Phew, so this is it! Finally! Although I'm very much sad to see this come to a close. It's become like a best friend to me, too! Well hopefully there will be a sequel soon...if I have anything left to write about with this lol.
First, shoutouts. Special thanks to everyone who read this story and put up with my lack of updating!
Extra special thanks goes to aserene for reviewing every chapter from the start, followed by joraco14, tvandmusicfan, CJS-DEPPendent, i luv ewansmile, Hughlaurie4ever, and emzypemzy. You guys made my day! :D
And to dmarchl, ItsNevrLupus, remora24, xxClouds, musica12, lenasti16, dwgmommy, PDubou, Iluvia, HouseBroken, Limalicious, Jaded27, huddy-marie, JustHuddy, Soccerpersonz10, Allyson Rae, HughLaurieLover, Suds95, huddyaimee, Viktorija, G. Queen, smartxblonde, dearest penny lane, Nonna Minerva, LorelaiLuke, rachelhouse, Sweet Baby Shari, Sunshine and Puppies, Lil Sammy Spade, bianca. loves. house, Rugbygirrl, Skei-Fyr, Iane Casey, giddy-scribbler, CarlyBear025, cmwinner, houselover1, missaleatoire, noname267, misssunshine13, confusedsarcasm, immyownsuperman, Abbeyannmd, miss-lore, savinglives44, starkidtw, stevielicous, Love'N'SweetSauce, houseluva8, shion81, g. fox90, partypants12, Katheryn Mae Wilson MD, jaybe61, huddy1216, Pyewacket75, kitty-line, peacefrog, Josam, j0k3, ichbin, jatetiltheend, k-tap, limeorcoconut, glicine, Housianna, love0someone0shika, Menah, SusieQueue, Fieldsy, almostlikeTHElyn, addekforever, Generated Anomoly, LemonGrenades, Neelie2009, and all the anonymous reviewers, especially houselover1093, who flattered me so :) thanks so much for reviewing everyone! :D
Enjoy :)
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Cuddy felt her hand that held the case start to shake. So that's what he was doing with Stacy? She was helping him pick out an engagement ring? Cuddy didn't know what to make of that, but that didn't stop her from dashing out of the bathroom to try to stop him before he walked out the door, and probably out of her life.
She still felt a little drunk and nearly stumbled when she tripped over the edge of the carpet runner, but didn't falter long. Her head pounded, her temples throbbed. Her heart felt heavy. All of this was a big misunderstanding and she was about to lose the love of her life because of it.
Luckily, a man with a limp can't walk very fast. He just put his cell phone away after making a call and had his hand on the doorknob when she made it to the foyer.
"House…I'm so sorry."
"That's all you can say?" he asked, voice low and hurt. He didn't bother to turn around to face her as he spoke. He couldn't see her face at the moment. Asking Cuddy to marry him is something that he's never come close to before, not even with Stacy. It was a huge step for him to even walk into a jewelry store and pick out the ring in the first place and for things to come about the way they did, it hurt. He moved aside a lot of doubts and uncertainties to get that far. He needed Stacy to help him. He couldn't do it alone. And now it was ruined. He wanted to propose to the only woman that ever made an impact on his life, who picked him up when he was down, who pushed him to keep going, showing him there was a reason for being. Stacy didn't even pale in comparison with Cuddy. She didn't even scratch the surface.
House knew he wasn't the relationship type, but he was willing to try it for Cuddy. There was an unknown feeling that swelled in his heart whenever he thought about her. He guessed that feeling was unconditional love and honor, something someone wouldn't think House was capable of.
"Please don't walk out of here." Cuddy's voice trembled, knowing she wouldn't be able to stop him if that was his choice. She already screwed it up in more ways than possible.
House sighed, still resting his hand on the doorknob.
"How was I supposed to know about what I saw? For god sakes, your ex was at your apartment and you lied to me. How was I supposed to take that?! I was hurt and felt betrayed."
"If you knew me at all, you know I'd never cheat on you."
