Disclaimer: none but thanks for the reviews. I try to do my best to keep it grammatically correct. Thanks for all of the criticism; it boosts my ego to write more. Peace-Amanda.

There were very few things that Dr. Lisa Cuddy hated. Needles, enormous amounts of paperwork at once, and of course, confronting Dr. House about public appearance opportunities graced the top of the chart. She braced herself and pushed her way through the glass doors that led to his office. Since he had been dating Cameron, his remarks about her appearance and wardrobe had decreased drastically but he was still an ass nonetheless. He was avoiding clinic duty as usual, starching out in his plush chair while playing his gameboy. She could swear that he smirked as she stepped up to his desk and placed two tickets on top of his clinic files.

PPTH extends their invitation to

Gregory House and guest

On New Year's Eve at six o'clock pm

For a formal introduction between

Hospitals and staff

He raised an eyebrow at her and she sighed.

"You're the Head of Diagnostics and you have an image to maintain for this hospital."

"Amazing," he retorted. "I made you defend yourself without having to say a word. Guess what I want you to say now."

He shut his eyes and squinted his eyes together. Cuddy was not amused.

"You're going and that's final. You're also not going to make a scene because I can't afford to get drunk that night. It's a black tie affair so where a tux and for God's sake go do your clinic hours."

She turned on her heel and stalked out of the room, barely moving out of the way for Cameron who was coming in with a handful of charts. Cameron looked after Cuddy with a curious expression on her face.

"What was that about?"

House smirked. "She was trying to come on to me but I managed to resist her womanly charms."

Cameron frowned and House caved while internally rolling his eyes. He was so whipped.

"I found something to do on New Year's Eve."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Greg House was not a patient man. That's why he had tivo. So he could fast forward through all those damn commercials. Right now, his patience was slowly being burned away.

"Come on, Allison. We're going to be late and then Cuddy will tack on clinic house. Every hour means that you have to do something naughty when we get home tonight."

"Then that doesn't give me much initiative to rush, now does it?"

He turned around to snark back but the words died in his throat as he saw the most beautiful woman in the world. She wore a modest cut dress that was as black as the velvety sky. Glitter sparkled on every surface and her thin, lacey straps criss-crossed over her back in a corset fashion. Slim black pumps and the gold locket he had given her for Christmas completed the bottom half of his sight. Traveling up her body, he saw that her hair was pulled back in a French knot and strands fell forward onto her face, hiding the bright gold earrings with sparkling diamonds. She wore only eyeliner on her bottom lids and mascara, not needing the false beauty.

"Your mouth is open."

House closed his mouth and had to refrain from being permanently late the entire night. He was completely unaware that on the other side of the room, Cameron was having the same problem. He was absolutely dashing in his black tux. He actually wore a tie that was black silk with a glossy sheen to it. Hard black shoes completed his look even though she knew his thigh would pay for it later. He quickly composed himself and leered at her jokingly.

"You sure you don't want to stay home?"

"What about the clinic hours?" she asked while grabbing her shawl.

He winked at her while she came over and straightened his tie.

"I'd take the hours."

She wasn't fooled.

"You say that now but if you took the clinic hours, Foreman, Chase, and I would end up doing them while you listened to your ipod."

Damn. She wasn't fooled. She fidgeted with his tie a little too long and he put one of his hands over hers.

"What's wrong?"

She wouldn't look him in the eyes, which meant that it was bad.

"Cuddy," she started slowly, " Well…she told me that…Stacy might be there tonight."

She felt him stiffen and she mistook it as irritation at her.

"And you think that matters?" he asked tersely.

She nodded and he frowned. He put his hand under her chin and tilted her head up so she was looking into her eyes.

"Stacy… I'm over her now. I have you, which is more then enough for me. If anything, I should be the one worried about whether or not you'll find someone younger that you'll like. Stop worrying about Stacy and understand that I love YOU. That won't change. We might, from time to time, have hot monkey-"

He cut himself off when she laughed and playfully batted at his arm. He grabbed her hand and kissed the top of it.

