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House left Cuddy's office with a genuine smile on his face. They would meet in thirty minutes and sneak out to the nearest jeweler for rings. House looked forward to putting a ring on her finger and letting everyone know she was his. That ought to freak out Wilson for good, House smiled at the thought. The last time he and Wilson had seen each other they had fought over Cuddy at three different locations. Their friendship would be forever strained now that Cuddy had chosen to be with him but that was a risk House was willing to take.
House limped with a little extra groan thanks to Cuddy's sharp little knee.
Wilson was pacing in his office thinking over this morning's events. He had kissed his boss, his friend…Lisa, Lisa Cuddy! There was no wine to blame it on but then again he did feel relieved that he'd made his intentions known. It had been killing him for years to watch House piss away every opportunity to make Cuddy happy and instead often hurt her feelings and undermined her dates and other opportunities to distance herself from House.
What was it that Cuddy saw in the man? James Wilson was startled out of deep thought when his desk phone rang loudly. He checked the caller ID and quickly snatched up the receiver.
"Lisa, what may I do to you?" Wilson flirted. Cuddy didn't laugh.
"James, I think we need to talk. Are you free at the moment?"
"Yeah, is there a problem?" Wilson asked.
"No, not a problem exactly but there's something you need to know and I wanted you to hear it from me first."
"Ooo-kay." Wilson sounded puzzled. "I'll wait for you here." Cuddy hung up and headed to his office. Wilson waited for her on his office couch strumming his fingers nervously on the cushions. "This doesn't sound good."
Cuddy appeared at his door in minutes and came in, shutting it behind her. "Uh oh." Wilson joked. "Is this about what happened this morning? He asked.
"Yes, uh, no. Not exactly." Cuddy came over to the couch and sat a little too far away from him.
"I think you should know…." Cuddy paused. "…House asked me to move in with him."
"Oh God." Wilson uttered. "What did you .."
Cuddy interrupted "I said no…"
"Thank God!" Wilson smiled. Cuddy's face looked sad, almost guilty.
"James, wait. House proposed." Cuddy looked away from his frowning face.
"And you said yes." Wilson guessed from her body language and hesitant words. "When?"
"Just this morning," Cuddy responded.
"No, when are you marrying him?" Wilson spat out.
"Uh, this weekend." Cuddy looked miserable.
"You don't look very happy about it," Wilson countered. "I'm guessing House isn't inviting me to the wedding."
"He wants to elope." Cuddy added.
"Well of course he does!" Wilson rolled his eyes. "He's afraid you'll change your mind or he'll do something stupid or I'll kick his ass …"
Cuddy frowned at Wilson. He wasn't taking the news very well but his words unsettled her.
"I can't believe he did it," Wilson exclaimed. He leaped up and started pacing around the office again.
"Me either!" Cuddy mumbled.
Wilson stopped pacing and spun around to face her. "So you're really going to marry him? Just like that?" Wilson asked.
Cuddy nodded slightly.
"He's only doing this to keep me away from you," Wilson argued.
"Are you saying he doesn't love me?" Cuddy looked confused.
"In his own twisted selfish way, I suppose he does," Wilson admitted. "But you deserve better." Wilson said quietly before sitting down beside her.
"Do you love him?" Wilson took her hand from her lap and held it. She turned her eyes to his.
"Yes, I do." Cuddy said frankly. "It's not been easy to do but I do love him.
Wilson swallowed hard. "We were just getting started, Lisa."
"I know."
"If he makes you happy, then I'm happy for you." Wilson countered. "Is there anything I could do that might possibly change your mind… convince you to take a little time to think it over?"
"He's waiting for me. We're going shopping for rings in a few minutes…"
"Well played, House," Wilson shook his head. "First he proposes, then he takes you ring shopping and to top it off, he gives you a whole 4 days to prepare for the wedding?"
Cuddy looked surprised by Wilson's ranting. "James I thought…"
"Lisa, don't you see what he's doing?" James snapped. "He's rushing you into this!"
"Why would.."
"Because he's afraid! He wants you around him all the time but without any real relationship. The only reason he proposed is because of me!"
Cuddy looked hurt. "What are you saying? House only proposed because…"
"…because if he didn't you might have gone out with me again. And it could lead to something serious and House doesn't want to lose you."
"So?"
"So?" Wilson yelled. "House isn't happy unless everyone else is miserable. Do you think you'll be happy being married to a guy like that?"
Cuddy was stunned at Wilson's point and couldn't respond. She looked at her bare hands, no rings, no nooses, no commitments.
