Hey everyone! A few things before we start. I am so incredibly surprised to check my email since last Wednesday to see how well the past chapter did (as well as Royal Caribbean). I haven't gotten 50 reviews for a chapter in a long while, so I thank you all who reviewed the last chapter! I love you guys! :D

Because of how wonderful the reviews were, it gave me the inspiration to write. I've decided to give you guys the next chapter tonight instead of tomorrow. I know a lot of people wished death on me and threatened my life from the way the last chapter ended with Stacy, so in fear of my life, I've made it work out okay :D

Oh, if you folks like cruises, drama, and Huddy smut wrapped up together in a neat little package, you're going to like my new story Royal Caribbean. Check it out if you can :D

One more thing before we start, I would like to thank anonymous reviewer grimtea for sniffing out a plagiarist that was stealing my work. I mean, the nerve! I'm honored people would like my stuff that much to take it, but come on, write your own stuff! I'm sure your writing is just as good!

Enjoy :)

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"Do you have any idea how much trouble I'm going to be in if Cuddy wakes up? Her trust in me is going to fly right out the window. What is so important that you had to drag me out in the middle of the night? What's the big crisis?"

When Stacy called him earlier, she said that Cuddy's case was in jeopardy and they should meet about it, only Cuddy wasn't to know about it for her own safety. Since House didn't want something to happen to Cuddy, he did as she said and didn't mention it to her. It was something that they should discuss together without Cuddy. House still didn't know what that something was, but the urgency in Stacy's voice when she told him, she didn't sound like she was kidding around. She is their lawyer, so she would be going through their files and getting to know more about the case. Since Cuddy's case is a bit more complicated than his, he didn't think twice that there could be something wrong.

"She's not going to be able to get her job back, Greg," Stacy said, sounding hugely sympathetic. "Zachary Feeney's lawyer contacted me. The papers are legit and he has every right to the title of Dean of Medicine."

"How is that possible?" House felt the bottom of his stomach fall out.

"I did some looking into it. He took over the position when Lisa was missing. When she was declared legally dead, he signed contracts, legal binding documents, that he has every right to keep that job, no matter the circumstances. It can't be undone unless he quit or was fired. In that case, Lisa could reapply to get the job."

"There's not even a fighting chance? Not even, oh, let's see, the fact that she's NOT dead?!" He raised his voice a notch.

"I'm sorry, Greg. And to top it off, her will, does in fact say that in the unlikely event of her death, her assets go to the next of kin, making her sister the rightful owner of her house, car, finances, possessions, everything."

House felt nauseous. He had to close his eyes to stop the sudden head rush he felt come on. "It's impossible. Sam Bernstein typed up and forged that will! Cuddy didn't have one that was made legal!"

There's no way that three months ago Cuddy had everything, and now she had nothing. It bothered House to the point where he felt his body temperature rise with anger and fear for Cuddy.

"I'm sorry, Greg. I'm just telling you what I found."

"Telling me…" he whispered, lolling his head back into the headrest of the seat. "Why the hell are you telling me? Couldn't you have just told me this on the phone? Why take me out in the middle of the night just to drive around?" He looked over at her, but only saw her slightly, due to the lack of streetlamps down this particular street.

Stacy didn't speak right away.

"Or maybe come to her home and tell her instead of me?" he added. "She has a right to know if she's about to lose everything."

Stacy was still mute.

"Stacy, what is this? What aren't you telling me?"

Stacy kept her eyes ahead of her, not even so much as glancing over to House, letting him to believe there was more at hand here with Cuddy that she wasn't passing on to him. "What's wrong with Cuddy?"

"She's losing everything, Greg, and you actually care," she said quietly.

If Stacy didn't see his frown, she'd hear it in his voice. "Of course I care," he said, acting as if that was the dumbest thing she could ever say. "I love her."

"You love her, even though she has nothing left?" Stacy's tone was still quiet. He couldn't see her very well in the dark, but was told all he needed by the tone of her voice.

Where was she going with this? House was very confused. He didn't fall in love with her solely because of the possessions she kept.

He turned the little map light on overhead so he could see her better. Her eyes were misty, but not enough to make tears, although that was probably in the works.

"What's going on? Did you take me out here just to quiz me on my feelings for Cuddy and wanting to see the look on my face once you told me that she lost everything? Is it some sort of cheap thrill for you?"

