in the way of what she wanted. Well, that was the way it should be. The dresses sounded beautiful, and it all looked good. But where was Angela? Just as Lily was about to start searching the house, Angel came in from the guest room. "Looking for Angela?"

"Yeah, where is she?"

"Sleeping. Angela was up all night getting everything together. I told her to take a potion and go lay down."

"Is she in any pain?"

Angel shrugged. "Not that she'd admitting to. But she could get her leg cut off and she wouldn't say she was in pain."

Lily looked at Angel, amazed. "That was a really bad joke."

"Well, it's true, isn't it?" Angel sat down at the table and Lily joined him. Angel sighed. "I've been thinking, and… I don't know. Part of me wonders if Dr. House made the right call."

"Yeah. Well… I mean, i-it was the right thing to do. I mean…" Lily looked at Angel. "Yeah. I know. But with all Angela's been through, having her get cancer…"

"She might not have. She could have been fine."

"Angel, would you want to take that risk? Really? Would you take the chance that she would have been fine?"

Angel was quiet for a while. In a way, he'd been glad that House had made the decision. Because thinking about it now, he wondered if he could have chosen when Angela's accident had happened.

"You couldn't do it, could you?" Lily asked, watching Angel. He looked at her questioningly. Lily went on. "Choose. When it's your only family at stake. I couldn't do it either."

Los Angeles, California

Early the next morning, House was up and pacing about his room, thinking—mostly on what he had seen the other day in Angela's Penseive. How much she had been through—the ups and downs. Sometimes it was almost impossible to make understand why Angela seemed so… normal at times. At times, House realized that, compared to his fiancé, he was very well-adjusted. What exactly did Angela see in him? In truth, he didn't exactly have a lot to offer. So what made Angela agree to marry him?

House sat on his bed. Maybe he was thinking about this the wrong way. Instead of thinking about what Angela might need from him, House thought about what she'd asked of him. Well, that was a short list. Mostly she just wanted him to be around her. So maybe it was the support and love Angela saw. The fact that he'd asked for nothing more than to be with her.

Planting that thought firmly in his mind, House's cold feet warmed right up.

London, England

When Angela awoke from her nap, her leg gave a particularly painful throb. She got up slowly and grabbed a small vial of pain potion from her nightstand and downed it. She preferred potions to muggle drugs because the potions were—for the most part—non-addictive. She'd only been on the sleeping potions all those years because they were the only thing that worked. After the pain receded, Angela put her prosthetic on and grabbed the cane. Limping out to the kitchen, she found Lily cleaning up the magazines and catalogs.

"I would have gotten that," Angela said, making Lily whirl around in surprise.

"Angela," Lily said, smiling. "Sleep well?"

Angela shrugged. "Sure. Not bad. Lily… I've been thinking about something."

Lily put the last magazine on the stack and sat down, motioning for Angela to join her. "What is it? What's on your mind?"

"Children."

Lily looked confused. "Angela, you can't have children."

Angela sighed. "I know. But Greg doesn't know that."

Lily caught on. "And you don't know whether he wants kids or not."

"Exactly. I mean, what if he does? My body can't sustain a pregnancy."

Lily looked thoughtful. "Well, first of all, you don't know that House wants children. And if your system can't handle a pregnancy… you could consider a surrogate."

Angela looked at Lily. "You? You'd do that for me?"

"Angela, of course I would."

"Thanks."

Lily took Angela's hand. "Listen, I have a pretty good knack at reading people. And I think House will keep loving you whether or not you can actually bear children."

Angela smiled. "Thanks, Lily."

"Cold feet are nothing to be ashamed of." Lily gave a devilish smile in return. "And soon, you'll have a man to warm them up for you."

Angela looked surprised at her best friend's suggestion. "Lily!"