A/N: As always huge thanks for the amazing reviews since the last time.

This time I'm keeping it simple. The first two are pretty self explanatory, but I wanted to write a small note about the third one.

I have always felt that the creators of the show could have preceded House and Cuddy's relationship much earlier in the series. Season 7 only confirmed my thoughts of the matter. After all these years of sexual tension I kind of wished that they could have had that moment where they just told each other how they felt.

The moment I created is without a doubt AU, very fluffy, and hopefully in character. It's a little bit dramatic, and romantic, but I was in the mood and decided to share it with you.

Thank you for reading.

XXIV

Lovesick

Achoo. The loud sneeze bellowed through the entire house like an atom bomb had been dropped. Cuddy could swear that she saw the windows shake.

"Bless you." She yelled into the living room.

She heard some low mumbling from the living room, but wasn't sure whether it was, thank you, or, shut up.

She stopped stirring the hot soup she was preparing, and poured it in a bowl.. She placed the bowl on a wooden tray, and picked it off the counter.

She walked into the living room towards the huddled figure on the couch. He was barely visible under the thick blankets he was bundled up in.

She leaned down, and placed her palm against House's burning forehead.

"How are you feeling?"

"Not too good." His voice was nasal, and croakier than usual.

"I made you some soup."

He looked at the soup, and frowned disdainfully.

"I don't like chicken soup."

"It's good for you." She said surely.

"What I need is some nice Vodka." He rubbed his hands.

"House, just eat the soup." She instructed.

"Yes mistress." His voice did not have the same impact it did before. He coughed pitifully, and picked up the spoon. He took one sip, and grimaced.

"Uh-uh, I'm not eating this."

"Why not?"

"I told you. I hate chicken soup."

"Stop whining, and eat the soup."

He grimaced, and picked up the spoon. He gave her a nasty look, and ate the soup in silence. When he was finished, he leaned back on the sofa, and shivered under the blankets. Cuddy sat down beside him, tucked her legs into the sofa. She leaned against him, and wrapped her arms around his shaking frame.

He sighed, and closed his eyes. Cuddy's lips turned up in a small smile. He so rarely cared for hugs, or cuddling, so she decided to enjoy it while she could. "You know, this is all your fault." House mumbled.

"What? Why?" She asked him baffled.

"Because you make me sick." He slurred. Cuddy glared at him, obviously offended. He buried his face in her neck, and mumbled.

"You make me love sick."

"How romantic. Just what every girl wants to hear." She muttered drily.

He laughed a croaky laugh, but stopped when a cough shook through his body. When they cough finally ceased, he leaned his head on her shoulder, and closed his eyes.

"I feel like crap."

"Why won't you try to get some sleep?

"No, I'm fine."

"You're not fine. Come on let's get you to bed." She ordered, using her Dean voice, and grasped his arm. She helped him up, and together they walked into her bedroom. House fell on the bed, and dragged her with him, which caused a small yelp from Cuddy.

"What are you doing?"

"I can't sleep without you here." He complained. Cuddy's heart melted a bit, but she needed to get things done around the house, plus she did not want to get sick too.

"House, I need to work."

"Just one hour, ok?"

"Fine." She caved, and lay back down beside him. He snuggled up against her, placing his arm around her.

"Don't try anything." She threatened, but House was already fast asleep. Her expression softened, and slowly she leaned forward and kissed him tenderly on the forehead. She leaned back, and adjusted herself so she was snuggled up against him. She decided that she kind of liked sick House.

Cuddy woke House up after three hours of sleep.

House blinked, and looked at her sleepily. He yawned, and stretched his arms. Cuddy sat beside him, and touched his forehead.

"How do you feel?"

"I feel so much better, thanks."

She smiled at him, and leaned in to kiss him but paused. House frowned in concern, and grasped her arm. Cuddy's nose crinkled, and she titled her head up, and sneezed.

"Bless you." House's remark was met with an icy glare.

"If you have infected me with the flu, I will kill you." She threatened.

"Aww, I love you too." He murmured, and kissed her directly on the lips.

"I mean it. I have a very important meeting tomorrow. I can't get sick."

"You won't get sick." He promised, his lips merely an inch from hers.

"I don't want to kiss you." She mumbled, and tried to distangle herself from his embrace.

"Why not?" He smirked.

"Because you have a runny nose, a fever, and I don't want to risk getting sick too."

House grasped his chest in mock pain. He flayed his arm to his eyes, and cried out hysterically.

"Cuddy, you wound me."

Cuddy tried to hide her smile, but failed miserably.

"Oh you big softie."

"Yes, that's exactly what I'm known as." He replied sarcastically. She pouted, although a small giggle escaped her lips. He tickled her sides, until she was begging him to stop. He lay halfway on top of her, and kissed her nose, which made her smile in return.

"I think you're right. You are lovesick."

