Okay folks, this is the first part of the epilogue. BE WARNED: House is old in this. If you don't want to read about that, just let the last chapter be the end of the story for you. But this will tie everything up nicely.

EPILOGUE – Part 1

25 YEARS LATER

House squirmed as Kate tried to tie his bow tie.

"Stay still." She commanded.

"Why do I have to wear this stupid thing? If it's my retirement party, I should be able to wear anything I want."

"Because you'd wear ratty jeans and a t-shirt."

"What's wrong with that?"

Kate just shook her head. He would never really change. Not the essential man that she had loved for the past thirty odd years. Some things were different. For instance, the reason she was fixing his tie. She said it was because he never did it right. But actually it was because arthritis in his hands made it hard for him to handle that. He could still play the piano, though not for long periods, but the guitar was getting harder and harder.

Of course, being House, he would never admit that. So Kate said she was doing it to make it nicer. And they both knew the real reason.

Considering that House was eighty years old, a little arthritis in the hands wasn't too bad. His leg hadn't improved of course. But new treatments and non-narcotic pain medication had helped. But now both of his knees also had some arthritis as well. He actually could have used a wheelchair, but stubbornly continued to use his cane. Of course, it took much longer for him to get around.

His hair, what was left of it, was gray. He was still slim, with more lines around his eyes and mouth. His eyes, however, were still a bright, brilliant blue.

But the most important thing to both of them was that his intelligence and wit were just as sharp as they had always been. And to Kate he was still as sexy as the first day she had seen him in the hospital corridor.

"I don't even want to go." House complained.

"You want to go to the party. You just don't want to retire."

"Well, why should I? I can still do my job."

Kate sighed. They had been having this same discussion for the past four months, ever since the decision had been made. She knew that he really was ready to stop working, but was too stubborn to admit it. That would be admitting weakness and he couldn't do that.

"All of your cronies are going to be gone. James is retiring in a few months. Cuddy's been gone for years. Who will you have to bother all day?"

"There's still my staff."

"That's another thing. Your replacement won't like it if you don't retire."

House just looked at her. "Cuddy should never have quit."

"She's never been happier and you know it."

When Cuddy's adopted daughter, Che Lin graduated from college and became a marine biologist, she accepted a job in Florida. Cuddy had spent two years missing her terribly before deciding to resign her position at PPTH. She had moved to Florida and had opened a clinic for women. Even though she was semi-retired, she still kept her hand in it. She loved it.

"Yeah, and look who replaced her."

Kate chuckled. She'd been hearing this for the last eight years. "Robert is a wonderful Dean of Medicine. The hospital has never run smoother."

When Cuddy resigned, she had recommended Chase to the board as her replacement. The decision was unanimous and no one regretted it. He was as good an administrator as he was a doctor. Of course, House still treated him as if he was his employee.

"And," she added, "He's gone to a great deal of trouble to plan this party."

"Of course he has! He can't wait to see me go. I know how incompetent he is."

Kate ignored his remarks, her thoughts elsewhere. "Oh, and by the way, he's not bringing a date tonight."

"Did you hear that at lunch or in study hall?"

Chase had never married, but at every party or fundraiser, he always had a beautiful woman on his arm.

"Come on, Greg, you know he always brings a date. But he's not bringing one tonight."

"So?"

"Well, you know who else is coming."

"A lot of people are coming. But don't expect me to talk to all of them. Most of them are idiots."

"Greg, Allison is coming."

After Cameron's whirlwind courtship and marriage to the stockbroker from Chicago, she found herself divorced with two kids a few years later. She stayed in the Midwest and decided to go into private practice in a small town, thinking it would be a better life for her children. She hadn't been back to New Jersey in over twenty years.

Chase had never forgotten her. And no other woman had ever measured up.

House rolled his eyes. "Is this a retirement party or a high school dance?" But he smiled. He'd never admit this either, but Robert Chase was as close as House had to a son. He was very proud of what the man had accomplished. He'd just like to see him find a woman to love like House had. But he knew that the only woman Chase had ever loved was Dr. Allison Cameron.

Kate just smiled and checked her hair in the mirror. At sixty-eight, she was still a lovely woman. Her hair was a salt and pepper mix of gray and white. She was still slim and kept herself active. House loved her as much today as on the day he married her.

"Are we going by ourselves or do we have hangers on?" He asked her.

"No one else. Emily and Ryan were in the city today and are driving down together. And Monica said she might be held up at work. Something about her new position?"

House just grunted at that. He picked up his jacket and put it on, then turned to Kate. "Guess we'd better go then. Sooner we get there, sooner we can leave."

"Honestly, Greg! Am I driving?"

"Doesn't matter now, but you'll definitely be driving home. I plan to be very drunk."

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The ballroom of the hotel was huge and filled with tables. The wait staff passed around trays of hors d'oeuvres and poured glasses of wine and champagne. The open bar was crowded with people trying to get drinks. In the corner, a five piece band played some jazz music. No expense had been spared to provide Dr. Gregory House a wonderful farewell.

When Chase saw the guest of honor enter, he called over one of the waiters.

"That man is Dr. House. You are to make sure he always has a drink or food or anything he wants. I don't want to ever see him fighting the crowds at the bar. He won't be able to stand for long, so when he's ready, get a chair for him, wherever he is. Is that understood?"

The waiter nodded. He had been hired this evening to serve the guest of honor and his wife only. He knew his job and would do it.

Chase approached the Houses. "Well, what do you think?"

"Robert, everything looks wonderful!" Kate exclaimed.

"Lot of money spent. You could have given that to me as a retirement present instead." House grumbled, as the waiter put a glass of scotch in his hand.

Kate and Chase ignored him, as usual.

"Robert, have you seen Allison yet?"

