Ch. 10:

I'm loving the reviews and all the hatin' on Wilson. Ain't he a stinka? Hey this is a House/Cuddy fanfic so don't get too worried. More fun to come….and please send in a review, ideas, feedback. Love hearing from you!

_______________________________________________________________________

Taub was eating his lunch in the hospital cafeteria when Wilson walked over to his booth and sat down.

"Oh, great!" Taub said to himself. "Whatever it is, I don't want to know!"

Wilson smirked at the nervous man. "Calm down. You're the only one in the hospital that knows what happened today. It's a big deal and since no one has crashed my office I presume you've kept your word and not told anyone?"

Taub listened closely. His appetite suddenly gone, he pushed aside his tuna sandwich and took a gulp of coffee burning his mouth.

"I haven't said a word about it to anyone, not even my wife."

"Good, now I need to run something by you." Wilson whispered.

Taub felt his stomach drop, his face drained all color as he tried not to roll his eyes.

Wilson sighed deeply and began to explain his dilemma about Cuddy's engagement to House and the ramifications to Cuddy's adoption.

"Well, that works out in your favor, doesn't it?" Taub was beginning to dislike the easy-going doctor across the table. "I never figured you for a conniving backstabber, Dr. Wilson."

"All's fair in love and war," Wilson said dryly. "That's why I need you to tell Dr. Cuddy."

"Not a chance in hell!" Taub retorted. "Why don't you tell her?"

"Because she'll think I'm trying to break them up."

"Well, aren't you?"

"Well yeah, but I really am thinking about Cuddy. That baby girl means the world to her and it's not fair that marrying House should cost her a chance at motherhood," Wilson moaned. "You didn't see how badly she was hurting after she lost Joy. That teenager broke Cuddy's heart when she decided to keep her baby." Wilson was wringing his hands and grimacing as he spoke. "I can't stand the thought of Cuddy losing that child."

Taub reflected on Wilson's words. He knew Wilson was right. Life was certainly a bitch making Dr. Cuddy have to choose. Still Taub had watched the "dance" between House and Cuddy for more than a year. The sexual tension was palpable whenever those two were near each other. Frankly, Taub found it exciting and amusing to watch them verbally fence, thrust and parry. All of House's team had come to enjoy it.

Taub leaned forward. "I have news for you, Dr. Wilson. You'd cost her the adoption, too."

Wilson frowned. "And how is that?"

"You've been married and divorced three times! You actually think the adoption agency would allow a kid to go into a potentially unstable home?"

Wilson was silent. He realized Taub was right. "Shit!!" Wilson hissed. Taub relaxed back against the booth, a smirk hinted at the corners of his mouth.

Taub relished his effect on Wilson and continued, "I'll help you help Cuddy but don't think I'm going to help you steal her from House. I work for him and he's a lot easier to deal with when he's …calm. I was going to say happy but I've never actually seen House truly happy."

Wilson leaned back and sized up Taub. "Fine, just make sure you tell her marrying House will cost her Rachel's adoption. She'll listen to you – she has to after what you saw in my office this morning."

Taub sighed, his shoulders sank and he seemed to shrink, "I am a dead man."

"Think of it as helping Dr. Cuddy keep Rachel. Let her know you care and that you're just trying to help her. She's a smart woman and she'll take it better from you."

"Fine, but I'm telling her you asked me to talk to her."

"If you think you have to, do what you gotta do," Wilson said as he slid out of the booth. "I owe you one."

"Yes, you will! Can you find me a new position whenHouse fires me?"

"House won't fire you. Neither will Cuddy. Just let her know gently and then you're done. Alright?"

"Fine," Taub said slowly. Wilson left him alone to contemplate his short future at the hospital.

Wilson left the cafeteria to ponder his own stained reputation as Taub had pointed out. This totally screwed his opportunity to play the "white knight" role with Cuddy. The best he could hope for was to convince Cuddy she needed to wait until after the adoption. This would give Wilson more time to show Cuddy he was the better man for her and more time for House to screw things up.

Still, the heart wants what the heart wants. Cuddy's heart wanted House. Worse, House's heart (yeah, he had one) had always been set on Cuddy--it just took a few years for his brain to accept what his heart had been telling him every day since their first date in back at Michigan State.

**************************

Cuddy and House drove back to the hospital before lunch. Their ring "mission" had taken less than two hours. House wanted to detour to his apartment for a little "afternoon delight" but Cuddy wasn't ready for that just yet. The day already had packed so much excitement and emotions that she needed to slow things down. In just the past few hours she had learned from her two closest friends that they were in love with her. One had proposed and she had to break that news to the other. She had been wrestled to the ground and pinned down in the most bizarre proposal she could have ever imagined. Then there was the matter of another doctor witnessing Wilson kissing her in his office. She needed a few minutes to herself to think.

House couldn't hide his disappointment. "Seriously? You want to go back to work, now?"

