Soo sorry for the lack of update! Life is just too cruel these days..

But anyway, thanks for all the reviews and for sticking around this far! *hands out cookies to everyone*

Enjoy:)

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Cameron went in the same car as Wilson when the two attended the funerals that afternoon. Since House and Cuddy's bodies weren't in the coffins, they skipped the wake and went straight to burial at the local cemetery. Since House and Cuddy were both pretty much loners, there weren't many people there. House's parents, as well as Cuddy's parents and sister were there already, tossing memorabilia into her coffin. They looked bored to be there, whereas Blythe House was in tears, trying to pull away from the embrace of her husband so she could get out of there. It was too much to bear to bury her only son so prematurely.

Wilson still hasn't meant Cuddy's family. The only thing he's done was speak to her father on the phone while trying to organize the funerals. For some reason, Mr. Cuddy didn't want his daughter buried with House, even though it would make sense to only have one coffin if there were no bodies in it. That would cut down on space, as well as cost. He never liked House. He never met him personally, just heard about him through word of mouth and magazine publications. No doubt he also blamed his daughter's death on House. Wilson wouldn't be surprised if he blamed House for making the plane go down. He probably convinced his wife to feel the same way, although probably not much convincing was necessary.

Cameron never met them and was hesitant to do so. Tucked securely under her arm, she had Cuddy's precious framed diplomas, awards, and certificates she had gathered in her office proudly for the world to see that Feeney was so close to throwing away, along with all her other things. In her other hand, she had Cuddy's blue and white glass menorah that she kept on the bookshelf. Cameron planned to put those into the coffin as her way of saying goodbye. Wilson, however, had nothing, for he was still convinced they were alive somewhere. It was very difficult getting him to come to the funerals in the first place.

"I don't know why she's crying," Mrs. Cuddy muttered to her husband, eyeing Blythe House dabbing the corners of her eyes with a white handkerchief about ten feet away. "It's his fault Lisa's dead."

Clearly, they were talking about House. Cameron shyly approached them from behind as Wilson headed over to see Blythe and John. The Cuddy's had no idea she was there and continued to badmouth House.

"Excuse me," she said, unable to hear anything more about House in that way.

Three tearless faces turned in her direction simultaneously.

"Who are you?" Mrs. Cuddy asked, tone on the harsh side.

Cameron felt nervous in front of them. "I'm…Allison Cameron. Lisa was my boss."

Mrs. Cuddy snorted, but smiled a fake running-for-campaign smile at Cameron. Everyone could tell it was false. "Please to meet you, Miss Cameron, I assume it's Miss. My name's Ellie, this is my husband Walter, and our daughter, Karen."

Cameron nodded her head politely.

"What do you got there?" Ellie asked, pointing to the frames tucked under Cameron's arm.

"Oh…um…" Cameron exposed the frames to them, "a few things that were in Cuddy's office that she would want to have with her."

The three of them glanced at the framed items. "Those aren't worth anything, are they?" Walter Cuddy asked, pointing to one of them.

Cameron frowned. What did he mean by that? "They're worth everything to your daughter," she said, a little sterner than expected. It was clear that Cuddy's family was only after her money after that comment.

"Those are just ordinary picture frames, right?" Ellie Cuddy asked.

It was her turn to receive a frown from Cameron. "Yes, just your ordinary Kohl's department store Sonoma brand frames that go for about fourteen dollars a pop. And the certificates are probably useless to you."

Instead of being insulted by that comment, Ellie rolled her eyes. "Lisa was such a huge disappointment. Growing up, all she thought of was herself. It was always about her choices and her career. It was never about her family. She didn't care about us and what we wanted for her."

"Mr. and Mrs. Cuddy, with all do respect, it was Lisa's life to lead."

"Well I hope she's happy," Walter blurted out. "Because of that…son of a bitch she had working for her, she's dead."

Did he actually sound like he cared? That was the closest either one of them had gotten to acting like they gave a damn that their daughter and sister was missing and probably dead.

Cameron's mouth dropped for a completely different reason. Walter Cuddy was blaming House for Cuddy's disappearance. "Mr. Cuddy, I assure you that Dr. House had nothing to do with this."

Walter scoffed. "He's such a bigmouth hotshot that no doubt he had something to do with it."

Ellie shushed him. "It's not nice to speak ill of the dead," she said, although it didn't look like she cared at all that he was bashing a dead man.

It was almost a relief to see Wilson stepping back over to her. Cameron excused herself and met up with Wilson the rest of the way.

"Don't talk to them," she said with a small sigh.

Wilson did so anyway and had about the same reactions as Cameron. The Cuddy's were not pleasant people at all. It churned their stomachs when Wilson told them he thought for sure that they were still alive out there somewhere. First, they were defending their daughter, now they hoped it wasn't true. They didn't say that in so many words, but it could be seen on their faces. They only remained strong because it was the norm.

