Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry but this isn't the last chapter. I got carried away again and if it was the last chapter, it would've been sooo long, well over 9,000 words and since that's way too long for a chapter, I've broken it up into two separate parts. Just look at it this way, there's more for you guys to read and love ^^ And as always, thanks for the feedback on the last chapter!!

Enjoy :)

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Cuddy spent her entire Saturday at the hospital as she promised, making phone calls and getting their jobs back. The first person she called was Wilson. He would start Monday, along with Cameron, Foreman, Chase, House, and everyone else that Feeney fired. She didn't like to inform those who took their places that they could no longer work here. She was able to meet some of them and they were actually firm, disciplined workers. Cuddy even splurged and took on a few more oncology researchers while welcoming the others back. However, some of the people that Feeney hired, such as the new head of oncology, was a total idiot who shouldn't be allowed to have a master's degree in anything. She'd rather have ten House's running amok in the hospital rather than having to deal with just one of this guy.

After pulling some strings and making a few phone calls, things went back to normal, including the diagnostics department. By the end of Saturday, she was finally able to stop and breathe. And of course now that she was able to stop and breathe, thoughts started rushing into her head. Keeping busy stopped most of the bad thoughts, but now they poured through her mind like oil. She had to wonder if she would be able to keep her job, or would it go back to Feeney. Maybe the court will decide to give it to someone totally different, or make Cuddy reapply to get the job. Cuddy liked her boss, the chancellor of the hospital, very much, as did he to her. If he had any say in the matter, he would come forth and request that his hospital continue to be run by Lisa Cuddy. But sometimes, not even the owner of the hospital, would have a say in it. He came forth and hired Feeney, only because he thought Cuddy was dead. That soon became a quick mistake on his part.

Generally with management in any kind of business, they're either your friend, or they're your boss. They can never be both. The chancellor was both to Cuddy, even though he was also a firm boss who wanted things done right. He was a good friend as well. He wouldn't want to watch her suffer like this.

And then there was her family. Cuddy already transferred her savings and pension into another account once she was able to gain access to her accounts again so they couldn't get a hold of it. At least her funds would be okay for now. Her home and assets on the other hand, she wasn't sure what was going to happen with those. As much as she detested Stacy, she owed her greatly if she could prove her will was forged and get her her life back.

Cuddy rested her elbows on the surface of the desk and leaned in. It was hard to believe that the last time she was here, she was working on finishing up the proposal for the trip to Japan. She remembered it so vividly, as if it were yesterday. Who knew that once she donned her white button up collared shirt, grabbed her briefcase, turned the lights out, and locked the office door behind her, she wouldn't be returning for months. And once she did return, she would've found the atmosphere interrupted and changed.

Still, with everything awful and terrible that happened to her and was also currently happening to her, she had House. If the island event never took place, she wouldn't have ever seen House in this light.

She loved him. Every time she thought about him, her heart skipped a beat. That has never happened before. House may be an ass, but he was hers. And she was his. She didn't want it any other way.

She's always liked House a little, ever since college, but didn't ever think there would be a future for them.

An island sure can do funny things to someone's feelings.

But now that Stacy had come back, House was different. First, he was so nonchalant about her coming back, and then he goes off with her in the middle of the night. Cuddy was worried. The last time Stacy came back, they ended up in bed. Would that happen again? Should she be worried? House swore up and down it was over. Cuddy was still a bit sketchy, although with him being her boyfriend, she would trust him. It was so odd for him to even use that term. She didn't think it was part of his vocabulary. If he said it, it meant he was serious. He wouldn't play around with a word like that. His self-image wouldn't let him. He was too good for it.

The sun was just about set when she was finished for the day. The clinic closed two hours ago, so she was the only one left on the floor. The only sets of lights that were on were small wall lights around the border of the clinic, just enough to light her way.

As she left, locking her office behind her, she wondered what House was doing. He was supposed to go to his apartment today for the first time in almost three months and get things situated. Right now, his apartment was going to be used for their backup, in case she lost her house to her sister in court. House's mom kept the apartment in order, refusing to get rid of it. Unlike Cuddy, House had a will that stated that his belongings would go to his mom. House just rented the apartment, but Blythe had the say in what went on with it once her son was dead. She didn't want to say goodbye, so she kept paying the rent on his place in hopes he would come back. She's the kind of mother that Cuddy deserved. It would make more sense that way. She paid his rent, even though she went back to Lexington promptly after the funeral. Blythe didn't know about House's relationship with Cuddy, but if she did, she would be all for it, even though she thought that Cameron was the one House would be with.

Cuddy left the hospital with House on her mind, debating if she should pop in and visit him.

Sure, why not.