"No. It doesn't matter, anyway, Kate. She's not coming alone."

"What? What do you mean?"

"I saw the acceptances. It said Allison Cameron and guest. She's bringing a date."

"That doesn't necessarily mean…"

"I've got an idea! Why don't I pass her a note in study hall and tell her that you like her. Now should I say you like her like her or just like her?' House snarked. "Oh, would you two stop it! Chase, you and Cameron are not teenagers. Just talk to her, tell her you missed her and see what she says. You don't have that much time left."

"Greg." Kate rolled her eyes. But Chase just smiled. House was right, as usual.

"Excuse me, I have a lot of things to see to. I'll talk to you two later."

He hurried away, stopping only to greet Wilson and his wife as they approached House and Kate.

"Wow," Wilson observed, "All of these people can't be here for you. They must have wandered into the wrong party."

"Bet I beat the number of people at your party. Oh right, most of your patients are dead."

"Greg!" Kate and Bridget both admonished him.

"Well, it's true!" House took another sip of his drink. "Wonder what all these people would say if I got up there and announced I wasn't retiring."

"They wouldn't be surprised because they all know you. But your replacement wouldn't be very happy with you."

House just grunted at that.

"Come on, Greg, if you don't retire, we can't take that cruise around the world with James and Bridget."

House looked at her. He knew that she was looking forward to his retirement. She worried about him constantly. He didn't understand why. He was relatively healthy, other than a few aches and pains that were common for someone his age. He only suffered from the normal arthritis common to someone his age. Why couldn't they do something about that?

He wondered how much time he had left. He knew that genetics played a part in life expectancy. His father had died at age seventy-six, so he had already surpassed that. His heart was strong, so he didn't think he would die as John House had. His mother, on the other hand, had passed away six years previously at age ninety-four. She had been amazingly healthy and had died peacefully in her sleep. If you had to die, that was certainly the way to do it. Blythe House had class to the end.

He was interrupted in his musings by the approach of Lisa Cuddy. She and Kate squealed and hugged each other, exclaiming over their appearances with a lot of "you look greats" and "you look wonderfuls." Bridget Wilson added to the noise, making the squeal level rise to unhealthy proportions.

House started to turn away, when Cuddy grabbed his arm. "Greg House, don't you dare walk away!"

She put her arms around him and gave him a big hug. "I never thought I'd see the day that Gregory House would be retiring."

"Me neither. But it's no fun at the hospital without watching your ass every day, so I figured I might as well leave."

Cuddy smiled. Even though she was in her seventies, she was still a handsome woman, still vital and alive.

Kate began asking her about her daughter and Cuddy asked Bridget about the Wilsons' four sons. Soon the three women were in a full-fledged brag fest about their children.

Before long, though, Cuddy saw some people she wanted to greet and Wilson saw a doctor that he wanted to introduce Bridget to. They moved away, leaving House and Kate alone.

As they chatted and watched the crowd, a middle-aged woman came up behind them and tapped House lightly on the shoulder. With her lovely green eyes shining, she said, "Do you remember me, House?"

House smiled at her. "Of course I do. You're the hooker I hired thirty years ago. Wow, they really remembered to invite everyone!"

Allison Cameron laughed. She was glad that her old boss hadn't lost his ability to make jokes. She had been nervous about coming. She was afraid to find him old and feeble. But although he was older, he was still the same House.

She reached for the hand of the young man beside her. "I'd like you to meet my son, Nathan. Nate, this is Dr. House and his wife, Kate."

Kate beamed a smile at her. "You brought your son! How nice."

"Well, it was very convenient. He just started at Princeton this term and since Susan has been at Stanford for two years, I was experiencing some empty nest. This gave me a good opportunity to spend some time with my baby."

Nathan rolled his eyes, but smiled at his mother.

Kate excused herself. "Sorry, Allison, I'll be right back. There's someone I need to see for a moment."

"Kate…" House began, but his wife hurried away. God, he thought, this was really like junior high.

House and Cameron were alone. "You really look wonderful, House."

"For a grumpy old man you mean."

She laughed. "You'll never be old. And you were always grumpy."

"So are you still in private practice?"

"Yes, although I have a younger doctor working with me now. I've been trying to ease up on my hours."

Their conversation was interrupted by Kate and Chase.

"Look who I found!" Kate said. House rolled his eyes. Could she be more blatant?

Cameron's face lit up. "Robert!"

"How are you, Allison?" Chase asked her, his voice cracking a little. God, House was right, this was like junior high. When was the last time his voice had cracked?

"I'm fine. Oh, come here and give me a hug!" She went to him and put her arms around his neck.

Kate started moving House away from the younger couple.

"Why are we going? I want to see if they go at it right here."

"Greg."

"What? It wouldn't be the first time? Didn't I tell you about finding them in the janitor's closet?"

Kate just continued to lead him away.

Cameron introduced her son to Chase. Bored by all of these strangers, her son told her he was going to go and get something to drink. He walked off and they looked nervously at each other.

"So, how is your practice going?"

"It's fine. Actually, I'm easing out of it. I hired on a younger doctor to take over the practice. I'm thinking about moving back here."

"Really?"

"Well, with Susan in school in California and Nathan here, there's no reason to stay in Chicago. And I always liked it here. It would be a good chance to be with old friends." She smiled at him.

He smiled back at her. But the moment was broken by the voice of someone that came up behind them.

"Hey, you two, no sneaking off to the sleep lab, understand."

They both turned. Chase smiled and Cameron squealed as she hugged Foreman.

"Eric! This is wonderful. But where's your wife?" Cameron looked around.

"She stopped off at the ladies' room."

Minutes later they were joined by a lovely woman whom Foreman introduced as his wife Sondra. The four of them chatted, until a signal from the caterer told Chase he needed to round everyone up for dinner.