"Lisa has nothing left, Greg. She may as well be dead. She doesn't have a penny to her name and no home or job to speak of."

House felt a funny taste form at the back of his throat. "We can get around that."

"Why would you even try?" Stacy sounded as if she were begging him to say otherwise. "You don't even care about her. You never did. Even in college you told me she made you miserable."

"People change."

"People don't change, Greg, you said so yourself. I've lived with you for five years, I know what to expect. You don't love her and you could care less what happens to her."

House gripped his sweatpants and clutched a fistful in his hands so hard it made his knuckles turn white. "Who are you to tell me how I feel?" he asked, voice dangerously low. "As if it's any of your business, Lisa means the world to me with or without material possessions."

"You could never make her happy. She couldn't ever make you happy."

"She's already made me happy just by being her. Why are you testing me? Are you concerned for Cuddy or jealous that I'm with her and not you?"

Stacy noticeably gripped the steering wheel tighter at ten and two.

"That's it, isn't it?"

"Lisa will never love you like I do. Greg, I want us to try again."

"You got your answer last time."

"I should've fought harder. You didn't want to be with me because you were afraid I wouldn't be happy with you. You said you couldn't make me happy. That's not true, Greg. I love you. I always have."

"If you loved me so much, you never would've left me in the first place."

Stacy paused to brush a tear from her eye. "I'm sorry I did that. I am."

"I'm not."

Their eyes met, but briefly, for she couldn't keep her eyes off the road for long. An uncomfortable pause filled the car. House sighed deeply before speaking.

"There's nothing wrong with Lisa, is there? You just wanted to try to get a rise out of me by telling me she has nothing left, because if she has nothing, I won't want to be with her and fall back into your arms, right?"

Stacy said nothing.

"Actually, she having nothing would bring us closer. She'd rebuild her life while having someone to lean on in the process. I don't know what that island did to me, or if it was the typhoid fever, I don't know, but if I wasn't so damn tenacious in college, she would've been my wife by now with three kids. So either way, you're turning this car back around and I'm going home. This was a very stupid way to try to get me into bed with you."

"I wasn't trying to bed you, Greg. And no, Lisa's case is promising. Sam forged the will with a fake date, postmarking it made over five years ago. Lisa's got a good, solid case."

A huge wave of relief washed over House. That was the best thing she could ever tell him. He sighed. "Good. Now if you can get me back there without her knowing I was gone, that's going to be even better. You did that on purpose, didn't you? If I didn't believe you making things up about the case, at least I'd risk the chance in her seeing me come home and when she questions me, and I say I was with you, she'll leave me."

Stacy shook her head. Another tear fell from her eye. "I could never fool you, could I?"

Stacy knew she was beaten. She turned the car around and headed back to Cuddy's.

"I didn't know you loved her so much. I was wrong."

"Yes you knew, that's why you snuck around behind her back like this. There's a small part of you that hopes the lights are on when you drop me off and she'll be waiting there for an explanation."

"Really, Greg, I'm happy for you. I didn't know how concrete your relationship was. After this case is over, you'll never hear from me again."

They were silent the rest of the way back to Cuddy's.

Much to House's relief, the place was still dark when they came back twenty minutes later. That relaxed him a bit. He sighed heavily. "So Cuddy's in the clear? You think she'll be able to get her job back, as well as her home?"

Stacy nodded. "I'm hopeful. I'll do everything I can." She reached over and kissed him on the cheek. "Goodbye, Greg."

"Goodbye, Stacy."

As soon as he was out of the car and limping up the sidewalk, Stacy left. It was dark out and there was barely enough streetlight to help him. All he saw were silhouettes of the things in front of him.

He found the door okay and let himself in. The place was quiet. He hoped she was still sleeping. If not, there would be a shouting match in about .5 seconds.

He crept through the silent house, knowing his way through the dark. A small lamp on the table helped him until he turned the corner, heading down the hallway to their bedroom. Cuddy always had a small touch lamp set to the lowest light inside her bedroom so they could see if they had to get up in the middle of the night. It was lit when he walked into the room, quiet as a mouse.

Cuddy wasn't there. His heart stopped. Where was she? Instead of calling her name out, he turned the light on and peeked into the adjoining bathroom. She wasn't there either. He did know one thing though—wherever she was, she knew that he left the house and probably knew with whom.