Cuddy slapped both hands over her face and groaned. "I know, I know you wouldn't. It's her I didn't trust. I'm sorry…"
"It's a little late for that." House finally turned the doorknob and open the door. "I tried to talk you down in the bathroom and all I got was a slap to the face. They always say that the truth comes out when you're drunk." He finally gathered the courage to turn around and look at her grief stricken face. His heart felt a bit heavier. He wished he never did that. His mind would forever have a look displayed by Lisa Cuddy that not even on the island did he see. Her eyes were a puffy light grey that looked ten times worse than all the other times she's shed tears for one reason or the other. They were also somewhat bloodshot because of her vomiting up the alcohol. He noticed her trembling lower lip as well, signaling that more tears were about to fall if he walked out that door.
"I love you, Greg…" she whispered, almost inaudibly, "and that's the truth."
House didn't answer. He turned his head back around before he saw the next wave of tears fall down her face. She did have every right to be upset after seeing him sneaking around with his ex, but for her to take it as far as she did with the alcohol wasn't like her. This wasn't the Cuddy he knew, and frankly, he didn't want to get to know her.
If he walked out that door, he would crush her. He wasn't that much of a cold-hearted bastard to know that. But Cuddy had to understand that she wasn't the only one hurting. Even jerks like House have feelings. Ever since they got home, for one reason or another, they've been arguing. It was okay at first, because both of them went through a lot and came home to face more than what they've expected, especially Cuddy. It was normal for her to flip out and assume the worst. It's not easy when you think you're about to lose everything you've tried so hard to accomplish.
House tried to be there for her. He even wanted to make her his damn wife. Now, he wasn't sure. A part of him wished he never walked into that jewelry store and purchased the ring. It turned his stomach. Did he just get a foreshadowing of what was to come if he stayed with Cuddy? Was he better off alone, saving himself, and the woman he loves from future misery?
"I love you, too, Lisa, more than you know."
"But?" she pressed, shakily.
"I can't do this anymore. We should go back to the way things were before the island mishap. I was stupid to take it this far. I can't handle it."
His eyes grew misty when he heard Cuddy sob behind him. A moment later, he felt a pair of arms embrace him from the back and what felt like a head rest against his upper back. She didn't say anything. No words were needed. Their actions spoke for themselves. She begged him to stay.
House hated that Cuddy was crying because of him. Before all this, she was happy, at least to an extent. She wasn't wasting tears and time over him. House loved her so much that hearing her cry because of something that involved him was just too upsetting. He wanted to run, and run he shall.
"Stay with me," she whispered into his back. He could feel her hot breath through his t-shirt.
He didn't say anything. He felt her head shift on his back.
"House?"
"I can't. Goodbye, Cuddy."
At that moment, Wilson showed up. It was his ride out of there. Cuddy let go of him as he started walking away from her. As House walked towards Wilson's car, Cuddy's sobs echoed in his head and he could still feel her arms around his waist. Sometimes the best thing you could do for someone you love is to let them go. If that was the right thing to do, why did House's heart feel heavier and heavier the closer he got to Wilson's car?
"Fight with the wife?" Wilson joked, trying to lighten the mood. He saw all he needed to know about the situation based on Cuddy's body language and House calling to need a ride out of there.
"Shut up. Just drive. If you give me a lecture, I'm walking."
Wilson said nothing and drove him home.
Ten minutes later, they were at his apartment.
"You're an idiot," Wilson said, speaking the first words throughout the entire ride back. House spent his time staring out the window.
"I know. I shouldn't have taken it this far."
"No, I mean you're an idiot for taking it that far and then abandoning her."
"She doesn't need this."
"Do you love her?"
House looked over at his best friend with widened eyes, giving him a "duh" look. "Obviously."
"Then why don't you show it half the time."
"The reason I'm back home is because I love her." He lowered his head.
"Oh cut the crap. Screw your self-preservation attitude for once. You're not doing this for her; you're doing it for yourself. You're too afraid to be happy and because you're so miserable, it'll make Lisa miserable."