"I don't know." Cuddy finally whispered.
"Lisa, for your sake, please don't do this. You can't rush into something like this especially with House. What about Rachel?"
"What about Rachel?" Cuddy said harshly. "House wants her."
"Will he adopt her?" Wilson countered.
"I don't know."
"This is what I mean, Lisa! You have to work out these details before otherwise he'll go right on being House and you'll be miserable. What if he doesn't want to adopt her?"
"James, stop it!" Cuddy cried out. "I thought I wanted this but …"
Wilson returned to the couch sitting beside her and put his arm around her shoulder. "Lisa, look at me." Cuddy did as he asked. "I'm sorry but you can't let him control your life. You need to decide what's best for you and for your daughter. You both deserve the best in life and I'm not sure House is up to the job."
"What should I do?"
"What do you think?" James said.
"Talk to House."
"Good idea," James said although his mind was racing against Cuddy's plan. If she did and House could fool her and himself that he wanted marriage, James would lose Lisa forever.
"You talk to him tonight. Then give me a call if you need me. I'll be here tonight working on labs for a patient. Okay?"
Cuddy nodded and squeezed his hand. "James, thanks for being my friend. I guess I got caught up in the excitement and …"
"That's normal. I just want you to be happy. Personally, I think you'd be happier with me… I know I would be!" James smiled at her and she grinned at his honesty.
Cuddy leaned in to kiss his cheek and James turned his face to catch her lips on his instead. His hug tightened and he pulled her closer. Cuddy's eyes flew open. She tried to say something but James used the opportunity to deepen the kiss.
A light rap at the door wasn't noticed before the door opened and Taub walked in catching Wilson and Cuddy in a tight embrace, kissing. "Oh shit!" Taub exclaimed frozen to the floor.
Cuddy pushed Wilson hard and tried to stand up smoothing her skirt. "Dr. Taub, wait!"
Wilson glared at Taub and stood up next to Cuddy. "You might as well come in Dr. Taub!"
Taub's stomach felt nauseous as he realized he had just witnessed something that could cost him his job if he wasn't careful.
"Dr. Cuddy, Dr. Wilson, I'm so sorry to b-b-barge in …I didn't realize..." Taub stuttered.
"Shut the door, Taub" Wilson ordered. "It's not what you think."
"I wasn't thinking anythi…" Taub placated. "House sent me to find Cuddy and he thought she might be here." Cuddy flushed with embarrassment.
"Well since you saw us, you might as well know what's happening," Wilson retorted. "House asked Cuddy to marry him and…"
"Then what were you doing kissing your best friend's fiancé like that?" Taub retorted. He didn't like House but he did respect him and was even more so in awe of Dr. Cuddy who could control House most of the time. Still the thought of Wilson making a move on Cuddy, House's supposed fiancé irked Taub so suddenly that he couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"I was trying to convince her NOT to," Wilson said bluntly. Taub's eyebrows shot up and Cuddy gasped.
"Did it work, Dr. Cuddy?" Taub asked the Dean of Medicine, his boss' boss. The confidence in cornering her on the matter had suddenly come from the leverage Taub realized he now possessed.
"Dr. Taub!" Cuddy snapped. "I would appreciate it if you'd keep this to yourself and not upset Dr. House."
"Unless you'd like to see me kick his ass…again!" Wilson murmured to Cuddy.
Taub was confused. "What do you mean again?
"House only proposed to Lisa after we got into a fight over her!" Wilson bragged.
Cuddy was speechless as she smacked Wilson in the arm.
"Whoa, this just got interesting!" Taub smiled and sat down on Wilson's desk. "Are you telling me you and House were fighting – like with fists and stuff?" Taub chuckled.
"House started it!" Wilson said. "He busted into our date and tripped me…" Cuddy grabbed his arm, "Dr Taub doesn't need to know the details, do you Dr. Taub?"
"Uh, no I guess not." Taub said uneasily.
"Thank you. As you can see, things have gotten a little complicated around here and I need to ask you for your discretion. Do we understand each other?" Cuddy said sternly.
"Of course, Dr. Cuddy!" Taub stood up quickly. "I'll let Dr. House know you'll be in your office soon?" Taub asked more than stated before disappearing out the door.
Cuddy's head dropped as she sighed deeply. "This is not good." She glanced at Wilson before taking off after Taub without another word to Wilson.
Wilson couldn't help smiling a little. If House heard about their kiss after proposing to Cuddy, the engagement could be off or another fight could be on.
Either way, Wilson was ready, willing and able.