House tried the kitchen next. He bit his lower lip. Cuddy was sitting at the kitchen table in the dark. He saw her outline. There had never been a scarier moment than this one. There was no telling what was going through Cuddy's mind. He was an idiot to go out with Stacy, but when Stacy said that it was urgent involving Cuddy, he couldn't help but go. It was a dumb idea, but he did it for Cuddy. Would she ever believe him?

"Cuddy?" he asked in the smallest voice next to a whisper and flicked the light on.

Cuddy had her back turned towards him. She was hunched over the table, resting on her elbows, and had her hand over her face, crying softly.

He hesitantly approached her. She could feel him getting closer. Her body noticeably tensed.

"Please go away," she whispered, her back rising and falling with every sob.

"Lisa, it's not what you think, I swear it."

Typical response. It's always what comes out of the mouths of those whom are caught in a situation. Why should House saying it be any different?

"And I suppose the kiss she gave you was a friendly gesture."

House had to wonder how she saw that when it was so dark out. He then remembered the map light he put on to see Stacy. He never turned it off, not even when they got to the house. Cuddy must've been looking out the kitchen window when she heard a car pull up. Dammit!

"It's not…what it looked like…please…"

"Stop saying that!" she cried suddenly. She stood up so fast that the chair almost tipped over. She was angry and emotional at the same time, two feelings that never do very good together. Her once blue vibrant orbs were now cold, grey, and waterlogged. "I know what I saw and you have no idea how much I'm hurting right now. I trusted you, you…bastard."

Cuddy brushed by him and went to the bedroom. He followed her, determined to try to talk his way out of this and for her to see that nothing happened.

"Cuddy, please, just hear me out. We didn't do anything! We were gone for twenty minutes. What the hell could we have done in twenty minutes?"

"That is so not the point, House." She spun to him, keeping her distance. "The point is that we have a relationship and you went off with an ex girlfriend in the middle of the night right after we slept together. Then I see you kissing her in her car. What the hell do you want me to think? Please tell me, because it appears I'm not getting it right. You waited for me to be asleep and then go off with her?" Cuddy's voice broke, due to her emotions kicking in at full swing. "Does what we have mean so little to you?"

"She said it was about your case. I believed her. She told me you will lose everything, even your home."

Cuddy's face contorted gently in fright and her watery eyes wide. "Am I really?"

"Turns out that it's not true, but she used that to lure me. She wanted to speak to me in private and didn't want me to tell you because she didn't want to upset you." House stepped towards her, closing the gap in between them. "I'm sorry, I never should've gone, but I was worried about you. Stacy kissed me, not the other way around. Please believe me." His tone was gentle and kind, which was so unlike House.

Whether it was too late, or she was tired, but Cuddy actually believed him. She leaned into his touch once he cupped her cheek. She knew Stacy would be up to no good if she took on their cases. She couldn't be mad at House. He's not the one who did wrong here. It was Stacy and her innocent appearing ploys she was angry with. She should've known that from the start instead of waking up, finding his spot empty, looking out the window just in time to see him get into a car with his ex, and assuming the worse. It was normal to feel betrayed and hurt, right? To wake up and find your newly acquired boyfriend getting into his ex's car. What Cuddy was feeling wasn't abnormal. She pushed herself to accept House's answer and his gentle touch across her skin. She kept telling herself that he did it for her and she would do the same thing for him if the situation came about.

"You're still in doubt," he said when she backed up her head as he tried to kiss her.

"I'm not in doubt. I believe you and I believe Stacy would try to ruin a good thing between us." She stepped back. "I'm just hurt you went with her when you should've talked to me about my issues, not her."

House opened his mouth to speak, but Cuddy raised up a hand to silence him. "I just want to go to sleep. Can I trust you to be here in the morning?"

House just nodded. He turned off the light as Cuddy slipped back into bed and then removed his jacket and pants. Cuddy made sure she was sleeping on her side, facing away from House, and laying furthest to the edge of the bed as she could.

As much as House wanted to pull her to him when he got situated, he figured it was best he left her alone for tonight. He didn't even so much as tell her good night and she had no problems with that.

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The next day, Cuddy flinched in Stacy's presence. If she cringed the day before when she came to the hospital, she was definitely cringing today from what happened last night.

To make matters worse, she and House weren't speaking. They were on okay terms, but neither hardly said a word. House knew she would be okay once Stacy left.

