Once the police left, and after making sure that Kitty was strong enough on her feet, House stripped off his bloody clothes and had a quick shower. Kitty quickly followed and packed a small bag to stay with him for a few days. They picked up fresh takeout and before long were ensconced on his sofa, chopsticks in hand, beers on the table in front of them. The TV was on, showing some cop crime drama that House had tried to change, but Kitty insisted on watching out of some twisted sense of irony. She didn't seem to be in shock, House thought. Definitely shaken, but otherwise she seemed surprisingly resilient.

"I'm so glad you came back," Kitty said after they'd been eating in silence for a while.

"So am I," House said lightly, trying not to let his relief show. He hadn't really thought too much about everything that had happened, just dealt with each thing as it occurred. Treated Denis, dealt with the police, checked out Kitty. All the practicalities hadn't left room for what ifs.

"I didn't think you would." She wasn't looking at him as she spoke.

House shrugged and used his chopsticks to shove more noodles into his mouth.

"You said, 'I need to go back to my place.' I thought you needed some space."

"You didn't let me finish," House said around his mouthful. "I was going to say, 'I need to go back to my place to pick up some clothes for tomorrow'. And then I was going to ask what take out you wanted me to get on my way back."

"You were?" Kitty turned to face him, her eyes wide.

"Yes, you idiot."

"I guess . . . it's hard for me to imagine that someone wants me, wants to take care of me, without wanting something in return."

House frowned and put down his noodles on the table. He took a swig of beer and then gave Kitty a serious look. "Well, I do want you and I do want to take care of you. But I do want something in return."

A faint blush rose on Kitty's cheeks. "Oh, you mean—"

"Yes, that, of course," House interrupted. "But also I want you to want me, and to take care of me too."

"Oh." Kitty fell silent for a while, staring down at the cardboard box of noodles in her hand. Then she looked up and smiled tentatively. "I think I can do that."

"Good." House took the noodles out of her hand and held her chin with his long fingers. He leant in and kissed her, for once unashamed of demonstrating his affection.

Kitty gave him a smile and stroked a finger down his cheek. But then her smile faltered and she sat up straighter. "But Greg, no more secrets, even if you think you're protecting me. You didn't tell me about the threats and you didn't tell me the flowers were really from Bannister McKinnon."

House pursed his lips into a thin line. He didn't want to think about all that, not now, not when he was so close to his happy ending.

"And Rachael told me that because of what Miranda did, Andrew's whole fortune goes to you. Is that true?"

House frowned at the floor, avoiding her interrogating gaze. "Yeah, it is. That's what the lawyers say, anyway."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

He continued to look at the floor, knowing he finally had to face what he'd been trying very hard to ignore.

"I didn't tell you because I wanted to pretend it wasn't happening." His own blatant honesty surprised him. He'd been ignoring calls from the lawyers all week and he knew the flowers they'd sent to Kitty were really a reminder to him of their unfinished business. "And because I have no idea what to do about it."

"Well that part's a no brainer," Kitty said.

Her carefree tone made him look up at once. "What do you mean?"

She shrugged. "It's easy. You refuse. I don't know about you, but I don't really want to have anything more to do with the Barnes family. Or their money. Tell the lawyers you refuse to sign the papers. Leave the estate for Denis. Sell the lake house and the Paris apartment and use the money to create your own trust fund for the PRC. Then we can refuse the Barnes Trust funding there too. We'll never have to deal with them ever again."

House thought it over. It just might work.

Except for one thing.

"You don't want to have anything to do with the Barnes family?" House asked.

Kitty nodded.

"But I'm part of the Barnes family. He was my father."

Kitty shook her head. "John House was your father. For better or worse, he and your mother are responsible for the person you are today – in all your annoying glory," she teased, giving him a loving smile. "Andrew Barnes gave you some DNA, but that's it. Just like he gave me some money, and that's it."

"Pretend it doesn't matter?" House suggested with a sad little laugh, recalling the intensity of that night when she'd come to him, cold and broken. He tried to tell her to pretend then, knowing that it wouldn't work.

Kitty shook her head. "No. No pretending. It doesn't matter. We are who we are because of our past." She grabbed her hand and put it on her chest between her breasts, and then reached over and pressed her hand gently into his right thigh.

"We've both got our scars," House said, guessing the intent of her gesture.

"Exactly. How they happened didn't matter. What we do with our lives now does."

"Like getting married?" House asked.

Kitty flushed and looked away. House was immediately concerned. "What?"

"I thought you'd forgotten," she said in a small voice.

"Forgotten? Of course not. Let's elope to Vegas next weekend."

Kitty looked up at him, her eyes shiny with tears but a big grin on her face. "Elope?"

"Why not? It's not like we have families who need us to have a big occasion."

Kitty chewed on her bottom lip thoughtfully. "I'd like Steve to give me away. He's really the one who's been like a father to me."

"Sure. Invite him."

"And . . ." Kitty trailed off looking uncertain.

"And?" House asked, starting to feel nervous at Kitty's hesitant expression.

"And can we have Elvis as the celebrant?"

He laughed. "Whatever you want."

-

A/N: Thank you everyone for your wonderful reviews and messages. This is officially my longest House fiction ever, so your encouragement definitely helped me keep going.

It will probably be a while before I return with a new fic. In the meantime, why not read an old one? I am particularly proud of "I Hate Weddings" a recent story that has relatively few hits, so I encourage you to check it out. It's a twist on the House/one-night-stand/pregnancy thing. (Don't forget to leave me a review if you do!)

I'd also like to thank whoever it was who nominated "Too Much Too Soon" and "Through the Looking Glass" in the House Awards. I don't know who you are, but appreciate the recognition! Especially given Too Much Too Soon was my first ever fic and it's probably a bit rough. Might have to go back and read it myself! (I've put a link to the awards page on my profile if you want to know more.)

Thank you all again so much -- I hope you've enjoyed the ride!