Hello, an early chapter as a thank you for all my wonderful reviews :-) As promised it is longer than the last, i hope you all enjoy it,

Hameron forever, as always, Nic

Sha-la-la-la-la-la, Don't be scared....Go on and kiss the girl.............

p.s I should probably mention that the above lyrics are not mine and neither is House, because this chapter wouldn't just be in my imagination if it was :-)

4

He knocked the door softly and the memories of the last time he had stood before it came flooding back like sunlight in a darkened room. It seemed to him an eternity ago, in another time and another place altogether. He had hardly known her then; she had been an enigma, a bright star in his black and white horizon, but he had seen enough of her to know that he wanted her to stay. He had come to her humbled, finding her self sacrifice more endearing than he would ever admit. But then life had interfered, streaking through his horizon like a fiery red comet unrelenting and all consuming, robbing him of a life he could have known. But as he stood here now, listening as her footsteps drew closer, he smiled to himself because in spite of it all she still remained. A bright star in his no longer colourless horizon, for it was now adorned with vivid splashes of colour in all the places she had touched.

She answered the door, surprise washing over her features but soon replaced with a smile.

"House....... is everything ok?"

She raised her hand, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear and he noticed that she was no longer wearing her wedding band and selfishly felt himself smile.

"Can I come in?"

She nodded and stepped back, allowing him to walk in to the apartment. He felt the warmth envelope him and a sense of longing rise from within, looking around at the home she had created.

When he saw the boxes stacked neatly in the corner he froze.

"You're leaving?"

"Yes, London, Head of Immunology at Bart's, I have been thinking about it for a while"

"This case with Chase will never come to anything"

"It's time for a change"

Her voice was firm, unwavering.

"Not all change is good"

She laughed, folding her arms over her chest and holding his gaze powerfully.

"Spoken like a person who has never changed anything important"

"I don't need to change"

"No, you are as you have always been... will always be"

She walked over to the dinning table and continued to pack a box that was sitting there.

"You don't have to go"

He cursed the hopefulness in his voice.

"I want to go"

Her words burned him and he wanted nothing more than to walk over to her, take her in his arms and make her take them back. Two months ago he would have, but things had changed since Mayfield, life had taken over and they could no longer be what they had become.

The world watched their every move.

How strange to wish he could be back at Mayfield, willing to suffer his darkest hours again just so they could be alone once more within those four walls.

"Let me buy you dinner"

She turned to him.

"Why?"

Her question is sincere.

"Because I want to buy you dinner"

She shook her head, returning her attention to the box once more.

"I don't want to go out..."

He felt his heart sink but then she turned to him, a smile on her lips.

".....But you can buy take out"

XXX

"What about Chase?"

Food long since finished and cleared away, they sat opposite each other, old familiarity and bravery retuning.

"Why is that important?"

"I never took you for a person who gave up on a marriage so easily. I thought you'd stick it out right to its bitter twisted end"

He punctuated this statement by swigging his beer, eyes never leaving hers.

"My heart was never with him. I guess deep down I always knew it... this just brought it home"

"Who is your heart with?"

The words leave his mouth before he's able to have any doubts about the path he is taking. He expected her to look away but she surprises him, as she often does now, holding his gaze and daring him to look away instead.

He will not.

He doesn't know why, whether it is the drink or the soft music coercing him into hallowed ground or because at that moment in time he wants to taste her lips more than anything else he has ever desired but he slowly leans forward, raising his hand to her cheek and stroking it softly with the pad of his thumb before finally closing the distance and claiming her lips.

He feels her return his kiss, taking from him what he has spent an eternity hiding, giving him what he has spent an eternity seeking.

But then he feels her still and she pulled back, standing up suddenly; robbing him of the heat he had grown accustomed to. She raised her hand to her mouth, slowly touching her lips with her fingertips.

"This isn't right"

He stood up.

"Why not?"

"For so many reasons"

"Give me one"

His voice is firm, his want for her overpowering his head.

"I'm leaving for London tomorrow"

"That's not a reason"

"You're just getting yourself back on track"

"I'm as lost as I've always been"

He grinned then, trying to let her see that he is still House, arrogant, self-assured House. But he knows that she can see right through him, he has let her in now, past all the false walls.

She smiles, wrapping her arms over her chest.

"We all are House. We all are"

XXX

He sits watching the light from her window brave the darkness forcefully. It had been one hour since he had left her apartment with a warm goodbye and hug that lasted long enough for him to know that she was far from indifferent to him. He sat here now, unable to return to his empty life.

Not right now.

He had left a part of himself in her apartment tonight and couldn't leave until he had taken it back.

XXX

The door opened hesitantly and she stood before him, acceptance on her face. He stepped forward, his lips finding hers urgently. He heard her moan and pulled her closer, kicking the door shut behind him, spinning her around and pushing her firmly up against it. She broke their kiss and gasped in to his hair as his lips began an erratic path along her collar bone. He felt her hands against his chest pulling him closer, resistance a distance memory, before taking them in his and pushing them above her head, moulding her body closer to the door. He holds them there, halting their kiss and holding her gaze, wanting her to know what she does to him, before letting his hands trace a slow path towards her waist, eyes never leaving hers before pulling her t-shirt over her head and dropping it carelessly to the floor, his words ragged as he finds her lips once more.

"Give me tonight.... just give me tonight"