** CHAPTER 60 **

In addition to its exquisite cuisine, the Meritage offered a stunning view over the Marina and luckily enough, House had gotten a reservation at a table near the large bay windows that opened to the sea. The place was cozy and refined. It was fully booked, but most delightfully, it felt as if each table was isolated enough to provide every patron some privacy and quietness. They ordered sea food and white wine and savored their dishes, almost silently, not really feeling the need to talk, their eyes riveted to each other, and a perfect feeling of peace pervading their body.

After the main course, House ordered a dessert, but Cuddy declined the waiter's offer to do the same and asked for an herbal tea instead. A short while later, the waiter came back with her infusion and House's pastry – a mouth-watering chocolate fondant, floating in vanilla custard. He laid the plate in front of House, and Cuddy had to contain her laughter at the sight of the ravenous expression that instantly spread on his face. The waiter had barely started to pace away that, unable to resist any longer, House took a bite of the cake and closed his eyes, humming loudly with his mouth full.

"Hmmm, you gotta try this!" he said, opening his eyes again.

Without waiting for her answer, he picked another piece of cake and extended his arm over the table, putting a full spoon under her mouth to feed her. She leaned back when his hand approached her face and set her lips.

"Come on, taste it!" he insisted.

Cuddy puffed and finally complied, docilely parting her lips. House slid the spoon inside her mouth and the intense flavor of dark chocolate revealed itself on her tastebuds. Intoxicated by the sensation, she snatched the spoon out of his hand and whirled it on her tongue to lick its content fully.

"Oh God," she sighed voluptuously, "this should be forbidden!"

House laughed, touched by her genuine spontaneity when suddenly, he jumped in his chair and immediately put his hand on his upper thigh to cover his jeans' pocket, wiggling and pressing on his groin.

"What?" she asked, a little anxiously.

"Nothing. It's my cell." He raised his eyebrows mischievously and sent her a naughty look. "I'm on buzzer."

Cuddy rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"It's ok, you can answer it," she greenlit, comprehensively.

He fished the cell phone out of his pocket and checked the caller ID.

"It's Wilson," he announced flatly, staring blankly at his phone.

"Well, answer him!"

House glanced up at her to search for confirmation that he could and took the call, bringing the receiver to his ear.

"You realize that your constant need to meddle in my life is sadly more proof that you don't have one yourself," he deadpanned, without bothering to say 'hello' first.

Cuddy shot him a reproving look which House didn't catch, so she trailed her eyes down and her gaze met his plate, where his dessert was still tantalizingly waiting to be eaten. She took advantage of the situation and filled the spoon with another bite while House carried on his conversation. When he finally acknowledged what she was doing, he frowned at her menacingly. She beamed wider and, leaning forward, she conspicuously bit in the cake, licking the spoon greedily in front of his face.

"No," House was saying to Wilson, still frowning. "Yes - I saw her. No, nothing's fixed. She dumped me - Yeah, it's over - For good."

Realizing what House was talking about, Cuddy dropped the spoon on the table and glared at him.

"What are you talking about?" she mouthed to him.

House promptly bent over and nabbed the spoon back. He smiled victoriously at her and carried on with his conversation.

"No, I'm fine - Yeah, I'm sure - Actually, right now I'm in a very fancy restaurant, having lunch with a very sexy girl - Oh, you should see her - Yep, she's a hot babe!"

Cuddy frowned reproachfully, but House ignored her. He cupped a piece of fondant in his spoon, and tempted her with another bite, reaching out for her mouth again and teasingly waving it in front of her face. It was clear that he only intended to tantalize her with the promise of another bite that he would deny her at the last second. He was precisely about to take the spoon away from her mouth when Cuddy grabbed his wrist and held his hand in place, shamefully stealing the piece of fondant, which she ate with unrestrained delight.