He smirked, and pinned her arms to her sides, so she couldn't release herself from him, and brought his lips to hers. She kissed him back longingly, not giving a damn about the risk of getting sick too.

"I just think you made me lovesick too." She breathed.

"Or horny."

She frowned at him, her nose wrinkling slightly.

Her hand traced the line of his face, the loving gesture made him freeze in place. He reached out, and stopped her hand that rested on his cheek.

Cuddy sneezed again, and laughed at House's disgusted expression.

"You sneezed in my face."

Cuddy giggled.

"I actually do think you made me a little lovesick."

"Ah, but that's the best kind there is." He said wistfully.

"Somehow I doubt that." She said playfully.

"What can I do to convince you otherwise?" He frowned a bit mockingly, and traced his palm over her stomach.

"Does this make it better?" He asked, and kissed her forehead. "Or this?" He kissed her jawline, her neck, and finally hovered over her lips.

"How about now?"

"Just shut up and kiss me." She breathed, and captured his lips.

XXV

Pain

He clenched his teeth, and tried to remain silent, as he fought the battle within himself. The bathroom was dark, the tiled floor cold underneath him; the cold swept through the soft fabric of his pajama pants. He lay on the floor, and clutched his leg with shaky hands. He bit the inside of his cheek to prevent himself from screaming. His insides twisted, and he felt that he needed to throw up.

He barely managed to sit upright, and lean over the toilet seat before he threw up. He kept gagging even though there was little left for him to throw up, his stomach already emptied from its contents. He wiped his upper lip, and fell limp on the floor.

He grasped his leg the pain radiating from the dead muscle through his entire body. He hadn't felt such pain in a while, and he knew that ibuprofen had no affect on this pain. He needed something stronger, or else he was afraid that he would pass out from the pain.

He dried the sweat from his forehead, and squeezed his eyes shut. When he thought he couldn't contain himself anymore, the bathroom door opened.

She stood in the doorway, the moonlight framing her figure, making her skin glow in the darkness. She looked like an angel, and he felt like a monster compared to her.

She turned on the light, and gasped.

"Oh my god, House, are you alright?" She hurried over to him and kneeled beside him. She raised her hand out to touch his forehead, but he recoiled away from her. Her hand froze in mid-air, her expression hurt.

"Leave me alone." He said through clenched teeth.

"House, please, let me help you." She whispered.

"You can't help me." He snapped, and winced when he felt a spasm go through his leg. Cuddy looked at him helplessly, her eyes showing the hurt he was feeling at the moment. He knew that she meant well, but the pain was so overbearing that it clouded his thoughts.

He wanted nothing more but to be left alone. He didn't want her to see him like that, so weak, and so frail.

She looked into his eyes in promise that she wasn't about to leave him alone. She raised her hand to his forehead, and smoothed his damp hair.

"I'm going to get you some water." She said quietly, and stood up.

She appeared within a minute with a tall glass of water.

"Here, drink this."

He complied, and drank the whole glass in one gulp. She took the glass from his fingers, and placed it on the floor.

"Have you taken everything you can?"

"Don't you think I have done everything I can? I'm in fucking pain Cuddy. I can't do this." He groaned, and slammed his hand against the tiles.

She didn't back away from him, instead she sat down, and placed her hand in his.

"I'm here House, don't push me away."

"You can't help me." He said painfully, begging her to leave him alone in his misery.

"I know." She said sadly. "But I'm not going to let you go through this alone."

Their eyes locked, blue met grey, and in their silence they came to a mutual understanding. He understood that she wasn't attempting to make the pain go away, she was telling him that she was there for him. At that moment he let go of his stubbornness, and allowed her to be there for him.

He leaned his head on her shoulder, and grasped her hand in his. She squeezed it reassuringly, and stroked the top of his head with her other hand.

They sat there the whole night, neither of them saying anything. There were no words required. When he thought he couldn't stand it anymore, he grasped her against him, and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to control the tremors that shook through his body.

When the sun started to bring the light of a new day, House felt better. The pain was still there, but he felt exhausted, completely drained after the night.

He looked sideways to Cuddy who sat beside him, her hand still in his. She gazed at him, and smiled warmly, reassuringly.

"Thank you." He murmured.

She smiled tiredly, and kissed him softly on the lips.

"I love you, so much."

He knew that already, but the way she said it made him feel whole. He realized that he didn't have to go through this alone. It felt odd, allowing her to take care of him, but good nonetheless.

He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. He looked into her eyes, and hoped that she understood how much she meant to him, and how much he needed her.

XXVI

Three Words

House stood in front of Cuddy's door, and banged on it loudly with his cane. The door opened, revealing a very pissed off Cuddy.

"House, what are you doing here?" She asked warily.

"When were you going to tell me?" He snarled.

She looked up, and sighed. The fact that she wasn't even attempting to hide it, made his stomach twist. She stepped forward, and closed the door behind her.

