So sorry that it took me so long to post this. No excuses. Again, your lovely reviews make me smile.

This is the final chapter for Part 1.

Chapter 15

They spent the entire weekend either making love or talking quietly about unimportant things. House made sure, if the conversation veered towards jail or the future, he changed the subject.

Monday morning came all too soon.

House was still asleep when Julia woke up. She lay on her side, House behind her with his arm around her waist. She gently stroked his arm and tried to keep the tears from coming. She knew he hated to see her cry and especially over him.

But the thought that she wouldn't see him for a year was too much for her. She knew he wanted her to forget about him totally, but she couldn't do that. She would abide by his wishes and not visit him in prison and she would return to San P, but she would not forget him. Nor would she give up on them.

She sniffed as she tried to stop the tears and a voice whispered in her ear, "What did I tell you about that?'

"I'm not crying." She said, as she sniffed again.

"Right. You're pathetic."

"I know." She turned over so that she was facing him. "You have to be there at nine. It's almost seven."

He nodded. "One more for the road?"

She smiled and kissed him.

Half an hour later, they were in the shower together, with only a bit of fondling, since they needed to get ready. Before they got out, she put her arms around him and held him close to her.

"Another minute, Greg."

He nuzzled her wet hair and held on just as tight.

At five minutes to nine, they walked into the courtroom. The District Attorney approached him.

"You just made it!" he said accusingly.

"What, am I supposed to be early to my own execution?"

"You're not getting executed, you're going to prison."

"Might as well be the same thing."

The court clerk called everyone to order and the judge entered. House sat down at the defense table, alone. Julia was in the seat right behind him.

She looked around the room as the judge talked to the clerk. It was almost empty. The next hearing wasn't until ten and those participants hadn't arrived yet. Then the door opened quietly and a dark haired man came in and sat in the back row. He looked towards House, then put his head down again.

Julia tapped House on the shoulder. She indicated the man in the back. "Do you know him?"

A look of both joy and sadness passed over his face. "Yeah, I know him."

"Who is…" she was cut off by the clerk calling everyone to order again.

The D.A. read the charges out. House was told to stand and state his plea.

"Guilty, your honor." He said.

The judge read out the agreed upon sentence and confirmed it with the D.A. Then he ordered the clerk to take House into custody.

Julia turned when she heard a noise behind her and saw the dark haired man leave the courtroom. Then she turned back to House and reached for his hand. She didn't try to hide her tears.

"Stop it. I'm not worth it."

"You are." She leaned forward and kissed him, then the clerk touched him on the shoulder.

"I love you." She told him.

"I know." He said, then ruined the Han/Leia moment by adding, "Don't. Go back to paradise and live with the nice people."

He turned and was led out. She stayed there watching until he disappeared and the door closed. Then she left the courtroom to somehow go on with her life.

End of Part 1

I am working on the next part, but not getting as far as I'd hoped. I'm trying to parallel season 8, while adding my own story line and Fox's decison to air racing instead of House messed me up a bit. But I promise to get some more written and get Part 2 posted as soon as I can. I am the sort of writer that won't post until I have at least 2/3 of a story written so that I can be sure that my readers won't be left with an unfinished story. That's why I can't start posting yet. But I have a pretty good idea where it's going so, if TPTB cooperate, I should be able to continue it.

Once again, thanks for reading. I love you guys!