Chapter 31: a small one but I hope you'll enjoy it. Thanks for reading and for your patience with my poor English.

"What did your sister say?" House asked staring at Cuddy. Now that the children were sleeping, they could talk.

"She was astonished as you can imagine and…"

"And angry, bitter, outraged"

"Of course she was all this! Can you just imagine for a second how she felt as she saw you?! You were dead for her."

"I assume it was a good thing for her."

"House!"

"And she certainly told you that you are making a mistake by getting back with me, that I'm a bad guy who's gonna hurt you again, that"

"Shut up, House."

"Cuddy, your sister never liked me, how can you listen to her?!"

"I don't listen to her." After a while she added: "I lied to her."

"Really?"

"I told her the "Mike's version""

"And it bothers you."

"No, yes, it bothers me but not for the reasons you think. It bothers me because she can't understand me, she can't know what you did for Wilson. She can't understand that you're able to care about someone else than you."

"I don't care about what your sister thinks about me, Cuddy" House replied after a while.

"I know, House." Cuddy said and cuddled up with House.

"But you do."

"No, I…"

"And it pisses me off."

"Really?"

"Yes. Cuddy, you are brilliant, you run a hospital, you have several dozen people under your command and"

"Wait a minute! Do you have fever?"

"No."

"Did you take Vicodin?"

"No! Why do you ask?"

"Because you never compliment me. On the contrary, you always criticize me."

"You didn't let me end my sentence."

"Oh and what did you want to add?"

"that your lack of self-confidence reflects a boring sexual life, not to say nonexistent."

"That's what you think? So I maybe have to find another boyfriend" she replied ironically.

"No, I mean before I'm back to help you." Cuddy laughed and House added: "Seriously, Cuddy, I don't understand you. You're not afraid of confronting Barrow and the management committee to set your conditions and your point of view, you're not afraid of telling them your own opinion, to convince them to hire me in spite of the contract you signed, but you're unable to confront your family. Why?"

"I… I don't know. Maybe because when it comes to my private life I…"

"You lose your composure."

"Yeah."

"Because you think men can't find you attractive, because they're afraid of you, of your professional success."

"I guess, but there's something else."

"You're afraid. You're afraid of being hurt if you throw yourself into a relationship and you prefer to keep people at arm length so you think you will avoid pain and disappointment."

"Are you talking about you?"

"Finally we have something in common" House replied with a bitter smile.

They remained silent for a while.

"Do you think we can work?" she asked.

"I don't know." He whispered back. "Are you sure you want to give us a try, Cuddy?"

Cuddy thought of what House said. She knew she shouldn't analyze his sentence, she shouldn't give his question a bad meaning, a wrong meaning but she couldn't help thinking of the worse. With House, she always expected the worse. She swallowed and said with sadness in the voice: "Do you mean it's not worth it? Are … are you so sure that we… we can't be happy together?" Her sentence ended in sob.

House took her chin in his hand and looked at her: "No, that's not what I mean. But… you know me, Cuddy, you know that I'm screwed-up, that I always ruin everything, that I'm not able to be happy very long, I"

"Shut up, House!" Cuddy exclaimed and burst out sobbing. "Why did you come here? Why did you come back in my life?"

House looked at Cuddy. He was lost. "Cuddy, I… I'm here because… I had nowhere else to go, because I… I need you, I need you in my life." After a while he added: "I love you, Cuddy. I don't want to hurt you, I… but I I probably will do horrible things again because that's what I am."

"No, House. You changed, just think of Wilson. And think of Ethan." She said and wiped her tears away.

"Ethan is a nice boy." House said.

"Yeah. And he needs his father. And Rachel needs you too." Cuddy replied and looked at House straight in the eyes.

"And what about you, Cuddy? Do you need me? Do you want me in your life?"

"I…" she stared at him. She could see how worried and concerned he felt, she could see love and… care in his eyes, but also fear. "I love you, House. I know I shouldn't but I can't help it. And I need you in my life. I know you're gonna get on my nerves, that you're gonna annoy me but… but I love you. I want you to be in my life and in Ethan's and Rachel's life. I'm fed up with being afraid, I'm fed up with being alone, I'm fed up with what people think of me and I'm fed up with pretending to look for love, for someone who can make me happy…"

"Cuddy, I… "

"I don't need to look for him anymore because I found him many years ago. I didn't know it then but I know it now."

House nodded and hugged her tight.

"It won't be easy on Monday." He said suddenly.

"House, please, don't ruin our evening with stupid thought." Cuddy said and stroked gently House's cheek. "I don't want to talk right now, I just want you to… to love me. I missed you." He nodded and kissed her. Then he whispered in her ear: "I think we should go to your room."

She looked at him and smiled.

Oooooo

House and Cuddy were lying in bed. The sun shined through the window. It would be a sunny warm day. House was thinking. Suddenly, he turned to Cuddy and said: "I wondered if we should move in together. What do you think of it?"

Cuddy didn't know what to say. She was happy to get House back here but it all happened so suddenly that she didn't have time to think of the situation. "I… I don't know. I guess it would be better for the children but… are we able to live together? I mean like a family? All this is so sudden."

House nodded and looked at the ceiling. He understood what Cuddy said. He really wanted to be with her, but… with the children, with their past, with their character, with the hospital… he wasn't sure it would be a good idea to have no other place for himself.

"Cuddy, I think we should move in together but"

"But?"

"Not here. I mean we should find another house, a bigger house. I need a room for me, for my books and my piano and guitars, a room where I can be alone, my room, a room just for me. Can you understand it?"

"Yes, I do. But… do you think you're ready to live with me and the children? I mean every day, every night?"

House stared at her and a smile came slowly on his lips: "Cuddy, you are the only one I can rely on; you are the only one who knows me, who understands me. " After a few seconds, he added: "Wilson is gone but Ethan is here, I lost my best friend but I have a son now. And my place is here with you, with the only people who mean a lot to me, the only one who really care about me. We already wasted too much time, don't you think?"

Cuddy looked at him and she knew this time they would work, this time they would be "one".

"Yes" she said with a smile. "And how about having a look around today and beginning to look for a new house?"

"Okay, but first I have to go to my hotel to get my bag and to pay my room."

"You can take my car. It would be better if you don't have the kids with you."

"Mommy, daddy, we're hungry! We want to have breakfast!" Rachel suddenly shouted and jumped on the bed, followed by Ethan.

"Finally, I should maybe wait that they grow up before I move in with you." House said and turned to Cuddy.

She gave him a dark look: "No way. You have to share the joy of being parents but also the disadvantages."

"Poor me. But wouldn't it be possible to share love and sex with you all the time and from time to time the children?"

"House!"

"I was joking. And okay it wasn't funny. I'm sorry. Let's have breakfast!" House replied and gave her a sweet kiss.