Cameron paid her respects to Cuddy and House, although when she went to add Cuddy's framed achievements into the bodiless coffin, she hesitated with the sudden feeling that Cuddy was still out there somewhere. A brush of warm, calming wind passed right through her body and warmed her heart. The sensation made tears come to her eyes as she stared into a coffin of different pictures and things, mostly from her employees at PPTH. She looked up at the sky. It was supposed to be cloudy all day, but just as she looked up, the sun brightly poked through a mass of thick clouds, as if to shine directly on her. A single robin also flew overhead. She followed it with her eyes until it was out of sight.

She couldn't do it. She couldn't put those achievements in there. Instead, she tucked them securely back under her arm and left the coffin. The only reason she went over to House's coffin next was to pay her respects to Blythe and John, not to House. He wasn't there. He was never there.

After, Cameron joined Wilson in the car. He went back there after meeting the families and talking to a few others that were there. Cameron now understood why he rushed himself.

"Why didn't you put those in there?" Wilson asked, never expecting to see Cuddy's achievements again.

"Because House and Cuddy aren't there," Cameron said, looking at the top framed award that now sit on her lap. "They're still out there."

"So you don't think I'm crazy?"

Cameron thought about the feeling that fanned throughout her entire body. Suddenly, her opinions changed, as if someone flipped a switch in her mind.

"Not anymore. Maybe I just want to prove Mr. and Mrs. Cuddy wrong. I don't know. But I do know one thing—we're going to Hawaii."

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The sky ahead was dark, even in the middle of the afternoon. It looked like it was sundown already. The wind kicked up and the waves crashed harder up on the beach.

"Looks like we're in for a brutal one this time," House said, reading Cuddy's mind about the possibility of a storm.

Cuddy felt a twinge of worry course through her body and poke at her heart. The way the waves were crashing, House couldn't be too far off with his assumption. The darkness loomed so quickly over their island and gentle claps of thunder could be heard in the distance.

"Good thing we already went up to the streambed to "bathe,"" he said, making quotes with his fingers.

Cuddy groaned. "Who knew that it would take you an hour to finally finish up."

House smirked and drew her close to him. "I had a distraction."

"My legs are killing me, just for your information, not like you care."

He gasped dramatically. "How can you say that? I'm hurt."

"I'm sure you are. Either let go of me or start walking beside me because we need to get back to the cave."

House didn't move. He continued to hold her close, not removing his eyes from hers. Cuddy could read those eyes very well by now. She groaned again, but came out in somewhat of a moan. "House, come on, we just had sex for an hour straight with my legs doing the splits the entire time. I'm lucky I could get back down to the beach without falling."

Cuddy had to limp on both sides because of her position. Her upper legs hurt like crazy, burning with every step she took. However, she wouldn't trade it for anything. Being in that position had to have been the hottest sex she ever experienced, and knowing it was House that introduced her to it make her feel complete. But right now, she needed a break. If she so much as inched her legs open, she would definitely feel the painful strain.

"I admit I never found you sexier than I did up there," he said, wiggling his eyebrows and eyeing her chest, which was ripped at the neck and showing even more of her cleavage than it normally did, thanks to him ripping it in one of their previous passionate moments.

"House, my nipples are sore and I'm probably going to have little black and blue marks everywhere, thanks to you."

"I didn't hear you complaining up there as it was happening. If I remember correctly, you were whining for me to continue."

Before Cuddy could respond, a giant clap of thunder boomed over their heads out of nowhere. Both of them looked up to the sky, as if to find something up there. Just when they did, it started down pouring. It didn't matter if they were stuck in the rain, for they were still wet from the bath in the streambed. It's the lighting that lit up the entire sky like a hundred-watt bulb that they had to worry about. And they were nowhere near the cave at the left side of the island.

A sudden rush of wind nearly knocked them off their feet and also caused the waves to come crashing harder up onto the beach. It sounded like a roof to a building was caving in on top of the horrendous northbound winds that threatened to push them to the ground. Cuddy lost her balance and was caught by House. She couldn't walk properly as is and felt every painful movement when she stumbled into his arms. He was having a hard enough time gaining proper balance because of his leg.

Cuddy's wet hair slapped continuously against the sides of her face, regardless of how many times she furiously swiped the locks away. The wind was coming at her from behind.

It took them a long time to regain composure. Having to walk through sand didn't make it any easier. Cuddy had to lower her head so her hair wouldn't slap against her eyes.

"I think it's a hurricane!" House shouted over the wind. If Cuddy wasn't next to him, she probably wouldn't have heard him over the wind, leaves rustling, and the waves crashing onto the beach.

House held onto her tighter and the two walked together. It wasn't easy.

