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Monday morning, Cuddy strode down the hall toward Wilson's office. She hadn't been able to reach him all weekend. Wilson hadn't even picked up once. She needed to know what was going on with him.

Wilson's door was closed. Cuddy knocked lightly "James?"

"Come in," Wilson responded.

Cuddy opened the door to find Wilson seated at his desk alone and reading. He hadn't looked up.

"Yes?" Wilson asked quietly.

Cuddy frowned. "James? Is something wrong?"

"How's your chin?"

"It's okay. I look like I went a few rounds with Tyson," Cuddy joked.

Wilson glanced up to see for himself. Cuddy was as lovely as usual with just the faintest marking on her chin. The make up had nearly hidden the bruise.

"It was an accident …" Wilson began before Cuddy cut him off.

"Oh James, I know. House told me you tried to punch him and I got in the way."

"What!!!" Wilson exploded standing up suddenly. "House said I punched you? That lying son of a…"

Cuddy was confused but quickly realized House had lied to her. "You didn't hit me?"

"God, no!" Wilson sighed. He moved around the desk to her and held her by the shoulders. "I could never do that to you, Lisa…or to any woman." Cuddy held her breath.

"House hit you but it was an accident," James said bluntly.

"He said you did it!" Cuddy felt her temper rising. "I'll kill him!"

"Did you sleep with him?" Wilson asked her sharply. Cuddy's mouth fell open.

"James! Why would you even think that?"

"When I left your place Friday night, House stayed."

"Yes, but how did you know…"

"I waited for him to leave but it became clear by 3 am he wasn't going to." Wilson's hand slid down her arms and dropped to his sides.

"Nothing happened, James." Cuddy rolled her eyes impatiently. "He stayed to wake me up every hour in case I had a concussion."

James smiled at himself. He knew he looked needy. "I thought maybe…"

"Don't even say it!" Cuddy smiled at him. "You and I both know House isn't the type of guy to stick around. He wants one thing and one thing only from me."

"So you didn't fall for his caveman act?" James teased.

"Or yours!" Cuddy retorted. "I still can't believe you two fought over his stupid interruption."

James looked at her oddly. "We were fighting over you, Lisa."

Cuddy couldn't comprehend his last comment. "What?"

"House got jealous because you were out with me. He spied on us and then started the fight in the gallery by tripping me and cussing me out. You took off and we both went after you. By the time we got to your house House was spoiling for a fight and hit me with his cane!

"Are you serious?" Cuddy exclaimed.

"You blasted us with the hose! You don't remember any of this?"

"It's starting to come back to me." Cuddy admitted. "Can we just forget about that night? Friends?" She held her arms out to offer Wilson a hug. Wilson stepped forward and took her in his arms, hugging her tightly. She hugged him back. James turned his face into her hair and inhaled her scent quietly as he began to nuzzle her neck.

"James, you can let go now," Cuddy whispered.

"In a moment," James answered back still hugging her. Cuddy laughed and leaned back. James knew she wanted him to release her. He let her lean away just enough to allow him to go in for a kiss. Cuddy froze.

James pulled her close and slid his hands across her back and neck effectively locking her to him. His lips were soft but the kiss was forceful, his tongue traced her lower lip. She felt her knees weaken. This couldn't be happening. Her buddy, her friend James had just changed the game and she was suddenly flooded with the memory of their date recalling how he kissed her passionately in the gallery. Adrenaline kicked in sending the butterflies in her stomach into a whirlwind.

James pulled back slowly, his eyes looking directly into hers. "Wow!" Cuddy blushed. "You have no idea how many times I imagined doing that with you." Cuddy was speechless. James took a big breath and continued.

"I know you love House but he doesn't deserve you," James stated.

"And you do?" Cuddy countered.

"Probably not, but I've been there for you every time he made you cry, every time he pushed you away when you got too close." Cuddy knew he was right. She just never thought of James romantically. He had shifted things with his words and confused her with his kisses. Still, she couldn't deny her feelings were stronger for House. But she knew James was right. House just wasn't capable of expressing his feelings to her.

