I'm glad you liked the previous chapter and thank you for telling me.

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About two weeks after Dr Higa had moved in together with Blythe and House had re-established his talking sessions with Cuddy – and not only dirty talking, they talked about a lot of other things as well, Blythe decided it was time to have a proper get-together again. Not just the normal open house they had on Sunday afternoons (and pretty much every other bloody day as well, as House complained), but a real party, with people dressing up a little more and guests who didn't belong to the proper House-hold invited, too. Main reason for the party was that Eric had called and said that he was coming over for the weekend. He had planned on staying in a hotel, but Blythe had overruled him and he was spending the night at the house (the downstairs bedroom was free).

So here they all were, all over House's backyard talking and eating and having a good time. The House-hold (including Eric for today), Miss Hill, Petra Gilmar plus boyfriend, couple of women Blythe had got to know at her job in the hospital, the woman Wilson was currently dating – darn if House could remember her name – and Chase and Cameron had brought dates, too (though the said dates seemed to be in possession of too much information since Chase's date kept glaring at Cameron and Cameron's date gave stern, warning stares to Chase). In fact, had House wanted to have a party, he would have been quite entertained by the people interacting around him. Problem was he didn't really want to have them all here. But this was his mother's party, so he didn't close himself inside his flat, though he didn't exactly mingle either. Fortunately nobody really expected him to so he was left alone to sit on the porch swing with Aiko. That was until Eric joined him.

"Escaping the crowd?" House asked him.

"Yeah, a little," Eric admitted. "Though, mainly I just wanted to have time with Aiko."

"Have to say I approve of your priorities," House nodded handing Aiko over to Eric to hold. "Tell me, how is La-la-land?"

"It's ok," Eric responded with notable lack of enthusiasm.

"You're a partner in one of the most prestigious practices in LA, have at least three times the salary you got from me, your own car a furnished flat in the better part of the town and it's just ok?" House clarified. "Do I smell a snake in the Paradise?"

"He's not in the Paradise," Eric muttered with some aggravation.

"You mean me?" House was delighted. "What am I supposed to have done all the way from the other side of the country?"

"You did it before I got to the other side of the country," Eric sighed. "I used to admire Marty Hamilton. Not just as a doctor; after all it is hardy surprising that you outshine him on that aspect, but I also admired him for his success, his humble manner and humanity."

"And now you don't?" House queried.

"His bedside manner still beats yours coming and going," Eric pointed out.

"Anybody's bedside manner beats mine," House shrugged.

"That's true," Eric laughed settling Aiko a little better against his shoulder – she was falling asleep; she had been rather active all day, after all, greeting the guests and being adored by them (as indeed were her siblings as well). "But the problem I have is that I no longer can look at him without searching for hidden motives. I never quite trusted you and now I don't trust Marty. And he is beginning to irritate me with his modesty. If all his diagnoses are results of just being lucky, he needs to stop practising medicine and leave it to those who actually know what they are doing. Yes, there is always an element of luck involved when you try to find out what is wrong with the patient, but mostly you're supposed to rely on your skill, knowledge and experience! Also, since he never acknowledges his own contribution, he never really acknowledges the hard work his team does either. It's all about him. Even when he thanks people for their hard work it's still all about him."

"I thought that was your complaint about me, too?" House wondered.

"Yeah," Eric admitted. "But you don't care if anybody knows it or not. You don't accept awards and give speeches. You don't even talk to the patients. Yeah, you took all the credit from our hard work but then you sent us to talk to the patient; we could have claimed the credit to ourselves had we wanted to. You wouldn't have cared. Same with the articles, you never even read them. And the one and only time I heard you give a public speech I was more than happy that you made it all about yourself even if it meant that my job was in jeopardy. At least none of it would have followed me had I been the one to go. Of course, your phenomenal luck kicked in again and it was Vogler who had to leave, not you."

"That wasn't luck," House observed. "That was Cuddy. And contrary to popular belief she didn't choose to save me but the hospital. I was just an added bonus. Though, have to admit, she didn't think of me that way then."