Since House needed the most support, Cuddy wrapped her arm around his lower back and hugged him to her. Both of them leaned on one another, and of course, that upset House. Cuddy didn't even think of that, and if she did, she would still be hugging onto him anyway. Somehow, she didn't recall the large scrape that still remained on her side that he had given her when she offered to help the first time. It's different when he's helping her. That was okay, but if she was helping him, there were big issues there.

The rain quickly wetted the sand, making a splatting noise now. But for the time being, it was easier to walk on before it became so overrun with water that it turned into mud.

Cuddy couldn't see three feet ahead of her because of how hard the rain fell. The droplets were so fat that it hurt her bare skin. The wind didn't help much either. It only made the rain feel as if it were coming down faster when it hit her skin.

House was too busy fuming to realize anything, except for his leg was starting to hurt and Cuddy was helping him. He was soaked and the cave was still too far away.

"Are you okay?" Cuddy asked over the wind and rain.

House didn't answer, but Cuddy got the hint that he wasn't judging by his facial expressions. He was in pain. He was also annoyed. Cuddy ignored that part of him and pressed on, arm continuing to be around his back.

However, he did keep himself under control. There was too much going on around him to blow up on Cuddy. He waited until they were in the cave to yell at her. Because of the angle of the rain, half the cave was soaking wet and put their fire out completely. House and Cuddy had to move further into the cave, dragging their things with them before they could get even wetter.

The wind whistled across the opening of the cave and howled, like blowing across the top of an open glass bottle. This was their most brutal storm to date. Not to mention it was getting a lot colder outside. The rain was so intense that they couldn't see out to the ocean, but could hear the waves crashing. The sound got louder and louder, as if the waves were crashing further up onto the beach every time.

"This damn storm is going to swallow us whole," House said, sitting down gently and keeping his leg out, which started to throb on him. He bit his lip and rubbed his upper thigh.

"Don't say that," Cuddy said, somewhat in denial.

"The waves are crashing up onto the beach from all angles, as kinetically impossible as that sounds."

"It's not impossible," Cuddy said. "House, the only way the waves would be crashing in at all four angles is if there were crosswinds and if we have four-way crosswinds, it must be a tropical hurricane."

"Tropical my ass, it's freezing out here," he said, shivering. His hands trembled slightly as he rubbed his upper leg.

A series of thunderclaps shook the cave and every now and then, lightning would light up the inside.

"What I wouldn't give for some hot chicken soup and an electric blanket right now," Cuddy said, laying down on her mock bed and curling up to keep warm.

Once House's pain somewhat subsided, he laid beside her and took her into his arms to share body warmth.

"I just want my bed," he said, drawing her close to him. She rested her head against his chest, not caring if it was wet. "Laying on hard ground is becoming somewhat of a drag."

Just being beside him was all the warmth in the world. She was put completely at ease when his fingers ran lightly through her wet hair. She forgot completely that there was a storm going on outside. Her thoughts were completely focused on House's comfort. She melted into his touch and sudden felt exhausted. If she ever made it home and told people back at PPTH that House put aside being a jerk to comfort her during their little adventure, no one would ever believe her. They especially would consider her nuts if she said that he drew her into his arms and shared anything. Wilson might be the only one who would believe them. Then again, he knows that House likes Cuddy. He'd believe it.

Cuddy smiled when she felt his lips tap the top of her head.

"Hey," he said after a small pause that followed.

"Yeah?" she answered, tired, but not ready to fall asleep yet.

"Do you think that we would've ever had sex if we weren't stranded here first?"

Cuddy smiled again and looked up to meet his eyes, which, in turn, were right on hers. "Probably not. At the hospital, you're an ignorant ass on a daily basis and I would love nothing more than to fire you. Here, you're not so…you. I like that adjustment." Cuddy rested her hand flat on his chest and reached over to kiss him. He kissed back, but barely.

Cuddy opened her eyes to see him looking back at her. She inched her head back. "What's wrong?"

"Whereas you think I've changed, you've still remained your pathetic self."

Cuddy frowned. The smile disappeared from her face. Where did that come from? "House?" she questioned.

"And I suspect you're going to become more whiny and bitchy in the next couple days."

"Why would you—"

"Because you're ovulating. As of yesterday, into today, and late next week, you menstruate."

Cuddy frowned. "Why does that sound so bad when it comes out of your mouth?"

"Just thought you wanted to know that my boys can swim and they are very friendly with your girls. Almost inseparable if you know what I mean."

Cuddy was amazed. She didn't even know her ovulation cycle, or when it was that time of the month for that matter. She was never a regular ever since she stopped the pill, so how does House know these things about her? Or was he just making this up to be an even bigger jerk?

"And you're telling me this…why?"