"Although, she tends to steal my food," House added, looking her intensely in the eyes and freeing his wrist from her grab. "But she's hot, so I forgive her - No, I just met her yesterday - in a bar - Yeah, I was drunk. You know, the breakup and all that - But don't worry she took care of me - reaaaaaally good care, if you know what I mean-"

Cuddy shook her head again, faking dismay, but eventually, even after all those years, she was still mostly surprised with how childish House's banter with Wilson was and what kind of stories he could make up just to bug his best friend. But, at the same time, she couldn't help but find it touching… Childish, undeniably, but so touching. She gestured to House to give her his cell.

"Put him on!" she mouthed, deciding that the game had lasted long enough.

"Now, wait!" House exclaimed. "Hot babe wants to talk to you. Sure, I'll put her on."

He grinned mischievously and handed her the phone. She took it and brought the receiver to her ear.

"Hello, Wilson," she said flatly.

"Hello, Cuddy," Wilson said on the other end of the line, sounding relieved to finally talk with a grown-up. "How are you?"

"Fine. Sorry for that nonsense House just made up-"

"Yeah, well, it's not like I wasn't used to it."

"Yep, it's not!"

"So, how are you?" he asked again, not really knowing what else to say.

Cuddy sensed his embarrassment and decided to get rid of the uneasiness once and for all.

"Wilson, stop worrying." she said, her tone a little chastising. "Everything's fine, I promise. House came to my parents' yesterday. We talked. Then we had wild makeup sex all night and now we're having lunch by the bay, in a very nice restaurant. It's all good, I swear. You can go back to your patients now."

Across the table, House almost choked on his cake when he heard her little spiel to Wilson. He stared at her with an impressed look, mingled with a bit of pride. Cuddy noticed his look and flashed him a roguish smile.

"We're coming back tomorrow," she added, this time with seriousness in her tone.

"Great!" Wilson exclaimed, unable to hide the huge relief he instantly felt upon hearing the news.

Cuddy realized that, more than her coming back as a friend, Wilson also mostly awaited her return as the Dean of Medicine, remembering that she had burdened him with responsibilities he hadn't had asked for.

"How did it go with the hospital's daily routine?" she asked, sounding slightly guilty for what she had made him endured the past week.

"Daily routine!? Is that your idea of what routine looks like? Jesus, Cuddy, you're no doubt better qualified for the job than any of us will ever be! I did what I could, but to be honest I can't tell you how relieved I am to hear you're finally coming back."

"Thank you, Wilson" she said, her voice low. "I don't know what I'd do if-"

"Don't mention it!" he cut her off. "You know I'd do it again, anytime, if you asked me. Even though, well, to be honest, I really hope you won't, not until at least a million years!" He chuckled and she smiled. "Lisa, I'm so happy for you and House - that you… well, you know."

Cuddy unconsciously clutched the cell phone tighter in her hand, feeling a wave of emotion overwhelm her.

"Yeah, I know," she simply answered, a little uneasily. "Me, too."

In front of her, House noticed the change in her tone, and he intensely peered at her. She registered his concern knowing that, despite the fact that he couldn't hear what Wilson was saying, he however perfectly knew what it was about. He started to fidget in his chair, and he sighed heavily, staring impatiently at her.

"So now, tell me about you, how are you doing?" Wilson carried on, his voice taking on that characteristic empathic intonation he always had when he was asking about his friends' health.

Cuddy opened her mouth to answer, but like a devil jerking out of his box, House leaned over the table and snatched the cell phone out of her hand. He brought the receiver to his ear and slouched back in his chair, looking Cuddy right in the eyes.

"Wilson, she's fine, I'm fine, everything's fine!" he exclaimed theatrically. "Now let us enjoy the rest of our lunch and go back to holding your patients' hands. I'm sure there's at least one who's dying and needs your caring comfort out there."

Without waiting for Wilson's answer, he slammed the phone shut and put it back in his pocket. Cuddy shook her head, aghast, and shot him a glare. In return, House flashed her a devilish grin.

"Stop staring at me like that!" he told her. "You know that, at some point, someone has to shut him up, otherwise it'll never end."

