A/N: In the words of House, "I'd hate to break a pretty woman's heart, but…" this series is just about over with. Cat and I have decided that there's no sense in beating a dead horse, so I'm going to write this one and three more after, and then declare it finished.

Enjoy it while you have it!

Are You Dead Yet?


Chapter Eleven
If the Shoe Fits…

"C'mere…Your hat is crooked."

Grumbling, House ambled over to where Claire was standing. "Why?"

"Because they've got a lot to do…I told them just to get you in and out of each costume…I didn't say they had to be perfect!"

"That's not what I was referring to, Claire."

The director made an impatient noise, but didn't speak as she finished cleaning the doctor up. "There! Now, step back so I can see you properly!"

House moved back grudgingly, his cane tapping out his evident unhappiness. "You're avoiding the subject."

Satisfied with what she saw, Claire came down off the stepstool. "You want to talk about this? You want to discuss our feelings? Fine! Me first!

"I am aware that Dr. Chase is 'warm for my form' as the old phrase goes, and that you aren't too shy about your feelings either, but I'm taken."

"Why haven't you introduced him to us? You don't seem like the sort of woman to hide things."

Claire rolled her eyes. "I have introduced him, you nincompoop! But of course, none of you realized we were involved."

Greg's left eyebrow flew toward his hairline. "Not what's-his-face? Parker? Or the conductor…Sullivan?"

"Sullivan's married with two children and I can say the same for Parker."

"Then who?"

"Remember Vic? The magician who commissioned uP tHiNg? He's leaving his wife for me."

House's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "I wouldn't expect an innocent young lady like you to like that sort of guy."

Claire laughed. "We've been having an affair for about three years now. Vic filed his divorce papers in May and proposed in June." The director held out her left hand, upon which a rather luscious sapphire was gleaming. "The divorce will be final next month, and we're going to be handfasted on Candlemas."

"Candlemas?"

"Candlemas, Imbolg, February 2nd…All the same to me."


A/N: Sorry for the short chapter…I expected the topic of costume fittings to be more interesting. Oh well…Cleared the air, at any rate!

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Also worth noting is the fact that Sarah Brightman's understudy was named Claire Moore…A coincidence, I assure you!