"You have no idea what you're talking about."
"Then prove it. Prove me wrong. Go back to her and put that ring on her finger. Show the world that there's more to Gregory House than a shell of emotionless feelings."
House swallowed hard, followed by the shake of his head. "I can't. I'll never change."
"It's not that you won't. You're afraid to. You love her so much, House, you always have. The fact that you're able to feel this love proves that you're not just a shell of hopelessness. No one is going to laugh at you or titter at you because you love Lisa. What are you so afraid of?"
"Hurting her." His eyes met Wilson's. "And I've already done that."
"House, you're hurting her just by being here right now. She's probably sobbing in her pillow, begging aloud for you to come back."
"She's better off without me."
Wilson sighed angrily. "Will you stop with that?!"
"She deserves someone who will take care of her!" he said, voice matching Wilson's.
"Then why buy the ring? Huh? Why want to take it to the next step if you're not going to go through with it?"
"She already saw the goddamned ring."
Wilson wasn't aware of that. His face contorted into shock. "Really? Wow."
"She caught Stacy here earlier and thought we were messing around. She confronted us, left in a rage, and went home to get drunk. Stacy dropped me off; I found Cuddy passed out on the couch. When she woke up, she started yelling at me, telling me how insensitive I was. She also used that shell comment. I got pissed, threw the box at her, and went to leave. That's when I called you."
Wilson was speechless for a moment. He didn't mention that aspect of the argument.
"I wanted to ask her to marry me, but not like this." His head leaned back into the headrest. "I don't even know why I took the ring out of my pocket in the first place."
Wilson sighed audibly. "House, listen, advice from one friend to the next—do not screw this up. You need to put this all behind you and start over. Back there is a beautiful, smart, sexy woman who would move mountains for you. And you know you'd do the same for her."
House nodded. "I know, but that's not the point here."
"Then what is the point?"
"The people I'm with end up getting hurt, starting back with my college sweetheart, Janine."
Wilson held up his hand. "I don't care about that. That's not the point. The point is—get over yourself and go back to Cuddy. Don't be afraid to love her."
"I'm not afraid to love her!"
"Then show me! Show her. Don't run every time you can't handle something."
"I'm not husband material."
"Why did you buy the ring then?"
"Because I'm an idiot." House opened the door and got out, thanking him for the ride.
"Call Cuddy," Wilson said, just before the door was shut.
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Night fell and Cuddy was still sitting on the couch and staring at the engagement ring. Not once did she set it down. It's been in her hands the entire time. He really was going to ask her to marry him. God…that's such a huge step for him. Did he really mean it? She figured that he asking her to marry him was like a four-year-old boy asking a four-year-old girl in the dramatic play center at preschool to marry them.
Cuddy hated herself so much for overreacting with the whole Stacy bit, but she kept telling herself that other people in her shoes that saw their boyfriend with their ex would feel the same way. She reacted no differently. The only reason she feels guilty is because of the reason House was with Stacy. For whatever explanation, she was helping him with a ring.
Feeling sober now, Cuddy was able to process this easier. She messed up. Big time.
She wanted to see him. She wanted to go to his apartment and apologize, maybe get on her knees if she had to. Wow, that's such a huge switch from the way things used to be. She would authorize his ridiculous procedures, but never did she think she would be getting on her knees to beg for his forgiveness. She never figured she'd love him as much as she does. Her heart never in her life tingled when she thought of someone, not even back as a teenager when all her friends were boy crazy and she got her first big crush. It wasn't until House that she knew who she wanted to spend the rest of her life with.
But now it was all messed up.
Cuddy decided to go to bed. There was nothing else for her to do tonight and the longer she stayed awake, the more she thought about. She didn't want to think anymore. She needed to sleep and hope that her dreams weren't flooded of this.
But Cuddy couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned for an hour, looking at the clock every now and then. It reached eleven when she got out of bed, sighing heavily. It was no good. She couldn't sleep. If she had House by her side, she'd be able to sleep without a problem. This was the first night they were separated in almost three months. One way or another, House was always at her side, providing her with warmth and comfort. Now the other side of the bed seemed so empty and cold.