"Whatever," Eric didn't really care.

"So you're basically beginning to think that Marty is shallow and vain," House mused a little sardonically. "And you have come to this conclusion because you're comparing him to me? And because I'm such a deep and humble character?"

"No," Eric gave a deep sigh. "Because I'm beginning to suspect that you actually have reason for your arrogance. I still don't like it, don't think I do. Or you. But I still find I can tolerate it marginally better than Marty's aw shucks humility. I'm leaving there after these six months."

"Any idea what you want to do then?" House asked mildly.

"I may stay in LA, there are other practises, hospitals and clinics there," Eric pondered. "But I want to treat real people again. The celebrities are great for the first week, but after that, you start to see them as just people. With them, though, most of their problems are self-inflicted. Not that they don't deserve to be helped just the same, but there are plenty of doctors who want to do that. I want something else."

"Talk to Cuddy," House told Foreman. "She is always looking for good doctors. And if she can't offer anything you'd want, you still have five months to make up your mind. And take Aiko to Kasumii, she can put my baby to bed."

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Later on House found Cuddy taking a breather from the crowd. She too had found her way to the porch which House had vacated for a while to get something to eat and drink.

"Did Foreman find you?" House asked.

"Yes," Cuddy nodded. "And it seems you were right. He doesn't like LA as much as he thought he would. He liked my offer and promised to think it over. I'm fairly sure he will accept it."

"Good," House said sitting down on the swing next to Cuddy. "So tell me, why is something missing from my bedroom?"

"Something is missing?" Cuddy was all wide-eyed innocence. "How could I possibly know what is supposed to be in your bedroom and what not?"

"Because this something you brought there yourself," House pointed out. "And since it went missing this morning, I know I haven't misplaced it nor has Lupe accidentally taken it away. My flat was cleaned two days ago. Nobody but you knew I had it so you're the only one who could have taken it."

"Well, it is my property," Cuddy specified. "I might have needed it."

House was suddenly very alert. He looked Cuddy up and down: "Do you mean that right now...?"

"No, not right now," Cuddy smiled unconvincingly. "But if you like to think so, go ahead."

"I don't think I better," House muttered. "But I want it back!"

"I'll think about it," Cuddy promised and went to join the guests leaving House with a slightly pained look on his face.

Cuddy walked to Cameron, Chase and Petra who were sitting on the grass fairly near to the porch. All their dates had left them for a moment. The boyfriends were getting food for their girls and Chase's date was apparently fixing her makeup.

"Am I dreaming it or are Blythe and Dr Higa an item now?" Cameron asked. Obviously House hadn't told the news at work and since both Blythe and Higa were fairly reserved people the connection hadn't been obvious to House's team the times they had been to the house since. Only now that they had time to really observe were they making conclusions.

"Yes they are," Cuddy admitted. "Have been for the last couple of weeks or so. I believe they reached this stage soon after Blythe's divorce came through. You were busy diagnosing that ARD patient at the time."

"How is House taking this," Chase wanted to know.

"In his stride," Cuddy said. Though then she laughed. "Mind you, they have a running joke about Blythe and Dr Higa being too old to do anything but cuddle. Every time House catches them kissing – and that's not very often since both of them are very private people – Higa reminds him that they are just cuddling and House pretends to believe it."

"I'm glad Blythe has found happiness," Cameron sighed. "But I didn't realise her divorce was finalised already."

"I understood that once they had agreed on the practicalities like division of assets and things like that, John went to Reno and got the divorce," Cuddy revealed. "I think he wanted to show that he didn't care. Also he was already living with someone else by then."

"This whole situation," Petra was shaking her head. "This house, the ... I don't know; the family or whatever you call yourselves (the house-hold, Chase inserted). Ok, the house-hold, I don't quite understand all this. I mean I think it's great for the kids, but how on earth are you making it work. How ... I mean House... I don't know."