She hopped into her car and went to House's apartment with a smile on her face the entire time. She really did love him. It wasn't just because of their harrowing situation on the island that she felt this way. Angst and misery did not bring them together. She'd liked him for the past X amount of years, ever since she was in one of his classes. He was a jackass then, even more so than he is now, minus the infarction. Her friend and roommate, Janine, was going out with House at the time, so Cuddy ended up seeing a lot of House at their place. He was such an idiot that at first, Cuddy didn't want anything to do with him. He was a moron, regardless of how smart and intelligent he was. He was extremely egotistical, just like most of the guys she knew. House wasn't any different.

One night when Janine wasn't home yet and House came over, that's when he and Cuddy started talking. She still had no interest in him yet. It wasn't until the beer and wine came into play and the two relaxed on the couch that she ended up seeing him differently. He was a typical guy who wanted to get into her pants, or so she figured, and her flirting didn't help deter him much.

They didn't sleep together that day, but they did kiss. Cuddy blamed it on the wine. His kiss was exhilarating. Whether it was the beer he had or what, Greg House knew how to kiss. Janine was one lucky bitch.

Cuddy didn't love House after that, but she was starting to. She had her standards, but she let them go the very next night when Janine was over a friend's place and House came over. They shared her bed and then pretty much stopped talking after that. Janine and House broke up near his graduation and Cuddy never saw him again until she became Dean of Medicine. The feelings she had for him were put on the back burner, but never officially gone. She's always liked him a little, even if he was a handful. He was testing his limits, just like every child does.

Now, she not only loved him, but she was in love with him, which would probably just set her up for heartbreak and disappointment. House was still House. He hasn't changed. He may say he loves her and asked her to be his girlfriend, but a child doesn't know what that means. To him, they're just words with no meaning. Teenagers who claim to be in love really have no idea of the concept. She was worried that House might not either.

If that didn't make Cuddy's smile disappear, what she saw next would. Stacy's rental car was parked outside his apartment. A massive mix of feelings pulsed through her veins. She didn't know whether to feel angry, hurt, or betrayed. What were they doing in there?

She found her cell phone and called him. He answered promptly after the second ring.

"Hey, Cuddy," he greeted, not sounding suspicious or daunted.

"Hey, what's up?" she asked casually, as if she were still at the office and having no idea about Stacy being in the apartment.

"Nothing, just having dinner."

"You cooked?" Cuddy listened in carefully, maybe hoping to hear a whisper or a light chuckle coming from Stacy.

"It's pasta, anyone can cook that without screwing it up. Plus, it's the only thing I had in the cabinets that's perishable, besides the cans of Chef Boyardee."

"Do you want some company? I'm two seconds away from leaving the hospital."

"Oh, um…sure, come on over. I'll need a ride to get back to your place anyway."

Cuddy said she would be there in ten minutes and hung up. With the knowledge of her coming over, House would have to get rid of Stacy, and quickly. Cuddy got out of the car and walked into the foyer, hoping to hear maybe some hustling inside House's apartment, but heard nothing. Still, she was going to wait there until Stacy came out. In the meantime, Cuddy's heart felt constricted, like he was cheating on her. What would be his excuse for flouncing around with Stacy this time? This was the second time he went behind her back to be with Stacy. She didn't like it at all and if she had to play the jealous girlfriend card, she would. She owed Stacy, but that didn't mean she was going to pay her back with House. No way. There are certain boundaries you just don't cross.

About two minutes later, the door opened and House revealed himself. Like a deer caught in the headlights, his eyes widened and his face fell completely in shock. "Cuddy!" he screeched, not expecting to see her there.

Cuddy leaned on one side and folded her arms. "Don't you just love cell phones? They can always let you say you'd be in one place, but be somewhere totally different instead," she said sweetly.

Stacy appeared in the doorway next, jacket on and ready to leave. Cuddy's eyes went to her next.

"Going somewhere?" Cuddy asked, tone low and dangerous.

"Lisa, this isn't what you think," Stacy said, sticking up for them.

"Yeah, that's what they always say. House tried to sell me that line last time. It's not going to work this time." Cuddy felt her heartstrings being tugged at. If it weren't for her blood boiling, the pressure in her chest would be too much for her to stand there and fight back. She'd run back to her car and start weeping, calling herself an idiot for falling for a jerk like House.

"If you two want to be together, just tell me now," Cuddy said, raising her hands in surrender. "I'll leave quietly."

"We don't want to be together," Stacy said with a straight face. "We're just friends."

Cuddy looked to House next, fire burning in her eyes. "You went behind my back again after I specifically told you to stay away from her. You didn't even ask me!"

"Cuddy, I don't have to ask you to see friends."

