House is still holding the necklace. Zoom in and there is a slight crack in the stone.

FLASHBACK
House and Cuddy are laying on the couch in her office. Cuddys head is on House's chest. Three months since their anniversary. Cuddy sits up and turns off the TV.

CUDDY: We need to talk.

HOUSE: What about?

CUDDY: I think that we should start telling people about us.

HOUSE:(smile fades) You were the person who said that we should keep it a secret.

CUDDY: I know, but its been 8 months House. And you were the one who couldn't wait to show me off.

HOUSE:(sits up) I know, but these last few months, I didn't have to worry about anyone else but you. If we tell people, they will start giving me advice, especially Wilson

CUDDY: Are you worried about what people are going to think of us?

HOUSE: No. I'm afraid it will change us.

CUDDY: We can't keep this a secret forever House. We are in our thirties. We need to start a life, we can't just not move forward.

CUDDY: Is it really that important? Are you afraid of what people think of you because you're single? Do you want to show me off now?

CUDDY:: Ha, ha very funny. I swear, you always act like a five year old.

HOUSE: So, if I'm a five year old, why do you want to tell people about us?

CUDDY: I already told you House. I'm 38, I need to have a future with somebody.

HOUSE: What ever happened to not rushing into anything?

CUDDY: You know what House? I'm done. Get out of my office! I can't put up with this anymore.

Cuddy takes off the necklace and throws it on the ground. House picks it up and walks out. Both start crying.

BACK TO PRESENT

House sets the necklace on the table. He goes to the box, and pulls out a black magic marker. A slight smile forms on his face.

FLASHBACK

House is sitting in Cuddy's office, trying to open Cuddy's desk drawer. THe door opens, House doesn't look up.

HOUSE: Busy right now, go away.

THIRTEEN: (seriously scared voice) House.

House looks up

HOUSE: Oh god.

A man with a gun pointed at House stands by the door, with a few other hostages.

MAN: Move against the wall, all of you. NOW!

All move to wall

MAN:( to House) You! Call and get me the best doctor in the hospital.

HOUSE: Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm already here.

MAN: Well, I'm sick, and I want to know why.

Fast foward, House gets up from the desk, and goes to the opposite wall. Pulls out a magic marker and writes down four symptoms( Heart problems, heavy breathing, pain, headaches).

KID: You needed to write down four things just to remember them?

House turns around and looks at the kid, then the hostage.

HOUSE: Make sure if you shoot someone, you shoot him first.

KID: And why on the wall?

HOUSE: Why not? It's not my wall.

FAST FORWARD

House is now sitting in the CT room, with the gun aimed at his head, Thirteen is laying in the distance.

HOUSE: Why would you shoot me? I gave you the answer!

MAN: I"m sorry.( The wall to the right blows up, causing the gunman to fall, and House to fall.

The SWAT team moves in and captures the suspect, House gets up and walks out, sees Cuddy standing at the entrance.

CUDDY: Are you alright?

HOUSE:I feel fine. But can we talk?

CUDDY: Sure. What?

HOUSE: You gave into his every demand, why? Was it only because I was in there?

CUDDY:(Stumbling on words) No,of course not. If that was the reason I wouldn't have been calling the shots.

HOUSE: Sure. I know what you think of me Cuddy, just admit it.

CUDDY: There's nothing to admit.

HOUSE: Everybody knows the truth. We might as well just get into a relationship.

CUDDY: Are you saying that you want a relationship?

HOUSE: Oh god no.

FAST FORWARD

House is walking into Cuddy's office, the night after the hostage. Her office is still a mess, blood and garbage everywhere. She is standing with her back to the door, House stands behind her.

HOUSE: Well, this is a pretty big mess.

CUDDY: You think? And what is with the black marker on the wall?

HOUSE: I needed to write the symptoms down.

CUDDY: Yeah, and you couldn't use a piece of paper?

HOUSE:(sarcastically) I was in a hostage situation, I wasn't thinking right.

CUDDY: Sure. About earlier, you were right. I was acting differently because you were in there. The truth is a care about you a lot, and I always will. I want us to just be friends.

HOUSE: Funny… that's the last thing I want us to be.

House walks away out the door. Cuddy walks and sits in her desk, and pulls out the topn drawer. Everything falls as soon as she pulls it out.

CUDDY: What the heck! House!

House walks away smiling.

MEMORY FADES

House sets the marker on the table and pulls out a bottle of vicodin from the box, with two little white pills inside.

FLASHBACK

House is sitting in his bathroom on the floor. His face is noticeably bloody and cut up. He grabs the mirror off the wall and it shatters when it hits the floor. There is a bottle with two pills in it. He takes the bottle and sits on the floor next to the bathtub. He shakes the two pills into his hand and stares at them.

CUDDY: It's you choice if you want to go back on drugs.

HOUSE: Okay, but just saying, it's hard to see the downside.

CUDDY: I'm here because of Lucas.

HOUSE: Oh, great.

CUDDY:It's just… I can't move on. I love you, I wish I didn't but I can't help it.

HOUSE: How can you still love me after all thats happened between us?

CUDDY: I keep trying to get over you, but I can't let you go. I just want to know if we can make this work this time.

HOUSE: How do I know I'm not hallucinating?

CUDDY: Did you take the pills?

House looks down.

HOUSE: No.

CUDDY: Then I think we're okay.

House stands up with some support from Cuddy. They take each other's hand and kiss.

SCENE FADES AWAY
FLASHBACK

House is walking into Wilson's office. Wilson is sitting in the desk.

HOUSE:(with a smile) Guess what!?

WILSON: What?

HOUSE: I got a woman.

WILSON: Yeah, right. Good joke!

HOUSE:I'm serious. Guess who?

WILSON: I have no idea.

HOUSE: It's Cuddy.

WILSON:(starts hysterically laughing)

HOUSE: It's true.

WILSON:(still laughing) There is no way thats possible.

HOUSE: Wanna bet? A hundred bucks!

WILSON: Alright. I'll tell Cuddy to come up here right now.

Wilson goes to his cell phone and dials Cuddy's number.

WILSON: Hey Cuddy, it's Wilson. Can you come up to my office for a second? Okay, bye. (hangs up phone)

HOUSE: Great. I'm going to be a hundred dollars richer in about 5 minutes.

WILSON: Still, I don't believe it.

There is a knock on the door, Cuddy walks in.

CUDDY: Wilson, what do you need?

WILSON: Are you really dating House?

CUDDY:(turns to House) Really? Already bragging?

HOUSE: You know it!

CUDDY:(turns back to Wilson) It's true.

WILSON: I don't believe either of you.

Cuddy walks up to House and kisses him short and sweet on the lips.

CUDDY:Happy?

WILSON: I have kissed my mom more passionate than that.

Cudd puts her hand on the side of House's face, and reaches up and kisses him for about 10 seconds. She breaks it and turns to Wilson and raises her eyebrows.

WILSON: Okay, I'm convinced.

HOUSE: Pay up.

Cuddy turns to House

CUDDY: You made a bet with him?

HOUSE: Sure did.

CUDDY: Why?

HOUSE:He didn't believe me.

CUDDY: Whatever. Want to get lunch with your winnings?

HOUSE: Sure.

Both walk out holding hands, Wilson watches from the doorway. Smiles to himself)

WILSON:(to himself) I knew it!