Today in court, they were there for approximately fifteen minutes respectively. House went up first with Stacy, she told the judge some speech on what happened, he signed about twenty extremely boring and long documents bringing him back to life, and then was able to receive a new driver's license and social security card. They were sent to the court for verification, otherwise they would've had to go to the hall to get the social security cards and the DMV to get their licenses. It saved them a trip. It was better this way.

And just like that, House was able to practice medicine again and return to work…once he had a job to return to, that is.

Cuddy was next. Since Stacy didn't have to say a speech this time, Cuddy got right to the paperwork. Stacy distracted her, making it impossible for her to focus on the papers and get through, reading them only once. She had to scan some pages twice because she felt Stacy glaring at her from five feet away.

Stacy also signed them when she was done. Cuddy was able to get her things and her medical license validated as well, but had to wait until Monday to see if she still had a job. She already fixed up her office and put her own name back on the door, but would she be able to return? House scared Feeney away and got Eric to resign, but did it matter? Could he still come back? Cuddy wanted nothing more than to head down there right now, don her lab coat, and go to work, getting her blood flowing again. She could also get House's department up and running again and try to bring back everyone that Feeney fired for no reason. She owed it to Wilson and Cameron as well.

At least going there would keep her busy for the weekend. Between phone calls to her employees and other miscellaneous things, it would take her the rest of today and all of tomorrow. The way she felt about being around House at the moment, it was welcoming to be buried in work.

Between this morning when they awoke, driving to the courthouse, driving back, and walking into Cuddy's home, no more than ten words were spoken between her and House. Stacy tried sparking up a conversation, but neither barely responded. During the drive back, nothing at all was said between anyone. Cuddy felt uncomfortable by the silence, as well as House. In a weird, twisted way, Stacy liked the silence. It told her that they were fighting, or fought, and felt sensitive towards one another. Now if only she could get him alone for five minutes…

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"Cuddy, will you say something?" House tried again to get her to talk when they got home. She entered her house and promptly removed her shoes and jacket, but walked away from him the moment she did, not glancing back.

She headed to the bedroom to grab the black purse and wallet one of her nurses gave her from the party. She had the wallet half-full already with other things and nearly completed it with her ID. Now she had to wait for her credit cards to arrive…

"Lisa!" came House's voice a little louder than expected, snapping her out of thought.

"What?!" she answered back, just as loud.

"Talk to me! Stop shutting me out! You were okay last night and ever since the sun came up, you act like you hate me!"

"Because I had time to think. I was half asleep last night."

"So now you don't trust me?" House sounded hurt.

Cuddy sighed, throwing the purse strap over her shoulder. "House, we're brand new. You did something stupid last night, whether something went on or not, it was stupid. I don't trust Stacy and I don't trust her with you. I'm going to the hospital to get you your department back and get my thoughts together."

Cuddy went to brush by him, but he grabbed her by her arm and sealed her body to his. She didn't have much time to think, for it happened way too fast. She barely had time to gasp properly. He kissed her, deeply and passionately. He didn't know what else to do. He felt her slipping away and since he was obviously unable to verbally communicate and say the right things, this is the only way he knew how.

Cuddy melted into the kiss. She didn't want to allow him to take such power over her, but she was losing control. It was so overwhelming that she just about lost sensation in her legs. If his arm wasn't supporting her lower back, she'd lose her footing and fall to the floor. House was the only one she had ever been with that could feed her such an intoxicating kiss. The sensation zipped all through her body, giving it a tingling awareness. Dizziness also consumed her, as well as stars behind her eyelids.

The kiss left them both gasping for air and Cuddy still a little dizzy. House only pulled back far enough to look into her eyes.

"I love you, Lisa Cuddy, with all my heart." He gently ran the backs of his fingers across her cheek. He didn't dare blink or shift his eyes away from hers, even for a millisecond.

"Prove it," she challenged in a serious tone.

If she wasn't still drugged from the kiss, she would've ended up going to the hospital to involve herself in her work. Instead, House took her to bed for some make up sex to prove just how genuine his love was for her.

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One more chapter to go and this time I promise! Tune in to see if Cuddy gets her job back, her home, and keeps Stacy away from House. It won't be easy. Angst, drama, sex, angry and jealous ex girlfriends, all that good stuff to come. Quite possibly a cheating House, too =O

Thanks for reading! ^^