"Give me a chance, Lisa," James leaned closer resting his forehead against hers. She closed her eyes to hide her nervousness from herself. James stroked her hair and kept his arm around her back.

"I need time to think, James," Cuddy answered.

"Alright. Take your time, Lisa," James smiled. "I'm just sorry I waited so long to tell you how I felt about you." Cuddy opened her eyes and pulled away.

"Are we still on for lunch on Thursdays?" James asked.

"Sure," Cuddy answered quickly as she left his office. James smiled at seeing his boss so nervous and uncertain. He enjoyed Friday night's date until House showed up and knowing House hadn't "laid claim" to Lisa Cuddy was all he needed to continue pursuing her. Game on!

Cuddy walked unsteadily to the elevator and got in forgetting to select a floor and rode it to the roof. The doors opened to the realization she had to make a serious decision between two men and her job. Employees aren't supposed to kiss their boss. It could cost them all their jobs and she had worked too hard to get to the head of her profession. She had to put an end to this now before they were all fired.

She punched the elevator button and tapped her foot impatiently as it descended. She charged out of the office on a mission and strode purposely into House's office only to find his desk deserted. "Where is he?" She snapped at Taub.

"Clinic duty I suppose," Taub answered dutifully. Cuddy spun on her stiletto heel and raced to the clinic. Sure enough, House was stashed away in an empty exam room enjoying a rousing game on his handheld video game.

The door burst open startling him off his stool. "Took you long enough!" House said.

"You lying bastard!" Cuddy was livid. Her eyes stared daggers at him. "It was you who hit me!"

"How can you be so sure?"

"James just told me what really happened and you lied to me!" Cuddy stalked toward him, poking her index finger into his chest.

"Hold on, Cuddy! Why would you believe him over me?" House seemed hurt.

"Oh please!" Cuddy retorted. "With your track record…?"

"What did Wilson say?" House asked.

"He… told me…he…" Cuddy's face flushed pink. House studied her face.

"Spit it out, Cuddy!"

"He told me you got in a fight over me." House looked embarrassed and stared at his shoes. Cuddy continued. "James says he has feelings for me." House's head jerked up.

"Do you believe him?"

"I don't know. But he said it right after he …." Cuddy stopped suddenly.

"After he what?" House asked.

"Nothing." Cuddy looked away blushing furiously.

"Right after he….? Come on, Cuddy, spill it. What did James do?" House looked irritated. "Did he say something? Did he kiss you? Cuddy shot a look at House that confirmed his suspicions.

"Just now?" House asked coldly glaring at her. Cuddy covered her mouth as if to stop herself from saying anything before backing out of the exam room, turning quickly to race to the safety of her office. House was hot on her heels.

"Cudddyyyyyy!" House yelled. Cuddy ducked into her office closing the doors and locking them. House stopped short and began knocking incessantly. "Let me in, or I'll huff and I'll puff…"

Cuddy backed away and sat on her couch staring at him through the French doors. She shook her head at him. "Not now, House!"

"Cuddyyyy!" House was glaring. His cane now tapping on the glass pane threateningly.

"Go awayyyy!" Cuddy snapped.

"You give me no choice!" House baited her. He smashed the head of his cane through the small pane of glass directly beside the doorknob. Tapping the broken shards away, House reached in and unlocked the door.

Cuddy looked shocked. "You broke my door!"

"You locked me out," House retorted. House moved closer and Cuddy retreated behind her desk.

"Why'd you kiss Wilson…again?!" House snarled.

"I didn't, he kissed m…it's none of your damn business!" Cuddy folded her arms across her chest. "You'd better leave, right now!"

House stared at her and she stared back. "Call Wilson. Get him down here before I find him and kick his ass…again!" House ordered.

"I will not!" Cuddy said tersely.