She didn't want to be alone anymore. She wanted to be with House and half expected him to come back, or at least call her.
He didn't.
Cuddy stood up and clothed herself. If House wouldn't come to her, she would go to him. She grabbed her keys, her purse, and even the engagement ring that she had clutched in her hand all night, and left the house. The entire time, she debated if this was something she should be doing. He already made it clear he didn't want to be with her and that they should end this now. Cuddy wasn't settling for that answer. She wanted him back.
When she got to his apartment, the lights were on. Stepping out of the car and nervously walking up to the door, she could hear him playing the piano. It was so beautiful. When she hesitantly knocked on the door, the music stopped almost suddenly, but the door stayed shut. She didn't even hear him limping towards the door to open it.
She tried again. Finally, she heard him fiddle with the lock and open the door just far enough to peek out. Cuddy's breath was caught in her throat.
"What do you want?"
"You," she said simply.
The door was slammed in her face, but House didn't move. He stayed by the door.
"House, please, let me in. We should talk. I feel I have to explain myself so you won't be mad at me anymore." Cuddy resorted to blaming herself for this in order for herself to be heard.
"What part of "we're over" didn't you understand? I'm going to bed."
House never relocked the door. When he was heard scuffling away, Cuddy took it upon herself to open the door and step in. He was at the base of the hallway when he turned around and saw her.
Cuddy's breathing was a little heavier than expected, almost like she ran to get here. She was also somewhat angry, as well as emotional. Those two never went well together.
"Bastard, don't walk away from me," she hissed and stepped forward. She didn't like his answer and would rebut it for as long as she could. "I said I was sorry. What more do you want? You wouldn't just walk away from me like this if you loved me."
House shrugged. "Well then there's your answer. I must not love you anymore."
Cuddy suddenly felt gravity take its toll on her. Her body became too heavy to hold up. She had to lean on the back of the couch in order to keep her knees from buckling. Her tears became so productive that they spilt out of her eyes and dripped onto the back of the couch.
"I'm stick to my guns on this, Lisa. I don't like who I've become."
He walked away, leaving a sobbing Cuddy in the middle of his living room. She no longer held the back of the couch and allowed her body to fall to the ground. She sank to her knees, knowing exactly why he refused her, but she didn't want to take no for an answer. She couldn't. Her love for him was too great to back down now. It only made her want to try harder. She admitted that the alcohol consumption was terribly unlike her. She shouldn't have done that. Second, she should've trusted House. Damn her for being so jealous to the point where it fucked up everything!
Cuddy sat on the backs of her legs for several minutes before picking herself up. Her heart was aching so bad that it felt like it was splitting in two. House wasn't used to who he became, but what about Cuddy? It's not like she was used to it either! This was new terrain for the both of them. They had to work together. The only problem was that House was giving up too quickly when Cuddy wanted to fight for them. And there's no way she was done fighting yet.
She slipped her feet out of her shoes and took off her coat. Quietly, she crept down the hallway to House's bedroom. Peeking in, he was to one side of the bed, on his left side, appearing to be sleeping. Cuddy walked in and slid into the bed. The only reason she was doing this was that she knew he didn't mean what he said. House doesn't stay and fight. He runs from it. He always runs from things one way or another. Cuddy vowed that their relationship would not be one of the things. For the first time in her life, she was able to love someone as much as she loved House. She was too determined and this proved it.
She spooned him, nearly completely, wrapping her arm around his waist, and resting her head against his back. Suddenly, she felt sleepy.
"I wish you wouldn't do this," House said suddenly.
"I want to. I love you. And I know you love me, too. Please, House, don't run from me anymore. I know I did a terrible thing and if that's what caused this to happen, I'm so sorry. And I do want to marry you. I've never wanted anything more."
House felt sudden wetness at his back. His shirt was soaking up Cuddy's tears.