"Well, still, that was rude!"

He puffed and beamed wider.

"Like you care!" he teased, chuckling.

"Yes, I do!" she insisted, stubbornly. "Wilson's always been a good friend and he took care of the hospital while-"

Her mouth stayed open, and she stopped, realizing, only too late, what she had involuntarily just brought up. House caught her discomfort and his face clouded over. His smile faded away and he stared at her, with gravity in his gaze. The heavy silence that ensued felt like an eternity for both of them.

"Lisa," he said out of the blue. His voice was hoarse and slightly shaking. "Tell me the truth: Were you going to come back at all?"

She bit her lip and the look on her face changed slightly, guilt spreading over her features.

"Yes," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"When?"

"I don't know," she confessed, offering him her most sincere answer.

He took a sharp breath and pierced intensely into her eyes.

"And what would have happened then?"

"I don't know," she said again.

"What do you mean?"

"I hadn't thought about it. I-" She cast her eyes down and took a deep breath. "I guess I never thought I would have to come back… without you," she added, meeting his gaze again.

He widened his eyes, taken aback by her confession.

"You were right last night. I think a part of me was secretly wishing for you to come find me."

"And what if I hadn't?" he challenged.

She stared at him, and she heard the remaining traces of anger in his voice, and it tug at her heartstrings to see him hurt.

"You'll never forgive me, will you?" She sighed mournfully.

"I already have," he said throatily.

"Maybe, but you'll never forget. That's the same."

"No, it's not. Because I don't want to forget. I choose not to forget… but I had to forgive you. That's different."

They both fell silent, and Cuddy's eyes widened in bafflement. His confession had taken her off guard, and she wondered if he had intended it in a positive or negative way. But then, his hoarse voice broke the silence and she stared at him, holding her breath, as he went on.

"Life is a gamble. You never know if you'll win or lose. You never know if you're gonna be happy or not. No matter how hard you try. You don't get to decide for your own happiness." He paused and smiled softly.

There was a glitter of bitterness in his eyes mixed with a passion that she had never seen so forcefully shine in his gaze before.

"I'm not a happy person. But I know how it felt when you left. And I don't want to forget that. I don't want to forget why, no matter what you do, I have no choice but to forgive you."

She bit her lip, and a shiver ran up her spine, making her shoulders hunch. Her eyes became moist, and House immediately felt the urge to make her smile. He wouldn't forget, but that was his choice. He didn't want her to carry that burden for him or feel responsible any longer.

"However," he added, with a mischievous pout, "when I say no matter what you do, it doesn't apply to you stealing my dessert. Because that is obviously unforgivable!"

He filled his spoon with a large chunk of fondant, damped in custard and conspicuously pushed it between his lips. She smiled and it wiped away the sorrow that had just flickered across her face. The vision of her smile, so tender and genuine, felt as soft to House as if she had caressed his skin with her lips.

He fished another piece of cake and took another bite, purposely eating the cake under her nose. This time, she let out a chuckle and the sound of it instantly released him from his muscle stiffness. He put his spoon down and intensely peered at her, before glancing at his watch.

"It's almost one thirty," he said, sighing, thereby reminding her that her appointment's scheduled time was approaching.

She nodded and finished drinking her tea. The waiter approached their table, wanting to know if everything was ok, and House asked him for the check.

"Have you finished?" the waiter asked, waiting for House's confirmation that he could clear the dishes away.

House glanced at his plate where some bits of chocolate fondant were still floating in the remnants of the rich flavored custard.

"Yes," he said.

The waiter took his plate and slipped away swiftly. Cuddy unconsciously followed him with her eyes and when she turned to face House again, she saw he had his hand inside his jeans' pocket.

"Phone call again?" she inquired.

As an answer, he took a piece of folded paper out of his pocket and put it on the table in front of her.

"What's that?" she said slightly short of breath, and her lips started to tremble a little.

"Sorry, I had no box to put it in this time," he answered with a husky voice that sounded almost like a groan.