"Did you enjoy it?"

"What?"

"Did you enjoy kissing Wilson?" House demanded.

"Yes." Cuddy said bluntly.

House stared at her gauging the veracity of her word. "No, you didn't."

"Yes, I did." Cuddy pushed back. "He's a very good kisser!"

That did it. House could stand it no longer. His cane came across her desk and hooked around her upper arm pulling her toward him as he rounded the desk to her side.

House stepped in close invading her space. Cuddy turned her face away from him. She wasn't going to let him kiss her. "Look at me, Cuddy." House demanded. Cuddy didn't move.

House smiled at her stubbornness. He reached around and slapped her on the ass. Cuddy's head snapped around and he reached for her face pulling her face towards his but before he could kiss her he felt her knee slamming into his groin.

"How dare you hit me again!" Cuddy shrieked.

House groaned and slumped to his knees on the floor. He looked up to see her horrified expression. She hadn't meant to hurt him so badly but she couldn't exactly apologize after he slapped her ass.

"Oh get up you big faker!" Cuddy hissed.

House groaned again and looked up into her face once more. Without thinking, he reached up and grabbed the front of her waistband and jerked her down to him. She fell forward and tumbled onto him. His hands found her hips and pulled her down to the floor before laying down directly on top of her, their bodies hidden from view by her large desk. Cuddy felt his lips pressing down on hers. She punched his arms until his hands found her wrists and held them still.

House stopped kissing her long enough to stare into her eyes waiting to be either fired or devoured. Cuddy looked furious. He had pinned her to the floor. "Get off of …." Cuddy managed to roar before House drove his mouth down on hers to silence her again.

Cuddy stopped struggling and laid perfectly still. House stared into her eyes daring her to speak. Cuddy stared back, her face unreadable.

"Move in with me," House asked.

Cuddy stared then slowly shook her head, no.

"Why not?" House asked.

"Rachel…." Cuddy whispered.

House closed his eyes and exhaled slowly. He opened his eyes and stared deeply into hers.

"Then marry me."

Cuddy was speechless.

"Marry me, woman." House demanded.

"Ask me nicely!" Cuddy taunted. House rolled his eyes and tried to hide his grin.

"Lisa, would you make me the least miserable man in the world by marrying me?"

"That was nice?" Cuddy frowned.

"Fine! Lisa Cuddy, will you do me the honor of marrying me and making me the happiest man in the world?"

Cuddy squinted at him suspiciously. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure! Are you going to answer me or what?" House urged.

"You're not going to get off of me until I say yes, are you." Cuddy teased.

"Nope."

"Fine. Yes. Happy now?" Cuddy feigned annoyance. House smiled before leaning in for another kiss releasing her wrists. Cuddy's hands slid around his neck and pulled him closer as they kissed each other slowly and deeply. Cuddy shifted slightly.

"Could you get off of me know?" Cuddy asked.

"Get use to asking that question!" House smiled slyly. He pushed himself up and stood up before taking her hands and pulling her up and back on her feet. House reached up to fix her mussed hair. "No takesy-backsies!" House warned. Cuddy smiled and shook her head at him.

"Want to leave work early?" House asked wagging his eyebrows at her. "We need to go ring shopping before you change your mind!"

Cuddy laughed. "I never thought I'd hear you say that!"

House laughed warmly.

"After everything you've put me through I'm going to make you spend a fortune!" Cuddy warned.

"Go easy on me, woman!" House pouted.

"Never! You wouldn't want me any other way!" Cuddy flirted.

"We could get married this weekend" House added.

Cuddy realized House wanted this to happen soon. "Do you mean elope?"

"Yeah, but we're going to need witnesses and you can forget about Wilson being one of them now."

Cuddy smiled at the irony. "Elope with you this weekend?"

"You, me and Rachel," House added. Cuddy felt a whole new level of affection for House at his inclusion of Rachel.

"Okay. This weekend." Cuddy agreed.