"And don't worry about what others think about you. You're human, House. You are allowed to feel love. No one's going to tease you for it."
"That's not the point," he said, a bit angrily, remembering a similar conversation with Wilson. "If you stay with me, you'll get hurt. Everyone gets hurt. You're crying now over me. Just wait until it gets worse than that."
"House, it doesn't matter. I'm in love with you. Whatever happens, I'll get over it quickly. Just knowing I'm with you in this bed at the moment is making me the happiest person alive, even though I have a feeling you're about to throw me out."
House sighed heavily and turned over onto his other side to face her. Thanks to the outside lighting and the hall light, Cuddy was able to see his face.
"I can't promise you anything. I can't guarantee that I'll be who you want me to be. There's always going to be a side to me that lashes out at your wardrobe and questions your ass."
Cuddy chuckled. It felt so good to laugh, even if it was small. "I don't care." She cupped his cheek.
"Sure, you say that now, but when the time comes, you'll reprimand me as always."
"You can say anything you want about my ass, as long as it's not in public, or at work."
"You drive a hard bargain," he said, also cupping her face.
He moved forward and kissed her softly on the mouth. Cuddy kissed back a little more urgently.
They were in for one hell of a night of passion, make up sex, and new discoveries.
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Monday morning came too fast for them. Stacy met them at the courthouse. House didn't have to be there, but wanted to be there for Cuddy. Wearing the engagement ring on her finger, she pressed forward, hand in hand with House. Today was the day where Cuddy had everything, or she had nothing. House continued to tell her that if she walked back outside with nothing, at least they'd have each other. That helped her focus a lot more.
The Chancellor was also here. As Cuddy's boss, he was prepared to step up and say anything in his power that would help her get her job back. Even if she had to reapply, he would hire her on the spot. Feeney and Eric were there, but they didn't count on the Chancellor being there. Waves of relief struck her when she saw her boss by the door, dressed in a very expensive business suit and holding a briefcase.
"Chancellor McIntyre, what a surprise," she said, giving the tall, older man a brief hug.
"I promised you I'd be here," he said in his deep, business like tone. The thing with Chancellor McIntyre, he was a friend, as well as a boss, which is a quality no one possesses. You're either a boss, or you're a friend, not both. Chancellor McIntyre was both. It was unusual for a man of his stature to even know how to laugh. He was a very firm man and good at what he did. He was going to prove that to the court and kick Zachary Feeney to the curb.
Stacy was up at the front, along with a lawyer for Feeney, and Sam Bernstein, who was representing Ellie, Walter, and Karen. Cuddy suddenly got cold feet when she saw everyone. There was a camera crew in there, along with the press, and even people Cuddy had never seen in her life. However, many of her hospital staff was there for support and that was good. More people liked her than she realized.
"I can't do this, House," she whispered, holding his hand tighter.
Suddenly, she felt like an ant in the biggest room in the world. Everything was so big and scary, worse than if she was looking through the eyes of a child in a large room.
"Yes you can. Just let Stacy do the talking for you, okay?"
Cuddy swallowed hard and nodded. Finding it hard to walk in heels, she walked through the double waist high doors that lead to the front of the room and joined Stacy at the table while House sat behind Cuddy.
Stacy and Cuddy resolved their differences, at least enough to make this a successful court case.
"Just don't look at them," Stacy said when Cuddy's family looked over at her from the other table, snickering at her.
"Please tell me you're going to get me out of this." Cuddy hated to say it, but right now she needed Stacy more than ever.
"Of course I am. That was my intention from the start, even if it didn't appear that way."
Stacy would've went on, but the Judge came out. Cuddy had butterflies in her stomach. Stacy was a good lawyer, but Sam might be better. There was a good chance she'd walk out of there with nothing.
Judge Hayes took his seat and so did everyone else that stood when he came through the door. Judge Hayes explained to the court that this would be tape recorded, video recorded, and photographed. Why it needed that much publicity, Cuddy had no idea, but hated it how the cameras were always on her. It made her feel even more uneasy than she already was.