"You mean how on earth did House get this and us all together and what insanity is keeping us together?" Cuddy asked.

"I suppose," Petra shrugged. "I thought that I could handle House, since with four brothers I have heard pretty much every crudity that a man is capable of, but ..."

"House is in a league of his own," Chase stated. "But so is Aiko - and I suspect the Trips will be, too. We're all in this, but I suspect none of us can really explain why or how."

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The party had been a success and even House had found it tolerable – mostly because he kept on thinking of Cuddy and what she – maybe – was wearing. Once the party had been over, they had had a quiet dinner (not that anyone really ate much anymore) with just Eric – minus Grey and Kasumii who had other plans, and then Eric had left to catch his plane. After that they lounged in the living room for a while and once Grey and Kasumii were back Blythe and Higa retired for the night and soon the rest of the house followed their example. House was actually the last one to go to his flat as he had gone to the kitchen to get his last mug of coffee for the night.

As soon as House walked into his flat he thought something was different. He sniffed the air and followed the seductive scent of Chanel n:o 5 to his bedroom. He presumed that Cuddy had brought the item back and had sprayed the place with the perfume just get him going. He was wrong.

When he stepped into his bedroom he found – in the soft light from the bedside lamp – that Cuddy had indeed brought that sexy piece of black lace back to him. Only she was still there herself as well, wearing it. Her pose was reminiscent of Goya's Maja paintings, only she was neither dressed nor nude and her smile was a lot more teasing.

"So, I brought it back," Cuddy announced in a purring voice. "Do you like what you see?"

"Goo, gah, wooo," House hammed.

"I take that as a yes," Cuddy laughed, pleased.

"Hrhm," House cleared his throat. "Is this what I think?"

"I visited Helen this morning by special agreement," Cuddy announced. "And she said that my super tanker is perfectly ready for body maintenance." She turned over, to her stomach and gave House a good look at her super tanker.

"I agree it's perfect," House nodded. "So, she said that you're cleared for action should you want any?"

"Yeah," Cuddy confirmed. "Fit as a fiddle and ... well you know the song."

"Yeah, I think I may have heard it," House agreed. He walked to the bed and sat down next to Cuddy. "Only... are you sure? I... I don't know if I can return your feelings. That is if you still love me."

"House," Cuddy turned back to her back and sat up resting her hand on his cheek. "It may have escaped your notice but this is your room, not mine. I came here, so I'm not expecting any other commitment from you than friendship. This is just friends with benefits. All I expect from you is honesty. Don't tell me what you think I might want to hear unless you really mean it and if I get hurt that's my own lookout. Trust me. I know what I'm doing."

"But I don't want you to get hurt," House frowned.

"Maybe I won't," Cuddy shrugged. "I do still love you, so it wasn't just pregnancy related delusion. But I still don't expect you to do anything you don't want to. My feelings, my business. And as long as we both know the score, what's the harm?"

"You're quite sure?" House still needed some reassurance.

"I'm sure," Cuddy stated firmly. "And besides, I like sex. With the triplets and my job I'll not have time to go out to find some. This is ideal. And just think of the money you save when you don't need to spend it on hookers. You can put it in the kid's college fund instead!"

"You do have a point," House agreed running his hand through Cuddy's hair. He started to smile, maybe this would work.

"See, I told you I know what I'm doing," Cuddy told him. "So just relax."

"I don't think relaxing is an option right now," House smiled and kissed Cuddy. "By the way, you never told me where you found this interesting piece of frivolity. Somehow I cannot see you shopping for something like this while pregnant." House asked as he caressed the strap down from Cuddy's shoulder.

"Oh, I got it from Evil Nurse Brenda as a House-warming gift," Cuddy announced as she arched closer to House.

"Really?" House was intrigued. "I think I may just have to kiss her the next time I see her."

"Don't you dare," Cuddy warned.

"That settles it," House smiled evilly. "I have to do it. But don't worry, I may be a little free with my kisses, but everything else is yours until I specifically tell you differently."