A/N: Wow, after a little over 7 months, 48,000 words, 450+ reviews and 60 chapters, it's finally come to an end. -sob- Thanks again, everyone! Nobody couldn't ask for a better audience.


"Need some help?" Wilson asked, casting a puzzled glimpse at the enormous crystal vase stuffed with crimson roses that House was struggling maintain a grip on, all the while keeping his now bulky knapsack from slipping off his shoulder.

"That depends on your definition of 'help'," House replied as the silky petals tickled his chin. "Did your patients take the day off? What are you doing out here?"

"Cuddy has some kind of bizarre psuedo-staff meeting going on in her office," Wilson told him. "She sent me out here to look for you. Now I can see why." The oncologist's puzzlement melted into amusement. "It's not Valentine's Day or her birthday. Is this that checkers thing you were talking about yesterday?"

"You bet. I let her win the last two games."

"And this is your punishment?"

"I've already collected my reward. As far as punishments go, this is the equivalent to the Spanish Inquisition's Adjustable Bed. By the way, Wilson, if you tell Cuddy I let her win I'm going to make you the newest member of the Vienna Boys Choir. "

"My lips are sealed," he said, stealing another glance. "You're not bothered at all by this?"

"Maybe a tiny bit. My precious ego will get over it. Have you let Julie beat you at checkers yet?"

"I couldn't find the set," Wilson scowled. "I'll have to stop on the way home and buy a new one."

"You do that," House grinned. "C'mon, let's get this over with. These roses are heavier than they look."

Wilson held the door open. House entered and was greeted with the staring, gaping eyes of a handful of hospital personnel. His underlings were seated on one of the real leather sofas; of course, he expected them to be there. That was a given. There were a few nurses, a janitor, and one or two hospital volunteers. They were all enjoying the show.

"Good morning, Dr. House," Cuddy beamed. The queen on her throne.

"Good morning, boss." House smiled in return and glanced around the office. "Is this all? I figured you'd drag a few of the self-important surgeons in here, at least. Look, not even one measly brain surgeon in the mix. I'm disappointed."

"I'm not going to make my surgeons bump their scheduled, and unscheduled, life-saving surgeries for five minutes worth of regalement."

"Even if said regalement comes at my expense?" House raised an eyebrow.

"The nice woman who is finally getting a new kidney after waiting for two years might have something to say about it. Patients come first here at Princeton-Plainsboro."

"Even my patients?"

"All patients. Your patients are stable and recovering. My point is that our enthrallment at your expense will always come a distant second, Dr. House, no matter how enjoyable it may be."

From the corner of his eye, House could see Foreman and Cameron trying their damndest not to burst out laughing. Chase just sat there with an odd look of satisfaction. "Hmph, I'm worth a ten minute break in the surgery schedule. Just knock the patients out and get those sorry surgeon asses in here."

"Not today," Cuddy said, still smiling. "Are there two dozen roses in that vase?"

"Yes, ma'am," House answered, limping to her desk. "Count them if you don't believe me."

"I believe you. These roses are lovely. Is that a crystal vase?"

"The finest crystal vase in New Jersey. At least that's what the guy on the street selling crystal vases and Rolexes told me." He set flowers on her desk, temporarily blocking her from view. The sweet scent of the roses soon wrapped around them like a cloak.

"Red roses, my favorite," she said quietly, forgetting about the other people in the room.

"Just what you asked for, boss."

"Not quite." Her head snapped up. "Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Are you referring to something in a gold box?"

"Of course."

"Patience, Dr. Cuddy, patience." He held up a hand, hearing Wilson and the janitor giggling behind him. "I only have two hands and one of them uses this here cane to keep me vertical." His free hand reached into his knapsack and pulled out a ridiculously huge gold box. Cuddy's breath caught at the sight of it. "One hundred and forty pieces of sinfully delicious yummies. I trust they will go down well with the leftover pie." It dropped on her desk with a thick, heavy thump.

"I had no idea Godiva made a box this big," she gasped.

"Now you do."

"Yes, I do," The Dean of Medicine looked over all the smiling, smirking faces. "Okay, the show's over. Back to healing the sick." She waved them off. They turned to the door like school kids practicing a fire drill.

House watched his snickering underlings file out the door. When they were alone, he turned back to his boss. "I delivered, lover."

"I never had a doubt," she replied.

"Really?"

"Well, maybe a little one."

House chuckled softly. "How about I swing by your place tonight and erase any lingering doubts."

"Please do, Dr. House."

"Is there any pie left?"

"Yes."

"Save me a piece," he said, then turned and limped to the door.

– The End.