First up, they started with her job, most in which the Chancellor was able to help out more than expected. He took the stand, stated his name, profession, and title at Princeton Plainsboro. He had Cuddy's performance reviews with him, every one of them from the past seven years she's been Dean. There was not a slight foul word said about her in all those years. He ranted and raved about her, but that's not all it would take. There were still legal matters at hand. The Chancellor, on his own free will, "terminated" Cuddy when she was presumed dead, so had to hire someone in place of her. Feeney had every right to that job, and just when Cuddy felt the tears come to her eyes after hearing that unless Feeney quit willingly, or the Chancellor had a reason to fire him, she wouldn't be getting her job back today.
However, the Chancellor wasn't finished. He had proof that Feeney neglected his job, fired people for no reason, and even went as far as telling the court about unnecessary outside phone calls. He mentioned that Cuddy came in the day after he "up and left," neglecting his job, and that she got his paperwork done for him. He had every reason to fire him…so he did, right then and there. Feeney's lawyer and Eric were outraged and reached for any possible excuse to daunt the Judge's decision, such as mentioning House and how he was a menace to the hospital. But there was nothing they could do. Feeney threatened the Chancellor that he would not see the end of this. They left after that, hopefully never to be seen again.
Cuddy had her job back. Now she had to wonder if she would be getting her possessions back. This is where Stacy came into play. She spoke to the Judge, as well as the rest of the court, describing the matter at hand. She also had proof with her that the will on file was forged and dated just last month when Cuddy and House were on the island. If Cuddy filed the will herself ten years ago, as the will was dated, the ink and watermarks would be different. Ten years ago, they didn't have watermarks and used a very thin tan with special threading. The will that Sam showed the court wasn't threaded properly and had watermarks with a seal of approval. Despite the signature perfectly matching Cuddy's, the date on it was false, making the will null and void, just like that. Sam had entered the will into the system himself a month ago, not even bothering to check about the threads and security seals. He figured Cuddy would never return and they wouldn't be going through with this. He'd be the lawyer representing Ellie, Walter, and Karen, so he'd file the will and grant them the requests that were on it, and then the will would be stored in a folder for eternity, never to be looked at again. Now, everyone had to look at it, even the judge, who saw what Stacy did.
Just like that, the Judge tore the will in two, convicted Sam of fraud, and Cuddy had everything back. Not only did she have her job back, but she had her home, her savings, her assets, and her car without further question. The Cuddy's were forced to give back all they took from the home. Once they did, they would be sent to prison for a long time. Not as long as Sam, however. This was quite a shock to everyone that it made it this far and suddenly the video cameras were thrust into Sam's face, along with every picture camera in the building. He was done for and for the first time since seeing her mother's face in her living room window upon arriving home from Hawaii, the weight was completely lifted off her shoulders.
It didn't take long at all. They were only in there for an hour. There would be more to the case if the will wasn't the first thing mentioned and they had to go through more evidence in why this whole thing was false.
While the press flocked to Sam and the Cuddy's, Cuddy was busy wrapped up in House's arms, crying tears of joy on his shoulder. Stacy joined in on the hug, congratulating them.
"Lisa."
Cuddy picked her head up from House's shoulder to see Karen standing there in front of her with tears in her eyes, although she tried to remain brave. She held out her hand to reveal the Le Vian 18k gold ruby and diamond ring, along with the matching bracelet that her grandma gave her before she died.
Cuddy thanked her and took back her precious possessions. Karen apologized and was taken back to her family to be handcuffed along with them. Cuddy suddenly felt bad for her sister. This whole mess probably wasn't even her idea. She had to go along with it because her husband wanted to.
Karen never looked back. She went gracefully, along with her parents. They knew they had lost and there's nothing they could do about it.
Cuddy spent the next fifteen minutes getting hugs from her staff and being told by them to show up tomorrow at eight sharp. Cuddy told them she promised she would.
Afterwards, she and House left the courthouse, hand in hand, each smiling ear to ear.
Lisa Cuddy had it all.