Disclaimer: I do not own House MD or any of the characters

A/N: Hey, well apparently I did manage to post again before Christmas :D I hope you like the chapter and, seeing as it's Christmas eve, I hope you all have an amazing Christmas! :D

Enjoy!

And that's how she ended up there: standing, in the cold, staring at the light in his living room. She was pretty sure she wasn't going to go in, but just standing there made her feel like, somehow, she was taking a step. Well, in any case, at least it was a start.

She wasn't about to barge into his house, six months pregnant, declare her, apparently, undying love for him, tell him that the child she was carrying was his and beg him to love her back, to be a father to the little boy or girl she was carrying and to stop being himself. Partly because she was pretty sure that it would be fruitless and partly because she didn't really want him to stop being himself. Somehow, the abrasive personality, the snide comments, racist remarks, offensive quips and the overall outrageous character that was House had grown on her and, sure she'd like a little more peace and quiet, but she didn't want him to change. Changed House would be, well, not House. He wouldn't be breaking into her office constantly to either do something illegal or look for proof that she was a lesbian, he wouldn't be as fixated on his job, he wouldn't go to all and any levels to fix a patient; he just simply wouldn't be the man she loved. Besides, like any love struck woman, she didn't believe that what she knew of House was all there was, she kept hope that, somewhere deep inside him, he had a different persona, one that was as dedicated and unique as the one he let surface, but one that also allowed him to love, to be loved and to, even if only for a bit, be happy.

As she saw movement in the house, she leaned back on her car. He was playing guitar. Standing with his back to the window, she saw him fiddle with the amp before straightening, steadying himself on his good leg and playing a first, outrageously loud, chord.

When she saw the lights in the neighbouring houses go on, Cuddy figured it was time to leave. After all, she wouldn't want to be caught by her favourite diagnostician, standing outside his house, when all his neighbours hammered on his door to stop his beautiful playing of the Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water"

After slamming the door in his next door neighbour, Mr. Jones' face, House looked at his guitar and, deciding the mood for playing was gone, threw himself on his couch, his right leg hovering awkwardly over the leather seat as he settled into his new position.

He knew Thirteen, Taub and Kutner were probably still at the hospital, trying to figure out why their 68 year old cancer patient was dying of something other than cancer, he knew that Cameron was probably at Chase's home, and Foreman was probably sitting in his boss' office, dreaming of the impossible day when it'd be his. But where was she? He'd called her house. He wasn't sure why, but he'd called her house, the phone had rang and rang and in the end, all he'd gotten was her professional voice: I'm not in right now, so leave a message.

Well, at least he'd put down the receiver before his call got registered. Afterwards, looking at the receiver as it rested comfortably on its holder, he'd come to the conclusion that he was losing it. He would never have randomly called Cuddy, not without a pre-planned scheme to annoy her or get her out of bed in the middle of the night. He wouldn't have. But he had. And that fact was what had led him to his trusted bottle of scotch and guitar.

Now, lying on his couch, House looked over at his television and groaned. When not even the prospect of watching porn made Greg House happy, he knew he was in trouble.

Hospital.

Job.

Puzzle.

Cuddy.

When only one of those thoughts made House want to get out of bed, he sat and leaned forwards, his head in his hands, his elbows on his knees, his thoughts completely lost.

"I have a problem" was the sentence Wilson heard as his door slammed open and Greg House marched in.

"Well, people do say admitting it is the first step …"

"I have a serious problem … there's something wrong with my brain"

Wilson sighed "at the risk of sounding redundant, tell me something I don't know" when House merely glared back at him, Wilson sighed again "would this 'something' be a 5ft 4 hospital administrator with grey-green eyes and a killer rack?"

When House merely hung his head, Wilson got his answer

"House …" he started in an impatient tone "… if it's that bad, if it's bothering you that much, will you just talk to her? Please? For all our sakes …"

"Why doesn't …"

"Stop asking me why she won't talk to you! I don't know! I'm not the 5 foot 4 grey-green eyed hospital administrator with a rack you've been drooling over for over 20 years!" Wilson almost shouted "You two have a problem … actually, you have something that, to sane people, isn't a problem, but hey, who ever said you two were normal? Just … ugh!"