"I was going to, but I was too busy."

"Busy? Is that your excuse?"

"House, what do you want me to say? I received the offer a week ago, and they wanted an immediate answer, and I kind of got dragged in the whirlwind of this all and I just simply didn't have the time to tell anyone." She explained wearily, as if the whole conversation wore her down.

House contemplated her reason, and tried to calm himself. He knew that he was overreacting, but when he received the news from one of the staff he felt like he couldn't breathe. He needed to know the reason, and didn't think before he got on his bike and drove to her house.

Now when he was there, he realized that he was being irrational. He was used to work on impulse alone, but he had never done it on such personal basis.

"It's a great offer." His voice was calm, but his inside was on fire.

"It is." She agreed.

"Are you leaving…because of me?" He asked bluntly, honestly. He needed to know, but he was afraid of her answer. He wasn't exactly going to receive the employee of the year award.

"No, no, of course not." She answered, and looked at him sadly.

"Then why accept? I thought you liked your job."

"I love my job. It's just…." She sighed, and wrapped her cardigan tighter against her small frame.

"I think I need change. When I got that offer, I realized that this place has made me miserable, and I got this feeling that a change of scenery is what I need."

"A change of scenery won't change anything for you." He said starkly.

"I don't have to explain myself to you House. I'm going to take that offer, whether you like it or not."

He didn't believe her. He couldn't believe that she would voluntarily leave. The knot tightened in his stomach as he thought of her departure. He never would have thought that her leaving would cause such a reaction, but he felt that he couldn't let her go.

"I can't accept that." He murmured. She inhaled sharply, as if his words caused her great pain.

"Don't make this harder than it already is." She whispered. "There's really nothing for me here." She looked at him solemnly, her eyes betraying her true feelings.

"Is there?" She asked uncertainly, and looked at him with those bright grey blue eyes.

"The hospital needs you, I…" He left the unfinished sentence hang in the air. He wanted to tell her that he didn't want her to leave. He wanted to tell her so many things.

"You can't go." He said firmly.

She frowned, and stepped closer, her body inches from his.

"Why do you even care?"

"I don't." He said resolutely.

She looked away, a little hurt by his proclamation. He felt guilty, but also fear, because he had no idea what he was doing.

"Then why are you here?" Her voice was low, bitter.

He opened his mouth, and shut it back closed. Why was he there?

Cuddy's eyebrows rose, her expression demanding. His eyes drifted back and forth, his forehead creased. His heart hammered in his chest, as he watched her there before of him. A horrible feeling struck him, a sense of loss he couldn't replace. She was leaving, and he couldn't do anything about it.

"Why?" She said again.

He lowered his head, and shook his head. He couldn't tell her why, because the answer would not only hurt him but also her. He had lived with that dark cloud over him, and he could continue living the lie. Then why did he feel like this was his only chance to tell her the truth?

"Why, House."

"Because I love you that's why." He practically screamed. His confession caught them both off guard.
She stared at him wide eyed, her mouth hanging open.

"What?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. He stared at her, and brought his hands to her face.

"I. Love. You." He said slowly, and deliberately, then he brought his lips to hers. She stood stock still, evidentially shocked, but soon she relaxed and kissed him back just as fiercely. Her hands found the nape of his neck, and drew him closer. He thrust his tongue between her lips, and found hers. She moaned, and returned his frantic kiss with just as much need. She clung against him as if he was the only thing keeping her upright. He held on to her as if his life depended on it. Their kiss was filled with ache, and passion neither of them could ignore.

When they finally separated they laid their foreheads against each other.

"I love you too." She said quietly. "God, I love you so much."

He closed his eyes, and exhaled in relief. His need for her felt like a heavy load that was finally lifted off his shoulders. He grasped her face, and kissed her once more.

"Don't leave." He whispered into her hair. "Don't leave me."

"I…I don't know." She stuttered, and looked at him tearfully.

"Please stay."

"This is all so confusing." She muttered. "I definitely didn't expect this." She laughed half-heartedly, then she frowned a little.

"Why now? Why tell me now, after all this time?"

"I don't know. I didn't plan this; I just know that losing you without telling you would be my biggest regret."

She closed her eyes and sighed, he held her in place as if he would lose her if he would let her go. She tried in vain to back away, but House held her firmly, and placed his head by her ear.

"Don't leave." His voice was soft, and persuading.

"I won't." She promised, and embraced him tightly against her.

"I won't leave." She said again, and kissed him passionately.

After all these years of pain, and regret, they were finally together.

Sometimes the thought of losing someone makes you realize what they mean to you, and makes you do things you wouldn't have done. House would never have thought that he would ever march up to her, and tell her his true feelings, but at that moment he bared his soul to her, and so did she. Even though it was hard for them to admit, they both knew that they couldn't be without each other.