House shrugged. "Just in case you're wondering in the next few weeks you don't menstruate and you're puking your brains out in your morning coconut milk."

"You think I'm pregnant?"

He shrugged again, completely expressionless. "Maybe. Wouldn't surprise me, the way we've been going at it like jackrabbits."

For some reason, Cuddy never thought of the possibility of becoming pregnant. Her lips parted in shock "I can't have a baby on this island!" she shrieked, pulling herself slightly away from House.

"Oh well geez don't make it sound like the end of the world," House said sarcastically. "For your information, I don't like it either. I just wanted the sex. Too bad we didn't have an all night convenient store that sells condoms."

"Of course you just wanted the sex," Cuddy grumbled at him. "I forgot who I was stranded with suddenly."

House scoffed. "Not my fault you went off the pill."

Cuddy sighed, not wanting to get herself worked up. "House, do you have any idea of the dangers I will go through if I have a child on this island?" Cuddy looked at him with concern. It could be seen in her eyes. "Assuming I make it through a long and agonizing childbirth, we have no clothes for the baby, no proper food, shelter, or anything sharp enough to cut the umbilical cord for that matter!"

House merely shrugged as if her concerns didn't matter. "So you're saying you don't want to have sex again?"

"This isn't about the sex!" Cuddy shrieked. "This is about a potential life that could be doomed from the time of conception!"

House rolled his eyes. "Well if you're going to get all technical on me, I'm going to take a nap. You can cuddle with yourself, Cuddles."

He changed sides. Cuddy tossed her head back and sighed. It's just like him to initiate a conversation like this, get her worked up, and then leave her hanging.

"Were you aiming to get me pregnant or something?"

"Nope," he said, facing the side of the cave that Cuddy wasn't at. "But I wasn't going to miss out on the free sex either."

"That's all I was to you? Free sex?" she asked, feeling hurt.

House hesitated before speaking. "Well, what did you think it was?" he asked, not sounding so sarcastic.

Cuddy felt tears sting her eyes and a funny, salty taste form in her mouth. Her heart weighted a ton. She bit her lower lip when it started to quiver. What she felt towards House when they had sex was something special. She knew he was using her at first, but over the course of the days, she hoped he felt something more. She thought she felt love directed only towards her when they kissed and made love instead of just sex. There were times when he was gentle and loving and it brought her to tears. She should've known that he was full of shit and she was stupid for believing it. House could never change.

House looked over when he heard her draw in a shaky breath. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"Nothing you need to worry about."

"Seriously, Cuddy."

"So what, you just planned to have sex with me until I got pregnant and became too fat to fuck you?"

House couldn't help it. A small smirk formed across his lips. "No, pregnant women are much hornier, that was my angle."

"Okay, so forget about the fact that I could die carrying a child without the proper resources. You just want me pregnant so I'll be a better lay for you. You're a real bastard, House."

"Hey, this wasn't all one-sided, Cuddy. You're the one who ripped my pants off first. Don't blame this on me."

"I did it once; you did it the other fifty-whatever times!"

"I didn't hear you complaining!"

Now House was staring to yell back. It was no longer a joke and he was no longer finding it funny. Cuddy's defense mechanism was blaming others in her times of blunder, especially House.

"Why is it that we always have to fight? Why can't you just ever admit that you're wrong?" she asked him.

"Because I'm not! You laid down for me every single time and begged for more. You have needs, I have needs, that's all it was. You're pissed at me because I don't want it to be more than it is! I'm not a doting father figure living out of a Walgreen's Perfect commercial."

"I never said that you had to be, House!" she cried. "I'm just looking for your support. It's all I have left in this world!"

Cuddy dropped her face into her hands and cried. The stressors were finally catching up to her. Between the storms, the lack of resources, body aches, and her current situation in general, she was running out of hope and strength.

"I just want to go home," she sobbed into her hands. "I hate this island, I hate this cave, I hate everything!"

House watched her for a moment, but then dragged himself over to her to put his arms around her. She gave in easily to his touch and rested her face in the crook of his neck. He rocked her gently and shushed her with an apology.

Cuddy knew it was a front. He's been having a rather run of them lately. But she didn't care. It was wonderful to feel the comfort he gave her at the moment, whether he meant it or not.

Everything was so complicated, and yet, she still loved him. Her love for him should be the most complicated thing she had to deal with, but it wasn't. Cuddy could easily tell herself that, despite how he is, she couldn't deny what she felt in her heart when he held her close. That was going to get her into trouble one of these days.

Minutes turned into hours as their embrace continued. The reason it went on for so long is because Cuddy had fallen asleep with her head on his shoulder and he didn't have the heart to move her. He spent the time running his fingers through her slowly drying hair and being someone that no one in this world was lucky enough to see.

He also owed her a response from last night…

"I love you, too," he murmured, kissing the top of her head once more.

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