An: Thanks again, reviewers! I'm thrilled people are enjoying this story. I only typed it up in the first place to get it out of my head, so it's great to hear that you're having a nice read from it.

Every now and again, maybe once in ten blue moons, something shocked House enough that he forgot to be unflappable and simply gaped.

It had been quite some time since Cuddy had seen this look, and maybe never with this intensity, but she couldn't concentrate on committing it to memory because her heart was beating too damned fast.

And he recovered himself fairly quickly, eyes shifting from wide to narrow in an instant. "I assume you're joking, Dr. Cuddy," he snapped, "as I hadn't figured you for another martyr complex."

She recognized his lashing out for what it was and didn't flinch.

"Why the hell -"

"Why the hell not?" she countered fiercely. "Why not sign a miserable piece of paper that won't change my life in the slightest, if it keeps this from happening?"

"This, as you so eloquently put it," he all but hissed, "is my problem. Why should you -"

"Back to that." Cuddy matched him glare for glare. "I've taken your side against Vogler once already because your department is worth it and because you were right. He's not running you out of my hospital if I can stop it." And that was about all she could say, because if she mentioned missing him the pity sensor would go off and that would be it.

"Before was different," he protested. "That was just a question of him storming off. This..."

She could almost see him bite his tongue and felt a rush of relief. The badly restrained anger in House a few moments ago had been exhilarating in a way, but she was nearly shaking with adrenaline. Now they were heading back to familiar footing. "Should I be flattered that you consider a hundred million dollars less significant than my marital status?"

He'd walked neatly into that, and they both knew it. "That's not the point, Cuddy."

"Then what is?"

For a few rare seconds he was silent, and she pushed the advantage ruthlessly. This was just like any of their heated arguments...only the stakes were far, far higher this time. If she lost now, this fracas would be the last one. And if she focused on how much that bothered her, she'd lose for sure. "What, no comeback? Or does the dead air mean I'm right?"

"You -"

"Forget me," she cut him off. "I want this. My life wouldn't change, I'm not involved with someone I'd regret not being able to marry, I'm not reading anything into it as Cameron would, and I want this. So unless you really miss England, why not?"

And he couldn't answer her, couldn't come up with a word, and abruptly Cuddy realized that she'd won. It took far too much effort not to breathe like a winded racehorse, to keep her thoughts from churning like a horse still in full gallop.

What, exactly, had she done? Become so caught up in the fight that she'd argued for the wrong side? Or had she meant those bold words about wanting this?

As they stared at each other for a long moment, she knew that she had. She wanted this person to be a part of her life. She was fine with him as a colleague, but if it came down to a choice between husband or pen pal...

Finally she looked away, and only then did House repeat, voice rough, "You want this."

"Yes. Do you?"

"If you -"

Cuddy met his eyes again, and he broke off and simply nodded. It was the biggest concession she could see him making, and almost a surprise that he trusted her enough for that.

Almost.