"Wow, Jimmy …" said House in a half mocking, half genuinely surprised tone "… tell us how you really feel …"

Not in the mood to walk House through another differential on his love life, Wilson merely glared at his friend until he got the hint and, raising his hands in mock-surrender, left.

"Go ask Cuddy" said House staring at his white board.

Surprised that her boss was passing up a chance to go and annoy the Dean of Medicine, Thirteen asked "why don't y…"

"What are you still doing here?" asked House quickly looking over his shoulder

Looking at Taub, Kutner and Foreman, Thirteen searched for what to do. When they all shrugged their shoulders at her, she nodded and, with a last questioning look at her boss, left towards the clinic.

"Dr. Hadley, you know as well as I do that I can't sign off on that procedure without a confirmed diagnosis … You're asking me to basically kill a 68 year old cancer patient so that you can confirm your suspicion that she's dying of something other than cancer … where's Dr. House?" asked Cuddy putting down the file and looking at the younger doctor.

"Uh, he asked me to come … I don't …" began Thirteen as Cuddy stood and motioned for her to follow.

"House!"

"Ruh-oh" mocked House turning from his board to Cuddy who was now standing at the door to his office, Thirteen standing behind her.

"Are you serious?" she asked holding up the file and walking towards the diagnostician.

"I usually am … oh, wait …"

"You know perfectly well I can't sign off on this without a confirmed diagnosis! You'll kill her …" began Cuddy

"Uh, that's kinda the point …" began Foreman but shut up when both House and Cuddy glared at him.

"You 5 go, do something productive … or unproductive, I don't really care …" said House looking at them quickly before returning to the staring contest that Cuddy was trying to win.

At his words, Cuddy's heart began to beat faster in her chest and, as a consequence, the baby started to kick like mad. Had House just asked his fellows to leave him alone with her?

"Just sign the sheet, Cuddy" he said taking a step back and looking at the board, the short space between them starting to affect him.

"Why didn't you come to ask me?" she asked taking a step towards him, figuring she'd found the perfect way to intimidate him.

"I have employees for a reason …" he said feeling slightly trapped but not letting her see it.

"Really?" she asked, an evil grin creeping on her face "because I think you're avoiding me …"

"Now why would I do that?" he asked challenging her back

Looking down at the inflated stomach between them, she looked back up at him and just stared. It was a moment very similar to the one that had led to the conception of the child that was furiously kicking her insides. They both registered the closing distance between them. They both felt like their hearts were going to leap out of their chests.

"Ah, here you are …" came Wilson's voice from the door way making the two spring apart like teenagers caught in the back seat of a parent's car "…ah"

Wilson silently cursed himself, judging by the space between them, even after the spring apart, had he not entered, they would have kissed. Sure, that would have meant that he'd have found them furiously making out, but hey, at least they'd have both gotten what they wanted.

Nodding at Cuddy and Wilson, House made a quick limp for his office and, closing the transparent glass door behind him, sat in his chair, put his headphones over his head, and got lost in the sound of music.

Next door, Cuddy and Wilson just stared at each other for a while. Looking towards his friend's office, Wilson certified that he was too busy to hear them and asked "what was that?"

"Nothing …" said Cuddy, quickly brushing what had almost happened off before Wilson had a chance to make something of it.

"Ok…" he said sounding everything but convinced.

"Anyway, you were looking for me?" she asked

"Yes, I need you to look over a patient file …"

After obliging, Cuddy headed for her office while Wilson headed for his.

Now safely seated in her office, Cuddy felt the tears threaten to fall. A few seconds later, the threat became reality and she sobbed freely. They would have kissed. She wanted it so much; she wanted and needed him so much.

TBC

Thank you for reading!

MERRY CHRISTMAS and please leave a review!

CJS-DEPPendent