"No, but exes you do! Particularly exes I have a problem with," she hissed, but then put her hands up in her own surrender. "You know what, I don't care. I have way too much going on right now to be babysitting you two. Do whatever the hell you want." She looked up at House with a hard glare before storming off. It took a lot for her to storm away from the two, especially because Stacy was still there. If they were just friends, then why was she in such a hurry to leave? Cuddy knew that they were eating together. Stacy wasn't ready to leave yet, but two minutes after the phone call ended, she was on her way out. That meant they were hiding something from her.

Cuddy went home. After she was finished fuming and wishing death upon Stacy, she started crying. Entering her home, she was in full-fledged tears, but not to the sobbing stage yet. She kicked off her shoes and set down her purse on the hall table. Her head was filled with different scenarios. She wanted to trust House but this was twice now that he saw Stacy behind her back. This is where the teenager comes into play. They don't know it's wrong, so they never bother to think twice, even if they were already called on it once and had it said to their face that it was wrong. He didn't understand relationships. She was a fool to think he would.

Cuddy went to her fridge and pulled out a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, planning to indulge on it as much as possible. Was she losing House as fast as she got him, or was it all in her mind? Ugh…this is why she doesn't date often. She's not really the jealous type, but she was the domineering type. Things had to go her way. She scares all her dates off because they just want a woman who isn't so bossy. Cuddy couldn't help it. It was practically her job to be the boss and sometimes she lets it come in between the sheets. But is she so wrong about wanting Stacy to stay away from House? As far as she knew, they were a couple. She didn't want to share him with her of all people. She'd rather share him with Cameron than Stacy.

Cuddy took the bottle of wine into the living room after popping the cork and took a drink before putting it into a glass. It was like a taste from the gods. It felt like pure liquid gold sliding down her throat and into her stomach.

She poured a glass and disappeared to get changed into something more comfortable. When she came back, she flopped down on the couch and took the wine into her hand.

"Cheating bastard," she whispered to the innocent liquid before chugging it down.

She repeated the process seven times, emptying the bottle completely. She brought the bottle up to her mouth and tried vainly to suck every droplet out, never realizing just how good it felt to have her pain being taken away by alcohol. If this was the case, she would've done it a long time ago. The further she pressed on, the more it burned, and the better it felt. It quickly became addicting.

Cuddy headed back to the fridge to see if there was another bottle. There wasn't. She cussed lightly to herself, but then remembered there was vodka in the liquor cabinet. Warm vodka would definitely burn going down and that's what she was after right now. She wanted it to burn and burn all her problems away with it.

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"I'm really sorry about Lisa, Greg," Stacy said as the two sat on his couch together. "I didn't mean for us to get caught."

"I knew it was going to happen," he said as she held his hand tighter. "We can't keep anything from her."

"So what are you going to do?"

"About what?"

"About Lisa. She saw us together. What are you going to tell her?"

House shrugged. "What can I tell her? She'll never believe me one way or the other."

"You have to tell her the truth."

He shook his head. "No, it's too soon. I want to get everything back in order before I put something else on the table."

"Telling her might relieve her suspicions, Greg. Lord knows what she's feeling right now."

"Yeah, and she'll be feeling twice as confused once I tell her what we've done. I don't know whether to feel guilty or…not."

Stacy gently ran her hand over his thigh. "Don't feel guilty. Lisa will come around, and when she does, things will be okay again."

House closed his eyes with a sigh. "How do I manage to screw everything up?"

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Cuddy's stomach hurt, but not to the point where she felt like vomiting. She was dizzy beyond belief and couldn't stand without staggering. But she felt better. Her blood felt like it was on fire, making her body hot, she could barely feel her limbs, and her eyeballs moved themselves when she closed her eyes, but yet, she felt good. The alcohol did its job.

Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier with each passing second. Still holding the bottle of almost finished vodka, she tipped over onto her side while still on the couch and fell asleep…or as the lightweight will come to learn later, passed out.

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Forty-five minutes later, Stacy dropped House off at Cuddy's.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay with me, Greg?" she asked, holding his hand.

House paused a moment, as if having second thoughts. "No. I have to sort things out with Cuddy before she makes up her mind about leaving me for good."

Stacy looked almost sad. "Are you sure I can't change your mind?"

He shook his head. "I'm sorry, Stacy."

Stacy reached into her purse and pulled out a small, palm sized gift box with a bow and gave it to him. "Good luck. I'll see you Monday."

He reached over and pecked her on the cheek. "Thanks for your help."

Stacy just merely nodded and House got out of the car, putting the box in his pocket. He grabbed his cane and limped up Cuddy's sidewalk. He halted at the door, wondering if he should knock or not. He spent about ten seconds staring a green door, debating if he should knock or not. Instead, he just walked in. The door was unlocked.

