Author's note: Kind of a short chapter. But, thanks for sticking with the story. Don't stop reviewing! I really love (and need!) the feedback. Hope you enjoy

The bar inside Le Monde's Restaurant was dark, cozy and usually staffed with friendly and sympathetic bartenders used to dealing with a regular clientele of doctors from the nearby hospital. But tonight, one of their patrons wasn't a regular. In fact, not one of the bar staff could quite place who she'd been in with before, but they thought they'd remembered her being quite important at the hospital. Tonight though, she sat alone and for the last hour quite clearly nursing several different types of flavored martinis.

"Did you know that one in five people who drink alone develop a problem with alcohol later on?" James Wilson said to his boss, from where he stood behind her shoulder.

Cuddy turned slightly to give him a questioning glance. "Wow. You're subtle," she said sarcastically, as she fingered the edge of cocktail napkin under her martini.

"I'm a doctor, my people skills are finely honed," he quickly replied, as he pulled back the bar stool next to hers.

"Well, you've got the equation wrong. It's not a problem with alcohol; it's a problem with people. It's a little known fact but those four people are nuts. It's no wonder that one poor bastard drinks," she said, as she motioned the bartender over to them.

Wilson laughed softly, impressed that she had genuinely brought a smile to his face for the first time today.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, as the bartender set down another martini in front of her and went off to get Dr. Wilson's 'usual' beverage of choice.

"Oh," he said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I lost my better judgment here one night last week. I was hoping to rummage through their lost and found. Mind if I join you?"

"What, to help reduce my odds of dependency?" she lobbed back, as she swept her right hand out, motioning towards the vacant bar stool he stood beside.

Wilson stared at her intently. "So, the fact that I've never seen you here-- ever unless it's after a work function shouldn't tip me off to something?"

Cuddy looked up from her glass as they eyed one another suggestively.

"You know I know," he said, his right eyebrow rising slightly toward his forehead.

"Of course you do," she said, as she rolled her eyes.

"Want to talk about it?" he pressed gently.

She drew a healthy sip from her glass and slowly let out a sigh. "You know, there's not much to say, really. He just as a matter of fact said it didn't feel right to him anymore. Something about being back 'in his own skin'," she said, as she waved her right hand gracefully back and forth between them.

"So, how're you doing with that?" he asked, cautiously.

She shot him a quick glare. "What, the solitary drinking didn't give it away?"

"Of course, sorry," he said, apologetically. "It's just that…"

"What? Afraid I'll go postal and make his life more miserable? You're worried about him, I get it".

"No, I'm worried about you," he said softly, his voice barely audible over the low clinking of bar glasses.

"Oh," she said, as she awkwardly looked down towards her drink.

"I was late," she said, after a few minutes of silence. Wilson's eyes narrowed as he looked at her, puzzled by her announcement.

"This weekend," she started again. "I was late," her eyes now moist with tears as she fixed them onto her cocktail napkin.

Slowly, a look of understanding crept over her companion's face. "Oh. But, not now?" he asked, gently.

"No. Not late anymore. Everything's right on time," she said, as a forced smile slowly turned up the corners of her mouth.

"Did he …"

"No" she said, cutting him off mid-thought. "I didn't tell him".

Wilson lifted the bar glass to his lips, throwing back a healthy volume of liquor.

"May I be rather blunt?" he asked.

"Oh, why not. I'm already drinking, how could it possibly hurt?" she said, flatly.

Wilson laughed gently at her demeanor, now greatly loosened in her near tipsy state. "It wasn't just a coincidence that your desire for a baby and attraction to House happened to occur at the same time, was it? You were hoping for the big package neatly tied up in a bow, right?"

Lisa shook her head slowly from side to side. "It was stupid. I must have been out of my mind to have gotten involved with him," she said, almost in disbelief.

"No, not stupid. You were vulnerable. Stop being so hard on yourself," he said, firmly, before rethinking his tone. "You love the hospital. It's your life-- your passion. But it doesn't tuck you in at night, does it? There's nothing wrong with wanting someone to take care of you".

"I don't regret the choices I've had to make for my career. It all goes with the territory. I can't start questioning myself now," she said, her face bright with emotion.

"No, of course not. But you shouldn't regret House either. He's a bastard most days and an emotional black hole the others, but he's a loyal friend. He cares about you".

Nodding her head softly, she said "Do you think there's a perfect person for everyone?"

"I…don't know. Is anyone perfect?"

She raised her eyes to meet his. "They seem like it if they care about you".

"House is not perfect," he said, flatly.

"No, not for me. But there is someone for everyone. I'm convinced of it. For us, and for him too," she said. "He just doesn't know it yet" she said, looking up suggestively at Wilson.

"Are you a betting man, Doctor Wilson?" she smiled.

After staring at the sly smile across her lips, Wilson signaled the bartender with his hand. "Max, start a tab. We're going to need another round".