"I have to, I have a meeting with the board of directors right after lunch and I can't skip it," Cuddy said. "Don't pout, I'll make it up to you tonight."

House turned to her, his eyebrows arched. "Tonight? That works for me. I'll be at your place by naked-o'clock." Cuddy grinned. There was no doubt what he was expecting and Cuddy was more than ready to deliver. "I'll cook dinner and you'll be my dessert," Cuddy flirted. House grinned lustfully.

"I'll bring the whip cream!" House added. Cuddy laughed at his excitement.

They arrived at Princeton-Plainsboro, parked and House came around to open her door. Cuddy and House couldn't help grinning like a couple of giddy teenagers. "Are we going to start holding hands, now?" Cuddy asked.

"Hell, yes!" House grabbed her hand and squeezed. He never let it go as they began walking to the lobby. "Greg! Someone will see us!" Cuddy whispered.

"They're going to have to find out sometime," he countered before yanking her close and kissing her on the lips. Cuddy gasped but kissed him back quickly. She pulled her hand out of his just as the glass doors opened to the front lobby.

"Don't forget to do your clinic hours today, Dr. House!" Cuddy said in her authoritative administrator's voice.

"Seriously, Cuddeeeee?" House whined. "Seriously?"

"Seriously!" Cuddy walked off to her office leaving House at the front desk. House paused momentarily watching Cuddy's hips sway in that feminine cadence. "God, how I loves me them high heels!"

The nurse at the front desk glanced up and cocked an eyebrow at him.

House realized she heard him. "Not for me, for her!" House snapped as he pointed at Cuddy. The nurse rolled her eyes at him and went back to her computer screen.

House reached into his pocket and found the plum-colored velvet boxes in his pocket. He decided clinic duty could wait and headed off for Cuddy's office.

Cuddy had just hung up her jacket and taken a seat at her desk when her office doors blasted open.

"Cuddles! Did you miss me?"

Cuddy rolled her eyes and shook her head smiling. "Yes, I did. These past fourteen seconds were horrible!"

House grinned as he approached when he suddenly cocked his head in confusion. "Hey, something is wrong here! Something is missing. I can't quite put my fing…." House's face contorted in pain as he suddenly stopped doubling over and grabbing his stomach groaning softly. Cuddy jumped up and raced around her desk to his side. House fell to the floor crumpled on his knees barely holding onto his cane to steady himself.

"Greg! Are you okay?" Cuddy crouched down in front of him, her face terrified.

"Help me up, Lisa." House groaned again. Cuddy grabbed his arm to pull it around her shoulders. House stepped forward and sank again onto his left leg, rubbing his right thigh vigorously. Cuddy struggled but he was too heavy. "House, can you get up?"

House said nothing. Cuddy looked at him to see him grinning insanely at her. "House, get up!"

"I'm feeling much better! Unhand me, woman." House announced. She let go of his arm and stood back as he asked. Her eyes widened as she realized House was kneeling before her. In his hand was an open velvet box with the engagement ring they had purchased just minutes before. She felt his cane curved around her forearm, pulling her to him.

"Lisa Cuddy, will you marry me and be my little wifey?" House beamed up at her. Cuddy's eyes were shining.

"You scared the hell out of me, you big faker!" Cuddy protested. She couldn't manage to frown with such a large smile stretched across her face.

"Well?" House urged. "My leg is killing me here!"

"Yes, yes, yes, now get up!" This time House rose with Cuddy's help. House dropped the cane and pulled the ring from the box. He reached for her hand and slipped it on her finger. "Now that looks good."

Cuddy smiled at the gesture and held his hand. They stared into each other's eyes – pale blue married to bright blue. House leaned in and Cuddy met his lips with a soft kiss that deepened gently.

House smiled as their kiss ended. "What?" Cuddy asked smiling back.

"You are such a sucker for me! You totally fell for it!" House bragged

"You're an idiot! I thought you were having a heart attack!" Cuddy lightly punched his arm. "Don't you ever do that to me again!"

"So what are you going to say if someone notices that big honking jewel on your finger?"

"I'll tell them you finally proposed and we're getting married," Cuddy purred. "Of course, no one will believe me."

House nodded. "I figured you deserved a proper proposal after the wrestling match this morning." Cuddy blushed.

"I love you!" Cuddy laughed.

"I know." House said slyly.

"Now go back to work so you can pay off this ring!" Cuddy said as she took a step back and pushed him playfully to the door. House moved along and stopped in the doorway, turning back to look at his fiancé.

"Hey Cuddles?"

"What now, House?"

"I love you, too."

"I know." Cuddy countered slyly making House smile. "Now get to work!"

House left singing loudly the Eliza Doolittle tune "I'm getting married in the morning! Ding Dong the bells are going ring…."

Cuddy laughed and returned her gaze to her left hand starring at the beautiful engagement ring on her finger. "Took you long enough!"

Well friends, was the proposal too cheesy? Could you see it coming? Please review and keep the comments coming. Thanks so much!