Her heart started to beat faster at the memory of the last time he had given her a box that contained something meaningful and special. Something she had given back to him, just before she'd left.

"Your key?"

"No," he replied evenly. "It's your pair of golden earrings. The ones you wear all the time."

She took the piece of paper and carefully unfolded it. It indeed revealed the delicate pair of pendants she liked so much. Instinctively her right hand covered her heart while her left one held the earrings in front of her.

"I thought I'd lost them," she said in a low voice.

"You hadn't. I found them in the nightstand's drawer."

She tilted her face up and met his undecipherable gaze.

"At my place," he specified.

She bit her lip and cautiously put the earrings back inside the sheet of paper, before folding it again.

"What about your key," she asked, hesitantly. "I thought it was- I thought that's what you were going to give me."

"Why?" he said, daringly.

She jutted her chin up and locked her eyes with his.

"Because I want it back," she said without an ounce of hesitation.

"Well, I don't have it anymore."

Her eyebrows flew up in bafflement, and she stared at him quizzically.

"Odds are I may have flushed it down the toilet," he confessed, smiling.

She smiled too and slid her hand on the tablecloth until her fingertips touched his. He didn't move and stared down at their hands, looking uneasy. She pushed her hand forward again and covered his, lightly caressing his knuckles, while silently looking him in the eyes.

"Ok. Fine!" he exclaimed extravagantly. "I'll make you a new one if you insist. But, dammit woman, stop groping me like that: We're in a restaurant for God's sake!"

She stared at him both amused and puzzled by his reaction. That's the moment the waiter chose to reappear with the check. House removed his hand from hers and searched for his wallet in the inner pocket of his leather jacket. Cuddy pushed her chair back to stand up.

"I'm going to the restrooms," she said. "And I'll meet you at the front door, ok?"

He nodded and she walked away. A few minutes later, House joined her outside and grabbed her hand, pulling her with him across the road and toward the bike. He handed her the helmet and before putting it on, she glanced at her watch and shuddered a little. But she was warmly wrapped up in her coat, so House instantly understood that it had nothing to do with her being cold. He stepped closer to her and gently tugged her in his arms.

"It's ok," he said, reassuringly. "Let's get this over with and then we'll head back to your parents' for dinner."

She leaned down and buried her face in his chest. He enfolded her in his embrace and squeezed her tight against him, while she allowed herself to let go of the tension, his warmth enveloping her. She rested her forehead in the hollow of his collarbone, breathing deeply and filling her nostrils with the mixed scent of leather, musk and chocolate that emanated from his neck. After a moment, he slid his finger under her chin and lifted her face up to his.

"We have to go," he said.

She smiled sheepishly and they both put their helmet on. House got on the bike and turned the engine on, while Cuddy sat behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, and he briefly covered them with his hand, giving them a gentle squeeze.

Then he grabbed the handlebar and guided the bike on the road. He popped the bike into first gear and released the clutch. The bike made a throbbing sound and shot off toward the hospital.

A/N

You wanted some Wilson… See? Ask and thou shall receive!

We're now approaching the stressful (at least for me) moment where we'll be in sync with the Fox forum posting, which means I won't have any chapters written in advance left… ugh!

But! 1) there're still three more after this one and 2) I'll be on vacation for Xmas, so maybe that's not such a bad timing, because I should have time to write and be able to maintain a rather "normal" rhythm of posting… but I just wanted to warn you about that and its possible consequences…

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that I've enjoyed this experience very much and I thank you for the awesome good vibes and kind words you've sent me since I first came to this site to post my story! THANK YOU!

~ maya

PS: some of you are asking me about my review for 6.10 "Wilson" via Twitter or in the forum... well, truth is, it's not up yet coz I must confess that I'm shamelessly taking advantage of the hiatus to procrastinate a little… I'll be posting the link in my profile (along with the other ones already there) as soon as I'm done writing it! which should be this weekend at best or maybe early next week...