"Ready?" he asked.

"Oh yeah. Bring on the snobs."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As they entered the giant ballroom, House was hit with the falseness of the entire event and repressed the urge to pop a Vicodin. He didn't have time to dwell on it, however, because Wilson and Julie walked up to them.

"Stop frowning," Wilson ordered. "Cuddy's already said she's going to tack on five hours for every frown she sees on you tonight."

"Nice to see that she's starting to get the hang of the blackmailing part of her job," he dryly stated.

He grabbed Cameron's hand and they went to the table that had their names on it. A quick glance at the nametags told him that they were sitting with Wilson and Julie, Chase and his date, Foreman and his date, and Stacy and Mark Warner. Great. Wilson looked at him and noticed his gaze.

"You okay?"

Cameron squeezed his hand and he nodded."

"I'm fine."

Right.

Dinner started twenty minutes later with everyone at the table. No words had been said between Stacy and House but the looks she was giving him said they were coming. Because of this, Cameron didn't leave House's side for a second. He was thankful of this but didn't say so because you don't show weakness in front of Bigfoot. Mark was funny, energetic, and not crippled anymore so he completely ignored House. He was sure to point out every fault throughout the night and when dessert came with drinks, no one hesitated in immediately ordering a second round. Cuddy went up to the podium and began her speech.

"Greetings to all of the hospitals who have made their presence known tonight. I am Dr Lisa Cuddy from PPTH and quite a few of my doctors are here tonight so if they would be so kind as to stand when I call their name. Dr Wilson from Oncology."

Wilson stood and waved a little.

"In the department of Diagnostics, Robert Chase, Eric Foreman, and Allison Cameron."

All three of his ducklings stood.

"And Head of Diagnostics, Gregory House."

He didn't stand. He simply raised his arm to acknowledge his presence. When Cuddy frowned, he just motioned to his cane and then winced as though he were in pain. Oh yeah, he had a reputation. Cameron turned away from the podium and smothered a laugh.

"You know," she giggled," She's going to make you pay for that."

He batted his eyes at her and pouted. Cameron just laughed and gave him a quick kiss, both oblivious to the glaring eyes of Stacy. After all of the introductions were made, dancing started up. Julie immediately pulled Cameron out to the floor, leaving the men alone. Wilson looked over at House and tried to see what he was fiddling with in his pocket.

"You're going to have to dance eventually, you know."

'I know," he replied. " I'm just waiting for a slow song."

"Why?"

House pulled the object he was playing with out of his pocket and handed it to Wilson. Wilson opened it and his mouth dropped. Inside a black jewelry box was a heart shaped diamond with two smaller ones on either side of it, perched on top of a shiny gold band.

"Greg, are you serious?"

House raised an eyebrow at him and took the box back.

"Do you even have to ask? For more than a year now we've been going out. Since then, my Vicodin intake has decreased my half and I barely drink anymore. I'm an ass, Jim, not stupid."

"B-but," Wilson sputtered, "This means actual commitment. This is forever."

House rolled his eyes.

"Duh. We've fought, bickered, picked at the small things, and yelled at each other. I wasted too much time telling her that I loved her and I won't make that mistake again. We live together everyday and you know what? We've developed a daily pattern that I noticed last week. Other than a few disturbances, we do the same things every day. I'm not going to let a little piece of paper and the matter of a last name stand in the way anymore. Besides, any woman who can stand me for more than a few moments deserves an award."

Wilson grinned. "And what better award then to be latched to you for forever."

"Exactly," House agreed. "Now if you'll excuse me, the perfect song just came on."

He got up off of his seat and headed towards the future Ms. House. He just hoped that she wouldn't commit him to the funny farm before he was good and insane. And seeing how most of his co-workers though of him, that day might come pretty soon.