The house was quiet. Did she go to bed?

"Cuddy?" he called out carefully, walking further into the house. He turned to the right and saw her laying sideways on the couch with her feet still on the floor. He hurried to her side.

"Oh Cuddy, what did you do?" he asked, taking the bottle of vodka out of her hand and putting it on the coffee table. He sat her up and promptly tried to wake her. All this over a big misunderstanding.

"Lisa." He tapped her cheek with his hand. She reeked of alcohol, making him recoil a bit. Figures the vodka would be Grey Goose, which always had a stronger effect on her, versus Absolut and 360.

She still didn't wake up. He hit her harder, but not too hard. The last thing he needed was for Cuddy to wear a fine red handprint across her face. "Lisa!"

Cuddy came to with a cry that sounded more like a groan and covered her face. "What the hell, House?"

"I think I should use that question on you," he said, snatching up the bottle of vodka. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to get away from you," she groaned. "Stop yelling, my head hurts. Why are you here?"

"Because I live here," he spat.

She looked at him like he had two heads. "No you don't. I may be drunk, but I'm not that drunk. You have your own place. You don't live here."

"Well, I do now."

Cuddy tried to stand, but the room started spinning and it drove her back down again. She clutched her stomach. "Ugh…I'm going to throw up."

She forced herself to her feet and faltered as she clumsily found her way to the bathroom. House didn't follow her right away. He waited until she was done emptying her stomach of booze and resting with her head on the bowl, groaning.

"Feeling better now?" he asked from the doorway.

"Much. God, that was so stupid." She reached up and flushed the toilet, then used the bowl to help her stand.

"I'm sorry, it was my fault."

"Damn right it was," she said, turning on the sink and rinsing her mouth out to try to take away the booze taste.

"There's nothing going on between me and Stacy."

Cuddy rubbed her face. "House, not now. I don't even want to hear that woman's name, not even while my head is spinning and I'll forget it all tomorrow. I don't even want to see you right now."

"Cuddy—"

Cuddy shook her head and held her hand up, cutting him off. "No. I don't want to hear it. You were with her after I specifically told you I didn't like it. But I was a fool to think you'd listen to me. You're a child. Children don't listen. I think why I'm really disappointed is because I know you won't amount to anything in a relationship." Tears blurred her vision. "I had my hopes so high and I've disillusioned myself."

"Lisa, that's not true. I love you! If that wasn't the truth, do you think I would say it? You know me. Since when do I bullshit around and say things I don't mean?"

Cuddy brushed away a tear as fast as it fell. "I want to go to bed."

"You can't even answer that!" he said, louder than expected. "Because you know I'm right."

"I don't care!"

"Yes you do!" he shouted. "Maybe I don't live up to your standards because you set them so damn high! No wonder you never have relationships! No one can put up with your fucking perseverance!"

Him yelling at her just made her head throb harder and the tears come faster.

"House, please, I can't handle this right now."

"Oh, right, sure you can't handle it right now. You can dish the dessert, but clear the table before it's eaten. Everything's about you, isn't it, Cuddy? It always has been. What about making it about ME for once?!"

Cuddy narrowed her eyes at him. "Oh don't you dare, House. You're not the one who's about to face whether or not they're about to lose everything. I'm the one who had to go through hell and back to get my job back, as well as yours! I'm about to lose my home, my savings, my car, and if that's not getting through to you, what about my baby? What about my miscarriage? I lost something that meant more to me than jobs, money, homes, everything, and you're still an asshole!" Cuddy's voice started to break from the emotion she felt. "It's over, House! Get out of here and take your insensitive personality with you."

If Cuddy's voice didn't mean business, House would see the answer in her eyes. She was broken and in need of fixing. Her eyes were as sad as they were when she knew she miscarried and only a little bit of anger splashed in there. He knew she was right. She did have so many things going on and he shouldn't have snuck around like he did.

House was about to turn around and walk away from everything he knew and probably down a few bottles of vodka himself when his fingers brushed up against his bulging pocket. He remembered the box. He reached in and removed it. Cuddy watched him carefully. "Do you want to know why I was with Stacy today? She was helping me with this," he said and threw the box at her, but not hard. It hit her arm and fell to the ground. "Enjoy it." He gave her a cold stare and walked away.

Cuddy reached down and picked up the little blue box. She opened the top to reveal a red velvet jewelry case. She let the box fall to the ground and opened the case. Her mouth fell at what she saw. She slapped her hand over her mouth as a fresh batch of tears came.

It was a three stone engagement ring that sparkled under the florescent lighting.

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I swear on everything I hold dear that there is only one chapter left! :D